bY: ANTONIO DEY | HGP Nightly News|
Haiti: Tragic Stampede at Citadelle Laferrière Leaves 30 Dead
MILOT, HAITI — A weekend excursion to Haiti’s historic mountaintop fortress, Citadelle Laferrière, ended in catastrophe on Saturday as a massive stampede claimed the lives of at least 30 people, including children as young as 12.
- The Disaster: The incident occurred around 4:00 PM when thousands of young people, drawn to the UNESCO World Heritage site by an unauthorized gathering promoted on TikTok, were caught in a sudden downpour. The heavy rains triggered a panic, leading to a fatal crush at the fortress’s narrow gates.
- Emergency Crisis: Milot Mayor Wesner Joseph highlighted a critical failure in infrastructure, noting that the town of 70,000 has no ambulance service. Victims had to be transported in the back of the town’s single police vehicle.
- National Mourning: Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé has declared three days of national mourning beginning Tuesday. CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Terrance Drew, has reached out to the Haitian government to convey the region’s deepest solidarity and grief.
Belize: PM Briceño Backs Carla Barnett Amid CARICOM Leadership Row
BELMOPAN, BELIZE — Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño has stepped firmly into the regional spotlight to defend Dr. Carla Barnett following an unprecedented public challenge to her reappointment as CARICOM Secretary-General.
- The Dispute: The row erupted after Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar claimed her country was “surreptitiously excluded” from the decision-making process during the February summit in St. Kitts.
- Briceño’s Defense: The Belizean leader called Dr. Barnett “highly qualified” and expressed deep regret over Trinidad’s public stance. He countered Port of Spain’s claims, asserting that all member states had the opportunity to participate in the Nevis retreat where the vote occurred.
- Treaty Tactics: While Trinidad threatens to cut its CARICOM budget contribution, other regional leaders, including St. Vincent’s Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, have reminded member states that under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, three-quarters support is sufficient for binding decisions.
International: Pope Leo XIV Defies Trump’s “Terrible” Label in Mission for Peace
ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT — In a rare and direct confrontation between the White House and the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV—the first American-born Pope—responded to harsh criticisms from President Donald Trump while en route to Algiers to begin a four-nation African tour.
- The Attack: President Trump recently labeled the Chicago-born Pope as “WEAK on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy” on Truth Social, following the Pope’s outspoken condemnation of the ongoing U.S. military conflict in Iran.
- The Papal Response: Speaking in English to reporters on Monday, Pope Leo stated he has “no fear” of the administration’s rhetoric. “I don’t think the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing,” the Pontiff said, adding, “I will continue to speak out loudly against war… someone has to stand up and say there’s a better way.”
- AI Controversy: The feud intensified on Sunday after Trump shared (and later deleted) an AI-generated image depicting himself in a Christ-like form. The Vatican has framed the Pope’s stance as a moral obligation to protect innocent lives rather than a political maneuver.
