Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – Pedro Vaca Villarreal, the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), has issued a stark warning about the deteriorating state of press freedom across the Americas. Speaking at the 81st General Assembly of the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA), Vaca lamented the scarcity of positive examples of journalistic liberty in the region. He highlighted alarming developments in Guatemala, El Salvador, and the United States, where journalists face increasing obstacles. In Guatemala, reporters are being imprisoned for merely performing their duties, while El Salvador has imposed severe restrictions on access to public information, making confidentiality the norm. In the United States, new Pentagon regulations have been criticized for impeding journalistic work. Vaca also expressed concern over a broader regional trend of ‘tolerance for abuse,’ exacerbated by irresponsible and discriminatory rhetoric from political leaders, which undermines public trust. Panelists Andrés Mompotes, director of El Tiempo (Colombia), and Daniel Dessen, president of La Gaceta (Argentina), echoed these sentiments, noting the erosion of democratic values and ongoing efforts to delegitimize the press. Despite these challenges, Dessen pointed to failed censorship attempts in Argentina as a sign that ‘there are still reasons for optimism.’
分类： society
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Fire Service equips stations to tackle electric vehicle, battery fires
The Barbados Fire Service (BFS) has intensified its preparations to tackle the unique fire hazards posed by electric vehicles (EVs), equipping fire stations across the island with specialized tools and chemical additives. Fire Chief Errol Maynard disclosed that every station now has fire blankets designed to smother EV fires, along with F-500, a chemical additive that enhances water’s effectiveness in cooling and suppressing lithium-ion battery blazes.
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National Plant Festival opens at Botanical Garden
Santo Domingo’s Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso National Botanical Garden (JBN) has launched the 19th edition of its National Plant and Flower Festival, a vibrant celebration of the Dominican Republic’s botanical heritage and a platform for environmental education. The event, which runs until Saturday, October 19, has attracted 106 exhibitors, including international participants from Ecuador, Puerto Rico, and Canada, showcasing a wide array of ornamental plants. Visitors arrived early to explore the displays, with orchids emerging as a crowd favorite.
At the opening ceremony, JBN Director General Pedro Suárez underscored the festival’s 19-year legacy, emphasizing its dual role in promoting plant care expertise and raising environmental awareness. Suárez expressed optimism about surpassing last year’s attendance record of 15,000 visitors. The festival offers a packed schedule of activities from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., catering to diverse interests. Highlights include workshops on Kokedama techniques, urban and educational gardening, bonsai art, and floral arrangement. Additionally, children can engage in crafts using natural materials, while free talks and workshops delve into critical topics such as environmental conservation, the protection of native and endemic flora, ornamental plant production, and pest and disease management.
This year’s festival not only celebrates the beauty of plants but also serves as a hub for fostering a deeper connection between the community and nature, reinforcing the importance of sustainable practices and biodiversity preservation.
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Insecurity : September 2025, bad results (report)
A recently released report by the Defenders Plus Collective has shed light on the deteriorating human rights situation in Haiti during September 2025. The document, which serves as a monthly assessment, reveals a harrowing escalation of violence and rights violations across multiple regions, leaving the population in a state of despair and displacement. The report underscores a surge in assassinations, sexual violence, kidnappings, forced displacements, and armed attacks, which have collectively inflicted immense suffering on thousands of families. The West, Artibonite, Center, and Northwest regions have been particularly hard-hit, with local communities enduring unprecedented levels of violence. Women and children, often the most vulnerable, have borne the brunt of these atrocities, either as direct victims or as survivors struggling to cope with the dire conditions of displacement. The Defenders Plus Collective has sounded the alarm, urging immediate attention to the escalating crisis. For a comprehensive understanding of the situation, the full report, available in French, can be accessed via the provided link.
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PSV owners renew push for duty-free concessions
Public service vehicle (PSV) operators in Barbados are intensifying their appeals for the government to restart negotiations on long-awaited duty-free concessions. Roy Raphael, Chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT), emphasized on Thursday that the prolonged delay in providing financial relief is exacerbating safety risks for commuters and escalating maintenance costs for operators. Raphael highlighted that a significant portion of the vehicles currently in service are outdated, with some exceeding 40 years in age and 80% being over five years old. This aging fleet is leading to frequent mechanical failures and operational downtime, further straining the industry.
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Minister Noersalim pleit voor gebruik van Surinaamse voeding
On World Food Day, Suriname’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, Mike Noersalim, urged consumers to prioritize locally produced Sranan food. Emphasizing the benefits of supporting local farmers, he highlighted the freshness, safety, and nutritional richness of Surinamese diets. “By choosing local, you not only bolster our farmers and economy but also embrace a healthier way of life,” he stated. Noersalim underscored agriculture as the backbone of food production, calling for collective efforts to ensure the nation’s agricultural abundance benefits future generations. He outlined initiatives to protect farmers, including investments in climate-smart techniques, improved irrigation, and robust quarantine measures to safeguard local crops and biodiversity from external pests. The livestock sector, he noted, plays a vital role in providing essential proteins, with a focus on quality and biosecurity. Investments in better breeds, modern slaughterhouses, and strict monitoring programs aim to prevent diseases and ensure safe, locally produced meat and dairy. Noersalim also described fisheries as Suriname’s “treasure from the water,” emphasizing sustainable practices to preserve marine resources for future generations. “Sustainable fishing is the only way forward to ensure our ‘blue economy’ remains productive and healthy,” he asserted. In alignment with this year’s World Food Day theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future,” the ministry, in collaboration with the FAO, donated agricultural tools and materials to educational institutions and the Stichting Ontspanningsoord voor Gehandicapte Kinderen (SOGK) to support their agricultural activities.
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Internationalization of the UEH : Signature with the Colombian University (UMAYOR)
In a landmark move to bolster international academic collaboration, Dieuseul Prédélus, Rector of the State University of Haiti (UEH), and Juan Alberto Arraut Camargo, Rector of the Institución Universitaria Mayor de Cartagena (UMAYOR), signed a Framework Agreement for Academic Cooperation on October 16 in Cartagena, Colombia. The ceremony, attended by key academic officials from both institutions, signifies a pivotal step in UEH’s ongoing internationalization efforts. This partnership, rooted in South-South cooperation, unites two Caribbean universities with shared challenges and aspirations in higher education and scientific research. The agreement outlines collaborative initiatives across multiple domains, including academic mobility for students, faculty, and staff; joint research and innovation projects; institutional capacity building; language training; continuing education programs; and international internships to enhance student employability. Spanning an initial four-year term with automatic renewal, the agreement establishes a Technical Coordination Committee to oversee implementation and ensure sustainability. Prédélus highlighted the broader significance of the partnership, stating, ‘This signing symbolizes the university’s role as a bridge between peoples, a space to address contemporary challenges, and a beacon of hope for the future.’ This agreement is part of UEH’s broader strategy to expand its global academic network, with additional partnerships planned with Canadian universities.
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Dodds Prison awaits $4m green light to expand farm operations
The Barbados Prison Service is poised to transform its agricultural operations at the Dodds prison farm in St. Philip, pending government approval of a $4 million budget allocation. Superintendent of Prisons DeCarlo Payne announced on Thursday that the funds would be used to significantly expand meat production and modernize the facility, aligning with the government’s goal of achieving food self-sufficiency within 18 months. The initiative aims to reduce reliance on external suppliers and enhance food production capabilities. Currently, the farm produces chicken, beef, lamb, pork, and turkey, with plans to slaughter 67 pigs next month. Additionally, 90% of the arable land at Dodds is under cultivation, yielding crops such as sweet potatoes, yams, and cucumbers. The Prison Service recently supplied the Barbados Defence Force with 600 pounds of sweet potatoes and 150 pounds of cucumbers. The $4 million investment will also fund the construction of seven new chicken pens, each capable of housing 3,000 birds, with a long-term goal of producing 21,000 chickens to meet the needs of institutions like the School Meals Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and the prison itself. In January, the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus partnered with the Prison Service to launch a six-week agricultural training program. Conducted through UWI’s Centre for Agricultural Research and Innovation (CAGRI), the program focuses on sustainable crop production, soil management, poultry care, and integrated farming systems. It aims to reduce food costs, support national food security, and provide inmates with practical skills for rehabilitation. Superintendent Payne emphasized that the farming program is a key component of a broader rehabilitative strategy, equipping inmates with agricultural and business expertise while contributing to institutional cost savings and national food security.
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Granma Rebelde: a festival of challenges, alternatives, and shared dreams
The Granma Rebelde International Festival commenced today at the Estación Cultural de Línea y 18 in Havana, marking a significant milestone in Cuban journalism. This year’s festival celebrates the 60th anniversary of two iconic Cuban publications, Granma and Juventud Rebelde, both founded by the late Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz. Running until October 19, the event features a dynamic blend of exhibitions, theoretical discussions, book presentations, and cultural performances, attracting delegations from over 30 countries. Organized by the Communist Party of Cuba and the Union of Young Communists, the festival emphasizes counter-hegemonic communication, advocating for equality, sovereignty, and social justice. A highlight of the program is the panel ‘Fidel in the Press: The Leader Who Wrote His Own History,’ moderated by renowned journalist Katiuska Blanco, which explores Castro’s contributions to Cuban journalism. The festival also includes performances by acclaimed artists and the celebrated children’s theater group La Colmenita, alongside discussions on global cooperation and social change. Open to the public, the event aims to foster dialogue between journalists, intellectuals, and the community, reflecting on six decades of Cuban media and revolutionary ideals.
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Prison chief: More teens in Dodds Prison for serious crimes as average inmates’ age falls
Barbados is grappling with a troubling surge in youth crime, as highlighted by Superintendent of Prisons DeCarlo Payne in a recent interview with Barbados TODAY. Payne revealed that the age of convicted inmates is steadily decreasing, with more young males aged 15 to 25 being incarcerated for serious and violent crimes, particularly those involving firearms. He described this as a deeply concerning trend that reflects broader societal issues requiring a unified national response. Payne emphasized that the prison system is witnessing inmates as young as 15 or 16, with crimes becoming increasingly violent and often linked to robberies and gun-related offenses. Criminologist Kirk Alleyne echoed these concerns, noting a disturbing shift in behavior among youth, where violence is increasingly used to resolve interpersonal disputes rather than dialogue or mediation. Alleyne’s July report, ‘Confronting Violent Crime in Barbados,’ highlighted that retaliatory violence and escalation have become normalized. He also pointed to the growing accessibility of firearms to juveniles, which significantly increases their involvement in serious crimes such as armed robberies and shootings. Alleyne further warned of the evolution of gang activity, with informal street groups transforming into well-organized criminal networks resembling corporations. Barbados has recorded 34 homicides this year, with 31 occurring by the end of July. Despite these challenges, the Barbados Prison Service is implementing rehabilitative programs for both remanded and sentenced individuals, focusing on religious services, anger management, drug counseling, and vocational training. These initiatives aim to reduce reoffending and prepare young offenders for reintegration into society.