Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • Politic : Launch of an internship program for graduating students of CTPEA

    Politic : Launch of an internship program for graduating students of CTPEA

    In a landmark step to reinforce Haiti’s public sector technical capabilities and bridge a long-standing gap in talent integration, Minister of Planning and External Cooperation (MPCE) Sandra Paulemon has officially launched a 12-week internship program for 18 final-year students from the Center for Planning Techniques and Applied Economics (CTPEA).

    CTPEA, an autonomous academic institution overseen by the MPCE, trains students in three high-demand fields for public service: applied economics, statistics, and development planning. This new internship initiative aligns directly with both the Haitian government’s strategic priorities and the 2016 founding decree that established the MPCE’s mandate to build a skilled, capable public administration.

    Speaking at the launch event, Minister Paulemon framed the program as a long-term investment in the next generation of technical leadership for Haiti’s state institutions. By bringing early-career talent directly into ministry operations, the initiative aims to sustainably boost the state’s capacity to design and implement effective development planning. The minister emphasized that the program reflects the administration’s goal of gradually strengthening the MPCE’s workforce with well-trained, qualified professionals, operating fully within established civil service rules and requirements. Ultimately, the effort is part of a broader vision to build a public administration that can deliver rigorous data-driven analysis, model future development scenarios, craft evidence-based public policies, select high-impact public investments, and accurately measure policy outcomes.

    Addressing the participating students directly, Minister Paulemon shared four core guiding principles for their internships and future public service careers: unwavering integrity in all professional duties, strict rigor in analytical work and project delivery, consistent humility to support ongoing learning, and a deep-rooted commitment to public service.

    Guy Roméro Latry, Director General of the MPCE, noted that this program marks a historic turning point for the institution. Until 2025, he explained, CTPEA graduates had no formal pathway to integration into the MPCE’s workforce. He praised the initiative as a reflection of the dynamic new leadership within the ministry, and highlighted the strengthened collaborative relationship between the MPCE and CTPEA that has made the program possible. With this new partnership, Latry added, CTPEA is poised to reclaim its role as a premier breeding ground for specialized talent and expertise in Haitian development planning.

    The 18 participating students, drawn equally from CTPEA’s planning, applied economics, and statistics programs, will complete a structured curriculum covering nine critical thematic areas relevant to public service work. These modules include general public administration orientation, strategic foresight and development planning, poverty reduction and combating social exclusion, spatial planning and subnational development, public investment programming and budgeting, monitoring and evaluation for public projects, development cooperation coordination, NGO activity coordination, and sectoral public policy design alongside Public Investment Program (PIP) planning.

  • Minimum Sentences for Gun and Child Sex Crimes Heading to Parliament

    Minimum Sentences for Gun and Child Sex Crimes Heading to Parliament

    Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed that the government is developing new sentencing legislation for parliament that would enforce mandatory minimum prison terms for two categories of serious crimes: severe firearms offenses and sexual violence against children.

    Under the draft framework currently under development, the most severe violations would carry a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence, while the gravest cases would remain eligible for maximum sentences of life imprisonment, allowing courts to deliver the harshest punishment for the most harmful acts.

    In public comments on the proposed reform, Browne noted that the administration has sought independent legal guidance to strike a careful constitutional balance: the law will establish a clear, firm sentencing floor for these crimes, but it will not strip the judicial branch of its authority to review the unique circumstances of individual cases when handing down final sentences.

    To further reduce the risk of successful constitutional challenges to the new law once it is enacted, Browne added that government officials are conducting a detailed review of similar sentencing policies already in place across other Caribbean nations, with a specific focus on Jamaica’s existing legal framework for mandatory minimum sentencing.

    The prime minister emphasized that for the reform to deliver on its public safety goals, it must receive coordinated support from all three branches of government: the executive branch that drafted the legislation, the parliament that will vote on its passage, and the judiciary that will implement it in court rulings. At the same time, Browne affirmed that each branch will maintain its distinct constitutional roles and responsibilities throughout the process.

    He also issued a caution that the legislation would fail to achieve its intended deterrent effect if it is significantly weakened down the line, whether through successful legal challenges or inconsistent sentencing decisions from the bench that erode the mandatory sentencing requirements.

  • Electoral Office reports surge in voter confirmations ahead of deadline

    Electoral Office reports surge in voter confirmations ahead of deadline

    As the clock ticks down to the closing of the Electoral Office’s national Voter Confirmation Exercise, electoral officials are reporting a sharp late-stage uptick in both existing elector information verifications and new voter registration applications. Chief Elections Officer Anthea Joseph shared the latest progress update with reporters on August 20, 2026, releasing official data covering all activity processed through the end of the day on August 19. According to Joseph, the agency has received a total of 22,245 confirmation requests from currently registered voters, with 20,455 of those applications already fully reviewed and approved. Beyond existing voter confirmation, the office has also seen growing public interest in new voter registration: 1,728 applications from first-time eligible voters have been submitted and approved since the exercise launched. With the finalized voter list set to be used for upcoming electoral activities scheduled for October 14, 2026, the Electoral Office is working systematically to clean up outdated entries and ensure every eligible voter is correctly documented. Joseph has issued a renewed call to action for all eligible citizens who have not yet completed their confirmation or registration to complete the process before the approaching deadline, emphasizing that an accurate, up-to-date voter roll is a critical foundation for fair and efficient upcoming elections.

  • The MAEC is deploying a special mission to the Haitian Embassy in Chile

    The MAEC is deploying a special mission to the Haitian Embassy in Chile

    On August 22, 2026, a peaceful demonstration organized by Haitian citizens living in Chile outside their country’s embassy in Santiago escalated into serious violent unrest. Just two days after these regrettable clashes, Haiti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship (MAEC) announced it had deployed a specialized on-site mission to address longstanding pent-up demand for critical administrative services from the Haitian community based in Chile.

    The core mandate of this special deployment is to remove long-standing barriers that have prevented Haitian nationals in Chile from accessing time-sensitive, essential official documents. These high-demand documents include Certificates of Good Conduct, which are required for work, residency, and legal purposes internationally, as well as national identification cards that serve as the primary proof of citizenship for Haitians living abroad.

    The mission is staffed by a cross-functional team of experienced personnel: senior officials from the MAEC’s Legal Affairs Directorate and trained representatives from Haiti’s Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ). The team has established close coordination with embassy leadership to streamline application processing, cut wait times, and deliver more accessible services directly to the Haitian diaspora in Chile.

    In response to far higher demand for services than initial projections anticipated, MAEC officials have confirmed the mission’s on-site duration will be extended to accommodate as many applicants as possible. All mission personnel have remained fully mobilized to process backlogged applications and meet the ongoing needs of the community.

    To prevent overcrowding at the embassy compound, improve the overall applicant experience, and eliminate opportunities for exploitative middlemen to charge excessive fees, MAEC is strongly urging all Haitian citizens seeking services to book a free appointment exclusively through the official online portal hosted on the Haitian Embassy in Chile’s official website. The ministry has stressed that no third-party intermediaries are authorized to assist with appointment booking, and applicants face no additional costs to schedule their visit.

    In a formal statement, MAEC reminded all Haitian citizens residing in Chile to only rely on official communications and channels published by the ministry and the embassy for up-to-date, accurate information about service availability, application requirements, and appointment booking.

    Acting in line with explicit directives from Haiti’s Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Raina Forbin has publicly reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding access to critical services for Haitian citizens living overseas. Forbin emphasized the administration’s goal of delivering accessible, efficient, and locally available consular support by working collaboratively with all relevant Haitian national institutions.

  • VS zet wereldwijd druk om Iran economisch te isoleren

    VS zet wereldwijd druk om Iran economisch te isoleren

    On August 25, the United States took a major step in its long-running pressure campaign against Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announcing a sweeping new round of sanctions codenamed “Operation Economic Outcast.” The explicit goal of this action is to fully isolate Iran from the global financial and trading system by cutting off all remaining economic lifelines connecting the Iranian government to international markets.

    Under the terms of the new sanctions framework, nearly 60 entities, individual actors and vessels have been added to the US sanctions blacklist. The administration has also expanded secondary sanctions, which penalize third-party entities that do business with sanctioned parties, to cover key sectors of Iran’s economy including shipping, gold trading, aviation, technology and digital assets. In parallel with the formal announcement, former President Donald Trump has been personally contacting global leaders to request that they end all commercial trade with Iran, though the administration has declined to name specific countries targeted by the request or set a formal deadline for compliance.

    This new escalation comes against a backdrop of two decades of sustained Western sanctions on Iran. Over that period, Tehran has progressively pivoted its trade relations away from Europe, shifting the bulk of its commercial activity to a smaller network of Asian and regional partner economies. The most recent full-year trade data from 2024 illustrates the current structure of Iran’s global trade ties, which the new US sanctions are designed to disrupt.

    In 2024, Iran exported approximately $56 billion worth of goods to at least 112 countries and territories. Its top five export partners were China, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Afghanistan, each accounting for a critical share of Iranian export activity:
    – China led the list at $14.58 billion, and remains the world’s largest buyer of Iranian crude oil, handling more than 80% of all seaborne shipments of Iranian oil. Most of this oil is sold at a steep discount and transported via unregistered “shadow fleets,” meaning very little of the trade appears in official customs statistics.
    – Iraq ranked second with $11.7 billion in Iranian imports. Iran supplies large volumes of natural gas to Iraq for power generation, as well as electricity to Iraq’s southern provinces, and is also a key supplier of food, construction materials and industrial goods to its neighbor.
    – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) came third at $7.16 billion, having long served as a key financial and re-export hub for Iranian trade, accounting for roughly 13% of total Iranian exports. However, Abu Dhabi recently implemented an unlimited trade embargo on Iran following unproven allegations that Iran launched rocket attacks on UAE territory – claims Tehran has repeatedly denied.
    – Turkey followed with $6.1 billion in Iranian imports. Iran supplies pipeline natural gas to Turkey via the Tabriz-Ankara pipeline, alongside petrochemical products, food and construction materials.
    – Afghanistan rounded out the top five at $2.3 billion. Iran supplies Afghanistan with fuel, food and construction materials, while Afghanistan relies heavily on Iranian ports and overland trade routes to access global markets.

    On the import side, Iran purchased roughly $68.5 billion worth of goods from 87 countries and territories in 2024. Its top import partners reflect the critical supply routes that keep the Iranian economy functioning:
    – The UAE topped the list at $21 billion, accounting for more than 30% of all Iranian imports. Most of these goods are re-exports that give Iran indirect access to Western-produced machinery, electronics and consumer goods. Abu Dhabi’s recent full trade embargo has now closed this key supply route entirely.
    – China ranked second at $17.8 billion, and is now Iran’s largest supplier of industrial machinery, electronics, vehicles and industrial components. China has become Iran’s most important economic partner following the collapse of most trade with Western economies.
    – Turkey came third at $11.1 billion. Its shared border and long-standing commercial ties have made it a critical overland supply route for Iran, providing machinery, chemicals, vehicles and industrial products. Two-way trade between the two countries has already declined significantly since recent regional escalations.
    – The European Union followed at $6.1 billion. Current EU trade volumes are only a small fraction of pre-2018 levels, and are now almost entirely limited to pharmaceutical products, medical equipment and industrial machinery.
    – India rounded out the top five at $1.6 billion. Bilateral trade between Iran and India has fallen sharply in recent years, with New Delhi maintaining limited commercial ties focused largely on agricultural goods such as rice and tea, plus pharmaceutical products.

    Analysts note that this new round of sweeping US sanctions represents one of the most aggressive efforts to date to cripple Iran’s international trade, with unpredictable ripple effects for global energy markets and regional diplomatic relations.

  • DNA behandelt nieuwe Algemene Wet Belastingen met ruimere bevoegdheden fiscus

    DNA behandelt nieuwe Algemene Wet Belastingen met ruimere bevoegdheden fiscus

    On August 25, Suriname’s National Assembly began deliberations on a landmark overhaul of the country’s fragmented tax regulatory framework, a long-awaited reform aimed at streamlining administrative processes and resolving longstanding inconsistencies in the national tax system. The flagship piece of legislation, proposed as the new General Tax Law, seeks to unify procedural rules across nearly all major tax categories, covering everything from tax declaration filing and assessment procedures to audits, appeals, information disclosure requirements, and penalty enforcement.

    Currently, Suriname’s tax system operates under a patchwork of separate laws for each type of tax, each with its own unique rules for deadlines, filing forms, payment processes, inspector powers, appeal protocols, and cross-border legal cooperation. According to the government’s explanatory memorandum, this fragmented structure has created widespread confusion and unequal treatment for taxpayers, as inconsistent rules are applied across different tax types. The new General Tax Law is designed to eliminate these disparities by harmonizing all procedural regulations into a single, clear framework.

    Spanning 88 articles, the new legislation applies to all core taxes in Suriname, including income tax, wage tax, dividend tax, turnover tax, property tax, rental value tax, casino tax, and lottery tax. Importantly, the law does not adjust actual tax rates or change substantive tax obligations; it only standardizes the procedural mechanisms for tax assessment and collection, leaving substantive tax rules (such as liability, taxable bases, and rates) in place under existing individual tax laws.

    One of the most transformative changes included in the reform is the accelerated digitalization of all tax-related interactions between authorities and taxpayers. The law introduces a new national Fiscal Identification Number (FIN) for all taxpayers and withholding agents, and grants the director of the Suriname Tax Administration the authority to mandate that all official communication with the tax authority be conducted exclusively through digital channels. The Tax Administration is required to provide a secure, encrypted digital platform to support this transition.

    The reform also expands and clarifies information and record-keeping obligations for all taxpayers. Individuals and entities will be required to provide any data or details relevant to tax assessment upon request, while businesses must maintain organized financial records that clearly reflect their tax rights and obligations. Tax inspectors will also gain conditional access to private buildings and land to conduct on-site tax investigations, granting the Tax Administration broader and more clearly defined powers to gather information and verify compliance.

    In response to concerns about expanded regulatory powers, the government emphasizes that the reform also strengthens legal protections for taxpayers. It establishes uniform, standardized timelines and procedures for filing objections and appeals against tax assessments. Rulings from tax inspectors on objections can now be appealed directly to the Cantonal Court for tax matters, and the government’s memorandum explicitly acknowledges that expanded inspection powers must be paired with robust, accessible legal safeguards for taxpayers.

    A comprehensive new administrative penalty regime is also introduced, which creates a clear distinction between penalties for negligence (non-compliance fines) and penalties for intentional misconduct (wrongdoing fines). Wrongdoing fines apply in cases of fraud or gross negligence, and can reach up to 100% of the amount of tax that was underpaid as a result of the intentional misconduct. The law also includes separate criminal provisions for severe violations of tax obligations, to deter large-scale tax evasion.

    The reform also formalizes cross-border information exchange for tax purposes, enshrining the process in law for the first time. The Minister of Finance will be able to share taxpayer information with competent foreign tax authorities under predefined conditions, and allow foreign officials to observe tax investigations conducted on Surinamese territory. At the same time, the law outlines clear conditions under which requests for foreign information exchange can be rejected, protecting the interests of Surinamese taxpayers where appropriate.

    Under the reform’s transition provisions, existing regulatory decisions and arrangements will remain in force until new rules are formally adopted to replace them. In all transitional cases, the provision that is more favorable to the taxpayer will be applied, to avoid unnecessary disruptions or unfair treatment during the shift to the new framework. The final effective date of the new law will be set by a separate state decree after it is passed by the National Assembly.

  • Gonzales: Manning on ‘dangerous path’

    Gonzales: Manning on ‘dangerous path’

    A simmering internal conflict within Trinidad and Tobago’s ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) boiled over into a formal public rebuke this week, after party chairman Marvin Gonzales issued a stark warning to San Fernando East Member of Parliament Brian Manning for dragging intra-party tensions into the public sphere. The standoff, which pits Manning against the leadership of his own constituency’s executive committee, has triggered formal party processes and raised the prospect of disciplinary action against the sitting MP if he continues to defy party norms.

    The dispute first erupted last week, when Manning took to his public Facebook page to air unreserved criticism and concerns about Patricia Alexis, chair of the San Fernando East Constituency Executive. Within days, the national PNM leadership issued an initial rebuke on Thursday, urging Manning to cease public discussion of internal party business. Not to be outdone, the constituency executive itself responded via Facebook, pushing back against Manning’s allegations and defending its record.

    As the public back-and-forth stretched into the weekend, top PNM leadership called an urgent press conference at the party’s Port of Spain headquarters, Balisier House, on Monday to formally address the growing rift. The full slate of senior party leadership was in attendance: vice-chairman Dr. Amery Browne, lady vice-chairman Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, deputy political leaders Colm Imbert and Sanjiv Boodhu, and general secretary Foster Cummings, signaling the gravity the party placed on the confrontation.

    Gonzales told reporters that party leaders had made a good-faith attempt to resolve the dispute behind closed doors on Sunday, hosting a meeting with the San Fernando East Constituency Executive. While Manning received a formal invitation to participate in the mediation-focused gathering, he was notably absent from the talks. “Sunday evening at 5 p.m. the leadership of the party under the directive of honourable political leader met in San Fernando with the executive of the San Fernando East constituency. The Member of Parliament was invited and unfortunately, he was not present at that meeting,” Gonzales confirmed. He added that members of the constituency executive expressed profound distress over the public airing of the conflict, with many reporting that they felt their professional reputations and personal standing had been damaged by Manning’s public accusations. “Many of them were hurt on how the entire fiasco and how this issue is being played out in the public domain,” Gonzales said.

    The party chairman outlined the formal timeline for resolving the conflict: an internal inquiry into the dispute between Manning and Alexis is expected to wrap up by Friday, after which the PNM central executive will convene on Saturday to review the panel’s findings. From there, the party’s general council will take up the matter in strict accordance with the PNM’s constitution.

    Gonzales stressed that the PNM has long-standing, codified procedures for resolving internal disagreements, and that public name-calling and reputation attacks have no place in the party’s governance framework. “It is not a kangaroo court where these things are ventilated, where accusations are hurled in the public domain to destroy people’s character and to destroy professional reputations. These are not the ways we handle matters,” he said. Addressing Manning directly, Gonzales issued a clear warning: “Mr. Manning is going down a very dangerous path.” He urged the MP to pause, reflect, and allow the party’s internal processes to move forward without further public interference. “It is not good for the interest of the People’s National Movement and we are asking him to allow good sense to prevail and to do some introspection and some self-reflection while the party undertake its processes to resolve these matters, to please conduct himself in a disciplined format,” Gonzales added.

    When it comes to potential consequences, Gonzales confirmed that the party already has received formal complaints from aggrieved members that could trigger a disciplinary investigation into Manning’s conduct. He explained that disciplinary action cannot be initiated unilaterally by party leadership; instead, it must be activated by a formal complaint from a registered PNM member, after which an official inquiry is held to determine if there are grounds for sanction. “My understanding is that members are so aggrieved and so concerned at this time that we have already started receiving complaints that we will have to perhaps conduct investigations,” Gonzales said. “It is a process but it is not one that the leadership triggers. It is one that once a complaint is received from any member then there is a process for an enquiry to determine whether or not there is any grounds for disciplinary action.”

    Vice-chairman Dr. Amery Browne echoed Gonzales’ warning, urging Manning to reverse course and respect the party’s constitutionally mandated processes. “The course that you have chosen is not a wise course in these circumstances particularly when these matters are currently being addressed and under consideration, on the very organs of the PNM, mandated to treat with them in this (PNM) constitution as we speak,” Browne said. He added: “So, as a colleague as we all are, it is a word of advice. A word of advice to think again, to respect the processes, deliberations, actions, discussions, decisions, the central executive of the party of which you are a member, the general council of the party of which you are a member, the democratic processes of the People’s National Movement and avoid any unnecessary action and deflection and worst of all, any temptation to play the same cards in the public space that members of the UNC Government play every single day.”

    Browne also pushed back against speculation that PNM political leader Pennelope Beckles has been absent or uncommitted to resolving the dispute, confirming that Beckles is actively overseeing the process while adhering to the party constitution. He noted that the political leader does not hold unilateral authority to remove elected constituency executives, a power reserved for party bodies under the organization’s governing document. “These processes are not taking place without dedicated and concerned leadership from our duly appointed leader. There are those who feel that a political leader is some sort of emperor, they could remove an executive, they could remove a chairman. It does not work like that,” Browne said. “Again, the party has a constitution to whom the political leader must be beholden as well.”

    When contacted by local media outlet the Express for comment on the party’s rebuke Monday evening, Manning declined to make any additional public statements on the dispute.

  • Corporal pleads not guilty to sexual misconduct charges

    Corporal pleads not guilty to sexual misconduct charges

    After nearly a four-year gap in military judicial proceedings, the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) has launched its first court-martial at its Chaguaramas-based headquarters, centered on a reserve corporal facing two distinct military misconduct charges connected to alleged sexual wrongdoing.

    The unidentified service member made his initial appearance before Judge Advocate Captain (Naval) Zin-Mark King on Tuesday, where he was formally read the two charges laid against him and entered a not guilty plea to both counts. The first accusation falls under Section 73 of the nation’s Defence Act, which prohibits the ill-treatment of junior-ranking personnel by senior service members subject to military law. The statute explicitly outlines that any service member convicted of striking or otherwise abusing a more junior subordinate can face up to two years of imprisonment if found guilty by court-martial, alongside less severe alternative penalties.

    The second charge the corporal faces is Conduct Prejudicial to Good Order and Military Discipline, a violation laid out in Section 77 of Chapter 14:01 of the Defence Act. This charge carries a matching maximum sentence of two years imprisonment upon conviction, with other potential disciplinary outcomes including rank demotion, involuntary forfeiture of earned pay, and military detention.

    During the opening session of the proceeding, the judge granted a request from prosecution teams to amend the official charge report against the accused. Following this action, defense counsel Kirk Cumberbatch submitted a formal motion for an adjournment of the proceedings, which was also approved by the judge. The court-martial is scheduled to resume its proceedings on August 27, when both sides will continue to present their cases and move forward with the judicial process.

  • PNM Sando East exec resigns

    PNM Sando East exec resigns

    Long-simmering internal friction within the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) San Fernando East constituency branch boiled over this week, when the entire sitting executive submitted their resignations effective 4 p.m. local time Thursday. The coordinated departure came on the heels of a Sunday negotiation meeting between top PNM national leadership and more than 20 constituency executive members, convened to address long-running internal disputes and review findings from an independent inquiry commissioned by the PNM General Council.

    In an official statement released on behalf of the body, outgoing constituency chair Patricia Alexis confirmed that local MP Brian Manning, the son of former PNM prime minister Patrick Manning, had been extended an invitation to the Sunday talks but declined to attend and took no part in the deliberations that led to the resignation decision. The outgoing executive framed its collective step as a measure taken to prioritize the long-term health of the PNM and enable stable, ordered governance of the constituency. By stepping down, the group explained, the national party leadership and PNM National Executive will be able to install a transitional interim body, oversee preparations for internal party elections, and clear a path for a fully democratic selection of a new constituency executive.

    All outgoing members have pledged full cooperation with the leadership transition and a party verification process stemming from the inquiry’s recommendations, including turning over all requested documentation and constituency records. Alexis herself has confirmed she will not stand for re-election to the chair position when a new vote is held.

    The resignation follows closely on a public announcement from former PNM government minister Hazel Manning — widow of Patrick Manning and mother of current MP Brian Manning — who entered the race for the constituency chair last Saturday. Hazel Manning stated that she had been contacted by dozens of constituents alarmed by growing turmoil and questions over the conduct of sitting constituency leaders, and that she had agreed to run to restore unity and stability to the district. She described San Fernando East as a historically symbolic seat for the PNM, tied to decades of service from her family: her husband represented the constituency from 1971 until 2015, and Brian claimed the seat for the PNM in the 2020 general election. “For decades I watched my husband, and now my son Brian Manning, walk every street, take note of every issue and make sacrifices to try to reach and represent every constituent,” she said in her announcement, calling on local members to unite to “repair, recover and rebuild” the constituency branch.

    PNM national chair Marvin Gonzales told reporters Thursday that the mass resignation did not catch party leadership by surprise, following the difficult Sunday discussions with the outgoing executive. Gonzales revealed that many departing executive members had reported receiving unsolicited calls and direct threats pressuring them to step down, and that family members had urged them to exit the role rather than continue working in a deeply hostile political climate. “I tried to use my persuasion as the chairman of the party to encourage them not to bow to hostilities, external hostilities, threats, intimidation, and that they have done well to keep…the San Fernando East corner of the PNM for all of the years that we have been having elections in Trinidad and Tobago,” Gonzales said, adding that the national leadership had thanked the entire outgoing group for their years of service. He acknowledged that the ongoing internal conflict had taken a significant emotional and professional toll on the executive members, saying, “I felt their pain and I felt their disappointment” after Sunday’s meeting.

    The current dispute erupted after MP Brian Manning publicly aired formal concerns about the performance and conduct of Alexis and the existing constituency executive. Gonzales had previously issued a public warning to party members against airing internal disagreements in public, noting that leadership was working to address Brian Manning’s complaints privately. Despite that directive, the constituency executive released its own public response, and ultimately moved forward with the mass resignation.

    In their formal statement, the outgoing executive stressed that their decision to step down should not be misinterpreted as a break from the PNM or abandonment of the San Fernando East constituency. Members noted that they had served the party and local constituents through multiple successive parliamentary representatives, and remain proud of their record defending the seat for the PNM through every recent general election. “This resignation should therefore not be interpreted as an abandonment of either the party or the constituency,” the statement read. “It is a deliberate decision to facilitate the orderly reconstitution of the constituency and, ultimately, to allow the membership to determine its leadership through the democratic processes of the party.” The group also reaffirmed its unwavering support for PNM political leader Pennelope Beckles and the current national party leadership.

    While Alexis confirmed she would not run again, she noted that other individual outgoing executive members will be free to choose whether to stand for election to the new executive. The ball is now in the court of PNM national leadership to put interim governing arrangements in place ahead of the scheduled constituency executive elections to select a permanent new body.

  • Police brass tie promotion to morale and crime fight

    Police brass tie promotion to morale and crime fight

    Amid growing public pressure to curb a persistent wave of gun violence, senior leadership of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) has announced sweeping changes to the agency’s promotion system, tying future advancement directly to measurable performance, individual merit, and acceptance of greater accountability. The reform plan was unveiled by top officials during a Thursday press conference focused on the country’s ongoing gun violence crisis, framing the policy shift as a core step to boost officer morale and strengthen the national crime-fighting effort.

    Newly appointed Acting Commissioner of Police Trevor “Buju” Bailey used the public appearance to confirm a recent round of senior leadership changes within the force, including the elevation of Acting Deputy Commissioner Junior Simmons and Acting Assistant Commissioner Brenton Smith to their current roles. Bailey also revealed that additional promotions across lower ranks will be announced in the coming days, but emphasized that these advancements should not be treated as celebratory milestones.

    “Three days into this role, I can already feel the gravity of the responsibility this position carries,” Bailey told reporters. “Where I once contributed as a member of a leadership team, I now hold the accountability for this entire force. The public expects nothing less than our best work to end this crime wave, and I am committed to delivering that.” He stressed that promotions are not ceremonial rewards for tenure, but a call to greater service that must translate to tangible improvements in public safety outcomes. The acting commissioner called on every rank-and-file and senior officer to renew their commitment to crime reduction, urging a collective refocus on operational effectiveness.

    Smith, who retains oversight of human resources for the force, expanded on the need for systemic change to the promotion process, addressing long-running internal concerns about unfair advancement practices. He explicitly called for an overhaul of existing criteria, arguing that promotions have for too long relied on seniority and other non-transparent factors rather than proven capability.

    “Advancement has always been one of the most critical issues for officer morale across the force,” Smith explained. “We have to change how we promote people. Elevation must go to those who show merit, put in the hard work, demonstrate commitment, and master the details of their work. That change alone will do wonders for how officers feel about their careers and their place in this organization.”

    Beyond the promotion structure, Smith also tied systemic reform to broader officer welfare and work-life balance, noting that the force is currently conducting a comprehensive manpower audit to assess current deployment and align officers’ skills with the roles where they are most needed. He confirmed the audit is on track to wrap up within seven days, and will help leadership create more balanced workloads that give officers adequate time with their families while optimizing operational capacity. This alignment of skills to roles, Smith argued, will reinforce the new merit-based system by creating a clear, transparent path where strong performance directly leads to advancement.

    The push for promotion reform comes at a time when the RSVGPF is facing heightened public and political scrutiny over its response to rising gun crime. Leadership has already rolled out a series of operational changes to address the crisis, including increased visible patrols, zoned community policing, new investments in forensic technology, and deeper cross-regional law enforcement cooperation. Alongside these operational shifts, officials are working to rebuild public trust by strengthening internal discipline, improving professional standards, and expanding community engagement initiatives. Reformers say that overhauling the promotion process to prioritize merit will not only boost internal morale but also help the force deliver on its public safety commitments to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.