PORT-AU-PRINCE – Haiti’s government has set up a provisional electoral council to prepare the troubled Caribbean country for its first general elections since 2016. The electoral council represents groups including farmers, journalists, human rights activists and the Vodou community and is tasked with setting up a legal framework for elections and organising the poll, which is due to be held by 2026.

The council created on Wednesday has seven members, the prime minister’s office said on social media platform X. Two other seats, one for human rights groups and another for women’s rights organisations, still lack a delegate, the office added. Smith Augustin, a member of the country’s transitional presidential council, told The Associated Press news agency that the remaining members would probably be announced in the coming days. By law, the council must have nine members.

Haiti’s shaky political situation has been exacerbated by a power that emerged following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021 and has not had a president since. Armed gangs have also spread their control over some 80 percent of the capital Port-au-Prince and most other parts of the nation. A previous electoral council was dissolved in 2021 under former Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who took office after Moise’s death but was forced out of his post earlier this year.

In Haiti, executive power is meant to be split between the president and the prime minister. The interim government in May tapped Garry Conille as prime minister. Only Kenya and Jamaica have so far deployed forces to Haiti as part of the United Nations-backed anti-gang offensive, which is set to expire at the start of October if its mandate is not renewed later this month.

The mission could also be converted into a formal UN peacekeeping operation, which would ensure funding and the longevity of the mission, a draft resolution showed. (Al Jazeera)…[+]

VENEZUELA – Twenty Venezuelan nationals faced charges in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court this week for illegally exploiting fish in the Atlantic Ocean. The accused were apprehended while allegedly fishing in waters near Georgetown between August 20 and September 5, 2024. However, the fishermen claimed they had received permission from a local fishing company to operate in the area.

According to police reports, ranks of the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) Coast Guard were conducting patrols approximately 82 nautical miles offshore when they observed two Venezuelan-registered vessels operating in the exclusive economic zone. The vessels were found to be fishing at a depth of about 180 feet with lines deployed on both sides.

Efforts to communicate with the vessels via Very high frequency radio were unsuccessful. The ranks then managed to board the vessels. Upon arrival, the Coast Guard discovered a total of 20 crew members, including the two captains. The captains were unable to produce the necessary fishing documents, and the vessels were found to be carrying a large quantity of fresh fish.

The crew members were escorted to GDF Coast Guard Headquarters, where they were detained and charged. They were informed of the allegations against them, with translations provided in Spanish. The Venezuelans appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith Mcgusty, who read the charges to them with assistance of an interpreter on Tuesday. They were charged with the offence of unlawful exploiting of resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Maritime Zones Act.

Charged were: Wilson Eneiqure Rojas, Degry Jose Mata Vicent, Gregorio Antonio Figversa,Rayner Ramon Millian Gomez, Jose Francisio Rivas Quidada, Oscar Enrique Duven Marcano, Johnathan Alberto Trujilo, Luis Angentis, Jose Rafael Mata Mata, Denny Fafeal Mata Salazak, Darwin Jose Mata Salaza, Cruz Manuel Duven Marcano, Edward Jose Millian Lopez, Ranaldo Thomas, Romeo Marin, Jesus Demery Marcana Marin, Robert Jose Guitierer Romel Alexabder Otopeza Hernandez, Johandry Jose Parez Martin Marcano, Edgar Jose Hernandez , and Yexi Jose Valesquez Vasquez.

All 20 of the men pleaded guilty to the charge and were fined USD 300,000. Captains Gregorio Antonio Figversa and Degry Jose Mata Vicent faced an additional charge for operating foreign fishing vessels without a valid license. Vicent pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to return to court on October 9, 2024 for statements, whilst Figversa pleaded guilty and was fined USD 1 million dollars or two years in prison.

During the court proceedings on Tuesday, the fishermen told the court that a local company would contact the Venezuelans and grant permission to fish in Guyana’s waters. One fisherman expressed frustration in court, stating: “For years we have been fishing in the same water by a local company; we never had a problem. What is the problem now? When we leave Venezuela and enter a certain area, we call the company and said that we are here. The company told us to come.” (Kaieteur News)…[+]

NEW YORK – Harvey Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to one count of a criminal sex act in the first degree after he was indicted by a grand jury earlier this month. Weinstein, who was present in the New York courtroom on Wednesday in a wheelchair and wearing a suit, was medically cleared to attend the hearing after recovering from an emergency procedure on his heart and lungs in recent weeks.

The indictment was announced during a court hearing last week and unsealed on Wednesday. It had remained sealed at the time because Weinstein, 72, was not yet able to attend court due to his health. Weinstein is accused of forcibly engaging “in oral sexual conduct” with a woman at some point between April 29, 2006 and May 6, 2006 in New York, according to a copy of the indictment obtained by CNN. An attorney for the woman whose grand jury testimony served as the basis of the new indictment said she intends to testify at trial.

“Ms. Doe has not shared this story publicly before, nor does she want to be identified at this time. She will be fully prepared to speak her truth at trial to hold Mr. Weinstein accountable before a jury of his peers,” Lindsay M. Goldbrum, an attorney for Jane Doe, said in a statement. “Thanks to this survivor who bravely came forward, Harvey Weinstein now stands indicted for an additional alleged violent sexual assault,” said New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Wednesday, adding that the investigation is ongoing. Prosecutors in New York began presenting the case to the grand jury in August.

Weinstein was previously convicted of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape in 2020 and sentenced to 23 years in prison. His conviction was overturned by the New York Court of Appeals in April, citing violation of Weinstein’s constitutional rights at trial. A retrial on the 2020 charges is tentatively set to begin on November 12. Prosecutors on Wednesday moved to consolidate this latest indictment with the upcoming retrial, which Weinstein’s attorneys have opposed.

“We are prepared to go to trial and defend Harvey for the original remaining charges,” Juda Engelmayer, a spokesperson for Weinstein, said in a statement sent to CNN on Wednesday. Yet, we will vociferously and legally challenge any effort to defend this new charge until we fully understand it, can research and investigate the claim, and boldly defend Harvey against (it).” Weinstein remains in prison while he appeals a separate 2022 conviction in Los Angeles, where he was found guilty on three sexual assault charges and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Weinstein is due back in court for next hearing on October 2. (CNN)…[+]

NEW YORK – Sean “Diddy” Combs will remain in federal custody after his lawyers on Wednesday failed in their appeal of the decision that denied him bail. In his ruling, Judge Andrew Carter said there were no conditions that reduced the risk of witness tampering or obstruction. The hip-hop artist and music mogul, who is facing charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, will continue to be held in custody pending his trial. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday. Combs faces a sentence of up to life in prison if convicted. His next court appearance was scheduled for October 9.

Combs was being held by himself at the Special Housing Unit in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after Tuesday’s hearing, according to a law enforcement official. Prosecutors allege Combs, 54, created and ran a “criminal enterprise” through his business empire that engaged in crimes including sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice, according to the federal indictment. US Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky ruled Tuesday that Combs stay in custody while he faces charges.

Prosecutors opposed releasing Combs on any grounds, telling Tarnofsky he has attempted to tamper with witnesses and saying “the risk of danger is acute.” They pointed to an alleged cache of weapons found in the closet of Comb’s bedroom and his access to millions of dollars in bank accounts and cash that make him a flight risk. To try to sway a federal judge to release Combs while he awaits trial, his lawyers submitted a new bail package Wednesday that proposes to restrict all female visitors to his home who are not family members.

Combs’ defense team suggested the court restrict any females other than his family or mothers of his children from visiting his home and limit all visitors to his Miami properties “except for family, property caretakers, and friends who are not considered to be co-conspirators,” according to a new letter submitted to Carter, who is expected to preside over Combs’ case until the end. (CNN)…[+]