A Hotel Made Famous by Graham Greene Is a Victim of Haiti's Violence
The hotel was 'burned to the ground' in an apparent arson attack on Saturday night, Richard Morse, the hotel's Haitian American owner and manager, said in a telephone interview on Monday from his home in Maine.
The destruction, he added, was confirmed by friends in Haiti and by drone footage showing the smoldering shell of the building, which had stood for more than a century, just a short walk from the center of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
While details about who was behind the fire remained unclear, the neighborhood has been convulsed by violence from gangs that now control most of Port-au-Prince.
The hotel's wooden latticework, turrets and spires made it a classic example of the gingerbread Caribbean architectural style of homes that adorned some older residential parts of Haiti's capital.
'I can't describe the sadness and rage about the destruction of our patrimony,' Frederick Mangonès, a Haitian architect, said about the loss of the Oloffson. 'There's no respect for human life or history.''
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lee Vogler, Councilman Who Was Set on Fire in Broad Daylight, Described by Wife as 'a Fighter' as He Continues His Recovery
The Virginia elected official and father of two is in 'stable but critical condition,' with burns covering 'more than half' of his bodyNEED TO KNOW Lee Vogler, a councilman in Virginia, was doused with gasoline and set on fire outside of his workplace on July 29 He is in 'stable but critical condition' at a burn clinic, with burns covering 'more than half' of his body Lee's wife, Blair Vogler, said in a statement he underwent the first surgery of 'many' to come on Aug. 1Blair Vogler, the wife of Lee Vogler, is sharing an update on his condition after the Virginia elected official was set on fire in broad daylight. Lee, a four-term Danville city councilman and father of two, was doused with gasoline and set on fire outside his workplace at Showcase magazine on Tuesday, July 29, in a shocking broad-daylight attack. His alleged attacker, 29-year-old Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, fled but was arrested shortly after, according to the Danville Police Department. Second-degree and third-degree burns now cover 'more than half' of Lee's body, and the 38-year-old is in 'stable but critical condition' at the UNC Chapel Hill Burn Clinic, according to a GoFundMe created for him and his family. 'He faces multiple surgeries, an extended hospital stay, and months—if not years—of rehabilitation,' the fundraiser states. On Aug. 1, Lee's wife revealed that the elected official was about to 'undergo the first of what will be many surgeries on his road to recovery' in a statement published by Showcase magazine. 'We are incredibly grateful for the exceptional team at UNC Chapel Hill. Their expertise, professionalism, and compassionate care have given us both comfort and confidence during this difficult time,' Blair said in the statement. She continued, 'We have full trust in the burn surgeons and the entire unit team, and we're thankful for the support we've received from friends, family, and the community. We would appreciate your continued prayers for Lee, our family and the medical team.' In a statement included in the GoFundMe — which, as of Aug. 3, has raised over half of its $100,000 goal — Blair said, 'Lee is a fighter. He has always faced challenges with courage, determination, and an unbreakable spirit.' The fundraiser also gives more insight into Lee's time as an elected official — and as a husband and dad. "For more than 13 years, Lee has served Danville as a dedicated city councilman, never missing a meeting and working tirelessly to revitalize the city he loves,' the fundraiser says. 'He is a father who coaches his children's sports teams, a husband who adores his family, and a friend who has always been there when others needed him.' Police responded to the July 29 attack after 11:30 a.m. local time following reports of a man on fire outside the offices of Showcase magazine on Main Street, according to the DPD. Witnesses said a man entered the building with a large bucket, poured gasoline on Lee and lit him on fire as he ran outside. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Lee was treated at the scene and airlifted to a burn center. Andrew Brooks, who runs Showcase magazine, said that the councilman was 'awake, speaking, and en route to the center in Lynchburg" — and able to identify his attacker. Police later identified the suspect as Hayes and arrested him after he fled. Officials confirmed that Hayes and Lee knew each other, and that the incident stemmed from a personal, not political, matter. 'This was not a random act, nor was it politically motivated,' said the DPD in a statement. Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Haitian police arrest a former senator accused of working with gangs to attack a peaceful community
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Police in Haiti have arrested a former senator charged with conspiring against the state and financing criminal organizations for allegedly supporting gang members. Nenel Cassy was arrested Saturday at a restaurant in Petionville, a wealthy district of the capital, Port-au Prince, Haiti's National Police said in a post on Facebook. The police shared photos of the former senator in handcuffs next to heavily armed officers wearing ski masks. Arrests of high level officials are rare in Haiti, where the government is also struggling to control neighborhoods and villages that have been taken over by gangs. Cassy was designated as a corrupt actor by the U.S. State Department in 2023. He was accused by Haiti's police in February of backing gang members who launched deadly attacks on Kenscoff, a neighborhood 10 kilometers (6 miles) outside Port-au-Prince that is home to much of the nation's elite. Kenscoff had been largely untouched by Haiti's gang violence until February's attacks in which dozens of people were killed. The neighborhood is now being targeted by gangs that are trying to seize more territory from Haiti's government. On Sunday, Kenscoff's mayor told The Associated Press that nine workers were kidnapped from an orphanage in that neighborhood by armed men, including a foreign citizen whose nationality has not been confirmed. Mayor Massillon Jean said the attack happened around 2 a.m. The orphanage that came under attack on Sunday is run by Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, an international charity with offices in Mexico and France that is also known as NPH. It shelters more than 240 children, according to the organization's website. In a statement published on Sunday, NPH said that seven staff members and one youth were taken from its home for vulnerable and at risk children in Kenscoff. The organization confirmed that one of the staff members taken is a foreigner, whose identity and nationality will not be revealed for security reasons. NPH also said that two hospitals it runs in Haiti will be closed until the people taken from its orphanage have been safely released. Gangs control 90% of Haiti's capital, according to the United Nations, and in recent months they have been launching attacks on previously peaceful communities. More than 5,600 people were reported killed in Haiti last year, with gang violence leaving more than 1 million people homeless in recent years, according to the U.N. The UN recorded 185 victims of kidnapping in Haiti between April and June of this year, and said that gangs commit this crime to 'subjugate' people in areas under their control.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
US warns of corruption and reported bribery aimed at destabilizing Haiti as crisis deepens
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — U.S. officials announced Friday they are aware of 'reported bribery attempts' aimed at destabilizing Haiti, raising concerns that the troubled country could sink further into crisis. The announcements were made on X by the U.S. Embassy in Haiti and the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. Officials did not provide details except to say that they commended members of Haiti's transitional presidential council 'for their rejection of corruption' and for collaborating with the current prime minister to 'work together' to stabilize the country. 'We will hold accountable anyone who attempts to undermine this collaboration,' the embassy wrote on X. The announcement comes as infighting threatens the stability of the council while gangs that control up to 90% of Haiti's capital continue to seize more territory in Port-au-Prince and in Haiti's central region. The council's voting members did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Neither did the U.S. Department of State nor the office of Haiti's prime minister. Some people on social media mocked the announcement as they accused some council members of being corrupt. In October last year, Haiti's anti-corruption unit accused three council members of bribery and corruption involving the government-owned National Bank of Credit. No one has been charged, and the council members remain in their positions. Haiti's political stability has been fragile ever since a powerful gang federation known as 'Viv Ansanm' launched attacks early last year on critical government infrastructure including police stations and the country's main international airport, forcing it to close for nearly three months. The attacks prevented then-Prime Minister Ariel Henry from returning to Haiti. He eventually resigned, unable to enter his homeland following an official visit to Kenya to talk about a U.N.-backed mission that police from the eastern African country are currently leading to try and quash gang violence. The council is under pressure to hold general elections by February 2026, with the previous ones held nearly a decade ago. No date has been set yet. The council was created in April 2024 as the international community scrambled to meet with Haitian officials to rebuild the country's government after Henry resigned. Political stability remains fragile, with three prime ministers having been appointed in the past year. Meanwhile, gang violence continues to surge in the aftermath of the July 2021 killing of President Jovenel Moïse. In a report released Friday, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti noted that at least 1,520 people were killed and more than 600 injured from April to the end of June. Nearly 80% of those incidents happened in Port-au-Prince, with nearly 20% reported in Haiti's central region. More than 60% of the killings and injuries occurred during operations by security forces against gangs, with another 12% blamed on self-defense groups. The report noted that Johnson André, best known as 'Izo' and considered Haiti's most powerful gang leader, was injured in drone strikes earlier this year, as was gang leader Renel Destina, who goes by 'Ti Lapli' and leads the Grand Ravine gang. From April to June, more than 400 homes and other buildings including schools and health centers 'were ransacked, burned or destroyed by gangs,' the report stated. Gang violence also has displaced more than 1.3 million people in recent years. ___ Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington and Evens Sanon in Port-au-Prince, Haiti contributed. Solve the daily Crossword
