CARICOM Welcomes Gaza Peace Plan, Calls for Lasting Ceasefire

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has expressed cautious optimism over the agreement reached on the initial phase of a peace plan for Gaza, describing it as a vital step toward easing the humanitarian crisis and advancing lasting peace in the region.

In a statement issued after the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, the regional bloc commended the progress made in negotiations, saying the deal offers hope for both the Palestinian people and the safe return of Israeli hostages.

CARICOM said the stipulated terms of the agreement — including a sustained pause in hostilities, withdrawal of military forces, reciprocal release of hostages and prisoners, and the guarantee of immediate and safe humanitarian access — represent “constructive and fundamental” measures toward stability.

“We view this development as a critical step toward alleviating the immense suffering of the Palestinian people, and the safe return of the Israeli hostages,” the statement read.

The Community, however, urged all signatories to fully honour their commitments, warning that the progress achieved so far must not be undermined by renewed violence or political division.

“CARICOM emphatically calls upon all signatories to honour these commitments in full and to ensure this first phase serves as a foundation for a permanent and unconditional ceasefire,” the regional body stated.

Reiterating its long-standing support for a Two-State Solution, CARICOM said a just and durable peace can only be secured through negotiations rooted in international law and mutual recognition of the rights and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.

“A just and lasting peace, in accordance with international law, can only be achieved through a negotiated Two-State Solution, which upholds the legitimate aspirations for security and dignity of both nations,” the statement added.

CARICOM Seeks More Investment, Partnerships to Tackle NCDs, Mental Health

Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr. Carla Barnett, has said that ending the epidemic of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and addressing mental health challenges will require fresh investment, innovative financing, stronger partnerships and bold policy action.

Dr. Barnett made this known on Thursday while addressing a High-Level Breakfast on NCDs and Mental Health, held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

She recalled that since the landmark 2007 Port-of-Spain Declaration, CARICOM has championed a multi-sectoral response to NCDs, introducing initiatives such as Caribbean Wellness Day and the elimination of trans fats.

However, she lamented that despite some progress, most Member States are off track to meet the 2025 global target of reducing premature NCD mortality by 25 per cent, with only Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and Grenada showing encouraging results.

The Secretary-General underscored the need for greater financial commitment and collaboration at both regional and global levels.

According to her, the reality of limited fiscal resources in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) has slowed progress, making it necessary to explore innovative financing mechanisms, strengthen public-private partnerships and enhance monitoring frameworks.

Dr. Barnett noted that the worsening impacts of climate change are also aggravating health challenges in the Region, while rising cases of mental health conditions present an additional burden.

Vulnerable populations, including persons with disabilities and the elderly, she said, remain at particular risk.

“While daunting, ending the epidemic of NCDs in CARICOM is not an insurmountable task. The lessons learnt over the past 18 years can strategically position the Caribbean Community in the next decade,” she said, stressing the need for renewed commitment from governments, development partners and civil society.

She further called for stronger social safety nets, legislative action, and investment in assistive living technologies for the ageing population.

Dr. Barnett commended the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), and the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) for their role in advancing health initiatives, while also acknowledging the political will demonstrated by CARICOM Heads of Government.

Reaffirming CARICOM’s resolve, Dr. Barnett maintained that sustainable progress against NCDs and mental health challenges would only be achieved through collective commitment, increased funding and equitable policy responses that put people at the centre.

Kenyan Police Declare ₦11m Bounty on Fugitive Serial Killer 

Kenyan police have announced a reward of 1 million shillings (about ₦11 million) for information leading to the arrest of Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, a suspected serial killer accused of murdering more than 40 women in Nairobi.

Khalusha, who was arrested in August 2024, escaped from custody shortly after his detention, alongside 12 other inmates, in what has become one of the country’s most embarrassing security lapses.

He reportedly cut through a wire mesh roof and scaled a perimeter wall at a police station considered one of Nairobi’s most secure — located near the US Embassy and UN offices.

The suspect had been linked to the gruesome killings of young women, aged between 18 and 30, whose mutilated bodies were discovered in a disused quarry in the capital.

Outrage has continued to trail the police’s inability to re-arrest him more than a year after the jailbreak.

Human rights activist, Khalid Hussein, accused authorities of failing to take the matter seriously, alleging that some bodies were still rotting in the quarry.

He described the latest reward announcement as a reaction to public embarrassment caused by a local TV documentary on the unsolved murders.

“This one million shillings reward is absolutely useless. It is a reaction, not a commitment,” Hussein said.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), in a post on X, promised to pay the bounty to anyone who provides “credible information” that leads to Khalusha’s re-arrest.

Police had previously announced a reward last year, but without specifying an amount.

Several officers were also arrested on suspicion of aiding the escape but were later released on bail.

The case has put Kenyan law enforcement under intense scrutiny, with many citizens questioning how a mass killer could have been allowed to slip through the cracks, especially as the crime scene was barely 100 metres from a police station.

At the time of Khalusha’s arrest, DCI chief Mohamed Amin described him as “a psychopathic serial killer who has no respect for human life.”

He was scheduled to face multiple murder charges before his disappearance.

Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen, reacting to the escape, described the incident as “regrettable” and “a sad story,” while expressing hope that the fugitive would soon be captured.