Caribbean News
Abductions, Rapes, Indoctrination of Children Spark New Concern — Even as Forces Reclaim Haiti Telecoms Hub from Gangs
Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
Haiti, August 29, 2025 – Children abducted, raped, recruited, and indoctrinated into Haiti’s gangs are at the center of a new alarm sounded by the United Nations, even as Haitian police and the UN-backed Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) claw back vital ground in the fight against armed groups.
Briefing the UN Security Council this week, Secretary-General António Guterres described Haiti as trapped in a “perfect storm of suffering”. He reminded members that the country remains shamefully overlooked and woefully underfunded, with children enduring the gravest abuses.
“They are abducted, they are killed, they are recruited, and they are used, and they are subjected to horrific sexual violence, including gang rape. These are crimes that scar bodies, minds, and futures,” Guterres said, pressing the Council to authorize stronger international support, backed by predictable UN financing.
UNICEF’s Executive Director Catherine Russell echoed the call, stressing that child recruitment has surged seven-fold this year, with minors
now representing nearly half of all armed group members. She urged Council members to demand an immediate halt to attacks on schools and hospitals and to press gangs to release children from their ranks. Haiti, she warned, remains the least funded humanitarian appeal worldwide.
Against that bleak backdrop, news of a successful security operation has offered a rare measure of hope. In the early hours of August 25, specialized MSS units — including Kenyan and Jamaican troops — joined forces with the Haitian National Police (PNH) to retake the Téléco telecommunications hub in the Kenscoff area.
The site had been under the control of gangs led by the notorious figure known as Izo2. Its occupation had briefly disrupted both internet service and air traffic, highlighting just how far gang influence had penetrated.
The pre-dawn raid lasted nearly two hours, with security teams conducting door-to-door sweeps. They seized automatic rifles with erased serial numbers, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, and dismantled barricades that had choked off access roads.
PNH spokesperson Michel-Ange Louis Jeune hailed the operation as a decisive blow, while new police chief Vladimir Paraison declared that “the era of impunity for gangs in Haiti is coming to an end.” MSS spokesman Jack Ombaka emphasized that it was a demonstration of how international forces and Haitian police can deliver results together.
Still, UN officials cautioned that without sustained financing, such successes will remain fragile. Haiti’s appeal is less than 10 percent funded, leaving humanitarian responders and security forces stretched thin.
For now, though, the image of armed groups being forced out of a critical hub has given Haitians a glimpse of what is possible. In a nation battered by despair, even a single reclaimed outpost is a signal that gangs can be pushed back — and that the fight for Haiti’s future is not yet lost.
Caribbean News
Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts celebrate a night of wins, and take home a total of 16 titles at the 32nd Annual World Travel Awards
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (October 6th, 2025) – CaribCon, the Caribbean conference celebrating culture, innovation, and creativity, will welcome some of the region’s most influential voices to its inaugural edition in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The event, set to be a dynamic gathering of thought leaders and cultural icons, will feature impactful panel discussions, inspiring and intimate fireside chats and a flow of knowledge from some of the Caribbean’s brightest and best in the creative sector.
Elizabeth “Lady” Montano
Jamaica’s own Dr. Terri-Karelle Johnson, celebrated communications specialist, media personality, and global keynote speaker, will headline CaribCon as the official keynote speaker. Known for her ability to connect authentically and inspire audiences worldwide, Dr. Reid will share her insights on Caribbean identity, storytelling, and the power of representation in shaping global narratives. Another highlight of CaribCon will be the presence of Elizabeth “Lady” Montano, mother and former manager of soca superstar Machel Montano. Lady will launch her award-winning book, King of Soca, in which she is positioned as the ultimate insider, chronicling the evolution of one of the Caribbean’s most iconic entertainers. She will also share her invaluable experiences on nurturing talent, building a brand, and sustaining longevity in the competitive music industry in an intimate fireside chat. Adding further star power to the event is Simon Baptiste, CEO of Question Mark Entertainment, co-founder of ODOS, a global collective network spanning over 1000 professionals in 35 countries, film director, talent manager and creative strategist. Baptiste will bring his expertise to conversations on shaping the region’s creative sector and talent.
Simon Baptiste
“CaribCon is where the Caribbean’s voices, ideas, and creativity converge,” says Omega Simmons, founder of CaribCon and CEO of SOS Media. “Having leaders like Terri Karelle, Lady Montano, and Simon Baptiste share their stories and expertise truly embodies the spirit of this event. Their presence reinforces the power of Caribbean culture to inspire and influence on the world stage.” CaribCon will take place at the Shore Club in Providenciales, the Turks and Caicos Islands, from October 23rd to 26th. Attendees can look forward to networking opportunities, panel discussions, and meaningful dialogue to foster an ecosystem that develops the region’s creative sector and propels it onto the global stage.
Sponsors are:
Signature Experience Partners: Ministry of Tourism, Experience Turks and Caicos, and The Shore Club.
Other sponsors: PPID, Invest TCI, InterCaribbean Airways, Subtronic Sounds, Spotlight Communications.
Hotel partners: Ocean Club Resorts, Waterloo Hotel Management, The Somerset on Grace Bay and Ports of Call Resort.
For more information, tickets, and updates, visit www.caribcon.co or follow @caribconhq on all social media platforms.
For more information please email: contact@caribcon.co
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