Community activists in South Florida and responsible members of the Haitian elite in Haiti are rising to the challenge. Congratulations are a must for the bearer of good news, reporter Yves Colon, who wrote the Sept. 30 article in the Business Money section of the Miami Herald. He wrote an interesting story on high technology in Haiti and its relation to the Haitian community in South Florida. The informative piece filled two full pages of the Herald, one of the nation's top daily newspapers that also is read worldwide. In brief, Haiti Tec is a trade school built by an alliance between South Florida and Haitian business people in Haiti. It has been in the works for the past year. As it's well known, the Haitian community in South Florida is socially and politically active so it's a pleasure to read that "the small, predominantly light-skinned Haitian business elite has taken to heart criticism over the years for its hands-off-attitude toward the development of their poorer, and black, fellow citizens." Times are changing, and when progress is achieved, gratitude should be acknowledged on the Haitian and the American side. American philanthropists were brought in and the military-run U.S. Southern command donated warehouse space in Haiti for the trade school.
SIGN OF THE TIMES
When parking at Miami International Airport, every motorist receives a Flier written in English, Creole and Spanish. The trilingual flier states in English, "FAA SECURITY MANDATE: As a security precaution, all vehicles entering the parking garages at Miami International Airport are being searched. Thank you for your cooperation." In Creole, it says, "FAA--AVETISMAN: Pou rezon sekirite FAA pase lod pou fouye tout machin anvan yo rantre na garaj yo. Mesi anpil pou kolaborasyon-w." It also gives the same instruction in Spanish. This simple flier speaks volumes of the nation's level of multiculturalism and multilingualism.
SAVAGERY
The Taliban said, "Thieves will have their hands and feet amputated, adulterers will be stoned to death and those taking liquor will be lashed." Under Islamic law, Jalat Khan was convicted on robbery and theft charges. They amputated his right hand and left foot. One can judge a culture and a government by the way they treat their own.
TOTO CONSTANT
Speaking of terrorist activity, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Sept. 29 marked the anniversary that forced him into exile 10 years ago by calling it an act of terrorism. He urged the United States to extradite Emmanuel "Toto" Constant who lives in New York City. Constant was tried in absentia for allegedly helping to mastermind a 1994 Raboteau massacre in which about 15 Haitian slum-dwellers were killed and more than 200 injured. After a trial of six weeks, 16 soldiers and their accomplices were found guilty for their role in the massacre. Six of the defendants were acquitted. Constant was sentenced to life in prison. "The United States wants bin Laden. We want Toto Constant," Aristide said. Yes. Get "Ben" for the United States and give "Toto" to Haiti.
NEW UNITED STATES CITIZEN
Formerly of Cayes, Haiti, 32-year-old Maud Casin became a U.S. citizen on Aug. 14. Her husband Marcel, 44, a U.S. citizen is a vice president of the Democratic Club in Delray Beach, Fla. "It means freedom," she said. "Not everybody has these freedoms. You can't speak in other countries. Freedom . . . it's all freedom." Let's hear it for America.
BOXING, HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA
Elie Augustama, 14, is in step with the amateur fights of his 6 foot, 17-year-old brother Azea Augustama. "He is following in my footsteps," Azea said. "I told him he better be good. Those are pretty big shoes to fill. He has to fill up to the family name." The last successful brother duo in the boxing world was Michael and Leon Spinks. The Augustama brothers are succeeding in the ring. Coming from the rough neighborhoods of Haiti, and now living in Florida, they captured titles in their weight classes at the recent National Gloves Tournament in Las Vegas. They both attend North Miami Beach Senior High and train at Police Athletic League gym in Hollywood, Fla. English and Creole are their daily languages. Elie is aiming for the Olympics - only as a member of the U.S. team.
A SENSIBLE OBSESSION
"A Sensible Obsession" - a film by Haitian director, screenwriter, producer George Jiha - is showing in all major theaters in South Florida. The love story is the first film produced by Miami filmmaker Jiha who also served as cinematographer, writer and editor. The subject: A young man falls in love with a lovely young lady to find out she is a "call girl." They eventually fall in love, get married to become both afflicted a year later by the AIDS disease. I had the pleasure of seeing and enjoying the film, regardless of the two-star rating that it received. Jiha is to be congratulated. It's a step in the right direction and it's the first time that a film produced by a Haitian has had such wide showing in mainstream America's movie theaters.
PUBLIC DEFENDER FRED SERAPHIN
There is talk that Gov. Jeb Bush may appoint Miami-Dade Public Defender Fred Seraphin, 43, as the county's first Haitian-American judge. His father, Frank Seraphin was a congressman in Haiti when he disappeared at the beginning of Francois Duvalier's presidency of which he was an opponent. Fred Seraphin was charged with armed robbery during his senior year at New York City College, and later exonerated by a grand jury. In 1986, he earned a law degree from Hofstra University on Long Island. His appointment by Bush would be a plus in incorporating South Florida's Haitian-Americans in the judicial system.
SURVIVAL RATE on 9-1-1
Here are some survival rates for the Sept. 11 disaster at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
· WTC houses about 50,000 employees and 90 percent survived. · Pentagon has 23,000 employees and 99.5 percent survived. · American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767, can carry 351 people. Ninety-two passengers were on board. 74 percent of the seats were empty. · United Airlines Flight 175, another Boeing 767, also can carry 351 people. Sixty-five passengers were on board. 81 percent of the seats were empty. · Out of potentially 74,280 Americans directly targeted, 93 percent survived. The hijacked jetliners were mostly empty, the Pentagon was hit at its strongest point, the overwhelming majority of people in the twin towers escaped, and a handful of courageous passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 gave the ultimate sacrifice to save even more lives. All in all, a statistical failure for the terrorists.
Published in "The Haitian Times" New York, N.Y., online edition 17 Oct - 23 Oct, '01
