Presented by Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News
Haiti: Over 1,600 Killed Amid Escalating Gang Violence
The United Nations reports that 1,617 people were killed—most of them gang members—in the first three months of 2025 as rival criminal groups continue to battle for control in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. An additional 580 people were injured during violent clashes involving gangs, vigilante groups, and security forces.
Despite the deployment of a Kenya-led multinational force, backed by the UN, Haiti’s security crisis continues. The mission, which aimed to send 2,500 personnel, currently has only about 1,000 officers on the ground from six countries.
Trinidad & Tobago: Elections Receive ‘A’ Grade from Observers
The CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM) and the Commonwealth Observer Group have both given high marks to Trinidad and Tobago’s general elections held on Monday.
Despite media reports of irregularities, Chief of Mission Dame Billie Miller said no significant issues were observed.
Some polling stations were noted to be inaccessible for differently-abled voters, a point that observers say must be addressed in future elections.
Jamaica: 50-Year Mandatory Sentence for Capital Murder
The Jamaican House of Representatives has passed amendments introducing a 50-year minimum sentence for those convicted of capital murder.
Justice Minister Delroy Chuck emphasized the move is a “deliberate response” to Jamaica’s “unacceptably high levels of violent crime.”
This means offenders will serve 50 years before becoming eligible for parole, under the revised Offenses Against the Person, Criminal Justice Administration, and Child Protection amendment bills.
Chuck added:
“These are not just statistics. They represent real lives lost…sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers.”
