By: Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News|
Tropical Storm Melissa Threatens Hispaniola
Tropical Storm Melissa brought heavy rainfall and flooding to Hispaniola on Wednesday, disrupting traffic in Santo Domingo and prompting concerns in Haiti over possible landslides and erosion-related flooding. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reported sustained winds of 50 mph as the storm moved west at 12 mph, located about 325 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince. A hurricane watch is in effect for southern Haiti, while Jamaica remains under a tropical storm watch.
Trinidad and Tobago PM Calls for Regional Cooperation on Migration
Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has urged CARICOM nations to collaborate on addressing the Venezuelan migration crisis, including pressing Caracas to repatriate detained nationals in Trinidad and Tobago. Her comments follow mounting regional tension over TT’s stance on security and migration, which some CARICOM members say diverges from the region’s “zone of peace” policy. Despite criticism, Persad-Bissessar dismissed concerns about losing CARICOM’s backing for TT’s UN Security Council bid, emphasizing that cooperation on repatriation, anti-drug, and human trafficking efforts should be prioritized.
Jamaican Opposition Walks Out of Parliament
In Jamaica, the parliamentary opposition walked out after accusing House Speaker Juliet Holness of silencing MPs during a session with Water and Environment Minister Matthew Samuda. The clash began when Opposition MP Christopher Brown attempted to ask questions about landslides and unpaid contractor fees, which Holness ruled as unrelated to Samuda’s storm update. Despite repeated attempts, Brown’s microphone was muted, followed by MP Julian Robinson. Opposition Leader Mark Golding led the walkout, denouncing what he called an unfair restriction of parliamentary debate.
