Carib Scope

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  • Bramble dismisses need for Plan B, confident court will not rule against him

    Bramble dismisses need for Plan B, confident court will not rule against him

    A high-stakes election petition trial over dual citizenship eligibility for parliamentary office is moving forward in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with top leaders of the ruling New Democratic Party (NDP) standing firm in their defense of their legal and constitutional status.

    The case stems directly from the November 2025 general election, where defeated Unity Labour Party (ULP) candidates have mounted legal challenges against two elected NDP officials. Carlos Williams, who lost his bid against NDP leader and current Prime Minister Godwin Friday, challenged Friday’s eligibility over his dual Vincentian-Canadian citizenship. Separately, Luke Browne of the ULP brought an identical challenge against Foreign Affairs Minister Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, who secured a second victory as the Member of Parliament for East Kingstown. At the heart of the legal dispute is a critical open question of constitutional interpretation: whether holding Canadian citizenship counts as owing allegiance to a foreign power under Section 26(1)(a) of the country’s constitution, or if dual citizens from other Commonwealth nations are protected from disqualification under existing constitutional provisions.

    On Tuesday, both Prime Minister Friday and Minister Bramble underwent cross-examination before Justice Gertel Thom. Court proceedings resumed on Wednesday, when several NDP supporters from the island of Bequia were cross-examined regarding their sworn affidavits submitted as part of the defense case.

    Speaking to reporters from iWitness News outside the Kingstown High Court after Wednesday’s proceedings, Bramble made clear he would not address hypothetical questions about whether he would renounce his Canadian citizenship if the High Court rules against his position. Bramble emphasized that he holds absolute confidence in the defense’s case, arguing that his dual citizenship does not violate any constitutional bar to serving in parliament or running for elected office. “My understanding of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Constitution convinces me of that; and the fact of the matter is, if that was really the case, this would have happened a long time ago,” Bramble stated. He added, “I am confident that we will win the case, so that question wouldn’t even need to be considered.”

    Prime Minister Friday echoed Bramble’s confidence, telling reporters that he remains optimistic about the outcome and views the ongoing trial as a standard part of the constitutional process. Friday noted that Vincentian voters were fully aware of both his and Bramble’s dual citizenship status ahead of the November election, and still elected both officials by overwhelming margins — Friday for the Northern Grenadines constituency, and Bramble for East Kingstown. “Because I know that this is not a matter that affects our eligibility, and it certainly doesn’t affect our performance, our commitment, and the hard work that you’re doing on behalf of the people,” Friday said.

    The Prime Minister did express regret that he is required to spend extensive time in court rather than fulfilling his governing duties for the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Even so, he rejected any claims that the election petition itself represents an infringement on the country’s democratic process, framing the court battle as a legitimate component of the nation’s constitutional framework. “Everybody has their day in court,” Friday said, reiterating that the 2025 election results reflect the clear will of voters, who overwhelmingly supported the NDP and its leadership. “What is the most democratic thing that happens in our system of government is that the people vote, and last November, the people voted overwhelmingly for the New Democratic Party, for me as prime minister, for Bramble as representative for East Kingstown.”

    Bramble confirmed that the NDP is allowing the legal challenge to run its full course, and the party is fully complying with all court procedures. “But we are so very confident that we will prevail, but the process must take its course,” he said.

    Defense attorney Shirlan “Zita” Barnwell explained that pursuing a court ruling on the matter is a critical step to establishing a clear, definitive interpretation of the constitution, even if some have argued the NDP leaders could simply renounce their foreign citizenship to end the dispute. Barnwell pointed out that the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Constitution only references eligibility for Commonwealth citizens, with no explicit requirement that candidates hold exclusive Vincentian citizenship. The core unresolved question for the court, Barnwell noted, is whether dual citizenship with another Commonwealth nation disqualifies a candidate from parliament, or if Commonwealth citizenship status protects their eligibility to run for office. The attorney added that the legal ambiguity around whether another Commonwealth country counts as a “foreign power” under the constitution has left many Vincentian voters unclear on the current rules. “As far as we are concerned, as far as what the law appears to be saying, there is absolutely nothing wrong in being a Vincentian and Canadian at the same time when you are running for political office,” Barnwell added.

    As of this week, the trial remains ongoing.

  • Antigua Recreation Grounds to Be Converted Into 5,000-Seat Football Stadium With FIFA Funding

    Antigua Recreation Grounds to Be Converted Into 5,000-Seat Football Stadium With FIFA Funding

    Antigua and Barbuda’s Cabinet has approved a strategic plan to repurpose the historic Antigua Recreation Grounds (ARG) into the nation’s official home of football, converting the existing venue into a modern 5,000-seat stadium with funding committed by global football governing body FIFA. The announcement of this forward-thinking decision was made by Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant during a post-Cabinet media briefing held on Thursday.

    Rather than waiting more than half a decade for a completely new purpose-built football stadium to be constructed, the government has opted to prioritize the faster rehabilitation of the existing iconic ARG site. When FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited the twin-island nation recently, he pledged financial support for the development of a new national football stadium. But Cabinet analysis found that constructing a brand new facility from the ground up would take roughly five years, and potentially even longer, to complete.

    Under the revised plan, the government will redirect the pledged FIFA funding toward the extensive reconstruction and upgrade of the current Antigua Recreation Grounds, transforming it into a regulation 5,000-seat football venue that meets international standards. Before any construction work can get underway, the revised proposal must first be reviewed by FIFA and secure formal approval from the organization’s leadership.

    Merchant emphasized that the decision to redevelop the existing venue carries multiple key benefits. First, it will cut down waiting times dramatically, allowing upgrade work to commence far earlier than it would for a new build. Second, the revamped ARG will retain its ability to host a wide range of other major national and international events beyond football. The upgraded venue will continue to host international Test cricket matches, annual Carnival celebrations, and a variety of other key cultural events that have long called the historic grounds home.

    “Once FIFA signs off on the funding arrangement for this plan, we will deliver a fully renovated, world-class Antigua Recreation Grounds that is specifically tailored to meet the needs of international football,” Merchant stated, outlining the government’s end goal for the project.

  • Saint Lucian team conquers Mount Kilimanjaro and supports school expansion

    Saint Lucian team conquers Mount Kilimanjaro and supports school expansion

    Last month, a team of seven hikers from the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia successfully summited Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania’s iconic dormant stratovolcano, capping off an eight-day grueling journey that blended physical endurance with deep humanitarian purpose. Standing 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level, Kilimanjaro holds the title of Africa’s highest peak, and the trek tested every member of the group, according to expedition leader Marcus Mufasa Joseph.

    The expedition grew from a seed planted during a 2023 humanitarian water well project in Zambia, when Joseph learned a fellow Caribbean native had founded a new school in rural Tanzania. Rather than simply providing a one-time donation, the team structured a dual mission: raise funds to expand the school, while climbing Kilimanjaro to draw attention to a range of pressing issues affecting Saint Lucia – including cancer awareness, efforts to curb community violence, and support for local orphans and widows. The trek also marked a milestone: 30 years of service by Joseph’s non-profit, Kairos Konnection, a non-denominational Christian humanitarian organization that operates aid projects across the globe, from drilling clean water wells to constructing educational facilities.

    For Joseph, this marked his fifth humanitarian expedition to Africa, but his first visit to Tanzania, requiring extensive pre-trip preparation to respect local cultural norms. “I held monthly meetings to walk the team through local customs: everything from appropriate dress codes and dining etiquette to expectations for gender interactions and how to respect community boundaries,” he explained to local outlet St Lucia Times in a post-climb interview.

    Physical preparation was equally rigorous, with months of training completed back in Saint Lucia to build endurance and acclimatize the team to high-altitude conditions. The group completed monthly long-distance hikes to the island’s iconic waterfalls and climbed Gros Piton, Saint Lucia’s famous volcanic peak, logged hours of strength training at local gyms, and Joseph even completed an overnight solo stay on Mount Gimmie to practice mental conditioning for the challenge ahead.

    Even with all that preparation, the climb pushed the team to their absolute limits. “It was eight straight days of intense pain,” Joseph recalled. “Hours of non-stop walking, freezing temperatures at high elevation, and severe breathing difficulties – there were two moments I truly thought I would not make it off the mountain alive.” High altitude sickness is one of the biggest hazards on Kilimanjaro, and several team members required emergency rescue by local guides, who quickly escorted them to lower elevations to stabilize their conditions. Through every moment of struggle, the group’s shared mission kept them moving forward. “Every single one of us climbed for a specific reason,” Joseph said. “You just fix your focus on that purpose, and thank God for every step you get to take. When teammates hit their breaking points, we pulled each other along, reminding everyone not to quit.”

    The team summited and completed the trek on September 18, wrapping up the first phase of their broader African humanitarian campaign. The group has already donated $4,050 USD to the Tanzanian school expansion project. Due to a tight travel schedule, they were not able to stay to see construction begin, but they have arranged to receive regular updates on how the funds are allocated and the progress of the build moving forward.

    Reflecting on the experience, Joseph shared that the journey left him with a lifelong lesson beyond the humanitarian impact. “Kilimanjaro taught me that life is meant to be taken one step at a time,” he explained. “Our guides used the Swahili phrase ‘pole pole’ every single day on the trail – it means ‘slowly slowly’. We all have our own internal mountains to conquer, don’t we? The biggest lesson I’m bringing home to Saint Lucia is that when you face life’s hardest challenges, you walk through them one step at a time, leaning on your faith.”

  • Deshonte Charles and Nathaniel Benjamin Charged in Bendals Armed Robbery

    Deshonte Charles and Nathaniel Benjamin Charged in Bendals Armed Robbery

    In an official announcement from the Strategic Communications Office of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, law enforcement officials have confirmed formal charges against two local men in connection with a frightening armed robbery that unfolded in the Bendals neighborhood last month. Dated Thursday, October 1, 2026 and released from the force’s headquarters in St. John’s, the media release outlines the details of the case and the progress of the investigation.

    The alleged incident took place on the morning of Thursday, September 24, at around 10:50 a.m. According to police accounts, a woman who had just returned to her Bendals residence was confronted by two masked perpetrators. The attackers held the victim at gunpoint before stealing her personal property, which included multiple pieces of jewelry, a brown leather Fossil handbag, and Eastern Caribbean dollars worth 1,200. The stolen purse also contained the victim’s debit cards and several forms of personal identification, according to initial reports from the scene. After carrying out the robbery, the two suspects fled the area in a white motor vehicle, heading west from the residential neighborhood.

    Following a multi-day probe into the attack, investigators from the Royal Police Force took both suspects into custody. The two accused men are 21-year-old Deshonte Charles, a resident of Ebenezer, and 18-year-old Nathaniel Benjamin from Golden Grove Extension. Both men face two joint charges: one count of robbery, and a second count of utilizing a firearm during the commission of a violent offense. Following processing, the pair were formally arraigned on the charges, and are scheduled to make their first court appearance before a judge in Antigua and Barbuda on Friday, October 2, 2026, where they will formally respond to the allegations against them.

    In a closing statement included in the release, police leadership publicly thanked the residents of Antigua and Barbuda for the ongoing support and collaboration they have extended to law enforcement as part of national crime reduction efforts. Police officials encouraged community members to continue sharing actionable information that can help prevent future criminal acts and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable under the law.

    Members of the public who hold any additional details related to this Bendals armed robbery, or any other ongoing criminal investigations, are directed to reach out to the Criminal Investigations Department directly at the contact numbers 462-3913 or 462-3914. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the independent Crimestoppers hotline at 800-TIPS (8477).

  • Dominica women entrepreneurs eligible for new US$550,000 clean energy programme

    Dominica women entrepreneurs eligible for new US$550,000 clean energy programme

    Against a backdrop of accelerating climate action and growing demand for inclusive green economic growth across the Caribbean, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has launched a landmark new initiative designed to unlock the potential of women entrepreneurs working in clean energy. The three-year project, named the SheTrades Caribbean Tech It Up Facility, carries a total investment of US$550,000 and is backed by the Government of Canada through its Supporting Resilient Green Energy (SuRGE) Programme, delivered via CDB’s existing SheTrades Caribbean Hub.

    Running from 2026 through 2028, the program opens eligibility to women-led businesses across nine Caribbean countries: Dominica, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname. Unlike generic small business support schemes, this initiative is tailored specifically to bridge the gap between early-stage clean energy innovation and market-ready commercial products and services, with the dual goal of expanding women’s meaningful participation in the region’s fast-growing green economy.

    The scope of support covers a broad spectrum of high-priority clean energy areas, including cutting-edge clean energy innovation, energy-efficient technologies, scalable renewable energy applications, and integrated smart energy systems. Beyond direct financial assistance, participating ventures will gain access to targeted technical capacity building, business management training, introductions to global financing partners, and pathways to integrate into regional and international clean energy value chains.

    The initiative is designed to meet entrepreneurs where they are, accepting applicants across all early development stages—from initial concept and academic research to prototype development, field testing, small-scale pilot projects, and early-stage commercialization. It is open not only to formal registered businesses but also to individual women scientists, independent researchers, and technology developers working in the clean energy space.

    A centerpiece of the facility is the SheTrades Tech It Up R&D Grant, which will award a single US$100,000 prize to one outstanding women-led project focused on energy efficiency, renewable energy, or smart energy systems. Proposals will be evaluated by a panel against strict criteria including the novelty of the innovation, technical feasibility, potential for intellectual property protection, commercial scalability, projected environmental impact, and the project’s ability to generate long-term, sustainable economic opportunities for local communities.

    The winning recipient will not only receive the substantial grant funding but also gain access to a full package of wrap-around support: one-on-one technical mentorship from industry experts, tailored business development coaching, dedicated guidance on intellectual property registration and protection, and targeted support to prepare the solution for market entry. As part of the program’s collaborative mandate, the grant recipient will also be required to partner with Caribbean and Canadian academic institutions that conduct leading clean energy research and innovation.

    Dr. Isaac Solomon, CDB Vice-President for Operations, emphasized that the facility addresses a long-standing gap in regional innovation support. Too often, he noted, promising clean energy ideas developed by women entrepreneurs remain stuck in the early stages, unable to access the resources needed to reach commercial markets. This initiative, he said, is designed to remove those barriers and turn promising concepts into tangible impact.

    Her Excellency Brenda Wills, Canada’s High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, echoed that sentiment, noting that the program delivers overlapping benefits for the region. By supporting women-led innovation, it advances women’s economic empowerment, while also accelerating the transition to low-carbon energy systems that boost climate resilience and drive long-term sustainable development across the Caribbean.

    Beyond the immediate support for participating businesses, the initiative is expected to deliver broader systemic benefits for the region. It aims to increase women’s representation in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) entrepreneurship, foster deeper collaborative ties between academic research institutions and private sector ventures, and expand inclusive economic opportunities across the Caribbean’s emerging green economy.

    Applications for the competitive R&D Grant are scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2027, and will be accepted exclusively through CDB’s Submittable Portal. CDB has confirmed that full detailed eligibility criteria and official application guidelines will be published to the public in advance of the opening of the call for proposals.

  • Cabinet Says Police Will Get More Resources Where Crime-Fighting Gaps Are Identified

    Cabinet Says Police Will Get More Resources Where Crime-Fighting Gaps Are Identified

    The government of Antigua and Barbuda has formally committed to directing extra funding, upgraded equipment and tailored support to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, following a recent Cabinet meeting focused on addressing national crime rates. This commitment will only go into effect for areas where verifiable, legitimate operational needs have been confirmed by police leadership.

    Speaking to reporters immediately after the closed-door Cabinet session, senior official Maurice Merchant shared details of the administration’s new directive. He confirmed that Prime Minister Gaston Browne has ordered consistent, ongoing check-ins with the top command of the Royal Police Force to track progress on ongoing crime reduction initiatives across the twin-island nation.

    “Prime Minister Browne has directed that sustained engagement be maintained with the leadership of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda to advance their crime-fighting mandate,” Merchant stated during the press briefing.

    According to Merchant, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of regular communication between political leadership and police command to proactively spot gaps in resourcing, equipment, or operational support that could slow the force down as it carries out its core public safety duties. Any unmet needs that are validated through this process will receive swift backing from the national government.

    Merchant added that the full Cabinet has reaffirmed this policy stance, noting that “where legitimate needs are identified, the government will continue to provide the police with appropriate support.” The overarching goal of this additional resourcing is to sharpen the force’s operational capacity across three key areas: crime prevention, criminal detection, and criminal investigation.

    In a notable show of confidence in the force, both Prime Minister Browne and the full Cabinet also publicly commended the Royal Police Force for the measurable improvements it has delivered in recent months in the fight against violent crime and general criminal activity across Antigua and Barbuda.

    This latest discussion around police resourcing forms a single piece of the administration’s broader, holistic strategy to tackle crime at a national level. The full strategy combines enhanced resourcing for law enforcement with updated, stricter criminal legislation and expanded rehabilitation programs for offenders, designed to address both the immediate and root causes of crime in the country.

  • US court imposes US$7 000 fine on convicted ex-ICBL chief Innes

    US court imposes US$7 000 fine on convicted ex-ICBL chief Innes

    A decades-long leadership career in the insurance industry has ended in a federal conviction for 71-year-old Ingrid Innes, the former chief executive of the Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL). Innes has been handed a sentence of time already served and ordered to pay a $7,000 fine after entering a guilty plea in a U.S. federal court for her role in a transnational bribery conspiracy connected to ex-Barbadian government minister Donville Inniss.

    In 2021, Innes received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, and for months she prepared to fight the charges against her. But declining health and fears over insufficient medical access in the event of incarceration forced her to abandon her original trial strategy. She ultimately pled guilty this week to two bribery counts tied to a total of approximately $36,000 in payments directed to Inniss between 2015 and 2016, when he served as Barbados’ Minister of Industry and Commerce.

    At the time of the payments, the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) — the government agency Inniss oversaw — was a client of ICBL, where Innes was top executive. Prosecutors argue the unauthorized payments were bribes to help ICBL secure additional government-linked contracts. The illicit transfers were disguised using two fraudulent invoices created by Kamante Millar, ICBL’s former chief financial officer. Millar reached a plea deal with prosecutors after the scheme was uncovered, and later testified against Innes, other ICBL leaders, and Inniss during previous proceedings.

    Court records show the invoices — one for $16,536.73 in 2015 and a second for $20,000 in 2016 — were used to route funds to Inniss’ U.S.-registered dental business, Crystal Dental Lab. Innes, a Canadian national, says she was told the payments were legitimate consulting fees when she was asked to approve them. She added that she was informed that parliamentary acceptance of payments from government contractors and elected officials owning private businesses were common and not explicitly illegal under local Barbadian regulations.

    To date, no charges related to the scheme have been filed by Barbadian authorities against any of the involved individuals, despite the U.S. indictment referencing Barbados’ own Prevention of Corruption Act. It also remains unconfirmed whether the payments violated domestic Barbadian law, and whether they were intended to sway decisions of the BIDC board, a body Inniss did not have direct control over.

    In a statement to local outlet Barbados TODAY, Innes took accountability for her poor judgment in approving the two transfers. “I understand my actions fell short of the high standards expected of me as CEO,” she said. “I have accepted responsibility for my mistakes, and I look forward to putting this matter behind me so I can focus on my health and family.”

    The case stretches back to 2018, when U.S. law enforcement first uncovered the scheme. That August, a federal grand jury in Brooklyn returned an indictment against Innes and former ICBL senior vice-president Alex Tasker on one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of money laundering. Inniss was charged separately in an indictment unsealed on August 6, 2018, and later added as a co-defendant alongside Innes and Tasker in an updated indictment. Inniss was found guilty on all three counts by a federal jury in 2020.

    ICBL itself voluntarily disclosed the suspicious payments to U.S. authorities, and as a result received a prosecution declination under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Corporate Enforcement Policy. The company agreed to forfeit $93,940.19 in profits that U.S. prosecutors say were gained through the bribery scheme. The investigation was led by the FBI’s New York Field Office and International Corruption Squad, a specialized unit the bureau rolled out across the U.S. in 2015 to tackle cross-border foreign corruption cases.

  • SVG participates in regional youth panel

    SVG participates in regional youth panel

    On September 24, a critical regional dialogue focused on Caribbean youth leadership and creative economic development unfolded, hosted by the St. Kitts National Youth Parliament Association. The gathering, named the Regional Youth Panel, drew young delegate representatives from four Eastern Caribbean nations: St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). Centered on the urgent, forward-looking theme “Unlocking the Orange Economy and Strengthening Civic Engagement: The Role of Youth in the Caribbean,” the event created a dedicated space for emerging leaders to trade on-the-ground insights, identify shared barriers, and propose collaborative solutions for regional progress.

    Representing SVG at the panel was Omarian Dennie, president of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Youth Parliament Association, who brought a unique, finance-focused perspective to the discussions shaped by his professional background in banking. During his interventions, Dennie zeroed in on one of the most persistent gaps holding back the Caribbean creative sector: limited access to affordable commercial financing for independent creative professionals. He explained that too many talented young creators across the region lack the structured support to turn their artistic and cultural ideas into viable, income-generating ventures.

    To address this gap, Dennie argued that foundational capacity-building is just as critical as improved access to capital. He emphasized that equipping creative workers with practical training in core business areas including business administration, financial planning and management, and strategic personal branding directly improves their ability to secure financing and build long-term sustainable enterprises. These skills, he noted, boost creatives’ creditworthiness and overall financial preparedness, making them more attractive candidates for commercial lending and investment.

    Dennie also highlighted a cross-regional structural barrier that is often overlooked: the limited access to modern regional financial technology and digital monetization tools across the Eastern Caribbean. This gap, he explained, prevents the full commercialization of the creative sector, stopping creators from reaching broader regional and global markets and monetizing their work effectively. Without accessible, localized fintech solutions, even the most skilled creatives struggle to scale their operations and convert their talents into stable, long-term economic opportunities.

    To overcome these interconnected challenges, Dennie called for coordinated action across governments, regional financial institutions, and youth-serving organizations. He stressed that three key changes are needed: expanding public awareness of existing support resources for young creatives, removing barriers to accessing appropriate, youth-friendly financial tools, and building sustained, supportive institutional mechanisms that help creators nurture their talents into livelihoods.

    By design, the Regional Youth Panel serves as more than just a discussion forum—it is a strategic platform that elevates youth voices in regional development planning. For too long, young people’s perspectives on economic and social policy have been sidelined, but this gathering created an opportunity for emerging leaders to directly contribute to shaping the future of the Caribbean. A post-event press release emphasized that SVG’s participation in the dialogue reinforces a core truth: meaningful youth engagement is essential to developing innovative, context-appropriate approaches to development, and to building a culture of strong, inclusive civic participation across the entire Caribbean region.

  • Elections : Working visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the CEP

    Elections : Working visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the CEP

    As Haiti gears up for its upcoming general elections, a high-level diplomatic delegation led by Foreign Minister Raina Forbin paid a working visit to the headquarters of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) in Pétion-ville earlier this week. Forbin was joined by two senior ministry officials: Chief of Staff Winnie Hugot Gabriel and Director General Christian Toussaint, for closed-door working discussions focused on advancing one of the election cycle’s most anticipated institutional initiatives.

    The core focus of the gathering was to advance ongoing joint planning between the Foreign Ministry and the CEP for a landmark pilot project that would allow members of the Haitian diaspora to cast ballots in the upcoming elections. For the world’s fifth-largest diaspora population relative to its home country’s population, this initiative marks a historic step toward expanding inclusive political participation for Haitians living abroad.

    Beyond the broad framework of the pilot project, the two sides also worked through critical practical and procedural details. These included coordinating next steps with host governments in countries where the pilot will launch, tracking progress from earlier exploratory missions to those regions, and establishing clear operational guidelines that ensure all overseas voting activities align with both Haiti’s domestic legal and institutional framework and the regulations of host nations.

    Following the meeting, both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to sustained collaboration and open dialogue throughout the preparation process. The end goal of their joint work is to build a structured, reliable electoral system that enables organized, smooth participation for diaspora voters across all pilot locations.

    In an official statement released after the meeting, the CEP reiterated its foundational pledges for the entire upcoming electoral process: conducting all activities in an inclusive, impartial, transparent, and accountable manner. The council also stressed it will remain strictly aligned with core principles of electoral independence and institutional integrity, while upholding the constitutional right of every Haitian citizen, regardless of residency, to take part in the country’s democratic governance.

  • Tough choices for a safer nation: activate emergency powers now

    Tough choices for a safer nation: activate emergency powers now

    Opinion by Ronnie Daniel

    Small island nation St. Vincent and the Grenadines is currently grappling with a deepening public safety crisis driven by persistent, deadly gun violence — a challenge that demands urgent, serious attention rather than political posturing, downplaying, or outright neglect. While official data shows that certain types of criminal activity have dropped over recent years, the country cannot escape the disturbing reality of alarmingly high rates of gun-linked homicides that have shaken communities across the archipelago.

    Between 2021 and the end of 2025, roughly 220 people have been killed in gun-related attacks, with minor discrepancies only in the 2023 count: conflicting official records put the year’s total at either 52 or 55 homicides. 54 gun-related killings were recorded in 2024, followed by 40 in 2025, marking a 26 percent decline from the previous year. But statistics alone fail to capture the human cost of this violence: behind every number is a grieving family left to navigate lifelong pain, persistent fear, and crippling uncertainty about the future.

    Beyond the immediate human tragedy, the steady frequency and evolving brutality of violent crime have inflicted wide-ranging, long-term damage that cripples every segment of St. Vincent and the Grenadines society. Strains are felt acutely across the already under-resourced public health system, overloaded national security services, and the country’s fragile local economy, which relies heavily on tourism and small business activity.

    The core mandate of any national government is to protect the lives of its citizens and preserve public peace and security through all necessary measures. As criminal gangs, illegal firearms networks, and repeat violent offending continue to threaten residential and commercial communities, the public is fully justified in questioning whether existing law enforcement strategies are sufficient, effective, and rooted in evidence that delivers results.

    Currently, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ legal framework already equips law enforcement with substantial tools to combat crime. Police have the authority to arrest suspects, carry out court-approved searches, prosecute firearms offenses, and launch intelligence-driven operations to dismantle organized criminal networks — all without requiring special emergency emergency powers. Still, the unrelenting persistence and dangerous escalation of violent crime make clear that bolder, more expansive action is needed from national security authorities.

    Under Section 17 of the country’s constitution, the Governor General holds the authority to formally declare a state of emergency if specific conditions are met. The constitution clearly outlines that any such proclamation is only valid if the Governor General confirms that action (or imminent threatened action) is occurring on a scale substantial enough to endanger public safety, or cut off communities from access to essential supplies and services critical to daily life.

    When the threat to public safety and community well-being reaches the level currently seen across St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the constitution explicitly permits the use of enhanced law enforcement powers through a state of emergency. These expanded authorities include targeted curfews, broader search capabilities, and targeted restrictions designed to disrupt the operations of criminal gangs and break up illegal firearms trafficking networks.

    In Daniel’s view, the country has already reached the threshold where serious consideration of deploying emergency powers — in full or in targeted high-crime areas — is warranted. This step would not be taken in isolation, he argues; any emergency declaration must be paired with long-term educational and socio-economic interventions that address the root causes of violent crime, rather than only responding to its symptoms.

    Any proposal to temporarily limit civil liberties requires clear, transparent communication to the public and broad, cross-sector support. The public must fully understand why extraordinary measures are necessary, which groups and geographic areas are the target of new restrictions, how progress will be measured, and when the measures will be lifted once public safety is restored.

    Central to the argument is a core principle: freedom holds no meaning for citizens who live in constant fear of walking their neighborhood streets, running their local businesses, or letting their children play outside without fear of gun violence. The hard reality is that pulling St. Vincent and the Grenadines back from the edge of widespread lawlessness requires extraordinary, bold action. Authorizing the use of emergency powers in hotspots that serve as safe havers for criminal networks is a necessary step to protect the broader population.

    “The greater danger lies not in the temporary restriction of our freedoms, but in allowing lawlessness to erode the security and freedoms of all,” Daniel argues.

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this piece are solely those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial stance of iWitness News.