FARC rebel group in Cuba to negotiate peace talks

FARC  rebel group to negotiate with Columbian government in Cuba

        

Progress is going on in Cuba where the dangerous rebel group the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) are negotiating peace deals with the Columbian government. Like Cuba the FARC is a left wing group that believes in a Marxist paradigm where they represent the poor rural people of Columbia. The problem with this unfortunately are its methods. They kidnap people for ransom, kill people, produce drugs and distribute them. The government has met with high ranking leaders of the FARC in Cuba and have been given a one year deadline to reach a peace deal. This means they won’t be staying in Cuba for too long because it will not last very long they are hoping “This has to be a process of months, rather than years. In other words, this should not last any longer than November next year at the latest, and I would say (it should be) earlier than that,” president Juan Manuel Santos said. The Columbian government have killed lots of FARC rebel groups lately to speed up the process for this decade long conflict to end.

                I find it rather interesting that these talks occur in Cuba. The reason I think it’s a good idea is because if conflicts occur in negotiations I think killings could happen but it being in a foreign country it would be wrong. Another reason I think it’s smart they are doing this in Cuba is to focus on negotiations only. If talks were to be in Columbia they could easily be distracted and be in danger whereas in Cuba they can only talk about peace deals and finding an agreement. I hope agreements will be made soon so we can end the long conflict of the FARC and the Columbian government to improve the country.

http://www.euronews.com/2012/12/03/farc-given-one-year-deadline-to-reach-colombia-peace-deal/

Haiti to Change Adoption Laws

Haiti is in the process of trying to pass a legislation to change it's adoption laws. The legislation has gone before the Senate for review and awaits approval from both houses of Parliament. The legislation is being made to make Haiti match up with international adoption laws. Some of the changes include the requirement of informed consent from both biological parents. It also has the general director of the government's social welfare agency's office as a "central authority". Other requirements that couples adopting a child must be married for five years, with one spouse at least 30 years old and a single person filing for adoption must be at least 35. There are also more sanctions that will be applied to Haitian orphanages that are in sub-standard living condition.

All these efforts are being made to put an end to the neglect of these children. Orphans have been shipped out of the country to a family that had no prior background check and half the time the adoptive parents put them back up for adoption. There are even cases have been found were children were adopted and shipped out of the country to the Dominican Republic and were forced into servant labour. 

Source

Chavez back in Cuba

 Chavez back in Cuba
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived in Havana early Wednesday November 28^th for a new found of medical treatment. Venezuela is soon to have their own regional elections so the timing of this is not the greatest. Right now it is still un clear how long Chavez who now declares himself cancer free would stay in Cuba. The state of Cuba mentioned that Chavez will undergo several sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This treatment helps prevent and mend bone damage caused by radiation therapy. It involves breathing oxygen in a sealed chamber that has been pressurized at up to three times normal atmospheric pressure.

           

 Hugo Chavez

This is not the first time Chavez has utilised medical treatments in the state of Cuba. From June 2011 to May 2012, he underwent cancer treatment. Chavez using Cuba`s medical system shows just how strong it is and that the billions of dollars invested it in have shown to bring benefits to the people. Cuba has become a top notch medical state where hopefully for the country of Venezuela it can make Hugo Chavez healthier so he can run the country more effectively.

Cuba to Eliminate Exit visa

Cuba to Eliminate Exit visa

Massive news coming out of Cuba where the Cuban government has decided to remove the exit visa on the Cuban people. This eliminiation of the exit visa has a dramatic impact on travel for the Cuban people. Now they will have  much less problems  traveling into foreign countries under this new policy. This removal of the exit visa is definitely Raul Castro's biggest advancement since his time under leading Cuba. Though this exit visa does ease traveling there are still specifics that complicate traveling more so than other countries. 

''The decree still imposes limits on travel by many Cubans. People cannot obtain a passport or travel abroad without permission if they face criminal charges, if the trip affects national security or if their departure would affect efforts to keep qualified labour in the country.''

 This new exit visa is shocking to me and also to other Cuban members because it seems they are changing from the goals they fought for. ''Look, I ask myself how far are we going to go with these changes. They have me a little confused because now all that was done during 50 years, it turns out we're changing it," said Maria Romero, a cleaning worker who was headed to her job Tuesday morning. "Everything they told us then, it wasn't true. I tell you, I don't understand anything." This massive change has left everyone wondering whether this is a step in the right direction for Cuba or is it a step backwards in their strive for independence.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/cuba-to-ease-travel-restrictions-eliminate-exit-visa-1.997529

It is the most significant advance this year in President Raul Castro's five-year plan of reforms that has already seen the legalization of home and car sales and a big increase in the number of Cubans owning private businesses.

Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/cuba-to-ease-travel-restrictions-eliminate-exit-visa-1.997529#ixzz2CpM6YXkQ

2000 Haitians Protest in the Streets

Yesterday, about 2,000 people in Haiti's capital, took to the streets protesting against the Haitian government saying that it is corrupt and ineffective. These protestors are demanding that President Martelly step down as President and leave the country. 

This is not the first anti-government demonstration this year. In September, several thousand people marched to criticize the Martelly administration for not doing enough to keep down the cost of living.

Protestors chanting in the streets and burning debris leftover from the storm

President Michel Martelly is a former pop star who was sworn in as president last year. Many Haitians hoped his government would improve their living situation after the 2010 earthquake but many people are saying that he has fallen short of their expectations. The Martelly government has not mentioned anything on the matter thus far.

Post Hurricane Cholera UPDATE

The International Organization for Migration has officially announced that there is a significantly higher increase in cholera cases than what was originally predicted. The IOM has counted 3593 new confirmed cases of the infection as well as 837 suspected cases. The spokesperson for the IOM, Jumbe Omari, says that 10 000 cholera kits were handed out in 31 camps around Port-au-Prince. These kits include fresh drinking water, food and antibiotics that will help the sick until they can be seen by a doctor.

Hurricane Sandy hits Cuba

Hurricane Sandy hits Cuba

Category 2 hurricane Sandy has left Cuba in harms with its heavy rains and blistering winds. 11 Cuban residents passed away because of hurricane Sandy.  The Cuban country has been mourning the death of these 11 people but its not the only problem that the hurricane created. Precious resources such as crops and homes have been destroyed because of vicious Sandy. The hurricane mostly hit the eastern part of Cuba    in cities like Santiago. Power went out all over Cuba where thousands of tourists were evacuated.

Luckily Cuba in comparison to other Caribbean countries have a much better way of handling hurricanes. Cuba uses what they have learned from past hurricanes to find solutions on what the hurricane damaged. Cuba also has good infrastructures where even though the hurricane hit them hard, most buildings and structures withstood the power of sandy. Cuba will move forward with this hurricane as they have many times in the past and re start normal operations. 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/10/25/hurricane-sandy-cuba-bahamas.html

Wiped Out! Family of 11 locked in struggle for survival

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Wiped-Out--Family-of-11-locked-in-struggle-for-survival_12975203#ixzz2C779cAl1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A dirt floor hut is what Melvina Lewis, her common-law husband Clive Mannings, and seven of their nine children and grandchildren now call home after Hurricane Sandy crushed the dilapidated dwelling they lived in at Way Bridge in Manchioneal, Portland.

In a small lillte one room hut is where 10 people live, the youngest of all the kid is an 8 year old boy, the age group goes as high as 49 which is clive mannings the father figure of these kids. Clive was walking around looking for his things such as plates his tv, chairs thatare akk speard all over, sandy making these 10 poeple live really hard.

Worse than Sandy’

Worse than Sandy

Port Maria cleans up after weekend flooding

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Port-Maria-cleans-up-after-weekend-flooding_12980177

Government may soon have to find a new home for the Port Maria Primary School in St Mary which has seen repeated flooding over the years, including on the weekend when heavy rains lashed the rural town.

Books, appliances, equipment, and furniture were damaged after the school was flooded following heavy rains that caused two rivers to overflow, not only it hit the classrooms but also offices and other areas of the school were filled with mud.

 

This problem has been going on seen 2006, and ever year it has been the same results. Finally they were set to announce the openning but yesterday the rain had hit pushing back the opening once again.

Barbados Economic Performance Review of 2012

My article explains that the Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados said that the economic output is expected to increase slightly for the rest of 2012, provided that the winter tourist season does not disappoint "it does not go very well because for economy of Barbados the number speak: Long-stay arrivals have declined by five percent (5%) for the period January to August, the number of tourists traveling to the UK fell by 10 percent mainly due to the loss of most British Airways flight from Gatwick., quitting Delta flight from Atlanta and American Airlines flight from Dallas contributed largely to the decline of 6.8 per cent in arrivals. However, There Were some positive in Barbados tourism industry. In canada, Europe and  in the Caribbean the pourcentage of number of tourists traveling  was increase. On the cruise, we have established a plan to develop a new plant ultra-modern cruise (the one I told you about two weeks ago.) Dr. Worrell Offered
one specific suggestion on how to seek Barbados Could icts boost numbers for the winter season.He Said the island shoulds be icts in strategic marketing, by targeting specific source markets in Areas That Have Shown above average year resistance to the global economic downturn.

 http://news.yahoo.com/barbados-economic-performance-review-2012-080424595.html

 

 

Hurricane Aftermath

President Martelly has issued a month-long state of emergency for Haiti. The country seems to be facing hardship after hardship with no delay between them. The total number of recorded deaths in Haiti has rose to 54, bringing the total for the carribean to 71. There are also 21 people that are still unaccounted for after the storm.
A couple of weeks ago, the deputy minister of public health issued a 10-year plan to clear cholera, but after the storm there is no clear idea as to when this epidemic will be put under control. The severe flooding has caused the an increase in cholera cases and less available aid to treat the ill.
One million and a half Haitians are now at risk of starving to death with 70% of the country's agriculture being destroyed by the storm. The total damage to infrastructure is estimated at 104 million dollars.


There are currently several humanitarian groups that are offering their aid in Haiti such as the "Medècins Sans Frontières" and the "Casques Bleus" (As pictured above).
We can only hope that Haiti as a nation stays strong through this time of extreme hardship and eventually finds some sort of prosperity.

The reality of the hardship facing Haitians

Sandy ''THE HURRICANE ''

Caribbean news

As all the people know I have a big tragedy in Jamaica last weekend the hurricane (Sandy) was doing for 1, 5 billion in damaged and her killed ten people in New York City and caused more than 30 billion in damage. The police officer from Barbados told they are very lucky because they don’t have any death and no extensive damage.  It is so close , lucky as we can.

Picture in Barbados ...

Canada pledges more help to Jamaica

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Canada-pledges-more-help-to-Jamaica_12820769

Today Tuesday, October 23 the prime minister of jamaica Portia Simpson Miller meet with Canadian prime minister Steven Harper on where canada pledges to help out jamaica on get out of their economic troubles and to help them recover.

"Harper emphasised that Jamaica's best strategy is to grow its way out of the prevailing challenges and pledged to assist the country through trade, agriculture and investments in order to boost Jamaica's recovery". Said by harper, he just trying to have a good relationship with jamaica and to see them succeed in the economic world.

Bill and Hillary Clinton Visit Haiti's Industrial Park

This morning the Clintons landed in Northern Haiti to attend the inaugural opening of the industrial park. They are set to speak at the head of a delegation of foreign investors and a crowd of celebrities to showcase the centerpiece of the U.S. effort to help the country recover from the 2010 earthquake. The list of celebrities included Sean Penn, who has run his own aid effort in Haiti, was there, along with actor Ben Stiller, fashion designer Donna Karen and British business tycoon Richard Branson.

This industrial park sector was constructed with high hopes that it will rejuvenate the economic wellbeing of the state as well as create a new source of employment for citizens. Although Clinton has high hopes for this new project, some Haitians have a very different view and say the Caracol Industrial Park is just replicating failed efforts from the past and that it will benefit outsiders much more than Haitians. They also worry it will harm some of the few pieces of undamaged environment that still exist in Haiti.

Source

Haitian Cholera Epidemic UPDATE

Children are among the most vulnerable in contracting the disease.

With a top US Cholera specialist having confirmed the source of the disease coming from U.N soldiers at the the Haitian-Nepalese U.N base, the U.N is in some serious hot water. Cholera was a disease that had not been present in Haiti since over a hundred years, but since the start of its recent outbreak it has killed almost 8000 people

There is now two sides to this Cholera battle that are in motion. U.N lawyers are facing piles of lawsuits from both Haitian victims and there families for compensation as well as the Haitian government. The claim from the victims alone totals a couple billion dollars.

One the other side of the fight, doctors and medics are scrambling in overcrowded hospitals and medic tents where they have patients spread out on the floors because of the lack of beds. The Dominican Republic is working together with the Haiti government to treat victims. Some 400 people have died in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic deputy minister of public health has set an estimate of a 10-year fight to conquer the disease.

Video

Markets to sell sweet potato fries

Markets to sell sweet potato fries

This article explains that they will have to Barbados sweet potatoes in their grocery by Christmas. A test facility has been developed for the production of fried and preliminary sampling runs in supermarkets. Armstrong Said there is a company who planted about 100 acres of potatoes per year. So it’s amazing number it almost 24 000 pounds of potatoes. This is really good for food security and the economy in Barbados they have not to imported potatoes from another’s place. It is a very good way for economics and this is protecting the food in Barbados. It will cost a good less expensive to buy potatoes for the consumer and if the cost is less expensive people buy more.

Fuega Cuban Festival Cancelled

Fuega Cuban Festival Cancelled

Another controversy within the United States and Cuban people has drawn a stir in Miami Florida. Reports say that the Cuban festival has been cancelled because it is home of extremist groups who are against the normalization of relations with the Carribean country. The festival organizers filled a lawsuit for compensation for the losses on cancelling the festival. Many star Cuban artists were schedualed to play until the it was cancelled perhaps  creating a violation of freedom of speech.

Source: Cuba en miami.com

http://cubaheadlines.com/2012/10/02/36281/trial_for_cancellation_of_cuban_music_festival_in_miami.html

Alan Gross`s Familly Urging him back home

The Alan Gross saga continues to affect directly Cuban and American politcaly maintaing its polar opposites in politcial thinking. The United States conclude that Alan is in urgent need of proper medical evalutation by modern medical standards released by his attorney Jared Genser. This politcal controversy has even reached to Alan Gross`s family where his wife Judy Gross quoted about the problem ``"President Castro, I beg you not to let my husband die on your watch. Your country claims to have such a wonderful health care system - yet why have your doctors misdiagnosed him and failed to order the right tests to determine what is actually happening? The statement by the United states also mentioned that the situation is urgent.  

The interesting thing about this dilema is that Cuba is known to have great medical care and have  a sense of pride in their  medical system that is free for all citizens. There  is something wrong to this dilema because there is two sides to the story. On the United States side they are saying that his medical condition is urgent and must be dealt with adequatly while Cuba on the other hand say he`s in top condition. Who`s telling the truth to this? Is Alan Gross actually dieing?. With these questions being left unanswerd this dilema is continuing to be a major roadblock in improving  political relations within the two  countries.


Alan and His wife
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/us-cuba-usa-contractor-idUSBRE89105X20121002