Haiti police say 4 men confessed to killing of Swiss woman over orphanage investigation

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By Associated Press, Updated: Thursday, May 31, 5:42 PM

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Four men have confessed they killed a Swiss woman after she began to investigate the finances of an orphanage in northern Haiti, a police official said Thursday.

Carl-Henri Boucher, a police chief for Haiti's northern department, said cellphone records led investigators to Jackson Mezil, the director and accountant of the orphanage.

Boucher told radio station Scoop FM in a live interview that authorities believe Mezil initially attempted to kill Wesseler "Marie" Philippes with a pistol, but the gun jammed. Mezil, his brother Wilfrid and two hired assassins who were paid the equivalent of $62.50 then strangled the woman, the chief said.

Police say the body of the 45-year-old Philippes was found May 22 near the town of Grande Riviere du Nord.

The police department of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Haiti had said the woman was found tied up in a Jeep and with wound to her head. In an interview with The Associated Press, Boucher couldn't explain the initial report of the head wound, saying he was relaying information given to him by investigators.

Philippes was working for the Zurich-based nonprofit Black Rain Group, which operates a different Haitian orphanage and home for the elderly.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 

It's unclear why Philippes would be investigating Mezil's orphanage. A representative for Black Rain Group didn't respond to an an email seeking comment on the case.

____________________

"La vraie reconstruction d'Haïti passe par des réformes en profondeur des structures de l'État pour restaurer la confiance, encourager les investisseurs et mettre le peuple au travail. Il faut finir avec cette approche d'un État paternaliste qui tout en refusant de créer le cadre approprié pour le développement des entreprises mendie des millions sur la scène internationale en exhibant la misère du peuple." Cyrus Sibert
Reconstruction d'Haïti : A quand les Réformes structurelles?
Haïti : La continuité du système colonial d'exploitation  prend la forme de monopole au 21e Siècle.
WITHOUT REFORM, NO RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN HAITI (U.S. Senate report.)

RESEAU CITADELLE a Washington, DC !!!

Intervention de Cyrus Sibert - Réseau Citadelle à la Conférence de Presse de ce 1er juin 2012, à Washington, sur la responsabilité de l'Eglise et des ONGs dans la pédophilie en Haiti.

L'idée directrice de l'intervention de Cyrus Sibert de RESEAU CITADELLE à la Conférence de Presse de Washington, qui sera tenue ce vendredi 1er juin 2012, dans le cadre de la Conférence de l'Eglise Catholique sur la situation des enfants d'Haïti.

 

http://onetable.crs.org/ 

http://haitionetable. blogspot.com  

 

L'objectif de mon déplacement à Washington est de sensibiliser l'opinion publique internationale du fait que la pédophilie en Haïti n'est pas juste une question de cas isolés de quelques criminels obsédés. Elle est le résultat d'une politique délibérée de plusieurs organisations non-gouvernementales de type congrégations religieuses, qui utilisent des pays pauvres à institutions faibles comme refuge pour leurs membres suspectés de comportements déplacés envers des enfants.

 

Donc, un religieux  suspecté de tendances pédophiles est immédiatement transféré dans des pays comme Haïti.

 

Nous avons finalement découvert cette réalité en enquêtant sur Douglas Perlitz et Michael Geilenfeld qui sont tous deux accusés par des citoyens haïtiens d'abus sur des enfants. Nous avons pu découvrir, grâce à la contribution de Paul Kendrick, qu'un certain Ron Voss, religieux (Prêtre catholique), suspecté de pédophilie, et qui a reconnu avoir abusé des enfants aux Etats-Unis, a été transféré en Haïti comme religieux responsable de la Maison catholique responsable d'accueillir et d'orienter d'autres religieux américains en mission en Haïti. Ron Voss fut arrêté en Haïti pour pédophilie.  http://webzoom.freewebs.com/snaptn/RonVossDioceseofLafIn.pdf

 

Un canadien du nom de John Duarte, religieux (Prêtre catholique), lui aussi a été arrêté en République Dominicaine et jugé au Canada pour Abus sexuel sur des enfants haïtiens. Tous ont fréquenté la maison d'accueil des religieux de Delmas (dans la Capitale). On peut citer d'autres religieux comme Michael Brower, John Duarte…dans tous ces cas, ce sont des personnes envoyées en mission en Haïti, ils ont tous séjourné à la Maison d'accueil de Delmas. Je ne dis pas que tous les gens à la Maison d'accueil sont des pédophiles, mais c'est un fait qu'un réseau de pédophiles religieux utilise l'Eglise, sa maison d'accueil et ses activités caritatives pour exploiter les enfants pauvres et sans défense d'Haïti.

 

Ils sont tous des religieux responsables de projets souvent pour enfants dans des quartiers défavorisés d'Haïti.

 

 

Un autre point révoltant qui justifie la mobilisation de ce week-end c'est le comportement des responsables des ONGs ou des congrégations religieuses face aux allégations d'abus sexuels.

 

Dans un premier temps, ils les rejettent. Entre-temps, ils collectent des informations pour vérifier la gravité de la situation.  Au lieu d'encadrer les victimes, ils ferment les activités caritatives, cherchent à détruire les preuves et se lancent dans une campagne de dénigrement des victimes et de leurs défenseurs.

 

Sur le dossier Douglas Perlitz, dans un premier temps, deux enquêteurs envoyés par l'Eglise catholique Américaine sont allés dans le Nord parler aux victimes. Le fait de voir des envoyés de l'Eglise soucieux de leur situation leur à mis en confiance. Ainsi, ces jeunes enfants traumatisés ont tout raconté aux membres de cette équipe, dirigée par Madame Sheyla Maximilien  (Biamby) un cadre de l'ONG (CRS) Catholique Relief Service et Stéphane Trouillot de PAP sécurité.

 

Avec des larmes aux yeux, la dame Maximilien s'était dite scandalisée et avait promis de mettre en place un programme de prise en charge des victimes tout en apportant les corrections nécessaires au Projet Pierre Toussaint.

Plus tard, grande était leur déception d'apprendre qu'en fait, Madame Maximilien, ne menait qu'une mission de nettoyage pour le compte de l'Eglise Catholique. Un coffre-fort a été soustrait de la résidence de Douglas Perlitz puis transféré par bateau vers les Etats-Unis ; les informations recueillies et les témoignages n'ont servi qu'à construire une campagne visant à discréditer les victimes et leurs défenseurs. Plusieurs mois après, quand nous avions présenté la carte de visite de cette dame à Paul Kendrick, il nous a fait remarquer l'inscription, en rouge, de la mention : United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

 

Madame Hope Carter de l'Ordre de Malte, membre du Conseil d'Administration de l'Hôpital Catholique de Milot, avait elle aussi mené une opération de destruction de preuves consistant à récupérer le computer de travail de Douglas Perlitz qui contenait des informations et des preuves contre l'Eglise Catholique et contre Douglas Perlitz.

 

Il est important de signaler que le fait de fermer les programmes caritatifs au profit des enfants quand le scandale éclate, donne raison aux criminels pédophiles ou prédateurs sexuels. Car, toute la menace sur les victimes consistait à leur répéter que s'ils parlent, s'ils osent dénoncer les abus, le projet sera fermé, leur situation économico-sociale sera détériorée. Il y a aussi la menace d'avoir sous le dos plusieurs centaines de bénéficiaires de l'activité caritative. Ces gens sont souvent violents contre les victimes d'abus sexuels qu'ils accusent de causer malheur à leur communauté.

 

Il est clair que ces comportements sont contraires à la doctrine sociale de l'Eglise catholique et du christianisme en général. Jésus aimait les petits enfants, il les chérissait et conseillait à ses disciples d'être comme eux. Que serait l'Evangile, si au lieu de veiller sur le Petit Jésus, Joseph l'avait abusé ? Nous sommes face à une situation de perversion qui engage la responsabilité des dirigeants au plus haut niveau, afin de stopper ces pratiques.

 

Haïti est un pays faible. Frappé par un tremblement de terre qui a tué environ 300,000 personnes, détruisant une grande partie de son économie et de ses infrastructures de l'Etat, en 2010, sa situation s'est aggravée. Donc, les enfants haïtiens sont encore plus exposés, plus vulnérables face aux criminels influents, détenteurs de grands moyens économiques et qui utilisent la Foi, la Croyance des fidèles et l'Absence d'institutions nationales fortes, pour ériger leur Paradis pédophile au soleil de la caraïbe.

 

Nous appelons au respect du principe de la responsabilité des dirigeants des ONGs, des congrégations, des Missions religieuses, des Eglises évangéliques face aux comportements de leurs agents sur le terrain. En ce sens nous supportons la campagne pour l'instauration d'un Code de conduite dans les rapports de ces missionnaires religieuses et laïques avec les enfants d'Haïti : « Safeguards to protect children, including policies, systems and procedures ».

 

(Fin de Texte)

 

RESEAU CITADELLE

 

http://reseaucitadelle.blogspot.com/2010/07/cap-haitien-pedophilie-lordre-de-malta.html 

 

http://reseaucitadelle.blogspot.com/2009/02/cap-haitien-des-enfants-de-rue.html

PRESS CONFERENCE --- At a Washington, D.C. Press Conference, Haitian Journalist, Cyrus Sibert will describe the pain, suffering and abandonment of 22 child sexual abuse victims in Haiti. Boston Attorney, Mitchell Garabedian, will discuss the civil complaints filed in Federal Court in CT on behalf of these 22 sexual abuse victims.

PRESS CONFERENCE

Catholic Church Hosts Haiti Conference; Abuse Victims and Child Protection Advocates Respond to the Sexual Abuse of 22 Haitian Children by U.S. Citizen, Douglas Perlitz, and the Failure of Catholic Individuals, Groups and Organizations to Protect the Children.

At a Washington, D.C. Press Conference, Haitian Journalist, Cyrus Sibert will describe the pain, suffering and abandonment of 22 child sexual abuse victims in Haiti. Boston Attorney, Mitche ll Garabedian, will discuss the civil complaints filed in Federal Court in CT on behalf of these 22 sexual abuse victims.

Child protection organizations demand that Catholic church mission groups protect innocent children in Haiti

Groups want Haiti conference attendees to implement written child protection policies

Catholic Missionary groups must be held accountable for the protection of children in Haiti

"If You See Something, Say Something: Report Child Abuse"

WHAT: Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk press conference, clergy sexual abuse victims and advocates will urge:

-- Haiti conference attendees to implement written child protection and code of behavior policies, 

systems and procedures at their schools, hospitals, orphanages and other mission sites in Haiti. 

-- Anyone who has information or suspicions about child sexual abuse in Haiti to contact ICE/Homeland Security investigators. 

-- Employees and volunteers of NGOs in Haiti to familiarize themselves with the 2003 PROTECT ACT.

-- Conference attendees to review the information posted on http://haitionetable. blogspot.com and 

http://www.reseaucitadelle. blogspot.com

-- Haiti conference attendees to review the criminal case, United States v. Douglas Perlitz.   
                                            

WHEN: Friday, June 1, 2012 at 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: On the sidewalk outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (across from Catholic University), 400 Michigan Avenue, Northeast, Washington, D.C. 20017.

WHO: At least six men and women who are victims of clergy sexual abuse crimes or advocates for abuse victims, including Mitchell Garabedian, a Boston Attorney who is an internationally recognized advocate for abuse victims, Cyrus Sibert, a Haitian journalist who exposed the sexual abuse of children at Project Pierre Toussaint in Haiti, as well as leaders of several child advocacy organizations.

WHY: Cyrus Sibert, a Haitian journalist and radio commentator first began publishing reports about the sexual abuse of children at Project Pierre Toussaint in late 2007. Sibert and the abuse victims were immediately called liars by members of the Catholic organizations who supervised the school and were threatened and intimidated by NGO and business leaders in the Cap Haitian community. Sibert will tell how these sexually abused, homeless street children were rejected and abandoned by the same Catholic individuals, organizations and institutions in the United States that had previously boasted and taken great pride in their association with Project Pierre Toussaint.

Boston Attorney, Mitchell Garabedian, wilI discuss 21 civil lawsuits previously filed in Federal Court in CT on behalf of 22 Haitian boys who were sexually abused by a U.S. citizen, Douglas Perlitz, while Perlitz was director of Project Pierre Toussaint in Cap Haitian, Haiti. The discovery process is ongoing in these lawsuits which name Perlitz and Perlitz's supervisors as defendants.

Perlitz, after pleading guilty in federal criminal court in CT in December 2010, is now serving a 19 year and 7 month sentence in a federal prison in Texas. 

Project Pierre Toussaint was founded, funded and supported by many Catholic organizations, including the Order of Malta, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, the Knights of Columbus, Fairfield University,the New England Society of Jesus and the Haiti Fund, Inc., a Connecticut based non-profit whose Chairman, Jesuit priest, Rev. Paul Carrier, S.J., was the long time Director of Campus Ministry at Fairfield University.

It is our firm belief that a presentation and discussion of the Perlitz case will provide conference attendees withthe most comprehensive learning experience and inside look at the ways and means by which these individuals and institutions failed to protect innocent children at their mission in Haiti due to a lack of checks and balances, systems, procedures and policies designed to protect children from sexual abuse. This landmark criminal case established legal and law enforcement precedents by which a U.S. citizen will be prosecuted in U.S. Federal Court for crimes committed against children, no matter in the world the crimes are committed. 

In addition, the information contained in the precedent setting civil lawsuits filed by Attorney Mitchell Garabedian on behalf of 22 boys who were sexually abused by Perlitz is intended to awaken and educate Haiti Conference attendees as to how Perlitz's supervisors failed to protect innocent and vulnerable Haitian children from repeated incidents of sexual abuse for many years. It is painfully obvious that safeguards to protect children, including policies, systems and procedures, were not in place.

CONTACT:

Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, http://www.garabed ianlaw.com, 617-388-5252 ( cell), garabedianlaw@msn.com
Robert Hoatson, President, Road to Recovery, http://www.road-to- recovery.org, 
862-368-2800 (cell), rmhoatson 1@msn.com
Becky Ianni, Washington D.C. Director, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, 
703-801-6044, SNAPViginia@cox. net
Paul Kendrick, Ignatius Group, http://haitionetable. blogspot.com, 207 838 1319 (cell), ignatiusgroup@ gmail.com
Journalist, Cyrus Sibert, Cap-Haitian Haiti, http://www. reseaucitadelle.blogspot.com, 
321 914 2743 (cell), reseaucitadelle@ gmail.com
Michael Sweatt, National Survivor Advocates Coalition, http://www.national survivoradvocatescoalition. wordpress.com, 207 831 3791 (cell), mjsweatt@aol.com.

____________________

"La vraie reconstruction d'Haïti passe par des réformes en profondeur des structures de l'État pour restaurer la confiance, encourager les investisseurs et mettre le peuple au travail. Il faut finir avec cette approche d'un État paternaliste qui tout en refusant de créer le cadre approprié pour le développement des entreprises mendie des millions sur la scène internationale en exhibant la misère du peuple." Cyrus Sibert
Reconstruction d'Haïti : A quand les Réformes structurelles?
Haïti : La continuité du système colonial d'exploitation  prend la forme de monopole au 21e Siècle.
WITHOUT REFORM, NO RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN HAITI (U.S. Senate report.)

"... Mr. Martelly remains incredibly popular, with some surveys giving him an 80 percent rating. Haiti’s poor believe that he listens to them." MiamiHerald.com

The Miami Herald | EDITORIAL

Haitian president's mixed record

 

OUR OPINION: President Martelly must change the political climate

By The Miami Herald Editorial

HeraldEd@MiamiHerald.com

President Michel Martelly approaches the one-year anniversary of his inauguration this week with a decidedly mixed record. For the singer-turned-president once known as Sweet Micky, it's been a painful learning curve.

Much of the rubble is gone and some tent cities have been shut down, most prominently the one in front of the prime minister's office. But life for the vast majority of Haitians has barely improved, if at all, and the pace of change remains frustratingly slow. Some reconstruction projects are underway — notably a major, new industrial park — but reconstruction as a cohesive, strategic project has largely come to a halt.

The main reason is Haiti's chronically dysfunctional political system and Mr. Martelly's own governing style.

As this is written, recently ratified Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe is on his way to receiving the final vote for his government and political program to go forward. He is the second under Mr. Martelly. The previous PM's departure left the government paralyzed. The turnover reflects the political instability dogging Mr. Martelly's tenure. Try as he might to convince foreigners that Haiti is a good place to do business, the dysfunction requires would-be investors to take a huge leap of faith.

• Transparency. Mr. Martelly touts a figure of 1 million students, many in school for the first time. That could be a remarkable achievement but the figure can't be verified due to a lack of information and clear documentation.

A government subsidy to students ostensibly comes from a tax on overseas phone calls, but more transparency is needed on how much has been collected and where it's going. A similar lack of verifiable data surrounds other programs.

• Security. Mr. Martelly once promised to restore the armed forces, which were abolished in 1995 because of their abusive past. As president, he has had a change of heart, but here, too, the future remains murky. Last week, U.N. peacekeepers and Haitian police arrested a few members of the lightly armed militias that have been parading around Port-au-Prince in military uniforms asking for Mr. Martelly to make good on his brash and mistaken promise.

A few arrests aren't enough. Until they are completely disbanded and cleared out of former military bases they now inhabit, their existence will represent a challenge to the government's authority.

• Jobs and the displaced. Many Haitians were lured out of tent cities by a $500 one-time subsidy to live elsewhere. When the money runs out, they will return to living in the streets if there are no jobs.

Mr. Lamothe represents the last chance for Mr. Martelly's government to get its house in order. As long as Haiti remains dependent on foreign money, the president can't control the economy, but he must fix the political climate.

The terms of 10 members of the Senate expired last week, yet there is no date for new elections. Constitutional amendments to give the Haitian diaspora more rights and create a permanent electoral commission remain unratified. These items should be on Mr. Martelly's priority agenda.

In spite of his shortcomings, Mr. Martelly remains incredibly popular, with some surveys giving him an 80 percent rating. Haiti's poor believe that he listens to them.

His political capital won't last long, however, unless Mr. Martelly changes course. Otherwise, Haitians will become disillusioned and Mr. Martelly will be seen as another failed leader in the tradition of Jean-Bertrand Aristide who never lived up to expectations.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/13/2795246/haitian-presidents-mixed-record.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

____________________

"La vraie reconstruction d'Haïti passe par des réformes en profondeur des structures de l'État pour restaurer la confiance, encourager les investisseurs et mettre le peuple au travail. Il faut finir avec cette approche d'un État paternaliste qui tout en refusant de créer le cadre approprié pour le développement des entreprises mendie des millions sur la scène internationale en exhibant la misère du peuple." Cyrus Sibert
Reconstruction d'Haïti : A quand les Réformes structurelles?
Haïti : La continuité du système colonial d'exploitation  prend la forme de monopole au 21e Siècle.
WITHOUT REFORM, NO RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN HAITI (U.S. Senate report.)

GALLUP: LEADERSHIP PRESIDENT PREVAL 2010: 8% LEADERSHIP PRESIDENT MARTELLY: 67% --- CORRUPTION 2010: 72% CORRUPTION 2011: 57% GOING DOWN

Haitians' Confidence in Government Rebounds Recent optimism about government, leadership, and corruption may advance Haitian recovery by Linda Lyons WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The percentage of Haitians who have confidence in their national government has nearly tripled since an earthquake all but destroyed their country two years ago. Nearly half (46%) expressed confidence in October 2011 -- an increase of 30 percentage points since the last poll conducted in July 2010.

More Haitians are confident now than before the disaster, likely reflecting their hopes for the recent change in presidential leadership. Musician-turned-politician Michel Martelly swept to victory in a March 2011 runoff election, defeating former President Rene Preval, whom Haitians had little faith in even before the earthquake.

The World Bank's World Governance Indicators have consistently ranked Haiti in the bottom 10% of all countries in government effectiveness, but Haitians' perceptions of government institutions are clearly changing for the better -- with some justifiable cause. Although the pace of development is relatively slow, the government is apparently being credited with moving new projects forward. The government has announced major projects in the provinces, such as an industrial park in northern Haiti that will employ about 25,000. The international airport in Cap-Haitien in the north is scheduled to open next year, and work is under way at the Cayes airport in the south, according to Raymond A. Joseph, former Haitian ambassador to the U.S. Not only are Haitians' opinions about their national government and leadership improving, they also regard local conditions more favorably. Approval of city leadership improved to 28% from 12% in 2010, and overall city satisfaction is up to 58% from 45% in 2010. Haitians are also less likely to perceive corruption in leadership than they have ever been since Gallup started polling annually in the country. Currently, more than half of Haitians (57%) say corruption is widespread in the government, down from 70% between 2006 and 2010. Despite Haitians' recent optimism in this regard, the World Bank's World Governance Indicators continue to rank Haiti in the bottom 10% of all countries for control of corruption.

Implications Martelly will need to capitalize on Haitians' upswing in optimism toward government institutions by asking for their support as he seeks a legislature that will reinforce his economic proposals in the Senate elections later this year. In addition to natural disasters, Haiti has also been dogged by riots, coup d'états, and political instability throughout much of its history. A confident, optimistic public can enhance the prospects for sustaining momentum toward better governance and social harmony. Inarguably, Haitians continue to struggle for post-earthquake stability, but the latest Gallup findings show they are more likely than ever before to believe that it will happen. For complete data sets or custom research from the more than 150 countries Gallup continually surveys, please contact SocialandEconomicAnalysis@gallup.com or call 202.715.3030. Survey Methods Results are based on face-to-face interviews with 504 adults, aged 15 and older, conducted Oct. 23-28, 2011, in Haiti. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±4.8 percentage points. The margin of error reflects the influence of data weighting. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls. For more complete methodology and specific survey dates, please review Gallup's Country Data Set details.

---------------
"Ne doutez jamais qu'un petit nombre de citoyens volontaires et réfléchis peut changer le monde. En fait, cela se passe toujours ainsi" Margaret Mead (1901-1978)

Deux nouvelles zones franches aux Cayes et à Miragoane en mouvance, 80,000 emplois en persprctive.

La décentralisation passe à une vitesse supérieure. Le support de l'Etat à l'établissement de deux zones Franches à vocation multiple dans le Grand Sud viserait à la création de 80.000 emplois combinés aux environs des Cayes et de la ville de Miragoane. Cette dernière, située à 85 kms, au Sud de Port-au-Prince et 3 ème Port International d'Haiti est à 10 minutes des collines de Paillant. A part la classe traditionnellee des hommes d'affaires de Port-au-Prince visant au renforcement de leur présence dans le Sud, le secteur privé des Nippes et la diaspora de ces régions aux USA, au Canada et aux Antilles Francaises sont aux aguets de ces nouvelles possibilités d'affaires. La Décentralisation passe à une vitesse supérieure .....

 

____________________

"La vraie reconstruction d'Haïti passe par des réformes en profondeur des structures de l'État pour restaurer la confiance, encourager les investisseurs et mettre le peuple au travail. Il faut finir avec cette approche d'un État paternaliste qui tout en refusant de créer le cadre approprié pour le développement des entreprises mendie des millions sur la scène internationale en exhibant la misère du peuple." Cyrus Sibert
Reconstruction d'Haïti : A quand les Réformes structurelles?
Haïti : La continuité du système colonial d'exploitation  prend la forme de monopole au 21e Siècle.
WITHOUT REFORM, NO RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN HAITI (U.S. Senate report.)

Haiti begins cash transfer social program. (AP)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI -- The Haitian government has launched a program that uses mobile phones to transfer cash credits to mothers who keep their children in school.

The program is called "Ti Manman Cheri," or Creole for "Dear Little Mother." It aims to reach 100,000 families in four of the capital's poorest neighborhoods.

Mothers with children enrolled in the first through sixth grades can receive up to $20 a month if they keep the youngsters in school.

Venezuela's Petrocaribe fund is providing the $15 million for the program. The fund supplies fuel to Caribbean and Central American countries.

Similar conditional cash transfer programs have been employed in Brazil, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe announced the program Sunday at a school in the sprawling Cite Soleil slum.

____________________

"La vraie reconstruction d'Haïti passe par des réformes en profondeur des structures de l'État pour restaurer la confiance, encourager les investisseurs et mettre le peuple au travail. Il faut finir avec cette approche d'un État paternaliste qui tout en refusant de créer le cadre approprié pour le développement des entreprises mendie des millions sur la scène internationale en exhibant la misère du peuple." Cyrus Sibert
Reconstruction d'Haïti : A quand les Réformes structurelles?
Haïti : La continuité du système colonial d'exploitation  prend la forme de monopole au 21e Siècle.
WITHOUT REFORM, NO RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN HAITI (U.S. Senate report.)

Haiti begins cash transfer social program - KansasCity.com

Haiti begins cash transfer social program - KansasCity.com

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI -- The Haitian government has launched a program that uses mobile phones to transfer cash credits to mothers who keep their children in school.

The program is called "Ti Manman Cheri," or Creole for "Dear Little Mother." It aims to reach 100,000 families in four of the capital's poorest neighborhoods.

Mothers with children enrolled in the first through sixth grades can receive up to $20 a month if they keep the youngsters in school.

Venezuela's Petrocaribe fund is providing the $15 million for the program. The fund supplies fuel to Caribbean and Central American countries.

Similar conditional cash transfer programs have been employed in Brazil, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe announced the program Sunday at a school in the sprawling Cite Soleil slum.

PRESS CONFERENCE --- At a Washington, D.C. Press Conference, Haitian Journalist, Cyrus Sibert will describe the pain, suffering and abandonment of 22 child sexual abuse victims in Haiti. Boston Attorney, Mitchell Garabedian, will discuss the civil complaints filed in Federal Court in CT on behalf of these 22 sexual abuse victims.

PRESS CONFERENCE

Catholic Church Hosts Haiti Conference; Abuse Victims and Child Protection Advocates Respond to the Sexual Abuse of 22 Haitian Children by U.S. Citizen, Douglas Perlitz, and the Failure of Catholic Individuals, Groups and Organizations to Protect the Children.

At a Washington, D.C. Press Conference, Haitian Journalist, Cyrus Sibert will describe the pain, suffering and abandonment of 22 child sexual abuse victims in Haiti. Boston Attorney, Mitchell Garabedian, will discuss the civil complaints filed in Federal Court in CT on behalf of these 22 sexual abuse victims.

Child protection organizations demand that Catholic church mission groups protect innocent children in Haiti

Groups want Haiti conference attendees to implement written child protection policies

Catholic Missionary groups must be held accountable for the protection of children in Haiti

"If You See Something, Say Something: Report Child Abuse"

WHAT: Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk press conference, clergy sexual abuse victims and advocates will urge:

-- Haiti conference attendees to implement written child protection and code of behavior policies, 

systems and procedures at their schools, hospitals, orphanages and other mission sites in Haiti. 

-- Anyone who has information or suspicions about child sexual abuse in Haiti to contact ICE/Homeland Security investigators. 

-- Employees and volunteers of NGOs in Haiti to familiarize themselves with the 2003 PROTECT ACT.

-- Conference attendees to review the information posted on http://haitionetable.blogspot.com and 

http://www.reseaucitadelle.blogspot.com

-- Haiti conference attendees to review the criminal case, United States v. Douglas Perlitz.
                                            

WHEN: Friday, June 1, 2012 at 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: On the sidewalk outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (across from Catholic University), 400 Michigan Avenue, Northeast, Washington, D.C. 20017.

WHO: At least six men and women who are victims of clergy sexual abuse crimes or advocates for abuse victims, including Mitchell Garabedian, a Boston Attorney who is an internationally recognized advocate for abuse victims, Cyrus Sibert, a Haitian journalist who exposed the sexual abuse of children at Project Pierre Toussaint in Haiti, as well as leaders of several child advocacy organizations.

WHY: Cyrus Sibert, a Haitian journalist and radio commentator first began publishing reports about the sexual abuse of children at Project Pierre Toussaint in late 2007. Sibert and the abuse victims were immediately called liars by members of the Catholic organizations who supervised the school and were threatened and intimidated by NGO and business leaders in the Cap Haitian community. Sibert will tell how these sexually abused, homeless street children were rejected and abandoned by the same Catholic individuals, organizations and institutions in the United States that had previously boasted and taken great pride in their association with Project Pierre Toussaint.

Boston Attorney, Mitchell Garabedian, wilI discuss 21 civil lawsuits previously filed in Federal Court in CT on behalf of 22 Haitian boys who were sexually abused by a U.S. citizen, Douglas Perlitz, while Perlitz was director of Project Pierre Toussaint in Cap Haitian, Haiti. The discovery process is ongoing in these lawsuits which name Perlitz and Perlitz's supervisors as defendants.

Perlitz, after pleading guilty in federal criminal court in CT in December 2010, is now serving a 19 year and 7 month sentence in a federal prison in Texas. 

Project Pierre Toussaint was founded, funded and supported by many Catholic organizations, including the Order of Malta, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, the Knights of Columbus, Fairfield University,the New England Society of Jesus and the Haiti Fund, Inc., a Connecticut based non-profit whose Chairman, Jesuit priest, Rev. Paul Carrier, S.J., was the long time Director of Campus Ministry at Fairfield University.

It is our firm belief that a presentation and discussion of the Perlitz case will provide conference attendees withthe most comprehensive learning experience and inside look at the ways and means by which these individuals and institutions failed to protect innocent children at their mission in Haiti due to a lack of checks and balances, systems, procedures and policies designed to protect children from sexual abuse. This landmark criminal case established legal and law enforcement precedents by which a U.S. citizen will be prosecuted in U.S. Federal Court for crimes committed against children, no matter in the world the crimes are committed. 

In addition, the information contained in the precedent setting civil lawsuits filed by Attorney Mitchell Garabedian on behalf of 22 boys who were sexually abused by Perlitz is intended to awaken and educate Haiti Conference attendees as to how Perlitz's supervisors failed to protect innocent and vulnerable Haitian children from repeated incidents of sexual abuse for many years. It is painfully obvious that safeguards to protect children, including policies, systems and procedures, were not in place.

CONTACT:

Attorney Mitchell Garabedian, http://www.garabedianlaw.com, 617-388-5252 (cell), garabedianlaw@msn.com
Robert Hoatson, President, Road to Recovery, http://www.road-to-recovery.org, 
862-368-2800 (cell), rmhoatson1@msn.com
Becky Ianni, Washington D.C. Director, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, 
703-801-6044, SNAPViginia@cox.net
Paul Kendrick, Ignatius Group, http://haitionetable.blogspot.com, 207 838 1319 (cell), ignatiusgroup@gmail.com
Journalist, Cyrus Sibert, Cap-Haitian Haiti, http://www.reseaucitadelle.blogspot.com, 
321 914 2743 (cell), reseaucitadelle@gmail.com
Michael Sweatt, National Survivor Advocates Coalition, http://www.nationalsurvivoradvocatescoalition.wordpress.com, 207 831 3791 (cell), mjsweatt@aol.com.