Latest posts by Alice Backer from April, 2006
DRC: T.I. Petition & Elections Debate
“Master of the Universe,” a threat to Kabila? By Etienne Ngandu Today UDPS Liege echoes an AFP article announcing the presidential election will take place July 30. The election was...
Rep. of Congo: Activists Free At Last
Le Pangolin celebrates (FR) the liberation of human rights activists Mounzeo Christian and Brice Massoko. But the blogger cautions vigilance because “they are not yet completely free to go about...
Martinique: Tourists Turned Off
Bien Vu worries (FR) that Martinique is turning tourists off. Some have complained to him, he says, about: “a poor welcome, bad company, not feeling safe during their vacations and...
Martinique: Gas Ration In Case of Strike
Bien Vu laments (FR) rumors of an imminent gas station strike and hopes a new twenty Euro per person ration is not in vain. “You don't want to be driving...
Martinique: Do Not Piss Here
Bien Vu finds a “Do not piss here” bilingual french/creole sign near the Tourism Bureau in downtown Fort-de-France and concludes “In Martinique, we spell things out.”
DRC Diaspora: UDPS Wallonie May 1st Forum
On May 1st, UDPS Wallonie will hold a conference in Liege, Belgium to explain why UDPS will not partake in the upcoming DRC elections, says (FR) UDPS Liege. Details are...
DRC: Blogger Wants to Petition T.I.
Blogger Tony Katombe proposes (FR) on Prince du Fleuve du Congo that he and compatriots from the country and abroad petition Transparency International to “investigate the allegations of the implication...
Dominica: Karib Cultural Village
French Antilles blog Bondamanjak describes (FR) a new cultural village located in Dominica which showcases the history and culture of native Karibs. Dominica retains a rare community of the Caribbean...
Martinique/Gwada: Palm Tree Shaped Antennas
Technophile InternetRapide.com praises (FR) the aesthetic value of Morocco's palm tree-shaped antennas.
DRC: UDPS Predicts “Electoral Comedy”, “Terror”
UDPS Liege discourages (FR) the Congolese from taking part in the upcoming “electoral comedy” unless of course certain conditions are met. They predict that “Joseph Kabila will be elected on...
Martinique: Parental Rant
Bien Vu wonders (FR) why his/her teen-aged son is being taught History in French class. “Martinique doesn't do anything like anyone else [in the French school system],” says the blogger...
DRC: Report Says Ruling Party Received Illegal Corporate and State Funds
NIZA, a Dutch NGO, published a report alleging President Kabila's party (PPRD) is illegally funded by private enterprises of the Katanga region and has received government funds, says (FR) Le...
DRC: “A Poem From My Heart”
Lines from a poem posted (FR) by Prince du Fleuve du Congo: “Son of this Sacred Land, I cry for your misfortune/Yet for your salvation, I fight with fortitude.”
Image from DRC: Kobolo Humor
A Kobolo is a public transportation vehicle in the DRC. It is also the Congolese word for trunk. Photo courtesy Le Renouveau Congolais. In a humorous photo essay, Le Renouveau...
French Antilles: Banana Drama
InternetRapide.com points (FR) to recent efforts to promote Martinique and Guadeloupe bananas, including a commercial and website featuring athletes from the two islands. The blogger cites increased competition from American...
Image from Haiti: Sell Art, Support a School
La Bonne Recolte by J.B. Chery. Image courtesy AyitiCherieConnexion AyitiCherieConnexion posts a slideshow of Haitian paintings and writes (FR): While surfing the web the other day I discovered a not-for-profit...
DRC: Cardinal Asks Congolese to Protect DRC From Foreigners
Archbishop of Kinshasa, Cardinal Etsou, asked Congolese to protect their country from foreigners, reports (FR)Renouveau Congolais. “You have left this beautiful country to foreigners who are carving it out” said...
DRC: Informal vs. Official World Order
UDPS Liege contrasts (FR) the official world order (UN and other international bodies) to the informal world order (multinational corporations and secret service agencies). According to the informal world order,...
Haitian Blogger Yon Ayisyen: “I'm No Revolutionary Hero”
Yon Ayisien (whose name means “A Haitian”) blogs at Ayisyen Sa Nap Regle? (“What's Up Haitians? ” in Creole) and might as well be renamed HaitiPundit. He is the only...
Haiti: Sixth Anniversary of Jean Dominique's Assassination
To commemorate the 6th anniversary of slain Haitian journalist Jean Dominique's death, blogger AyitiCherieConnexion talks (FR) about his life, his death and Jonathan Demme's The Agronomist. The blogger also treats...
Caribbean: Billionaires Investing in Local Telecoms
Last week Irish billionaire Dennis O'Brien announced his company Digicel was purchasing the Caribbean arm of Bouygues Telecom . This week Mexican billionnaire Carlos Slim announces he is purchasing three...