Carib Scope

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  • PM hails SoE ‘success’

    PM hails SoE ‘success’

    As the Government of Trinidad and Tobago prepares to wrap up a six-month state of emergency (SoE) on September 17, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has made public previously classified operational data to demonstrate what she frames as the security initiative’s success.

    In a social media post published this week, Persad-Bissessar published the full contents of an internal document marked “SECRET”, which lays out the most granular breakdown of arrests, charges, and preventive detentions recorded during the operation to date. The dataset covers the full operational period from March 3 through September 10, 2026, with cumulative figures updated through day 192 of the SoE. The document was reportedly compiled in response to an urgent request for updated statistics on detained and charged individuals, though the identity of the requester has been redacted in the version released by the Prime Minister.

    According to the declassified figures, law enforcement arrested a total of 5,802 people between the launch of the SoE and September 10, with 3,552 of those detainees — 61.2% of the total arrested population — formally criminally charged. This total marks an increase from the previously reported 5,767 arrests, with 35 additional people taken into custody on day 192 of the operation.

    Of the 3,552 total charges, more than 60% (2,154 cases) were classified as Serious Reported Crimes (SRCs), with the remaining split between 816 Minor Crime charges (23%) and 582 Minor Offence charges (16.4%). The report explicitly notes that serious offences make up the majority of all charges filed during the SoE.

    Within the Serious Reported Crimes category, charges related to illegal possession of firearms and ammunition were the most common, with 558 people facing these charges alone — accounting for more than a quarter of all serious offence charges. Following firearms charges, the most common serious offences were robbery (246 charges), general larceny (238), breaking and entering offences (225), narcotics possession with intent to traffic (214), fraud (140), other serious crimes (135), sexual offences (118), wounding or shooting offences (69), home invasion (66), motor vehicle larceny (48), murder (46), kidnapping (41), serious indecency (5), and larceny of a dwelling house (5).

    For the 816 Minor Crime charges, possession of narcotics was the most frequent offence, with 494 people charged. Other minor crime charges include 82 for unspecified other offences, 79 for possession of drug paraphernalia, 39 for fraud and related minor financial offences, 38 for minor larceny, 30 for assaulting a police officer, 18 for malicious wounding, 13 for unlawful possession of contraband, 10 for praedial larceny, eight for possession of housebreaking tools, four for indecent assault, and one for minor larceny of a dwelling.

    A further 582 people were charged with Minor Offences, the lowest-level classification in the report. Of these, 216 fell under the “Other Minor Offences” grouping, with 129 charged with breach of the peace, 115 charged with assault on police, 54 charged with assault, battery, or criminal threats, 39 charged with unlawful weapon possession, 23 charged with gambling or betting offences, four charged with malicious property damage, and two charged with loitering or public vagrancy.

    The classified report also includes contextual data on home invasion trends, clarifying the difference between the 66 people charged with home invasion during the SoE and the 238 total home invasion incidents recorded nationwide in 2026 to date. Long-term trend data shows that national home invasion incidents fell roughly 42.6% from 535 incidents in 2024 to 307 in 2025. While associated murders rose slightly from 28 to 31 over that period, burglary (down from 179 to 79), robbery (down from 295 to 177), and shootings/woundings (down from 33 to 20) all recorded sharp declines.

    The document also details the use of Preventive Detention Orders (PDOs), a special power granted under the SoE’s emergency regulations. As of day 192, authorities had recommended 801 PDO applications, with 702 (87.6% of recommendations) approved by relevant bodies. Of those approved, 574 PDOs were executed, after one additional detention was carried out on day 192.

    Of the 574 people detained via PDO, 240 (41.8%) have been formally charged with criminal offences, while the remaining 334 (58.2%) do not currently appear on the charged list. The report explicitly warns against interpreting this to mean the uncharged detainees are innocent, noting that “investigations may remain ongoing” for those not yet charged.

    Persad-Bissessar’s decision to release the sensitive security data comes just days before the SoE’s authorized mandate expires on September 17. Last Friday, Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander confirmed to Parliament that the government would not seek an extension to the emergency period, confirming the operation will end as scheduled.

  • ‘Wealthy drug mafia’ targeted

    ‘Wealthy drug mafia’ targeted

    Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has issued a stark public warning to the country’s wealthy drug trafficking networks, signaling that her administration will not ease its aggressive anti-crime push even after the expiration of the national state of emergency (SoE) on September 17.

    In an official statement released via social media, the Prime Minister outlined a clear, uncompromising stance against organized criminal groups, specifically calling out drug gangs operating out of the upscale West Trinidad neighborhoods of Westmoorings, St Clair and Federation Park. She slammed these networks as “filthy, greedy” for flooding the twin-island nation with illegal narcotics and unregistered firearms that fuel violent crime and harm local communities.

    Persad-Bissessar made clear that the end of emergency powers would not bring a halt to the government’s law enforcement campaign. She emphasized that criminals, their backers and their family members will still face harsh consequences for any ongoing criminal activity, noting that holding cells at the Teteron and Maximum Security Prison (MSP) remain ready for anyone who continues to terrorize law-abiding residents. “Negotiating with or placating criminals only emboldens them to continue their criminal activities,” she stressed.

    As part of her commitment to transparency and public accountability, the Prime Minister declassified previously confidential law enforcement data submitted to the National Security Council, which outlines the results of the six-month state of emergency. The data shows that the operation has been “highly successful”: authorities arrested 5,802 people across the country, with 3,552 of those arrested – 61.2 percent of the total – facing formal criminal charges. Persad-Bissessar confirmed that the six-month period saw the “primary threat” of organized crime reduced, with crime rates dropping in every single police division across Trinidad and Tobago.

    The Prime Minister used the address to critique decades-long trends that she said eroded public safety in the nation. She argued that over the past 30 years, Trinidad and Tobago slid from a peaceful society to what she called a “lawless dump,” a shift driven in part by a widely perceived two-tiered justice system. Under that unequal system, she explained, ordinary citizens face the full force of the law, while what she termed “eat-a-food fake elite and politically connected” actors get special treatment and avoid consequences for criminal activity. “I am working to bring those days to an end. Everyone must now bear personal responsibility for their individual behaviour,” she said.

    To target high-level criminal networks that believe their wealth and influence put them beyond legal reach, Persad-Bissessar confirmed her administration is coordinating closely with foreign law enforcement agencies to dismantle local drug trafficking operations. This collaborative effort will ensure that even wealthy mafia figures face the same prosecution procedures as any other person accused of breaking the law, she said. The Prime Minister stressed that gangs from wealthy West Trinidad neighborhoods will not receive preferential treatment, and will face the same legal consequences as long-recognized street gangs from areas including Siparia, Arima and Laventille.

    This public warning is consistent with Persad-Bissessar’s ongoing campaign to root out white-collar facilitation of organized crime, not just low-level street gang activity. Back in June, she backed a similar warning from Attorney General John Jeremie that the anti-crime push would target wealthy, influential figures suspected of profiting from drug trafficking and organized crime, not just traditional street-level groups. Reiterating the principle that “justice is blind,” the Prime Minister affirmed that the law applies equally to all citizens, no matter their net worth, social status, political connections or public influence.

    Later that same month, Persad-Bissessar revealed that United States intelligence agencies had identified a network of local individuals, business owners and banking staff allegedly linked to large-scale money laundering and drug trafficking for international cartels, moving millions in U.S. currency out of the country. She confirmed at the time that U.S. authorities had already begun punitive action against these actors, including restricting their access to U.S. territory and American financial institutions. To strengthen domestic enforcement, the Prime Minister added that her government is bolstering the capacity of the Inland Revenue Division to increase regulatory scrutiny of white-collar criminals and businesses tied to drug trafficking, financial crime and gang activity.

    Persad-Bissessar closed her statement by extending formal gratitude to all government officials and frontline personnel who supported the state of emergency operations, including the Attorney General, defense and security ministerial teams, police and prison leadership, and all rank-and-file protective service workers who worked extended shifts to keep the public safe. She also thanked law-abiding Trinidad and Tobago residents for their patience, support and willingness to cooperate with authorities during the emergency period, saying their backing was critical to the operation’s early success.

  • Judge sides with prisoner

    Judge sides with prisoner

    In a landmark ruling that upholds core constitutional protections for incarcerated people, the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago has ruled that the State cannot carry out routine interception and recording of confidential communications between prisoners and their legal representatives. The judgment, delivered by Justice Robin Mohammed last Friday, has invalidated key provisions of the 2020 Interception of Communications (Amendment) Act, declaring them unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

    The constitutional challenge was brought by Lyndon James, a prisoner who is currently awaiting retrial for the 2008 murder of businesswoman Vindra Naipaul-Coolman. James, represented by a team of senior attorneys from Freedom Law Chambers led by Anand Ramlogan SC, targeted two specific sections of the 2020 amendment: sections 6(b)(v) and 7. These clauses expanded the State’s authority to intercept all prisoner communications within correctional facilities and stripped the vast majority of these exchanges of their longstanding legal professional privilege protection.

    In his detailed judgment, Justice Mohammed found that the challenged amendments directly violated multiple fundamental constitutional rights, including the explicit right of detainees to retain legal counsel and communicate confidentially with them, as well as the foundational right to a fair judicial hearing. Beyond the substantive rights violation, the judge also determined that the legislation was never enacted in compliance with the special constitutional procedure required for any law that limits fundamental human rights, marking a fatal procedural flaw in the amendment’s passage.

    Justice Mohammed emphasized the inextricable link between legal professional privilege, the rule of law, and functional democratic governance. “The courts are the guardians of the Constitution, they can only fulfil that role of guardianship if there is unimpeded access to the justice system,” he wrote in his judgment. He further noted that confidential communication between prisoners and their lawyers takes on heightened importance, given that incarcerated people rely on these discussions to address a wide range of critical issues, from challenges to their detention and claims of mistreatment to claims of constitutional violations and safety threats within the facility. “A safe space is an integral element to fostering open dialogue between attorneys and clients,” he added.

    A key finding in the ruling was that the 2020 amendments effectively imposed a blanket ban on legal professional privilege for all prisoner communications. Justice Mohammed pointed out that no ministerial orders were ever issued to designate specific areas within prisons where privilege would remain protected, leaving no exception for confidential legal discussions.

    The judge also rejected the State’s core argument that legal privilege could not apply to conversations held over illegal mobile phones that prisoners may smuggle into correctional facilities. “The Defendant’s proposition that the Claimant cannot reasonably expect to attach privilege to conversations facilitated by illegal cellular phones, is unsustainable,” he ruled. While he confirmed that communications made in furtherance of ongoing criminal activity never qualify for privilege protection, Justice Mohammed stressed that the mere use of an unapproved device does not automatically strip a defendant of their right to confidential legal discussion about their own case.

    Justice Mohammed acknowledged that the State has a legitimate public interest goal of curbing criminal activity within prison walls. However, he found that the government failed to prove that sweeping, routine interception of all legal communications is a proportionate response to that goal. “Plainly a telephone call made by an inmate or detainee to his lawyer, to provide instructions or take advice, is not the same thing as the issuing of criminal instructions or the furtherance of criminal activity,” he explained.

    The judge also noted that a far less intrusive alternative was available to the State: engaging independent legal counsel to review any intercepted communications to determine whether they qualify for legal privilege before retaining or using the content. “The option of engaging independent counsel provided a less intrusive measure which could and ought to have been used,” he said. “A fair balance has not been struck between the rights of the individual (the prisoners) and the interests of the community (the public),” he added.

    Going a step further, Justice Mohammed found that the entire amendment was enacted on an “erroneous premise”: that the changes did not conflict with constitutional rights, and thus did not require the special legislative majority mandated under Section 13 of the national constitution. “Indeed, it is plainly obvious that if the parent Act was passed in compliance with Section 13, an Amendment Act which imposes further restrictions on Sections 4 and 5 rights ought to be passed in compliance with Section 13,” he wrote.

    In final orders, Justice Mohammed formally declared the challenged provisions unconstitutional, and ruled that the amendments to the Interception of Communications Act are “illegal, null, void and of no effect”. James was awarded full costs for his successful challenge, with the judgment certified to allow for costs at the senior and junior counsel level. The Office of the Attorney General, which defended the law, was represented by Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson, Rishi Dass SC, and Rachel Wright.

  • PM Says Some Police Stations Were Closing at 10 P.M. Despite 24-Hour Directive

    PM Says Some Police Stations Were Closing at 10 P.M. Despite 24-Hour Directive

    Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has exposed a critical breakdown in the government’s national crime-fighting strategy, revealing that multiple local police stations — including the high-traffic Grays Farm facility — have been ignoring a mandatory 24-hour operating order and closing their doors as early as 10 p.m. each night. The prime minister made the revelation during his weekly public radio address, noting he only recently learned of the widespread non-compliance that had gone undetected by senior leadership for some time.

    The 24-hour operational mandate was first rolled out as a core pillar of the administration’s aggressive response to rising violent crime across the island nation. Browne’s public confirmation of early closures confirms that the policy has yet to be fully enforced across all precincts, leaving vulnerable communities unprotected during high-risk overnight hours.

    In a sharp rebuke of the non-compliant practice, Browne emphasized that police stations must remain accessible around the clock, and that officers should be out conducting proactive patrols and surveillance rather than waiting passively inside station walls for crime reports to arrive. “They’re supposed to be having regular surveillance, taking the fight to the criminals and making their lives uncomfortable,” he told listeners, framing proactive policing as the only effective way to curb ongoing criminal activity.

    The prime minister also outlined a series of new targeted deployments to address persistent crime hot spots across the country, naming Grays Farm, Point, Villa, and Green Bay as priority areas for additional officer staffing. He specified that patrols in these zones should combine foot and vehicle mobile units, and all officers assigned to these duties should carry firearms for their safety and to deter criminal action. Browne argued that a consistent, highly visible law enforcement presence is the most effective tool to disrupt criminal plots before they escalate into violent incidents.

    Drawing on his own experience in opposition politics, Browne recalled a past collaborative initiative with local law enforcement to set up persistent surveillance in a known high-crime area, noting that the increased presence immediately pushed open illegal activity off the streets and made criminal operations far harder to sustain.

    To back up the new crime-fighting push, the Antigua and Barbuda government is also investing in new infrastructure and technology for police: it has already delivered additional patrol vehicles to precincts, and formal plans are in place to acquire specialized night-vision surveillance drones within the next 60 days. Browne confirmed the drones will have an operational range of roughly 25 kilometers, and can be controlled directly from local police stations or national police headquarters to extend surveillance coverage across remote and high-risk areas.

    Notably, the prime minister stopped short of announcing any disciplinary action against officers or commanders responsible for the early closures at non-compliant stations, and declined to name any additional precincts beyond Grays Farm that have failed to follow the 24-hour operating mandate.

  • PM Drew out of hospital, says health and rehabilitation progressing well – WIC News

    PM Drew out of hospital, says health and rehabilitation progressing well – WIC News

    St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew has publicly shared his first detailed health update, confirming he suffered a stroke caused by a vertebral artery dissection, and revealing he has been discharged from a Florida hospital to continue his rehabilitation, with government operations running smoothly in his absence.

    In a video address shared September 14 with citizens of the twin-island federation, regional well-wishers, and international supporters, Drew explained that the stroke affected a vertebral artery — one of the critical arteries located at the back of the brain. While the medical event is classified as serious, the prime minister emphasized that damage to his physical and cognitive functions has been far milder than initial projections.

    “As you can see, physically I can move all my limbs, speak well. My mentation, my coordination, my intelligence have been well,” Drew stated in his address.

    Now out of the hospital, Drew is continuing intensive occupational and rehabilitative care in Florida, and reported that his recovery is progressing “extremely well.” He noted that his physical, mental, and psychological outcomes are far better than the severity of his stroke would typically predict, crediting three key factors for his positive progress: high-quality emergency and ongoing medical care, his strong baseline health prior to the event, and his personal faith.

    Drew shared that he had long kept his blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure under strict control, calling his pre-stroke health “extremely robust and strong” — a foundation that he says enabled his faster-than-expected recovery.

    The prime minister extended public gratitude to multiple medical teams that have supported his care, starting with staff at St. Kitts’ Joseph N. France General Hospital. He highlighted that the care he received during the critical “golden hour” immediately after the stroke stabilized his condition enough to allow him to travel overseas for advanced treatment. He also thanked medical professionals in Martinique, led by Dr. Dabo, and the care team at Baptist Health in Florida for their ongoing work. Additionally, he recognized diplomatic representatives including the French Ambassador, EU Ambassador, Dominica’s honorary consul in Martinique, and the U.S. Embassy in Barbados for their logistical and diplomatic assistance throughout his medical transfer and treatment.

    To address public concerns about governance during his recovery, Drew moved to reassure residents that the government of St. Kitts and Nevis remains fully operational, with pre-planned contingency arrangements activated immediately after his illness. He noted that his administration put multiple emergency protocols in place from its launch, covering scenarios ranging from minor administrative disruptions to worst-case crises, to guarantee uninterrupted public service.

    “This administration is a mature and serious administration. We have multiple contingency plans in place, from the worst-case scenario to a minor disruption,” Drew said.

    During his initial hospital stay, Drew met with the full Cabinet to outline a clear governance plan and delegated all of his regular responsibilities to relevant cabinet ministers. Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Geoffrey Hanley has stepped into the role of Acting Prime Minister, and Drew says he has maintained regular oversight of government work, describing the handover of day-to-day duties as “extremely smooth.”

    “All of my responsibilities are delegated to the pertinent ministers. And I want to say thus far I’ve been monitoring, they are doing a very good job,” he added. Drew thanked Hanley and the full cabinet for upholding the government’s work and continuing to deliver public services throughout his absence, noting that the stable transition confirms his administration’s preparedness for unexpected events.

    Drew concluded his address by sharing that he is eager to return to St. Kitts and Nevis, resume his duties leading the cabinet, return to parliamentary work, and reconnect with constituents of his Constituency Number Eight. He reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to advancing the policy agenda of his administration and delivering progress for all people across the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.

  • COMMENTARY: Caribbean Universities Must Adapt to Survive Global Enrolment Crisis

    COMMENTARY: Caribbean Universities Must Adapt to Survive Global Enrolment Crisis

    By Canute S. Thompson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Undergraduate Studies at The University of the West Indies

    Higher education institutions across the world are navigating an unprecedented period of uncertainty, with growing financial strain, shifting enrollment patterns and eroding public confidence testing the long-term sustainability of traditional university models. The scale of disruption varies dramatically by region, but few higher education systems have escaped untouched by mounting pressures.

    In the United Kingdom, analysts warn that as many as 50 institutions face the threat of closure in the coming years, with half of all UK universities currently teetering on the edge of insolvency. The crisis is even more acute in the United States, where data compiled by University World News and The Change Leader, Inc. shows that between 300 and 500 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities have permanently closed since the 2008 global financial crisis, continuing through the post-pandemic period ending in 2024. China, home to the largest university population in Asia, has avoided widespread institutional closures, but has undertaken a sweeping national restructuring of academic offerings, eliminating more than 12,000 undergraduate and graduate programs between 2021 and 2024 to align higher education with evolving economic needs. While Canada has not seen mass closures on the scale of the UK, US and other regions, public funding for post-secondary institutions has plummeted: government support now covers just 48% of public university and college operating costs, down from 67% in 2008. Exacerbating financial pressures across North America and Europe are restrictive new visa policies that have cut international student enrollment sharply, stripping institutions of a critical source of tuition revenue that many relied on to balance budgets. The landscape looks different in Africa and Latin America, where while some small institutions have closed, hundreds of new state-accredited universities have launched to meet rising domestic demand for higher education.

    Turning to the Caribbean, the region is home to roughly 100 local universities plus several dozen offshore international campuses operating across its island nations. A small number of private post-secondary institutions have closed in recent years, but most large public and private institutions have remained open – even as every campus grapples with severe ongoing financial constraints. One unusual dynamic shapes the Caribbean higher education market: despite the large number of available options for local students, tertiary enrollment rates among recent high school graduates remain very low, ranging between just 15% and 27% across Caribbean countries. Thousands of Caribbean students also choose to pursue degrees at overseas institutions each year. While this low domestic participation creates short-term challenges, it also opens a major long-term opportunity for regional universities: with current enrollment penetration so low, there is enormous room for growth for institutions that can deliver relevant, appealing programs aligned with the region’s development goals.

    Against this global backdrop, stimulating demand and expanding equitable access have emerged as twin imperatives for higher education institutions worldwide. Eroding public confidence in the value of a university degree has been a key driver of falling enrollment. A July 2026 Gallup Poll tracking public attitudes toward higher education found that overall confidence has dropped from 57% in 2015 to just 38% in 2026. Conversations with business leaders and students across the Caribbean bear out this trend: many employers question whether traditional degree programs adequately prepare graduates for today’s workplace, while many students question whether the time and cost of a university degree deliver enough long-term value. Global enrollment data confirms the scale of the crisis: 15 years ago, 21 million undergraduate students were enrolled in universities worldwide. Today, that global undergraduate population stands at just 15.5 million, a 14% drop in total participation, per UNESCO data.

    Addressing these interconnected challenges requires coordinated action from three core stakeholders: national governments, higher education institutions and the private sector. At its core, a university education is designed to build critical thinking skills, support independent thought and empower graduates to create new jobs and opportunities – but shifting public attitudes and rising costs have eroded widespread belief in this core mission. Stimulating demand for higher education is first and foremost the responsibility of institutions themselves, while expanding affordable access is a shared goal between universities and the state, especially in developing regions. This is a collective effort that requires shared investment and aligned priorities.

    The Caribbean holds a unique advantage in navigating this global crisis as home to one of the world’s only regional integrated university systems: The University of the West Indies (UWI). As a regional public good, the UWI holds unmatched resources that can be leveraged to drive inclusive, sustainable development across the Caribbean. Beyond its academic reputation, the UWI’s core purpose is to act as a catalyst for regional progress.

    To build a more resilient, relevant higher education model for the Caribbean and other regions facing similar challenges, seven strategic priorities have emerged: first, developing new programs targeted at students displaced by shifting global geopolitics – particularly new visa restrictions and higher taxes on international students – and securing international accreditation for these programs to boost their global recognition. Second, building flexible, responsive micro-credential systems that are carefully designed around student needs, competitive pricing and real market demand for skills. Third, adopting the strategic restructuring model pioneered by China, conducting root-and-branch reviews of all existing programs to assess their ongoing relevance to labor market needs. Fourth, centering work-integrated learning to ensure that all graduates leave university with hands-on, relevant work experience before they enter the job market. Fifth, creating structured opportunities for undergraduate students, who make up the vast majority of the global university population, to participate in industry-aligned research alongside faculty members. Sixth, embedding entrepreneurship education and leadership development as core components of all undergraduate degree programs, to empower graduates to create their own opportunities.

  • Antiguan Journalist Melvin Claxton to Receive UWI Honorary Doctorate

    Antiguan Journalist Melvin Claxton to Receive UWI Honorary Doctorate

    Acclaimed Antiguan investigative journalist Melvin Claxton is set to add another prestigious accolade to his decades-long career in storytelling and public service, as the University of the West Indies (UWI) has confirmed it will award him an honorary doctorate during its upcoming graduation ceremonies.

    Claxton, who has built a reputation as a tenacious voice for accountability across the Eastern Caribbean, has spent more than 40 years holding powerful institutions to account, exposing public corruption, amplifying marginalized community voices, and shaping regional discourse on governance and social justice. His work has appeared in both local and international media outlets, earning him numerous regional and global journalism awards for his commitment to ethical, impactful reporting.

    The honorary doctorate recognizes not only Claxton’s professional contributions to Caribbean journalism but also his broader role in advancing democratic values and media freedom across the UWI’s 17-nation service region. University officials noted that Claxton’s career embodies the institution’s core mission of producing public-facing knowledge that uplifts Caribbean communities and supports regional development.

    In responses to local media, Claxton expressed that he sees the honor as a recognition not just of his own work, but of the entire Caribbean journalism community, which often operates against challenging resource and political constraints. The award will be conferred at a ceremony for the UWI’s Five Islands campus, located in Antigua, later this academic year.

    Founded in 1948, the University of the West Indies is the Caribbean’s premier public higher education institution, with a long history of honoring distinguished individuals who have made exceptional contributions to regional progress through honorary degrees. Past recipients have included heads of state, cultural icons, business leaders, and prominent activists across a range of fields.

  • Column: Wie de chokepoints controleert, controleert de wereldeconomie

    Column: Wie de chokepoints controleert, controleert de wereldeconomie

    The recent Houthi seizure of the Yemeni port city of Mocha and the strategic island of Mayyun, also known as Perim, marks far more than a simple military victory for the group. It is a tectonic geopolitical shift that lays bare the deep fragility of the global trade and security architecture that underpins the modern world economy. With full control now established over Yemen’s entire Red Sea coastline — a strip of territory sitting just 20 kilometers off the coast of East Africa — the Houthi movement holds critical leverage over the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a key maritime chokepoint through which roughly 12 percent of total global trade flows, including 11 percent of the world’s seaborne oil shipments and 8 percent of its liquefied natural gas.

    To be clear: the public reassurance from Houthi politburo member Hazem al-Assad that commercial shipping will remain “safe and orderly” through the strait is little more than rhetorical comfort that no major shipping line is willing to take at face value. Data from the International Monetary Fund’s PortWatch monitoring platform tells a stark story: between 2023 and 2025, shipping volumes through the Red Sea have plummeted by between 50 and 55 percent. Leading global shipping firms are now rerouting the vast majority of their vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, a detour that adds more than 20 extra days of transit time and drives up global freight rates sharply. In the end, the entire global trading system is footing the bill for a protracted conflict unfolding in one of the world’s poorest nations.

    Another claim that bears scrutiny is Tehran’s insistence that the Houthi movement is an “independent group.” A quick look at the geopolitical map tells a different story. Iran already holds strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s global energy supplies flowed before the outbreak of the 2025 escalation between Iran and Western powers. Now, the Houthi movement — armed and funded by Iran — controls Bab al-Mandeb. This means two of the world’s three most critical maritime chokepoints for global energy and trade are now effectively held by the same Iran-led axis. This is no coincidence: it is a deliberate, long-planned strategic gambit. The real question is not whether the Houthi are truly independent; it is why the West continues to indulge the fiction that they are.

    For Egypt, which earns billions of dollars annually in foreign currency from Suez Canal transit fees, the fallout has already been severe. Between 2023 and 2024, the country lost roughly $7 billion in canal revenue, equal to a 60 percent drop from pre-crisis levels. Yet Cairo has opted for deliberate strategic restraint, maintaining the long-standing policy of non-intervention in Yemeni affairs it has held since the 2015 Gulf intervention. This is not a sign of weakness, but a pragmatic calculation: a country already grappling with deep economic crisis cannot afford the risk of a new military entanglement in Yemen. The paradox is a bitter one: Egypt loses billions in critical revenue, but cannot risk intervention because it cannot bear the military and economic costs that would follow.

    The shifts along the Red Sea have also created uneven impacts across the East African coast. Sudan and Somalia face growing security risks from the new geopolitical order, while Eritrea and Djibouti have gained unexpected strategic leverage. Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, who spent decades in international isolation, is now leveraging his country’s Red Sea position to deepen ties with Washington and Tel Aviv. It is pure, unadulterated geopolitical opportunism.

    The Bab al-Mandeb strait is narrower than the Strait of Hormuz, a geographic feature that makes it far easier for Houthi forces to target passing commercial and military vessels. Recent public comments from a Houthi commander, released in a video stating that the group can deploy artillery to strike targets in Yemeni territorial waters, underline how immediate and concrete this threat is.

    Even more concerning is the fact that the repositioning of global maritime military assets toward the Bab al-Mandeb and Hormuz amid rising tensions with Iran has created a security vacuum along the coast of the Horn of Africa. That vacuum is being filled by transnational organized maritime criminal groups. The resurgence of piracy off the Somali coast is directly linked to this redistribution of maritime power. As major powers shift their naval assets north to address the Houthi threat, Somali and international seafarers are left to bear the cost of the resulting insecurity.

    What is unfolding in the Red Sea is not a distant regional conflict. It is a critical test for the existing global order, and its impacts reach all the way to major European ports like Rotterdam. As Europe’s largest container port and one of the most critical links in the global container supply chain, disruptions in the Red Sea are felt directly here. When shipping lines reroute en masse around the Cape of Good Hope, freight costs rise, delivery timelines slow, and the impact is passed on to European consumers at the checkout. European energy prices are already highly sensitive to any disruption in Red Sea shipping. Meanwhile, NATO naval forces operating in the region do so under mandates that are ill-suited to counter the current threat landscape.

    The European Union has the financial resources, naval capabilities, and direct economic stake in securing the strait. What it lacks is the political will to update its operational mandates and act collectively. The EU’s existing Operation Atalanta anti-piracy mission is a starting point, but without an expanded mandate to counter Houthi threats, it amounts to little more than a shield without a sword.

    The long-term implications of this shift are far-reaching. Global supply chains are growing more vulnerable to disruption, freight costs are rising, and those increases are ultimately passed through to end consumers. Nations dependent on Suez Canal revenue, such as Egypt, face gradual economic erosion. Most notably, the multilateral system tasked with guaranteeing global maritime security has proven unable to respond quickly and decisively to this new threat.

    The core lesson could not be clearer: whoever controls the world’s critical maritime chokepoints controls the global economy. The Houthi movement understands this reality. Iran understands this reality. Whether the broader international community has also come to terms with it remains to be seen. So far, all evidence suggests the international community has opted primarily to stand by, reroute traffic around the Cape of Good Hope, and hope for the best. That is not a strategy. It is merely kicking the bill down the road.

  • 37 staaroperaties tijdens medische missie Boven-Suriname

    37 staaroperaties tijdens medische missie Boven-Suriname

    A collaborative medical team made up of Surinamese and Belgian healthcare providers has just wrapped up a six-day outreach mission that brought life-changing specialized care to underserved rural communities along the Upper Suriname River, completing 37 cataract surgeries and treating 148 dental patients. Among the cataract recipients was a 95-year-old woman who had previously lost her vision to the condition.

    The mission ran from September 6 to September 11, serving communities scattered across river villages stretching from Sukunale to Goejaba. The mixed team paired Surinamese and Belgian ophthalmologists with Belgian dental practitioners and dental students, with coordination led by Dr. Gaytree Baldewsingh of Medische Zending and ophthalmologist Jerrel Pawiroredjo from the Suriname Eye Center. Dr. Leen van den Abeele headed up the Belgian dental contingent. Organizers noted that the overwhelming turnout of patients waiting for care underscores the unmet need for specialized eye and dental services in this remote region.

    A temporary operating room was set up specifically for the mission at Ladoeani, the team’s main base of operations. All 37 cataract procedures were performed at this site, with most patients being low-vision elderly residents. Many of these patients face limited mobility, making the long trip to the capital Paramaribo for specialized care prohibitively difficult. In addition to restoring sight to dozens of people, the mission addressed widespread dental health issues across the river villages.

    Dental providers documented severe oral health problems that were surprisingly prevalent even among child patients. The team linked these widespread issues to rising consumption of sugar and sweetened sodas paired with insufficient access to oral hygiene education and resources. As part of the mission, participating dental students delivered hands-on tooth-brushing training and community education on the importance of consistent good oral hygiene to prevent long-term problems. Most of the dental procedures performed were extractions of teeth that had already suffered advanced decay and were causing painful complications that could not be reversed.

    The outreach initiative was made possible through private funding: Conrad Issa of Lucky Store covered the majority of the mission’s financial costs, while Anaula Nature Resort sponsored accommodation for the entire medical team. Looking ahead, organizers plan to reinstate these annual medical missions to remote inland villages as a permanent, structured program. The core goal of the program is to bring specialized ophthalmic care closer to residents who face significant barriers to accessing treatment due to their isolated geographic locations.

    Unmet demand for cataract and eye care extends far beyond the Upper Suriname River region. The Suriname Eye Center is already preparing for the second large-scale surgical mission of 2025, scheduled to take place in November in Nickerie. More than 600 patients are already on the waiting list for the upcoming mission, with organizers expecting to complete approximately 200 cataract surgeries during the outreach.

  • CPL Next Gen Schools Match sees Sunset Smashers defeat Coral Reef Chargers at Kensington Oval

    CPL Next Gen Schools Match sees Sunset Smashers defeat Coral Reef Chargers at Kensington Oval

    One of Caribbean cricket’s most anticipated youth development initiatives wrapped up in dramatic fashion earlier this month, as the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Next Gen Schools Match crowned the Sunset Smashers as winners at Barbados’ iconic Kensington Oval on September 11, 2026.

    The showcase match brought 26 of the Caribbean’s most promising young school-age cricketers onto one of the sport’s most legendary global stages, after months of grassroots scouting across Barbados. Organized by Republic Bank CPL, the event grew out of a series of regional cricket clinics, with top young athletes identified in partnership with the Barbados Cricket Association, the Barbados Ministry of Sport, and local schools and cricket clubs from across the island.

    Divided into two competitive squads — the Sunset Smashers and the Coral Reef Chargers — the young athletes put on a display of skill and composure that impressed scouts and audiences alike. In the final result, the Sunset Smashers secured a seven-wicket win over their rivals, with the entire match broadcast live to global audiences via CPL’s official social media platforms and partner Rush Live & Louder. Fans who missed the live stream can still rewatch the full match on CPL’s official YouTube channel.

    For the CPL, the Next Gen programme is far more than a one-off exhibition match: it is a core component of the league’s long-term commitment to nurturing emerging cricketing talent across the Caribbean. The showcase gives school-age players direct exposure to a professional match environment, as well as the chance to perform in front of a worldwide broadcast audience, an opportunity rarely available to young athletes at their stage of development. The partnership with Rush Live & Louder extended the event’s reach far beyond the stands of Kensington Oval, highlighting both the CPL’s growing global fanbase and its ongoing dedication to community outreach across the region.

    Jason Williams, Project Development Manager at Republic Bank CPL, praised the young competitors following the match, noting that the high standard of play on display offered clear proof of the depth of untapped talent emerging through Caribbean grassroots pathways. “Watching them perform with such composure and skill at a venue like Kensington Oval was a special moment, and it’s exactly why programmes like Next Gen matter so much to the future of Caribbean cricket,” Williams said. He also credited the Barbados Cricket Association for its longstanding work identifying and cultivating local talent, noting that Barbados has long been recognized as a global hotbed for elite cricketers.

    Looking ahead, the CPL has confirmed plans to expand the Next Gen programme to additional markets across the Caribbean in coming years, as part of its ongoing mission to open up new opportunities for young cricketers across the region. The initiative aligns closely with the strategic goals of Cricket West Indies to build a pipeline of elite talent for future international and professional squads, and will remain a central part of the CPL’s regional growth strategy as the tournament expands its footprint across the Caribbean.