AMHE Newsletter Haitian Medical Association Abroad
Association Medicale Haïtienne à l'Étranger
AMHE NEWSLETTER
Editor in Chief: Maxime J-M Coles, MD
Editorial Board: Rony Jean Mary, MD
Reynald Altema, MD
Technical Adviser: Jacques Arpin
spring 2020
june 8
Newsletter # 278
In this number
- Words of the Editor, Maxime Coles,MD
- La chronique de Rony Jean-Mary,M.D.
- La chronique de Reynald Altéma,M.D.
- Chronicle of Slave rebellions in the Americas.
- Article de Axler JEAN PAUL
- Décès
- And more...
Antoine Louis Leocardie Elie Lescot
Maxime Coles MD
Antoine Louis Leocardie Lescot become president of the republique of Haiti on
May 15, 1941. Issued from a privileged society, he used his political influence
during the second war to claim the higher position of the land. He ascended to
the presidency in gaining power through his ties with the United States of
America. He was a mulattoe, issued from the elites and the post war climate
allowed his administration to reign over a period of political downturn after
many political repression of the dissidents.
Elie Lescot was born at Saint Louis du Nord (Nord West of Haiti) on December 9, 1883 in a middleclass
family. His father, Ovide Lescot is a resident in Cap-Haiti and decided to protect his pregnant wife,
Florelia Laforest, from his political opponents. He chose to relocate her to St Louis du Nord under the
protection of her sister Lea, wife of a Guadeloupean business holder and sometimes architect, Edouard
Elizee. Ovide Lescot was the son of Pierre Joseph Lescot with Marie-Michelle Morin but he later re-
married to Marie-Fortunée Deneau who gave him two daughters: Therese and Leticia. Therese became
the wife of the well-known poet Oswald Durand while Laeticia will marry Chery Hippolyte, son of
President Florville Hippolyte.
Florelia Laforest had an extramarital affair with president Sylvain Salnave before knowing Ovide Lescot
2
and a son was born. She named him Leon
Salnave and he became naturally at the age of 14
years, the chosen godfather to his young half-
brother Elie Lescot. The ceremony of Christening
was performed upon their return to Cap Haiti.
Elie went to school. first at the “Freres de
l’Instruction Chretienne du Cap-Haitien”, later at
the “Lycee Philippe Guerrier and finally at the
“College Sainte Marie”. He met Anthenor Firmin
who married his brother Leon Salnave’s older
sister (Rosa Salnave), and others like Nord
Alexis, Turenne and Jean Gille. He travelled to
Port-au-Prince to attend the State University
School of Pharmacology and returned to follow
courses at L’ “Ecole Libre de Droit du Cap
Haitien”. He decided to work in the customs at
Port de Paix where he pursued a carrier in the
administration as an Interpreter.
Elie Lescot met his first wife in 1907, a widow,
named Corinne Jean-Pierre, who died four years
later (December 1911) and no kids were born
from this union. He entered the world of Politics
to become a Representative at the Legislative
Chamber of Borgne in 1910, he was then 26.
President Tancrete Auguste named him Judge at
Port de Paix in 1913. Soon, he met his second
wife, Georgina St Aude. The couple had eight
children from the union.
In 1914, Oreste Zamor raise an army to fight
Michel Oreste and Elie Lescot is seen on the side
of Charles Zamor, brother of the president and
then Minister of War and Marine. I can’t confirm
what was his military experience and skills but at
the end of the conflict, he needed to take refuge in
the Dominican Consulate, once victory was
awarded to General DavilmarTheodore, to safe
guard his life. In 1915, during the American
occupation, he is seen working as a teacher at a
secondary school in Port de Paix while awaiting
to be commissioned at the civil tribunal under
President Sudre Dartiguenave. In 1917, he
founded the first Public Library in Port de Paix.
The same year, he is seen using his talents of
photographer helping Haitian dissidents to obtain
proper identity cards with pictures to start
working for the American sugar companies in
Cuba. His connection allowed him to secure a
position of Consul at Antilla, Cuba in 1919.
In 1922, Elie Lescot, his wife and his children
travelled to France where he took residence at
“Gagny, en Seine et Oise” to get enrolled at the
“Ecole Etienne” of art to master the photogravure
technique of Batik, a novel artistic way to paint on
tissue from Java. While welcoming his sixth child,
a girl, he developed a crippling pneumonia forcing
him to return to Port de Paix, in 1926.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Lescot, after her last baby, felt
ill and caught the Malaria. She died from its
complications. Elie Lescot discovered the world of
Politics but continued to pursue his photogravure
work as a pastime. He used the Company Paul
Auxilla to dispense his production mainly
composed of ties, handkerchiefs, robes and dresses
for women.
In 1927, under president Borno, he was appointed
at Port de Paix secondary school as the Principal.
President Louis Borno called upon his expertise in
1930 to oversee the activities at Damiens after the
drama of Marchaterre. He becomes the State
Secretary of Public Instruction, Agriculture and
Labor. At age 46, he moved to Port-au-Prince to
take function of his Ministry although he was not
well known in the capital.
On the 22 April 1930, Elie Lescot accepted the
position of Judge of Instruction at the civil court in
Port-au-Prince. A new chapter in his life was
written. Meanwhile, a candidate for the Chamber
of representative in the Plateau Central, Elius Elie
was murdered and the judge Elie Lescot
denounced Joseph Jolibois Fils, a very popular
candidate for Port au Prince. He resigned his
present position to pursue the function of
Commissary at the Cassation Court and Judge after
being appointed by president Stenio Vincent.
On the 17 of May 1932, he is chosen as Secretary
of State in the government of Stenio Vincent. All
these activities around him, created a world of
intrigues and changes in his personal life. The year
before, it was instrumental in spreading around
many Dominican refugees to Haitian cities like
Jeremie in order to control their illicit activities
against the government of Rafael Leonidas
Trujillo. He helped disperse the opposition
rendering a smoother relation with our neighbor.
On the 15 May 1934, Elie Lescot lose his
ministerial position at the state department but is
nominated Ambassador in the Dominican
Republic. This allowed him to develop a closer
relationship with the dictator Raphael Trujillo. He
was later appointed as Ambassador to the United
States, at Washington DC This last position will
3
help him lay down the groundwork for his future
presidency in Haiti.
In 1935, President Stenio Vincent took the
opportunity to settle a controversy between Haiti
and Santo Domingo by signing a pact restituting
62,956 squares feet of disputed land back to
Haiti. Discussions at the National Assembly to
recommend both presidents Rafael Leonidas
Trujillo and Stenio Vincent for the Nobel Price of
Peace were recorded. Elie Lescot was still
Haitian Ambassador to Santo Domingo when he
took part in a delegation in Argentina to
participate at the OTAN under the supervision of
the US president Franklyn Delano Roosevelt in
1936.
Lescot remained close to Rafael Trujillo but
secretly worked at discouraging Stenio Vincent
from looking for a third mandate. He kept close
ties with Demosthene Calixte ex commanding
officer at the National Guard, Julio Jean-Pierre
Audain, ex private secretary and also Duluy
Lamothe ex officer in the National guard. He
used a game of intimidation to discourage Stenio
Vincent for reaching his goal.
Lescot and Vincent had different visions for the
country. Frederick Duvignault an allied of
Vincent, figured on the list of candidates to
succeed Vincent but Lescot planned his ascension
in using his contacts at the State Department in
Washington DC. Elie Lescot became rapidly the
chosen one to succeed Stenio Vincent in 1941,
although he encountered a strong opposition from
the Haitian Congress. His nomination was
certainly backed out by his powerful neighbor,
the dictator Rafael Trujillo who assured his
victory by possibly ways of intimidation, leading
to a suffrage of 56 voices on 58. Some deputies
may have contested the results especially the
legislator (Deputy) Max Hudicourt, but this did
not stop Elie Lescot from becoming the 31st
president of Haiti.
When he took commands, Lescot appointed
himself his Military commanders among them,
his own son Roger, a lieutenant. The black
bourgeoisie expressed some disdain. He soon
declared war to Germany and its allies once he
heard about the bombing of Pearl Harbor and
joined the United States into the second world
war. He imposed a suspension of the constitution
and requested unlimited executive powers from
the parliament. Political opponents were kept at
distance and were subjected to physical
harassments and surveillance by security forces.
The second war bought a penury of rubber when
the East cut off all supply. The United States
discussed with the government of Haiti an
ambitious program to expand the wartime
production of rubber in the countryside of the
country. Not too many remember much about
SHADA. In fact, SHADA was the “Societe
Haitiano-Americaine du Development Agricole”
financed by a grant of 5 million dollars, from the
Export-Import Bank of Washington DC.
November 11. The US Rubber Development
Corp gave SHADA a war production contract.
The production of rubber started in 1941 with the
military support of the United States army and
managed by the American agronomist Thomas
Fennell. Almost 50,000 (200 Kilometer square)
acres of land were cleared for planting the
“cryptostegia vine” able to produce latex. At the
end, more land was needed, affecting the
cultivation of our farmers in the north of the
country. Peasant’s families were forcedly
displaced from their home allowing the
government to cut millions of fruit-bearing trees
in Jeremie. Their houses were invaded or razed,
forcing the Haitian Minister of Agriculture
Maurice Dartigue to address the matter with the
agronomist Fennell, asking him to respect the
sovereignty of the Haitian peasant. Unfortunately,
the project finally failed because of an
insufficient production of rubber and once the
program cancelled, the US government offered a
sum of $ 175.000 in compensation to the
displaced families of peasants.
Elie Lescot counted so much on this program to
revive the Haitian dormant agriculture but the
termination of the SHADA project imposed an
unexpected unemployment for 90,000 people
with an economy already sinking, hurting his
public image. The government was near
bankruptcy and faced debts of re-payments. By
this time, Elie Lescot was unable to count on his
relations with Santo Domingo and Rafael Trujillo
which deteriorated over the years especially after
the murder of thousands of Haitian workers.
A sugar factory in La Romana (Zafra: 1941-1942)
requested hand power for their sugar cane harvest
4
and the Dominican company entered in contract
with the businessman Oswald Brandt requesting
him to furnish around 1700 Haitian employees.
Gontran Rouzier, the Haitian Under State
Secretary insisted that a contract between both
governments needed to be implemented,
especially after the incident in which Trujillo
murdered thousands of Haitian workers 4 years
prior. Trujillo was re-elected but the relation
between the two presidents become hostile. In
1944, Trujillo even plotted to kill Elie Lescot at
Belladere. In response, Lescot welcomed Juan
Bosh with open arms and helped him secure a
loan of 20,00 dollars through the BNRH (Banque
Nationale de la Republique D’Haiti) which Bosh
only re-paid partially.
Elie Lescot beefed up his military Guards and
started a system of rural police in forming police
chiefs, called “Chefs section”. These chiefs were
ruling by intimidation. Soon army soldiers in low
ranks were plotting a rebellion in 1944. Many
were punished once the plot was discovered and
some lost their life in this process, others were
court-martialed. The same year, Lescot extended
his presidential term from 5 years to a seven
years but was unable to muzzle the opposition
which encourage many student demonstrations
until a true revolt started in Port-au-Prince.
A group of popular leaders went on strike and a
large crowd manifested in the streets and around
the national palace, voicing their discontent.
Soon, in the military ranks, a division among the
high ranked officers, was noted. Attempts at
breaking the demonstrations failed. Elie Lescot
felt a menace for his life. He was forced to resign
and flew into exile. A three-person military junta
took over the commands of the country and
pledged to organize future elections. President
Dumarsais Estime succeeded to President Elie
Lescot and become the first black president in the
post US occupation era.
The Administration Lescot created “The State
University of Haiti” to dispense superior
education (Law # 469, on December 27, 1944).
The “Nationalization of the Lottery” from Mr.
Edouard Esteve (Law # 122, on March 19, 1942).
The construction of “Cite Notre Dame” (Cite Elie
Lescot) in Cap Haiti (law # 35, on 24 September
1943). The Sanatorium (Law # 299, on July 23,
1943). A mandatory social service was
implemented for any new physician to pass two
years in provinces after their regular training. An
airport at Chancerelles (Bowen Field) for military
and commercial flights (Law # 218 on October
1942). Many other projects were studied but
didn’t see light, like the Hydro-electrical plants
of Basin Zim, Peligre and Saut d’Eau, because of
the lack of financial support. Many of our
military pilots participated in the war activities as
part of the Tuskegee black squadron unit in
Alabama. They saw action over the skies of
Berlin at the end of the second World War.
President Elie Lescot went into exile in Canada
with empty pockets. Some will report that he
lived in an extreme poverty because the
government of Estime refused to allocate him a
pension. He has not used money from the
finances of the country to fill up his bags. He left
enough liquidity to allow his successors to
initiate large projects of infrastructure. He needs
to be given credit for trying to build up a strong
economy. He bought public computability into
his administration. Many believed that he was
with Christophe, Boyer, Leconte. Borno, a
president who left an administration with a lot of
discipline in the affairs of the country.
Elie Lescot was a Haitian lawyer, ex-president of
Haiti who has kept many different functions in
the previous governments. He was an
Ambassador, a Judge and fill up the position of
Minister. We can keep going telling about his
actions as a political man but we have also to add
that he received many decorations for his actions
like the Grand Cross Juan Duarte in Dominican
Republic, the Vasco Nunez de Balboa in Panama,
the Carlos Manuel de Cespedes in Cuba, Honeur
et Merite in Haiti, Collar Libertador in
Venezuela, Gran Collar in Aquila Azteca in
Mexico, and Gran collar del Merito in Chile.
What a Curriculum!
it has been reported that President Elie Lescot
described in his memoires the difficulties he
encountered working on the sidewalk of “Rue
Lorimier”? in the south of Montreal, selling items
like ties. In fact, he went to Ottawa and continued
to perform in his favorite art, the Batik
photogravure to feed his family. He finally
received his presidential pension at the term of
5
the Estime presidency when a military Junta
headed by Colonel Paul Eugene Magloire,
General Frank Lavaud, Colonel Antoine Levelt
took the direction of the country in hand, on
January 11, 1946.
President Elie Lescot was allowed to return to his
native Haiti in 1956 under the administration
Paul Eugene Magloire. He lived a quiet life
among his family members, allowing him to
write his memoires. I kept in souvenir, this retired
president I knew, very calm and loving, telling
stories to the kids of the neighborhood at his in-
law residence (St Aude) on John Brown avenue
(Lalue). We were then nine or ten years old and
we enjoyed sitting around him to listen to his
narration. He died silently on the 20 October
1973 at his residence in Laboule. He was 91.
May he rest in Peace.
I want to thank Pierre Lescot, his grandson for
reviewing this manuscript. I used in reference the
book he published on the life of such an
honorable man: “Parcours Meconnu de Elie
Lescot, Ancient President d’Haiti” and other
references as noted below.
Maxime Coles MD
References:
1. Matthew J Smith (Dec 2004). “Vive 1804, The Haitian Revolution and the Revolutionary Generation of 1946”. Caribbean quarterly. Taylor and Francis Ltd 50 (41) pp 45-41.
2. John Pike: Haiti 1941-1946/ “Elie Lescot” 21 December 2014. 3. Haitian Rubber Timeline. (Haiti, August 2010). 4. Smith, Matthew J, Red and Black in Haiti: Radicalism and Political Change, 1934-1957. Chapel Hill:
University of North Carolina Press, 2009. 5. Imprimeries de l’Etat D’Haiti, Bulletin des Actes et Lois 1941-1946. 6. Lescot Pierre: “Parcours Meconnu de Elie Lescot, Ancient President d’Haiti”. 7. Turnier Alain: “Quand la Nation Demande des Comptes”. 8. Claude B. Auguste: Apercu sur l’Histoire de L’Union Nationale Des Etudiants Haitiens (UNDEH). 9. Monitor Journal Publications: 1941-1946. 10. Haiti Observer: 17 April 2013. 11. Marcel B. Auguste: Elie Lescot, Coup d’oeuil sur une administration 1941-1946. 12. Compagnie Biographique: Livre Bleu d'Haiti. 13. Julio Jean-Pierre Audain: Les Ombres d’une Politique Nefaste. 14. Roger Lescot: Souvenirs De Mes Douze Ans Dans l’Armée d’Haiti.
6
Aucun événement n’aura occupé l’actualité et
marqué aussi longtemps le devant de la scène
que la covid- 19, cette maladie qui semble
désormais avoir atteint son pic infectieux, mais
qui continue, malgré tout, de faire des victimes
un peu partout a travers le monde. Apparue à
Wuhan en Chine, pour la première fois en
Septembre de l’année dernière, la pandémie a
fait le tour de la terre, tuant sur son passage
autant d’êtres humains qu’elle a pu en
rencontrer. De causer des peines et des
troubles sur sa trajectoire, elle n’en n’a même
pas fini encore...Et, Contrairement à l’ange de
la mort, dans L’Égypte lointaine et idolâtre, qui
épargna ,grâce au sang dont les linteaux de leurs
portes étaient couverts ,les premiers nés des
familles juives , la covid-19 elle, puisqu’il faut
l’appeler par son nom, continue de passer
parmi nous, son épée à la main, frappant
indistinctement, sans égard au rang social , au
degré de fortune ou au mérite intellectuel de ses
victimes. Des cris de douleur, poussés de
partout, font encore se demander à plus
d’un : « Qui va être la prochaine victime .ou
serai-je moi- même le prochain à périr ? »
Après plus de trois mois d’angoisse, de peur et
d’incertitude, on semble se résigner à croire que
la maladie va être parmi nous pour plus de
temps que prévu, et qu’il faut désormais
apprendre à vivre avec elle. Il faut donc
admettre et garder à l’esprit que la maladie
détruit encore des vies humaines un peu partout
Chaque jour, et que si la ferveur des reporters et
le rythme de diffusion des nouvelles sur la
pandémie ont considérablement baissé ,il ne
faut pas pour autant négliger les consignes de
prudence et de sécurité des premiers jours..
Dans une conversation avec l’un de mes amis
sur les effets de la Covid -19, cet ami m’avoue
qu’il est très inquiet pour l’avenir et qu’il ne
fait plus de projets à long terme, tellement la
vie s’est révélée fragile à ses yeux. Il devait
partir en croisière cet été ; mais lorsque la
compagnie de voyage voulait le gratifier d’un
rabais de 25% pour qu’il garde le voyage avec
la compagnie pour l’année prochaine, il décida
tout simplement de décommander tellement il
n’est pas sur de ce qui va arriver dans l’avenir,
ou dans six mois. Il est bien déjà dans la
soixantaine ; il admet non sans peine que rien
n’est plus garanti pour personne et qu’il
apprend désormais à vivre au jour le jour sans
souci du lendemain. Il réalise que le temps est
court et l’avenir très incertain. Beaucoup de
gens avec qui je m’entretiens ces temps-ci
semblent abonder dans le même sens..
Cette incertitude de l’avenir est ce qui va
grandement affecter l’économie et l’empêcher
de sortir de la récession ; Le système
économique capitaliste ayant toujours été basé
sur la confiance des consommateurs et la
capacité du système à faire des projections
d’avenir. En fait, La peur continue de ronger
tout le monde. Et Ceux qui croient dans les
prédictions bibliques, brandissent désormais des
versets de l’apocalypse, dernier livre du
nouveau testament, pour annoncer que l’heure
est proche où le monde doit disparaitre et que
Rony Jean-Mary, M.D.
LA COVID-19 S’EN VA,
MAIS VA-T-ON VIVRE COMME AVANT
7
la grande tribulation a déjà commencé. Je
réponds en lisant ce même livre que si la grande
tribulation a déjà commencé, nous avons bien
raté l’enlèvement et les noces de l’agneau et
qu’il faudra peut-être attendre la seconde
résurrection. Je ne suis pas sceptique quant à un
retour du Christ deuxième ou seconde version,
qui pourrait même être un troisième ,selon que
Melchizedek était l’ incarnation ou non du
Christ et que celui-ci aurait déjà vécu parmi
nous dans des temps lointains, Comme on le
prétend dans certaines sectes religieuses et que
me l’enseigna aussi mon feu père.
Je voudrais plutôt croire que le monde a déjà
connu pareilles turbulences, des guerres et des
pandémies encore plus meurtrières, et que ce
n’est pas encore la fin , ni la fin du
commencement de la fin, mais que malgré le
caractère prophétique de l’apocalypse de jean ,il
sera difficile aux hommes de dire exactement
quand le seigneur apparaitra dans les airs. Un
siècle de cela, les témoins de Jéhovah
prédisaient la fin du monde pour 1914.Mais il
n’en était rien..Nous faisons donc face à des
problèmes humains qui réclament des solutions
humaines. Des solutions qui appellent à une
meilleure gestion des ressources de la terre , à
une plus grande solidarité entre les hommes ,et
à un dépassement des clivages hégémoniques
pour comprendre que la terre n’est qu’un seul
pays et que les hommes, d’où qu’ils soient, en
sont les citoyens.
Quand ces troubles arrivent ils nous rappellent
que nous ne sommes pas les vrais maitres de la
terre et que nous n’en sommes que des gérants
appelés à s’en occuper dignement, à en jouir
avec respect avant de passer ensuite le maillet à
ceux qui viendront après nous..L’’humanite
semble être embarquée sur un navire
déboussolé qui a longtemps perdu le Nord..Le
train à bord duquel nous nous trouvons n’a ni
coach, ni capitaine, et marche clopin clopan. Il
faudra des hommes de haut calibre, Hauts de
gamme, pour juguler les crises, remettre les
pendules à l’heure ,et faire redémarrer le
train.C’est ici le moment de se demander si l’on
a vraiment besoin de dépenser tous ces milliard
pour aller sur Mars ou retourner sur la lune
quand la terre est mal nourrie et que les
hommes meurent de faim ici-bas ?.
Rony Jean-Mary, M.D.
Coral Springs, FL
le 7 juin 2020.
8
UNE RADIOSCOPIE DU RACISME
AUX ETATS UNIS D’AMERIQUE
La mort de George Floyd, étouffé sous les
genoux d’un policier blanc ,il y a de cela deux
semaines aujourd’hui, est un doigt de plus
enfoncé dans cette gangrène à ciel ouvert
qu’est le racisme Américain, et qui est en train
de saper les bases mêmes de la société
Américaine.
Si cela s’était passé une seule fois en dix ou en
cinq ans, on aurait pu crier à un accident. Mais
la constance avec laquelle de tels incident ont
lieu dans le pays soutient la thèse de
préméditation dans les actes de meurtre
perpétrés systématiquement sur les gens de
couleur en particulier sur les noirs de ce pays.
En lisant « Jeune Afrique » d’ il y a de cela
quelques années, on disait que le racisme, c’ est
ce que le Blanc a à offrir pour prouver ou
exhiber sa supériorité quand il n’a rien d’autre
à offrir .Cela est en partie vrai si l’on s’en tient
à une considération basée strictement sur la
couleur de la peau et sur les caractéristiques
ethniques des protagonistes en question...Mais
le racisme c’est plus qu’une affaire d’’ethnicité.
C’est un sentiment de supériorité, teinté
souvent d’arrogance que beaucoup expriment
vis-à-vis d’autrui .Ce sentiment découle
souvent d’un système de privilèges accordé à
une classe donnée dans une société donnée, qui
défavorise et marginalise les éléments des
autres composantes de la société. Pour
comprendre pourquoi le racisme est ancré à ce
point dans les mœurs américaines, il faut se
rappeler que les Blancs ont toujours été les
dépositaires des privilèges de cette société. Les
Noirs d’un autre cote, sont les seuls à avoir
travaillé pour les autres sans aucune forme de
compensation et à n’avoir jamais été reconnus
pour leur contribution à l’édification de cette
nation. Certes, Il y avait des Blancs esclaves
aux Etats –unis. Mais c’étaient des Européens
qui, pour payer la traversée de l’océan de
l’Europe à L’Amérique, s’étaient portés
esclaves pendant sept ans pour assurer la
restitution du cout de leur voyage.. Une fois les
sept années accomplies, ils pouvaient
recouvrer leur liberté et travailler pour eux-
mêmes. Il était aussi beaucoup plus facile pour
eux de s’infiltrer dans la société blanche
dominatrice et de jouir de tous les autres
privilèges accordés aux blancs...Par contre, le
voyage de l’homme noir n’était ni voulu ni
planifié mais tout simplement imposé. Eux, ils
étaient traités comme des sous-hommes et
l’égalité de droit dont fait mention la
constitution Américaine n’avait rien à voir avec
eux. Donc, l’homme noir Américain grandit
dans une société où il est constamment
marginalisé et sert de marche- pied pour les
autres parce que maltraité au sommet .Il est en
proie à une exclusion systématisée et
hiérarchisée, nourrie à dessein pour empêcher le
renversement de l’ordre établi et sauvegarder
les intérêts d’une classe donnée. La notion
d’être blanc aux Etats unis s’apparente toujours
à une affaire de privilège à vie et sans limites.
« Being White is a timeless and limitless notion
of privilège ». le Blanc peut ne même pas
savoir qu’il est raciste car il vous dira souvent
qu’il a des amis noirs et qu’il n’est contre
personne dans la société. Mais ce qui fait de lui
un raciste c’est son inconscience de l’inégalité
sociale poignante qui lui accorde des privilèges
dont ne jouit aucune autre classe de la société.
La peur par le Blanc de vivre l’expérience des
autres, et en particulier celle des noirs, et le
refus d’inviter ces derniers à accéder à son
mode de vie a lui, c’est ce qui fait de l’homme
blanc un raciste.il cherche à perpétuer
sciemment ou inconsciemment un système qui
fait du tort aux autres. Le racisme est souvent
englué dans une sauce de préjugé ou d’idées
préconçues par rapport aux autres. Les préjugés
de caste sont aussi une autre forme d’exclusion
sociale mais qui ne sont pas nécessairement du
racisme. Le blanc serait beaucoup plus disposé à
aider un noir d’un autre pays plutôt que d’aider
un Africain American. Certains m’ auraient
même dit à moi que je suis différent des autres,
en se référant aux Afro- Américains, comme
pour me dire que je suis un bon nègre. Il y a
donc plus que du préjugé ou du racisme dans le
rapport entre le Blanc et le noir Américain. Il y
9
a même une haine viscérale du blanc vis-à-vis du
noir Américain. Depuis plus de cinq siècles, ils
ont tout fait pour garder le noir dans la bestialité
et l’ignorance .Ils ont plaidé pour une réparation
en faveur des juifs des camps de concentration ;
Ils ont accordé réparation aux japonais enfermés
dans des camps de concentration au moment de
la deuxième guerre mondiale, Mais les noirs eux,
ils ont été victimes de toutes sortes d’abus et
d’injustice de la part de la classe dominante
Américaine et n’ont jamais connu de réparation
.Ils attendent encore la mule et les hectares de
terres qui leur avaient été promis au moment de
l’abolition de l’esclavage..Apres l’esclavage, il y
avait le lynchage. Au lynch age s’est substituée
l’incarcération démesurée du noir dont un fort
percentage est aujourd’hui en prison. Les noirs
n’ont jamais eu accès au crédit des Banques qui
leur aurait permis d’avoir leur propre entreprise.
Ils étaient interdits de devenir des propriétaires
terriens et lorsqu’ils s’assemblèrent en
coopérative pour obtenir des centres
commerciaux et conduire leurs propres affaires,
on préférait laisser ces centres vacants plutôt que
de les vendre à des noirs qui auraient pu en
prendre possession.. Pourtant le Coréen avait
droit au crédit, l’européen, l’indien ont eu tous
droit au crédit sauf l’Africain-Américain. Le
chinois a ses restaurants un peu partout dans le
pays..Du juif, c’est la même histoire.
Aujourd’hui, c’est l’assassinat systématique du
Noir par les policiers Blancs.
Et Malgré tous les abus dont ils sont victimes de
la part du Blanc, ils continuent d’exceller dans
tous les domaines.et d’être les portes- étendard de
la nation. On comprend que les Blancs aient peur
de les laisser prospérer et de vouloir les réprimer
à tout moment. J’ai vu des noirs d’autres nations
y inclus des Haïtiens cherchant à faire croire
qu’ils sont supérieurs aux noirs Américains. Ā
eux je réponds qu’ils sont libres depuis plus de
deux siècles et n’ont rien subi de ce que les noirs
de ce pays ont connu depuis qu’ils ont foulé le
sol Américain. J’ajoute pour eux que nous avons
grandi dans un pays où la couleur de notre peau
n’a jamais été une barrière à notre éducation.
donc a notre émancipation..Ce n’est pas que le
noir soit sans responsabilité dans le drame qui
l’afflige aujourd’hui mais c’était la responsabilité
du système donc du blanc de l’encadrer à sa
sortie de l’esclavage pour qu’il devienne auto
suffisant voire florissant. Le blanc était trop
préoccupé de savoir qui va remplacer les noirs
libérés des plantations pour s’occuper du bien-
être de ces derniers. Le problème de
l’esclavage avait été soulevé depuis le
président Benjamin Franklin qui disait que le
vrai problème du pays, c’était l’esclavage car il
ne voyait comment la nation pouvait continuer
à vivre avec ou sans l’esclavage..
Enfin la réponse des blancs par rapport au
problème des noirs est qu’ ils ne se croient
point responsables ni coupables de ce qui s’est
passé dans ce pays pendant des siècles à
l’égard des noirs. Ā eux je pose cette question:
si nous sommes cinq sur une table, et que
quatre d’entre nous sont en train de déguster
leur plat et que le cinquième n’a rien a manger
pendant que nous sommes tous assis ensemble
à la même table. Allez-vous me dire que ce
nest pas votre problème que quelqu’un de notre
table n’ait rien dans son assiette ?.Donc le
problème d’abus sur les noirs, les injustices
contre un groupe sans défense, particulièrement
contre les mineurs , sous quelque forme que ce
soit, devrait nous interpeller tous. J’apprécie le
movement de solidarité qui se dessine un peu
partout à travers le monde en faveur des noirs
Américains qui ont versé leur sang et arrosé de
leur sueur le mortier qui a servi à bâtir cette
nation , et qui n’a récolté, pour toute
compensation, que la haine et l’indifférence des
blancs. S’agirait-il de la peur que le noir ne
prenne un jour le dessus et se mettent à venger
les injustices qu’il a subies :fuite Karmique
inespérée ,ou que leur fille ou fils n’amène un
noir à la maison un jour?
Il y a dans la salle, ou dans ce resto en plein
air, une femme ou un homme qui ne peut point
respirer et qui te supplie de lui sauver la vie ou
de le laisser vivre..Alors allez vous les laisser
mourir sans faire un geste ou allez vous dire
que ce n’est pas votre problème.Voila pourquoi
les policiers qui ont assisté au meurtre de
Georges Floyd sans faire un geste pour lui
porter assistance sont aussi coupables que le
vilain qui l’a asphyxie en posant son genou sur
son cou .
Rony Jean-Mary, M.D.
Coral Springs, FL
le 7 juin 2020.
10
THROMBOSIS IN COVID-19 REYNALD ALTEMA, MD
The list of complications from Covid-19 continues to rise. The pathophysiology of the illness is still
somewhat elusive in a lot of respects, not the least of which involves the formation of thrombosis in both
arterial and venous beds1. This is all the more alarming in the presence of widespread pharmacologic
DVT prophylaxis in hospitalized patients. Thrombosis among ICU patients receiving enoxaparin occur in
31% of cases in a study done in Holland with PE being the most common type; venous thrombosis made
up 27% while arterial thrombosis occurred at a rate of 3.7%.2 Thrombus formation is associated with
poorer prognosis. Microthrombi at autopsy are found frequently disseminated in the lungs and other
organs. This points toward the serious importance of thrombus prevention in the setting of the disease.
However other complications include CVA (infarct> hemorrhage)3.
There are any number of mechanisms stipulated to explain the enhanced procoagulating effect noted
(Figs 1-3). However, it’s different than classic DIC because it is not a consumption coagulopathy and it’s
not associated with thrombocytopenia or low fibrinogen level. Of interest is the mention of endothelial
dysfunction, the hallmark of metabolic syndrome, far more common in our kinfolk. The interaction of
cytokines and endothelial dysfunction is a well described cascade of pathologic reactions and is
illustrated in Fig 44.
Fig 1 (from Iba et al)
11
Fig 2 (Iba et al)
Fig. 3 (Bonny et al)
Mécanismes proposés de la coagulopathie de la COVID-19. L’infection par le SARS-CoV-2 engendre une atteinte pulmonaire,
principalement décrite comme du dommage alvéolaire diffus. Une hypoxémie survient en cas d’atteinte sévère. En réponse à l’hypoxémie, il
existe une induction de la voie de signalisation des « hypoxia inducible transcription factors » qui concoure à activer la coagulation, à
supprimer la fibrinolyse et à inhiber les anticoagulants circulants naturels. Dans le même temps, l’infection engendre un recrutement de
cellules mononuclées au niveau de la barrière alvéolo-capillaire. Celles-ci, à la suite de l’induction de la voie NF-κB, vont sécréter des
cytokines pro-inflammatoires (TNF-α, IL-1 et IL-6) qui vont favoriser la libération de l’inhibiteur de l’activateur du plasminogène (PAI-1) et
l’inhibition des anticoagulants naturels. Aussi, elles favorisent l’activation de la coagulation par la génération de facteur tissulaire. Cette
activation est soutenue par l’activation plaquettaire. L’activation de l’endothélium, secondaire à une atteinte virale spécifique et/ou une
activation du complément, favorise la coagulation et l’interaction avec les plaquettes circulantes. Finalement, la fibrine, les globules rouges
et les plaquettes s’agrègent, réalisant un thrombus fibrino-cruorique.
______________________________________________________________________________
12
Fig 4 (Shao et al)
A sensible approach to treating patients with Covid-19 who have hypoxemia is to follow the Marik
protocol, named after the chief of Respiratory diseases at Eastern Virginia Med School. It’s one that
takes into consideration the latest data on the use of vitamin D, C, thiamine, the aggressive use of
corticosteroids, especially in the case of the dreadful Macrophage Activation Syndrome, originally
described as a rare complication of Kawasaki Syndrome. One needs to bear in mind this protocol has a
low threshold for using full anticoagulant dose. Patients that require >4L/min of oxygen receive it
(1mg/kg Q12hrs.)
The next issue to be tackled is the outpatient treatment for DVT prevention upon discharge. Again, this is
not yet well defined. Some recommend anticoagulant treatment up to 2 months. The problem with
anticoagulation therapy is the forever risk of bleeding, regardless of dose used. It comes down to a
balance between risk and benefit. As more data become available, the recommendation for widespread
use of anticoagulant upon discharge will be better established. Some people recommend a middle of the
road approach of either full dose aspirin or dipyridamole. However, this is not yet standard or widespread
treatment.
So far, it has become clear that not one single therapeutic intervention suffices against this very clever
virus. One needs to use the full armamentarium of available therapeutic interventions. We are still
learning as we along.
13
Fig 5-Marik protocol
References:
1. Iba T, Levy JH, Levi M, Connors JM, Thachil J. Coagulopathy of Coronavirus Disease 2019
[published online ahead of print, 2020 May 27]. Crit Care Med. 2020;10.1097.
2. Klok, FA, et al. Incidence of thrombotic complications in critically ill ICU patients with Covid-19.
Thrombosis Research, 191 (2020) 145-147.
3. Divani AA, Andalib S, Di Napoli M, et al. Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Stroke: Clinical
Manifestations and Pathophysiological Insights. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2020;29(8):104941.
4. Shao Y, Cheng Z, Li X, Chernaya V, Wang H, Yang XF. Immunosuppressive/anti-inflammatory
cytokines directly and indirectly inhibit endothelial dysfunction--a novel mechanism for
maintaining vascular function. J Hematol Oncol. 2014;7:80. Published 2014 Oct 31.
doi:10.1186/s13045-014-0080-6
5. Bonny V, Maillard A, Mousseaux C, Plaçais L, Richier Q. COVID-19 : physiopathologie d’une
maladie à plusieurs visages [COVID-19: Pathogenesis of a multi-faceted disease] [published online
ahead of print, 2020 May 27]. Rev Med Interne. 2020;doi:10.1016/j.revmed.2020.05.003.
Le Newsletter est publié toutes les 3 semaines.
Prochaine parution: 29 juin 2020
14
The Cherokee Nation was located in Indian Territory, West to the Mississippi River, in present
Oklahoma. A large group of slaves escaped on the 15 November 1842. A group of 20 African-American
slaves in Cherokee Indians territory escaped and tried to reach Mexico where slavery was abolished since
1829. Another group of 15 African American slaves from the Creek territory joined them in the escape.
More, 2 slave catchers were taking eight captive slaves to Choctaw territory. They took the opportunity
to kill the hunters and the family joined their group. The Cherokee sought reinforcements and raised
around 100 of Cherokee and Choctaw warriors to pursue and capture the fugitive. Five slaves were later
executed for killing the two slave catchers and this event inspired subsequent rebellions in the Indian
Chronicle of Slave rebellions in the Americas.
Maxime Coles MD
All societies practicing slavery will have to deal with slave revolts because there is that desire for Freedom in
any human being. One can express it in their songs or their story-telling nights. It becomes part of their culture
and an art in knowing how to implant it on others with the same background.
History is full of examples of such revolts. When a Roman slave named Spartacus (73-71 BC) rose against
abuses committed by the Roman Empire or a Scandinavian Slave Tunni, in the 9th century, revolted against
the Swedish Monarchy, you can also understand well how the slaves of Santo Domingo, Bookman, Dessalines
and others may have felt in the 18th century (1791) against the French Imperialism of Napoleon Bonaparte.
The French revolution indeed bought to us the words of Liberty and Equality for all.
Muhammed led the east African slaves in the Zani Rebellion in Iraq to revolt against the Abbasid Caliphate.
Nanny of the Maroons revolted against the British in Jamaica. In continental United States, Denmark Vesey
rebelled in South Carolina.
Ancient Sparta had serfs called helots who rebelled against the Spartans as reported by Herodotus. English
peasants revolted in 1381 to obtain reform in the feudalism system in England and increase the right of the
serfs and Richard II agreed to their requests. In Russia, the slaves were called Kholops and slavery remained an
institution until 1723 when Peter the Great converted the slaves into serfs. They became outlaws called
“Cossacks” living in the southern steppes. Numerous rebellions and Cossacks uprisings with Ivan Bolotnikov
(1606), Stenka Razin (1667), Kondraty Butavin (1707) are some of the many hundred outbreaks across Russia.
Numerous African slave revolts took place in America during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. More than 250
uprising have been documented. Slaves like Gabriel Prosser (Richmond, VA 1800), Denmark Vesey
(Charleston SC 1822) Nat Turner (South Hampton County VA 1831) merit their named to be mentioned and
this is the story of the most striking revolts that I want to bring to light.
I have taken solemnly that task to bring to light the most distinctive slave revolutions in the Americas and
chose to review some of the most epic African slave revolts which have marked forever the new world in this
“Chronicle of African Slave revolts in the Americas”. I am sure you will find time to appreciate what our
ancestors have done to make Haiti a free Nation for the Haitians.
This month, we will talk about the 1842 Slave Revolt in the Cherokee Nation.
Slave revolt in the Cherokee Nation 1842
Maxime Coles MD
15
territory forcing the Cherokee Nation to pass stricter slave codes. If the Indians has practiced the art of
enslaving prisoners of war in fighting other tribes, following the new European contract in the late 18th
century have permitted some Cherokee to set up plantations on their Cherokee Nation Land mimicking
European Americans. Soon parts of Georgia and Tennessee were ready for them to have plantations
allowing them to purchase African American slaves to work their land.
A slave code was respected in 1819 to regulate the trades, forbidden intermarriage with punishment for
runaway slaves and the interdiction to own land. Later in the 1829 law modifications, it was added that a
fine of 15 dollars to be given to the master if slaves were allowed to buy or sell liquor. The slaves worked
primarily as agricultural laborers cultivating cotton and food for their masters. They also developed salt
mines and trading posts with slave labor.
The Cherokee Indians bought the salves with them in the 1820’s when the federal government removed
them from the southeastern states. Joseph Vann has taken with him 200 slaves to perform the physical
labor. They loaded wagons, cleared roads and took care of the livestock. In 1835, the Cherokees owned
an estimated 1500 slaves of African descent, 300 mixed races (Metis) mainly descendants of European
traders and Cherokee women which form an elite class in the Indian Territory. Most of the metis will owe
each 25 to 50 slaves on plantations of around 100 acres or less to cultivate wheat, cotton, corn, hemp and
tobacco. They owe also large cattle and horse herds.
An estimated 4600 slaves belong to the Cherokee Nation in 1860 working as domestic servants and farm
laborers. During the civil war, there were more than 8000 slaves in Indian Territory, forming 14% of the
population
The mass escape of 20 African American slaves from the Cherokee territory began on the 15th of
November 1842. I was named “the most spectacular act of rebellion again slavery” among the Cherokee.
They were from the plantation of James and “Rich Joe” Vann. Those slaves gathered and raided local
stores for weapons, ammunition, horses and mules. They headed south for Mexico where slavery was
abolished since 1836. Along the way, the picked up 15 other slaves from the Creek territory. Creek and
Cherokee pursued the victims but they met enough resistance to turn back for re-enforcements despite of
killing or capturing 14.
On their way south, the fugitives encountered two slave catchers James Edwards and Billy Wilson who
were returning a family of 3 adults and 5 children to the Choctaw Indians. They killed the catchers and
continued their way south.
A Cherokee Militia John Drew of 100 citizens was authorized by the Cherokee National Council in
Tahlequah, to pursue, arrest and delivered the African slaves to Fort Gibson. The expeditionary forces
caught the slaves seven miles north of the red river. The fugitives were tired, weak and hungry and did
not have the strength to resist.
They were returned to their Choctaw, Creek and Cherokee reservations. 5 slaves were executed for
killing the catchers. Some placed the surviving slaves in different work environment like steamboat,
shoveling coal. Other returned to their previous duty.
This slave revolt inspired future slave rebellions in Indian Territories. In 1851, an account of 300 slaves
have attempted to escape Indian Territory in heading mostly to Mexico or Kansas territory where slavery
was prohibited.
Indian slaveholders started to enter the business of buying and selling slaves to states like Texas and
Arkansas. Non-slave holding Indians were hired to catch runaway slaves. Some of the slaveholders
become wealthy in providing such service. The Indian Nation passed stricter slave code forbidden free
blacks to enter the territory. After the American Civil War the Cherokee Nation and their planters shifted
from agriculture to manufacturing small scale products.
Mass escape resulted in casualties and deaths for slaves and Indian masters, so newspapers started
16
References:
1- “Slavery” Archived October 18, 2010 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
2- Tiya Miles, Ties that Bind: The Story of an Afro-Cherokee Family in Slavery and Freedom,
University of California Press, 2005, pp. 179-173.
3- William Gerald Mc Laughlin (1993): “Slave holding and anti-slavery efforts, 1846-1855”, in
After the Trial of Tears: The Cherokees ‘Struggle for Sovereignty, 1839-1880. Universitiy of
North Carolina Press. pp. 121-153.
4- Art T Burton, “Cherokee Slave Revolt in 1842, “True West Magazine (June 1996)
5- Rudi Halliburton, Jr., Red Over Black: Black Slavery among the Cherokee Indians (Westport
Connecticut.: Greenwood Press, 1977)
6- Daniel F Littlefield, Jr Africans and Creeks: From the Colonial Period to the Civil War, Westport
Connecticut.: Greenwood Press, 1979.
7- Morris L. Wardell, A Political History of the Cherokee Nation, 1838-19-7 (Norman: University of
Oklahoma Press, 1977).
8- Kaye M. Teall, Black History in Oklahoma: A Resource Book (Oklahoma City: Oklahoma City
Public Schools, 1971).
reporting on the 1842 slave revolt until the Fort Smith Elevator of Arkansas published and anniversary
article about the escape of the African American slaves, providing some kind of mystic power on the
event and adding that in spite of 20 slave, now hundred have disappeared.
Maxime Coles MD
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405857220300292
17
Ronald Georges MD, chirurgien orthopediste, nous a quitte ce matin pour
rejoindre son createur. Il devient une autre victime de cette pandemie. Il a
travaille d'arrache-pied pour demontrer ses talents de chirurgien a une
population qui a su l'apprecier. Il a depuis de nombreuses annees participe a la
formation de beaucoup de nos residents en Haiti. Je l'ai bien connu, IL etait un
ami qui prenait plaisir a vous montrer combien IL avait maitrise l'operation de
Moore dans une fracture de hanche. Il savait quand etre serieux et quand
badiner avec ses collegues. Apres un fellowship a Panama, IL EST retourne au
pays pour aider a former nos jeunes. Il laisse un vide qui sera difficile a
combler. A as femme Colette , a ses enfants et petit-enfants, je veux tant au nom
de la AMHE qu'en Mon nom personnel presenter nos condoleances emues.
Nous perdons un confrere, un frere, un ami et Le service D'Orthopedie a l'HUEH, sous la direction du
Dr Jacques Pierre-Pierre lui doit une fiere chandelle. Allez Mon cher ami, TU nous laisses comme un
soldat, combattant ce fleau . Que la Terre te sots legere Ronald Georges, dit "poue-pouel"et que ce Dieu
de Misericorde te recoive dans as demeure. Bon voyage.
Maxime Coles MD (6-2-2020)
Dear Member Family and Friends of AMHE,
It is with great sadness that we must share with you the passing of Dr. Ducarmel Augustin’s beloved
sister, Anne Marie Berthe Augustin. She passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2020, at the family
residence Canape Vert, Haiti.
On Behalf of the AMHE Leadership and membership, I would like to present Dr. Ducarmel
Augustin, our most sincere condolences and expression of courage.
Anne Marie Berthe was a Career employee at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where she
distinguished herself as a dedicated, honest, respected employee of the Ministry for over fifty years.
In 2015, Anne Marie Berthe received special mention for her 52 years of loyal and good services to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
We can say that Mrs. Anne Marie Berthe Augustin belongs to a breed of civil servants that Haiti
would need more of. Her passing brings great sadness to the Augustin family and will certainly
leave a void at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of her country that she serve so well.
The funerals of Anne Marie Berthe Augustin will be held this Saturday, June 6, 2020, at the Parc du
Souvenir at 11. Zoom info will follow.
Sincerely,
J. Pierre Paul Cadet, MD
President, AMHE
18
Published on the AMHE Facebook page last two weeks Articles parus sur la page Facebook de l'AMHE durant la dernière semaine
Thank you, Anika Michael, for this update on the glaucoma team at Cayes Jacmel with AHDH (February
2020). Maxime Coles MD - Tests diagnostiques et tests anticorps, quelles sont les différences. MC - La Croix
rouge haitienne continue son travail de Decontamination des bureaux de la MSPP - La Croix Rouge Haitienne
desinfecte les bureauxet locaux de la Television Nationale d'Haiti - AMHE Foundation - Dr. Vladimir Berthaud
Interviewed by Dr. Reynald Altema on COVID-19 - Yves Piquion MD à l'avant-garde de la pandémie COVID-
19 Ravi de t'avoir vu Yves. MC - Hydroxychloroquine for SARS-CoV-2 Infection: How Did We Get Here? -
les Amerindiens ne sont pas epargnes par cette epidemie du COVID-19, Je pense a mes amis de Gallup NM.
Stay confined. MC - Gerard Bloncourt parle des annees 1946 - La raison la plus courante que les gens ont des
problèmes avec leur vésicule biliaire est les calculs biliaires. Une petite page d'histoire vue d'aures yeux. MC And more…
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