Hurricane Melissa: CARICOM Reaffirms Support for Jamaica, Haiti

CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett, has restated the Community’s solidarity with Jamaica and Haiti following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, saying the disaster reinforces the urgent need to strengthen regional resilience against climate change.

Dr Barnett made the remarks at the opening of the 61st Regular Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), where she also highlighted the importance of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) in supporting sustainable growth amid recurring climate shocks.

She expressed sympathy to the Governments and people of Jamaica and Haiti over the loss of lives and widespread damage caused by the storm.

She commended the response of regional bodies, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), private sector groups and other regional partners.

The Secretary-General also referenced the recent visit of four CARICOM Heads of Government to Jamaica as a strong demonstration of regional unity and a signal of continued support.

“The experience leaves us in no doubt about the urgency of addressing the existential threats posed by climate change and the need to redouble our efforts to build resilience and foster sustainable development across our Region,” she said.

“Strengthening our trade and economic performance is a critical part of this, and COTED must continue to play its important role in this regard.”

Chairing the meeting, Belize’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Hon. Marconi Leal, noted that the Region was dealing with complex global and domestic challenges that continue to test the resilience of individual Member States.

He said Hurricane Melissa further exposed the Caribbean’s vulnerability to climate threats, stressing the need for deeper cooperation and coordinated recovery efforts.

Minister Leal said COTED would deliberate on critical issues, including advancing the free movement of CARICOM nationals, implementing the Community’s Industrial Policy and Strategy 2035, and support measures under Article 164 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

The 61st Regular Meeting of COTED reaffirmed CARICOM’s commitment to strengthening regional trade, deepening economic integration and advancing sustainable development across the Community.

Nigeria Reels as 315 Pupils Abducted in Niger, 50 Escape

Fifty of the 315 children abducted from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, on Friday have escaped and have been reunited with their families, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has confirmed.

The remaining 265 pupils and 12 teachers are still in captivity, prompting a large-scale military-led search and rescue operation across the state.

Police said the attackers stormed the school around 2:00 a.m., taking the students from their dormitories.

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bongo on Saturday ordered the closure of all schools in Niger State, describing the situation as “not a time for blame game.”

Similar school closures have been enforced in Kebbi, Katsina, Yobe, and Kwara states following recent abductions.

The escape reportedly occurred between Friday night and Saturday morning and has brought relief to families and communities.

Parents expressed joy at the safe return of their children.

In a separate incident, 38 people abducted from a church service in Eruku, Kwara State, last week were freed on Sunday.

Two people had died during the attack on Christ Apostolic Church in the town.

The Pope expressed “immense sadness” over the abductions and urged the authorities to act swiftly to ensure the release of the remaining victims.

Kidnappings for ransom, often carried out by armed groups known as bandits, have increased across the northwest of Nigeria.

Despite a ban on ransom payments, attacks continue to rise.

Earlier on Monday, more than 20 pupils were kidnapped from a boarding school in Kebbi State, leading to the closure of all secondary schools and colleges in the state.

President Bola Tinubu postponed foreign trips, including the G20 summit in South Africa, to address the escalating security challenges.

While claims have circulated abroad suggesting Christians are being specifically targeted in Nigeria, government sources maintain that terrorists attack all citizens indiscriminately.

Most attacks, they say, occur in predominantly Muslim areas, but violence is also linked to resource conflicts between farmers and herders.

The St Mary’s abduction, involving 315 students, surpasses the infamous 2014 Chibok kidnapping, in which 276 girls were abducted by Boko Haram.

Many have since escaped or been released, but some remain missing.

Military, police, and local vigilantes continue to comb forests and remote areas in search of the remaining victims.

Tensions Rise Between Ethiopia and Eritrea as Red Sea Dispute Escalates

Concerns are mounting over the possibility of renewed armed conflict between Horn of Africa neighbours, Ethiopia and Eritrea, following weeks of hostile rhetoric and aggressive statements over access to the Red Sea.

The latest dispute centres on Ethiopia’s longstanding demand for access to the Red Sea, which it lost when Eritrea seceded in 1993.

The landlocked nation has repeatedly described access to the sea as a matter of national survival, prompting sharp rebuttals from Eritrea.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been vocal about the issue, first declaring in 2023 that regaining access to the sea was existential for his country.

Ethiopia’s army chief, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, and other senior officials have gone further, claiming ownership of Eritrea’s southern port of Assab and hinting at the possibility of using force to reclaim it.

On 1 September, Abiy warned that Ethiopia would “correct” the historical loss of its Red Sea access.

Ethiopian Ambassador to Kenya, retired Gen Bacha Debele, described Assab as “Ethiopia’s wealth” and asserted that it would be returned “by force” if necessary.

Field Marshal Birhanu Jula echoed similar sentiments, questioning how the interests of two million Eritreans could outweigh the needs of Ethiopia’s 130 million citizens.

Eritrea, for its part, has issued terse warnings. Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel described Ethiopia’s claims as a “dangerous” and “toxic agenda of irredentism,” while the Eritrean army cautioned that any attempt to cross the “red line” could plunge Ethiopia into an inescapable crisis.

Despite the heated rhetoric, there have been no reports of major troop movements along the border.

Ethiopia has, however, showcased its military preparedness through graduation ceremonies of thousands of cadets and the promotion of senior officers.

The country has also displayed newly acquired weapons, including tanks, artillery, and armoured vehicles. Eritrea, which maintains mandatory national service, has kept a low public profile regarding its military activities.

Media coverage in both countries has reflected their governments’ positions.

Ethiopian state media have amplified claims of an “unjust loss” of Red Sea ports, while Eritrean state media have accused Ethiopia of attempting to revive issues settled decades ago.

Foreign-based Eritrean outlets have also urged citizens to set aside political differences to defend the country.

The roots of the tension date back over a century. Eritrea was colonised by Italy in 1890, later administered by Britain, and eventually federated with Ethiopia.

When Ethiopia fully annexed Eritrea in 1962, a three-decade civil war ensued, culminating in Eritrean independence in 1993.

Border disputes led to war in 1998, which officially ended with a peace agreement in 2000, though hostilities lingered.

A brief period of reconciliation followed in 2018, when Abiy and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki declared the war over, earning Abiy the Nobel Peace Prize.