GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP)—The global fight against HIV has been plunged into chaos following significant international funding cuts, the United Nations warned on Tuesday. The UNAIDS agency revealed that abrupt reductions in financial support, particularly from the United States, have destabilized the infrastructure for HIV treatment and prevention in numerous countries. This disruption has led to clinic closures, job losses for healthcare workers, and widespread interruptions in essential services such as testing, treatment, and prevention. UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima described the situation as the ‘most significant setback in decades.’ She highlighted the ‘abrupt pause’ in funding by the U.S., historically the largest contributor to global HIV efforts, following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House earlier this year. Other major donors have also slashed their foreign aid budgets, exacerbating the crisis. The UNAIDS report disclosed that in 2024, approximately 1.3 million people contracted HIV, a 40% decrease from 2010 but still three times higher than the target needed to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Last year, 630,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses, marking a 54% decline since 2010. However, Byanyima cautioned that the funding shortfall has exposed the fragility of past progress. Even before the crisis, the global AIDS response was underfunded, with $18.7 billion available in 2024—17% below the required amount. Last year, 9.2 million of the 40 million people living with HIV worldwide were not receiving treatment. In 13 countries, the number of people starting treatment has declined compared to the previous year. Byanyima expressed particular concern about the collapse of HIV prevention services, warning that failure to address this could lead to 3.3 million additional new infections by 2030. The funding crisis coincides with a deteriorating global human rights environment, with marginalized populations facing severe consequences. Criminalization of same-sex relations, transgender expression, and sex work in more countries could reduce HIV testing rates. Byanyima emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, ‘This is the moment to choose. We can allow these shocks to undo decades of hard-won gains, or we can unite behind the shared vision of ending AIDS. Millions of lives depend on the choices we make now.’
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Grenada PM: Sai Baba’s followers in TT helped hurricane recovery
Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell expressed profound gratitude for the love and support extended by followers of Sri Sathya Sai Baba in Trinidad and Tobago during the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl in 2024. Speaking at the vibrant centenary celebration of Sai Baba’s 100th birth anniversary at the Centre of Excellence in Macoya on November 22, Mitchell highlighted the rapid humanitarian response led by Sai devotee and Pennywise Cosmetics CEO Dalvi Paladee, who built and furnished 27 homes in Carriacou and Petite Martinique within three days. The event, hosted by the Paladee family and Pennywise Cosmetics, brought together regional leaders, diplomats, and devotees in a powerful display of unity and service. Mitchell praised the humility and selflessness of the Sai team, emphasizing that their actions restored hope, faith, and love to the affected communities. He described humility as a “superpower” essential for leaders and societies, urging a focus on service and purpose. Dalvi Paladee, in his address, called for a collective effort to address societal issues in Trinidad and Tobago, particularly crime, by infusing acts of service with genuine spiritual love. He emphasized that the nation is a “motherland” that cannot be abandoned in times of need. The celebration featured cultural performances and video presentations showcasing Sai Baba’s global humanitarian legacy and his principles of “Love all, serve all” and “Hands that help are holier than lips that pray.” Justice Minister Devesh Maharaj, representing Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, reiterated the government’s commitment to Sai Baba’s teachings, emphasizing that politics is fundamentally about service. Local Government Minister Khadijah Ameen echoed this sentiment, describing service as the highest expression of love. Sri Sathya Sai Global Council president Terry Maharaj outlined the organization’s ongoing humanitarian efforts, including building homes, feeding the needy, and conducting medical outreach. India’s High Commissioner Dr. Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit highlighted Sai Baba’s enduring message that “the world is one family,” which continues to inspire millions globally. The event concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks from Satnarine Paladee, who honored his late parents for instilling a lifelong devotion to service.
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Sanmerna Foundation, AFJ deliver major relief to marooned Hanover communities
In a significant humanitarian effort, the Sanmerna Foundation, in collaboration with the American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ), executed a large-scale relief mission in Hanover, Jamaica, this week. The initiative saw the distribution of over 2,800 care packages to residents in Lookout, Haughton Meadows, and Orange Bay—communities severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa. Among these, Lookout, a remote hillside area rendered inaccessible due to collapsed roads and dangerous terrain, posed the greatest logistical challenge. Despite these obstacles, the mission successfully prioritized elderly individuals and persons with disabilities, who have been particularly vulnerable since the storm. The operation was further supported by key partners, including Food for the Poor, JetBlue, Dennis Shipping, and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), whose collective efforts ensured that essential supplies reached families stranded for days. With this phase of relief completed, the Sanmerna Foundation has announced plans to extend its operations to other isolated communities, including Point in St James, Tangle River, Kensington, Springfield, and Summer Hill. The foundation also intends to release visual documentation of its ongoing recovery efforts through photos and videos.
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Signal Hill up to 2nd after SSFL disciplinary ruling
The 2025 Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) premier division witnessed a significant off-field development on November 25, as Signal Hill Secondary ascended to second place in the standings following a pivotal decision by the league’s disciplinary committee. The committee, led by Essiel Seecharan, convened on November 24 to address St Augustine Secondary’s failure to appear for a rescheduled match against Signal Hill in Tobago on November 17. With the league season nearing its conclusion on November 27, the committee swiftly ruled in favor of Signal Hill, awarding them a 3-0 victory and three points. This decision has intensified the title race, as Signal Hill now stands level on 34 points with league leaders Naparima College, albeit with a slightly inferior goal difference. The final matchday on November 27 will see Signal Hill face Naparima in a decisive clash, while St Benedict’s College, currently in third place with 33 points, remains in contention for the title. Meanwhile, St Augustine Secondary faces relegation to the championship division, as their 12-point tally leaves them vulnerable. The 14th-placed San Juan North Secondary and 15th-placed Scarborough, both with 11 points, will battle to avoid the drop, with one set to survive at St Augustine’s expense. Efforts to contact disciplinary chairman Seecharan and St Augustine coach Tacuma Jones were unsuccessful, but it is understood that St Augustine plans to appeal the committee’s ruling within the 72-hour window.
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Opposition to file Privileges motion, demands 3 apologies
The opposition has announced plans to file at least one privilege motion during the November 26 parliamentary session, targeting a senior government official for allegedly offensive remarks made in the previous sitting. Arouca/Lopinot MP Marvin Gonzales revealed at a media conference on November 25 that he intends to bring a motion against Attorney General John Jeremie over an alleged homophobic comment captured on a ‘hot mic’ during the November 21 session. The remark, ‘Hush yuh mouth, boy. Go and take yuh lil man,’ was made during a pause in proceedings as MPs debated the Virtual Assets and Virtual Assets Service Providers Bill, 2025. The target of the comment remains unclear. Gonzales condemned the statement as ‘reprehensible,’ expressing the opposition’s lack of surprise at such behavior. Additionally, Diego Martin North/East MP Colm Imbert is considering a similar motion against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. During the sitting, the PM warned Imbert to stop pointing at her, to which he replied, ‘Why not?’ Persad-Bissessar responded, ‘Because I will cuff you down.’ Imbert is yet to decide whether to proceed with the motion. Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath defended the PM, stating she meant to address Imbert politically and accused him of initiating the conflict through ‘political molestation.’ Imbert denied these allegations. The opposition has demanded apologies from Persad-Bissessar, Padarath, and Jeremie.
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CoP: Handcuffs for social-media users destabilising TT
Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro has issued a stern warning to social media users, emphasizing that threats made online will be met with strict legal consequences. In a media release on November 25, Guevarro highlighted the role of the Cyber and Social Media Unit in monitoring online activities and gathering evidence against offenders. This warning follows a recent incident where Opposition senator Dr. Amery Browne shared screenshots of a Facebook post threatening his life and family. Additionally, a Diego Martin woman was arrested last week for allegedly inciting violence against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar via social media. Guevarro expressed serious concern over the increasing trend of violent threats on social media, stating that such behavior is unlawful and dangerous. He clarified that while freedom of expression is a right, it does not extend to criminal conduct. Under the Emergency Powers Regulations 2025, Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander is empowered to issue Preventive Detention Orders to individuals who use social media to incite violence or endanger public safety. Guevarro urged citizens to engage responsibly online, reminding them that their words could lead to legal repercussions.
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Red Force vs Volcanoes Super50 match abandoned due to rain
The 2025 CG United Super50 Cup faced yet another weather-induced setback as the highly anticipated match between Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and the Windward Islands Volcanoes was abandoned due to persistent rain. Scheduled to commence at 9 am on November 25 at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground in UWI, St Augustine, the game was called off just before 10 am due to a waterlogged outfield and unfavorable playing conditions. This marked the fourth consecutive match in the tournament to be disrupted by rain, leaving fans and players frustrated. The Red Force, coming off back-to-back victories against Jamaica Scorpions and Guyana Harpy Eagles, entered the match in second place with 20 points, trailing leaders Barbados Pride by seven points. The Windward Volcanoes, positioned third with 15 points, were unable to improve their standing due to the abandonment. The tournament, already reduced to six teams due to financial constraints, has seen its schedule further compressed. The round-robin stage will conclude on November 29 in Tarouba, where the top two teams will compete in the final. Meanwhile, other matches, including the clash between Guyana Harpy Eagles and Leeward Islands Hurricanes, were also delayed due to rain at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair. Weather permitting, the Red Force will face the Leeward Hurricanes on November 27 in their final preliminary round match.
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US top military officer at Diplomatic Centre
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff and a key military advisor to President Donald Trump, arrived in Trinidad and Tobago (TT) on November 26 for a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The meeting, held at the Diplomatic Centre in St. Ann’s, focused on reinforcing the strong bilateral relationship between the two nations, enhancing regional stability, and addressing the critical issue of drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations. The US Embassy, in a statement issued on November 24, emphasized the shared commitment of both countries to these objectives. General Caine’s visit follows recent military exercises conducted by the US 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit in TT, which included two deployments in October and November. These exercises are part of a broader US-led anti-drug trafficking operation in the Southern Caribbean, supported by the TT government. However, the presence of US warships in the region has drawn criticism from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who accused the US of pursuing regime change and TT of enabling such efforts. Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar has firmly denied these allegations, stating that the operations are solely aimed at combating drug trafficking.
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Bahamian woman called to bar in called to bar in England and Whales
In a remarkable achievement, Bahamian national Bianca Smith has officially become a barrister after being called to the Bar in London. At the young age of 23, Smith was formally admitted to the Bar of England and Wales on November 20 at Gray’s Inn, in a ceremony presided over by the Rt Honorable Justice Lady Geraldine Andrews.
Reflecting on her accomplishment, Smith expressed immense pride and gratitude. ‘It was an immense reward after all of my hard work, and I am incredibly proud,’ she stated. ‘I could not have done it without all of the support I have received. Thank you to everyone that has been a part of this journey. I am honoured to be a Barrister.’
Smith’s academic journey is equally impressive. She earned her Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours from Goldsmiths University of London, where her dissertation focused on Bahamian women and the systemic inequality in legislation concerning women’s rights, particularly citizenship transference and the lack of recognition of women’s issues. She further pursued Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) at City, University of London, graduating with a postgraduate diploma with merit.
This milestone not only highlights Smith’s dedication and intellectual prowess but also underscores her commitment to addressing systemic inequalities, particularly in the context of women’s rights in The Bahamas.
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Rick Fox announces election bid but doesn’t reveal party alignment
Former NBA player and ambassador-at-large Rick Fox has officially declared his intention to run in the upcoming Bahamas general election, putting an end to weeks of speculation about his political aspirations. In a heartfelt social media announcement, Fox emphasized his deep commitment to the nation, stating that the Bahamas he envisions can no longer remain a distant dream. He highlighted the urgent need for transparency, a modernized economy, and equitable opportunities for all citizens. Fox’s decision to enter politics stems from months of listening to the concerns and aspirations of Bahamians, who have expressed frustration with the current state of affairs. While he has not yet revealed whether he will run independently or align with a political party, Fox disclosed that he has engaged in discussions with both major parties. He noted that Free National Movement (FNM) leader Michael Pintard had been particularly persistent in courting his candidacy. Fox underscored the critical importance of addressing pressing issues such as youth empowerment, healthcare, housing, and public safety, warning that the country is running out of time to act. He pledged to champion transparency, integrity, and excellence in leadership, framing his campaign as a fight for the Bahamas on the global stage. Fox’s announcement comes amid criticism of politicians for their perceived inaction and opportunism, which he recently mocked in a Halloween-themed post. His candidacy has already sparked controversy, with some questioning the appropriateness of his diplomatic role in light of his political ambitions. Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell issued a veiled rebuke, reminding ambassadors of their duty to serve the government that appointed them. Despite the backlash, Fox remains steadfast in his mission to transform the Bahamas into a nation where every citizen feels secure, empowered, and proud.