Haiti Observer Blog

According to the Haitian Olympic Committee, 10 Haitian athletes are representing Haiti in Rio 2016 in Brazil from 5 to 21 August 2016. They are: Darrell Wesh (100 and 200 meters), Jeffrey Jilmus (110 meters hurdles), Mulern Jean (100 meters hurdles), Samyr Lain¨¦ (triple jump); Richardson Hitchins (Boxing); Josu¨¦ Deprez (Judo); Edouard Joseph (Weight Lifting); Asnage Castelly (Wrestling); Aniya Necol Louissaint (Taekwondo). Naomy Grand ¡(r)Pierre is a former Whitefield Academy swimmer; her participation has been accepted in the Aquatic Sports by the International Swimming Federation (FINA). Haiti is what is known as a ¡°universality place¡±; the nation can send one male and one female athlete to the world championships. Since Haiti does not have any swimmer to match the Olympic qualifying speeds, Naomy was approached by Haitian authority if she would like to join its national team for this summer¡¯s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Her representation has been accepted under the rule of Universality. She is a current resident of Atlanta, a Major in Economics and International Studies, a regular participator in swimming, track and soccer in high school. So far, Haiti had sent the maximum number of participants (13) in the 1976 Montreal Olympic-- 10 in Athletics events and 3 in Boxing.

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Judge Al Duniel Dimanche who is in the process of investigating possible embezzlement of several million dollars at the National Insurance Office (ONA) has ordered the arrest of former President Rene Preval. The Former Director General of ONA, Sandro Joseph, has been accused of corruption, embezzlement, forgery and conspiracy. After a request to appear was ignored by Rene Preval, now an arrest warrant has been issued.

Other people involved in the criminal investigation include: senators Andris Riche, Senator Jacques Sauveur Jean, Senator Edwin Zeny and the Minister of Education Jean Beauvoir Dorsonne

In another way, Former President Rene Preval can be picked-up anytime and put in jail

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International Youth Day is observed annually on 12 August

International Youth Day (IYD) is an awareness day designated by the United Nations, which is observed every year on August 12, since 2000. It is celebrated all around the world with an objective to raise awareness about issues that affect young people who are aged between 15 and 24 years of old, making up one-sixth of the global human population. Each year the occasion is observed with a specific theme. The theme of 2015 was "Youth Civic Engagement" and the slogan for 2014 was "Youth and Mental Health." The logo of United Nation is often associated with the marketing and promotional material for this event. In the face of hardship, 'International Youth Day' is an effort to make sure that young people have the critical skills, tools, and support that they need to become healthy, productive and engaged members of society and they bring great leadership and resilience.

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The threat of the Zika virus is absolutely real in Brazil and it has reached in Rio de Janeiro. There it is flourishing beyond expectation. In last January, the declaration of Rio as a "safe environment" by the International Olympic Committee was a plain speculation based upon a declaration by the Brazil's Ministry of Health that described "Zika as a notifiable disease". The declaration was not supported by any actual data, because then the counting of cases was not started. However, when the data became available, it showed Rio de Janeiro's suspected Zika cases (about 26,000) are one of the highest (fourth, with 157 cases per 100,000) of any state in Brazil. After years of money being dumped into the games, IOC felt it is not possible to delay or move the Rio Games because of Zika. With an estimated 500,000 foreign tourists who will flock into Rio for the Games, there are enough chances that Brazil's Zika will spread globally. The decision to continue Summer Olympics in Rio is purely a financial decision, not a logical one.

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Haiti made its first appearance at the 2nd edition of the Olympic Games in the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. The country's first Olympic prize came 24 later, in 1924, when the seven members of Haiti's shooting team took third place in the free rifle competition. Then second and so far the last Olympic medal was won by Silvio Cator, he took the silver in men's long jump; his 7.58 meter effort was 16 cm short of gold (Edward Hamm). Since then the country has not won any medal in the Olympic Games.

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CoSport (www.cosport.com, 877 457 4647) is the only entity authorized to sell individual tickets and ticket-inclusive packages for the Olympic. As per April 4, 2016 report, only four months before the opening, just half the tickets for all events were sold. There could be many reasons for that. Presently, Brazil is passing through its worst recession in 25 years. Very few Brazilians have the extra money to spend on attending the games. The government was forced to cut Olympic budget, with everything from the opening ceremony, all over security for the gamer, and facilities for athletes in the Olympic Village. An impeachment process began against Dilma Rousseff, the Brazilian President for her alleged involvement in a corruption scandal in the late 2015 and that continued through the first half of 2016 (till 12 May 2016).

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For most, 'Back to School' means returning to school from a summer or winter break. However, in merchandising, it is the period in which students and their parents purchase school supplies and apparel for the upcoming school year-- it is a time when the items like school supplies, children's, and young adults' clothing goes on sale. The 'back to school' period, usually lasts from mid-July through early/mid-September, before the school year starts.

1. Avoid Buying Trendier Gear: They get out of fashion very quickly. When your kids will see their friends are using another kind, they'll beg you to upgrade them, and that only results become wasted cash.

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As per the announcement of the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) on July 26, 2016, the 2016-2017 School Year in Haiti will start on September 5, 2016. The session will have 186 days of class and 9 days off, 930 hours of instruction for the fundamental and 1,116 for secondary courses. The academic year will end on June 30, 2017. The Minister Dorsonne has informed that instructions have been passed to the Director General for adopting necessary implementary measures. On July 28th, the de facto President of the Republic, Jocelerme Privert held a meeting with ministers and State officials involved in the back to school 2016-2017 and inquired about the steps already taken or which are underway for the full success of the school year. Some of their discussions included status about the school grant, new appointment, training of teachers, institutional supports.

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The Summer Olympic Game was first held in 1896. It is an international multi-sport event which occurs once in every four years under the organization of the International Olympic Committee. The city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has been elected host city of the Games of the 27h Olympics and it is due to take place from 5 to 21 August 2016. Rio will be the first South American city ever to host the summer games and the first place to hold Olympic in a Portuguese-speaking country. The competition venues will be clustered in four zones - Barra, Copacabana, Deodoro and Maracanã. The competition will include 306 events out of 42 Olympic sports disciplines over the course of 19 days (August 3rd and 4th football) and will yield 136 medals for women, 161 for men and nine mixed medals. This year, record number of countries (207 countries, new entrants are Kosovo and South Sudan) are participating in a record number of events. These sporting events will take place at 34 competition venues in the host city and at 5 venues in the cities of São Paulo (Brazil's largest city), Brasília (Brazil's capital), Belo Horizonte, Salvador, and Manaus. The Rio 2016 opening ceremony will be at the world famous football (soccer) Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016.

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Luckner Lorient who has been a pastor at Eglise Baptist Clarte Celeste in Flatbush, was picked up at Miami International Airport on Tuesday July 26, 2016 as he returned to the United States from Haiti. The arrest came as a result of a deadly fire that took place back on Nov. 19, 2014, at 1434 Flatbush Ave., in a building owned by him. That particular building housed his church located on the ground floor but also some cramped apartments on the floors above. Two months before the fire, Luckner Lorient was fined by the city for subdividing the basement, second and third floors, with one subdivided apartment having 21 people living in it.

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