Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 23 February 2018
University experts to lead Puerto Rico storm death review

By DANICA COTO the university's school of have said the death toll is most up-to-date science to doctors. The team also will
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico public health, expects to much higher, noting that get more clarity about the review mortality records
(AP) — Puerto Rico's gov- have a preliminary report a spike in the number of number of victims. from the past 10 years to
ernor announced Thursday in three months and a final deaths after the storm was "I want to know the truth," calculate possible excess
that a team of experts at report in one year. not normal. Puerto Rico re- he said. "It's important for deaths and analyze the
George Washington Uni- "We will call it as we see it," corded an official average those who have lost loved process that Puerto Rico
versity will lead an inde- said Dean Lynn Goldman. of 82 deaths a day in the ones." used to count victims. She
pendent, in-depth review "That I promise you." two weeks before Maria Goldman said the team said the type of research
to determine the number The administration of Gov. hit. The number increased will review all deaths from her team will be doing
of deaths caused by Hurri- Ricardo Rossello had main- to 117 a day after the storm September until the end of could lead to an improved
cane Maria amid accusa- tained that 64 people died pummeled the island in February, relying on death U.S. model for estimating
tions that the U.S. territory as a result of the Category mid-September and then certificates in addition to deaths after a disaster.
has undercounted the toll. 4 hurricane that hit on Sept. fell below usual in October. possible funeral home and “Worldwide, these meth-
The team, led by the dean 20 with winds of up to 154 Rossello said his administra- hospital visits and interviews ods are not sufficiently
and an epidemiologist of mph (248 kph). But critics tion wants to rely on the with family members and developed,”q
Venezuelan pastor fills presidential void left by opposition

By RICARDO NUNES ing undeserved legitimacy
JOSHUA GOODMAN to Maduro's re-election at-
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) tempt. It also underscores
— With two months to go the rising political influence
before Venezuela's presi- of fast-growing protestant
dential election, the only churches in Latin Ameri-
challenger to jump in the ca, where a born-again
ring against President Nico- singer is the front-runner to
las Maduro is a little-known be Costa Rica's next presi-
television evangelist who dent and an evangelical
was once arrested for fuel bishop is now mayor of Rio
smuggling and has a range de Janeiro. On Wednes-
of business ventures. day, Venezuela's opposi-
Despite his questioned past tion emerged from days of
and the steep odds against closed-door meetings to
him, the Rev. Javier Bertuc- announce it would boycott
ci claims that he uniquely the snap April 22 election
speaks to the vast majority unless the government met
of struggling Venezuelans its demands for internation-
disillusioned with both the al observers and took other
opposition and Maduro's steps to ease fears the vote
unpopular government. He will be rigged.
calls himself the "candidate While former Lara state
of hope" and says that Je- Gov. Henri Falcon, a promi-
sus Christ would surely sup- nent opposition politi-
port his candidacy. Venezuelan presidential candidate Javier Bertucci leaves with his wife Rebeca, after he spoke cian, said Thursday he's
to the press, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. With two months to go before
"I'm the only one who can Venezuela's make-or-break presidential elections, Bertucci, a television evangelist, is the only still weighing an indepen-
guarantee the governabil- candidate who has thrown himself in the ring against President Nicolas Maduro. dent run, the deadline to
ity of the country," Bertucci (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) register candidates is five
said in an interview. "I've days away. While hardly a
traveled the country for leader can awaken the But some anti-government doesn't have the backing household name, the so-
eight years, seen the tears aching hearts of the Ven- activists see his longshot of any party, as dividing cial-media-savvy Bertucci
of mothers. ... No other ezuelans." candidacy, which so far the opposition and lend- has a loyal following.q

Haiti suspends Oxfam pending investigation into sexual abuse

By EVENS SANON in the country in the after- highest level” about reports sex workers. apologized to the people
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) math of the devastating of misconduct by employ- British government officials of Haiti and said it has cre-
— Aid group Oxfam Great January 2010 earthquake, ees of the organization. and that country’s char- ated a new plan to improve
Britain will be suspended said Minister of Planning Oxfam Great Britain is one ity regulator have said that oversight of its employees.
from operating in Haiti for and External Cooperation of four divisions of the inter- Oxfam didn’t tell them the Oxfam Great Britain con-
the next two months pend- Aviol Fleurant. It is also try- national organization work- allegations included sexual tributes about 20 percent
ing an investigation into ing to determine whether ing in Haiti. The aid group misconduct until Britain’s of the budget to the or-
allegations of sexual mis- some of the prostitutes may disclosed that seven work- Times newspaper revealed ganization’s overall work
conduct by its employees, have been underage. ers were fired or resigned in details of the case ear- in Haiti and the group ex-
a government official said Authorities consider it a 2011 after a whistleblower lier this month. Since then, pects the suspension will
Thursday. Haiti is investigat- “serious crime” for an adult accused staff members of thousands of people have have a “significant im-
ing how Oxfam Great Brit- to have sex with anyone misconduct while working canceled donations to the pact” on its efforts in the
ain responded to reports under 18, Fleurant said. He in the country. The organi- group in anger. country, the group said in
that some of its staff used said the Haitian govern- zation has admitted that Oxfam International, the a statement following the
prostitutes while working ment is “shocked at the some of its employees used umbrella organization, has announcement.q