International

The monarchy of Norway is divided into three branches: a legislative branch, an executive branch and a judicial branch. The foreign affairs of the country have decided to introduce some changes in its diplomatic presence abroad.

In 2016, its embassies in Astana, Lusaka, Sofia, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Harare will be closed. However, its presence in Haiti and India will be strengthened. The countries where the embassies will be closed, the contacts will be maintained through some other channels. Presently, Norwegian consulate general in Port-au-Prince is the only Norwegian representation in Haiti and it is Norway's one of 52 foreign representations in Haiti, and one of 45 foreign representations in Port-au-Prince. Norway had provided more than NOK 800 million in support to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake that struck the country five years ago. As per Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende, the changes will be introduced in the tune of the continuous appraisal process followed by the Ministry.

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Following the independence of Haiti in 1804, the defeated French colonists and their government extorted 150 million gold francs from the Haitian government as recompense for French plantation slave masters' profit losses. If Haiti agreed to pay France, it would recognize Haiti's sovereignty. Later France lowered the amount to 90 million gold francs. The mulatto elite who ruled Haiti felt the only way the island could retain its independence and continue to trade with its former oppressor was by honoring the arbitrary debt placed on them.

A couple of times France threatened Haiti with violence and aggression when payments stopped. First in 1853 when French Admiral Duquesne threatened to bomb Port-au-Prince; and again in 1877 when stoppage of payments caused more threats of violence by a French gun-boat.

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Jamaica Takes the Lead on the Sustainable Development Agenda at 70th UN General Assembly. A. J. Nicholson, Jamaica's Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, attended (along with his delegation) the 70th United Nations General Assembly. On the periphery of the General Assembly session, Minister Nicholson held multi-lateral talks with Foreign Ministers from Botswana, Senegal, the United Arab Emirates, and the Sudan. The goal of the discussions was to fortify relations and advance trade among the participant nations and Jamaica. Beyond discussions with the African and Arab ministers, Nicholson and other Caribbean community members will also meet with Sushma Swaraj, the Foreign Minister of India, in another series of talks.

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The Brazilian government has decided to give permanent residence to 43,781 Haitians immigrants who have entered the country within the past five years. According to a plan approved by both the ministers of justice and labor, all undocumented Haitians will be able to remain in the country and find employment.

The upgraded status will provide the Haitians permanency in Brazil where they can reside and enjoy all the rights of a foreigner living permanently in Brazil, according to the ministers of justice, Jose Eduardo Cardozo. Among those rights: eligibility for government assistance.

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Radio zenith FM obtained an email this morning from that was issued by an authority at the United Nations that tried to account for their personnel currently working in Haiti. According to the email, All personnel from United Nations working in Haiti must be released from duty today (November 5) by 1:30PM. They were also required to confirm their addresses and point of contact as well.

Eske pwal Gin yon Koury an Ayiti:
MUSIC VIDEO: Beton An Pou Nou 2 by Koudjay

It seems like that the United nations is preparing for the worst as the election results are scheduled to be released at 4:00PM

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As per news dated November 5, 2015, Lener Renauld, the Haitian Foreign Minister has announced that Magalie Jeanty Magloire, the former Ministers' Counsellor at the Embassy of Haiti in Santo Domingo, has been appointed as the new Ambassador of Haiti in the Dominican Republic.

Earlier, she had served as Counsellor of Haitian Ambassadors Daniel Supplice and Fritz Cinéas in the Dominican Republic. Since, the suspension of Ambassador Daniel Supplice on July 22, 2015, she had assumed the role of interim ambassador of Haiti in the Dominican Republic. Ambassador Supplice was dismissed by the Haitian government because amid the immigration crisis with the Dominican Republic, he could not represent and defend his country appropriately. The Dominican authorities have approved this appointment and have mentioned this appointment will "strengthen relations" between the two nations.

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On September 11, 2015, Ricardo Garcia Napoles, the Cuban ambassador to Haiti and five Cuban doctors visited a U.S navy ship USNS Comfort anchored off Port-au-Prince. They visited the US Navy hospital ship on a courtesy call, on a sign of warming ties, as the two countries are working to normalize mutual relation following a five-decade freeze.

The U.S. vessel was on its fourth regional humanitarian mission, and was scheduled to depart Haiti on September 18. Cuba has a long standing tradition of rendering medical aid in Haiti. Presently, about 700 Cuban doctors are working in Haiti. Over 800 Haitian doctors have received medical training in Cuba. Pamela White, the US envoy to Haiti who was present during the occasion of launching the ship's latest mission, expressed her happiness over the presence of Cuban doctors.

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Although, Haiti is a free market economy that enjoys the advantages of low labor costs and tariff-free access to the US for many of its exports, some of the serious impediments to its economic growth are poverty, corruption, vulnerability to natural disasters, lack of proper economic planning and low levels of education for much of the population. Every year, thousands of Haitians risk to cross the Dominican border illegally in search of low-wage jobs in construction and agriculture, and at the big all-inclusive resorts, albeit they become victims of racism and xenophobia in the DR. The marketplace at the Croix des Bossales is flooded with Dominican products likes of carrots, cabbages, and all other vegetables along with pasta, eggs, tomato pastes, mayonnaise and other prepared foods.
Haiti produces foods no doubt, but the majority of its consumption comes from the Dominicans. Haitian cements are good, but it is more expensive than Dominican cements. The Haitian state was never capable to defend Haitian economic actors.

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There is Chance that now when we think about Trinidad and Tobago, soccer will not be the first thing that comes to mind. Although they were very competitive and our main obstacle in the the soccer world decades ago, The people of Trinidad and Tobago demonstrated that they can also be very generous toward us. On Monday, Trinidad and Tobago made a contribution of 1 million US dollars to support the election process in Haiti.

Ambassador Denis Régis who presented the contribution to the United Nations for Haiti admitted that Trinidad owes a lot to Haiti for the role played in encouraging other countries in the Caribbean to fight for independence.

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Rand Paul: Haitians Must Do for Themselves, not Accept More Foreign Aid.

Republican Senator Rand Paul, instead of stumping on the campaign trail for the U.S. presidency, is doing charitable work in Haiti. With funding from University of Utah Moran Eye Center he and a group of eye surgeons are in Haiti to perform free cataract surgeries.

Rand and company are operating to restore eyesight to 200 people. He says the need in Haiti for this surgery results from its close proximity to the equator, a sunnier climate, and more people walking around without sunglasses.

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