Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • Joshua’s father held

    Joshua’s father held

    A grieving Trinidadian father, Christopher Samaroo, whose son Joshua was killed in a police-involved shooting earlier this year, has been taken into custody under national emergency regulations after voluntarily contacting police to clear up misrepresented comments he made in a public radio interview.

    Joshua Samaroo died on January 20 following a confrontation with law enforcement officers in St Augustine. Following his death, Joshua’s common-law wife Kaia Sealy has been hit with multiple criminal charges, including manslaughter, three counts of shooting with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and additional related offenses. On Father’s Day, Christopher Samaroo joined an i95.5FM radio program to talk about his months-long experience of grief after losing his son. The discussion also included Ronald “Crab” Cabrera, who was still mourning the murder of his 12-year-old daughter Mercedez Layne.

    During the emotional interview, Samaroo opened up about his frustration with the circumstances of his son’s shooting and shared that he had little confidence that the ongoing legal process would deliver a fair outcome. Some of his critical remarks directed at law enforcement were clipped and shared widely across social media, cutting out key surrounding context from the full conversation. The radio program’s host intervened shortly after Samaroo made the comments in question, and only the truncated segment was circulated online.

    Sensing growing concern over the misrepresented clips, Samaroo chose to voluntarily meet with police to clarify what he actually said, accompanied by his defense attorney Aaron Lewis. According to Lewis, the pair first arrived at Port of Spain’s Central Police Station around 5:30 p.m. on the day of the arrest, where Samaroo spent 40 minutes answering officers’ questions about the circulating statements. Lewis said Central Police Station officers told the pair they had no reports filed against Samaroo connected to the comments and no existing investigation into his remarks.

    After leaving Central Police Station, Samaroo and Lewis received word from family members that a specialized police unit had visited the family’s Maraval home to look for Samaroo. The pair then traveled to Maraval Police Station to follow up, but officers there claimed to have no information about any warrant for Samaroo or any visit to his residence. They then moved on to St Clair Police Station, where officers from the Criminal Investigations Department approached Samaroo and informed him he was officially the target of an investigation.

    Samaroo was formally cautioned and detained under Regulation 11 of the country’s Emergency Powers Regulations, the legal provision outlined in Legal Notice No 40. This regulation bans any action intended to sway public opinion in a way that could harm public safety, as well as any possession of materials or actions that support such an effort.

    Lewis decried the arrest as a deeply unfair and unfortunate outcome, emphasizing that his client’s full remarks had been deliberately twisted and stripped of context online. “His words were twisted in the manner in which they were presented. He made a report concerning what he actually said, and what was circulated was cut short and does not reflect the entirety of his statement,” Lewis told local outlet the Express just minutes after Samaroo was taken into custody.

    The attorney added that the arrest has worsened the severe emotional distress Samaroo has already endured since his son’s death. “To be cautioned and arrested for something like that, taking into consideration what he is going through with the loss of his son, is traumatic,” Lewis said. He noted that while Samaroo had braced for the possibility of police action, the actual experience of being taken into custody was far more overwhelming, particularly amid the ongoing state of emergency that grants authorities expanded power. “It is a serious matter,” Lewis added.

    As of the night of the arrest, law enforcement officials had not released any public details about the specific allegations against Samaroo or the full scope of the investigation. Before he was detained, Samaroo himself had pushed back against the misrepresented clips, confirming that the online version cut off key portions of his full remarks. “That is not totally what I said. They caught me halfway through. The whole thing was missing parts,” he said, adding that the circulating snippets failed to capture the full context of his comments about his son’s death and his grief.

  • US Navy SEALs to help fight crime

    US Navy SEALs to help fight crime

    During a phone interview with local outlet the Express while visiting the United States, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has outlined a sweeping expansion of bilateral security cooperation with Washington, aimed at tightening border control, curbing drug trafficking, and dismantling organized crime across the twin-island nation.

    Persad-Bissessar, who is in the U.S. to attend the funeral of her brother-in-law Michael L Ahamad and will return to Trinidad and Tobago tomorrow, with Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John serving as acting Prime Minister in her absence, emphasized that the current government has reversed the security failures of the previous People’s National Movement (PNM) administration. She claimed that under her leadership, national borders are now more tightly controlled, additional Coast Guard vessels patrol territorial waters daily, and the national coastal radar system is fully operational – a stark contrast to conditions under the former government, which she accuses of having left borders porous for criminal networks.

    The Prime Minister confirmed that in the coming months, Trinidad and Tobago will receive additional maritime patrol vessels from the United States to boost coastal security. Beyond equipment support, U.S. military and intelligence agencies are ramping up their on-the-ground presence to support local anti-crime operations. Currently, advance elements of U.S. Navy SEAL teams are already in the country coordinating logistics for a larger upcoming deployment. As the U.S. military’s elite special operations force, named for their capability to operate across sea, air and land domains, these SEAL personnel will provide specialized training and operational support to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and Defence Force, focusing on border protection, drug interdiction, and internal security operations.

    While official data received regularly by the National Security Council, which Persad-Bissessar chairs, shows a measurable drop in serious violent crime across the country, and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has successfully disrupted multiple gang operations, the Prime Minister acknowledged that persistent security challenges remain. Drug shipments originating in South America continue to flow into the country through unpatrolled coastal areas of southern, southwestern, and central Trinidad. The coastline stretching from Caroni to Marabella, particularly its dense mangrove regions and informal squatter settlements, remains a high-risk smuggling corridor. Persad-Bissessar noted that these squatter communities are deeply infiltrated by criminal gangs, creating safe havens for illicit activity. Beyond transnational drug trafficking, the nation is also grappling with rising petty crime committed by non-gang-affiliated ordinary citizens, alongside ongoing issues of financial fraud and domestic violence. She explained that decades of unpunished lawbreaking have eroded social norms, leading some normally law-abiding residents to commit minor offenses, creating a gradual slide toward broader lawlessness.

    In a surprising endorsement, Persad-Bissessar awarded Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro an “A” grade for his performance over his first year leading the TTPS, noting his progress in targeting entrenched criminal groups while acknowledging that fully dismantling long-established community gangs will require years of sustained effort.

    On countering transnational financial crime, Persad-Bissessar highlighted critical intelligence support from U.S. agencies, which have identified individuals, business owners, and banking employees linked to cartel drug trafficking and money laundering operations who have moved billions of U.S. dollars out of the country illicitly for years. U.S. authorities have already begun punitive action against these networks, restricting their access to U.S. territory and the American financial system. The U.S. is also supporting upgrades to both physical and digital security infrastructure at Trinidad and Tobago’s major airports and seaports to strengthen border screening.

    Persad-Bissessar criticized the former PNM administration for rejecting the full package of U.S. security assistance that was already available to them, accusing the previous government of intentionally leaving borders and ports open to allow traffickers to flood the country with illegal narcotics and weapons.

    Looking ahead, the government plans to expand its holistic anti-crime strategy with new legislative measures and increased human resources. To crack down on white-collar crime and the financial networks backing drug trafficking and gang activity, the government is actively recruiting new staff for the understaffed Inland Revenue division, which previously operated at only 25% of its authorized workforce. The division is also receiving upgrades to its tax administration technology, boosting the state’s ability to monitor and investigate illicit financial activity.

  • THA wants $4.12 billion for 2026-2027 budget

    THA wants $4.12 billion for 2026-2027 budget

    In a formal presentation delivered to the Assembly Chamber in Scarborough on Tuesday, Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Finance Secretary Petal-Ann Roberts unveiled the body’s requested $4.12 billion expenditure budget for the 2027 fiscal year, which runs from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. Framed under the guiding theme “Results Based Governance, A Pathway to Prosperity”, the budget proposal breaks down total requested spending into two core buckets: $3.03 billion allocated to ongoing recurrent operations, and $1.09 billion earmarked for targeted development programming, including a $43.35 million line item for the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP).

    Roberts noted that the total request is calculated as a 6.6% share of Trinidad and Tobago’s projected $62.16 billion national budget for the period — a proportional allocation equal to just $6.60 of every $100 in national planned spending, matching the THA’s share in the current 2026 fiscal cycle. A line-by-line breakdown of the recurrent expenditure budget reveals that the Division of Health and Wellness has secured the largest single allocation, requesting $1.03 billion to support public health services across the island. Other major allocations include $519.60 million for the Division of Education, Skills and Innovation, $343.99 million for the Division of Public Infrastructure and Transportation, $193.28 million for the Division of Tourism, Antiquities and Creative Industries, and $181.94 million for the Office of the Chief Secretary, with all recurrent expenditure line items summing exactly to the $3.03 billion total.

    Breaking down the components of recurrent spending, Roberts reported that $805.52 million is allocated to personnel costs, $935.57 million covers goods and services, $67.95 million supports minor equipment purchases, and $1.22 billion goes toward current transfers and subsidies for public services.

    In a key policy shift, the budget restructures two long-running public employment and community development programs. The existing Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) will be rebranded and relocated as a new initiative under the Division of Public Infrastructure and Transportation, renamed the Programme for Infrastructure Upgrade in Urban and Rural Communities (IUURC), with an allocated $91.9 million in 2027 funding. Meanwhile, CEPEP has been realigned to the Division of Food Security, where its workforce will be leveraged to support growth and transformation of the island’s food production sector, retaining its $43.35 million approved budget.

    Beyond spending allocations, Roberts used the budget presentation to call attention to a long-standing fiscal dispute between the THA and the central national government. She pointed out that the THA’s officially recorded total annual tax revenue of $220.5 million, collected via existing national revenue and tax administration systems, significantly undercounts the actual tax revenue generated by economic activity within Tobago. A large share of revenue generated locally in Tobago is currently collected by tax authorities based in Trinidad, a practice that Roberts says violates Section 49 of the THA Act 40 of 1996, the legislation governing the autonomous body’s authority.

    Roberts emphasized that the only permanent solution to this decades-long fiscal inequity is the full completion of the Tobago internal self-government project, which would strengthen the THA’s legislative and enforcement authority to manage its own revenue streams in line with existing legal mandates.

  • REGION FACES CHALLENGES

    REGION FACES CHALLENGES

    Speaking at a high-level private sector dialogue hosted alongside the 56th Organisation of American States General Assembly in Panama on Sunday, Trinidad and Tobago Government Minister Nicholas Morris has issued a urgent call for systemic reforms to how Caribbean nations access development financing, warning the region’s most pressing challenges cannot be resolved by individual nations alone and demand coordinated regional collaboration backed by consistent, reliable funding.

    Against a backdrop of rising global geopolitical and economic fragmentation, Morris, who serves in the Office of the Prime Minister, emphasized that multilateral cooperation remains the most effective pathway for small island states to advance their long-term development objectives. His remarks were delivered during a dedicated strategic session focused on multilateralism as a collective response to global crises, and the strategic role of regional bodies in turning discussion into tangible action for the Greater Caribbean.

    Morris outlined that the ongoing dialogue reinforced just how critical multilateral institutions and collective action are, particularly as Caribbean countries navigate mounting economic and social strain. He stressed that policy conversations can no longer stop at reflection — tangible, actionable progress is needed immediately, especially when it comes to development resourcing.

    The minister painted a clear picture of overlapping, interconnected challenges facing the Caribbean region: extreme climate vulnerability, persistent food and energy insecurity, rapidly rising sovereign debt levels, and growing threats from transnational organized crime. He also drew attention to the ongoing risk of de-risking by large international financial institutions, a practice that cuts off smaller Caribbean economies from critical global banking and financial services, further stifling growth.

    According to Morris, the combination of these overlapping challenges has rendered traditional development financing frameworks obsolete, leaving outdated mechanisms unable to meet the region’s current needs. “The central challenge is not only the availability of financing, but its accessibility, predictability, and alignment with regional priorities,” he explained.

    He added that Caribbean nations already operate with severely constrained fiscal space, leaving them disproportionately exposed to external economic shocks and destructive natural disasters that can erase years of development progress in days. As a result, entirely new, innovative approaches to resourcing are required to build regional resilience and advance inclusive sustainable development across the Caribbean.

    Morris called for far greater mobilization of blended and innovative financing instruments to tackle the region’s development gaps. He argued that deeper, more effective partnerships with global development finance institutions are essential, alongside expanded access to concessional financing for the region’s most vulnerable economies. The minister stressed that development financing frameworks must be adapted to reflect the unique realities small island developing states face, noting that many Caribbean nations are classified as middle-income countries despite facing extreme climate and economic vulnerabilities that outpace those of many lower-income nations.

    His remarks echo longstanding grievances from Caribbean governments, who have repeatedly argued that traditional eligibility criteria for concessional funding lock nations out of critical support even as their development challenges grow more severe.

    Morris also turned attention to the need for institutional evolution within the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), arguing the organization must transition from its current role as a primarily consultative forum to a functional mechanism that can coordinate tangible cross-border action.

    “It is precisely in this context that the ACS must be positioned not merely as a consultative body but as a genuine instrument of coordinated regional action,” he said. Morris argued the ACS is uniquely positioned to take a leading role in coordinating and attracting financing for high-impact regional projects, identifying priority areas including cross-border infrastructure development, climate adaptation initiatives, digital transformation programs, and expanded investment in the blue economy. He suggested the organization could serve as a practical convening platform that brings together national governments, multilateral development institutions, and international investors around shared, actionable regional development objectives.

    The minister also highlighted the critical importance of deepening strategic relationships with non-traditional international partners that can bring new investment capital and innovative development financing models to the region. He welcomed the participation of senior delegates from the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the OECD Development Centre at the dialogue, noting their presence signals growing interest in strategic partnerships beyond the region’s traditional development collaborators. Morris noted that these new partnerships can unlock unprecedented financing and investment opportunities across the Greater Caribbean, pointing to Trinidad and Tobago’s existing bilateral engagement with the United Arab Emirates as a working example of the benefits these relationships can deliver.

    While underscoring the foundational value of regional cooperation and strategic planning, Morris emphasized that accessible, adequate financing remains the make-or-break factor for delivering on regional development goals. “Without adequate and accessible financing, even the most well-designed regional strategies risk remaining aspirational,” he warned.

    Closing his remarks, Morris expressed Trinidad and Tobago’s gratitude for the longstanding support the country and region have received from international development partners, and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to expanding and deepening these strategic relationships. He said the Trinidad and Tobago government remains focused on strengthening and diversifying regional and global partnerships as part of broader efforts to accelerate inclusive, sustainable development across the entire Greater Caribbean.

  • Benoeming Steve Meye leidt tot debat over Surinames positie over Palestina

    Benoeming Steve Meye leidt tot debat over Surinames positie over Palestina

    A heated and extensive debate has erupted in Suriname’s National Assembly over the recent appointment of Steve Meye as Suriname’s non-resident ambassador to Israel, with opposition lawmakers raising pressing questions over how the decision aligns with the South American nation’s longstanding support for Palestinian statehood amid growing international concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

    The discussion, held during Monday’s budget deliberations, drew scrutiny from lawmakers across three major opposition parties: the National Democratic Party (NDP), the National Party of Suriname (NPS) and Pertjajah Luhur (PL), all of whom demanded clarity from the government on the timing and implications of the appointment.

    NDP lawmaker Ann Sadi argued that the nomination comes at an extraordinarily sensitive moment, as violent tensions continue to escalate across the Middle East. She noted that the issue resonates deeply across Suriname’s diverse society, questioning why the government chose to push forward with the appointment at this specific juncture. Sadi also pressed the administration to explain how the decision fits within Suriname’s established foreign policy framework, against a backdrop of mounting global alarm over civilian casualties in Gaza.

    Jerrel Pawiroredjo, leader of the NPS parliamentary caucus, echoed those concerns, pointing to ongoing human rights disputes in the region. He emphasized that as a multicultural nation, Suriname has a responsibility to approach global issues tied to equality, justice and human rights with extreme care, avoiding any actions that could send mixed signals about the country’s core principles.

    Bronto Somohardjo, PL’s caucus leader, reminded the chamber that Suriname officially recognized Palestine as an independent sovereign state back in 2011. He called on Foreign Affairs Minister Melvin Bouva — who heads the ministry also responsible for international business and international cooperation — to explicitly confirm that appointing an ambassador to Israel does not represent a softening of that longheld principled position. “Maintaining diplomatic relations is one matter, but Suriname must never give the impression that it will stay silent when civilian lives are lost, or when serious allegations of violations of international law are made,” Somohardjo stated.

    Not all lawmakers voiced opposition, however. NDP legislator Ebu Jones offered a more nuanced perspective, noting that multiple member states of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) already maintain formal diplomatic ties with Israel while simultaneously supporting United Nations resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and affirming Palestine’s right to sovereign statehood. Jones argued that appointing a non-resident ambassador does not need to conflict with Suriname’s existing commitments. “It is precisely through diplomatic relations that we can clearly communicate our positions on human rights and the international legal order,” Jones explained.

    In his response to parliament, Minister Bouva sought to ease all lingering concerns, stressing repeatedly that Meye’s appointment does not signal any shift in Suriname’s core foreign policy positions. Bouva clarified that Suriname has maintained diplomatic relations with Israel for decades, with ongoing bilateral cooperation projects spanning key sectors including agriculture, education and healthcare. “There is an existing diplomatic relationship with Israel, and nothing has changed in that relationship,” Bouva told the chamber.

    The minister went on to reaffirm that Suriname’s stance on Palestine also remains completely unaltered. “Nothing has changed about our recognition of Palestine. Suriname has unwaveringly stood by that position since 2011, and this current administration maintains that policy,” he confirmed.

    Bouva also added context about the non-resident nature of the ambassadorial post, noting that Suriname has increasingly relied on this model of diplomatic representation to manage international partnerships without incurring the high costs of maintaining a permanent full-time diplomatic mission in every country.

    By the end of the debate, Bouva’s core message was clear: Meye’s appointment fits squarely within Suriname’s existing diplomatic framework, and does not mark any change of course in the nation’s longstanding approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

  • MP Greene Encouraged by Strong Turnout at First Liberta Town Hall Meeting

    MP Greene Encouraged by Strong Turnout at First Liberta Town Hall Meeting

    Antigua and Barbuda’s St. Paul constituency has wrapped up its first public town hall meeting, held June 18 at Liberta Primary School, and local Member of Parliament Chet Greene says he is deeply encouraged by the turnout and active participation from area residents. Speaking during a recent interview on WTP Media’s popular talk show *Morning with Sly J*, Greene framed the inaugural community forum as a clear success, highlighting that local constituents showed striking eagerness to open dialogues about neighborhood challenges and learn more about upcoming development projects for the area.

    “It was clear that people had been waiting for this chance to speak directly to their representative,” Greene shared during the interview. Conversations at the gathering centered on three core priorities for residents: ongoing infrastructure upgrades, public service accessibility, and community safety.

    At the top of resident concerns is the persistent water shortage plaguing Liberta, a problem exacerbated by the prolonged drought conditions that have impacted the entire nation of Antigua and Barbuda throughout recent months. Locals pushed the Antigua Public Utilities Authority to implement urgent changes to deliver more consistent water access to households across the neighborhood. Greene confirmed that residents outlined a clear baseline expectation: receiving scheduled water deliveries at least three times weekly would give families enough time to refill their private household storage tanks and rain catchment systems, a critical buffer during extended dry periods.

    While Greene acknowledged that local residents have shown remarkable patience as the government works to address drought-related public service strains, he emphasized that community tolerance has clear limits. “Residents have made it clear their patience is not infinite,” he noted. “They expect tangible improvements to water access in the near term.”

    Beyond water access, Greene shared an update on one of the constituency’s key infrastructure projects: the rehabilitation of Evergreen Road in Liberta. Repaving work on the corridor continued through the most recent weekend, and the project is currently roughly 60 percent complete, on track for its scheduled finish.

    Greene added that the town hall also revealed a broader undercurrent of optimism among constituents, with many saying they can feel the national economic growth stimulated by current government policies. Even so, some attendees raised that development benefits have been slower to reach rural and smaller neighborhoods like those within St. Paul, leaving many local residents still waiting to see tangible improvements to their daily lives.

    A third major topic raised during the open forum was community anxiety around underage access to marijuana, following the country’s recent decriminalization of the drug for adult use. Residents of Liberta specifically voiced alarm over multiple reports that cannabis is being made available to minors in the area, and called for coordinated action to address the risk to young people. To move forward with community-led solutions, locals proposed a dedicated working meeting that will bring together neighborhood representatives, Greene’s parliamentary office, and leadership of Ras Freeman to review resident reports and draft actionable next steps.

    For constituents who were unable to attend the first forum, the St. Paul constituency has already scheduled its second public town hall for the same evening of Greene’s interview, to be held at Cobbs Cross Primary School, giving more residents a chance to share their concerns and priorities directly with their representative.

  • PM Browne Speaks on Third-Country Deportees to the Caribbean

    PM Browne Speaks on Third-Country Deportees to the Caribbean

    As the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) marks its 45th year of advancing regional cooperation, the bloc is confronting a growing roster of unprecedented challenges that test the sovereignty and resilience of its small island member states. At the 78th OECS Authority Meeting held in St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Gaston Browne delivered a blunt, unflinching address calling out coercive foreign pressure from the United States over the forced acceptance of third-country deportees, a crisis that threatens to destabilize the small Caribbean nation.

    For nearly half a century, the OECS has anchored integration and progress across the Eastern Caribbean, building shared institutions from the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court to the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority that have lifted development outcomes for all member states. But in 2026, shifting global power dynamics have created a new set of cascading pressures that regional leaders cannot ignore. Browne framed the current global moment as a period of profound transformation: marked by intensifying great power competition, regional conflicts with global spillover effects, fractured global supply chains, a growing retreat from multilateral cooperation, and the increasing use of economic coercion as a tool of international statecraft.

    The most pressing immediate challenge Browne highlighted is the U.S. push to force OECS nations to accept hundreds of third-country deportees, many of whom have criminal records. Browne confirmed that small island states across the region have been pressured into accepting the deportees, with implicit threats of punishment if they refuse to comply. Many Caribbean governments have already begun pushing back to prevent the influx of criminal individuals that would strain local resources and undermine public safety.

    Speaking directly to U.S. authorities, Browne made clear that his government would not compromise Antigua and Barbuda’s national interest for foreign demands. “I cannot willingly cooperate with any other power, any country, to destroy our beautiful Twin Island state,” he stated, adding that his administration has drawn a clear line: it will not accept any criminal deportees, and will cap the total number of deportees allowed into the country at a level the nation can support.

    Originally, U.S. proposals called for Antigua and Barbuda to accept up to 120 deportees, a figure Browne’s administration rejected outright as completely unacceptable. In its place, the government tabled a counterproposal to accept a maximum of just 10 deportees per year, a limit aligned with the nation’s small population and limited administrative, social and law enforcement resources. Browne emphasized that he hopes the United States will respect the nation’s sovereign right to set its own policies on entry and resettlement, avoiding acrimony or punitive measures in response to Antigua and Barbuda’s position.

    Beyond the deportation crisis, Browne used the OECS meeting platform to draw attention to another existential threat facing small island developing states across the Caribbean: skyrocketing living costs driven largely by global energy price volatility and external economic shocks beyond the region’s control. For small, import-dependent Caribbean nations, Browne noted, these overlapping economic and geopolitical challenges are not just policy issues—they threaten the livelihoods and stability of communities across the subregion.

  • Haïti – Politique : Formation sur les «Fondamentaux des marchés publics» au bénéfice de cadres du MENFP

    Haïti – Politique : Formation sur les «Fondamentaux des marchés publics» au bénéfice de cadres du MENFP

    In a push to strengthen transparent public resource management across Haiti’s government institutions, Haiti’s National Public Procurement Commission (CNMP) has launched a three-day specialized training program focused on core public procurement fundamentals, designed exclusively for senior technical staff at the country’s Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP).

    The training kicked off on Friday, June 19, 2026, with sessions scheduled across three non-consecutive Fridays: June 19, June 26, and July 3, 2026. Around 20 participants are taking part in the program, most of whom are members of MENFP’s newly established ministerial public procurement commission (CMMP) and senior leadership from the ministry’s Procurement Implementation Unit (UPM).

    The curriculum covers a broad range of critical topics aligned with Haiti’s evolving public procurement framework. Key modules include a deep dive into the country’s legal and regulatory structure governing public contracts, step-by-step guidance on procurement solicitation, monitoring, and contract execution processes, and a breakdown of special regulatory frameworks for different contract types, including client service contracts, supply contracts, and contracts issued during officially declared public emergencies. To ensure participants can apply new skills in real-world scenarios, the program also includes hands-on practical case study analysis, procedural simulation exercises, and applied problem-solving activities built to boost frontline operational capacity.

    Speaking at the official opening of the training, CNMP commissioner Elgo Eugène welcomed MENFP’s recent decision to establish an in-house public procurement commission, a move the CNMP actively encourages. Eugène emphasized the central role that well-regulated public procurement plays in upholding transparency in public sector management. “This work is essential to guarantee consistency, full traceability, and above all, credibility for our entire national procurement system,” he told attendees.

    The new MENFP CMMP, formally established on June 1, 2026, comprises five appointed members: Lutherking Emmanuel MARCADIEU, Jean Astrel MAGLOIRE, Myrlène Jean-Baptiste SÉIDE, Rigaud MATHURIN, and Ardine PLAISIR.

    Woodly Simon, Chief of Staff to MENFP Minister Vijonet Déméro, framed effective public procurement as a core lever of functional public action. “At the ministry, transparent, efficient, rule-compliant management is non-negotiable to ensure we get the most value out of every public resource,” Simon explained. He added that upskilling the ministry’s procurement leadership is a strategic investment that will improve activity planning, streamline program execution, and advance responsible stewardship of public funds.

    Lead trainer Marie Aurore Élisabeth Barthélemy Dalencourt further emphasized the broader societal and economic impact of well-managed public procurement. “When public procurement is governed by the principles of transparency, equity, and efficiency, it directly strengthens good governance and improves the quality of services delivered to all Haitian citizens,” she said. “Every actor involved in public contracting has a responsibility to uphold regulatory standards and best practices to ensure public resources are used to their maximum potential.”

  • PM Benches Mira, Orders Audit Amid Mounting Payment Questions

    PM Benches Mira, Orders Audit Amid Mounting Payment Questions

    In a significant reshuffle of Belize’s government triggered by growing controversy over public procurement, Prime Minister John Briceño has placed Cabinet Minister Oscar Mira on administrative leave and ordered a full independent audit into contracting practices during Mira’s tenure at the Ministry of Defense. The development marks the most high-profile fallout to date from the ongoing Smart Stream revelations, which have already forced sweeping changes to the country’s governing structure.

    To ensure no disruption to core public and national security operations, Briceño moved swiftly to fill the temporary vacancy, appointing senior Minister Julius Espat to serve as interim head of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The decision did not come out of the blue: it follows weeks of intensifying public scrutiny and critical media reporting that has raised serious questions about the awarding and payment of government contracts linked to Mira’s portfolio. Those unaddressed concerns ultimately prompted the Auditor General of Belize to launch a full formal investigation into the allegations.

    Per an official statement released from the capital Belmopan, Mira personally requested to step aside for the duration of the audit, a process that is projected to take approximately three months. The Prime Minister framed the voluntary exit and subsequent audit as a cornerstone of his administration’s commitment to transparent governance. “We take concerns about ministerial conduct seriously,” Briceño explained in a phone interview with reporters, emphasizing that the government has a non-negotiable obligation to guarantee taxpayer funds deliver full public value and that all procurement regulations are strictly followed. Briceño also praised Mira’s decision to step aside voluntarily, noting that the move should be admired as the right choice to protect the integrity of the investigation.

    “Mira said stepping aside would eliminate any perception that he could interfere or influence the audit process, and that the decision was in the best interest of his portfolio, his constituents, Cabinet, and the entire country,” Briceño recounted.

    When selecting an interim successor, Briceño said he ultimately settled on Espat for his proven track record and strong existing leadership team, noting that Espat is well-positioned to continue the core work Mira had overseen without interruption over the 90-day audit period.

    The stakes of the reshuffle are far from low: the Ministry of Home Affairs holds a central role in Belize’s national security framework, which Briceño personally chairs. The Prime Minister confirmed he will maintain close oversight of the ministry’s day-to-day operations throughout Espat’s interim tenure. Right now, the government is working to project stability and maintain normal public services even as the investigation ramps up behind closed doors.

    The outcome of the entire controversy will hinge entirely on what the audit uncovers. For the moment, the Government of Belize is walking a careful line: keeping critical public services running, reassuring an anxious public, and demonstrating a willingness to act swiftly when questions of impropriety arise. But with the audit now underway and political pressure continuing to build, this story is far from reaching its conclusion.

  • Inside the Payments: $5.7 Million to Minister Mira’s Family Business

    Inside the Payments: $5.7 Million to Minister Mira’s Family Business

    An independent investigative probe by Belize-based outlet News Five has uncovered a two-year pattern of undisclosed government payouts totaling $5.7 million in taxpayer funds to a private agribusiness with direct ties to the family of sitting cabinet minister Oscar Mira. The investigation’s findings, drawn from more than 60 direct screenshots extracted from the government’s own internal financial management platform Smart Stream, paint a troubling picture of unorthodox financial processing that has sparked intense scrutiny over public procurement protocols and potential conflicts of interest.

    A deep dive into 620 recorded transactions confirms that the repeated payments were directed to MP Farms, a company officially owned by Mira’s brother Stanley Mira, with a second brother, Brian Mira, listed as the primary point of contact for the business. The payments stretch from September 2024 through June 2026, with the overwhelming majority of the funds – approximately $5.6 million of the total $5.7 million – originating from the Ministry of Defense and Border Security, the department overseen by Mira. An additional $139,000 was disbursed across 11 separate invoices from the Prime Minister’s Office, earmarked for what are listed as grocery supply services.

    Analysis of the transaction data reveals clear, unusual spikes in payout activity, with the three largest monthly disbursements recorded in May, September, and December of 2025. September 2025 alone saw 103 invoices processed for a total of $901,899.83, followed by December 2025 with 78 invoices summing to $704,808.44, and May 2025 with 76 invoices totaling $691,225.99. Even more alarming to oversight observers is the volume of invoices cleared for payment in single business days: on September 25, 2025, 54 invoices worth a combined $482,751.45 were processed; on December 1 of that same year, 49 invoices totaling $446,661.36 were approved; and just six months prior on May 30, 2025, 46 invoices adding up to $418,836.84 cleared the system. Combined, these three single-day payouts exceed $1.3 million, nearly a quarter of the total two-year disbursement.

    This bulk processing pattern has raised urgent questions about whether required financial reviews were actually conducted before approval, or if the payments were simply signed off in mass batches without appropriate oversight. One particularly unusual transaction saw an identical payout of $152,834.28 processed twice: once on December 3, 2024, and again on January 16, 2025, both sent directly to MP Farms via the Smart Stream system.

    The overall growth in payouts also raises flags: between September and December 2024, total payments to the company hit just over $461,968. That figure surged dramatically to nearly $4 million in all of 2025, with more than $1.7 million of that total disbursed in the second half of the year. As of June 2026, payments have already reached approximately $1.3 million, putting the current year on track to exceed 2025’s disbursement levels.

    Investigators also noted a deliberate pattern of structuring invoices to avoid mandatory oversight protocols: out of the 613 total processed invoices, 600 were issued for amounts under $10,000 – the official threshold that triggers additional review from the Ministry of Finance and requires a competitive formal tendering process. Only 13 invoices exceeded the $10,000 threshold, and 7 were later marked as cancelled for unstated reasons.

    In response to the publication of the investigative findings, News Five reached out to Prime Minister John Briceño for comment on the mounting public concerns over the transactions and their impact on public trust in government. When asked how he reacted to learning that close to $6 million in taxpayer funds had been directed to a sitting minister’s family business over two years, Briceño acknowledged that the situation merited investigation, but urged the public to avoid jumping to conclusions before a formal review is completed.

    “Of course it is something to question,” Briceño stated in a phone interview. “But let us not get carried away by the number. Let us look at ensuring that there was value for money. That to me is even more important than the appearance. But let us wait until we get the report.” When pressed whether the transactions amounted to nepotism, Briceño said that Minister Mira has denied any involvement in securing the contracts, and that he accepts Mira’s denial at this stage. “When he came to see me this morning, Minister Mira says he was not involved in anyway with any of these issues,” Briceño explained. “And so, it is easy to cast aspersions, point fingers, but when he is telling me that he is not anyway involved then I think it is difficult to say that he was the one behind it, because he wanted his family to get these contracts.”

    The investigation is ongoing, with public accountability advocates calling for a full independent audit to determine whether proper protocols were followed and whether public funds were misused.