Carib Scope

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  • AG meets with UK lawyers

    AG meets with UK lawyers

    A high-profile legal battle over alleged state destabilization and an assassination conspiracy against Trinidad and Tobago’s top government leadership took a key step forward this week, as Attorney General John Jeremie held an extended meeting with two senior King’s Counsel brought in from the United Kingdom to represent the State in the case.

    The closed-door meeting, which ran for multiple hours, took place at the Office of the Attorney General in Port of Spain, bringing Jeremie together with Sir James Raymond Eadie KC and Robert Stephen Strang KC. The pair join National Gas Company chairman Gerald Ramdeen to complete the State’s three-member legal team, which received formal case briefings from Jeremie ahead of their official admission to the local bar.

    According to official documentation, the two KCs were formally approved to practice law specifically for this high-stakes case, listed as matter CV2026-02618: Dominic Hadeed & Genevieve Hadeed v The Commissioner of Police. The authorization was granted by Jeremie under Section 15A of Trinidad and Tobago’s Legal Profession Act, following required consultations with the Chief Justice. Official legal notices confirming their eligibility were published in the Government Gazette on June 30, and both barristers were scheduled to be formally called to the Trinidad and Tobago Bar the day after the meeting.

    Both legal figures carry extensive credentials from the UK legal system. Eadie, a member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, was admitted to practice before the Bar of England and Wales in 1984. Strang, also a Middle Temple member admitted to the UK bar in 2003, has a well-documented track record of high-profile wins, including successfully representing former prime minister Dr Keith Rowley in a 16-year-long land dispute tied to Tobago’s Alma Estate. Working alongside attorneys Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj and Dr Margaret Rose, Strang secured a final victory for Rowley before the UK-based Privy Council, the highest appellate court for Trinidad and Tobago.

    The case the KCs have been brought in to argue stems from serious allegations brought by the State against local businessman Dominic Hadeed, owner of Blue Waters Products Ltd, his wife Genevieve Hadeed, and their relative Star Sabga. The three are accused of conspiring to assassinate senior government officials, with the detention order against Genevieve Hadeed specifically claiming she made public statements calling for the death of current Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. State intelligence alleges the trio planned a series of violent acts to murder top government leaders and destabilize the country’s elected government.

    The preventive detention orders (PDOs) at the center of the legal challenge were signed by Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander under the 2026 Emergency Powers Regulations, implemented during an active state of emergency. Dominic and Genevieve Hadeed were arrested at their West Trinidad home last Wednesday, and have remained in custody since. Dominic Hadeed is currently being held at the Remand Yard of Golden Grove Prison, while Genevieve Hadeed and Star Sabga are detained at Golden Grove’s Women’s Prison.

    This is not the first ruling in the ongoing legal saga. Earlier this week, High Court Justice Frank Seepersad dismissed the Hadeeds’ initial bid for immediate release via a habeas corpus application, ruling that the PDOs issued against the couple during the state of emergency were lawful. In a detailed 24-page judgment, Seepersad rejected the couple’s core argument that their initial arrest was unlawful, which would have invalidated the subsequent detention orders. The judge found that entries in the official police station diary directly contradicted claims that the pair were never informed they were being detained under the Emergency Powers Regulations, and confirmed that the initial 48-hour detention and subsequent seven-day extension authorized by a senior police officer met all legal requirements.

    Seepersad emphasized in his ruling that while he upheld the legality of the current detention, emergency powers do not place the executive branch of government beyond judicial oversight. He also clarified that even if the initial arrest had been found unlawful — a finding he did not make — that procedural issue would not automatically invalidate the PDOs issued against the pair.

    The habeas corpus ruling only addressed the immediate question of whether the Hadeeds should be released from custody pending the full case. A separate substantive constitutional challenge remains pending, which will ask the High Court to rule on broader questions of whether the State’s actions in issuing and executing the PDOs comply with the country’s constitution. In that challenge, the Hadeeds argue their constitutional rights were violated by their detention under the state of emergency, and the court will ultimately decide whether the Homeland Security Minister and Commissioner of Police acted within their legal authority under the Emergency Powers Regulations, whether the searches and detention were lawful, and whether the Hadeeds received all constitutionally guaranteed protections.

    Seepersad explicitly ruled that these broader constitutional questions were not resolved in the habeas corpus proceedings, and directed that the constitutional challenge be heard by a separate High Court judge. The case is scheduled for its next procedural hearing on July 27, with both legal teams required to submit full written arguments to the court before that date. The Hadeeds are currently represented by a team led by Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, Gilbert Peterson, and Faris Al-Rawi, alongside a group of supporting instructing attorneys.

  • Venezuela: Hulpverleners vrezen gezondheidscrisis na verwoestende aardbevingen

    Venezuela: Hulpverleners vrezen gezondheidscrisis na verwoestende aardbevingen

    Two weeks after a pair of devastating back-to-back earthquakes struck coastal Venezuela, rescue and aid workers are sounding urgent alarms over an impending public health disaster that threatens to worsen the already catastrophic death toll from the disaster. The June 24 quakes left widespread destruction across northern Venezuelan regions, including Catia La Mar and La Guaira, displacing thousands of residents who now crowd into overcrowded emergency evacuation shelters with no consistent access to clean drinking water or functional sanitation infrastructure — conditions that create a perfect breeding ground for contagious infectious disease outbreaks.

    As of Wednesday, official government data confirms at least 2,295 people have been killed by the earthquakes, with more than 11,000 others suffering injuries ranging from minor cuts to life-threatening trauma. Medical personnel on the ground warn that the single greatest threat to life now is not untreated trauma from collapsed buildings, but the rapid spread of preventable infections among survivors exposed to unsanitary conditions for weeks after the disaster.

    Eugenio Cova, head of the trauma department at Caracas’ Hospital Jose Gregorio Hernandez, explained that the situation is deteriorating by the day. “We have already treated thousands of complex trauma injuries from the quake, but many of these cases are now being made far more dangerous by secondary infections that would be easily avoidable with proper hygiene and care,” Cova said.

    Aid teams have already reported rising cases of diarrhea and other communicable illnesses among displaced populations in the hardest-hit areas, and are calling for immediate deployments of critical sanitation supplies including portable toilets, along with better coordination and management of overcrowded shelter sites to slow further spread of disease.

    The international community has begun to mobilize support for Venezuela’s rescue and relief operations. The United States has deployed roughly 900 military personnel to assist with logistics and recovery efforts: troops have already repaired a damaged runway at Caracas’ primary international airport, while U.S. naval vessels have been positioned off the Venezuelan coast to provide ongoing logistical backing. The U.S. State Department has also sent an additional 100 support personnel to the region, and the U.S. government has allocated $300 million in aid to be distributed through non-governmental aid organizations and United Nations agencies.

    That funding, however, amounts to only a small fraction of the total estimated damage from the quakes. Satellite imagery analysis conducted by the UN Development Programme pegs total infrastructure damage at $6.7 billion, leaving a massive funding gap for recovery efforts.

    More than 50 international search-and-rescue teams from countries including Ecuador and Israel have also arrived in Venezuela to assist with clearing rubble and locating survivors. Just days ago, responders pulled a toddler alive from beneath collapsed building rubble after the child was trapped for six days, a rare moment of hope amid widespread destruction.

    One volunteer, Kevin Simm, described the scale of destruction he has witnessed on the ground as comparable to a war zone. “The level of devastation reminds me of conflict zones in Gaza and Ukraine. This is not a peacetime disaster — what we are seeing here looks like something out of a disaster movie,” Simm said.

    Complicating all relief and recovery efforts is the fact that Venezuela’s healthcare system was already in a state of deep, years-long crisis before the earthquakes struck. Even before the disaster, Venezuelan hospitals struggled with chronic shortages of clean water, reliable electricity, medical equipment, and trained clinical staff. Since 2013, more than 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled the country’s prolonged economic and political collapse, including a large share of the nation’s doctors and nurses.

    Data from the Venezuelan Medical Association shows that roughly one-third of the country’s 60,000 registered physicians have left Venezuela since the crisis began. A 2025 national healthcare survey found that more than 30% of all emergency medical supplies were unavailable nationwide, and over 70% of operating room equipment was missing from public hospitals. Most clinical laboratories can only operate at minimal capacity, with limited ability to run diagnostic tests.

    Huniades Urbina, a leader of Venezuela’s pediatric association, said the earthquake disaster has laid bare the Venezuelan government’s long-standing failure to build and maintain a functional public healthcare system that can meet the basic needs of the population. “What we are seeing now is the consequence of decades of neglect: a healthcare system that could not handle routine care before a disaster, now completely overwhelmed by a catastrophe of this scale,” Urbina noted.

  • Cricket West Indies Announces Strategic Engagement with Teneo

    Cricket West Indies Announces Strategic Engagement with Teneo

    ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, July 2, 2026 – Cricket West Indies (CWI), the governing body for international cricket across the Caribbean region, has announced a landmark strategic advisory engagement with Teneo, a global advisory firm with deep roots in the Caribbean and a proven portfolio working with elite international sports organizations. The partnership, which received formal approval from the CWI Board of Directors during its June 27 meeting, is structured to advance CWI’s ongoing organizational, financial, and commercial restructuring efforts, with the goal of locking in long-term institutional sustainability.

    Teneo has established a strong reputation for designing innovative commercial frameworks across multiple top-tier global sports, including cricket, football, motorsport, and tennis. Under the terms of the newly signed Memorandum of Understanding, Teneo will collaborate directly with CWI’s executive leadership to conduct an independent assessment of the governing body’s current reorganisation and cost optimization projects. The core focus of this review will be identifying opportunities to strengthen operational efficiency, improve financial resilience, and boost commercial performance to create a more stable foundation for CWI’s future.

    Leading the engagement will be two senior Teneo leaders: Brian Glasgow, the firm’s CARICOM Chairman, and David Collins, Teneo Managing Director. The pair will draw on support from a network of over 1,800 specialized professionals across Teneo’s more than 50 global offices to deliver targeted, data-driven insights for CWI.

    In comments following the announcement, CWI Chief Executive Officer Chris Dehring highlighted the unique value Teneo brings to the region’s most iconic sporting institution. “The West Indies cricket brand is one of the most powerful and recognizable in all of global sport,” Dehring explained. “To turn that extraordinary brand recognition into lasting operational strength, we needed a partner that understands how to leverage that legacy for growth. Teneo has that expertise, having advised some of the most legendary names in global sport, including Manchester United.”

    Dehring added that the independent perspective Teneo provides fills a critical gap in CWI’s existing transformation roadmap. “This engagement gives us an impartial, external lens on the work we have already started, allowing us to test our strategic assumptions and ensure we are building on the most solid foundation possible,” he said. “This is a logical next step in delivering on our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, our broader agenda to modernize CWI for the future.”

    Glasgow echoed that enthusiasm, noting that CWI holds a unique place far beyond the world of sport for Caribbean communities. “Cricket West Indies is far more than a sporting organization,” Glasgow said. “It is a symbol of Caribbean pride, shared identity, and collective achievement that has united our region for generations. We are honored to have been invited to support CWI, and we look forward to working closely with its leadership, stakeholders, and partners as they build for the next chapter of the sport.”

    “CWI has already done significant heavy lifting to develop its vision for the future, and we are excited to bring our specialized experience in organizational, financial, and commercial advisory to support that work,” he continued. “Our core goal is to help strengthen the foundations for long-term success, so that CWI can continue investing in grassroots and elite cricket, create new opportunities for upcoming generations of Caribbean players, and unlock the full potential of one of the most beloved brands in global sport.”

    The new partnership builds on a series of ongoing restructuring efforts already underway at CWI, including initiatives to strengthen institutional governance, rebuild the talent development pipeline, and deepen collaborative engagement with territorial cricket boards and regional stakeholders across the Caribbean.

  • Cops nab suspect getting off ferry

    Cops nab suspect getting off ferry

    A fast-moving investigation by Trinidad and Tobago law enforcement has resulted in the arrest of a 41-year-old South Trinidad man connected to the brutal murder of Neisha Roberts, a Mt St George, Tobago-based MTS employee. The suspect was apprehended yesterday afternoon as he got off the Galleons Passage ferry in Port of Spain, just hours after Roberts’ body was discovered.

    Roberts, who suffered multiple stab wounds, was found dead in a pool of blood inside her home’s bathroom shortly after 7 a.m. by her niece. Local police received an official report of the incident roughly 20 minutes later, after community members tipped off investigators that a person matching the suspect’s description had left Roberts’ property shortly after the killing took place.

    Confirming the arrest in a statement to local outlet *Express*, Trinidad and Tobago Police Superintendent Rodhil Kirk reaffirmed law enforcement’s commitment to securing justice for Roberts. “The Homicide Bureau and our entire investigating team are leaving no stone unturned to hold the person responsible for this violent crime fully accountable under the law,” Kirk said. He also acknowledged the critical role public cooperation played in the quick arrest, adding: “We are deeply grateful to community members who stepped forward with information that led directly to this suspect being taken into custody.”

    For Roberts’ grieving family, however, the arrest has done little to ease the pain of their loss. Marsha Roberts, the victim’s cousin, told *Express* that even with the suspect off the streets, no outcome can reverse what happened. “Having him in custody can’t bring Neisha back, and it can’t heal this hurt for our family,” she said. “The only small comfort is that he won’t be able to hurt anyone else right now. Nothing can fill the space he left by taking her. All we can do right now is pray that God gives us the strength to get through this.”

    Church leaders who knew Roberts remembered her as a deeply committed community member and faithful servant. Darian Rouse, pastor at Mt St George Seventh-day Adventist Church, said Roberts served as a dedicated deaconess at the congregation and was actively involved in local community events just one day before her death. “Just this Tuesday, we worked together at a district primary school graduation,” Rouse recalled. “Before she left that day, she told me she was going to stay behind to make sure the church was clean and everything was put in order. That’s just who she was.”

    Rouse also voiced growing concern over rising violent crime in Tobago, noting that Roberts’ killing marks the seventh homicide on the island this year, and the second murder of a woman. “This situation is getting worse, and I truly believe our nation needs to turn back to God, return to prayer, and humble our hearts to let Christ’s love guide us,” he said. “Our entire church community is shaken. This is devastating, and I’m still shocked that she’s gone.”

    Local elected officials have also joined the community in mourning. Megan Morrison, who represents the Mt St George/Goodwood district in the Tobago House of Assembly, released a statement of condolences yesterday echoing the widespread grief over Roberts’ death. “I am deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Neisha Roberts from our beloved Mt St George community,” Morrison said. “To her family, friends, and all who loved her, I offer my most heartfelt condolences. No words can take away the pain of losing someone so precious, but I want you to know that our entire community stands with you in this difficult time.”

  • PM to attend regional summit

    PM to attend regional summit

    As the Caribbean Community (Caricom) prepares to convene its 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in St Lucia starting this Sunday, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has made two critical announcements ahead of the gathering: she will personally attend the high-level regional summit, and her administration remains unwavering in its opposition to the reappointment of incumbent Caricom Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett.

    In comments provided to local outlet the Express, Persad-Bissessar confirmed she has held direct talks with St Lucia Prime Minister Philip J Pierre, who is set to take over as incoming Caricom chairman ahead of the summit. On the contentious issue of Barnett’s reappointment, the Trinidad and Tobago leader reiterated that her government will not recognize any extended term for the Secretary-General when her current tenure expires in August.

    The dispute over the reappointment is rooted in procedural disagreement. Persad-Bissessar has long argued that the process used to advance Barnett’s extension conflicts with the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, Caricom’s foundational governing document, and the bloc’s long-standing institutional governance rules. Trinidad and Tobago has already formally submitted its official position to all regional leaders, maintaining that any new term granted through what it frames as an unlawful procedure will not be accepted by Port-of-Spain. The government has also confirmed that its stance is backed by formal legal advice affirming its interpretation of the treaty’s requirements for the Secretary-General appointment process. The core question up for debate among heads of government remains whether the conference properly exercised its legal authority to extend Barnett’s tenure, and the impasse is expected to be a top discussion topic during the summit as Caricom leadership works to find a path forward to resolve the disagreement.

    Alongside the leadership dispute, the summit opens a new chapter for Caricom with Pierre set to assume the bloc’s chairmanship on July 1, 2026, for a six-month term ending on December 31 of the same year. He will succeed outgoing chairman Dr Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, and will lead the four-day summit hosted in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, from July 5 to 8.

    In a pre-summit address delivered Monday, Pierre laid out his policy priorities for his tenure, centering his agenda on deepening regional unity and making Caricom more visible and impactful in the daily lives of ordinary Caribbean citizens. “Across our region, people are navigating a rapidly changing world: they work tirelessly to build better lives, our economies are adapting to uncharted new realities, and our communities face shared challenges that demand collective cooperation, innovative thinking and shared purpose,” Pierre said. “At this moment, many of our citizens are asking one critical question: how can Caricom make a greater difference in our everyday lives? That question must guide all of our work over the coming months.”

    The incoming chairman emphasized his commitment to bringing Caricom closer to the people it serves, noting that the bloc’s impact should not be limited to formal summit meetings and official declarations. Instead, he said, Caricom’s work should be visible and felt in local communities, schools, small businesses, and family homes, reflected in expanded opportunities for every citizen across the region.

    Pierre stressed that regional solidarity is the Caribbean’s greatest advantage, noting that “the Caribbean is strongest when we work together, speak with shared purpose, and respect the unique voices and contributions of every Member State. Our rich diversity of cultures, languages, traditions, and lived experiences is one of our most powerful strengths.”

    Under his leadership, Pierre pledged that Caricom will prioritize building a more resilient and sustainable Caribbean, advancing key priorities including urgent climate action, strengthened regional food and nutrition security, inclusive economic growth, accelerated digital transformation, expanded trade and investment opportunities, and freer movement of people, skills, services and ideas across the regional bloc. He added that all policy work must center the needs of ordinary Caribbean people, noting “every Caribbean citizen, regardless of age, gender, ability, background, occupation, or personal circumstance, must be able to see themselves reflected in the regional agenda and feel that Caricom is working to improve their lives, expand their opportunities, and strengthen their future.”

    Pierre also highlighted the inseparable link between development and public safety, calling on member states to collaborate to build safer, more hopeful communities where every citizen can live, work, learn and thrive in peace and dignity. He closed by noting that the ultimate measure of Caricom’s success is whether ordinary citizens can feel the benefits of regional integration in their daily lives. “Integration that our people cannot feel will not last,” he said. “Together, we can build a Caribbean Community that is more united, more inclusive, more resilient, and more prepared for the future. Let us move forward together, from resilience to renewal and revival. In solidarity with the people of the Caribbean, I thank you.”

  • NIA Announces Moroccan Scholarship Program 2026-2027

    NIA Announces Moroccan Scholarship Program 2026-2027

    CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – July 2, 2026 – The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Ministry of Human Resources has officially announced a new fully-funded higher education scholarship opportunity for qualifying citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis, extended by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco for the 2026-2027 academic year.

    This diplomatic scholarship initiative covers all core academic and living costs for successful applicants, including full tuition coverage, mandatory university registration fees, student health insurance, course materials and academic supplies, on-campus or university-arranged accommodation, a consistent monthly stipend to cover daily personal expenses, and round-trip international airfare between St. Kitts and Nevis and Morocco. Per the program agreement between the two nations, St. Kitts and Nevis may nominate one candidate to fill the available scholarship slot for this cycle.

    The scholarship is open to students seeking both undergraduate and graduate degrees across a diverse range of in-demand fields. For bachelor’s degree seekers, available programs include Business Administration, International Studies, Communication Studies, Computer Science, Engineering and Management Science, General Engineering, and Renewable Energy Systems Engineering. At the master’s level, eligible programs cover Business Administration, International Studies & Diplomacy, Big Data Analysis, and Sustainable Energy Management.

    Strict eligibility criteria have been outlined to streamline the selection process. Candidates applying to bachelor’s programs must be under 21 years of age, hold or be scheduled to receive a CAPE or Associate’s Degree in 2025 or 2026, and maintain a minimum cumulative academic average of 95%. For master’s program applicants, candidates must hold an accredited bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative average of 95%.

    All applicants are required to submit a complete set of documentation for review, including a cover letter clearly stating the applicant’s desired field of study, certified copies of relevant academic credentials (CAPE/Associate’s Degree for bachelor’s candidates, bachelor’s degree for master’s candidates), certified academic transcripts, a certified birth certificate, a valid copy of a government-issued passport, an official recent criminal record check, two recent colored passport-sized photographs, and a medical certificate confirming the applicant’s full mental and physical fitness, up-to-date vaccination status, and the absence of any contagious or acute health conditions.

    Prospective applicants can access additional program details through Al Akhawayn University’s official website at https://aui.ma/. All completed application packages must be submitted to the NIA Ministry of Human Resources no later than Wednesday, July 8, 2026, to be considered for the nomination. For further questions regarding eligibility requirements, selection criteria, the application process, or document submission, interested candidates may contact any of the following Ministry personnel: Ms. Hardai Beephat, Ms. Corissa Griffin, Mrs. Shelly Liburd, or Mrs. Shanola Murrey-Gill via the published email addresses or phone extensions.

    This press release was distributed by the NIA and published as received by SKNVibes.com, which notes it does not edit for spelling or grammatical errors in received press content, and views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the outlet, its sponsors, or advertisers.

  • Court awards over $2.5m to estate of murdered woman

    Court awards over $2.5m to estate of murdered woman

    In a landmark ruling that holds state institutions accountable for systemic failures to protect a domestic violence survivor, High Court Justice Robin Mohammed has awarded more than $2.5 million in total damages to the estate of Samantha Isaacs, a Trinidad and Tobago woman who was murdered by her former partner after repeated pleas for help went unanswered. Handing down his decision last Friday, the justice ruled that multiple breaches of Isaacs’ constitutional rights — including her fundamental right to life and right to equal protection under the law — by key state bodies, among them the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and a sitting magistrate, directly contributed to her fatal killing.

    The damages award builds on an earlier finding by the same court that the State bears civil liability for Isaacs’ death. Court documents confirm that Isaacs contacted police on multiple occasions to report escalating threats and ongoing physical abuse at the hands of her ex-partner, Kahriym Garcia, but systemic inaction left her with no meaningful protection.

    In his full ruling, Justice Mohammed outlined critical failures across two separate state agencies. First, he found that the TTPS ignored clear, growing risks to Isaacs’ life: officers failed to conduct proper investigations into her formal complaints, never moved forward with criminal prosecution of her abuser, and took no reasonable precautionary steps to keep her safe. Even after the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) formally recommended disciplinary action against one officer who mishandled Isaacs’ report, no punitive or corrective action was ever implemented, compounding the violation of her constitutional rights. Second, the justice ruled that a local magistrate acted both prematurely and arbitrarily when dismissing Isaacs’ application for a domestic violence protection order. The magistrate never completed a thorough assessment of the lethal danger Isaacs faced, nor did they consider how an unfavorable ruling would impact Isaacs and her young son, Kaiden Garcia. Not long after the protection order was rejected, Isaacs was murdered by Garcia.

    Breaking down the damages award, Justice Mohammed allocated specific sums to address different harms stemming from the state’s failures. He granted $960,000 to compensate for the lifetime of lost earnings Isaacs would have collected if she had survived. A further $450,000 covers the severe pain, suffering, and non-financial harm Isaacs endured in the period leading up to her death, including additional aggravated damages for the deliberate indifference to her plight. Tot Lampkin, Isaacs’ mother, and Kaiden Garcia received a combined $600,000 for the non-pecuniary harm they suffered as a result of the violation of their constitutional right to respect for family life. To underscore the severity of the constitutional breaches and deter future misconduct by state authorities, the court also awarded $500,000 in vindicatory damages.

    In addition to the base damages, the court ordered $131,609.58 in prejudgment interest, calculated at an annual rate of 2.5% on all non-pecuniary damages. It also ruled that a 5% annual post-judgment interest rate will apply to all outstanding sums until the award is fully paid, and ordered the State to cover all of Lampkin’s legal fees incurred during the proceedings.

    In his concluding remarks, Justice Mohammed described the collective response of state agencies to Isaacs’ repeated calls for help as “institutional inertia” that ignored multiple clear warning signs of impending violence. He emphasized that standard compensatory damages are not enough to reflect the gravity of violating a person’s fundamental right to life. Vindicatory damages, he explained, serve a critical public purpose: they formalize widespread public condemnation of constitutional violations, reaffirm that fundamental rights are non-negotiable for all citizens, and create a strong deterrent to prevent similar lethal failures by state authorities in the future.

  • ‘TRAUMATISED’

    ‘TRAUMATISED’

    For dozens of young Caribbean men who invested more than a year of their lives into a second-chance education and development programme, the sudden announcement of a temporary suspension has left deep uncertainty and emotional distress, shaking their hopes for academic and personal progress.

    The Military-Led Academic Training (MiLAT) programme, a youth development initiative designed to support at-risk young people in completing their secondary education through a structured military-style framework, has been paused indefinitely amid budget shortfalls and planned government reforms, Defence Minister Wayne Sturge has confirmed.

    One current participant, Kymani Bailey, spoke publicly about the devastating impact of the announcement, sharing his cohort’s fear that the pause will become permanent, just like other discontinued youth initiatives in the region. Bailey’s group of 58 participants is scheduled to sit their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams next year, a milestone many had worked toward for 15 months after joining the programme to turn their lives around.

    “Last Monday night, leadership gathered us and broke the news: the programme was being suspended. All civilian teachers and non-military staff were sent home immediately, and academic classes were scrapped entirely—we were told only military drill activities would continue, before we were sent on an unplanned break,” Bailey explained in an interview with the Express.

    For Bailey and many of his peers, MiLAT represented a rare second chance. Many participants had previously dropped out of the traditional education system, and the programme offered structured learning, housing, a small stipend, and the opportunity to earn a full CSEC certification, a critical credential for future employment and higher education in the Caribbean.

    “After a year and three months of giving this everything we had, sacrificing everything to build a better future, it just got taken away from us. We’re all traumatized by this,” Bailey said. “I worked so hard to get here, and now I’m back to scrambling for opportunities like I did before. That’s really hard. Most of us were crying yesterday—we’re all heartbroken.”

    Bailey acknowledged that the programme had its challenges, noting that every institution faces highs and lows, but emphasized that MiLAT filled a critical gap for young people who had no other options to get their education back on track. He expressed particular concern for peers who were still in the process of turning their lives around, saying many of those young people will have no other support system if the programme is permanently shut down.

    Officially, the government notified parents that participants in Bailey’s intake were granted leave from July 1 to July 8, ahead of planned end-of-term assessments. But Bailey and his peers worry the leave will be extended incrementally until the programme is formally scrapped, a pattern that has played out with other defunct youth programmes in the country.

    A civilian staff member, who spoke to the Express on condition of anonymity to protect their career, confirmed the shock among non-military employees, saying staff were informed at a last-minute meeting that the programme was suspended, and Tuesday would be their final day of work. The source added that no severance or future employment information was provided, and staff are bracing for the programme to become permanently inactive, drawing direct comparisons to the long-shuttered Civilian Conservation Corps youth initiative.

    Affected staff include teachers, culinary workers, and other administrative employees who kept the residential programme running. Most concerning to both participants and staff, the source added, is that no official information has been released about what long-term plans are for the more than 50 young people currently enrolled in the programme, leaving their academic and personal futures hanging in the balance.

  • Sandy Point Benevolent Society (SPBS) mourns the passing of Founder and President, Dr. Stewart Orlyn Williams

    Sandy Point Benevolent Society (SPBS) mourns the passing of Founder and President, Dr. Stewart Orlyn Williams

    The Sandy Point Benevolent Society (SPBS), a leading non-profit focused on educational empowerment and community outreach, has confirmed the passing of its visionary founder and sitting president, Dr. Stewart Orlyn Williams. Dr. Williams died peacefully on June 26, 2026, after a months-long public battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer. The official announcement of his death was released by SPBS in a press statement dated July 2, 2026.

    A native of the Sandy Point community, Dr. Williams was a 1976 alumnus of Sandy Point High School and built a respected professional career as a chemist. But his most enduring impact came from his lifelong commitment to lifting up the next generation in his hometown. What started as a small project among seven close friends to honor top-performing students at the local high school through the Principal’s Award grew dramatically under Dr. Williams’ steady leadership, eventually evolving into the formal non-profit SPBS nearly 20 years ago.

    Over the course of his decades of service, Dr. Williams held the role of SPBS president twice: first from 2005 to 2009, and again from 2015 until his passing in 2026, making him the organization’s longest-serving president to date. Driven by unshakable dedication, radical integrity, and deep compassion for his community, he expanded SPBS’ programming to include need-based scholarships, one-on-one youth mentorship, accessible educational resources, and broad charitable outreach across the region. Thousands of young people have benefited from these initiatives, going on to launch successful careers as doctors, accountants, educators, religious leaders and other professionals that might otherwise have been out of reach.

    Beyond his public contributions, those who knew Dr. Williams remember him as a devoted spouse and father, a loyal confidant, and a thoughtful leader whose quiet generosity and sharp wisdom left a mark on every person he met. His core belief—that those who have succeeded owe a debt to lift up those coming behind them—became the foundational ethos of SPBS, and is still reflected in the organization’s mission statement: “We give back so others can move forward”.

    Dr. Williams is survived by his loving wife Vernice Williams, his three daughters Sherise, Lauren, and Allison, his beloved grandchildren, his brother Lorenza “Larry” Williams, and a wide network of extended family, friends, colleagues, and community members whose lives he transformed through his work.

    The SPBS Executive Board and entire membership have extended their deepest sympathies to the Williams family, saying they are praying for divine comfort, resilience, and peace for the family during this period of grief. While the organization mourns the loss of its founding leader, members are also celebrating the extraordinary life of purpose and service Dr. Williams built.

    In a commitment to honor his legacy, SPBS has pledged to carry forward the work Dr. Williams spent decades building, continuing to expand access to educational opportunity, mentorship, and community service that transforms lives. Dr. Williams’ impact will not end with his passing; his legacy will continue to guide and inspire generations of community leaders and SPBS members for years to come.

    Rest well, Dr. Stewart O. Williams. Your work on earth is done, but the good you created lives on forever.

  • Nederland reserveert 66,6 miljoen euro voor slavernijprojecten in Suriname

    Nederland reserveert 66,6 miljoen euro voor slavernijprojecten in Suriname

    On July 2, Suriname marked the 163rd anniversary of the abolition of slavery with a national day of remembrance called Keti Koti, bringing together government leaders, civil society representatives and diplomatic delegates across multiple sites in the capital city of Paramaribo. At the Kwakoe Monument, a historic landmark that stands as a national symbol of emancipation, speakers centered their addresses on three core priorities: building sustained historical awareness of colonial harm, formal recognition of the atrocities of slavery, and addressing the systemic intergenerational impacts of the transatlantic slave trade that persist in Suriname to this day.

    During the wreath-laying ceremony attended by Suriname President Jennifer Simons, Dutch Ambassador Walter Oostelbos and other dignitaries, Ambassador Oostelbos emphasized that the Netherlands is committed to moving beyond formal apologies and official recognition of its role in the transatlantic slave trade, to tangible action that supports redress and remembrance. Last year, the Dutch government allocated a total 200 million euro in reparations funding for projects across the European Netherlands, the Dutch Caribbean and Suriname, with 66.6 million euro of that sum earmarked specifically for Suriname. The funding is split equally between government-led policy development and community-led initiatives focused on historical redress, national recognition and public education about the slavery past.

    Johan Roozer, chair of the National Foundation for the Commemoration of Slavery Abolition and Research into the Slavery Past, outlined key demands for the Surinamese government during the event. Roozer called on President Simons to designate a dedicated government ministry to lead national policy addressing the legacy of slavery, to back the creation of a national slavery memorial or museum, and to strengthen diplomatic ties with West and Central African nations – the regions from which the vast majority of enslaved people trafficked to Suriname originated. He also highlighted the urgent need to expand educational access for young Surinamese to learn about the country’s slavery history, and to invest in long-term preservation of Afro-Surinamese cultural heritage.

    In response, President Simons announced her administration’s commitment to establishing a dedicated academic chair focused on the history of enslaved Indigenous and African peoples at Suriname’s Anton de Kom University. She emphasized the critical need to reframe the narrative of African history, which was largely erased or marginalized during the colonial era, noting that the continent hosted advanced kingdoms, formal legal systems, pioneering scientific knowledge and established mining industries long before the transatlantic slave trade began.

    Ambassador Oostelbos reaffirmed that the shared history of slavery between the Netherlands and Suriname remains a complex and sensitive issue, shaped by deep cultural ties and close social and economic bonds between the two nations. He added that the Netherlands remains fully committed to advancing the goals of recognition, historical awareness and restorative justice for the harms of the colonial past. Of the total 200 million euro national reparations fund, half is allocated to projects that make the intergenerational impacts of slavery visible to future generations through educational programs, museum development and heritage preservation. The other half is reserved for grassroots community initiatives, allowing descendants of enslaved people and affected communities to lead their own work on redress, recognition and public awareness. For Suriname’s 66.6 million euro allocation, the equal 33.3 million euro split between government policy work and community projects will begin implementation in 2026, according to Ambassador Oostelbos.