VOA慢速英语2021 海地爵士音乐节因为安全原因延期

Organizers of the Port-au-Prince International Jazz Festival recently announced that the music event has been postponed¹. The reason given was an increase in gang activity in the Haitian capital.

太子港国际爵士音乐节组织方最近宣布该音乐活动已被推迟。组织方给出的原因是海地首都帮派活动的增加。

The festival, usually held in January, brings together musicians from more than 12 countries every year.

该音乐节通常在每年1月份举行，将汇集来自12个以上国家的音乐家们。

Milena Sandler is director of the Haiti Jazz Foundation which organizes the festival. She told the French News Agency, "We can't take the risk, either for the 150 musicians or for our teams or for the public."

米莱娜·桑德勒是负责组织该音乐节的海地爵士乐基金会的负责人。她对法新社表示：“无论是为了这150位音乐家，还是为了我们的团队或是公众，我们都不能冒险。”

Sandler added, "We have been thinking for a while now that it would be difficult...to stage a festive² event in this context."

桑德勒还表示：“我们已经考虑了一段时间，在这种情况下很难去举办音乐节活动。”

In recent months, gangs have gone beyond the poorer areas of Port-au-Prince and have increased the number of kidnappings.

最近几个月，帮派已经越过了太子港的贫民区，并增加了绑架事件的发生次数。

Their control over the capital regularly prevents secure access to oil stations. As a result, fuel shortages have harmed the transportation industry. Many hospitals, businesses and schools have been forced to reduce their services.

他们对首都的控制经常妨碍安全地进入加油站。结果，燃料短缺损害了运输业。许多医院、企业和学校被迫减少服务。

The United States and Canada have suggested that their citizens living in Haiti have an emergency plan to leave the country.

美国和加拿大已经建议其居住在海地的公民制定离境应急计划。

Sandler is hopeful that the music festival will take place sometime in 2022.

桑德勒希望该音乐节能够在2022年的某个时候举行。

"If the situation in the country does not allow for the usual format³ of concerts over eight days, we will still have something and it won't be virtual," she said.

她说：“如果国内现状不允许举办耗时8天以上的常规形式的音乐节，我们仍然会举办一些活动，而且不会是虚拟活动。”

Sandler added that the festival's Haitian and international partners were considering a program for the end of June.

桑德勒还说，海地国内和国际合作伙伴在考虑明年6月底举办该音乐节的方案。

The only time the festival has been canceled was in 2010. That year, a huge earthquake severely⁴ damaged Port-au-Prince and other towns on January 12, killing⁵ more than 200,000 people.

该音乐节唯一一次被取消是在2010年。那年1月12日发生的大地震严重破坏了太子港和其它城镇，并造成超过20万人遇难。

1 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

2 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

3 format   

n.设计，版式；[计算机]格式，DOS命令:格式化(磁盘)，用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据；v.使格式化，设计，安排

参考例句：

• Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
• The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。

4 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

5 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。