Only 80 kilometers separate it from the violent capital of Haiti, but in the city of Jacmel tranquility reigns, and this has made it the destination of hundreds of people fleeing the terror imposed by armed gangs in Port-au-Prince, whose actions caused more than 5,600 violent deaths last year in this impoverished Caribbean country.
Joane, 45, lived and grew up in Delmas 24, in the Solino neighborhood, not far from the center of Port-au-Prince, but in April 2024 she was forced to move to Jacmel, where she claims to have found tranquility.
“Everyone fled the neighborhood. We run away at night without being able to take anything,” the woman told EFE, who tries to remake her life in Jacmel, doing what she likes most: selling handicrafts.
Since then, everything has changed for her. He has regained the tranquility he lost so long ago. “In terms of security, it’s totally different from Port-au-Prince. There are no problems with armed gangs,” he added.
The exodus to Jacmel, known for its paradisiacal beaches, dates back to 2018, when people began to leave the Haitian capital en masse. In the streets, in markets or on public transport, the people interviewed by EFE repeat the same phrase: “We left Port-au-Prince because of insecurity.
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The capital “is hell, even if they pay me to live there, I don’t go,” said a plumber while doing some work in a house in this city, decorated these days on the occasion of the visit last Wednesday of the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro.
The metropolitan area of Port-au-au-Prince, where at least a third of the Haitian population lives, is experiencing an upsurge in insecurity marked by the increase in massacres and armed attacks, gang rapes, robberies, murders and kidnappings to ask for ransom.
Thousands of people are forced to take refuge in unclean camps, leave the capital or simply flee the country, seeking refuge elsewhere.
At least 85% of the metropolitan area is in the hands of armed gangs, which multiply the number of tolls, the price of public transport and even basic necessities, throwing at least 1 in 2 Haitians into food insecurity.
Port-au-Prince is becoming an open-air prison, where the free movement of people and goods has ceased to exist. The entire city center, the economic heart of the country, has been destroyed to such an extent that it seems to have been shaken by a great earthquake.
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In Jacmel, however, the reality is very different. People can move freely in the streets and neighborhoods.
With more than 180,000 inhabitants, Jacmel impresses with its beaches and waterfalls, its places and historical sites, its unique urbanism and architectural heritage, and its welcoming and proud people of its city, the first to be electrified in the Caribbean region in 1895, and the place where the flag of Gran Colombia was created in the 19th century.
It is a highly cultural, historical and tourist destination. Its annual carnival stands out for its multiple colors, its masks and its festive atmosphere.
Activities that had completely disappeared in the Port-au-Prince region are rediscovered in Jacmel. For example, students doing their homework in public and illuminated places.
“As soon as everything returns to normal, I will return to Port-au-Prince,” Joane said.
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In recent years, the attempts of the gang members to settle in Jacmel have failed. Some have been murdered and others arrested in this small town where everyone knows each other and where the inhabitants only find out what happens in the capital through the news.
Lula invites Mexico, Colombia, and Uruguay to BRICS Summit in Brazil
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has invited Mexico, Colombia, and Uruguay to participate in the next BRICS summit, which will take place in Brazil this July.
“I am inviting all these countries here—Uruguay, Colombia, and Mexico—to take part in BRICS in Brazil. Even if they are not official members, it is important for them to participate because this is a time for global discussion,” Lula stated.
Strengthening Multilateralism and Free Trade
While attending the presidential handover ceremony in Uruguay, Lula emphasized the importance of including these countries in the conversation, given that BRICS represents nearly half of the world’s population and global GDP.
“It is crucial that at this BRICS summit, we truly strengthen two fundamental pillars: multilateralism and free trade. Without trade freedom, there is no multilateralism, and there is no democracy,” he declared.
Lula also proposed drafting a serious document to present at the summit in Rio de Janeiro in July, reaffirming the commitment to respecting multilateralism and promoting free trade.
Navy warship saves lithuanian adventurer caught in Pacific Storm
An Australian warship rescued a Lithuanian rower on Monday after he encountered a tropical cyclone while attempting to cross the Pacific Ocean from California.
Aurimas Mockus was brought aboard the Royal Australian Navy landing ship HMAS Choules, where he underwent a medical checkup, Vice Admiral Justin Jones said in a statement.
“Due to the highly unfavorable maritime conditions, Mr. Mockus’ vessel could not be recovered, except for two oars and some personal belongings,” stated the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), which coordinated the rescue.
Three Days Adrift in the Coral Sea
The 44-year-old adventurer spent three days adrift in the Coral Sea, approximately 740 kilometers (460 miles) east of Mackay, a coastal city in Queensland. He had rowed non-stop from San Diego in a closed vessel, aiming to reach Brisbane.
Mockus began his 12,000-kilometer (7,500-mile) journey in October and was only days away from Brisbane when he encountered the storm, which is expected to make landfall in Australia soon.
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Brisbane is located 800 kilometers (500 miles) south of Mackay in a straight line.
Mockus activated an emergency beacon on Friday after rowing into stormy seas and 80 km/h (50 mph) winds generated by Tropical Cyclone Alfred, according to the rescue authority.
A rescue aircraft established radio contact with Mockus on Saturday, where he reported feeling “fatigued,” the authority said.
UK investigates TikTok over teen data use in content recommendations
The UK’s data protection office announced on Monday that it is investigating how TikTok uses teenagers’ personal information to generate content recommendations on the social media platform.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) expressed growing concerns about how social media platforms use data generated by children’s online activity to fuel their recommendation algorithms. This raises the potential risk of exposing young users to inappropriate or harmful content.
The regulator stated that it aims to assess the strength of TikTok’s safety procedures regarding the personal data of users aged 13 to 17.
“It’s about what they are collecting and how their systems work,” said Information Commissioner John Edwards. “I expect to find that there are many benign and positive uses of children’s data in their recommendation systems.”
