THE CUPBOARD WAS BARE

UK PM Keir Starmer to warn of tough times ahead in first Downing Street keynote speech

UK PM Keir Starmer’s speech to caution public on the challenging road ahead after inheriting a “societal black hole” from the Tories

PTI

London 

Published 25.08.24

Keir Starmer

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing for his first Downing Street keynote speech since being elected last month and ahead of Parliament resuming after its summer recess.

According to ‘The Sunday Times’, some members of the public will be invited to the Rose Garden speech on Tuesday in a signal that the Labour Party leader intends to do things differently from his Conservative Party predecessors.

In keeping with a theme the government has already struck amid major announcements since the July 4 general election, Starmer will caution the public that things will get worse before they can get better due to the state of things his government has inherited after 14 years of Tory leadership.

Excerpts of the speech, which is scheduled a week before the House of Commons resumes, refer to Labour inheriting “not just an economic black hole but a societal black hole”.

“And that is why we have to take action and do things differently. Part of that is being honest with people - about the choices we face. And how tough this will be. Frankly, things will get worse before we get better,” Starmer is expected to say.

The speech will foreshadow the government’s Autumn budget statement, which is widely expected to entail tough new financial announcements on October 30.

The UK PM is expected to say: “When there is rot deep in the heart of a structure, you can’t just cover it up. You can’t tinker with it or rely on quick fixes. “You have to overhaul the entire thing. Tackle it at the root. Even if it’s harder work and takes more time. Because otherwise, what happens? The rot returns. In all the same places. And it spreads.” Taking aim at the Tories — now in Opposition, Starmer will reiterate his Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ previous claim that they discovered a GBP 22 billion “black hole” in the public finances within days of taking charge.

"The OBR (Office for Budget Responsibility) did not know about this. They wrote a letter saying so. They didn't know — because the last government hid it,” Starmer will allege.

The Conservatives have hit back at the government, accusing Labour of poor financial decisions such as rolling back an allowance for senior citizens for their heating bills.

"The soft-touch Labour Chancellor is squandering money whilst fabricating a financial black hole in an attempt to con the public into accepting tax rises, and literally leaving pensioners in the cold,” said Conservative Party chairman Richard Fuller. "The Prime Minister really should tell his Chancellor to reverse course or step in himself to reverse her decision,” he said.

 

Hezbollah Rejects Israel’s Pre-emptive Strike Claims as Baseless

August, 25, 2024 - 

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Hezbollah dismissed Israel's statement of preemptive strikes as unfounded, stating that its military operations were carried out as planned and that Israeli claims of disrupting these attacks contradict the reality on the ground.

Hezbollah has refuted Israel's claims of preemptive action, labeling them as baseless. The Lebanese group stated that all of its offensive drones were launched at specific times from their designated sites, successfully crossing into Israeli occupied territories and reaching their intended targets via multiple routes.

The resistance group declared that its military operation for the day had been completed. In a statement, Hezbollah added that Israel’s claims about preemptive actions, alleged targets hit, and the supposed disruption of Hezbollah's attacks are not supported by facts on the ground.

On the other hand, the Israeli military claims that Hezbollah intended to target military intelligence and Mossad bases in central Israel overnight. This information was reported by Israeli Army Radio and the Israeli media outlet Haaretz.

Hezbollah has indicated that it carried out its long-promised retaliation for the killing of its top commander in late July. Meanwhile, Israeli media suggests that Hezbollah may have indeed struck a strategic target.

The Israeli army stated it conducted strikes, destroying rocket launchers across southern Lebanon. In the past hour, two additional strikes by the Israeli military have been reported: one targeting a car in the border village of Khiam, resulting in the death of a Hezbollah fighter, and another overnight attack that killed two Hezbollah fighters.

While this round of exchanges seems to have concluded, Hezbollah warns that this is merely the beginning of its promised retaliation. However, there is no indication that a second phase is imminent.

Further details are expected in a speech by Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Nasrallah is scheduled to speak on the latest developments in a televised address today at 15:00 GMT. Updates on any significant announcements from his speech will follow as they occur.

Israel's 'pre-emptive' strikes hit southern Lebanon; Hezbollah fires back

 A Hezbollah unmanned aerial vehicle crossing from Lebanon gets intercepted by an Israeli fighter jet over an area near the Lebanon-Israel border on Sunday.

Photo by Ate Safadi/EPA-EFE

Aug. 25 (UPI) -- The Israeli Defense Forces "proactively and broadly" struck Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon after detecting preparations to fire missiles and rockets toward the nation Sunday. Hezbollah immediately afterward carried out its air assault.

The Lebanese militant group said it launched 320 rockets and several drones. IDF said it was approximately 200 rockets launched toward Israel. Israeli military told CNN that "very little damage was sustained" and that it was unaware of any impacts on military bases or targets in central Israel.

A 21-year-old Israeli naval soldier died after sustaining shrapnel wounds. David Moshe Ben Shitrit and two others were "either directly from an Iron Dome interceptor or from falling shrapnel from the interceptor" that hit his unit's boat, an army official told CNN.

Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging strikes for several months but these are among the most intense.

About 100 of Israel's fighter jets initially "struck and destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rocket launcher barrels" across dozens of launch sites, IDF said. Then there were further strikes.

"We are removing threats against the Israeli home front," IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said at a press briefing. "Dozens of jets are currently striking targets in various locations in southern Lebanon. We are continuing to remove threats, and to intensively strike against the Hezbollah terrorist organization."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who convened a meeting with cabinet members Sunday morning, said the pre-emptive strike was not "the end of the story."

"Hezbollah tried to attack the State of Israel with rockets and drones," the prime minister said. "We instructed the IDF to carry out a powerful, preemptive strike to eliminate the threat.

"The IDF destroyed thousands of short-range rockets, and all of them were aimed at harming our citizens and our forces in the Galilee. In addition, the IDF intercepted all the drones that Hezbollah launched at strategic targets in the center of the country."

The Hezbollah terror group said two of its members were killed "on the road to Jerusalem," its term for operatives slain in Israeli strikes.

Their deaths bring the terror group's toll since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip in October to at least 430.

Lebanese health officials said two people were killed from Israeli strikes on the village of At Tiri in Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon and a third was killed when a car was hit in the town of Khiyam.

Hezbollah said it carried out strikes in response to the killing of top military commander Fu'ad Shukr on July 30 in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a populous neighborhood that is also the Iran-backed group's stronghold.

"Israel is hitting Hezbollah with surprising, crushing blows. Three weeks ago we eliminated its chief of staff [Shukr]," Netanyahu said. "Today we foiled its attack plan. [Hezbollah's Hassan] Nasrallah in Beirut and [Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei in Tehran should know that this is another step on the path to changing the situation in the north and returning our residents safely to their homes."

Hezbollah had claimed 15 strikes against Israel on Friday.

Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said in a televised speech Sunday night said the latest attack has been completed, but further strikes could be carried out in the future.

He said the response was delayed for three reasons: give "sufficient opportunity" for Gaza ceasefire negotiations to take place, impose greater "mental and financial strain" inside Israel and ensure the attack's success.

"We have been ready. We delayed because the extent of the Israeli and American security alert by air and land and sea was high, so rushing into it could've led to failure," Nasrallah said.

He said Israel's airstrikes were "aggression, not preemptive action."

The United States helped Israel track incoming Hezbollah attacks, according to a U.S. defense official.

The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group has joined the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Middle East.

Flights resumed at Tel Aviv airport after being temporarily suspended for less than two hours on Sunday.

Air France suspended all flights to Tel Aviv and the Lebanese capital of Beirut until "at least" Monday, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV. And British Airways canceled all flights in and out of Tel Aviv through Wednesday.

Beaches and cultural institutions were closed in Tel Aviv.

Mediation talks resumed in the Egyptian capital Cairo in efforts to broker a cease-fire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. Gaza is about 108 miles from northern Israel.
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The Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza said at least 71 people have been killed as a result of Israeli military operations in the enclave over 24 hours. The ministry does not distinguish between civilian casualties and those sustained by Hamas.

The cumulative toll since Oct. 7 is now at least 40,405 killed and 93,468 injured, according to the health ministry.

SCOTLAND

National register needed of buildings with RAAC, say Lib Dems

It comes after Aberdeen City Council decided this week that 500 homes affected by the collapse-risk concrete will be torn down.

PA Media

More than 500 homes in Aberdeen will be demolished because of the presence of RAAC.
PA Media

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have called for a national register of buildings with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) as they press the Government for an update on the number of council houses affected.

Earlier this week, it was decided that more than 500 homes in Aberdeen affected by the collapse-risk concrete would have to be torn down.

Residents of an estimated 366 council homes in the Balnagask area will be rehomed and will have a say in where they are placed. A further 138 private properties in the area will also be demolished, with the city council aiming to purchase these by voluntary agreement to allow the owners to move.

Independent surveyors found demolition was the best option to remove the high-risk lightweight concrete.

Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said RAAC has also been found in council houses in Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, North Lanarkshire, Stirling, South Lanarkshire, Edinburgh and West Lothian.

Its presence has also been detected in a number of public sector buildings like schools, hospitals and police stations.

Gonaïves residents mobilize in sit-in to demand police action against gang-led insecurity

Dozens of people gathered to ask the Haitian police to accompany them in confronting the gangs directly

by Onès Joseph

Aug. 15, 2024

HAITIAN TIMES

Departmental director of the Haitian National Police (PNH), Jean-Louis Paul Ménard, addresses the crowd gathered in front of the Toussaint Louverture police station, in Gonaïves, August 14, 2024. Photo by Onès Joseph/The Haitian Times


Overview:

Taking the form of a sit-in, dozens of Gonaïves residents voiced their discontent to the departmental director of the Haitian National Police (PNH), Jean-Louis Paul Ménard, and demanded that the police accompany them in their plan to fight the notorious Kokorat San Ras gang, which has been particularly terrorizing the communities of L’Estère, Liancourt, Gros-Morne, and Terre-Neuve.

GONAÏVES — A crowd, mostly composed of young men, gathered in front of the departmental police station in Gonaïves, initiating a mobilization movement on Wednesday to request support in confronting the gangs that have been sowing terror in the Artibonite region for the past three years.

Taking the form of a sit-in, dozens of residents voiced their discontent to the departmental director of the Haitian National Police (PNH), Jean Louis Paul Ménard. They demanded that the police accompany them in their plan to fight the notorious Kokorat San Ras gang, which has been particularly terrorizing the communities of L’Estère, Liancourt, Gros-Morne, and Terre-Neuve.


Since 2021, residents have lived in fear as the Kokorat San Ras gang has disrupted daily life, particularly affecting those who travel along National Route 1 through the towns linked to Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital. Protesters, speaking to the Haitian Times, expressed their frustration and desperation over the ongoing violence.

Joberd Jeannite voiced his determination to confront the gangs directly despite the danger they represent.

“The National Police has done nothing to eradicate acts of banditry in the region,” Jeannite said. “The residents of Gonaïves and surrounding areas are unable to conduct their daily activities due to Kokorat San Ras’ presence, which blocks roads and even occupies farmers’ passages to their farms, creating major food insecurity for us in the department.”

Throughout the day, protesters blocked Grand Rue, the main street leading to the Toussaint Louverture police station, with flaming barricades, halting vehicle traffic for several hours

.

Residents gather in front of the departmental police station in a sit-in to ask for support in confronting the Kokorat San Ras gang in the Artibonite Department, Gonaïves, August 14, 2024. Photo by Onès Joseph/The Haitian Times

Police Response and Challenges

Jean-Louis Paul Ménard, the departmental director of the PNH in the city, addressed the crowd, acknowledging the police’s limitations. He stated that the police lack the resources, including an armored tank, to confront the heavily armed gangsters in the Kokorat San Ras group. Ménard expressed hope that higher authorities within the Haitian police institution would provide the necessary support to address the security needs of the Artibonitians.

“We are fed up and tired of excuses from the Haitian authorities while people continue to be victimized by gang terror,” said Dolguens Joseph, a community leader and political activist.

Joseph described the insecurity in Haiti as unacceptable. He accused political authorities of complicity with the gangs to maintain power during elections.

Similarly, Armand Willame, a motorcycle taxi union leader, called on the police to take responsibility for ensuring the safety of residents and their properties. “I urge senior police officers to step down if they cannot address the widespread insecurity,” he said.

Out of Haiti’s 10 geographic departments, Artibonite and West have been the most affected by gang violence, resulting in thousands of people being killed or injured and nearly 600,000 being displaced from their homes, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). A recent United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) report indicates that 3,900 people were killed or injured by gangs during the first six months of 2024 alone.


“We are fed up and tired of excuses from the Haitian authorities while people continue to be victimized by gang terror.”Dolguens Joseph, Community Leader and Political Activist in Gonaïves


Haitians had expected that the arrival of a Kenya-led Multinational Security and Support (MSS) mission at the end of June would help improve security in the country, particularly in Port-au-Prince. However, despite the presence of 400 Kenyan police officers in the Haitian capital, gang violence has resurged and started to spill over into larger territories, spreading outside the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince.

Gonaïves, the capital city of the Artibonite Department, faces numerous challenges beyond gang-fueled insecurity. Residents have long struggled with inadequate electricity, healthcare, drinking water, and other essential services. During their sit-in in front of the police station, protesters took the opportunity to highlight these issues, urging central authorities to address the difficult situation in the region.

The situation in Gonaïves underscores a persistent reality for ordinary Haitians, who are becoming increasingly impatient in the face of inadequate responses or inaction from the government. They are often willing to take matters into their own hands to resolve issues.

The mobilization of people in Gonaïves to counter the gangs themselves reminds observers of the bwa kale phenomenon that started in Port-au-Prince and quickly spread across the country in recent years as demands for change intensified. Many protesters from all walks of life demonstrated in the streets and began to confront violence in a movement that claimed the lives of many suspected gang members.

Literally, bwa kale means to “shave or peel off tree bark” in Creole to indicate the high level of intensity driving protests or actions. It was a call at the time for people to bring their machetes, sticks, axes, and other tools that could be used as weapons to defend themselves against suspected bandits. Many began using the term after a video of a demonstrator screaming it, while banging on an aluminum bowl with a spoon, went viral in October 2022.

“This is just the start of our mobilization against insecurity, high cost of living, lack of healthcare, blackouts, clean drinking water, and more,” said Joseph. “We are Gonaïves; we will remain steadfast until the nation is free from acts of banditry, where we can live without fear.”

Guillaume Lethière’s Oath of the Ancestors and legacy of Haitian Independence showcased at Clark Art Institute

The iconic painting, central to Haiti’s history, will be a highlight of the first-ever exhibition on the Caribbean-born artist.

by The Haitian Times

Aug. 22, 2024

Guillaume Lethière, Oath of the Ancestors, 1822, oil on canvas. Musée du Panthéon National Haïtien, Port-au-Prince. Photo: RMN-Grand Palais / Art Resource, NY

Overview:

The Clark Art Institute's exhibition on Guillaume Lethière features Oath of the Ancestors, a painting highlighting Haiti's fight for independence. The exhibition, also traveling to the Louvre, highlights Lethière's significant contributions to French art and his enduring legacy within the Caribbean diaspora.

Guillaume Lethière’s Oath of the Ancestors, a painting deeply intertwined with Haiti’s struggle for independence, will be the centerpiece of the Clark Art Institute’s first-ever exhibition on the Caribbean-born artist. The painting, a powerful symbol of Caribbean resistance, will be displayed until Oct. 14, 2024, before the exhibition moves to the Louvre in Paris.

The painting celebrates the alliance between Alexandre Pétion and Jean-Jacques Dessalines, two of Haiti’s founding revolutionaries, whose collaboration led to the country’s declaration of independence in 1804. Despite logistical challenges due to current conditions in Haiti, the painting remains a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy of Caribbean resilience and freedom.

“This painting is more than just a work of art; it is a beacon of freedom for Haitians and the entire Caribbean community,” said Esther Bell, co-curator of the exhibition. “By featuring Oath of the Ancestors, we aim to highlight the pivotal role that Haiti and the broader Caribbean played in global history.”

Lethière, born in Guadeloupe in 1760, became a prominent figure in French art, navigating the tumultuous period of the French Revolution and earning accolades from figures like Napoleon’s brother, Lucien Bonaparte. Yet, despite his significant achievements, Lethière’s legacy has been largely overlooked—until now.

“Guillaume Lethière’s journey from his childhood in Guadeloupe to the pinnacle of artistic success in France is an incredible story,” Bell said. “Lethière was one of the most respected painters of his time, yet his influence and achievements are not well known today. His considerable body of work deserves to be studied and celebrated. We are truly excited to bring his art to light.”

AFPHA EXPO 2.0 showcases daily struggles of ordinary Haitians through the lenses of women photographers

Amid gang-led insecurity causing deaths and destruction in Haiti, talented women photographers brave danger to capture moments of people’s undeterred grit

\by Juhakenson Blaise

Aug. 21, 2024

HAITIAN TIMES
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Francesca Eustache showcases her work at the AFPHA EXPO 2.0 exhibition. Port-au-Prince, August 19, 2024. 

Photo by Juhakenson Blaise/The Haitian Times

Overview:

The Association of Women Photographers of Haiti organized the second edition of AFPHA EXPO 2.0 on Aug. 19, the International Day of Photography, to highlight the undeterred grit of the Haitian people in the face of current challenges. This initiative aimed to showcase the talent of women photographers who use their cameras to document people’s daily lives amidst the country's ongoing insecurity.

PORT-AU-PRINCE — The Association of Women Photographers of Haiti (AFPHA) held Monday the second edition of AFPHA EXPO 2.0 in Pétion-Ville, a southeast Port-au-Prince suburb, celebrating the International Day of Photography. The exhibition, themed “Bese Leve yon Ayisyen”— Creole for “Down and Up of Haitians” — featured the work of over ten young women photographers who aimed to highlight the stoic and true grit of the Haitian people amidst current challenges.

The exhibition focused on the lives of those in the sectors deemed the central pillars of Haitian society. These include drivers, street vendors, disabled people, farmers, and Madan Sara — women who buy, sell, and distribute food and other goods throughout Haiti — who struggle to survive in a nation plagued by gang violence, particularly in the metropolitan area of Port-au-prince and the Artibonite region.

A shoeshine woman cleaning a young man’s sneakers to earn some money in a context of insecurity. Work by Sheka Michel in the 2nd edition of AFPHA EXPO 2.0 under the theme “Bese Leve yon Ayisyen” in Pétion-Ville, August 19, 2024. 

Photo by Juhakenson Blaise/The Haitian Times.

Frédeline Victor, a photographer with just one year in the field, captured the plight of the Madan Saras, who bear the brunt of road insecurity. Many of these women can no longer return to the public markets of Port-au-Prince, which are now controlled by gangs. On the National Road #2 alone, they face more than eight gang-imposed toll booths. Despite these challenges, they play a crucial role in the economy, providing goods that the state cannot, Victor explained to The Haitian Times.

“I took this photo to show the living conditions of a Madan Sara and the risks they take to support us and their families,” Victor said. “Despite the situation in the country, they risk crossing roads controlled by bandits and sometimes face kidnapping and rape.”

A Madan Sara sitting on the bulk of her goods on the back of a van entering Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, taken from behind by photographer Frédeline Victor’s camera. Exhibited in Pétion-Ville, August 19, 2024. Photo by Juhakenson Blaise/The Haitian Times.

Victor contributed two photographs to the exhibition. One image depicts a father living in Pétion-Ville who collects garbage from the city’s public markets to earn a living. This photo captured Victor’s attention as she documented a moment from the man’s day. Witnessing this reality, Victor believes that this man should be at home resting and enjoying the fruits of his labor.

A man carrying a large yellow bag of garbage in Pétion-Ville, captured by photographer Frédeline Victor in his daily life. Exhibited in Pétion-Ville, August 19, 2024. Photo by Juhakenson Blaise/The Haitian Times.

The harms of insecurity in Haiti are visible. Each sector suffers the consequences in its own way. National and international human rights organizations have continued to document the human and material damage caused by gang violence that controls more than 80% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince.

The latest figures on the situation in the country presented by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) reveal that 1,379 people were killed and injured by gunshots by armed groups, and at least 428 people were kidnapped for ransom during the second quarter of 2024. Gang violence has moved within the country around 580,000 people, 54% of whom are women and girls, according to the IOM. Meanwhile, nearly half of Haiti’s population faces severe food insecurity, with 1.64 million people in the emergency phase and 3.32 million in crisis.


“I took this photo to show the living conditions of a Madan Sara and the risks they take to support us and their families. Despite the situation in the country, they risk crossing roads controlled by bandits and sometimes face kidnapping and rape.”Photographer Frédeline Victor

These consequences of insecurity affect Haiti’s most vulnerable and impoverished, who seek to survive with their limited means, estimates photographer Magdalanouca Estimable. As part of this exhibition on the resilience of Haitians, Estimable presented a single photo. In her photo, Estimable captures a disabled person in his daily life as a vehicle washer. He owns this small car wash with which he takes care of his family.

A foot amputee washing a motorcycle in his small car wash business, photographed by Magdalanouca Estimable. Pétion-Ville, August 19, 2024. Photo by Juhakenson Blaise/The Haitian Times.

However, the impact of insecurity in Haiti is evident across all sectors, each suffering in unique ways. National and international human rights organizations continue to document the significant human and material damages caused by gang-fueled violence in the nation.

“The message I want to share through my work is that, despite the lack of activity in the country, Haitians remain committed to work,” Estimable said. She explained that her experience has shown her the humanistic nature of people in Haiti.

“ I am pleased to have used my camera to highlight the potential of the Haitian people,” Estimable told Haitian Times, emphasizing the significance of her work.

Along with Estimable in the exhibition hall was photographer Saïka Arnoux, whose work explores the resilience of a mechanic repairing motorcycles. Arnoux aimed to highlight the value of these professionals within the challenging context of the country’s insecurity. She noted that these workers are often undervalued in Haitian society.

“I created this photo to emphasize the importance of repairers, as they are essential in fixing flat tires on cars and motorcycles,” Arnoux said, expressing pride in her work and hoping her message will reach many people in the country.

A technician repairing car and motorcycle tires, captured by the camera of photographer Saïka Arnoux. Pétion-Ville August 19, 2024. Photo by Juhakenson Blaise/The Haitian Times.

The photographers in the exhibition, who are mostly college students and all in their 20s, documented the risky daily lives of Haitians with limited economic means and experienced the frustrations of many of their subjects.


They recounted how capturing these photos was challenging due to the context of violence and kidnapping. “People are suspicious and afraid; taking their photo without consent is out of the question. For them, it’s a matter of life, death, or kidnapping,” some said.

For one, Christelle Dorlus shared her experience photographing a man who makes a living fixing flat tires. Dorlus had to provide extensive explanations to gain permission for the photo. She reflected on how, despite all the country’s problems, including dust and gunfire, these workers continue to earn a living on the streets. This exhibition marks the first time Dorlus has showcased her work in her four-year career.

A man selling air for deflated vehicle tires, captured by photographer Christelle Dorlus. Pétion-Ville, August 19, 2024. Photo by Juhakenson Blaise/The Haitian Times.

“With insecurity, people are reluctant to let their photos be taken because they don’t know what photographers will do with their images. But it is important to show how each Haitian is trying to survive in the current situation in the country,” added Dorlus.

Challenges and conservation efforts in Haiti’s Parc National des Trois Baies

Despite being designated as a protected area in 2013, the park faces significant challenges in protecting its species

by Jose Flécher

Aug. 25, 2024

HAITIAN TIMES

Aerial view of Caracol Bay, in northeast, with makeshift wooden-fishing boats and a mini mangrove forest

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Eric Auguste’s Facebook

Overview:

Over 10 years after the government’s decision to establish the mechanism to protect the area’s biodiversity, the park's governance remains problematic, with the Ministry of the Environment and the National Agency for Protected Areas (ANAP) struggling to gain local support and effectively manage resources. The absence of the Protected Area Surveillance Brigade (BSAP) further complicates conservation efforts.

PORT-AU-PRINCE—Northern Haiti’s park, the Parc National des Trois Baies (PN3B) or Three Bays National Park, is one of the country’s nine marine protected areas established to preserve its rich biodiversity. Despite being designated as a protected area in 2013, the park faces significant challenges in protecting its species.

This vast area spans approximately 292 square miles, covering five municipalities: Limonade in the North department, Caracol, Terrier-Rouge, Fort-Liberté, and Ferrier in the Northeast department. The PN3B is home to diverse ecosystems, including extensive mangrove forests and coral reefs—the largest on Haiti’s northern coast.

A partial panoramic view of Caracol Bay with a neighboring shanty town and the salt marshes in the background as of March 2018. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Eric Auguste’s Facebook

A 2016 study by The Nature Conservancy and the Inter-American Development Bank identified 179 native plant species, including five on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, and 95 bird species, with notable mentions of the Hispaniola Amazon and Caribbean Flamingo, among many endemic species in the park’s area. Despite the area’s ecological wealth, local communities and fishermen exert pressure on the park’s resources.

Over 10 years after the government’s decision to establish the mechanism to protect the area’s biodiversity, the park’s governance remains problematic. The Ministry of the Environment and the National Agency for Protected Areas (ANAP) struggle to gain local support and effectively manage resources. The absence of the Protected Area Surveillance Brigade (BSAP) further complicates conservation efforts.


“FOPROBIM works to strengthen community capacities, engage in reforestation, and establish coral gardens. However, poverty drives locals to exploit mangroves for charcoal, threatening essential breeding grounds for marine life. Moreover, inadequate fishing practices, such as using small mesh nets, hinder species replenishment.” Jean Wiener, director of the Foundation for the Protection of Marine Biodiversity.

Jean Wiener, director of the Foundation for the Protection of Marine Biodiversity (FOPROBIM), highlights poverty as a major barrier to biodiversity conservation in the region. “FOPROBIM works to strengthen community capacities, engage in reforestation, and establish coral gardens,” he said. “However, poverty drives locals to exploit mangroves for charcoal, threatening essential breeding grounds for marine life. Moreover, inadequate fishing practices, such as using small mesh nets, hinder species replenishment.”

Partial view of Caracol Bay, one of the three bays constituting the Parc National des Trois Baies with small wooden-fishing boats and mangrove forest in March 2018. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Eric Auguste’s Facebook

People living near the park threaten both marine and terrestrial species by cutting down red and black mangroves for charcoal production, prematurely fishing aquatic species, and arbitrarily exploiting rocks from the site for construction.
Recent efforts by local government

A decree signed by the three municipalities was enacted to prohibit small mesh nets, encouraging sustainable fishing practices in the area. Wiener emphasizes that catching mature fish is more beneficial than depleting juvenile stocks. Despite these efforts, a more robust environmental protection policy from the central government is necessary, Wiener added.

To support local community efforts, FOPROBIM has developed alternative income sources, such as ecotourism and beekeeping, to reduce reliance on fishing. Beekeeping projects are being implemented across nine communities, providing training and materials to new beekeepers. However, the lack of tourists due to Haiti’s current security crisis hampers the economic diversification program.

According to Wiener, local initiatives to help protect the PN3B would be effective if BSAP had the necessary means, including adequate equipment and agents, to fulfill its duties.

Image of Caracol Bay as of March 2018. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Eric Auguste’s Facebook

The park’s conservation efforts are undermined by insufficient support from the institution, which has failed to fulfill its monitoring mission. “FOPROBIM managers can only alert authorities to ongoing issues, as they lack enforcement power,” he said. “ This is the BSAP agents’ responsibility.”

The FOPROBIM director conceded that while the PN3B holds incredible ecological and cultural value, like many other protected areas in Haiti, effective conservation requires comprehensive policies, community involvement, and adequate enforcement to safeguard its resources for future generations.

Croatian Singer Questioned At Serbian Border Over Lithium Mining Protests

Croatian singer Severina Vuckovic at the Sarajevo Film Festival 

 August 26, 2024

• By RFE/RL's Balkan Service

Croatian singer Severina Vuckovic was briefly detained at the border with Serbia for questioning that she said was related to her support for protests against the construction of a new lithium mine. Vuckovic confirmed in a press release on August 25 that the border police asked her and her manager to step aside and conducted secondary searches and questioning. She was then taken to a police station for further questioning regarding her opinions on Serbia and recent protests against lithium mining in the country and released late on August 25 after a few hours, she said. The Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Serbia and Croatia on August 26 condemned her detention, saying it was an example of "the attempt to stigmatize regional cooperation and solidarity." 

To read the original story on RFE/RL’s Balkan service, click here.

Pope Condemns Ukraine Move To Ban Activities Linked To Russian Orthodox Church

 August 25, 2024

• By RFE/RL

Pope Francis delivers the noon prayer on St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on August 25.

Pope Francis on August 25 condemned the latest action by Kyiv to ban religious organizations with ties to the Russian Orthodox Church from operating in Ukraine.

"No Christian church may be abolished directly or indirectly. The churches must not be touched," the pope said during his weekly prayer a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed legislation prohibiting the activities of the Russian-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ukraine.

"In thinking of the law recently adopted in Ukraine, I fear for the liberty of those who pray," Francis said on St. Peter's Square.

He told the gathered crowd that "one does not commit evil by praying. If someone does something evil to his people, he is guilty. But he can't have done anything bad by praying."

In signing the legislation on August 24, Zelenskiy underscored what he called the spiritual independence of the Ukrainian people, saying that the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) "today is taking a step toward liberation from Moscow devils."

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Internal Rifts And U.S. Politics In Play As Ukraine Considers Banning Long Russian-Linked Church

The OCU, which is aligned with Kyiv, was granted independence from the Moscow Patriarchate by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 2019, the leading voice in the Orthodox world.

The Russian-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church declared it severed all ties with the Moscow Patriarchate in 2023 due to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, the Ukrainian authorities accuse it of maintaining ties.

Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, is a vocal supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin and of the war against Ukraine.

The adoption of the law, which was passed by parliament earlier this month, is considered a watershed moment in Ukraine, where Orthodox Christianity has been riven for decades in large part over the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The law is to go into effect 30 days after its publication.

Ukrainian authorities have sought to curtail activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine since Russian-linked forces seized parts of the country in 2014, claiming the church has supported Moscow's war of aggression.

The pope also said he continues to follow "with sorrow" the fighting in Ukraine.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, AFP, and dpa

Khalid Hanafi: The enforcer behind Taliban’s repressive policies

• by Amu TV

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Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the minister of vice and virtue of the Taliban.

Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban’s minister for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice, has emerged as one of most notorious figures since the Taliban’s return to power.

The international community identifies him as a major violator of human rights, particularly for his role in enforcing the Taliban’s draconian laws that have severely restricted the freedoms of Afghan citizens, especially women.

Born in 1971 in Nuristan, Afghanistan, Hanafi was raised in a religious and jihadist family. He pursued religious education in various madrasas in Afghanistan and Pakistan, including the Haqqania madrassa, known for its ties to the Taliban leadership. Before his rise to power, he spent years teaching in religious schools, further embedding himself in the ideological framework that now drives the Taliban’s policies.

Despite being sanctioned by both the United Nations and the European Union, Hanafi has continued to play a crucial role within the Taliban’s governance structure. His ministry, notorious for imposing some of the harshest restrictions on Afghan society, has been at the forefront of the Taliban’s campaign to curtail women’s rights. These measures include banning women from public parks, restricting their freedom of movement, and enforcing strict dress codes under the guise of Islamic law.

Hanafi’s hardline stance on women’s rights reduces their role in society to the confines of marriage, inheritance, and religious obligations. His rhetoric has made it clear that the Taliban’s interpretation of Sharia law, particularly regarding the hijab and women’s public presence, is non-negotiable. “We can let go of anything, but we cannot let go of Sharia. Sharia and hijab are our red lines because our goal was to implement an Islamic system,” he declared at a recent gathering.

Hanafi is closely linked to the Haqqani network, an influential faction within the Taliban, and maintains a close relationship with the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. His loyalty and alignment with Akhundzada’s vision have resulted in expanded authority over the Taliban’s executive and judicial bodies, further entrenching his influence in the regime’s oppressive rule.

In recent years, Hanafi’s actions have drawn widespread condemnation, both domestically and internationally. Afghan women, in particular, have borne the brunt of his policies. “For three years, Afghan women have been forced to obey the orders and decrees of the Taliban, which are issued by Khalid Hanafi. Khalid Hanafi himself is a misogynist and has a personal hatred, which he tries to impose on Afghan women,” said a Kabul resident, reflecting the deep-seated resentment against his ministry’s actions.

Under Hanafi’s leadership, the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has been empowered to detain and punish those who defy its strictures, further entrenching the Taliban’s control over Afghan society. The ministry’s reach extends beyond dress codes and social behavior, encompassing restrictions on cultural practices and the very presence of women in public life.

As Afghanistan continues to grapple with the consequences of the Taliban’s rule, Khalid Hanafi remains a pivotal figure in the regime’s efforts to impose its austere interpretation of Islamic law, with profound and devastating effects on the country’s social fabric.