If the Haitian Diaspora were a country, it would be Uruguay

Excerpt from How Can We Use the Skills and Capital of the Diaspora from the SolutionHaiti blog: 

The vast majority of college-educated Haitians are overseas and many of them are very well-connected in their host countries.  The economic potential is enormous.  3 million Haitians (probaby closer to 4) that hold $50 000 in equity in their homes (probably higher) currently hold (excluding savings or any other investments or holdings) $ 150 billion in real estate.  3 million Haitians that make $ 20 000 in income for example represent a $ 45 billion market, per year.  This is about 10 times the size of the entire local Haitian economy.  To put this in perspective, if the diaspora were a country, it would be Uruguay which  has about 3.5 million people and an economy worth $ 40 billion.  Panama has a similar population and is about half that economically. 

Full post: http://www.solutionhaiti.org/2011/finance/diaspora-skills-capital


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kiskeácity daily is out ! Edition of Monday, Jul. 18, 2011

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Many music stories in this edition as musician Azor has died, band members of Septen have been hurt in an accident and the NY Times has a profile of Wyclef Jean. In politics, we learn about the surprisingly high salary of members of Haitian parliament. Plus, a recipe for Haitian hamburger by pundit Emann Joasil, interesting new technology for universities in Africa and more.


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kiskeácity daily is out ! Edition of Sunday, Jul. 17, 2011

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Topics include two articles on Haitian literature including a new book by Pierre-Louis Bernardel on his Haitian peasant upbringing, more on Thiotte's coffee, interesting stats about the Haitian diaspora and a new Haitian hip hop mixtape introduced by KRS1.




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Les Dominicains et le café Haïtien

Extrait de l'article Thiotte Mise sur son Café du  Nouvelliste: 

Ce n'est pas toute la quantité de café produite dans l'arrondissement de Belle-Anse - regroupant les communes de Thiotte, Grand Gosier, Anse-à-Pitre et Belle-Anse - qui est, pour l'instant, commercialisée par la Coopcab. Une bonne partie de la production, plus que 50%, selon certaines estimations, est vendue dans la contrebande aux Dominicains. Ces derniers auraient exporté le café comme produit dominicain. Apportant de l'argent cash, les Dominicains payent le café à vil prix aux planteurs qui ne veulent pas passer par le circuit de la Coopcab. La cause? La coopérative ne dispose pas d'assez d'argent pour payer le café sur place. 

Article complet: http://lenouvelliste.com/article.php?PubID=1&ArticleID=93152&PubDate=2011-05-30


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kiskeácity daily is out ! Edition of Saturday, Jul. 16, 2011

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Topics: Murder of Haitian student Roodline Pierre in the DR, roundup of recent cultural events in Port-au-Prince, the prime minister saga still unresolved, haitian coffee and more.



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Quote of the Day: Artistic critique of international community and NGOs in Haiti.

From Tande Blog's Out and About roundup of cultural events in Haiti: 

Les Mots Vulnerables was the title chosen for the event held at the French Insitute as part of La Quinzaine du Livre on Friday, June 24th. A theater group presented a short sketch and several authors (Edwidge Danticat, Kettly Mars, Verly Dabel,Lyonel Trouillot, and Georges Castera, among others)  read excerpts of their published works and other short texts. The crowd seemed to especially appreciate Dabel's take on Haiti's post-earthquake situation, including his critique of the international community and various NGO's. 

Full link: http://tandenou2.blogspot.com/2011/07/out-and-about.html
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Of Haitian coffee

Of Haitian Coffee:

(1) Café Forêt des Pins Bleus :
The Café Forêt des Pins Bleus comes from the best coffee producing region of Haiti called Thiotte (where is also the headquarters of COOPCAB), in south-east. Coffee is grown at an altitude of 1.300 to 1.350 meters. The infusion is characterized by an aroma and a superb fragrance, balanced acidity, a round body and a good aftertaste. All grains are dried in the sun, which explains their bluish color. The Café de la Forêt des Pins Bleus, is considered by connoisseurs in Italy, as the best coffee for espresso.

(2) Café Marre Blanche :
This coffee comes from the region bearing the same name in the mountains of south-east of Haiti. It is cultivated at an altitude of 1.400 meters and has a strong aroma with citrus flavors and a grassy aftertaste. The Green beans of Marre Blanche were the best sellers, on the Japanese market in 2009. The infusion has a wonderful aroma and a strong fragrance and good acidity and a round body. The Café Marre Blanche, without added sugar because of its natural sweetness, is appreciated by connoisseurs.

(3) Kafé Gwo Chwal :
Gwo Chwal (Creole for "Big Horse") comes from the region of the same name, in the West Department of Haiti. Like the other coffee of COOPCAB, this coffee is dried in the sun. Kafe Gwo Chwal grows at an altitude of 1.500 to 1.600 meters. This is probably the best gourmet coffee from Haiti. The tasting of Gwo Chwal was a delight for the international community because of its beautiful fragrance, its complex aroma and a lemony aftertaste. This coffee has good acidity and a round body.

Wondering which of these varieties Rebo, my favorite packaged coffee, is made of. Would it be #2, the sweet one? :-)


Source:  http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3378-haiti-economy-the-us-embassy-in-haiti-is-interested-in-the-coffee-sector.html




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kiskeácity daily is out ! Edition of Friday, Jul. 15, 2011

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http://paper.li/kiskeacity/1310337365

 

Topics include Caribbean economic growth this year, the film When the Drum is beating about Orchestre Septentrional from Cap-Haitien, the Bill Clinton shelter scandal, Rebecca McKinnon's TED talk on taking back the internet and much more.