LES CAYES, Haiti, Aug 24 (Reuters) – After a devastating earthquake leveled tens of thousands of homes in Haiti, some residents have started to pick up the pieces, collecting scrap metal from the rubble to resell and make ends meet.

Djedson Hypolite deftly coiled severed electrical wires at a collapsed home in the southern Haitian city of Les Cayes on Monday afternoon, as he scanned the debris for more metal.

The 13-year-old boy and his brother Dawenson, 9, have been extracting and reselling wires and cables found in the wreckage since the quake struck on Aug. 14, killing over 2,000 people across Haiti.

“We are fatherless and our home collapsed, so we’re just trying to survive somehow,” said Hypolite, explaining the two brothers earned about $5 a day collecting the electrical wires.

The earthquake occurred just over a month after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, deepening the political turmoil in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation, where violent gangs run rampant, hunger is on the rise and healthcare services were already buckling under COVID-19.

Though official efforts to clear the rubble have been slow in hard-hit cities and towns across Haiti’s southern peninsula, scrap metal collectors and recycling enterprises are busier than ever, providing much-needed cash for hundreds of residents, and extra hands for clearing debris.

All across the city, residents carried the scrap metal to collection sites on motorbikes, pickup trucks, or balanced on top of their heads. Those who could shoulder the weight hauled aluminum sheeting, which netted 25 Haitian gourdes (25 cents) per kilo, or iron rods, which went for 10 gourdes at a recycling collection site in downtown Les Cayes.

Holmes Germain, the owner of a downtown recycling enterprise, said the amount of iron and aluminum he was receiving had doubled or tripled since the quake.

Trucks flowed in and out of his scrap yard, taking the loads of twisted iron, warped aluminum sheeting, tangled wires and the occasional battery to the capital city, Port-au-Prince. From there, he said, it was recycled for domestic use, or packed onto shipping containers and exported.

Germain sees his business as both an economic opportunity and a public service at this time of crisis.

“If we don’t buy the iron they will throw it away or just leave it lying there, so this is our way of trying to clean up downtown,” he said.

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An autopsy was performed on the body of 24-year-old Ziron Roberts on August 20, 2021, by Resident Pathologist, Dr. Adrian Nuñez. Dr. Nuñez concluded that death was due to hypovolemic shock and multiple traumatic injuries as a result of a motor vehicular accident.

The fatal traffic accident occurred at Douglas Estate on August 18, 2021. Investigations so far have revealed that sometime before midday, motor pickup PA7453 which is registered to the CABLE Company, but was being driven by Ronnel Fyfield of Cardin Avenue, was traveling from north to south on the main road at Douglas Estate. When he reached the vicinity of the mango tree, he was making a right turn into Carifesta Village, Phase 1. A second vehicle was coming from the opposite direction along the Main Road and slowed down to give way to PA7453. Ziron Roberts of Newtown was riding motorcycle PA1426. Roberts overtook the vehicle that slowed down and collided with the pickup. The District Medical Doctor arrived and pronounced Roberts dead at the scene.

This is the second road fatality being investigated by the Police to date. Also being investigated is a fatal accident that occurred in Cayon on July 29, 2021. That accident involved motorcycle PA5745 which is owned by Chesen Glasgow of Challengers, but was being ridden by Gavin Herbert of Lime Kiln. Investigations so far have revealed that sometime after 3 p.m. PA5745 was travelling from Basseterre to Cayon. When he got in the vicinity of the junction at Spooners, he lost control of the motorcycle and collided with the curb wall. In the process, Herbert hit a tree and the curb wall. He was transported to the JNF General Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on July 31, 2021.

An autopsy was performed on the body of 37-year-old Gavin Herbert on August 04, 2021, by Resident Pathologist, Dr. Adrian Nuñez. Dr. Nuñez concluded that death was due to intracerebral haemorrhage by severe head injury.

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CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS, August 24, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — The Nevis Co-operative Credit Union (NCCU), the oldest such society in the Federation, on Monday August 23 paid glowing tribute to its stalwart pioneer, Mr Arthur Lionel Evelyn, at a funeral service that was held at the Elquemedo T. Willett Park in Charlestown, Nevis.

“The Credit Union fraternity in Nevis, Saint Kitts and the wider Caribbean mourns the loss of a pioneer whose contribution to the advancement of the co-operative business model and the upliftment of the Nevisian people will forever be remembered and appreciated,” said General Manager of the NCCU, Mr Sydney Newton, as he paid tribute to Mr Arthur Evelyn who died on Friday August 13 at the age of 93.

Heartfelt condolences to the Evelyn’s family at the time of their bereavement were expressed by the Nevis Credit Union family that was represented by its President Mrs Vernesia Walters, the St. Kitts and Nevis National Co-operative League that was represented by its President, Mr Peter Jenkins, and the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CCCU) through its General Manager, Ms Denise Garfield.

“Mr Arthur Lionel Evelyn stands out as a stalwart pioneer of the Nevis Co-operative Credit Union Limited (NCCU), having earned this distinction by his unparalleled contribution to the stability, growth and development of the credit union in its formative years,” said Mr Newton.

After the registration of the Nevis Co-operative Credit Union Limited on July 25, 1972, as the successor to the Charlestown Co-operative Credit Union Limited, Mr Evelyn worked along with many other pioneers to lay a strong foundation for the cherished institution that has become a financial pillar in the Nevisian society.

According to Mr Newton, his colleague co-operators were: Ingle Blackett – OBE, Anthony Horner, Spencer Byron, Father John Wagland, Harry Maynard, Ann-Marie Caines, Cicely Grell-Hull, Eileen Blackett – MBE, and others (who preceded him in death), and Hon Joseph Parry, Olvis Dyer, Eugenie Hector, Warner Riviere, Pastor Eversley Pemberton, Carmella Hanley, and many others (who are still alive).

Mr Evelyn served the Nevis Co-operative Credit Union selflessly as a Director from the early-1970s through early-1980s, espousing the principles and values of co-operativism, volunteerism, and ethical business practices.

“But his most significant contribution was the provision of free office space for the fledgling credit union, upstairs his private business on Main Street in Charlestown for over ten (10) years,” said Mr Newton. “During that period, Mr Evelyn allowed an employee of his business – the youthful, energetic Warner Riviere (who himself had become a Director of Nevis Co-operative Credit Union), a measure of freedom to assist the young society during normal business hours.”

According to the General Manager, Mr Evelyn was also instrumental in securing grant funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in the early 1980s, through the assistance of Mr Melvin Edwards, then an employee of the Barbados-based Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CCCU), for the Nevis Co-operative Credit Union to erect its own office building on Chapel Street in 1984, on lands leased from the Nevis Island Administration.

“Mr Arthur L. Evelyn was the epitome of humility, integrity and service, and a role model worthy of emulation,” pointed out Mr Newton. “In recognition of his sterling contribution to the development of the Nevis Co-operative Credit Union, the society’s Board Room was named in his honour in 2007 as ‘The Arthur L. Evelyn Board Room’.”

Mr Arthur Evelyn was accorded an official funeral, and in attendance at the service which was officiated by Rev. Fr. Christopher Archibald were the Deputy Governor General for Nevis, Her Honour Mrs Hyleeta Liburd and Mr Elmo Liburd, Governor General’s Deputy His Excellency Michael Morton, Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, and Premier of Nevis and Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon Mark Brantley among others.

“We trust that you will find great satisfaction in Mr Evelyn’s exemplary service to God, Country and Humanity, and pray that you will be comforted by the God of All Comfort,” said Mr Newton in his tribute. “May his gentle soul rest peacefully in the arms of his Creator and Lord.”

Interment was at the Bath Cemetery where Mr Newton laid a wreath on behalf of the Nevis Co-operative Credit Union and the Credit Union fraternity in St. Kitts.

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The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF) has been working even harder
since the start of this pandemic. The Police Force has been working hard to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus by enforcing the laws supporting the COVID-19 protocols.

There has been an increase in the number of positive cases of COVID-19 over the past few days. TheRSCNPF, therefore, recognizes that it must be more vigilant and proactive. The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force thanks the law-abiding citizens who have been compliant with the regulations and supportive of its efforts.

While The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force respect the rights of individuals,
including the right to demonstrate, the actions that are in violation of the laws and health
protocols will not be tolerated. Based on intelligence, the Police became aware of an illegal
march and protest that was being planned for Friday, August 20, 2021. No application to host such an activity was submitted to the Commissioner of Police. The Police took proactive action and warned against participation in such an illegal activity on several grounds given the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Regulations and the Public Order Act.

Individuals who participated in the illegal activity did so in breach of the regulations that prohibit public gatherings. The protocols that speak to social distancing and the wearing of masks were also breached during the illegal activity. Several arrests were made and charges are being laid.

The RSCNPF continues to request the support and cooperation of the public.

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CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS, August 24, 2021 (MMS-SKN) — Charlestown was awash with colour Monday afternoon August 23, as the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis bade goodbye to Nevisian icon, the Late Arthur Lionel Evelyn JP, CSM, OBE, at an official funeral that was held at the Elquemedo T. Willett Park. Interment was at the Bath Cemetery.

Mr Evelyn, who was born in Butlers Village on June 25, 1928, became the first Chairman of the Nevis Local Council when it was formed in 1967. When the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) was officially inaugurated in 1983, the New Premier Dr Simeon Daniel (now deceased and a National Hero) appointed Mr Evelyn the first Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing, Labour and Tourism, positions he held between 1983 and 1987.

Apart from his political activities, Mr Evelyn was a pioneer in establishing a pharmacy in Charlestown – Evelyn Drug Store. His other contributions to the Nevisian society include the Nevis Turf and Jockey Club, the Mental Health Association, Culturama Committee, the Lions Club, the Blind Light and Visually Impaired Society, and the St. Paul’s Anglican Church Vestry.

Mr Evelyn who died on Friday August 13, was a founding member of the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society (NHCS), and the oldest co-operative credit union society in the Federation – the Nevis Co-operative Credit Union (NCCU).

Present at the funeral service, which was officiated by Rev. Fr. Christopher Archibald, were the Deputy Governor General for Nevis, Her Honour Mrs Hyleeta Liburd and Mr Elmo Liburd, Governor General’s Deputy His Excellency Michael Morton, Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, and Premier of Nevis and Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon Mark Brantley.

Also present were Speaker of the National Assembly the Hon Michael Perkins, President of the Nevis Island Assembly the Hon Farrel Smithen, and members of the Nevis Island Administration Cabinet – Deputy Premier the Hon Alexis Jeffers, the Hon Eric Evelyn, the Hon Spencer Brand, and the Hon Troy Liburd.

Others were former Premiers of Nevis, Ambassador His Excellency Vance Amory, and Mr Joseph Parry, former President of the Nevis Island Assembly and Acting Deputy Governor General for Nevis Mrs Marjorie Morton, Commander of the St. Kitts Nevis Defence Force Lt Col J. Anthony Comrie, Commissioner of Police Mr Hilroy Brandy, and Commissioner of Corrections Mr Terrence James.

Leading in paying tributes was Premier of Nevis the Hon Mark Brantley, who was followed by a granddaughter of the late Mr Evelyn, Mrs Chevelle Willett. Others were Mr Llewellyn Parris a representative of the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), General Manager of the Nevis Co-operative Credit Union Mr Sydney Newton, the Hon Spencer Brand for the St. Paul’s Choir, and a representative of Gulf Insurance. The eulogy was read by Mr Joseph Parry.

In paying tribute on behalf of the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), Premier the Hon Mark Brantley said that Mr Arthur Evelyn lived a life of service to others. He added that Mr Evelyn was a patriot, a teacher, an entrepreneur and a great soul of matchless integrity.

“On behalf of the Nevis Island Administration and the people of Nevis, I wish to extend sincere condolences to the loved ones of Mr Evelyn,” said Premier Brantley. “The entire Federation mourns with you and celebrates the extraordinary life of a remarkable son of the soil who devoted his life to the service and development of the Federation.”

After the funeral service at the Elquemedo T. Willett Park which was led by Rev. Fr. Christopher Archibald, the casket which was draped with the National Flag was carried by members of armed bodies and put on a carriage that was drawn by a government-owned pick-up truck to the Bath Cemetery.

After the graveside sermon, Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris placed the first wreath on the grave, and was followed by Deputy Governor General for Nevis Her Honour Mrs Hyleeta Liburd, family members, and friends.

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The CDC also added to its “Level 3: Covid-19 High” list. Albania, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Brunei and Liechtenstein were moved to Level 3 from Level 1. Bulgaria and Serbia were moved up to Level 3 from Level 2. Greenland and Guernsey were previously “level unknown” and are now Level 3. Paraguay is considered less risky and was moved down from Level 4 to Level 3.

The CDC advises travelers who are unvaccinated to avoid nonessential travel to Level 3 destinations.

The CDC also discourages people who are unvaccinated from traveling.

“Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread Covid-19. However, international travel poses additional risks, and even fully vaccinated travelers might be at increased risk for getting and possibly spreading some Covid-19 variants,” said the agency.

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WASHINGTON, Aug 20 (Reuters) – A U.S. Supreme Court justice on Friday temporarily blocked a lower court ruling that would require Democratic President Joe Biden to reinstate a contentious immigration policy implemented by his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump.

The brief order by conservative Justice Samuel Alito puts the litigation on hold while the high court considers how to handle the Biden administration’s request seeking to impose a longer-term block on the judge’s ruling that would require the government to revive the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) program.

The Biden administration turned to the Supreme Court after the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals late on Thursday denied a government request to delay the effective date of the lower court judge’s ruling a week earlier.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk “requires the government to abruptly reinstate a broad and controversial immigration enforcement program that has been formally suspended for seven months and largely dormant for nearly nine months before that,” Acting Solicitor General Brian Fletcher wrote in papers to the Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, including three justices appointed by Trump.

The Justice Department wants the court to act immediately, with the judge’s injunction due to go into effect on Saturday.

Democrats and immigration advocates criticized MPP, informally known as “remain in Mexico,” saying it subjected mostly Central American migrants to unsanitary conditions and violence.

Arrests of migrants caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border have reached 20-year highs in recent months, a trend Republicans pin on Biden’s reversal of MPP and other hardline Trump immigration policies.

The Biden administration has left in place a Trump-era health order that allows border authorities to expel migrants to Mexico without the chance to seek asylum in the United States.

The ruling by the conservative-leaning 5th Circuit said the Biden administration must implement the MPP program in “good faith,” which appears to leave the government some discretion in how to move forward.

Roberto Velasco, a senior Mexican foreign ministry official responsible for North American relations, said Mexico had not yet received any notification from the U.S. government about the ruling.

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CAMP-PERRIN, Haiti, Aug 23 (Reuters) – Many survivors of an earthquake that killed more than 2,200 people in southern Haiti are worried about providing for their children, with more than half a million minors feared to be at risk from the fallout.

The Aug. 14 quake hammered infrastructure, destroying or damaging some 130,000 homes, cutting off roads and pitching thousands of families in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country into an uncertain future.

When the magnitude 7.2 quake struck, homemaker Lovely Jean was resting inside the general hospital of the southern city of Les Cayes, while her three-day-old baby, Love Shaiska, was in the neonatal ward being treated for an infection.

Les Cayes was one of the areas worst hit by the quake, and as the hospital walls trembled, Jean sent her husband, Pierre Alexandre, to grab the infant while she fled the building.

“The earth was shaking and I was crying, so scared of what was happening,” the 24-year-old said, cradling her child on the porch of their damaged home in a tiny village outside the town of Camp-Perrin, northwest of Les Cayes.

The three survived, though the hospital suffered damage that forced some of its departments, including the neonatal ward, to operate outside for days after the disaster.

But the problems were only beginning for Jean and her husband, a subsistence farmer.

Alexandre’s fields were buried by landslides during the earthquake and rain unleashed by Tropical Storm Grace, which pummeled Haiti last Tuesday. His entire potato and yuca crop was unreachable, leaving the family with barely any food to eat.

Meanwhile, Love Shaiska was struggling to suckle, forcing her parents to pull together cash to buy formula.

“I don’t know what we’ll do,” said Alexandre, 30.

A motorcycle drives on a road with cracks caused by a 7.2 magnitude quake in Marceline, Haiti August 22, 2021. REUTERS/Ricardo Arduengo

More than a dozen other parents who spoke to Reuters in the quake zone expressed similar concerns about how they would cope.

Over half a million children were affected by the earthquake, the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF said.

The temblor claimed the lives of at least 2,207 people, injured 12,268 more and left 344 missing, according to Haitian authorities, and followed an even more destructive earthquake in 2010 which killed tens of thousands of Haitians.

Still, there are a few encouraging developments. Late on Sunday, civil protection authorities said 24 people who had been reported missing, including four children, had been found and taken by helicopter to Camp-Perrin to be looked after.

Recovery efforts have been impeded by flooding and damage to roads, feeding tensions in hard-hit areas. In the past few days, residents have looted aid trucks in several towns across the south, stirring concerns about security.

Deep in the mountains of Haiti’s southern peninsula, in the department of Grand’Anse, near the town of Duchity, about a hundred farmers are living in slender tents of wooden poles and bedsheets they erected along the highway. The quake destroyed their homes, crops and the deep concrete-lined holes used to collect and store rain water.

Now, with scant food and water, many of the young children suffer from hunger, fevers and infections, said Evelya Michele, a mother of five living in the encampment.

At least a dozen children had broken out in rashes.

“The children are very vulnerable; there is no water so we can’t even wash them to keep them clean,” Michele said.

Her older children had taken off earlier that morning, walking to a nearby village in search of food.

“I didn’t send them; they just left without even asking me because they are hungry,” she said.

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