By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
Barbados PM Mia Mottley Sweeps Back into Power in Third Election Victory
Prime Minister Mia Mottley has secured a historic third consecutive election victory, leading the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to another clean sweep of all parliamentary seats.
Mottley now becomes the second Caribbean leader to achieve three complete parliamentary victories, following former Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell. Since her first electoral win in 2018, Mottley has not lost a single seat across three national elections.
In her victory address, the Barbadian leader stressed unity and collective responsibility in nation-building. She announced that her new Cabinet will be sworn in on Monday, with the first sitting of the new Parliament scheduled for Friday.
An attorney by profession, Mottley said her government remains focused on what “Barbadians want us to focus on,” while cautioning that safeguarding democracy will be a critical task as the country approaches its 60th year of political independence and its fifth anniversary as a republic.
She further urged citizens to accept shared responsibility for national transformation and to work together to confront both domestic challenges and shifting geopolitical realities.
CARICOM Leaders Call for Stable Political Process in Haiti
Turning to news from Haiti, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders have reiterated the urgent need for a stable and inclusive political process following the expiration of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council’s mandate.
Regional leaders anticipate a short interim period aimed at improving security, laying the groundwork for national elections, and supporting social and economic recovery.
The Transitional Presidential Council, which was tasked with appointing a new prime minister and overseeing elections planned for early 2026, concluded its mandate amid internal divisions and allegations of corruption.
CARICOM has stressed that any sustainable political solution must be Haitian-led, inclusive, and reflective of the views of all citizens. The regional body has also called on international partners to urgently address the humanitarian crisis affecting millions of Haitians.
Russia Blocks WhatsApp, Pushes State-Backed Messaging App
And finally, news out of Russia.
Russian authorities have blocked the messaging platform WhatsApp, directing citizens instead to use the state-backed Max app. The announcement was confirmed by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who cited alleged legal violations by WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta.
Peskov described Max as a developing national alternative, while critics warned that cutting off more than 100 million users from secure communication could undermine public safety and digital freedom in Russia.
Despite the restrictions, some users have reported continued access to WhatsApp through virtual private networks (VPNs). This comes even as the Kremlin intensifies enforcement against VPN services, including restrictions on hundreds of platforms and a new law banning VPN advertising.
CNN has since reached out to Meta for comment on WhatsApp’s status in Russia.
