How is driving in Port-au-Prince?

How is driving in Port-au-Prince

Despite the fact that only 15% of the roads in Port-au-Prince the capital and most important city of Haiti are pavement, 12.5 % of the public transportation´s drivers (Tap Taps) have been trained for driving around the city before going outside for picking up passengers and their behavior behind the steering wheel is deplorable; going outside through the routes could be sometimes a very dangerous task, however, just driving carefully and try to avoid those Tap Tap reckless drivers you will be safe inside your car. 

Below you will find a video recorded while driving in the city or you could save and paste the follow URL and search on youtube.com: https://youtu.be/Rb1r_TympXQ

Daily living in Haiti

Daily living in Haiti.

Since some peers have asked how is daily living in Haiti. I would like to show you some  daily and common activities that you could find outside on the streets while driving around in Port-au-Prince.









These pictures display the public transportation that Haitian people take every day when they want to go to one place to another one far away, they are called: TAP TAP, is very tight, hot and uncomfortable way to travel.







Those TAP Taps are pick-up trucks colored in bright colors with a wide range of pictures and images like the favorite local singers or soccer players. For UN staff is not allowed to travel in these cars because their drivers are not qualified people, they are breaking all traffic laws, driving over high speed  and all of them have a very bad behavior while carrying out passengers.

Interesting video about Peacekeepers work around the world

Interesting video about Peacekeepers work around the world

"Americans Show Support for UN Peacekeepers"

Hello teacher and classmates.

Today I will share with you a short but delightful video taped and published in October 9th, 2012 by PIO which stands for Public Information Office in Haiti, about a campaign rolled up in USA when more than 25.000 Americans thanked to UN Peacekeepers through letters delivered from all states in US.

You will be able to watch the video through the follow URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOnsMwY2nnI

Also you can watch the video from the follow file attached her below:

Americans Show Support for UN Peacekeepers

Thank you for your nice comments that you have written so far. God bless you. 

Truly,

John Jaramillo

UNITED NATIONS STAFF DAY

UNITED NATIONS STAFF DAY

by John Jaramillo

Today I would like to share with you that I am delighted to bring back and refurbish a nice tradition that began in 1953 with the occasion of “United Nations Staff Day” celebrated yesterday on 25^th October and also to revel the UN wonderful diversity.

            As a matter of fact, it has been difficult for me to be stayed late, took work home and traveled so far until this Caribbean country, however there could be no more meaningful service than advancing the timeless principles of the United Nations Charter and reach the goals set up by the awesome Organization that I am currently working for.

Whoever we are, whatever the stage of our career path and wherever we may serve with proud and respect, all the UNPOL (UN Police Officers) should be together in this noble mission serving for peace goal throughout the world.

Finally I would like to thanks your comments within this blog reminding the United Nations Official Languages, which are as follows:

Shukran jazeelan!

谢 谢 !

Thank you!

Merci beaucoup!

Spasibo!

¡Muchas gracias!

Multicultural Environment- Multinational friends

Multicultural Environment- Multinational friends

Why is MINUSTAH still in Haiti?

Why is MINUSTAH still in Haiti?

  Why is MINUSTAH still in Haiti? That was the permanent question passing through my mind when I landed at the airport named “Toussaint Louverture” in the capital of Haiti: Port-au-Prince last August, 11^th 2016. This is my second tour here, my first one lasted two amazing years since December 6^th, 2011 until December 6^th, 2013, and I really wanted to come back here in order to finish my police career working abroad and be aware of the recovering process that United Nations-UN is carrying out here since 2004.

  

MINUSTAH stands for Mission des Nations Unies pour la Stabilisation en Haïti (French acronym) was established here since the UN Security Council adopted its resolution number 1542 on April 30^th, 2004 due to the fragile political situation countrywide, crime levels and gang activities were raising, demonstrations and road blocks were increasing, most of them triggered by socioeconomic grievances, such as insufficient governmental investment, political corruption, 10% core inflation; and as colophon, a number of cases of politically motivated violence generated public anxiety.

  Additionally, Haiti has suffered humanitarian challenges such as lack of food production, flooding as a result of heavy rainy season and cyclones, 2010 earthquake which was devastated, spreading and increasing cases of cholera (ironically brought into the country by the Nepal Army members) and other problems.

  

To attend all those serious problems, UN has created the "Peacekeepers Program" that belongs to the Department of Peacekeeper Operations or DPKO, founded in New York where is located the UN headquarters and focused on solving troubles in conflicted countries or afflicted areas, such as Africa, where currently there are established nine of the sixteen (16) operations around the world. The missions in Haiti and Colombia are the current peacekeeping operations located in the western hemisphere.

  

Although working abroad as a peacekeeper in Haiti on behalf of the Colombian National Police is a real pride and honor, but is also a personal sacrifice because I will be serving very away from home and my beloved ones. During one year I will be named also as a “blue beret” because of the light blue beret that we wear in ceremonies or special events.

  

But moreover this experience would be challenging and sometimes even dangerous, at the end I will be pretty sure that after working with dedication and commitment it could inspire the Haitian people who are constantly living with pain and suffering which are a daily part of their lives and trying to improve their lives in the noble cause of peace, that peace that we are now seeking to get in our country. So that is why we are still working in Haiti.

By John Jairo Jaramillo Buitrago

I am looking forward to getting your comments about this, Please don't hesitate to add them here. God bless you all.

Joining to he MINUSTAH with the colombian partners (August 11th 2016)

Introduction to United Nations-UN

United Nations is an intergovernmental organization with 193 countries as states members, founded on October, 24^th 1945 to promote international co-operation, to solve a conflict between countries, economic development, humanitarian assistance, to give peacekeeping and security around the world. Currently, I am working in MINUSTAH which is the Peacekeeping mission establish in Haiti, by DPKO which stands for Department of Peacekeeping Operations with an office in HQ in New York, and it is the institution that I work for.

The UN, after approval by the Security Council, sends peacekeepers to regions where armed conflict has recently ceased or paused to enforce the terms of peace agreements and to discourage combatants from resuming hostilities. Since the UN does not maintain its own military, peacekeeping forces are voluntarily provided by member states. These soldiers and police officers are sometimes nicknamed "Blue Helmets/berets” for their distinctive gear. The mandate Resolution No. 2313 (October 13^th) has most recently been extended by the Security Council until April, 15^th 2016 "with the intention of further renewal". In the early years of the UN’s involvement in Haiti many great contribution were made to the benefit of Haiti.

They successfully underwent a shift in government without any major issues. Much great progress was made in stability of the country’s economic situation from the presence of the strong UN force. The UN helped restore a certain amount of democracy to the country with the shift between two democratically elected presidents. The UN completed many successful missions from the years of 1994-2000. February 2004 marks the reinstatement of the UN peace mission known as "Mission des Nation Unies pour la Stabilization en Haiti" more commonly known as MINUSTAH. Earlier that month, the country of Haiti was experiencing conflict in the city of Gonaives which then lead to armed fights breaking out throughout the country causing a loss of control by the Haitian government. This uprising consumed a great deal of the city and shortly after President Aristide and Prime Minister stepped down from these positions and an acting president, Boniface Alexandre took control.

The presence of the UN gave the government, police and many other aspects of society support which was very beneficial to the country and continues to be. The official arrival of the MINUSTAH task force in 2004 took action with many goals in mind. Their goals were focused in many different areas around the country for example aid for the new government, development of their society, strengthening institutions and a large and essential part, the reformation and development of the Haitian National Police Force (HNP).

I have been deployed here since August, 11^th 2016 and I have planned to be here for about twelve months working as a UNPOL which stands for United Nations Police Officers commonly named as IPO or UNPOL I would like to share all police activities that I carry out every day and seeking to promote the humanitarian assistance and multicultural work. I hope everyone enjoying this blog. You are very welcome!!!!