Ordered by a court summons, former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier testified last week before dozens of journalists and victims in a packed court room of Haiti's Court of Appeals. No one thought Duvalier, who was in exile for 25 years, would face criminal charges for fraud and political violence.

Duvalier appeared frail and stoic, but answered questions from the court, victims' lawyers and his own lawyers for almost four hours. Duvalier generally deflected questions about his control of the government and his knowledge about torture and disappearances during his reign. Instead he claimed that the country ran well under his government, compared to now, and that he tried to intervene to stop injustices.

Haitian lawyer Mario Joseph of the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI) called Duvalier appearance in court "a good day for victims of Jean-Claude Duvalier and the Haitian justice system. Now we wait for an order from the Court of Appeals in which Duvalier is indicted for crimes against humanity. We are very close to this."

CarnaFam, a Haitian cultural organization in South Florida, is inviting the South Florida community to journey through Haiti on Saturday March 16, from 3p.m to 10 p.m. CarnaFam is promoting and hosting this celebration to honor Haitian women and culture with an exotic fusion of books, music, arts and food.

This event will be held at The Art Serve in Fort Lauderdale at 1350 East Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale. This extraordinary evening will be hosted by over 12 Haitian female writers, including Margaret Papillon, Maude Hertelou, Nathalie Day-Tolantino, Diane Allerdyce, Jillianne Theodore, and Jessica Fievre.

Vendors and companies, local and from abroad, will showcase their products for guests to sample and purchase. Entertainment will feature the King of Deep Roots Genre "Jean P Jams," and a poetry contest.

The U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of Inspector General (USAID OIG) and La Fondation Heritage pour Haiti (LFHH), the Haitian chapter of Transparency International (TI), have begun operating an anti-corruption hotline in Haiti.

The hotline will help fight corruption and promote accountability in aid programs in Haiti and is widely advertised on radio, television, and vehicles used by USAID's implementing partners. The 24-hour hotline accepts allegations in English, French, and Creole and has been receiving complaints since it launched in December 2012.

Developed as part of USAID OIG's ongoing partnership with LFHH, the hotline models the approach of the Pakistan anti-fraud hotline run by Transparency International-Pakistan and the OIG. Both hotlines cover not only USAID projects and implementers, but also receive complaints across the spectrum of international and local assistance programs in their respective countries.

Representing Haiti and CARICOM at the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and European Union (CELAC)-EU Summit in Santiago, Chile last weekend, Haiti's President Michel Martelly told delegates that Haiti has "strong potential just waiting to be uncovered in the areas of agriculture, agro-industry, tourism and construction and cultural industries." Martelly also said "for a new world, a new vision is needed."
In his address Martelly also focused on his concerns about trade policy and the Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU on sustainable development. He pointed out the importance of the partnership between the EU and CELAC.
"While seeking to ensure economic and social progress for their respective members, these two groups can broaden their scope by cooperating to improve prosperity and democracy over large geographical areas," Martelly said. He also said recalling the experience gained by both parties and the sharing of principles and values should "promote the establishment of a fruitful dialogue conducive to the adoption of common positions."
Martelly, was is in Santiago while Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe attended the World Economic Forum this weekend in Davos, where he called for renewed investment in the region and a "definitive" eradication of poverty.