Once the gem of Little Haiti, the Caribbean Marketplace returns with a sneak-peek opening on Saturday, February 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Local vendors will provide fresh produce, delicacies and arts and crafts in the iconic store-front. The test-run opening marks the first time the South Florida landmark has been opened since 1997.

In collaboration with District 5 Commissioner Michelle Spence Jones, the community will be celebrating the opening with a carnival celebration on February 18, featuring a marching band, outdoor children activities, and live performances from Disip, Rara Lakay and deejay Mack from 3 pm to 8 pm.

The store-front of the marketplace will be opened every Saturday, giving South Floridians a preview of the revived space, until full renovations begin this May. Construction is planned to be completed within nine months.

"The inside will be gutted out. It's going to have a completely different look," says Tracy Lozama of the Little Haiti Cultural Center. Lozama however promises that the market will keep its beloved appearance, with its signature peaks and Caribbean market vibe. "The outside will remain pretty much as vibrant as it is now."

A four member delegation from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) met with President Michel Martelly this week to discuss how to strengthen Haiti's involvement in Caribbean commerce and policy. Haiti is to take chairmanship of CARICOM in July 2013.

The meeting in particular focused on improving movement of people and goods between Haiti and the region. Currently Haitians require a visa to travel to CARICOM member countries, despite the free movement policy that allows other CARICOM nationals to travel within CARICOM without visas. The delegation discussed President Martelly's plan for Haitian nationals with a U.S. or Schengen visa to travel freely within CARICOM. The delegation also discussed an agriculture agreement to boost Haitian agricultural exports to CARICOM countries.

The visiting members are Suriname President Desiré Bouterse, St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas, Saint Lucia Prime Minister Kenny Anthony and CARICOM Secretary-General Irwin LaRocque. The delegation is accompanied by Special Representative of Heads of Government to Haiti, P.J. Patterson.

Prime Minister Garry Conille announced this week that the U.S. State Department is sending a delegation of international law specialists to access Haiti's recovering judiciary.

Details about the advisory group were not released, but Conille suggested in an interview with the Associated Press that the group will investigate the recent controversial decision by Judge Carves Jean to not charge former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier for human rights violations.

The decision has sparked local and international concern about the transparency of Haiti's recovering judicial system. In the announcement of his ruling, Judge Jean argued that the human rights charges made against Duvalier during his reign from 1971 to 1986 fell beyond the statute of limitations, and could not be pursued in court. This was despite Haiti's declared legal compliance with international laws, which puts no statute of limitations on human rights atrocities. Following the international protests over the ruling, an appeal was filed by the Justice Ministry.

Thailand may be miles away, both in distance and culture, from Haiti. Yet both countries have found common ground, exploring new trading relations through the Haitian American Chamber of Commerce of Florida (HACCOF). Members of HACCOF organized a trade mission in Haiti with representatives from the Thai Trade Center Miami, from January 23 to 29.

"Thailand is an important potential market for Haiti," said Pierre A. Saliba, chairman of HACCOF. "This represents a great step forward."

"This trade mission means we are working to build a trade relationship between the two countries that will provide sustainable jobs for people in Haiti," said Jeff Lozama, board member of HACCOF.

The delegation included Saliba, Lozama, Consul General Designee of Haiti in Miami Francois Guillaume, director of the Thai Trade Center Kanya Amorntheerakul and International Trade Officer of Thailand Pheeraphat Phatrapsit. Representatives met will local business owners and members of commerce in Port-au-Prince, Cap Haitian and Les Cayes, and toured the newly launched Caracol Industrial Park.