Carib Scope

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  • PVC-vrouwen veroordelen uitspraken Van Samson: Leiderschap kent geen geslacht

    PVC-vrouwen veroordelen uitspraken Van Samson: Leiderschap kent geen geslacht

    PARAMARIBO, Suriname – July 31 – The women’s wing of the Progressive Communication Party (Partij van Communicatie, PVC) has issued a strong statement condemning recent controversial comments made by Cedric van Samson, a sitting member of the National Assembly from the ruling VHP party. Van Samson’s remarks, which implied that women are inherently less suited to hold Suriname’s highest political office, have triggered sharp pushback from gender equality advocates and political groups across the country.

    As a political organization rooted in the core values of gender equity, mutual respect, and inclusive political representation, the PVC’s women’s caucus made clear that it rejects all forms of gender-based stereotyping and discrimination in unmistakeable terms. The group emphasized that political leadership should never be evaluated based on a candidate’s gender, but rather on their policy vision, personal integrity, professional expertise, and genuine commitment to serving the Surinamese public.

    The statement highlighted that the PVC has long made a deliberate, principle-driven choice to reserve prominent positions for women on its electoral candidate lists. This decision, the group noted, stems from a deep-held conviction that women make an irreplaceable contribution to national development in Suriname. Their unique perspectives, expert knowledge, and leadership capabilities deserve full recognition, public trust, and widespread respect across all sectors of society.

    Going further, the PVC’s women’s wing issued a call to action for all political parties, elected representatives, and public officials across Suriname to conduct national and local political and social debate with a greater sense of responsibility. Words carry tangible social weight, the group argued: comments from sitting political leaders play a major role in shaping societal norms, and they must never be used to discourage or exclude women who aspire to take on senior governing responsibilities.

    Reaffirming their long-term commitment, the PVC women’s caucus pledged to continue working toward building a more inclusive Surinamese society where every woman has equal access to opportunities to develop her talents, hold leadership positions, and make a full, meaningful contribution to the country’s future. The statement closed with a clear core message: leadership has no gender. It is defined by character, competence, integrity, and dedication to serving the public good.

  • School urges prayers for family of student, 12, killed in crash

    School urges prayers for family of student, 12, killed in crash

    A quiet Caribbean community is grappling with unthinkable grief after the sudden death of 12-year-old Brianna Veira, a promising student at St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown (SJCK), who lost her life Wednesday following a devastating vehicular accident during a family outing on the island of Bequia.

    Initial local reports outline the tragic sequence of events: Veira was riding as a passenger in an SUV that stalled while attempting to climb a steep hill. The vehicle rolled backward and collided heavily with a tree, inflicting the critical injuries that ultimately ended the young girl’s life. Though Veira was quickly evacuated for emergency medical care at a treatment facility on St. Vincent, she could not be saved. As of Thursday, law enforcement officials had not released an official statement detailing the full circumstances of the crash.

    Veira was days away from starting her second year of secondary education when the accident occurred, cutting short a life filled with unfulfilled potential. In an emotional public post shared to the school’s Facebook page, SJCK Principal Sr. Martha Sebastien announced the loss to the school community, speaking of the profound shock and sorrow that has enveloped the entire institution.

    “Brianna was a deeply valued member of our school family, and her sudden passing has left all of us heartbroken,” Sebastien wrote in the post. She extended sincere condolences to Veira’s parents, extended family, close friends, classmates and all who knew the young student, noting that the entire school community would stand together through this period of mourning.

    “As a school community, we mourn together, pray together, and support one another,” the principal added. “We ask everyone to keep Brianna and her family in your prayers, asking our loving God to grant her eternal rest and to surround her loved ones with His peace, strength, and consolation. To our students, especially Brianna’s classmates and close friends, and to our teachers and staff, we recognise the deep sorrow that many are experiencing. May we continue to care for one another with compassion, kindness, and hope as we journey through this time of grief together.”

    The tragedy has also drawn an outpouring of sympathy from government officials. Lavern King, Senator and Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Innovation, Digital Transformation, and Information, shared her own condolences in a separate social media statement, saying she was deeply saddened by the young student’s passing.

    “Brianna was only 12 years old, with so much life and promise ahead of her,” King said. “From all reports, she was an outstanding student of SJCK and her loss will no doubt be profoundly felt by her family, friends, classmates, teachers, and the wider whole community. I cannot begin to imagine the pain and heartbreak her parents and loved ones are enduring at this time. I extend my sincerest condolences to them and pray that God grants them strength, comfort, and peace in the difficult days ahead. May Brianna rest in eternal peace.”

  • Little Brithanny was going home to graduate pre-school

    Little Brithanny was going home to graduate pre-school

    A five-year-old Venezuelan girl, Brithanny León Palacios, never got the chance to walk across the kindergarten stage to collect her graduation certificate, cut short by a migrant vessel disaster off the southwestern coast of Trinidad that claimed at least two lives and left a grieving family forever scarred.

    Brithanny had boarded an overcrowded wooden pirogue two weeks prior near the Trinidadian coastal town of Erin, alongside her mother and two older siblings. The group was heading back to Tucupita, Venezuela, where Brithanny had been enrolled in school, to reunite with her grandparents and mark her first major academic milestone. What should have been a hopeful journey home turned into a deadly tragedy when rough seas capsized the overloaded craft, throwing Brithanny and at least 28 other migrants into the churning open ocean.

    One day after the little girl’s final funeral rites were held at the Boysie Boodoo crematorium in Penal, her Trinidadian stepfather Sharzam Hosein opened up about the catastrophic incident that has ripped his family apart. Hosein, who stepped into the father role just a year after beginning a relationship with Brithanny’s mother, said the fateful journey began on July 22, when Brithanny, her 8-year-old brother, 10-year-old sister, and their mother set out for Venezuela, taking the dangerous coastal route to reunite with family.

    Just a short distance from the Trinidadian coast, a massive rogue wave hit the small vessel, and the captain lost all control. Seawater quickly flooded the hull, and the pirogue began to break apart, triggering a desperate panic among passengers scrambling to save the children on board. Brithanny’s mother pulled her 10-year-old daughter to safety, while another passenger grabbed hold of the 8-year-old boy. Edwin Parra, another migrant traveling on the boat, managed to reach Brithanny and pulled her into his arms to swim for shore.

    In the chaos of the disaster, however, both Parra and Brithanny vanished before they could reach safety. A day after the sinking, their bodies washed ashore along Trinidad’s southwestern coast.

    “The man who grabbed Brithanny tried to swim with her to shore. When the other survivors reached land, they couldn’t spot either of them,” Hosein recounted. “We still don’t know exactly what went wrong. The official cause of death was drowning, but when their bodies were found, they were badly battered. Brithanny’s head was swollen. Her mother refused to leave the beach that night, waiting and hoping her little girl would still turn up alive.”

    Hosein confirmed what many survivors and rescue teams have observed: the small vessel was drastically overloaded. According to his account, the boat carried nearly twice its intended passenger capacity, plus all the migrants’ luggage, leaving it dangerously unstable in even minor rough seas.

    The grieving stepfather described Brithanny as a gentle, bright, affectionate child who had formed a deep bond with him from their first meeting, calling him “Papa” almost immediately. “She was never rowdy, never in a bad mood. Her mother raised her so well, and we had a very special father-daughter connection from day one,” Hosein said. While Brithanny’s mother has tried to remain strong for her two surviving children, she remains deeply traumatized by the loss of her youngest child. “It has been completely devastating for all of us. I try to take her out of the house just to keep her from being alone with her grief. She’s not in crisis, but she’s far from okay,” he added.

    The family was forced to fund Brithanny’s funeral through small donations Hosein collected from friends, as they have no extra resources to cover unexpected end-of-life costs. In the wake of his loss, Hosein is calling on the public to show greater empathy for Venezuelan migrants, who he says are only making these dangerous journeys because of the crippling economic crisis that has left millions without food or opportunity in their home country.

    “People need to be more compassionate and helpful. They don’t take these risks for fun — they come to Trinidad just to survive. I spend a lot of time around migrants, and I know they leave everything behind because they have nothing left in Venezuela. Because of that hardship, a child has lost her life,” he said. “At the end of the day, God created all people, and only he can judge them. They come here to build a better life for their kids. Most people can’t imagine going an entire day without a meal, which is the reality many of them face back home.”

    Following the disaster, members of the Hunters Search and Rescue Team recovered dozens of personal items along the Los Iros beach shoreline, belonging to the estimated 30 migrants who were on board the overturned vessel. The team confirmed two bodies were recovered from the beach: Brithanny and Edwin Parra.

  • PM, Bramble confident as petitions trial hits halfway mark

    PM, Bramble confident as petitions trial hits halfway mark

    As a high-stakes election eligibility trial centered on dual citizenship reached its halfway milestone in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday, Prime Minister Godwin Friday and his legal team have struck a confident, unyielding tone in defending their position.

    The case, being heard at the Kingstown High Court before retired appellate justice and acting High Court Judge Gerthel Thom, was brought by opposition Unity Labour Party (ULP) members Carlos Williams and Luke Browne. The petitioners argue that Friday and Foreign Affairs Minister Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble are ineligible to hold their elected seats from the November 2025 general election, due to the pair holding both Vincentian and Canadian citizenship. The challenge comes after Williams and Browne lost their respective races in Northern Grenadines and East Kingstown in the November 27 poll, where Friday’s New Democratic Party secured a landslide 14-1 victory, ending 25 years of ULP rule.

    Speaking to reporters after three consecutive days of witness testimony, Friday framed the proceedings as far more than a personal legal battle: he called it a critical test of both his administration’s democratic mandate and the independence of the tiny Caribbean nation’s institutions. “I am extremely upbeat about our position — our legal team has performed exceptionally well,” Friday stated. “There are actors seeking to overturn the mandate the people of this country gave me, and I will do everything in my power to protect that outcome. That is why I have been present in court every single day, and I will remain here until the court issues its ruling.”

    Lead counsel for the respondents Anand Ramlogan, a former Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago, confirmed the trial has reached its halfway point, with the petitioners having concluded all evidence testimony. Ramlogan shared that he completed cross-examination of all the petitioners’ witnesses, including Sarah McKinnis, a Canadian immigration law expert who testified virtually, and said several key revelations emerged during the intense questioning that the defense will highlight to the court. The defense will present its case when proceedings resume in the first week of September, with formal legal submissions scheduled for November. “We remain extremely confident in our position, and we trust the presiding judge will deliver a ruling aligned with law and the best interests of the public,” Ramlogan added.

    Friday, who has attended every session of the trial so far, emphasized that his consistent presence is a core part of his duty to uphold the will of voters. “As prime minister, I would rather be focused on governing than sitting in a courtroom for three days of testimony, but I am here because the people placed me in this role, and I respect their mandate,” he explained. “The entire country has accepted the election result, but a small number of opponents simply cannot accept defeat, so they have turned to the courts to undermine the outcome. We will not back down from protecting and defending the mandate the people gave us.”

    He added that he would not make token, occasional appearances at the trial, saying, “I will be here for every single minute of every day. I am here to represent the people of this country, and I will remain until this matter is vindicated.” Ramlogan also pointed out that the challenge comes surprisingly late, noting that Friday has served in Parliament for 25 years — making the sudden post-election objection to his eligibility “curious”.

    At its core, the case turns on a long-debated question: does Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ constitution bar dual citizens from serving in Parliament or holding senior public office? Friday argued that the law is already explicit, pointing to Section 25 of the national constitution as clear support for his position. Ramlogan, who has handled similar dual citizenship disputes across the Commonwealth Caribbean, noted that the ruling will have implications far beyond Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. “Many Caribbean island nations have larger diaspora populations living abroad than they have residents at home,” he explained. “These citizens often gain valuable international experience, advanced education and specialized expertise that they can bring back to drive national progress. Cutting off this talent pool by barring dual citizens from public office is a self-inflicted wound that holds back development.” He added that the time has come to reevaluate outdated restrictions, saying “There is no reason a loyal dual citizen who chooses to live and serve their home country should be barred from public office solely because of their second nationality.”

    For their part, the petitioners framed the challenge as a legitimate effort to clarify constitutional ambiguity that serves a broader public good. “We are simply exercising our constitutional right to challenge the validity of this election, and we trust the legal process will run its course,” said petitioner Luke Browne, a ULP candidate and attorney. He added that the high-profile proceedings have already provided a valuable educational opportunity for local law students and young attorneys, who are able to observe seasoned senior counsel from across the region argue the case. Fellow petitioner Carlos Williams echoed that framing, saying “Constitutional integrity is a national priority. Where there is ambiguity in the law, it is necessary to bring the matter to court to get a clear ruling — that is exactly what we are doing here.” The petitioners are represented by Senior Counsel Stuart Young, a former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

    Bramble, the respondent and MP for East Kingstown, acknowledged the petitioners’ legal right to bring the challenge but criticized their judgment in doing so. “It is striking that after 25 years of Prime Minister Friday serving in Parliament, this objection only surfaces now after he won the general election,” Bramble said. “That demonstrates very poor judgment in how they have chosen to exercise this right. For my part, I will continue focusing on serving my constituents in East Kingstown, as I was elected to do, until the people of this constituency decide they no longer want me in office — nothing and no one else will change that.”

    Throughout the proceedings, both sides have emphasized their respect for the court’s authority, even as they maintain conflicting positions on the case’s merits. Ramlogan noted that beyond legal arguments, widespread public support for Friday is on clear display outside the courthouse every day. “The law is the law, but no ruling can take away the deep public affection and support the prime minister has earned from the people of this country,” he said.

  • Woman killed in money dispute

    Woman killed in money dispute

    A senseless act of fatal violence has torn through a Trinidad and Tobago family for the second time in less than a decade, after 25-year-old Shayanna Ruiz was killed in a stabbing rooted in an unpaid $4,500 debt in Chaguanas. The tragedy, which has deepened the family’s long-held grief from a prior violent loss, comes as the country’s annual murder toll holds slightly below last year’s count at 221 as of Wednesday evening.

    The fatal confrontation unfolded shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, when Ruiz arrived at a residence on Plumbago Circular in the Edinburgh 500 South neighborhood accompanied by another person. She had come to collect $4,500 that her former boyfriend had borrowed from her, money she had set aside to advance construction of her own home near her family’s property. According to Trinidad and Tobago Police Service accounts, a heated argument quickly erupted between Ruiz and her ex-boyfriend, before the man’s current girlfriend inserted herself into the conflict. In the heat of the confrontation, the woman grabbed an 11-inch knife and stabbed Ruiz multiple times before fleeing the property with the ex-boyfriend.

    First responders Ag Cpl Sarran and WPC Smart rushed Ruiz to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope, where medical teams worked to treat her deep stab wounds to the chest, face and left hand. Despite their efforts, Ruiz succumbed to her injuries just under an hour later, at 6:25 p.m. Preliminary post-mortem findings have ruled her death a homicide caused by cardiopulmonary arrest triggered by multiple penetrating stab wounds. Crime scene investigators, including Cpl Maharaj, W/Ag Cpl Rudder-Fisher and WPC Vieruel-Shah, responded to the property to process evidence, and recovered the murder weapon at the scene. Members of the Homicide Bureau also visited the location, and investigators have identified multiple nearby CCTV systems that may hold critical footage to advance the case, with enquiries ongoing. Two suspects have since been taken into police custody, according to information shared with the victim’s family.

    For the Ruiz family, this devastating loss is a brutal repetition of trauma they already endured nearly eight years prior. In November 2018, Shayanna’s older brother Onassis Ruiz was fatally shot in Laventille at the age of 25. Today, the family has now lost two of their three children to violence, both dead at the exact same age, leaving father Kelvin Ruiz to grapple with unthinkable grief for the second time.

    In an emotional interview with reporters from his Diego Martin home on Quarry Street, Kelvin Ruiz said no parent could ever be prepared to lose one child to violence, let alone two. “Ain’t no parent can prepare for something like this the first time, far less a second time,” he said, describing the cruel coincidence of losing both his son and daughter at 25 to violent crime as almost impossible to accept. “I went through this with my son, and now I’m going through this with my daughter. It’s a big coincidence for me that my son died at 25, and now my daughter come and dead at 25.”

    Kelvin remembered his daughter, whom he affectionately called “Shanna”, as a joyful, warm-hearted person who dedicated herself to bringing happiness to everyone around her. “Shanna is the type of person who would make everybody happy. She was always jolly, always laughing and smiling. Even if you were angry, she would make you smile. You couldn’t remain mad around her. She would brighten up a room just by walking in,” he said. Shayanna worked full-time at a Little Caesars location on Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook, and Kelvin noted that she would go to extraordinary lengths to support the people she cared about. “If she was your friend, she would go out of her way just to make you happy. But she was making everybody happy, and I had to ask my sister just now: who was making her happy?”

    On the day of her death, Kelvin had followed his usual routine, leaving home by 5 a.m. to hike to a remote fishing spot with no cellular service along the coast. It was only when he returned to the top of the mountain on his way home that he noticed five missed calls from different contacts. With no phone credit to return the calls, he planned to sort out the messages once he got home, never imagining he would be greeted by news of his daughter’s death. “I wasn’t expecting to come back to this,” he said. “This is one pain that doesn’t go away. You live with this pain. Sometimes you’re walking down the road and you see something that reminds you of your child, and it all comes flooding back. I lived this with my son. So I know this is what to expect… I don’t know what else to say. I am grieving. I may not be bawling or crying, but I am grieving. I can’t even eat.”

    Shayanna had taken out a $10,000 loan earlier this year to lay the foundation for her own home on land near the family’s property, and the $4,500 she was owed was part of that funding, her father explained. She had lent the sum to her ex-boyfriend when he needed it, and had been pushing for repayment to keep her construction project on track. Kelvin added that he had even spoken to his daughter’s ex-boyfriend before the confrontation to urge a peaceful resolution, telling him, “instead of anything happening, give her back her money.” The man had agreed to pay half the debt upfront and the remainder at a later date, but after that conversation, Shayanna began receiving abusive text messages from the pair, which she showed her father. “I never expected this. I never expected murder. I would have thought quarrelling and arguing. But now I come home to hear she died by multiple stab wounds, and over $4,500?” Kelvin said.

    Shayanna’s stepsister, who requested to remain unnamed, remembered her as an outspoken, caring woman who served as the fierce protector of her large extended family. “She was a very loving person. She had no children of her own, but all of her siblings’ children were her children,” she said. “She was the protector of the family because anytime anyone was under stress, it was always her who would step up. If anyone talked bad about any of us, she was the one defending everyone.” She added that Shayanna loved fashion and worked hard to earn the money to afford the things she wanted, never relying on others to provide for her.

    As of Wednesday night, the national murder toll for the current year stands at 221, a slight decrease from the 226 recorded by the same point last year.

  • NCB Merchant Bank CEO resigns

    NCB Merchant Bank CEO resigns

    A major leadership shift is underway at NCB Merchant Bank (Trinidad and Tobago) Ltd, after CEO Marli Creese formally resigned from his post just weeks following a high-profile seizure of $2 million in bank-owned cash at Piarco International Airport. The bank confirmed in an official statement released this week that Creese submitted his resignation on June 30, with his final day of employment falling on July 31. No official explanation for his departure has been released by the institution.

    The resignation comes just under one month after Trinidad and Tobago law enforcement and regulatory officials launched a probe into the June 25 cash seizure, where customs agents confiscated a white crocus bag holding $2 million in U.S. currency at the airport’s South Terminal. Investigations into the incident remain ongoing by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, more than a month after the cash was seized.

    Per official records, the seized funds originated from NCB Merchant Bank and were en route to Miami via a stopover in Jamaica when they were flagged by Customs and Excise inspectors. Officials halted the shipment over what they described as “certain transactional and accountability deficiencies,” triggering the formal investigation. On July 2, Creese publicly confirmed that the seized funds were property of the bank, which has maintained that the cash was part of a standard, legitimate inter-institutional transfer within the broader NCB Group, aligned with established business protocols.

    To maintain operational continuity following Creese’s departure, the bank has named Mahalia Alleyne, current Head of Operations, as acting CEO effective August 1. In its statement, the bank highlighted Alleyne’s deep institutional expertise, noting her intimate familiarity with the merchant bank’s daily operations, customer base, workforce, and risk profile. The appointment was framed as a measure to preserve stable leadership and uphold the bank’s commitment to responsible, well-governed operations. A formal, structured search process will be launched by the board of directors to identify a permanent successor for the CEO role.

    Sheree Martin, interim CEO of Jamaica-based National Commercial Bank Ltd, the parent entity of NCB Merchant Bank Trinidad and Tobago, praised Alleyne’s leadership credentials. “Mahalia is a respected leader who understands our organisation, our people, our customers, and the operating environment in which we serve,” Martin said, adding that the appointment demonstrates the strength of the group’s internal leadership pipeline and ensures no disruption through the transition period. Martin also extended gratitude for Creese’s tenure, saying “On behalf of the NCB banking group, we thank Marli for his service and contribution to NCB Merchant Bank (Trinidad and Tobago) Ltd, and we wish him every success in his next chapter.” Martin emphasized that the group’s priority remains preserving stakeholder confidence, supporting customers and employees, and upholding the group’s longstanding standards of governance, service, and professionalism.

    The bank moved quickly to reassure customers that the leadership transition will have no impact on customer accounts, banking services, relationship management, or day-to-day operations. Clients were advised to continue engaging their existing relationship managers and using the bank’s standard service channels as usual. “NCB Merchant Bank (T&T) Ltd remains committed to strong governance, regulatory cooperation, operational continuity, and maintaining the confidence of its customers, employees, regulators, and the wider public,” the statement read.

    The cash seizure has already spurred regulatory action at the national level. A senior official with the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago confirmed that an institutional probe into the incident was launched shortly after the seizure, with a coordinating meeting held with customs officials in early July. In the wake of public scrutiny over U.S. currency export practices, the Central Bank announced it is preparing to strengthen oversight of cross-border cash shipments and foreign exchange reporting as part of planned reforms to the nation’s Exchange Control Act.

    While declining to share specific details on the ongoing NCB case, the Central Bank confirmed that the investigation remains active. The regulator also defended its overall management of the country’s foreign exchange system, while openly acknowledging that improvements are necessary. “The Bank recognises that there are many areas of the management of the system that need to be strengthened and a number of initiatives will be rolled out in the coming months. This includes updating the Exchange Control Act,” the Central Bank said in a statement.

    When contacted for comment this week, Central Bank Governor Larry Howai said he had no knowledge of Creese’s resignation and had “nothing to share at this stage” regarding the ongoing investigation into the cash seizure.

  • A welcome lift

    A welcome lift

    With just 24 hours to go until the annual African Emancipation Day celebration, vendors at the Lidj Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village in Port of Spain are reporting a steady uptick in business after a quiet opening to the event, with many praising the decision to relocate the village to an eastern stretch of Queen’s Park Savannah for a better overall experience for sellers and attendees alike.

    Hosted annually in the lead-up to African Emancipation Day, the village brings together dozens of small entrepreneurs selling a wide range of African-centered goods, from traditional clothing and handcrafted jewelry to homemade beauty products and cultural art pieces. The event wraps up its run tomorrow with the main Emancipation Day celebrations, drawing crowds of locals and tourists interested in African heritage and cultural commerce.

    Vendors universally noted that business started slow on the opening Monday, as is typical for the annual event, but foot traffic and sales have climbed steadily each day since, fueled by growing public awareness of the village and a surge of after-work visitors drawn to cooler afternoon and evening temperatures. Marcia Seales-Rodney, owner of local Afrocentric accessory brand Afrocessories, said the opening weekend of Saturday and Sunday already brought strong foot traffic despite hot weather, with Monday holding steady at a slower pace before activity picked up sharply this week.

    “I’ve exceeded my daily sales targets every day this week,” Seales-Rodney said, crediting her consistent off-season marketing across social media and local events for building a loyal customer base that seeks her out annually. “I had customers waiting for me to set up my booth before I even opened. This year is already stronger than last – I do a full performance review every year to adjust my strategy, and it’s paying off.”

    Other long-time participants echoed Seales-Rodney’s positive assessment. Josephine Hayford, owner of Hay Looks and a Ghanaian vendor who has traveled to Trinidad to join the Emancipation Village for 25 years, sources all her goods directly from African artisans. She reflected on how much the event has grown since her first year, when only a handful of vendors sold African cultural goods.

    “When I first came here, you couldn’t find shops selling African wear or handcrafted jewelry anywhere around. Now I’m so proud to see so many local entrepreneurs building businesses around these products,” Hayford said, noting that while sales have not hit the peaks they reached in past years, the cultural pride of the event remains as strong as ever. She added one small suggestion for future organizers: raising tent flooring to better withstand rainy weather.

    Candice Williams, who sells handmade natural body care products at the village, said she saw the same pattern of slow early days followed by steady growth. “The first two days had low turnout because most people don’t know we’re here right away, but each day gets busier. Most customers start arriving after 3 p.m. once it cools down, and a lot of my sales come from repeat visitors who come looking for me every year,” Williams explained. “Every year you add a few more loyal customers, so your base just keeps growing.”

    A major point of praise from nearly all vendors was this year’s decision to relocate the village further east on Queen’s Park Savannah, a shift made necessary to preserve the iconic North Stand structure ahead of Carnival. Many sellers said the new greener location, set on grass rather than the hard concrete of the old site, created a far more pleasant atmosphere for shoppers and vendors alike.

    Seales-Rodney admitted she was skeptical of the move at first, a common reaction to change for long-time participants. “When they first announced we’d be moving closer to Jerningham Avenue, I was worried people wouldn’t find us,” she said. “But the grassy space gave the whole village extra life – it feels more sophisticated and open than being stuck on concrete. I ended up loving the move.”

    Chanel, a vendor with local brand De Jeunesse, echoed that approval, noting that sales have improved each day and the new location draws more foot traffic from nearby neighborhoods after work. She suggested minor adjustments for future events, including adding portable air conditioning to the enclosed tents to improve airflow and comfort, and noted that the overall organization of this year’s village was a marked improvement. Williams also praised the greener setting, saying it created a naturally cooler, more welcoming space for browsing.

    National Carnival Commission chairman Peter Kanhai, who toured the village Wednesday, confirmed the relocation was a compromise made to preserve the North Stand for upcoming Carnival preparations, and said the Emancipation Support Committee has been fully satisfied with the new space. “They’re very happy with the green, open layout we have this year,” Kanhai said, urging members of the public to visit the village, patronize the small businesses, and join tomorrow’s Emancipation Day celebrations before the event closes.

  • Saudi-Arabië lanceert maritieme defensiealliantie voor bescherming vitale scheepvaartroutes

    Saudi-Arabië lanceert maritieme defensiealliantie voor bescherming vitale scheepvaartroutes

    Against a backdrop of rising geopolitical instability and repeated attacks on critical maritime trade routes in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of a new Multinational Maritime Defense Alliance alongside 13 partner nations, aimed at safeguarding navigation freedom across strategically vital waterways including the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. The coalition is designed to protect international trade and energy transit routes at a time of escalating regional tension.

    In an official statement released Thursday, the Saudi Ministry of Defense framed the new alliance as a collaborative framework to strengthen coordinated maritime defense efforts across participating nations. The founding members include Turkey, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Djibouti, Somalia, Bangladesh, Yemen, Sudan, and the Comoros, all of whom have affirmed their shared commitment to securing the critical maritime corridor that connects the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.

    The launch of the alliance comes amid rapidly escalating tensions between the United States and Iran that have left the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil export chokepoints, effectively closed to most commercial traffic. The disruption has already sent shockwaves through global energy supplies and the broader world economy. Compounding this instability, the waters of Bab al-Mandeb, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden have faced repeated attacks from the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen. Just last week, the Houthis imposed a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, disrupting oil shipments that pass through the Red Sea and highlighting the extreme vulnerability of the region, which handles millions of barrels of oil and a large share of global maritime trade every single day.

    Representatives from 43 of the 51 invited countries attended the founding session for the new alliance, including a delegation from the European Union. The EU already operates its own maritime security mission, codenamed Aspides, in the Red Sea, but it remains unclear how the existing EU mission will align its activities with the new Saudi-led coalition. Notably, the United Arab Emirates and Oman — two regional states with direct security interests in the waterways — have not joined the founding bloc. The Saudi Ministry of Defense emphasized that the door remains open for additional countries to join after completing their domestic approval processes.

    According to the Saudi defense ministry, the coalition is “exclusively defensive in nature and is not directed against any single state.” Participating nations will collaborate on intelligence sharing, joint operational planning, combined military exercises, and coordinated maritime patrols. No details have yet been released regarding the deployment of specific vessels or aircraft to the coalition.

    The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, just 29 kilometers wide at its narrowest point between Eritrea, Djibouti, and Yemen, is a critical global maritime chokepoint where two major shipping lanes converge. Any disruption to transit through the straat can trigger massive volatility in global energy markets and sharp price increases for energy and traded goods worldwide. Currently, Saudi Arabia relies on its East-West Pipeline to export oil via the Red Sea, after the Strait of Hormuz became largely unusable due to tensions with Iran. Houthi control over portions of Yemen’s coastline adjacent to Bab al-Mandeb gives the group significant strategic leverage to threaten commercial shipping in these vital waters.

    The formation of the new alliance underscores growing international concern over maritime security in a region that underpins global trade and energy security. As geopolitical tensions escalate and non-state actors increasingly pose threats to commercial navigation, countries are moving to coordinate collective action to maintain regional stability. Proponents argue the new maritime defense coalition will help strengthen regional cooperation and prevent further escalations that could cause severe damage to the global economy.

  • “The path is difficult, the situation is complex, but our will to overcome is unwavering”

    “The path is difficult, the situation is complex, but our will to overcome is unwavering”

    On July 30, 2026, amid the nation’s commemoration of the ‘Year of the Centennial of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz’, Cuban President Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez delivered a landmark closing address to the 7th Ordinary Session of the 10th Legislature of the National Assembly of People’s Power, opening with a tribute to revolutionary icon Ramiro Valdés Menéndez that framed the nation’s current struggle against external aggression.

    Díaz-Canel honored Valdés, a founding member of Cuba’s parliamentary system since 1976 and a core figure of the revolutionary Centennial Generation, as a living paragon of the ethical and patriotic legacy left by Fidel Castro, Raúl Castro, Che Guevara and other revolutionary leaders. Echoing José Martí’s famous maxim that ‘all the glory of the world fits into a grain of corn’, he highlighted Valdés’ lifelong commitment to revolutionary unity and unwavering resistance to imperialism, noting that his example remains a critical inspiration for Cuba as it confronts unprecedented modern challenges.

    The president painted a stark portrait of the global and domestic context facing Cuba in 2026, describing the months since the December 2025 assembly session as a period marked by an ‘extremely complex and threatening scenario’ that has left the nation functioning as a ‘besieged fortress’. Pointing to the January 2026 military intervention in Venezuela and the deepening crisis in Gaza, he warned that the current U.S. administration’s neo-fascist policies mirror the expansionist horrors of 20th-century German fascism, with rising xenophobia, cult of personality, ideological repression, and resource plundering threatening global order and peace. He drew particular attention to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where UN estimates place the death toll between 75,000 and 90,000, 60% of them women and children, with nearly 2 million people displaced into a tiny 35 to 40 square kilometer strip, creating unsustainable conditions for basic survival.

    Díaz-Canel emphasized that this pattern of aggression is now being directly applied to Cuba, where a U.S.-enforced energy and economic blockade has pushed the Cuban people’s suffering to levels incompatible with basic modern needs. He detailed that a January 2026 executive order from the U.S. president threatens third countries with sanctions for supplying fuel to Cuba, a measure that has left Cuba receiving just one fuel shipment in seven months. The resulting energy crisis has stripped the national electrical grid of 1,400 megawatts of daily generation capacity, extending blackouts that have crippled water access, disrupted agricultural planting and harvesting, paralyzed industrial production, damaged the critical tourism sector, and put patients at risk in hospitals and intensive care units. All imports – from medical supplies and food to power plant repair parts and private sector raw materials – face months of delays in international ports due to U.S. threats against shipping companies. Cuban medical collaboration, a key source of revenue for the nation’s universal public healthcare system, is also targeted with false claims, worsening shortages of critical medical supplies.

    Additional May 2026 secondary sanctions targeting any foreign individual or company doing business with Cuba have created the most extensive effort to cut off the small island nation’s economy from the global community in modern history. Díaz-Canel rejected the U.S. denial of the energy embargo and its false claims of providing aid to Cubans, noting that the cumulative cost of the decades-long blockade now exceeds $150 billion, a harm that touches every aspect of daily life. He highlighted that the international community has overwhelmingly condemned the policy, with the United Nations General Assembly voting 136-9 in July 2026 to reject the U.S. attempt to block debate on the blockade. He also recognized the growing opposition to the blockade within the U.S. itself, from honest members of Congress to long-standing solidarity organizations including The People’s Forum, Pastors for Peace, and Code Pink, expressing confidence that the American people, once informed of the truth, will stand on the side of justice.

    Against this backdrop of external aggression, Díaz-Canel outlined Cuba’s sovereign plan for domestic economic and social transformation, rooted in the nation’s long-standing commitment to socialist construction and adapted to meet current challenges. Drawing parallels to the Special Period economic crisis, he explained that 176 targeted reform measures have been developed in line with the 2011 Party Congress policy guidelines and shaped by popular input from thousands of community assemblies held across the country ahead of the December 2025 parliamentary approval of the government program. He acknowledged legitimate public concerns about private capital growth, wealth concentration, potential privatization, inequality, corruption, and the ideological impact of capitalist relations, stressing that the reforms are not designed to advance capitalism, but to strengthen socialism that puts human needs at its center.

    As of the address, 120 of the 176 measures are ready for implementation, prioritized to unlock productive forces, strengthen both state and non-state business sectors, expand municipal autonomy, increase domestic supply of goods, improve wage-price balance, boost export earnings, and attract foreign investment through structured partnerships between state, private, and cooperative sectors. Five core supporting regulations have already been approved by the National Assembly, providing legal certainty for all actors. Díaz-Canel stressed that the reforms are a sovereign decision, not a concession to the United States, and that key public sectors including health, education, science, and culture will remain fully public, free, and universal, with reforms focused on generating resources to improve their quality rather than privatizing them.

    He emphasized that successful implementation depends on deepening popular participation, decentralizing economic authority to provincial and municipal levels, breaking bureaucratic inertia, combating corruption, and ensuring that economic growth goes hand in hand with social recovery that prioritizes vulnerable populations. ‘Economic efficiency must serve social justice, which encapsulates much of the meaning of the Revolution and its commitment to the people,’ he stated.

    Díaz-Canel also highlighted grassroots progress already underway across Cuban communities: growing adoption of renewable energy by state and private entities, private and public partnerships to deliver water and collect solid waste, collaborative solutions to cash flow gaps for worker and retiree payments, and improved support for the Family Care System and 32 other social assistance programs, all driven by collective solidarity at the local level. He acknowledged the ongoing intensity of daily hardship, but praised the tireless work of Party, state, military, and community organizers who have worked around the clock to support the population.

    Turning to regional and global geopolitics, Díaz-Canel warned that the current U.S. regime has put Cuba under explicit military threat, spreading false claims that the small island poses a threat to U.S. national security to manufacture a pretext for aggression. He reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to peace and its willingness to resolve bilateral differences through dialogue based on sovereign equality, but stressed that the nation will not surrender its independence. He noted a growing shift toward extreme right-wing rule across Latin America and the Caribbean, driven by U.S. imperial pressure, that has reversed decades of progress toward regional integration and sovereign independence, even as Cuba retains the solidarity of regional peoples and progressive governments. He condemned new U.S. attempts to criminalize Cuba’s legacy of international solidarity and rewrite history, reaffirming that anti-imperialism and international solidarity remain core components of Cuban national identity.

    Closing the address just days ahead of the centennial of Fidel Castro’s birth, Díaz-Canel celebrated the enduring legacy of the revolutionary leader, noting that ten years after his death, Fidel’s ideas continue to grow in influence across generations and continents, inspiring movements for justice globally. ‘Fidel lives and promises to continue fighting battles for a better world,’ he declared. He closed with the iconic revolutionary slogans that have defined Cuba’s resistance for decades: ‘Socialism or Death! Homeland or Death! We will win!’

  • Column: Cedric van Samson kan groter worden dan zijn woorden

    Column: Cedric van Samson kan groter worden dan zijn woorden

    Some public comments are so poorly phrased that they take on a life of their own, and that is exactly what has happened to Cedric van Samson, a member of the Surinamese parliament from the VHP party. After reviewing the full recording of his recent interview on Amsterdam-based Stanvaste Radio, there is no avoiding the conclusion: the elected official made a serious misstep.

    It is entirely appropriate, even a core responsibility, for a politician to deliver sharp criticism of a sitting president. But Van Samson’s words left the clear impression that his objection extended beyond President Jennifer Simons’ performance in office to her very identity as a woman. Since the interview, Van Samson has attempted to walk back his comments, offering nuanced explanations of what he claims he actually meant. But ongoing public debate makes clear that these clarifications have not eased the widespread discomfort his words sparked. This may be because the conversation has long since shifted beyond what Van Samson actually said, to the deeper meaning his words evoked for so many Surinamese.

    This moment actually presents Van Samson with an opportunity to demonstrate genuine leadership, rather than endlessly repeating explanations for his original comment. For politicians, who rely entirely on public trust to hold office, strength does not only come from articulating clear convictions. It also comes from taking accountability when words land differently than intended. Today, Van Samson has the chance to rise above his own harmful phrasing.

    Van Samson must recognize that his comment is no longer merely a dispute over criticism of President Simons’ policy or leadership style. It has unearthed a much broader, long-simmering conversation about gender equality and the place of women in public governance. This is not a new debate, but many had thought that this specific form of open gender bias was a thing of the past in Suriname.

    Today, Van Samson’s remarks resonate far beyond the original comment, touching every woman who holds political ambition or aspires to public office. This issue is particularly sensitive in Suriname, where women have fought a long, hard battle to earn full participation in public life. Less than 80 years ago, Surinamese women were denied the right to vote, legally deemed unfit to make their own decisions, and barred from carrying out most independent legal actions without their husband’s explicit permission. The path to full political equality was never a given, and progress remains fragile.

    This fight for gender equity in politics is not unique to Suriname. For decades, activists across the globe have organized to secure equal rights and equal opportunity for women in public life. A defining milestone came in 1995, at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, where the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted. Suriname was among the signatory nations, committing to the core principle that women and men must have equal access to participation in political and public life.

    Van Samson’s comment stands in direct opposition to that international commitment Suriname made. The core principle holds that political office must be open to all, regardless of gender. This does not mean that women are inherently better leaders than men, nor does it bar robust criticism of a female president. It does mean that criticism should focus on policy, governance decisions and leadership, not the gender of the person holding office.

    This debate also touches on the fundamental principle of freedom of expression. Is Van Samson legally allowed to say what he said? The answer is straightforward: yes. Freedom of speech is a foundational pillar of any democratic constitutional state. But freedom of expression has never meant freedom from the consequences of one’s words. In fact, even this fundamental right has clear limits. It protects citizens from arbitrary government censorship, but it does not give anyone an open license to say anything without being held accountable for the impact of their words. Anyone who exercises this freedom must also take responsibility for the outcomes of their speech. Freedom without accountability loses all meaning and devolves into recklessness. This is true for every citizen, and it carries even more weight for an elected representative.

    A member of parliament does not speak only as a private individual. He speaks as a legislator and a representative of the entire Surinamese people. That is why his words carry far more weight than an ordinary citizen’s. This is not because elected officials have fewer rights than others, but because they bear greater responsibility. That is precisely why this moment is an opportunity for Van Samson: rather than rehashing explanations or arguing over context and interpretation, he can demonstrate real leadership.

    In political culture, an apology is often misread as a sign of weakness. Many assume that acknowledging a mistake means abandoning one’s core convictions. The opposite is true. When a politician takes responsibility for harmful words, it proves that they understand the weight of the office they hold. A straightforward apology would not diminish Van Samson. It would lift him up.

    It would demonstrate that he understands words often travel further than the speaker ever intended. It would prove that he recognizes a poorly phrased comment can ignite a debate the speaker never meant to start, and that he understands the difference between clinging to a core political conviction and clinging to an accidental harmful turn of phrase.

    Strong leadership does not mean never making mistakes or never misspeaking. What sets strong leaders apart is the courage to admit when they have gone wrong. Modern politics is unforgiving, and social media amplifies every misstep into a national conversation. That makes it all the more important for leaders to be able to say simply: “I should have phrased this differently.”

    At the end of the day, this debate is not just about Cedric van Samson. It is about the kind of political culture Suriname will build: one where scoring points matters more than accountability, or one where leaders understand that authority is built not just through words, but through self-reflection. Cedric van Samson can rise above his words today. And the one word that could deliver his greatest political victory right now is simply: sorry.