UN apology to Haiti on cholera
It was a long time coming, but the United Nations last week made an official apology for the deadly cholera outbreak in Haiti, while pledging long-term assistance to stem the disease. The UN apology from outgoing Secretary General Ban Ki-moon comes six years after UN peacekeepers brought the disease that quickly spread throughout the country, claiming up to 10,000 lives. Details of long-term support for those affected and an emphasis on the need for adequate funding of the aid proposal by UN member nations were also announced.
“On behalf of the United Nations, I want to say very clearly: We apologize to the Haitian people. We simply did not do enough with regard to the cholera outbreak and its spread in Haiti,” said the secretary general, addressing the General Assembly at UN headquarters in Manhattan. “We are profoundly sorry for our role,” he said before introducing his “A New Approach to Cholera in Haiti” report to confront the situation.
In January 2010, after a magnitude-7 earthquake rocked Haiti, UN assistance poured into the Caribbean nation. But in October, an outbreak of cholera began to spread among earthquake survivors and others. Investigators found that the cholera, first detected in Haiti’s biggest river, was caused by untreated waste from the base of UN Nepalese peacekeepers. A similar strain of cholera is found in Nepal.
One woman, 18 characters
Guyana-born actress/playwright Ingrid Griffith is bringing her dynamic and moving one-woman play “Demerara Gold” to The Duplex (Cabaret Theater), 61 Christopher St.(at Seventh Ave.) in the Village, on Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
By portraying 18 characters, Griffith tells of her childhood, immigration to the U.S. and her family history. For tickets, visit www.demeraragoldtheshow.com.
Barbados birthday
It’s official — Barbados has turned 50! The celebration started in January culminated last Wednesday, Nov. 30, the date that Barbados broke free from Britain’s colonial rule and the new eastern Caribbean nation was born in 1966. The Prime Minister’s Dinner and Ball, the recognition of Barbados’ 50 Jubilee Honorees, an Independence Day Parade and other happenings led up to the Wednesday ceremonies.
Good ‘Ole’ holiday time
Good times are due again this holiday season when Braata’s Ole Time Grand Market show returns. The show by Queens-based Braata Productions, will be held next Sunday at Holy Family Church Auditorium, 9719 Flatlands Ave. (at Rockaway Parkway), Brooklyn, starting at 5 p.m. For tickets, visit http://bit.ly/grandmarket2016. Call (917) 668-2209 or send email to braataproductions@gmail.com for information.