Carib Scope

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  • From baby photo to World Cup final

    From baby photo to World Cup final

    Eighteen years ago, a casual promotional photoshoot at Barcelona’s Camp Nou created a moment that would go viral decades later, just hours before two of the subjects of that image meet for football’s most prestigious trophy.

    In 2006, Lamine Yamal’s family won a raffle that granted them the chance to take a photo with a rising young Barcelona star. By random chance, they were matched with 20-year-old Lionel Messi, who was only a few seasons into his legendary professional career at the club. Photographer Joan Monfort later recalled that the famously introverted Messi was caught off guard when he walked into the room to find an infant Yamal waiting in a plastic tub of water for the shoot. At first, the young star did not even know how to properly hold the baby, but the resulting photograph captured a gentle, tender moment between two athletes who would both go on to reach the pinnacle of global football.

    That little-known photo exploded across social media last week, after both Argentina captain Messi and Spanish teenage star Yamale qualified for the FIFA World Cup final, pitting the two former Barcelona teammates against each other as rivals for the global title. The unexpected full-circle moment has added even more hype to one of the most anticipated final matches in the tournament’s history, and football fan fever has already swept across Trinidad and Tobago, triggering a massive surge in sales of merchandise featuring the two star players.

    Across retail locations from Port of Spain’s Excellent City Mall to MovieTowne’s FanZone in Mucurapo, Messi and Yamal apparel has been selling out at unprecedented rates. Jersey and T-shirt prices range from $TT 180 for locally made options to $TT 850 for official branded authentic merchandise, while branded caps retail for around $TT 175. Even at these price points, stock is disappearing quickly.

    At Caribbean Collection, customer service representative Aliana Maraj told reporters that the Friday before the final was one of the busiest shopping days the store has seen since the World Cup tournament kicked off. “People have been coming in all morning. We had about 100 customers buying T-shirts and caps,” Maraj said, noting that customers often linger to discuss their predictions for the final match. “There’s a lot of excitement.” Maraj, who supports Argentina as a long-standing family tradition, added that her store’s locally produced T-shirts and caps have been the most popular items among shoppers.

    A customer service representative at FanZone, who requested anonymity, confirmed that merchandise for both players has outpaced all other offerings. “Messi and Lamine Yamal T-shirts are selling like hotcakes,” they said, noting that even other popular national team merchandise from Brazil, Germany, France and England has not matched the demand for the two finalists’ gear. Most small memorabilia items, including key chains, have already sold out completely, with only a small stock of puzzles priced between $TT 270 and $TT 395 remaining as of Friday.

    By 6 p.m. Friday, most football merchandise had already sold out at Excellent City Mall in Port of Spain, with the few remaining T-shirts priced at $TT 390.

    Local fans are split in their support for the two finalists, matching the global divide around the match. Maraval resident Lawrence Salandy, a Spain supporter, purchased official jerseys for himself and his family during a trip to the United States, paying roughly US$300 per jersey. “I had my name printed on mine to show support for Spain,” Salandy said, noting that he stands by the Spanish side even as most fans around him support Argentina. He added that many fans who bought merchandise for other top teams have been left disappointed after their favorite sides were eliminated earlier in the knockout stage.

    Sean Mitchell, a regular amateur football player from Laventille, echoed that support, saying “They play to win. It’s Spain all the way.”

    A veteran local sportscaster told the *Sunday Express* that this World Cup has cemented international football jerseys as one of the most consistently high-demand sporting goods items. Premium star player jerseys, especially those for Messi, command top price points, often hitting $TT 500 or more. Demand is not limited to just the two finalists, either: the sportscaster noted that Kylian Mbappé, one of the tournament’s top scorers who was eliminated with France in the semi-final, still has extremely high demand for his merchandise.

    As kickoff approaches in New York for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, fans across the globe and in Trinidad and Tobago are gearing up to watch the historic match between the two stars who first shared a photo together 18 years ago.

  • Sobers calls for global unity against political terrorism

    Sobers calls for global unity against political terrorism

    Against a backdrop of rising global instability, a top Caribbean diplomat has issued a urgent call for cohesive international collaboration to counter the escalating threat of political terrorism, emphasizing that ideology can never justify acts of political violence.

    Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Sean Sobers made the call while representing Trinidad and Tobago at a high-profile gathering focused on the resurgence of political terrorism, hosted in Washington D.C. by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The ministerial summit brought together senior government leaders from across the Western Hemisphere, Europe, and Asia, with a core goal of strengthening cross-border coordination to crack down on politically motivated violence.

    In his opening remarks to the assembled delegates, Sobers extended formal gratitude to the United States for organizing what he framed as a critical conversation at a pivotal moment for global security. “I wish to express our sincere appreciation to the government of the United States, and specifically to Secretary Rubio, for the warm hospitality and for convening this timely and necessary dialogue at a critical juncture for global stability,” Sobers stated. He also commended the U.S. for its leadership in uniting international partners to address what he called one of the 21st century’s most pressing transnational challenges.

    Sobers made clear that Trinidad and Tobago’s stance on political terrorism is unambiguous: all acts of terrorism must be universally condemned and confronted, no matter what ideology perpetrators cite to justify their violence. “We remain concerned by the use of violence to intimidate societies, coerce governments, and undermine democratic institutions,” he said. “Our position is clear: terrorism must be condemned and confronted regardless of the ideology invoked by its perpetrators.”

    The minister went on to highlight the unique vulnerability of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean to the ripple effects of global political terrorism, even though the region sees relatively few direct terrorist incidents. Caribbean SIDS face disproportionate risk due to their open, tourism-dependent economies, vast exclusive maritime zones, extensive critical energy infrastructure, growing digital connectivity exposure, rampant illicit firearms trafficking, and the presence of transnational organized crime networks. “Even where the number of terrorist incidents is low, transnational radicalisation, financing and facilitation can move quickly across borders,” Sobers explained.

    To address these gaps, Sobers outlined a clear set of priority areas for enhanced global and regional cooperation. He called for expanded practical collaboration across intelligence sharing, standardized terrorist watch-list coordination, improved border and maritime security, more robust cross-border investigations into terrorist financing, advanced digital forensics information sharing, standardized behavioral threat assessment training, targeted support for critical infrastructure protection, and joint regional counter-terrorism preparedness exercises.

    Sobers also emphasized that building long-term, sustainable regional counter-terrorism capacity requires centered and expanded use of existing regional bodies, specifically naming the Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (Caricom IMPACS) as a key platform for coordinated action. He added that Trinidad and Tobago stands ready to share its own hard-won expertise, developed through years of domestic work to counter violent extremism, manage returning foreign terrorist fighters, implement whole-of-government counter-terror coordination, and build national preparedness frameworks.

    On the sidelines of the formal ministerial summit, Sobers also held a series of productive bilateral high-level meetings with U.S. officials. The talks focused on advancing shared priorities including energy security, expanded bilateral trade, and deepening the existing strategic partnership between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States.

    Closing his address to the summit, Sobers laid out the shared end goal for global counter-terror efforts: building resilient, inclusive democratic societies that can defend themselves against violent attacks while upholding the fundamental rights, individual freedoms, and democratic values that terrorists seek to destroy.

  • Triple murder shatters Laventille peace

    Triple murder shatters Laventille peace

    A wave of brutal violence shattered months of hard-won calm in one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most persistent crime hotspots on Thursday morning, when heavily armed assailants stormed a busy Laventille gas station and opened fire, leaving three local men dead.

    The attack unfolded just after 9 a.m. at the Unipet gas station, located at the high-traffic intersection of Eastern Main Road and Morvant Old Road. The triple killing pushed the country’s total murder count for the year to 209, according to official police data.

    Law enforcement has formally identified the three victims as 56-year-old Selvon Jack, a resident of Lot 60 Chinapoo, Morvant; 29-year-old Makal Campbell, of 13 Poui Street, Morvant; and 23-year-old Malique Akhil Williams, who lived on Erica Street in Laventille. Witness accounts collected by the *Sunday Express* paint a chaotic picture of the assault: one victim was in the process of refueling his vehicle when the gunmen entered the station and began shooting, a second victim was seated inside a car at a neighboring pump, and the third was crossing the station’s parking lot when he was struck by gunfire. After carrying out the attack, the gunmen fled the scene in a stolen white Nissan Tiida, according to initial police reports.

    In an exclusive interview with the *Sunday Express*, Senior Superintendent Raymond Thom, head of the Port of Spain Police Division, voiced deep frustration over the attack, which came during an extended period of reduced violence in Laventille tied to a local community peace accord. “Port of Spain has been quiet for over a month. We are disappointed that during this peace accord that is supposed to exist, that this can happen,” Thom said. “Some people are not holding to the order that was established, but we are doing what we have to do to maintain law and order.”

    Multiple specialized law enforcement units responded to reports of what witnesses initially described as a loud explosion shortly after 9:15 a.m., including officers from the Port of Spain Division, the Inter-Agency Task Force, the Guard and Emergency Branch, and the North Eastern Division. When first responders arrived, they found the three victims’ bodies on the gas station compound. Investigators are still working to confirm whether only one of the three men was the primary target of the attack, Thom said, noting that an innocent bystander who happened to be refueling may have been an unintended casualty.

    “On arrival they observed the bodies of three persons lying on the compound of the gas station. Two of the persons were residents of Morvant, and one was from Laventille,” Thom said. “It appears that someone not involved who was just fuelling their vehicle might have been a casualty. That possibility does exist.”

    As of Friday morning, investigators have already located a vehicle that persons of interest in the case are believed to have used following the attack. Thom issued a public appeal for community cooperation, urging local residents to reject gang-related violence and assist law enforcement in solving the case. He added that police are moving quickly to prevent any cycle of retaliatory violence that could follow the triple killing.

    The attack comes amid an ongoing state of emergency declared to address the country’s persistent violent crime crisis, which Thom said police have been using to target known gang leaders and high-risk criminal figures. Under the current state of emergency, no curfew or movement restrictions are in place, but authorities have been granted expanded powers to issue preventive detention orders for known criminal suspects. To date, the Port of Spain Division has executed more than 90 such detention orders, Thom said, and most major gang leaders in the area are currently incarcerated. Even so, he acknowledged, remaining criminal elements are still active in the area, carrying out gang rivalries and reprisal attacks.

    “However, there are still elements that we are looking for and there are still persons involved in criminality and carrying out gang activities and reprisals,” Thom said.

    A multi-unit investigative task force comprising detectives from the North Eastern Division, Port of Spain Division, the Homicide Bureau, and regional intelligence units has been assembled to uncover the motive for the attack and apprehend the responsible suspects, with a goal of bringing the assailants to court as quickly as possible.

  • BREAKING: North west ferry in severe distress off Guyana’s coast, search and rescue teams deployed

    BREAKING: North west ferry in severe distress off Guyana’s coast, search and rescue teams deployed

    In the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, July 19 2026, a major search and rescue operation was activated after the aging passenger ferry MV Barima sent out a distress signal while sailing in rough waters near Iron Punt, off Guyana’s Pomeroon River, senior government and military officials have confirmed.

    The emergency unfolded after the vessel’s crew launched emergency flares to signal their dire situation, amid extremely low light conditions that complicated initial locating efforts. It was an aerial search and rescue team that first spotted the stricken ferry after responding to the distress call.

    Private regional aviation firm Roraima Airways was the first to deploy an aircraft to the last known position of the MV Barima, which had departed the capital Georgetown at 3 PM Saturday on a scheduled voyage to Port Kaituma. After the Roraima Airways crew locked in the ferry’s exact coordinates, they immediately relayed the critical location data to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to coordinate a full rescue response.

    Brigadier Omar Khan, Chief-of-Staff of the GDF, confirmed to Demerara Waves Online News that both the GDF Air Corps and Coast Guard had been quickly dispatched to the distress site. He described the unfolding incident as “a tough morning” that required rapid mobilization of both air and marine rescue assets.

    Brentnol Ashley, Chairman of Region One (Barima-Waini) – the administrative region where the incident occurred – told reporters he first received word of the emergency at approximately 12:30 AM Sunday, and was remaining on standby waiting for further updates from frontline search and rescue teams as of early Sunday.

    As first responders worked to reach the vessel, a notable gap in official communication has emerged. Beyond the confirmation provided by GDF leadership, the Guyana government has not issued any coordinated crisis communications response to what could become a major maritime disaster. As of the latest update, there was no designated government communications personnel available to respond to media queries or provide regular official updates on the status of the ferry, crew, passengers, or rescue operation.

    Multiple attempts to reach senior maritime officials for comment went unanswered Sunday. Maritime Minister Deodat Indar and Stephen Thomas, Director-General of the Maritime Administration, alongside other senior government leaders, have not released any information on the incident despite repeated outreach from media.

  • Iran waarschuwt VS voor ‘onvergetelijke lessen’ bij voortzetting aanvallen

    Iran waarschuwt VS voor ‘onvergetelijke lessen’ bij voortzetting aanvallen

    Tensions between the United States and Iran have spiked to new heights after Iran’s Supreme Leader issued a stark warning to Washington on Saturday, threatening that continued U.S. attacks will prompt severe, lasting retaliation from Tehran and its regional network of allies. The statement, delivered on Iranian state television, comes on the heels of a sharp escalation in American military strikes that targeted critical Iranian civilian infrastructure this week. These strikes hit key public assets including bridges, railway lines, and water desalination facilities, bringing the months-long conflict that also involves Israeli military support for the U.S. campaign directly to ordinary Iranian citizens.

    In his public address, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei accused the United States of repeatedly violating a Qatar- and Pakistan-brokered memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed just one month prior that was designed to lay the groundwork for a permanent end to hostilities. He dismissed the signature of U.S. President Donald Trump on the peace framework as completely worthless, arguing that repeated American breaches of international agreements have laid bare the inherent nature of U.S. foreign policy. “Repeated violations of agreements by the Great Satan have once again proven that the American president’s signature has no value, and that intimidation, hegemony, and cruelty are inseparable from U.S. policy,” Khamenei’s statement read.

    In response to this week’s U.S. strikes, Tehran has already carried out successful retaliatory attacks against civilian targets in Kuwait, prompting Kuwaiti authorities to issue urgent public appeals for citizens to reduce electricity consumption amid widespread disruptions. The ongoing conflict, which first erupted in February, is viewed by Iran’s top leadership as an existential threat to the country, and despite mounting pressure from the Trump administration and behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts by regional powers to broker a de-escalation, Tehran has shown no willingness to compromise or back down.

    Khamenei used the address to call on the Iranian people to maintain faith in the country’s leadership, and to remain vigilant and engaged as the conflict continues. He doubled down on his criticism of the U.S., accusing Washington of deception, irrationality, untrustworthiness, and bad faith, saying the conflict has revealed the United States’ true character to the global community.

    The broader regional ripple effects of the escalating standoff are already starting to emerge. Recent reports indicate that Yemen’s Houthi rebels, a long-time key ally of Iran, are considering closing the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait, a critical shipping chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, to show solidarity with Tehran. A closure of this key waterway would send shockwaves through global energy markets, further driving up international inflation and increasing political pressure on the Trump administration to halt its military campaign against Iran.

    Just one month after it was signed, both the U.S. and Iran have already declared the Qatari-Pakistani brokered MoU defunct, with each side accusing the other of systematic violations of the agreement’s terms. Domestically, the conflict has become deeply unpopular among the American public, and has already inflicted significant economic harm on U.S. households, amplifying political pressure on the Trump administration to wind down the military campaign. As of this report, the regional security situation remains highly volatile, with Tehran reiterating its unwavering commitment to resisting what it frames as American aggression and hegemony.

  • Ouders pleiten voor blijvende voortzetting van GRO-programma

    Ouders pleiten voor blijvende voortzetting van GRO-programma

    On July 19, a parent gathering hosted by the Ministry of Youth Development and Sport at the multifunctional community center in Sophia’s Lust brought to light growing public support for the department’s flagship GRO (Growth, Direction & Development) youth initiative, alongside new calls for long-term program stability and expanded support for caregiver skill development.

    Parents of children enrolled in the GRO program opened the discussion by sharing tangible, positive changes they have observed in their kids since joining the initiative. Many reported clear improvements in children’s behavioral regulation, academic motivation, and classroom performance, with attendees uniformly expressing strong gratitude for the program’s work and urging government officials to lock in its permanent status. The gathering was intentionally structured to create a structured space for caregivers to share on-the-ground experiences and outline unmet needs related to the initiative.

    Beyond celebrating youth outcomes, parents also used the meeting to highlight a gap in current programming: opportunities for their own personal and professional growth. Attendees proposed adding a range of adult skills training modules, including information and communications technology (ICT) literacy, bread and snack preparation, textile processing, parenting coaching, and family planning education. Parents argued that these offerings would not only advance individual growth for caregivers but also strengthen family stability at home, creating a more supportive environment for young people to thrive.

    Milton Tuart, Acting Deputy Director of Youth Centers at the ministry, led the government side of the conversation, engaging directly with parents on all proposals and addressing questions about the program’s future trajectory. In closing, parents reaffirmed that the GRO program delivers irreplaceable value for child and youth development across the country, stressing that its long-term survival should not be tied to shifting political priorities. This step, they argued, would ensure that future generations of young people can access the same life-changing opportunities that current participants enjoy.

    First launched by the Ministry of Youth Development and Sport, the GRO program was designed to foster holistic personal, social, and community development for children and adolescents. Its core offerings include after-school enrichment activities, talent discovery programs, social skills training, structured parent engagement initiatives, and holiday programming, all built to help young people uncover their unique strengths, build lasting self-confidence, and grow into well-rounded community members. Ministry officials have repeatedly emphasized that sustained parent engagement is one of the program’s core pillars of success. By fostering collaborative partnerships between parents, schools, civil society organizations, and other community stakeholders, the ministry aims to build a supportive ecosystem where all young people can reach their full potential.

  • Zapping Haiti of July 19, 2026

    Zapping Haiti of July 19, 2026

    In a series of developments across Haiti in mid-July 2026, the country has progressed on multiple fronts, from anti-gang law enforcement actions to humanitarian relief for displaced populations, international cooperation on anti-corruption efforts, and preparations for long-awaited cultural and educational milestones.

    Northern Haiti law enforcement has scored major victories against organized gang activity. The Northern Department Police (DDN) released a public operational briefing on Saturday, July 18, detailing results from a six-and-a-half-week crackdown running from June 1 through July 17, 2026. The operation, conducted to curb rising violent crime in the region, resulted in the deaths of two high-ranking gang leaders during armed exchanges with officers, along with multiple other fatalities among lower-ranking gang members. Authorities also seized eight illegal firearms as part of the raids. The first high-profile fatality came on June 28, when gang leader Alland Gérôme, widely known by his alias “Jhon”, was killed during an operation in the commune of Limonade. Just over two weeks later, on July 15, a second operation in the Latanbri area of Cap-Haïtien’s Morin neighborhood eliminated gang leader Peterson Belony and his senior associate, only identified by the street name “Dejwe”. In total, 391 suspects were taken into custody across the operation, facing charges ranging from murder, attempted murder, armed robbery and sexual assault to kidnapping, unlawful detention, illegal weapons possession, criminal conspiracy and breach of public trust.

    In Kenscoff, where widespread armed violence has displaced tens of thousands of residents, humanitarian organizations are ramping up relief efforts to address the growing emergency. On July 15, a delegation from Haiti’s Social Assistance Fund (CAS), led by executive director Jhony Raphaël, held coordination talks with Kenscoff Mayor Jean Massillon to organize support for the municipality’s 35,000 displaced people, grouped across roughly 7,000 displaced families. CAS has already begun distributing 2,000 pre-packaged food kits to affected households, and is expanding its relief plan to provide 7,000 personal hygiene kits specifically targeted at women and girls. A specialized mobile social work team will also be deployed across the municipality to locate and support an additional 500 at-risk vulnerable people, including elderly residents and people living with disabilities who have been displaced by violence.

    On the governance front, Haiti’s national government is moving to strengthen international cooperation to tackle systemic corruption. Prime Minister Fils-Aimé, joined by Special Advisor Guerly Leriche, met with Monica Juma, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), who traveled to Port-au-Prince alongside a large UN delegation. The two sides held in-depth discussions on expanding bilateral collaboration across multiple priority areas, including anti-corruption enforcement, development of specialized judicial hubs, improved border security, and exploration of new joint initiatives. Prime Minister Fils-Aimé reaffirmed the Haitian government’s unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law and eradicating public corruption, highlighting ongoing reforms already implemented by the Ministry of Justice. These reforms include the transfer of roughly 40 pending high-level corruption cases to judges at specialized anti-corruption judicial hubs for accelerated processing.

    In cultural news, one of Haiti’s most prominent feminist events is preparing to mark its 10th anniversary this month. Organizers announced that the 10th edition of the Nègès Mawon Feminist Festival will run from Wednesday, July 22 to Saturday, July 25 2026 in Port-au-Prince, held this year under the theme *Batay Nou Makonnen*. To celebrate a decade of feminist organizing and programming, a full schedule of events has been planned across the festival run. Conferences, artistic performances, film screenings followed by open community discussions, skills-building workshops and social gatherings at the Nègès Salon will take place on July 23 and 24 at the dedicated Nègès Mawon venue. The festival will conclude with a closing ceremony on July 25 at a hotel in Pétionville, headlined by the *Alarive lanmou* concert featuring performances from Lunise Morse of the group Ram, Riva Nyri, and Charline Jean-Gilles of Nanm Vodou a, with overall direction from Haitian actress Gaëlle Bien-Aimé.

    The United Nations has also enacted new sanctions against Haitian organized crime, adding three major Haitian criminal groups to its global sanctions blacklist: Gran Grif based in the Artibonite department, and Kraze Baryè and 400 Mawozo both operating in the country’s western department.

    In educational updates, Haiti’s Minister of National Education Vijonet Déméro issued a public statement on Friday, July 17, 2026 congratulating students and education staff on the successful completion of national baccalaureate exams. Déméro noted that the exam period proceeded without any major security or administrative incidents, and officially confirmed that centralized grading of all exam papers will begin on Monday, July 20.

  • Adhin wil themavergadering over veiligheid; Jones hekelt afwezigheid DNA-leden in commissievergadering

    Adhin wil themavergadering over veiligheid; Jones hekelt afwezigheid DNA-leden in commissievergadering

    Suriname’s National Assembly is moving toward a dedicated thematic plenary session focused on the country’s worsening public safety crisis, but the path forward hinges on a key procedural vote scheduled for Tuesday. Ahead of that vote, Assembly Speaker Ashwin Adhin has called a Monday meeting with parliamentary faction leaders to align on the proposal to establish a formal standing security committee, a prerequisite for holding the requested thematic debate.

    The push for a focused debate on rising insecurity emerged after heated recent parliamentary discussions that saw multiple lawmakers level sharp criticism at the security policies and public response of Harish Monorath, Minister of Justice and Police. But NDP parliamentary faction member Ebu Jones has upended the conversation by calling out his fellow legislators for performative criticism, pointing to a gap between public grandstanding and behind-the-scenes oversight work.
    Jones argued that far too many lawmakers skip closed-door committee meetings where security policy is discussed directly with the minister, only to deliver vocal criticism during televised public plenary sessions when cameras are rolling. Committees, he emphasized, are the core venue for legislators to conduct early oversight and adjust policy before issues escalate. In practice, he noted, the permanent standing committee for Justice and Police rarely meets with a quorum, with only a handful of members in attendance most sessions.
    “If security is truly as critical an issue as we claim it is, we need to show up even when there are no cameras rolling,” Jones said in an interview with Starnieuws. He added that even legislators who do not hold formal seats on the justice and police committee can attend as observers and contribute to the work, and pushed back against suggestions he was defending Minister Monorath. “This is not about protecting Monorath. This is about our own responsibility as elected representatives. The security challenge is far too important to turn it into a political show,” Jones stated.
    Jones also noted that an ad-hoc security committee already exists in parliament, chaired by Rabin Parmessar. The panel, which includes all faction leaders, was created after former government coordination minister André Misiekaba brought the alarming security situation in the country’s interior to legislative attention, and has held a small number of meetings to date. According to Jones, the committee’s faction leaders failed to deliver on their core mandate: they should have led in-depth investigations, produced a formal public report to the full assembly, and laid the groundwork for targeted talks with the administration on necessary policy reforms and additional budget allocations for security services.
    Beyond criticizing procedural failures, Jones also highlighted a key security concern around open debate: not all elements of the national security landscape can or should be discussed in public sessions. Details on the operational readiness, capabilities, and vulnerabilities of the military, police, and other security services should be debated in a closed committee of the whole assembly, he argued. Open public discussion of these details risks exposing sensitive information that could undermine national security, he added.
    Following Adhin’s Monday consultations with faction leaders, a procedural vote will be held during Tuesday’s internal housekeeping session to approve the creation of the new security committee. Once that step is complete, the date for the long-awaited thematic plenary debate on national security will be finalized.

  • Diaspora : 20th edition of the Haiti en Folie Festival (program, video)

    Diaspora : 20th edition of the Haiti en Folie Festival (program, video)

    Montreal’s beloved celebration of Haitian culture is gearing up for a landmark milestone this summer, as the Fabienne Colas Foundation prepares to launch the 20th edition of the Haiti en Folie Festival, presented by TD Bank Group. Running from July 23 to 27, 2026, this year’s hybrid programming blends in-person outdoor experiences across four iconic Montreal public spaces with accessible online content, inviting both local attendees and global audiences to engage with the rich artistic and cultural heritage of Haiti. More than 200 artists from across North America and the Caribbean are set to take part in the five-day event, which will unfold at Parc Lafontaine, Quartier des Spectacles, Jardins Gamelin, and Parc des Compagnons.

    The 2026 festival lineup is packed with diverse offerings for visitors of all interests, centered around a core schedule of TD-sponsored music performances, industry conferences, literary showcases, the popular SAQ Food and Craft Fair, panel discussions, hands-on workshops, the annual Rara parade, and dozens of family-friendly interactive activities. To mark the 20th anniversary of the event, headlining musical performances will come from a stacked roster of acclaimed talent, including Grammy-nominated Haitian roots group Boukman Eksperyans, award-winning international artist BélO, multidisciplinary creator Rebecca Jean, rising R&B performer Papi Jay, and vocalists Ericka Julie, Jessie Simmons, and Modeline Raymond, alongside emerging acts Cinthia Michel, Sara Rénélik (performing as Luna Taina), Barnev, and the Montreal Community Choir.

    A fan-favorite staple of the festival, the annual Rara Parade will mark its own 10th consecutive year as part of the 2026 event. The decade-old parade was created to honor Haiti’s national soccer team, the Grenadiers, who made history by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup in 2010, ending a 52-year drought for the nation. This year’s parade will feature energetic live sets from Rara Jazz, Rara Pa Nou, and Ayiti Makaya, carrying forward the tradition of celebration that has defined the event for a decade.

    Additional standout programming includes the late-afternoon “Haiti Madness 5 to 7” showcase, which will feature DJ sets from DJ Cliff and DJ Nalee, alongside live performances from Ensemble Afrovibes and Kayos KF. Visitors can also explore curated literary events, join thoughtful panel discussions on Haitian arts, culture, and diaspora life featuring creator Sara Renélik, Grammy-winning musician Wesli, multidisciplinary artist Rebecca Jean, poet Sylphir, and many other leading voices from the Haitian community. The SAQ Haiti en Folie Food Fair, a perennially popular attraction, will return to offer attendees a chance to sample authentic Haitian cuisine and handcrafted goods from local vendors. All online programming, including pre-recorded panel discussions and film screenings, will be accessible to remote attendees around the world, expanding the festival’s reach beyond Montreal’s city limits.

    Full information on the festival schedule, venue locations, ticket access, and online viewing options is available now on the official Haiti en Folie website at www.HaitiEnFolie.com.

  • Derde helft WK 2026: Deschamps speelt laatste WK-wedstrijd, Zidane wacht in de coulissen

    Derde helft WK 2026: Deschamps speelt laatste WK-wedstrijd, Zidane wacht in de coulissen

    July 18, 2026 — As Didier Deschamps walked down the stadium tunnel for the final time as manager of the French men’s national football team, a banner held aloft by a French fan spelled out a simple, heartfelt tribute: “Merci Didier”. After 14 years at the helm of one of the world’s most successful football nations, the 57-year-old wrapped up his historic tenure following the 2026 FIFA World Cup third-place playoff against England, closing out a chapter that cemented his place as one of the most decorated figures in football history.

    Deschamps leaves the role as one of only three men in history to win the World Cup both as a player and a head coach, and holds the record for the most World Cup match wins by any manager, with 19 victories across his tournament appearances. He made his 27th World Cup appearance on the French bench in the third-place match — another record for a French national team manager.

    A title that Deschamps desperately wanted to add to his legacy was a third World Cup crown as a manager, which would have capped off a remarkable career spanning every level of the sport. Les Bleus entered the 2026 World Cup in the United States as clear favorites, dazzling fans with an attacking, dynamic style of play that signaled a shift from Deschamps’ traditionally more conservative tactical approach. But France’s run for a third consecutive World Cup final came to a crashing halt in the semi-finals, with a painful 2-0 defeat to eventual champions Spain, knocking them out of title contention and leaving them to contest the bronze medal match instead.

    In the lead-up to his final fixture, Deschamps downplayed expectations of an emotional farewell. “I have had the privilege to live through magical moments, but I have also been through difficult ones,” he told reporters. “Life goes on. I am positive, I know everything will work out. This job is the greatest thing that ever happened to me.”

    Deschamps will forever be remembered as the architect who rebuilt French football from its lowest point in recent decades. He first lifted the World Cup as captain of France’s iconic 1998 squad, which delivered the nation’s first ever World Cup title. Two decades later, after a disastrous 2010 World Cup campaign that saw France crash out in the group stage amid a player mutiny against then-manager Raymond Domenech, the French Football Federation turned to Deschamps to restore morale and pride to the national side. While successor Laurent Blanc guided France to the Euro 2012 quarter-finals, it was Deschamps who breathed new life into the program, leading Les Bleus to World Cup glory in Russia 2018, and launching global superstars such as Kylian Mbappé onto the world stage in the process.

    His tenure was not without heartbreak: he suffered a narrow defeat to Portugal in the Euro 2016 final, then lost the 2022 World Cup final to Argentina on penalties, falling just short of defending his 2018 title. The 2026 World Cup campaign also brought personal hardship, as Deschamps missed one group stage match following the death of his mother.

    Even with the semi-final disappointment, Deschamps’ track record remains unmatched by almost any international manager: he guided France to at least the semi-final stage in five out of the seven major tournaments he entered. When asked earlier in the 2026 tournament about the secret to his long-running success, he remained characteristically humble: “I don’t know, maybe just very good players. But it seems I don’t do my job that badly.”

    In the year leading up to the 2026 World Cup, Deschamps adjusted his long-held pragmatic approach to the game, giving greater attacking freedom to star forwards including Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise in response to years of criticism of his defensive-minded tactics. Still, that shift left France exposed against a clinical Spanish side in the semi-final, cutting short his bid for a fairytale ending to his tenure.

    Now, as Deschamps exits the international stage, all eyes have turned to his expected successor: Zinedine Zidane, Deschamps’ former 1998 World Cup teammate and one of the greatest French footballers of all time. It has been an open secret for months that Zidane has been groomed to take over the role, and the 54-year-old former Real Madrid manager has been preparing for the position since he left the Spanish club in 2021. Zidane has repeatedly stated that managing France is his lifelong dream, a goal that appears set to be realized in the coming weeks.

    French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo highlighted the high bar for the role earlier this year in an interview with *Le Figaro*: “There are not many people who can lead one of the world’s greatest national teams. It has to be someone who meets every requirement, and someone all of France can stand behind.” While Zidane is the overwhelming favorite to take the job, he will inherit a massive legacy and sky-high expectations that will make his tenure one of the most closely watched roles in international football. After the final whistle of Deschamps’ last match, French football stands ready to begin its next chapter.