Carib Scope

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  • Kamla and Penny in row over race

    Kamla and Penny in row over race

    A bitter public conflict centered on racial friction and national unity has broken out between Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles, with the top political rivals trading accusations of fueling societal fragmentation on a recent public holiday weekend.

    The dispute ignited after Beckles, leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM), published a scathing Facebook post titled *“Unity Must Start With You, Prime Minister”* calling on Persad-Bissessar to step down. The opposition’s anger stemmed from the Prime Minister’s decision to skip the 2026 African Emancipation celebrations hosted by the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago, held at the Lidj Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village in Port of Spain’s Queen’s Park Savannah.

    Beckles branded Persad-Bissessar’s absence as a deliberate show of disdain for a core part of the nation’s shared history. She rejected claims that the annual commemoration is an exclusive PNM event, emphasizing that “Emancipation is a sacred part of Trinidad and Tobago’s history and belongs to all citizens, not any political party.” The opposition leader went further, accusing the Prime Minister of petulant, disrespectful behavior that undermines the national commemoration, arguing that her actions prove she is unfit to hold public office.

    Beckles also criticized Persad-Bissessar for defending a controversial Emancipation-themed event organized by the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), framing that choice as a second deliberate insult to the nation’s African community. She accused the ruling United National Congress (UNC) government of gaslighting the public about its commitment to unity, saying the administration actively deepens racial and political divides for political gain. Additional questions were raised about the upcoming Independence Day Parade, with Beckles suggesting the government’s vague plans for the event, tied to the ongoing construction of the North Stand that disrupted the Emancipation Village, stem from a fear of public backlash against the administration.

    In a broader attack on the UNC government, which won power in the April 28, 2025 general election, Beckles argued that public discontent is boiling over due to what she called the administration’s dismal, vindictive style of governance. She claimed that the government’s avoidance of press conferences to dodge scrutiny, retreat from public events to escape pushback, and efforts to silence cultural criticism amounts to a direct threat to Trinidad and Tobago’s democracy. Closing her call for resignation, Beckles said Persad-Bissessar has violated the oath of office by failing to serve all citizens impartially, and that an honorable exit would clear the way for the PNM to lead the country with a unifying agenda.

    Persad-Bissessar pushed back forcefully against the opposition’s accusations, dismissing Beckles’ calls for unity as performative, disingenuous political theater. In comments to the *Express*, the Prime Minister claimed that PNM lawmakers, party leaders and supporters have a long record of inflaming anti-Indo-Trinidadian rhetoric, citing slurs targeting the Indo-Trinidadian community used in political discourse during the holiday. She called the current PNM under Beckles the most aggressively racist and divisive iteration of the party in modern history, pointing to the verbal harassment of two senior UNC allies over the Emancipation weekend as proof of the party’s toxic rhetoric.

    The Prime Minister singled out the heckling and abuse directed at Culture Minister Michelle Benjamin, an Afro-Trinidadian politician whom Persad-Bissessar described as a close political ally she calls her “daughter,” and University of Trinidad and Tobago chairman Selwyn Cudjoe, an Afro-Trinidadian scholar who backs the UNC. Persad-Bissessar condemned the attacks, saying PNM supporters targeted the pair specifically to spread anti-Indo-Trinidadian hatred and undermine Afro-Trinidadians who align with the ruling party. She added that members of the Emancipation Support Committee stood by silently on stage as the harassment unfolded, refusing to intervene to stop the abuse of Benjamin. “That is how they celebrated Emancipation Day by allowing PNM political hacks to abuse a young brilliant hardworking and kind Afro-Trinidadian daughter,” she said, explaining that Benjamin was targeted only because of her association with the UNC, not because of her identity as a member of the African community. Persad-Bissessar concluded by saying she has lost all respect for the Emancipation Support Committee over its inaction, and reaffirmed that her government will continue its work serving all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.

  • FATF LAW PROCLAIMED

    FATF LAW PROCLAIMED

    In a critical step forward for Trinidad and Tobago’s efforts to align its financial regulatory systems with global anti-crime standards, President Christine Carla Kangaloo has officially enacted the final outstanding provision of landmark 2024 legislation designed to strengthen the country’s frameworks against money laundering, terrorist financing, and illicit financial activity.

    The presidential proclamation, officially documented as Legal Notice No. 596 of 2026, was signed at the Office of the President in St. Ann’s on July 30, 2026, and formally set July 31, 2026 as the effective date for Section 10(d) of the Miscellaneous Provisions [Proceeds of Crime, Anti-Terrorism, Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago, Securities, Insurance, Non-Profit Organisations, the Civil Asset Recovery and Management and Unexplained Wealth and Miscellaneous Provisions (FATF Compliance)] Act, 2024 (Act No. 17 of 2024). The official text of the proclamation confirms that after months of incremental implementation, the full scope of the 2024 legislation is now active across the country.

    This latest proclamation builds on a series of regulatory updates rolled out by the Trinidad and Tobago government in late 2025, when President Kangaloo signed a slate of complementary FATF compliance bills into law. That November 2025 package brought into force all provisions of the 2025 Miscellaneous Provisions (FATF Compliance) Act, as well as Sections 10(a), 10(b) and 10(c) of the 2024 act, and select provisions of the 2020 Miscellaneous Provisions (FATF Compliance) Act. All of those earlier provisions took effect on November 17, 2025, following bipartisan passage through the country’s legislative branches: the 2025 act was approved without amendments by the House of Representatives on September 16, 2025, and confirmed by the Senate 10 days later on September 26, 2025.

    The full package of legislative amendments updates seven core national laws, ranging from the Proceeds of Crime Act and Anti-Terrorism Act to the Non-Profit Organisations Act and Civil Asset Recovery and Management and Unexplained Wealth Act. When introducing the 2025 FATF Compliance Bill and companion Counter-Proliferation Financing Bill to the House of Representatives, Finance Minister Dave Tancoo emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to rooting out corruption and illicit financial activity.

    “This Government is not making joke in the fight against corruption,” Tancoo told lawmakers. The legislation introduces strict penalties for regulatory breaches, including fines of up to $1.75 million for violations by financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses.

    A key groundbreaking change included in the new laws grants the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) explicit statutory authority to investigate tax-related offences for the first time in the country’s history. Tancoo explained that the new investigative powers will equip the BIR to effectively detect and deter tax evasion, a gap that had previously been flagged by global assessors.

    The legislative updates also strengthen the enforcement capacity of the Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (FIUTT), granting the agency new tools including the ability to issue oral regulatory directives, impose meaningful penalties, and publish details of fines levied against non-compliant entities. Tancoo noted that these changes will transform the FIUTT from what had been perceived as a toothless regulatory body into an effective oversight body.

    “Through this, he asserted that the FIUTT will not be ‘just a paper tiger, but it will be a strong, agile and effective watchdog’,” Tancoo said.

    The minister added that global assessments had previously identified significant gaps in Trinidad and Tobago’s ability to combat tax evasion, which siphons critical revenue away from public services, erodes public trust in the fairness of the national tax system, and creates opportunities for more widespread illicit financial schemes. Full alignment with FATF standards, which require competent national authorities to have adequate investigative powers to counter money laundering and terrorist financing, is the core goal of the entire legislative package.

  • Column: De wereldwijde kenniscrisis

    Column: De wereldwijde kenniscrisis

    In late July 2026, during the high-profile AIDS 2026 international health conference hosted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a glaring geographic error by U.S. officials drew widespread attention and reflection across global communities—including the small South American nation of Suriname.

    The mistake unfolded mid-presentation from the U.S. Department of State, which was discussing newly negotiated, controversial health agreements with African nations. These talks came on the heels of the Trump administration’s deeply controversial, unprecedented cuts to global health aid that have left millions of vulnerable communities at heightened risk. On a presentation slide, an AI-generated map of Africa was displayed, with mislabeled and drastically misplaced countries that left many attendees stunned. Nigeria, the most populous nation in West Africa, was incorrectly placed within the boundaries of the Sahara Desert. Mozambique, a southern African coastal nation, was shifted all the way to the Horn of Africa on the continent’s eastern edge. Even Côte d’Ivoire, another West African state, was relocated across the entire continent to a wrong position.

    After the error circulated publicly, it was confirmed that the incorrectly labeled map had been produced entirely by artificial intelligence. The blunder quickly became a talking point around the world, illustrating that even leading global powers can face unforeseen pitfalls when relying on unvetted new AI technologies. For many, it raised important questions about the growing dependence on automated tools and the erosion of foundational human geographic knowledge.

    In Suriname, the map error struck a particular chord, stirring nostalgic reflection among older generations who received a far different foundational education than today’s youth. Surinamese people now in their 60s and 70s recalled rigid, thorough geography requirements during their school years: they were expected to memorize every country and its capital, identify nations on blank (or “blind”) maps with no labels, and draw accurate national and continental borders across Europe, Asia and other world regions. Students were also required to master global ocean and sea geography, including which bodies of water separated continents and which nations bordered major waterways. These requirements held even as the global map shifted over decades, with dozens of new nations emerging from the breakup of the Soviet Union and other geopolitical reorganizations.

    The blunder became a lively topic of discussion among a group of retired education workers who gather for water aerobics in Suriname, and the conversation quickly expanded beyond geography to broader shifts in modern education. The group noted that today’s young Surinamese students are no longer required to memorize proverbs from their native cultures—once a core part of primary school curricula that required learning both the saying and its cultural meaning. They laughed as they recalled old primary school readers that featured content disconnected from Suriname’s tropical climate: lessons about snow, winter and Northern European seasons that local teachers often skipped, since most Surinamese people had never seen snow, and the content felt alien to their lived experience.

    Beyond these nostalgic anecdotes, the conversation revealed a growing concern: just as the U.S. AI blunder exposed gaps in geographic knowledge among senior officials, many Surinamese educators and observers note that today’s younger generations often lack basic familiarity with global countries and capitals. Cultural proverbs are seen as outdated and irrelevant to modern life, and many young people prefer to use English borrowed from global popular music over their own native mother tongues.

    For many Surinamese commentators, this high-profile U.S. mistake serves as a critical wake-up call. It reminds communities that education must do more than teach technical digital skills: it must also ground young people in foundational global knowledge, their own history, and their cultural roots. This need is particularly acute in Suriname, a nation defined by its rich multicultural history and diverse population.

    As the reflection from Suriname makes clear, knowledge of the broader world begins with knowledge of oneself and one’s origins. Even amid rapid technological change, the next generation benefits immensely from staying connected to their cultural roots while building a robust understanding of the world around them. A correctly placed, well-understood map does more than show where nations sit on the globe—it reveals who we are, and where we come from.

  • Zapping Haiti of August 3rd, 2026

    Zapping Haiti of August 3rd, 2026

    In the first week of August 2026, Haiti is navigating a complex mix of escalating gang violence, public health safeguards, diplomatic engagement, and domestic governance initiatives, according to official updates from across the country.

    The deadliest incident unfolded on July 31 in the coastal town of Gressier, where armed criminal gangs executed at least 10 motorcycle taxi drivers. The victims were traveling along the key route connecting Gressier’s central crossroads to the nearby city of Léogâne, passing through the Degan corridor. Me André Michel, a prominent Haitian official, released a formal statement following the attack, extending heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and the broader community of motorcycle taxi drivers, who form a critical backbone of local transportation across Haiti. Michel reaffirmed the government’s hardline stance, stating clearly that “we do not negotiate with criminal gangs.” The killing underscores the persistent threat gang violence poses to ordinary Haitian citizens going about their daily livelihoods.

    In a move to protect public health, Haitian trade authorities have launched enhanced border monitoring starting August 3 at the busy Ouanaminthe–Dajabón crossing that connects Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Lesly Théogène, Regional Trade Director for Haiti’s Northeast Region, announced the deployment of a multi-disciplinary team made up of public health workers, licensed pharmacy professionals, and trade inspectors from Haiti’s Ministry of Commerce. The team’s core mandate is to inspect, screen, and monitor all goods entering Haitian territory, with a specific focus on pharmaceutical products and other consumer goods destined for human consumption. The initiative targets counterfeit and low-quality products, which have long posed a severe public health risk to Haitian communities.

    Meanwhile, during an official visit to Cap-Haïtien to mark the 20th anniversary of the Network of Departmental Public Universities (RUPD), Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé held a closed working meeting with Archbishop Launay Saturné of Cap-Haïtien. The pair centered their discussions on the critical role that religious institutions and educational bodies play in advancing a more equitable, inclusive, and progressive Haitian society. The Prime Minister publicly praised Archbishop Saturné for his consistent, unwavering dedication to advancing social peace, collective public welfare, and positioning education as a central catalyst for national transformation.

    Also in the Northern Region, Haiti’s Minister of Youth and Sports Pythagore Dumas led an official inspection tour of regional sports infrastructure on August 2. The tour forms part of a national push to revitalize grassroots and competitive sports across the country, and also included planning for the upcoming official launch of summer national championships. A secondary goal of the visit was to encourage young Haitians to register and participate in the general elections scheduled for the end of 2026. During the first day of inspections at Cap-Haïtien’s Saint-Victor Park, the delegation uncovered significant structural and operational deficits across key facilities, including failing locker rooms, non-functional lighting, dilapidated public bleachers, inadequate VIP seating, and a lack of required sterile buffer space around the park perimeter.

    In diplomatic developments, Haitian Embassy staff held a working session to review proposed financial support from the State of Qatar for Haiti’s Gang Suppression Force (GSF), the country’s dedicated security unit leading operations against armed gang activity and terrorist groups operating within national borders.

    In cultural and civic commemoration, the coastal city of Jacmel marked its 328th founding anniversary with a solemn thanksgiving mass organized by Jacmel City Hall. The event brought together local government leaders, representatives of national and regional institutions, civil society leaders, and hundreds of worshippers from across the city to mark the milestone.

  • Na afgelaste DNA-reis: Parmessar wil overleg met fractieleiders over grensprotocol

    Na afgelaste DNA-reis: Parmessar wil overleg met fractieleiders over grensprotocol

    A planned trip by a delegation from Suriname’s De Nationale Assemblee (DNA) to a traditional community gathering (krutu) on Stoelmanseiland has fallen through at the last minute, triggering internal political friction over a draft border agreement with France. The public debate on the border protocol was already postponed last week to accommodate the gathering, but logistical and administrative hurdles kept the parliamentary delegation grounded in the capital Paramaribo.

    Rabin Parmessar, leader of the NDP fraction and chair of the parliamentary committee overseeing the protocol, told local outlet Starnieuws that mandatory administrative pre-travel checks could not be completed on the extremely short timeline available for the trip. He emphasized that he refused to bypass formal DNA and government protocols to hastily arrange the visit, which was meant to give the committee observer status at the community discussions.

    Parmessar also pushed back against criticism over the no-show, noting that the responsibility for fully updating border communities on the details of the border protocol rests first with the national government, not the national legislature. He added that the key traditional leader who requested the gathering, granman Bono Velanti, also ultimately did not attend the krutu, with only sub-chiefs and other traditional authorities taking part in discussions.

    In contrast to the absent parliamentary delegation, Ronnie Brunswijk — chair of the ABOP party and vice-president of Suriname’s parliament — did attend the Stoelmanseiland gathering. Brunswijk publicly stated that Parmessar’s committee should have been present for the discussions, and confirmed that his ABOP party fraction will vote against the final border protocol with France.

    Initial feedback from the krutu shows that attending traditional leaders and local residents still have a large number of unanswered questions about the agreement, and want full, detailed briefings before any further progress on ratification moves forward. Parmessar reiterated that the executive branch holds primary responsibility for organizing these information sessions and addressing community concerns.

    “This gathering was convened by the granman, not the parliament. Preparations and outreach on the treaty are first and foremost a task for the government,” Parmessar explained, noting that the government is already working to compile answers for questions submitted by both border communities and DNA lawmakers.

    The committee chair stressed that his panel has made broad community consultation a core priority throughout the multi-year process of finalizing the border agreement. Over both the previous and current parliamentary terms, the committee has traveled to multiple border river villages to document resident perspectives. “We cannot discuss border arrangements without consulting Indigenous communities. That has always been the starting principle for our committee,” he said.

    Most community concerns do not center on the border line itself, but rather on the impacts of enforcement once the protocol is ratified, Parmessar explained. Local residents fear that French authorities will implement stricter controls along the Marowijne River, which would disrupt daily cross-border travel, small-scale artisanal gold mining, and other routine local activities that sustain border communities.

    Parmessar clarified that the draft agreement is built on the previously agreed midline principle for border demarcation, and preserves free movement for residents on both sides of the river. The protocol also creates a special border pass that will allow community members to continue moving between the two countries for daily life. He did note, however, that the agreement will maintain prohibitions on illegal activity including smuggling and other criminal acts, consistent with existing rules.

    Last week, DNA postponed its formal debate on the draft protocol after Bono Velanti requested that lawmakers first hold direct consultations with affected traditional authorities before moving to a vote.

  • Finance : Banking stress tests in Haiti (report)

    Finance : Banking stress tests in Haiti (report)

    The Central Bank of Haiti (BRH)’s Research Directorate in Economics and Finance has released a groundbreaking new working paper that applies advanced analytical methods to assess the long-term stability of Haiti’s banking system, filling a critical gap in localized financial risk research for the Caribbean nation.

    Authored by economists Jean Marie Cayemitte and Jean Sobocoeur Chrispin, the paper — titled *Banking System Stability and Stress Tests in Haiti : A Bayesian and Quantile Approach to Systemic Risks* — introduces a customized framework for measuring how the country’s banks hold up against the unique array of shocks that have shaped Haiti’s economy over the past two and a half decades. Drawing on comprehensive historical data spanning from 2000 to 2024, the researchers tested the system against five persistent, high-impact challenges that regularly threaten Haitian financial stability: sustained high inflation, sudden exchange rate fluctuations, broad economic contraction, prolonged political instability, and natural disasters that often cripple national infrastructure.

    The study’s core findings strike a cautious balance: while Haiti’s banking system has demonstrated enough inherent strength to absorb moderate individual shocks without systemic collapse, it remains significantly vulnerable when multiple vulnerabilities overlap. Combined macroeconomic instability, paired with longstanding institutional gaps, creates outsized risk of widespread banking distress that policy makers have historically struggled to prepare for.

    Building on these results, the research team outlines clear, actionable recommendations for regulators. They emphasize that regular, rigorous stress testing — rather than periodic, ad-hoc assessments — is non-negotiable for tracking emerging risks. They also call for evidence-based regulatory oversight that is tailored to the specific dynamics of Haiti’s economy, rather than adopting one-size-fits-all frameworks designed for more stable economies. Finally, the authors argue that regulators must require financial institutions to maintain dynamic prudential capital buffers that adjust to changing economic conditions, growing during expansionary phases to build resilience for inevitable downturns.

    As the opening quote of the paper notes: “Financial stability depends on our ability to understand risks, anticipate shocks, and continuously adapt our monitoring tools.” This research answers two long-unresolved questions for Haitian financial policy: how to accurately measure banking system resilience amid recurring crises, and how to anticipate the impact of political upheaval, inflation surges, and sharp currency devaluation on the sector. The 34-page paper, published in French, is available for free public download via the HaitiLibre website, bringing transparent, open-access research to policy makers, banking stakeholders, and researchers across the region.

  • Economy : The BRH is preparing the payment system of tomorrow

    Economy : The BRH is preparing the payment system of tomorrow

    Haiti’s central bank, the Banque de la République d’Haïti (BRH), is advancing a sweeping modernization initiative for the country’s national payment infrastructure, aiming to deliver a more efficient, accessible and secure transaction ecosystem for all Haitian financial consumers. As the bank charts the future of digital finance in the Caribbean nation, it is currently building a fully integrated National Payment Platform that will reshape how payments and money transfers are processed across the country.

    The core innovation of this upcoming platform is its unified interconnected framework, which will link every financial institution formally authorized by the BRH, spanning retail banks, microfinance organizations, and licensed electronic payment service providers. Prior to this development, transaction barriers between customers of separate institutions often created delays and complications for cross-institutional transfers. Once the new system launches, users across connected providers will be able to complete payments and peer-to-peer money transfers instantly, regardless of which institution holds their account.

    Beyond improving immediate transaction experiences, the platform is intentionally engineered to accommodate future advancements in financial technology, with all development aligned with Haiti’s existing financial regulatory laws to ensure compliance and systemic stability.

    Alongside announcing the platform development, the BRH issued two critical public advisories to protect Haitian consumers. First, the bank reminded the public that all financial service users should verify an institution’s BRH authorization before opening an account or conducting any transactions. A regularly updated directory of all authorized institutions is available for public viewing on the BRH’s official website at www.brh.ht. Second, the BRH clarified that as of the announcement date, it has not granted operating authorization to any entity to offer cryptocurrency or stablecoin services or execute crypto-related transactions within Haiti’s regulatory jurisdiction.

  • Education : Official start date for the 2026-2027 school year

    Education : Official start date for the 2026-2027 school year

    On July 31, 2026, key education stakeholders from across Haiti gathered in Pétion-ville for a high-stakes working session to finalize preparations for the upcoming 2026-2027 academic year. Leading the discussions, National Education Minister Vijonet Déméro used the opening address to lay out the government’s core goal: delivering a safe, inclusive start to classes for every student across the country, through coordinated action across all sectors.

    Déméro used the event to formally confirm the official first day of the 2026-2027 school year as September 7, 2026. Beyond setting the start date, he framed the new academic year as a critical milestone in Haiti’s broader national reconstruction effort, emphasizing that investing in children’s education forms the foundational bedrock of a stable, prosperous future for the country.

    “Our ambition is not limited to opening the school doors. It aims to fundamentally transform what happens inside the classrooms,” Déméro told attendees. He called for a widespread embrace of civic values across Haitian society and outlined urgent priorities for transforming the country’s long-stagnant education system. Key reforms he highlighted include full implementation of the national Curriculum Framework, ongoing updates to academic programs, and widespread integration of digital technology into daily teaching and learning.

    To turn these goals into reality, the minister issued a unified call to action for all stakeholders. He urged technical and financial partners and fellow government officials to maintain and deepen collaborative resource alignment, called on Ministry of Education staff to maintain consistent on-the-ground presence, ethical management practices, and an unwavering focus on educational quality, and appealed to teachers’ unions to center the best interests of students above all other priorities. Extending an invitation for constructive dialogue, Déméro concluded his remarks by calling for an end to division, stating “Let’s join forces. Let us silence our divisions and place the future of our children in Haiti above all other considerations.” He also reaffirmed the Haitian government’s full solidarity with families of school-aged children.

    Speaking alongside Déméro at the opening of the working session, Interior Minister Paul Antoine Bien-Aimé provided key assurances to attendees that schools currently occupied by internally displaced persons will be cleared and returned to educational use in time for the start of the academic year. He also highlighted the newly established Municipal Education Commission, noting that Haiti’s Constitution designates national education authorities and local governments as co-managers of public education, making the commission a critical step toward more effective shared governance. He called on all elected officials across the country to fully commit to supporting the new body.

    Over the course of the day, participants including technical directors from the Ministry of National Education and representatives from domestic and international education cooperation partners held detailed panel discussions on a wide range of preparation priorities. Topics covered included the ongoing curriculum reform effort, expanded and improved teacher training programs, production and equitable distribution of textbooks, construction and rehabilitation of damaged school infrastructure, distribution of classroom furniture, school supplies and student uniforms, direct cash assistance for low-income families, expansion and improvement of school canteen programs, installation of solar energy and broadband internet systems in school facilities, and the development of new digital campuses at Haitian high schools and Departmental Public Universities (UPDs).

    All planned initiatives for the 2026-2027 academic year are structured around a four-pillar roadmap developed by the Ministry of Education to guide preparations. The four core pillars are: 1. Infrastructure, logistics, and security; 2. Social support and assistance to vulnerable families; 3. Curriculum reform, digital integration, and teacher training; and 4. Governance, social dialogue, and stakeholder communication.

    The Pétion-ville working session drew a broad cross-section of Haitian education leadership, including Secretary of State for Literacy Adelson Lorgeat, Ministry of Education Director General Osny Jean Marie, National Office for Partnership in Education (ONAPE) Director General Stéphanie Paultre, Institute for Social Welfare and Research (IBESR) Director General Arielle Jeanty Villedrouin, Interministerial Committee for Territorial Planning (CIAT) Executive Secretary Marie-Christine Stephenson, Ministry of Education inspectors general and senior officials, leaders of multiple Haitian teachers’ unions, and representatives from dozens of national and international institutions active in Haiti’s education sector.

  • ABOP zal tegen ratificatie grensprotocol met Frankrijk stemmen

    ABOP zal tegen ratificatie grensprotocol met Frankrijk stemmen

    In a surprising announcement that has exposed growing rifts within Suriname’s governing coalition, General Chairman of the General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) Ronnie Brunswijk has confirmed his party will vote against ratifying the long-pending border agreement between Suriname and France. Brunswijk, who also serves as Vice Chairman of Suriname’s National Assembly, made the formal declaration during the Liba Krutu traditional gathering held Sunday on Stoelmanseiland.

    Even though ABOP holds a key position as a member of the current ruling coalition, Brunswijk made clear that prioritizing the needs of interior communities outweighs maintaining partisan unity within the government. “I will tell them I am voting against this bill, because the interior does not want it,” Brunswijk stated directly to attendees at the gathering. His remarks confirm that the entire ABOP parliamentary caucus will formally block the approval of the border protocol when it comes to a vote in the National Assembly.

    Brunswijk further justified the party’s opposition by noting that the Krutu gathering made clear the Aukan community, one of the largest Indigenous groups in Suriname’s interior border region, firmly rejects the terms of the agreement. The move has shocked political observers in Suriname due to the unusual timeline of the party’s opposition: the border protocol was originally signed by both Suriname and France back in 2001, when ABOP was already part of the national government, and Brunswijk himself held the post of vice president under current President Chan Santokhi at the time of signing. Despite the executive branch signing the agreement years ago, final ratification requires a majority vote of approval from the National Assembly, a step that has been delayed for decades.

    Footage of Brunswijk’s announcement at the traditional gathering has been shared widely across social media platforms, posted by ABOP Member of Parliament Genevievre Jordan, who was in attendance at the Krutu.

  • MV Barima’s murder charges trumped up to cover officials’ failures – chief mate’s friends

    MV Barima’s murder charges trumped up to cover officials’ failures – chief mate’s friends

    On Sunday evening, August 2, 2026, dozens of supporters including family members, friends, and local residents gathered outside the Grove, East Bank Demerara home of Rondell Dwayne Roberts, the first mate of the sunken Guyanese ferry MV Barima, to stage a solidarity demonstration. The 42-year-old father of three, along with two other marine and transport officials, is currently facing 72 counts of murder in connection with the July 18 sinking that has been linked to an estimated 102 unconfirmed fatalities out of 179 total passengers and crew on board. Protesters argue the charges against the trio are fabricated to deflect blame from senior government officials who they claim bear ultimate responsibility for the disaster.

    Protesters carried hand-painted placards bearing slogans calling for transparency, accountability, and the immediate release of all three accused men. Beyond calling for Roberts’ exoneration, demonstrators also demanded justice for vessel captain Kevin “KP” Price, 40, of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara, and Delon Granderson, 33, a Transport and Harbours Department goods superintendent based in Fellowship, West Coast Demerara. Additional slogans pressed officials to salvage the sunken ferry to retrieve submerged evidence, called for the dismissal of senior government leaders linked to maritime oversight, and highlighted the need for closure for the families of both the accused and the victims.

    One close friend of Roberts told Demerara Waves Online News that the entire community is convinced he has been wrongfully accused and wrongfully imprisoned. A female friend of the first mate reiterated that sentiment, stressing that accountability must start with the senior government officials in charge of maritime regulation and safety. “They just can’t put all the blame on a low-level employee. That is plain injustice, and all the critical evidence is still sitting at the bottom of the water,” she stated.

    Dr Dexter Todd, the attorney representing the accused, confirmed last week that he intends to file a legal challenge disputing the legality of the murder charges. Picket participant Morti also forcefully refuted unconfirmed reports that Roberts had tested positive for marijuana use while on duty aboard the ferry. “This boy does not smoke or drink. He would only drink a Vita Malt, he doesn’t even smoke cigarettes,” Morti said. “He never got out of bed that morning to go to work and kill anyone.”

    Supporters of the accused uniformly back the plan to salvage the MV Barima from its resting place nine miles offshore, arguing that retrieving the vessel is the only way to uncover conclusive evidence of what caused the sinking and identify all parties responsible, including senior government decision-makers. “The proof of what happened is right there on that boat,” one friend of Roberts explained. “Bring it up so everyone can see the evidence. If the evidence from the vessel proves they are guilty, then justice will be served. But right now, we’re being denied that proof.” Morti went a step further, proposing that once salvaged, the ferry could be brought ashore and converted into a permanent memorial to honor the lives lost during the voyage from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, instead of constructing a memorial at sea.

    Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Hack has defended the decision to bring charges, stating that her office recommended prosecuting the three men based on submitted evidence, binding legal principles, relevant case law from the United Kingdom, Commonwealth jurisdictions, and the European Court of Human Rights, as well as broader public policy considerations.

    Sunday’s demonstration marks the third public protest held in support of the accused in recent weeks, with previous rallies taking place in Melanie Damishana and Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara. Separately on Sunday, Deodat Indar, the minister responsible for maritime administration, confirmed that he had received intelligence that opposition supporters were planning a separate protest outside his personal residence.

    Multiple opposition groups including We Invest in Nationhood, A Partnership for National Unity, and Forward Guyana Movement, alongside the Amerindian People’s Association and other civil society activists, are currently calling for Indar and the country’s minister of maritime transportation to resign or be removed from office over the disaster. In response to growing public pressure, President Irfaan Ali has already taken two formal steps to investigate the incident: he has appointed a five-member Commission of Inquiry to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the sinking, and assembled a specialized technical team to review existing safety and compliance standards for all vessels operating in Guyana’s waters. The technical review team includes former Maritime Administration Department Director-General Dr. Ivor English, Guyana Defense Force Colonel Julius Skeete, and experienced marine officer and ship surveyor Captain Joseph Lewis.