Carib Scope

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  • Dr. Didacus Jules Reappointed for a Fourth Term as Director General

    Dr. Didacus Jules Reappointed for a Fourth Term as Director General

    The highest governing body of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the OECS Authority, has formally greenlit the reappointment of Dr. Didacus Jules to serve his fourth consecutive term as the organisation’s Director General. This move serves as a clear reaffirmation of the Authority’s unwavering confidence in Jules’ leadership capabilities and its shared commitment to pushing forward the bloc’s long-held regional integration agenda.

    The historic decision was reached during the 78th official gathering of the OECS Authority, where regional Heads of Government gathered to deliberate on the appointment and collectively praised Jules’ outstanding track record of service over his previous three terms. Leaders highlighted the transformative impact of his work, which has advanced cross-border cooperation, driven tangible regional development, and bolstered the institutional capacity of the OECS bloc as a whole.

    Speaking on behalf of the Authority following the vote, former OECS Authority Chairman and Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Honourable Dr. Godwin Friday, highlighted the unique strengths Jules brings to the role. Friday commended Jules for his far-sighted strategic vision, lifelong dedication to public service, and unwavering commitment to nurturing deeper regional integration and inclusive sustainable development across all Eastern Caribbean member states.

    “The decision to reappoint you is a direct reflection of the Authority’s collective confidence in your leadership, and a formal recognition of the immeasurable contributions you have made to advancing the OECS integration agenda and strengthening our organisation from within,” Friday stated in his official address. “On behalf of the entire OECS Authority, I extend my warmest and sincere congratulations on your reappointment. We eagerly anticipate your continued service and dedication to the people and governments of all OECS Member States.”

    As the Eastern Caribbean bloc continues to chart a path through an increasingly complex and volatile global geopolitical landscape, OECS Authority leaders have emphasized that experienced, steady leadership is critical to advancing the organisation’s core vision: building a more closely integrated, economically resilient, and prosperous region for all citizens. In a separate statement following the announcement, the OECS Commission added its own congratulations to Dr. Jules, confirming it looks forward to continuing its collaborative work with his office to deliver tangible, meaningful improvements to the daily lives of people across OECS member nations.

  • Asabina pleit voor leerstoel Surinaamse muziek en volksmuziekscholen in buurten en districten

    Asabina pleit voor leerstoel Surinaamse muziek en volksmuziekscholen in buurten en districten

    PARAMARIBO, SURINAME – June 26 – Ronny Asabina, leader of the BEP political faction in Suriname’s National Assembly, has launched a urgent call for the development of a formal national music policy, aiming to professionalize the country’s vibrant music sector and unlock its untapped social and economic potential.

    Asabina laid out his multi-point plan during parliamentary budget debates, outlining concrete initiatives to expand access to music education, preserve Suriname’s unique cultural heritage, and support working artists across the country. His proposals have already earned broad cross-party support in the legislature.

    One of Asabina’s core priorities is expanding the reach of the national People’s Music School, which currently operates only from a single central location. He argues that this outdated structure excludes talented young people in working-class neighborhoods, interior communities, and outlying districts. To address this gap, he is pushing for the establishment of new branch campuses in underserved areas including Combé, Domburg, and Brownsweg, ensuring that children and young people from all regions can access formal music training close to home. “We must bring opportunity for talent development directly to the people,” Asabina told the assembly.

    A second key proposal calls for the creation of a dedicated chair in Surinamese music at Anton de Kom University of Suriname. Asabina emphasized that the long and diverse history of Surinamese music deserves systematic academic research, digital documentation, and long-term preservation for future generations. This institutional investment would not only protect Suriname’s cultural legacy but also strengthen the overall quality of music education across the country, he added.

    To directly support working artists, Asabina has also proposed the establishment of a national music fund. The fund would provide financial support for critical career needs including studio recording, music video production, marketing, professional management, and international promotion. Complementing this fund, he called for the launch of a centralized national music platform that would bring artists, producers, venue operators, and media outlets together to collaborate on growing the domestic music industry.

    Beyond supporting local creators, Asabina argued that Surinamese music should be leveraged more strategically as a tool for cultural tourism and cultural diplomacy. He called for greater promotion of Surinamese music through the country’s global embassies and at major international cultural events, raising the nation’s profile on the world stage.

    Asabina stressed that music is far more than just leisure entertainment for Suriname. He framed the country’s rich musical tradition as a core pillar of national identity that unites diverse communities, supports public social well-being, and creates significant untapped economic opportunities for the nation. “Suriname has an incredibly rich musical tradition and a dynamic living cultural heritage, but the sector still does not receive the structural support it needs to thrive,” he said.

    The BEP leader noted that the Surinamese music industry has survived and grown to date not because of government support, but despite a lack of government investment. He called on the national administration to develop a concrete action plan with clear timelines to implement the proposed reforms and strengthen the sector on a long-term, structural basis.

    Asabina’s proposals have already garnered broad backing across the National Assembly. Speaking on behalf of the opposition NDP party, legislator Tashana Lösche confirmed her party’s support for the call to increase investment in talent development, expand music education access, and strengthen legal protections for the rights of Surinamese artists.

  • DSB behaalt internationale certificering voor informatiebeveiliging

    DSB behaalt internationale certificering voor informatiebeveiliging

    Suriname’s leading financial institution DSB Bank has achieved the globally recognized ISO 27001 certification for information security, marking a major milestone in the bank’s commitment to international data protection standards. The official certificate was formally awarded Thursday by global certification body DNV (Det Norske Veritas) during the annual Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit (SEOGS), with representatives from both organizations presenting the credential at the event.

    This independent certification confirms that DSB Bank has structured its entire information security framework in full alignment with the strict international requirements laid out in the ISO 27001 standard. DNV, the certifying body, is a leading global classification and risk management firm that operates more than 300 offices across over 100 countries, with service lines covering maritime, energy, transportation, aviation, food production and healthcare. The firm has maintained a presence in Suriname since the 1990s, and 2026 marks its second consecutive participation in the SEOGS event.

    DSB Bank first publicly announced its goal to obtain ISO 27001 certification in 2025. According to Ashna Kamta, Chief Risk Officer at DSB Bank, the institution had already aligned its internal practices with international information security standards for many years, but formal third-party certification delivers critical independent validation of these efforts.

    Kamta noted that the certification process was no simple feat, requiring substantial financial and operational investment to meet all stringent requirements. The official certification track launched just one year ago, and completing the full process within 12 months stands as strong proof of DSB’s compliance with global benchmarks, she added. She also emphasized that comprehensive information security extends far beyond just digital cybersecurity protections.

    “It also covers physical security of bank facilities, tightly controlled access protocols for different restricted areas, and clear authorization hierarchies for data access,” Kamta explained. “Beyond that, we require all our staff to handle customer data with extreme care, store documentation securely, and only disclose information to properly authorized individuals.”

    As Suriname’s largest bank, DSB currently serves more than 200,000 customers across the country. The bank’s 2025 annual report shows that total assets under management grew 19% year-over-year from 2024, alongside consistent expansion in the adoption of digital banking services and point-of-sale digital payments among customers.

    Kamta expects the new ISO 27001 certification will further strengthen trust among international investors and global business partners. DSB is positioning itself to play a central role in Suriname’s fast-growing emerging oil and gas sector, an industry that places extremely high demands on information security and risk management practices.

    The certification also reflects a growing trend across Suriname’s business community, DNV representatives Ronald Von Bannisseht and Ruurdt Jukema pointed out. Demand for international third-party certifications has risen noticeably in recent years, driven largely by the expansion of the country’s offshore oil and gas industry. Local companies are increasingly recognizing that formal certification does more than improve internal risk management – it also strengthens their competitive standing in the global marketplace, the DNV representatives noted. To date, DNV has issued certifications to multiple Surinamese enterprises, including a number of companies active directly and indirectly in the oil and gas sector.

  • PCA IT manager gunned down in Charlieville

    PCA IT manager gunned down in Charlieville

    A shocking act of violence has claimed the life of a senior Information Technology manager with Trinidad and Tobago’s Police Complaints Authority, after a gunman ambushed him in a public parking lot Wednesday evening.

    The victim has been formally identified as 38-year-old Sa-id Khan, a resident of St Augustine and father of two who had separated from his wife. The fatal attack unfolded shortly after 8 p.m., as Khan sat inside his Honda Vezel SUV parked outside a local insurance company along Caroni Savannah Road in Charlieville.

    Law enforcement officials confirmed that the attacker opened fire directly on the vehicle, shattering the front windscreen and side windows before fleeing the scene. Khan was struck multiple times by gunfire and was pronounced dead at the location by first responders. By Thursday morning, officers had cordoned off the entire crime scene to process forensic evidence, but a thorough search of the surrounding area had not yielded any suspects, and the underlying motive for the killing remains unconfirmed.

    In an interview with local outlet *Express* on Thursday, Police Complaints Authority (PCA) director David West shared an emotional tribute to Khan, who had only joined the independent oversight body six months prior to the attack. West described Khan as a warm, skilled professional who integrated seamlessly into the authority’s team, noting that “everybody loved him. He was a genuine guy, who enjoyed his work; very professional. He was a joy to be around.”

    Before joining the PCA, an independent civilian oversight body established by Parliament to monitor police conduct, Khan held a position at National Flour Mills. When asked whether the murder could be connected to his role at the authority, West clarified that Khan’s work focused exclusively on managing the organization’s IT systems, and he had no direct involvement with any ongoing oversight cases. “I can’t comment on that, but he’s the IT manager so he doesn’t have any direct dealings with any case,” West said.

    West added that the PCA had not been informed of any active leads in the investigation as of Thursday, and extended the organization’s full condolences to Khan’s bereaved family. “On behalf of the Police Complaints Authority, we’re very sorry to lose an employee in that manner, in that fashion. We wish his family all the best to cope and recover,” he said.

    West also used the incident to highlight the persistent challenge of violent crime in the country, adding, “just to know that crime is very high in Trinidad and Tobago, and I wish everybody just to be careful and safe out there.”

    As of this week, the national murder toll in Trinidad and Tobago stands at 184, a slight decrease from the 187 recorded over the same period last year.

  • Venezuelans in T&T spend hours reaching out to relatives

    Venezuelans in T&T spend hours reaching out to relatives

    When news of a catastrophic seismic event off Venezuela’s coast reached neighboring Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, it triggered an agonizing wave of uncertainty for thousands of Venezuelan expatriates, who spent desperate hours trying to connect with loved ones back home after two of the strongest earthquakes in the nation’s modern history.

    Venezuela was hit by back-to-back powerful tremors that struck within 38 seconds of one another in near-identical offshore locations. The initial quake registered a magnitude of 7.2, followed immediately by an even stronger 7.5-magnitude shockwave. As of the latest update, rescue teams are still working through collapsed buildings and rubble-strewn neighborhoods, with the confirmed death toll already climbing to at least 188.

    For Venezuelans who have relocated to Trinidad in recent years, the disaster has unfolded as a painful, helpless ordeal, as they rely on spotty communication and fragmented updates to track the safety of their family and friends. Alejandro Silva, a native of Guiria who has built a new life in Trinidad over the past five years, shared his raw anxiety in an interview with *Trinidad Express*.

    “So far, things are holding together; the government has managed the response in an orderly way, and we haven’t heard reports of looting or widespread unrest,” Silva explained. “But this earthquake is unlike any disaster Venezuela has ever faced. It’s absolutely devastating. A close friend of mine is still searching for his 20-year-old son, who just started a new job in Caracas and has been missing since the quake. I can feel how much his family is hurting, and I keep praying they find him alive.”

    Silva had been preparing for a long-awaited trip home in July, planning to bring back gifts and meet his three-month-old granddaughter for the first time. Now, those plans are on hold. “I was already setting aside things to bring home with me next month, but I’m going to wait a while before going back,” he said. Thankfully, his immediate family, most of whom live in Catia La Mar, have confirmed they are unhurt, though several relatives who reside in Caracas saw their homes suffer severe structural damage. “Pray for Venezuela,” he added.

    Other migrants are still stuck in limbo, with no word from the people they are searching for. Valentina Silva-Romero said she has spent days reaching out to friends in Caracas via social media and phone, with no response. “One of my cousins was injured at work when the quake hit; he has a serious head injury, and I’m clinging to hope for good news,” she said. “I know multiple people who have been hurt, but there are still friends I can’t reach. I’ve tried messaging them on Facebook, and nothing. All I can do right now is wait and pray.”

    Tony Carlos Rodríguez shared that his close family has been confirmed safe, but his sister’s entire home in Caracas was reduced to rubble. “So many people have been hurt, and so many are still digging through rubble looking for missing family and friends,” he said. “I keep getting constant WhatsApp updates about the situation, and it’s still hard to accept what happened. It feels like I’m stuck in a terrible nightmare I can’t wake up from.”

    Another Venezuelan migrant, who requested only to be named Javier, described spending two interminable hours waiting for word about his sister, who lives in Maturín but commutes to work in Caracas. “I was sick with worry until I finally heard from her,” he said. “She’s safe, but her apartment in Caracas was completely destroyed. I also just found out that one of my old neighbors from Güiria is still unaccounted for, so I’m waiting for more updates, hoping for the best.”

    Community leaders who support Venezuelan migrants in Trinidad say the disaster has left the entire local Venezuelan community reeling with grief. Andreina Brown, director of local migrant support organization La Casita, said she broke down in tears when she saw the first images of the destruction. “When I saw the news this morning, I just cried. It’s all so horrible, I’m still in shock,” she said. “Venezuelans have been coming in here crying all day, calling my phone sobbing. One of our members, Carlos Gonzales, an engineer from here, had gone back to Venezuela recently, and now he’s missing. His whole family is completely devastated.”

    Angie Ramnarine, director of the La Romaine Migrant Support Group, said the grief has touched every part of the local Venezuelan community. “It’s just devastatingly sad. All the Venezuelans here are heartbroken,” she said. “One young boy in my class hasn’t stopped worrying about his grandmother, who lives in the affected area. Most of the migrants here are from the Tucupita Delta region, which escaped major damage, but the destruction in Caracas has hit all of us, because we all have people we love there.”

  • MP denies close ties with Monteil

    MP denies close ties with Monteil

    A major political controversy has unfolded in Trinidad and Tobago this week, as Port of Spain South Member of Parliament and opposition figure Keith Scotland has issued a firm denial of any close association with Andre Monteil, former treasurer of the opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) and head of the now-defunct Flavorite Foods Ltd. The dispute centers on allegations of professional misconduct tied to a $2.4 million unpaid electricity debt owed by Flavorite Foods to the state-run Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC).

    Speaking at an official PNM press conference hosted at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in Port of Spain, Scotland pushed back against multiple claims leveled by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who first raised accusations of collusion and improper conduct last week during parliamentary debate. Persad-Bissessar has alleged Scotland, who is a trained barrister, and members of his former legal chambers acted negligently to pursue a so-called “phantom lawsuit” over the outstanding debt, allowing the claim to become statute-barred through false procedural misrepresentations to protect Monteil. The Prime Minister has already ordered a formal probe by the national Fraud Squad and backed T&TEC’s planned legal action against the MP.

    Scotland has consistently maintained he has done nothing wrong in the case. Responding to T&TEC’s recently issued pre-action protocol letter threatening formal litigation, Scotland confirmed he has already received the document and will instruct his legal team to mount a formal response. He also criticized the unauthorized leak of the confidential legal letter, noting that the document was circulated to every major media outlet in the country almost immediately after it was delivered, before the ink on the correspondence was even dry. He confirmed he will treat the legal and political allegations against him with the full seriousness and gravity they demand.

    Addressing the core claim of a close personal and professional tie to Monteil, Scotland told reporters that he has only met the former PNM official once in his entire life, in a passing, casual setting. “There is absolutely no relationship between myself and Andre Monteil,” Scotland insisted to assembled journalists.

    On the procedural claims around the debt recovery lawsuit, Scotland presented official stamped court documentation to back up his assertion that the claim was properly refiled, that an entry of default judgment was correctly processed, and that the matter is currently awaiting a routine query from the court registrar. He also noted that national public health emergency provisions enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic had legally suspended statutory limitation periods for civil claims, invalidating the claim that the debt had become unrecoverable through procedural fault.

    Scotland further clarified that he voluntarily suspended his private legal practice when he joined the national Cabinet in July 2024, separating his professional legal work from his political duties.

    In the most high-profile rebuke to the Prime Minister, Scotland issued a repeated public challenge to Persad-Bissessar, calling on her to repeat the damaging allegations she made against him in the protected chamber of parliament in a public setting outside the legislature, where he would be able to pursue legal redress for defamation.

  • PM: T&T stands ready to assist

    PM: T&T stands ready to assist

    A catastrophic seismic event has left Venezuela reeling, after two massive back-to-back earthquakes struck the nation on Wednesday, triggering a sweeping wave of international support for the thousands of dead, missing and displaced residents impacted by the disaster. According to data released by the United States Geological Survey, the first tremor, registering a magnitude of 7.2, hit just after 6 p.m. local time, and a stronger 7.5-magnitude quake followed only 39 seconds later. This second event marks the most powerful earthquake to strike Venezuela in recorded history going back to 1900.

    By the following evening, official reports confirmed that the death toll had climbed to nearly 200, with thousands more injured and more than 35,000 residents unaccounted for. The powerful tremors toppled buildings across affected regions, turning urban centers into rubble-strewn disaster zones and forcing panic-stricken residents of the capital Caracas to flee into the streets for safety.

    One of the first nations to extend aid offers was neighboring Trinidad and Tobago, which lies just 11 kilometers across the Gulf of Paria from Venezuela. The country’s Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs released an official statement Wednesday night confirming its “firm support” for Venezuela, expressing deep concern over the widespread damage from the seismic activity. The statement noted that the Trinidad and Tobago government recognizes the shared vulnerability of Caribbean and Latin American nations to natural disasters, and stands in solidarity with its neighbor during the initial assessment and early recovery phase.

    “Tied by longstanding fraternal bonds, enduring friendship and close bilateral relations, the people of Trinidad and Tobago stand ready to provide any requested support and assistance to Venezuelan authorities, where possible,” the statement read. The ministry added that its diplomatic mission in Caracas suffered no significant damage from the quakes, and would continue closely monitoring the evolving situation to update government officials. “Our thoughts remain with those affected by this event, and we offer our steadfast support for the safety and resilience of the Venezuelan people,” the statement concluded.

    Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar echoed the government’s message of solidarity in a public post shared yesterday morning, alongside the official ministry statement. “The Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago, and I, extend our heartfelt sympathy to the government and people of Venezuela following the recent earthquake, which has caused loss of life and destruction. Our thoughts, prayers and solidarity are with all those affected,” Persad-Bissessar said. “We stand ready to assist in whatever humanitarian way we can during this difficult time. We wish the people of Venezuela safety, strength and a swift recovery as they navigate the aftermath of this natural disaster.”

    The disaster comes as Venezuela already grapples with years of deep-seated political and humanitarian crisis that has forced millions of residents to flee the country, thousands of whom have resettled in Trinidad and Tobago. In response to the new catastrophe, Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez declared a national state of emergency and called on all medical personnel, including doctors and nurses, to report for duty immediately to support response efforts, according to reporting from The New York Times.

    Hours after the quakes struck, former United States President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would stand ready to provide support to Venezuelan response teams. By early yesterday morning, Rodriguez publicly thanked Trump for his offer, confirming that U.S. officials had remained in constant communication with Venezuelan authorities throughout the response effort.

    Speaking at an official news conference, Rodriguez confirmed that Venezuela would welcome search and rescue teams from a growing list of nations that have offered aid, including El Salvador, Mexico and Qatar. She added that the governments of Brazil, China, and multiple Caribbean nations had also extended formal offers of humanitarian assistance to support the country’s response and recovery in the wake of the disaster.

  • Third person detained in Hadeed probe

    Third person detained in Hadeed probe

    Trinidad and Tobago law enforcement has expanded an ongoing high-profile investigation with the addition of a third person taken into custody, authorities confirmed Thursday. As of late Thursday evening, Blue Waters Products Ltd founder Dominic Hadeed and his spouse Genevieve Hadeed remained in police custody following coordinated search and detention operations carried out one day prior.

    The newly detained individual is a 69-year-old businesswoman based in Westmoorings, a residential and commercial community in western Trinidad. In an official public update released at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) confirmed the third detention but declined to release her name or explicitly connect her to the investigation targeting the Hadeeds. The update referenced a prior June 24, 2026 statement confirming that two people had been taken into custody in Westmoorings on Wednesday, and unnamed police sources confirmed to local outlet Express that the two detention operations are directly linked.

    “She is currently assisting with the ongoing investigative process and no charges have been laid,” the TTPS said of the Westmoorings businesswoman, noting she was taken into custody on Thursday. In line with standard police protocol for active investigations, the agency emphasized that being taken into custody for questioning is not equivalent to a finding of guilt, and no negative assumptions about any individual’s involvement should be drawn.

    “The TTPS remains committed to ensuring that all investigative steps are conducted professionally, impartially, and with full respect for the legal and reputational rights of all individuals involved,” the statement read. “As this matter remains active, no further information can be disclosed at this time. The TTPS will continue to provide updates as appropriate and remains steadfast in its duty to uphold the rule of law.”

    According to police sources who spoke to Express on condition of anonymity, investigative teams have already requested formal legal guidance to determine what, if any, criminal charges will be filed against Dominic and Genevieve Hadeed. No details about the potential charges or a timeline for concluding the investigative process have been released to the public.

    The case has drawn public and political attention, with Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles addressing questions about the detention during a Thursday press conference in Port of Spain. Beckles emphasized that the core priority of the process must be upholding due process and allowing the law to proceed without interference. She also noted that the investigation is unfolding against the backdrop of a currently active national state of emergency, echoing calls for the government to provide additional clarity on the case as it progresses, matching the opposition’s approach to all cases processed under the ongoing emergency declaration.

    The investigation’s first public steps unfolded Wednesday morning, when a team of plainclothes and uniformed officers from a specialized TTPS unit arrived at the Hadeeds’ Westmoorings home to execute a judicially approved search warrant. Investigators seized multiple electronic devices during the search, including several laptops, and confirmed that devices belonging to the couple’s adult children were also taken as potential evidence.

    Following the residential search, investigators accompanied Dominic Hadeed to his company’s business location in Trincity to conduct a second court-approved search as part of the ongoing enquiries. As of Thursday evening, it remained unclear whether investigators seized any additional evidence from the Trincity business site.

    In Wednesday’s initial public statement, the TTPS clarified that all search and detention actions were carried out under valid search warrants issued by the Supreme Court of Judicature, and all operations remained strictly within legal bounds under judicial oversight. The agency repeated its reminder that the execution of search warrants and detainment of individuals for questioning are standard investigative procedures that do not indicate a pre-determination of wrongdoing. “No conclusions should be drawn regarding the status of any individual until investigations are completed and any evidence is properly assessed in accordance with due process,” the TTPS said.

  • Penny disappointed with Govt’s response

    Penny disappointed with Govt’s response

    In the wake of two powerful earthquakes that rocked central Venezuela last Wednesday, collapsing structures across the capital Caracas and driving up a growing death toll, Trinidad and Tobago’s Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles has publicly voiced deep disappointment over the ruling government’s response to the unfolding humanitarian crisis.

    Speaking at a press briefing hosted by the People’s National Movement (PNM) at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Port of Spain on Thursday, Beckles issued sharp criticism of an official statement released by the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, labeling the document “insensitive” and openly questioning whether any senior official had reviewed and vetted the communication before it was made public.

    The Opposition Leader extended formal condolences to the affected people and government of Venezuela, emphasizing that the death toll continues to climb as rescue teams pull more victims from the rubble of destroyed buildings. She stressed that moments of international humanitarian crisis demand a response rooted in compassion, solidarity, and clear leadership – standards she said the government’s current statement failed to meet.

    Beckles argued that the ruling administration should have laid out the specific details of any assistance Trinidad and Tobago planned to offer to Venezuela immediately after the disaster, rather than releasing a vague, generic statement. She pointed out that other nations across the globe have already extended clear, direct offers of concrete aid to Venezuela, noting that as one of Venezuela’s closest geographic neighbors with a permanent diplomatic mission already operating in Caracas, Trinidad and Tobago is uniquely positioned to offer timely, meaningful support.

    She called on the government to move beyond generic words of sympathy and immediately publish a transparent outline of the practical assistance the country is prepared to deploy to help Venezuela respond to the disaster and support its recovery efforts.

  • Ramsukul pleit voor invoering Starlink en versnelling digitale transformatie

    Ramsukul pleit voor invoering Starlink en versnelling digitale transformatie

    Speaking during parliamentary budget deliberations in Suriname, ruling VHP party lawmaker Kishan Ramsukul has issued a urgent call for the South American nation to dramatically speed up its digital transformation efforts, warning that the country cannot afford to fall further behind regional and global peers.

    Ramsukul centered a key part of his address on pushing for the rapid regulatory approval of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, pushing back against a common local misconception that the service would directly compete with state-owned telecom provider Telesur. He emphasized that Starlink’s core purpose is to deliver connectivity to remote and inland regions of Suriname where traditional terrestrial telecom infrastructure has failed to deliver reliable or sufficient coverage. By filling this coverage gap, the MP argued, Starlink would unlock new economic opportunities for marginalized inland communities and help bridge the country’s digital divide. He urged the Surinamese government to finalize all necessary legislation and regulatory frameworks without delay to bring Starlink online, allowing Suriname to join the dozens of countries that already offer the service to users.

    Beyond satellite internet, Ramsukul also voiced sharp criticism of the slow digital progress in Suriname’s banking sector, noting that both ordinary citizens and local business owners face daily disruptions from outdated financial infrastructure. He pointed to unnecessarily long processing times for interbank transfers and the limited availability of modern digital payment options as persistent pain points holding back economic activity. The lawmaker called for urgent upgrades to the sector, including the rollout of instant bank transfers, modern unified digital payment platforms, and streamlined electronic payment processing systems. “Digitalization is no longer a luxury for our financial sector—it is an absolute necessity, and our institutions must keep up with global developments,” Ramsukul stated.

    Ramsukul also pushed for broader digitalization of Suriname’s public administration, outlining a series of practical reforms including the introduction of official digital driver’s licenses, a major expansion of online government service portals, and the simplification of bureaucratic administrative processes. He explained that expanding digital public services would not only cut red tape and save valuable time for residents and businesses, but also improve government transparency, increase operational efficiency, and create a more attractive investment climate for foreign and domestic companies.
    “If Suriname wants to develop into a competitive, modern economy, we must first build a modern digital infrastructure to support that growth,” Ramsukul told the National Assembly. Digital transformation, he emphasized, is now an indispensable foundation for broad economic growth, increased foreign direct investment, and inclusive development across all regions of the country.