Black Immigrant Daily News

REAL NEWS: Prime Minister Gaston Browne appears to be blaming the Opposition for the recent spate of break-ins and vandalism at the Nation’s public schools, suggesting that these incidents are politically motivated and meant to gain political mileage.

Browne claims that this is the same playbook deployed by the Progressive Labour Movement (PLM) to bring down the Labour Party Government under V.C. Bird in the 1970s.

He claims that, while government schools continue to be the target of thieves and vandals, this is not the same for private schools.

It appears that Browne is unaware that several private institutions have also been broken into and robbed, including the Baptist Academy, which has burglar bars installed on its buildings, and the St. Peter’s Academy, from which the thieves stole money.

Even churches have fallen prey to thieves, as well as scores of businesses and households. In fact, many residents have accused the Police of failing to report the extent of the situation in order to give the impression that the incidence of crime is low.

Meanwhile, Browne says his government will resist any excess coming from his opponents, and he is prepared to use the Police and Army to patrol the Nation’s schools and bring the perpetrators to justice.

He says he is confident that someone will be caught and will reveal the names of the politicians behind these nefarious acts.

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s accusations, a woman notes that when crime spiked under the UPP Administration – with one year recording 19 murders – the Antigua Labour Party rejoiced and used it to their political advantage.

However, she says, at no time did the UPP publicly state that the opposition Labour Party was behind the increase in crime, although many people believed, then, that politics had, indeed, played a part.

She says the Labour Party is familiar with that playbook; this is why Prime Minister Browne, the head of that party, is making the situation political. “As a man speaketh, so does he also think,” the woman says.

In the meanwhile, UPP officials say that Browne’s unfounded accusations show that “desperation has set in” and, as usual, he is “trying to find scapegoats for his Administration’s failures.”

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The Security Council must act urgently to support Haiti as the gang, economic, and fuel supply crises there “intersect in altogether new and frightening ways”, the head of the UN Mission in the country, BINUH, said on Monday.

Meanwhile, political stakeholders are still struggling to find common ground and define a path to elections against this backdrop, she added.

Haitian-led solution critical

“An economic crisis, a gang crisis, and a political crisis have converged into a humanitarian catastrophe. We must not lose hope, but rather combine our efforts to find a pathway to a better tomorrow,” said UN Special Representative Helen La Lime, speaking from the capital Port-au-Prince.

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“A Haitian-led political solution is the first necessary step to address the current crisis. To support Haitians in their effort towards a better future, this Council must take urgent action.”

Gang violence continues to disrupt daily life in Haiti, driving more than 20,000 people from their homes.

More than 1 million affected

The UN estimates that at least 1.5 million people in the Caribbean country have been directly impacted by recent unrest, with gender-based violence, and in particular rape, being used systematically.

The economic crisis has caused food prices to soar, while fuel is often available only on the black market.

Protests broke out in Haiti after the Prime Minister announced on 11 September that the Government will reduce some $400 million in fuel subsidies in efforts to increase revenue for social programmes.

By the following day, barricades had been erected throughout the country, prompting a nationwide shutdown, with the situation persisting in the capital for a full five days.

One of the largest gang alliances also blocked the main fuel terminal there on 12 September. The siege lasted for over a week, despite concerted operations by the police over the weekend.

Good offices role

On the political front, Ms. La Lime said she has maintained good relations with all sectors of society and has encouraged dialogue.

“While so-far inconclusive efforts have led to a perceived stalemate, national stakeholders have begun to re-engage with a renewed sense of urgency. In the past weeks, Government representatives, political groups, and civil society organizations launched new consultations on ways to forge a wider consensus on a path to elections. But we’re not there yet,” she said.

Aid delivery hampered

The insecurity has also severely curtailed humanitarian access and made it “very difficult and dangerous” to deliver, according to Valerie N. Guarnieri, Deputy Executive Director at the World Food Programme (WFP).

“We expect food security to further deteriorate this year, surpassing the record high of 4.5 million people estimated to face crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity, including 1.3 million people in emergency,” she said.

The gangs strangling the capitol are blocking access to fuel supplies and key logistics hubs, including ports and airports, as well as road access to other areas of the country.

Protesters have also ransacked and looted humanitarian warehouses, with WFP losing one-third of its food stocks in just one week. UN agencies and partners estimate they have lost some $6 million during such attacks, which come at the peak of the hurricane season.

Appeal for support

Ms. Guarnieri stressed that WFP and other aid agencies intend to stay and deliver in Haiti despite the challenges, but will need greater assistance.

“Simply put, we’re not in a position to support all of those that need our help due to the general lawlessness and operational environment,” she said.

“Therefore, we’re looking forward to increased support from the Member States, from you, to further facilitate humanitarian access as well as protection of humanitarian actors, personnel and assets.”

Fighting illicit trafficking

The armed groups not only compromise stability and security, they also hamper efforts towards peace and lasting development, said Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC).

Haiti is particularly vulnerable to the illicit traffic in commodities, particularly drugs, firearms and ammunition. due to its 1,500 kilometres of coastline and land border with the Dominican Republic.

Ms. Waly said UNODC is supporting border management and is working to map out transnational criminal activities in Haiti, as well as their regional impact.

They are also assisting the authorities in building capacity to inspect containers at strategic points such as ports and border crossings.

“These efforts should ensure that customs revenue be effectively sent to activities to support border modernization and border management,” she said, speaking in French.

SOURCE: UN News

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El informe preliminar de COVID-19 del Departamento de Salud (DS) reportó el lunes una muerte y 203 personas hospitalizadas.

La cantidad total de muertes atribuidas es de 5,131.

Hay 172 adultos y 31 menores hospitalizados. Este monitoreo cubre el periodo del 14 al 28 de septiembre de 2022.

La tasa de positividad está a 14.36 por ciento.

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El alcalde de Guánica, Ismael ‘Tití’ Rodríguez, denunció en RADIO ISLA que los empleados de LUMA Energy trabajan hasta las 4 de la tarde en la recuperación del sistema eléctrico de Puerto Rico.

“Mi opinión es que le falta personal, o falta brigadas, y hasta falta de urgencia, porque ya a las 3 o 4 de la tarde ya me están diciendo ‘tal barrio para mañana’”, expresó ‘Tití’ Rodríguez.     

Por su parte, el director de seguridad del consorcio, Abner Gómez, afirmó que han energizado al 92 por ciento del país. “Tenemos un 1,354,952 clientes (energizados) para un 92 por ciento dentro del sistema”, detalló Gómez. 

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The TT Meteorological Service is monitoring an active tropical wave to the east of the Windward Islands.

In a release on Sunday, it said there are no alerts, watches or warnings in effect for TT.

The Met Office said the National Hurricane Centre has given this tropical wave a low (20 per cent) chance of developing into a tropical cyclone in 48 hours and a low (30 per cent) chance of development in five days.

It said whether or not the wave develops into a cyclone, it would cause moist and unstable conditions over the islands.

“Trinidad and Tobago would experience cloudy skies with intermittent periods of showers and a medium-to-high chance of thunderstorm activity. These conditions can persist from the middle of this week and into the start of the weekend due to the approach and passage of this tropical wave.”

The Met Office said it would continue to monitor the tropical wave and will issue and update at noon on Monday or earlier if the situation warrants.

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