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  • OECS and EU support water protection efforts in St. Kitts through new arboretum project

    OECS and EU support water protection efforts in St. Kitts through new arboretum project

    Against a backdrop of escalating climate pressure on global natural resources, regional environmental cooperation has delivered a landmark conservation milestone in the Eastern Caribbean. On May 13, 2026, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the European Union (EU), and the government of Saint Kitts and Nevis formally inaugurated the new Royal Basseterre Valley National Park Arboretum, completing a key component of the OECS’ five-year Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) Project, a EU-funded regional conservation initiative.

    Amid accelerating climate change and environmental degradation, small island developing states like those in the Eastern Caribbean face disproportionate risks to their limited natural resources, particularly freshwater supplies. The ILM Project was developed to address these vulnerabilities by scaling up sustainable landscape and ecosystem management across the region, with the Royal Basseterre Valley Arboretum serving as one of its flagship on-the-ground outcomes.

    The newly completed arboretum occupies a section of Royal Basseterre Valley National Park, which sits atop a critical aquifer that supplies clean drinking water to nearly 40 percent of St. Kitts’ population. Funded through an EU grant, the project included installation of protective perimeter fencing to safeguard the sensitive ecosystem, as well as targeted afforestation to establish the new arboretum. Beyond protecting the region’s vital water resources, the initiative was designed to enhance the site’s value for recreation, environmental education, cultural engagement, and biodiversity conservation, through the strategic planting of both fruit-bearing and native ornamental tree species.

    The official handover ceremony drew a diverse cross-section of attendees, including government leaders, OECS and EU representatives, local students, community members, development partners, and environmental stakeholders. The gathering celebrated the project’s completion and reaffirmed collective commitments to regional sustainable development and climate-resilient conservation.

    In her remarks at the event, Joyelle Clarke, Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Senator and Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment, emphasized the arboretum’s central role in the federation’s national sustainability strategy, which integrates environmental protection, public health and wellness, and long-term freshwater security.

    “This arboretum is a testament to what we can achieve through partnership and our regional systems,” Clarke said. “We are able to benefit from an initiative that actively takes into consideration our local realities and caters to the unique needs of this protected space, all while strengthening our environmental resilience.”

    Derionne Edmeade, Director of Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Department of Environment, framed the project as a dual investment in ecological health and public good. “This initiative reflects the Federation’s collective commitment to biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, environmental stewardship, and sustainable development for current and future generations,” he noted.

    Delamine Andrew-Williams, speaking on behalf of the OECS Commission, hailed the project as a tangible demonstration of regional conservation vision. “The Royal Basseterre Valley National Park Arboretum stands as a practical example of this vision in action, where environmental stewardship, community benefit, and national development come together harmoniously,” she said. “The successful establishment of the arboretum, including its fencing and afforestation, is a testament to sustained collaboration and technical excellence.”

    Quentin Peignaux, representing the European Union, reaffirmed the bloc’s long-term commitment to supporting biodiversity, soil and water protection, and sustainable development across the Caribbean. “It is very important for the European Union to participate in initiatives such as the ILM Programme because water resources and soil conservation are inseparable and are both essential to protecting the natural resources that sustain our living environment,” Peignaux explained. He added that the EU continues to back a broad portfolio of conservation action in the OECS region, including biodiversity programs, protected area management, blue carbon projects, and nature-based climate solutions.

    The ceremony concluded with two symbolic acts: the unveiling of a commemorative plaque marking the arboretum’s opening, and a collective tree-planting activity aligned with Saint Kitts and Nevis’ national day tree planting initiative. Attendees including government officials, OECS delegates, students, environment ministry staff, community members, and development partners all took part, underscoring the cross-sector commitment to long-term environmental conservation and sustainable landscape management in the federation.

  • UWP raises alarm over crime and governance

    UWP raises alarm over crime and governance

    Opposition political group the United Workers Party (UWP) has launched a scathing rebuke of the Saint Lucia government’s management of public safety and national development, arguing that the island nation’s ongoing surge in violent crime is a direct product of long-running structural gaps and incompetent leadership.

    Speaking at a formal press conference, former Member of Parliament for Vieux Fort North Calixte Xavier broke down the roots of the current crisis, emphasizing that the unchecked crime wave gripping the country did not materialize suddenly. “Crime at this level does not emerge overnight. It takes time,” he noted, attributing the escalation to expanding transnational criminal networks, unregulated flow of illegal firearms across borders, and a reactive governance style that lacks proactive long-term strategy.

    Xavier cast doubt on the tangible impact of the government’s recent public safety interventions, pointing out that even after increasing police deployments, allocating new law enforcement equipment, reshuffling the security ministry, and imposing a 2.5% national levy for health and security initiatives, the island has yet to record a sustained drop in homicide rates.

    He further criticized gaps in border security framework and weak support for frontline law enforcement, highlighting concerning missteps including the disbandment of the police canine unit, non-functional border scanning equipment, and plummeting morale among ranks of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force. “Our security begins at our borders,” Xavier said, adding that the poor treatment of serving officers has directly eroded their ability to carry out their duties effectively.

    Beyond systemic failures, Xavier drew attention to the devastating human and social toll of persistent violent crime, from the chronic trauma endured by victims, their families, and first responders to the unaddressed mental health burden placed on police officers who repeatedly respond to violent incidents. He revealed that the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force currently has no dedicated in-house counsellor to support officers dealing with occupational trauma, a gap he described as a “a bigger problem” that exacerbates existing morale issues.

    Xavier also outlined the crippling financial strain that violent crime places on affected households, noting that the loss of a breadwinner and unexpected medical bills often push already vulnerable families into severe economic hardship. Echoing widespread public discontent, he stressed: “We are tired of speeches. We are tired of promises. We want safety, we want leadership.”

    UWP Second Deputy Political Leader Dominic Fedee expanded on the party’s critique, framing rising crime as a visible symptom of far deeper failures in governance, economic planning and national priority-setting. He warned that Saint Lucia is effectively “drifting” at a moment when clear, decisive strategic direction is most needed.

    Fedee pointed out that the government has controlled substantial financial resources from international loans and the island’s popular Citizenship by Investment Programme, yet the public still remains gripped by feelings of insecurity, uncertainty and distrust in the government’s national direction. “The issue confronting Saint Lucia was never simply a lack of money; the issue was a lack of priorities,” he explained.

    He called for sweeping improvements to transparency and accountability, particularly for public funds generated through the citizenship by investment initiative, noting that “the people of Saint Lucia deserve transparency, they deserve accountability.”

    Fedee argued that the absence of long-term strategic planning has directly fueled broader social ills including rising youth unemployment, weakened community cohesion, and growing social instability. “When governments fail to create opportunity, fail to plan strategically… criminal networks eventually begin filling the vacuum,” he said, underscoring the direct causal link between economic mismanagement and rising crime.

    He also issued a stark warning that the ongoing surge in violence threatens to damage Saint Lucia’s $tourism sector$, the central pillar of the island’s national economy. Rising instability and negative international press could deter international visitors and drive away critical foreign investment, Fedee argued, noting: “A country cannot market paradise abroad while instability spreads at home.”

    In addition to security failures, Fedee criticized the government’s ad-hoc, unplanned approach to national development projects, which he said has disproportionately harmed informal vendors and artisanal fisherfolk. He claimed there is no cohesive national policy to protect vulnerable groups when large-scale redevelopment projects move forward, leaving marginalized communities to bear the brunt of poorly planned growth.

    Fedee concluded by emphasizing that Saint Lucia needs comprehensive, long-term solutions rather than short-term, reactive fixes. “Band-aids cannot replace nation building,” he said, renewing the UWP’s call for strategic forward planning, greater governmental accountability, and equitable sustainable development across the island.

  • LIVE FROM 11AM: UWP Press Conference 21st May 2026

    LIVE FROM 11AM: UWP Press Conference 21st May 2026

    Local media outlet DNO has announced that it will provide uninterrupted live coverage of an upcoming press conference held by the United Workers Party (UWP), set to kick off at 11 a.m. local time on the same day this announcement was made.

    The UWP, a major political organization in its region, has scheduled this press briefing to address current political topics of public interest, and the live broadcast arrangement will allow audiences across digital platforms to access real-time updates directly from the event without delay.

    DNO, which regularly covers local political developments and public events, made this announcement via its digital channels, prompting local residents and political observers to prepare to tune in for the latest official statements from the UWP leadership.

  • OPINION: Selective Outrage

    OPINION: Selective Outrage

    Selective outrage is one of the most telling cultural markers a society can display. Unlike unfiltered anger, which reveals what issues genuinely harm communities, targeted, selective outrage exposes which groups people consider acceptable to suffer in silence. This stark double standard was laid bare during a casual conversation at an Antiguan supermarket recently, sparking a broader, long-uncomfortable conversation about accountability, gender equality, and the need for mandatory DNA paternity testing at birth.

    Two women waiting near a supermarket security guard were caught up in a furious discussion of a recent horrific allegation: a local man accused of raping a 13-year-old girl. Their anger was unbridled, visceral, and deeply personal, and on this point, widespread public agreement aligns with their fury. Any person who abuses a child deserves the full weight of legal punishment and unreserved societal condemnation; no civilized community can tolerate child predators.

    But when a simple question cut into the conversation — what consequences should women who commit paternity fraud face? — the fiery moral outrage evaporated instantly. Instead of firm calls for accountability, there was only awkward silence, shifting feet, and uncomfortable muttering. After a long pause, one woman finally conceded: “Yeah… them women wicked too.” That one small word “too” exposes the entire fractured moral framework modern society has built around gender and responsibility.

    When a man commits an act of sexual violence that destroys a child’s life, the public rightly demands harsh justice. But when a woman knowingly misrepresents paternity, cons an innocent man into years of emotional and financial investment, robs a child of their right to know their biological identity, and even weaponizes the court system against the misled man? Suddenly, society pivots to vague, gentle equivocation. The righteous fury vanishes.

    This double standard exists because modern culture has been structured around one unspoken rule: men are held to total accountability, while women are granted broad exemption from consequences for gendered deception. An innocent man can lose 18 years of income, ruin his mental health, damage his prospects for future relationships with his own biological children, and see his reputation destroyed all because of a deliberate lie — and still, most people will dismiss the harm as a “mistake,” a “misunderstanding,” or a private “woman’s issue” no one else should meddle in. Imagine saying the same casual dismissal to a rape victim: “Well, these things happen.” No one would dare utter that. Yet that is exactly the line misled paternity fraud victims hear every single time they speak up about their harm.

    After the supermarket conversation, an elderly local woman who sensed the author’s distress stopped to talk. When asked directly what she thought of mandatory DNA testing for all newborns in Antigua, she answered without a single moment of hesitation: yes. She did not rely on viral internet slogans, ideological talking points, or partisan gender rhetoric — she spoke from decades of lived observation, and from personal experience.

    She contrasted the stable traditional values she grew up with against modern relationship norms, describing a shifting culture where loyalty is no longer expected, accountability is up for negotiation, and transactional relationships are normalized. She painted a picture of women treating men as rotating emotional and financial ATMs, one for paying bills, one for fun, one for security, one for companionship. But her commentary quickly turned personal: her own son, separated from his wife after years of marriage, has paid thousands in child support for years, while the whole family quietly questions whether the child is biologically his. He wants a paternity test, but the child’s mother has refused to allow one.

    That one story encapsulates the entire crisis. If paternity is already certain, what is there to fear from verification? It is a question society has danced around for decades, and it reaches far beyond the online gender wars that dominate social media. Increasingly, older, traditional women — who are not part of online manosphere or feminist movements — are seeing this harm firsthand. They watch their sons, brothers, nephews, and friends trapped in emotional limbo, where even asking for proof of paternity is labeled an untrustworthy betrayal. And many of these women are arriving at the same quiet conclusion: the truth should not require anyone’s permission to come out.

    The most striking line from the conversation was the elderly woman’s quiet admission: “I feel sorry for the men in Antigua.” That line carries extra weight because it did not come from an angry online pundit or a bitter ex-partner. It came from a lifelong Antiguan woman who has watched the country’s social fabric fray from stability into uncertainty.

    This is where the conversation becomes urgent: mandatory DNA testing at birth is not an anti-woman policy. It is a pro-truth policy. Hospitals already verify every newborn’s blood type, screen for congenital health conditions, confirm identity, and log vaccinations because certainty matters for public order and individual well-being. Yet the single most life-altering legal and emotional commitment a man can make — fatherhood — is still almost entirely built on nothing but trust. That is a systemic failure.

    If paternity DNA testing were automatic for every birth, the benefits are clear: honest women lose absolutely nothing, children gain the permanent security of knowing their biological identity, innocent men are protected from lifelong deception, biological fathers are held to the accountability they deserve, family courts get clear accurate evidence to work from, and emotional manipulation drops dramatically overnight. The only thing that disappears is deception. That is precisely why the idea makes so many people uncomfortable: it would expose how many modern relationships are held together not by truth, but by convenient, socially protected silence.

    None of this diminishes the unspeakable harm of child abuse. The rape of a minor is an unforgivable evil, and it must always be treated as such. But society can no longer pretend that justice only matters when men are the perpetrators. Real equality cannot mean equal rights for women but unequal accountability between genders. You cannot scream “believe all women” while simultaneously refusing any verification of paternity claims. You cannot demand that men step up and accept full responsibility for fatherhood, while treating female paternity deception as a socially acceptable, protected secret. And you absolutely cannot build a healthy, just society on a foundation of selective morality.

    The truth should never be labeled offensive. DNA does not hate women. A test kit is not misogyny. Factual certainty is not sexism. If Antigua is truly committed to protecting families, protecting children, and upholding equal justice for all, mandatory newborn paternity DNA testing should not be a controversial proposal. It should already be the law.

    To that honest elderly woman outside the supermarket: thank you for speaking unvarnished truth. That kind of candor is vanishingly rare today, when so many people prefer to stay safely inside ideological echo chambers where truth is filtered through social approval. She spoke plainly, without fear of backlash, and regardless of whether people agree with her conclusion, modern society desperately needs more of that kind of honesty.

  • Police, Chamber of Commerce push for closer ties in crime fight

    Police, Chamber of Commerce push for closer ties in crime fight

    A high-stakes gathering between top Saint Lucian law enforcement officials and the island nation’s Chamber of Commerce has been hailed as a landmark step forward in the fight against criminal activity, with both parties confirming a shared commitment to deeper cross-sector cooperation to address public safety challenges. The Tuesday meeting, held to align stakeholders on public safety priorities, brought together Police Commissioner Verne Garde and Chamber of Commerce President Nicholas Barnard, who spoke publicly with local outlet St Lucia Times on the outcomes of the session. During the talks, law enforcement leadership formally presented the service’s new 2026-2030 comprehensive anti-crime roadmap, titled 127 Steps to Order, to assembled members of the island’s business community. Commissioner Garde explained that the core goal of the collaborative session was to create clarity around the new strategic plan, give private sector stakeholders space to raise their pressing safety and operational concerns, and lay the foundation for more robust, sustained partnerships between police and local businesses. “We are really trying to bring everybody together,” Garde emphasized, framing the coordinated approach as critical to tackling Saint Lucia’s ongoing crime challenges. Beyond the unveiling of the new 5-year strategy, the meeting provided an open forum for business attendees to raise a range of day-to-day and systemic issues impacting the local private sector. Key concerns put forward during discussions included persistent traffic management difficulties in Castries, the island’s capital, and the northern coastal region, the rollout and implementation of the national driver demerit point system, widespread parking shortages and access issues in high-traffic commercial areas, operational transparency around how routine police checkpoints are managed, and questions around the use of intelligence gathering to investigate and apprehend suspects in serious felony cases. Following the presentations and open forum, Chamber President Barnard shared that business leaders left the meeting feeling optimistic and encouraged by the police force’s clear, actionable plan. He noted that the gathering successfully opened a productive dialogue around concrete ways the private sector can contribute to and support ongoing law enforcement public safety efforts. Barnard confirmed that attendees have already moved forward with preliminary plans to expand cooperation, including widespread support for reviving a joint public-private committee that will include permanent police representation to address ongoing safety and operational challenges. “There will be far more collaboration,” Barnard said of the agreed-upon next steps.

  • Bushfires ‘threaten bee colonies, food security’

    Bushfires ‘threaten bee colonies, food security’

    Across the Caribbean island of Barbados, a sharp uptick in unregulated, reckless bushfires has triggered a devastating crisis for the local beekeeping sector, with industry leaders sounding an urgent alarm that the nation’s food security hangs in the balance. The unfolding emergency took center stage this week at the official launch of the Apiculture Pollination Services Pilot Project, a collaborative initiative between the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Barbados Apiculture Association (BAA). While the project itself was designed to introduce evidence-based, scientific strategies to boost local crop pollination and yields, the event quickly became a platform for stakeholders to highlight the immediate existential threat that unchecked fires pose to the island’s bee populations and broader food systems.

    Graham Belle, president of the BAA, detailed how the recent wave of blazes has delivered a crippling blow to an industry already grappling with a cascade of economic and environmental challenges. “Over the past weeks, beekeepers across every region of the island have been hit hard by these wildfires. Hive boxes have been incinerated, entire bee colonies have been wiped out, and the critical foraging habitats that bees depend on for survival have been reduced to ash,” Belle explained in an interview during the launch event.

    Belle emphasized that the damage extends far beyond the immediate loss of bees and infrastructure, creating severe financial hardship for small-scale beekeepers and putting the entire island’s food production at risk. “The losses are tangible and permanent for many producers. We’ve collected dozens of reports from members who have lost everything: their hives, their colonies, their expensive imported equipment, and the land their bees need to forage. All of this translates to major, unrecoverable financial losses at a time when most are already barely breaking even,” he said. The BAA is currently compiling a full dataset of the damage from its membership to present a comprehensive report to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security, and Belle confirmed the association would push for urgent government intervention to address the crisis.

    James Paul, chief executive officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), joined Belle in condemning the reckless fire-setting that has sparked most of the recent blazes, calling for both a national cultural shift around open burning and targeted strategic planning to protect local apiaries. Paul put forward one concrete policy proposal: creating a publicly accessible national map that documents the location of every registered bee colony across the island. This resource, he explained, would allow the Barbados Fire Service to prioritize containment efforts in fire events and avoid inadvertently destroying healthy hives during emergency response operations.

    “Moving forward, one of our top priorities should be mapping every existing colony on the island. When fires break out, we need to know exactly where the vulnerable populations are, what assets are at risk, and what we need to protect. This simple step would go a long way to preventing unnecessary additional damage to our already strained apiary sector,” Paul explained. He also issued a direct appeal to members of the public who engage in unregulated open burning, stressing that their actions have far-reaching economic consequences that many do not fully understand. “I want to speak directly to the people who have this habit of starting these reckless fires. I don’t think they always grasp just how much economic damage they leave in their wake. This is not a harmless activity, and it cannot be allowed to continue unchecked in our country,” he said.

    The current bushfire crisis comes on top of a growing list of challenges that have been battering Barbadian beekeepers for years. Belle noted that producers are also contending with lingering global supply chain disruptions that have driven up the cost of critical imported supplies including hive boxes and beekeeper protective gear. Additional pressures include widespread crop theft from apiary sites, a flood of cheap adulterated honey imported from overseas that undercuts local producers, and shifting climate patterns that have altered natural flowering cycles, further disrupting bee foraging patterns. Without urgent intervention to curb unregulated fires and support the struggling beekeeping industry, Belle and other stakeholders warn, Barbados could face cascading impacts on pollination, local crop production, and long-term national food security.

  • US Embassy Advises Americans to exercise “normal caution” in updated travel advisory on Antigua and Barbuda

    US Embassy Advises Americans to exercise “normal caution” in updated travel advisory on Antigua and Barbuda

    In an official public notice released on May 20, 2026, the U.S. Embassy based in Barbados, which maintains consular jurisdiction over Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has issued a revised travel advisory for U.S. citizens planning trips to Antigua and Barbuda. The advisory opens with a clear assessment of the island nation, noting that overall, Antigua and Barbuda remains a safe travel destination for international visitors from the United States.

    Despite the general positive safety assessment, the advisory highlights one key recurring risk that all travelers must prepare for: the regular annual threat of hurricanes that impacts the Eastern Caribbean region, including Antigua and Barbuda. The embassy strongly advises all prospective travelers to review the State Department’s dedicated public resources covering weather patterns and natural disaster preparedness specifically for Antigua and Barbuda before finalizing travel plans.

    To help travelers proactively prepare for safe and seamless trips, U.S. diplomatic officials encourage all U.S. citizens to consult the comprehensive travel guidance published for the country, which outlines key steps to mitigate common travel risks. For those who do confirm travel plans to Antigua and Barbuda, the embassy outlines several critical actions visitors should take to protect themselves during their stay.

    Foremost among these recommendations is enrollment in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, better known as STEP, the U.S. State Department’s official traveler registration system. By enrolling in STEP, travelers will receive real-time updates and safety alerts directly from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The program also enables diplomatic staff to quickly locate and contact travelers, or their designated emergency contacts, in the event of a crisis, natural disaster, or other unforeseen emergency.

    Beyond STEP enrollment, the advisory outlines additional key preparation steps. Travelers are urged to review the latest Country Security Report for the Eastern Caribbean subregion, which provides up-to-date context on local security conditions. They should also check the most recent travel health guidance published for Antigua and Barbuda to understand any current public health protocols or risks.

    Whether traveling to the islands for the first time or returning as a frequent visitor, the embassy recommends all U.S. citizens use the official International Travel Checklist published by the State Department to organize their pre-trip preparations. Finally, diplomatic officials advise all travelers to reach out to their chosen travel insurance provider well in advance of departure to confirm that their policy includes coverage for emergency medical evacuation, comprehensive medical insurance, and trip cancellation protection in the event plans need to be altered due to unforeseen circumstances.

  • Hilda Skeene, Reynold Weekes secure wins in NSC Netball

    Hilda Skeene, Reynold Weekes secure wins in NSC Netball

    The ongoing Pedialyte Sport/National Sports Council Primary School Netball Competition served up another round of thrilling action this week, with two teams delivering particularly standout performances on the courts at King George V Memorial Park.

    Reynold Weekes Primary emerged as an unstoppable force on match day, securing back-to-back shutout victories over their opponents. The squad first shut out Mount Tabor Primary with a clean 4-0 scoreline, before turning in an even more impressive display to defeat St Mark’s Primary 7-0, cementing their status as one of the tournament’s top contenders to watch.

    Not to be overshadowed by Reynold Weekes’ success, Hilda Skeene Primary turned in equally dominant results across their two fixtures. The team opened their day with a 4-0 shutout of St Mark’s Primary, then pulled off a hard-fought 2-1 win against St Bartholomew’s Primary to extend their winning streak in the competition.

    St Bartholomew’s Primary quickly rebounded from their narrow one-goal loss, however, bouncing back to claim a convincing 5-1 victory over Mount Tabor in their second match of the day.

    Across the competition at the Bridgefield St Thomas venue, another set of teams turned in lopsided results. West Terrace Primary delivered a pair of dominant shutout wins, first crushing People’s Cathedral Primary 9-0 before following that up with a 6-0 blanking of Welches Primary. Meanwhile, Hillaby Tuner’s Hall pulled off a pair of nail-biting 1-0 wins, securing narrow one-goal victories over both Eden Lodge Primary and People’s Cathedral Primary to pick up maximum points from their two fixtures.

  • Vertrouwenscrisis bij SBB: minister Soeropawiro wil ontslag Ruben Ravenberg

    Vertrouwenscrisis bij SBB: minister Soeropawiro wil ontslag Ruben Ravenberg

    A high-stakes leadership dispute has erupted at Suriname’s leading forest management regulatory body, with Minister of Land and Forestry Policy (GBB) Stanley Soeropawiro formally requesting permission from the dismissal committee of the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Labor to remove Ruben Ravenberg, general director of the Stichting Bosbeheer en Bostoezicht (SBB), from his post. In his formal request, the minister cites compelling, weighty grounds for the termination, outlined in a written submission to the independent committee. Soeropawiro points to two core issues: a severely broken working relationship between Ravenberg and the SBB board, and documented irregularities surrounding Ravenberg’s official employment status. The conflict centers on what is described as a “parallel agreement” that was put in place alongside Ravenberg’s standard indefinite-term employment contract. According to the minister, this secondary agreement was created without required legal authorization, specifically lacking an official mandate from the Council of Ministers. This action, he argues, directly violates SBB’s foundational statutes, which explicitly state that the organization’s director must be appointed, suspended, and dismissed by the minister on the nomination of the board. Beyond the contractual irregularity, Soeropawiro emphasizes that a deep, irreparable trust crisis between Ravenberg and the SBB governing board has created a full administrative deadlock, making productive continuation of the employment relationship impossible to maintain. In response to the allegations, Ravenberg has pushed back aggressively, pushing a narrative that frames the termination attempt as a politically motivated purge rooted in past administration mistakes being pinned on him. Speaking to local outlet Starnieuws, the SBB director confirmed the existence of the parallel agreement, but insists the contract was finalized under the authority of former GBB Minister Dinotha Vorswijk. What is an error of the previous administration, he argues, is now being wrongfully blamed on him to push him out of the role. Ravenberg further claims the dismissal effort is driven by hidden political interests, alleging that three candidates have already been shortlisted to replace him. He calls the effort a conspiracy that serves personal and political agendas, noting that SBB’s own statutes work against the group pushing for his ouster. During a February 27 meeting with Soeropawiro, which was also attended by member of the National Assembly Bronto Somohardjo, Ravenberg made clear that he would not allow his reputation and professional integrity to be undermined, and that he is prepared to pursue legal action to defend his position if necessary. The director has provided the dismissal committee with a full account of the meeting, telling the body that his version of events contradicts the narrative put forward by the SBB board and the minister. For his part, Soeropawiro confirms that the meeting failed to resolve the existing conflict. Ravenberg was formally interviewed by the dismissal committee on Wednesday, with the committee announcing it will issue a final ruling on the minister’s termination request on June 5. The outcome of the case will have significant implications for governance of Suriname’s critical forestry sector, which forms a core part of the country’s economy and environmental policy.

  • Appeal Court Overturns EC$176,500 Award Against Digicel

    Appeal Court Overturns EC$176,500 Award Against Digicel

    A key appellate court has thrown out a previous multi-thousand dollar compensation award against regional telecommunications giant Digicel, ruling the company was unjustly denied a fundamental right to a fair legal process in the original employment dispute. On 19 May, the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal officially vacated the September 2023 ruling from the lower Industrial Court, which had ordered Digicel to pay former employee Karl Skepple a total of EC$176,500 in compensation for alleged unfair dismissal. The appellate judges have now ordered that the entire dispute be reheard by a newly assembled Industrial Court tribunal.

    The case stretches back nearly a decade, to August 2015, when Digicel terminated Skepple’s employment following an internal disciplinary investigation. The company moved to dismiss Skepple after substantiating allegations that he had made unwanted inappropriate sexual advances toward a fellow member of staff. Six years after his termination, in 2016, Skepple launched a formal legal claim against Digicel at the Industrial Court, arguing his dismissal was unlawful and unfair.

    In the original 2023 proceeding, the Industrial Court moved forward with its full hearing and ultimately ruled in Skepple’s favor despite the complete absence of any legal representation for Digicel or any company representative to present the firm’s side of the case. The tribunal subsequently granted the former employee the EC$176,500 award, which covered both lost earnings and damages for unfair dismissal.

    Digicel immediately challenged the ruling on appeal, arguing that the original Industrial Court tribunal had violated the company’s constitutionally protected right to a fair hearing. The telecom firm’s legal team explained that counsel had requested an adjournment of the original hearing due to an unresolvable scheduling conflict with a separate ongoing matter in the High Court, noting that Digicel’s attorney had only received five full days’ advance notice of the Industrial Court hearing date. That request for an adjournment was rejected by the original tribunal.

    After reviewing the appeal, appellate judges concluded that the lower Industrial Court had improperly handled the adjournment request: rather than conducting a full assessment of the merits of Digicel’s reasoning for seeking a delay, the tribunal improperly centered its decision solely on whether Skepple’s legal team consented to the adjournment.

    While the appellate court did publicly criticize Digicel for its own procedural missteps in the case, specifically repeated delays in filing required witness statements, judges emphasized that these shortcomings did not forfeit the company’s core legal rights to cross-examine opposing witnesses and present formal legal arguments to the tribunal. In its written judgment, the Court of Appeal underscored that “The right to legal representation and the right to be heard are fundamental entitlements.”

    With the original ruling now fully set aside, the entire dispute will return to the Industrial Court for a complete new hearing before a different panel of tribunal members, allowing both parties to fully present their cases in line with constitutional fair hearing requirements.