Press review of the Americas
In the news: a day of high tension in Haiti
Agents of the BSAP, a forest protection brigade that became an armed militia, marched in Port-au-Prince, with demonstrators to demand the departure of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, on February 6, 2024. © Odelyn Joseph / AP
By: Achim Lippold Follow
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This Wednesday, February 7, 2024, is the date on which Prime Minister Ariel Henry was to step down, according to an agreement signed by himself on December 21, 2022. But this will not be the case, the interim government which is put in place after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021 will remain in power, which causes great discontent among the population. On Tuesday, demonstrations took place all over the country and this of course made the headlines this morning.
Port-au-Prince, Ouanaminthe, Gonaïve, Hinche and even Cap-Haitien... In the country's main cities, demonstrators demanded the departure of the Prime Minister. Tensions were high with clashes between the police and protesters in Cap-Haitien, as reported by
Le Nouvelliste
, or the armed attack on a police station in Ouanaminthe which left one dead. Ouanaminthe in boiling state, headlines the
Gazette Haiti
newspaper . According to the daily, agents of the BSAP, a brigade originally created to protect the forests, but which transformed into an armed militia, marched in Port-au-Prince
,
"
a real show of force
", writes
Gazette Haiti
.
The presence of Guy Philippe arouses panic and curiosity
The BSAP which supports the former putschist against President Aristide, Guy Philippe, who appeared in public in Pétion-Ville on Tuesday. This can be read in a report from Le
Nouvelliste
. The presence of Guy Philippe “
caused panic in the streets”, but also “aroused curiosity
”, writes the newspaper. The former elected senator continues to call on the population, the police and the army to rise up against the government. A week that will be “
difficult
” writes
Le National
. The daily accuses the authorities of locking themselves into their “
usual silence, while the opponents seek to win the battle of communication
”
.
In any case, while political tension rises, the economy continues to deteriorate, notes the newspaper. “
The number of families fleeing their homes under the arson attack of armed gangs is increasing daily. At the same time, like boa constrictors, criminal groups continue to tighten their grip on the city. And this strangulation, both economic and social, has a disastrous impact on the household basket. The besieged city is threatened with serious shortages. Some markets are no longer supplied and consumers are desperate
,
”
writes
Le National
.
Hard-pressed consumers and an entire country “on the edge of a razor”
This is the title of the editorial in Le
Nouvelliste
.
The country is walking on a razor blade
,
”
he writes. “
The extreme tightrope walkers who lead the political game can achieve the feat of arriving safely with their respective project or lose their footing and the nation will end up torn apart, in a bloodbath. This February 7, 2024, the country is caught between an ineffective government and unclear proposals. The month of February promises to be dramatic if everyone does not start looking for the best for the country, for the nation
,
”
we can read in
Le Nouvelliste
.
The Chilean press pays tribute to Sebastián Piñera
The headlines of Chilean newspapers are printed partly in black, as a mark of mourning after the death of former President Sebastián Piñera on Tuesday February 6 in a helicopter accident. The entire press pays tribute to the first right-wing president elected after the end of the dictatorship, a man who
“ensured the continuity of democratic institutions
,” writes
El Mercurio
.
Its first election in 2010 opened space for the return of the right to power, believes
La Tercera
, but this time, "
a democratic right, which shared power with the left, which clearly contributed to consolidate democratic normality. He didn't care about having been the richest man in the country, his real ambition was to conquer La Moneda, the presidential palace, which he managed to do twice. During his mandate
,
he had to manage, among other things, an earthquake, a mining accident, social demonstrations and the Covid pandemic… Extreme situations even though his temperament was not
,” writes
La Tercera
.
Taylor Swift doesn't like people tracking her plane travel
According to information from the
Washington Post
, singer Taylor Swift attacked a young computer scientist from Florida who tracks the movements of billionaires' private jets. The newspaper reports that Taylor Swift's lawyers have asked Jack Sweeney to stop publishing the information about the thefts because it would cause the singer
"emotional and physical distress
."
The lawyers threaten to sue the young man if he continues his publications. Jack Sweeney, who has already aroused the anger of Elon Musk for the same reasons, for having followed his private plane, reacts on the information site
The Verge
: “
I think it is important to note that I have no intends to do harm. I actually think Swift made some good songs. I believe in transparency and publicly available information
.
”
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