Cuban and Haitian officials finalized a new agreement recently to provide repair and maintenance help in rebuilding public infrastructure.

In the first phase of the new deal, signed by Minister Laurent Lamothe and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, 34 Cuban mechanic technicians will come to Haiti to help rebuild and repair government vehicles, including much needed school buses, garbage trucks and heavy equipment for construction.

"This technical assistance will enable us to repair the equipment to build new roads," said Lamothe.

In addition, the technical assistance also hopes to help revamp waste management in Port-au-Prince, which is still at a standstill because of the depleted fleets for the Metropolitan Bureau of Solid Waste Collection (SMCRS). Meanwhile, as the government seeks out more student enrollment under the new universal education plan, school buses are much needed to reach students in neglected areas.

Human rights advocacy group, Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami (FANM) celebrated leaders and pioneers of the South Florida community with the grand return of the Awards Gala on March 10, at the Miami Marriot Biscayne Bay. In the spirit of FANM's dedication to empowering families and communities, the gala honored local citizens who have championed human rights and the welfare of Haitian people.

Miami-Dade County Commissioner of District 2, Jean Monestime, the first Haitian-American elected to Miami's county commission, was honored for his work improving the lives of the Haitian Diaspora in South Florida and in Haiti.

For their tireless work supporting cherished Haitian dance troupe, Ayikodans, committee leaders John Yearwood, world editor of the Miami Herald, Youri Mevs, managing partner of Win Group, and John Richards, CEO of Adrienne Arscht center, were awarded. In May 2011, the group raised $150,000 for the famous dance troupe at three legendary Miami performances.

Barbados will join ten other CARICOM member states in opening its borders to Haitian business and diplomatic travelers. Visa restrictions will be waved for this select group traveling to Barbados, in further efforts to encourage Haitian enterprise and political collaboration within the Caribbean.

The new visa wavier agreement was announced at the recent CARICOM Heads of Government meeting, held in Paramaribo, Suriname. Barbados Foreign Minister, Maxine McClean, and Haitian CARICOM Special Envoy, John P. Alexis, signed off on the new agreement.

"Haiti is a member of CARICOM and we, as members, have to facilitate our regional people," said Barbados Foreign Minister Maxine McClean. "Certainly, a good place to start is with businessmen, especially at this time. It is important that they be able to move around the region."

Airlines operating within the region will soon be officially notified about the new visa exemption. However, no guidelines about proving eligibility for this exemption or about applying for the new visa wavier have been confirmed.

Other official agreements passed include a six-month extension of the CARICOM office in Haiti, the official appointment of Guyana as an honorary consul to Haiti to help strengthen its agriculture sector, and the confirmation of a Suriname business delegation to visit Haiti within the next two weeks.

The Adrienne Arsht Center has confirmed that celebrated Port-au-Prince dance troupe, Ayikodans, will make a grand return to South Florida from May 25 to 26.

After their successful Arsht Center performance to raise earthquake relief funds in 2011, Ayikodans returns with a new show "Danse de L'Araignée" (Dance of the Spider), choreographed by Ayikodans' founder and choreographer, Jeanguy Saintus. The piece is inspired by Gede-Zarenyen, the Haitian mythological spider god. A blend of traditional and contemporary dance, the new show promises to display the troupe's unique mix of folk dance, improvisation, and blend of African, Amerindian and French influences.

Founded in 1987 in Port-au-Prince, the troupe managed to persevere, preserving its group after losing their studio to the January 2010 earthquake.

"It is our strong belief that the arts are transformative," said M. John Richard, President and CEO of the Adrienne Arsht Center. "Ayikodans represents the soul of Haiti, the artistic voice of the people – and we could not bear to see that voice silenced."

Ayikodans will perform in the intimate Carnival Studio Theater (Ziff Ballet Opera House) on Friday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 26 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., as part of the Arsht Center's 2011-2012 Dance Up Close Season.