I try and look for news articles about or from Haiti on a regular basis. This morning, I found a happy story, as well as a tragic story. I thought these two stories well-represent Haiti—a country filled with sorrow and strife; but one with great promise and hope.

MONTREAL - A freelance photographer was gunned down in his home near the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, apparently a victim of gang wars, Reporters Without Borders said on Tuesday.

Jean-Remy Badio was shot Friday at his home in Martissant, a suburb of the capital, the international press freedom watchdog said.

According to the Haitian organization SOS Journalistes, Badio was a victim of local gang members whom he had photographed during reporting assignments.

“Badio’s tragic death is a rs said in a statement.

“This murder has unfortunately served as a reminder that gang law continues to prevail in Haiti, especially in Port-au-Prince.”

Reporters Without Borders called on the local Haitian authorities to investigate the killing and bring those responsible to justice, “otherwise such murders will recur and will continue to go unpunished.”

Francois Louis, a photographer with the Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste, was beaten up in November at a demonstration in the same suburb by soldiers of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

The UN force in Haiti’s biggest challenge is to quell gang violence against the rest of the population, MINUSTAH’s Brazilian general Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz recently told the Brazilian government news agency Agencia Brasil.

Haiti has suffered from political violence and instability in recent years, notably since the resignation of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004 after a popular uprising.

Courtesy of Khaleej Times


And for the good news...

In a monumental shock, the Haitians earned top honours at the Caribbean Cup by edging out heavily favoured hosts Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 in the final and will head to the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup alongside the beaten finalists, Cuba and new boys Guadeloupe.

Haiti, FIFA World Cup™ participants back in 1974, confirmed their recent revival and regional status in the 2007 Caribbean Cup finals from 12-24 January in Marabella and Port of Spain by edging out T&T, who had just come off an impressive world finals debut last summer in Germany.

The Haitians - who played 12 games throughout the course of the preliminaries and finals of this the largest-ever Caribbean Cup - never looked in danger of running out of gas in the final, even though they were up against a T&T side that beat them 3-1 in the first round.

After six preliminary games Haiti ran through the group stages of the finals rarely missing a beat, finishing second to Trinidad in Group A and edging out Group B winners Guadeloupe, led by former France and Valencia standout Jocelyn Angloma, in the semis.

Playing in only their second final in the tournament's 18-year history, Haiti took the lead in the 22nd minute when Alexandre Boucicaut pounced on a rebound to slot home. The impressive Fucien Brunel then added a second ten minutes after the break to send the 18,000 fans at the Hasely Crawford Stadium into a state of stunned silence.

You can read more about this on the FIFA website (above photo courtesy of FIFA.com).