Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • Nicaraguan solidarity movement voices support for Venezuela

    Nicaraguan solidarity movement voices support for Venezuela

    The Nicaraguan government has issued a forceful condemnation against what it characterizes as a resurgence of imperial aggression from the United States. In an official statement, the administration asserted that Washington has recently escalated a series of hostile measures targeting global populations, with particular focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. This strategic shift, occurring against the backdrop of diminishing U.S. global dominance, represents a deliberate attempt to revive the nineteenth-century Monroe Doctrine framework of hemispheric domination.

    Venezuela emerges as the primary target of these alleged neocolonial operations, according to the communiqué. The Bolivarian nation, guided by the political legacy of the late Commander Hugo Chávez and demonstrating remarkable unity and resilience, continues to withstand substantial external pressure campaigns. The Nicaraguan movement expressed confidence that these imperial designs would ultimately fail despite their current intensity.

    The statement further contextualized these geopolitical maneuvers as direct retaliation against Venezuela’s sovereign governance and resource independence. Specifically, Caracas’s control over the world’s largest proven oil reserves has reignited foreign interest in controlling the nation’s natural wealth, prompting aggressive tactics aimed at resource appropriation.

    Reaffirming its regional commitments, Nicaragua pledged unwavering dedication to protecting peace, prosperity, and self-determination for all Latin American and Caribbean peoples. The government highlighted the enduring relevance of the 2014 Havana Declaration established by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which formally designated the region as a Zone of Peace, free from external intervention and conflict.

  • OPINION: A Breach within CARICOM Widens

    OPINION: A Breach within CARICOM Widens

    A significant and widening fissure within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is posing a substantial threat to the bloc’s historic unity and operational effectiveness. This internal discord, which has been developing over recent months, transcends mere policy disagreements and strikes at the core of the organization’s foundational principles of consensus and collective action.

    The schism appears to center on divergent approaches to critical regional issues, including external diplomatic engagements, economic strategy, and security cooperation. Member states are reportedly aligning into informal factions with contrasting visions for CARICOM’s future direction, creating an atmosphere of strategic ambiguity that could undermine the community’s negotiating power on the international stage.

    Analysts observing the situation note that this internal fragmentation occurs at a particularly inopportune time, as the region faces mounting challenges from climate change vulnerabilities, economic pressures from global inflation, and complex geopolitical maneuvering by major powers seeking influence in the Caribbean basin. The inability to present a unified front potentially diminishes CARICOM’s capacity to secure favorable trade terms, attract strategic investment, and effectively advocate for climate justice.

    The current impasse reflects broader tensions between maintaining traditional partnerships and exploring new alliances, between sovereignty and integration, and between immediate national interests and long-term regional benefits. How CARICOM leadership navigates this period of internal contention will likely determine the organization’s relevance and effectiveness in addressing the pressing issues facing Caribbean nations in the coming decades.

  • Cuba rejects U.S. arms sale to Taiwan

    Cuba rejects U.S. arms sale to Taiwan

    Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla has issued a strong condemnation of the United States government’s planned $11.1 billion arms transfer to Taiwan, characterizing the move as a direct threat to Chinese sovereignty and regional stability. The high-ranking diplomat, who serves on the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of Cuba’s Communist Party, utilized his social media platform to articulate Havana’s firm opposition to the weapons deal.

    Minister Rodríguez emphasized that such military transactions severely compromise the territorial integrity of the People’s Republic of China while simultaneously destabilizing the delicate security equilibrium across the Asia-Pacific region. The Cuban diplomat reiterated his nation’s steadfast commitment to the ‘One China’ principle, explicitly recognizing Taiwan as an inseparable component of Chinese territory.

    The record-breaking arms package announcement prompted immediate countermeasures from Beijing, with Chinese authorities imposing sanctions against 20 American defense contractors and ten senior executives implicated in recent weapons sales to Taiwan. Chinese foreign ministry representatives have urgently called upon Washington to honor previous bilateral agreements, specifically referencing the three joint communiqués that have historically guided Sino-American relations.

    Official statements from Beijing further cautioned that Taiwan represents the most sensitive core interest in China’s foreign policy framework, describing it as an ‘uncrossable red line’ in diplomatic engagements with the United States. Chinese officials have vowed to implement all necessary measures to protect national sovereignty and maintain territorial integrity against external interference.

  • CARICOM : Renewed attention to Haiti

    CARICOM : Renewed attention to Haiti

    As Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness concludes his tenure as CARICOM president, he has outlined significant regional accomplishments while emphasizing the Caribbean community’s intensified focus on Haiti’s stabilization. The leadership transition, scheduled for January with Saint Kitts and Nevis assuming the pro tempore presidency, marks a pivotal moment for regional cooperation.

    In his valedictory address, Holness highlighted several landmark achievements during his presidency. The Caribbean Community demonstrated exceptional solidarity during Hurricane Melissa, showcasing the region’s collective disaster response capabilities. A historic integration milestone was reached with Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines implementing full free movement of citizens among themselves since October 1, 2025. This ‘concentric circles’ approach mirrors successful integration models globally, enabling willing nations to deepen cooperation while maintaining flexibility for other members to join when prepared.

    Haiti emerged as a central focus of CARICOM’s diplomatic efforts, with sustained advocacy resulting in substantial international engagement. The community’s persistent diplomacy contributed to the UN Security Council establishing a Gang Suppression Force (GSF), partially funded by United Nations resources including equipment, infrastructure, and logistical support. CARICOM has now become an essential partner in the tripartite coordination of the Organization of American States’ Roadmap toward Stability and Peace in Haiti, with optimistic projections for free and fair elections in 2026.

    The Caribbean Community reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the region as a Zone of Peace, grounded in respect for international law and peaceful conflict resolution. While acknowledging that member states may occasionally express divergent national perspectives, Holness emphasized that such diversity strengthens rather than weakens the community’s collective mandate, economic interdependence, and organic people-to-people connections that transcend temporary challenges.

  • Security : General mobilization of State security forces against gangs

    Security : General mobilization of State security forces against gangs

    In a decisive move to combat rampant gang violence, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé spearheaded a high-level security summit at the National Police headquarters in Clercine on December 28, 2025. The strategic meeting assembled key security officials including Justice Minister Patrick Pélissier, Public Security Secretary Mario Andrésol, and Acting Police Director Vladimir Paraison, signaling an unprecedented coordinated response to the nation’s security crisis.

    The gathering marked the formal activation of a tripartite security offensive involving Haiti’s National Police (PNH), Armed Forces (FAd’H), and specialized Gang Suppression Unit (FRG). This coordinated mobilization represents the most comprehensive security operation undertaken against armed criminal networks that have destabilized the nation.

    During the strategic briefing, Prime Minister Fils-Aimé officially acknowledged critical international support from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, which has provided 25 armored personnel carriers to enhance operational capabilities. This tactical equipment is expected to significantly improve officer protection and intervention effectiveness in high-risk operations.

    The Prime Minister delivered an unequivocal declaration of the government’s stance: “Our combat targets criminal elements exclusively. Our mission is national security restoration. The state will neither compromise nor negotiate with those who threaten public safety.” He emphasized that the newly acquired assets would enable systematic reclaiming of gang-controlled territories and establish sustainable security frameworks.

    Concluding the address, Fils-Aimé positioned security restoration as the foundational prerequisite for constitutional normalization, announcing that 2026 would be dedicated to organizing democratic elections and revitalizing Haiti’s republican institutions.

  • EU signals tougher stance on Caribbean citizenship programmes

    EU signals tougher stance on Caribbean citizenship programmes

    The European Commission has dramatically intensified its stance against Caribbean Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) programs, declaring that the mere operation of such schemes now constitutes legitimate grounds for suspending visa-free access to the Schengen area. This hardened position emerges from the Commission’s 8th annual Visa Suspension Mechanism assessment, which represents a fundamental shift in policy rationale.

    Rather than focusing on whether investors establish ‘genuine links’ to host nations, Brussels now categorizes all investor citizenship programs operated by visa-exempt countries as inherent security threats. The report explicitly identified five Eastern Caribbean nations—Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia—as presenting challenges of ‘much greater scale’ than European neighboring countries with similar programs.

    These nations have collectively issued over 100,000 passports through CBI arrangements, maintaining robust demand with 13,113 applications in 2023 and 10,573 in 2024. The Commission raised serious concerns regarding security vetting procedures, highlighting remarkably low rejection rates: Antigua and Barbuda refused just 1.7% of applicants in 2024, while Saint Lucia and Dominica rejected 5.3% and 6.5% respectively.

    Despite acknowledging recent reforms including standardized minimum investment thresholds of $200,000 and enhanced screening protocols, Brussels concluded that substantial risks persist. In formal recommendations, the Commission urged these nations to strengthen vetting procedures ‘pending the discontinuation’ of their programs—language suggesting the EU ultimately envisages complete termination of Caribbean CBI schemes.

    The revised mechanism establishes that non-compliance could trigger suspension of visa-free travel privileges, mirroring measures already implemented against Georgia. The EU previously announced plans to suspend visa-free access for holders of Georgian diplomatic, service, and official passports by December’s end, with broader restrictions possible if concerns remain unaddressed.

    The Commission emphasized that countries must demonstrate ‘without delay’ measurable progress to avoid formal suspension procedures. The report further reinforced that EU candidate countries must completely abolish investor citizenship programs, following an April 2025 European Court of Justice ruling that found Malta in violation of EU law for operating a CBI scheme, establishing that member states cannot offer naturalization through transactional procedures.

  • High Court-ordered street vendors removal around Yhip’s bakery suspended

    High Court-ordered street vendors removal around Yhip’s bakery suspended

    A planned enforcement operation to remove street vendors outside Yhip’s Bakery in Georgetown was abruptly suspended on Sunday following a dramatic intervention by Mayor Alfred Mentore, creating a stark display of administrative conflict within local government.

    The incident unfolded when City Engineer Colvern Venture arrived with demolition crews and tractor-trailers to execute a High Court order mandating the clearance of fruit and vegetable vendors from the Robb and Alexander Streets location. Venture informed vendors that despite Mayor Mentore’s previous assurances, the court order required immediate compliance regardless of mayoral objections.

    ‘The Mayor was not before the court,’ Venture stated, emphasizing that city administrators faced potential contempt charges if they failed to execute the judicial directive. ‘If the Mayor comes and changes it, it means he will have to go and face the court.’

    The operation halted abruptly when Mayor Mentore arrived on scene and directly countermanded the instructions, ordering city workers to stand down and return home. ‘I want these people to go home. You all go home! What you all doing here? Please go home!’ he declared, questioning the ‘show of force’ against ‘poor people.’

    The confrontation revealed deeper legal complexities as Mayor Mentore explained his intervention was based on new information regarding the court order’s legitimacy. He revealed the order had been obtained by a minority shareholder (owning one-fifth) of the Yhip’s property without consent from the majority owners, who reportedly support the vendors’ presence.

    Town Clerk Candace Nelson maintained that regardless of the property dispute, the municipality remained bound by the court order. She announced plans to seek further legal guidance from the council’s attorney while noting the next court hearing is scheduled for January 9, 2026.

    The dispute escalated into open disagreement between the mayor and town clerk regarding previous discussions with Local Government Minister Priya Manickchand. Mentore claimed to possess recorded evidence contradicting Nelson’s account of agreements reached, while Nelson firmly rejected his characterization of events.

    The minister subsequently clarified that her instructions focused solely on ensuring proper documentation of compliance efforts rather than delaying enforcement. This incident highlights growing tensions between elected officials and administrative officers regarding judicial authority and municipal governance.

  • ‘World is at a crossroads’: Dominica’s President H.E. Sylvanie Burton talks diplomatic ties with China, US Caribbean strikes, on Chinese CGTN (with video)

    ‘World is at a crossroads’: Dominica’s President H.E. Sylvanie Burton talks diplomatic ties with China, US Caribbean strikes, on Chinese CGTN (with video)

    In a comprehensive October 2025 interview with China’s ‘Leader Talk’ program, Dominica’s President Sylvanie Burton articulated a robust vision for Sino-Caribbean relations while delivering sharp criticism of United States foreign policy. The diplomatic exchange, conducted during President Burton’s official visit to China, provided significant insights into the evolving geopolitical landscape.

    President Burton offered detailed analysis of how China’s Belt and Road Initiative has generated tangible benefits for Dominican communities, emphasizing infrastructure development and economic cooperation. She highlighted China’s crucial role in supporting Dominica’s recovery and reconstruction efforts following devastating natural disasters, framing the assistance as emblematic of genuine South-South cooperation.

    The Dominican leader issued particularly strong remarks regarding climate change vulnerabilities, noting that small island developing states like Dominica face existential threats from environmental challenges. She positioned climate action as an urgent moral imperative for the international community.

    On diplomatic matters, President Burton reaffirmed her government’s unwavering commitment to the One-China policy, describing it as a cornerstone of Dominican foreign relations. The interview took a more confrontational turn when addressing United States military actions in the region, which Burton characterized as ‘bullying’ tactics designed to subordinate smaller nations.

    Articulating a vision of regional autonomy, President Burton formally declared the Caribbean a ‘Zone of Peace’ and called for the United States to engage in more respectful dialogue with Caribbean nations rather than pursuing coercive approaches. Her comments represent a significant diplomatic positioning that aligns with China’s growing influence in the region while challenging traditional American hegemony.

  • Trump says US will keep or sell oil seized from Venezuela

    Trump says US will keep or sell oil seized from Venezuela

    In a significant escalation of pressure against the Venezuelan government, former President Donald Trump announced that the United States would retain or sell crude oil confiscated from tankers intercepted near Venezuela’s coast. The declaration came during a press briefing in Florida on Monday, where Trump outlined multiple potential dispositions for the seized commodities, including potential allocation to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

    The U.S. military has intensified its maritime operations this month, apprehending two oil tankers with a third vessel currently under pursuit. American authorities characterize these ships as components of a Venezuelan ‘dark fleet’ specifically designed to circumvent international sanctions. This enforcement campaign forms part of a broader strategy to economically isolate the administration of Nicolás Maduro, whom the U.S. accuses of utilizing oil revenues to fund narcotics trafficking operations.

    In a parallel development, the U.S. military confirmed conducting a strike on a suspected trafficking vessel in international waters of the eastern Pacific, resulting in one fatality. Trump further indicated plans to expand anti-trafficking operations to land-based targets, warning that attempted incursions would meet with decisive military response.

    The Venezuelan government has vehemently condemned these actions as acts of ‘piracy’ and has sought international intervention through the United Nations Security Council, which is scheduled to convene an emergency session to address what Caracas terms ‘ongoing U.S. aggression.’ Maduro responded directly to Trump’s statements, suggesting the former president should focus on domestic challenges rather than intervening in Venezuelan affairs.

    This confrontation occurs within the context of heightened U.S. military presence in the Caribbean and Pacific regions, alongside the Trump administration’s designation of Maduro’s government as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The recent blockade order against sanctioned oil tankers represents another economic pressure tactic against Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy.

  • Penny, Mickela: PM has questions to answer on economy

    Penny, Mickela: PM has questions to answer on economy

    In a sharp political confrontation, Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles and Patriotic Front political leader Mickela Panday have launched scathing critiques against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s governance approach and economic policies. The opposition figures issued separate statements on December 29, condemning the Prime Minister’s characterization of Trinidad and Tobago as “a lawless dump” during her defense of heightened penalties for traffic violations.

    Beckles, who also serves as PNM political leader, accused Persad-Bissessar of demonstrating “love for office rather than service to country” and labeled her remarks as “distasteful and unbecoming of a prime minister.” She suggested the description might actually reflect the “amalgamation of characters” within the current government rather than the nation itself.

    The opposition leader criticized the government’s approach to crime prevention, asserting that instead of addressing root causes through institutional reform and enforcement enhancement, the administration is opting for punitive measures that burden citizens with increased fines and fees. Beckles emphasized that “hard-working Trinbagonians are not criminals” and condemned what she described as governance through “fear, threats, insults, and bullying.”

    Adding to the political tension, Beckles referenced Persad-Bissessar’s controversial stance on CARICOM, suggesting the Prime Minister’s position could cost the nation billions in revenue. The opposition leader also highlighted the dismissal of approximately 50,000 workers from CEPEP, URP, and other programs since the UNC assumed power in April.

    Panday echoed these concerns, calling on the Prime Minister to directly address the nation and explain “how years of failed governance have suddenly become the fault of citizens.” She asserted that citizens constitute “the backbone of this country” rather than being the problem, and criticized the government’s approach to implementing new taxes and fees without proper public debate or justification.

    The Patriotic Front leader particularly condemned the timing of policy announcements, noting that increases in fines, fees, and tolls were quietly published on Christmas Day and scheduled to take effect at the start of the new year when households are already financially strained. Panday accused the government of employing “governance by ambush” tactics and drawing parallels between current administration policies and those of previous PNM governments.

    Both opposition figures warned that the cumulative effect of increased alcohol prices, higher customs taxes, elevated birth and death registration fees, punitive traffic fines, and raised NIS contributions would adversely affect living standards, weaken the economy, and fundamentally alter the character of Trinidad and Tobago.