home - Haiti Observer Blog

There are several reasons that may require you spend time away from your home. You can be away for business matters, home renovations or holiday. For whatever reason, it is important to ensure that your property is secure while you are away. Here are some tips to help you have some peace while you are far from home.

Ensure that you discourage trespassing in your area. You can put up noticeable 'No Trespassing' signs. Having a guard on duty will also help a big deal. You can also set up Beware and/or the Fierce Dog signs.

Read more →  

To prepare for a disaster, there are items you'll need during and after the event. Below is a listing of them.

Stock canned and dried goods: fruits, vegetables, and dry milk. Include healthy snacks: trail mixes and dried fruits. Store several large containers of water. Add pet food for family pets. Store Swiss knives, plastic dishware and utensils. Buy a portable stove for food preparation or cords of wood for heat and cooking.

Stock a first-aid kit and get medical bracelets for conditions like diabetes or heart problems. Ask for extra medicine refills and buy a first-aid medical book.

Read more →  

The 2010 quake brought drastic changes to the majority of Haitian population. This is the day that an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 hit the city of Port-au-Prince and the neighboring cities of Leogane, Jacmel and Petit-Goave. It flattened buildings, leaving many people homeless. Many of them were left under the rubbles fighting for their Lives. Many were badly injured and others left homeless. Life could never be normal again. People had to move to rural areas to seek accommodation from friends, relatives or well wishers.

After the quake, many people have found hope in starting eco-villages. These villages are headed by Chavannes Jean Baptiste who acts as the leader and the president of an organization called Mouvman Peyizan Papaye, MPP. This organization was formed in Haiti for the last forty years in order to promote food security in Haiti. The eco-villages formed under the MPP holds ten families.

Read more →  

When a natural or man-made disaster hits, possible loss or destruction of property and family members' whereabouts can be traumatic. A disaster preparedness plan will insure that your family and possessions are safeguarded.

Of primary importance is family members' safety. With small children under six, get them dog tags and include names, addresses, phone numbers, and medical conditions. Place them on your child when disaster hits. For older children, have them memorize the same information.

Scout out a location where family can meet up if separated during a disaster, or if in different places when disaster hits.

Read more →  

For the past several weeks, the only thing I have been hearing in Haiti is Co-ownership. President Michel Martelly just signed a new decree that was supposed to revolutionize Haiti in term of housing. It's a decree for the application of the law of Co-ownership.

I do not want to be the devil advocate but someone has to raise this issue.

Is this Co-ownership really possible in Haiti? A country where no one trusts no one. A country where people tend to take the law into their own hands in search of justice.

Read more →  

The United Nations plans to reduce vulnerability of some buildings in Haiti against future earthquake threats. This will include Haitian schools, hospitals, and some selected buildings.

"Evite miyò pase mande padon."

This plan recently approved by the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission, came out as a result of a discussion between Haiti minister of Interior, Paul Antoine Bien-Aime, UNDP Senior Country Director Jessica Faieta, and UNDP seismologist Eric Calais.

C'est le grand Plan.....
Sa Pa Kaka Cok.........

According to authorityies, the goal is to reduce impacts in earthquake-prone areas. They improve to improve resiliency of the buildings in the poor areas in Haiti.

Read more →  

The Haitian musician, record producer and politician Wyclef Jean owes the IRS $2.1 million, according to Federal tax liens that were filed against him.

Wyclef's waterfront mansion located in Miami Beach, Florida has been repossessed by the bank since November 2008. According to report obtained by the Haitian Joudalist, The property was valued at $1.4 million. Wyclef took a mortgage for $2 million; however he fell behind in payments.

Read more →  

The magnitude-7 earthquake in Haiti did not kill, but our buildings did. A five-person U.S. team evaluating the magnitude-7 earthquake that struck Haiti Jan. 12 says much of the massive loss of life might have been prevented.

The team, led by University of Washington structural engineering Professor Marc Eberhard, said its main conclusion was that much of the loss of life could have been prevented by using earthquake-resistant designs and construction, as well as improved quality control in concrete and masonry work.

The researchers recommended simple and cost-effective earthquake engineering be emphasized in Haiti's rebuilding effort.

Read more →