Venezuela thanks Caricom for quake aid as Cuba suffers nationwide blackout
A regional round-up: Caribbean aid to Venezuela, Cuba's energy crisis, new displacement in Haiti and falling passenger numbers at Jamaica's airports.
Caricom aid to Venezuela
Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez has thanked Caricom countries for humanitarian support after a June 24 double earthquake that killed thousands and displaced many people.
Guyana, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago sent 88 containers of emergency supplies, medical personnel and equipment, shipped from Guyana. Rodríguez thanked the leaders of Guyana, Barbados, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Belize, as well as Saint Lucia, Antigua and Dominica.
"Truly, from the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of the Venezuelan people, I thank you for this support you are providing to our country," she said. She also thanked Haiti, which sent 35 doctors and a field hospital.
The Pan American Health Organization said Venezuela's response had entered an early recovery phase. The earthquakes caused approximately 4,333 deaths, injured 16,740 people, displaced 17,907 and damaged 38 health facilities.
Cuba blackout
A nationwide blackout struck Cuba as fuel shortages and a failing grid worsened. Officials said the cause was under investigation. Cuba has faced severe shortages since January, after US President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on countries supplying oil to the island.
Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said small power systems were restored within hours. President Miguel Díaz-Canel accused the United States of seeking to spark unrest, calling electrical workers' efforts "heroic". Cuba meets only 40 per cent of its fuel needs, and a 730,000-barrel Russian shipment delivered in late March was used up by the end of April.
Haiti displacement
UN humanitarian agencies said they were "alarmed" by violence in Haiti's West Department, where more than 5,000 people have been newly displaced in Ganthier and Kenscoff. The International Organization for Migration reported 1,500 displaced in Ganthier on July 1 and about 2,000 fleeing Kenscoff after clashes on the night of July 4 to 5.
The United Kingdom pledged 5.6 million pounds (US$7.4 million) to the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force, following Canada's US$35.3 million contribution.
Jamaica airports
Sangster International Airport handled 1.91 million passengers in the first half of 2026, down 26.7 per cent, mainly due to Hurricane Melissa damage and reduced hotel capacity. Norman Manley International handled 850,200, down 3.6 per cent. Tourism officials expect new Wingo and Porter Airlines routes and reopened hotels to lift arrivals.
