Focus on human rights
A United Nations expert says human rights should be at the centre of Haiti’s reconstruction, following the earthquake in January.
Over one million people were displaced by the disaster, with the majority now being accommodated in tent cities.
Michel Forst says everyone must be shown that the ultimate goal of the rebuilding process is to make it possible for Haitians to enjoy rights they’ve been deprived of for too long – including right to shelter, access to care and basic services and education.
Forst criticised the living conditions of the earthquake survivors after visiting some of the tent communities.
He has also appealed for a moratorium on forced expulsion from the camps set up on private land, until a national strategy is implemented by the government.
Increase in robberies
The UN mission in Haiti says one of its peacekeepers and a civilian woman are being treated for gunshot wounds after being attacked by robbers on Thursday.
UN police spokesman Jean-Francois Vezina says three gunmen approached on motorcycles and shot the off-duty Yemeni soldier as he left the bank.
The robbers took an undisclosed amount of cash from the soldier, who was not in uniform.
He is in a stable condition with a bullet wound to his shoulder.
Recently there have been several armed robberies outside banks and money changing stands in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Thomas defends business decision
Grenada’s Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has been defending his government’s decision to sign a memorandum of understanding with a little-known Asian company.
Thomas signed the MOU with Sewang One World in May this year, but it has since emerged that the company’s chairman and chief executive have been arrested in Taiwan on fraud charges.
The Prime Minister has told Grenadians that his government did not act irresponsibly.
Bonaire oil terminal remains shut
Operations at a 12-million barrel oil storage terminal in Bonaire will remain suspended afer it was forced closed by a fire earlier this week.
Lieutenant Governor Glenn Thode said firefighters had insufficient foam to extinguish the 200,000 barrels of highly volatile petrol that caught fire in an electrical storm on Wednesday.
He said they have decided to let the blaze burn itself out.
Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, uses the site to mix and ship crude to China and the US.
