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Southwestern city of Jérémie has been distinguished for its busy port and thriving artists' colony, known as "City of Poets".

Established in 1756, its port started up 51 years later. It has exported cacao, coffee beans, sugar, bananas, timber wood, and animal hides.

Two districts compose Jérémie: residential neighborhood, Haut-Ville, and merchant area Basse-Ville.

Jérémie's economy suffered a setback post-1964, due to François Duvalier's shuttering of the port. It was a payback for dissidents' disapproval of his brutal policies.

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Jérémie, situated on the north coast of the Tiburon Peninsula, was established in the mid-1700s. Its port is part of Gulf Gonâve, and began exporting staples, timber wood, and raw hide in 1807.

Mulatto-elite Haitians settled Jérémie and produced writers, poets, and historians. For this reason, Jérémie has been labeled "City of Poets". Two districts comprise Jérémie, Haut-Ville, and Basse-Ville.

François Duvalier ruined its economy in the mid-sixties when he closed the port as retaliation for criticism of his repressive policies.

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Jérémie, a mid-size city in Haiti, is known as a womb of creativity. The city has given birth to many poets, writers, and other artists.

Because writers are often critics of repressive governments, Jérémie was targeted by Dictator François Duvalier, whose death squad murdered 27 of its inhabitants in 1964.

A memorial signifying the deaths of the Jérémie Vespers massacre was erected by Monsignor Romelus in 1986, and a book Le Pouvoir De La Foi, written by Bernard Sansaricq, documents that day's horrific events.

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Jérémie, capital of Grand-Anse Department, is a remote area of Haiti, separated by Grande-Anse River, which runs nearby.

Its geographic location made it vulnerable to François Duvalier's death squad, which preyed on its residents in 1964, slaughtering 27 people.

The nearest populated area to Jérémie is Navassa Island, lying 46 miles west.

Many poets and authors have been natives of the city, most notably General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, whose son, the famous author, Alexandre Dumas, wrote The Three Musketeers.

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Haiti is experiencing a renaissance in air travel. Not since 1995 has Haiti had an airline; but a new airline, Haiti Aviation, has started service. Its first flight was from Miami to Port-au-Prince. And a Canadian route began at the end of 2012, with more routes to come.

Private investors have made this addition to Haiti's tourism infrastructure possible. Tourism Minister Villedrouin says making travel packages affordable will encourage the Diaspora to fly to Haiti more often.

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This is a sign that demonstrates that boys will always be boys. The Haitian parliament turned into a boxing range in July 2013 when several Haitian Deputies decided that action is worth more than talking. As you can see in a video, the Haitian deputies forgot all decencies and civility when they decide to at each other in a physical manner.

Is this what we want our children to see. Even more, do we want that as a role model for our children.

We need to pray for Haiti

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A far-right religious group, upset over a gay-rights proposal to permit gays to wed, blanketed Port-au-Prince in a mass demonstration against same-sex marriage. Haitian Coalition of Religious and Moral Organizations were vehement, vowing to set Parliament on fire while in session, if they considered the proposal.

One coalition member said, "Haiti is not going to accept this." Haiti does not have any laws on the books opposing same-sex couples to marry, another reason for the group's outrage.

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Recently gay-rights advocates denounced the rise in threats of violence against gay-identified individuals, provoking a demonstration march.

Haitian Coalition of Religious and Moral Organizations amassed in the capital's streets. Holding signs of anti-gay sentiments, they warned Parliament if gay marriage was considered, they would light it on fire while in session.

A coalition member was quoted as saying ". . . God will punish us further if we allow this law to pass."

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One thousand-plus members of the Haitian Coalition of Religious and Moral Organizations swarmed Port-au-Prince in a protest march against same-sex marriage on Friday July 19th.

Representatives of several religious denominations including Voodoo held up homophobic signs and warned Parliament it would set fire to it if they passed legislation permitting same-sex couples to marry.

No law barring same sex marriage is on the books, but gay advocates are sending a proposal to Parliament that would give same-sex couples the right to wed.

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Dieudonne Étienne, Minister of Tourism in North Department, inaugurated the Festival of the Sea pre-event ceremony in Cap-Haitien, site of the festival. The 2013 theme is "Let's Keep Our Beaches Clean!" Attending were Cap-Haitien's mayor and the Tourist Association and Chamber of Commerce presidents.

In her remarks, Étienne invited all tourism officials and employees to participate in the Festival. She emphasized the potential for small- and medium-size companies to benefit from the marketing of North Department as a prime vacation spot for tourists.

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