US Military - Haiti Observer Blog

Opportunity knocks for some young Haitian men and women. United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) in New London, Connecticut, is now looking for candidates for the Class of 2020 International Cadet program. However, the requirements are stringent. You must be between the ages of 17 and 23, single (not married), have no children, be an High school graduate, proficient in English and be physically fit. The Coast Guard Academy offers a four-year program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. This program will provide you with military and leadership training. After graduation, you are expected to return to Haiti and serve in the Garde Cote unit of the Haitian National Police.

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Did you know that Haiti was one of the countries in the world designated by United States Department of Defense (DOD) as "imminent danger areas". Haiti found itself in that class along with eight other "land areas". The others countries are East Timor, Liberia, Oman, Rwanda, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.

So what is it exactly? Is this good or bad? How did Haiti manage to get in that list?

The combatant commands conducted in-depth threat assessments on a regular basis to determine the level of imminent threat to US military personnel due to civil insurrection, civil war or act of terrorism. Based on their evaluation, Haiti was one of the many countries determined to be in the list.

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Gonâve Island lies on the Caribbean Sea, in the Gulf of Gonâve, to the west and northwest of Port-au-Prince. It is in the La Gonâve Arrondissement, part of Ouest Department. Because the island's topography is composed mainly of limestone, it lacks sufficient vegetation, and low levels of annual rainfall bring on water shortages. La Gonâve Arrondissement is comprised of two districts, Anse-à-Galets and Pointe-à-Raquette. It has a large population of 80,000 inhabitants.

Gonâve's biggest challenge is the scarceness of its water supply. In 2005, a crisis arose when the island experienced a severe drought, bringing many aid agencies to its rescue, sealing springs and erecting rainwater tanks. They have also installed an island-wide water-transport system and dug wells to deliver water to the drought-stricken islanders. A consortium of government, non-government and non-profit organizations, churches, and other aid organizations have established the Water Platform. This body coordinates the efforts of all agencies working on Gonâve to further their work. Within two years of the drought crisis, 25 wells had been dug and more were planned.

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Charlemagne Masséna Peralte was one of the greatest heroes of Haiti. Born in 1886, Peralte was a popular Haitian Nationalist leader who strictly opposed the invasion of Haiti in 1915 by United States. He led the guerrilla fighters called Cacos and presented a tremendous challenge to the invading US forces. Because of this retaliation, US had to severely upgrade its presence in Haiti.

Charlemagne Masséna Peralte was born in a city called Hinche. He was born to a family which had previously migrated from an area which currently falls within the borders of Dominican Republic. Peralte is respected both in Haiti and Dominican Republic. On his birth certificate, his name is registered as François Borgia Charlemagne Peralte.

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There are currently several US Marines being deployed on the coast of Haiti. The "Haitian Joudalist" just learned that the United States has decided to deploy United States Marines troop along Haiti coastal line recently. This was announces in an interview between the US Ambassador in Haiti and the reporter from Signal FM.

In interview with Radio signal FM, the Guatemalan Edmond Mulet, head of Mission of United Nations Stabilization in Haiti (Minustah), as well as the US ambassador in Haiti did confirm the presence of US Marines on the coast of Haiti; however, they have been deployed for humanitarian reason.

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