Category: CANA News

The United Nations Security Council has extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) for one year to 31 January 2027, even as it condemned Haitian authorities Thursday for the lack of progress in achieving a political transition.

The Security Council condemned the upsurge in violence in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country in the strongest terms, pointing to human rights violations and abuses, including sexual violence against women, men and children as well as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, killings and the abduction of children by armed gangs. The council resolution, co-sponsored by the United States and Panama, and adopted unanimously.

United States Ambassador Jennifer Locetta, said that the Security Council had ‘made another decisive step towards the stabilisation of Haiti’ praising Panama on its work in helping the UN body achieve unanimous adoption of ‘this important resolution.

‘The United States maintains its unwavering support for Haiti’s stability and security. Prime Minister Fils-Aimé’s tenure as Haiti’s Prime Minister remains integral to advancing efforts to combat terrorist gangs and stabilize the country. The current violence caused by gangs can only be stopped with consistent, strong leadership, and with the full support of the Haitian people,’ she said.

The representative of Haiti welcomed the resolution as reflecting ‘a more integrated understanding of current challenges, and above all, the need to deliver concrete results’.

‘Our objective is clear,’ he said, noting the need to ‘protect the population, reduce violence, restore the rule of law and create the conditions for lasting institutional stability’.

Trinidad and Tobago, who spoke on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) said ‘we fear that the current impasse within the Haitian Transitional Presidential Council, following the inconclusive efforts of some members to dismiss the Prime Minister, renders more complex an already fraught governance transition process’.

China’s representative expressed grave concern over the continued flow of illegal weapons into Haiti, urging all parties, particularly the principal source countries of arms and ammunition, to adopt concrete measures in border control and the regulation of weapons and support the active role of the sanctions committee, BINUH, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other bodies.

The adoption of the resolution comes as some members of the Transitional Presidential Council in Haiti moved to dismiss Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé on 21 January, with the mandate of that Council to end on 7 February.

Haiti faces a complex set of challenges, including gang violence, political instability and a humanitarian crisis and the UN’s operational involvement in Haiti dates to the departure of then-president Jean-Claude Duvalier in 1986, which was followed by the holding of a democratic election in 1990 and then a military coup in 1991.

The UN said it has since remained deeply engaged in Haiti through successive peacekeeping and political missions.

Established in 2019, BINUH supports the Haitian authorities in strengthening political stability, good governance and the rule of law, while promoting human rights and coordinating international assistance.

In unanimously adopting the resolution on Thursday, the 15-member Security Council has tasked the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti with playing ‘a good-offices and coordinating role, including in promoting accountability, as well as respect for human rights, the political process and the rule of law’.

The text also revised the mandate of BINUH to undertake six key tasks ‘in an integrated manner with all UN entities in Haiti’.

These tasks include ‘utilize good offices to facilitate inter-Haitian national dialogue’ in support of the constitutional and political process in Haiti and support the Haitian authorities in organizing and holding municipal, parliamentary and presidential elections in 2026 to ‘achieve a peaceful transfer of power to elected Haitian officials’.

BINUH is also tasked with helping the Haitian authorities reduce community violence, including in the design of a Haitian-led disarmament, dismantlement and reintegration programme, and support for safe exit, voluntary disengagement, rehabilitation and reintegration pathways for individuals, particularly children, formerly associated with gangs.

The UN Security Council says that the new mandate also reflects the recent establishment of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), with the first contingents are expected to arrive in the country in April.

The GSF’s mission is to restore state authority and public order, reduce gang territorial control, secure critical infrastructure, and support the Haitian people as they work toward a return to elected governance and long-term stability.

Last September, the UN Security Council authorised the deployment of the new international force to replace the struggling Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, to restore state authority and public order, reduce gang territorial control, secure critical infrastructure, and support the Haitian people as they work toward a return to elected governance and long-term stability.

In close coordination with the GSF and relevant international organizations, BINUH is asked to ‘assist the Haitian authorities in addressing prolonged pretrial detention through support to relevant Haitian institutions and support the Haitian judiciary in its regular monitoring of the functioning of the courts and provide advisory support for its handling of high-risk individuals, as appropriate’.

BINUH will also ‘monitor and report on cases of gang violence, criminal activities, and human rights abuses and violations, including sexual violence against all women, girls, men and boys, including by maintaining dedicated capacity for protection advisers’.

Locetta said Haiti’s many supporters must remain unwavering in their commitment to the future of the country, adding ‘BINUH will be an integral part of international efforts to restore stability in Haiti’.

The United Nations Security Council has extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) for one year to 31 January 2027, even as it condemned Haitian authorities Thursday for the lack of progress in achieving a political transition.

The Security Council condemned the upsurge in violence in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country in the strongest terms, pointing to human rights violations and abuses, including sexual violence against women, men and children as well as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, killings and the abduction of children by armed gangs.

The council resolution, co-sponsored by the United States and Panama, and adopted unanimously.

United States Ambassador Jennifer Locetta, said that the Security Council had ‘made another decisive step towards the stabilisation of Haiti’ praising Panama on its work in helping the UN body achieve unanimous adoption of ‘this important resolution.

‘The United States maintains its unwavering support for Haiti’s stability and security. Prime Minister Fils-Aimé’s tenure as Haiti’s Prime Minister remains integral to advancing efforts to combat terrorist gangs and stabilize the country. The current violence caused by gangs can only be stopped with consistent, strong leadership, and with the full support of the Haitian people,’ she said.

The representative of Haiti welcomed the resolution as reflecting ‘a more integrated understanding of current challenges, and above all, the need to deliver concrete results’.

The Bermuda government says it is working ‘hard’ to deliver the housing solutions the Overseas British Territory (BOT) needs noting that over the last two months of 2025, the waiting list from the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) had increased to more than 350 households.

Deputy Premier and Minister of Housing and Municipalities, Zane Desilva, told a news conference that recent data from the BHC provides ‘a clear picture of the growing pressure on some of the most vulnerable people in our community’.

Deputy Premier and Minister of Housing and Municipalities, Zane Desilva, speaking at news conference.

He said that between November and December 2025, the BHC waitlist grew from 333 to 357 households and that the increase was seen across every priority category.

‘Urgent cases still represent the largest share of applicants. However, the fastest growth is now among regular applicants, many of whom are working individuals and families who are finding it increasingly difficult to afford market rents.

‘As of November, nearly 60 per cent of applicants were seeking studio or one-bedroom units. This reflects the pressures facing seniors on fixed incomes, individuals living alone, and smaller households,’ Desilva said, adding that ‘it is important to remember that BHC data represents just one part of the broader housing picture’.

He said while it does not capture all challenges in the private rental market, it does reflect those most in need of assistance, making it a critical indicator of where pressures are most acute.

He said these realities reinforce the importance of expanding affordable housing options and that these trends are precisely why the government is taking a broader, more coordinated approach to housing.

Desilva said work on the Affordable Housing Strategy for 2025 to 2035 continues alongside the day-to-day delivery effort and that ‘this Strategy is designed as a long-term, stabilising framework to close Bermuda’s housing gap over the next decade.

He said it focuses on expanding and diversifying housing supply, rehabilitating derelict and underused properties, improving affordability and access, modernizing regulations and strengthening governance across the housing system.

Desilva said the consultation process has reinforced a key point that housing is not the responsibility of one ministry alone and that every ministry has a role to play, and meaningful collaboration is essential to ensure a truly integrated, whole-of-government approach.

He said initial consultations with government Ministries have been completed, and the process has now moved into consultations with technical departments.

‘Copies of the draft have been provided to Cabinet, and we are working toward releasing a public consultation draft in February so the wider community can help shape the final strategy,’ Desilva told reporters, adding that he has formed a technical advisory team including representatives from the BHC and the Bermuda Land Management Corporation (BLMC).

‘This team is actively examining alternative construction methods, including precast concrete, modular, and prefabricated systems, with the aim of reducing construction costs, accelerating delivery timelines, and ensuring that local contractors remain fully involved in future housing projects.

‘Taken together, the strategy provides a clear roadmap for how Government intends to deliver affordable and attainable housing over the next ten years, not through one single solution, but through a balanced mix of new construction, rehabilitation, private-sector participation, and regulatory reform.’

Desilva said looking ahead to the 2026-27 financial year, more than 30 sites across the island have been identified for potential housing development. He said these sites are already owned by either the BHC or the BLMC.

He said other projects were also moving forward and that collectively, these developments represent 37 new affordable housing units, with the majority expected to come online in the next few months.

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Friday, January 30, 2026.

UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations Security Council has extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) for one year to 31 January 2027, even as it condemned Haitian authorities Thursday for the lack of progress in achieving a political transition.

PORT OF SPAIN – Independent legislator, Senior Counsel Sophia Chote, Friday described as ‘draconian’ the failed Law Reform (Zones of Special Operations) (ZOSO) Bill in the Senate earlier this week, denying also making any approach to a senior government legislator for personal favours in exchange for supporting the measure.

KINGSTOWN – Some reinstated public sector workers are accusing the government of Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday of reneging on a promise to provide a bonus to them as had been outlined during the campaign for the November 27 general elections last year.

PARAMARIBO – Health Minister André Misiekaba is urging the population to take precaution after the country recorded one death and 134 cases of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus outbreak.

BELMOPAN- Prime Minister John Briceño says Belize is looking to deepen cooperation with Guyana in agriculture, tourism, and education as it the country hosts President Irfaan Ali over the weekend.

SPORTS:

HARARE – West Indies were officially eliminated from semifinal contention at the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup after Sri Lanka defeated South Africa in their Super Six, Group 1 encounter on Thursday.

The United States Friday announced that nine Trinidad and Tobago nationals had been selected to participate in the Department of State’s Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI).

The US embassy here said that the annual fellowship programme brings 250 entrepreneurs from 37 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada to the United States for skills-based mentorship programmes in host businesses and enterprises.

It said that the participants learn a particular business skill set, and have the opportunity to make and expand their networks with their professional U.S. hosts.

‘Our embassy’s YLAI fellows always come back from their exchange brimming with ideas and initiatives to grow their businesses and improve their business practices,’ said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Dr. Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz.

‘I’m confident this cohort and their American counterparts will equally benefit from their in-person experience. The YLAI exchange increases prosperity for all of us,’ she added.

.The nine Trinidadians – Dominick Alexander, Naomi Anderson, Dharnel Duprey, Kedella Isaac, Desirai Johnson-Phillip, Shereesa Khan, Donnelle Maharj, Simon Neptune, and Sanatan Ramjattan- will travel to Houston, Texas in April for the opening orientation.

They will then travel to various cities across the United States for a four-week professional placement with the programme ending in Washington, D.C. in May.

The Embassy said that since its launch in 2015, YLAI has enabled more than 2,000 fellows to build connections and learn from and collaborate with American innovators and industry leaders.

‘Within one year of completing YLAI, 84 per cent of fellows secured new resources to advance their work. With the 2026 cohort, the total number of fellows from Trinidad and Tobago to date will reach 47, further expanding the network of entrepreneurs who benefit from American partnership and mentorship.

West Indies T20 captain Shai Hope isn’t bothered that the West Indies have lost successive matches to surrender their T20I series to South Africa.

Following their embarrassing nine-wicket loss to the Proteas in Tuesday’s opener, the Windies put in a better effort in the second match on Thursday but still went down by seven wickets at SuperSport Park to fall behind 0-2 in the three-match series.

The regional team did well to get up to 221 for four in their 20 overs, but Quinton de Kock blasted a century to carry the home side to 225 for three in 17.3 overs.

Speaking in a post-match press conference, Hope said the West Indies continued to focus on preparing for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Shai Hope

‘Like I always say, you have to look at the positives, especially when you’re going into a World Cup and that’s what really and truly this series is.

‘It’s about building that momentum going into the World Cup, making some tweaks, trying to finalise and fine tune some areas,’ Hope said.

‘But I thought the guys played really well in the power play. It’s exactly what we’re trying to get out of the opening batters and the ones to follow. We just have to build from that and continue to get as strong as we can.’

With the final T20I set to be played on Saturday in Johannesburg, Hope said while winning was always the objective, the team would be continuing to ready themselves for the February 7 to March 8 World Cup.

‘We’re going to keep fine tuning. As much as we want to win, and we obviously want to win every single game that we play and we want to win the series, it’s more so about getting the right formula, understanding what’s necessary to be successful in that World Cup and continue getting better as a team.

‘We’re still fine tuning as I said, but we just have to keep our spirits high and find ways to keep getting better and improving every single time,’ Hope said.

One of the five persons who had earlier this year signed a resolution seeking the removal of Prime Mister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé fro office. Is now distancing himself from an attempt to remove the President of the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT), Laurent Saint-Cyr.

The mandate of the CPT ends on February 7, this year in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement of April 3rd, 2024.

Last week, a resolution for Fils-Aimé’s dismissal had the support of five members of the CPT, before advisor, Smith Augustin, finally reversed his decision and refused to sign.

Smith Augustin (File Photo)

Last Friday, two CPT members, Leslie Voltaire and Edgard Leblanc Fils, told a news conference that they intend to proceed with a plan to remove Prime Minister Fils-Aime within 30 days following established procedures, despite United States warnings that such a move would have consequences.

The move to remove Saint-Cyr, who is also the coordinator of the Transitional Council, follows allegations that he failed publish the removal resolution in the official journal, Le Moniteur.

But Augustin, in a letter to his colleagues, said he would not sign a new resolution aimed at removing Saint-Cyr.

In his January 29 letter, Augustin said he wanted to ‘formally and unequivocally’ clarify his position regarding the proposed removal of Saint-Cyr, ‘just days before the end of our term’.

He said that following the recommendations stemming from discussions held with several national stakeholders within the framework of the political dialogue on January 18, ‘we considered the dismissal of the Prime Minister, Mr. Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.

‘I supported this initiative, convinced that our presidential prerogatives gave us the necessary latitude and believing that such a decision could facilitate the institutional transition starting February 7, 2026. I acted in good faith and with full responsibility.

‘However, it must be acknowledged that this decision has deeply divided the Council, contributing to the worsening of the political crisis and creating tensions with certain international partners, notably the United States Government, which has expressed its support for the Prime Minister in a clear and unusual manner.’

He said he has since noticed efforts to remove Saint-Cyr and replace him with ‘a new coordinator tasked with submitting the resolution concerning the Prime Minister’s dismissal to the Official Journal of the Republic.

‘With all due respect, I must express my opposition to this approach,’ Augustin wrote, adding ‘it seems to me, in fact, difficult to defend, from a legal standpoint, that an unpublished resolution could have the effect of repealing a previously published resolution, particularly the one establishing the duration and allocation of responsibilities for coordinating the rotating presidency.’.

He said even assuming that some people consider this approach ‘legally sound, there is clearly no consensus on its legality.

‘Furthermore, if this procedure were to be initiated without the agreement of the coordinator in question, what would the concrete consequences be?

‘ In the event of a persistent refusal to publish the official gazette, should we consider successive dismissals: first of the Secretary General, appointed by published presidential decree, and then possibly of the Director General of the National Press, himself appointed by the Council of Ministers ? Wouldn’t such a course of action risk triggering an uncontrollable institutional spiral, just days before the end of our mission?’

Augustin said that he remains ‘deeply convinced that this path is neither the most responsible nor the most appropriate for concluding our mandate, in a context already marked by significant internal tensions and extreme institutional fragility.

‘I remain certain that the Haitian people expect from us greater restraint, institutional rigor, a sense of duty to the state, and a commitment to transcending political divisions.

‘Therefore, I am informing you that from today until February 7, 2026, I will refrain from participating in any similar decision-making process, which I perceive not as a clear-headed and consensual search for a way out of the crisis, but as an institutional escalation with unpredictable consequences,’ Augustin wrote.

Earlier this week, the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping said that it has noted ‘with great concern’ the ‘internal turmoil’ taking place in its member state, Haiti, and urged ‘stakeholders to put the future of their people and country above all else’.

CARICOM said that the internal turmoil was taking place ‘at this delicate point in time when stability and level-headedness in decision-making, and prioritisation of the well-being of the Haitian people, are urgently required of members of the Haitian executive’.

CARICOM said the current impasse within the CPT, following the inconclusive efforts of some members to dismiss the Prime Minister, renders more complex an already fraught governance transition process.

‘Meanwhile, the people of Haiti continue to suffer unimaginable violence and deprivation.

‘This is unacceptable. It is crucial that stakeholders put aside differences to reach consensus. The CARICOM Eminent Persons Group (RPG) remains at the disposal of all stakeholders to facilitate agreement from the multiplicity of proposals which currently exist,’ CARICOM said.

ExxonMobil Friday said its operations in Guyana continue to deliver results never before seen in its industry and have set new standards for operational excellence.

The US-oil and energy giant said gross production reached roughly 875,000 barrels daily in the fourth quarter, with first four floating production storage and offloading units producing 100,000 barrels per day above investment basis.

‘Our most recent project, Yellowtail, came online ahead of schedule, raising gross production in the fourth quarter to roughly 875,000 barrels per day. Altogether, our first four FPSOs are now producing 100,000 barrels a day above the investment basis, reflecting operational performance to date and the value of this advantaged asset,’ ExxonMobil chairman and chief executive officer, Darren Woods told the company’s 2025 fourth quarter earnings call.

Woods said the company had the technological capabilities needed to extract Venezuela’s high-cost heavy crude, but made no new commitments to evaluate reentering the Central American country where the United States earlier this month toppled its leader, Nicolas Maduro, and charged with him drug related charges in a New York federal court.

Following the invasion, President Donald Trump has urged US companies to invest in the country so as to revive the oil industry.

Woods said ExxonMobil is considering exploration in the Stabroek Block nearer the border with Venezuela if there would be less military presence there.

‘Obviously, with the developments in Venezuela, perhaps we’ll see an opportunity to, with less naval patrols, that’ll make it a little more friendly environment. So we’ll see how that goes, but we’ve got plenty of work ahead of us here,’ said Woods, who had earlier said that the company had recovered ‘a substantial amount’ of the money it was owed after its Venezuelan assets were nationalized in 2007.

The Venezuelan navy had over the years chased out two seismic research vessels from Atlantic waters off the Essequibo Region. The first occurred in 2013 when the MV Teknik Perdana was detained while doing work in the Roraima Block for the United States-based Anadarko Petroleum. This was followed by a similar incident in 2018 involving the MV Ramform Tethys vessel, which belongs to Norwegian company Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS), that was doing work for ExxonMobil.

Responding to a question from a representative of the investment banking company, Morgan Stanley, Woods said despite the force majeure- suspension of activities because of security risks- he was very hopeful of being able to begin work there.

He also indicated that ExxonMobil was preparing its plans to eventually explore for hydrocarbons in that area.

‘In the short term and in the longer term, we’ll get into that additional acreage and see what the opportunity looks like. We’re pretty optimistic. I think one of the advantages of force majeure is it pauses the clock, and so we will have an opportunity to do what we need to do in that portion of the block when it’s available to us,’ Woods said.

‘We still think there’s opportunity in that space to explore in the block that we can currently access,’ he added.

Looking ahead, he described the eventual ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award that settled the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela as a ‘critical milestone’ for deciding on the company’s future work in the Stabroek Block off the Essequibo Region.

‘The portion of the block that’s under force majeure as a result of the border dispute remains there, and I think, from my perspective, one of the unlocks with respect to that region will be the ruling that comes out of the International Court of Justice, that’s the process that Guyana has been going through with Venezuela to align on the border, to resolve the border dispute,’ he said.

With the exploration licence for the Stabroek Block scheduled to expire in late 2027, Woods said the company was studying its seismic data and learning from the development wells to identify additional targets and drill.

He said the company would have to relinquish ‘pieces’ of the Stabroek Block based on a very well-inform understanding of the geology and the opportunity sets.

During the 2025 fourth quarter earnings call, Woods said that 2025 was a year of exceptional execution and technology-driven differentiation for the oil and energy giant.

‘ We continue to deliver strong safety and reliability performance, reflecting the commitment and operating discipline of our workforce. We’ve already achieved our 2030 emission reduction plans for GHG emissions and flaring intensity.

‘As of 2025, we’ve reduced our corporate GHG (green house gasses) intensity by more than 20%, reduced upstream GHG intensity by more than 40 per cent, and reduced corporate flaring intensity by more than 60 per cent. We expect to reach our 2030 methane intensity reductions by the end of this year.’

Woods said that the fourth quarter and full-year 2025 financial results reaffirm that the company’s transformation is driving improved earnings power across a broad range of metrics.

‘Over the past five years, our annualized shareholder return of 29 per cent has led the industry, supported by US$150 billion of distributions to shareholders during that period. ‘Earnings, cash flow, and return on capital employed remain among the strongest in the sector, with higher upstream earnings per barrel and structurally higher returns,’ he added.

The United Nations Security Council has extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) for one year to 31 January 2027, even as it condemned Haitian authorities Thursday for the lack of progress in achieving a political transition.

The Security Council condemned the upsurge in violence in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country in the strongest terms, pointing to human rights violations and abuses, including sexual violence against women, men and children as well as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, killings and the abduction of children by armed gangs. The council resolution, co-sponsored by the United States and Panama, and adopted unanimously.

United States Ambassador Jennifer Locetta, said that the Security Council had ‘made another decisive step towards the stabilisation of Haiti’ praising Panama on its work in helping the UN body achieve unanimous adoption of ‘this important resolution.

‘The United States maintains its unwavering support for Haiti’s stability and security. Prime Minister Fils-Aimé’s tenure as Haiti’s Prime Minister remains integral to advancing efforts to combat terrorist gangs and stabilize the country. The current violence caused by gangs can only be stopped with consistent, strong leadership, and with the full support of the Haitian people,’ she said.

The representative of Haiti welcomed the resolution as reflecting ‘a more integrated understanding of current challenges, and above all, the need to deliver concrete results’.

‘Our objective is clear,’ he said, noting the need to ‘protect the population, reduce violence, restore the rule of law and create the conditions for lasting institutional stability’.

Trinidad and Tobago, who spoke on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) said ‘we fear that the current impasse within the Haitian Transitional Presidential Council, following the inconclusive efforts of some members to dismiss the Prime Minister, renders more complex an already fraught governance transition process’.

China’s representative expressed grave concern over the continued flow of illegal weapons into Haiti, urging all parties, particularly the principal source countries of arms and ammunition, to adopt concrete measures in border control and the regulation of weapons and support the active role of the sanctions committee, BINUH, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other bodies.

The adoption of the resolution comes as some members of the Transitional Presidential Council in Haiti moved to dismiss Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé on 21 January, with the mandate of that Council to end on 7 February.

Haiti faces a complex set of challenges, including gang violence, political instability and a humanitarian crisis and the UN’s operational involvement in Haiti dates to the departure of then-president Jean-Claude Duvalier in 1986, which was followed by the holding of a democratic election in 1990 and then a military coup in 1991.

The UN said it has since remained deeply engaged in Haiti through successive peacekeeping and political missions.

Established in 2019, BINUH supports the Haitian authorities in strengthening political stability, good governance and the rule of law, while promoting human rights and coordinating international assistance.

In unanimously adopting the resolution on Thursday, the 15-member Security Council has tasked the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti with playing ‘a good-offices and coordinating role, including in promoting accountability, as well as respect for human rights, the political process and the rule of law’.

The text also revised the mandate of BINUH to undertake six key tasks ‘in an integrated manner with all UN entities in Haiti’.

These tasks include ‘utilize good offices to facilitate inter-Haitian national dialogue’ in support of the constitutional and political process in Haiti and support the Haitian authorities in organizing and holding municipal, parliamentary and presidential elections in 2026 to ‘achieve a peaceful transfer of power to elected Haitian officials’.

BINUH is also tasked with helping the Haitian authorities reduce community violence, including in the design of a Haitian-led disarmament, dismantlement and reintegration programme, and support for safe exit, voluntary disengagement, rehabilitation and reintegration pathways for individuals, particularly children, formerly associated with gangs.

The UN Security Council says that the new mandate also reflects the recent establishment of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), with the first contingents are expected to arrive in the country in April.

The GSF’s mission is to restore state authority and public order, reduce gang territorial control, secure critical infrastructure, and support the Haitian people as they work toward a return to elected governance and long-term stability.

Last September, the UN Security Council authorised the deployment of the new international force to replace the struggling Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, to restore state authority and public order, reduce gang territorial control, secure critical infrastructure, and support the Haitian people as they work toward a return to elected governance and long-term stability.

In close coordination with the GSF and relevant international organizations, BINUH is asked to ‘assist the Haitian authorities in addressing prolonged pretrial detention through support to relevant Haitian institutions and support the Haitian judiciary in its regular monitoring of the functioning of the courts and provide advisory support for its handling of high-risk individuals, as appropriate’.

BINUH will also ‘monitor and report on cases of gang violence, criminal activities, and human rights abuses and violations, including sexual violence against all women, girls, men and boys, including by maintaining dedicated capacity for protection advisers’.

Locetta said Haiti’s many supporters must remain unwavering in their commitment to the future of the country, adding ‘BINUH will be an integral part of international efforts to restore stability in Haiti’.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said 90 days after Hurricane Melissa swept across parts of the Caribbean, countries are transitioning from emergency response toward recovery, while continuing to confront public health risks linked to damaged infrastructure, disrupted services, and heightened vulnerability to disease.

The Category 5 storm made landfall first in Jamaica on October 28, causing widespread damage in several Caribbean countries, mainly across Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti, and placing sustained pressure on national health systems.

The hurricane resulted in 88 deaths and physical damage to 785 health facilities. At its peak, the storm displaced more than 100,000 people; today, that number has fallen to fewer than 6,000, about half of whom remain in temporary shelters.

In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, PAHO activated its Incident Management System and deployed technical teams through its Regional Response Team, bringing together expertise in emergency coordination, health services, disease surveillance, logistics, mental health, risk communication, and environmental health.

Medical supplies mobilised through PAHO’s Strategic Emergency Reserve in Panama included approximately 5.5 tons of essential supplies delivered to Jamaica, while 16 tons in Haiti and 21 tons in Cuba, some of which were prepositioned ahead of the storm to ensure rapid support to health services.

PAHO supported rapid assessments of damaged health facilities to inform priorities for structural safety and service restoration, while coordinating humanitarian health actors. As many of the deployed emergency medical teams have since demobilized, PAHO’s support has evolved to meet the needs of the recovery phase-prioritizing continuity of care, system resilience, and longer-term public health capacity.

Restoring services in Jamaica

Jamaica’s health system continues to operate under significant strain. Damage to health infrastructure, pressure on hospital capacity, and ongoing disease risks remain central challenges for public health authorities.

PAHO said that as of mid-January, 89 per cent of health facilities nationwide (299 of 336) resumed service delivery, albeit many of these are outside the hurricane’s main path. However, several major referral hospitals continue to face severe overcrowding, with bed occupancy well above safe operating thresholds.

‘The scale of destruction is still an enormous challenge. When one hospital has been decommissioned, four additional hospitals are severely affected, and 60 primary health care centers have sustained major damage, it’s a whole different experience than when a country is affected by a more isolated event’ says Ian Stein, PAHO Representative in Jamaica.

With significant donor contributions, and in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and partners , PAHO supported urgent repairs for 10 priority primary health care facilities in the most affected parishes.

Emergency roof repairs have been completed at seven health centers, while additional facilities remain in procurement or contracting phases. Facilities built or retrofitted to PAHO Smart Hospital standards sustained minimal damage, reinforcing the value of resilient infrastructure in hurricane-prone settings.

Seventeen Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs), including 12 international and five national teams, were deployed during the acute response phase. As of January 21, eight EMTs remained operational, supporting clinical care while transitioning toward nationally led coordination.

EMTs are temporary by design, focused on stabilizing situations, setting up systems, and supporting continuity of care rather than providing long-term services.

Disease surveillance and outbreak control

Between October and mid-January, authorities recorded surveillance of 124 cases of leptospirosis, including 40 laboratory-confirmed cases and 14 deaths. Cases peaked in mid-November 2025 and have since declined, with no confirmed cases reported during the first days of 2026.

Jamaica’s existing surveillance and laboratory capacity, strengthened through PAHO technical support, has played a critical role in detecting and responding to the outbreak.

‘Jamaica has strong surveillance capacity, and that has been key to effectively manage the leptospirosis outbreak, and that’s a success story,’ according to Stein.

PAHO said its support has included the deployment of field epidemiologists, laboratory training, provision of reagents, and strengthened specimen transport systems to ensure timely diagnosis and evidence-based decision-making.

Mental health, health workers, and recovery

Beyond physical damage and risks of disease outbreaks, Hurricane Melissa has taken a significant toll on the mental wellbeing of affected communities and health workers. Many frontline staff continued providing care while coping with personal losses, damaged homes, and disrupted living conditions.

‘Health workers showed up, even when they were victims themselves,’ said PAHO/WHO Representative in Jamaica. ‘They were providing care in tents or crowded rooms, while worrying about their own families.’

In response, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), with PAHO support, has significantly scaled up mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services nationwide. More than 3,000 people have already been trained in Psychological First Aid (PFA), with training continuing in early 2026.

The initiative aims to enable the delivery of additional psychosocial support sessions in the coming months. To date, MOHW teams have delivered 7,784 MHPSS interventions, with additional support from several active partners, as Jamaica works to integrate mental health care into its broader recovery and build capacity to respond to future emergencies.

Cuba: recovery strengthened by anticipatory and early action

The provinces in Cuba affected by Hurricane Melissa have formally transitioned into a phase of normalization, and all health facilities are reported to be operational, with repairs continuing where damage remains.

Recovery is progressing alongside sustained public health interventions to address ongoing epidemiological risks, even as an economic crisis continues to strain health services, limiting access to essential medicines and underscoring the need for investment to strengthen resilience to future shocks.

PAHO has coordinated a sustained flow of life-saving assistance to Cuba, combining anticipatory action funding, donor contributions, and in-kind support to stabilize health services and address emerging risks.

Between October 2025 and January 2026, PAHO coordinated multiple shipments of medical supplies and equipment, including pneumonia kits, Interagency Emergency Health Kits, medical backpacks, generators, power plants, fuel pumps, tents, water purification tablets, and donated medicines. Overall, external contributions and PAHO-managed funding amounted to more than US$2.5 million, in addition to in-kind donations.

‘One of PAHO’s main contributions has been to promote a continuous dialogue between health authorities and partners, and to reinforce coordination and alignment with national defined priorities, gathering information from field visits to improve effectiveness,’ said Mario Cruz Peñate, PAHO/WHO Representative in Cuba.

Housing vulnerability remains a significant challenge. More than 215,000 homes (645,000 people) were damaged, and 2,760 individuals remained displaced as of mid-December, living in shelters, temporary facilities, or with host families. Slow reconstruction timelines-compounded by pre-existing housing shortages-have left many households exposed to ongoing health risks and future severe weather events.

Access to safe drinking water remains a major concern. As of late December, nearly 500,000 people continued to rely on tanker deliveries due to disrupted water supply services, with 50 water systems still out of service in Santiago de Cuba, located in the southeastern part of the island.

These structural vulnerabilities are unfolding against a complex epidemiological backdrop, including simultaneous outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya and Oropouche that occurred in 2025.

By the end of December, Cuba had reported ongoing chikungunya transmission in 15 provinces, with more than 51,000 cumulative cases and 46 deaths, the first outbreak of its kind in Cuba.

Transmission of dengue also continues nationwide, with over 30,000 suspected cases and 19 deaths officially reported in 2025. Heavy rainfall, disrupted supply chains, limited vector-control equipment, and gaps in early case detection have underscored the need for intensified prevention and surveillance efforts during recovery.

In response, Cuban health authorities-supported by PAHO-have expanded vector control activities, including fumigation, focal treatment, and house-to-house epidemiological investigations, while strengthening surveillance among high-risk groups. Health workers, professors, and medical students have also been engaged in community outreach and health education to raise awareness of prevention measures.

Across Cuba and Jamaica, PAHO’s support continues to shift from emergency response toward sustained recovery and system strengthening.

From reinforcing disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, and vector control in Cuba to expanding diagnostic logistics, field epidemiology, and surveillance systems in Jamaica, these efforts are helping countries manage ongoing public health risks while rebuilding critical health functions.

Together, they reflect PAHO’s commitment not only to addressing the immediate health impacts of Hurricane Melissa, but also to strengthening preparedness and resilience so health systems are better equipped to withstand future climate-related emergencies.