作者： admin

Senate of Antigua and Barbuda is scheduled to meet Today

In a plenary sitting held on June 16, 2026, the House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda approved a broad slate of legislative proposals, constitutional motions, and international ratifications, advancing five major bills to the Upper House for upcoming debate.

The five bills heading to Upper House deliberation cover a wide range of policy priorities, from legal modernization to border security and immigration reform. The first, the Fatal Accidents Bill 2026, is designed to update the country’s outdated legal framework for damage claims stemming from fatal incidents, and will fully repeal the decades-old existing law, Fatal Accidents Act, Cap 166, replacing it with updated regulatory language. The Magistrate’s Code of Procedure (Amendment) Bill 2026 targets Section 38 of the existing Magistrate’s Code of Procedure Act, CAP 255, refining the statutory rules governing how search warrants are issued by judicial authorities. The Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2026 revises Section 18 of the 2018 Electronic Crimes Act, with changes focused on strengthening provisions related to production orders for digital evidence and updating penalties for entities or individuals that fail to comply with court-ordered information requests.

On immigration and border management, two bills address longstanding policy gaps and bring domestic rules in line with global standards. The Immigration and Passport (Amendment) Bill 2026 establishes a formal amnesty program that allows undocumented residents to apply to have their immigration status formalized, creating a pathway to legal residency for eligible individuals. The Advanced Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record Bill 2026 introduces formal regulatory frameworks for the collection, transmittal, sharing, and secure storage of passenger data for people entering, departing from, or transiting through Antigua and Barbuda, aligning the country’s border security protocols with current international best practices.

In addition to the five bills bound for the Upper House, the sitting also approved two procedural motions that will be taken up by the upper chamber. One motion authorizes the compulsory acquisition of land for public use, specifically to build a secure entry and exit corridor and supporting public infrastructure for the planned National Performing Arts Centre. The second motion sets procedural arrangements for the Governor General’s official opening of Parliament scheduled for May 26, 2026, including the delivery of the traditional Throne Speech outlining the government’s upcoming policy agenda.

Beyond the legislation moving to the Upper House, the House of Representatives approved a series of additional resolutions during the same sitting, including four international treaty ratifications that strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s global engagement. These include ratification of an addendum to the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on the Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information, a global transparency agreement designed to combat cross-border tax evasion. Members also approved ratification of the 1986 amendment to the Constitution of the International Labour Organization, updating the institutional framework of the global labor standard-setting body. A reciprocal visa exemption agreement between the governments of Antigua and Barbuda and the United Arab Emirates was also ratified, allowing citizens of both nations to travel visa-free between the two countries, a move expected to boost tourism, trade, and people-to-people ties. The final ratification approved by members was a 2016 protocol amending Articles 50(a) and 56 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed in Montreal, which updates global civil aviation governance rules.

The sitting also concluded the formal appointment of a new Public Accounts Committee, required under Section 98 of Antigua and Barbuda’s Constitution, which exercises legislative oversight of government spending to ensure public funds are used appropriately and transparently. The committee will be chaired by Hon. Jamale Pringle, MP for All Saints East and St Luke, with other members including Hon. Trevor Walker, MP for Barbuda; Hon. Anthony Smith Jr, MP for All Saints West; Hon. Michael Freeland, MP for St George; and Hon. Melford Nicholas, MP for St John’s City East.

Official multimedia coverage of the full June 16 sitting has been released by the Government Information Service of Antigua and Barbuda.

29 6 月, 2026
Antigua and Barbuda Seeks High-Level Meeting With EU Over Visa-Free Travel

In a public address on his weekly Pointe FM broadcast Saturday, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda laid out an aggressive high-level diplomatic strategy to protect the nation’s long-standing visa-free travel access to the European Union, amid growing uncertainty stirred by the EU’s review of global citizenship-by-investment programs.

Browne emphasized that the Caribbean nation has not abandoned its efforts to convince EU policymakers to reverse proposed rules that could strip Antigua and Barbuda of its visa-free privilege before the close of 2024. While the final EU decision remains unconfirmed, the Browne administration is prioritizing direct, senior-level engagement to change the bloc’s position, the prime minister confirmed.

At the core of Antigua and Barbuda’s negotiating position is a core argument: security concerns tied to investment migration programs can be mitigated through targeted enhanced safeguards, rather than the extreme measure of revoking visa-free access. Browne outlined that the government is pushing for the adoption of a regional electronic travel authorization system for citizens from nations running investment migration schemes, a reform he says addresses EU security worries without disrupting decades of cross-border travel arrangements.

“We hold the position that an electronic travel authorization system would be more than sufficient to address any risks,” Browne said during the interview. “This is a sensible middle path that preserves the strong, positive relations we have built with the EU over decades. There is no need to throw the baby out with the bath water.”

The prime minister added that Antigua and Barbuda has already enacted sweeping reforms to strengthen its own citizenship-by-investment program, and stands ready to implement any additional security measures that EU authorities request, including the pending adoption of mandatory biometric screening for applicants. “We have made a clear commitment to the EU: any safeguards you use in your own investment migration programs, we will put in place here,” Browne noted.

He pushed back firmly against claims that Antigua and Barbuda’s program poses an unacceptable major security risk to European nations, pointing out that no immigration system in the world can claim to be 100% free from abuse. “We have already reinforced our program’s vetting processes extensively, and we are confident it does not present a meaningful risk to any country,” Browne explained. “We acknowledge that there will always be residual risk — occasionally a bad actor may slip through. But no system is ever completely foolproof.”

Browne also called out what he described as double standards from larger nations that operate similar investor immigration schemes. He highlighted that even the United States’ well-known EB-5 investor visa program and Canada’s equivalent initiative have both had issues with bad actors infiltrating their systems, yet the EU only targets small Caribbean nations like his. “Larger countries have faced the exact same challenges we have, but they point fingers at us as if their systems are perfect and have never attracted criminal actors,” he said.

Moving forward, Antigua and Barbuda will maintain sustained diplomatic engagement with EU officials, working to both preserve the visa-free arrangement and prove that the citizenship-by-investment program operates with full transparency and integrity. Browne also highlighted the program’s independent governance as proof of its integrity, noting that he has never overruled a rejection issued by the country’s Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), which operates with full institutional independence. “Our program is run with complete integrity, from start to finish,” he added.

29 6 月, 2026
Government Plans to Cut Down Rat Island for Major Port Expansion

Antigua and Barbuda is moving forward with an ambitious infrastructure overhaul of the St. John’s Port, a project that will reshape the country’s maritime landscape and boost its standing as a leading regional transshipment and logistics hub, Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced over the weekend. Speaking during his regular broadcast on Pointe FM Saturday, Browne outlined the centerpiece of the expansion initiative: the complete removal of nearby Rat Island, where excavated material will be repurposed for large-scale land reclamation to accommodate the port’s growing footprint.

The core driver behind the expansion is a pressing shortage of container storage capacity that has limited the country’s ability to handle rising cargo volumes, Browne explained. While construction teams have already successfully reclaimed approximately nine acres of land along the port’s northern edge, the prime minister emphasized that this is far from enough to meet projected long-term growth in regional maritime trade. “Rat Island that we intend to cut down to create more land. And by so doing, we will have more space for container storage. I understand now we don’t have enough space,” Browne told listeners during the broadcast. Beyond the material sourced from Rat Island, the government plans to pursue additional land reclamation in adjacent coastal areas to support successive phases of the port’s expansion.

Browne added that the upgraded port facility will cement Antigua and Barbuda’s strategic position in Caribbean trade routes. The country already acts as a key transshipment stop for cargo traveling from Panama through the Dominican Republic en route to final distribution across smaller Eastern Caribbean island nations. The expansion project is designed to build on this existing role, turning the country into a full-fledged regional logistics center that can attract new shipping lines, logistics firms and maritime business that have historically bypassed the region for larger hubs.

In a key update on the project’s progress, the prime minister disclosed that the Antiguan government is currently in advanced discussions with a major United States-based firm that is poised to serve as the anchor tenant and primary operator of the expanded transshipment terminal. A larger, more modern port will not only boost cargo handling capacity but also improve consumer access to imported goods across Antigua and Barbuda, while opening new avenues for trade diversification by strengthening economic ties with markets across the Dominican Republic, Central America and South America, he noted.

The St. John’s Port expansion is just the latest phase of a broader waterfront revitalization effort already underway in the country’s capital. Browne pointed to previous successful reclamation projects that have transformed once-blighted areas of the waterfront previously occupied by abandoned, derelict barges. Completed and ongoing projects in the area include the development of the new Global Ports cruise terminal, a major infrastructure investment that is already boosting the country’s tourism and cruise shipping sectors.

29 6 月, 2026
Antigua Plans Undersea Power Link With St. Kitts and Nevis to Import Geothermal Energy

Against a backdrop of volatile global fossil fuel markets and growing regional momentum for clean energy transition, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne announced Saturday that the island nation is evaluating a plan to build an undersea electricity cable that would connect it directly to St. Kitts and Nevis. The project forms part of a broader regional push to unlock cross-border access to renewable energy and cut heavy reliance on carbon-intensive fossil fuel imports.

Speaking during his regular weekly appearance on local outlet Pointe FM, Browne explained that the proposal grew out of high-level discussions among leaders of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), which have centered on strengthening collaborative energy governance and shoring up long-term energy security across the region. Under the framework of this cooperation, member states with untapped or underdeveloped geothermal resources would be able to expand their production capacity and export excess clean power to neighboring islands that lack the geological conditions for domestic geothermal development.

“For nations like Antigua and Barbuda that don’t have domestic geothermal reserves, this arrangement would let us buy affordable, reliable clean power from neighbors that do,” Browne noted in his address. He confirmed that early bilateral talks between Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis are already underway to work out details of the subsea transmission line, which would run from Nevis to Antigua and enable the import of steady baseload electricity for Antigua and Barbuda in the coming years.

This energy partnership is just one component of a wider OECS strategy to deepen integration across key priority sectors including energy connectivity, transportation infrastructure, and cross-border trade. A core goal of this broader initiative is to reduce the vulnerability of small island member states to unpredictable global economic and energy shocks that have disproportionately impacted Caribbean nations in recent years.

While Browne declined to share a formal construction timeline or disclose preliminary cost estimates for the proposed cable, he emphasized that regional governments remain fully committed to advancing collaborative renewable energy infrastructure projects across the Eastern Caribbean. St. Kitts and Nevis has already made significant progress in developing its domestic geothermal reserves, and regional leaders project that this resource could eventually become a foundational clean power source for a interconnected regional energy grid that serves multiple neighboring islands.

For Antigua and Barbuda, expanding access to imported geothermal power delivers three key long-term benefits: it will diversify the nation’s current energy portfolio, cut reliance on costly imported fossil fuels, and build greater overall energy resilience at a time when global petroleum markets continue to see extreme price volatility, Browne added.

29 6 月, 2026
ECCB Viability Study on Proposed OECS Airline Expected Within Weeks, PM Browne Says

A years-long debate over launching a regional airline owned collectively by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is approaching a critical turning point, with a final feasibility assessment set for completion in the coming weeks. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced Saturday that the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) is wrapping up the viability study that will greenlight or reshape the flagship integration project, after OECS leaders unanimously reaffirmed their commitment to the plan at the bloc’s 78th Authority Meeting.

Speaking during his regular weekly broadcast on Pointe FM, Browne confirmed that the project’s progression remains conditional on the study’s outcome, but leaders are optimistic about the results. “We would have all confirmed our commitment to an OECS Air, subject to the study that has been done by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank,” Browne stated. “We expect, within a matter of weeks, that the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank would have completed their studies and that it will confirm the viability of this entity.”

Regional authorities have already secured a base layer of startup funding for the proposed carrier, drawing on a pool of long-unclaimed assets held by the ECCB. Browne disclosed that approximately US$50 million in proceeds have already been earmarked from deposits that have gone unclaimed by their original owners for between 25 and 30 years.

In a additional boost to the project, French delegates who participated in the recent OECS meeting have flagged potential additional financing from the European Union. Browne explained that the initiative meets eligibility criteria for two major EU development funding streams: the Interreg regional cooperation programme and the Gateway infrastructure support initiative. If this EU funding is secured, the new airline could launch with total capital exceeding US$100 million, according to Browne’s estimates.

Crucially, the project will move forward regardless of the outcome of the EU funding application. Browne emphasized that even if EU support does not materialize, the OECS already holds enough internal capital to launch the development phase of the airline. “If those two windows are not available, then at least we’ll have the US$50 million to work with within our own resources,” he said.

For the Eastern Caribbean bloc, the creation of a shared regional airline has long been framed as a cornerstone of deeper economic integration. Planners project that the carrier will cut through longstanding gaps in air connectivity between OECS member states, addressing a critical bottleneck that has held back growth in cross-border tourism, trade and regional mobility for decades. The upcoming ECCB viability study will set the course for the next phase of the project, outlining the timeline and operational structure for the new airline if approved.

29 6 月, 2026
Venezuela: Hoop vervaagt op vinden overlevenden van de aardbevingen

Four days after a pair of devastating back-to-back earthquakes struck Venezuela’s coastal La Guaira region, hopes of pulling more trapped survivors from the rubble are beginning to dim, even as a handful of dramatic last-minute rescues have offered fleeting moments of optimism amid widespread destruction.

The two powerful quakes, registering magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 respectively, hit the coastal area on Wednesday. As of Saturday, official confirmation put the confirmed death toll at 1,430, with no updated casualty figures released by authorities on Sunday. More than 50,000 people remain unaccounted for, a number that has left disaster response teams and local communities bracing for a grim final count. Late Saturday marked the 72-hour window that emergency responders widely consider the threshold for survival for people trapped without food, water or warmth, leaving little optimism for new finds after this milestone.

Even so, small acts of rescue on Sunday kept a spark of hope alive for grieving and waiting families. One of the most remarkable rescues was that of a 60-year-old woman pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building in the Carabaylda coastal area, after she spent 86 hours trapped under debris. In a post on the social platform X, El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said search-and-rescue teams from his country and Peru spent 11 grueling hours working nonstop through the night and early morning to extract her. The woman was transported to a hospital in Caracas for urgent care, and Bukele confirmed her condition remained critical as of Sunday. Bukele credited the relentless effort and determination of cross-border rescue teams for the successful operation.

Multiple other international teams also pulled survivors to safety over the weekend. A U.S. rescue team based in Virginia extracted a man and his son from collapsed infrastructure Sunday morning, carrying them on a tarp to waiting ambulances. On Saturday evening, U.S. officials confirmed a baby had been rescued from a fallen building, while teams from Colombia and Mexico pulled two separate 11-year-old boys from rubble in independent operations. Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed Sunday that at least 33 people had been rescued across affected zones over the weekend, while the United Nations reported that more than 2,200 foreign rescue personnel are now active across the country.

To date, more than 1,600 responders from roughly 30 international urban search and rescue teams spanning 18 countries across North America, South America, Europe and the Middle East have deployed to Venezuela, supported by more than 100 search-and-rescue dogs. The UN has released $15 million from its emergency response fund to fund life-saving aid, while the World Food Programme and UNICEF are on the ground distributing food, emergency shelter and medical care. Washington has deployed its own rescue teams and pledged $150 million to support UN and non-governmental humanitarian response efforts, while the European Union has mobilized €5 million in emergency aid, using its Copernicus satellite system to map damage and direct support to the hardest-hit zones. Pope Leo addressed worshippers in Rome on Saturday, offering prayers for eternal rest for those killed and praising the generosity of all responders involved in search and rescue operations.

Despite this massive international deployment, the response effort faces significant obstacles, and growing criticism of the Venezuelan government’s handling of the disaster is mounting. Rodríguez confirmed that more than 14,000 military and police personnel are patrolling the La Guaira region, which has restricted entry that requires special permits for access. In one widely reported incident, local residents blocked an excavator at a collapsed building and pulled the operator from his cabin after state workers took selfies at the disaster site before leaving without conducting any rescue work. Al Jazeera correspondent Noris Soto, reporting from outside a collapsed building in Caracas’ Los Palos Grandes neighborhood, noted that only international responders and civilian volunteers were actively leading search operations, with at least 20 people still remaining trapped under the rubble at that location alone. In Catia La Mar, another hard-hit community in La Guaira, fellow Al Jazeera correspondent Teresa Bo reported that family members have marked collapsed homes where they cannot recover the bodies of their loved ones, waiting for days outside the wreckage for remains to be extracted.

Basic aid distribution, including water and food, is only just beginning to reach the most affected regions, and many residents are still camping outdoors in the open after their homes were destroyed. Many hard-hit areas still lack heavy excavation equipment, forcing desperate residents and volunteer workers to dig through rubble by hand or with simple hand tools. Aftershocks continue to rock the region, including a 4.9-magnitude quake on June 26, that have further complicated search efforts and put responders at risk.

The scale of the disaster is one of the worst to hit Latin America in more than a century. The United Nations estimates that up to 6.7 million people have been directly or indirectly impacted by the quakes, with total infrastructure damage estimated at $6.7 billion, equal to roughly 6% of Venezuela’s entire gross domestic product. The U.S. Geological Survey has warned that based on current modeling, the final death toll could rise above 10,000, a figure that would make this one of the deadliest seismic events in the region in modern history. For Venezuela, a nation already grappling with years of overlapping economic and humanitarian crises, the disaster represents an unprecedented test for Rodríguez’s interim government, which took power after the reported detention of former president Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in January, and now works closely with the U.S. administration of Donald Trump.

29 6 月, 2026
LISTEN: PM Browne Says Some Homes In China-Funded Projects in Bolans and Barbuda Will Be Offered Under Rent-to-Own Programme

During an announcement made Saturday, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda unveiled a potential new policy to expand access to affordable homeownership for the nation’s most vulnerable residents. Under the country’s ongoing Chinese-funded national housing development scheme, a portion of newly constructed residences could be allocated to a flexible rent-to-own framework, designed to address rising unmet demand for accessible housing across the twin-island nation.

Browne explained that the government is actively evaluating plans to reserve a subset of the upcoming new builds as rental units, with a built-in option for tenants to purchase the property after a set rental period. The units in question are standalone, single-story concrete structures fitted with two or three bedrooms, engineered to withstand extreme weather conditions common to the Caribbean region — a critical design feature for small island nations facing growing climate risks. “More and more people are asking for rental homes that can lead to ownership,” Browne noted, adding that he hopes the adjusted allocation will help satisfy this unmet need.

The prime minister used the occasion to extend formal gratitude to the People’s Republic of China for its sustained investment in Antigua and Barbuda’s housing sector, emphasizing that the bilateral development partnership has been instrumental in cutting national poverty rates and expanding access to stable housing for low-income households. “You can’t aspire to be a nation with a high quality of life and leave any segment of your population trapped in abject poverty,” Browne stated. “We are working systematically to eliminate remaining pockets of extreme poverty, and we have made meaningful progress thanks to this partnership.”

To date, China has supported the construction of roughly 250 residential units across two phases of the programme, Browne confirmed. Around 150 of these homes are already finished or in the final stages of completion. A new $20 million USD grant agreement signed just this week will fund the construction of an additional 100 climate-resilient units: 50 will be built in Bolans on the island of Antigua, and another 50 will be constructed on the sister island of Barbuda. Each unit will sit on a plot of land ranging up to three hectares, providing residents with ample space. All told, China’s total investment in the multi-phase housing initiative amounts to roughly $50 million USD, equivalent to around 135 million Eastern Caribbean dollars.

Browne stressed that the entire programme is intentionally targeted to support “the most vulnerable, some of the poorest people among us.” He went on to praise China’s “shared prosperity” development philosophy, noting that China’s support for infrastructure and social development projects across Antigua and Barbuda and other small developing states is consistently focused on lifting living standards for local communities.

In closing, Browne called for enhanced cooperation between China and the United States, framing both nations as key strategic partners for Antigua and Barbuda. He noted that the U.S. remains the country’s largest source of tourism arrivals and top trading partner, while China continues to deliver transformative investment in critical public infrastructure and affordable housing. “We would want to see greater cooperation between China and the United States, our two most important partners,” Browne said.

29 6 月, 2026
Prime Minister Confirms All Safe After Apple Syder Maritime Emergency

On a Monday morning in late June 2026, a routine ferry crossing between the two Caribbean islands of St. Kitts and Nevis quickly turned into a crisis when the Apple Syder passenger ferry began taking on water mid-voyage, triggering a coordinated emergency response that ultimately ended with every person on board brought to safety. Local media outlet SKNVibes.com confirmed that official updates from top government leaders have verified there are no fatalities connected to the incident.

Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, who traveled to the Joseph N. France General Hospital shortly after the rescue operation concluded to check on the condition of transported passengers, shared the good news via his social media channels. “I just left the hospital where I was updated that everyone from the ferry, Apple Syder, is safe,” the prime minister wrote. “Thanks to God, the emergency response teams, hospital staff, and civilians for their tremendous rescue efforts.”

Footage shared widely across social media platforms captured the gravity of the situation: the listing vessel being towed back to shore as it neared capsizing, and passengers pulled from the channel’s waters by smaller response craft. The first vessel to answer the Apple Syder’s distress call was another local ferry, the Makana, whose crew immediately diverted to assist alongside the official St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard.

In a public statement, the Makana Ferry Company moved quickly to correct early online misinformation that incorrectly identified the Makana as the vessel in distress. “We would like to clarify that Makana was not the vessel in distress. Our crew answered the call to assist alongside the St. Kitts and Nevis Coast Guard and others responding to the emergency,” the company said. Echoing the prime minister’s relief at the outcome, the company added, “We are thankful that all passengers and crew were brought safely ashore with no loss of life. Our thoughts are with the Apple Syder Ferry Company during this difficult time, and we wish them strength as they recover from this unfortunate incident.”

The company extended public gratitude to its own passengers, who remained calm during the unexpected diversion to support the rescue, and praised its leadership and crew for their quick, selfless action. “A heartfelt thank you to our passengers for remaining calm, understanding the situation, and allowing our crew to safely assist those in distress. Your patience and cooperation made it possible for us to help when it was needed most,” the statement read. “We would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to our captain and the entire Makana crew for their professionalism, bravery, experience, and selfless actions. Their calm leadership and commitment to the safety of others reflect the very best of our maritime community.”

Minister of Marine Resources Samal Duggins also released a statement acknowledging both the fear sparked by the incident and the relief at the positive outcome. “While we await official updates from the relevant authorities, I am encouraged by reports indicating that passengers and crew were safely rescued. Our thoughts remain with everyone who experienced this frightening ordeal, as well as their families and loved ones who anxiously awaited news,” Duggins said.

He noted that maritime emergencies carry unique emotional weight for residents of the island federation, due to past sea tragedies that have impacted local communities. “For many in our Federation, any incident at sea stirs memories of tragedies that have touched our shores in the past. Today, however, we are grateful that this story appears to be one of survival, rescue, and the collective efforts of those who sprang into action when it mattered most,” he added.

As of Monday afternoon, authorities have not released a full public account of what caused the ferry to take on water. Preliminary related reports suggest a damaged pontoon may be linked to the incident, and a formal investigation is already underway to determine the root cause of the emergency and review the response effort.

29 6 月, 2026
Column: Dromen onder druk, het Iraanse elftal in de schaduw van politiek

For Iran’s men’s national football team, the 2026 World Cup is far more than a global athletic competition. It is the story of a people navigating crippling hardship, who have turned to the shared dream of international football to reclaim a sense of hope and national pride. Every pass, every tackle, every sprint up the pitch carries the weight of personal stories from players who are not only competing against opposing teams on the field, but also fighting against the heavy burden of political tensions that have complicated their entire journey to the tournament.

29 6 月, 2026
Zapping Haiti of June 29, 2026

As of June 29, 2026, HaitiLibre has compiled a collection of key developments unfolding across Haiti and related international affairs, covering military expansion, public security, political debate, development assistance, diplomatic solidarity, and national cultural observance.

First, in a major push to rebuild and expand the nation’s armed forces, the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H) has announced strong preliminary results from its first national recruitment drive. Held between June 8 and June 19, the opening recruitment period targeting young people aged 18 to 25 drew a total of 17,722 candidate applications, with 25 percent of all submissions coming from women. The institution confirmed that it will soon launch a second targeted recruitment phase focused on skilled working professionals between the ages of 22 and 35, with priority given to applicants with specialized backgrounds in law, engineering, and medicine. Combined, these two sequential phases are designed to bring 1,800 fully vetted new recruits into the armed forces over the next six months, building out the service’s capacity gradually.

In a tragic act of violence that underscores ongoing security challenges in Haiti’s northern region, an armed assault on a public gas station left two people dead and one injured on Sunday, June 28. The attack took place at a fuel outlet situated along National Route 6 in Quartier Morin, located within Haiti’s North Department. The two victims killed in the incident were identified as 38-year-old gas station attendant Emilus Anglide and Jude Dorisma. A third person, 24-year-old security guard Charles Bensly, sustained non-fatal injuries and was immediately transported to a local medical facility for treatment. Following the shooting, the armed attackers fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash, multiple personal firearms, and several cellular phones belonging to staff and patrons.

In U.S. political news related to Haitian immigrant policy, Ohio’s Republican Governor Mike DeWine has publicly pushed back against a recent decision from the second Trump administration related to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants. Speaking as a guest on CNN’s *State of the Union* with host Jake Tapper on June 28, DeWine reiterated that large-scale deportation of Haitian residents currently living and working in Ohio runs directly against the state’s economic and social interests. DeWine explained that Haitian workers fill critical, hard-to-staff positions across Ohio’s manufacturing, food processing, and healthcare sectors, noting that Haitian workers are often the primary caregivers for elderly family members with Alzheimer’s living in nursing and long-term care facilities. “To say we’re going to deprive all of them of that workforce is simply not in our best interest,” DeWine told Tapper, adding, “I hope, once again, that the Trump administration will reconsider its position.” He emphasized that the current U.S. administration has centered its agenda on job creation, yet the roles Haitian immigrants fill would remain empty without their labor. When asked whether Ohio would challenge the recent Supreme Court ruling that revoked TPS protections for Haitian immigrants, DeWine said his administration would respect the legal decision, but stressed that it remains critical to separate the court’s ruling from the separate question of public policy.

In international development news, the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) is backing a new fishing community support project on Haiti’s Gonâve Island, focused on advancing economic equity for women. The initiative, titled “Improving the Socio-Economic Status of Women in Coastal Communities on Gonâve Island,” is being implemented by the Gonâve Federation of Fishers and Artisanal Fishermen (FEGOPAP). To date, 40 fish and seafood vendors and members of local fishing associations — 29 of whom are women and 11 men — have completed a series of interactive theoretical and practical training sessions covering cooperative governance and operational principles. The project is also renovating a shared community facility, which will be outfitted with solar power infrastructure and new processing equipment for preserving and distributing fresh fish and seafood. Once complete, the project is expected to expand women’s access to critical processing infrastructure, boost local product supply, and increase household sales income for participating fishing families.

On the diplomatic front, the Haitian government has extended its full solidarity to the people and government of Venezuela in the wake of a devastating pair of powerful earthquakes that struck the country between the night of June 24 and 25. Haitian Foreign Minister Raina Forbin held a direct call with her Venezuelan counterpart Iván Gil in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, which has left thousands of families facing loss, displacement, and uncertainty. During the conversation, which was framed by mutual fraternity and solidarity, Minister Forbin conveyed the deep compassion of the Haitian people, expressed unwavering support for Venezuelan emergency response authorities, and extended the nation’s heartfelt condolences to all bereaved families and communities affected by the quakes. The Haitian government has also confirmed its readiness to join regional collective solidarity efforts, including participating in humanitarian relief initiatives alongside member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to support the Venezuelan people. As of the latest provisional update released June 29, the disaster has killed more than 1,450 people, injured more than 3,200, and left approximately 50,000 people unaccounted for.

To close this roundup, multiple Haitian public institutions have issued official tributes to Haitian fathers in honor of Father’s Day, which was observed June 28, 2026. In his official message, Prime Minister Fils-Aimé offered respectful and grateful recognition to all Haitian fathers, acknowledging that despite the profound economic and social challenges facing the country, Haitian fathers continue to lead with courage, dignity, and unwavering sense of responsibility. “These men, often working behind the scenes, lovingly bear the weight of their responsibilities and contribute, through their daily commitment, to preserving the values of solidarity, hard work, and hope that underpin our nation,” the prime minister’s statement read. The government paid tribute to fathers as role models who inspire younger generations and contribute to building a stronger, more unified nation, extending warm wishes for the observance: “May their courage continue to light the way for their families and nurture our collective confidence in a better future. Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers of Haiti. Together, with faith, unity, and perseverance, we will continue to build the country of peace, justice, and prosperity to which our people aspire.”

The Haitian Ministry for the Status of Women marked the occasion with an official ceremony held Saturday, June 27 at the Montana Hotel in Pétion-Ville, honoring both current fathers and expectant fathers within the institution. The event was designed to highlight the irreplaceable role that fathers play in family life and Haitian society at large. Minister Pedrica Saint Jean delivered a heartfelt tribute to ministry staff who are fathers, noting that fatherhood extends far beyond biological ties, and is rooted first in daily commitment, consistent presence, emotional support, and shared responsibility. The ministry also reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to promoting responsible parenting and equitable, harmonious relationships between women and men, for the lasting benefit of all Haitian families.

The Cap-Haïtien Municipal Commission also issued a public message extending warm wishes to all fathers across the city, throughout Haiti, and in the global Haitian diaspora. The commission paid special tribute to fathers who continue to fulfill their family responsibilities with dignity amid ongoing national hardship, as well as to deceased fathers whose legacies live on in the hearts of their loved ones. “On this day dedicated to celebrating fathers… we wish a wonderful Father’s Day, surrounded by the love of their families and loved ones. Happy Father’s Day!” the statement concluded.

29 6 月, 2026