分类： politics

CARICOM Observers Arrives in Antigua and Barbuda ahead of April 30 general election

A formal invitation extended by Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne in a letter dated April 5, 2026, has brought the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat into the island nation’s upcoming electoral process, with an independent nine-member election observation mission already deployed to monitor the general election scheduled for April 30, 2026.

Following receipt of the invitation, CARICOM’s Secretary-General promptly confirmed the organization’s commitment to the mission, moving quickly to finalize all operational and logistical arrangements for the observer team. The mission is led by Maxine McClean, a sitting member of Barbados’ Electoral and Boundaries Commission, with Herman St. Helen, Chief Elections Officer of Saint Lucia, serving as Deputy Chief of Mission. The remaining seven members of the team bring deep electoral expertise from across the Caribbean bloc: they include Felix Gregoire, Chairman of Dominica’s Public Service Commission; Rohan Porter, Acting Assistant Director of Elections for Field Operations at Jamaica’s electoral body; Stephanie Bram, an Electoral Bureau member from Suriname; and Karla Dayton Edwards, Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago’s Election and Boundaries Commission. Three CARICOM Secretariat staff based in the Foreign and Community Relations division—Programme Manager Brian Bellevue, Project Officer Amos Lindor, and Administrative Assistant Denise Morgan—provide operational and administrative support to the observer team.

The core leadership and Secretariat support contingent touched down in Antigua and Barbuda on April 23, 2026, kicking off a week-long pre-election and election monitoring process. In the days leading up to polling day, the mission has planned a full schedule of consultations with a broad range of electoral stakeholders to build a comprehensive understanding of the pre-vote context. These meetings include discussions with representatives from the Antigua and Barbuda government, the ruling political party, and the official opposition, as well as direct talks with the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission and the national Supervisor of Elections. The mission has also prioritized outreach to grassroots and civil society groups, planning sessions with representatives of women’s organizations, youth groups, disability advocacy networks, the local business community, religious institutions, labor unions, and independent media outlets.

On polling day, April 30, the full observer team will monitor every stage of the electoral process from start to finish. Observers will be on site to assess pre-opening preparations at polling stations, the formal opening of voting locations, the conduct of ballot casting throughout the day, the official closure of polls, the manual and electronic counting of ballots, and the compilation of official precinct-level poll statements. Beyond on-the-ground observation, the mission has a clear set of objectives: it will collect voting result data to conduct independent quantitative verification of the official election results, document qualitative observations about the conduct of electoral officials, political participants, and the overall fairness of the electoral environment, and conduct a preliminary assessment of the election outcome and its immediate short-term impacts on Antigua and Barbuda’s social and political landscape.

Following the completion of its monitoring activities, the full mission is scheduled to depart Antigua and Barbuda on May 3, 2026. In a public statement ahead of the election, the CARICOM Election Observation Mission extended its gratitude to all stakeholders who have already cooperated to facilitate the mission’s work, noting that the opportunity to support and strengthen democratic governance in Antigua and Barbuda is a responsibility the entire team takes seriously. The mission also recognized the warm hospitality and collaborative reception it has received from national authorities and local actors since its arrival.

25 4 月, 2026
Minister Ramsaran: Defensie moet versnellen en zich aanpassen aan nieuwe dreigingen

On Friday, during the formal inauguration of new Surinamese National Army Commander Mitchell Labadie, Defense Minister Uraiqit Ramsaran laid out a clear roadmap for the country’s defense sector, calling for urgent institutional strengthening and adaptive reform to match the pace of a rapidly shifting global security landscape.

In his keynote address to the defense community, Ramsaran framed the change in military leadership not as a routine transitional moment, but as a pivotal milestone that carries renewed institutional responsibility. He reaffirmed the core mission of Suriname’s defense apparatus: safeguarding national sovereignty, maintaining operational readiness to respond to domestic emergencies, and upholding a reputation as a reliable pillar of national stability.

Beyond basic functionality, Ramsaran pushed for accelerated progress across the defense sector. He emphasized that the National Army remains the foundational bedrock of Suriname’s overall security and domestic stability, a role that requires the organization to move far beyond maintaining the status quo. “Our organization must not only function — it must accelerate,” he told attendees.

Growing global complexity, he argued, has created a steadily expanding set of security challenges. Shifting international dynamics, rapid technological change, and increasingly complex, transnational security threats demand constant adaptation, incremental improvement, and deliberate institutional strengthening. Against this backdrop, he stressed that strong, ethical, and dependable leadership is non-negotiable for the defense force to fulfill its mandate.

Ramsaran extended his formal congratulations to Labadie on his appointment, expressing full confidence in the new commander’s professional capabilities. He reminded Labadie that the role demands unwavering resolve, sharp strategic insight, and uncompromising personal integrity, noting that every decision he makes will directly shape the readiness and morale of the country’s military personnel.

Alongside welcoming the new leadership, the minister also publicly recognized the departing commander for their years of service and contributions to advancing the defense organization’s development.

In guidance to Labadie, Ramsaran urged the new commander to remain visible, approachable, and closely connected to rank-and-file service members across all operational levels. “That is where the true strength of our defense force lies,” he said.

Ramsaran further emphasized that cross-sector collaboration is not an optional strategy, but the core key to delivering successful outcomes. This commitment to collaboration applies within the defense hierarchy, across all government departments, and in engagement with wider Surinamese society. Even as leadership transitions, he added, the core values that guide the defense organization must remain unchanged. “Service, steadfastness, and loyalty will remain our compass,” Ramsaran said.

25 4 月, 2026
No plans to remove subsidy to airbridge

A public debate over the future of the Trinidad-Tobago domestic airbridge has prompted top government officials to clear up widespread misinformation, confirming that existing subsidized passenger fares will remain untouched, while a proposal for new premium unsubsidized flights remains in the early feasibility stage.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar stepped forward to address growing public anxiety over the weekend, emphasizing in an interview with local outlet the Express on that there has never been any official consideration of scrapping the longstanding subsidy program that keeps round-trip airfares fixed at $400 for travel between the two main islands. She stressed that the subsidized service is an essential lifeline for Tobago residents, who regularly need to travel to Trinidad to access government services, conduct private business, and handle critical matters that are unavailable on their home island.

The confusion erupted after Trade, Investment and Tourism Minister Satyakama Maharaj told the Express Thursday that the government was exploring a targeted adjustment to the airbridge service to address persistent overcrowding and last-minute booking shortages. Maharaj’s proposal calls for adding two daily unsubsidized flights during peak travel periods, which would carry a price point of roughly $1000 round-trip. These premium flights would primarily serve travelers booking short-notice trips and tourists, who frequently struggle to secure seats on the heavily booked subsidized service. Maharaj himself noted that the persistent shortage is a well-known issue, even affecting government officials: he recalled a recent experience where securing a last-minute seat to Tobago was harder than booking a flight to Miami. Crucially, Maharaj explicitly stated in his initial comments that the existing subsidized service would remain in place, with no plans to eliminate the $400 fare.

Persad-Bissessar clarified that Maharaj never proposed cutting the subsidy, pushing back against erroneous public interpretations that suggested the government was planning to eliminate the popular program. She confirmed that only the proposal for additional unsubsidized peak flights is under active review, with government analysts currently conducting work to assess whether the plan is logistically and financially feasible. The Prime Minister added that her administration remains fully committed to upgrading and maintaining the inter-island domestic transport network, and that she will continue collaborative discussions with Tobago Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to advance policies that benefit Tobago’s residents. Currently, all airbridge services are operated by state-owned national carrier Caribbean Airlines.

Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal further clarified the government’s position in an interview with TTT News, pushing back against an earlier misleading media headline that incorrectly claimed the government had already approved the $1000 unsubsidized fares. Moonilal stated categorically that the Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago has not discussed, approved, or implemented any such decision, and that the reported policy change does not reflect official government position. While he acknowledged that the proposal reflects the working idea put forward by the relevant cabinet minister, it has not advanced to formal cabinet consideration, and the misleading headline should be completely discounted by the public. Moonilal noted that the inaccurate reporting was deeply concerning, and that officials wanted to erase the false claim from public discourse immediately, reaffirming that no policy change has been authorized by Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s cabinet.

Looking ahead, the Prime Minister is set to address a range of national policy issues during the UNC Congress and Report to the Nation event, scheduled to take place today at the Couva South Hall car park along Couva Main Road.

25 4 月, 2026
AG wants ‘swift action’ in heist probe

A shocking on-duty murder at a local municipal police facility has triggered urgent disciplinary action across Trinidad and Tobago’s law enforcement oversight bodies, after Attorney General John Jeremie publicly pushed for swift accountability in the killing of Municipal Police Corporal Anuska Eversley.

Eversley was fatally attacked last Sunday while on duty at the San Fernando Municipal Police Station, a crime that has sent shockwaves through the country’s public safety community and raised urgent questions about internal discipline within municipal law enforcement. In an official letter dated April 21, 2026, addressed to Dr. Gloria Edwards-Joseph, chair of the Statutory Authorities Service Commission (SASC)—the body responsible for disciplinary oversight of statutory public officers including municipal police—Jeremie stressed that the unprecedented nature of the crime demanded immediate, decisive action.

Key details of the investigation, confirmed by Jeremie in his correspondence, reveal that the primary suspect in Eversley’s murder is a serving municipal police officer, and multiple other officers were on the station’s compound when both the killing and an associated heist took place. Jeremie emphasized that as the official guardian of public interest, the SASC could not afford to delay action, noting that disciplinary authority over affected officers falls explicitly under the commission’s constitutional and statutory mandates.

“It would be remiss of your office, as guardians of the public interest, to not take swift action and treat the matter with urgency,” Jeremie wrote. “I hope that within your authority, appropriate urgent and decisive action is taken consistent with your constitutional and statutory mandates.”

Edwards-Joseph confirmed in her response to the Attorney General that the commission has already acted on a formal recommendation from Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro, voting to immediately suspend five municipal police officers—three men and two women—including one serving Superintendent, pending the final outcome of the criminal investigation. Official suspension notices have already been delivered to all five officers, directing them to cease reporting for duty immediately.

The commission also addressed a second recommendation from Guevarro to suspend Assistant Commissioner of Municipal Police Surendra Sagramsingh. However, Sagramsingh’s employment status falls outside the SASC’s jurisdiction: he serves as a contract officer directly employed by the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government. In line with this, Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry Peter Mitchell issued his own notice to Sagramsingh on the same date, April 21, 2026, ordering him to take immediate paid administrative leave to protect the integrity of the ongoing homicide investigation. The ministry’s letter explicitly clarifies that Sagramsingh’s leave is a purely precautionary measure and does not represent a finding of misconduct or liability on his part.

25 4 月, 2026
Minister pilots major labour law reforms

In a landmark move to update decades-old employment regulations, Trinidad and Tobago’s Labour Minister Leroy Baptiste introduced a transformative amendment bill to the Senate Wednesday that aims to rewrite the rulebook for retrenchment practices and strengthen safeguards for workers facing job loss.

The Retrenchment and Severance Benefits (Amendment) Bill 2026 brings a slate of sweeping changes, including stricter accountability requirements for employers, expanded worker protections, and a marked increase in the minimum severance payments companies must issue to laid-off staff. Baptiste outlined that every core stage of the retrenchment process — from initial layoff planning to final severance payout — will be restructured under the new framework.

One of the bill’s most financially impactful adjustments comes via Clause 16, which revises the tiered minimum severance payment structure to deliver higher compensation for displaced workers. For non-monthly paid (hourly, daily or weekly) workers with one to fewer than five years of service, the minimum payout rises to three weeks’ pay per year of employment, while monthly-rated workers in the same tenure bracket will receive one month’s pay per year. For workers with five or more years of service, non-monthly workers get four weeks’ pay per year for the first four years, jumping to six weeks’ pay per year for each year starting from the fifth. Monthly-rated workers in this longer tenure group will receive one and a quarter months’ pay per year for the first four years, increasing to one and three-quarter months per year from the fifth year onward.

Clause 9 of the bill introduces a formal, regulated framework for temporary layoffs, a provision missing from the current outdated law. The new rule caps unagreed temporary layoffs at 90 calendar days; if a worker remains off the job beyond this window, they are automatically classified as redundant starting on the 91st day, triggering the employer’s legal requirement to issue full severance benefits. The legislation does build in limited flexibility: employers can extend the 90-day period if they reach a written agreement with either a recognized majority union representing the worker or the affected employee directly.

Another key mandate comes via Clause 10, which requires mandatory consultation with recognized majority unions before employers can issue formal redundancy notices. The mandatory consultation period is capped at 21 days unless both parties agree to an extension, and the bill mandates that discussions must be “meaningful and genuine” covering six critical areas: the justifications for proposed layoffs, strategies to avoid or reduce the number of job cuts, criteria for selecting which workers will be terminated, measures to ease the impact on displaced staff, paid time off for job searching, and alternative arrangements such as redeployment, reduced working hours, or temporary layoffs. Employers are also required to disclose all relevant information to facilitate these talks, with a narrow exception for information that would cause material harm to the business if released.

Additional worker-focused provisions include Clause 12, which requires employers that fail to meet the new 45-day minimum notice period for layoffs to pay the equivalent of wages for the full missed notice period. Clause 13 enshrines a new right for workers facing redundancy to take reasonable paid time off to seek new employment. Clause 14 adds a rehiring preference mandate: if an employer looks to fill a role identical or substantially similar to one made redundant within the previous six months, they must prioritize offering the position to the previously retrenched worker, and are required to make reasonable efforts to notify former staff of the opening.

Addressing the Senate during debate on the legislation, Baptiste framed the bill as one of the most consequential overhauls to the nation’s labour legal framework in a generation, saying it carries profound social, economic and moral significance for working people across the country. The reform directly addresses the lived experiences of workers who have faced job displacement due to corporate restructuring, insolvency, receivership and business collapse, he added.

Baptiste also used the speech to criticize the previous People’s National Movement (PNM) administration, saying the public was misled into believing comprehensive labour reform was a top PNM priority, yet the update languished for years without decisive action. He noted that the existing retrenchment law has not been updated since 1985, calling the outdated framework one of the country’s “greatest injustices” against workers, pointing to the 2016 closure of ArcelorMittal as a glaring example of the law’s failures. That sudden shuttering displaced roughly 1,400 workers including contract staff, and laid bare the gaps in the country’s outdated employment protection rules, Baptiste said.

25 4 月, 2026
Leacock shocked by info ULP gov’t was collecting on citizens (+video)

A fierce political debate has unfolded in St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Parliament over a proposed national security bill, pitting current Deputy Prime Minister and National Security Minister St. Clair Leacock against former Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves. The tension stems from Leacock’s recent startling revelations about the extent of citizen data collected by Gonsalves’ Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration, which held power for 25 years until its electoral defeat in November 2024.\n\nSpeaking during debate on the Advanced Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record Bill on Tuesday, Leacock expressed shock at the types of intelligence that now cross his desk, collected by the previous government. “When I see the things that come across my desk in this role… sometimes I hold my head and ask, ‘Is this the kind of intelligence the former prime minister held on me, my party, and ordinary private citizens during his time in office?’” Leacock told the legislative chamber.\n\nThe bill, designed to strengthen border and national security by standardizing collection and sharing of traveler data, ultimately passed with no formal unified position from the three-member opposition. Gonsalves, a trained lawyer, launched sharp criticism of the legislation, arguing that it reads like an unfinished draft rather than a final piece of law. He raised pointed concerns about gaps in data protection, unclear frameworks for official appointments, and ambiguous timelines for mandatory information submission, also questioning whether the bill had completed required vetting through the CARICOM Legal Affairs Committee (LAC).\n\nLeacock pushed back forcefully against these critiques, framing Gonsalves’ objections as part of a long-standing pattern of authoritarian control over policy. He told Parliament, “If it is not under the suzerainty of the Honourable Ralph Everett Gonsalves, it ain’t good. Nobody is good enough for him unless he presides over it.” The Central Kingstown MP added that as a former prime minister and decades-long national security minister, Gonsalves has a greater national responsibility to avoid undermining the credibility of current national and regional security institutions. Leacock accused Gonsalves of nitpicking over minor drafting details like punctuation to erode public trust in the new government’s work, calling his focus “all semantics” that amounts to an attack on the integrity of public servants.\n\nLeacock further alleged that Gonsalves’ 25-year administration left St. Vincent and the Grenadines with a disjointed, ramshackle national security apparatus that the new government is working to repair. He pointed to port security as a key example: while the previous ULP government installed passenger screening equipment at the main port, it failed to put in place legal mechanisms that would automatically share screening data with police, leaving critical security gaps. On the question of regional vetting, Leacock clarified that the bill was already reviewed by the CARICOM LAC during Gonsalves’ own tenure, and passed through all required regional processes when Gonsalves led the country’s involvement in CARICOM IMPACS, the regional security body.\n\nResponding to Gonsalves’ comment that the current New Democratic Party administration would only serve one term, Leacock framed the remark as evidence of the opposition’s core goal of undermining the new government rather than working for the national good. “It points to a poison that in order for this country to go forward, we must not underestimate the hurdles that remain for us to climb. Your single purpose is to ensure that we become a one-term government,” he said.\n\nIn his rebuttal, Gonsalves rejected all of Leacock’s claims, denying that he had ever criticized or disrespected regional security bodies.\n\nLeacock closed his argument by reaffirming the core purpose of the new legislation: to protect travelers entering and exiting St. Vincent and the Grenadines, boosting public confidence that the country offers both safety and streamlined access for visitors. He noted that any minor drafting imperfections can be corrected through regular governance processes down the line, and there is no justification for delaying the critical security framework the country needs to address modern transnational threats that may outpace the capacity of the outdated system inherited from the previous administration.

25 4 月, 2026
US talks on third-country nationals ‘slowed down quite significantly’

In a formal address to the country’s parliament on Tuesday, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ (SVG) Minister of Foreign Affairs Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble issued a clear, public clarification that the Caribbean nation has not entered into any binding agreement with the United States centered on third-country national relocation arrangements, confirming that negotiations over the proposed deal have slowed to a near standstill in recent weeks.

Brambles’ comments came in direct response to a question posed by opposition senator Carlos James, who asked the ruling administration to confirm whether the U.S. had submitted a formal request for a third-country agreement — a deal that would allow for the transfer of non-U.S. nationals from American territory to SVG for processing and relocation — and whether Kingstown had finalized and signed any such arrangement.

Bramble laid out the full timeline of the outreach to parliament, explaining that the U.S. government first approached SVG with a formal request to explore a partnership focused on third-country national issues, and followed the initial request by sharing a draft draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) for SVG’s leadership to review. He emphasized that this U.S. initiative is not targeted exclusively at SVG, but is part of a broader regional outreach effort that includes all member states of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

In line with the regional scope of the proposal, Bramble noted that SVG has coordinated closely with its OECS neighbors to review the draft text collectively, approaching the potential arrangement through a collaborative regional framework rather than engaging in independent negotiations. Despite months of preliminary discussions and review of the draft document, Bramble stressed that talks have never advanced to the stage of a binding commitment.

When updating lawmakers on the current state of negotiations, Bramble confirmed that the process has decelerated sharply over the past few weeks, with little to no forward movement on finalizing any terms. He repeated multiple times during his address that no agreement has been signed, nor has any finalized binding deal ever been presented to SVG’s government for approval.

Brambles did not provide additional specific details on the contents of the draft MoU, including what specific groups of migrants would have been covered by any finalized arrangement. The question from the opposition senator comes amid growing regional and global debate over third-country national processing and relocation schemes, which have become a controversial topic of migration policy discussions across the Americas in recent years. Bramble’s address made a clear distinction between receiving and reviewing a proposal, and formally agreeing to enter into a binding deal, leaving no ambiguity about SVG’s current position on the proposed U.S. partnership.

25 4 月, 2026
Bevelhebber Labadie: Nieuwe fase voor leger met focus op discipline en vernieuwing

On April 25, a historic leadership transition took place for a national army, as newly installed Brigadier General Mitchell Labadie formally took command from President Jennifer Simons during an official inauguration ceremony. In his first public address after assuming office, the newly appointed commander laid out a clear, ambitious vision for the institution’s next chapter, centered on three core pillars: strengthening organizational discipline, driving comprehensive modernization, and reinforcing the army’s core operational capabilities.

Labadie opened his remarks by framing his appointment as a profound honor, describing the role as a “calling to serve, protect, and lead” the nation and its military personnel. He gave a public assurance that under his leadership, the national army will be guided by unwavering discipline, uncompromising integrity, and steady determination, telling attendees and the public that “the army is in capable hands.”

The commander emphasized that the armed forces are entering an entirely new phase of development that requires balancing respect for long-held institutional traditions with intentional space for progressive change. “We will strengthen our foundational structures, raise our professional standards, and further shape our unique identity as a national military force,” he stated.

One of the top policy priorities Labadie identified is rebuilding and embedding strict discipline across every rank and organizational layer of the army. Beyond cultural reform, he also plans to streamline command structures to improve operational efficiency, and advance widespread professionalization through expanded training and education programs for all personnel.

Military modernization is another key focus of his tenure, with Labadie noting that shifting global security dynamics and emerging hybrid threats demand targeted investments in new technologies, updated equipment, and enhanced operational capabilities. “We must improve our ability to monitor, patrol, and protect our national territory,” he explained, adding that updated infrastructure and resources are critical to meeting 21st-century security challenges.

Labadie also addressed a long-standing demographic challenge facing the force: aging personnel across multiple branches caused by years of low recruitment intake, which has negatively impacted operational readiness. To reverse this trend, he announced plans for targeted recruitment campaigns and improved compensation and recognition for serving members to attract new talent and retain existing personnel.

In addition to structural and operational reforms, the new commander stressed that institutional integrity and mutual trust between leadership and troops will be non-negotiable priorities. He said he expects commitment, discipline, and loyalty from all service members, and pledged to uphold the same standards in his leadership of the force. “Leadership is a mutual obligation,” he noted.

Closing his inaugural address, Labadie called for unity across the entire armed forces, reinforcing a shared commitment to national service. “We will form one corps, one team, one military, united by the same mission and the same dedication to our country,” he said.

25 4 月, 2026
SIP report notes stable climate of press freedom in the country

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – A new mid-year assessment from the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) has confirmed that press freedom conditions across the Dominican Republic have held steady between October 2025 and April 2026, with no documented cases of direct state censorship or coercive regulatory changes targeting independent journalism. The finding aligns with the country’s strong 2025 performance in the IAPA’s Chapultepec Index, a global benchmark for measuring press freedom respect, where the Dominican Republic earned a top score of 82.17. Researchers confirm that none of the core metrics tracked by the index have shifted significantly over the past six months. The assessment centers on the ongoing debate over a planned overhaul of the country’s decades-old Law 6132, the foundational legislation governing freedom of expression and the dissemination of thought in the Dominican Republic. The proposed reform bill is designed to expand legal protections for working journalists, but it has stalled in the National Congress amid unresolved partisan and stakeholder disagreement. The most contentious provision calls for the creation of a new National Institute of Communication, which critics argue could be weaponized as a tool for indirect censorship, derailing broader consensus on the bill that has widespread support for its other guardrails for press freedom. Authored by Miguel Franjul, director of leading Dominican outlet Listin Diario and vice president of IAPA’s Dominican Republic Press Freedom Commission, the report also acknowledges that while the overall climate for independent reporting remains stable, a handful of isolated but alarming incidents have disrupted journalistic work in recent months. In December 2025, two reporters – María Tejeda of CDN News and Natalia Estrella of Teleuniverso – were physically attacked by staff of the Santiago Water and Sewerage Corporation (Coraasan) while on assignment. The journalists were covering a public water distribution operation in a neighborhood that had been without piped service for weeks following a major pipe rupture, a story that drew public frustration over government response delays. More recently, in March 2026, a confrontation between law enforcement and reporters unfolded during an arrest operation in eastern Santo Domingo. The operation targeted a local teacher accused of assaulting a child at a nearby daycare center, and when journalists arrived to cover the incident, a uniformed National Police officer cocked a firearm and pointed it directly at the assembled press corps. Other officers deployed pepper spray to block reporters from documenting the arrest, and relatives of the accused teacher also allegedly joined in attacking the journalists. The IAPA report reaffirms that these isolated incidents do not represent a systemic rollback of press freedom gains in the country, but urges Dominican authorities to address the attacks, hold responsible parties accountable, and resolve the ongoing impasse over media law reform to cement the country’s status as one of the region’s strongest performers for free expression.

25 4 月, 2026
Towards a new doctrine for the Armed Forces of Haiti

Against a backdrop of ongoing efforts to strengthen Haiti’s national security infrastructure and align its military institutions with democratic standards, Haiti’s Minister of Defense Mario Andrésol has launched a key initiative outlined in his 2026-2027 Action Plan: the development of a new core doctrine for the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H).

To ensure the final document draws on diverse, expert insight, Andrésol has assembled a working group of more than a dozen specialists spanning multiple relevant fields. The collaborative, consultation-driven approach is designed to pool perspectives from military practitioners, defense analysts, geopolitical scholars, strategic and security studies researchers, legal advisors, and criminologists, bringing together cross-sector expertise that goes beyond traditional military-only planning.

The group includes a roster of high-profile, experienced professionals: former military leader General Prosper Avril, Colonel Antoine Atouriste, Lieutenant-Colonel Marie Sandry Charles Pierre, Prosper Charles of the Security Working Group, military historian Georges Michel, and Me James Boyard, a prominent Haitian security expert who also serves as Chief of Staff to Minister Andrésol, among other qualified contributors.

Guided by clear framing requirements, the working group has been instructed to embed two critical priorities into the new doctrine. First, the document must update the FAd’H’s core mission to address the growing landscape of asymmetric and hybrid threats that challenge modern national security, expanding the traditional scope of national defense beyond conventional conflict. Second, the doctrine must strictly adhere to the normative standards expected of an armed force operating within a democratic society, including explicit commitments to human rights protections, compliance with international humanitarian law, and adherence to established principles of healthy civil-military relations.

Minister Andrésol has expressed confidence that the interdisciplinary approach to drafting will produce a technical, rule-based document that is comprehensive, contextually relevant, and widely credible. The finished doctrine will serve as the foundational governing framework for what Haiti aims to build: a modern, professional military capable of adapting to a diverse range of national security challenges.

25 4 月, 2026