My name is Alice Backer. I am founder and former team leader of GV Lingua, which amplifies Global Voices in languages other than English. I used to be Francophonia Editor. I was once an editor of New York University School of Law's Review of Law & Social Change. I have been blogging about Haiti, Haitian-Americans and the Caribbean for 5 years at kiskeácity and I tweet from @kiskeacity. I am also a lawyer and campaign consultant.
Latest posts by Alice Backer from December, 2006
Haiti: Government's Tougher Stance on Insecurity
Reacting to a Christmas speech by Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis announcing a tougher stance on gang-driven kidnappings, Deky Lakyel from Collectif Haiti de Provence writes (Fr): “Not so long ago the stance was still to negotiate with the bandits. Today the approach and the discourse are more a-propos to...
Haiti: Competition for AA on Miami-Port-au-Prince
Jojo of Collectif Haiti de Provence is happy (Fr) that Spirit Airlines is offering a Miami-Port-au-Prince flight in addition to American Airlines’ but cautions: “Spirit Airlines is welcome so long as it doesn't align itself to the detriment of the public with American Airlines’ practices. $370 for a 2 hour...
Africa 2.0: Important New Sites
Africa 2.0 shares (Fr) two new links: Makossa TV, a self-described media center for African artists and Ouestaf, a West African news site.
Tahiti: A New President for Christmas
Blogger Jiriki says (Fr) Tahiti got a special present for Christmas: a new President, Gaston Tong Sang. The blogger links to a profile of the new President indicating that he is an engineer who has held various minister posts in the Tahitian government since 1986. He was born in Bora...
Rep. of Congo: Allegations of Illegal Arrests
Le Pangolin posts a letter explaining (Fr) that Sargeant Mouele and two other members of the military have been arrested and detained in the Republic of Congo without the due process mandated by the Congolese constitution of 2002. The letter alleges many violations of due process including: actions by authorities...
Senegal: Irregularities in Voter Registration Records
In anticipation of the upcoming presidential election, Blog Politique du Senegal takes (Fr) a closer look at official voter registration numbers and finds that if the current numbers are to be believed, every single person of voting age in Senegal is registered. Says the blog: “It is hard to believe...
Haiti: Teacher's Union Denounces Insecurity
Many school children have recently been the victims of kidnappings in Haiti and the Haitian press reports that teachers’ unions have denounced what they feel is the government's inaction vis-a-vis the phenomenon. Collectif Haiti de Provence reacted (Fr) to the story: “The teachers’ declaration is timely but insufficient in the...
Guadeloupe, India: 152nd Anniversary of Tamul Hindus’ Arrival
Atout Guadeloupe announces (Fr) that Guadeloupeans of Hindu Tamul origin celebrated the 152nd anniversary of their ancestors’ arrival in Guadeloupe on Dec. 24. Says the feed: “Hindus arrived after the second abolition of slavery.” The ceremony which took place in capital Pointe-a-Pitre included offerings of flowers to the ocean and...
Martinique, Guadeloupe: A Star is Born
Atout Guadeloupe is happy (Fr) that 19 year-old Martiniquan Cyril won the Star Academy reality show/music contest, a French equivalent of American Idol. Says the feed: “19, millions of Euros, a budding career. Guadeloupe joins the pride and joy of Martinique for Cyril's victory… [We] predict a wonderful career for...
Haiti, US: President Bush Signs HOPE law
Of President Bush's signing of the HOPE Law (Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act), Collectif Haiti de Provence writes (Fr): “We find ourselves compelled to welcome with enthusiasm this law which seems to be designed to favor job creation via textile subcontracting. We would like that leaders in that...
Guinea, Senegal: Shame on President Konte
Senegalese blogger Seckasysteme is unhappy (Fr) with Guinean President Lansana Konte for personally freeing powerful friends who had been booked for financial fraud from Guinean jails. “Africa is ashamed of Lansana Konte”, concludes the blogger. “Guineans are right to have taken to the streets, demanding that he and his corrupt...
Haiti, Dominican Republic: Slaves in Paradise
Says Collectif Haiti de Provence (Fr):”For International Anti-Slavery Day, May 10, 2007, Pour Que L'esprit Vive Association is organizing a series of activities to denounce living conditions in [Dominican] bateys: photo exhibits, roundtables with Haitian and Dominican intervenors, films. The event will be titled ‘Slaves in Paradise’.”
Madagascar: The First Indian Ocean Musical Network
El Sono Mondial announces that (Fr): “A seminar about financial management of cultural enterprises specializing in music (organized by the International Organization of La Francophonie) took place last week [in Madagascar] … The participants discussed creating the first Indian Ocean musical and cultural network.“
“India Should Become a Model for Africa”
At Le Blog de PKJ Agency, Frederic Kingue Johnson reports (Fr) the thoughts of Cameroonian Jacques Bonjawo, a former senior manager at Microsoft and CEO of Genesis Futuristic Technologies: “Bonjawo is convinced that there are lots of similarities between India and Africa and that it is imperative that the black...
French Antilles: Retail is Principal Economic Sector
Says NewMedia (Fr), according to a recent investigation by the French government, retail is the principal economic sector in French overseas departments Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyane: “Retail encompasses half the businesses but it is wholesale that generates the biggest revenue and highest margin rate (35%).”
Guyane: Forest In Danger from Gold Digging
Blada.com (Fr) points to a Mongabay.com english-speaking series on the French Guianese environment and says: “Illegal gold digging is threatening the forest, biodiversity and indigenous populations of French Guiana. The biggest European tropical forest is invaded by clandestine gold diggers.” The site also deplores that France –of which Guyane is...
Guadeloupe:Celebrating Chevallier de St-George
Guadeloupe Attitude is happy (Fr) a Guadeloupean school chose to rename itself after local historic figure Joseph Bologne a.k.a. Chevallier de St-George, the child of a white French planter and freed african slave woman who lived in the 18th century and conquered classical composing and military skill in both Europe...
France, Minorities: Integration v. Identity Politics
Pondering the tension between integration and now fashionable identity politics, Fenetres Sur/Windows On writes (Fr): “Can we really demand recognition of our “community”, desire to live as such, outside of the common trunk of citizens and at the same time ask for the same rights as everybody else? We need...
Haiti: Saving Local Soccer
Collectif Haiti de Provence laments (Fr) that local soccer team The Racing Club d'Haiti is on its way to extinction for lack of sponsorship by both government and alums in the diaspora.
Madagascar: No Christmas Songs
Says Harinjaka, (Fr) Malagasy artists haven't put out any chistmas compilations this year probably because of elections. But the blogger proposes an exploration into a forgotten music form, the zafindraony of which he posts a clip. The key to the proper execution of this music? Sing off key and while...
Haiti: High Prices of Flights
Reacting to news of a new airline to offer Haiti-Dominican Republic flights, Collectif Haiti de Provence complains about the cost of flights to Haiti(Fr): “It is always flabbergasting how expensive flights to Haiti are whether via all powerful American Airlines who holds an unwavering monopoly or via the lines that...
