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Cuban authorities have apprehended ten Panamanian nationals on charges of creating anti-government propaganda materials, according to an official statement released Monday by the nation’s Interior Ministry. The individuals, detained Saturday morning in Havana, reportedly confessed to entering the country specifically to produce what officials characterized as ‘subversive content’ displayed on signs.

Investigators revealed the suspects received financial incentives ranging from $1,000 to $1,500 per person to participate in the alleged operation. While the government withheld specific operational details, the announcement comes during a period of intensified security measures across the communist island.

The arrests follow recent maritime tensions between Cuba and the United States. Last week, Cuban coast guard personnel engaged a US-flagged speedboat approaching within one nautical mile of Cuban shores, resulting in four fatalities. Havana authorities described the incident as a thwarted terrorist incursion attempt by US-based Cubans seeking to destabilize the government.

According to Cuban reports, six additional passengers sustained injuries during the maritime confrontation, while the commander of the Cuban intercept vessel was also wounded. At least two American citizens were among those aboard the speedboat, with one confirmed among the fatalities and another injured.

The Cuban government maintains these events occur against a backdrop of repeated threats from the Trump administration, prompting the nation to remain on high alert for potential attacks targeting its political infrastructure.

ROSEAU, Dominica – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced on Monday that the Dominican government is finalizing a bilateral agreement with the United States to accept a limited number of third-country refugees. This arrangement would apply specifically to cases where the U.S. is unable to repatriate individuals to their countries of origin.

The proposed draft, expected to be signed this week, outlines a structured resettlement quota. Under the terms, Dominica would receive no more than seven migrants every four months, amounting to a maximum of 28 individuals annually. This figure stands in stark contrast to local speculation about large-scale arrivals, which the Prime Minister explicitly dismissed.

Skerrit emphasized the nation’s underlying need for skilled labor and population growth to bolster socio-economic development. He stated, ‘The truth is Dominica needs thousands of people more, if you were to ask me. We need some more people in there.’ He framed the agreement as a pragmatic solution to both a regional humanitarian challenge and a domestic labor shortage.

Operational management of the program will be handled by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on behalf of the Dominican government. Final logistical details, including housing arrangements—whether in individual rentals or a centralized facility—and financial provisions to ensure the government incurs no extra costs, are still being ironed out. Skerrit noted that the refugees may not remain in Dominica permanently and could eventually return to their home countries.

The Prime Minister positioned this cooperation as a strategic move to deepen the ‘longstanding relationship’ with the United States, signaling Dominica’s role as a ‘willing and reliable partner’ in the region. He concluded by urging a forward-looking perspective, warning against xenophobia and highlighting the potential benefits of integrating skilled individuals into Dominican society.

Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) has formally commenced the registration process for political entities, marking a pivotal step toward the nation’s first presidential elections since 2016. The registration window, which remains open until March 12, 2025, is being conducted under Article 143 of the nation’s Electoral Decree.

The CEP has mandated that official representatives from political parties, groups, and alliances present a comprehensive suite of documentation at its central office. For political parties, this includes notarized articles of incorporation, official recognition acts, party statutes, and minutes from the most recent general assembly or congress that appointed its executive committee. Political alliances face additional requirements, necessitating the submission of their foundational statutes, a list of signatory parties via a notarized agreement, a unified emblem agreement, and executive committee appointment minutes from each constituent party.

This procedural advancement occurs against a backdrop of prolonged political uncertainty. The assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021 left a power vacuum, with an interim government presiding over a nation that has not conducted a national election since April 2024. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimè has expressed unwavering confidence that elections will proceed by the end of the year, contingent upon establishing necessary security conditions.

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) has been actively involved in facilitating Haiti’s political stabilization. During its recent 50th regular summit in St. Kitts and Nevis, the bloc received a report from its Eminent Persons Group (EPG), chaired by former St. Lucian Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony, detailing Haiti’s political, security, and humanitarian landscape. Caricom leaders unanimously commended the Kenyan government for its leadership of the UN-authorized Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, now termed the Gang Suppression Force (GSF). Caricom Chairman, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis, reaffirmed the regional body’s steadfast commitment to supporting Haiti’s framework for achieving security and conducting credible elections.