Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • Nieuwe fase voor relatie Suriname en Frankrijk

    Nieuwe fase voor relatie Suriname en Frankrijk

    As France prepares to bid farewell to its long-serving ambassador to Suriname Nicolas de Lacoste, diplomatic leaders from both nations have laid out an ambitious vision for a new chapter of partnership between the neighboring countries, coinciding with the upcoming 50th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations.

    Speaking at a joint event Tuesday evening marking both Bastille Day (Le Quatorze Juillet) and his upcoming departure from the South American nation, de Lacoste expressed both nostalgia for his posting and firm confidence in the future of bilateral relations. “Suriname and France are neighboring countries bound by centuries-old ties as sister nations, built through generations of shared history,” the outgoing ambassador told attendees.

    De Lacoste outlined that the new phase of cooperation will span four key areas: economic development, cross-border security, cultural exchange, and regional integration. He pointed to Suriname’s strong growth potential over the coming years, highlighting the active involvement of French energy giant TotalEnergies in the nation’s offshore energy sector as tangible proof of the mutual trust that underpins current relations. He also noted that the French community residing in Suriname has seen explosive growth in recent years, a sign of deepening people-to-people connections.

    Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Melvin Bouva echoed de Lacoste’s optimism, noting that France, as a close neighbor, already delivers tangible opportunities for Suriname, even as untapped potential remains across trade, agriculture, infrastructure development, and tourism. This August 25, the two nations will mark a major diplomatic milestone: the 50th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties. Bouva emphasized that the anniversary offers an ideal opportunity to deepen and strengthen the bilateral partnership.

    A core priority for advancing cooperation is finalizing and implementing the bilateral border agreement. Bouva confirmed that Suriname is moving forward with the final ratification steps to conclude what he described as a long, intensive, but critically important process. The minister stressed that operational cross-border collaboration is essential to maintaining a secure frontier that facilitates legitimate travel and trade. “Neither country will serve as a safe haven for illegal activities,” Bouva affirmed, noting that transnational challenges demand coordinated joint action.

    De Lacoste echoed this commitment, saying he is fully confident that the shared border between France and Suriname will be strengthened, adding that leaders on both sides share a common goal of improving quality of life for border communities that have consistently called for greater public safety. He added that joint cross-border patrols have already delivered tangible results, leading to the interception of criminal suspects wanted on both sides of the shared river border.

    On the regional cooperation front, de Lacoste thanked Suriname for its support in securing associate member status for French Guiana and Martinique in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a step that he says will further boost regional integration for French Guiana and strengthen ties between Paris and Paramaribo. “Suriname can always count on France as a reliable, predictable partner within the European Union,” he added.

    The ambassador emphasized that centuries of shared history remain the foundational bedrock of bilateral relations. The historical connections stretch back hundreds of years: when Suriname offered shelter to French exiles including Huguenots, and later French Guiana provided protection to Surinamese Maroons during the era of slavery, the country’s civil conflict, and in the aftermath of the 1986 Moiwana massacre, which marks its 40th anniversary this year. “Nothing will ever erase this part of our shared history,” de Lacoste said.

    Looking back on his four-year tenure in Suriname, de Lacoste shared that he leaves with only minor regrets: wishing he had been able to explore more of the country’s interior and reach greater fluency in Dutch and Sranantongo. One of his most cherished memories is a walk through Paramaribo with celebrated Surinamese author Cynthia McLeod, who told him that French was once the most widely spoken language in the Surinamese capital. In line with this history, de Lacoste expressed hope that French will gain a greater foothold in Suriname’s education system, particularly in border regions along the Marowijne and Lawa rivers.

    The ambassador also said he was deeply impressed by Suriname’s peaceful multicultural society, calling it a “truly admirable Surinamese secret.” He joked, “If there is any country where we will never hear racist comments about the French national football team, it is Suriname.” He also highlighted his fond memories of visits to remote interior communities including Tepu and Apoera, as well as trips to the country’s border regions.

    Bouva praised de Lacoste for his “dedication, openness, professionalism, and sincere commitment” to advancing bilateral ties during his tenure. While not all of the ambassador’s planned initiatives have been completed, Bouva noted that a strong foundation for future progress has been laid. “Thanks to your efforts, ambassador, we are well on our way toward reaching the shared vision we have for our relationship,” Bouva said. Looking ahead, the minister outlined plans to invest in cross-border infrastructure and policy initiatives designed to bring communities closer together, rather than dividing them along the frontier.

    At his farewell event, de Lacoste honored three long-serving members of the French embassy staff in Suriname with official French distinctions: Jolanda Solingen, the embassy head chef; Stanley N’Gadimin, the ambassador’s chauffeur; and Eric Champier, head chef of the ambassador’s official residence.

  • Dominican Republic selected to host International Anti-Corruption Conference 2026

    Dominican Republic selected to host International Anti-Corruption Conference 2026

    In a major announcement that underscores the Dominican Republic’s commitment to global anti-corruption action, President Luis Abinader has confirmed the country will play host to the 2026 International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC), the world’s leading global forum dedicated to advancing transparency, institutional integrity, and collective action against corruption. The landmark event is scheduled to run from December 1 to 4, 2026, in Santo Domingo, and is expected to draw more than 2,000 attendees representing over 140 nations across the globe.

    The official confirmation was made during a gathering with senior executives from the Dominican Republic’s top media outlets, where President Abinader appeared alongside leadership from Transparency International and the IACC organizing committee. Speaking at the event, Abinader reaffirmed that tackling systemic corruption and ending impunity for corrupt practices stands as one of the central policy priorities of his administration. He framed the upcoming conference as a unique opportunity for the Dominican Republic to deepen collaborative ties with the global community, while working to strengthen transparent governance across public and private institutions at home.
    Carlos Pimentel, Director General of Public Procurement in the Dominican Republic, expanded on the legacy and scope of the IACC. He noted that the biennial event has a 30-plus year history of convening diverse stakeholders to advance anti-corruption action. Unlike closed diplomatic gatherings, the 2026 conference will bring together a broad cross-section of actors: sitting government officials, leaders of major international organizations, civil society activists, leading academic researchers, senior business executives, investigative journalists, and veteran anti-corruption experts. All attendees will collaborate to develop and refine actionable strategies for preventing and prosecuting corrupt activity around the world.
    Roberto Pérez Rocha, Director of the IACC, outlined the ambitious agenda set for the 2026 gathering. This year’s conference will tackle a range of emerging and persistent threats tied to corruption, ranging from risks to democratic governance and environmental crime to illicit cross-border financial flows, the intersection of artificial intelligence and corrupt practice, and the role of disinformation in enabling unaccountable power. Investigative journalism will hold a central place on the agenda, with leading global press institutions including the Pulitzer Center, the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN), and the Press and Society Institute (IPYS) set to lead skill-building training sessions and high-level panel discussions on the role of independent media in exposing corruption.
    François Valérian, President of Transparency International, one of the event’s co-organizers, praised the Dominican Republic’s decision to step forward as host. Valérian emphasized that corruption is not a problem limited to individual nations—it is a transnational challenge that can only be addressed through coordinated, cross-sector cooperation between governments, civil society groups, the private sector, and independent media. He added that the 2026 IACC will facilitate the sharing of evidence-based best practices designed to strengthen transparency, public accountability, and democratic institutions in every region of the world.

  • Democratic Option stages protests in Dominican Republic and New York over cost of living

    Democratic Option stages protests in Dominican Republic and New York over cost of living

    Opposition party Democratic Option (OD) organized synchronized mass demonstrations across four major locations on Wednesday, marking the group’s third national mobilization to pressure the Dominican government over a series of pressing public grievances. Protest gatherings unfolded simultaneously in three Dominican urban centers – Santo Domingo, the nation’s capital, Santiago, the country’s second-largest city, and the eastern coastal hub of La Romana – alongside a parallel demonstration in New York City, where a large community of Dominican expatriates resides.

    Thousands of party leaders, rank-and-file members, and aligned community members took to the streets to voice frustration over three core issues that have stirred widespread public discontent in recent months. Foremost among their complaints is the steady upward climb of the cost of living across the Dominican Republic, which has placed unsustainable financial strain on working and middle-class households struggling to afford basic goods and services.

    Protestors also used the mobilization to publicly denounce what the party describes as widespread, unaddressed police brutality and systemic abuse by law enforcement agencies, noting that longstanding calls for accountability and institutional reform have been largely ignored by ruling officials. A third central demand centered on the controversial proposed “Gag Law,” which OD has emerged as one of the most vocal opponents of. Party representatives argue the draft legislation would severely erode constitutional protections for freedom of expression and weaken other core democratic pillars that underpin Dominican governance.

    In post-protest statements, Democratic Option representatives emphasized that the coordinated cross-border action was designed not just to showcase growing public anger at the current administration’s policies, but to push the government to introduce urgent legislative and policy changes that respond to the daily needs of Dominican citizens. The party reiterated its commitment to holding the ruling government accountable to protecting human rights and preserving fundamental democratic freedoms for all residents of the country.

  • Court voids appointment of Saint Lucian lead judge in vaccine case

    Court voids appointment of Saint Lucian lead judge in vaccine case

    In a landmark judgment delivered last week, High Court Justice Raulston L. A. Glasgow has nullified the appointment of prominent Saint Lucian academic and legal expert Eddy Ventose to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) Court of Appeal, ruling the appointment unconstitutional and void ab initio effective January 8, 2024. The ruling has sent ripples through the Eastern Caribbean legal system, as it calls into question the legal standing of a high-profile February 2025 appellate decision that overturned a lower court ruling on the constitutionality of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
    The controversy traces back to a 2023 lower court ruling, in which then-High Court Judge Esco Henry—now elevated to the appellate bench—found SVG’s national vaccine mandate unconstitutional and legally unenforceable. The case was appealed to the ECSC Court of Appeal, where Ventose, sitting as a newly appointed Justice of Appeal, led the 2-1 majority that overturned Henry’s original ruling when the decision was announced on February 12, 2025.
    Following the appellate ruling, London-based King’s Counsel James A. L. Bristol launched a legal challenge to Ventose’s appointment, arguing that the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) had acted beyond its legal authority in appointing Ventose. Bristol’s challenge centered on the strict eligibility requirements laid out for appellate judges in Section 5 of the 1967 West Indies Associated States Supreme Court Order: candidates may qualify either by serving at least five years as a judge of a court of unlimited jurisdiction, or by being qualified to practice as an advocate and actively practicing in that role for a minimum of 15 consecutive years.
    In his written judgment, Justice Glasgow conducted a granular review of Ventose’s decades-long legal career, and concluded that even when counting all eligible legal experience—including his tenure as a High Court Judge and court Master—Ventose only accumulated 12 years and 9 months of qualifying practice, falling three years and three months short of the mandatory 15-year threshold.
    Crucially, Glasgow emphasized that the ruling was no reflection on Ventose’s professional ability or legal expertise, noting that the Saint Lucian jurist has “widely recognised legal accomplishments”. He also cleared the JLSC of any misconduct or bad faith, writing that the incorrect appointment stemmed from an honest but erroneous misinterpretation of the eligibility criteria laid out in the Courts Order.
    The legal fallout from the ruling is already unfolding: the ECSC has confirmed that because Ventose was not lawfully appointed to the appellate bench at the time of the February 2025 vaccine mandate ruling, the majority decision he led lacks legal standing. The vaccine mandate case is currently awaiting a final ruling from the London-based Privy Council, which serves as the highest court of appeal for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

  • Commissioner Jeffers Awarded King’s Police Medal

    Commissioner Jeffers Awarded King’s Police Medal

    One of the Commonwealth’s most esteemed recognitions for distinguished police service, the King’s Police Medal (KPM), has been granted to Everton Jeffers, Commissioner of Police for Antigua and Barbuda. The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda made the official announcement of the accolade in a public statement released Wednesday, framing the award as a well-earned acknowledgment of Jeffers’ decades of exceptional contributions to national policing and security.

    “The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda proudly congratulates Commissioner of Police Mr. Everton Jeffers, KPM, on being awarded the King’s Police Medal (KPM),” the statement read. The force emphasized that the honor highlights Jeffers’ exemplary leadership at the helm of the national police service, his unwavering commitment to upholding law and order, and his consistent dedication to protecting and serving all residents of the twin-island nation.

    Beyond celebrating Jeffers’ achievement, the organization extended its gratitude to the commissioner for his years of public service and reaffirmed its pride in his accomplishment. Established to recognize extraordinary gallantry or distinguished service, the King’s Police Medal is conferred annually on deserving law enforcement officers across the United Kingdom and Commonwealth member states, standing as a mark of global respect for outstanding contributions to policing. The award cements Jeffers’ legacy as a leading figure in Antigua and Barbuda’s public safety sector, bringing national recognition to his work advancing community security and institutional excellence.

  • Education key to winning trust in transplant law, says Abrahams

    Education key to winning trust in transplant law, says Abrahams

    Barbados is on the cusp of passing landmark legislation regulating human tissue transplantation, and Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams is emphasizing that large-scale public outreach will be the make-or-break factor for the bill’s success. Speaking during Tuesday’s parliamentary debate on the proposed Human Tissue Transplant Bill, Abrahams moved to reassure residents that the legislation includes rigorous protections against organ trafficking, abuse, and unethical medical practices, while addressing widespread cultural hesitation around posthumous organ donation.

    Barbados currently has no established cultural norm around organ donation, leaving many residents with deep-seated fears about the process, Abrahams acknowledged. In recognition of this barrier, requirements for a sustained public education program have actually been written directly into the text of the bill. Under Clause 8, the regulatory council established by the legislation is mandated to create a public outreach initiative that explains both the benefits of human tissue transplantation and the importance of joining the national donor registry.

    Abrahams stressed that allowing misinformation to shape public discourse around the new policy is not an option. He called for a coordinated public education campaign led by the Ministry of Health, with full support from the Government Information Service and all agencies under the Ministry of Information. Without clear, accessible information from official sources, he warned, unfounded speculation will fill the information gap, eroding public trust and derailing the bill’s life-saving goals. “Nature abhors a vacuum,” he noted, adding that public education must correct common misconceptions: for example, many people do not know that a person can survive on a single kidney, meaning a living donor can save a life without risking their own long-term health, and even posthumous donation of one kidney can give a dying patient a second chance.

    The attorney general urged Barbadians to proactively register as organ donors while they are healthy, framing donation as a transformative final gift to others. “I can make a decision now, while I’m healthy, now, while I’m good, that if I was to pass, something from me could go on to help save somebody else. I don’t need to take it to rot in a grave with me,” he said. He also clarified that donation extends far beyond kidneys: tissues including corneas, which can restore sight to visually impaired patients, and skin, which can be used to treat severe burn victims, are also viable for transplantation. For patients relying on regular dialysis to treat kidney failure, expanded access to transplant could completely reshape their quality of life, eliminating the need for disruptive, frequent hospital visits three to four times a week and allowing them to return to a normal, unconstrained routine.

    Abrahams acknowledged the widespread apprehension that exists among Barbadians around organ donation, citing two of the most common concerns: religious objections that the body must be buried intact to return to God, and fears that medical professionals could harvest organs before a patient is actually declared dead. To unlock the full life-saving potential of the legislation, he said, the government must address these concerns head-on and win buy-in from a broad cross-section of the public to build a large, diverse donor pool.

    Turning directly to concerns about corruption and unethical practice, Abrahams outlined the multiple layers of safeguards built into the bill. First, the legislation requires the regulatory council to establish clear, medically driven criteria for organ allocation, and mandates a fair, equitable, and transparent system for distributing tissues to patients on the waiting list. To eliminate conflicts of interest, doctors directly involved in performing transplant procedures are barred by law from certifying patient deaths, determining a patient’s eligibility for a transplant, or advising potential donors in any situation where the doctor could personally benefit from the procedure. The bill also creates an independent national registry that tracks all donors and recipients, ensuring that all organs are allocated through the official, regulated system except in narrow, legally permitted emergency circumstances.

    Most critically, the legislation explicitly bans the commercial buying and selling of all human organs and tissues. “It is illegal to advertise for the buying or selling of human tissue. It is unethical and it is morally reprehensible and it is forbidden by the law,” Abrahams confirmed.

    Additional protections are included for children and vulnerable populations, he added. The bill clearly defines who is authorized to give consent for organ donation when a minor is a donor, draws a clear legal distinction between court-appointed guardians and caregivers acting in loco parentis, and places strict limits on any donation involving minor donors. The bill also enforces strict confidentiality requirements for both donors and recipients, protecting their privacy and preventing unnecessary public exposure.

    Abrahams framed the legislation as a historic turning point for both law and healthcare in Barbados, saying it will modernize the country’s healthcare system and deliver new hope to thousands of patients waiting for life-saving transplants. “This is a watershed moment in law in Barbados. This is a watershed moment in medicine in Barbados… I fully, fully endorse the passage of this legislation, and I hope that the rest of Barbados joins me,” he said.

  • Matthew Rejects ‘No Cards’ Argument, Says Antigua Must Stay at Negotiating Table

    Matthew Rejects ‘No Cards’ Argument, Says Antigua Must Stay at Negotiating Table

    During a heated parliamentary debate on Tuesday, Antigua and Barbuda’s Education Minister Daryll Matthew pushed back against fierce opposition criticism of the government’s approach to ongoing negotiations with the United States focused on potential transfers of third-country nationals. Opponents of the governing administration have repeatedly claimed that the small Caribbean nation holds no meaningful leverage in talks with Washington, citing its geographic size and pre-existing U.S. visa restrictions as factors that leave Antigua and Barbuda negotiating from a position of extreme weakness. Matthew rejected this narrative outright, arguing that the country’s greatest strategic strength comes from staying at the negotiating table and advancing terms that prioritize the well-being of all Antiguan and Barbudan citizens.

    Addressing the full legislative body during debate over a parliamentary resolution that establishes a formal framework for continued negotiations, Matthew reframed the opposition’s “no cards” argument. “We may have a small hand. We may have a small voice. However, we still have the responsibility to negotiate in the best interests of our people,” he told assembled lawmakers. “The only time you have no cards is when you get them from the table and walk away.” With both the Antiguan-Barbudan negotiating team and U.S. representatives remaining committed to ongoing discussions, he emphasized that the government will continue working toward a final outcome that delivers benefits to the country’s population.

    Matthew stressed that responsible governance demands sustained engagement even when negotiating with a far larger global power, pushing back against opposition calls for a complete overhaul of the government’s negotiation approach. He also pushed for cross-party unity on this sensitive issue, noting that questions of national interest should never devolve into partisan political fighting, and calling for a broad national consensus around the government’s negotiating priorities. “There must be some things that, as a nation, we can collectively agree on,” he said. “This is one of them.”

    The minister commended Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders, and the full government negotiating team for publicly releasing a White Paper on the talks and bringing the framework resolution before parliament, a move he said demonstrates the administration’s commitment to transparency and keeps the general public fully informed about ongoing discussions. “I want to commend the Prime Minister… and the entire team that has been working diligently on this over the past six, eight months for putting everything here on the table,” Matthew stated.

    He also categorically denied opposition claims that the government had already struck a secret deal to accept third-country nationals, clarifying that the current resolution before parliament does not ask lawmakers to approve a finalized agreement or bind Antigua and Barbuda to accepting any transfers at all. “This resolution is not committing the government to accept anyone,” he explained. “We are not approving the operating procedures. We’re not committing to receive. What we’re doing is simply saying that we want certain issues satisfied.”

    Matthew laid out clear non-negotiable conditions that any final agreement must meet to gain approval, starting with a hard cap of just 10 total transfers in 2026. After the initial pilot period, he said, the country can reassess whether the arrangement delivers tangible benefits to national development. Additional key requirements include a total ban on accepting any individuals with criminal convictions, no additional financial burden placed on Antiguan and Barbudan taxpayers, and permanent retention of the government’s right to reject any individual proposed for transfer.

    Warned that allowing convicted criminals to be transferred to the small island nation would carry catastrophic risks for public safety, Matthew highlighted the severe harm that even one high-risk offender could cause. “Can you imagine if one convicted pedophile was deported to Antigua and Barbuda and just ran havoc in this country? Can you imagine if a serial killer was transferred from the United States to Antigua and Barbuda? … Can you imagine if a sophisticated gang leader came to Antigua and Barbuda?” he asked. These risks, he argued, fully justify the government’s insistence on maintaining the final say over which individuals may be transferred. “There must be an opportunity for us as a nation to say, ‘This person, no,’” he said. “We have to have a framework in place that protects our national interests.”

    Matthew also noted that Antigua and Barbuda’s limited public infrastructure cannot support unregulated transfers, adding that the country cannot afford additional strain on already constrained housing, healthcare, and other core public services. “I cannot, with a good conscience, tell my constituents that we had no cards, we had to take all of them, we had to put it on the taxpayers’ purse, we had to give them a job, we had to give them a house,” he said.

    Despite the strict conditions the government has laid out, Matthew struck an optimistic tone about the progress of talks, saying that the two sides are closer to a mutually acceptable agreement than critics have claimed. After reviewing the negotiated White Paper and all draft documents exchanged between the two parties, he concluded that “We’re not so far apart.”

    Closing his remarks, Matthew once again praised the governing team for bringing the issue to parliament for open debate, reinforcing the government’s commitment to transparency and public accountability. “I want to commend the Prime Minister and his team for bringing this resolution to Parliament so that we can speak with clarity, so that the public understands exactly what it is we’re doing,” he said.

  • Walker Urges Return to Detailed Citizenship by Investment Reports as Parliament Passes Amendment Bill

    Walker Urges Return to Detailed Citizenship by Investment Reports as Parliament Passes Amendment Bill

    In a significant legislative development for Antigua and Barbuda’s lucrative Citizenship by Investment (CIP) programme, the nation’s House of Representatives has approved the 2026 Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Bill, with cross-party support from senior lawmakers emphasizing the urgent need for strengthened oversight amid rising international pressure.

    Trevor Walker, the Member of Parliament for Barbuda, emerged as a key backer of the reforms, framing the updated regulations as a critical safeguard for the country’s largest source of non-tax revenue. Walker told parliamentary deliberations on Tuesday that the CIP programme, which he estimates injects more than $100 million into the national budget annually, is the backbone of Antigua and Barbuda’s public finances, but its long-term survival depends on addressing growing global scrutiny through enhanced transparency and accountability.

    Warning that the programme faces mounting geopolitical challenges that threaten its future, Walker argued that preserving its credibility must be a top policy priority for the government. He specifically welcomed the reinstatement of mandatory annual audits, a provision that was controversially repealed back in 2016. The new legislation not only brings back routine audit requirements, it also adds new rules mandating formal responses to audit findings, authorizes special targeted audits, and expands mandatory reporting obligations for CIP administrators.

    Walker went a step further, urging the government to fully reinstate the detailed semi-annual reporting requirements outlined in the original 2013 CIP enabling legislation. He noted that while reports are still submitted to parliament currently, they lack the granular detail about contributions, investment flows and programme activity that the original law required, a gap that creates unnecessary room for suspicion among both domestic citizens and international partners.

    The call for tighter rules comes as Antigua and Barbuda has faced increasing scrutiny of its investment migration scheme from both the European Union and the United States. Walker acknowledged that decades of cutthroat competition between Caribbean CIP jurisdictions had previously pushed many countries to relax regulatory standards to attract more applicants, but he highlighted that the Eastern Caribbean region is now unified in moving toward harmonized, stricter rules. He stressed that the fate of all regional programmes is interconnected: “When this boat sinks, we all go down with it,” he said, pointing out that any national programme’s failure to meet global standards could lead to restricted visa-free access for all Caribbean passport holders, eroding the value of citizenship across the bloc.

    Walker also extended rare cross-party praise to Prime Minister Gaston Browne for his longstanding advocacy for a centralized regional regulatory body to oversee CIP programmes across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), saying he hoped the new framework would deliver on the promise of stronger governance.

    In his remarks opening the debate, Prime Minister Browne clarified that the core purpose of the amendment is to align Antigua and Barbuda’s domestic law with the agreement establishing the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority, which is set to come into force later this year. The new regional body will enforce uniform regulatory standards across all participating member states, limiting the ability of individual nations to deviate from collectively agreed rules that protect the integrity of all programmes.

    Key provisions of the new bill include a requirement for annual independent financial audits and biannual operational audits of every national CIP unit, with the regional regulator tasked with ensuring compliance and protecting sensitive applicant data. The legislation also raises the minimum residency requirement for successful CIP applicants and their dependent family members from five days to 30 days, bringing Antigua and Barbuda into compliance with the regional standard already approved by all OECS members. Browne added that the amendments resolve any remaining inconsistencies between domestic law and the regional agreement, formalizing policy changes that have already been implemented through administrative action.

    Other new rules require the national CIP Unit to submit detailed six-month progress reports to both the regional regulator and the national parliament, while granting the regional body expanded oversight authority. The authority will now manage pre-qualification of CIP agents, require formal no-objection notices before local operating licenses are issued, mandate adherence to regional standards and guidelines, and require the revocation of licenses when regulatory approval is denied or withdrawn. Browne emphasized that these changes are designed to block unethical and unqualified promoters from participating in the programme and ensure consistent regulatory standards across the Eastern Caribbean. Following full debate, the House of Representatives passed the bill into law.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Parliament Passes Law to Put Unclaimed Bank Money to Public Use

    Antigua and Barbuda Parliament Passes Law to Put Unclaimed Bank Money to Public Use

    On Tuesday, the lower legislative chamber of Antigua and Barbuda approved the 2026 Banking Amendment Bill, a landmark piece of legislation that overhauls the national rules governing abandoned bank deposits and unclaimed assets, while opening a new pathway to redirect stagnant financial resources toward targeted regional economic growth.

    Introducing the bill to parliament, Prime Minister Gaston Browne laid out that the reform updates decades-old outdated protocols for handling unclaimed property within the domestic banking sector, covering everything from long-dormant customer accounts to forgotten valuables held in bank safety deposit boxes, all while cementing stronger legal protections for depositors and their rightful heirs.

    Under the current regulatory framework that has been in place for years, abandoned funds are transferred to the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) after a decade of inactivity, and if no valid claim is filed within an additional 10 years, the assets are permanently forfeited. The new amended law upends this structure: it allows unclaimed funds to be transferred to the governments of member states of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, while enshrining an indefinite right for original depositors or their beneficiaries to reclaim full value of the assets at any point, as long as they can verify their legal ownership.

    Browne emphasized to lawmakers that this structure offers far more robust protection for asset owners than the outgoing legislation, which placed a hard expiration on all claims. He added that across the entire Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, unclaimed deposits add up to an estimated $48 million US dollars – a massive underutilized asset pool that can be put to productive public use without ever compromising the rights of owners and their heirs.

    Beyond the reform of unclaimed asset rules, the prime minister outlined an ambitious broader vision for regional economic transformation centered on the ECCB’s substantial foreign reserve holdings. Currently, the ECCB holds roughly $6 billion US dollars in foreign reserves, the vast majority of which are invested overseas. Browne is proposing that between 5 and 7 percent of these reserves be allocated to finance strategic regional development projects, with a priority focus on two critical areas: renewable energy development and regional food security.

    For decades, the Eastern Caribbean dollar has been celebrated for its strong reserve backing, which currently sits close to 98 percent – far higher than the mandatory regulatory threshold. Browne argued that deploying a small fraction of these reserves to regional projects will generate inclusive economic growth without putting monetary stability at any meaningful risk. He noted that investments in local renewable energy infrastructure would cut the region’s heavy reliance on costly imported fossil fuels, bring down consumer electricity prices, further strengthen foreign reserve positions over time, and help member states meet their international climate change mitigation commitments.

    Browne disclosed that the ECCB’s Monetary Council has already reached a preliminary consensus to move forward with the proposal, and noted that additional amendments to regional banking legislation will likely be required to formally grant the ECCB authority to make these strategic regional investments. He stressed that the plan does not involve permanently distributing central bank reserves; instead, the funds will be disbursed as repayable loans, which will replenish the reserve pool over time while financing projects that deliver long-term shared economic benefits for the region.

    A core principle of the proposal, Browne added, is that all investments made through this initiative must remain under regional and local ownership, rather than falling under the control of foreign private entities. The Antigua and Barbuda government prioritizes strategic projects like utility-scale renewable energy plants that include significant public and local private investment, so that profits generated by these projects stay within the region to support further growth. “We believe very strongly that ownership is empowerment,” Browne stated.

    To illustrate the immediate local impact of the unclaimed funds reform, Browne noted that Antigua and Barbuda alone holds roughly $38 million US dollars in unclaimed deposits. After setting aside a sufficient reserve portion to cover any potential future claims, the remaining balance can be redirected to national development projects, rather than sitting idle in overseas accounts.

    The new legislation also establishes a clear regulatory framework for unclaimed contents of safety deposit boxes. Under the new rules, valuables that remain unclaimed for 10 years may be sold through public auction, with the proceeds held in a newly created Safe Deposit Box Liquidation Fund for an additional 10 years, giving owners or heirs extra time to come forward to claim the funds.

    Addressing any potential concerns about government overreach, Browne clarified to lawmakers: “We’re not just trying to go and confiscate people’s money. We’re not trying to steal people’s money. We’re trying to use that money for the development of our respective countries.”

    During parliamentary debate, Trevor Walker, the member of parliament for Barbuda, raised questions about the provision that reduces the waiting period before assets are classified as abandoned to 10 years, but expressed support for the overall direction of the legislation. Walker backed the government’s focus on renewable energy development, saying that the country must continue its transition toward affordable clean power while ensuring that major strategic investments stay under local control.

    “We must control it. It must not be outsourced,” Walker said, adding that the proposal represents the kind of forward-thinking policy that can improve long-term economic and environmental sustainability while lowering living costs for ordinary citizens. Walker ultimately announced his support for the bill, calling it a bold initiative that will strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s global reputation as a progressive investment destination and move the country beyond outdated, conventional approaches to economic development.

  • Parliament Approves US$10 Airport Charge Increase to Fund Aviation, Regional Obligations

    Parliament Approves US$10 Airport Charge Increase to Fund Aviation, Regional Obligations

    On Tuesday, Antigua and Barbuda’s House of Representatives passed the landmark Airport Administration Charge (Amendment) Bill, 2026, greenlighting a $10 incremental increase to airport administration fees for all passengers departing the country for destinations outside the Caribbean. Prime Minister Gaston Browne told lawmakers the adjustment is a core policy step designed to strengthen regional aviation systems, upgrade critical airport infrastructure, and deliver consistent, reliable funding to key regional governing institutions. The fee hike forms a central component of a broader collective agreement reached between leaders of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which aims to build a more predictable, sustainable financing framework for shared regional bodies, Browne explained. For years, member states across both blocs have accumulated tens of millions of dollars in unpaid institutional contributions, with Antigua and Barbuda itself carrying decades of outstanding arrears. Browne pushed for a shift toward automatic, consistent contribution payments, noting the new revenue stream will directly address the persistent funding gaps that have hampered regional institutions’ operations. Of the $10 in additional revenue generated per eligible passenger, $2.50 will be allocated directly to the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA). This funding is critical to Antigua and Barbuda’s ongoing push to regain Category 1 aviation safety status from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a designation that would open new travel opportunities for regional carriers. Restoring Category 1 status is a non-negotiable prerequisite for regional airlines including LIAT to operate direct routes to U.S. destinations, spanning the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. mainland, Browne stressed. “Many residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands have already requested direct air connections between the territory and Antigua and Barbuda, as well as other OECS member states,” Browne said. “But that goal is impossible to achieve until we restore our Category 1 safety status.” The prime minister commended ECCAA Director Anthony Whitaker and his team for resolving the safety deficiencies that were flagged in past FAA reviews, and he expressed optimism that the authority will successfully regain the designation following a formal FAA assessment scheduled for later this year. Even if the assessment results are positive, however, Browne warned that long-term success depends on consistent, adequate financing for the regional aviation regulator. Currently, ECCAA’s existing headquarters in Antigua and Barbuda lacks the space to hire and accommodate the additional qualified staff required to maintain Category 1 standards. The guaranteed, steady revenue from the fee hike will deliver the financial stability the regulator needs to move forward with constructing a new purpose-built headquarters, he confirmed. Beyond supporting ECCAA and aviation safety upgrades, the new revenue will deliver broader benefits across the region and Antigua and Barbuda. Browne noted that the additional funds will allow the country to make more consistent, on-time contributions to OECS and CARICOM institutions, gradually reduce its longstanding arrears, fund national climate resilience projects, and ensure the country has sufficient resources for ongoing airport infrastructure maintenance. The government recently completed a $55 million project to repair and expand V.C. Bird International Airport, and the new revenue stream will protect that public investment through consistent, long-term maintenance, he added. In a key clarification, Browne emphasized that the fee adjustment will not impact passengers traveling within the Caribbean. No increase will apply to regional air travel originating or ending within the bloc; the full $10 hike only applies to passengers traveling to destinations outside the Caribbean from Antigua and Barbuda. “This does not affect regional travelers at all – there is zero increase to the regional airport charge,” Browne told assembled legislators. “This fee only applies to people traveling externally from Antigua and Barbuda, outside of the Caribbean region.”