International News - Channel 5 Belize

A Firsthand Account of Haiti’s Crisis

Haiti finds itself amidst one of its most severe crises in decades. The collapse of the central government has left the prime minister stranded abroad, while gangs rampage through Port-au-Prince, to prevent the establishment of a new transitional government. However, in certain regions of Haiti, the memory of living in a functional state has faded. Tonight, we bring you a firsthand experience from a Haitian whose life has been turned upside down. Her name is Alexandra Pierre. She is twenty-five years old and says that this is the first time she has experienced such a crisis.

Alexandra Pierre, Haitian

“I’m 25 years old, I’ve never lived that situation in Haiti since I was born. So I’m used to, and somehow I’m used to the instability of the country. I’m used to regular strikes, mobilization in the streets. But we’ve never been in a situation where you cannot go out anymore. Usually you have the mobilization during the day. And at night you can spend some time outside. Even though you don’t have mobilization, everybody’s so afraid. So the streets are empty. And even during the day, everybody is afraid when you don’t have mobilization, you’re so scared that you don’t go in the street in just in case there is mobilization and everything is closed right now in Haiti, the main infrastructure schools are closed, they are online. Hospitals are closed. So the pharmacy are closed. So you’re afraid if you have any kind of injuries. If you are in any way injured, though, you don’t have the basic support to for your health. So that’s, that’s the situation right now in Haiti. And every time you’re here shooting, you’re so afraid. And it’s so regular right now. So even though sometimes a person is testing his gun just in case to be able to preserve itself in case of any attack and then when you have to go to the bank, I was telling I was telling you yesterday that I couldn’t have the meeting because Monday is when you go to the bank. You spent five hours in the line and then you cannot even have the amount that you requested to make every time you go. You can only have 100 US dollars due to the instability of the currency, the Haitian currency. Most of us going in and out of Haiti, we keep our savings in US dollars. It’s a more stable money and then you can change it to buy your groceries. So that’s why I have my savings in US dollars and you can only have 100 US dollars. So each week you spend five weeks five hours in the line to get 100 US dollars when the bank is open.”

Violence in Haiti Escalating

Approximately two hundred armed gangs hold sway over Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. They are wreaking havoc by burning police stations, releasing thousands of criminals, and perpetrating kidnappings and killings that force residents to flee their homes. They have pillaged hospitals and halted commerce. Persons have been fatally shot, decapitated, and burned in the streets. The violence is intense, and according to Pierre, it is not something someone forgets so easily.

Alexandra Pierre, Haitian

“Well, it’s not something that you can get over. It’s, it’s, it’s the violence and then You’re just trying to live with that violence because you have no choice. It’s either the gang or the inhabitants. So this is the situation and then I’m not telling that they did it, they didn’t do it right for cutting heads. I’m not telling that they, well, it’s just, It’s just a chaos right now. It’s difficult to have to stick to some kind of morality and say, okay, this is, you should preserve life. You should preserve dignity. It’s just, you should preserve your life. So, and then this is, I think, this is the violence. It’s the way they have killed the, the gang members for me. And this is the most cruel part I’ve ever lived in Haiti. And, I live in the island. It’s been 35 years. And then the, the prices are higher as well because with the gangs in every in the main entrance of the Capitol. So you don’t get the fruits as you used to, you know, get the rice as you used to. So even the money that you get hat you have, it has so much pressure on it. Then it’s not enough, right? Anyone can live with only hundred per week, and we are three in my family. So we are three on this hundred dollars. So, this is this is a situation and I’m very sad.”

Ecuador’s youngest mayor shot dead

The youngest mayor of Ecuador, 27-year-old Brigitte García, and her communications director, Jairo Loor, were found shot dead Sunday morning. García, who served as the mayor of San Vicente, a small coastal city, was discovered in what appeared to be a rental car, alongside Loor, both having sustained fatal gunshot wounds.

Initial investigations indicate that the shots were fired from within the vehicle. The Ecuadorian Ministry of Government characterized the occurrence as a “criminal action”. No specific individual or group has been implicated in the killings.

Ecuador has been confronting a surge in violence perpetrated by armed gangs. In January, the nation declared a state of emergency following the escape of notorious gang leader José Adolfo Macías, also known as ‘Fito’, from a prison in Guayaquil. President Daniel Noboa subsequently declared an “internal armed conflict” and ordered military operations to curb the violence, resulting in the apprehension of over 2,000 individuals within two weeks of the decree.

UN Security Council passes resolution calling for Gaza ceasefire

Belize is welcoming the UNSC’s approval of an urgent resolution in Gaza, demanding an immediate ceasefire and the removal of all barriers to humanitarian aid. Belize reiterated its position that the achievement of a two-state solution is the only path to sustainable and permanent peace.

On Monday, the UN Security Council urged for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, marking a significant departure from the US’s previous stance as it chose not to veto the resolution. It called for the prompt and unconditional release of all hostages. This marks the council’s first call for a ceasefire since the conflict erupted in October, following numerous unsuccessful attempts.

The US’s shift underscores a widening gap between the US and its ally Israel regarding Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

*Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan. Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images*

A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office criticised the US for “abandoning” its previous position, which tied a ceasefire to the release of hostages. The statement said that the US’s position undermines efforts to secure the release of hostages by emboldening Hamas to leverage international pressure on Israel for a ceasefire without releasing the captives. Netanyahu cancelled scheduled meetings between an Israeli delegation and US officials in Washington this week. Israel’s defence minister said they would not cease its Gaza operations as long as hostages remained in captivity there.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasised the resolution’s imperative implementation to secure a ceasefire and the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”

Diddy’s Houses Raided; His Jet Takes Off to the Caribbean

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security searched two houses of music mogul Sean Diddy Combs on Monday as part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation.

Flight trackers indicate that Combs’ private plane journeyed from California to Antigua amidst the raids on his residences in Los Angeles and Miami. Combs was confirmed not to be on the flight to Antigua after he was spotted walking around the Miami Opa-Locka Airport Monday afternoon.

The Department of Homeland Security Investigations is responsible for probing transnational crimes, including human trafficking. A representative from HSI Miami described the activity as the execution of search warrants.

*Homeland Security Investigation agents are seen at the entrance of US producer and musician Sean “Diddy” Combs’s home. GIORGIO VIERA/AFP VIA GETTY*

Aerial footage captured law enforcement officers conducting operations at Combs’ residences in Los Angeles and Miami, with mobile command posts visible at both locations. Given the size of the properties, it may take some time to locate and process evidence.

Combs, known for his contributions to the music industry under stage names such as Puff Daddy and Diddy, has faced recent controversy, including settling a lawsuit brought by his former girlfriend alleging rape and other abuses. Additional civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault and harassment have also been filed against him, which he has vehemently denied.

US Funding Bill Bans U.S. Embassies from Flying Pride

Embedded within the extensive government funding package signed by President Biden on Saturday is a provision prohibiting the flying of LGBTQ Pride flags at U.S. embassies. Despite this inclusion, the White House immediately expressed its intention to overturn the ban.

The provision was just one of numerous ancillary issues included in the $1.2 trillion funding package aimed at financing the government until September. Its passage saw Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly leverage the Pride flag ban to secure support from his party members.

The White House says it will repeal the ban, citing concerns over the exploitation of the legislative process to target LGBTQI+ Americans.

Defenders in Haiti Fight Gang Assaults with Determination

In Haiti’s capital, where violence is rampant and death is a daily occurrence, residents are taking a stand against gang attacks. They are determined to safeguard their neighborhoods at any cost.

Each day in Port-au-Prince begins with updates on the ongoing clashes plaguing the city. Bodies litter the streets, ignored by passersby due to financial constraints preventing proper burials. Scenes of violence, from shootings to charred remains, have become commonplace, desensitizing the populace to the horrors unfolding around them.

The city’s atmosphere is tense and perilous, with roads once bustling now deserted, signaling danger. Even the route to the international airport, guarded by the military, is treacherous, reflecting the city’s isolation from the outside world. Port-au-Prince feels like a besieged enclave, its residents trapped within its confines.

France will provide special flights for its “most vulnerable” citizens to leave Haiti, the French foreign ministry said Sunday, after air links with Port-au-Prince were cut during political chaos.

Tensions between Venezuela and Guyana Escalate

Venezuela’s parliament has given the green light to establish a new state in the contentious and oil-rich Essequibo region, situated across the border in Guyana.

This move has drawn strong criticism from Guyana, which denounces it as a blatant infringement on its sovereignty. The decision comes after years of Venezuela asserting its claim over Essequibo, particularly since significant offshore oil reserves were discovered in 2015.

In response, Guyana’s foreign ministry condemned the action, labeling it a direct violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The international community was urged to reject Venezuela’s expansionist agenda and uphold the rule of law.

Essequibo, historically administered by Guyana and subject to ongoing border disputes at the International Court of Justice, has become a focal point of geopolitical tensions, exacerbated by the discovery of substantial oil reserves.

Princess Kate Announces Cancer Diagnosis

Catherine, Princess of Wales, announced today that she’s been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing “early stages” of treatment. Princess Kate made the announcement in a pre-recorded video statement on social media.

Catherine expressed her diagnosis as a “huge shock.” She clarified that while a London surgery in January initially appeared to address a non-cancerous issue, subsequent tests detected cancer, prompting her medical team to recommend preventative chemotherapy, which she’s currently undergoing. She expressed anticipation for a return to her work once she’s fully recovered. She concluded with thoughts for those battling cancer, urging them not to lose hope.

Child dies after her mother abandons her for ten days to go on vacation

An Ohio woman abandoned her sixteen-month-old daughter to go on a vacation for ten days. The child, Jailyn, died. The mother, Kristel Candelario, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated murder and one count of child endangerment in a plea deal last month. She was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

Candelario let Jailyn alone in a playpen with a few bottles of milk. Upon her return on June 16th of the previous year, Candelario discovered her daughter lifeless.

During her sentencing, forensic pathologist Elizabeth Mooney described the excruciating suffering endured by Jailyn, emphasizing the prolonged agony of abandonment, starvation, and extreme thirst.

Judge Brendan Sheehan delivered a stern rebuke, condemning Candelario for abandoning her child in a “tiny prison” while indulging in leisure.

He characterised her actions as a betrayal of the sacred bond between mother and child, denouncing her neglect as an act of ultimate treachery.