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Caribbean Life, Mar. 31-Apr. 6, 2022
By Associated Press
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Euvonie
Georges Auguste, a prominent Vodou
priestess and secretary general of Haiti’s
National Conference of Vodouists, has died,
prompting expressions of mourning from
national leaders on Wednesday.
Vodou high priest, Carl-Henry
Desmornes told Le Nouvelliste newspaper
that Auguste died Wednesday of unidentified
health complications. Her age was not
immediately known.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry tweeted condolences
to family and friends, saying, “I
salute the memory of this leader, committed
and dedicated to the defense and promotion
of Vodou.”
Auguste was outspoken on political
issues, taking part in meetings held by
the Organization of American States and
participating in the successful campaign to
make Vodou an official religion in Haiti in
the early 2000s.
The religion is practiced widely in the
country of more than 11 million people.
It was created in the 1500s when African
slaves forced to practice Catholicism mixed
saints with spirits from African religions.
Hosts Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes speak to the audience at the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los
Angeles, California, U.S., March 27, 2022. Reuters
March Madness mars Movies’ memorable moments
By Vinette K. Pryce
Oscars – Women’s History Month:
Blame it on March Madness or confirmation
of the ‘in like a lamb… out like
a lion theory’ the 94th annual Academy
Awards provided unprecedented memorable
moments to A-list thespians and television
viewers to close-out Women’s History
Month.
On the last Sunday of March, for the first
time in history, — Amy Schumer, Wanda
Sykes and Regina Hall — three females
hosted the spring affair; Ariana DeBose, a
Puerto Rican woman who identifies as a lesbian
reclaimed the Best Supporting Actress
Oscar Rita Moreno, a Puerto Rican won
for portraying Anita in 1962 in the musical
“West Side Story,” and singer/actress
Lady Gaga and singer/actress Liza Minnelli
bridged the generation gap exhibiting kindness,
patience and sisterhood.
Add to that, Beyonce’s spectacular choreographed
staging of “To Be Alive,” her
Oscar nominated song from the movie
“King William.”
Tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams
introduced the pop singer.
Along with her daughter Blue Ivy, a musical
ensemble, the pop singer/actress performed
at the Los Angeles, California tennis
court the younger sisters practiced under
the tutelage of their father, Richard.
The song opened the show to an electric
musical dance routine on the green.
A glitzy, red carpet procession of glamorous
women not seen since COVID-19 shielded
masked smiles previewed the gala celebrating
a return to normalcy in cinemas.
From early in the day, women seemed to
highlight the evening.
However, things took a radical turn when
the opposite gender took the spotlight.
Initially cheers celebrated Troy Kotsur,
a deaf actor who won the best supporting
category for “Coda.” It was the first time
a deaf male had won the category. The
announcement was received with unanimous
appeal endorsed by the crowd using
sign language.
But when Chris Rock and Will Smith,
collided onstage, it seemed an early April
Fool’s joke was being played on the global
viewing audience.
Their encounter emerged the talk of the
biggest night in entertainment. Prompted
by an insensitive comment from the
comedian, Rock poked fun at actress Jada
Pinkett-Smith.
“Love you Jada, G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to
see it,” the former Oscar host said alluding
to a role actress Demi Moore portrayed by
shaving her head to star as G.I. Jane.
A camera showed Pinkett-Smith’s disdain
after the mention. Allegedly, the actress suffers
a health condition which forced her to
shave her hair to a low crop. On noticing her
hurt reaction, Will Smith’s mood changed
from smiling nominee to angry spouse.
It was no joke.
In a blink of an eye, the husband vacated
his seat, walked toward the comic and
open-handedly slapped the jokester across
the face.
As he walked away, Rock announced “Will
Smith just slapped the s… out of me.”
Believing a skit had transpired, the welldressed
crowd looked on in bewilderment.
Smith did not stop there.
He punctuated his assault by assailing
the comedian to “keep my wife’s name out
of your f…ing mouth.”
ABC- TV bleeped the offensive language.
To the dismay of a black-tie, elite crowd,
he repeated words banned for broadcast by
the Federal Communication Commission.
Hip-hop mogul, actor and entrepreneur
Sean Combs tried to mediate the feud offering
assurance that he would ensure the
rivals handle the dispute “in the family.”
It didn’t take long before social media
saturated twitter and Whatsapp platforms
with an uncensored, unedited version from
a Japanese-language broadcast.
Stunned members of the audiences recovered
from the shocking interaction when
Rock announced popular “Tonight Show”
drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson,
the winner of the best documentary award.
His revival of “Summer of Soul” heralds
the 1969 Harlem Festival which featured
some of the most iconic names in Black
music during a free concert at a park
renamed for Marcus Garvey.
Will Smith (R) hits Chris Rock as Rock
spoke on stage during the 94th Academy
Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles,
California, U.S., March 27, 2022. Picture
taken March 27, 2022.< BRIAN SNYDER
5.1 quake shakes
southern Haiti
By Evens Sanon, Associated Press
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — An
earthquake with a preliminary magnitude
of 5.1 struck in Haiti on Wednesday close
to an area still struggling to recover from
a deadly tremor that hit last year.
There were no immediate reports of
deaths or serious injuries. Frankel Maginaire,
a reporter for Radio Caraibes in
Jeremie, told The Associated Press that
some minor injuries happened as people
panicked and started running. Some people
also said walls that were damaged in
the 2021 quake collapsed.
Jean Louis Paul Menard, director for
the Grand’Anse police department, told
AP that some bricks fell from the main
cathedral in Jeremie and that students
who were still in class panicked.
The quake was centered 11 miles (18
kilometers) north of Jeremie at a shallow
depth of six miles (10 kilometers),
the U.S. Geological Survey said. Jeremie
is at the tip of Haiti’s southern region.
A magnitude 7.2 quake that struck
southern Haiti in August 2021 killed
more than 2,000 people and destroyed
or damaged tens of thousands of homes.
Dozens still remain in temporary shelters
and aid has been scarce because
gangs continue to control the main
road that leads from the capital of Portau
Prince to Haiti’s southern region.
Haitian Vodou
priestess dies