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  • Students explore career paths at 3E’s Fair

    Students explore career paths at 3E’s Fair

    Hundreds of secondary school students across Barbados got a first-hand look at diverse education, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities last week at the 3E’s Fair, an innovative outreach event organized by the Pinelands Creative Workshop (PCW) at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

    Built as an extension of PCW’s long-running Career & Life Management (C.A.L.M.) Programme, which has supported Barbadian youth for 26 years, the event was made possible through collaborative funding and support from the Maria Holder Charitable Trust, and three government ministries: labour, environment and health. Unlike traditional career information sessions held within school walls, the 3E Fair brought dozens of industry, education and training providers together in an interactive, student-focused setting designed to demystify post-graduation pathways.

    For participating students, the fair delivered far more than generic career advice—many left with tangible skills and expanded perspectives on what their professional futures could hold. Upper Sixth student Rylan Beckles of St Michael School highlighted the practical, actionable guidance he gained at the event’s booths, noting that representatives walked attendees through core professional skills from resume building to personal branding, helping young people build the confidence they need to stand out to employers.

    Fellow St Michael School Lower Sixth student Kaitlin Balgobin echoed that praise, emphasizing that the fair created space for students to explore roles they had never previously considered. “I was literally quite able to learn about the 3 Es: education, entrepreneurship, and employment,” she said. “I think this fair was really beneficial to students because you were able to walk around and see many different booths that may be a part of your career, or careers outside of that, that could have really impacted you.”

    Siân Pniak, also a Lower Sixth student at St Michael School, noted that the event pushed back against common misconceptions that young people must lock themselves into a single career path straight out of secondary school. “I truly believe that it was a great opportunity as well for the students as we are truly the future of Barbados,” she said. Pniak pointed out that the event encouraged students to embrace flexible trajectories: students should not feel pressured to follow only one path, nor feel ashamed of starting at an entry-level role or building a business gradually. Even for students who already have a clear career goal, the fair highlighted unexpected connections between related fields, she added—for Pniak, who plans to become a sports therapist, exploring podiatry exhibits offered new, complementary insights to advance her goal.

    For fifth-form St George Secondary School student Ariel Barker-Yarde, the fair clarified critical logistics around her planned future studies at Barbados Community College, and also changed her perspective on entrepreneurship. She learned that starting a business does not require choosing between traditional employment and self-employment: “So even though you might be a nurse or a doctor, you can still be an entrepreneur.”

    Her classmate Anique Waithe added that the event offered learning opportunities that extend far beyond standard secondary school curricula. Despite not having a background in sports, she gained new insights into the role of Barbados’ Sports Council, while the medical booth taught her practical foundational knowledge of human biology and first aid. Waithe also said the event demystified entrepreneurship for young people, showing that successful businesses do not have to launch fully formed—young people can start small and scale their ventures over time. “You don’t have to start when older to start your own business. You could start from small and grow big to get better at it,” she said.

    Reane Alleyne, a Lower Sixth student at Christ Church Foundation School, highlighted the diversity of sectors represented at the fair, from dietetics to marine conservation. The environmental exhibits, in particular, introduced her to new information about local ecological issues, including endangered species native to Barbados that she had never learned about in class. “I really enjoyed learning everything, and then I also enjoyed the speeches that we had on stage. It was very informative,” she said.

    Her schoolmate Zion Kellman noted that the event challenged narrow assumptions about what career opportunities exist within different sectors. For example, he explained, food nutrition is far more than culinary arts—professionals in the field can build businesses developing specialized dietary products for people with dietary restrictions. Even marine conservation, he pointed out, includes a range of entrepreneurial and employment opportunities that many students never consider.

    For Alleyne School student Jonathan Ward, the fair combined useful learning with a fun, engaging day out with peers, highlighting the appeal of hands-on career exploration that moves beyond textbook lessons. As Barbados continues to invest in youth workforce development, organizers say the 3E Fair will remain a key annual initiative to help the next generation of Barbadian workers and leaders build fulfilling, flexible careers aligned with their interests.

  • Police put ‘roadblock’ groups on notice

    Police put ‘roadblock’ groups on notice

    A seemingly innocent act of sharing police roadblock locations with friends via social media groups can have far-reaching dangerous consequences for public safety, according to senior law enforcement officials in Saint Lucia.

    In a press briefing held Thursday, newly appointed Commander of the Special Services Unit (SSU) Assistant Superintendent Terry Bradley issued an official caution to residents who regularly share police operation coordinates on WhatsApp and other popular social platforms. Bradley emphasized that while most people who post these alerts have no malicious intent — often sharing information simply to help friends and fellow drivers avoid minor traffic citations — the ripple effects of this practice can put entire communities at risk.

    The core risk, Bradley explained, stems from the unregulated spread of information across digital groups. There is no way to verify every person who sees a shared operation location, meaning individuals carrying illegal weapons, contraband, or other prohibited items can easily access these alerts before encountering officers. Once notified, these individuals can alter their travel routes, abandon vehicles connected to criminal activity, discard illegal weapons, or take other steps to evade police detection entirely.

    Most alarmingly, Bradley noted, an illegal weapon that avoids seizure during a planned police stop can later be used to carry out violent, serious crimes that harm innocent residents. “What may appear to be a harmless message by just saying the police are at a location can be a potential interference with a lawful police activity,” he told reporters at the briefing.

    Against this backdrop, Bradley has formally appealed to the Saint Lucian public to voluntarily stop sharing the locations of active police operations, including routine traffic checks and targeted enforcement actions. The warning marks one of Bradley’s first public policy statements since taking over leadership of the SSU, a specialized unit tasked with leading the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force’s anti-crime initiatives.

    In addition to his appeal over social media sharing, Bradley used the press conference to send a firm message to individuals engaged in criminal activity across the island. He stressed that the SSU remains fully committed to supporting the broader police force in its mission to reduce violent crime and keep communities safe, and that all persons wanted for law enforcement action will be actively pursued. “We will not surrender our country to you. We will not surrender our communities to you,” Bradley said, addressing criminal elements directly. “If you commit a crime, you should expect the police to investigate that crime. If you are wanted, we will look for you. If you are found, you will be dealt with through the law and the justice system.”

  • BOA rewards Summer Games medallists with $110 000 payout

    BOA rewards Summer Games medallists with $110 000 payout

    The Barbados Olympic Association Inc. (BOA) has announced it will distribute a total of $110,000 in performance-based monetary rewards to Barbadian athletes and teams that secured medals at the 2024 Commonwealth Games and Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games. This payout marks another cycle of the incentive scheme the BOA first rolled out in 2019, designed to ease the heavy financial burden that comes with elite-level training and international competition, complementing the organization’s existing Athlete Funding Programme. BOA President Sandra Osborne shared that the association takes immense pride in rewarding these athletes, whose standout performances have made the entire nation proud and showcased Barbados’ untapped potential for even greater athletic achievement on global and regional stages. In a historic logistical feat for the small Caribbean nation, Team Barbados split its contingent to compete at two major events running simultaneously on separate continents this year, uniting behind the slogan “One Island. Two Stages. We are Team Barbados”. The Commonwealth Games took place in Glasgow, Scotland between July 23 and August 2, while the 25th edition of the CAC Games unfolded in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from July 24 to August 8. Across both competitions, Barbadian athletes delivered a impressive combined haul of 10 medals. Sprinter Sada Williams claimed the country’s only medal at the Commonwealth Games, taking home silver in the women’s 400-meter event. The bulk of the team’s medal success came at the CAC Games, where athletes secured nine total podium finishes: two gold medals, five silver medals, and two bronze medals across individual and team disciplines. In squash, Margot Prow secured top honors in the women’s singles competition, then paired with Meagan Best and Amanda Haywood to win a second gold in the women’s team event. Best added a silver medal to her personal tally in the women’s singles squash draw. Other silver medalists included Chelsea Tuach in women’s shortboard surfing, Matthew Wright in the men’s individual triathlon, Kaipo Marshall and Stephen Slocombe in men’s tennis doubles, and Wright alongside Fynn Armstrong in the men’s triathlon team event. Bronze medals went to Jabali Breedy in men’s boxing, and Darien Benn, Khamal Cumberbatch, and Shawn Simpson in the men’s squash team event. The BOA structures its incentive payments on a sliding tier system, with payout amounts adjusted based on three key factors: the competitive tier of the event, the color of the medal won, and whether the achievement came in an individual or team competition. As of the latest update, disbursement of these well-earned bonuses to the 13 honored athletes is already in progress.

  • St. Kitts Prosecutors Seek Keran Wynter, Believed to Be in Antigua, Over Pending EC$24,074 Theft Case

    St. Kitts Prosecutors Seek Keran Wynter, Believed to Be in Antigua, Over Pending EC$24,074 Theft Case

    Authorities in the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis have issued an urgent public appeal and formal warning as they hunt for a woman facing grand larceny charges who has fled the country and rebranded her identity to avoid prosecution. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed that the suspect, originally named Keran Wynter, is now operating under the alias Keran Shantil Millard and is believed to be currently residing in Antigua and Barbuda.

    The legal case against Wynter dates back to early 2022, when she was working as an accounts clerk at Timothy Beach Resort on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. Court indictments filed with the St. Christopher and Nevis High Court allege that between February 21 and March 24, 2022, Wynter misappropriated approximately 24,074.12 Eastern Caribbean dollars in resort funds, a charge classified as larceny by servant.

    After being formally charged, Wynter was released on bail set at 50,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars, with her mother and sister acting as court-approved sureties to guarantee her court attendance. But when trial proceedings were scheduled, Wynter failed to appear: investigators confirmed she had left St. Kitts and Nevis for neighboring Antigua and Barbuda, and intelligence indicates she has no plans to return voluntarily to face the charges against her. As a result of her bail violation, the ODPP is now moving forward with legal action to seize the full 50,000-dollar bail sum from Wynter’s sureties, who are currently before the court in connection with the case.

    In addition to the public appeal for information, the ODPP has issued a clear warning to any individual in Antigua and Barbuda who may be knowingly aiding Wynter’s efforts to evade arrest. The office stressed that anyone who intentionally conceals Wynter’s location, provides false details about her identity, helps her avoid law enforcement contact, or otherwise obstructs the legal process could face criminal investigation and prosecution themselves.

    Depending on the nature of the assistance provided and applicable law, such aiding conduct could result in charges including being an accessory after the fact or attempted perversion of the course of justice. The ODPP noted that publication of this appeal puts all members of the public on formal notice of the pending proceedings, though criminal liability for any assisting party will still require proof of all legal elements of an offense, including required knowledge and intent on the part of the accused. The office has urged anyone currently helping Wynter evade law enforcement to immediately stop their cooperation to avoid potential legal consequences.

    The ODPP has directly called on Wynter to surrender voluntarily to law enforcement authorities in Antigua and Barbuda, and cooperate with legal processes arranged for her extradition or transfer back to St. Kitts and Nevis. The office confirmed that Wynter will receive full due process under the law, including the opportunity to mount a defense before an independent, impartial court, and that she remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    Members of the public in Antigua and Barbuda who hold any information about Wynter’s current location—whether under her original name or alias Keran Millard—are urged to contact either the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda or the St. Christopher and Nevis ODPP directly with details. The public has been explicitly instructed not to confront or attempt to apprehend Wynter themselves, to avoid any risk of harm.

    Finally, the ODPP has formally requested that the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda review the case and initiate appropriate extradition or transfer procedures under Antigua and Barbuda’s 2014 Immigration and Passport Act to secure Wynter’s return to St. Kitts and Nevis to face her pending charges. The ODPP reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with Antiguan and Barbudan authorities to ensure the outstanding criminal proceedings are resolved fairly and in full accordance with the rule of law.

  • Xi verlaat Washington na gesprekken met Trump: handelsstilstand verlengd, grote doorbraak blijft uit

    Xi verlaat Washington na gesprekken met Trump: handelsstilstand verlengd, grote doorbraak blijft uit

    On September 26, 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his three-day state visit to the United States, the first such high-level official trip to Washington by a Chinese head of state in more than a decade, marking a significant reset in high-level communication between the world’s two largest economies.

    The visit opened with a notably warm ceremonial welcome: U.S. President Donald Trump personally greeted Xi at Joint Base Andrews on September 23, before overseeing a full program of official events that culminated in a formal state dinner at the White House East Room on September 24, attended by leading figures from U.S. technology and business sectors including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. The dinner gathering underscored the deep interconnected economic and technological ties between the two nations, even as the sector remains a core arena of strategic competition.

    Behind the ceremonial pageantry, negotiators from both sides tackled a sprawling agenda of longstanding frictions across trade, artificial intelligence, cross-Strait relations, and the Iran conflict. The most concrete, tangible outcome of the talks is a two-month extension of the existing bilateral trade truce, pushing the original expiration date of November 10 to January 10, 2027. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed that the two sides also reached preliminary agreement on components of goods trade, including agricultural products and medical equipment, with additional details to be released at a later date. The extension buys both sides extra time to negotiate a broader, long-term trade framework, and has averted an immediate escalation of the trade conflict for the foreseeable future, though major sticking points including U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, Chinese purchase commitments for U.S. products, Chinese rare earth export policies, and U.S. restrictions on advanced technology exports to China remain unresolved.

    In remarks delivered during the state dinner, Trump emphasized the long-standing personal relationship he has built with Xi since his first presidential term in 2016, noting that “President Xi and I both understand we represent different systems, but the people-to-people ties between our nations endure, and we have never gotten along better than we do right now.” He added that the two nations can continue to collaborate to advance shared economic prosperity and global security, striking a far warmer tone than the sharp rhetoric that has defined U.S.-China exchanges in recent years.

    For his part, Xi struck a similarly conciliatory note, framing the dual goals of the U.S. “Make America Great Again” agenda and China’s national renewal as mutually compatible goals that can reinforce one another. He called on both powers to build a new model of coexistence, stressing that healthy competition between the U.S. and China is acceptable, so long as it stays within clear bounds and does not escalate into open conflict.

    Artificial intelligence, a critical sector where both nations are global leaders locked in strategic competition for technological dominance, also featured prominently on the agenda. The two governments held discussions on frameworks to mitigate shared AI safety risks, but no major new agreements were reached on advanced chip access or AI technology export rules, leaving the sector as both a potential area for future collaboration and a core pillar of ongoing bilateral strategic competition.

    No fundamental breakthrough was achieved on the Taiwan issue, one of the most sensitive core disputes in bilateral ties. China reaffirmed its long-standing position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of its territory and that foreign powers should not interfere in the issue, while Trump made no announcements of major changes to long-standing U.S. policy on the question, leaving it intact as one of the greatest potential sources of bilateral tension. The ongoing conflict around Iran also emerged as another key point of divergence, reflecting differing core national interests for both powers in the region. While the issue was raised during discussions, no major joint diplomatic initiatives were announced, with the meeting primarily focused on preventing disagreements over regional conflicts from further derailing broader bilateral relations.

    On the final day of the visit, Trump planned to accompany Xi to the U.S. National Archives in Washington, where the two leaders were set to review historical documents detailing the long history of U.S.-China relations before the official closing of the state visit.

    Overall, the Xi visit has reopened sustained high-level dialogue between the two powers, revived personal ties between the two leaders, extended the trade truce, and established a framework for continuing talks on economic and technological issues. However, it failed to resolve the core structural conflicts that have defined bilateral tensions in recent years: disagreements over Taiwan, advanced technology competition, rare earth trade, and the Iran conflict all remain outstanding, and the broader struggle for economic and technological influence between the two nations is unchanged. For now, the primary significance of the summit lies in its role in preventing further escalation of tensions and keeping channels of communication open. Whether the extended trade truce can be turned into a lasting broader agreement will become clear in the coming months, as both sides turn to the harder work of negotiating solutions to the long-standing disputes left unresolved during the historic visit.

  • Team Mohamed’s Facebook page reactivated

    Team Mohamed’s Facebook page reactivated

    In a development that has reshaped the political communications landscape in Guyana, the primary Facebook page that serves as the central digital hub for the country’s main opposition bloc We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) has been restored and is once again accessible to its more than 500,000 followers. The page, officially branded as Team Mohameds, belongs to opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed, who has been locked in a high-profile dispute over the page’s disappearance earlier this month.

    The controversy dates back to September 3, 2026, when Mohamed was detained at Guyana’s Leonora Police Station, and law enforcement officials seized multiple mobile devices and a personal laptop from him. Shortly after this police interaction, the key opposition Facebook page went offline. Mohamed quickly placed blame on the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC), claiming the governing party orchestrated the page’s removal to silence his political voice ahead of ongoing political mobilization efforts. As of Friday, neither the Guyana Police Force nor the PPPC-led government has issued any formal confirmation or denial of Mohamed’s allegations.

    According to earlier statements from the opposition leader to Demerara Waves Online News, he spent weeks in direct communication with Meta, the parent company of Facebook, working to regain access to the platform that has functioned as a critical organizing and outreach tool for WIN since last year’s general and regional elections. The page has been particularly instrumental for Mohamed, who has used it repeatedly to publish a series of serious corruption allegations against sitting President Irfaan Ali and several top PPPC government ministers. All named officials have publicly and uniformly denied every claim leveled against them via the page.

    In an update shared earlier this month, Mohamed confirmed that law enforcement had ultimately returned all of the seized electronic devices that were taken as part of a separate criminal probe. That investigation centers on claims that Mohamed and a second man operated an unauthorized drone over President Ali’s private residential property in Leonora, located on Guyana’s West Coast Demerara. The second individual involved in the case, a contract videographer, has already been formally charged with multiple violations of Guyana’s Civil Aviation Act, and law enforcement has retained two drones seized from him as evidence in the ongoing case.

  • CARICOM Urges Caribbean Countries to Prepare for Next Pandemic

    CARICOM Urges Caribbean Countries to Prepare for Next Pandemic

    At a high-level United Nations General Assembly meeting focused on global pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response held on September 25, 2026, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has issued a urgent call for Caribbean nations to prioritize strengthening their systems to confront the next inevitable pandemic.

    Delivering the bloc’s official address on behalf of all CARICOM members, Haiti outlined the unique structural vulnerabilities that put the Caribbean region at disproportionate risk during global health emergencies. The region’s geography creates inherently porous borders that are difficult to fully monitor, while its economy is heavily reliant on tourism and international travel — two sectors that accelerate the cross-border spread of contagious pathogens. Compounding these challenges, Caribbean nations operate with constrained public health budgets and limited specialized infrastructure, factors that can amplify the death and economic toll of future outbreaks when compared to more resourced regions.

    Central to CARICOM’s appeal is the demand for expanded early capacity across the bloc. The statement emphasized that regional health systems need targeted investment to boost prevention protocols and early detection capabilities, critical steps to stop emerging health threats from escalating into full-scale pandemics. “We need to beef up our capacity for prevention and for early detection of health threats,” Haiti stated in the official address.

    The call from CARICOM aligns with broader warnings from global health leaders gathered at the UN meeting, where delegates gathered to review hard-won lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and coordinate global action to close gaps in preparedness.

    Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, a veteran global health policy leader, told the gathering that the world currently falls drastically short of the annual $15 billion in international financing that experts identify as necessary to close the global pandemic preparedness gap. Clark stressed that predictable, pre-allocated funding is non-negotiable to enable rapid deployment of resources when an outbreak first emerges. “Emergencies should trigger reliable pre-announced funding, not scramble for dollars,” she told attendees, framing consistent financing as a core component of effective global response.

    World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus echoed the urgency of the moment, referencing the COVID-19 pandemic as a clear warning of the world’s systemic underpreparedness for major transboundary health crises. He reiterated that the emergence of another pandemic is not a question of if, but when, and pressed all member nations to speed up and finalize negotiations on the global WHO Pandemic Agreement, a landmark framework designed to coordinate international action and strengthen collective defenses against future outbreaks.

    The meeting comes as global public health communities work to turn lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic into actionable policy, with vulnerable regions like the Caribbean pushing for greater recognition of their unique needs in global preparedness frameworks.

  • Saint Lucia coach, captain relishing Barbados Nations League clash

    Saint Lucia coach, captain relishing Barbados Nations League clash

    As kickoff approaches for Saint Lucia’s opening Concacaf Nations League fixture against Barbados at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground on Friday night, newly appointed men’s national team head coach Rajesh Latchoo has expressed excitement for the matchup and praise for his squad, particularly the leadership shown by the team’s veteran core.

    Speaking with St Lucia Times on Thursday, Latchoo noted that despite only holding three official training sessions with the squad ahead of the game, the intense collaboration between players and coaching staff has made the transition feel far smoother than the short timeline suggests. “It feels like I’ve already been here for a month, not just a few days of training,” he explained. “That connection comes from all the open conversations we’ve had, the questions players have asked, the feedback they’ve shared, and the ideas they’ve brought forward. At the end of the day, players are the ones who own the game on the pitch.”

    Under Latchoo’s new framework, senior players are empowered to make in-match decisions, with the coaching staff focusing on aligning the entire squad around a shared strategy rather than dictating every move. The coach emphasized that the veteran experience of long-tenured squad members is the team’s greatest asset, one that should never be underestimated.

    Latchoo rejected the idea of forcing a rigid pre-determined playing style, instead stating that his game plan will always center on leveraging the existing strengths of his roster. He argued that the current squad is well-balanced across every position, with special depth in attacking play.

    “I’ve been incredibly impressed by the squad’s finishing ability — we have legitimate goalscorers across the front line, and that’s a strength we’re going to play to,” Latchoo said. He added that the defensive line and goalkeeper unit boast strong veteran leadership, the wide positions are filled with athletic, dynamic players, and the midfield and attacking slots mix seasoned experience with promising young talent. “Even our newer young players know exactly what to do when they get a chance in front of goal,” he noted.

    The current squad includes the top two marksmen from the Saint Lucia Semi-Professional Football League: Yanic Noel and Garvin Reggie, with Reggie earning his first ever call-up to the senior national side. The roster also features attacking standout Caniggia Elva, who notched a brace against Barbados in the teams’ previous encounter.

    Leading the squad out on Friday will be returning captain Terell Thomas, a 30-year-old central defender who most recently plied his trade with England’s Carlisle United. Thomas has given a positive assessment of the new coaching staff’s early work, saying he has been impressed by Latchoo’s approach in his short tenure.

    “What stands out immediately is how observant he is, and how clearly he communicates what he sees and how we can improve in different game situations,” Thomas explained. “He’s kept everything very simple, which is exactly what you need when you have such a short window to prepare. If you try to overload players with too much new information and complex philosophies right away, it just doesn’t work.”

    Thomas added that Latchoo’s trust in the squad has had a unifying effect: “He told us straight out, ‘Every single one of you here is a good player — you know how to play this game.’ He’s given us the confidence to make the right calls on the pitch, and that simplicity has really helped the group gel quickly.”

    A key rule change from FIFA has also reshaped this international match window, expanding it from one week to two weeks to allow four Concacaf Nations League fixtures to be completed within a single break. Thomas welcomed the adjustment, noting that the extra time allows for far more tactical continuity, even if it brings new physical demands.

    “Having more time together on the training pitch means we can work through kinks and get our game plan locked in far better than we could in a shorter window,” he said. “That said, four games in 14 days puts a lot of strain on players’ bodies, so recovery is going to be absolutely critical this window. There are both upsides and challenges to the new format.”

    Thomas also pointed out that the extended break is particularly beneficial for the new coaching regime, giving Latchoo more time to implement his vision and build rapport with the squad. After Friday’s opener against Barbados and a second home fixture on Monday, the side will travel to Barbados to face Guadeloupe in two further matches next week.

    For his part, Latchoo says he is just glad to have the chance to compete at this level in the Caribbean. “This is what football is all about,” he said. “I’m so happy that we get to compete against other teams in the region, push each other, and all get better as a result.”

  • Venezuela declares Persad-Bissessar persona grata as leaders agree to deepen ties

    Venezuela declares Persad-Bissessar persona grata as leaders agree to deepen ties

    A landmark diplomatic shift has reopened positive engagement between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, after Venezuela reversed its classification of Trinidadian Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, formally declaring her a welcome persona grata on the heels of a high-level meeting with acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez this week in New York.

    The talks unfolded at Venezuela’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, held on the margins of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, marking the most significant step forward in warming frosty bilateral ties in recent years. In a joint communique released immediately after the discussion, the two leaders framed the encounter as the opening chapter of a completely renewed relationship between their nations.

    Both sides moved quickly to build on this breakthrough, reaffirming the deep, centuries-long shared historical bonds that link the Caribbean and South American neighbors. They also signed off on an ambitious agenda to expand collaborative work across a wide range of mutually beneficial sectors, including cross-border trade, energy development, national security coordination, disaster risk reduction, climate and environmental protection, agricultural development, tourism promotion, expanded air travel links, and cultural exchange.

    In a gesture of gratitude, Rodríguez extended formal thanks to the government and people of Trinidad and Tobago for the rapid solidarity they extended to Venezuela following the devastating 24 June earthquake series that struck the country earlier this year. To ensure ongoing high-level dialogue keeps the reconciliation process on track, the two leaders have committed to reciprocal official visits in the coming months, with Persad-Bissessar set to travel to Caracas and Rodríguez to Port-of-Spain.

    The official joint statement explicitly confirmed that Venezuela has formally reversed its prior status designation, making clear that Persad-Bissessar is fully welcome within Venezuelan territory. Regional political analysts have broadly welcomed the development as a major step forward for bilateral cooperation. Dr. Winford James, a leading Caribbean political analyst, characterized the joint communique as a constructive, goodwill-driven document that signals clear enthusiasm from both governments to reset their previously strained relationship.

    Fellow analyst Shane Mohammed echoed that assessment, noting that the high-profile New York meeting builds on steady momentum toward full diplomatic repair. He emphasized that the sit-down highlights Persad-Bissessar’s deliberate focus on advancing policy priorities that deliver shared benefits to both nations. Mohammed added that the formal reclassification of Persad-Bissessar as persona grata is far more than a symbolic gesture: it underscores the substantive breakthrough achieved in the meeting, and has lifted expectations for concrete, tangible progress on cooperative initiatives in the months ahead.

  • Nine years later, DPP drops obstruction charge against UWP Leader Thomson Fontaine

    Nine years later, DPP drops obstruction charge against UWP Leader Thomson Fontaine

    After more than eight years of legal wrangling, a high-profile criminal case stemming from a 2017 opposition rally in Dominica’s capital Roseau has officially drawn to a close, with the country’s top public prosecutor discontinuing an obstruction charge against United Workers’ Party (UWP) leader Dr. Thomson Fontaine.

    The case traces back to a February 7, 2017 opposition-organized “Day of the People” gathering held on Upper Kennedy Avenue. Following the conclusion of the meeting, authorities brought charges against Fontaine connected to a truck registered as TB 859 parked near the Roseau Financial Centre. Prosecutors alleged that Fontaine repeatedly ignored police orders to allow the vehicle to move west, claiming he intentionally blocked law enforcement officers from carrying out their official duties.

    In a public statement released this week, Fontaine confirmed that Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Sherma Dalrymple has moved to end all proceedings against him, exercising authority granted under Section 72(c) of the Commonwealth of Dominica Constitution. Fontaine has never wavered in his assertion of innocence throughout the entire legal process, and he has long argued that the charges against him were nothing more than a politically motivated effort to target the opposition, rather than a legitimate pursuit of justice. Had he been convicted on the obstruction charge, he faced the possibility of a prison sentence.

    In recounting his years-long legal ordeal, Fontaine detailed repeated disruptions to his life and career. For much of the duration of the case, he held a senior leadership role as head of strategy at the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission in Juba, South Sudan, a body tasked with overseeing the implementation of the country’s fragile peace agreement. Despite living and working thousands of miles from Dominica, Fontaine was required to make 22 separate trips back to the island for mandatory court appearances. He noted that many of these appearances were scheduled on extremely short notice, forcing him to purchase last-minute plane tickets that cost between $5,000 and $7,000 per one-way trip — the equivalent of 13,500 to 18,900 Eastern Caribbean dollars. On many occasions, after traveling thousands of miles, his hearing would simply be adjourned for a later date, he added. Fontaine also claimed he was arrested three times by authorities, spent a total of three days in police custody, and was pursued by officers in military-style gear “like a common criminal.”

    Beyond the personal financial toll, Fontaine has raised questions about the unnecessary public cost of the prosecution. He claims officials brought three senior legal lawyers from Trinidad and Tobago to handle the low-level obstruction case, despite the matter being fully capable of being managed by local legal professionals. No official total of the public funds spent on the prosecution has been released to date.

    To date, the DPP’s discontinuance notice does not provide any official explanation for the decision to drop the charges, nor does it address Fontaine’s allegations of political motivation or excessive public spending. The conclusion of the case brings an end to one of the longest-running legal disputes between Dominica’s opposition and ruling administration in recent years, though the claims of political targeting remain unaddressed by official bodies.