Moontown

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP) – Ten Americans charged with kidnapping in Haiti faced another night in jail Monday after a power cut delayed a ruling on their fate, as their ex-adviser was probed separately for sex trafficking.

American missionaries charged with kidnapping in Haiti (AFP photo)

Prosecutor Joseph Manes Louis said he finished writing his opinion on whether the Americans should be granted provisional release, but a power outage in quake-hit Haiti kept it from being printed and delivered to the judge.

The judge, who has final say in the case, left the court in the mid-afternoon — spending much of the day in darkness in his office and without running water in the building — and did not return before it shut down just before 5:00 pm.

The Americans could now remain in detention until at least Wednesday because Tuesday is Carnival holiday, although festivities have been cancelled following last month’s earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people.

Louis Gary Lissade, a lawyer for one of the American missionaries and a former Haitian justice minister, said he was disappointed by the delay.

“I was expecting at least something today,” said Lissade. “Now we realize we still have to wait until Wednesday.”

He said there was a possibility judicial officials could order the case looked at on Tuesday to move it along, but he believed that was unlikely.

Another lawyer, Alain Lemithe, said he was concerned their possible release could be derailed by a police investigation in El Salvador into their Dominican former legal adviser.

“I fear that. Sincerely, I fear that,” he told AFP.

The adviser Jorge Puello, now back in the Dominican Republic, denied the allegations of sex trafficking and said anyway he had no contact with the Americans prior to their arrest on January 29.

Salvadoran police say Puello could actually be Jorge Torres Orellana, accused of running an international sex trafficking ring that lured women and girls from the Caribbean and Central America into prostitution with bogus offers of modeling jobs.

“They are accusing me of something that I don’t even know myself,” Puello told AFP. “It could happen that two people could have the same name. Whatever the case may be, I’m not afraid of anything.”

The judge in the Americans’ case, Bernard Saint-Vil, said he was looking into the Puello probe, but could not yet say if it would form part of the Baptist missionaries’ case.

“If at the end of the investigation we find that Mr Puello is a member of a certain criminal organization that includes the Americans, we can always include it,” he told AFP.

Puello’s implication in such a case was an unwelcome turn of events for the Americans, who have been languishing in a Port-au-Prince jail for more than two weeks.

The group from the New Life Children’s Refuge were caught trying to take a busload of 33 children they said they thought were orphans across the border into the Dominican Republican in the aftermath of the disastrous earthquake.

After it emerged that many of the children had parents, the Americans’ lawyers sought to portray the Baptists as acting selflessly to help during Haiti’s catastrophe.

Some of the parents have told the judge they willingly gave up their children because they were unable to care for them following the devastation wrought by the January 12 quake.

The case has overshadowed relief efforts, and Gervais Charles, president of the Port-au-Prince bar association, said it should be transferred to the United States.

“I believe that at the moment we don’t have what is really necessary” to try this case, Charles said. “It’s not only the (collapsed) buildings. There is the trauma.”

In a promising sign, commercial flights into the main Port-au-Prince airport were set to resume this week for the first time since the disaster.

“We are in the process of repairing part of it to start traffic again on Friday,” said a source at the airport, which has been the hub of the massive international aid operation since the quake.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper flew in Monday to give a boost to the relief effort in Haiti, where shelter is needed for an estimated 1.2 million homeless before seasonal rains and the hurricane season.

Harper set Canada would set up up semi-permanent, 11-million-dollar operations base for the Haitian government, kitted-out with computer hardware and communications systems.

With the coming rainy season threatening to worsen, already squalid conditions in makeshift camps across the capital, aid groups have been seeking to distribute tarps for up to 1,500 families per day.

But more than a month after the quake, UN officials said only about 272,000 people have received emergency materials to build their own shelters. (Caribnet)

Less than 1% of salaried working mothers leave their children in care centers, notes the report. In Haiti, the family is primarily responsible of caring for children, followed by elder children performing domestic chores, friends or neighbors.

It is a generalized practice in Haiti to leave children in charge of caring for others, including their younger siblings. Children of both sexes and youths who should all be in school are often in charge of their younger brothers and sisters or working in other households taking care of other children or in domestic chores. Almost 60% of the child labour market are girls who take care of others, says the study.

State policies for infant care are very weak in Haiti, and the conditions of extreme poverty suffered by the vast majority of the population – and which have worsened since the earthquake in January - not only impede children and youths from going to school, but have also disintegrated families.

Due to the absence of the State and women’s pressing need to make a living, children are frequently handed over to relatives or other families in Haiti or in neighboring countries for their care. Women heads of households become providers, while their children are being cared for by other families that are often caring for their own children as well.

The “transnationalization” of families caused by economic hardship opens the door to all sorts of trafficking, including sexual trafficking, warns the study, coordinated by Haitian consultant Nathalie Lamaute-Brisson.

The report addresses the problem of public policy-making in support of child care by analysing the family as the prime caregiver and the need to advance towards a model of universal social protection. In this context, preschool education policies are a priority, asserts the study.

This publication will help take into account the crucial role of women in the economy in reconstruction policies in Haiti, stated ECLAC Executive Secretary, Alicia Bárcena.

“Just like the physical infrastructure needs to be rebuilt, it is also necessary to invest in social infrastructure to facilitate child care. One of the pillars of Haiti’s reconstruction should be social policies geared at facilitating child care in order to avoid having women bear the burden exclusively,” she said.

The study is also a homage to the thousands of women who died or survived the earthquake and must face daily life in conditions of extreme inequality and poverty, stated Bárcena.

Three valuable Haitian women lost their lives during the earthquake: Myriam Merlet, Anne-Marie Coriolan and Magalie Marcelin, founders of three of the most important women’s organizations in Haiti.

Shortly before her death, Merlet was chief of staff at the Haitian Ministry of Gender and Women’s Rights and was still a chief consultant there. She focused on economic affairs, women’s issues and political sociology and was co-founder of the NGO Enfofam.

Like Merlet, Coriolan was also chief consultant to the same ministry. She founded the pro-women’s organization Solidarity with the Haitian Woman (SOFA). Coriolan played a key role in getting the Haitian courts to stop treating rape as a mere “passional crime”.

Marcelin, an attorney and actress, founded Kay Fanm, a women’s organization dedicated to domestic violence that provides services and refuge to women, as well as microcredit to working women. (Caribnet)

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes said the emergency medical care phase of earthquake trauma patients is “mostly over.” He added that one month after the disaster the two top priorities for impoverished Haiti are shelter and sanitation.

“It is urgent to get everybody with some kind of reasonably waterproof covering over their heads,” Holmes told reporters after a tour of earthquake recovery sites in Port-au-Prince and surrounding towns.

Holmes said only 30 to 35 percent of the need for waterproof shelter has been met.

The Haitian government estimates that a million earthquake survivors are living in the streets in makeshift encampments with shelters fashioned from tarpaulins, sheets of corrugated zinc, tents and bedsheets lashed together with rope and twine.

Most of the estimated 500 camps have no water or toilets. Holmes said providing latrines is a major challenge.

“We need to construct something like 25,000 latrines of one sort or another, whether they be dug latrines, trench latrines or portable latrines,” he said. “We’re probably not more than 5 or 10 percent of the way there.”

Government officials say diarrhea, tetanus and some cases of fever have been seen in the camps but no epidemics have developed.

Doctors are almost done dealing with traumatic injuries, as thousands of Haitians suffered broken bones and crush injuries in the collapse of homes and buildings. But Holmes said rehabilitation for amputees and rebuilding Haiti’s health infrastructure are long-term challenges.

He also said a flash international appeal for $575 million for Haitian quake relief was 99 percent funded, and the United Nations would be issuing a new appeal next week. The amount was not yet known. (Caribnet)

Renuka Singh

TAKING A WINE: Radio personality Sonny Bling and a friend have a good time with “Colour Me Orange” during Jouvert celebrations on Long Circular Road, St James, yesterday. -Photo: CURTIS CHASE

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday and the United National Congress’ (UNC) internal election were the topics of choice at yesterday’s Jouvert celebrations in downtown Port of Spain.

Though Sport Minister Gary Hunt, the Breathalyser and the Property Tax were also at the receiving end of some blows, it was Panday that took the majority of licks during the individual presentations which kicked off at 4 a.m.

Many of the bands which crossed the stage lacked the usual mud and oil which left many to believe that the current water conservation drive had something to do with it.

Trevor Thomas, who was eventually crowned the Jouvert King, won with ’Mission Almost Impossible’ a funny, but thought-provoking demonstration in which a man named Jack was funding a woman named Kamla’s rise up a beanpole.

Whenever Kamla faltered, Jack propped her up with a big white box with the words ’FIFA $’ emblazoned on it.

This is the fifth win for Thomas, who also captured the Jouvert King crown last year.

The early morning crowd immediately interpreted the reference and applauded Thomas’ ingenuity. Other UNC references included Phillip Montano with his ’ Bas still in shock over the results’, Brian Waterfield with a funny ’Look who’s sorry now Bas’ and Lydian Pierre with a symbolic ’ Woman of power beat up and silence Pan-dey’.

Patricia Goddard, who placed first among the women, won with a thought-provoking ’Look what happen when ah look to sun’. Goddard kept the judge’s attention as she whipped out placards hidden beneath her clothes which poked fun at the UNC internal election and Panday’s insistence of remaining Opposition Leader.

Helen Fullard took second place with her portrayal of the pandemic, swine flu, which had early threatened to put a damper on the Carnival celebrations.

Rondel Pierre, who placed third in the men’s category got the crowd cheering with his ’Minister Hunts for the $2 million flag’.

The parade of the Jouvert bands, which came on the heels of the individual presentations, looked more like a political campaign as Congress of the People (COP) leader Winston Dookeran led his Jouvert band ’Redemption’ and took time out to greet Mayor Murchison Brown, who opened and oversaw the entire proceedings which ended at 8.30 a.m.

Dookeran, who claimed to be the first political party to bring out a Jouvert band, said COP was using innovative methods of getting the ’message across’.

’We are on the move again,’ cherry-looking Dookeran said as he hugged a tri-colour Trinidad and Tobago Styrofoam cut-out.

Minister of Local Government, Hazel Manning, led her band before the judges just a short time after Dookeran’s crossed the judging point.

Manning’s Reformed Local Government band called the ’Throw Waiste Here’, had more spectators than participants and it took some 15 minutes to get their attention so Manning and the other revellers could dance across the stage. (Trinidad Express)

Drunken revelry was the order of the day, but not if you were driving.

Mon Repos-based police officers arrested three more Jouvert celebrants yesterday after they were Breathalyser tested and found over the legal limit.

They are expected in court today.

Yesterday, more than 20 men, and one woman appeared in court charged with using obscene language, fighting and indecent exposure during the Jouvert celebrations in San Fernando.

They were taken before San Fernando First Court Magistrate Alexander Prince.

ASP Cecil Santana said masqueraders and spectators would see an increase in police officers on foot and mobile patrol to ensure that the celebrations in San Fernando remained as safe as possible. (Trinidad Express)

Aabida Allaham

CARNIVAL Monday was off to slow start at several judging points yesterday as just before noon, it seemed that South Quay, Port of Spain, had more police than masqueraders lining the streets.

But while the large bands were late in coming, minutes after noon, ’Know Yuh Country’ from the Kiddies Carnival bandleader, Rosalind Gabriel could be seen invoking environmental awareness in the spectators gathered to witness part of what many deem ’the greatest show on earth’.

Her designs featured sugar canes, the Nariva Swamp and mud volcanoes among others. While her small adult band featured sailors who took time to do ’a little jig’ for the judges.

Afterwards, a group of monsters from the band ’Something’s Out There’ by Errol Scott of San Fernando delighted several of the tourists and locals alike with their ’creepy crawly’ walking styles.

Then by the time Ronnie and Caro’s ’Tribute’ hit Lord Kitchener’s stage, ’wee wee trucks’ were a visible part of celebrations in spite of all the confusion that surrounded it a couple months back.

Unfortunately, it will also be the last because according to Ministry of Community Development Culture and Gender Affairs and the National Carnival Commission (NCC) from 2011 and beyond, masqueraders will have to use the portable toilet facilities set up by them.

Nevertheless, masqueraders refused to be bothered as they ’palanced’ their way across the stage. In fact, not even the scorching midday sun could keep a pregnant reveler in Ronnie and Caro’s band away from the festivities.

French visitor Patricia Lalarme could barely speak English, but the intoxicating tunes got her and her friends off their feet.

’I am enjoying it,’ is all she could say.

While the Hedlumb brothers, Mats and Jonas, from Sweden were ’just ecstatic’ that they came to Trinidad in time for the Parade of the Bands.

’We read about Carnival on the internet, but when we booked our flight here, we did not even know it was happening now. Unfortunately we are not going to see everything because we will be going to Tobago to surf and chill (today),’ Mats said. (Trinidad Express)

Rickie Ramdass rickie.ramdass@trinidadexpress.com

A HEAVY police presence and a swift and continuous clean-up campaign gave revellers the opportunity to enjoy this year’s Carnival celebrations yesterday with a sense of security along a squeaky clean roadway along Ariapita Avenue.

Police officers were present at every major street corner and in-between spectators as Carnival participants ’Palanced’ their way across the Adam Smith Square, Port of Spain judging point.

Even the revellers who were too tired or maybe too drunk and opted to sleep on the pavements in the blazing midday sun were protected under the watchful eyes of the officers.

Clean-up crew of workers from the Community, Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP), did not allow for the accumulation of garbage along the roadway as they too, like the police officers, were out in full force.

And as bands paraded along the street to the sound of blaring soca music, workers quickly made every effort to collect whatever garbage that may have been left behind in order to maintain the cleanest possible environment for revellers and spectators alike. (Trinidad Express)

Wayne Bowman wayne.bowman@trinidadexpress.com

SPICY: Masqueraders from Island People’s 2010 presentation Kutchela parade along Park Street, Port of Spain, during The Parade of Bands yesterday. -Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK

Carnival Monday at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, was even more lacklustre than last year’s, which was a drab affair.

Although there were hundreds of people up at the Queen’s Park Savannah, in Port of Spain from as early as 10 a.m. yesterday no major mas bands crossed the judging point until well past midday when Tribe and Legends bands came through.

And even though the bands appeared many of their masqueraders were not in full costume, many of them saving them for today when they will hit the streets with a burst of colours.

By 4 p.m. only a few bands, including Tribe, Legends, Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra’s mas band and the Belmont Original Stylish Sailors had passed by the well-secured National Academy for the Performing Arts Centre.

One could not even get a proper gauge on the Road March race as not enough bands had passed by that time to make a real estimate.

Throughout uptown Port of Spain the road march favourite, ’Palance’ by joint Soca Monarch champions, JW and Blaze was not the most heard song as Fay Ann Lyon’s, ’True Lies’ and ’Start Wining’ as well as ’Pavement’ by Farmer Nappy and Kerwin Dubois and Machel’s ’Bumper To Fender’ and ’No Behaviour’ were each being played as much as the other.

Downtown Port of Spain things did not get much livelier and the people hanging out seemed tired and bored.

Vendors selling alcohol and food said sales were slow and the biggest seller they had for the day was bottled water because of the intense heat. They said they are hoping people will come out today and be ready to have a good time and spend their money while they palance through the city.