In Haiti’s Bel-Air, a New Home For Art

By: - August 1st, 2013

Above: the new Bel-Art centre in Bel-Air (Photo: USAID/Nancy Ruppel)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

One of Port-au-Prince’s artistic hubs is getting a lift.

The neighbourhood of Bel-Air has inaugurated the new Bel-Art centre, a home for artists that was renovated with support from the US government.

Bel-Air has traditionally been known as one of Haiti’s more artistic neighbourhoods, and the new centre will form part of a planned “artistic trail” in the area.

The project to create the centre was funded with around $107,000.

Local artist Roga painted some of the new walls at the centre’s gallery.

USAID said it has been embarking on a series of rehabilitation projects in Bel-Air, including a renovated soccer field and basketball court, new solar lights and benches and a new community library, among other initiatives.

The opening ceremony last week included a prize ceremony for winners of a neighbourhood youth art contest.

Haiti

Rum Journal: Plantation XO 20th Anniversary Barbados Rum

PLANTATION is a rather interesting brand: the company is owned by France’s Cognac Ferrand, and sort of “collects” rums from a host of Caribbean islands. Each rum, which the company considers a “grand cru,” is labeled as Plantation and the name of the country in which it was produced — Plantation Barbados, Plantation Grenada, Plantation […]

Haiti

Mark Wahlberg Takes Stake in Caribbean Cricket Team

Above: Mark Wahlberg By the Caribbean Journal staff Actor Mark Wahlberg has taken an equity interest in the Barbados Tridents of the new Caribbean Premier League. The Tridents are part of the upstart cricket league, which pits six Caribbean sides against each other in a regional tournament. “I’m excited to be a part of the […]

Haiti

Barbados: AA Will Not Pull Flights "Without Discussing It With Us"

Above: an American Airlines flight By the Caribbean Journal staff American Airlines officials have pledged not to end their 38-year relationship with Barbados despite the company’s merger talks with US Airways, according to Barbados Tourism Minister Richard Sealy. Sealy said in a government release that AA’s recent decision to replace the 757 aircraft with a […]

UN: Guyana to Lead Caribbean in Economic Growth in 2013

 Above: Guyana By the Caribbean Journal staff Guyana is projected to lead the Caribbean in economic growth in 2013, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. Suriname’s GDP is projected to grow by 4.5 percent, putting it second in the region, followed by Haiti at 3.5 percent. Jamaica is […]

British Virgin Islands Dominating New Offshore Company Registrations

Above: the BVI By the Caribbean Journal staff The British Virgin Islands “continues to dominate” new offshore company registration activity by volume, according to a report from Appleby Global. The British Virgin Islands has maintained a six-fold lead over its nearest competitor, the Cayman Islands, according to the report. Overall, new offshore company registrations fell […]

Dominica's Big Plans For Coffee

Above: Guyana By the Caribbean Journal staff Guyana is projected to lead the Caribbean in economic growth in 2013, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. Suriname’s GDP is projected to grow by 4.5 percent, putting it second in the region, followed by Haiti at 3.5 percent. Jamaica is […]

Caribbean Tourism Organization Concludes Tour of Eastern Caribbean

 Above: St Vincent By the Caribbean Journal staff The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s leadership has concluded a tour of four member countries. A CTO delegation including Chairman Beverly Nicholson-Doty, Secretary General Hugh Riley and Director of Membership Services Faye Gill, met with tourism officials in Montserrat, Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Among […]