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Daphne Campbell who is a member of the Florida House of Representatives did not manage her words in regard to the current mass deportation of Haitians in the Bahamas. She came out strong to denounce this kind of discrimination against Haitians. Ms. Campbell calls for a boycott of the tourism industry in the Bahamas

As she repeated in a news conference given recently: "Boycott Bahamas! Boycott Bahamas to end discrimination against Haitian children!"

Daphne Campbell, a Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives recently spoke on Channel 7. She called to boycott Bahamas tourism for displaying a discriminating attitude towards Haitian children. As long as the immigration policy remains unchanged, arresting and deporting Haitian children born in Bahamas to Haiti, a land completely unknown to them, is unfair and injustice. She pledged to raise awareness around the world and has given Bahamian officials one week time to reverse the policy. However, the Bahamian Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell dismissed her threats as amazing stupidity and rejected her claims about mistreatment of Haitian children as baseless allegation.

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Here is a picture of the Cross re-enactment on Good Friday at Notre-Dame Catholic Church in Little Haiti, Miami

How Haitians Celebrate Good Friday

About 80% Haitians follow the Roman Catholic faith. Protestants make up another 16%, 3% practice other religions and 1% Haitians do not follow any religion. Thus, Good Friday is an important day in Haitian calendar. It's customary for Catholics to fast for the day, eating only one full meal that includes fish but absolutely no meat. Although one of the most important parts of the Easter tradition in Haiti is the meal, there are many Haitians who don't eat anything and others only eat bread and water. No one, whether Catholic or Protestant would put red meat on the table on this holy day, because as the myth goes, red meat put on the table would turn into blood. Food is generally served in the noon; people eat rice and fish cooked with white beans and beets root. During dinner time, the boys wander around with their friends, make and fly kites. In some areas, there are contests for the nicest kites or the kites that fly the highest.

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Here is a picture of Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe with Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jean Monestime and Stare Representative daphne campbell at re-opening of the Caribbean Martketplace in Little Haiti

After a long hiatus of 18 year renovation, the Caribbean Marketplace in Miami's Little Haiti has been reopened on Friday, 18 July 2014 between 5pm and 7pm, following a grand reopening ceremony. This 9,500 square foot market is located right on the next door to the Little Haiti Cultural Center and is easily identifiable by its bright colors and vibrant activities. It houses gift shops, art and craft centers, a space for private events, refreshment and concession area and hosts Caribbean culture, community and special events. The ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by the Haiti's Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe. There were many other notable dignitaries present to witness the occasion including Miami-Dade County Commissioner for District 2 Jean Monestime, Miami City Commissioner Keon Hardemon (District 5), Florida State Senator Oscar Branyon II and Florida Representative Daphne D. Campbell. The re-establishment has been completed under a joint effort by the city of Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Little Haiti Cultural Complex (LHCC), District 5 Commissioner Keon Hardemon and the Northeast Second Avenue Partnership (NE2P) with a funding of $550,000 for the renovation work from Ford Foundation.

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Here is a picture of President Michel Martelly and Barack Obama in Washington DC.

For the first time, the U.S President Barack Obama met the Haitian President Michel Martelly on February 6, 2014 at the Oval office, Washington DC. The visit served as an opportunity for both the Presidents to discuss how the United States can continue its support to the Haitian government's effort to promote economic growth and strengthen democracy. The U.S President had said that he is satisfied with the recovery efforts of Haiti from the devastating earthquake and Martelly's sincere effort in holding the overdue election, but added that the progress had been very slow, may be of the complicated processes involved. He confirmed U.S.'s support on matters relating to improving the conditions of human rights, judicial reform and controlling corruption in the country. President Martelly thanked him for standing by the side of Haitian people. As per Ros-Lehtinen, a Congresswomwn and Representative from South Florida, Martelly took careful notes of every matter discussed and addressed every relevant question.

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Here is a picture of Deputy Gracia Delva as he is congratulating Michel Martelly as the new President of Haiti with his wife Sophia Martelly on his side. Like Michel Martelly, Gracia Delva ia an accomplished musician. He was the singer and also maestro of the group Mass Kompa. Before he was forced to return to Haiti, Mr. Delva played with the group Zinglen where he became very popular.

Gracia Delva, Michel Martelly, Sophia Martelly

Gracia Delva is a Haitian Singer, Composer turned actor who was born on November 20, 1973 at Marchand Dessalinnes in the Lower Artibonite. Delva formed his own group (Mass Konpa) in July 2003. He made his acting debut with the Haitian movie "Le 11eme Commandemant"(or, the 11 Commandments), released in July 2005 and started his music career with the formation of a young group "GEROSTAR". Although the group made him a star, but it lasted for a very short period. In 1992, he joined Djakout Mizik and made glorious performances on Champ de Mars and Eastern Parkway in New York. He left Haiti for U.S in 1996 and met geniuses Zenglen. They two created wonderful songs together like 'DWET 5'. However, his combination with Zenglen also did not last longer. Because of some U.S. immigration issues, Gracia had to leave America and settled in Haiti in 2002. After the music, he entered politics and was elected as MP for Marchand Dessalines and visited U.S on 22 September 2011 as a Member of Marchand Dessalines and also as the President of the Committee on Culture and Tourism. After nine years of absence, Gracia Delva has made his musical comeback with his band Mass Konpa in U.S.A on 19 May 2012.

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What To Expect After A Flood In Haiti

Thousands of families in Haiti and the neighboring Dominican Republic have been displaced by flooding during a week long heavy rains and cluster of storms in the northern Caribbean. As per Haiti's Department of Civil Protection, near a dozen civilians have lost their lives, at least 6,000 families were flooded with the destruction of minimum 66 homes, a vast number of crops have been damaged, and many livestock were killed in Northern Haiti. Mudslides from the mountains have pushed many houses to no where. Since most of the disaster has gone unnoticed on the international scene, very few aid groups have come up to help. The Haitian Prime Minister has released US$741,718.50, as a fund for relief to Cap Haitien. Issues of food, water and shelter are now a much bigger problem than clothes and medicine. "For HAITI With Love", a Palm Harbor, Florida based organization is exhibiting the service of God's love--they are feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick and providing shelter to the homeless.

Here is a list of thing that you can expect after a flood in Haiti:

Cholera

Homes flooded

Latrine overflow with feces everywhere

Mudslides, houses slipping off the mountain

Dead Animals representing a Health hazard

Vast number of crops damaged and livestock killed

Since people cook on charcoal, they are unable to cook

Watch out for animals that might have entered with the floodwaters

Some people will be missing as they are taken by the running water

Old home become unstable as seating water ruining their foundation

Many survivors will be displaced without food, water, clothes, electricity

Water level still increasing after rain as it's draining from the mountains

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Here is a picture of two Children of Haitian descent as they are being deported from the Bahamas. These children are not Haitians and have never been to Haiti. They were born in the Bahamas from Haitian families who are in the country illegally.

Children Of Haitian Descent Handcuffed Deported From Bahamas.

While viewing the images of the children of Haitian descent, being sent cuffed to ordered out of the Bahamas, Daphne Campbell, a Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives, has given her strong response to the act. She has condemned it as unfair, injustice and cruel. Punishing an innocent child whose only knowledge is that of the Bahamian soil, and separating him from own family and deported to another country which he has never seen, is totally inhumane. This new policy attempt by the Bahamian authority to curb illegal immigrants in the country, has caused much dissent among the Haitian activists. As per Campbell's statement, until something is done to resolve the issue, all industries should ban the Bahamas.

These innocent children probably feel humiliated as they are walking and apprehended by an immigration officer in the Bahamas. They have become the center of attention as the many in the neighborhood are stopping what they are doing to watch.

As I recollect, It their age, I was very proud and this would have been devastating to me.

Remember, these children have done nothing wrong

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Here is a picture of Mr. Emmanuel Ménard, the new person in charge of the Office of National Old Age Insurance (ONA)

On the occasion of celebrating its 49th anniversary, the Office of National Old Age Insurance (ONA) launched a brand new auditorium with an accommodating capacity of 500 seatings. On this opportunity, the new Director-General of ONA, Emmanuel Ménard presented the progress made in the present fiscal year (2013--2014) by the company during his five month tenure. So far, the company has become successful to raise 161 million gourdes in terms of contribution and it is a part of the fulfillment of his promise to make the institution profitable. The company has established "INFONA", an information service by internet (ona@ona.ht). Emmanuel Ménard, was the past President of the Transitional College of the Permanent Electoral Council (CTCEP) before being appointed as the Director-General of ONA on May 29, 2014. He replaced Bernard Desgraff in a situation when Desgraff was accused of squandering ONA employee funds, and the company was needing a high banking experienced manager not a politician with very little knowledge in management.

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Here is a man who has been trusted to be a spiritual leader in the Haitian community but instead was using his privileges and the trust installed in him by his followers to exploit young innocent children. cbs12.com has reported that 57-year-old Haitian Pastor Yves Similien of First Haitian Christian Church is now spending time at the St Lucie County Jail for allegedly forcing a 10 year-old to have sex before delivering Sunday sermon.

The 57-year-old Florida Pastor Yves Similien, is currently in police custody in allegation of preying on a 10-year-old girl and forced her to perform sex acts before his sermons. As per police sources, the girl has reported that, Pastor threatened to kill both that girl and her mother, if she ever discloses his misconduct to anyone. The girl has waited almost two years before reporting the incident to the police. The former church of Pastor Yves Similien was on north 9th street in Fort Pierce. Pastor Todd Smith from the Senior Pastor Common Ground Vineyard Church, where the girl used to worship, has said, "I'm saddened and shocked. It certainly is something we hate to see." Pastor Similien has admitted that he knew the girl, but denied all wrongdoing. Presently, He is being held at the St Lucie County Jail without any bond.

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Studies has found that Type 2 is The Form of Diabetes most prevalent among Haitians. Furthermore, Haitians with diabetes exhibit worse glycemic control, appear to be less likely to have control of their blood pressure and LDL levels than other ethnic groups.

The Form Of Diabetes Most Prevalent Among Haitians Is Type 2

"Diabetes Mellitus" or simply known as "Diabetes" is a disease due to inadequate insulin hormone secretion by the pancreas, leading to excess sugar level (blood sugar) in the blood stream that damages various organs in several ways. There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes (a form of diabetes that can occur during pregnancy). Type 1 diabetes is mostly insulin dependent and more prevalent in young ages. It is a situation when the pancreas produces very little or no amount of insulin at all. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of this disease, found mostly in people aged over 40. However, it is never uncommon among young adults. It is generally non-insulin dependent, normally found in people who are overweight, or with ages, faulty food habits, tension, lifestyle and among people with a family background of diabetes. A recent study has shown that a major part of the Haitian-American community has fallen prey of Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes is a serious but highly manageable disease through regulated lifestyle, balanced diabetic diet and medicine under the supervision of a Registered Dietitian (RD). A recent study has shown that 8.2% of Haitians have higher mean of HbA1c with poor blood pressure control, compared to white patients (below 7.7%) and black patients (7.7%). "HbA1c" is a measure of "glycated haemoglobin" that gives an an overall picture of what our average blood sugar levels had been, over a period of weeks/months. However, the BMI (Body Mass Index) of average Haitians (30.8) although was beyond the preferable limit (18.5 to 25), it is better than the white (33.4) and black patients (33.8). However, in spite of other higher rates of uncontrolled risk factors, Haitians have less complication with retinopathy, less evidence of smoking and fortunately, lower mean BMI in comparison to other group and a shorter exposure time to risk factors, they have been benefited with lower rates of diabetes related complications.

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