Category Archives: Caribbean

On Friday, 18 June, 2021, the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health is hosting the webinar "Implementation of the WHO Global Initiative on Childhood Cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean".

The objectives of the webinar are:

How to participate

Agenda

11:00 AM Welcome Remarks and Pediatric Cancer Survivor's Perspective - Gabriel "Gabo" Alessandro Mayorga, childhood cancer survivor.

11:10 AMIntroduction to CUREAll Americas - Silvana Luciani, Unit Chief, Noncommunicable Diseases, Violence and Injury Prevention, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

11:25 AMRegional strategy for the implementation of the initiative in Latin America and the Caribbean within the framework of CUREAll - Liliana Vasquez, Childhood Cancer consultant, PAHO.

11:40 AMAdvances in the design and implementation of national pediatric cancer plans - Soad Fuentes, Childhood Cancer consultant, PAHO

11:55 AMMonitoring and evaluation of the Initiative in the Americas Region - Karina Ribeiro, childhood cancer consultant, PAHO

12:10 PMPresentation of the CUREAll technical package - Roberta Ortiz, technical officer, World Health Organization.

12:25 PMSt Jude Global in collaboration with CUREAll Americas - Monika Metzger, Regional Director for Central and South America, St Jude Global.

12:40 PMDevelopment of a network of pediatric cancer survivors in Latin America - Marcela Zubieta, Head of Childhood Cancer International in Latin America.

Time correspondence

For other cities, check the time in the followinglink

More information

Go here to read the rest:

Webinar: Implementation of the WHO Global Initiative on Childhood Cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean - Pan American Health Organization

San Antonians in search of a Caribbean experience will soon have to look no further than downtowns beloved public park.

The Jerk Shack, the nationally praised Caribbean-inspired eatery, is opening its third brick-and-mortar location at Hemisfair. Set to open in summer 2022, the new 1,740-square-foot Jerk Shack will be located in Schultze House, one of the historically recreated homes in the Hemisfair district.

Chef and owner Nicola Blaque opened the first Jerk Shack location in 2018, and her Jamaican flavors became so popular with locals, she got to work on a second shack, at the 151 Plaza development, which is set to open this summer. And she opened her other Caribbean-style concept, Mi Roti, at the Pearl Bottling Department last July.

The response to The Jerk Shack has been amazing, which has allowed us to expand across the city, Blaque says. Our fans and customers have been extremely supportive of our growth, so were looking forward to bringing The Jerk Shack to Hemisfair.

The Hemisfair shack will feature all the menu favorites San Antonians have come to crave (Were looking at you, jerk fried chicken wings!), but will also include some new elevated plates befitting of the awe-inspiring Hemisfair setting, like steakhouse-style dishes that beckon diners to sit, savor, and stay awhile.

A seamless blending of cultures and flavors is what Blaque excels at, bringing Caribbean flair to American favorites like mac and cheese and tacos, while also highlighting traditional Caribbean fare like braised oxtail and the always-popular jerk chicken. At the Hemisfair shack, Blaque has tapped chef Lionel Butch Blache, her Mi Roti executive chef, to lead the kitchen.

And unlike the other locations, the new shack will also feature a full bar and cocktail program because park dining in Caribbean style definitely calls for boozy libations.

Weve been huge fans of Jerk Shack since they opened their first location, and were over the moon that chef Nicola and her team are joining the Hemisfair family, says Andres Andujar, CEO of Hemisfair. I cant think of a better addition to our parks district and the downtown core than their craveable Caribbean cuisine.

Go here to read the rest:

Acclaimed Caribbean eatery shacks up at Hemisfair with third location - culturemap.com

Posted on May 26, 2021

Patrick Husbands in the saddle. (FP)

TORONTO Caribbean jockeys such as ace rider Patrick Husbands could soon return to the saddle at the prestigious Woodbine racetrack, after the Ontario government gave the green light for horse racing to resume in the province next month, following a deadly wave of COVID-19.

There has been no thoroughbred action at the racing oval in Torontos west end since a surge of the viral illness forced a government-ordered lockdown of the province last November, bringing a premature end to the season.

The 2020 racing season had also been delayed from April until June following the outbreak of the pandemic and went ahead behind closed doors.

Canada has been under severe lockdown in recent months, but the Ontario government last week identified a three-step Roadmap to Reopening plan because of an improvement in daily COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations and increased vaccinations.

With live horse racing included in the first phase of the reopening plan, Woodbine authorities said the thoroughbred season would now get started on June 18.

On behalf of the horse racing industry and the thousands of families who depend on it, I would like to thank the Premiers office and local health authorities for providing some much-needed clarity, Woodbine Entertainments CEO, Jim Lawson said.

While the timing is not ideal, we can now prepare for the resumption of live racing with a degree of certainty. I would also like to acknowledge Ontario horse people for their patience and resiliency during the past several months.

Racing will continue June 19 and 20 to highlight the opening weekend, with racing then taking place on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays going forward.

The Woodbine season traditionally opens in April, but with Canada battling a virulent wave of COVID-19, most sporting events have been postponed.

On Tuesday, however, Canada reported only 2,506 new infections, down 72 per cent from mid-April at the height of the third wave.

Ontario reported 1,095 new cases on Wednesday, whileToronto continued to record its lowest daily case rates since March.

So far, only three racetracks have been opened across Canada with Hastings in Vancouver, Century Mile in Edmonton and Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, all opening their doors this month.

Woodbine is the biggest of them all, boasting the most lucrative purses and races like the million-dollar Queens Plate and Woodbine Mile.

This season, which had been carded to get started on April 17, had been expected to feature CAN $16.5 million in purses across 87 stakes, but may now be re-jigged.

Husbands, who turned 48 last weekend, is a legend at Woodbine, having won seven riding titles and eight Sovereign Awards for Canadas Most Outstanding Jockey.

Husbands elder brother, Simon also plies his trade at Woodbine, along with fellow Barbadians Keveh Nicholls, Jason Hoyte and Chris Husbands, and Jamaican Kirk Johnson.

(CMC)

See the original post here:

Husbands and Caribbean riders set for action at Woodbine - Nation News

Over the last year, Indias wealthy population has migrated out of the country searching for greener pastures due to several concerns exacerbated by the pandemic.

According to the Global Wealth Migration Review Report, roughly 2% of Indias millionaires or approximately 5,000 high net-worth individuals flocked overseas in 2020 alone.

As the country grapples with another deadlier wave of COVID-19, along with stronger taxation laws thatll require Indians to be taxed on their worldwide income, high net-worth individuals have begun to reconsider their options when it comes to protecting their family, wealth and future. These growing concerns have left many to seek out a Plan B in the case of further unpredictability.

Acquiring second citizenship, particularly in the Caribbean, has quickly become a popular option for mitigating risks.

Established in 1993, Dominicas Citizenship by Investment Programme has welcomed Indian investors to its shores for several decades.

The programme enables foreign investors and their families to become citizens once making an economic contribution to either a government fund or purchasing a selected real estate option. Once undergoing the necessary due diligence checks, applicants can gain receipt of citizenship within three months and can thus apply for their second passport. Indians who hold a foreign passport are also exempt from paying tax under the latest regulations in India.

Applicants who choose to invest in Dominicas government fund contribute to the islands national development in areas including education and tourism.

The nation has also channelled millions into its healthcare sector, funding the construction of a state-of-the-art hospital, multiple health centres along with providing overseas medical treatment for several children.

Alternatively, those who choose to invest in real estate have the option of buying into internationally renowned brands, including Hilton, Marriott and Kempinski or the choice of unique boutique resorts like Jungle Bay and Secret Bay. Not only does this allow investors to diversify their assets and build their wealth portfolio, but it can also operate as a second home in times of crisis something that Indians have become all too familiar with.

Aside from attractive investment options, the benefits that come with Dominican citizenship are immeasurable. Most notably, Indian investors can access around 75% of the world with visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to over 140 countries and territories. This is a vital component for accessing global markets, particularly when looking to keep business competitive.

In comparison, the Indian passport grants its holders entry to roughly 61 destinations. Additionally, Dominicas proximity to the United States also presents an economic advantage to investors, especially as the islands currency is pegged to the US dollar.

As governments become more insular and impose stricter visa controls, the opportunity to travel and be global and do business internationally is considerably hampered. That why Citizenship by Investment is a wonderful way to reverse that as it gives the Indian national better access to travel and business opportunities says Micha Emmett, CEO of CS Global Partners, a London-headquartered legal advisory specialising in providing citizenship solutions.

As one of the oldest citizenship by investment programmes on the market, Dominica has consistently ranked as the worlds best offering for second citizenship by the annual CBI Index published by the Financial Times PWM magazine. The report cites the programmes affordability, family-friendly structure and streamlined processing as some of the reasons for its popularity.

With India witnessing an exodus of its millionaire class, it has become increasingly clear that having an insurance policy in the COVID-era is crucial for globally-minded individuals. Whether seeking increased financial freedom, bypassing travel restrictions or accessing better services, second citizenship provides the ultimate safety net in todays uncertain climate.

Read more here:

Wealthy Indians look to the Caribbean for greener pastures - The Statesman

The impact of the pandemic on students

The leaders of the national colleges expected that COVID-19 would have detrimental impacts on the student population. For instance, one-third of all survey respondents indicated that new students entering the system will be less academically prepared. Moreover, about half of all survey respondents believe that student dropouts are rising and that new students will be negatively affected by mental health problems due to the pandemic.

The participants in the national colleges meeting agreed that the pandemic had posed new challenges that national colleges are not ready to address appropriately. They stressed that it has become imperative for them to work together as a network to face emerging challenges. A key take-away from the discussions was the need to operate more collaboratively than in silos. Working across ECS colleges could help design and implement more efficient joint solutions, such as shared digital content platforms, improving student services, and fostering teacher professional development.

Most survey respondents considered that promoting collaboration across national ECS colleges is a priority. Nonetheless, all respondents indicated that their current level of collaboration is low due to a lack of a clear framework and financial resources.

Survey results also showed strong concerns regarding the inadequacy of financial and human resources available for the provision of student services. These include remediation, counseling, and employment support. They also indicated that national colleges lack information systems capable of assessing the needs of employers, identifying students at risk, and tracing student employment to work transition.

Excerpt from:

Regional priorities for skills and technical education in the Eastern Caribbean States amid COVID-19 - World Bank Group

Like elsewhere in the world, the Caribbean is currently facing an air transport crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The region is yet to fully reactivate the commercial service of the many airlines that operate there. Nevertheless, the Caribbean must find a way to do so because no other region in the world is so heavily dependent on air travel for social and economic reasons.

During a Caribbean Islands Panel, organized by CAPA and hosted by the International Air Travel Associations (IATA) regional vice-president for the Americas, Peter Cerd, several industry members discussed the current status of the Caribbean.

According to IATA, the air travel industry provides US$36 billion in GDP to the Caribbean. It also creates 1.6 million jobs, nearly 14% of the whole travel economy in the region.

Before the pandemic, the region had more connectivity than ever, with over 540 city-pair connections to all parts of the world. Since COVID hit the world, the Caribbean lost about 423 of those city pairs. It still has yet to recover all its connectivity.

The regional airlines have suffered quite a lot due to the pandemic. For instance, the Antigua and Barbuda airline LIAT nearly disappeared; the Dutch Government gave a US$3 million mortgage loan to Windward Islands Airways (Winair), and Cubana de Aviacin is in the worst financial situation ever.

Peter Cerd said,

The Caribbean island states dont have the luxury of mainland continents, of roads and train systems. Theyre highly dependent on air travel connectivity within the region, within the island states, as well as connecting to North America, Europe, and Latin America.

Stay informed:Sign up for ourdailyandweeklyaviation news digests.

The Barbados Minister of Transport, Lisa Cummings, gave its four pillars to resume the air travel industry in the Caribbean.

These four pillars are coordination around proactive and reactive measures, identification of minimum standards, balance about quarantining and testing, and access to the technology and testing resources.

Nevertheless, coordination between governments is something that the Caribbean has lacked over the last year. Every country in the region has its own set of rules regarding the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tracy Cooper, CEO of Bahamasair, said,

We recognize that every country is unique within the Caribbean, and they have their own issues. But if we would have been using more the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), it would make it simpler for the wider global community to understand what and how it is to get it and around each of these countries.

In June, a total of 66 airlines are operating flights to the Caribbean region, according to data provided by Cirium. Theyll be offering 39,959 flights, with over five million monthly seats. The leading operator will be JetBlue with over 7,280 flights, followed by American Airlines with 6,511. In third place, Cape Air will offer 2,453 flights.

Compared to 2019, the Caribbean is still 33% down in the number of flights and 25% in the number of seats. That year, 85 airlines were operating in the region, with JetBlue and American also as the top players.

Currently, several Caribbean governments are shifting their COVID-19 travel restrictions to allow the US vaccinated travelers to leisure there. For instance, Barbados launched new vaccinated protocols on May 9, prioritizing US travel, said Cummings. Also, Virgin Atlantic, Barbados, and IATA are trailing IATAs Travel Pass on its route from London Heathrow.

Are you planning to visit the Caribbean any time soon? Let us know in the comments below.

See the original post:

The Caribbean Urgently Needs Air Travel: How Can It Be Restored? - Simple Flying

The newest Relais & Chateaux resort in the Caribbean is in Turks and Caicos.

The Meridian Club Pine Cay, long one of the regions top private-island resorts, has officially joined the culinary-focused hotel collection.

The 21-key hotel has 13 residences and eight villas on a private 800-acre island a short trip from Providenciales.

The resorts culinary program is led by Costa Rican Chef Andres Melendez.

There are now seven Relais & Chateaux resorts in the wider Caribbean, including properties in Dominica, Grenada, Anguilla, St Barth, The Bahamas, the Dominican Republic.

The most recent Relais & Chateaux Caribbean addition had been Tiamo, a resort on Andros Island in The Bahamas.

A natural fit for the Relais & Chteaux family, The Meridian Club Pine Cay champions the brands core pillars of sustainability and biodiversity, through its own proactive ecological initiatives, including rainwater harvesting, electric transportation and the usage of solar panels, the resort said in a statement.

Turks and Caicos is currently open for tourism; you can find more on how to visit here.

For more, visit the Meridian Club Pine Cay.

CJ

Originally posted here:

The Caribbean's Newest Relais & Chateaux Resort Is in Turks and Caicos - Caribbean Journal

Cruises in the U.S. are currently halted amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, while some voyages operating outside the country have resumed.

Some cruise deals are available for voyages in Europe and the Caribbean from some major cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Princess Cruises.

While Americans are able to travel on cruises abroad, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises: "At this time, the CDC still recommends avoiding any travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide, because the risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high."

The health body warns: "That's because the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is high, since the virus appears to spread more easily between people in close quarters aboard ships.

"Cruise passengers are at increased risk of person-to-person spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, and outbreaks of COVID-19 have been reported on cruise ships," it adds.

Americans who decide to go on a cruise abroad "should get tested 13 days before their trip and 35 days after their trip, even if they are fully vaccinated," the health body advises.

See the CDC website for the latest advice on cruise travel during the pandemic.

Some cruises in other regions have resumed services, including in parts of Europe, Asia, the South Pacific as well as the Caribbean.

For cruising enthusiasts in the U.S. looking to book a cruise at this time, here are some of the latest deals on offer.

In early April, Royal Caribbean extended its suspension of several voyages aboard six of its cruise ships with departure dates through June. "Our plan is to resume further operation in July," the company stated at the time.

Back in March, Royal Caribbean announced new seven-night cruises aboard the Adventure of the Seas cruise ship that will depart from the Bahamas starting in June. The cruise line said its new sailings will require adult guests to be "fully vaccinated against COVID-19."

At the time of reporting, a seven-night cruise departing on September 11 aboard Adventure of the Seas, visiting different parts of the Bahamas and Cozumel in Mexico, was available from around $449 per person.

Another week-long cruise departing on August 14 aboard the Vision of the Seas vessel, traveling through the Bahamas and Bermuda, was available from around $928 per person.

See the Royal Caribbean website for more information on the latest cruise offers.

On Wednesday, Princess Cruises announced the cancelation of its California coast and Mexico sailings aboard the Ruby Princess through August 21. Its Caribbean sailings aboard the Caribbean Princess vessel through August 21 and its remaining 2021 Mediterranean season aboard the Enchanted Princess were also axed as well

The cruise line is continuing "its discussion with various United States and Canadian government officials to try to preserve a portion of the Alaska 2021 cruise season," it said in a statement Wednesday.

Currently there are bookings available for departure dates later this year, including Caribbean cruises from around $531 (379) per person, departing from as early as November 6 aboard the Caribbean Princess vessel.

Alaska cruises for next year are also available from around $756 (539) per person, departing from as early as May 2, 2022 aboard the Sapphire Princess.

See the Princess Cruises website for more information on the latest cruise deals.

On Tuesday, Carnival Cruise Line (the flagship cruise line of British-American cruise operator Carnival Corporation) said it is "cancelling sailings on all other ships through July 30," following an earlier announcement in April which canceled sailings from the U.S. through June.

The company said it "hopes to begin operating sailings on three ships from Florida and Texas, including Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze from Galveston, and Carnival Horizon from Miami," in a statement Tuesday.

Currently there are bookings available for cruises in the Bahamas, Mexico and the Caribbean for departures later this year from the autumn months and onwards.

At the time of reporting, short cruises in the Bahamas departing from Florida were available from $159 per person.

Four to five day cruises in the Caribbean departing from Florida and Alabama were on offer from $179 per person. Voyages in Mexico departing from California were available from $194 per person, at the time of publishing.

Nine-day cruises are also available in the U.K., Spain and Italy from $699 per person.

The exact departures vary depending on destination and deal. See the Carnival website for exact dates.

See the Carnival website for more information on the latest cruise offers.

In early April, Norwegian Cruise Line announced it will begin operations at a reduced capacity aboard its Norwegian Jade, Joy and Gem vessels, with new sailings in Europe and the Caribbean starting on July 25.

Currently, the cruise line is offering 30 percent off all of its cruises. The website says: "No matter when and where you want to cruise, the time to book (and save) is now with 30 percent off all cruises! Plus, add on any Two free at Sea Upgrade Packages."

At the time of reporting, Caribbean sailings were on offer from around $603 (430) per person, departing from as early as August.

Cruises in the Mediterranean region are available from around $655 (467) per person, including one departing as early as August this year traveling through the Greek islands of Santorini, Mykonos and Rhodes. This voyage is available from around $766 (546) per person.

See the Norwegian website for more information on the latest cruise offers.

Holland America Line "received approval to restart cruising from Piraeus (Athens) in August with four departures aboard Eurodam," the company said in a statement on May 5.

Its new seven-day cruises in Greece are available for departures from August 15 through September 5, priced from around $2,734 (1,949) per person.

See the Holland America Line website for more information on the latest cruise deals.

Costa Cruises resumed cruise operations this month with its first sailing from Italy on May 1. Its summer season includes voyages to parts of France, Spain and Greece.

Summer cruises in the Eastern Mediterranean region are available from around $439 per person, with departures from as early as June 5.

See the Costa Cruises website for more information the latest cruise offers.

Excerpt from:

Cruise Ship Deals From Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Carnival and Others - Newsweek

COVID-19 OVERVIEW

Concern is mounting in Latin America and the Caribbean over the circulation of new COVID-19 variants that are driving up cases and hospitalizationswhile countries in the region continue to administer available vaccines supplies. Additionally, increasing cases among people 39 or younger are resultingin longer hospital stays and higher demand for healthcare services. Over the long term, one of the region's chief concerns is the pandemic's impact onmortality, as Latin American countries have suffered more excess deaths from all causes during the pandemic than any other region in the world.

NEW VARIANTS

The P.1 variant from Brazil, thought to be 2 to2.5 times more transmissible than the firstSARS-CoV-2 strain to spread in Latin Americaand the Caribbean, has rapidly spread acrossSouth America in 2021. Countries such asArgentina, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay andVenezuela, who have confirmed the presenceof P.1, have set single-day records for casesand deaths in April. Peru registered its highestsingle-day death toll at 433.

As Brazil shares a border with 10 countries,the greater transmissibility of P.1 variantposes a serious threat to the region. Theclimbing pace of new infections, coupled withchallenges in rolling out vaccines in severalcountries, is further straining health systemsand has prompted certain countries to againimplement restriction measures and/or closetheir borders.

EXCESS DEATHS

While Latin America and the Caribbean's deathtoll of more than 958,300 currently accountsfor nearly 3 out of every 10 COVID-19 deathsreported around the world, the pandemic'seffects on mortality in the region also includeexcess deaths (the number of deaths abovehistorical averages) due to overburdenedhealth systems' reduced capacities for treatingother conditions and COVID-19 deaths notrecorded at hospitals, among other factors.

Latin American countries have suffered moreexcess deaths relative to historical averages,with Peru, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Mexico,Brazil and Colombia currently reporting sevenof the world's eight largest disparities in deathsrelative to historical averages. The region as awhole accounts for 10 out of 40 countries inthe world with the highest excess deaths per 1million people

Read the original:

Latin America & The Caribbean - Monthly Situation Snapshot - As of 11 May 2021 - Argentina - ReliefWeb

Last week in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, demonstrations increased. Workers in different sectors demonstrated in several countries across the region on International Workers Day, demanding better working conditions and access to coronavirus vaccines. As part of these demonstrations, in Mexico, teachers organized several protests in the state of Hidalgo. In El Salvador, Congress voted in favor of the destitution of the attorney general and five judges of the Supreme Court, triggering protests in the capital. Meanwhile, in Puerto Rico, civil society organizations and relatives of two women killed by their former partners protested against gender-based violence. Lastly, in Mexico, a journalist was killed by unidentified armed men in the state of Sonora.

On 1 May, workers protested in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, and Puerto Rico in commemoration of International Workers Day on 1 May. In over half of demonstrations that day, workers denounced worsening labor conditions amid the coronavirus pandemic and demanded access to vaccinations. Over the last few months, coronavirus contagion rates have increased in several countries in the region, leading to new lockdown measures (Deutsche Welle, 29 April 2021). Unemployment rates have increased in Central America amid the pandemic by an estimated 9.7% in 2020 compared to 6.1% in 2019 (Nodal, 29 October 2020). In the majority of the countries in Central America and the Caribbean, less than 10% of the population has been fully vaccinated (Reuters, May 2021).

Meanwhile, in Mexico, teachers affiliated with the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) one of the largest teachers unions in Mexico protested in 27 cities across the state of Hidalgo on 1 May. The protests took place amid ongoing negotiations between the government and the SNTE. Teachers are asking for the timely payment of wages and pensions, and access to technology (La Jornada, 6 March 2021). In 2020, classes were held remotely to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. This raised concerns over access to education, especially in rural areas where over 50% of the population does not have internet access (El Pais, 22 March 2021).

In El Salvador, Congress voted to remove the attorney general and five judges of the Supreme Court. The dismissal triggered protests in the capital, San Salvador. Following the legislative elections of 28 February, President Nayib Bukeles party, New Ideas, and other parties supporting the government, have held the majority in Congress. On 2 May, a majority of deputies in the Legislative Assembly approved the removal of five judges who had ruled against initiatives pushed by the president on several occasions, such as the enforcement of strict coronavirus measures (BBC, 2 May 2021; Reuters, 16 April 2020). Similarly, they removed the attorney general for allegedly siding with the interests of the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) opposition party (Deutsche Welle, 2 May 2021). The removal of the attorney comes after the opening of an investigation against Bukeles government. The government is accused of negotiating with gangs supposedly exchanging money or prison perks in exchange for electoral favors and reduced levels of killings perpetrated by gangs (Insight Crime, 3 May 2021; La Vanguardia, 4 September 2020).

In response to the dismissal of the general attorney and judges, civil society organizations, students, and opposition groups protested. They argue that the decision is another step towards the governments full control of the three branches of government. Pro-government workers unions also demonstrated in support of the newly appointed attorney general and judges by Congress. President Bukele has been criticized by members of the international community and local civil society organizations for the authoritarian turn his government has taken (El Comercio, 2 May 2021). In February 2020, the president walked into a parliamentary session with armed police and military officers in an effort to intimidate congressmen who were about to vote on the approval of funds for the governments security plan (La Vanguardia, 9 February 2021).

Meanwhile in Puerto Rico, the killing of two women sparked demonstrations against gender-based violence. On 29 April, a woman was killed and her charred body was discovered in the city of Cayey. Two days later, in San Juan, another woman was killed. In both cases, the perpetrators are the former partners of the victims (EFE, 3 May 2021). Relatives of the victims and members of organizations that advocate for womens rights organized several protests in the cities of San Juan and Caguas demanding justice for femicides. In January 2021, the governor of Puerto Rico declared a state of emergency, promising to invest resources in mechanisms to prevent gender-based violence (BBC, 25 January 2021). This decision was taken as femicides have doubled in 2020 compared to the previous year (Amnesty International, 26 January 2021).

Finally, in Mexico, on World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, a journalist was killed by unidentified armed men in the state of Sonora. The victim was the founder of a local media outlet that covered political and criminal news in the municipality of Sonoyta. He had reportedly received anonymous threats days before the attack (Infobae, May 2021). This is at least the second killing of a journalist in Mexico this year. Although the motives of the attack remain unknown, the killing of the journalist might be connected to the activities of gangs in the area. Press workers are often threatened and targeted for their investigative work into corruption or organized crime activities (The New York Times, 22 December 2020). According to Reporters Without Borders, 99% of killings of journalists in Mexico go unpunished (Swissinfo, 8 May 2021).

View original post here:

ACLED Regional Overview Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (1 - 7 May 2021) - Mexico - ReliefWeb