GWAP Blog brings you the following roundup of Caribbean news:
Cholera in Haiti
So far, 292 people have died from cholera in Haiti; more than 4,100 are being treated. At first we hear that the spread of cholera is decreasing, however, today we're being told that it is spreading.
The cholera cases that have been found in the Haitian capital - Port Au Prince, is said to have been caused from migrants from the rural areas into the Haitian capital.
(Cholera is an acute intestinal disease caused by ingestion of contaminated water or food. It is characterized by severe diarrhea with extreme fluid losses, the resulting dehydration and electrolyte loss often leading to death.
Sources: wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn, ehistory.osu.edu/uscw/features/medicine/cwsurgeon/commonterms.cfm).
The UN claims that the source of the cholera outbreak has been identified: the Artibonite River originating in rural Haiti.
The UN is reporting that, so far, 40% of the people who live along its bank have been treated for cholera. It is their intention to increase this number up to 100% .
However, according to article,"UN Military Base Suspected Source of Haiti Cholera Outbreak", the Haitian mayor is claiming that it's the UN's leaking, foul waste and unsecure septic tanks in Mirebalais, that's leaking into the river, that may be the possible source of the Haiti cholera outbreak.
Haitian residents in the Mirebalais, Artibonite and Central Plateau regions of the cholera outbreak are demanding an independent non-UN investigation of the case, as they claim to have been drinking and bathing from the Artibonite River for over two (2)centuries, without anyone getting cholera.
So is the UN lying?...well, we will only know if an independent investigation is done.
(GWAP Blog will keep you updated re this).
There is still a lack of central governmental control in Haiti that is hampering the effective response to the cholera outbreak, hence the reason for its spread.
No Cholera in Jamaica
Jamaica is on heightened alert for cholera. The Jamaican Ministry of Health reports that there are no cases of cholera in Jamaica...health clinics and hospitals are on heightened alert and there is a nurse stationed at each port of entry.
Warning to Donors
There have been complaints from Myrtha Delsume - head of the Haiti/Jamaica Association, that monies given to Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to help with Haiti relief and restoration have not been spent to help those who really need aid, but remains in the coffers of these NGOs.
May I just say to Myrtha and others concerned, that unfortuntaley this is the way that aid works internationally.
People donate their hard-earned monies to aid organizations that they think they can trust - some of which pocket the money via projects that sound good and feasible and that the ordinary person thinks will restore a country to normalcy, but at the end of the process, there's no accountability for how the aid money is spent.
I call it "the NGO Thief Shop".
The key for donors is to ensure that only those organizations who are actually helping people "on the ground", are given money, when disaster strikes.
Please don't give money to organizations that don't have a good track record of giving effective relief and who can't show you at the end of a year, via a Profit and Loss statement and other financials, how aid money has been spent.
Buju Banton's Woes Continue
Just when Buju Banton thought that he'd be able to see full sunshine again, an ominous cloud still hangs over his head.
Yesterday, U.S. Magistrate, Judge Anthony Porcelli, reported that Buju may not be able to make bail, due to the prosecutors' appeal and the pending appearance of Buju Banton in immigration court.
Prosecutors have indicated that they will appeal judge Porcelli's decision, last week, to grant Buju Banton bail. U.S. District Judge, James Moody - who presided over Buju's first trial, will hear the appeal.
Judge Porcelli has given the prosecutors five (5) days to appeal the judgement.
If Judge Moody rules in Buju's favour, Buju would still have to appear in front of an immigration court, to avoid deportation to Jamaica, before being granted bail and allowed to live in friend - Stephen Marley's house, until the date of his next trial in December.
(Yesterday, Stephen Marley,renown Reggae artist and son of the late Bob Marley, put up his US $300,000 Miami Dade mansion as security for bail for Buju).
Judge Porcelli also ordered that Buju sign a waiver of extradition that would allow him to get back to the US should he flee the country.
Funeral Date Set For Late Barbados PM
The date for the funeral of the late Barbados Prime Minister - David Thompson, will take place next Wednesday, November 3,2010, at the Kensignton Oval in Barbados.
(I would like to thank:
1) Water Missions Internationalfor the use if their Flickr inset photo above, entitled,"Haiti Cholera Outbreak Disaster Response 2010"
2) Pedro Kwezifor the use of his Flickr photo of Buju Banton).
Gillian
Sources Include
1) Nationwide Radio, October 21-28,2010
2) Article,"Aid agencies fear Haiti cholera moves towrds capital", BBC.co.uk, October 28,2010
3) Article,"UN Military Base Suspected Source of Haiti Cholera Outbreak", by Ezili Danto, PacificFreePress.com, October 28,2010
4) Article,"Buju Banton faces hurdles to release from US jail", the Associated Press, via the Washington Post, October 28,2010.
5) Article, "Problems surface with Buju Banton's bail: release delayed", by Elaine Silvestrini, the Tampa Tribune, via RepeatingIslands.com, October 28,2010
6) Article, "Date set for late PM's funeral", Caribbean360.com, October 28,2010.
7) Article,"Disagreement keeps Buju in US jail"by Paul henry, Jamaica Observer, October 26,2010
8) Article, "Haiti cholera deaths slow, but spread still feared", by Joseph Guyler Delva, Reuters News, via Yahoo News, October 25,2010