Basseterre, St. Kitts, Mar 14, 2024 (ZIZ Newsroom): Jamaica Observer is reporting that the Privy Council has ordered that incarcerated dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel and his three co-accused have their convictions quashed for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.
“The judicial committee of the Privy Council has unanimously concluded that the appeals should be allowed and the appellants convictions should be quashed on the grounds of juror misconduct and that the case should be remitted to the Court of Appeal to decide whether to order a retrial of the appellants for the murder of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams,” the Privy Council stated.
The UK-based Privy Council, the highest tier of the court system in Jamaica, handed down their decision on Thursday to have the convictions of Vybz Kartel, real name Adidja Palmer, fellow entertainer Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell, Kahira Jones and Andre St John, quashed based on the arguments presented last month.
On February 14 and 15, the appellants presented arguments on whether trial judge Lennox Campbell should have allowed telecommunication evidence, which was obtained in a manner that allegedly breached Palmer’s constitutional rights to privacy, into the trial.
ZIZ will continue to follow this developing story.
]]>SAINT-MARTIN (February 11, 2024): The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) concluded its business meetings last week in Saint-Martin, marking a significant milestone in the collaborative efforts to strengthen and revitalize the Caribbean tourism sector. Under the direction of Chairman Kenneth Bryan, who also serves as Minister of Tourism and Ports for the Cayman Islands, the CTO has embarked on a transformative journey to reimagine its role and impact within the global tourism landscape.
“When I took over as chairman (in 2022), we decided to go through a reimagining exercise and you can start to see the changes already,” said Chairman Bryan, citing the appointment of Secretary-General and CEO Dona Regis-Prosper, the return of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Bermuda to the 25-member body, and the re-engagement of destinations such as Montserrat as examples of the progress made.
A highlight of the meetings was the presentation of a comprehensive plan for the year ahead by Regis-Prosper, the first woman appointed to the post in the organization’s history.
This year’s first series of business meetings focused on defining a strategic direction for the upcoming year and reviewing the organization’s accomplishments since Minister Bryan’s tenure began. “The discussions were fruitful and reflective of the vibrant spirit that characterizes our collective efforts,” stated Minister Bryan. “The CTO is moving towards a reimagined, revitalized and relevant future, with a clear focus on overcoming challenges through unity and shared vision,” he asserted.
A significant part of the meetings centered on the critical role of aviation in connecting the Caribbean. Chairman Bryan emphasized the commitment to enhancing regional connectivity and addressing the complexities of aviation logistics, highlighting a resolution to engage with key stakeholders, including the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and regional airlines, to advocate for increased seat capacity and facilitate more seamless travel within the Caribbean.
The group discussed the possibility of staging a Caribbean aviation conference: an assembly of airline and airport authority executives; hotel brands; tourism stakeholders; and government ministers with responsibility for tourism, civil aviation, regulatory and finance matters. “We need robust dialogue on the necessary changes to incentivize more connectivity within the region, so we’re going to put our foot down on the gas concerning this because it’s a serious concern for many members, particularly in the Eastern Caribbean.”
Reflecting on his tenure as chairman, Minister Bryan is encouraged by the progress made, particularly in stabilizing the organization’s fiscal position, increasing membership confidence, and positioning the CTO prominently in global tourism discussions. The CTO’s efforts have also focused on leveraging technology, artificial intelligence, and digital media to enhance the Caribbean’s appeal as the world’s leading warm-weather destination.
The CTO’s vision also encompasses a rebranding of the organization and a reinforcement of the foundational spirit of Caribbean kinship. “Our goal is to ensure that every member state feels tangible value from its involvement with the CTO, fostering a sense of belonging and collective achievement,” commented Minister Bryan.
He said CTO’s strategic direction, under the Secretary-General’s leadership, promises a dynamic and inclusive future for Caribbean tourism, one that emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and a deepened sense of regional camaraderie.
Picture: Kenneth Bryan, Chairman of CTO’s Ministerial Council and Minister of Tourism and Ports of the Cayman Islands (left), is pictured with CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper; Bermuda Minister of Tourism Owen Darrell; and Rosa Harris, Chairman of CTO’s Board of Directors and Director of Tourism for the Cayman Islands.
]]>The vision for a unified Caribbean tourism industry was clearly articulated at Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s (CTO) business meetings in Saint-Martin this week. The CTO Board of Directors and Ministerial Council are developing a plan of action to address key issues affecting the region, including aviation, communication and training.
“As we collaborate, our energies are being directed toward strategies and opportunities that will benefit our tourism initiatives and stakeholders,” said a release from the CTO. “A remarkable synergy emerges when our Caribbean kinship convenes to forge the future of our tourism sector. This week in Saint-Martin, we shared insights on challenges, best practices and solutions, and worked together to define a vision and develop a strategy for establishing the Caribbean as the world’s leading warm-weather destination.”
Ministerial representatives pictured here with our Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper (center) include (l-r) Minister Charles Fernandez from Antigua and Barbuda, Minister Haydn Hughes from Anguilla, Minister Ian Gooding-Edghill from Barbados, Commissioner Joseph Boschulte from the United States Virgin Islands, Minister Owen Darrell from Bermuda, Jr. Minister Luce Hodge-Smith from the British Virgin Islands, Parliamentary Secretary John Pinder from The Bahamas, Parliamentary Secretary Guibion Ferdinand from St. Lucia, Commissioner Valérie Damaseau from Saint-Martin, Permanent Secretary Jennifer Griffith from Jamaica, Premier of Montserrat Easton Taylor-Farrell, Minister Josephine Connolly from the Turks and Caicos, CTO Chairman Minister Kenneth Bryan from the Cayman Islands, and Minister Hon. Marsha T. Henderson from St. Kitts and Nevis.
]]>Attorney-General Garth Wilkin highlighted the exemplary role of female leaders within the judicial system of the Eastern Caribbean during the recent Ceremonial Opening of the EC Supreme Court Law Year.
In his address, Garth Wilkin, representing OECS Ministers of Justice, celebrated the accomplishments of the Honourable Dame Janice Pereira, Chief Justice, who is poised for retirement after a period of transformative leadership. He underscored the pioneering reforms that have fortified the region’s legal framework under her tenure.
Honorable Claudette Joseph, Attorney-General of Grenada, expressed similar sentiments, attributing positive strides in judicial innovation to the collective brilliance and dedication of female jurists. Speaking on behalf of OECS Attorneys General, she advocated for the empowerment of young women to aspire to such esteemed positions within the legal field.
The event, held under the banner “Innovation and Justice Reform – The ECSC Looking to the Future,” casts a spotlight on the Court’s unwavering commitment to progress and modernization. This year’s New Law Year Ceremonial Opening proceedings in Grenada will be succeeded by the Court of Appeal’s first session for 2024, setting a precedent for the continual evolution of judicial practices within the OECS Member States.
Attorney-General Garth Wilkin urges society to recognize and celebrate the intellect and grace that female jurists contribute to the legal profession, inspiring the next generation to dream without bounds and pursue excellence relentlessly.
]]>Jan 29, 2024 (LOOP CARIBBEAN NEWS) Newly installed principal of the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus (UWI FIC), Professor C. Justin Robinson, says the regional institution will have to address the financial situation it faces as it continues with efforts to provide a world-class education to Caribbean people.
Read more: https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/prof-robinson-says-there-need-address-uwis-financial-woes
]]>By Devonne Cornelius
Basseterre, January 4, 2024 (ZIZ Newsroom): Lieutenant Commander Deon Henry of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard has confirmed that everyone on board a plane that crashed off the coast of Bequia on Thursday (Jan. 4) has died.
“There were four persons on board and four bodies were retrieved. I can tell you that the aircraft was leaving from Bequia for St. Lucia” Commander Henry told ZIZ Newsroom on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
The SVG Coast Guard retrieved the bodies following “a joint effort between the community of Bequia and the Coast Guard.”
The four persons who perished include the pilot, two children and an adult.
This is a developing story.
]]>March 6, 2023 (CMC) — A Southwest Airlines flight that was bound for Fort Lauderdale, Florida was forced to return to Cuba on Sunday morning after reportedly experiencing bird strikes.
In a statement Sunday, Southwest said the plane suffered bird strikes.
“Southwest flight #3923 departing Havana, Cuba, for Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sunday morning reportedly experienced bird strikes to an engine and the aircraft’s nose shortly after takeoff,” the statement said.
“The pilots safely returned to Havana where customers evacuated the aircraft via slides due to the observation of smoke in the cabin.”
Passengers and crew then took a bus to the terminal and arrangements were made for the flight to Fort Lauderdale, according to Southwest.
“We commend the swift, professional actions of our pilots and flight attendants in responding to this event. We apologise to our customers for the inconvenience and have reached out to address their needs and offer support,” Southwest said in the statement.
Cuba’s state-run media Radio Rebelde said the aircraft “detected failures in one of its engines during the takeoff process.”
Once the plane was authorised to land back in Havana, the passengers were evacuated and were in “good condition,” Radio Rebelde said.
Airport officials said investigations are ongoing.
]]>BASSETERRE, St Kitts and Nevis, February 23, 2023 —The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) is excited to announce that it has engaged The Marketing Machine, a full-service marketing consultancy firm, as the principal marketing agency for DCash, the digital version of the Eastern Caribbean (EC) Dollar.
The Marketing Machine which is Antigua and Barbuda-based was selected through a competitive tendering process that began in April 2022 and saw participation from several internationally recognised marketing firms from around the Caribbean and North America.
Speaking on the award, Karina A. Johnson, Project Manager of the DCash pilot project noted, “Just as important as the security and robustness of the DCash technology is the ability to effectively engage with the ECCU public about how DCash can impact the lives and performance of the people and businesses of the region. With The Marketing Machine, we believe we have found an able partner to drive this message with creativity and clarity.”
The Marketing Machine will devise and implement strategies to increase the visibility of the DCash brand and drive the aggressive expansion of the DCash user network across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). Its marketing activities, campaigns and strategies for DCash will focus on increasing public awareness, education and usage to expand the DCash ecosystem.
This marketing engagement follows the ECCB’s historic launch in March 2021 of the DCash pilot. DCash is a pioneering digital currency that brings modern-day convenience to consumers and businesses across the ECCU. It has the potential to significantly enhance small business operations in the region and create opportunities for everyone to participate in the digital economy. The DCash app gives users a safer, faster, and cheaper option for paying for goods and services or for sending funds to friends, family, or anyone with a DCash wallet.
“DCash is an amazing innovation for the people of our region, and we at The Marketing Machine are extremely proud to have won the bid for this important project.” CEO of the Marketing Machine, Chalita Rose said.
Mr. Rose added: “With our hands-on acquisition approach, our engagement with the ECCB will impact the growth of DCash. The Marketing Machine team will leverage its unique talents, network and proven creative initiatives in bringing the desired results to the ECCB’s efforts in putting the convenience, speed and safety of DCash in the hands of the people of the region.”
DCash is now being piloted in all eight ECCU countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. More information on DCash is available on its website www.dcashec.com.
]]>February 19, 2023 — The Guyanese government criticised American Airlines for its continued refusal to grant VIP treatment to dignitaries that are utilising its services out of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation released a statement today (February 15) where it criticised the airline’s agents for demanding that the Prime Ministers of St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, who were in Guyana for the annual energy expo, leave the executive lounge and present themselves to the check-in counter.
“All Government protocols were in place to facilitate their departure. Despite American Airlines having been written to, prior to the arrival of the Prime Ministers in Guyana, for them to be accorded the courtesies of check-in on departure from the VIP Lounge, the airline refused to acquiesce to the Ministry’s request,” the Ministry said as it noted that the airline’s actions have embarrassed both Guyana and the region.
“The Government of Guyana had previously protested this position taken by American Airlines against its own High and senior Government officials, but they have continued to pay scant regard to the Government’s requests for entitlements to the positions held to be respected.”
The ministry said a formal letter will be sent to American Airlines to express the government’s displeasure at the continued disrespect shown to dignitaries.
]]>ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Prime Minister Gaston Browne led his ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) to a nail-biting victory in Wednesday’s general election, winning nine of the 17 seats for a third consecutive term in office, according to the preliminary results released here early Thursday morning.
The party won 15 of the 17 seats in the 2018 general election.
“You know I have always said to people, you must always give thanks, no matter how small the blessing and I see this decision as a blessing upon the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” Prime Minister Browne told supporters.
He said the results will give the ABLP government the opportunity to re-align “and also create the opportunity for fresh talent.
“Truth be told, whenever you try to remove incumbents it is very difficult. So when you remove incumbents then it creates the space you could bring in new talent to the organisation, to the government.
“So we do not see this as a bad thing per se, we see it as an opportunity at the same time. However, I want to thank those of my colleagues who would have served this country well over the last eight and a half years and of course, we will continue to stand by them, so we will not leave them out in the cold,” Browne told supporters.
Prime Minister Browne, who became the first government leader in the country to win three consecutive general elections, headed the victorious ABLP candidates, as the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) won five additional seats as compared to the solitary seat it had gained in the 2018 general election.
Browne polled 1, 295 votes against 621 for Alister Thomas of the UPP and Jamel Knight of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) to win the St. John’s City West seat.
“I want to thank you all very much …I say thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart. I feel humbled, again to be the first Prime Minister to get three consecutive terms and that is a significant amount of confidence and trust which I shall continue to honour,” Browne told supporters, adding that he would be sworn into office later on Thursday morning at 10.30 (local time) and the cabinet named on Friday.
Browne said he would have signalled to his party that it needed fresh legs and new talent.
“Truth be told after two terms some ministers become lethargic. They do not have the will to fight,” he said, adding that some of “our colleagues did not have the energy to mobilise, you could have seen it at our events, it is something the leadership discussed…
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) failed to make any impact in the election with its leader, Joanne Massiah polling only 22 votes.
UPP leader Harold Lovell failed to win the City East seat for a third consecutive time as Information Minister Melford Nicholas held on to win by six votes.
Preliminary figures released by the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) showed that Nicholas, who has defeated the former finance minister on all three occasions, polled 791 votes while Lovell received 785. Leon Smith of the DNA got 13 votes.
In the last general election, Lovell lost by 153 votes. He has since called for a recount.
“If you are going to lead a government, you have to win your seat,” said regional political scientist and pollster, Peter Wickham.
On the sister isle of Barbuda, the Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM), retained the seat with the incumbent, Trevor Walker, comfortably winning against Knacyntar Nedd of the ABLP, according to preliminary results released here on Tuesday.
Walker polled 624 votes to Nedd’s 456 votes.
Among the casualties of the election were Works Minister Lennox Weston, Samantha Marshall, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Barbuda Affairs, Michael Browne, Minister of the Creative Industries and Innovation and Dean Jonas, the Minister of Social Transformation, Human Resource Development and the Blue Economy.
Jamaica-based pollster, Don Anderson, who had conducted several opinion polls prior to the general election, said while the UPP “will do much better than they did in 2018,” it failed to drive home the issues during the campaign.
“The shift we are seeing is a vital one,” Anderson said on a radio programme here, noting however that the shift was not sufficient to drive the UPP home “because they started too far behind”.
Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle, who was the sole UPP legislator in the last Parliament, easily won the All Saints East and St. Luke constituency, defeating Colin James by a margin of 1, 799 to 1,047.
Avory Knight of the DNA polled 52.
The highlight of the election was the victory of the independent candidate, Asot Michael, the former government legislator, who had been the parliamentary representative on four occasions but had been prevented from contesting the seat on behalf of the ruling party.
Michael had taken his matter to the courts in a bid to get the ABLP to reverse its decision and had even entertained the idea of becoming prime minister if none of the two major parties had failed to win sufficient seats to form the government.
Browne told supporters that Thursday would not be a public holiday to celebrate the victory, adding “ I want to make an appeal to all Antiguans and Barbudans, especially our political opponents to accept the results of the elections.
“Let us come together as a united nation that will fight together in order to advance this country. There will be yet another political cycle sometime down the road…but let us cool the rhetoric going forward, let us prioritise the advancement of this country recognising the challenges that we are faced with, and let us not be daunted by the challenges,” he added.
]]>January 19, 2023 (BBC) — At least three more people are reported to have died amid protests against Peru’s President Dina Boluarte.
Dozens of lives have been lost during weeks of demonstrations after former leader Pedro Castillo was ousted.
Police used tear gas to disperse crowds in the capital Lima, where thousands of protesters from rural areas have spent days converging.
A woman died in the southern town of Macusani, where a police station is reported to have been set on fire.
The 35-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital without any vital signs, according to emergency services.
Separately, Peru’s human rights watchdog reported two further deaths as a result of blockades in the northern La Libertad region.
In a tweet, it said a 51-year-old woman had died, and that “a teenager lost her baby”.
The deaths come ahead of a large-scale protest planned for Thursday afternoon in the capital.
Journalist Neil Giardino told the BBC that “anger indignation made its way to Lima” as thousands of indigenous people from the highlands descended on the capital.
A driver from the city of Cusco, in south-eastern Peru, who travelled to Lima to join the protests, said that “every day more people from the south are arriving to force the state to respect our rights.”
“There’s so much pain – young people have died, fathers with two and three children have died, women have been made widows,” the man said.
“Our military and police, rather than defending us, are killing us. It hurts so much. How can they kill us for rising up to defend our country? We’ve never robbed our country. We only want to improve our lives to build a better country.”
Demonstrators want Ms Boluarte to step aside and call fresh elections, and for Mr Castillo, her left-wing predecessor, to be released from custody.
The governors of the southern Puno, Cusco and Apurimac regions have also called for the president’s resignation.
The country has been through years of political turmoil, which came to a head when Mr Castillo was arrested last month for trying to dissolve Congress.
He is being investigated on charges of rebellion and conspiracy. He denies all the accusations, insisting that he is still the country’s legitimate president.
Ms Boluarte has resisted calls to step down and issued a call earlier this week to Peruvians to ensure their protests were peaceful.
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St. John’s, Antigua (CMC) – An estimated 60,916 people are eligible to cast ballots Wednesday as Antiguans and Barbudans go to the polling stations to elect a new government for the next five years.
The Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) said 53 candidates, representing three political parties and three independents, are contesting the poll for control of the 17-seat Parliament.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who is seeking a third consecutive term in office, is leading the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) against the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) headed by former finance minister Harold Lovell and the Joanne Massiah led-Democratic National Alliance (DNA).
The Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM), which won the sole seat on the island of Barbuda in 2018, is facing the ABLP on the sister isle.
The polling stations, which opened at 6:00 am (local time) will close 12 hours later.
Supervisor of Elections, Dame Lorna Simon, has said a large number of persons have been applying for lost or replacement cards and the office expects the situation to continue on Wednesday.
She is urging electors to locate and keep securely their cards which are needed in order to vote.
“Join a line, know the correct constituency, the polling district, the polling station. We will have information officers at the entrance to each polling centre where there is more than one polling station and we urge persons if they are unsure which queue to join to check with the information clerk and go out and just exercise their franchise,” Dame Lorna added.
The Human Resource Professionals of Antigua and Barbuda (HRPAB) has reminded employers of the need to ensure that their workers are provided with adequate time as provided for by law, to cast their ballots on Wednesday.
“Employers must recognise that voting can be a time-consuming process with lengthy waits at polling stations in large constituencies, and at peak voting times, for example, at the opening of the polls,” the HRPAB said in a statement, adding that “employees on the other hand, should also realise that the four hours is a guide to be used only in the event of long lines”.
It said it is encouraging all employees to exercise their civic duty to vote in the upcoming elections and to work with their employer and colleagues to ensure that all eligible employees have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote should they so choose.
The polls are being monitored by teams from the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Commonwealth.
]]>January 18, 2023, Jamaica Observer — Stocks and Securities Ltd (SSL), already reeling from a multimillion-dollar fraud that has damaged its image, is now facing what could amount to an extremely expensive lawsuit from sprint great Usain Bolt, one of more than 30 investors whose funds are said to have been stolen by a former employee.
Attorneys representing the Olympian and sprint world record holder, in a letter dated January 16, 2023, demanded that the investment firm returns US$12.7 million to his account within the next 10 days or face civil and criminal action.
The letter signed by attorney Linton Gordon of the firm Frater, Ennis and Gordon, stated that up to October 31, 2022, the balance in Bolt’s account was US$12,758,181.74.
“We are now frighteningly instructed that mysteriously our client’s said account has been depleted, leaving a balance of US$12,047.65,” the attorney said.
“If this is correct, and we are hoping it is not, then a serious act of fraud, larceny, or a combination of both, has been committed against our client,” Gordon added.
He said the law firm was looking forward to hearing from SSL before January 27, 2023.
The letter from the attorney came after the Financial Services Commission (FSC) announced that it assumed temporary management of SSL on Tuesday and has appointed Kenneth Tomlinson of Business Recovery Services Limited as the temporary manager.
The FSC explained that its move into the company was pursuant to its powers under Section 8(b) of The Financial Services Commission Act.
The regulator also noted that Tuesday’s action follows Tomlinson’s appointment as special auditor, effective January 13, 2023, and further supports the FSC in its enhanced supervisory oversight of SSL.
Last week when the Jamaica Observer broke the story, sources said the fraud amounts to more than $1.2 billion. In response, the FSC announced that it had issued directives to SSL, as a supervisory tool, to allow it to engage the entity in a process of enhanced oversight.
“In the case of SSL, this enhanced oversight reflects the need for the FSC to have a full view of the integrity of the transactions being conducted, including the movement of funds and of securities into and out of SSL,” the FSC said.
On Monday, the police Fraud Squad and Financial Investigations Division (FID) announced that questionable transactions were being made on some of the affected accounts for more than a decade.
The revelation conforms with a statement given by the main suspect, which was seen by the Observer, indicating that on several occasions since 2012 she had made withdrawals from the accounts of at least three clients.
]]>Tocoa, Honduras – The killing of two Honduran water defenders this month has sparked international outrage, with the United Nations calling for an investigation and locals questioning the government’s commitment to protecting environmental activists.
Aly Dominguez, 38, and Jairo Bonilla, 28, were members of the Guapinol water defenders movement, organising to protect their rivers from a controversial open-pit iron oxide mining project in Carlos Escaleras National Park. In recent years, several activists have been killed in unclear circumstances amid community opposition to the mine.
The families of Dominguez and Bonilla say they were killed by unidentified gunmen after weeks of threats related to their activism. Reinaldo Dominguez, Aly’s brother, told Al Jazeera that the killing capped off a long process of intimidation.
“We need action here,” he said after the funeral last week, which was attended by hundreds of residents. “The public ministry needs to investigate and put arrest warrants out for the armed groups … They say, ‘We lament this.’ We want action.”
Upon taking office a year ago, Honduran President Xiomara Castro promised to undo more than a decade of corruption since the 2009 coup against her husband, former President Manuel Zelaya.
She promised to end violence against land and water defenders, who have been targeted by hit squads linked to corrupt business interests and state security forces. For years, Honduras has been one of the most dangerous places in the world for environmental activists.
Among Castro’s first moves as president was freeing a group of imprisoned Guapinol activists in February 2022. Soon afterwards, her government declared the country “free of open pit mining” and said it would cancel mining permits, though activists say there have been no cancellations since then.
In a statement, the Honduran human rights secretariat condemned the killing of Dominguez and Bonilla and called for a transparent investigation. Representatives for the Castro government either declined Al Jazeera’s requests for comment or did not respond to inquiries.
Meanwhile, activists are questioning the state’s commitment to Castro’s lofty promises.
“I can’t believe everything Castro says,” Daniel Marquez, one of the Guapinol environmentalists released last February, told Al Jazeera in an interview last summer. “She said we were going to leave prison, and we did. But she also said she was going to eliminate the mining concessions … [The government] hasn’t done what it promised.”
Honduran police have said that Dominguez and Bonilla died in a robbery gone wrong, but family members say their motorcycles and personal belongings were not taken. A UN special rapporteur last week called for an independent probe of their deaths, “which must take into account the possibility that they have been retaliated against for their work defending human rights”.
The mining company they resisted, Inversiones Los Pinares, is co-owned by Lenir Perez, one of the most powerful business magnates in the country.
Pinares, which did not respond to Al Jazeera’s requests for comment, has long argued that it practices “environmentally responsible” mining, bringing jobs and development to an impoverished region. Perez has said in the past that opposition to the iron oxide mine was being driven by left-wing groups financed by actors from outside the region.
Meanwhile, land and water defenders continue to face threats and violence in Honduras.
In December, activist Mauricio Esquivel, a member of a local farm cooperative that had been occupying a corporate palm plantation, was found dead in the village of Quebrada de Arena, just kilometres from where Dominguez and Bonilla were killed, residents told Al Jazeera.
Esquivel’s killing came after months of threats by a local armed group, according to members of the cooperative who spoke with Al Jazeera. Some said they still had faith in the Castro government but maintained a deep distrust towards police and military forces.
“We can’t go out of the cooperative because of fear that we’ll be killed,” one member told Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity.
Earlier in December, an Indigenous Lenca leader, Nery Gonzalez, was the victim of an apparent assassination attempt, suffering a bullet wound to the head after organising his community against displacement by wealthy landowners. And in November, police and military forces evicted members of the Afro-Honduran Garifuna community from their ancestral village of Punta Gorda.
According to Esly Banegas, an activist in Tocoa, many areas of land and water across Honduras are under threat from corrupt business interests, and a unified struggle is needed.
“This is about human rights. All life is at risk in Honduras,” Banegas told Al Jazeera. “We’re facing a monster that looks to destroy all of the defences so that no one opposes these death projects that they’re bringing.”
]]>January 13, 2023 (AlJazeera) — Canada has imposed new sanctions against two “Haitian elites” accused of enabling criminal gangs, the latest measure in an international campaign to stem a surge of deadly violence in the Caribbean nation.
Canada’s foreign affairs ministry said on Friday that it was sanctioning former member of parliament Arnel Belizaire and businessman Charles Saint-Remy, an associate of former Haitian President Michel Martelly.
“Canada has reason to believe these individuals are using their status as high-profile elites in Haiti to protect and enable the illegal activities of armed criminal gangs, including through drug trafficking and other acts of corruption,” the department said in a statement.
Canada and its allies, most notably the United States, have issued a barrage of sanctions against Haitian politicians, former officials and others in recent weeks in an effort to crack down on criminal gangs and illicit activities.
Martelly, the former president, was among six Haitian officials sanctioned by Canada in November on accusations that they “participated in gross and systematic human rights violations in Haiti and engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Haiti”.
In recent months, Haitians have faced a surge in gang attacks and kidnappings as insecurity skyrocketed in the aftermath of the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise in the capital of Port-au-Prince.
The country also experienced petrol and electricity shortages linked to a gang blockade on a critical fuel terminal in Port-au-Prince late last year.
Meanwhile, months of political deadlock deepened this week as the last elected officials in Haiti saw their Senate terms expire. The last parliamentary elections were held in 2017, with future elections yet to be scheduled.
In November, Ulrika Richardson, the United Nations resident and humanitarian coordinator in Haiti, warned that armed groups were “terrorising” residents of Port-au-Prince, with nearly 200 murders and more than 100 kidnappings reported during the previous month.
Haitian gang members also have used sexual violence, including rape, “to instil fear” in communities, Richardson said at that time.
Haiti’s acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry in October appealed to the international community to help set up a “specialised armed force” to restore security – a call that was backed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and US President Joe Biden’s administration.
But Washington-led efforts to mount “a non-UN mission led by a partner country” to Haiti have stalled since then, as the Biden administration so far has failed to get another nation to agree to lead such a force.
Haitian civil society groups also have raised staunch opposition to the prospect of foreign intervention, saying such missions have historically brought more harm than good. Some activists have instead urged more resources be sent to the Haitian National Police.
Earlier this week, Canada announced that it had delivered armoured vehicles already bought by Haiti to the head of the national police force in Port-au-Prince to help in the battle against the gangs.
“We have been clear that Canada was not going to stand by idly as the gangs and their supporters continue to terrorize vulnerable populations in Haiti with impunity,” Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We will also continue to increase its pressure by imposing corruption sanctions against Haitian elites. Canada call on the international community to follow our lead and help [the] Haitian people as they face complex challenges and violence in their country.”
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