Alice Backer · November, 2006

Latest posts by Alice Backer from November, 2006

Guadeloupe: Saluting “First and Only” Government

  25 November 2006

Convention Pour Une Nouvelle Guadeloupe posts (Fr) a declaration made by its founding father Magloire Pelage after he and others ceased power from the French in October 1801. (The revolt was later quelled.) He then adds: “Convention pour une Nouvelle Guadeloupe salutes the constitution of the first and only government...

Guadeloupe: Pictures of Route du Rhum Transatlantic Race

  23 November 2006

Bienvenue en Guadeloupe posts (Fr) pictures of the Route du Rhum transatlantic sailing race and writes (Fr): “This race starts in Saint-Malo and ends in Pointe-a-Pitre [Gaudeloupean capital]. It was created by Michel Etevenon, in 1978 … This transatlantic race from continental France to overseas France happens every 4 years...

Martinique: A Coming Out Story, Part 4

  23 November 2006

Le Blog de [Moi] posts the fourth and final installment of her personal coming out story. She tells of loosing her first same-sex love and being declared dead by her mother on the day of her coming out to her (Fr): “As if I were dead. Dead. In her eyes,...

Caribbean: Local Telecom Digicel to be Traded on the NY Stock Exchange?

  23 November 2006

InternetRapide.com writes (Fr): “According to last weekend's edition of Irish newspaper Sunday Times, Denis O'Brien, owner of Caribbean mobile telephone operator Digicel, allegedly consulted investment banks JP Morgan and Citibank on the trading on the New York Stock Exchange of his company. The introduction on the New York Stock Exchange,...

Tahiti: Artisanal Fair

  23 November 2006

Fenua Blog posts pictures of an annual crafts fair taking place in Tahiti and writes (Fr): “The Artisanal Fair opened its doors in Paofai. As it does every year, it regroups all the artisans from the 5 archipelagos. You can find almost all of the crafts of French Polynesia.”

DRC: Supreme Court in Flames

  22 November 2006

Le Blog du Congolais posted a declaration by Union pour la Nation (UPN) stating (Fr) that partisans of defeated candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba who had gathered at the Supreme Court to hear an official report on part of the results

Senegal: Garbage Handlers’ Working Conditions

  21 November 2006

Appalled at the working conditions of the employees of a local garbage collection company, Blog Politique du Senegal writes (Fr): “Quick to denounce slavery … we refuse to see the quasi-slavery endured by many in our society and in our families. These quasi-slaves whose masters we are.”

DRC: Bemba Contests Election Results

  21 November 2006

In the aftermath of the announcement that Joseph Kabila has won elections, Sanaga Peregrinations wonders (Fr) whether the DRC can afford the contestation of results promised by loosing candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba: ” Only a couple of days ago, the two rivals were hand in hand and each claimed that they...

Haiti: Reviving Tourism

  20 November 2006

JoJo at Collectif Haiti de Provence points to a haitian news article about Haiti's collaboration with Chilean architectural consultants in view of developing tourist resorts. The blogger's reaction to the story (Fr):”Nations living under the constant threat of violence certainly maintain a touristic tradition that is valid for the region....

Haiti: Syto Cave Podcast

  20 November 2006

French literary blog Topolivres posts (Fr) a podcast of an excerpt of Haitian poet and playwright Syto Cave's show Voisins Complices [Neighbors and Accomplices]. Voisins Complices has been performed in Haiti and Barcelona and is scheduled to go to New York in 2007.

Haiti: Do Officials Care about Insecurity?

  20 November 2006

Pointing to a Haitian news story about a schoolgirl who was recently kidnapped and shot despite her mother's delivery of $4,000 out of a $30,000 ransom, JoJo at Collectif Haiti de Provence writes (Fr): “Who will have the courage to ask public officials to describe in detail the nature of...

Madagascar: Coup Attempt Clouds Upcoming Elections

  19 November 2006

Photo by Martha de Jong Lantig. French-language Malagasy bloggers have been relatively quiet about an alleged coup attempt by General Andrianafidison (a.k.a. General “Fidy”) over the weekend. Those who have blogged about the event seem uncertain about what happened and have relied on the local or international press. Harinjaka, unsure...

Magascar: Do We Deserve Global Award 2006?

  18 November 2006

At Madagascar Croissance, Aiky is happy (Fr) that Madagascar improved its image and that of its environment in the past couple of years leading to the country receiving the Global Award this year. However, the blogger wonders whether the award is indeed deserved given the endurance of certain problematic environmental...

Madagascar: What Happens When We Live Abroad

  18 November 2006

At Madagascar Croissance, Aiky reflects (Fr) on social dynamics among Malagasies living abroad. Says the blogger: “What is good about Malagasies is their friendliness and hospitality especially those living in Madagascar and those who have left recently. By contrast, these values evaporate once we live abroad, especially when we move...

Reunion: “Our Creole Stolen By a Guadeloupean”

  17 November 2006

Blogger Pierrot Dupuy laments (Fr) that Reunion will be represented by a Reunion-based Guadeloupean professor at an International Creole Festival taking place in Mauritius from December 1st to 3rd. Adds the blogger, the Festival will feature: “a culinary festival, a conference on Creolity and a mega concert featuring Zouk Machine,...

Benin: Televised Literary Contest

  17 November 2006

France-based Togolese blogger Kangni Alem recounts (Fr) with much enthusiasm his recent experience at a televised literary competition in Benin which attracted aspiring writers of all ages. The competition was organized by beninoise Djamila Idrissa Souler and took place November 6. Says the blogger: “This contest illustrates, in a bold...

Mali: New Film on African Debt

  15 November 2006

Le Pangolin encourages (Fr) readers to go see Bamako, a Malian film directed by Abderrhamanne Sissako which tackles the issue of African debt. The film recently received the Grand Prix du Public at the Cannes Film Festival.

Caribbean Women's Forum

  14 November 2006

Collectif Haiti de Provence points to a Radio Kiskeya news article stating (Fr): “The 2d Caribbean Women's Forum ended the evening of November 10th in Fort-de-France, Martinique with the participation of a Haitian delegation led by Feminine Condition Minister Marie-Laurence Jocelyn Lassegue … Delegations from various Caribbean countries (Guadeloupe, Dominica,...

Haiti: New Francophonia Institute Trains Managers

  13 November 2006

Collectif Haiti de Provence points to a Haitian news article that announces (Fr) the training since about two months ago of 22 local managers by a new Francophonia Institute. The program is sponsored by the Canadian and French governments among others.