Business

Haiti-DR border markets and traffic in paralysis

DAJABON, Dominican Republic (defend.ht) - A private bus with passengers is stranded on the Haiti side of the border unable to enter. On strike, Federation of Carriers President said "the Dominican people have the ability to paralyze this market and get respect" faced with what he considered an affront, the ban on Dominican poultry products in Haiti.

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SAETA signs $1 Million contract to dress Haiti National Teams

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - A week before the two-test matches of Les Grenadier respectively against Spain in Miami and Italy in Brazil, the Haitian Football Federation (FHF) announced through Robert Yves Jean-Bart, a $1 Million contract with the Colombian supplier SAETA, a sponsorship deal to dress all different national teams in the country.

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JetBlue tickets to Haiti on sale Now for as low as $134.00

NEW YORK, USA (defend.ht) - JetBlue has announced its prices for non-stop flights from New York's JFK Airport or the Fort Lauderdale Airport to Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. These tickets that are on sale now are $159 one way from New York and $134 one way from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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Electricité d’Haïti inaugurates power plant and administration in Fort Liberté

FORT LIBERTE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Electricite d'Haiti (EDH) inaugurated a new power plant and announced the opening of a new Commercial and Administrative Building of the Northeast in Fort Liberté. Along with supplying the area with 5 MW of electricity, now customers in Fort-Liberté, Derac, Ferrier, Ouanaminthe, Terrier Rouge, Trou du Nord and surrounding areas can obtain service from the electric company.

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Haiti: Explosion sets Government Building and Marche du Port on Fire

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - An explosion at the Maritime and Navigation Service of Haiti building set off a fire that overtook the two-story government structure and the Marche du Port next door.

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Yunus taps Brazil Foods to develop poultry industry in Haiti

SAO PAULO, Brazil (defend.ht) - Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist, Mohammed Yunus, announced an investment in the Brazilian food production giant, Brazil Foods (BRF), to establish operations in Haiti and develop its poultry industry after a feasibility study in rural and urban processing and research on animal genetics and technology of food for birds was undertaken.

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White-Mark Entertainment contracts with Caribbean Fever Music Festival at Barclays Center

NEW YORK, USA (defend.ht/DML) - May 22, 2013: Today White-Mark Entertainment (WME) announced its contract with the 2013 Caribbean Fever Music Festival, a premier celebration of Caribbean cultures, cuisine, fashion and music. Presented in partnership with Irie Jamboree, Inc., the Caribbean Fever Music Festival is a three-day live event taking place during Labor Day Weekend on Friday, August 30 through Sunday, September 1, 2013 at the landmark Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn, New York.

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Loans between Pledged and Disbursed Health Aid

WASHINGTON, D.C. (defend.ht) - Now, aid groups will be able to obtain financing with a line of credit from Pledge Guarantee for Health, a public-private partnership between the United States and Sweden and commercial banks that aims to get aid recipients, working in health, the money they need faster.

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Carrefour-Feuilles in blackout, EDH apologizes

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Electricity of Haiti apologized to residents in one of Haiti's largest districts, Carrefour-Feuilles, for power rationing caused by the failure of the CAF 2-1 circuit. Although teams are working to repair the circuit, it fears armed intruders may make this operation difficult. This expands the extreme shortage of energy being felt in the metropolitan area.

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Leopard Haiti Fund Makes First Investment in dloHaiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht/LeopardCapital) – The Leopard Capital Haiti Fund made it's first investment into dloHaiti, a company owned by Silicon Valley executive Jim Chu. In March 2013, dloHaiti was runner-up in Imagine H2O's annual international competition recognizing the world's most promising water start-ups. Press release:

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JetBlue readies for direct flights to Haiti

NEW YORK, USA (defend.ht) - It was first mentioned by its CEO David Barger in September of 2009 but today jetBlue is announcing that pending approval from the Haitian and U.S. governments it will begin offering daily non-stop flights from New York, Fort-Lauderdale to Port-au-Prince.

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Victims of Tabarre Market Fires Decry Broken Promises

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Merchants at the public market in Tabarre mobilized on Wednesday to denounce that a year and a day ago after the market caught of fire, President Michel Martelly visited them to say there was a fund of $5 million [US] already available in the public treasury to repair the victims, but since, not a penny had been disbursed.

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Haiti: State electricity company disconnected for arrears of payment

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Less than a week after Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe promised 24-hour electricity throughout Haiti within 6 months, the state-run company, Electricite d'Haiti, was disconnected for being 3-months in the arrears, putting the entire greater metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince in blackout.

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Dominican farmers fear loss of crops without Haitian laborers

SAN JUAN de la MAGUANA, Dominican Republic (defend.ht) - More than 20 major farm and livestock associations on Thursday warned Dominican authorities that 90% of their more than 9,400 hectares of crops could perish if Haitian laborers aren't allowed into the country.

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Another Fire Destroys Public Market in Tabarre

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - The public market of Tabarre again suffered a devastating firing that destroyed the merchandise and shops of more than 200 small businesspersons. Victims who received no assistance since the previous fire destroyed the marketplace in February, were promised by the Haiti government assistance in securing more loans at preferential rates.

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Haiti: Two Gold, Copper Exploitation Permits Awarded to Foreign Companies

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - After years of exploration, two mining permits were awarded to two companies based in Canada and the U.S. to openly mine for gold and copper in Haiti. Many still worry the mines will be a boom for foreign investors and a bust for local communities.

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Haitian Drivers Strike against Tax Hikes

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Drivers began a general strike on Monday, promising not to transport anyone until the Haitian government returns on its decision to impose an increase in taxes on drivers' incomes and commercial licenses.

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Karibe Hotel looks to double capacity in expansion

BOSTON, USA (defend.ht) - Haiti's premier hotelier Richard Buteau has commissioned J/Brice Design International to design a new wing for The Karibe Hotel & Spa that will include 100 luxury guestrooms, as well as an upscale eatery and entertainment venue with rooftop terraces and commanding sea views.

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New Haitian Digital Television Channel coming to South Florida

MIAMI, USA (defend.ht) - For Morrocan film producer Claude Mancuso the digital revolution has been a rebirth. The man who founded the Haitian Television Network of America in South Florida back in 1988 closed his local station in 2006. The availability of more channels through digital television has allowed him to get back in the business of Haitian television.

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Muhammad Yunus announces financing for Haitian businesses

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - Nobel peace price laureate Muhammad Yunus announced that his group would providing loans and equity investments to several Haitian businesses. The financing will range from $80,000 to $500,000 with interest rates from 6-10%.

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Book reviews

Haiti Noir

Book Review

The anthology edited by Edwidge Danticat puts a uniquely Haitian spin on the crime genre

"Danticat has succeeded in assembling a group portrait of Haitian culture and resilience that is cause for celebration." - Publishers Weekly