By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
Haiti’s Hunger Crisis Deepens Amid Violence and Economic Collapse
Haiti’s food insecurity crisis is projected to worsen by mid-2026, with nearly six million people expected to face critical hunger levels amid ongoing gang violence and economic collapse.
According to a report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), 5.7 million Haitians—more than half the population—are already experiencing severe food insecurity, with 1.9 million in an emergency state suffering from acute shortages and malnutrition.
The UN-backed index projects that by mid-2026, 5.91 million Haitians will face food insecurity, including almost two million at emergency levels. The IPC lists Haiti among the five worst global food security crises, with more than half of its citizens dependent on aid.
The report attributes the crisis to six consecutive years of economic recession and escalating gang violence, which have displaced families, crippled agriculture, and destroyed small businesses. In areas under gang control, farmers reportedly face extortion, and many shops have been forced to shut down.
Trinidad and Tobago Finance Minister Calls on Diaspora to “Come Home and Rebuild”
Finance Minister Colm Imbert has issued a heartfelt appeal to Trinidad and Tobago nationals abroad to return home and contribute to rebuilding the nation.
Speaking at the opening of the 38th Annual Divali Nagar celebrations at NCIC Nagar, Chaguanas, Minister Imbert encouraged citizens overseas to invest, teach, and mentor, highlighting the power of unity and national pride.
“Let the world see what can be built when a people scattered across the globe come home to light up and lift up their nation,” he urged. “Let us, like the family of Shree Ram, stand together once more — united in love, in faith, and in purpose.”
His remarks formed part of a wider government message encouraging renewed diaspora engagement in economic, cultural, and educational development.
Barbadians Protest Proposed Immigration and Citizenship Bills
Dozens of Barbadians took to the streets of Bridgetown over the weekend to protest proposed immigration and citizenship legislation, arguing that the changes could have lasting effects on the island’s identity, resources, and democratic integrity.
The demonstration, organized by a local opposition group, began at Kensington Mall, St. Michael, and ended at Independence Square. Protesters waved the national flag and carried placards reading “Freedom is our right to question everything” and “We do not have a political system, we have an auction.”
Organizers described the march as peaceful but necessary, warning that the proposed citizenship requirements would make it too easy for foreigners to obtain voting rights, potentially influencing national elections.
The group clarified that their protest was not anti-immigrant but aimed at protecting the rights of Barbadians and promoting earned citizenship through due process.
