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For refugees from war-torn countries, the simple sound of rain is a calming memory. As part of our Friday series produced in partnership with the Telling Room in Portland, Michee Runyambo shares his story.
My neighborhood was so beautiful. I loved the quiet of the place, the mango trees, and the forest on the sides. Every house was a different color. Ours was red, and nothing ever happened in it without the others knowing about it. The streets were narrow and full of dirt. Whenever the sun was out you could hear the women singing; at night it was the drunk man's turn.
One morning there were no birds singing, and no kids were playing soccer in the street. The air was thick and cloudy, but day had finally come. We could actually see the damage of the lights in the sky, and hear the loud bangs on the streets and sharp sounds all around us. We could see where they hit. We could see that we were at war.
We were hiding in my uncle's house. Ours was too dangerous. It was too big, too noticeable, and they knew where my father lived. All eight of us were hiding in one room, trying to keep ourselves quiet and eating what we could find, which was mostly water and beans. There were only two beds, so some of us tried to sleep on the floor. The room was small. The walls were made out of mud over bricks and the roof was made out of metal.
It rained that night. I always loved it when it rained. You could hear the drops and that relaxed me. With everything that had happened - my father leaving, bullets flying all around us, and bombs exploding - rain seemed to decrease the fear. We sat there in that room together for hours not saying a word, just listening and hoping that the next bomb wouldn't fall on us. My little sister was five years old. I remember her crying that night and mom telling her it was okay. "God's with us," she said. She held her tight and you could see all the trouble leaving the little girl's face.
My mother is a brave woman. She took responsibility for keeping us safe. As the rain fell down I could hear my mother's voice, singing in the corner of the room. Her voice filled my head, and my eyes gave up. I started crying. It seemed as if the more she sang the calmer I became and the more I thought that this was just a nightmare. My little brother was lying next to me. He told me he couldn't stop his hands from shaking so I held them and told him to sleep. "Everything will be okay tomorrow morning."
The joy in the room was found in my youngest sister. She was young and innocent and whenever bombs exploded she clapped her hands and laughed. A plate of beans was in the middle of the room, and she struggled to crawl to the plate to eat. Minutes later the small room smelled like our neighborhood dump yard. My baby sister sat there laughing and through her smile you could see her only two teeth. The smell was so intolerable that we were tempted to get out, and even the bullets seemed better at that moment. We all sat there laughing together, and for a brief moment we forgot about the fear that was keeping us there.
Michee Runyambo is brought to us by the Portland-based Telling Room, a non-profit writing center dedicated to the idea that children and young adults are natural storytellers. Every Friday this summer we'll share an essay from a student between the ages of six and 18 with a unique perspective on the world.
Photo of author Michee Runyambo: Courtesy the Telling Room


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Contact Audrey's: (310) 440-4505
*Zoom in where available by hovering over the image above.
With heavy L.A. traffic, we could all use a little Traveler's Prayer! This mezuzah is specially sized for use in your car and holds the Hebrew Traveler's Prayer inside, which translates to:
"May it be Your will, Lord our G-d and G-d of our ancestors, that You lead us toward peace. May we arrive at our destination in safety and tranquility. May You deliver us from evil and harm. May you bless us, and bestow kindness and mercy upon us. May You hear our prayers. Blessed are You, G-d, HASHEM, who hears prayer."
Place in your glove compartment, on your dashboard, or on your window frame.
Includes a scroll with the Hebrew Traveler's Prayer.
Made of acrylic.
Size: 0.75" x 2.5"
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subset: commoncrawl


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Chat is like nearly empty most of the time and folrart arena has even fewer duels going on at any time than the week before.
The game is going down through inactivity, at least that's what it looks like. Most just do their 5 of 7 and then are like "**** this ****" and quit for the day.
Why not have some fun event to encourage activity?
Also something tells me that postponing set 12 release to the 22nd was bad.


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AKRON -- In a nutshell, here's why Cuyahoga County corruption defendant Jimmy Dimora is appealing to a higher court, even before his trial gets underway.
And even after the appeal was filed last week, the court held another motion hearing Tuesday in Akron.
Related: Motion hearing in Dimora corruption case
The court document says that the appeal was necessary because "...Dimora has been twice put in jeopardy with simultaneous but separate prosecutions for the same conspiracy and same pattern of conduct over the exact same time period and is in danger of suffering irreparable harm...."
Federal prosecutors indicted Dimora, 56, of Independence, on Sept. 14, 2010, on 34 counts, including bribery and conspiracy.
He was subsequently indicted again in October, 2011 on similar charges.
The first trial is about the original indictment and the second trial, yet to be scheduled, is about the second indictment.
Read Dimora's appeal to Court of Appeals (PDF)
Regarding the first trial, the document reads "...trial that includes discovery consisting of 44,000 intercepted calls, hundreds of thousands of documents and over 100 identified government witnesses..."
While the jury was being selected last week in the first trial, U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi showed them a list of 119 possible witnesses, saying the list was a combination of defense and government witnesses.
The appeal document also states that the action by the government by having two trials on similar charges "...is placing Mr. Dimora twice in jeopardy (and this ) was intentional and vindictive..."
Expanded trial coverage
The appeal also states that the "government has actually moved to have Mr. Dimora placed in custody because this (appeal) request was being filed by the court."
Dimora's attorneys also say the government is being vindictive by "...making available to the public, in violation of a standing court order a large series of sensationally chosen and arrayed intercepted phone calls knowing that those intercepted conversations would be further sensationalized widely and prominently in the press 'on the eve of the trial'..."
And with two separate trials pending, the first with 34 counts against Dimora and the second with multiple counts against Dimora for similar acts, the appeal noted that during a Nov. pre-trial hearing "...the government acknowledged that they may not even be finished charging Mr. Dimora yet in regards to this conspiracy."


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October 22, 2012
Josh Helmholdt
Rivals.com Football Recruiting
After a strong off-season and early junior season play, Springfield (Ohio) class of 2014 wide receiver Thaddeus Snodgrass accumulated 11 scholarship offers. After researching those schools, Snodgrass has decided he is ready to make a commitment. ...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now!
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Student Drop, Add , & Withdrawl
Drop Process
If students wish to drop a course after the 7th calendar day of the semester, they typically must meet with their instructor who will talk with them and, if it is decided that dropping is the proper course of action, help them complete a DROP/ADD/WITHDRAWALform. That form is then taken to the Records Office. If students are unable to meet personally with their instructor, however, the following guidelines should be followed:
- The student will attempt to contact the instructor prior to the official drop date. (Contact can be made by email, phone, or other means as acceptable.)
- The instructor will communicate with the student about the situation, determining if in fact dropping is the appropriate thing for the student to do.
- If it is decided that the student should drop the course, the instructor will fill out the DROP/ADD/WITHDRAWAL form for the student, make a copy of it for personal records, and then take the official form to the Records Office.
- If the student is unable to sign the DROP/ADD/WITHDRAWAL form in person, an email or fax from the student indicating that a drop is desired of the given course and section will suffice. The email or fax should clearly state the student's name, "V" number, the course name and section, and the reason for the drop. A copy of the email or fax should also be taken to the Records Office along with the DROP/ADD/WITHDRAWAL form.
- If the student is unable to communicate with the instructor via phone or email, the student should first attempt to contact the Department Chair. If that fails, the student should contact the Division Dean. The Department Chair or Division Dean will follow the above procedures and after completing the DROP/ADD/WITHDRAWAL form will alert the professor to what transpired.
- Remind students who are receiving financial aid that dropping a course might cause ramifications. Students should be encouraged to contact the financial aid office to ask about their specific circumstances.
- If students are on a deferred payment plan, they should contact the Business Office.
- As a reminder, students who wish to withdraw from their final class (or all of them) are required to speak with an Advisor/Counselor in the Advising Center.
- Please remember that the reason for this procedure is for there to be some communication between students and professors (or with an Advisor/Counselor in the case of a complete withdrawal from College) prior to dropping a class. In some instances, students are not aware that they are actually doing well in the course and the professor can ease their minds. In other cases, students forget about (or are unaware of) the tutoring/lab assistance that is available to them. There are obviously many scenarios when dropping is clearly the best course of action, but this is not always the case. Thus, this procedure is designed to help some students see that dropping may not be in their best interests. It could make a big difference in terms of their overall future academic success.
Withdrawal from College Process
Withdrawal requests are processed in the Advising Center by an Advisor/Counselor if the student requests to withdraw from all classes before the withdrawal deadline. If the student is requesting a complete withdrawal from all classes after the withdrawal deadline those are processed through the Office of the Vice President for Student Services.
Questions to Ask Students Requesting to Drop a Course(s) or Requesting a Complete Withdrawal from all Classes
- What is the reason you are dropping or withdrawing?
- Are you on any type of financial aid (grant, loan, scholarships or lottery scholarship)? If so, you will need to contact Financial Aid before dropping or withdrawing from the College.
- Are you on a deferred payment plan? If so, you will need to contact the Business Office.
- Are you a participant in either TRiO or Disability Services? If so, you will need to inform them you are dropping or withdrawing.
- If the student is doing well, refer them to their instructor to explore the options of incomplete or having the instructor work with him/her to stay in the class and complete it.


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Increased Inner Ear Susceptibility to Noise Injury in Mice With Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes
- Takeshi Fujita⇓,
- Daisuke Yamashita,
- Sayaka Katsunuma,
- Shingo Hasegawa,
- Hitoshi Tanimoto and
- Ken-ichi Nibu
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
- Corresponding author: Takeshi Fujita, fujitake{at}med.kobe-u.ac.jp.
We aimed to investigate the pathophysiology of diabetes-associated hearing impairment in type1 diabetes using mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes (C57BL/6J; male). Hearing function was evaluated 1, 3, and 5 months after induction of diabetes (five diabetic and five control animals per time point) using auditory-evoked brain stem responses (ABRs). Mice (four diabetic and four control) were exposed to loud noise (105 dB) 5 months after induction of diabetes. ABR were measured before and after noise exposure. Cochlear blood flows were measured by laser-Doppler flowmeter. Spiral ganglion cells (SGCs) were counted. Vessel endothelial cells were observed by CD31 immunostaining. Chronologic changes in the ABR threshold shift were not significantly different between the diabetic and control groups. However, vessel walls in the modiolus of the cochleae were significantly thicker in the diabetic group than the control group. Additionally, recovery from noise-induced injury was significantly impaired in diabetic mice. Reduced cochlea blood flows and SGC loss were observed in diabetic mice cochleae after noise exposure. Our data suggest that diabetic cochleae are more susceptible than controls to loud noise exposure, and decreased cochlear blood flow due to sclerosis of the vessels and consequent loss of SGCs are possible mechanisms of hearing impairment in diabetic patients.
- Received December 30, 2011.
- Accepted May 14, 2012.
- © 2012 by the American Diabetes Association.
Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ for details.


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Affliction Blake Flooded Fleur Jean
- Black Premium
- Slim fit straight leg jean
- Low rise, 18" bottom opening
- Faux leather applique on embroidered back flap pockets
- Hand sanding, whiskering, grinding and dremmeling details
- Zip fly
- Leather Affliction label on back
- 100% Cotton.
- Turn inside out and machine wash cold, separately. Do not bleach. Tumble dry low. Low iron if needed.
- This quality denim has been hand finished for a unique, individual look. It will wear like your old favorite jeans, with each hole and tear continuing to destruct over time. We hope you love the vintage appearance and comfort of wearing jeans that have the look and feel of years of wear. Thanks for making the Buckle your denim destination.
- Made in China.
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Men's Jeans
Men's Affliction Jeans
- Model Info: Height: 5'10" | Chest: 38" | Waist: 33" | Hip: 39" | Wearing Size: 31x32
|Men's Jean Sizes
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|27-27 1/2" thigh


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Its big news today that Apple launched iOS 6.1 to the public after having just launched the fifth beta on Saturday evening. Its even bigger news that iOS hackers planetbeing and MuscleNerd have been all over the update, and have deemed the update as jailbreak safe, meaning that all of the vulnerabilities found for iOS 6.1 thus far will work with the public release. (So go ahead and update via iTunes!)
So this brings up the big question: How long until the untethered jailbreak for iOS 6.1? While we dont know for sure just yet, MuscleNerd has teased the possibility of a Sunday release in one of his Tweets, where he asks what everyone will be doing on Sunday, the day of the Super Bowl, and CCs the evad3rs hacking team:
Hey, did everyone know the Super Bowl is this Sunday? What will you be doing? /cc @evad3rs evad3rs.com— MuscleNerd (@MuscleNerd) January 28, 2013
Planetbeing made it clear in one of his Tweets that the jailbreak could take a little time to finish up, as it needs some polishing in terms of hammering out the bugs and creating a tool that the public can download and use to jailbreak their iOS 6.1 devices. In the past, the time it took for hackers to do this wasnt very long, so this could be a good sign for the future jailbreak as well.
While MuscleNerd, nor the rest of the eva3ders, have not yet clarified what has been planned for Sunday, the Tweet seems mysterious enough to take into consideration. Either way, it should be interesting to see what surprises the hackers have up their sleeves.


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Friday Night Jazz with Rich Tozier featured a live performance from MPBN Radio News Producer Tom Porter. In addition to producing and hosting Maine Things Considered, Tom is a solid jazz pianist.
In addition to this live, in-studio performance for Friday Night Jazz with Rich Tozier, Tom represented MPBN at the Old Port Festival in June 2009, where he dazzled all in attendance with his prowess at the ivories.


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Brainwavz S5 In Ear Headphones
" Brainwavz are at it again with their new 10mm dynamic driver based IEM named "S5". I must say I was intrigued to try the new sample and where they'd come from Brainwavs B2 I owned many months ago (and loved). S5 takes on an a new elegant design, rather modern appearance and although a little larger than we've seen still fits the bill nicely with its stealth..." --H20Fidelity
Brainwavz S0 In-Ear Headphones
"Recently I was contacted my Brainwavz to sample one of their brand new products. This review however will be a little different from others and quite a bit shorter as we're only doing some basic design impressions and mostly what counts, the sound to give you guys out there a grasp on S0's signature. To my understanding Brainwavz S0 is a budget orientated in ear headphone that's..." --H20Fidelity
Brainwavz Jive
"At the time of the review, the Brainwavz Jive earphone was was on sale at Amazon's website for $25.00 USD. Here is a link to Their listing of the product: http://www.amazon.com/Brainwavz-Isolating-Earphones-Android-Blue-Android/dp/B013OKX8II/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441323708&sr=8-1&keywords=brainwavz+jive Introduction I like Brainwavz because they offer a diverse range..." --Hisoundfi
Brainwavz R3 Revised Edition
" Packaging & Accessories The R3's box packaging comes with clear plastic window that showcase the IEM and its cable. Kudos to Brainwavz for the generous accessories where you will find :-- 1 x Comply T500 tips- 6 Single-flange silicone tips (3 pairs gray & black)- 1 x Single pair of bi-flange & Triple-flange tips- 1 x ¼ inch adapter- 1 x Hard..." --Wokei
Brainwavz S3
"At the time of the review, the Brainwavs S3 was was on sale at Amazon.com for $79.50 USD. Here is a link to their listing of the product: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0162C1P9O?keywords=brainwavz%20s3&qid=1445842977&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1 Introduction It seems like every few months Brainwavz has an exciting new product coming to the market. While many will feel that..." --Hisoundfi
Brainwavz Delta
" Introduction I first got to know the company few months ago, when I was looking for a portable amplifier. They were about to release or they have just released the Brainwavz AP001 portable amp, so this was my starting point. I then visited their website http://www.yourbrainwavz.com/index.php, became interested with their products and decided to buy some and try them. The..." --Danihell
Brainwavz B2 Dual Balanced Armature Earphones
"Summary of my experience with these: Build: Feels cheap and plasticky. In fact the box appears better made than the earphones. :) Treble: Very detailed, forward and sharp. No real sibilance BUT is very fatiguing after even after short listening sessions Mids: Again very detailed but there appears to be some forward and some recessed elements depending on the track you are listening to. The..." --Krisman
Hippo VB
"Audio Quality The bass is pretty awesome. Full rich controlled clear deep bass. Usually bass heavy earphones tends to cover up the mids and highs. This one performed well. Love the tuning bass ports customization which is similar to XePort 5010-8 and MEElectronics SP51. Isolation Surprisingly good overall soundstage coming from such a bass-heavy earphones. Though its..." --unbornchaos
Brainwavz XFIT XF-200 In-Ear Sport Earbuds Noise Isolating Earphones Stereo Headphones Remote & Microphone for Apple iPhone & Android Phones (Black)
" A few days after testing out the adventure-inspired Westone ADV Beta earphone, Brainwavz hit me up with the timely opportunity to give their latest earphone a test ride. Meet the newBrainwavz XFit XF-200 earphone that, as they say, is specially designed for users who engage in sports and athletic activities. What makes it special for the active audiophile? How about..." --SoundApprentice
Brainwavz S1
"[Originally posted at Basshead.Club] Inexpensive, stylish, dynamic-driver based earphones that satisfy the budget-conscious basshead in me. The Brainwavz S1 is better than I expected for a price that doesn't burn a hole in your pocket. Brainwavz S1 In the Box Brainwavz S1 Earphones Eartips: Comply S-Series (x1), Standard S,M,L (x6), Bi-Flange (x1), Tri-Flange (x1) Hard..." --Luckbad


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Click any of the images to zoom in.
Fiddledee ID's medical alert bracelets are handmade and have the highest of quality. Look closely, you will notice the larger sterling silver clasps are easier to attach to tags, and the crimps are hidden with sterling covers. The professional wire is stronger, withstanding pressure up to 40 pounds and protected by sterling "guardians".
Our fabulous Medical Alert Tag measures 1.7" by .5" and is available in stainless steel or sterling silver. The sterling is coated with a fine, Rhodium finish. Rhodium is known as one of the priciest metals in the world, helping the tag stay shiny and resistant to tarnish.
Availability: In stock
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Front Line 4 (14 char.)
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Your bracelet size is 1" added to your actual wrist size
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- "All steel construction, full polish tool with head and handle forged in one piece."
- — GTA Vice City Website
The Hammer is a melee weapon featured in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto V. It was also removed from Grand Theft Auto IV while it was in development.
The hammer has a short range but deals a good amount of damage, causing the person being attacked to collapse. The hammer can be purchased from any store that sells melee weapons for $20 and stolen from builders after they are killed.
The hammer was removed from GTA IV, although, it can be still seen a few times in the game, in the hands of construction workers. It can be also found inside a few buildings, but it can't be used.
Grand Theft Auto V
The hammer is a bonus weapon to those who have purchased either the special or collectors edition of the game and will be available for free at all Ammu-Nation shops.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Washington Beach, Vice Beach - Available to buy from Bunch of Tools for $20.
- North Point Mall, Vice Point, Vice Beach - Available to buy from Tooled Up for $20.
- Little Havana, Vice City Mainland - Available to buy from Screw This after completion of Phnom Penh '86 for $20.
Mission Appearances
- In the third storyline mission in the game : Jury Fury, Tommy Vercetti uses a Hammer to damage one of the lawyers cars.
- In the mission The Fastest Boat, one of the workers who was protecting the boat, uses a Hammer.
- In GTA V the Hammer is only available to those who purchase the special or collectors edition of the game.
See also
- Sledgehammer, a melee weapon that was removed from Grand Theft Auto IV.


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For the most current version of this Note, see Background Notes A-Z.
Area: 27,750 sq. km. (10,714 sq. mi.); about the size of Maryland. Ile de la Gonave, Ile de la Tortue, and Ile a Vaches comprise Haiti's principal offshore territories.
Cities: Capital--Port-au-Prince (est. pop. 2.35 million prior to the January 2010 earthquake). Other cities--Cap Haitien (est. pop. 250,000).
Terrain: Rugged mountains with small coastal plains and river valleys, and a large east-central elevated plateau.
Climate: Warm, semiarid, high humidity in many coastal areas.
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Haitian(s).
Population (April 2010 est.): 9,900,000.
Annual population growth rate: (2009 est.) 1.66%.
Ethnic groups: African descent 95%, African and European descent 5%.
Religions (2003 data): Roman Catholic 55%, Protestant 28%, voudou (voodoo) practices pervasive.
Languages: French (official), Creole (official).
Education: Years compulsory--6. Adult literacy (2003 census)--56%.
Health: Child mortality--1 out of 8 children die before they reach the age of five. Life expectancy--62 years (women), 59 years (men).
Type: Republic.
Independence: January 1, 1804.
Constitution: March 1987.
Branches: Executive--President. Legislative--Senate (30 seats), Chamber of Deputies (99 seats). Judicial--Court of Cassation.
Administrative subdivisions: Ten departments.
Political parties and coalitions: INITE Coalition (formerly Lespwa), Alternativ Coalition (Struggling People's Organization--OPL), Alyans and Fusion of Social Democrats (FUSION), Fanmi Lavalas (FL), Ansamn Nou Fo, PLAPH Coalition (Assembly of Progressive National Democrats (RNDP) and several other parties), National Christian Party for Haiti's Reconstruction (UNION), RESPE, and several others.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
GDP (2009 est.): 6.56 billion.
Real GDP growth rate (2009 est.): 2.0%.
Per capita GDP (2009 est.): $733.
GDP by sector (2009): Agriculture--24%; industry--8%; services--43%; other--25%.
Inflation (2009 est.): -4.7%.
Natural resources: Bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble.
Agriculture (24% of GDP): Products--coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, cacao, sorghum, pulses, other fruits and vegetables.
Industry (8% of GDP): Types--apparel, handicrafts, electronics assembly, food processing, beverages, tobacco products, furniture, printing, chemicals, steel.
Services (43% of GDP): Commerce, hotels and restaurants, government, tourism.
Trade (2009 est.): Total exports f.o.b.--$551 million: apparel, mangoes, leather and raw hides, seafood, electrical. Major market--U.S. Total imports f.o.b.--$2.04 billion: grains, soybean oil, motor vehicles, machinery, meat, vegetables, plastics, petroleum.
Note: The figures reflect estimates, as national statistics may not be reliable.
Although Haiti averages about 350 people per square kilometer, its population is concentrated most heavily in urban areas, coastal plains, and valleys. About 95% of Haitians are of African descent. The rest of the population is mostly of mixed Caucasian-African ancestry. A few are of European or Levantine heritage. Sixty percent of the population lives in rural areas.
French is one of two official languages, but it is spoken fluently by only about 10% of the people. All Haitians speak Creole, the country's other official language. English and Spanish are increasingly used as second languages among the young and in the business sector.
The dominant religion is Roman Catholicism. Increasing numbers of Haitians have converted to Protestantism through the work of missionaries active throughout the country. Much of the population also practices voudou (voodoo), recognized by the government as a religion in April 2003. Haitians tend to see no conflict in these African-rooted beliefs coexisting with Christian faith.
Although public education is free, the cost is still quite high for Haitian families who must pay for uniforms, textbooks, supplies, and other inputs. Due to weak state provision of education services, private and parochial schools account for approximately 90% of primary schools, and only 65% of primary school-aged children are actually enrolled. At the secondary level, the figure drops to around 20%. Less than 35% of those who enter will complete primary school. Though Haitians place a high value on education, few can afford to send their children to secondary school and primary school enrollment is dropping due to economic factors. Remittances sent by Haitians living abroad are important in paying educational costs. After the January 12, 2010 earthquake most schools in the greater Port-au-Prince area were not operating, though some schools re-opened on April 5. As of July 1, 2010, 75% of students in earthquake-affected areas had returned to school.
Large-scale emigration, principally to the U.S.--but also to Canada, the Dominican Republic, The Bahamas and other Caribbean neighbors, and France--has created what Haitians refer to as the Eleventh Department or the Diaspora. About one of every eight Haitians lives abroad. Although the expatriate Haitian community has a strong interest in Haiti's future and a positive financial impact on the Haitian economy, the Haitian Diaspora is constrained by Article 15 of Haiti's 1987 Constitution, which prohibits dual citizenship. Consequently, Haitian Americans lack political rights in their homeland, including voting rights; property rights are restricted for foreign nationals.
The Spaniards used the island of Hispaniola (of which Haiti is the western part and the Dominican Republic the eastern) as a launching point from which to explore the rest of the Western Hemisphere. French buccaneers later used the western third of the island as a point from which to harass English and Spanish ships. In 1697, Spain ceded the western third of Hispaniola to France. As piracy was gradually suppressed, some French adventurers became planters, making Saint Domingue, as the French portion of the island was known, the "pearl of the Antilles"--one of the richest colonies in the 18th century French empire.
During this period, African slaves were brought to work on sugarcane and coffee plantations. In 1791, the slave population revolted--led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, Jean Jacques Dessalines, and Henri Christophe--and gained control of the northern part of the French colony, waging a war of attrition against the French.
By January 1804, local forces defeated an army sent by Napoleon Bonaparte, established independence from France, and renamed the area Haiti. The impending defeat of the French in Haiti is widely credited with contributing to Napoleon's decision to sell the Louisiana territory to the United States in 1803. Haiti is the world's oldest black republic and the second-oldest republic in the Western Hemisphere, after the United States. Although Haiti actively assisted the independence movements of many Latin American countries, the independent nation of former slaves was excluded from the hemisphere's first regional meeting of independent nations, in Panama in 1826, and did not receive U.S. diplomatic recognition until 1862.
Two separate regimes--north and south--emerged after independence but were unified in 1820. Two years later, Haiti occupied Santo Domingo, the eastern, Spanish-speaking part of Hispaniola. In 1844, however, Santo Domingo broke away from Haiti and became the Dominican Republic. With 22 changes of government from 1843 to 1915, Haiti experienced numerous periods of intense political and economic disorder, prompting the United States military intervention of 1915. Following a 19-year occupation, U.S. military forces were withdrawn in 1934, and Haiti regained sovereign rule.
The late 1950s saw the start of the violent and repressive dictatorship of François "Papa Doc" Duvalier. Elected president in 1957, he declared himself president-for-life in 1964 and ruled until his death in 1971 with the help of his paramilitary force, the Tontons Macoutes. François Duvalier was succeeded by his son, Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier, who also declared himself president-for-life. The Duvaliers' rule was characterized by repressive state controls, including the lack of basic democratic rights. Faced with economic collapse and a popular uprising, Jean-Claude Duvalier fled to France on February 7, 1986. The period immediately after his departure was marked by mob vengeance against members of the Tontons Macoutes. From 1986 to 1990, Haiti was ruled by a series of provisional governments. In March 1987, a constitution was ratified that provides for an elected, bicameral parliament; an elected president who serves as head of state; and a prime minister, cabinet, ministers, and supreme court appointed by the president with parliament's consent. The Haitian Constitution also provides for political decentralization through the election of mayors and administrative bodies responsible for local government.
In December 1990, Jean-Bertrand Aristide won 67% of the vote in a presidential election that international observers deemed largely free and fair. Aristide took office on February 7, 1991, but was overthrown that September in a violent coup led by army elements and supported by many of the country's economic elite. The coup contributed to a large-scale exodus of Haitians by boat. From October 1991 to September 1994 a de facto military regime governed Haiti. Several thousand Haitians may have been killed during the de facto military rule. Various Organization of American States (OAS) and United Nations initiatives to end the political crisis through the peaceful restoration of the constitutionally elected government failed. On July 31, 1994, the UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 940, which authorized member states to use all necessary means to facilitate the departure of Haiti's military leadership and to restore Haiti's constitutionally elected government to power.
The United States took the lead in forming a multinational force (MNF) to carry out the UN's mandate by means of a military intervention. In mid-September, with U.S. troops prepared to enter Haiti by force, Gen. Raoul Cedras and other top leaders agreed to accept the intervention of the MNF. On September 19, 1994, the first contingents of what became a 21,000-member international force touched down in Haiti to oversee the end of military rule and the restoration of the constitutional government. President Aristide and other elected officials in exile returned on October 15.
Nationwide local and parliamentary elections in June 1995 returned a pro-Aristide, multi-party coalition called the Lavalas Political Organization (OPL) to power at all levels. In accordance with the constitutional bar on succeeding himself, President Aristide agreed to step aside and support a presidential election in December 1995. Rene Preval, a prominent Aristide political ally, took 88% of the vote, and was sworn in to a 5-year term on February 7, 1996, during what was Haiti's first-ever transition between two democratically elected presidents.
In late 1996, former President Aristide broke from the OPL and created a new political party, the Lavalas Family (FL). The OPL, holding the majority of the Parliament, renamed itself the Struggling People's Organization. Initial results of elections in April 1997 for the renewal of one-third of the Senate and creation of commune-level assemblies and town delegations showed victories for FL candidates in most races. However, the elections, which drew only about 5% of registered voters, were plagued with allegations of fraud and not certified by most international observers as free and fair.
Preval's first term was marked by political wrangling. The opposition blocked his initiatives, and he failed to organize timely legislative elections. Following parliamentary elections that the opposition deemed deeply flawed on August 28, 2000, Haiti's main bilateral donors re-channeled their assistance away from the government and announced they would not support or send observers to the November elections. Most opposition parties regrouped in an alliance that became the Democratic Convergence. Elections for President and nine Senators took place on November 26, 2000. All major opposition parties boycotted these elections, in which voter participation was estimated at 5%. Jean-Bertrand Aristide emerged as the easy victor of these controversial elections, and the candidates of his FL party swept all contested Senate seats. On February 7, 2001, Jean-Bertrand Aristide was inaugurated as President.
The political stalemate continued, and violence ensued. On July 28, 2001, unknown gunmen attacked police facilities in Port-au-Prince and the provinces. A subsequent government crackdown on opposition party members and former soldiers further increased tensions between Lavalas and Convergence. On December 17, 2001, unidentified gunmen attacked the National Palace in Port-au-Prince. Following the assault, pro-government groups attacked the offices and homes of several opposition leaders. One opposition member was killed. Negotiations between FL and Democratic Convergence were suspended indefinitely.
Despite the creation of an OAS Special Mission designed to strengthen Haiti's democratic institutions in security, justice, human rights, and governance, security continued to deteriorate. Events spiraled downward throughout 2003, as President Aristide and the opposition failed to agree on a political resolution. Following a meeting with Aristide at the Summit of the Americas in January 2004, Caribbean Community leaders proposed a plan to resolve the political crisis, which President Aristide said he accepted. A high-level international delegation went to Haiti February 21 to obtain agreement on a specific implementation timetable. President Aristide agreed, but the opposition "Democratic Platform" group of political parties and civil society expressed reservations. Meanwhile, violence in Gonaives culminated February 5 in the "Artibonite Resistance Front" seizing control of the city. Other armed groups opposed to the Aristide government quickly emerged and succeeded in seizing control of many towns, mostly with little resistance from government authorities. By February 28, 2004, a rebel group led by a former police chief, Guy Philippe, advanced to within 25 miles of the capital. On February 29, 2004 Aristide submitted his resignation as President of Haiti and flew on a chartered plane to Africa.
2004-2007 - Interim Government Gives Way to a New Democracy
Following the constitutional line of succession, Supreme Court Chief Justice Boniface Alexandre assumed the presidency and Gerard Latortue was appointed prime minister of the Interim Government of Haiti (IGOH) with the mandate of organizing elections to choose a new government. The interim government managed to organize three rounds of elections with the help of the OAS and UN. The first round of elections for President and Parliament took place peacefully on February 7, 2006, with a turnout estimated at over 60% of registered voters. The elections were considered generally free, fair, transparent, and democratic by national and international observers.
Rene Preval, former President (1996-2001) and former ally to Aristide, won the presidential election with 51.15%. Partial results first showed he fell short of an absolute majority, which triggered demonstrations against alleged fraud. The later decision of the Electoral Council not to count blank ballots gave the victory to Preval. The Parliament, composed of a 30-seat Senate and a 99-member Chamber of Deputies, was elected in two rounds held on February 7 and April 21, 2006. Lespwa was the main political force in both chambers but fell short of the majority. Fusion, UNION, Alyans, OPL, and Fanmi Lavalas had many representatives in both chambers. Preval chose his long-time political associate and former Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis to serve again as his Prime Minister. Municipal elections were held December 3, 2006 and April 29, 2007. Some of these local government positions had not been filled in over a decade.
A series of crises in 2008 threatened Haiti's democratic consolidation. Nationwide civil disturbances broke out in April 2008, sparked by sharp increases in food and fuel prices. The April riots caused widespread disruption and suffering, toppled the government of Prime Minister Alexis, and forced postponement of a donor conference. In August and September, four tropical storms and hurricanes killed 800, affected nearly one million, exacerbated food shortages and pushed yet more Haitians into poverty. In early September 2008, Prime Minister Michele Pierre-Louis's government took office and acted decisively within its means to provide relief and reconstruction. Pierre-Louis initially received cooperation from Parliament in crafting a relief package, but soon after Parliament summoned both her and her ministers to explain perceived delays in delivering relief assistance and to criticize her 2008-2009 budget. On October 20, 2009, Michele Pierre-Louis was dismissed by the Senate only one year after taking office. Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, former Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, took office in November.
Despite the devastating hurricanes and food riots in 2008, the Preval administration made substantial gains in the overall physical security throughout Haiti. The international community took notice of Haiti's relative stability, and in January 2009, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon commissioned British economist Paul Collier to draft an economic development strategy for Haiti. In February, shortly after taking office, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton identified Haiti as a policy priority. By March, Collier's report, "Haiti: From Natural Catastrophe to Economic Security" was adapted by the Government of Haiti as a template for its own economic growth strategy, presented at the Haiti Donor's Conference hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank in April. The strategy called on donors to assist the Haitian Government by investing in the country's roads, export zones, agriculture, electricity, schools, hospitals, and ports. In May 2009, the Secretary General named former President William J. Clinton as UN Special Envoy for Haiti and charged him with coordinating donors and attracting private investment to Haiti.
By most accounts, Haiti prior to the January 2010 earthquake enjoyed relative internal stability. Haiti had a fully functioning legislature, and although it had risked instability by ousting Prime Minister Michele Pierre-Louis, it demonstrated a marked readiness to act by promptly approving new Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive. The January 12 earthquake produced enormous devastation that threatens political and socio-economic stability and poses huge recovery and reconstruction challenges. On April 15, the Haitian Parliament ratified a law extending by 18 months the state of emergency that President Preval declared after the earthquake. The law also created the Interim Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti (IHRC). The IHRC will allow for Haitian-led planning with a role for international partners to provide input.
The disaster prompted postponement of legislative elections and casts uncertainty over whether presidential elections can be held at the end of 2010 as planned. On May 10, the mandates of one-third of the Senators and all of the 99 Deputies in the Haitian Parliament expired, leaving 19 Senators in office. In the interim, President Preval has the authority to rule by decree. Just before the mandates expired, Parliament passed a bill allowing President Preval to remain in office until May 2011, three months beyond the February date when he originally intended to step down. President Preval announced in June 2010 that presidential and parliamentary elections would be held on November 28, 2010.
January 12, 2010 Earthquake
On January 12, 2010, a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, with its epicenter near Port-au-Prince. The quake caused severe damage in Port-au-Prince, Leogane, Jacmel, and surrounding communities. Search and rescue teams were on the ground in Port-au-Prince immediately following the earthquake and worked 24 hours a day using listening devices, cameras, and trained dogs to detect any sign of human life. Rescue efforts eventually transitioned into recovery efforts on January 27, 15 days after the earthquake. The government estimated 230,000 deaths, about one million displaced people within the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, and 598,000 people who migrated from the affected areas to other locations in Haiti. Most of those people are thought to have returned to Port-au-Prince, as the communities of origin lacked the capacity to sustain the increase in population.
Following the earthquake, the U.S. military and representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT) worked side by side to recover, identify, and repatriate any American citizen that was recovered. All U.S. citizens believed to be in the Hotel Montana, which had collapsed in the earthquake, were repatriated back to the United States, and families of victims recovered from other locations were given the choice of repatriation or local disposition. The U.S. Embassy and the Bureau of Consular Affairs' Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management were in regular and direct contact with the families of all of the missing.
The earthquake was the worst in Haiti in the last 200 years, and generated an estimated $11.5 billion in damages and reconstruction costs. Assisting Haiti in recovery and rebuilding is a massive undertaking and requires a well-coordinated, well-funded, Government of Haiti-led effort by the Haitian people, the United States, the United Nations, other nations, international organizations, the Haitian Diaspora, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The outpouring of international support has been tremendous, as has the resolve of the Haitian people. The U.S. Government continues to work with the Haitian Government, NGOs, the UN, and partner nations to provide humanitarian assistance in Haiti. U.S. Government humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti total over $1 billion. The United States and other donor countries, international organizations, and other partners have pledged resources, coordinated support of Haiti's long-term recovery, and committed to a sustained, long-term effort to support Haiti. At the "International Donors' Conference Toward a New Future for Haiti," co-hosted by the United States and the United Nations on March 31, 2010 in New York, UN member states and international organizations pledged $9.9 billion toward long-term reconstruction. The United States pledged $1.15 billion toward reconstruction efforts in the areas of energy, health, agriculture, governance, and security. The Government of Haiti presented its action plan outlining its vision for the future, which donors unanimously endorsed.
International Presence 1995-2004
After the transition of the 21,000-strong MNF into a peacekeeping force on March 31, 1995, the presence of international military forces that helped restore constitutional government to power was gradually ended. Initially, the U.S.-led UN peacekeeping force numbered 6,000 troops, but that number was scaled back progressively over the next 4 years as a series of UN technical missions succeeded the peacekeeping force. By January 2000, all U.S. troops stationed in Haiti had departed. In March 2000, the UN peacekeeping mission transitioned into a peace-building mission, the International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti (MICAH). MICAH consisted of some 80 non-uniformed UN technical advisers providing advice and material assistance in policing, justice, and human rights to the Haitian Government. MICAH's mandate ended on February 7, 2001, coinciding with the end of the Preval administration. The OAS Special Mission has some 25 international police advisors who arrived in summer 2003; in addition to observing and reporting on Haitian police performance, they provide limited technical assistance.
International Presence 2004-Present
At the request of the interim government and the UN, the U.S.-led Multilateral Interim Force, made up of troops from the U.S., Canada, France, and Chile, arrived in Port-au-Prince to ensure stability until the arrival of a UN peacekeeping force.
In April 2004, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1542, which created the UN Stability Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Since that time, the Security Council consistently and unanimously approved the renewal of MINUSTAH's mandate. On October 13, 2009, the UNSC voted unanimously to extend MINUSTAH's mandate for 12 months through October 15, 2010 with an authorized force of 6,940 troops and 2,241 civilian police. In response to the earthquake on January 12, 2010, the Security Council adopted on January 19 Resolution 1908 increasing the force levels of MINUSTAH by 2,000 troops and 1,500 civilian police to support the immediate recovery, reconstruction, and stability efforts in the country.
U.S. Southern Command established Joint Task Force Haiti to support the relief effort following the earthquake. At the height of the task force's initial response, the U.S. contributed more than 20,000 U.S. troops, 20 ships, and 130 aircraft. U.S. military forces were focused on mitigating the negative weather effects on displacement camps in Port-au-Prince, supporting efforts to relocate displacement camps to transitional resettlement sites, and positioning the task force for a seamless transition. By March 15, all Canadian troops had left Haiti. Joint Task Force Haiti completed its mission on June 1. A small military liaison office of eight people remained in Port-au-Prince to coordinate further humanitarian missions with the lead U.S. federal agency, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Government of Haiti during the already-scheduled theater security cooperation exercise called New Horizons. The exercise brought in about 500 soldiers, mainly from the Louisiana National Guard along with soldiers from the Arizona, Montana, Nevada, Puerto Rican, and Virgin Island National Guards, to conduct engineering activities and medical readiness training exercises in the vicinity of Gonaives, north of Port-au-Prince.
Principal MINUSTAH Officials
Special Representative of the Secretary General--Edmond Mulet (Guatemala)
Force Commander--Major-General Luiz Guilherme Paul Cruz (Brazil)
Police Commissioner-- Geraldo Chaumont (Argentina)
Resident Representative for UNDP--Nigel Fisher (Canada)
Principal Government Officials
President--Rene Preval (since May 14, 2006)
Prime Minister--Jean-Max Bellerive
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Marie-Michele Rey
Minister of Economy and Finances--Ronald Baudin
Ambassador to the U.S.--Raymond Joseph
Ambassador to the OAS--Duly Brutus Ambassador to the UN--Leo Merores
The Embassy of Haiti is located at 2311 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-332-4090).
Over the past 5 years, the Haitian economy has grown slowly. Economic growth averaged 2.3% per year in 2005-2009, up from minus 0.7% in 2000-2004. Despite this recent improvement, Haiti remains the least-developed country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world. Comparative social and economic indicators show Haiti falling behind other low-income developing countries (particularly in the hemisphere) since the 1980s. Haiti now ranks 146th of 177 countries in the UN's Human Development Index. Haiti's relative economic stagnation is the result of earlier inappropriate economic policies, political instability, a shortage of good arable land, environmental deterioration, continued reliance on traditional technologies, under-capitalization and lack of public investment in human resources, migration of large portions of the skilled population, a weak national savings rate, and the lack of a functioning judicial system.
The 1991 coup and the irresponsible economic and financial policies of the de facto regime resulted in a sharp economic decline from 1991-94. Following the coup, the United States adopted mandatory sanctions, and the OAS instituted voluntary sanctions aimed at restoring constitutional government. International sanctions culminated in the May 1994 UN embargo of all goods entering Haiti except humanitarian supplies, such as food and medicine. The assembly sector, heavily dependent on U.S. markets, employed over 100,000 workers in the mid-1980s. During the embargo, employment fell below 17,000. Private domestic and foreign investment has returned to Haiti slowly. Since the embargo's end following the return of President Aristide from exile on October 15, 1994, assembly sector employment has gradually recovered to about 28,000. The Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act, enacted by the U.S. Congress in December 2006 and extended in May 2008 for 10 years, provided trade preferences for textile/apparel products that could boost production in the sector. It expanded duty-free treatment to products that are wholly assembled or knit-to-shape in Haiti regardless of the origin of the inputs. In May 2010, Congress passed the Haitian Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act, extending the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act and the HOPE Act through September 30, 2020. The Help Act also expands the duty-free treatment of imported apparel made in Haiti or the Dominican Republic irrespective of the source of the inputs, and increases the quota for tariff preference levels for knit and woven apparel from 70 million to 200 million square meter equivalents. However, growth has been stalled by investor concerns over security, lack of access to credit, and legal and physical infrastructure constraints.
The country's current economic agenda remains essentially the same as in President Preval's first term (1996-2001), consisting of trade/tariff liberalization, measures to control government expenditure and increase tax revenues, civil service downsizing, financial sector reform, some privatization of state-owned companies (including the telecommunications company, the sale of which was finalized in April 2010), the provision of private sector management contracts, and public-private investment. Workers in Haiti are guaranteed the right of association. Unionization is protected by the labor code. In October 2009, the legal minimum wage was raised from 70 gourdes a day (about $1.75) to 200 gourdes (about $5) for most workers and to 125 gourdes (about $3.15) for textile workers.
Following almost 5 years of recession ending in 2004, the Haitian economy grew by 1.8% in 2005, 2.3% in 2006, and 3.4% in 2007. Growth slowed to 0.8% in 2008, following the food and oil crisis and the devastating 2008 hurricane season, but reached 2.9% in 2009. However, significant improvement in living standards would require an estimated doubling of the growth rate. Inflation rose to 20% in 2008 due to the food and oil crisis, but fell to less than 1% for calendar year 2009. The Preval administration has largely sound fiscal policies, but the low revenue collection rate (roughly 9.5% of GDP) remains insufficient to provide social services and invest in physical and human capital. External assistance (more than $1.5 billion from 2007 to 2009) as well as Diaspora remittances (estimated at approximately $1.2 billion per year) remain critical to keeping the economy afloat. In November 2006, Haiti was approved for an International Monetary Fund (IMF) Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). In June 2009, Haiti received U.S. $1.2 billion in multilateral debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiatives.
According to a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) undertaken by the World Bank, UN, European Commission (EC), and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the total value of damage and losses caused by the January 12, 2010 earthquake is estimated at U.S. $7.863 billion, which is the equivalent of more than 120% of Haiti's 2009 GDP. Most damage and losses were experienced by the private sector ($5.5 billion, or 70%), while the public sector impact was $2.4 billion (or 30% of the total). The value of destroyed physical assets--including housing units, schools, hospitals, buildings, roads and bridges, ports, and airports--was estimated at $4.302 billion (55% of the total effects of the disaster). Economic losses (loss of production, reduction in turnover, loss of employment and salaries, increased costs of production, etc.) reached $3.561 billion (the equivalent of 45% of the total). Housing is the sector most affected by the earthquake, with damages estimated at about $2.3 billion. The other sectors, in decreasing order of magnitude in terms of the impact sustained, are trade (damage and losses of $639 million, or 8% of the total), transport and government buildings ($595 million each), and education and health (with an average of 6% of the total).
Foreign Assistance
Haiti is one of the original members of the United Nations and several of its specialized and related agencies, as well as a member of the Organization of American States (OAS). It maintains diplomatic relations with several dozen countries.
Major bilateral donors include the United States, Canada, the EU, Spain, France, Brazil, Norway, Japan, and Venezuela. Cuba provides highly visible, low-cost medical and technical experts. Multilateral aid is provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and the UN and its agencies. Most bilateral assistance is currently channeled through non-governmental organizations.
At the March 31, 2010 post-earthquake donor conference in New York, over 50 countries and organizations pledged more than $9.9 billion in support to Haiti. The short-term assistance totaled $5.3 billion for the next 18 months, with the remainder for Haiti's long-term reconstruction needs over the next decade. The United States committed $1.15 billion over 2010-2011, not including $1 billion already spent as of May 2010.
Haiti received approximately $1.2 billion in multilateral debt relief from the IDB and World Bank and 100% debt cancellation from bilateral donors in the Paris Club following completion of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) process in June 2009. Following the earthquake, multilateral organizations agreed to provide additional debt relief. In March 2010, the IDB Board of Governors agreed on a plan to forgive all of Haiti's outstanding debt with the IDB--approximately $479 million. The IDB also agreed to provide $200 million annually to a grant facility for Haiti from 2010-2020 (for a total of $2.2 billion over 10 years). The World Bank will likewise forgive remaining debt, and announced that $479 million will be made available to support Haiti's recovery and development through June 2011, including $250 million in new funding. The current debt outstanding to the IMF is U.S. $271 million, including $114 million disbursed immediately after the earthquake. No payments are due to the IMF by Haiti before 2012, and the debt has a zero interest rate.
U.S. policy toward Haiti is designed to foster economic growth, enhance government capacity, and strengthen democracy; help alleviate poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition; promote respect for human rights; counter illegal migration and drug trafficking; and assist in the reconstruction of the country after the January 2010 earthquake. The U.S. also supports and facilitates bilateral trade and investment along with legal migration and travel. U.S. policy goals are met through direct bilateral action and by working with the international community. The Haitian Diaspora is a potentially powerful ally in the effort to strengthen U.S. policy initiatives in Haiti.
The United States has taken a leading role in organizing international involvement with Haiti. The United States works closely with the Organization of American States (OAS), particularly through the Secretary General's "Friends of Haiti" group (originally a UN group that included the U.S., Canada, France, Venezuela, Chile, and Argentina which was enlarged in 2001 to add Germany, Spain, Norway, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and The Bahamas), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and individual countries to achieve policy goals. The U.S. is a member of the board of the Interim Haitian Reconstruction Commission, established in May 2010 by the Government of Haiti. This commission is co-chaired by Prime Minister Bellerive and former President William J. Clinton. Both Haitian and international stakeholders sit on the board of directors.
Maintaining good relations with and fostering democracy in Haiti are important for many reasons, not least of which is the country's geographical proximity to the continental United States. In addition to the many Haitians who receive visas to immigrate into the U.S. (averaging over 13,000 annually in FY 1999-2003), there is a flow of illegal migrants. Over 100,000 undocumented Haitian migrants were intercepted at sea by the U.S. Coast Guard in the past two decades, particularly during the 1991-94 period of illegal military rule when more than 67,000 migrants were interdicted. Since the return of the legitimate government in 1994, the interdiction of illegal migrants by U.S. Coast Guard vessels has decreased dramatically, averaging fewer than 1,500 annually. Neighboring Caribbean countries, particularly The Bahamas, continue to interdict Haitian migrants as well. The prospect remains, however, for the renewal of higher flows of illegal migrants, particularly under conditions of political unrest or further economic downturn. Following the January 12, 2010 earthquake, the U.S. Coast Guard has not seen a rise in illegal migration by sea. On January 15, 2010, the U.S. granted temporary protected status (TPS) for 18 months to Haitians living illegally in the U.S. During that period, they are allowed to live and work in the U.S. upon submission and approval of a TPS application.
U.S. Economic and Development Assistance
Political insecurity and the failure of Haiti's government to invest in developing the country's natural and human resources has contributed significantly to the country's current state of underdevelopment. U.S. efforts to strengthen democracy and help build the foundation for economic growth aim to rectify this condition. The U.S. has been Haiti's largest donor since 1973. Between FY 1995 and FY 2003, the U.S. contributed more than $850 million in assistance to Haiti. Since 2004, the U.S. has provided over $1.5 billion for improving governance, security, the rule of law, economic recovery, and critical human needs. President Barack Obama's budget request (prior to the 2010 earthquake) for FY 2011 was $359 million, and the President's post-quake supplemental budget request was $2.8 billion.
Haiti has been plagued for decades by extremely high unemployment and underemployment. The precipitous decline in urban assembly sector jobs, from a high of over 100,000 in 1986 to fewer than 20,000 in 2006, exacerbated the scarcity of jobs. To revitalize the economy, U.S. assistance attempts to create opportunities for stable sustainable employment for the growing population, particularly in rural areas. Programs that help to increase commercial bank lending to micro-enterprises, especially in the agricultural sector, have helped to create a significant number of jobs. More recently, since the January 2010 earthquake, the United States has sponsored numerous cash-for-work programs to employ Haitians in post-earthquake clean-up and rubble removal. The Government of Haiti estimated that 90,000 jobs were lost as a result of the quake, but information on the location and sector are not available. However, in the apparel assembly sector, which is monitored more closely, quake impact was minimal.
Combating Drug Trafficking
Haiti is a transshipment point for South American narcotics, primarily cocaine, being moved into the United States by trafficking networks who take advantage of weak law enforcement and judicial institutions. The U.S. Government, through the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs section and other agencies at Embassy Port-au-Prince, counters this threat with a focus on developing the capacity of the Haitian National Police--including the counternarcotics division and units dealing with money laundering and financial crimes--through training support and operational assistance. The U.S. also provides material assistance and training to the Haitian Coast Guard for interdiction of drugs and illegal migrants. In recent years, the Haitian Government has agreed to the expulsion of several traffickers under indictment in the United States to stand trial in U.S. courts.
U.S. Business Opportunities
The U.S. remains Haiti's largest trading partner. Port-au-Prince is less than 2 hours by air from Miami, with several daily direct flights. Daily flights also connect Port-au-Prince with New York and Fort Lauderdale. Both Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien on the north coast have deepwater port facilities, although the Port-au-Prince seaport sustained significant damage in the January 2010 earthquake. The port of Cap-Haitien also needs dredging to bring it to the 11 meters required to dock cruise ships and large cargo vessels. Many Haitian entrepreneurs conduct business in English, and U.S. currency circulates freely in Haiti. A number of U.S. firms, including commercial banks, telecommunications, airlines, oil and agribusiness companies, and U.S.-owned assembly plants are present in Haiti.
Over the past year, Haiti has emerged as a country that holds real economic potential in areas as diverse as tourism, light manufacturing, biodiesel, and agriculture. Strategic investments in these sectors will ensure that Haitians can better help themselves once the humanitarian relief has moved on. In particular, private business sector investment is crucial to ensure long-term development beyond the reconstruction phase. Following a visit of 200 international investors to Haiti in October 2009, coordination has taken place between private businesses and companies that provide logistics and markets. As a result, international chains like Best Western and Choice Hotels started building new hotels in Haiti.
Opportunities for U.S. businesses include the development and trade of raw and processed agricultural products; medical supplies and equipment; rebuilding and modernizing Haiti's infrastructure (particularly relevant in the wake of the January 2010 earthquake); developing tourism and allied sectors--including arts and crafts; and improving capacity in waste disposal, transportation, energy, telecommunications, and export assembly operations. Haiti's primary assembly sector inputs include textiles, electronics components, and packaging materials. Other U.S. export prospects include electronic machinery, including power-generation, sound and television equipment, plastics and paper, construction materials, plumbing fixtures, hardware, and lumber. Benefits for both Haitian and American importers and exporters are available under the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA)--which provides for duty-free export of many Haitian products assembled from U.S. components or materials--the successor program to the Caribbean Basin Initiative, and the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act provides additional duty-free preferences for qualifying apparel/textiles products and automotive wire harnesses. The HOPE Act of 2006 extended duty-free treatment on imports of knit and woven apparel assembled in Haiti regardless of the source of the inputs. However, HOPE was less successful than anticipated, in part because the majority of the trade benefits it extended lasted only 5 years. HOPE II, passed in 2008, extended Haiti's trade preferences for 10 years and liberalized the rules of origin. While HOPE II is estimated to have created at least 7,000 jobs, Haitian stakeholders called for new legislation following the earthquake to induce more international companies to operate in Haiti. The Haitian Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act signed into law in May 2010 expands the duty-free treatment of imported apparel made in Haiti or the Dominican Republic to 2020 without regard to the source of the fabric. These new improvements aim to attract major international brands and apparel manufacturers, particularly from South Korea and Brazil.
U.S. export opportunities also exist for four-wheel-drive vehicles, consumer electronics, rice, wheat, flour, animal and vegetable fats, meat, chicken, vegetables, and processed foodstuffs. The Government of Haiti seeks to reactivate and develop agricultural industries where Haiti enjoys comparative advantages, among which are mangoes, coffee, cocoa, essential oils, spices, sisal, and other fruits and vegetables. The government encourages the inflow of new capital and technological innovations. Additional information on business opportunities in Haiti can be found in the Country Commercial Guide for Haiti.
Establishing a Business
Individuals wishing to practice a trade in Haiti must obtain an immigrant visa from a Haitian Consulate and, in most cases, a government work permit. Transient and resident traders must also have a professional ID card.
The Government of Haiti created the Center of Investment Facilitation (CFI) in August 2006. The aim of the organization is to facilitate and promote local investment by reducing administrative delays, streamlining the creation of enterprises, and facilitating the provision of inducements. For more information please go to http://www.cfihaiti.net.
Property restrictions still exist for foreign nationals. Foreigners' property rights are limited to 1.29 hectares in urban areas and 6.45 hectares in rural areas. No foreigner may own more than one residence in the same district, or own property or buildings near the border. To own real estate, authorization from the Ministry of Justice is necessary.
Hurdles for businesses in Haiti include poor infrastructure, a high-cost port, an irregular supply of electricity, and customs delays.
In November 2002, the Haitian Parliament passed an investment law prohibiting fiscal and legal discrimination against foreign investors. The 2002 law explicitly recognizes the crucial role of foreign direct investment in spurring economic growth and aims to facilitate, liberalize, and stimulate private investment in Haiti. Foreign investment protection is also provided by the Haitian Constitution of 1987, which permits expropriation of private property for public use or land reform with payment in advance. American firms enjoy free transfer of interest, dividends, profits, and other revenues stemming from their investments, and are guaranteed just compensation paid in advance of expropriation, as well as compensation in case of damages or losses caused by war, revolution, or insurrection. The U.S. and Haiti have a bilateral agreement on investment guarantees that permits the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation to offer programs in Haiti. The two governments also signed a bilateral investment treaty in December 1983, but it was not ratified.
Additional information on establishing a business in Haiti can be found at www.export.gov under market research, Country Commercial Guides.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Kenneth Merten
Deputy Chief of Mission--David Lindwall
Public Affairs Officer--Jerome Oetgen
USAID Director--Carleene Dei
The U.S. Embassy in Haiti's contact information can be found on its website at haiti.usembassy.gov.
Additional Contact Information
The U.S. Commercial Service does not have a separate office in Haiti. Interested parties may contact the U.S. Commercial Service in Santo Domingo:
U.S. Commercial Service
American Embassy
Ave. Pedro Henriquez Ureña No. 133
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel: (809) 227-2121
Fax: (809) 920-0267
Alternatively, they may contact the Port-au-Prince Embassy economic section at email@example.com. For more Embassy contacts, visit the Embassy's website at http://haiti.usembassy.gov/. (Note: As of mid-2010, Haiti's land line telephone system was not operating because of damage caused by the earthquake. Therefore, e-mail communication with the Embassy and other organizations located in Haiti is recommended.)
Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)
1615 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20527
Tel: (202) 457-7200
Fax: (202) 331-4234
U.S. Department of Commerce
14th and Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20230
Haiti Desk:
Tel: (202) 482-1810
Caribbean/Latin American Action
1818 N Street, NW, Suite 310
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 466-7464
Fax: (202) 822-0075
Association des Industries d'Haiti (ADIH)
Bldg. Le Triangle Delmas 31, #139
Tel: (509) 2246-4509/4510 or 2211
e-mail: email@example.com
Centre Pour la Libre Entreprise et la Democratie (CLED)
37, Avenue Marie-Jeanne,
No. 8 B.P. 1316
Tel: (509) 2244-0901 or (509) 2245-6039
Fax: (509) 2222-8252
Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie d'Haiti
P.O. Box 982
Tel: (509) 2222-0281 or (509) 2222-2475
Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AMCHAM)
Rue Oge, A-5
Republic of Haiti
Tel: (509) 2511-3024, fax not available