Caribbean News
Bigger planes and added advice to aid in fleeing Haiti.
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#USA, September 9, 2023 – American Airlines, the largest airline at the Miami International Airport, is making moves, switching to a larger plane to cater to people fleeing Haiti, increasing the amount of seats available.
The airline since April has been using a smaller Airbus A319 with 128 seats on its route between Miami and Port-au-Prince. But now it is transitioning temporarily to the larger Boeing 737-800 with a 172 seat capacity which was in
operation Friday and Saturday and will be again on September 7th to the 20th, according to Laura Masvidal, Erica, American Airlines spokeswoman.
Masvidal further informed that after September 20th, the airline will return to its usual plane, the Airbus A319 for the Haiti flights.
US passengers will now have more options to escape the chaotic atmosphere of the republic amid the difficulties getting a flight out of the country for months because of reduce flights US airlines and expensive fares.
Given the limited number of available seats that has hindered people trying to leave the island, Passengers have been subjected to expensive fares since spring this year.
In fact, as reported by the Miami Herald, “one-way tickets out of Port-au-Prince on American Airlines cost from $1,091 with a week’s planning to $3,404 for a last-minute airfare.”
Also, the fares have been fluctuating, an annoyance to U.S. Haitians.
However, American Airlines has had fare Cap since March for main cabin seats between Port-au-Prince and Miami and it will continue indefinitely, according to Masvidal.
She informed that the cap prevents one way main cabin fares from exceeding $716 excluding taxes and fees, she said.
In continuation, American Airlines is not the only entity making moves to help people flee Haiti.
Haiti-based carrier Sunrise Airway announced that it will, on September 15th, begin operating direct flights between Port-au-Prince and Miami airport. They said, according to reports, that they will be using an Airbus A320,
scheduled four times weekly.
Starting September 6th, they will also add flights between Cap-Haïtien and Miami four times a week.
These additional flight services seem to be timely as the demand to leave the country rises, especially after the US State Department issued its highest travel advisory— “Do Not Travel”, announced just over month ago and last week’s issuance of another statement by the U.S. Embassy in Haiti urging Americans to exit the country as “soon as possible”.
It is also timely as more Haitians have set their eyes on the US under Biden’s recently launched two-year humanitarian parole program.
Over 50,000 Haitians since January, have arrived in the U.S. under the program and according to the Biden administration, 63,000 Haitians have so far been vetted and approved.
Caribbean News
Calvin James, Executive Director of PISLM, Extends Congratulations to The Honorable Stuart Young on His Appointment as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
St. George’s Grenada– March 17, 2025 – Executive Director for the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM), Calvin James, extends his heartfelt congratulations to The Honorable Stuart Young SC on his swearing-in as the eighth Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, which took place on Monday, March 17, 2025.
“We are honored to witness a new chapter for the leadership of Trinidad and Tobago and are confident that Young’s vision and drive, will continue to advance sustainable soil and land management, land degradation neutrality and prosperity in the country.” James also acknowledged the contributions of former Prime Minister Dr. Ketih Rowley, expressing his gratitude, for his years of devoted service to the twin island republic. “Dr. Rowley shall not be forgotten for his commitment, leadership and contributions over the years.”
The Executive Director, also places on record appreciation to the Honourable Penelope Beckles, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Political Focal Point, who resumed her portfolio as Planning and Development Minister in Prime Minister Stuart Young’s new cabinet. The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) looks forward to working with the new administration to continue the mission of attaining Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), employment of Sustainable Soil and Land Management practices within the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (CSIDS), including Trinidad and Tobago.
Castries, March 2025. Saint Lucia has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring human rights for all.
This was the collective assertion, as over 20 national stakeholders participated in a two-day national Human Rights workshop. This initiative was hosted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) Regional Caribbean office, in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinator’s satellite office in Saint Lucia, and the Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation, and Diaspora Affairs. 
The workshop, was designed to enhance awareness of the International Human Rights System, including treaty bodies and human rights mechanisms; build capacity of government officials and civil society members in data gathering and human rights reporting; and to highlight the role that respective agencies and their constituents play within this system. The Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs is the focal agency for Human Rights in Saint Lucia.
In welcoming participants, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs Ms. Janelle Modeste-Stephen, noted that advancing human rights was a shared responsibility. “Government must enact policies and safeguard rights. Civil society must continue to advocate and mobilize. The private sector must embrace inclusive practices. Communities must challenge discrimination and uphold the dignity of every individual,” She urged stakeholders to use the workshop as an opportunity to learn, collaborate and commit to concrete action that will make human rights a lived reality for all in Saint Lucia. “Together, we can build a society, where justice, equality and inclusion are not just aspirations but everyday realities”, she stated.
A key objective of the workshop was to reactivate and strengthen the capacity of Saint Lucia’s National Coordinating Committee for Human Rights, which was established by the Cabinet of Ministers in 2019. The Ministry of External Affairs serves as the Chair and Secretariat of the Committee, which comprises representatives from various government ministries. The committee is responsible for analyzing the human rights situation at the national level and collaborates to report on recommendations aligned with Saint Lucai’s national priorities. The active
functioning of the National Coordinating Committee for Human Rights is crucial for promoting and protecting human rights.
Reflecting on the utility of the workshop, Ms. Bynta Ernest, the representative from the Department of Gender Affairs on the National Human Rights Committee noted that the session was essential to the Committee’s revitalization and to demonstrating its importance in advancing human rights in Saint Lucia. “The practical sessions towards reporting on the recommendations from the last Universal periodic Review (UPR) were also very useful to kick-start the process towards meeting our October 2025 UPR reporting deadline,” she added.
In fulfillment of Saint Lucia’s human rights related reporting obligations and deadlines, workshop participants prepared a draft plan of action to devise next steps to advance Saint Lucia’s human rights agenda.
The workshop was held at the Harbor Club Hotel, from March 5-6, 2025. Participants included representatives from departments of External Affairs, Health, Education, Labor, Justice, Human Services, Gender Affairs, Immigration, Equity, Economic Development, the National Statistical Office, the Parliamentary Commissioner’s Office, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, the Attorney General’s Office, and the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities.
Photo Captions:
1st insert: Janelle Modeste-Stephen, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs
2nd insert: Bynta Ernest, Gender Affairs
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