Please any body inthe US who would like to see their brothers stop being mistreated in Haiti  please your advantage and your freedom of speech to fight

Look what's happenig there:Wednesday, April 21st, 3 Batay Ouvriye members were distributing leaflets in the industrial sector when they were brutally attacked by management at "Haitian International Manufacturing S.A.". As soon as they were spotted by a supervisor, Chavannes, he initiated an aggression, calling a gang of thugs from the factory to beat up the Batay Ouvriye members. Teeth were broken, a bag and money stolen.

This is the accurate image of the state of workers' democratic rights in Haiti today, the revolting bosses' impunity to do as they wish, trampling the people's rights at every moment.

Please send a letter to Mr. Albert HANDAL, the company's owner, reporting this incident and urging remedial measures.

Haitian International Manufacturing S.A., is licensed to Dynasty Apparel Industries, but is a client, also, for Crystal Brands (Izod Sportswear, Lacoste), Fun-Tees, Hilton Corporate Casuals, and produces university garments for the following institutions: Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, Purdue, U. of Ohio, U. of Washington, U. of Wisconsin, Madison, U. of Illinois, Urbana Campaign, Arizona State, St Joseph Univ., Georgetown, UMASS, Northwestern, U. of Arizona, U. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, U. of Michigan, U. of Connecticut, and U. of Minnesota.

This is an extremely repressive and antiunion factory and this sort of reaction there was predictable. Work conditions are terrible which also explains why most of the workers there were extremely upset after witnessing this incident. Batay Ouvriye urges supporters to take pressuring actions, including sending letters to Albert HANDAL, Haitian International Manufacturing S.A. at the following address:

Haitian International Manufacturing, S.A.
Delmas 29, No. 20 (P.O. Box 1250)
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
011.509.246.4382/8140
fax: 011.509.246.1066
Albert Handal, President, haitian_int@hotmail.com

Here is the letter that was sent by Batay Ouvriye to Mr. Handal. Use the information in it to compose your own letter.

Port-au-Prince, April 29th, 2004

Write to Mr. Handal...lol..lol

come on Guest; you cannot talk to Haiti's sweatshop owners.  If you want change, you need to write to the US purchasers that have contracts with these Arab exploiters.

Why should Arabs treat Black Haitians any different than they do Black Sudanese? What makes you believe those who gave this oppressor the contracts don't know that he is a sweatshop owner?

The gains made by labor in the US were through much blood, sweat and tears. You must be willing to fight and die for fair labor standards as your name “Batay Ouvriye” indicates. Moreover if your government cared, no foreigner could come and treat you as a “coolie”; and your fight should begin there and not with those who benefit from your exploitation. Batay Ouvriye must align with other labor organizations around the globe. Self-defense is a moral imperative.

YOU KNOW THEY CAN DO THAT, BECAUSE HAITIANS ARE TOO STUPID TO PUT THEIR HEAD TOGETHER TO OPEN FACTORY AND CREATE JOBS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY

WHEN SOMEONE ELSE IS DOING YOUR JOB FOR YOU THEY CAN TREAT YOU LIKE sh*t.

ALL OF YOU WHO PUT MESSAGES IN THIS SITE WHAT HAVE YOU DONE IN YOUR LIFE TIME TO HELP YOUR COUNTRY.

UNTIL YOU CAN STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING TO HELP THESE POOR PEOPLE, YOU SHOULD SHUT THE f**k UP BECAUSE YOU ONLY MAKING IT WORST

THE CAN EASILY TAKE THOSE FACTORY TO INDIA OR EVEN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Africans have sold their brethren to Arabs for centuries. The Arabs in turn have been massacreing blacks in Africa before Columbus found himself in  the Caribbean.  It seems that the African world just does not learn from their history.  The African people all over the world will continue to be the victims of all the other races and ethnic groups.  We haven't learned sh*t.

Quote: Originally posted by Guest on June-04-2004

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YOU KNOW THEY CAN DO THAT, BECAUSE HAITIANS ARE TOO STUPID TO PUT THEIR HEAD TOGETHER TO OPEN FACTORY AND CREATE JOBS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY

WHEN SOMEONE ELSE IS DOING YOUR JOB FOR YOU THEY CAN TREAT YOU LIKE sh*t.

ALL OF YOU WHO PUT MESSAGES IN THIS SITE WHAT HAVE YOU DONE IN YOUR LIFE TIME TO HELP YOUR COUNTRY.

UNTIL YOU CAN STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING TO HELP THESE POOR PEOPLE, YOU SHOULD SHUT THE f**k UP BECAUSE YOU ONLY MAKING IT WORST

THE CAN EASILY TAKE THOSE FACTORY TO INDIA OR EVEN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

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Quote: Originally posted by Guest on June-04-2004

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THE CAN EASILY TAKE THOSE FACTORY TO INDIA OR EVEN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

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          That is where you are wrong GUEST; They can't.

          They cannot compete in other countries, that is why they stay in Haiti.

           I say we encourage them to leave and open the country up to Hong Kong Chinese, Taiwanese, White Zimbabweans farmers and other true capitalist and entrepreneurs.

Grupo M and Mr.Apaid will be singing the blues once they see now ,there will be no restraints on their profits in Haiti, So we must fight for the workers.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Haiti Economic Recovery Opportunity Act of 2004'.

SEC. 2. TRADE BENEFITS TO HAITI.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (19 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 213 the following new section:

`SEC. 213A. SPECIAL RULE FOR HAITI.

`(a) IN GENERAL- In addition to any other preferential treatment under this Act, beginning on October 1, 2003, and in each of the 7 succeeding 1-year periods, apparel articles described in subsection (b) that are imported directly into the customs territory of the United States from Haiti shall enter the United States free of duty, subject to the limitations described in subsections (b) and (c), if Haiti has satisfied the requirements set forth in subsection (d).

`(b) APPAREL ARTICLES DESCRIBED- Apparel articles described in this subsection are apparel articles that are wholly assembled or knit-to-shape in Haiti from any combination of fabrics, fabric components, components knit-to-shape, and yarns without regard to the country of origin of the fabrics, components, or yarns.

`(c) PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT- The preferential treatment described in subsection (a), shall be extended--

`(1) during the 12-month period beginning on October 1, 2003, to a quantity of apparel articles that is equal to 1.5 percent of the aggregate square meter equivalents of all apparel articles imported into the United States during the 12-month period beginning October 1, 2002; and

`(2) during the 12-month period beginning on October 1 of each succeeding year, to a quantity of apparel articles that is equal to the product of--

`(A) the percentage applicable during the previous 12-month period plus 0.5 percent (but not over 3.5 percent); and

`(B) the aggregate square meter equivalents of all apparel articles imported into the United States during the 12-month period that ends on September 30 of that year.

`(d) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS- Haiti shall be eligible for preferential treatment under this section if the President determines and certifies to Congress that Haiti--

`(1) has established, or is making continual progress toward establishing--

`(A) a market-based economy that protects private property rights, incorporates an open rules-based trading system, and minimizes government interference in the economy through measures such as price controls, subsidies, and government ownership of economic assets;

`(B) the rule of law, political pluralism, and the right to due process, a fair trial, and equal protection under the law;

`(C) the elimination of barriers to United States trade and investment, including by--

`(i) the provision of national treatment and measures to create an environment conducive to domestic and foreign investment;

`(ii) the protection of intellectual property; and

`(iii) the resolution of bilateral trade and investment disputes;

`(D) economic policies to reduce poverty, increase the availability of health care and educational opportunities, expand physical infrastructure, promote the development of private enterprise, and encourage the formation of capital markets through microcredit or other programs;

`(E) a system to combat corruption and bribery, such as signing and implementing the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions; and

`(F) protection of internationally recognized worker rights, including the right of association, the right to organize and bargain collectively, a prohibition on the use of any form of forced or compulsory labor, a minimum age for the employment of children, and acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety and health;

`(2) does not engage in activities that undermine United States national security or foreign policy interests; and

`(3) does not engage in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights or provide support for acts of international terrorism and cooperates in international efforts to eliminate human rights violations and terrorist activities.'.

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE-

(1) IN GENERAL- The amendment made by subsection (a) applies with respect to goods entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after October 1, 2003.

(2) RETROACTIVE APPLICATION TO CERTAIN ENTRIES- Notwithstanding section 514 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1514) or any other provision of law, upon proper request filed with the Customs Service before the 90th day after the date of the enactment of this Act, any entry or withdrawal from warehouse for consumption, of any goods described in the amendment made by subsection (a)--

(A) that was made on or after October 1, 2003, and before the date of the enactment of this Act, and

(B) with respect to which there would have been no duty if the amendment made by subsection (a) applied to such entry or withdrawal,

shall be liquidated or reliquidated as though such amendment applied to such entry or withdrawal.