Carib Scope

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  • Families of Trini men killed at sea sues US gov’t

    Families of Trini men killed at sea sues US gov’t

    In an unprecedented legal challenge against the Trump administration, the families of two Trinidadian nationals killed in a U.S. military operation have filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court. The case targets the October 14 missile strike that resulted in six fatalities aboard a vessel in Caribbean waters.

    Lenore Burnley, mother of 26-year-old Chad Joseph, and Sallycar Korasingh, sister of 41-year-old Rishi Samaroo, are pursuing justice through the Death on the High Seas Act and the Alien Tort Statute. These legal frameworks provide avenues for seeking redress for maritime fatalities and human rights violations committed against foreign nationals.

    The lawsuit fundamentally challenges the administration’s characterization of the incident. While President Trump described the casualties as ‘six male narcoterrorists’ allegedly transporting drugs from Venezuela, the plaintiffs maintain both victims were unaffiliated with drug cartels and merely seeking transportation home after working in fishing and agriculture.

    This legal action emerges amid a broader pattern of U.S. military engagements in Caribbean and eastern Pacific waters that have claimed at least 125 lives since September. The Trump administration has justified these operations by declaring a ‘non-international armed conflict’ with drug cartels, thereby applying wartime rules to drug interdiction efforts.

    Represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights, the families seek punitive damages and legal accountability for what they describe as ‘lawless killings in cold blood.’ The case represents a critical test of the administration’s expanded authority to use lethal force in anti-narcotics operations beyond traditional battlefields.

  • Company and owner receive RD$60 million penalty for environmental damage in Loma Redonda

    Company and owner receive RD$60 million penalty for environmental damage in Loma Redonda

    In a landmark environmental ruling, the Collegiate Court of San José de Ocoa has imposed substantial penalties against Agroforestal MACAPI, S.A. and its proprietor, agribusiness executive Manuel Castillo Pimentel, for severe ecological damage inflicted in the Loma Redonda region. The judicial decision mandates combined fines and compensation reaching 60 million Dominican pesos (approximately $1 million USD), alongside a two-year suspended prison term for Castillo Pimentel.

    Presiding Judge Alfis Brandeli Castillo Castillo delivered the verdict, which was formally communicated to the Public Ministry in December 2025 via the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Environmental and Natural Resources Defense (Proedemaren). The court found conclusive evidence of systematic violations of national environmental and forestry regulations, resulting in a 50 million peso fine payable to the Dominican State and an additional 10 million pesos allocated as civil compensation for moral damages. The suspended incarceration sentence operates under provisions outlined in the Criminal Procedure Code.

    Beyond financial penalties, the judicial order requires comprehensive ecological restoration of approximately 100 tareas (15.7 acres) of degraded land through a scientifically-grounded reforestation initiative using indigenous species. This rehabilitation effort will be conducted under strict supervision by the Ministry of Environment to ensure compliance. Prosecutorial evidence demonstrated that the defendants engaged in extensive deforestation activities, caused significant biodiversity loss, damaged critical water resources, and erected illegal infrastructure without authorization. This case establishes a powerful precedent for environmental accountability, highlighting the Dominican government’s strengthened resolve to prosecute ecological crimes with maximum judicial rigor.

  • DNA over luchtverkeer: geen garanties, grote zorgen over veiligheid en imago

    DNA over luchtverkeer: geen garanties, grote zorgen over veiligheid en imago

    A severe aviation crisis at Suriname’s Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport has triggered intense parliamentary debate, exposing critical vulnerabilities in the nation’s air traffic control system. Transport Minister Raymond Landveld acknowledged profound staffing shortages during Tuesday’s heated National Assembly session, revealing that the country operates with merely 26 air traffic controllers against a required minimum of 80 for normal operations.

    The emergency parliamentary discussion was prompted by recent flight diversions and significant delays occurring after multiple air traffic controllers reported sick simultaneously. While the SATCA union denies organizing coordinated action, Minister Landveld conceded the practical effect remains identical to a strike operation. “When personnel abandon control towers forcing aircraft diversions, this severely damages Suriname’s international reputation,” Landveld stated during the contentious hearing.

    Opposition leaders delivered scathing critiques of the government’s handling of the situation. NPS faction leader Jerrel Pawiroredjo and NDP representatives Rabin Parmessar and Raymond Sapoen emphasized the complete absence of travel certainty for passengers. “Individuals depart their homes uncertain whether they can land or return safely. This constitutes a grave security emergency,” multiple assembly members declared. The parliamentarians further highlighted the contradiction between tourism’s designation as an economic priority and the current aviation breakdown.

    Minister Landveld outlined a comprehensive modernization package including newly signed contracts for advanced radar equipment and an Instrument Landing System scheduled to become operational within six to seven months. Training programs for new controllers have commenced, with additional cohorts beginning in February. The minister acknowledged that developing fully qualified controllers requires approximately four years of training, though assistant controllers can achieve partial operational capacity within nine months. Student allowances have been doubled from SRD 5,000 to SRD 10,000, though Landveld admitted this remains insufficient.

    The National Assembly has demanded immediate resolution, scheduling a follow-up meeting for Thursday where the government must present concrete short-term solutions and safety guarantees. The unified parliamentary message emphasized that while negotiation understanding exists, the collapse of vital national infrastructure remains completely unacceptable. The government is expected to provide detailed contingency plans and emergency measures during the upcoming session.

  • Ministry of Culture announces first Cibao Regional Book and Culture Fair

    Ministry of Culture announces first Cibao Regional Book and Culture Fair

    SANTIAGO DE LOS CABALLEROS, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – In a significant cultural development, the Dominican Ministry of Culture has unveiled comprehensive plans for the inaugural Cibao Regional Book and Culture Fair, scheduled to take place in April 2026. The landmark event was formally announced at the Gran Teatro del Cibao this Wednesday, marking a coordinated effort to promote literary engagement and showcase the diverse cultural tapestry of the nation’s northern region.

    Culture Minister Roberto Ángel Salcedo spearheaded the announcement alongside provincial governors, municipal leaders, legislators, and prominent cultural figures from across the participating provinces. Minister Salcedo characterized the fair as a profoundly democratic initiative designed to ensure equal participation from all 14 provinces comprising the Cibao region. The programming will emphasize regional traditions, cultural heritage, and intellectual discourse, with operational support provided by Vice President Raquel Peña’s office.

    The festival’s official inauguration is set for April 19, 2026, with extensive activities unfolding from April 20-26 across multiple cultural venues in Santiago. Key locations include the Gran Teatro del Cibao, Centro León, Banreservas Cultural Center, and Ercilia Pepín Cultural Center. The ambitious program will feature over 100 distinct events, a central exhibition pavilion representing all participating provinces, and daily dedications honoring two provinces in rotation.

    The 2026 edition will pay special tribute to Ulises Francisco Espaillat, commemorating the bicentennial of his birth. This historic fair represents the first centralized effort to celebrate Cibao’s unique cultural identity through coordinated programming that combines literary promotion with heritage preservation. Organizers anticipate substantial regional participation and international attention for this unprecedented cultural initiative.

  • RD Vial expands solar road lighting on key highways in the South

    RD Vial expands solar road lighting on key highways in the South

    Santo Domingo – In a significant infrastructure upgrade, the Dominican Republic is deploying state-of-the-art solar LED technology to illuminate critical highways in its southern region. This initiative, a core component of the National Road Lighting Plan administered by the RD Vial Trust, targets high-risk corridors historically plagued by poor visibility. The primary objectives are to drastically reduce nighttime traffic accidents and create safer, more efficient driving conditions on these vital national routes.

    Crews are currently executing the ambitious project across multiple segments of Highway 6 de Noviembre, a principal southern access route. The first phase (Section I) encompasses a 12-kilometer stretch from the Abanico de Herrera Bridge to Najayo, with lighting installed for both travel directions. The subsequent phase (Section II) adds another 14 kilometers of fully illuminated roadway. Upon completion, this effort will have outfitted 26 kilometers of highway with an estimated 680 solar-powered LED lamps, marking a transformative improvement in visibility and safety.

    Furthermore, the lighting plan extends to the recently inaugurated Baní Ring Road, a corridor of strategic importance. Here, approximately 360 solar LED lamps will be installed along 13 kilometers. Combined, these interventions in the southern region will illuminate more than 39 kilometers of road infrastructure with over 1,000 sustainable light units. This large-scale project underscores RD Vial’s dedication to implementing eco-friendly, energy-efficient solutions that bolster public safety and promote efficient nationwide mobility.

  • Misiekaba waarschuwt: Staatsgezag onder druk in binnenland

    Misiekaba waarschuwt: Staatsgezag onder druk in binnenland

    Suriname’s government has issued a grave warning about the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the country’s interior regions, with two senior ministers expressing alarm over the potential complete loss of state authority in these areas. During a tense session of the National Assembly on Tuesday, Justice and Police Minister Harish Monorath and Government Coordinator Minister André Misiekaba delivered stark assessments of the escalating criminal threats.

    Minister Misiekaba delivered the most dire prognosis, stating unequivocally that ‘we risk losing control in the interior’ if immediate action isn’t taken. He described widespread lawlessness throughout gold mining regions where state presence has become virtually nonexistent. The minister further revealed the concerning presence of feared foreign criminal elements operating within Suriname’s forests, though he refrained from identifying their countries of origin.

    Minister Monorath provided context to the crisis, explaining that security services currently maintain limited presence in interior regions, with police operations concentrated primarily in the eastern Lawa area and southern Saramacca region. He revealed that Suriname had received warnings seven years ago predicting that interior criminality would evolve into organized operations and eventually spread toward the capital, Paramaribo, without timely intervention. ‘These warnings are now manifesting,’ Monorath acknowledged.

    The justice minister outlined structural challenges hampering effective response, citing inadequate infrastructure and severe capacity constraints. With the Suriname Police Corps comprising approximately 2,773 officers, Monorath questioned how five detachments of twelve personnel each could possibly address problems in regions where thousands of illegal weapons circulate within completely lawless environments.

    The severity of the situation prompted rare unity within the National Assembly, with Assembly Chairman Ashwin Adhin suspending the session for consultations. Parliamentarians agreed to convene emergency discussions, tasking the Standing Committee for Justice and Police to collaborate with relevant ministries in developing immediate proposals. These may include thematic meetings or committee-general sessions to comprehensively address the security crisis.

  • Inflatie in december 2025 op 11,4%, prijzen blijven stijgen

    Inflatie in december 2025 op 11,4%, prijzen blijven stijgen

    Suriname’s annual inflation rate reached 11.4% in December 2025, according to preliminary data released by the General Bureau of Statistics Foundation (ABS). The latest figures indicate a modest 0.4% month-over-month increase in consumer prices compared to November 2025. While representing a significant improvement from the peak inflation years of 2021-2023, the current price levels continue to exert substantial pressure on household purchasing power across the South American nation.

    Critical analysis of the inflation components reveals that food, housing utilities, and healthcare services remain the primary drivers of price escalation. Healthcare costs have demonstrated particularly dramatic annual increases, with additional significant contributions from restaurant dining expenses and alcoholic beverages alongside tobacco products. Conversely, certain product categories including fruits and vegetables experienced mild price reductions during December, though these isolated decreases do not indicate structural relief as other essential goods maintain elevated pricing.

    The ABS emphasized that reported inflation figures represent weighted averages that may not accurately reflect individual consumer experiences. December 2025 witnessed extraordinary price volatility across specific products, ranging from -49% to +600% monthly variations. Even more strikingly, the period from January 2024 through December 2025 recorded price fluctuations spanning -67% to +600%, explaining why many households perceive living costs as substantially higher than official statistics suggest, particularly regarding daily necessities and fixed expenses.

    Economists note that while inflation has clearly decelerated compared to previous years, this moderation does not automatically translate to purchasing power recovery. Prices continue their upward trajectory—albeit at a reduced pace—while wages and incomes for large population segments fail to keep pace with the persistent cost increases, creating ongoing economic strain for Surinamese families.

  • The “everyone” Martí spoke of

    The “everyone” Martí spoke of

    On the 173rd anniversary of José Martí’s birth, Cuban scholar Cintio Vitier’s profound reflections on the national hero’s legacy resonate with renewed urgency. Rather than claiming fulfillment of Martí’s vision, Vitier argues that revolutionary Cuba’s greatest achievement lies in recognizing the immense work still ahead in realizing social justice under persistently challenging circumstances.

    The horizon of Martí’s principles—encompassing social equity, national sovereignty, and human dignity—remains the guiding star for Cuba’s historical development. This progression depends not only on domestic will but also on international relations, particularly U.S. policy toward the island nation.

    Martí’s concept of freedom, as analyzed by Vitier, represents a sophisticated balance between individual integrity and collective responsibility. This vision rejects both the manipulation of freedom for selfish purposes and its suppression under ideological dogma. The authentic freedom Martí advocated requires “the habit of working with one’s hands and thinking for oneself” while maintaining “respect, as family honor, for the integrity of others.”

    Vitier examines Martí’s seminal speech “With Everyone, and for the Good of Everyone,” noting how the independence leader specifically criticized seven groups of compatriots whose doubts and fears undermined Cuba’s self-determination capabilities. This critical embrace—welcoming those who genuinely contribute to the common good while rejecting those who obstruct progress—remains relevant to contemporary revolutionary efforts.

    The relationship between economic challenges and moral education emerges as crucial in Vitier’s analysis. He advocates for economists and educators to work collaboratively, recognizing that material solutions alone cannot fulfill Martí’s vision without corresponding ethical development. This educational project must draw from Cuba’s unique historical continuity, from Father Félix Varela through José de la Luz to Martí himself—a pedagogical tradition that informed even early Cuban Marxists.

    Contemporary Cuba already possesses foundational elements of Martí’s vision: national sovereignty, alignment with “the poor of the earth,” and the transformative achievement of universal literacy. The current challenge involves internalizing these objective ethical accomplishments within individual lives, particularly among younger generations who experienced institutionalization and the Special Period rather than the revolution’s initial epic phase.

    This process requires developing new spaces for individual expression within the collective framework, allowing participatory democratization to unfold organically. Improvement should be conceived not as top-down adjustments but as organic growth through challenge and differentiation.

    Martí’s enduring relevance lies in his recognition that republics aren’t built in a day—that justice and freedom must be continually conquered according to historical circumstances. His epic vision, reborn through each free consciousness, remains Cuba’s perpetual horizon rather than a destination reached.

  • Why Martí?

    Why Martí?

    In the complex tapestry of Cuban identity and national consciousness, the philosophical and ethical teachings of José Martí continue to provide essential guidance during periods of profound challenge. The revolutionary poet and philosopher, who lived through turbulent times himself, established moral frameworks and envisioned achievable dreams that continue to offer solutions to contemporary dilemmas.

    Martí’s presence remains vital not as doctrinal scripture but as conversational partner—his works should occupy spaces in homes and minds not as reference texts to be consulted for predetermined answers, but as living dialogue between equals. His insights prove particularly valuable when confronting specific modern challenges: when communicating authentically with younger generations, when navigating ethical dilemmas about compromise and purpose, and when determining one’s relationship to community amid adversity.

    The article emphasizes Martí’s relevance when ideological extremism emerges, when distrust becomes normalized, or when harmful dichotomies like ‘civilization versus barbarism’ resurface. His perspectives offer crucial counterpoints to resurgent annexationist movements and provide alternative visions of greatness that contrast with exclusionary nationalist narratives.

    Beyond political philosophy, Martí’s wisdom extends to personal realms: understanding love’s transformative power, confronting fear with limited resources, and maintaining poetic expression amid practical demands. His approach to creativity as conscious choice rather than accident, and his distinction between authentic growth and superficial imitation remain strikingly contemporary.

    Finally, the piece positions Martí as essential when distinguishing genuine virtue from performative morality, when recognizing betrayal in its modern manifestations, and most importantly, when defending fundamental dignities—protecting friends, preserving children’s peace, honoring ancestors, and safeguarding both physical homeland and cultural memory.

  • Dossier Houtexport 12: HvJ: geen recht op certificaten bij onjuiste houtopgave

    Dossier Houtexport 12: HvJ: geen recht op certificaten bij onjuiste houtopgave

    Suriname’s Court of Justice has delivered a landmark ruling establishing that the state cannot be compelled to continue issuing fraudulent or misleading timber export certifications, even when such practices were historically tolerated. The court’s decisive judgment on Tuesday overturned a previous lower court order that had mandated the government to provide phytosanitary certificates under the designation “Mora round logs” for export to India, under penalty of a SRD 1 million per hour fine.

    The Court’s central determination establishes that practices which:
    ● Violate national regulations,
    ● Breach international treaties,
    ● And deliberately contain false information
    cannot form the foundation for legal certainty or legitimate expectation.

    The judicial panel found that timber exporters knew—or reasonably should have known—that not all exported wood species were permitted for import into India, and that the “Mora” designation was specifically used to circumvent these import restrictions. In such circumstances, the Court ruled that exporters cannot claim protection under administrative law, noting both the absence of a valid application and any legal basis for their claims.

    Court spokesperson Ingrid Lachitjaran clarified that since no formal application had been submitted for phytosanitary certificates for India-bound Mora wood, there could consequently be no refusal by the state. The shipment in question had originally been destined for China, with requests made to the Ministry of Agriculture for fumigation accordingly, but was redirected to India without proper destination change procedures.

    The Court further determined that no consistent practice existed upon which exporters could legitimately rely. Investigation revealed that export documents systematically misrepresented wood species to facilitate clearance in India—a practice the Court emphatically stated cannot create legal certainty or justified trust, especially when conducted in violation of both national regulations and international treaties requiring truthful certification.

    The ruling noted that only four Surinamese wood species are permitted for import into India, while other prohibited species were exported under the collective “Mora” designation. “Those who know a practice is incorrect cannot derive justified trust from it,” Lachitjaran explained in summarizing the Court’s position.

    The judicial decision also considered that the state had announced measures against incorrect certification as early as 2022, providing a six-month transition period, with all timber exporters again formally notified in October 2025 that existing rules would be strictly enforced. The Court found the state cannot be blamed for exporters continuing to submit false information despite these warnings.

    Six timber exporting companies—Pinnacle Timber Products N.V., Green Wood World N.V., Harmony Timber N.V., Wintrip International N.V., Bakhuis Forest N.V., and Atlantic Asia Resources N.V.—were ordered to pay court costs totaling SRD 17,500. The case was heard by a panel chaired by Acting President Siegline Wijnhard, with members Alida Johanns and Jane Jansen.

    This ruling establishes a clear legal boundary: prolonged practice cannot create rights when that practice violates laws and regulations. Phytosanitary certificates may only be issued based on accurate and complete information, regardless of economic interests or previous customary practices.