PORT-AU-PRINCE

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, is adding her voice to the list of U.S. lawmakers concerned about growing gang-related violence in Haiti.

In recent months, gangs have been terrorizing the population, accused of massacring and raping poor Haitians and turning parts of the country into no-go zones. This weekend a police station in the rural Artibonite was attacked after a gang affiliated with a wanted warlord, Arnel Joseph, overpowered police.

Following a massacre in the La Saline neighborhood of Port-au-Prince in November, a bipartisan group of 104 House members called on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last month to launch an independent investigation into the extrajudicial killings, as well as allegations of human-rights violation by the Haitian National Police during February’s violent protests that shut the country down for 10 days. Haiti’s ambassador in Washington has denied the accusations.

As late as last week, Haiti’s press reported that gangs have continued their attack on La Saline by setting fires to homes. The growing violence comes just months before a United Nations peacekeeping mission is scheduled to permanently end its presence in Haiti after 15 years, to be replaced with a special political mission.

“When we learned about houses being burned down, and the killings that took place, we were appalled and shock,” Waters said during a press conference at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport prior to leaving Haiti on Wednesday evening. “We listened directly to some of the relatives of victims and victims tell us about that.”

Waters, who was not among the signatories on the Pompeo letter, said the more attention brought to La Saline and the violence, the more it will help “to not only get some engagement with this administration here in Haiti to find out how this is happening, why this is happening, what are their plans, but using whatever leverage and power we have to help make it cease because this is not conscionable and not tolerable.”

She noted that the U.S. government “contributes substantially to Haiti,” aid that is very important for the Haitian government.

“We think that when we talk about how we care about Haiti, and why we’re able to contribute the way that we do, and we do not want to see that abused or misused or disregarded, I think that may give us a little leverage,” Waters said, vowing to get other members of Congress engaged.

Waters said her visit to Haiti was the result of an invitation by former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to attend the graduation of medical students at his University of the Aristide Foundation in Tabarre on the outskirts of the capital. She was joined by actor Danny Glover, human rights lawyer and activist Brian Concannon of the Boston-based Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti and radio journalist Margaret Prescod. Prescod’s Los Angeles-based public affairs show, “Sojourner Truth,” recently featured a story on the LaSaline massacre.

While Waters met with U.S. embassy staff and praised their efforts, she did not meet with Haitian President Jovenel Moïse. She did have a great time with Aristide and his family, she noted.

Glover, who accompanied Aristide back to Haiti following seven years in exile in South Africa, said this marked his first visit to Haiti since Aristide’s 2011 return.

Concannon, speaking in Creole, said, “It’s important to have justice so that people are not once again victims.”

What time is it? It’s time to explore fashion as worn by some Kreyolicious celebrities. The band in question today is going to be…T-Vice. Yee-yay!

One of the T-Vice lead singers sports a pair of jeans, perfect for nighttime partying.

This look says tropical and island and Caribbean all over it. The boys in T-Vice are definitely wearing popping colors. With this look, the band demonstrates that a little color here and there can work, and will take nothing away from one’s masculinity.

The band gives tribute to 18th Century fashion in this photo, from their dramatic diagonal hats to tight pants.

Here the boys of T-Vice are dressed for a night of performing. They favor the long-sleeved shirt look. Rather than dressing alike, each frontrunner sport their own style. They choose to wear shirts that can transition easily from casual to semi-formal.

Ooh, I like this look. The boys don solid yet comfortable kicks to walk around and perform in. They have a penchant for hoodies and comfortable clothing.

And this concludes this edition of Kreyolicious’ Celebrity Style segment. See you guys next time!

Image Credit: All photos from band’s Facebook Page; colonial wear photo credit…Francois Adrien

Okay, the list of top Haiti tourism influencers continues! It’s time to give these hard-working folks a little pat and lwil maskriti [er, castor oil] massage on the back. Whether they’re tour operators, hotel owners, tourism book authors, Haiti tourism photos aggregators, they are worthy of praise! Did you check out #1-5 of the countdown? If not, CLICK HERE! Now for the next couple of folks on the list! Your favorite chick Kreyolicious is going to count them down to the very end!

6. Stephanie Villedrouin

The former head of Haiti’s Ministry of Tourism, Villedrouin is credited by many observers with signing several deals, putting structure in place to aid Haiti’s tourism industry. Her team’s intense social media program made Haitian-Americans and other individuals of Haitian descent discover Haiti’s potential as a hot tourism spot.

7. Haiti’s Ministry of Tourism

Overview: Without a “main office”, most companies can’t function. Well, consider Haiti’s Ministry of Tourism as a main office for Haiti’s tour operators, hotels, and the like. It establishes infrastructure, keeps others abreast on the latest developments in Haiti tourisms, deals signed, and tourism milestones reached.

8. Zoom Sur Haiti

Overview: Launched by a pair of Haitian-Canadians, Zoom Sur Haiti targets French speaking travelers of Haitian descent, as well as French speakers who are also travelistas! CLICK HERE to visit the Zoom Sur Haiti website.

9. Jerry Tardieu

Well, it’s one thing to have upscale travel magazine-level sites for tourists to visit, but where are they going to stay? Tardieu launched Royal Oasis, a five-star hotel in Haiti that has become a primary destination for both business and luxury travelers. CLICK HERE to visit the Royal Oasis website!

[Photo Credit: Verdy Verna.]

10. Paul Clammer

Overview: Clammer wrote the first English-language guide to Haiti in decades in the mid-2010s. He followed it up last year with a revised and expanded edition. Clammer’s work is especially important because of his reputation as a travel writer for the prestigious Bradt series. He and his publisher are based in England—a country that definitely could expound on its knowledge of Haiti’s offerings. CLICK HERE to read more about Paul Clammer and his Haiti guides.

There you have it! The top Haiti tourism influencers! Do you know of any Haiti tourism up-and-coming companies or know of others that are about to be launched? Sound off below. Plug them! Plug, plug away! Give Haiti tourism influencers their moment!

Do know the top Haiti tourism influencers? The countdown continues below. If you missed the previous segments of the countdown, feel free to CLICK HERE!

11. Wahoo Bay Beach

Overview: Wahoo Bay Beach is located miles and miles away from Port-au-Prince, according to Google Maps, which makes it ideal when and if the capital is going “thru it”. The beach-side hotel has a seafood-heavy menu, adventurous excursions, and offers travelers Haiti at its best, while still treating them to accommodations they’ve gone accustomed to in their vacations in other countries. It also helps greatly that the resort has a tireless social media team that works (seemingly!) around the clock to provide amenities photos, deal offers, event photography that can attract tourists to Wahoo Bay Beach, and Haiti in general. CLICK HERE to visit the Wahoo Bay Beach website, and don’t forget to book your trip while you’re at it!

12. IG Haiti

Overview: Okay, so IG Haiti doesn’t organize tours, nor does it own any hotels. What it does is distribute photos of Haiti on social media at a rapid, consistent space. Its heavy social media program has lured more 37,000 fans on the Instagram platform alone. The fact that it was an early adopter of that social media platforms has made it a Haiti tourism bastion. Followers of IG Haiti ooh and ah, at photos and before you know it, they’re booking trips to Haiti! CLICK HERE to view photos aggregated by IG Haiti. [Photo Credit: Hunter Kintrell]

13. Let’s Go Haiti

Overview: The woman behind Let’s Go Haiti is a Belgian adventurer who discovered Haiti, and took it upon herself to establish a business to help spread the word. Whether bringing in tourists from her homeland Belgium into Haiti, or from Brazil, Let’s Go Haiti is about making the rest of the world know that Haiti is a viable tourism spot.

14. Manman Pemba

Overview: Haiti needed a Trip Advisor of its own. Manman Pemba was up to the challenge and provided an extensive directory of Haiti’s hotels, dining venues, gyms, events, health and beauty stores. The site is regularly updated, and event includes event listings about Haiti’s nightlife for visitors and residents.
CLICK HERE to visit the Manman Pemba site.

15. Frederick Alexis

Overview: A photographer who specializes in photographing events in Haiti, Alexis had one of the strongest and most consistent presence on the Internet post-2010s. Whether photographing cultural events and figures in Haiti, or shooting Haiti’s much-discussed carnival, this photographer is a tourism ambassador with a camera in hand.

Do you know of any Haiti tourism up-and-coming companies or know of others that are about to be launched? Sound off below. They’re future Haiti tourism influencers! Plug them! Plug, plug away!

There you have if folks…the top Haiti tourism influencers. If you missed the previous installments of this countdown, feel free to CLICK HERE!

CLICK HERE to read Haiti tourism articles!

Have you ever wondered about who the top Haiti tourism influencers and players are? Well, have you? The countdown continues below. If you missed the previous segments of the countdown, feel free to CLICK HERE!

16. Spring Break in Haiti

One of the pioneers of collegiate travel in Haiti, Spring Break in Haiti has been instrumental in bringing twenty-something college students and Haitian-Americans to various part of Haiti for more than a decade. With its partying with a purpose philosophy, the organization encourages students to enjoy what Haiti has to offer, while making their stay an educational experience.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Spring Break in Haiti.

17. Carel Pedre, PleziKanaval

Launched by Haiti-based radio host Carel Pedre, Plezi Kanaval serves as a showcasing platform for Haiti’s Kanaval season. Furthermore, the platform has encouraged many to travel to Haiti during carnival season or make travel plans for the Haitian carnival season.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Plezi Kanaval.

18. Carl B, Bonspoon

Haitian food, Haitian food, and more Haitian food! Bonspoon was created to make the life of the food-loving traveler to Haiti easier. It highlights restaurants, bars, and bakeries, and eateries all over the island. Since its launch, Bonspoon has added Haitian restaurants from all over the world to its database.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Bonspoon.

19. Stephan Durand

Berrouet Durand co-launched Gout et Saveurs Lakay, a food festival that put the whole world on notice about Haiti’s rich cuisine and culinary traditions. The food and wine festival has been responsible for bringing chefs around the world to Haiti, in addition to those of Haitian descent. More than five years in existence, the food festival is now an annual staple and serves to remind the world about Haiti’s culinary offerings. Berrouet Durand, who’s also the founder of Culinary by Design, is a graduate of Miami’s Johnson and Wales University.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Chef Stephan Berrouet Durand.

20. Moulin Sur Mer

Moulin Sur Mer is the original island resort on water everybody has tried to copy or claim to have created. Haha! But, alas, an original remains, well, an original. Located in the beachside, seafood-laden town of Montrouis, Haiti, Moulin Sur Mer has hosted weddings of members of the Haitian diapora. It pulls tourists of all ages into Haiti through its lush cuisine, watersports, kayaking, aqua-gliding, snorkeling offerings and unique architecture.

CLICK HERE to visit Moulin Sur Mer.

Be sure to check out the next phase of the Haiti tourism influencers countdown! Meanwhile, CLICK HERE to read more about Haiti tourism!