Carib Scope

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  • Shawn Weathered Finishes Second in Masters A at John T. Memorial Bicycle Race in Anguilla

    Shawn Weathered Finishes Second in Masters A at John T. Memorial Bicycle Race in Anguilla

    On Saturday, Anguilla played host to the annual John T. Memorial Bicycle Race, a beloved regional competition that draws competitive cycling talent from across the Caribbean. Among the standout performers of the day was Shawn Weathered, riding as a member of Team Pillars Cycling, who claimed an impressive second-place position in the hotly contested Masters A category.

    Following the conclusion of the race, the Antigua and Barbuda Cycling Federation officially issued a public statement celebrating Weathered’s hard-won podium result. In their message, the federation framed the top-three finish as yet another strong showing for Antigua and Barbuda on the competitive regional cycling circuit, building on the country’s growing reputation for nurturing talented competitive riders.

    Alongside recognizing Weathered’s achievement, the national governing body for cycling in Antigua and Barbuda extended warm wishes to the rider, expressing hope that he will build on this momentum and continue to notch successful results in all upcoming competitions he enters. The result marks a key milestone for Weathered’s 2024 competitive season, and underscores the strength of Caribbean regional cycling competition that brings athletes together from across island nations to compete at the highest amateur levels.

  • Rising Fencing Star Nayla Martin to Represent Antigua and Barbuda on the International Stage

    Rising Fencing Star Nayla Martin to Represent Antigua and Barbuda on the International Stage

    The Caribbean twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda has unearthed another remarkable young sporting talent: up-and-coming fencer Nayla Martin, who is gearing up to carry her country’s flag at top international tournaments throughout the upcoming competitive season.

    After building a formidable track record on Europe’s competitive junior fencing circuit over the past years, Martin’s elevation to represent her home country marks a pivotal, long-awaited milestone in her burgeoning athletic career. The official confirmation of her national representation comes on the heels of a breakout 2023-2024 season that solidified her status as one of the most exciting young prospects in the sport. Martin not only claimed the top podium spot at the prestigious Internationales Ditzinger Young Masters but also took home gold at a major tournament in St. Gallen, Switzerland, and secured a third-place finish in another high-profile competition in Zurich. These consistent, standout results caught the attention of Antigua and Barbuda’s sporting authorities, paving the way for her to compete under the national flag.

    For Martin, the opportunity to represent Antigua and Barbuda is far more than a career step—it is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. “I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and excited to represent Antigua and Barbuda on the international stage,” she shared in a statement following the announcement. “I’m looking forward to the experiences ahead, continuing to learn, improve, and proudly carry our flag wherever I compete.”

    The young fencer also extended sincere gratitude to the network of supporters that have helped her reach this point, including her coaches, training partners, family, and growing base of fans, all of whom have stood by her through every stage of her athletic journey. A unique side note to Martin’s story is her family roots: she is the daughter of Zamoni Martin, one of Antigua and Barbuda’s most iconic and beloved soca music stars. Though raised immersed in the Caribbean nation’s vibrant entertainment and music culture, Martin chose to carve her own path in competitive sport, forging a distinct legacy of her own while still lifting up her home country.

    Now, fresh off a string of award-winning performances, Martin has shifted her full focus to the challenges of the upcoming international season. She is eager to test her skills against the best young fencers from across the globe, using each competition as an opportunity to refine her technique and gain valuable experience.

    As Antigua and Barbuda works to grow its footprint in global competitive sports, Martin’s journey stands out as a powerful example of young talent chasing excellence while honoring their national identity. Fans across the country and the large Antigua and Barbuda diaspora around the world have already rallied around the young fencer, and are expected to turn out in force to cheer her on as she begins this exciting new chapter of her career.

  • OPINION: Modern-day slavery in migrant labour markets

    OPINION: Modern-day slavery in migrant labour markets

    Migrant labour is one of the most pressing cross-cutting issues of our interconnected global economy, with every region across the world experiencing large-scale movement of workers seeking better economic and social opportunities. By standard definition, a migrant worker is an individual who leaves their home country to seek employment abroad, a categorization that clearly excludes the enslaved African people forcibly trafficked to Caribbean sugarcane plantations during the 17th century – a historical atrocity inflicted through coerced capture and trade, not voluntary movement for work.

    Today, a troubling paradox haunts the global system of migrant recruitment: many employers disguise exploitative practices behind the veneer of formal contract work, routinely offering migrant workers lower wages than their local peers and forcing them into deplorable working conditions. Credible reports have documented widespread abuses: overcrowded, unsanitary living quarters, illegal confiscation of workers’ passports to restrict movement, and mandatory overtime without the additional compensation required by law.

    Under international human rights norms, national governments bear ultimate responsibility for addressing these abuses. Through robust legislation, proactive monitoring, and strict enforcement of existing protections, states must guarantee that the fundamental human and labor rights of all workers – migrant and native-born alike – are not violated or eroded. The inherent dignity of migrant workers demands consistent respect, and can never be dismissed or trampled for the sake of corporate profit.

    Migrant workers are inherently entitled to equal treatment to that extended to native-born workers. Any employer that withholds this right acts unconscionably and dishonestly. Bad actors that operate underground to exploit vulnerable migrant labor must be publicly exposed and held fully accountable under the law. These discriminatory, exploitative practices have no place in a fair global economy, and it remains unacceptable that they continue to occur with widespread impunity across multiple regions.

    In fact, this systemic exploitation of contracted migrant workers is increasingly recognized as a modern form of slavery, impacting large workforces recruited from China, India, Latin America and the Caribbean. While these workers typically receive nominal wages and, outside of cases of explicit human trafficking, are not violently forced to migrate, deceptive recruitment practices are still rampant. As defined by anti-slavery advocates, modern slavery describes any situation where exploitation is enabled by coercion, intimidation, deception, or abuse of power, leaving victims with no ability to escape their circumstances. This includes forced labor, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and debt bondage. Unlike the chattel slavery of previous centuries, modern slavery thrives in the legal and social gray areas of globalization, hidden behind the facade of legitimate, formal business operations.

    According to Wiam Milles of the Elizabeth Heyrick Society, citing data from the International Labour Organization, more than 50 million people globally are currently trapped in situations of modern slavery. Wherever the core principles of decent work are breached, the global employment system stands guilty of systemic injustice. It is fundamentally unfair and wrong to deny migrant workers equal pay, restrict their freedom of movement, fail to provide safe working conditions, and block their right to organize and bargain collectively through trade union representation. This analysis was contributed by Dennis De Peiza, a labor and employment relations consultant at Regional Management Services Inc. (Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official editorial position of the publication.)

  • Onderwijsminister onderzoekt betere begeleiding voor jeugdigen in detentie

    Onderwijsminister onderzoekt betere begeleiding voor jeugdigen in detentie

    In the wake of a high-profile AI-fueled image scandal involving four secondary school students in Suriname, the nation’s Minister of Education, Science and Culture Dirk Currie is advancing a cross-ministerial initiative to revamp support systems for young people who have come into contact with the justice system, aiming to give them a second chance to rebuild their lives.

    The scandal that prompted this new push dates back to June 24, when four students from Suriname’s Arthur A. Hoogendoorn Atheneum (AAHA) were taken into custody. Authorities alleged the group used artificial intelligence to generate and distribute non-consensual pornographic deepfake images of their fellow classmates. While the four young people have since been released from detention, the incident has sparked sustained policy focus from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. In the immediate aftermath of the scandal, Currie already called for a sweeping, multi-pronged approach to boost youth awareness of responsible AI use, and held direct talks with AAHA’s school leadership.

    This week, Currie carried out an exploratory visit to the Opa Doeli Youth Transition Center, a facility that supports young people entering the justice system, to flesh out his policy goal of offering future prospects to youth who have made harmful mistakes. During the visit, the minister held in-depth discussions with the center’s leadership, he confirmed in comments shared by Suriname’s Communication Service.

    Currie has already coordinated on the initiative with Harish Monorath, his counterpart at the Ministry of Justice and Police. In the coming weeks, a joint working meeting is set to convene between education experts and Opa Doeli’s leadership to map out concrete improvements. The core agenda for this meeting: identifying structural changes to allow detained young people to continue their formal education uninterrupted, and better align existing resocialization programs with available education offerings.

    Currie emphasized that sustained, accessible education is a foundational pillar for successful reintegration of young offenders into broader society. “Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that when young people complete their sentences, they are welcomed and supported to rejoin community life in a meaningful way,” he said. Turning back to the AAHA incident, the minister added that school leadership is currently working through a careful process to map a safe, supportive return to classes for the four students involved. “We cannot condemn young people to a lifetime of punishment for one mistake,” Currie stressed. “The core of our work is to give every young person the chance to course-correct and build a positive future.”

  • Archer eyes bigger role for creative sector beyond Crop Over

    Archer eyes bigger role for creative sector beyond Crop Over

    At the official launch of the 2026 Crop Over Festival, held Saturday at Queen’s Park during the traditional Ceremonial Delivery of the Last Canes, a senior Barbadian government official has outlined an ambitious vision to reshape the nation’s creative economy, moving it beyond seasonal activity to become a sustained, year-round driver of income and opportunity. Senator Shane Archer, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office with oversight for Youth and Culture, used his keynote address to frame the iconic national festival as standing at a critical turning point — one that requires intentional evolution to unlock greater economic value while preserving its unmistakeable Barbadian identity. Against a backdrop of colorful performances, infectious music and joyful community celebration that captures the spirit of the annual harvest festival, Archer laid out his vision for a reimagined cultural sector that delivers consistent benefits to creative practitioners long after the final notes of Crop Over fade each year. “We are standing on history, feeling the energy of the present and building towards a future that must be more organised, more inclusive, more professional, more profitable for practitioners, and more deeply rooted in Barbadian culture,” Archer told the gathered crowd. The minister acknowledged that the festival’s current operational structure has gaps that need addressing, pointing to planning, cross-stakeholder coordination, internal communication, production workflows, and overall attendee experience as key areas for improvement. “We have already identified places where improvements can be made. Those lessons will be taken seriously,” Archer said, confirming that government representatives have already held extensive consultations with creative workers, performing artists, event promoters and other core stakeholders to gather input for reform. He emphasized that widespread public and industry support for strengthening the festival creates a strong foundation for change, noting “People love Crop Over. People want it to succeed. People want stronger systems, and people are ready to build it.” Looking ahead to the 2026 event and long-term sector reform, Archer stressed that earlier, more intentional planning and sharper execution will be critical to shifting the nation’s approach to cultural production. The core of his proposal is abandoning the long-held framing of culture as a seasonal, weeks-long activity, and instead building an ecosystem that supports creative work and income generation across the entire calendar. “That means stronger preparation, earlier engagement, sharper execution, and clearer pathways for practitioners to plan their year,” he explained. “It means moving beyond the idea that culture is something that we remember for a few weeks…culture must live. Culture must work all year, but most importantly, culture must earn all year.” Archer also used the occasion to redefine the mandate of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), the public body that oversees cultural activity in Barbados. He noted that the NCF was never intended to function solely as an events coordination office, and that its core mission is to empower Barbadians to grow and develop through engagement with their native culture. “We inherit the vision. We also inherit the duty to update the systems that carry that vision,” he said. Tying the 2026 festival to two landmark national milestones — the 60th anniversary of Barbados’ independence and the sixth year since the nation became a republic — Archer framed Crop Over as one of the most powerful expressions of Barbadian national identity forged over the country’s modern history. “Across those six decades, Crop Over has been one of the clearest expressions of nationhood,” he said. Through its diverse artistic forms, including calypso, soca, steel pan, masquerade, dance, visual art and local cuisine, the festival shares a clear message about Barbados with the global community, he added: it “tells the world that Barbados is a place of imagination, discipline, resilience, brilliance, style and depth.”

  • Beleggers zien lichtpunt voor Argentinië ondanks zware schuldenlast

    Beleggers zien lichtpunt voor Argentinië ondanks zware schuldenlast

    As Argentina approaches 2027, the South American nation faces one of the largest foreign debt repayment schedules in recent decades, but shifting sentiment among international investors has delivered a wave of growing confidence that the country can successfully navigate this major financial test. This rising optimism is primarily rooted in the strict fiscal discipline and sweeping economic reforms implemented by President Javier Milei’s administration, though political uncertainty remains a prominent downside risk that could upend progress.

    Data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) shows that Argentina is obligated to pay more than $32 billion in principal and interest on its outstanding foreign debt in 2027 alone. This makes 2027 a make-or-break year for the country’s economic stability, compounded by the fact that Milei is widely expected to run for a second presidential term in that year’s election.

    Even with the massive financial obligation looming, international market confidence in Argentina has climbed steadily over recent months. Investors point to the Milei administration’s commitment to tight fiscal rules, a notable cooling of runaway inflation, and targeted stabilization measures that have put the economy on a more sustainable trajectory. Credit rating agencies have also shifted to a cautiously optimistic outlook on Argentina’s medium-term economic prospects.

    To shore up state financing ahead of the 2027 deadline, the government has rolled out a range of targeted measures in recent months. These include a new issuance of U.S. dollar-denominated bonds on the domestic market, securing new lending agreements with global financial institutions, and developing alternative financing channels that avoid overreliance on the volatile international capital market.

    Industry analysts further project that rising investment in Argentina’s key strategic sectors—including energy, mining, infrastructure, and agriculture—will drive higher export revenues and increased foreign currency inflows in the coming years. However, these full gains are not expected to materialize until late 2027 or 2028, meaning until then, Argentina’s economy will remain dependent on sustained investor confidence and consistent continuation of current reform policies.

    The IMF has stated that Argentina’s current overall debt load remains manageable, but the country still faces “exceptional risks” to its financial stability. The nation’s international reserves remain at modest levels, and any sudden shift in political policy direction or a collapse in market confidence could quickly renew downward pressure on the Argentine peso and strain public finances.

    This evolving situation in Argentina offers valuable insights for neighboring Suriname, which is currently in a similar phase of prioritizing fiscal discipline, economic reform, and rebuilding investor trust. While the two countries start from very different economic baseline conditions, Argentina’s experience demonstrates that global financial markets do not only assess the absolute size of a nation’s debt load—they place far greater weight on whether a government can deliver credible, consistent economic policy over time.

  • Statement by Chargé d’Affaires Karin Sullivan, U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS on the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America

    Statement by Chargé d’Affaires Karin Sullivan, U.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the OECS on the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America

    As the United States prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of its founding under the national commemoration banner “Freedom 250”, the occasion offers more than just an opportunity to look back at the revolutionary ideals that birthed the nation. It also serves as a reminder of the shared global belief that the pursuit of freedom connects diverse populations across international borders and across generations. Echoing the framing of former President Donald Trump, who noted that “The story of America makes everyone free”, this 250-year legacy is not merely a chapter of history—it is a call to action to deepen collaborative work with global partners, including the island nations of the Eastern Caribbean, to build a shared future rooted in expanded opportunity, enhanced collective security, and widespread mutual prosperity.

    Far from being only a retrospective celebration, Freedom 250 is positioned as a strategic launchpad for the next era of U.S. global engagement. Under the current administration’s diplomatic vision, the U.S. is forging new collaborative partnerships, prioritizing cross-border innovation, and shaping a 21st-century diplomatic framework that is intended to guide transatlantic and hemispheric relations for the next 250 years.

    U.S. engagement across the Eastern Caribbean is anchored in a straightforward core principle: when regional nations succeed collectively, all populations benefit from greater safety, stronger national economies, and more resilient local communities. Today, that long-held collaborative approach is delivering measurable, tangible results for both U.S. and Caribbean stakeholders across every Eastern Caribbean nation.

    In Barbados, which is rapidly emerging as a regional technology and innovation hub, the U.S. and Barbados are jointly building the foundational infrastructure for a thriving digital economy. U.S. investment in advanced cross-border connectivity has unlocked new opportunities across key high-growth sectors: from telemedicine that expands access to critical care to remote learning that improves educational outcomes, from artificial innovation development to fintech inclusion, and from climate-smart agricultural practices that reduce carbon emissions to food security. This modern partnership is built on shared commitments to democratic governance, transparent commercial practices, and inclusive mutual prosperity.

    In Antigua and Barbuda, joint investment in modern energy infrastructure is advancing long-term climate resilience, creating new local economic opportunity, and driving sustainable, low-carbon growth. In Dominica, U.S. technical and financial support for geothermal energy development has expanded access to affordable, reliable power for local communities while strengthening the nation’s long-term energy independence and security. For Grenada, U.S. technical cooperation and local capacity building programs are strengthening national water security, advancing sustainable natural resource management, and boosting the nation’s ability to adapt to climate and resource-related shocks.

    In Saint Kitts and Nevis, bilateral cooperation continues to deepen across priority areas including citizen safety, inclusive economic development, public education, and cultural heritage preservation. A key ongoing project is the U.S.-supported restoration of the historic Bath Hotel on Nevis, a landmark that ties together the centuries-long people-to-people connections between the U.S. and the Caribbean, as the site is closely linked to Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers who was born in Nevis. In Saint Lucia, expanded collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is boosting local capacity to detect illicit fentanyl shipments, strengthening cross-border criminal prosecution efforts, and making communities safer across the entire Eastern Caribbean region. In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, U.S. Peace Corps volunteers continue to work alongside local educators to strengthen primary and secondary education, improve English literacy outcomes, empower local teaching staff, and advance community development projects that create lasting, people-to-people bonds between the two nations.

    Beyond bilateral collaborations with individual Eastern Caribbean states, the U.S. is also working collectively across the region to address transnational challenges that do not respect national borders. To combat transnational organized crime and drug trafficking, the U.S. has committed more than $8 million in funding to upgrade forensic laboratories across the Caribbean, improve regional drug detection capabilities, and expand cross-border law enforcement cooperation. The U.S. also continues to invest in the next generation of leadership through long-standing professional and educational exchange programs, including the Fulbright Program, the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative, and the International Visitor Leadership Program, which connect emerging business and civic leaders from both the U.S. and the Caribbean.

    As the U.S. marks this historic 250-year milestone of independence, the commemoration celebrates not only the nation’s own history but the growing network of global partnerships that will shape its future. Freedom 250 is framed as a global initiative to honor the U.S. founding ideals of liberty, democracy, and individual freedom.

    In closing, the statement notes that the United States is proud to stand alongside the people of the Eastern Caribbean as a trusted neighbor, committed partner, and long-time friend. As it has done since its founding in 1776, the U.S. remains a dynamic and reliable global partner ready to lead collaborative progress into the next 250 years. Together, the U.S. and Eastern Caribbean nations look forward to another quarter millennium of shared freedom, expanded opportunity, continuous innovation, and collective prosperity.

    This commentary was written by Karin Sullivan, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

  • Prime Minister Gaston Browne to Attend 51st CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Saint Lucia

    Prime Minister Gaston Browne to Attend 51st CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Saint Lucia

    As the Caribbean Community prepares for one of its most critical annual gatherings, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne is set to depart the country this Sunday for the Fifty-First Regular Meeting of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government, hosted in the coastal town of Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, running from July 5 to 8, 2026. Joining Browne on the trip are Clarence Henry, Antigua and Barbuda’s permanent ambassador to CARICOM, and Kurt Williams, a senior officer from the country’s foreign service.

    This year’s conference will unite regional leaders from across the 15-member CARICOM bloc to tackle an ambitious slate of cross-cutting issues centered on deepening economic integration, accelerating sustainable development, shoring up collective security, strengthening public health systems, building climate resilience, and aligning foreign policy priorities across the region. The packed agenda covers core priorities ranging from advancing the long-stalled CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) to addressing the urgent global challenges of climate change and climate financing, food and nutrition insecurity, and cross-border health threats. High on the discussion list are also the ongoing unstable political and humanitarian situations in Haiti and Cuba, institutional financing and governance reform for the CARICOM bloc, the global movement for reparations for historical slavery, outstanding regional border disputes, and formal membership applications from Bermuda and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Beyond policy priorities, leaders will also receive routine updates on key regional cultural and sporting initiatives, including the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) and regional cricket development.

    A centerpiece of this year’s agenda is the advancement of the CARICOM Agri-Food Systems Agenda, as leaders conduct a progress review of the bloc’s Vision 25 by 2025+5 Initiative. Launched to fundamentally transform regional food systems, the initiative aims to cut the Caribbean’s heavy reliance on imported food staples, strengthen household and national food and nutrition security, boost domestic agricultural output, expand intra-CARICOM agricultural trade, and build greater collective resilience to global external shocks. During the conference, heads of government will also debate policy measures to attract increased private sector investment into regional agriculture, strengthen cross-country agricultural cooperation frameworks, and speed up the implementation of programs designed to achieve full food self-sufficiency across all member states.

    In prepared comments ahead of his departure, Prime Minister Browne emphasized the unique urgency of this year’s gathering, noting that the Caribbean is operating in a rapidly shifting global landscape defined by intensifying geopolitical tensions, persistent global supply chain disruptions, accelerating climate change impacts, and new emerging public health threats. “No individual CARICOM member state can effectively tackle these interconnected challenges alone,” Browne said. “Our greatest collective power comes from coordinated regional cooperation, aligned policy-making, and a shared commitment to advancing the interests of all Caribbean people. I am looking forward to working alongside fellow heads of government to develop practical, actionable solutions that strengthen food and nutrition security, build economic resilience across the region, deepen our integration project, and ensure the Caribbean is well-positioned to navigate the uncertainties of today’s global economy.” Browne reaffirmed that Antigua and Barbuda remains committed to playing an active role in shaping regional policies that drive inclusive sustainable development and improve quality of life for all Caribbean citizens.

    In direct response to the ongoing Middle East conflict and its cascading impacts on global commodity markets, the CARICOM Secretariat has developed a new Regional Food Security Response Matrix, which will be reviewed and evaluated by conference attendees. The strategic framework outlines targeted measures to mitigate the fallout from rising global energy prices, fertilizer supply shortages, shipping and logistics disruptions, food price inflation, and broader macroeconomic pressures that threaten to undermine Caribbean food security. Key proposed actions in the matrix include ramping up domestic and regional food production, expanding the adoption of renewable energy for agricultural operations, establishing coordinated regional strategic food reserves, improving collective regional shipping and logistics arrangements, promoting targeted import substitution for key food staples, strengthening national social protection systems for vulnerable households, and deepening collaboration with international development partners to shield the region from external economic and supply chain shocks.

    As a longstanding advocate for regional food sovereignty, increased agricultural productivity, resilient regional supply chains, and closer collective action to address global challenges, Prime Minister Browne is expected to be an active contributor to all discussions on food security priorities during the conference. In addition to food systems transformation, regional leaders will also turn their attention to strengthening regional health security and pandemic preparedness, in response to growing global concerns about emerging transboundary public health threats. Leaders will review a set of actionable recommendations put forward by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) focused on strengthening disease surveillance at regional ports of entry, improving cross-border coordination and real-time information sharing, upgrading national public health preparedness infrastructure, and expanding equitable access to medical countermeasures such as vaccines and treatments during outbreaks. These discussions come in the wake of the World Health Organization’s designation of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of central Africa as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, reflecting CARICOM’s proactive commitment to protecting the health and well-being of all Caribbean residents.

    Throughout his tenure, Prime Minister Browne has been a consistent champion of deeper regional integration and coordinated collective action on the unique challenges facing Small Island Developing States, from climate change to economic vulnerability. His participation in this year’s conference creates another opportunity to advance Antigua and Barbuda’s core national interests while contributing to the development of collective regional solutions across priority areas including inclusive economic development, food and nutrition security, climate resilience, public health protection, cross-border security cooperation, and sustainable long-term growth. Following the conclusion of conference proceedings on July 8, Browne is scheduled to return to Antigua and Barbuda.

  • Woningbouwfonds krijgt nieuwe leiding; eerste leningen binnen 2 weken verwacht

    Woningbouwfonds krijgt nieuwe leiding; eerste leningen binnen 2 weken verwacht

    Suriname’s long-planned National Housing Construction Fund has officially moved into its active implementation phase, with a new leadership team formally installed on Friday to advance the government’s goal of easing the country’s persistent housing shortage.

    During the inauguration ceremony held Friday, fund president Jennifer Simons swore in Anushka Ramdjielal as the new chief executive director, with Madhavi Bholasing taking up the post of deputy director. Completing the new governing structure is Siegmund Proeve, who was recently installed as chair of the fund’s supervisory board.

    For Ramdjielal, stepping into the director role is both a significant honor and a pressing challenge. In comments shared via the Communication Service of Suriname, the new chief executive framed universal access to stable housing as a non-negotiable basic need, outlining that her core priority is to turn the fund into a tangible solution for Suriname’s widespread housing crisis. She emphasized that steady, incremental progress will guide the fund’s work in its early stages, noting: “We have to start somewhere to build from. Even if we only deliver 10 homes in our first round, that does not matter – what matters is that we get moving.”

    Deputy director Bholasing echoed Ramdjielal’s commitment, adding that transparent, rule-based allocation will be central to the fund’s operations. She confirmed that all housing financing applications will be assessed strictly against pre-established eligibility and income criteria, ensuring the fund’s limited resources reach exactly the low- and middle-income groups the program was designed to support.

    Proeve, chair of the supervisory board, clarified that the National Housing Construction Fund is not a newly launched initiative – its enabling legislation was first passed back in 2019, created to streamline access to affordable housing loans for citizens through partnerships with local commercial banks. Right now, the fund holds total capital of between 300 million and 350 million Surinamese dollars, and offers loans with interest rates between 3% and 5%, a far more affordable rate than many conventional lending products for low- and middle-income borrowers looking to buy or build a home.

    The fund carries three core strategic goals, Proeve explained. Beyond its primary mission of cutting housing insecurity, the initiative is designed to stimulate Suriname’s stagnant construction sector by boosting new residential development, and it also aims to deepen the country’s domestic capital market by allowing pension funds and other private investors to participate in the program on a tax-free basis.

    In a positive update for prospective homebuyers, Proeve confirmed that the first batch of housing financing approvals and disbursements are on track to be issued within 14 days. With the capital currently on hand, the fund is projected to deliver between 300 and 400 completed homes by the end of December this year, marking a meaningful first step toward addressing the country’s housing gap.

  • Wrongly suspected for plot against PM

    Wrongly suspected for plot against PM

    Fifteen years after he was taken into custody amid unproven claims of a conspiracy to assassinate Trinidad and Tobago’s then-prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and multiple senior cabinet members, David “Buffy” Milliard is opening up about the lasting harm of the 2011 ordeal that never led to a single criminal charge against him. Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Express at the outlet’s Port of Spain headquarters on a recent day, Milliard detailed the irreversible damage to his personal reputation and professional livelihood—while still voicing unexpected understanding for the actions state security officials took at the time.

    The 2011 incident unfolded at the peak of a nationwide state of emergency declared by Persad-Bissessar’s administration to curb rampant gang violence. In a shock address that grabbed national headlines, the prime minister announced a retaliatory assassination plot against her and three cabinet ministers, allegedly orchestrated by criminal networks targeted in the government’s anti-gang crackdown. Milliard was among 16 men—15 of whom were Muslim—picked up under a Preventive Detention Order, a sweeping security measure that allowed authorities to hold individuals without immediate charge. To this day, Milliard maintains his complete innocence, and no legal action was ever taken against him or any of the other 15 detainees in connection to the alleged plot.

    Milliard recalled the moment of his arrest vividly: he was socializing at a barbecue stand on Port of Spain’s Independence Square shortly before midnight when dozens of police officers surrounded the area. “I looked up and said, ‘Chief, you have about 30 police officers here, so I guess I’ll come in quietly,’” he shared. Officers searched his van before moving him through three different police stations, and it was only at the final stop that a senior commander laid out the extraordinary accusation against him: “We have detained you because we believe you may be involved in an assassination plot to assassinate the prime minister and four sitting ministers.”

    Milliard said he was left stunned by the claim. “I said, ‘Please say it again.’ He said it again. I said, ‘Say it one more time. I’m hoping on the third time it will disappear,’” he recalled. The following morning, he was interrogated by roughly 15 agents from multiple national intelligence and security agencies. He voluntarily surrendered his cellphones and other electronic devices for inspection, inviting investigators to produce any evidence tying him to the conspiracy. In the end, no such evidence—digital or otherwise—was ever presented to him.

    Even without evidence to support the accusation, Milliard rejects the idea that security officials acted out of malice or a deliberate intent to frame the detainees. “The police are not crazy men,” he argued. “If somebody, anybody, said to them somebody is planning to kill the prime minister of our country and four ministers, would you not establish a net and start investigating? Of course, you would.” He pushed back against claims of a coordinated frame-up, noting that if authorities had wanted to falsely convict the group, they easily could have filed criminal charges that public opinion would have accepted. “If they wanted to set us up, we would have been charged,” he said. “Instead, none of the detainees were charged in connection with the alleged assassination plot.”

    While Milliard escaped formal prosecution, the harm from his detention was immediate and lasting. “Perception is reality to he or she who perceives,” he explained. “Once you are detained for something like that, your business disappears.” Longtime clients cut ties, others demanded hours of explanation before agreeing to continue working with him, and even strangers approached him in public with baseless accusations. He recalled one encounter at a local supermarket where a customer directly asked why he wanted to kill Persad-Bissessar. After a 20-minute conversation clarifying his innocence, the man apologized—a moment that reinforced Milliard’s belief that honest dialogue can correct harmful public misperception.

    Unlike many other detainees who were encouraged by legal counsel to pursue multi-million dollar compensation lawsuits against the state, Milliard has deliberately refused to take legal action for damages. He argues that any government compensation would ultimately draw from public tax revenue paid by ordinary working citizens. “The government has no money of their own. The government has money that is derived from taxation,” he explained. “Why would I take $15 million from the people who live around me because somebody heard something and took the necessary steps to prevent it? Who pays taxes? Ordinary citizens. My neighbours, whether they are 1%ers or they are 99%ers like me. Sufferers. You pay taxes. And when that money goes into the treasury, people perceive it to be Government funds, but it’s not. The lineage of that money is the pocket of a hardworking man.”

    Milliard also praised the respectful and professional treatment he received from police and prison staff throughout his detention. He noted that correctional officers accommodated religious needs, providing halal meals for Muslim detainees and allowing regular prayer, and there was never any attempt to intimidate the held men. When detainees were released on December 5, 2011, shortly after midnight, then-prisons commissioner Martin Martinez personally arranged for each man to contact their families for a ride home, refusing to leave them stranded on the side of the highway late at night. “He said, ‘I cannot in good conscience let you go to stand on the highway at 12 o’clock at night.’ Who does that?” Milliard said.

    Drawing a parallel to a recent high-profile detention case, Milliard expressed sympathy for businessman Dominic Hadeed, his wife Genevieve Hadeed, and their relative Star Sabga, who were recently taken into custody in an ongoing investigation. He urged the public to let law enforcement complete their work without rushing to judgment. “I feel sorry for Mr Hadeed. It’s a very hard experience for himself and his wife, but in actuality, if there’s any truth whatsoever, any reason for the national security apparatus to operate, they have no choice,” he said. When asked for advice for Hadeed, Milliard simply said, “May the truth come out.” Reflecting on his own case, he noted that while the current Trinidadian government is led by the same party that ordered his 2011 detention, “they could have sank me” — a comment that underscores the lasting vulnerability of his reputation after the uncharged detention.