Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • CXC reports sharp increase in examination irregularities and absenteeism

    CXC reports sharp increase in examination irregularities and absenteeism

    The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is facing two growing, interconnected challenges that threaten the integrity of regional secondary and post-secondary assessment systems: a significant spike in examination rule violations and record-high candidate absenteeism during the 2026 May-June exam sitting, a top CXC official has confirmed.

    Dr. Nicole Manning, CXC Director of Operations, shared updated figures during a results briefing in Anguilla, revealing that the body recorded 128 confirmed cases of examination irregularities this year, a 60% jump from the 80 cases documented in 2025. The most common violation was the use of prohibited electronic devices in exam rooms, followed by coordinated collusion between candidates, possession of unauthorized reference materials, and a new, previously unrecorded category: cheating facilitated by artificial intelligence.

    Manning emphasized that AI-enabled academic misconduct is an unprecedented emerging threat to CXC’s assessment standards, a challenge that will only grow as generative AI tools become more accessible to students across the region. In response, CXC has already developed formal standards and guiding frameworks to govern AI use in exams, joining Anguilla which has implemented its own national AI policy for education assessment. “This is a completely new issue for us,” Manning noted. “It is critical that we proactively put guardrails in place just as we have done for other emerging challenges in assessment over the years.”

    The CXC official warned that irregularities carry severe penalties for offending candidates, including full grade cancellation and permanent disqualification from future exams. She added that cheating is not limited to isolated, one-off incidents: some repeat offenders have been caught violating rules across multiple separate exam cycles. Broadly defined, examination irregularities include any inappropriate conduct during a sitting, ranging from disruptive, unruly behavior to unauthorized possession of cell phones and pre-prepared cheat sheets.

    Alongside rising cheating, CXC has flagged soaring absenteeism as a major concern for regional education systems. Nearly 36,000 registered candidates failed to show up for this year’s Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) assessments. Of that total, 3,534 absentees were registered for CAPE, the post-secondary entrance qualification, while 32,403 missed CSEC, the core secondary school leaving certification.

    Manning explained that a candidate who misses any required exam component is ineligible to receive a grade, meaning they forfeit the opportunity to earn the certification they registered for, a setback that can delay academic progression and career plans. She stressed that the alarmingly high absenteeism rate should be a priority issue for education ministries and institutions across the Caribbean, calling on parents, guardians and classroom teachers to step up engagement to encourage candidates to complete their scheduled exams. “This is a top concern for CXC, and we are working aggressively to support candidates to show up for their assessments,” she said.

    Internal CXC surveys have identified feelings of under-preparation as the most common reason students voluntarily skip their exams, but Manning urged candidates not to let low confidence keep them from taking the test. She also noted that CXC already has formal compassionate accommodations in place for candidates who are unable to attend or complete exams due to unforeseen personal crises, such as acute medical events or the death of a close family member. This year alone, 359 candidates received flexible accommodations through the program, ensuring they were not penalized for experiencing unexpected hardship. “These candidates did not face disadvantage despite serious personal challenges,” Manning said, “that is the safety net we want all eligible candidates to know is available to them.”

  • Amerikaanse staatsschuld stijgt voor het eerst boven $40 biljoen door oplopende leningen

    Amerikaanse staatsschuld stijgt voor het eerst boven $40 biljoen door oplopende leningen

    For the first time in recorded history, the total national debt of the United States has crossed the $40 trillion threshold, according to official data released by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The milestone comes earlier than projected by nonpartisan government analysts, with the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) having previously forecast that total debt would hit $39.4 trillion by the end of the 2026 fiscal year.

    As of Tuesday, the total outstanding federal debt stood at $40.05 trillion. Analysts attribute the accelerated pace of debt accumulation to multiple long-standing structural drivers, including mandatory permanent spending commitments to major social programs such as Social Security and Medicare, alongside rapidly climbing interest costs on existing borrowings.

    The $40 trillion crossing arrives at a moment of already heightened economic unease, with ongoing concerns over persistent inflation, rising government outlays tied to global conflicts including the ongoing war in the Middle East, and shifting bond market dynamics. These pressures have already pushed yields on long-term U.S. Treasury bonds to their highest levels since 2007, forcing the federal government to refinance its existing debt at far higher borrowing costs than it has faced since the 2008 global financial crisis.

    In a move to calm jittery bond markets, the Treasury Department intervened this Wednesday to stabilize trading, which resulted in a modest pullback in Treasury yields. Even with this short-term intervention, fiscal policy experts have repeatedly warned that the U.S. has been on an unsustainable fiscal trajectory for years when it comes to annual federal budget deficits.

    Current annual deficits now equal roughly 6% to 7% of the country’s total gross domestic product (GDP), a marked jump from the 3% to 4% range that already triggered anxiety among financial market observers in previous years. The combination of soaring interest payments and demographic pressure from an aging U.S. population is projected to widen deficits further and amplify long-term financial risks for the world’s largest economy.

    While there is no predefined debt threshold that automatically triggers a full-blown fiscal crisis, the breach of the $40 trillion symbolic marker is widely viewed as a clear warning sign for both investors and federal policymakers. Analysts emphasize that the failure of Congress and successive presidential administrations to implement structural fiscal reforms has only increased uncertainty around the country’s growing debt burden. If left unaddressed, the growing debt load could push borrowing costs higher for American consumers and private businesses, creating a significant headwind for overall economic growth.

    U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has previously set a policy target of reducing the annual deficit to 3% of GDP, but analysts widely acknowledge that hitting this goal remains an enormous challenge amid current domestic and global economic conditions.

  • Leisure : Did you know ? #52

    Leisure : Did you know ? #52

    Twice a week, Haiti-based digital platform HaitiLibre publishes a popular general knowledge feature called “Did You Know?”, which entertains and educates audiences through bite-sized trivia quizzes. The 52nd edition of this engaging series, published on August 20, 2026, centers on a question about a large India-native bird famous for the male’s spectacular feather display, with the answer revealing one of the world’s most recognizable and beloved avian species: the Indian peacock.

    Originally native to the forested landscapes of South Asia, spanning mainland India and Sri Lanka, wild Indian peafowl typically make their homes in wooded regions close to natural water sources. The male of the species, commonly called a peacock, stands out with a striking iridescent deep-blue neck and its most iconic feature: a dramatic courtship train made up of more than 200 distinct ocellated, or eye-spotted, feathers. During mating season, males fan these vibrantly colored feathers into a large, majestic circular display, known locally as a wheel, to attract potential female mates.

    Beyond its biological characteristics, the Indian peacock holds deep cultural significance across the Indian subcontinent. In Hindu tradition, the bird occupies a sacred position, closely linked to major Hindu deities, and is widely seen as a symbol of royal status and timeless eternal beauty. While global domestication has ensured the species as a whole is not currently classified as threatened, original wild populations remain strictly protected in India, where the peacock holds the honor of being the nation’s official national bird under national law.

    This trivia entry is pulled from the answer key of HaitiLibre’s World Birds Quiz 1.1, part of the platform’s growing collection of free online quiz games. As part of the site’s scheduled monthly content update on August 1, 2026, 30 brand new quizzes were added to the platform, pushing the total number of active general knowledge games available to 210. The platform continues to add fresh quiz content every month to keep audiences engaged.

    All of HaitiLibre Quiz’s exclusive games are available to users for free with no registration required, designed to suit players of all age groups. Each quiz is offered in three tiered difficulty levels—easy, intermediate, and hard— to accommodate casual learners and trivia experts alike. The games are fully accessible in both French and English to serve a diverse regional audience.

    Audiences can explore the full collection of quizzes, covering topics ranging from Haitian local culture to global general knowledge, at the official quiz portal: https://quiz.haitilibre.com/en. The platform encourages users to share the resource with family and friends, and leave feedback through a comment form available at the end of every quiz. For curious learners looking to expand their general knowledge, even incomplete quizzes offer a chance to learn new facts and share new insights with loved ones.

  • State Council approves four new decree-laws and evaluates how to contribute to economic and social transformations at the municipal level

    State Council approves four new decree-laws and evaluates how to contribute to economic and social transformations at the municipal level

    On Wednesday, Cuba’s State Council held a regular plenary session chaired by Council President Esteban Lazo Hernández, with top Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez — First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic — in attendance. During the gathering, the council approved four new decree-laws designed to advance ongoing economic and social transformations aligned with updates to Cuba’s national economic model, alongside discussions focused on expanding grassroots citizen participation in local governance.

    The first regulatory measure, presented by Lázara Mercedes López-Acea, head of the National Institute of Non-State Economic Actors, revises three existing decree-laws covering micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), non-agricultural cooperatives, and self-employment. The amendment targets unnecessary regulatory constraints, with the explicit goal of fostering more dynamic growth and diversity across Cuba’s entire business ecosystem by updating rules governing the approval, classification, organizational structure, operation, and operational autonomy of all economic actors.

    A second decree-law, introduced by Minister of Finance and Prices Vladimir Regueiro Ale, establishes a mandatory civil liability insurance framework for all motor vehicle owners operating across Cuban public road and rail networks. The rule unifies disparate existing civil liability regimes for risks stemming from motor vehicle use, requiring all owners — whether individual or corporate, domestic or foreign — to hold a valid insurance policy, bringing regulatory practice in line with broader national economic and social changes.

    Third, the new regulation on public bidding processes, presented by Minister of Economy and Planning Joaquín Alonso Vázquez, formalizes competitive bidding as the standard procedure for selecting contracting partners for all projects involving state resources. This applies to state and non-state economic actors alike across all sectors, including procurement of goods and services, public works, management of public space and production capacity, and other state resource uses, fitting into the broader framework of improving Cuba’s socialist economic and social model.

    The fourth approved decree-law amends the existing Customs Tariff regulation covering non-commercial imports to Cuba. Also presented by the Ministry of Finance and Prices, the change aligns with national transformation priorities by authorizing individual travelers and non-commercial shipments to bring goods into Cuba for commercial purposes, without classifying this activity as formal foreign trade.

    Beyond regulatory approvals, the session included a robust debate on expanding and strengthening the nationwide grassroots popular participation initiative “My Neighborhood for the Homeland.” The movement is organized around three core pillars: Safe Neighborhood, Productive Neighborhood, and Participatory Neighborhood, with the goal of boosting citizen engagement, facilitating collective problem-solving, and aligning local action with national priorities and community needs across all Cuban territories.

    After Vice President of the National Assembly of People’s Power Ana María Mari Machado presented a report on the initiative’s progress and on-the-ground impact — which incorporated input from regional governors, municipal assembly leaders, representatives of political, mass and social organizations, and ordinary citizens — Lazo underscored the critical role of neighborhood-level community organizing in the Cuban Revolution. He emphasized that broad popular participation and mass mobilization, particularly at the district and people’s council levels, remain foundational to the country’s governance model.

    During the session, José Luis Toledo Santander, Secretary of Cuba’s national legislature, outlined a slate of proposed actions for municipal people’s power assemblies to advance the implementation of ongoing national economic and social transformations. Key priorities outlined included strengthening the role of local people’s councils in assessing community-priority issues, expanding outreach for the “My Neighborhood for the Homeland” movement, and boosting popular oversight as a complement to formal administrative oversight at the local level. The session also included a review of outcomes from previous agreements to expand popular oversight and citizen participation, with participants reaffirming the importance of this work.

    In addition to the core agenda items, the session included participation from chairs of all parliamentary committees and featured a routine review of agreements adopted at the State Council’s previous meetings.

  • Column: Sterkere SML?

    Column: Sterkere SML?

    As the Suriname Major League (SML) prepares to kick off its fourth season, participating clubs across the country have entered a critical pre-season transfer window, scrambling to reinforce their squads ahead of the new campaign. This annual rush for new talent is a long-established ritual in Suriname’s top football flight, as league rules do not allow mid-season player acquisitions, leaving the pre-season window as the only opportunity for clubs to reshape their rosters. For decades, Surinamese top-flight clubs have relied on this transfer period to strengthen their sides, with historical recruitment focusing mostly on promoting standout young prospects from domestic youth academies to the first team, or poaching established talents from direct league rivals to gain a competitive edge over competing sides.

    Over the past several seasons, however, a noticeable new trend has emerged in SML recruitment: an increasing number of clubs are turning to foreign player signings to complement domestic talent, with the goal of building a strong enough squad to not only claim the SML title, but also perform well in regional continental competitions when they qualify. For the upcoming 2026-2027 season, multiple clubs have upped the ante, committing significant resources to boost their competitiveness. Some have locked in deals for promising young domestic prospects, while also bringing in several experienced players from neighboring countries in the Caribbean and South American region. What is more, this transfer window has already seen multiple players and a full first-team head coach recruited from continental Africa to raise the overall technical and competitive level of the league.

    This growing openness to bringing in foreign talent is a development that deserves broad praise. For years, Surinamese football stakeholders have acknowledged the country’s abundant natural football talent, yet national and club sides have consistently fallen short of expectations at regional competitions. It is widely hoped that the new foreign arrivals and the imported head coach will be given the necessary support, time and autonomy to prove their value and help lift SML standards.

    The large financial investments several clubs have made in new signings have pushed fan and public expectations to historic highs for the upcoming season. Local players are encouraged not to be discouraged by the influx of new foreign talent, but instead to seize the opportunity to collaborate with their new teammates, gel as a cohesive unit and compete as one unified team. There is widespread optimism that the transfer strategy pursued by these ambitious clubs will deliver the intended results, and that the upfront investments will eventually pay off both on and off the pitch.

    Even as the recruitment of foreign talent is widely celebrated, industry observers stress that club leadership must recognize that further structural professionalization is a non-negotiable requirement to build sustained, long-term success. To compete consistently at a high level, clubs need to establish formal legal foundations and operate along modern, business-aligned governance models that make them attractive to professional football stakeholders. The end goal for Surinamese football should be a full transformation of club structures, moving from informal single-owner operations to formally registered organizations with multiple shareholders, where key governance decisions are made by a general meeting of shareholders.

    This formal structured governance model provides legal certainty for all stakeholders, and makes clubs far more attractive for professionals from across football-related disciplines to join. It also guarantees long-term organizational continuity, even if the founding owner steps back or is unable to continue leading the club for any reason. A formal structured organization also allows for better oversight of all club operations, enabling leadership to make timely adjustments when challenges arise. The recent push to recruit foreign players and coaches is a promising first step toward strengthening the SML, but far more systemic change is required to build a structurally stronger and more sustainable league for the future.

  • Wijnerman: Belastingregels voor productiesector worden opnieuw bekeken

    Wijnerman: Belastingregels voor productiesector worden opnieuw bekeken

    A lively policy debate in Suriname’s National Assembly has put fiscal regulations for domestic production under the spotlight, with Finance and Planning Minister Adelien Wijnerman confirming that the government is conducting a comprehensive review of existing tax rules impacting local manufacturing and industry. The review covers import duty frameworks for raw materials and intermediate goods, as well as key segments of the country’s value-added tax (VAT) system, responding to cross-party calls to create more breathing room for local entrepreneurs and prevent fiscal policies from stifling production and economic diversification.

    The discussion was triggered by parliamentary questions about the import treatment of semi-finished goods. Minister Wijnerman explained that Suriname’s 1997 Raw Materials Decree originally granted full import duty exemptions for raw and auxiliary materials used in domestic production processes. A 2021 amendment narrowed the official definition of eligible raw and auxiliary materials, resulting in semi-finished goods losing their automatic exemption status. This change has created widespread practical ambiguity, Wijnerman acknowledged, because a single product can be classified as a semi-finished input in one production process and a finished end product in another.

    At present, applications for duty exemptions related to semi-finished goods are being processed under existing regulatory frameworks. In parallel, the Suriname Tax Authority is working alongside business associations and other key stakeholders to re-evaluate the entire Raw Materials Decree, with the goal of developing concrete proposals for potential regulatory adjustments.

    Parliamentarians across parties have pushed for regulatory changes that create more space for domestic production, particularly as Suriname seeks to grow its non-oil economic base alongside its expanding oil and gas sector. Mahinder Jogi, a National Assembly member from the ruling VHP party, argued that current rules disproportionately benefit large foreign firms, which receive significant tax incentives, while local enterprises face steep import duties and other operational costs. He also called for a review of VAT rates on inputs used in agricultural production.

    VHP faction leader Asis Gajadien echoed Jogi’s concerns, noting that while cracking down on misuse of tax exemptions is a necessary priority, overbroad measures often end up harming legitimate, law-abiding production companies. Gajadien emphasized that policymakers should take a sector-by-sector approach to identify which imported intermediate inputs are truly critical to supporting domestic manufacturing.

    Other parliamentarians joined the call for broader pro-production reforms, including proposals to eliminate or cut import duties and VAT on agricultural machinery and other core production inputs, as well as improve local businesses’ access to affordable capital. Lawmakers broadly agreed that Suriname cannot make meaningful progress toward economic diversification if fiscal policy increases the cost of essential production inputs for domestic manufacturers, making local production uncompetitive.

    The debate later shifted to Suriname’s controversial export retention regulation, which requires exporters to repatriate 35% of their export earnings. Gajadien questioned the legal basis of the policy, warning that unilaterally imposed government measures can inflict lasting damage on private businesses and the broader national economy.

    In contrast, NDP faction leader Rabin Parmessar highlighted the inherent tension between government financial support for local sectors and the outflow of export earnings abroad. “Money earned with support from the Surinamese economy should ultimately flow back to that economy in some form,” he argued, though he added that any such measure requires a clear statutory foundation and must be developed in consultation with affected industries.

    Minister Wijnerman pushed back against claims that the retention policy lacks legal grounding, explaining that the Foreign Exchange Commission issued a general order for the measure under the framework of the 1947 Foreign Exchange Regulation Act. She added that adjustments to the policy have already been discussed with the Central Bank of Suriname and relevant industry stakeholders.

    Wijnerman also confirmed that the current reform trajectory extends beyond the Raw Materials Decree: the country’s entire VAT system is also part of the ongoing government review. The minister committed to bringing all proposals put forward by National Assembly members to her team of policy experts to assess what regulatory changes are feasible.

    Responding to criticism that multinational corporations receive more generous tax benefits than smaller domestic Surinamese firms, Wijnerman noted that the incentives for large companies stem from legally approved bilateral agreements. Any changes to these arrangements would require a careful review of the existing legal framework, she said, adding that the government’s core policy objective remains stimulating domestic production, which includes reviewing tax benefits to level the playing field.

    Parmessar cautioned against reopening already finalized agreements with foreign investors, warning that altering existing commitments could erode confidence among potential future investors and damage Suriname’s reputation as a stable investment destination.

    In response, Jogi clarified that his call for reform does not seek to revoke existing benefits for multinationals. Instead, he argued, domestic Surinamese firms should be given access to comparable competitive incentives to produce and invest. “Local enterprises are the backbone of our economy,” Jogi said, “and policy must explicitly prioritize their needs moving forward.”

  • Check Presentation : The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) wants to make the country a land of entrepreneurship

    Check Presentation : The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) wants to make the country a land of entrepreneurship

    On August 19, 2026, Haiti’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) hosted a landmark symbolic check presentation ceremony at Port-au-Prince’s Oasis Hotel, marking the disbursement of government grants to selected beneficiaries of three national entrepreneurship support programs for the 2025-2026 fiscal cycle. Designed to strengthen the operational capacity of emerging small businesses across the country, the three programs — the Youth Entrepreneurship Support Program (PAPEJ), the Women’s Entrepreneurship Support Program (PAEF), and the Integrated Business Development Program (PIDE) — were all developed and launched by the MCI to stimulate grassroots economic activity amid nationwide crisis.

    Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé used the event to reinforce the government’s long-term commitment to economic revitalization, framing the grant disbursement as more than a policy action: it is a public declaration of faith in Haitian resilience. “In the life of a nation, certain moments speak louder than words, reminding us that even in times of crisis, hope continues to find its way,” Fils-Aimé told attendees. “Behind every act of support lies a simple yet powerful message: we still believe in Haiti’s capacity to rise again through hard work. We will rebuild our economy.”

    The Prime Minister reiterated the administration’s goal of building a national business climate that welcomes domestic investment, expands local production, and cuts systemic unemployment, noting that every supported entrepreneur carries a story of persistence against extraordinary odds. Out of more than 2,500 project proposals submitted across the country, a total of 242 initiatives were selected for funding through the three programs. The selected projects are projected to generate 1,440 new direct jobs, numbers that Fils-Aimé stressed represent far more than statistics — they embody renewed economic security for hundreds of Haitian families and proof of grassroots commitment to national recovery.

    MCI Minister James Monazard highlighted the remarkable sector diversity of the approved projects, spanning high-potential local industries from agro-processing of Haiti’s iconic native exports — including cocoa, coffee, and mangoes — to traditional crafts, digital technology, consumer services, the emerging green economy, and waste recycling. Addressing the beneficiary entrepreneurs in attendance, Monazard offered ongoing government backing beyond the initial grant disbursement: “I reiterate, you are not alone on this journey. The Haitian government, through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, will continue to walk alongside you and support you. We believe in your ability to grow your businesses, for yourselves, for your families, and for the entire Nation.”

    Multiple senior government officials joined in praising the initiative, framing it as a critical cornerstone of the country’s economic recovery strategy. Sandra Palémon, Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, called the program a beacon of hope for Haiti’s struggling national economy. Serge Gabriel Colin, Minister of Economy and Finance, welcomed the large-scale public-private collaboration, noting that the initiative removes critical barriers that have long prevented young and emerging Haitian entrepreneurs from turning their ideas into sustainable businesses.

    Mona-Lissa Dunbar, coordinator of the PAEF program, outlined the initiative’s core mission: to accelerate the expansion of grassroots entrepreneurship across Haiti as a driver of systemic national economic recovery. Multiple beneficiaries in attendance shared public statements expressing deep gratitude for the funding opportunity, noting that the grants fill a critical gap in access to capital that has derailed many early-stage Haitian small businesses.

    Closing the ceremony, MCI Director General Paulémont thanked all participants and attendees for their engagement, emphasizing that the event represented far more than a routine check distribution. It embodies the Haitian government’s clear, concrete commitment to centering small business support, youth employment, and entrepreneurial initiative as core public policy priorities. “This initiative sends a clear message: Investing in entrepreneurs means investing in Haiti’s capacity to recover, to produce, and to build its future,” Paulémont said.

  • PM Denies Acting Alone on BTL-Speednet Deal Rejection

    PM Denies Acting Alone on BTL-Speednet Deal Rejection

    On August 19, 2026, Belize Prime Minister John Briceño found himself at the center of two overlapping political controversies tied to the country’s telecommunications sector, pushing back against accusations of unilateral decision-making and rejecting growing trade union demands for leadership changes at state-linked telecom provider Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL).

    The first dispute centers on the scrapped planned acquisition of rival telecom operator Speednet by BTL. Recent public speculation has claimed that Briceño personally blocked the deal without consulting his full Cabinet, moving before ministers could hold a formal vote on the proposal. During a press question-and-answer session with reporters, Briceño denied these claims outright, stating that the decision to abandon the acquisition at its current stage was a collective call made by Cabinet. While he emphasized that all internal Cabinet discussions are protected by confidentiality rules and declined to share detailed deliberations, he confirmed that he did not make the final choice independently. Briceño also framed the cancellation as the most prudent policy move for Belize at this time.

    Briceño also addressed the aggressive public statement released by Speednet following the deal’s rejection, which many political observers have interpreted as a veiled threat to the government and market stability. The Prime Minister pushed back against this reading, noting that Speednet’s statement acknowledged public calls for increased competition in Belize’s telecom sector and committed the company to competing openly in the market. He argued the response was not a threat, but simply a signal that Speednet would position itself to take advantage of the open competition Belizean consumers have demanded.

    When questioned about existing regulatory measures overseen by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Briceño clarified long-standing regulatory rules governing the sector. He explained that the existing Statutory Instrument (SI) only caps BTL’s ability to raise prices, a rule aligned with public demands to keep telecom costs affordable for consumers, and does not restrict any operator from lowering prices to compete. He also noted that the current regulatory framework aligned with a prior court ruling that mandated open competition in Belize’s telecom market, a decision that came after the opposition challenged an exclusive contract awarded to Speednet.

    The second controversy pits the Briceño administration against Belize’s major trade unions, which have issued a set of demands including the immediate resignation of BTL Chairman Markhelm Lizarraga, alongside a 90-day deadline for the government to meet their requests, which also include changes to PUC leadership and enacting long-pending legislation. Unions have claimed that Lizarraga and the BTL board acted against the public interest in pursuing the Speednet acquisition.

    Briceño defended Lizarraga and the full BTL board, arguing that they have committed no wrongdoing. He pointed out that the board had not actually approved the acquisition, only voted to conduct additional due diligence to assess the feasibility of a purchase, and that no final decision to move forward with the deal had ever been made. Rejecting the union’s consensus that the chairman violated public trust, Briceño said he simply does not agree with their assessment.

    When asked whether the government would comply with the full slate of union demands, Briceño said only that the administration would review the requests. Pressed on whether the government would consider adding union representation to BTL’s board to create a tripartite governance structure, the Prime Minister said he had not yet made a decision on the proposal and declined further comment. When asked if BTL would withdraw its pending regulatory application before the PUC, Briceño said he had no information on the matter before ending the press session.

    As the 90-day deadline set by unions ticks down, political uncertainty remains high in Belize. Questions linger over whether the Briceño administration will ultimately concede to union pressure or maintain its current position, and whether unions will move forward with mass mobilization and public protests if their demands are not met. Local political observers continue to monitor developments closely as the situation evolves.

  • Back to school : 2.1 billion in monetary aid for 140,000 parents

    Back to school : 2.1 billion in monetary aid for 140,000 parents

    Ahead of the 2026 academic year opening, Haiti’s government has launched a massive targeted cash assistance initiative to ease financial pressure on low-income households with school-aged children. On August 18, 2026, National Education Minister Vijonet Déméro and Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES) Director General Kesner Romilus formalized the program during an official signing ceremony, attended by senior education ministry officials including Director General Osny Jean Marie.

    Minister Déméro emphasized that the state designed this multi-pronged support package to reinforce assistance for families grappling with back-to-school costs, with a specific focus on the most socioeconomically vulnerable groups. Beyond direct cash transfers, the comprehensive initiative includes free distribution of school supply kits, instructional textbooks, and student uniforms, full tuition coverage for the first two cycles of primary education, and daily school meal programs for eligible students. The overarching goal, Déméro noted, is to cut the heavy financial burden that back-to-school preparations place on struggling household budgets.

    For his part, FAES Director General Romilus confirmed that the fund has completed all preparatory work to roll out the program, which also forms part of a broader strategy to reduce persistent school dropout rates in underserved urban and rural regions across the country. Romilus reaffirmed the Haitian government’s unwavering commitment to standing alongside vulnerable families, explaining that FAES’ programming aligns with a national push to strengthen social protection, guarantee educational continuity, and advance equal access to learning opportunities for all children, regardless of their family’s economic background.

    This year’s direct cash subsidy component totals 2.1 billion gourdes, reaching 140,000 eligible parents with children enrolled in national, community, municipal, and parochial schools located in disadvantaged zones nationwide. Each qualifying parent will receive a one-time allowance of 15,000 gourdes, disbursed via digital mobile payment platforms Natcash and MonCash. Minister Déméro stressed that the entire distribution process will follow strict orderly, coordinated, and structured protocols to ensure funds reach intended recipients efficiently.

    Officially named the Education Cash Transfer project, the initiative is being implemented under the umbrella of the national Multisectoral Emergency Program for the Reconciliation and Reintegration of Vulnerable Groups. To ensure transparency and accuracy, beneficiary lists will be pulled directly from the Ministry of National Education’s Education Management Information System (SIGE), before being officially shared with FAES to execute the payment transfers.

  • Deal Dead, But BTL Could Still Pay the Price

    Deal Dead, But BTL Could Still Pay the Price

    Nearly two years from now, the proposed merger between telecommunications providers BTL and Speednet has been called off entirely, but the fallout from the failed acquisition could still leave BTL facing significant market challenges, according to former Public Utilities Commission (PUC) chairman John Avery.

    Avery, who opposed the planned acquisition from its inception, calling it legally invalid, argues that a lingering regulatory measure imposed amid the merger review has put the incumbent telecommunications provider in a precarious competitive position. The regulatory order, known as a statutory instrument (SI), freezes all of BTL’s existing rates for a three-year period, leaving the company unable to adjust its pricing even as competitors move to capture market share.

    PUC has long classified BTL as a dominant market provider, a designation that remains in place even after the collapse of the Speednet deal. Under that status, the company already faces heightened regulatory scrutiny of all pricing decisions, but the three-year rate freeze adds an extra layer of constraint that runs counter to existing telecommunications law, Avery says.

    “The law is clear that dominant providers retain the ability to adjust their rates to match changing market conditions, but this SI overrides that provision by locking prices in place for three years,” Avery explained in an interview transcript from an evening television news broadcast. “If rival licensed providers choose to cut their prices to attract new customers, BTL cannot respond in kind. That leaves the company completely unable to defend its existing customer base if competitors decide to exploit this vulnerability.”

    Beyond the inability to match competitor pricing, the rate freeze also slows BTL’s ability to respond to broader market shifts. Any new service package, pricing plan or updated offering the company wants to roll out must first go through a full PUC approval process, delaying the company’s ability to adapt to changing consumer demand and industry trends.

    Avery says the regulatory measure was never justified, even when the acquisition was still under consideration. The designation of BTL as a dominant provider and subsequent rate freeze was only implemented to ease public fears that the merged company would act as a monopoly and engage in predatory price gouging, he argues. Now that the merger has been canceled, the unnecessary rate restriction violates existing telecommunications legislation and should be withdrawn immediately.

    Avery is calling on BTL to lobby PUC leadership to repeal the SI, replacing the rigid three-year freeze with a standard, formula-based rate review framework that aligns with existing law and supports healthy market competition. “Regulators should not be setting static prices in this market,” he noted. “The law makes clear that market forces should drive pricing, with appropriate oversight for dominant providers – not arbitrary freezes that distort competition.”