Carib Scope

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  • ‘Lies and deception to extend SoE’

    ‘Lies and deception to extend SoE’

    A sharp political dispute has erupted in Trinidad and Tobago over an alleged national security threat targeting parliamentarians, with the country’s main opposition accusing the ruling government of orchestrating a deliberate deception to pave the way for extending a national state of emergency.

    Marvin Gonzales, Opposition Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for the Arouca/Lopinot constituency, laid out the opposition’s explosive claims during a press briefing held Monday at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in downtown Port of Spain. The accusation comes in direct response to comments Attorney General John Jeremie made during a Wednesday sitting of the House of Representatives, where he revealed a purported gang-related national security incident that occurred the prior Friday.

    According to Jeremie’s official statement, delivered during debate on the 2026 Parole Bill, the threat originated from a gang member based in the Belmont community. The incident, he said, was severe enough to mandate stepped-up security protocols for the entire Parliament complex and additional personal protection for multiple high-ranking government officials. Jeremie noted his comments were authorized by the country’s top police official, Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro.

    When contacted for verification last Wednesday, Guevarro confirmed that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) had responded to a security incident requiring enhanced protective measures at Parliament and for a small cohort of government leaders. He emphasized the service acted out of an abundance of caution, following all established national security protocols. Citing legal and operational obligations related to national security, Guevarro declined to disclose further details about the incident, the police response, or the specific individuals impacted by the enhanced protections.

    But Gonzales directly contradicted the official narrative, telling reporters that the day of the alleged incident was completely routine in Parliament, with no visible increase in law enforcement presence and no official notification to opposition lawmakers about any threat to their safety. He stated that opposition parliamentarians, including the Leader of the Opposition, received no briefings about security risks to the Red House (Trinidad and Tobago’s parliament building), its surrounding precincts, or the parliamentary chamber itself.

    Gonzales pointed to only one unusual occurrence that Friday: ruling party parliamentarians departed the building far earlier than expected, ahead of a scheduled late-night sitting that had been anticipated given the day’s legislative agenda. He explained that the early exit was tied to a pre-planned event at the Diplomatic Center for a visiting Indian minister, not a sudden security emergency. Beyond that pre-scheduled commitment, he said, there were no deviations from normal security arrangements around the complex.

    “No one informed us of any security concerns, or advised us to take extra precautions when moving outside the building — nothing of the sort happened,” Gonzales said. “That is why I maintain what the Attorney General announced is nothing more than a grand deception and a deliberate distraction.”

    The opposition chief whip argued that Jeremie’s revelation was a calculated political move to build public support for extending the current state of emergency. He noted that neither Defence Minister Wayne Sturge nor Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander made any mention of a parliament threat during their remarks to the chamber that same Friday.

    Gonzales accused the current government of repeatedly misleading the public about the justifications for implementing and maintaining a state of emergency, saying the administration has a consistent track record of falsehoods to keep the measure in place. “What happened this week, which made front-page headlines across the country yesterday, is the government, through the Attorney General, laying the groundwork to extend the state of emergency in Trinidad and Tobago by way of lies and deception,” he added.

  • PNM raises procurement red flags

    PNM raises procurement red flags

    Trinidad and Tobago’s main opposition party, the People’s National Movement (PNM), has levelled serious accusations against the ruling United National Congress (UNC) administration, claiming the government is leveraging a newly created state-owned housing entity to funnel taxpayer funds to political campaign backers. The allegations were formally brought forward during a press briefing hosted at the Office of the Opposition Leader in Port of Spain by Malabar/Mausica Member of Parliament Dominic Romain.

    At the heart of the controversy is LandmarkTT Properties Ltd, a special-purpose state enterprise incorporated in 2026 under the Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs. The firm was established to roll out a new public-private partnership model for unsubsidized, premium residential development across the country. However, the entity is already facing scrutiny from the national procurement regulator over its handling of the $100 million Allamby Residential Development project slated for Corinth, San Fernando.

    Romain pointed to ongoing questions around the project’s procurement process, noting that irregularities have already been flagged in the request for proposal phase. He claimed last-minute adjustments to bidding requirements put multiple competing contractors at an unfair disadvantage, while unsuccessful bidders have publicly raised concerns about a lack of transparency around the project’s scope and its $100 million price tag. Adding to the red flags, Romain noted that LandmarkTT’s official website remains incomplete even as the company has begun asking prospective homebuyers to join a so-called “priority access list” for its luxury properties. He also argued that the government’s broader approach of repurposing public land for private luxury development benefits connected private interests rather than addressing widespread affordable housing needs.

    Drawing a parallel to a past controversial project under a previous UNC administration, Romain recalled the Victoria Keys development in Diego Martin, where eligibility criteria were relaxed to include higher-income applicants— a change that ultimately allowed party allies and financiers to access benefits, he claimed. He added that Land and Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein has repeatedly dodged press inquiries about LandmarkTT and the Allamby project, leaving critical questions unanswered.

    The allegations align with a formal inquiry launched by the Office of Procurement Regulation (OPR). In correspondence dated April 20, the regulator wrote to LandmarkTT addressing complaints that the state enterprise bypassed mandatory open bidding in favor of a selective tendering process for the Allamby contract, a move that potentially violates the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act. The OPR warned that given the contract’s $100 million value, the risks of adverse financial and economic outcomes are significantly heightened, particularly for high-value, high-risk procurement where failure to secure value for public money has broad consequences. Romain also questioned the vetting and hiring process for senior leadership and staff at LandmarkTT, accusing the government of attempting to mislead the public about the entity’s true purpose.

    In separate remarks at the same press briefing, Diego Martin West MP Hans des Vignes raised a separate set of concerns, warning that reduced state funding for sports, cultural, and youth programs could create conditions for a repeat of the notorious LifeSport corruption scandal that rocked previous administrations.

    Romain closed by calling on all Trinidad and Tobago citizens to remain vigilant about how the UNC government manages national public assets, and to demand full transparency and accountability for all government procurement processes.

  • Threats against MPs a challenge to stability

    Threats against MPs a challenge to stability

    Fresh security concerns are rippling across Trinidad and Tobago this week after the Attorney General confirmed that several government parliamentarians have been upgraded to enhanced protection levels, following a direct threat from an organized gang member. The disclosure, which was delivered to Parliament by Attorney General John Jeremie earlier this week, has been formally verified by Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro, prompting sharp analysis from security experts and former law enforcement leaders over what the incident signals for national stability.

    Regional security consultant Dr. Garvin Heerah, a former head of Trinidad and Tobago’s National Operations Centre, framed the threats as far more than an isolated security incident. In an interview with local outlet *Express* on Thursday, Heerah argued that this act represents a deliberate, direct challenge to the legitimacy of state authority, the country’s democratic foundations, and public trust in national governance.

    Heerah emphasized that the incident demands urgent, serious attention, particularly against the current backdrop of surging violent crime in the Belmont neighborhood and a tense overall national security climate. He noted that the development lays bare a shifting dynamic among organized criminal groups: growing operational confidence and a more aggressive psychological posture that targets state institutions, rather than just rival gangs.

    “When criminal actors are bold enough to threaten elected representatives and shape the national mood through fear, intimidation, and coercive communication, this moves far beyond typical gang rivalry or street-level violence,” Heerah explained. “It crosses into what can only be described as criminal encroachment on core state institutions.”

    Heerah connected the timing of the threats to the country’s ongoing state of emergency, intensified anti-gang enforcement operations, and a string of high-profile violent attacks in Belmont, including a recent triple murder and multiple non-fatal shootings. He explained that criminal networks typically lash out aggressively when they face sustained pressure from law enforcement: when authorities are disrupting their financial assets, dismantling their territorial control, and gathering actionable intelligence on their operations. These aggressive responses, Heerah argued, are often symbolic acts designed to demonstrate that the group still retains power and the ability to carry out retaliation against the state.

    “This issue cannot be viewed as just a series of isolated threats,” Heerah stressed. “It has to be understood within the broader framework of strategic criminal messaging. Criminal organizations rely heavily on public perception, and the fact that elected officials now need heightened protection sends a clear signal that these groups feel emboldened enough to challenge the state on a psychological level.”

    From a regional perspective, Heerah classified the development as extremely serious, pointing to a clear pattern across Latin America and the Caribbean where transnational and local criminal groups evolve. What begins as illicit activity focused on drug trafficking and street violence often progresses into attempts to seize influence over governance structures, law enforcement policy, and even electoral outcomes. He named Mexico, Haiti, Colombia, Jamaica, and multiple Central American nations as examples where criminal organizations have systematically tested state authority by targeting politicians, judges, journalists, police officers, and trial witnesses with intimidation and violence.

    “The lesson for Trinidad and Tobago is unambiguous: early recognition and decisive intervention are critical to containing this threat,” Heerah said. He warned that once criminal groups become convinced they can manipulate democratic systems through fear, intimidation, and strategic violence, the issue evolves from a routine law enforcement problem into a fundamental threat to national stability. Even so, Heerah urged against unnecessary public panic and media sensationalism, noting that authorities must strike a careful balance between transparency for the public and protecting the operational secrecy needed for intelligence gathering, threat assessment, and protective detail for elected leaders.

    Former Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith, who described the public disclosure of the threats as an “alarming revelation”, offered a separate take on the incident. Griffith argued that the threats are proof that current government anti-crime initiatives are successfully disrupting criminal operations. Drawing on his own tenure as the nation’s top law enforcement officer, Griffith shared that he received 43 separate death threats during his time in office. “If I had seen a drop in death threats while I was serving, that would have been the thing to worry about — it would have meant I wasn’t doing my job to disrupt these groups,” he said.

    Griffith explained that threats against senior officials are a clear sign that criminal networks are frustrated, because government and law enforcement actions are cutting into their illicit profits, disrupting their business models, and limiting their operational space. Rather than exiting the trade, he noted, criminal groups typically respond by trying to neutralize or eliminate the officials who are disrupting their activities.

    While Griffith acknowledged that the threats themselves are concerning, he raised questions about the decision by Commissioner of Police Guevarro to approve the public disclosure of the information. He noted that while the Attorney General was simply following the approval granted to him to share the news with Parliament, senior police leaders need clearer judgment around what information should be made public and what should remain restricted on a need-to-know basis.

    Throughout his tenure and in the years before and after, Griffith said there have been multiple plots targeting senior government and law enforcement figures. In each case, he said his approach was to either eliminate the threat or implement enhanced security measures quietly, without broadcasting sensitive details to the general public. “That is what the Commissioner of Police should have done in this case,” Griffith argued. He added that the public disclosure has already amplified nationwide fear and could cause lasting damage to Trinidad and Tobago’s international reputation as a stable, safe nation.

  • Search intensifies for missing Angelo

    Search intensifies for missing Angelo

    A multi-agency search operation for a missing two-year-old, Angelo Tobias Plaza, in Tobago has been boosted by the arrival of the specialized Hunters Search and Rescue Team (HSRT), a volunteer group with extensive experience in land and coastal search missions.

    HSRT members made their way to the coastal island after the toddler’s reported disappearance on Monday night, touching down in Tobago shortly after dark on Wednesday. Before launching their on-the-ground operations, the team held an early morning strategy session Thursday with leadership from the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), including TEMA director Allan Stewart, to align on search parameters and review existing case details.

    HSRT leader Vallence Rambharat told local media outlet Express on Thursday that the team’s core mission throughout the search is to deliver long-awaited closure to Angelo’s grieving family, regardless of the outcome.

    “We stay always above the noise. Our strength really is in field searching, we are good with marine searches along the coastline as well, and we stick to that, we don’t hear any noise circulating around us,” Rambharat said, emphasizing the team’s focused, data-driven approach to the operation.

    On Thursday, HSRT members conducted thorough line searches of the Goodwood Bay coastline and the wooded and residential areas surrounding Angelo’s home in the small coastal village of Goodwood. Drawing on the team’s two decades of search experience and proprietary analytical framework, Rambharat explained that the team has calculated a high probability of locating Angelo’s remains in the near vicinity of the bay.

    Rambharat pushed back on widespread misinformation circulating locally that the distance from Angelo’s home to the beach stretched 3,000 meters, a distance too far for a toddler to travel unaided. To test the claim, the team conducted a field test: recreating a toddler’s slow, unsteady pace over the route, the team clocked the 200-foot journey at just one minute and ten seconds, confirming that a young child could easily make the trip unobserved.

    “Therefore, the possibility of a toddler walking to the beach in this instance is also possible, highly probable, and therefore we working these two analytics that we have done for the morning and we are doing some beach patrols, we are studying the ocean currents,” Rambharat added.

    The search effort has grown steadily since Angelo was first reported missing on Monday night, with land, sea, and aerial missions already conducted by local emergency responders. On Wednesday, Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force personnel joined Trinidad and Tobago Police Service officers to expand land search operations across the area. On Thursday, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Tobago) Rishi Singh traveled to the search site to meet with Angelo’s mother, other extended family members, and local villagers, reaffirming law enforcement’s commitment to exhausting all resources to resolve the case.

    A senior anonymous police officer told the Express that when search operations were paused for the evening Wednesday, responders received an emergency tip from a resident of Mount St. George claiming a child’s body had been spotted floating in Goodwood Bay. Search teams immediately responded to the area and conducted an extensive sweep of the bay and surrounding coastline, but no remains were recovered. The officer confirmed that the tip is still considered credible, with the witness standing by their account that a body was seen before being carried away by shifting currents.

    Angelo’s stepfather, Shannon Miller, who joined search operations as a volunteer diver on Tuesday, says he remains optimistic that the toddler will be found safe, despite the growing passage of time since his disappearance.

  • ‘threat to public safety’

    ‘threat to public safety’

    Weeks after a deadly heist at the San Fernando Municipal Police Station left a veteran officer dead and a massive cache of weapons stolen, the crisis continues to escalate in southern Trinidad and Tobago, as the majority of the stolen firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition remain untraced – leaving local business leaders and residents on edge over growing public safety risks.

    On April 19, the body of 41-year-old Acting Corporal Anuska Eversley, a 17-year veteran of the Trinidad and Tobago Municipal Police Service (TTMPS), was discovered in the station’s charge room at King’s Wharf. An investigation confirmed Eversley was beaten and strangled by attackers who accessed the facility’s secure strongroom, clearing it of 123 firearms and more than 4,300 rounds of ammunition, including 9mm rounds, 12-gauge shotgun shells, and .38 caliber ammunition.

    To date, law enforcement has only recovered a portion of the stolen arsenal. Three suspects – municipal police constable Jivan “Bigs” Cooper, 20-year-old construction worker Kwame Arnold, and 24-year-old scrap iron dealer Nicholas “Nico” Ramdass, all from Claxton Bay – have already appeared in court on charges of murder, weapons trafficking, and possession of stolen munitions. Despite this progress, the ongoing absence of most of the stolen weapons has sparked urgent outcry from the local business community.

    Kiran Singh, president of the Greater San Fernando Chamber of Commerce (GSFCC), told local media the region’s business owners view the security failure as an unprecedented threat to public stability, economic activity, and investor confidence. Singh warned that the unrecovered weapons are widely believed to have already entered local criminal networks, where they could be deployed in violent crimes ranging from armed robberies and kidnappings to extortion targeting both local residents and commercial operations.

    “This is not just an internal breach at a police facility – it is a direct threat to every person who lives, works, or visits San Fernando and its surrounding communities,” Singh said in a statement to the *Express*. “For businesses already grappling with skyrocketing security costs, this incident has amplified fear and uncertainty across the board, affecting employers, employees, customers, and potential investors alike.”

    From an economic perspective, Singh explained that the perception of unregulated illegal firearms circulating in the region causes immediate damage to consumer confidence and suppresses commercial activity. Businesses of all sizes rely on a predictable, safe environment to operate, and eroded public trust carries long-term consequences for investment, foot traffic, and San Fernando’s overall reputation as a welcoming place to do business. Small and medium-sized enterprises face the gravest risk, Singh added, as most lack the financial resources to absorb additional security expenses or recover from a violent criminal incident.

    Singh called on national and local law enforcement authorities to deliver immediate, transparent, and comprehensive public updates on the ongoing investigation and audit of the heist. He emphasized that the public and business community are owed clear assurances that every possible resource is being deployed to recover the missing weapons, identify gaps in the station’s security protocols that allowed the heist to occur, and implement stronger safeguards to prevent similar attacks in the future.

    The GSFCC has thrown its support behind expanded collaboration between law enforcement agencies, municipal government bodies, and the private sector to rebuild public confidence and demonstrate decisive action to address the crisis. “The safety of citizens, workers, and local businesses must remain a top national priority,” Singh added.

    In response to the incident, a sweeping administrative shakeup has already taken place within the TTMPS. TTMPS Assistant Commissioner Surendra Sagramsingh has been placed on administrative leave, with Assistant Commissioner Wayne Mystar stepping in to lead the service on an interim basis. San Fernando station Superintendent Dustan Renn, the four constables who shared Eversley’s shift, and other senior personnel have also been placed on immediate leave, while the contract of former Senior Superintendent Cecil Santana was not renewed following the attack. Multiple senior and junior officers have been suspended pending the outcome of the ongoing probe.

    A senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity to the *Express*, confirmed that law enforcement has enacted immediate security overhauls across all municipal police stations in the wake of the attack. Shifts now have increased staffing with more senior officers assigned, and department-wide scrutiny has cut down on chronic absenteeism, which had been a persistent issue prior to the heist. “We’ve seen a notable increase in attendance since the incident, as all officers are now under far closer scrutiny,” the source said. Eversley’s surviving colleagues at the station are also continuing to receive professional counseling to process the trauma of the attack.

    Investigations remain active, with law enforcement conducting widespread interviews and targeted operations to track down the remaining missing weapons, which authorities believe are already moving through local criminal networks. Complicating the broader security crisis, just 12 days after the San Fernando station heist, a separate cache of firearms was reported missing from another municipal police office on Penitence Street in central San Fernando, amplifying concerns about systemic security failures within the municipal police service.

  • St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Announces a New Era of Banking; CORE Banking Upgrade

    St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Announces a New Era of Banking; CORE Banking Upgrade

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – May 15, 2026 – The St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank (SKNANB), one of the leading financial institutions in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, has announced a transformative core banking system upgrade that will reshape the banking experience for its thousands of retail and corporate clients across the region. This comprehensive infrastructure overhaul represents one of the most significant digital investments in the bank’s 50-plus year history, laying the groundwork for faster, more secure, and customer-centric financial services.

    The initiative underscores SKNANB’s long-standing commitment to driving innovation, streamlining operational efficiency, and rolling out modern financial solutions aligned with the shifting needs of today’s consumers and business owners. For years, the bank has served as a cornerstone of economic development in St. Kitts and Nevis, holding more than $3 billion in total assets, over $2 billion in customer deposits, and a $1 billion-plus loan portfolio, so this upgrade is positioned to strengthen its ability to support community and commercial growth for decades to come.

    Customers across all segments will see tangible improvements to their daily banking activities, with upgrades focused on boosting convenience, transaction speed, and user control over financial accounts. The changes span three core areas:

    First, the bank will retire its existing separate mobile and online banking platforms in favor of a single, unified digital banking interface built for a more seamless, intuitive user experience. The new platform is designed to work consistently across mobile and desktop devices, eliminating the friction of disconnected services that many customers have previously navigated.

    Second, corporate and business clients will gain access to expanded capabilities tailored to their operational needs. The unified business platform enhances both domestic and international payment processing, adds streamlined support for payroll and bulk payment workflows, includes secure multi-user access for business teams, and enables real-time monitoring of all account activity to help businesses manage cash flow more effectively.

    Third, all customers will receive new account numbers for savings, chequing, term deposit, and loan products, where applicable. To ensure a smooth transition with no disruption to services, the bank will retain legacy account numbers and honor them throughout the entire transition period, giving clients ample time to update any automatic payments or direct deposit arrangements.

    Beyond user-facing improvements, the upgraded core infrastructure delivers broader systemic benefits: faster end-to-end transaction processing, advanced digital tools for both customers and bank staff, expanded reporting and analytics capabilities that allow for more personalized financial insights, and strengthened security controls to protect customer data and financial assets against evolving cyber threats.

    SKNANB has moved to reassure customers that all essential banking services will remain fully operational and stable throughout the system transition. To keep clients informed of key milestones, timeline updates, and frequently asked questions, the bank has launched a dedicated upgrade microsite at https://upgrade.sknanb.com/, where customers can access the latest information at any time. Clients requiring additional personalized support can reach out to the bank’s help team by emailing help@sknanb.com with the subject line “Core Banking Changes”.

    As a publicly traded institution on the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange with more than 5,000 shareholders and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis as its largest stakeholder, SKNANB remains focused on advancing national development across the federation. The core banking upgrade is part of the bank’s broader mission to deliver a full suite of financial products that support personal financial goals, drive sustainable business growth, and lift community prosperity across St. Kitts and Nevis.

  • National Bank of Dominica Ltd. (NBD) Tender Notice

    National Bank of Dominica Ltd. (NBD) Tender Notice

    In a public tender notice published on May 15, 2026 at 3:11 PM local time, the National Bank of Dominica Ltd. (NBD) has formally launched a prequalification application round for an upcoming planned construction project, calling on eligible industry operators to submit their interest. The banking institution is specifically seeking contractors with proven project experience and the required professional qualifications that hold operations or registration in Dominica and other member states of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). To participate in the prequalification process, interested eligible entities can obtain the full official prequalification documentation via two accessible channels: sending a request to the dedicated tender email address tenders@nbdominica.com, or accessing additional information and application instructions through the linked portal provided alongside the official notice. Prequalification serves as a critical initial screening step for public and private infrastructure projects, allowing the issuing institution to shortlist contractors that meet the technical, financial, and experience requirements before issuing full bid invitations for the construction work. This tender opening marks the first official step in NBD’s planned construction development, with more details on the project scope, timeline, and evaluation criteria to be shared with prequalified candidates once the initial screening process concludes.

  • Trump-Xi top: Taiwan-waarschuwing en energieoverleg

    Trump-Xi top: Taiwan-waarschuwing en energieoverleg

    On May 14, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing for a historic two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking the first visit by an American sitting president to China in nearly a decade. The long-awaited high-level meeting brought the world’s two largest powers together to confront a sprawling agenda of divisive geopolitical and economic issues, at a moment of growing global uncertainty fueled by regional conflict and shifting trade alliances.

    In closed-door strategic talks, President Xi delivered a firm warning on one of the most sensitive flashpoints in bilateral ties: the Taiwan question. Xi stressed that any misstep in handling the issue would push U.S.-China relations into “extremely dangerous territory.” China has long maintained that Taiwan is an inalienable part of its sovereign territory, while the United States retains a long-standing legal commitment to provide defensive support to Taipei. Senior U.S. administration officials reaffirmed during the summit that Washington’s long-held policy of strategic ambiguity on cross-strait relations remains unchanged.

    Beyond cross-strait tensions, the two leaders turned their attention to critical global energy security. The Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most vital energy chokepoint that carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, has seen major disruptions amid ongoing escalations in the conflict with Iran. The two leaders agreed to pursue coordinated efforts to keep the strategic waterway open to international navigation. The summit also revealed China’s growing interest in increasing purchases of U.S. crude oil as part of broader efforts to diversify its energy imports and reduce its overreliance on Middle Eastern energy supplies.

    On the economic front, Trump announced that China had finalized an agreement to purchase 200 commercial aircraft from U.S. aerospace giant Boeing. The deal marks the first major U.S. commercial aircraft contract secured by Boeing in the Chinese market in nearly 10 years, a symbolic breakthrough after years of frozen trade engagement. While the total value and volume of the agreement fell short of initial market expectations, it signals a shared commitment to normalizing bilateral trade ties following the fragile partial trade deal reached between the two powers last October.

    During the discussions, Trump also raised the case of Jimmy Lai, the imprisoned Hong Kong-based media tycoon and prominent critic of Beijing, who is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence. The U.S. delegation stated that it hopes for a positive outcome on the issue, though Chinese officials have repeatedly emphasized that matters related to Hong Kong are purely internal affairs of China, falling outside the scope of foreign interference.

    The summit comes as Trump seeks to shore up his domestic political standing ahead of upcoming political cycles, but his agenda in Beijing was constrained by ongoing challenges: stalled progress on broader trade negotiations and ongoing political and military fallout from the U.S.-linked conflict in Iran that has left his administration vulnerable to domestic criticism.

    By the end of the two-day meeting, the two leaders closed their summit with a working lunch and informal off-the-record talks, with both issuing a joint statement expressing a shared desire to strengthen overall bilateral cooperation. That said, fundamental disagreements on core issues remain unresolved, and those differences are expected to shape the trajectory of U.S.-China relations in the coming months. As the leaders wrapped up their talks, the global community continues to closely watch how the world’s most consequential bilateral relationship will evolve amid a period of unprecedented global geopolitical upheaval.

  • Jamaica focusing attention on rebuilding stronger tourism sector following hurricane

    Jamaica focusing attention on rebuilding stronger tourism sector following hurricane

    As the Caribbean region braces for the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, climate change has forced tourism leaders across the bloc to reimagine what sustainable tourism looks like in an era of growing extreme weather risk. At the center of this regional shift is Jamaica, which has emerged as a trailblazer in climate-resilient tourism reconstruction one year after Category Five Hurricane Melissa flattened large swathes of its critical tourism infrastructure.

    Data from Jamaica’s Planning Institute quantifies the staggering scale of the storm’s damage: total losses reached an estimated JMD $1.952 trillion (USD $12.2 billion), equal to 57% of the island nation’s entire annual gross domestic product. The tourism sector, Jamaica’s largest economic driver, bore the brunt of the destruction, accounting for $8.8 billion of the total losses.

    Speaking at the 44th Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Marketplace held in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett outlined the country’s bold new strategy to rebuild a more resilient, diversified tourism sector that can withstand future climate shocks.

    “The hurricane taught us a critical lesson about how we need to build, accounting for the global realities of climate change and its growing impact,” Bartlett told reporters during a press briefing at the event. He explained that the government is completely overhauling its land use and development rules, particularly for low-lying coastal zones that are most vulnerable to storm surge and sea level rise.

    “Several hard-hit coastal towns will be rezoned. Future residential development will be shifted further inland, while oceanfront land will be reserved exclusively for low-impact tourist activities,” Bartlett confirmed.

    As part of its broader push to diversify Jamaica’s tourism offerings, the minister announced plans for a new flagship maritime tourism destination in northwestern Jamaica, adjacent to the popular Palladium Hotel. The country is also shifting strategic focus to luxury tourism, with the northeastern coastal town of Port Antonio earmarked to become the island’s new luxury tourism hub. A new airport is planned for Vernon Field in central Jamaica to improve access to the island’s interior, and upgrades to existing port infrastructure will allow Jamaica to operate as a standalone multi-stop cruise itinerary, cutting down on long travel times for visitors.

    “Connectivity from all ports of entry to major resort areas will be capped at one to one and a half hours,” Bartlett said, adding that the infrastructure upgrades will eliminate long-standing transportation bottlenecks that have hampered visitor experiences. To support planned growth of 15,000 to 20,000 new hotel rooms, the government is investing in expanded carrying capacity infrastructure designed to make Jamaica a fully climate-sustainable destination.

    When asked what lessons Jamaica’s experience holds for other small island Caribbean nations facing the same climate risks, Bartlett emphasized that resilience is not accidental: it requires intentional investment and systemic preparation. “We have to build the capacity for resilience — it does not happen just because we wish for it,” he said.

    He called on regional governments to strengthen institutional frameworks, expand public education, update building policies, and enforce strict environmental and construction standards to prepare for future climate disasters. “First, we have to help our people understand what resilience means, then build a shared knowledge base that can be turned into practical, on-the-ground action,” Bartlett explained, pointing to Jamaica’s updated environmental and regulatory agencies as a model for systemic strengthening. He added that significant public and private capital investment is required to update building codes and improve construction approval processes to meet new resilience standards.

    Bartlett highlighted Jamaica’s rapid recovery after Hurricane Melissa as proof that these investments pay off: when the storm hit, 25,000 tourists were on the island, and not a single life was lost or major injury reported. All visitors were repatriated safely within one week of the storm, and the island reopened to tourists just six weeks later. Within six months, 80% of Jamaica’s tourism capacity was restored, and the country had already welcomed more than one million returning visitors.

    Beyond climate risk, Bartlett addressed overlapping global challenges that threaten regional tourism growth, including rising oil prices and widespread instability in the airline industry. “Rising oil costs have already put pressure on aviation sectors across every Caribbean state,” he noted. “If current geopolitical tensions do not ease, long-haul travel to the region will face serious headwinds.”

    He also acknowledged the financial struggles facing multiple low-cost carriers, including regional Caribbean airlines, warning that higher airfares could dampen tourist arrivals across the bloc. “To address this, we need to build capacity to future-proof our sector, hold collaborative dialogue with our airline partners, and most importantly, innovate and work together to share the burden of this challenging moment,” Bartlett said.

    Despite the array of economic and climate challenges facing the global tourism industry, Bartlett reaffirmed his long-held belief in tourism as a force for global good. “Tourism means peace,” he said. “And we as tourism leaders are the most important agents of peace on planet Earth.”

  • Regering zet extra machines en crisisaanpak in tegen wateroverlast

    Regering zet extra machines en crisisaanpak in tegen wateroverlast

    On Thursday, three top Surinamese government officials faced the National Assembly to outline the state of the country’s ongoing flood crisis and the steps the administration is taking to mitigate damage and prevent future disasters. Public Works and Spatial Planning Minister Stephen Tsang, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Minister Mike Noersalim, and Government Coordinator André Misiekaba delivered detailed testimony before the legislative body, laying bare the depth of infrastructure decay that has compounded the impact of recent extreme rainfall.

    Tsang opened his address by explaining that when his cabinet took office in late July 2025, it inherited a decades-long backlog of critical infrastructure maintenance that left both water-related and land-based infrastructure in what he described as a deplorable state. “We found trees growing inside drainage canals and sea outfalls. Drainage sumps were completely clogged with garbage, and we even recovered discarded mattresses, refrigerators and gas stoves from these waterways,” Tsang told parliament.

    The minister added that the majority of the government’s heavy equipment tasked with maintaining drainage infrastructure was either broken or entirely non-functional when the new administration took office. None of the country’s three dedicated dredging pumps operated at full capacity, he confirmed. In the months since, multiple pieces of equipment have been repaired, and the government has launched a combined operational model that relies on both public assets and contracted private construction firms to address urgent needs.

    Since September 2025, Tsang noted, the government has been building a long-term structural program focused on clearing outfalls, rehabilitating roadway networks, and upgrading national drainage systems across the country. He emphasized that the extreme rainfall that triggered the latest round of severe flooding was far outside normal weather patterns for the region. While 25 to 50 millimeters of rain is already classified as heavy precipitation for Suriname, measurements recorded on May 10 showed between 80 and 110 millimeters of rain falling across affected areas in just one event. “With that amount of water, major problems are unavoidable,” Tsang said. Even so, he added that preliminary interventions already completed have allowed floodwaters to recede far faster than they would have in previous years.

    Currently, active mitigation work is underway in multiple high-priority communities including Wintiwai, Pontbuiten, Rahimal, Leiding 10A, and Domburg, according to Tsang. In the coming months, the government will launch new bidding processes for additional contracts to clear canals and upgrade drainage networks across multiple districts. Rehabilitation work on critical sluices and pump stations is also ongoing in Paramaribo-Noord, Santo Boma, and other flood-prone regions.

    Looking ahead, the government is partnering with the Inter-American Development Bank to develop and deploy early warning systems for extreme weather events, a proactive measure designed to give communities more time to prepare for future flooding. An interdepartmental crisis working group has also been established, bringing together representatives from Public Works, Agriculture, Spatial Planning, and the National Disaster Management Coordination Center to align response efforts.

    For his part, Agriculture Minister Noersalim confirmed that his ministry has also deployed all available heavy equipment to address acute flood issues in key agricultural and residential regions including Nickerie, Saramacca, Weg naar Zee, and Commewijne. He noted that the ministry faced an early challenge just mapping out what operational equipment was actually available, a process that revealed significant gaps in the government’s asset inventory. “It was a complicated puzzle to piece together. Police are still conducting investigations into the whereabouts of a number of missing pieces of heavy equipment,” Noersalim explained.

    During clearing work on the Jahkrikreek in Saramacca, crews have encountered massive volumes of illegally dumped waste clogging the waterway, he added. To keep public spending under control, the ministry is prioritizing carrying out as much clearing and mitigation work as possible with in-house resources, only bringing in private contractors when work cannot be completed by public teams. A public tender for seven new flood mitigation projects is scheduled for next week, Noersalim confirmed.

    Government Coordinator Misiekaba closed the parliamentary briefing by calling for understanding and support from both the public and parliament for the government’s recovery efforts. He stressed that even modern, well-maintained drainage systems struggle to cope with extreme rainfall events of the scale Suriname recently experienced. “Guyana was flooded, Trinidad was flooded, even Hilversum in the Netherlands was inundated by recent heavy rains,” Misiekaba noted, adding that it will take significant time to fully eliminate the decades of maintenance backlog that left the country so vulnerable to flooding.

    Misiekaba also acknowledged that the government currently faces limited capacity to allocate new funding for flood mitigation work, as the 2026 national budget has not yet been finalized and approved by parliament. Even with these constraints, he guaranteed that the administration would not abandon communities affected by flooding. “Ministers are on the ground with communities every single day, working to identify ways to bring relief to those impacted,” he said.