Carib Scope

分类： world

  • FLASH : The Government Commissioner of Port-de-Paix, at the head of an armed militia

    FLASH : The Government Commissioner of Port-de-Paix, at the head of an armed militia

    In a dramatic response to escalating violence in Haiti’s Northwest region, Port-de-Paix Government Commissioner Jéir Pierre has established and personally commands an armed security militia, marking an unconventional approach to combating rampant lawlessness. This development emerges amid deteriorating security conditions that have plagued the region since late December, characterized by surging armed robberies, violent assaults, and sexual attacks.

    Commissioner Pierre, expanding beyond his traditional judicial responsibilities, now directs nightly patrol operations through a specially formed brigade composed of local residents. While officials claim coordination with Haitian National Police (PNH) units, this militia operates under the prosecutor’s direct authority rather than police command structure—raising questions about legal oversight and accountability.

    The security model relies on community members selected for their intimate knowledge of local terrain and potential suspects. Financing originates from resident donations and diaspora contributions, creating an informal funding mechanism similar to that implemented by Commissioner Jean Ernest Muscadin in Miragoâne. Pierre defended the arrangement, stating, ‘The people who believe in this project did not want to leave me alone. They help cover basic costs so agents can carry out their functions.’

    Initial results suggest some effectiveness, with nighttime commerce gradually resuming in certain urban centers and residents reporting improved security conditions. However, this approach represents a significant departure from conventional law enforcement methodologies, highlighting the Haitian government’s limited capacity to address security challenges through established institutions.

  • Jamaica to take full advantage of UN High Seas Treaty, says gov’t

    Jamaica to take full advantage of UN High Seas Treaty, says gov’t

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica has strategically positioned itself to leverage the groundbreaking UN High Seas Treaty that became effective on January 17, ushering in a transformative era for international marine conservation. Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith emphasized that this development creates unprecedented opportunities to synchronize global legal frameworks with national environmental initiatives.

    The BBNJ Agreement (Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction) represents a milestone in oceanic governance, particularly regarding scientific collaboration and fair distribution of marine resource benefits. Minister Johnson Smith highlighted Jamaica’s progressive environmental commitments, including territorial water protection and blue economy development through sustainable fisheries and coastal ecosystem rehabilitation.

    Jamaica’s diplomatic engagement with the treaty has been substantial, having ratified the agreement during the third UN Oceans Conference in Europe last June, following its initial endorsement at the 79th UN General Assembly in September 2024. The nation maintains its influential role in multilateral ocean governance as headquarters of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and through Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ participation in the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.

    The minister further noted that Jamaica’s re-election to category ‘C’ of the International Maritime Organisation reinforces its credibility as an advocate for equitable marine resource distribution. The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, originally signed in Montego Bay, continues to serve as the foundational legal instrument for global ocean governance, with the new BBNJ Agreement representing its natural evolution.

  • Illegal charters warned: ‘We’re coming for you’

    Illegal charters warned: ‘We’re coming for you’

    The Bahamas is escalating its maritime enforcement operations against a proliferation of unlicensed foreign fishing charter vessels, with authorities warning that hundreds of illegal operators are now under investigation. This aggressive stance follows last week’s apprehension of the Rayne Check, a vessel allegedly conducting unauthorized sports fishing charters in Bahamian waters—marking the third such seizure within 13 months.

    Mike Cenci, a senior law enforcement advisor with WildAid and veteran investigator with three decades of experience combating illegal fishing practices, revealed that the scale of unauthorized charter operations has reached critical levels. “It’s out of control,” Cenci stated, emphasizing that systematic enforcement would require sustained effort to effectively reverse the trend. The recent seizure operation, which involved multiple government agencies including the newly established Maritime Revenue Unit, signals a coordinated approach to maritime law enforcement.

    The financial impact of these illegal operations is substantial. The Rayne Check was reportedly charging clients $45,000 for five-day fishing excursions, translating to approximately $9,000 daily. After accounting for operational expenses, investigators estimate profit margins could reach $6,500 per day for unauthorized operators. More significantly, the cumulative effect of hundreds of such vessels operating without licenses potentially costs the Bahamian economy millions annually in lost revenue and fisheries value.

    Paul Maillis, Secretary of the National Fisheries Association, characterized the enforcement actions as “an exciting time for Bahamian fishermen,” noting that the consistent application of maritime laws represents a significant shift in policy implementation. Beyond economic considerations, Maillis highlighted the damage to The Bahamas’ international reputation when visitors participate in illegal charters without consequence.

    Environmental sustainability concerns are equally pressing. Cenci warned that the sophisticated equipment employed by these charters enables unsustainable harvesting levels that threaten marine resource viability. “Remove the healthy marine resources,” he cautioned, “and it becomes Haiti in terms of the likely economic and social fall-out.”

    Enforcement strategies have evolved to include monitoring social media platforms where illegal charters advertise services. Authorities confirmed active surveillance of Instagram and Facebook posts to identify vessels promoting unauthorized Bahamian fishing trips before they even clear customs.

    The government’s reinforced approach has garnered support across multiple ministries—national security, finance, and agriculture and marine resources—demonstrating political commitment to addressing the issue. Both Cenci and Maillis encouraged public participation through reporting suspicious operations, emphasizing that continued vigilance and cooperation are essential to preserving The Bahamas’ marine ecosystem and protecting legitimate local fishing industries.

  • Gunmen kidnap 163 worshippers from two Nigerian churches—clergy

    Gunmen kidnap 163 worshippers from two Nigerian churches—clergy

    KADUNA STATE, Nigeria — A coordinated assault by armed militants on multiple churches in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna State has resulted in the mass abduction of over 160 Christian worshippers, igniting a fierce dispute between local community leaders and state authorities who are publicly denying the incident occurred.

    The attacks unfolded on Sunday when large numbers of assailants, locally referred to as ‘bandits,’ blockaded church entrances in the Kurmin Wali village area during worship services and forcibly marched congregants into nearby wilderness. Reverend Joseph Hayab, regional head of the Christian Association of Nigeria, confirmed that 172 individuals were initially seized, with nine managing to escape, leaving 163 in captivity.

    Contradicting this account, Kaduna State police commissioner Muhammad Rabiu asserted that after dispatching officers to the alleged crime scene, no evidence of an attack or kidnappings was found. State commissioner for internal security Sule Shauibu similarly dismissed reports as ‘totally false,’ citing absence of proof.

    However, Ishaku Dan’azumi, a traditional chief in Kurmin Wali, provided a detailed testimony indicating even higher numbers—177 abducted from three churches, with 11 escapes, resulting in 166 currently held. He emphasized the community’s prolonged suffering from recurrent kidnappings, which have severely disrupted agricultural activities and local livelihoods.

    This incident reflects broader patterns of violence in northwestern and central Nigeria, where criminal gangs routinely execute village raids, mass abductions, and lootings. According to a recent SBM Intelligence report, kidnapping has evolved into a structured, profit-driven industry, generating approximately $1.66 million in ransoms between mid-2024 and mid-2025.

    Kaduna State, particularly the Kajuru district, remains a hotspot for such violence, often superficially framed along religious lines—Christian farmers versus Fulani Muslim herders—but fundamentally rooted in competition over land and scarce resources. Nigeria’s pervasive security challenges continue to draw international concern, exemplified by recent U.S. military strikes in neighboring Sokoto State targeting ISIS-affiliated militants.

  • Despite precarious life in Colombia, Venezuelans rule out returning home soon

    Despite precarious life in Colombia, Venezuelans rule out returning home soon

    LA FORTALEZA, Colombia — Venezuelan migrants who escaped their nation’s profound economic collapse are confronting a harsh reality in Colombia’s border regions, yet many assert these conditions surpass the desperation they left behind. Families like that of Franklin Petit, who arrived in 2018, now inhabit a self-constructed settlement in La Fortaleza, an area notorious for gang warfare and illicit drug operations.

    The initial euphoria that followed the January 3rd U.S.-backed move to oust authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro has largely faded. Residents now express a pragmatic recognition that Venezuela’s deep-seated crises will not be resolved swiftly, despite the political upheaval. With Maduro’s inner circle retaining influence and Washington’s contentious claim on Venezuelan oil assets, the future remains deeply uncertain.

    Life in La Fortaleza is fraught with danger, dominated by violent conflicts between guerrilla factions like the ELN and Frente 33 and the Tren de Aragua cartel. Fear of retaliation silences open discussion of the violence. Yet, for many, this perilous environment is preferable to the extreme poverty and political oppression in Venezuela, which has driven over eight million people to emigrate in the past decade.

    Personal narratives underscore this tragic choice. Imer Montes, 43, aspired to reach the United States but found himself stranded in La Fortaleza without funds or documentation. For Nellisbeth Martinez, wife of Franklin Petit, memories of the ‘extreme poverty’ and hunger that forced their exodus still provoke emotional distress. Their primary motivation is securing education and opportunity for their children, exemplified by their 11-year-old daughter Frainellys, who is thriving in school—a prospect unimaginable in their former home near Lake Maracaibo.

    Luisana Serrano, a former nursing aide now working as a baker, embodies the struggle for sustenance. She recounted a time in Venezuela where her husband’s weekly wage could only purchase a single day’s food. Now in Colombia, her enlarged family of nine reliably eats three meals daily. While grateful for U.S. intervention, she maintains a cautious hope that meaningful change, though delayed, is inevitable for her homeland.

  • ‘World-class recovery’

    ‘World-class recovery’

    In a significant endorsement of Jamaica’s post-disaster recovery, the United States has upgraded its travel advisory for the island nation from Level 3 to Level 2. The decision, announced by the U.S. State Department on Saturday, comes nearly three months after Hurricane Melissa—a catastrophic Category 5 storm—caused extensive damage across western parishes in October 2025, with estimated economic losses ranging between US$6 billion and US$8 billion.

    Jamaican Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett hailed the reclassification as a powerful vote of confidence in the nation’s resilience and its pioneering ‘destination assurance’ framework. ‘Jamaica is the only country globally developing a comprehensive white paper on destination assurance, which will soon evolve into formal strategy and policy,’ Bartlett stated on Sunday. This innovative approach coordinates security, health, sanitation, and public works agencies to ensure a safe, secure, and seamless experience for both visitors and residents.

    Prime Minister Andrew Holness welcomed the advisory improvement, emphasizing its importance for tourism recovery and investor confidence. The upgrade follows Holness’s telephone discussion with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where both leaders acknowledged Jamaica’s ‘world-class recovery’ efforts despite facing one of the most severe weather events in its history.

    Secretary Rubio commended Jamaican authorities for their effective management of relief operations and the rapid restoration of critical services. Their conversation also covered broader regional cooperation, with discussions focusing on infrastructure reconstruction, crime reduction strategies, and collaborative security initiatives. Jamaica’s participation in the Gang Suppression Force in Haiti was particularly noted as evidence of its role as a reliable regional partner.

    Minister Bartlett emphasized that the improved advisory level would help revitalize tourism segments that had previously avoided Jamaica due to negative travel designations. With major airports reopened and commercial flights resumed, Jamaica now anticipates a resurgence in visitor numbers and continued investment in its tourism infrastructure, bolstered by what Bartlett characterized as ‘international elevated positions’ in market competitiveness.

  • Chilean authorities expect severe toll from forest fires

    Chilean authorities expect severe toll from forest fires

    Chilean authorities are confronting a catastrophic wildfire emergency with officials reporting multiple fatalities and widespread destruction across the Concepcion region. While preliminary data confirms two deaths, emergency responders on the ground indicate the toll is significantly higher, with firefighters discovering numerous bodies in incinerated residences.

    Regional Governor Rodrigo Giacaman provided a grim assessment of the situation, describing neighborhoods in the municipality of Penco as “completely burnt” with particularly tragic consequences for elderly residents who were unable to evacuate before the advancing flames. “This is very dramatic and of enormous destructive power,” Giacaman stated during an emergency briefing.

    The governor has urgently petitioned the central government to implement immediate curfew measures to restrict non-essential movement, citing that civilian traffic is substantially impeding emergency response operations. While official damage assessments remain ongoing, Giacaman estimated that thousands of homes have been completely destroyed based on the comprehensive devastation observed in multiple areas.

    Critical infrastructure has been severely affected with all three major highways connecting to the Nuble region closed to general traffic to prioritize the passage of emergency vehicles. The municipalities of Penco and Lirquen, surrounding Greater Concepcion, have been identified as among the most severely impacted zones.

    Officials expressed heightened concern about deteriorating weather conditions expected to exacerbate the crisis. Forecasted temperature increases combined with strong, erratic wind gusts present significant challenges for containment efforts, potentially enabling further rapid spread of the destructive flames throughout the afternoon hours.

  • EU en Mercosur tekenen handelsakkoord na 25 jaar onderhandelingen

    EU en Mercosur tekenen handelsakkoord na 25 jaar onderhandelingen

    In a landmark development for global trade, European Union and Mercosur bloc officials finalized a comprehensive free trade agreement on Saturday in Paraguay, concluding negotiations spanning more than a quarter-century. This monumental pact represents the most extensive trade deal ever negotiated by the EU, though it still requires ratification by the European Parliament and national legislatures of Mercosur member nations Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

    The agreement aims to dismantle longstanding trade barriers between the economic blocs, promising unprecedented opportunities for cross-continental commerce and investment. However, the accord faces significant opposition within Europe due to environmental concerns, agricultural competition worries, and labor rights considerations.

    Simultaneously, international tensions escalated as U.S. President Donald Trump intensified his campaign to acquire Greenland, announcing substantial tariff increases on eight European nations via his Truth Social platform. Effective February 1st, a 10% tariff will be imposed on goods from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, with plans to increase to 25% by June 1st. Trump declared these punitive measures would remain until the United States secures an agreement for Greenland’s purchase.

    European governments have yet to formally respond to these economic threats, while thousands of Danish citizens took to the streets in protest. Copenhagen witnessed demonstrators waving national and city flags while chanting “Kalaallit Nunaat” – Greenland’s indigenous name – in rejection of American expansionism.

    These public demonstrations occurred shortly after a bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation reaffirmed American support for Denmark and Greenland during meetings in Copenhagen. Senator Chris Coons expressed hope that Denmark would maintain confidence in the American people while emphasizing respect for Danish sovereignty and NATO alliances.

    Since taking office, President Trump has repeatedly asserted that Greenland should fall under American control, recently declaring any alternative outcome “unacceptable.” This stance contradicts overwhelming Greenlandic public opinion, with a January poll revealing 85% opposition to U.S. annexation and only 6% in favor.

    Both Greenlandic and Danish authorities have consistently rejected American ownership proposals, with recent diplomatic efforts by foreign ministers from both governments failing to alter the U.S. position during Washington meetings. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen characterized Trump’s approach as attempting to “conquer” Greenland rather than negotiate.

    These parallel developments highlight the intricate interplay between trade diplomacy and geopolitical ambitions in contemporary international relations, where economic agreements and territorial aspirations create complex global dynamics.

  • Bangladesh: Journalisten eisen bescherming na toenemende aanvallen op media

    Bangladesh: Journalisten eisen bescherming na toenemende aanvallen op media

    In a troubling escalation of press freedom violations, Bangladesh’s media professionals have united to demand immediate government protection following coordinated attacks on the country’s leading newspapers. The alarming developments have raised serious concerns about democratic backsliding under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus’s interim administration.

    December witnessed violent mobs storming the offices of Dhaka-based Daily Star, the nation’s premier English-language daily, and Prothom Alo, the largest Bengali-language publication. Assailants set buildings ablaze, trapped journalists inside, and looted property while state authorities allegedly failed to respond to repeated distress calls. Staff members at Daily Star required rooftop rescues after being besieged by attackers, while a leader of the independent Editors Council suffered physical assault.

    The same day saw parallel attacks on liberal cultural centers in the capital, with Islamic groups previously accusing targeted media outlets of pro-India bias. Although motives remain officially unconfirmed, the pattern suggests systematic targeting of independent institutions.

    During an emergency conference convened by the Editors Council and Newspapers Owners Association of Bangladesh, media representatives highlighted the particularly precarious environment ahead of February elections. Nurul Kabir, Council chairman, warned that silencing media and democratic institutions reflects a dangerous trend requiring unified journalistic resistance.

    The United Nations has expressed profound concern, with expert Irene Khan labeling the mobilization of public fury against journalists and artists as ‘dangerously destabilizing’ in the pre-electoral period. Khan cautioned that such intimidation could paralyze media freedom, minority voices, and dissenting opinions, ultimately undermining democratic foundations.

    Yunus’s interim government assumed power in August 2024 after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled during mass uprisings. Despite initial stability promises, international human rights organizations now criticize the administration for eroding civil liberties and enabling radical groups’ resurgence.

    Notably, several journalists face murder-related charges for allegedly encouraging Hasina’s government to suppress protesters, while pro-Hasina reporters have been imprisoned under the current regime. These developments collectively paint a disturbing picture of deteriorating press freedom and democratic norms in Bangladesh, underscoring the urgent need for international attention and protective measures for independent media.

  • Chile declares emergency as wildfires kill at least 15

    Chile declares emergency as wildfires kill at least 15

    Chilean authorities have declared a state of emergency following the outbreak of devastating wildfires that have swept through southern regions, resulting in at least 15 fatalities and the evacuation of over 50,000 residents. The crisis, centered in the Nuble and Biobio regions approximately 500 kilometers south of Santiago, involves 14 separate blazes that have burned uncontrolled for two consecutive days.

    President Gabriel Boric mobilized national resources through an emergency declaration posted on social media platform X, stating “All resources are available” to combat the disaster. The declaration enables military involvement in firefighting and evacuation operations. Security Minister Luis Cordero confirmed the casualty figures while Interior Minister Alvaro Elizalde acknowledged the “complicated situation” facing emergency responders.

    Nearly 4,000 firefighters are battling flames intensified by seasonal southern hemisphere summer conditions, including high temperatures and gusting winds. According to Alicia Cebrian, director of the National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response, the most significant evacuations occurred in the Biobio coastal towns of Penco and Lirquen, with a combined population of approximately 60,000.

    Eyewitness accounts describe terrifying escapes from fast-moving fires. Matias Cid, a 25-year-old student from Penco, reported: “We had to leave with the shirts on our back. If we had stayed another 20 minutes we would have burned to death.” Rodrigo Vera, mayor of Penco, confirmed that 14 of the 15 fatalities occurred in his municipality.

    Residents of Lirquen fled to beaches for safety as flames consumed their community. Alejandro Arredondo, 57, surveyed the devastation: “There is nothing left standing,” describing a landscape of melted metal and charred wood that once constituted homes.

    Weather forecasts predict continued challenging conditions with high temperatures and strong winds, according to Esteban Krause, head of a forest preservation agency in Biobio. This disaster continues a pattern of destructive wildfires in south-central Chile, recalling February 2024 fires near Vina del Mar that killed 138 people and affected 16,000 residents according to official statistics.