Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • Bus Strike Averted?

    Bus Strike Averted?

    A threatened total shutdown of bus services across Belize scheduled for this coming Monday will not go ahead as planned, at least temporarily, following a negotiating session held earlier this morning between leaders of the Belize Bus Association (BBA) and senior officials from the country’s Ministry of Transport. The last-minute negotiations have averted immediate disruption to commuters, freight services and daily economic activity across the nation, but the fundamental disagreement that pushed private bus operators to plan industrial action remains unresolved, pending a final decision from Belize’s Cabinet and Transport Minister Dr Luis Zabaneh.

    In an exclusive interview with News 5 immediately after the meeting concluded, BBA President Phillip Jones confirmed that while hours of discussion were held between the two sides, no agreement was reached. The core sticking point centers on a longstanding demand from private bus operators for a rate adjustment that would align their pricing with that of the state-run National Bus Company. Currently, private operators face a five-cent-per-mile gap in allowed rates that they argue has created an unsustainable financial strain, threatening the long-term survival of many small, independent private bus operations across the country.

    Prior to this week’s negotiations, Belize’s government had publicly stated that the operators’ demand for rate alignment was “off the table”, a position that left private operators with no option but to threaten a full service shutdown. Despite the lack of a final resolution, Jones confirmed that private bus operators have agreed to continue running all scheduled services on Monday and Tuesday in a show of good faith, while Cabinet deliberates on the request. Operators are now waiting in expectation of an official response from the government body following its upcoming scheduled meeting, with the threat of a strike still looming if their demands are rejected.

  • SSB Consults Public on Proposed Contribution Changes

    SSB Consults Public on Proposed Contribution Changes

    Nearly four and a half decades after Belize’s social security system was first established, the Social Security Board (SSB) is moving forward with sweeping proposed updates to the program’s contribution structure, and is gathering public input through a months-long series of national consultations. The most recent consultation session was hosted on the afternoon of April 16, 2026 at the Grand Resort and Residences in Belize City, marking one stop on a 12-meeting tour that has already brought discussions from the northern district of Corozal all the way south to Dangriga. The full consultation process is scheduled to conclude at the end of April, with three remaining public sessions planned for San Pedro on April 21, Punta Gorda on April 28, and Placencia on April 30.

    At the core of the discussions are three key proposed revisions to the current contribution framework: updating the methodology used to calculate worker and employer contributions, adjusting the division of contribution responsibilities between employees and employers, and revisiting the minimum and maximum wage thresholds that determine how much contributors pay into the system. SSB Chief Executive Officer Jerome Palma emphasized that the reform effort comes as the 1981-originated framework has become outdated to match 2026’s economic and labor landscape. “A scheme that was developed in 1981, for a time and a condition that was appropriate in 1981, may need some reform in 2026 and moving forward,” Palma stated during the meeting. “In 1981, there were no call centres. The investment market was distinctly different. Technology has moved forward.”

    One of the most pressing indicators of the current system’s obsolescence is the existing maximum weekly contribution cap of BZ$520, which Palma confirmed 25 to 30 percent of all contributors already reach annually. This figure signals that the cap has not been adjusted to keep pace with wage growth across Belize, leaving the system with uncollected revenue that could support long-term program stability.

    Throughout the Belize City consultation, participants raised a range of targeted concerns and feedback to inform the board’s final policy decision. One attendee pushed back against the current practice of calculating contributions based on gross rather than net salary, pointing out that mandatory income taxes and other pre-paycheck deductions often reduce take-home pay by as much as 50 percent. “We don’t live on our gross salary,” the participant said. “By the time I actually get money in my pocket, it’s half of what it says on the payslip… When you are considering the split, please consider how heavily taxed we are.”

    Another participant focused on equity for low-wage workers, highlighting disproportionate gaps between contribution bands across different income levels and calling for transparent, fair adjustments that do not place undue burden on lower-income contributors while neglecting higher earnings brackets. “That’s a big jump for workers at the lower end,” the participant said. “You have to be fair and transparent. You can’t look at the lower bands and not look at the higher bands.”

    Palma responded directly to these concerns, reassuring attendees that the board has prioritized protecting the roughly 6,000 contributors currently in the lowest income band. He confirmed that the board intends to retain the existing split of contribution responsibilities, which requires employers to cover a higher share of contributions than employees, with this structure remaining especially intact for lower-wage bands. “It’s very important for us to have this split very similar to what it is at the moment, where the employer actually pays and contributes at a higher rate than the employee, especially at the lower bands,” he explained.

  • Wait, Somone’s Job is Actually Flying into Hurricanes?

    Wait, Somone’s Job is Actually Flying into Hurricanes?

    Against the backdrop of annual Atlantic hurricane season preparations, a unique team of daredevil aviation specialists known as the Hurricane Hunters has touched down in Belize, bringing one-of-a-kind storm-tracking aircraft as a key stop on the 2026 Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour.

    Jordan Mentzer, an experienced pilot with the Hurricane Hunters, explained that the tour blends three core goals: raising public knowledge of hurricane risks, strengthening regional preparedness, and engaging local stakeholders while opening the specialized aircraft to public tours. For the teams that regularly fly directly into the core of active hurricanes, the outreach mission is just as important as the data collection work they carry out during storm season.

    Unlike satellite observation, which can only track storm systems from space, these reinforced aircraft fly directly into the heart of hurricanes to gather hard-to-access atmospheric measurements that satellites cannot capture. The real-time data they collect is fed directly into forecasting models used by every national meteorological service across the Caribbean, helping forecasters refine predictions of storm track, strength and landfall timing.

    Having flown these dangerous missions for decades, Mentzer noted that the team has built up decades of knowledge to operate as safely as possible in the extreme conditions of a hurricane. “We have learned which maneuvers work, what hazards to avoid, and how to navigate storm systems with the highest possible level of safety we can achieve,” he said.

    Robbie Berg, a warning coordinator meteorologist at the U.S. National Hurricane Center, emphasized that the in-storm data collected by the Hurricane Hunters is irreplaceable for life-saving forecasting. “Having these aircraft is absolutely critical to our work,” Berg explained. “They deliver observations directly from the center of the storm, so we can pin down exactly how strong the hurricane is, where it is positioned, and what its central barometric pressure is. That detail is what allows us to produce far more accurate forecasts that help communities prepare and evacuate on time.”

    During the Belize stop, local government officials and dozens of students got a rare, close-up look inside the converted aircraft, which doubles as a flying atmospheric research laboratory. Henry Charles Usher, Belize’s Minister of Public Service and Disaster Risk Management, highlighted that including Belize in this year’s tour carries long-term meaning beyond immediate preparedness. He noted that initiatives like this can spark interest in STEM and emergency management careers, helping cultivate “the next generation of Belizean scientists, pilots, meteorologists, and engineers” who will lead the country’s climate and disaster resilience efforts in the coming decades.

    Local outlet News Five has announced it will air a full, in-depth walkthrough of the Hurricane Hunters’ aircraft during its 6 p.m. newscast tonight, inviting audiences to tune in for a closer look at the unique mission.

  • Gov’t secures $160m IDB deal to tackle water infrastructure

    Gov’t secures $160m IDB deal to tackle water infrastructure

    As one of the world’s 15 most water-scarce nations, Barbados is moving forward with a transformative, multi-year upgrade of its crumbling national water network, backed by an $80 million investment from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The funding agreement was formally signed Thursday, during Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s attendance at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank’s annual spring meetings in Washington D.C.

    This initial $80 million investment marks the first phase of a broader $200 million financing package the IDB approved in December 2025, designed to boost the resilience of Barbados’ potable water systems. An additional $4 million in grant funding is also earmarked for climate-focused components of the initiative, addressing growing climate-related pressures on the island’s water supplies.

    For decades, Barbados has grappled with persistent failures across its water infrastructure: ageing pipelines, rampant unaccounted-for water loss, and inconsistent service that has disrupted daily life for households and hindered operations for local businesses. Prime Minister Mottley emphasized the urgent need for this investment during the signing ceremony, noting that between 40% and 50% of all treated water pumped across the island is lost before it reaches end users, due to leaky, outdated infrastructure.

    “Water is at the centre of Barbados’ future economic development,” Mottley said, reframing the funding not as a loan, but as a critical investment in the country’s long-term resilience.

    The five-year program centers on a sweeping upgrade of Barbados’ water distribution network. Of the initial $80 million allocation, $55 million is dedicated to replacing roughly 100 kilometers of ageing, deteriorating water mains. Government data reveals that less than 5% of the island’s existing mains have been replaced to date, leaving the vast majority of the network prone to breakdowns and massive efficiency losses. An additional $20 million will target non-revenue water — the portion of water lost before reaching consumers — through modern leak detection technology, upgraded bulk metering, real-time system monitoring, and network sectorization, all designed to channel more treated water to households and businesses.

    Beyond physical infrastructure upgrades, the initiative also invests in strengthening the institutional and operational capacity of the Barbados Water Authority. A $2.5 million allocation supports institutional strengthening, including workforce training, updated planning tools, and enhanced monitoring systems aligned with the country’s long-term water management goals, specifically the national Water Resources Management Plan and Water and Sanitation Master Plan. Another $2.5 million is set aside for program execution, covering staffing, independent audits, ongoing monitoring and evaluation, and adherence to environmental and social safeguards.

    IDB projections estimate that once the first phase is complete, the program will improve water service reliability and continuity for more than 150,000 residents, and support over 2,000 local businesses — including key players in the island’s critical tourism sector. On a national level, all Barbadians will benefit from improved long-term water management systems and enhanced preparedness for ongoing climate-related water challenges.

    Mottley praised the IDB as a consistent, trusted partner to her administration, noting that the collaboration extends far beyond financing. “Since coming to government, the IDB has walked every step of this journey with us,” she said. “It is not just the financing. The technical assistance matters too, particularly at a time when the country must confront a very real skills deficit while still pushing ahead with urgency and purpose.”

    The Mia Mottley administration has framed the project as a fundamental shift in Barbados’ approach to water infrastructure. Moving beyond decades of piecemeal, reactive fixes, the program targets the root causes of the island’s water crisis to build a more sustainable, resilient system for future generations.

  • Mohameds hire Florida lawyer, objects to US Ambassador’s comments on case

    Mohameds hire Florida lawyer, objects to US Ambassador’s comments on case

    A high-stakes extradition battle centered on two Guyanese billionaire businessmen has taken a new turn this week, as the pair accused of multiple financial crimes by U.S. prosecutors have retained a prominent Florida-based international lawyer to defend their interests.

    Nazar “Shell” Mohamed and his son Azruddin Mohamed have been fighting U.S. extradition since an 11-count indictment charging them with wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering was unsealed in October 2025. This week marked the first confirmation that the pair has brought on a U.S.-based legal representative: Peter A. Quinter, an international law specialist and shareholder at the prominent Florida firm Gunster.

    For months, the Mohameds have focused their efforts on opposing extradition in Guyanese courts, with Azruddin Mohamed confirming to Demerara Waves Online News back in March 2026 that the legal team would not address the U.S. indictment until domestic proceedings are resolved. “We want to get this case here sorted out first and then we’ll think about that one over there,” he told the outlet at the time, adding that negotiations over U.S. legal representation had been ongoing for weeks.

    As of Wednesday, Quinter had not yet entered an official appearance in the U.S. court system for the case, but he has already moved to push back against recent public comments from U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot. In a formal letter dated April 17, 2026, Quinter objected to remarks Theriot made during a recent interview on the SOURCES platform, arguing that a sitting U.S. ambassador should not comment on or attempt to influence active judicial proceedings in a host country.

    Last month, Theriot publicly defended the U.S. government’s extradition request, saying the decision to pursue the Mohameds was rooted in solid, irrefutable evidence. “We do it because we have hard, unequivocal evidence against a person. Why would we take on a case we don’t think we’re going to win? That’s just a waste of the US taxpayers’ money. So we firmly believe that they’re guilty of the crimes that they’re being indicted for,” she stated.

    Quinter countered that Theriot’s public declaration of the pair’s guilt violates both the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights. He reminded the ambassador that the Vienna Convention requires diplomatic mission heads to respect the domestic laws and judicial processes of their host country, noting that the extradition challenge is currently active before Guyana’s courts.

    The attorney also emphasized that the Mohameds, along with their company Mohamed’s Enterprise and all linked personnel facing prosecution in Guyana, are guaranteed the right to a fair trial under international human rights law. He specifically cited Article 7 of the Universal Declaration, which enshrines equality before the law and equal protection for all, and Article 10, which guarantees every person the right to a full, fair public hearing before an independent, impartial tribunal when facing criminal charges.

  • WATCH: Former NBA Superstar Shaquille O’Neal Thrills Fans in Antigua and Barbuda

    WATCH: Former NBA Superstar Shaquille O’Neal Thrills Fans in Antigua and Barbuda

    Basketball fans across Antigua and Barbuda got the experience of a lifetime this week, as legendary former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal made a highly anticipated public appearance on the twin-island nation. The four-time NBA champion, who remains one of the most recognizable and beloved figures in global sports long after his retirement from professional basketball, drew hundreds of excited supporters to the event, where he took time to greet fans, pose for photos, and share lighthearted stories from his iconic 19-year career in the league.

    Known for his larger-than-life personality on and off the court, O’Neal leaned into his reputation for approachability, interacting closely with attendees of all ages. Young local basketball players in attendance had the rare chance to meet one of the sport’s all-time greats, with many sharing their own career aspirations with the Hall of Famer, who offered encouraging words and advice. Local event organizers confirmed that the appearance far exceeded turnout expectations, with crowds gathering hours in advance to catch a glimpse of the star. Tourism officials in Antigua and Barbuda also noted that high-profile visits from global sports icons like O’Neal help boost the nation’s profile as a destination for high-profile events and celebrity travel, bringing positive attention to the islands’ recreational and tourism offerings. By the end of the public appearance, attendees left with lasting memories, and social media posts from the event quickly spread, generating even more excitement among O’Neal’s fanbase across the Caribbean region.

  • Caribbean initiative advances sweet potato production and genetic conservation

    Caribbean initiative advances sweet potato production and genetic conservation

    Across five Caribbean nations, a collaborative regional initiative focused on upgrading sweet potato cultivation and protecting critical plant genetic resources is hitting key milestones, bringing farmers, researchers, and agricultural authorities together under a shared framework for climate-resilient food production. The Next Generation Sweet Potato Production in the Caribbean Project, now in its fourth year of implementation, has built an expanding Community of Practice uniting stakeholders from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, with ongoing technical guidance from leading global agricultural experts. The project is led by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), in formal partnership with national agriculture ministries across three participating countries and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI).

    A core recent achievement of the initiative has been the completion of a comprehensive multi-session training program designed to build technical capacity among regional agricultural professionals. Delivered jointly with the International Potato Center (CIP), the program combined theoretical virtual learning and in-person field practicals, engaging 73 participants drawn from academic institutions, government technical agencies, and both public and private agricultural enterprises. The training curriculum centered on building proficiency in three key skills: accurate identification of distinct sweet potato varieties, formal classification of genetic variants, and standardized documentation of genetic accessions for long-term conservation. This training forms a foundational pillar of the project’s broader regional strategy, which aims to reinforce genetic diversity of sweet potato populations, upgrade regional seed distribution systems, and enhance the climate resilience of Caribbean sweet potato farming operations.

    Participants completed five interactive virtual modules that covered the 30 globally standardized descriptors used to differentiate key agronomic traits in sweet potatoes, ranging from leaf and vine morphology to root structure and nutritional characteristics. Following the virtual coursework, trainees applied their new knowledge in hands-on field exercises held across four participating countries, bridging the gap between academic learning and on-the-ground agricultural practice. In Antigua and Barbuda, national agricultural authorities have already documented 73 unique sweet potato genetic accessions through the project, with 19 additional improved varieties set to be introduced via collaboration with CIP to expand the country’s genetic resource base.

    Beyond technical training and genetic mapping, the initiative prioritizes long-term capacity building for regional agricultural workforces, equipping professionals with the tools to properly identify and preserve valuable plant genetic material for future use. For smallholder and commercial farmers across the region, the project supports adoption of improved, climate-resilient sweet potato varieties that deliver more consistent yields and better agronomic performance under changing climate conditions. When combined, these interconnected efforts are projected to significantly strengthen regional food and nutrition security, a critical priority for small island developing states across the Caribbean that face disproportionate climate risk.

    Funding for the initiative is provided by the Benefit-sharing Fund of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which is administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with additional financial backing from the European Union. As the project enters its fourth year, it continues to foster cross-border collaboration and knowledge sharing, working to establish a durable regional network focused on advancing sustainable sweet potato production across the Caribbean for decades to come.

  • Prescription Rules for Contraceptives Raise Access Concerns

    Prescription Rules for Contraceptives Raise Access Concerns

    Belize is facing a growing public debate over a new phased prescription mandate for general medicines, a policy that has placed oral contraceptive access at the center of tensions between health regulators and labor advocates.

    Announced on April 15 in a three-page official statement, the Pharmacists Association of Belize (PAB) confirmed it had reached an agreement with the country’s Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) to roll out mandatory prescription checks for all general prescription medications over a 12-month transition period. Under the terms of the gradual rollout, current oral contraceptive users with valid existing prescriptions will face no immediate disruption to their access, allowing for continuity of care as the policy is implemented.

    The framework maintains clear limits on pharmacists’ scope of practice: pharmacy professionals are barred from initiating new contraceptive therapy for first-time users, and can only continue refilling prescriptions for patients who have previously obtained the medication through a licensed medical provider. All new patients seeking oral contraceptives are required to first complete a consultation with an authorized prescriber. The PAB emphasized that the transitional arrangement does not expand pharmacists’ clinical authority, nor does it allow pharmacy staff to take on the role of a licensed physician in prescribing or managing contraceptive care.

    The policy has drawn sharp pushback from Belize’s largest labor body, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB), which warns that the new requirements will create crippling barriers for women seeking timely, affordable birth control. The organization argues that three interconnected systemic flaws in Belize’s health landscape will undermine access: a persistent shortage of available gynecological services across the country, out-of-pocket costs for mandatory consultations that many low-income women cannot afford, and the burden on working women of taking unpaid time off work to attend required medical appointments. These barriers, the NTUCB says, will ultimately reduce access to contraception and delay critical reproductive care for many.

    Beyond blocking access for individual women, the NTUCB has labeled the policy a major regression for women’s reproductive rights and autonomy, calling on national policymakers to revise the framework to guarantee equitable access to reproductive health services. The group also raised urgent concerns about the policy’s impact on Belize’s already overstretched public health system: directing hundreds of new patients to public clinics and hospitals for routine contraceptive consultations will add unplanned strain to facilities already operating at capacity with high patient volumes, potentially disrupting care delivery for other unrelated medical needs.

    In response, health regulators have defended the prescription requirement as a critical patient safety measure. Authorities note that hormonal contraceptives carry well-documented health risks that require proper medical oversight before use, and mandatory pre-prescription consultations also create opportunities for providers to conduct broader preventive health screenings for patients. The PAB adds that the 12-month phased rollout is designed to give the public time to adjust to the new rules while bringing enforcement in line with existing national pharmaceutical regulations. During the transition period, pharmacists will also be allowed to continue refilling other chronic disease medications for established patients, as long as proper prescription documentation is maintained.

    Moving forward, the PAB confirmed that a standardized Oral Contraceptive Dispensing Protocol has been submitted to the MOHW for review, opening the door to potential future adjustments to the policy as stakeholders work through implementation challenges. The MOHW has also launched a full public review of Belize’s current list of over-the-counter medications, signaling that the contraceptive policy change is part of a broader reassessment of national pharmaceutical regulation and drug access across the country.

  • World Health Organization Favors Easier Access to OTC Birth Control

    World Health Organization Favors Easier Access to OTC Birth Control

    For decades, global reproductive health advocates have pushed for expanded access to contraception, and one of the most prominent global health bodies has laid out a clear stance on the issue. Back in its 2019 Consolidated Guideline on Self-Care Interventions for Health focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights, the World Health Organization (WHO) formally issued a bold recommendation: oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) should be available directly to users without the requirement of a doctor’s prescription.

    This classification marks a strong, formal recommendation from WHO, even though the organization openly acknowledges that the supporting clinical evidence carries a very low certainty rating. In justifying this unusual position, the guideline’s development group explained that after careful review, the measurable benefits of expanded access far outweigh the potential harms documented in existing research. This outcome showcases the nuanced approach WHO takes to developing public health guidance, rather than rigidly relying only on the strength of randomized clinical trial data. Experts weigh a wide range of critical factors that extend beyond lab results, including equity of access, real-world feasibility of implementation, and the stated values and preferences of people who use contraceptives regularly.

    Through this framework, WHO concluded that removing the prescription barrier to OCPs delivers meaningful public health gains, especially in low-resource regions and communities where formal healthcare services are already out of reach for many. Key benefits include a projected drop in unintended pregnancies and improved long-term maternal health outcomes. The guidance does not dismiss clinical safety needs, however: it notes that medical eligibility screening remains ideal for first-time users, acknowledging that people with pre-existing underlying health conditions may require targeted clinical evaluation before starting contraception.

    WHO’s position is not an isolated stance, but aligns with a growing global shift toward expanding contraceptive access. A 2022 analysis published in the WHO Bulletin examined contraceptive regulatory frameworks across 30 nations, revealing that formal, government-endorsed over-the-counter access systems remain extremely rare. The study found that only four of the 30 surveyed countries had officially added OCPs to their national over-the-counter medication lists, despite widespread informal access outside of formal regulatory rules in many more regions. The research’s authors urged nations to create clear regulatory pathways to reclassify OCPs from prescription-only to over-the-counter status, arguing that this change will drive better access and improved population health outcomes. The study also highlighted a persistent gap between written policy and on-the-ground practice: in most countries, people already access oral contraceptives without formal prescriptions on a regular basis, so aggressive enforcement of outdated prescription-only rules would only disrupt consistent access for current users.

    Both the original WHO guideline and supporting research take a deliberately balanced approach to the issue, acknowledging valid concerns alongside demonstrated benefits. Beyond the well-documented gains of easier access, greater convenience, increased privacy, and enhanced reproductive autonomy, the guidance also outlines clear potential risks. These include the need for users to conduct their own medical eligibility self-assessment, the small risk of misuse without targeted clinical guidance, and the potential for increased out-of-pocket costs for users in healthcare systems where prescription medications are subsidized but over-the-counter products are not. Even with these acknowledged trade-offs, WHO’s final conclusion remains unchanged: expanding over-the-counter access delivers a net public health benefit, particularly in communities where structural barriers to routine healthcare are already severe.

    Against this global consensus, one country has recently moved in the opposite direction. In an April 15, 2026 public statement, the Pharmacists Association of Belize (PAB) confirmed that it would implement new restrictive rules for OCP distribution. Under the new policy, created in close coordination with Belize’s Ministry of Health and Wellness, only current users who have previously obtained OCPs with a valid prescription will continue to be able to access them. All first-time new users are now required to get a new prescription from a licensed healthcare provider before they can obtain oral contraceptives. The policy is being rolled out through a 12-month phased enforcement of long-standing but previously under-enforced prescription requirements.

    The move has already drawn sharp pushback from local advocacy and labor groups. The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) is among the most prominent critics, arguing that the new prescription requirement will create unnecessary access barriers for working women with limited time and resources to attend doctor’s appointments. The group also notes that the added requirement will place new, unneeded strain on Belize’s already overburdened public healthcare system, which is already struggling to meet existing patient demand.

  • Suriname en Dominicaanse Republiek versterken banden

    Suriname en Dominicaanse Republiek versterken banden

    In a significant step to deepen cross-national ties, Suriname and the Dominican Republic have locked in concrete agreements to expand collaboration across a range of key strategic sectors, following high-level bilateral diplomatic talks held in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo. The discussions were led by Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation Melvin Bouva, who met with his Dominican counterpart Roberto Álvarez on Wednesday. Bouva was joined on the working visit by Raymond Landveld, Suriname’s Minister of Transport, Communication and Tourism.

    The two sides centered talks on strengthening long-standing diplomatic relations and unlocking new mutual economic and social benefits through targeted cooperation across priority sectors. These areas span tourism, education, trade, direct investment, agriculture, transport connectivity, climate action and sustainable energy development.

    During the negotiations, Bouva highlighted the emerging opportunities created by Suriname’s growing oil and gas sector, noting that the expanding industry opens new pathways for joint economic collaboration and cross-border infrastructure development that can benefit both nations. The ministers also pointed out the natural complementarity of the two countries’ tourism industries, a sector that has rebounded strongly globally post-pandemic and offers immediate gains for shared growth.

    Beyond bilateral initiatives, the two leaders emphasized the critical importance of aligned cooperation within regional and international multilateral frameworks, particularly as the world grapples with interconnected global challenges including economic volatility, climate change, and uneven development. Talks also covered a range of shared priority issues: sustainable development, national food security, job creation, and global poverty reduction, all of which were addressed in depth during the formal sessions.

    The diplomatic meeting concluded with the signing of a binding Joint Communiqué, which formally codifies all key agreements and shared intentions for advancing future cooperation between the two Caribbean nations. Beyond the official governmental talks, Bouva held a series of working meetings with representatives from the Dominican private sector, regulatory authorities across tourism, trade, energy and transport, and leaders from ProDominicana, the country’s national investment promotion agency. The agency will partner with the Suriname Investment and Trade Agency to drive forward next steps, with a shared goal of stimulating increased two-way investment and expanding business-to-business connections between enterprises from both countries.

    The visit also laid critical groundwork for an upcoming official visit to the Dominican Republic by Jennifer Simons, President of the National Assembly of Suriname. Bouva concluded his visit and departed for Suriname on Thursday 16 April, traveling on the inaugural flight of Sky High Dominicana, a new air service that will launch a weekly direct flight route connecting Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to Paramaribo, Suriname. The new air link is expected to boost tourism, business travel and people-to-people connections between the two nations immediately.