Haiti’s cry for safety

Thousands protest in public outcry against mounting gang threats

In a surge of public outcry, several thousand individuals took to the streets of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, on Monday Concealing their faces for safety, the demonstrators passionately called for better protection against violent gangs that have gripped many parts of the city

The persistent gang violence has not only disrupted the everyday lives of Haitians but also exacerbated the nation’s poverty This has led to anticipation over the United Nations Security Council’s decision on potentially deploying an international armed force to the country

Chanting “We want security!”, the procession moved from the neighborhood of Carrefour-Feuilles to downtown’s Champ de Mars and subsequently towards the prime minister’s residence. However, the police employed tear gas, dispersing the gathering

The unsettling environment in Haiti has deepened since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse Experts indicate that gangs now dominate as much as 80 percent of Port-au-Prince These gangs have been implicated in a variety of violent crimes, causing distress in communities already grappling with extreme poverty

Recent data underscores the gravity of the situation A UN report revealed that from January to March, over 1,600 incidents of deaths, injuries, or kidnappings were recorded — marking a 30 percent spike compared to the last quarter of 2022

The protestors echoed a collective sentiment of defiance, chanting “Bwa kale!” This phrase alludes to a civilian-led uprising against suspected gang members that started earlier this year

“They have set a date It has been postponed If there is a need, if something happens, if there’s an exogenous shock, a weather event, then certainly, that has to be considered But as it is now, it is the intention of the Government to fulfill its constitutional duties,” he said

Earlier this year, the government leveraged its House of Representatives majority to pass legislation sanctioning the fourth delay of the elections

The decision was grounded in budgetary concerns, with estimates suggesting that holding the local government elections would cost around $1 5 billion

At that time, the government was also working to transition the Portmore Municipality into Jamaica’s 15th parish

The opposition, meanwhile, has warned that it will take the government to court if there are any additional delays to the elections

Jamaica’s last election took place in November 2016

UNICEF also raised an alarm over the rise in kidnappings this year, particularly highlighting the victimization of women and children for monetary or strategic advantages A poignant case is that of US nurse Alix Dorsainvil and her daughter, who reportedly were just recently released after two weeks in captivity

Over 200 people have been reported killed since its inception The demonstrators pledged to sustain the momentum, especially as the local police force struggles with limited resources

Afreximbank president Benedict Oramah champions stronger ties with Caribbean partners

The Afri-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum, conducted in September in Barbados, marked an unprecedented event in AfricaCaribbean dynamics

This momentous summit, organized by Afreximbank, successfully revived the longstanding connections between Africa and the Caribbean This plays a crucial role in the African diaspora, often deemed as the continent’s ‘sixth region’ by the African Union

Africa constitutes merely 4 4 per cent of the annual $18 8bn worth of goods exported from the Caribbean, while only contributing about $603m of the $33bn imported into the region Observers postulate that trade between these two regions could see an exponential increase to as much as $11bn annually

According to an article by African Business, the forum yielded significant outcomes – collaborators committed to enacting a strategic partnership to enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, technological transfer, innovation, transport, tourism, culture, and other services

The article highlighted that a noteworthy development was the Partnership Agreement signed between the Afreximbank and an initial seven of the 15 Caribbean Community continues on A5 – Stronger ties