Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • Penny: John-Bates could return to the Senate

    Penny: John-Bates could return to the Senate

    On Saturday, at the People’s National Movement (PNM) National Women’s League Membership Meeting and Afternoon Tea held at the Fyzabad Regional Community Complex, Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles delivered a key address pushing back against narratives that the political career of former PNM senator Janelle John-Bates has ended following her exit from the Senate. Beckles emphasized that John-Bates’ current absence from the Upper House does not close the door on a future return to the legislative body, drawing on her own political history to reinforce her argument.

    Beckles reminded attendees that she herself was removed from the Senate on two separate occasions — first in 1998, and again in 2013 — yet she now holds the position of Political Leader of the PNM. This personal trajectory, she argued, demonstrates that temporary exits from parliamentary positions do not mark the end of a political career.

    The Opposition Leader also criticized the double standard she says is applied to PNM members versus their political rivals from the United National Congress (UNC). She argued that while PNM members are held to an unusually high bar, the UNC tolerates and retains members facing corruption allegations, individuals out on bail, and those who have been subject to public commissions of inquiry, without similar consequences. “Everybody could make mistakes,” Beckles noted, adding that PNM politicians are held to “a different standard” than their opponents.

    The shakeup in the Opposition Senate bench began in April, when controversy emerged over John-Bates’ actions during a Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) inquiry into public health service pharmaceutical procurement. It was revealed that John-Bates had assisted former PNM Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh in editing a statement prepared for submission to the investigative committee. PNM Senator Faris Al-Rawi, who served as Deyalsingh’s attorney, also participated in drafting the statement.

    Government Senator David Nakhid referred both John-Bates and Al-Rawi to Parliament’s Privileges Committee for potential disciplinary action over the incident. However, no investigation was ever completed, as the matter expired when the First Session of the 13th Republican Parliament concluded on May 22. John-Bates was already removed from her positions on the PAAC and the Joint Select Committee on National Security following the controversy, and she formally resigned from the Senate on May 1. For weeks after her resignation, Beckles declined to publicly confirm whether John-Bates would be replaced, a decision that drew sharp criticism from the ruling government and prompted concern from independent political analysts over the unexplained delay. Last Friday, as the Senate convened, John-Bates was officially replaced on the Opposition bench by attorney Dr. Margaret Satya Rose.

  • Minister Kiz Johnson Calls for Regional Action on Women’s Economic Empowerment

    Minister Kiz Johnson Calls for Regional Action on Women’s Economic Empowerment

    Against a backdrop of ongoing efforts to advance inclusive sustainable development across the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister Kiz Johnson has issued a clear call to regional leaders: deepen cross-border cooperation to unlock women’s economic empowerment, framing universal financial inclusion as a non-negotiable foundation for long-term regional progress.

    Johnson shared this stance during a high-stakes ministerial dialogue focused on Caribbean development priorities, emphasizing that closing gender gaps in economic opportunity cannot be shouldered by a handful of nations. It is, she argued, a collective responsibility that every country in the region must uphold.

    “Antigua and Barbuda firmly holds that one of the most critical pillars of sustainable Caribbean development is expanding financial inclusion and driving the economic empowerment of women,” Johnson stated during the dialogue. “We also believe this is not the obligation of a single state or a small group of states. It is a shared responsibility that belongs to all of us.”

    Johnson went on to address a key structural imbalance across the region’s most vital economic sector. While tourism continues to serve as the primary engine of economic growth for nearly all Caribbean nations, including Antigua and Barbuda, women remain overwhelmingly concentrated in low-wage, low-ranking roles within the industry — even in contexts where formal barriers to women’s labor force participation have been eliminated.

    “In Antigua and Barbuda, just like in many of our neighboring states, tourism drives our national economy,” Johnson explained. “Even as we can point to having few to no formal barriers keeping women from joining the workforce, we have clearly observed that women are overrepresented in lower-paid, lower-hierarchy positions across that key industry.”

    At the national level, Johnson confirmed that the Antigua and Barbuda government has elevated women’s economic advancement to a top policy priority, with targeted investment and policy focus on two key areas: supporting women-led entrepreneurship, and expanding equitable access to financing for women business owners and workers. She noted that these two levers are central to closing the existing gender gap in economic opportunity across the country.

    “Our government takes this challenge extremely seriously, so we have made women’s economic advancement a core priority, with a focused strategy on growing entrepreneurship and improving access to financing — that is the key to meaningful change,” Johnson added.

  • OPEN LETTER: Gregor Nassief to the Prime Minister on the simple, practical way to reset the Electoral Commission

    OPEN LETTER: Gregor Nassief to the Prime Minister on the simple, practical way to reset the Electoral Commission

    A prominent Dominican figure has reignited public debate over the integrity of the country’s electoral system with a scathing open letter calling for immediate leadership changes at the Electoral Commission, amid widespread allegations that the body has failed to uphold its constitutional independence and accountability.

    In the public correspondence addressed to the Prime Minister of Dominica, Gregor Nassief lays out a series of damning failures that he argues have eroded public trust in the commission’s ability to oversee free and fair elections, framing the current situation as a fundamental threat to the island nation’s democratic process.

    Nassief opens by noting a broad consensus across Dominican society that the current commission lacks perceived impartiality and requires a full reset to restore credibility. He pushes back against claims that the Prime Minister lacks the constitutional authority to facilitate this change, pointing out that under Section 119(3) of Dominica’s constitution, both the commission chair Duncan Stowe and the sitting Chief Elections Officer can voluntarily submit their resignations to the President, clearing the way for new, independent appointments. Nassief argues that the Prime Minister’s own history of interfering in commission affairs undermines any claim that he cannot act to prompt these resignations. He cites the recent case where the Prime Minister directly instructed the commission to reinstate birth certificates as a valid form of voter identification – a step many Dominicans supported in outcome, but one that Nassief acknowledges was procedurally unconstitutional.

    This contradiction, he argues, goes to the heart of the current crisis: because the commission has failed to assert its constitutionally mandated independence, the Prime Minister has repeatedly stepped outside his own constitutional bounds to intervene in its work. It is therefore inconsistent for the Prime Minister to now hide behind constitutional limits to avoid pushing for leadership changes, Nassief contends.

    The letter lays out specific changes Nassief is calling for: the reinstatement of Ian Michael Anthony as Chief Elections Officer, in line with a unanimous 2024 commission recommendation that has never been acted on, and the voluntary resignation of current chair Duncan Stowe. Nassief notes he has already privately shared with the Prime Minister a shortlist of widely respected potential candidates to lead the commission, candidates he argues would be broadly accepted across Dominican society and mark a critical first step toward reasserting the body’s independence. The leadership change is especially urgent, he adds, because key structural reforms recommended by Sir Dennis Byron to address the commission’s inherent imbalance have also been ignored.

    Nassief then outlines five core failures that make a reset non-negotiable:
    First, the commission violated the constitution when it suspended voter registration for more than a full year. To date, neither the chair nor the chief elections officer has held a public press conference to acknowledge the breach, apologize to the public, or explain how the suspension was allowed to happen.
    Second, the commission refused to publicly admit the obvious: the year-long suspension would have disenfranchised new voters and impacted outcomes of recent town and village council elections – a fact the Prime Minister himself also shockingly denied at a public press conference.
    Third, the commission has again violated the intent and spirit of electoral law by failing to issue a single voter ID card, eight full months after the voter confirmation and registration process launched. Once again, no public explanation or apology has been offered by the commission’s leadership for the delay.
    Fourth, the Prime Minister has repeatedly overstepped his constitutional authority by interfering in the commission’s independent mandate: speaking on its behalf, acting on its behalf, arranging unsolicited external assistance for it, issuing direct orders to adjust its regulations, and dismissing the voter registration suspension as inconsequential “water under the bridge.” Neither the Prime Minister nor the commission has acknowledged this extreme interference as a violation of constitutional separation of powers and a direct undermining of the commission’s independent authority.
    Fifth, the Prime Minister has publicly set an October 14, 2026 deadline for the conclusion of the voter confirmation process, despite knowing that the law grants the independent commission full authority to extend the deadline if needed. He has never apologized for this additional overreach that further erodes the commission’s constitutional autonomy. Nassief notes the deadline is even more problematic because both the Prime Minister and the commission knew full well that the commission was completely unprepared when the new electoral bills were rushed into law in March 2025, a lack of preparation that created the unprecedented chaos plaguing the current process.

    Nassief addresses personal pushback he has received since raising these concerns, noting that some of the Prime Minister’s supporters have questioned his motives, asking what grievance he holds against the Prime Minister, while others have suggested he must choose between working as a businessman and engaging in public affairs. Nassief recounts a conversation with mutual friend Floyd Capitolin, who raised that question, to which he responded by asking the same in return, with Capitolin acknowledging “it’s a fine line.” Despite claims from the Prime Minister that Nassief is acting out of malice, Nassief says most members of the public have thanked him for speaking out publicly about the crisis.

    He then lays out his clear, public intentions for the push for reform, which he frames as entirely focused on strengthening Dominica’s democracy, not advancing personal or partisan interests. His four core goals are:
    1. Establishing an impartial, fully independent Electoral Commission to oversee all electoral processes, so that public trust in future election results can be rebuilt.
    2. Mobilizing a unified call across all political parties and civil society – including the private sector, trade unions, academia, and religious groups – to encourage all eligible voters to complete the confirmation and registration process, resulting in a credible, accurate voter list of more than 55,000 eligible voters that is accepted by all sides.
    3. Encouraging strong candidates, from both established parties and independent backgrounds, to contest the next election and debate competing visions for Dominica’s future development.
    4. Securing an election outcome that is universally accepted as free and fair, overseen by an independent, impartial commission, and that accurately reflects the free will of the Dominican people.

    Nassief concludes by acknowledging that current political conditions favor the Prime Minister winning re-election in the upcoming vote. He poses a critical choice to the Prime Minister: will he allow the election to proceed with the current flawed commission, resulting in a victory clouded by public disillusionment and widespread doubts about the fairness of the process? Or will he seize the opportunity to implement a reset, securing a victory backed by renewed public confidence in Dominica’s democratic institutions?

    “As the arbitrator of all things in Dominica, the reset is entirely in your hands,” Nassief writes. “I appeal to you to act.”

    The letter carries a disclaimer that the views expressed are solely those of author Gregor Nassief, and do not necessarily reflect the position of Duravision Inc., Dominica News Online, or any of their subsidiary brands.

  • Heerah: Don’t extend SoE without clear objectives

    Heerah: Don’t extend SoE without clear objectives

    As Trinidad and Tobago’s government prepares to table a three-month extension of the national state of emergency in parliament, a prominent regional security consultant is pushing back against a vague, open-ended extension, while also sounding the alarm over a growing pattern of child killings across the country. Dr. Garvin Heerah, a leading voice on regional security issues, made his remarks to local outlet Express on Wednesday, just two days after the Office of the Attorney General announced Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar would bring the extension resolution for parliamentary debate.

    Heerah emphasized that extending a state of emergency—an extraordinary constitutional measure that curtails some normal civil liberties—cannot be justified purely by procedural momentum. If the prime minister and defence minister deem additional time under the emergency framework necessary, he argued, they have a non-negotiable responsibility to lay out specific, measurable goals for the extension period. He pushed back against the common framing that cites general improvements in security as both the reason for extending the measure and the only metric for its success, noting that the public is owed far more than vague assurances.

    “The population deserves more than assurances—they deserve benchmarks,” Heerah said. He called on the government to publish concrete crime reduction targets, clear operational milestones for security forces, and explicit safeguards to protect civil liberties during the extension, as well as a clear outline of the independent body tasked with monitoring those safeguards. “If it is to retain public legitimacy, and that legitimacy is not guaranteed, it must be time-bound, goal-specific, and subject to independent accountability,” he stressed, adding that a three-month extension is a substantial period that should be deployed with intentional planning, rather than treated as a default continuation of existing policy. “Three months is a meaningful window. It should be used with the same precision and intent the State expects of its security forces on the ground,” he added.

    Beyond the state of emergency debate, Heerah also addressed the recent killing of 12-year-old Mercedez Layne, whose body was discovered in a grassy area off Carapal Road in Erin on Sunday morning. Layne’s death is far from an isolated tragedy, Heerah argued: at least eight minors have been killed in Trinidad and Tobago in the first half of 2026 alone, and more than 75 juvenile fatalities from violence have been recorded over the past decade. This steady trend reveals deep, unaddressed failures in the country’s security and law enforcement systems that demand urgent, comprehensive scrutiny from all national institutions.

    “The violent deaths of children are among the most disturbing indicators a society can confront,” Heerah said, noting that the consistent death toll reflects a systemic pattern that requires what he termed “serious institutional interrogation.” He raised pointed questions about resourcing for law enforcement agencies tasked with investigating these child homicides, asking whether every case—regardless of the victim’s age or socio-economic background—is receiving the full level of forensic and investigative rigor that a homicide investigation requires. He also voiced concern over the lack of a standardized, publicly visible profiling framework for perpetrators of child killings, arguing that authorities must clarify whether the deaths are tied to unaddressed psycho-social crises, connected to organized criminal activity, or the result of opportunistic violence.

    “That distinction matters enormously, both for prevention and prosecution,” Heerah said. “A regional security posture that cannot distinguish between these categories is one that will continue to bury children.” He concluded by noting that the rate of child violent deaths serves as a critical benchmark for the state’s core responsibility to protect its most vulnerable populations. “The deaths of minors reflect on us all. They are a measure of how well—or how poorly—the State protects its most vulnerable,” he said.

  • OPINION: Making Spanish An Official Language Is Still A Dangerous Idea

    OPINION: Making Spanish An Official Language Is Still A Dangerous Idea

    A heated public debate has emerged over the Antigua and Barbuda government’s controversial proposal to unilaterally designate Spanish as the nation’s second official language, after Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders laid out the administration’s full rationale for the policy in a June 5, 2026 op-ed for the Daily Observer. This op-ed marked the first time government supporters had presented a detailed public justification for the policy, a transparency step the author of this critique acknowledges as a welcome development. The critic, however, argues the policy was never properly presented to voters ahead of elections, leaving the government without a clear, legitimate mandate to advance what they frame as an ill-considered measure.

    A close reading of Sanders’ argument reveals a telling rhetorical choice: Sanders described the policy as “may prove to be one of those [significant] ideas,” leaving room for doubt about its outcome. The critic notes that the qualifier “may” implicitly acknowledges the move could end up being insignificant, or worse, a dangerous and irreversible shift for the nation. Further, Sanders’ piece fails to explain how the current status quo—without official status for Spanish—blocks Antigua and Barbuda from achieving the social and economic goals Sanders outlines.

    A core point of contention is the false equivalence the critic says the government draws between encouraging Spanish language proficiency and granting Spanish official status. The critic points to Miami, Florida as a clear counterexample: the city has already captured all the economic and social benefits Sanders claims official status will bring to Antigua and Barbuda, while retaining English as its sole official language. The critic contends all the outcomes Sanders promises are already achievable, and in fact were already underway before the government proposed the policy change.

    This extends to the integration of Antigua and Barbuda’s growing Spanish-speaking community, which draws largely from the Dominican Republic. Sanders notes in his op-ed that this community has already put down deep roots in the country: members have worked, invested, built lives, contributed to the national economy, and many second- and third-generation community members are Antiguan and Barbudan citizens by birth. For the critic, this admission only underscores the unnecessary nature of the policy: integration was already progressing organically long before the government’s announcement, just as it did in Miami, without top-down government intervention.

    Critics also push back on the government’s unstated assumption that official status will immediately boost tourism from Latin American nations, creating a sudden influx of visitors that drives economic growth. The critic argues this outcome is not guaranteed, and cannot happen overnight—pointing to the 2009 renaming of Boggy Peak to Mount Obama, which drew enthusiastic international attention but delivered no lasting tangible benefits to the country. The critic adds that official status will not speed up organic societal integration or suddenly make the entire population Spanish-speaking, a process that unfolds gradually on its own without government mandate.

    While the critic emphasizes they fully support expanding opportunities for Antiguans and Barbudans to learn Spanish, they reject the policy as an unnecessary threat to the nation’s cultural identity. They argue it is misleading to frame official status as a required step to leverage the skills and contributions of the country’s existing Dominican community, and conclude that the government has yet to share the real motivation behind this controversial policy shift.

  • Barbuda Land Rights Challenge Returns to Court as Council Fights Adjudication Process

    Barbuda Land Rights Challenge Returns to Court as Council Fights Adjudication Process

    A high-stakes legal battle that stands to redefine the future of land tenure and local governance on the Caribbean island of Barbuda is scheduled to resume in court this Tuesday. At the heart of the dispute is a confrontation between the Barbuda Council, the island’s local governing body, and the national government of Antigua and Barbuda over the central administration’s ongoing land adjudication initiative.

    The conflict traces back to a 2024 decision by the national government to designate Barbuda as an official adjudication district, roll out the country’s national land registration framework to the island, and open a window for local residents to file claims over documented land interests. From the government’s perspective, the program is designed to formalize unclear land holdings, streamline property transactions, and create a clear regulatory framework for future development on the island.

    But the Barbuda Council has rejected the process entirely, launching a legal challenge to halt it entirely. The council argues that the national government rolled out the program without any meaningful consultation with either the local governing body or the broader Barbudan community, and that the entire initiative poses an existential threat to the centuries-old communal land system that has shaped life on Barbuda for generations. Under the current communal system, most land on the island is held collectively by the community rather than owned by private individuals, a structure that has long been central to Barbudan cultural identity and social organization.

    Legal teams for both sides will face off in the resumed hearing, with the Barbuda Council represented by prominent King’s Counsel Leslie Thomas, and the national Attorney General’s Chambers represented by Deputy Solicitor General Carla Brookes-Harris. Three core questions will sit at the center of the court’s deliberations: the formal legal status of Barbuda’s long-recognized communal land rights, whether the national government’s implementation of the adjudication process complies with existing law, and what legal authority the Barbuda Council holds over local land administration.

    In remarks ahead of the hearing, Barbuda Council Chairman John Mussington framed the case as one of the most consequential legal proceedings in the island’s modern history. “This outcome will make clear whether the principles that have governed how we hold and use land for generations will continue to carry real weight, both in law and in how we live,” Mussington said.

    Local interest in the hearing runs extraordinarily high, with the vast majority of Barbudans viewing the case as a defining moment for the island’s future. A ruling favoring the government could open the door to widespread private land ownership and large-scale development, while a ruling for the council would entrench the communal land system that forms the foundation of Barbudan self-governance and cultural identity. Whatever the outcome, the court’s decision is expected to leave a lasting imprint on land ownership, sustainable development, and local autonomy across the island for decades to come.

  • Premier Brantley: Steps Being Taken to Cushion Impact on Homeowners Amid Property Tax Revaluation

    Premier Brantley: Steps Being Taken to Cushion Impact on Homeowners Amid Property Tax Revaluation

    CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS – June 8, 2026 – As the Caribbean island of Nevis nears completion of its first comprehensive property valuation exercise in nearly 18 years, Premier Mark Brantley has moved to reassure resident homeowners that the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) is putting targeted safeguards in place to prevent undue financial strain from potential tax increases tied to updated property assessments.

    The island-wide valuation initiative, led by the local Inland Revenue Department (IRD), launched its on-the-ground data collection phase in July 2025. The core goal of the project is to modernize Nevis’ outdated property tax system, bringing official assessed property values in line with current real estate market conditions that have shifted dramatically since the last full valuation was completed in 2008.

    Speaking at a recent public press briefing, Brantley emphasized that the NIA’s top priority is shielding lower and middle-income homeowners from sudden, unaffordable tax hikes while updating the system. To achieve this balanced outcome, the administration is actively reviewing policy recommendations from the Property Tax Division focused on expanding the property tax exemption threshold.

    Under Nevis’ current tax framework, the first Eastern Caribbean $80,000 of a property’s assessed value is exempt from property taxation, with levies only applied to the assessed value exceeding this threshold. Brantley confirmed that adjusting this exemption level upward is the central policy proposal under consideration, to reduce or eliminate tax increases for most residential homeowners.

    “As a government, our clear priority is to cushion the impact of any potential tax increase for local homeowners, particularly those in lower and middle-income brackets,” Brantley said during the briefing. “We are working closely with the Property Tax Division to expand the exemption threshold, and Cabinet will conduct a thorough review of the IRD’s final proposals before moving forward. Our goal is to modernize the tax system without making property tax unaffordable for residents. The core principle guiding this work is that the heaviest tax burden should fall on those most able to pay – specifically owners of high-value multi-million-dollar villas and luxury properties. That is the intentional design of this approach.”

    Brantley added that once the Cabinet reaches a final decision on the adjusted exemption threshold, the new terms will be publicly announced immediately. To ensure the entire revaluation process meets global benchmarks for fairness and accuracy, the NIA has structured the exercise around internationally recognized standards set by the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO), which guarantees assessments are consistent, transparent, and objective across all property types.

    The department has also adopted the International Property Measurement Standards (IPMS), a modern uniform framework for measuring buildings and property improvements. This update may lead to minor adjustments to previously recorded building measurements for some properties, which Brantley noted is a normal part of aligning local practices with global norms.

    The full valuation exercise is on track to be substantially completed by the end of June 2026, which will give the IRD adequate time to process new assessments and prepare for the 2026 tax cycle. To accommodate the ongoing revaluation work, the IRD has already extended the 2026 property tax payment deadline from the original June 30 date to September 30, 2026, giving homeowners extra time to adjust to the new framework.

    Once individual assessments are finalized, every property owner will receive an official Certificate of Valuation detailing their property’s updated assessed value. Taxpayers will have a 30-day window from the date of issuance to review their assessment, submit formal objections if they disagree with the valuation, or request clarification from IRD staff if they have questions about the process.

  • Cuban jurists, firm in defending revolutionary legality

    Cuban jurists, firm in defending revolutionary legality

    On Cuba’s annual Jurist’s Day, marking the 49th anniversary of the National Union of Jurists of Cuba (UNJC), legal professionals across the nation have issued a unified rebuke of heightened coercive measures and the ongoing energy blockade imposed by the United States, while reaffirming their unwavering commitment to defending the country’s sovereignty, socialist legality, and national government. The main national commemorative event was hosted in the eastern province of Guantánamo, which earned the distinction of being named the Most Outstanding Province in UNJC work for the ninth consecutive year, sharing the 2026 honor with six other Cuban regions: Villa Clara, Granma, Havana, Ciego de Ávila, Holguín, and Santiago de Cuba.

    Presided over by high-ranking Cuban officials including Salvador Valdés Mesa, Vice President of the Republic and member of the Communist Party Political Bureau, and Roberto Morales Ojeda, Organization Secretary of the Party Central Committee, the ceremony also featured a special appearance by veteran Rebel Army Commander José Ramón Machado Ventura. In his keynote address, UNJC national president Alexis Ginarte Gato emphasized the irreplaceable role of Cuba’s legal community in sustaining the socialist state, upholding the rule of law, and shielding national sovereignty from external interference. He reiterated the jurists’ solemn commitment to defending the homeland, advancing social justice, and protecting Cuba’s independent self-determination.

    Ginarte Gato specifically condemned the recent escalation of U.S. aggressive actions, labeling the unilateral coercive measures and energy blockade as a deliberate act of genocide against the Cuban people that flagrantly violates fundamental tenets of international law and the United Nations Charter. During the event, the UNJC formally announced the convening of its 10th National Congress, scheduled to take place in June 2027, centered on the core theme: “Strengthening Institutions as a Guarantee of the Country’s Economic and Social Transformation.”

    Reading the official 49th anniversary declaration on behalf of the organization, young jurist Patricia Romero Madrigal underscored the community’s dedication to upholding foundational international principles: sovereign equality of all nations, non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, and the peaceful settlement of international disputes. Yamila González Ferrer, UNJC vice president, also read a solidarity message from the International Association of Democratic Jurists, which praised the Cuban jurists’ organization for its long-standing commitment to legality, sovereignty, and social justice, and joined Cuba in condemning the intensification of the U.S. blockade, including the executive order-imposed energy restriction, reaffirming the international body’s steadfast solidarity with the Cuban people and their legal community.

    Speaking from Guantánamo, the host province, UNJC representatives issued a sharp public warning amid growing U.S. aggression aimed at undermining Cuban resolve, crippling the national economy, and silencing the country’s voice. “When the U.S. government becomes more aggressive in its efforts to break our will, stifle our economy, and silence our voice, Cuban jurists, with our laws and the Constitution as our shield, tell them they will not succeed,” the declaration read, delivered by rising legal professional Lisandra Premión Torres. The document stressed, “In Cuba, the law does not bend, nor does justice negotiate its dignity,” adding that current imperialist threats are merely the latest iteration of a decades-long blockade that operates without basic humanitarian principle, repeatedly violating established international law, agreements, and treaties.

    The declaration reiterated: “We reaffirm to our people that the law is on their side, and to the empire, that there will be no retreats, no concessions to blackmail. Not one step back in the defense of our socialist, independent, and sovereign Cuba.” On behalf of Cuba’s younger generation of legal professionals, the proclamation reaffirmed full support for the Cuban government’s position against imperialist threats, noting: “We inherit the tradition of decorum from those who, like Ignacio Agramonte, José Martí, and Fidel Castro, established a revolutionary law at the service of the people.”

    Guantánamo was selected to host the national event in recognition of its comprehensive work advancing jurist professional development and cracking down on crime, corruption, illicit activity, and social disorder. During the celebration, which was held in honor of the centennial of Fidel Castro, local authorities inaugurated a new headquarters building for the Guantánamo Provincial People’s Court, constructed at a cost of more than 20 million pesos to improve working conditions for legal professionals defending socialist legality and national sovereignty. The event concluded with honors awarded to individual outstanding lawyers, exemplary local organization chapters, and winners of the national competition for legal scientific societies, attended by Yoel Pérez García, Guantánamo’s First Secretary of the Party, Governor Alis Azahares Torreblanca, and other regional and national authorities.

  • Kabinet President krijgt begroting van ruim SRD 1,2 miljard

    Kabinet President krijgt begroting van ruim SRD 1,2 miljard

    Newly released 2026 budget documents for the South American nation of Suriname outline a total operating allocation of more than 1.2 billion Surinamese dollars (SRD) for the Office of the President, with nearly 70% of the total budget earmarked for employee wages and salaries.

    According to the budget breakdown published June 9, the total operating expenditure for the Presidential Cabinet and its affiliated directorates and agencies is projected at 1.199 billion SRD for the 2026 fiscal year, with ongoing current expenditures set at 1.163 billion SRD. The single largest line item is payroll costs, accounting for 829.2 million SRD – an increase of more than 127.5 million SRD compared to the 2017 baseline of 701.7 million SRD.

    Budget documentation attributes this wage increase to standard periodic pay adjustments, promotional scale upgrades, new appointments, the hiring of additional staff and external consultants, stipends for committee members, and various statutory allowances for civil servants. The allocation also includes medical benefits for executive staff, equivalent senior roles, and retired personnel.

    As of the end of March 2025, a total of 2,237 employees are registered on the payroll across the Presidential Cabinet, its subordinate directorates, and associated agencies. Budget projections anticipate that 56 employees will retire during the 2026 fiscal year, while 23 long-serving public servants will be honored for their decades of service to the government.

    Beyond payroll, 254 million SRD is allocated for goods and services, 48.1 million SRD for social security contributions, 17 million SRD for social benefits, and 15 million SRD for grants and contributions. Capital expenditures for 2026 are projected at 36.5 million SRD, up from the previous projection of 23.5 million SRD. Of this capital allocation, 20 million SRD is reserved for office equipment purchases, with budget documents noting that upgrades are required to replace outdated inventory across multiple directorates and agencies, and to accommodate planned expansions to the Cabinet’s organizational structure. The remaining 16.5 million SRD is earmarked for the acquisition of new transportation vehicles.

    The core priority outlined in the budget is to preserve the regular daily functioning of the Presidential Cabinet and all its subordinate bodies. Allocated funds are designated to support the implementation of the president’s administrative, governance, and policy objectives, and to enable the efficient fulfillment of presidential obligations. Consistent with recent budget cycles, personnel costs remain the single largest expenditure category for the office, holding a nearly 70% share of the Cabinet’s total operating budget for 2026.

  • Ex-Ombudsman Sues Government Over Constitutional Breach

    Ex-Ombudsman Sues Government Over Constitutional Breach

    A high-stakes constitutional legal battle is set to unfold in Belize this July, as former Ombudsman retired Major Gilbert Swaso has filed a lawsuit against the sitting Briceño administration, accusing the government of violating constitutional safeguards and undermining the independence of the office he once led.

    At the core of Swaso’s legal claim is the government’s controversial decision to decline renewal of his contract as the nation’s ombudsman. Swaso alleges this action was retaliation for a ruling he made in a high-profile Freedom of Information (FOI) case, which was triggered by a public disclosure request from activist Jeremy Enriquez. The case centered on public access to records detailing the government’s use of public funds for legal fees. While he has emphasized he does not seek to try the case in public discourse before it reaches the courtroom, Swaso argues his ruling aligned with the core purpose of Belize’s FOI legislation: upholding government accountability to the public.

    “When citizens are denied their constitutional right [to information], remember that the government of Belize works for and on behalf of the people of Belize who placed them in office,” Swaso said in an interview. “If you utilize the finances of the government, the country, the people and you refuse to disclose that, is that not a violation of the law in and of itself? Is that not a violation of the oath you took as a representative of the government?”

    The legal challenge follows weeks of public tension between Swaso and Prime Minister John Briceño, who addressed the six-month vacancy left by Swaso’s departure during a recent sitting of the National Assembly. Briceño claimed the extended gap in the role was tied to “complexities” surrounding Swaso’s decision to advance the integration of a new national human rights institute (NHRI) into the Ombudsman’s Office, accusing the former watchdog of signing off on the agreement without fully assessing its consequences.

    Swaso has pushed back forcefully against these claims, clarifying that the plan to house the NHRI within the Ombudsman’s Office was never his own unilateral initiative. He explained that in 2023, the Belizean government itself formally announced at the United Nations its commitment to establishing the national human rights body within the existing Ombudsman framework. This plan was formally documented in the 2023 and 2024 annual Ombudsman reports, developed through a cross-institutional committee co-chaired by the Ombudsman and representatives from Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with additional representation from the Attorney General’s office.

    “It is not like the institute will assume the office of the Ombudsman,” Swaso explained. “It is that the NHRI will be established and integrated into the office. Where is the complexity of that?”

    Beyond his own personal dispute over the non-renewed contract, Swaso frames the upcoming court case as a defense of the independence and integrity of the Ombudsman’s Office, a key constitutional oversight body tasked with checking government power.

    The opposition United Democratic Party has echoed Swaso’s criticisms, condemning the Briceño administration for the six-month vacancy in the role. The party called the extended gap not an accidental administrative error, but a fundamental failure of constitutional governance, and has publicly demanded that Prime Minister Briceño deliver a full public explanation for the delay in filling the post.

    The legal hearing for the case is scheduled to begin in mid-July, where the constitutional claims will be debated in court.