Readers of our News Digest will have often seen the name, Mehsen E. Yammine, being mentioned either attending a ceremony, giving a speech of welcome or thanks, participating in a conference or meeting in Zgharta Zawie.

This time when we mention him we feature the man himself. Mehsen, the son of Edmond and Livia Rosa (Frias) Yammine, was born in Valera, Venezuela, in 1952. He has one sister, Leyda-Janet who is married and lives in Venezuela. His first name, Mehsen, was appropriate, meaning a philanthropist or a well doer, as it reflected his life to come.

In 1956, Mehsen moved to Zgharta where he has lived ever since. He attended the College De La Salle Tripoli and then afterwards received a law degree at the Lebanese University in 1979. He is married to Vera Wadih Yammine and they have three children, Edmond, Nizar and Livia.

He has served Zgharta Zawie in various fields and roles through the years and by recounting them, we believe, they illustrate both the diverse nature of the cultural life of our community as well as the contribution Zghartawiens have made on the national stage.

Mehsen’s life is another example of how the last 50 years in Lebanon have impacted upon individuals and how such individuals have thereby played essential roles in their local communities. He is part of the history of Zgharta during the Lebanese Civil War, which formed the backdrop of his life as a young man.

To read more about Mehsen click on the Full Story tab.
Full Story

Following on from our article on the Zgharta born singer, Odette Kaddo, (6th October 2006) we have heard from a fan of hers, Ali Hamood, who lives in East Dearborn, Michigan. What he relates is an article in itself, hence why have headed this article as Part II of the Odette Kaddo story.

The photograph shows Odette and Sabah at the Pacific Café, Dearbon in 1995 when they gave an impromptu "concert" . To read about that concert and more about Odette's records click on the Full Story tab.
Full Story

It is a great pleasure and indeed honour to have the opportunity today to introduce to a new generation the Zgharta born singer, Odette Kaddo. Those who are perhaps of an older generation may be reminded of her singing Lebanese folklore and traditional Mejana/3ataba and Tarab based songs, as a young girl of tender years in Lebanon and later in the USA.

A selection of Odette's songs can now be heard for the first time online in our multimedia ZBox. We are sure you will become a fan of hers, as we have when compiling her life story and songs. Her songs are timeless as well as capturing the spirit of the times she lived in. The songs are about universal themes of life - love and death - joy and heartache - attraction and rejection.

To read more about Odette click on the Full Story tab.
Full Story

As part of an occasional series interviewing members of the Zgharta Zawie community we feature today, Linda Dahdah. Although still a young woman, her life is typical of many Lebanese, whose lives were affected by the Civil War and who now live in today’s Lebanon.

For those who “Google” for Lebanese news, her name appears often as being the author of many articles in the Lebanese English speaking newspaper, The Daily Star and latterly the United Nations Humanitarian News Agency, IRIN.

To read more about Linda, click on the Full Story tab. The photograph shows Linda in the newsroom of The Daily Star.


Full Story

As part of an occasional series on institutions and organizations in Zgharta Zawie we today feature the Collège De La Salle in Kfaryachit.

The College has played a major part in both the history and the lives of the people of Zgharta Zawie. As we shall unfold, its own history has been tied up with the events of the late 20th Century in Lebanon and more particularly North Lebanon and Zgharta Zawie.

The College continues to follow the philosophy and methods of its namesake, Saint John Baptist de la Salle. The roots of the College at Kfaryachit go back to the “Sainte Famille” (Holy Family) School in Tripoli.

To read the full article on the College, click on the Full Story tab.


Full Story

One of the contentious issues in Zgharta Zawie is the felling of trees on private land. There is little, if none, easily accessible public information concerning the laws and regulations in respect of the cutting down and pruning of such trees. The article attempts to partly rectify this.

Over the years since Lebanon’s Independence there has been a series of Decrees governing forests and trees. The first independence decree was passed on 7th January 1949 as Decree 149 of 1949. The Decree governed the law relating to trees and their cutting down and pruning. The Decree consisted of 151 articles relating to forests as well trees (such as cedar, oak, juniper) on private property. Specifically, Article 39 of the Decree prohibited the cutting of all conifer species on private property. The Decree also provided for the need of owners to seek permission to prune trees.

Since 1949 there has been a number of amending Decrees - Decree 85 of 1991; Decree 558 of 1996, and Decree (number unknown) of 1998. The Decrees provide for fines and imprisonment up to six months for illegal felling and pruning.

The Ministry of Agriculture is the supervising ministry and is responsible for creating and implementing the law as to trees.

If someone wishes to cut down or prune a tree, he/she has to apply for a permit to the relevant department for the area where the tree(s) is located, at the Ministry of Agriculture. The relevant department for Zgharta Zawie is the Markaz Al Ahraj (Forests Centre). There is no proscribed form but the applicant has to declare the number and type of trees he/she wishes to cut or prune, the location of the tree(s) and the reason for the request. There are no application fees as such but stamps have to be paid for and applied to the declaration. On consideration the Ministry either issues or refuses the permit.

The Zgharta Ehden Municipal Council appears to have no official role in the granting or refusal of permits. Although, it is understood the Ministry may consult them when it considers applications. However, through its Municipal Police, the Council can stop the cutting down or pruning of trees where no permit has been granted. It appears from an episode we reported last year, the Council is not informed by the Ministry of permits granted or refused beforehand. So in effect, unlawful cutting or pruning is only enforced when it is occurring, as the Council is generally only alerted when the offence is in progress. There seems therefore to be the need for the authorising and enforcing agencies either to be joined together or at least in communication with each other.

The contact details of the Ministry of Agriculture are : Postal Address - Bir Hassan, Embassy Street, Facing Henri Chebab Caserne ; Tel – 01 849 600 or 849 911 : Fax – 01 849 600 ; E-mail – ministry@agriculture.gov.lb ; website – www.agriculture.gov.lb ( Arabic, English, French versions)

The Chairman of the Zgharta Ehden Municipal Council’s Committee for Agriculture & Nature Reserve Committee is Councillor Jihad Youssef Mouawad. The Council’s phone number is 06 66 02 48.

zgharta.com believe also, that there should be greater local consultation before permits are granted. In many countries notice of intent to cut or prune has to be advertise locally, with notices put up near the trees in question. This enables people to make their own representations before permits are given. If such a system could be implemented, even voluntarily, it would go towards addressing what many people perceive as a crime against nature, when trees are being cut down for no apparent good reason.

EDITOR'S NOTE: With thanks to all who contributed to the article, especially SA-D.

Last month we wrote an article on the question of Zgharta's business future ( 25.Jan.2006) raising the spectre of a Business/High Tech Park in Zgharta. We have received some thoughtful comments, which we can be read, by clicking the Full Story tab.

Please let us have your comments on the article and the comments now expressed.
Full Story

We wish to explore whether there is any interest in the Zgharta Zawie business community, in Lebanon or overseas, for the creation of a dedicated business/high tech park in Zgharta Zawie.

The rationale behind such an idea is to encourage the highly educated and talented youth of Zgharta Zawie to consider here as a place where they can find employment opportunities to match their skills and expectations, rather than having to look overseas.

Such parks are common place in America and Europe where local municipal council seek to attract entrepreneurial, knowledge-based small and medium-sized enterprises by offering low cost facilities. More and more international NGO's are operating in Lebanon providing both financial aid and expertise. So money no longer seems to be an insurmountable obstacle any more.

The Ministry of Justice Business Register's latest statistics show that for January to June 2005 there were 19 registrations against 32 at the same time in 2004 (57 for full year ) and 15 at the same time in 2003 (41 for full year ). The 2005 figures perhaps reflect the pessimism many have in Zgharta Zawie today.

Let us hear from you with your comments and ideas via contactus@zgharta.com