By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News
Jamaica:
Prime Minister and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader, Dr. Andrew Holness, has announced that his party will be targeting traditional opposition strongholds ahead of the September 3rd parliamentary elections. Speaking at the launch of the JLP’s cross-country campaign in Williamsfield, Manchester Northwestern, Holness said even the government’s strongest critics cannot deny its performance in managing the country. He pledged to campaign in every constituency, including those held by the opposition People’s National Party (PNP). The seat’s current MP, the PNP’s Mikael Phillips, defeated the JLP’s Damion Young in 2020 by a margin of 732 votes. Young told supporters it has been over 40 years since the constituency experienced true prosperity under a JLP government and vowed to bring change and development.
Brazil:
A devastating explosion at an explosives factory near Curitiba, in the southern state of Paraná, has claimed the lives of six men and three women. The blast occurred Tuesday morning while workers were on shift. Seven people were injured, and initial reports indicated nine were missing; however, authorities later confirmed there was no hope of finding survivors. The company, NX, is investigating the cause of the blast. The shockwave damaged nearby homes within a 1.5 km radius, breaking windows and compromising structures. The facility, which has operated for five decades, reportedly held all necessary licenses.
Haiti:
U.S. federal prosecutors have charged Haitian gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, known as “Barbecue,” with soliciting funds from the Haitian diaspora in the U.S. to finance gang activities and purchase firearms, in violation of U.S. sanctions. Chérizier, a former police officer and leader of the “G9 an Fanmi e Alye” gang alliance, is accused of multiple human rights abuses, including murder, kidnapping, and infrastructure attacks. He is wanted in connection with the 2018 La Saline massacre, which left at least 71 people dead, hundreds of homes destroyed, and several women raped. U.S. prosecutors have also charged Basil Richardson, a naturalized U.S. citizen, in connection with the scheme. The U.S. is offering a $5 million reward for information leading to Chérizier’s arrest.
