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  • Beyond the Dollar: A Young Caribbean Finance Student’s Reflection on Understanding Money in a Changing World

    Beyond the Dollar: A Young Caribbean Finance Student’s Reflection on Understanding Money in a Changing World

    For most people, money is a constant presence in daily life, yet few take the time to unpack the full range of forces that shape how we interact with it. From earning a paycheck to covering monthly expenses, setting aside savings, or taking on loans, we make countless monetary choices every day. But behind every one of those choices lies far more than simple arithmetic: our relationship with money is molded by psychological biases, deeply held emotional beliefs, broader economic structures, and the unique social and environmental context we live in.

    As a final-year banking and finance student and youth leader based in the Caribbean, my perspective on money has expanded far beyond the textbook formulas, spreadsheets, and balance sheets that form the core of formal finance education. Over time, I have come to see that money is far more than a neutral economic tool: it is a mirror that reflects collective human behavior, the structural inequalities and systems that shape our societies, and the cumulative choices that will define the long-term trajectory of our shared future.

    Reading Morgan Housel’s acclaimed work *The Psychology of Money* proved to be a turning point in how I frame questions of personal and regional finance. The most impactful takeaway from the book is that money management is never a purely mathematical exercise. While core concepts like interest rates, valuation models, and macroeconomic theory certainly hold value, how people actually handle their money is far more heavily influenced by their lived experiences, core personal beliefs, unspoken emotional impulses, and unique individual circumstances.

    This insight leads to a pressing question for young people across the Caribbean region: do we truly recognize and understand the full spectrum of forces that shape our everyday financial choices?

    Mainstream conversations about financial literacy typically frame the concept as nothing more than mastering basic practical skills: creating a household budget, building a emergency savings fund, or picking investment assets. These skills are undeniably essential, but genuine financial awareness extends far beyond individual personal money management. It requires a holistic understanding of how capital flows through local and national economies, and how regional and global economic events ripple out to alter the daily circumstances of ordinary households and businesses.

    For small island developing states across the Caribbean, this nuanced understanding is not just helpful—it is critical. Regional economies are disproportionately vulnerable to external economic pressures: volatile global inflation, shifting global demand for key exports, sudden exchange rate swings, skyrocketing commodity prices, and widespread international economic uncertainty all hit harder in small, open markets. A spike in global fuel prices, a disruption to regional supply chains, or a shift in major global central bank interest rates can directly raise costs for households, strain small business margins, and upend government budget plans across the region.

    The rapid spread of financial technology has only amplified the urgency of expanding public financial awareness. Digital banking platforms, contactless mobile payments, and fully cashless transaction ecosystems have transformed how Caribbean people interact with their money, bringing unprecedented convenience and access to financial services for unbanked and underbanked communities. But these transformative innovations also come with new responsibilities. The frictionless nature of digital spending makes it far too easy for people to lose sight of their spending patterns and overextend their finances without intentional awareness of their choices.

    The recent global wave of persistent inflation has also driven home how critical it is to understand the changing nature of money’s value. Across the Caribbean, households of all income levels have struggled with steep rising costs for non-negotiable essentials: food, public and private transportation, housing, and basic household services. These ongoing cost shifts serve as a constant reminder that the purchasing power of money is not fixed, and a working understanding of how inflation erodes value is essential to making sustainable financial choices.

    For small island economies like those across the Caribbean, building long-term economic resilience to external shocks is a core national priority. Unforeseen events, from global economic recessions to climate-driven natural disasters to escalating geopolitical tensions, can deliver outsized damage to regional economies that lack the scale to absorb sudden disruptions. That makes cultivating a population of financially aware citizens not just a matter of personal responsibility, but a foundational pillar of stronger, more resilient regional societies.

    This conversation about expanding financial awareness is not intended to judge or criticize how individual people choose to spend their money. Instead, its core goal is to encourage broader curiosity, intentional awareness, and responsible decision-making around money. Developing a full understanding of money requires acknowledging both its technical, numbers-driven side and its deeply human, behavior-driven roots, as well as the broader economic systems that shape our communities and the internal biases that drive our individual choices.

    The next generation of Caribbean leaders will go on to fill every role that shapes regional economic outcomes: they will found new businesses, manage investment portfolios, write national economic policy, and make key decisions that shape the future of the region. Their collective ability to understand the full complexity of money will directly shape the long-term trajectory of Caribbean economies.

    At the end of the day, money is far more than what we earn in a paycheck or spend on goods and services. It is an interconnected system shaped by people, public institutions, government policies, and cumulative collective decisions. By cultivating a deeper, more holistic understanding of that system, young people across the Caribbean can make more informed choices for their own futures and contribute to building stronger, more economically resilient region for generations to come.

  • Passport Power Doubles as Global Peace Declines

    Passport Power Doubles as Global Peace Declines

    This year marks two decades since the launch of the Henley Passport Index, and its 20th anniversary edition lays bare a striking global paradox: while cross-border travel freedom has expanded dramatically across the past 20 years, worsening geopolitical conflict has created a wider gap than ever between the world’s most and least mobile citizens. When the index first launched in 2006, the average passport granted visa-free access to just 58 global destinations. Today, that number has nearly doubled to 108, a statistic that underscores how profoundly global mobility has grown over two decades.

    This expansion of travel freedom comes against a sharply contrasting backdrop from the also 20th anniversary Global Peace Index, released by the Institute for Economics & Peace. This year’s edition of the peace index paints the grimmest picture of global stability in its history. The world currently hosts more state-based conflicts than at any point since World War II, marking the 12th consecutive year that global peacefulness has declined. Out of the 163 nations measured, 119 are less peaceful today than they were in 2008, and 103 countries have participated in an external conflict over the past five years — almost twice the number recorded when the index launched.

    Despite this increasingly fractured geopolitical landscape, data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) confirms that international mobility continues to evolve and expand. At the top of the 2026 Henley Passport Index, Singapore retains its title as the world’s most powerful passport, offering its citizens visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 192 global destinations. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) claims second place, tied with Japan and South Korea, with access to 188 destinations.

    Notable shifts among top-ranked nations include the United Kingdom, which climbed one spot to 6th place so far this year after securing new visa-free access agreements for its citizens with China and Malawi. Canada also rose one position to 7th following similar reciprocal visa-waiver gains. The United States, by contrast, remains stuck in 10th place, and is one of the only high-ranked passports whose citizens still require a pre-travel visa to enter China.

    The UAE’s dramatic rise through the rankings over 20 years stands out as one of the index’s most remarkable success stories. It has recorded the largest improvement of any nation in the index’s 20-year history, adding 153 visa-free destinations and climbing from the middle of the rankings to the top tier. This transformation serves as a vivid case study of how consistent diplomatic outreach and intentional international cooperation can reshape a nation’s global mobility standing.

    Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the Henley Passport Index, notes that the two 20-year datasets reveal a fundamental shift in how global power is expressed. “Twenty years of data show that passport power is one of the clearest expressions of a country’s geopolitical capital. It reflects far more than peace or prosperity alone. The world’s strongest passports belong to nations that other countries want as partners — for trade, investment, security, or cooperation. Mobility is ultimately a measure of the value other countries place on their relationship with you,” Kaelin explained.

    Across the board, global travel freedom has grown significantly over two decades. In 2006, the world’s strongest passports (held by the U.S., Denmark, and Finland) granted access to 130 visa-free destinations. Today, Singapore’s top ranking delivers access to 192 destinations. But this broad expansion has come with a sharp widening of the gap between the world’s most and least mobile citizens. In 2006, Afghanistan sat at the bottom of the index with just 12 visa-free destinations, creating an 118-destination gap between top and bottom. Today, Afghanistan remains last with only 22 destinations, pushing the gap to a record 170 destinations. Remarkably, Bolivia is the only nation in the world to have recorded a net loss of visa-free access over 20 years, dropping six destinations; every other ranking has improved.

    The makeup of the world’s top mobility elite has shifted dramatically since 2006, when the U.S. held first place and the U.K. ranked third. Two decades later, the U.S. is 10th and the U.K. is 6th, marking a clear long-term reallocation of mobility power away from traditional transatlantic leaders. Asian nations have surged to the top of the rankings: Singapore, which ranked 8th in 2006, now leads the index, while Japan and South Korea join the UAE in second place. Europe still maintains a strong presence in the upper rankings, but the balance of power has shifted there as well. Today, the top 10 tier of mobility includes more nations with narrower gaps in access than 20 years ago, reflecting a broader trend: while passport power has expanded globally, holding a top relative position has become far more competitive.

    New comparative analysis of 20 years of data from the Henley Passport Index (HPI) and the Global Peace Index (GPI) finds a strong positive correlation between national peacefulness and passport power (Spearman rank correlation ρ = 0.65, p < 0.001). The pattern holds at both ends of the rankings: most of the world’s most peaceful nations also hold the world’s strongest passports. Singapore ranks 8th on the GPI and 1st on the HPI, while Japan, Switzerland, Ireland, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Denmark, New Zealand, Canada, Czechia, and Malaysia all rank among global leaders on both indexes. At the opposite end, Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen rank among the world’s least peaceful nations and hold the world’s weakest passports, demonstrating how conflict, instability, and state fragility erode international mobility. The most revealing insights come from the exceptions to this trend, however. Multiple nations hold passports that far outperform their GPI rankings would predict, including Israel (159th on GPI, 18th on HPI), the United States (134th on GPI, 10th on HPI), France (99th on GPI, 4th on HPI), Ukraine (160th on GPI, 31st on HPI), the UAE (73rd on GPI, 2nd on HPI), South Korea (57th on GPI, 2nd on HPI), Brazil (124th on GPI, 16th on HPI), Mexico (139th on GPI, 22nd on HPI), and Russia (163rd on GPI, 47th on HPI). Their positions confirm that while peace provides a foundational boost to mobility, diplomacy, geopolitical influence, economic strength, and regional integration can deliver even greater gains. The U.S. and Israel are the clearest statistical outliers. Though the U.S. falls in the bottom fifth of GPI rankings and Israel is among the five least peaceful nations in the world, both maintain exceptionally powerful passports. Their high rankings reflect decades of accumulated diplomatic capital, broad geopolitical influence, major economic importance, and international confidence in the integrity of their travel documents. Even amid ongoing regional tensions in the Middle East, their mobility strength makes clear that passport power is shaped by far more than just national peacefulness. France stands out as the primary European outlier. Its 99th place GPI ranking accounts for metrics including militarization and external conflict alongside domestic security, yet it shares 4th place on the HPI with 10 other European nations that all rank within the top 35 for peacefulness. France’s outperforming passport highlights the mobility dividend created by Schengen Area membership, European integration, and extensive global diplomatic and economic ties. Ukraine offers another distinct exception. Though it ranks 160th on the GPI due to its ongoing full-scale conflict with Russia, it holds 31st place on the HPI. Its strong passport position reflects the durability of long-standing mobility agreements and its deepening integration with the European Union, proving that international mobility access can persist even amid prolonged armed conflict. For many Global South nations, while peace creates the conditions for stronger passport power, mobility remains limited by weaker diplomatic leverage, fewer reciprocal visa-waiver agreements, and a global visa system that structurally favors wealthier, more influential states. As Professor Mehari Taddele Maru of the European University Institute and Johns Hopkins University argues in recent research published by Henley & Partners on EU visa reforms, modern visa policies often reinforce structural bias against African travelers, raising critical questions about fairness and equity in global mobility. The 20th anniversary findings set the stage for Henley & Partners’ upcoming Safe Haven Forum, a unique global convening that brings together leading geopolitical analysts, investors, heads of government, policymakers, and wealth advisors to explore how nations and families can build resilience through diversified residence, citizenship, and investment attraction strategies in an increasingly fragmented world. Internal client data from Henley & Partners shows that geopolitical uncertainty is increasingly shaping decision-making among high-net-worth families. In the first six months of 2026, the firm received applications from 86 nationalities across 47 residence and citizenship by investment programs, with more than 28% of applicants already residing outside their country of nationality. Americans remain the largest source market for the firm, and enquiries from UAE-based residents have risen 41% since conflict escalated in the Gulf in February, reflecting growing demand for contingency planning. Dr. Kaelin noted that the findings point to a broader shift in how both nations and families approach mobility. “For twenty years, we have measured how nations build freedom of movement for their citizens. Today, we are witnessing the same shift in how families think about their future. They recognize that true wealth is no longer defined solely by financial capital, but by the freedom to choose where they and future generations can live, work, study, invest, and belong. In an increasingly uncertain world, the greatest privilege is no longer simply the freedom to travel — it is the freedom to choose, to have access rights,” he said.

  • Nevis Mango Festival, West Indies

    Nevis Mango Festival, West Indies

    Tucked in the eastern Caribbean’s Lesser Antilles chain, the small island of Nevis—part of the dual-island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis—carries a name rooted in ancient exploration: 15th-century Spanish sailors, mistaking the clouds cloaking its volcanic peak for snow, dubbed it *Nuestra Señora de las Nieves* (Our Lady of the Snows), which later softened into the anglicized name Nevis. Today, this lush island is known around the region for far sweeter treasures than snow: it proudly holds the title of the Caribbean’s Mango Capital, home to more than 44 distinct mango varieties that are woven into the very fabric of local identity. Every summer, this iconic fruit takes center stage at the Nevis Mango Festival, a multi-day culinary celebration that draws food lovers, chefs, and curious travelers from across the globe to revel in the fruit’s versatility, local culture, and unbeatable island hospitality.

    Unlike many niche food festivals confined to a single venue, the Nevis Mango Festival has expanded from a humble one-day gathering to an island-wide spectacle that invites visitors to explore Nevis at the relaxed, unhurried pace that defines Caribbean life. The 2027 iteration of the festival, scheduled for July 1-4, welcomes Ghanaian-American celebrity chef, TV host, and author Eric Adjepong as its official Culinary Ambassador, who will lead exclusive dining experiences, judge the festival’s premier cooking competition, and host an open-air culinary masterclass for attendees.

    The festival opens with a sold-out exclusive Supper Club at Nevis’ Four Seasons Resort, where Adjepong has crafted a mango-forward multi-course menu that highlights the fruit’s incredible range. The menu pairs the tropical fruit with fresh local tuna and island-raised beef, infusing the dishes with bold West African spice blends, and closes with a showstopping dessert of mango pavlova paired with tangy sorrel sorbet.

    The first full day of festivities kicks off with Mangomania, a family-friendly celebration that leans into the playful, communal spirit of the island. The day opens with Adjepong’s hands-on cooking masterclass, where attendees work at their own stations to learn to prepare mango escovitch—a zesty dish of shredded bell peppers, onions, and fresh mango tossed in a spicy marinade, served alongside grilled protein and boiled rice. Later comes a friendly but spirited blind mango tasting, where contestants attempt to identify five distinct mango varieties from just a bite. For visitors, all mangoes may taste equally sweet, but for Nevisians, being able to tell a Julie from a Graham, an Amory Polly from a Long Mango is a point of cultural pride, a marker of their connection to the island’s land and traditions. The day’s most anticipated event is the legendary mango-eating competition: at the sound of a starting horn, competitors dive into whole unpeeled mangoes, tearing through the skin to devour the sweet flesh, leaving juice flying across contestants and front-row spectators alike. The first person to strip the fruit clean to its hairy central pit takes the prize, a feat far more challenging than it sounds to casual observers.

    Day two brings the popular Passport Food Tour, an island-wide culinary adventure that encourages visitors to step outside their resort bubbles and discover Nevis one bite at a time. Boarding buses, participants travel across the island, stopping at restaurants, beach bars, neighborhood cafés, and roadside local food shacks, each serving a unique mango-inspired dish and craft cocktail. The tour showcases the extraordinary diversity of Nevisian cuisine, from jerk chicken paired with spicy mango salsa to mango-topped wood-fired pizza. One standout favorite is Carbo’s Goat Water, a rich, savory slow-simmered goat stew infused with cloves, thyme, garlic, and a subtle hint of mango that cuts through the richness of the meat. The tour wraps up on Nevis’ rugged eastern coast at Rosie’s Patties, where flaky golden beef and vegetarian patties served with a secret sweet-spicy mango hot sauce are an undisputed crowd favorite. More than just a food crawl, the tour creates intentional opportunities for visitors to connect with local residents and experience the island beyond its tourist hotspots.

    The festival reaches its thrilling crescendo on Sunday at the Malcolm Guishard Recreational Park, where more than 60 local food and beverage vendors set up stalls, filling the air with the warm aromas of wood smoke, jerk seasoning, and caramelizing sugar. At the center of the park, a large open culinary stage hosts the festival’s signature Chefs’ Cooking Competition, where top culinary talent from across the Caribbean competes across two grueling rounds, pushing the boundaries of flavor, innovation, and presentation—with the non-negotiable rule that mango must be the star ingredient of every dish, with Adjepong leading the judging panel. While adults unwind in the shaded VIP lounge sipping mango-infused prosecco, children dart across the park grounds taking part in a high-energy kids’ mango hunt. As the sun sets and the stars come out, the food stalls make way for the closing festival concert, where attendees dance the night away to the pulsing rhythms of soca and calypso, capping a weekend of unforgettable sensory celebration.

    ### Travel Planning Factfile
    **Getting There:** British Airways operates direct flights from London Gatwick to St. Kitts, with a short water taxi connection bringing visitors to Nevis. The Gatwick Express offers the fastest connection from central London to Gatwick Airport.
    **Information:** Full details on the island and the festival are available through the Nevis Naturally tourism board. The next Nevis Mango Festival will run from July 1 to 4, 2027.
    **Where to Stay:** Montpelier Nevis offers a boutique luxury stay set in a restored 18th-century sugar plantation, while the Four Seasons Nevis Resort provides upscale oceanfront accommodations for visitors.

  • Derde helft WK 2026: Spanje topt FIFA-wereldranglijst, Marokko bereikt recordhoogte

    Derde helft WK 2026: Spanje topt FIFA-wereldranglijst, Marokko bereikt recordhoogte

    In the first update of FIFA’s Men’s World Rankings following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the global football landscape has shifted dramatically, bringing new leadership and historic breakthroughs for emerging nations.

    Led by head coach Luis de la Fuente, Spain claimed the new World Cup trophy with a 1-0 extra-time victory over defending champion Argentina, and that title run has propelled the side straight back to the pinnacle of the global rankings. This marks the first time Spain has held the number one position since January of this year, capping off a stunning tournament run built on tight tactical organization and dynamic young talent. “Spain has proven that their combination of tactical discipline and youthful energy has returned them to the absolute top of men’s international football,” noted leading football analyst Marco Janssen.

    World Cup finalists Argentina drop one position to claim second place in the updated rankings, while 2026 semi-finalists France remain in the third spot they held entering the tournament. Bronze medalists England also hold steady in fourth place, with five-time World Cup winners Brazil climbing one spot to round out the top five.

    The biggest story of the rankings update comes from North Africa, as Morocco capitalized on its outstanding 2026 World Cup performance to climb into sixth place in the world – the highest ranking the nation has ever achieved in its history. This breakthrough also marks a new milestone for African football on the global stage. “Marokko’s rise proves that African nations are growing increasingly dominant in elite international men’s football,” said sports commentator Amina Diallo.

    Behind the top six, European side Portugal drops two places to seventh after a disappointing early exit from the 2026 tournament. Belgium and Netherlands swap positions, sitting at eighth and ninth respectively, while Mexico jumps four places to break into the top 10 rankings.

    Norway is the biggest climber across the entire table, jumping an impressive 12 positions to 19th after reaching the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals. The nation’s surprise deep run is widely attributed to years of intentional youth development and targeted investment in grassroots talent. “Norway’s ascent is a clear sign of the payoff from strong youth development systems and consistent investment in talent cultivation,” observed veteran football expert Erik Lund.

    Two traditional European powerhouses that missed out on 2026 World Cup qualification suffered notable drops in the rankings. Germany, a four-time World Cup winner, falls out of the top 10 to 12th place, just one position ahead of 2020 European champion Italy, which drops to 15th.

    In the lower ranks, Tunisia recorded the steepest fall, dropping 12 spots to 57th. On the positive side for other African and South American sides, Egypt climbs five places to 24th, Paraguay jumps seven spots to 34th after reaching the World Cup round of 16, and Cabo Verde – which made it to the round of 32 in its first ever World Cup appearance – rises three positions to 64th, sitting just above Ghana, which climbed eight places in the update.

    The latest FIFA rankings paint a clear picture of a shifting global football ecosystem, as long-established elite powerhouses now face growing competition from emerging football nations, who are reshaping the sport with fresh energy, innovative tactics, and intentional investment.

  • Captain, engineer test positive for drugs

    Captain, engineer test positive for drugs

    A devastating maritime disaster off the coast of Guyana has left at least 27 people dead and scores more unaccounted for, after the passenger and cargo ferry MV Barima capsized during a routine voyage last Saturday. The incident has sparked urgent search and rescue operations, while an unexpected twist has seen two senior crew members taken into police custody on narcotics charges.

  • MOURNING SELVON

    MOURNING SELVON

    Loved ones of Selvon Jack, a 50-year-old Morvant resident gunned down in a mass shooting at a Laventille gas station over the weekend, gathered on Monday to celebrate and remember the life of a man they uniformly describe as gentle, hardworking, and entirely innocent of any connection to local violence.

    Jack was one of three men killed when unidentified gunmen stormed the Unipet gas station, located at the intersection of Eastern Main Road and Morvant Old Road, shortly after 9 a.m. on Saturday, opening fire on the site. He was caught in the line of fire and struck by a stray bullet, cutting short a life that relatives say had never touched criminal activity. The other two victims have been formally identified as 29-year-old Makal Campbell of Poui Street, Morvant, and 23-year-old Malique Akhil Williams of Erica Street, Laventille.

    According to details shared with the Express, Jack had left his Critchlow Hill home earlier that morning to drive a neighbor to a local church service. He was making his return trip when he stopped at the gas station, walking directly into the violent attack that would claim his life. What makes the tragedy even more devastating for Jack’s family is that he had just turned 50 two days before the shooting, and had been planning a full weekend of birthday celebrations when he was killed.

    Sean Jack, Selvon’s younger brother, spoke to reporters on Monday after formally identifying his brother’s body at the Forensic Science Centre in Federation Park. He said that the pair, though siblings, had been close friends their entire lives. “I could not even properly view him in the Centre as it was a painful thing to see because I know my brother and he died for things that was not his fault,” Sean said.

    He added that if his brother had been involved in dangerous or criminal activity, the loss would have been painful but easier to contextualize. “If he knew his brother had ‘cocoa in the sun’ then I would have understood. I may have been sad but I would have said, ‘well, the life caught up to him’,” Sean explained. “But that was my brother and my partner. He did air-conditioning work and he loved music. The only run-in with the law was a traffic ticket for loud music and improper horn use. That was the most criminal thing he did. Beyond that, he just used to go to work and come back.”

    “Everybody hurting right now and he was an innocent man killed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he added. “While we know there are criminal operating in and around our community, we never associated with them. He was a quiet person outside of his music. He never used to even talk harshly to anyone, and it is a hurtful thing to see when it hits home because if he was into that kind of thing (crime), you could have said, ‘karma catch up to him’ but, that was never his thing.”

    On Monday, Jack’s friends and neighbors gathered not for a somber formal wake, but for a casual “lime” — a traditional local gathering — at a nearby community recreation center to share memories of Jack. One close friend, who goes by the nickname “Fire”, emphasized that the gathering was not a typical funeral vigil, but the kind of gathering Jack would have joined any day of the week.

    “It was sad and no one looked for him being killed like that at all, and he did good up to his last,” Fire said. “The man could not even talk hard. The man was one of the best you could have found in the world. All the man knew was about his work, his family and his old school music.”

    Another friend echoed that sentiment, describing Jack as one of the most driven, dedicated people he had ever met. “He was a hard-working man. He was a contractor and that was just it. He used to keep to himself. It was work, then home and then work again. He would not even hang out on the block,” the friend said.

  • Judge: Dad sent to St Ann’s illegally

    Judge: Dad sent to St Ann’s illegally

    In a landmark 30-page judgment delivered this week, Trinidad and Tobago’s High Court has overturned an unlawful order by a senior magistrate that saw an unrepresented father wrongfully detained at a state psychiatric hospital amid a civil child custody dispute. The ruling, penned by Justice Marcia Ayers-Caesar, exposes serious violations of constitutional rights and improper application of mental health law by a lower court judge, setting a new precedent for procedural safeguards in civil court proceedings.

    The case dates back to February 17, 2020, when the unnamed man appeared at the Point Fortin Magistrates’ Court for a hearing focused on paternity, child maintenance, and custody of his infant son. Tensions between the man and his son’s mother had created communication barriers, and a social worker had previously suggested he complete a voluntary psychiatric assessment as part of joint co-parenting counseling. No involuntary evaluation had been ordered at that stage of the proceedings.

    During the hearing, Senior Magistrate Alicia Chankar observed the man fidgeting and pressing his hands to his forehead, and labeled his behavior “erratic and concerning.” Acting on this observation, Chankar invoked Section 13 of the country’s Mental Health Act to order a 14-day involuntary remand to St Ann’s Psychiatric Hospital for psychiatric evaluation. Justice Ayers-Caesar’s ruling makes clear that this application of the law was fundamentally incorrect: Section 13 is a legal provision designed exclusively for individuals facing criminal charges, not parties in civil custody disputes.

    In her written judgment, Ayers-Caesan emphasized that the magistrate had improperly redefined a tool intended for social support into a weapon of state authority over a private civil matter. Two independent psychiatrists later confirmed that the man’s outward nervousness was nothing more than a reaction to the stress of participating in a high-stakes court proceeding, not evidence of underlying mental illness.

    What followed the remand order was a sequence of degrading and unconstitutional treatment, the court found. After being handcuffed in the courtroom, the man was transferred to the Point Fortin Police Station, where officers subjected him to a forced strip search, verbally taunted him, and locked him in a cell with human feces smeared across the walls and floor alongside two other detainees. Approximately four hours later, he was restrained at his hands, waist, and ankles before being transported to St Ann’s Forensic Psychiatric Unit, Ward 27. Once admitted, he was held in unsanitary conditions alongside patients with severe acute psychiatric conditions, with broken toilets and non-functional showers in his living area.

    In total, the man spent 92 hours in involuntary detention before two consulting psychiatrists, Dr Dominic O Nwokolo and Dr Keshenee Ramnarine, cleared him of any mental illness or psychiatric disorder and authorized his release on February 21, 2020. The High Court found that throughout the entire process, the man was denied every basic safeguard of due process: he received no advance notice that the magistrate was considering involuntary committal, had no opportunity to contest the order before it was issued, and was already proceeding without legal representation at the civil hearing.

    Ayers-Caesar wrote that the mistreatment the man endured qualified as “grossly disproportionate, humiliating, degrading, and cruel”, and violated his constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The man has alleged that the unlawful detention and associated record caused lasting harm to his personal reputation and ability to secure steady employment.

    The High Court formally ruled that the original committal order was unlawful, unconstitutional, and void from the moment it was issued, and ordered the state to cover all of the man’s legal costs related to the constitutional claim. The case has been adjourned until November 10, when a virtual hearing will be held to assess the full amount of compensatory, aggravated, exemplary, and vindicatory damages that the state is required to pay to the wrongfully detained man. Attorney Ted Roopnarine represented the claimant, while attorneys Keisha Prosper and Tenelle Hills appeared on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General, the named defendant in the constitutional claim.

  • Prime Minister Drew to deliver keynote address at the Royal African Society’s 125th Anniversary Flagship Business Event??

    Prime Minister Drew to deliver keynote address at the Royal African Society’s 125th Anniversary Flagship Business Event??

    BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts – July 17, 2026 – Just five days ahead of the landmark gathering, the government of Saint Kitts and Nevis has confirmed that Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew will deliver the headline keynote address at the Royal African Society’s 125th Anniversary Flagship Business Event, scheduled to take place July 22 at the historic London Stock Exchange in the United Kingdom.

    This year’s flagship summit marks a major milestone for the Royal African Society, which has spent 125 years dedicated to deepening ties between the United Kingdom and the African continent. The organization advances this mission through cross-sector collaboration, targeted investment, technological innovation, and people-to-people cultural exchange. The upcoming anniversary event will bring together a high-profile cohort of attendees, including top business leaders from Africa and the UK, institutional investors, senior policymakers, career diplomats, startup founders, tech innovators, and creative industry leaders.

    Over the course of the summit, participants will explore new pathways for expanded economic collaboration between Africa and the UK, while working to cement London’s long-standing status as a preeminent global gateway for African capital and cross-border international investment.

    The invitation for Drew to serve as the event’s keynote speaker is far more than a ceremonial honor: it signals growing global recognition of Saint Kitts and Nevis’s emerging leadership on the international stage, as well as Drew’s ongoing advocacy for sustainable development, inclusive economic transformation, and innovative cross-regional partnerships between Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other developing economies around the world.

    In a statement released ahead of the summit, Drew framed the opportunity as a significant privilege. “It is a tremendous honour to deliver the keynote address at this historic gathering as the Royal African Society celebrates 125 years of fostering dialogue, partnership and progress,” Drew said. “The future of global prosperity lies in stronger collaboration between Africa, the Caribbean, and our international partners. Saint Kitts and Nevis stands ready to contribute to that future by championing innovation, sustainable investment and people-centred development that creates opportunity, builds resilience and leaves no one behind.”

    For the federal government of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Drew’s participation in this high-profile global event represents a critical strategic opportunity. Officials noted the gathering will allow the federation to deepen existing diplomatic and economic ties with global stakeholders, position the island nation as a competitive, attractive destination for foreign direct investment, and strengthen working relationships with an international community of leaders aligned around the goal of advancing inclusive, sustainable global economic development.

  • MV Barima tragedie: 69 overlevenden gered, 27 lichamen geborgen

    MV Barima tragedie: 69 overlevenden gered, 27 lichamen geborgen

    Rescue operations are continuing at full pace after the passenger-cargo vessel MV Barima capsized off the Caribbean coast of Guyana, leaving at least 27 people dead and around 83 others unaccounted for, Guyana’s Prime Minister Mark Phillips confirmed in a press briefing Monday evening.

    Phillips announced that two additional crew members have been pulled from the water alive, a pair that were not included in an earlier official count of 67 saved passengers and crew. After a thorough review of boarding video footage, authorities have now confirmed that a total of 179 people were on board the vessel when it overturned Saturday night.

    The MV Barima departed from Georgetown’s main port Saturday afternoon, bound for the remote port of Port Kaituma in Guyana’s Region 1. The disaster unfolded hours after departure, when the ship suddenly capsized in open water. The sunken vessel’s exact location was only pinpointed recently, thanks to a tip from local fisherman Haresh Singh and the joint support of the local fishing community and the crew of the private vessel Gilligan Island. Specialized French divers have now arrived on site to join local recovery teams in searching the wreckage.

    Prime Minister Phillips emphasized that search teams still hold out hope for finding additional survivors, citing marine experts’ assessments that the submerged wreck likely retains trapped air pockets that could sustain human life. “Our entire focus remains on locating people. Every single minute counts,” the prime minister told reporters.

    All recovered bodies are transported to the town of Charity for processing by public health and law enforcement authorities, with family members invited to the Suddie Hospital to complete formal identification processes. As of Monday, 10 victims have been publicly identified, including 20-year-old Dwayne Forbes and Shivanna La Cruz Romascindo. The 27th body was recovered Monday afternoon, the same day the wreck’s location was formally confirmed.

    The tragedy has already sparked serious questions about regulatory oversight and vessel compliance ahead of the disaster. Officials have confirmed that only 35 of the 67 rescued passengers appeared on the official pre-departure passenger manifest, meaning the vast majority of people on board were never formally registered for the voyage. Questions have also been raised about the accuracy of the ship’s cargo declaration, which listed 268 tons of cargo — just 16 tons under the vessel’s maximum permitted load of 284 tons.

    In a further alarming development, both the ship’s captain and chief engineer have been taken into custody after testing positive for narcotics use prior to departure.

    Guyanese President Irfaan Ali addressed the nation Monday, announcing a full and transparent investigation into the causes of the disaster. “Our immediate priorities are saving any lives that can still be saved, supporting everyone affected by this tragedy, comforting grieving families, and accounting for every person still reported missing,” Ali said. The president has personally visited survivors, family members of the missing, and local hospitals in the affected regions of Port Kaituma and Mabaruma, and has called on all Guyanese to stand together in support of impacted communities. A national period of mourning will be held in the coming days, with additional details to be released at a later date.

  • Column: De jacht op de politieke jackpot is begonnen

    Column: De jacht op de politieke jackpot is begonnen

    Hardly four months have passed since the passing of former VHP leader Chan Santokhi, and the battle for control of Suriname’s major political party is already in full swing. Though the timing of this early power play may seem unseemly to some observers, it reflects the unforgiving rhythm of modern politics, with multiple factions already positioning themselves to take the party’s top post.

    At least three distinct groups have already emerged as contenders for the VHP leadership, with more potential candidates widely believed to be waiting in the wings. While official party rules mandate that leadership elections must be held no later than May 29, 2027, the stakes of this contest stretch far beyond the title of party chair. Whoever claims the leadership will get the rare opportunity to steer the VHP back to national power ahead of the 2030 parliamentary elections – a vote that will be held two years after Suriname expects to begin large-scale commercial oil extraction from its offshore seabed, a development that is projected to transform the country’s economic and political landscape. No major party wants to be stuck in opposition when that economic shift arrives, and the VHP, which saw its hopes for a second consecutive governing term dashed in recent elections, is more eager than any to return to power. That is why the campaign for leadership has effectively launched years before the official vote.

    Deputy party chair Asis Gajadien was the first to openly declare his candidacy, and has already begun holding discussions with prominent party members across the country to build support. Party board member Mahinder Jogi has taken a different approach, putting forward party secretary Ganeshkoemar Kandhai as his preferred candidate rather than running himself. Jogi argues that Kandhai brings both the high-level governance experience and deep institutional knowledge of the VHP needed to rebuild the party after its electoral defeat. Like Jogi, Kandhai also has deep grassroots roots as the head of the Kwatta agricultural cooperative.

    A third faction, the Lelydorp group led by Partap Bissumbhar, has also made its bid for power explicit, with “renewal” as its central rallying cry. The group not only calls for a new party chair, but also demands a complete overhaul of the VHP’s existing governance culture, arguing that most current party leaders should be removed from leadership roles. This faction is also lobbying extensively across the country to win over rank-and-file party members to its side.

    Observers expect more candidates to enter the race in coming months, with interim party chair Glenn Oehlers already publicly indicating he has developed an appetite for the top job.

    Across all factions, there is widespread agreement on one core goal: restoring the VHP to its position as Suriname’s largest political party. The agreement ends there, however, as fundamental questions remain unanswered about how that goal will be achieved. Is simply putting forward new faces enough to win back power? Or does the party first need to confront the reasons for its recent electoral defeat honestly?

    That question is proving to be the most difficult one for the party to address, as it requires assigning political responsibility for the loss. Was the failure the fault of cabinet ministers who implemented the government’s policies? Of Santokhi, the public face of the administration? Or of the VHP’s parliamentary faction, which was tasked with overseeing the government, gathering feedback from the public, and raising internal alarms when policies began to falter?

    Notably, these tough questions have only become open for discussion now that the party leadership is vacant. While Santokhi was alive, internal differences of opinion were almost always kept private, and party members uniformly closed ranks whenever the VHP faced external pressure. This is not a unique dynamic for the VHP – nearly all political parties rely on this reflex to preserve unity during periods of stress. But after an electoral defeat and the departure of a long-time leader, the true strength of a party’s internal democracy is put to the test. Will the VHP dare to engage in critical self-examination, or will criticism be limited to individual leaders while the problematic internal culture remains untouched? Many analysts argue that this is the greatest challenge facing the next party chair: not just uniting the fractious party, but reinventing it for a new political era.

    Behind the public announcements and media narratives, the real battle for VHP leadership is being waged not in press conferences or party rallies, but in the party’s 300-plus local grassroots branches. These branches will soon elect new local leadership, and it is at this level that alliances are forged, support is organized, and long-term political relationships are built through constant grassroots outreach: attending community events, personal meetings, and local gatherings. It is these local branches that will ultimately decide which candidates have enough broad support to even appear on the ballot for the national leadership election. Under party rules, any candidate list put forward outside of the sitting national board must secure the support of at least 30 percent of local branches to qualify for the official vote. As political observers of the VHP have long noted: whoever wins the local branches, wins the party.

    In the end, this is the great paradox of the VHP’s leadership race. Everyone is already looking ahead to the 2030 national parliamentary election, which will be the ultimate political prize, but the path to that prize runs first through the party’s hundreds of local grassroots branches. While Suriname’s first commercial offshore oil is still yet to be pumped, the race for the VHP’s political jackpot has already been well underway.