Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • Nieuwe BEP-voorziter Edwin Noordzee: partij versterken met training en beter financieel beleid

    Nieuwe BEP-voorziter Edwin Noordzee: partij versterken met training en beter financieel beleid

    In a party leadership vote held on September 26 at the Broederschap en Eenheid in de Politiek (BEP) headquarters on Ephraimszegenweg, Edwin Noordzee has been selected as the political party’s new chairperson, succeeding outgoing leader Ronny Asabina who chose not to run for re-election. The vote took place during the BEP’s general members’ assembly, marking a formal transition of leadership for the party that currently holds one seat in Suriname’s National Assembly and serves as part of the country’s ruling governing coalition.

    In a post-election interview with local media outlet Starnieuws, Noordzee laid out his core policy and organizational priorities for the party’s new leadership term, highlighting three key areas of focus: strengthening the BEP’s internal party infrastructure, expanding specialized training for party officials, and overhauling the party’s internal financial and economic governance framework. The new chairperson also emphasized that a top immediate task will be restarting a slate of stalled party projects that have been put on hold in previous months.

    Under Noordzee’s plan, the newly formed party executive board will first draft a comprehensive strategic roadmap to guide the BEP’s work over the coming term. Capacity building for party cadre through structured training and professional development will occupy a central role in this strategy, he noted, alongside targeted reforms to the BEP’s internal financial management. Among the adjustments being considered is a revamped structure for member contributions, with the goal of building a more stable financial foundation that allows the party to consistently deliver on its commitments, programs, and public initiatives.

    “We will first develop a clear, actionable plan,” Noordzee stated. “From that framework, the board will roll out targeted training programs, streamline the collection and management of member contributions, and reactivate stalled projects to move them toward completion.”

    Notably, outgoing chairperson Ronny Asabina will not step away from BEP leadership entirely. He will retain his position as the BEP’s parliamentary group leader in the National Assembly, a role that is formally confirmed on the Suriname parliament’s official website. Per Noordzee’s explanation, Asabina will continue to participate in all meetings of the BEP’s executive board in his capacity as parliamentary group leader, maintaining a critical direct line of coordination between the party’s overall political leadership and its legislative faction in the national parliament.

    Alongside his organizational and financial reform priorities, Noordzee has placed significant emphasis on increasing transparency and collaborative decision-making within the BEP. Speaking during the general members’ assembly after his election victory, he stressed that rank-and-file party members will gain an expanded voice in shaping the party’s strategic direction and key policy decisions going forward.

  • Shuttle Plan for CHOGM Venue in St. John’s

    Shuttle Plan for CHOGM Venue in St. John’s

    As the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) draws closer, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has revealed a preliminary traffic and parking strategy to accommodate the event at one of its key host venues. Speaking during an appearance on Pointe FM’s popular Browne and Browne Show this past Saturday, Browne addressed a lingering public question about parking access at the site of the former Deluxe building, a structure currently undergoing full conversion into a modern performing arts centre that will double as a CHOGM venue.

    Under the draft plan being evaluated by the national government, all event attendees will park their private and official vehicles at the expansive Rising Sun Grounds location, before boarding organized shuttle buses to transport them directly to the performing arts centre. To strengthen security and streamline movement around the high-level summit venue, Browne confirmed that the immediate perimeter of the site will be cordoned off, with all parking and through-traffic restricted in the adjacent surrounding area.

    At the time of the announcement, the prime minister did not release additional critical details about the plan. No information was provided on the exact shuttle routes that will connect the parking hub to the venue, the maximum vehicle capacity Rising Sun Grounds can accommodate, which local streets will be impacted by the restrictions, or a firm timeline for when the full finalized traffic arrangements will be made public. It also remains unclear whether the parking and traffic limitations will only be in effect during official summit sessions at the performing arts centre, or if they will be enforced for the full duration of the CHOGM event and extended into the pre-summit setup period.

    Beyond laying out the logistics framework, Browne offered an update on the renovation progress at the former Deluxe building, noting that the project has already delivered dramatic transformations to both the building’s interior layout and its exterior facade. He emphasized that the multi-purpose venue is being purpose-built to serve the Antigua and Barbuda community as a permanent performing arts centre long after the international summit concludes.

  • CARICOM leaders reaffirm support for Guyana’s Rodrigues-Birkett for UN Secretary-General

    CARICOM leaders reaffirm support for Guyana’s Rodrigues-Birkett for UN Secretary-General

    As the 81st United Nations General Assembly General Debate enters its final stretch in Manhattan, New York, member nations of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have come together to publicly reaffirm their unified support for Guyana’s top UN diplomat, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, as the bloc’s official candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary-General.

    Rodrigues-Birkett’s candidacy dates back to July of this year, when CARICOM heads of government formally gave their collective endorsement shortly after Guyana officially nominated her for the role. With a long career in public service, she currently holds the position of Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and previously served as her country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. This background, regional leaders argue, has equipped her with the deep understanding of global development challenges needed to lead the UN effectively.

    Multiple CARICOM leaders used their speaking time at the General Debate on September 25 to voice their public backing. Deputy Prime Minister Geoffrey Hanley of St. Kitts and Nevis emphasized that his nation was proud to stand alongside CARICOM in endorsing Rodrigues-Birkett. He highlighted that her experience as an Indigenous woman from a small developing state brings a much-needed perspective to global leadership, pushing back against the unspoken norm that top UN roles must be held by representatives of large, powerful nations.

    “Global leadership should never be determined by the geographic size or economic weight of a country,” Hanley noted, adding that Rodrigues-Birkett’s deep grasp of the unique struggles facing developing nations is exactly the kind of leadership the UN requires in this current era.

    Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley echoed this sentiment during her address, framing the endorsement as a step toward renewing global faith in multilateral cooperation. “At a moment when the international community is being called upon to renew its faith in multilateralism, we believe that Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett brings to this task the experience, the skills and the understanding to serve the entire membership of this organisation,” Mottley stated.

    Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre of Saint Lucia also added his voice to the chorus of support, while discussing the outgoing tenure of current Secretary-General António Guterres. “Saint Lucia wishes to express its endorsement of the candidate of the Republic of Guyana, Miss Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, for the post of Secretary-General,” Pierre said, pointing to her decades-long record of distinguished public and international service. He also reaffirmed Saint Lucia’s commitment to working alongside aligned nations to push for much-needed internal reforms within the United Nations.

    In addition to these three leaders, The Bahamas and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have also formally backed Rodrigues-Birkett, aligning with CARICOM’s collective endorsement of her candidacy.

    The race for UN Secretary-General comes as Guterres’s term concludes at the end of this year, and the selection process has drawn close international attention. If elected, Rodrigues-Birkett would make history as the first Caribbean national to ever hold the top UN post. However, her candidacy is not without controversy: media reports have indicated that the United States may oppose her nomination due to Guyana’s current diplomatic stance on the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

    The 81st United Nations General Assembly General Debate is scheduled to conclude on September 28, the same day this announcement was made public.

  • Caribbean leaders renew calls for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in UN system at UNGA81

    Caribbean leaders renew calls for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in UN system at UNGA81

    Amid the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) underway in Manhattan, New York, a bloc of Caribbean diplomatic allies of Taiwan have once again thrown their weight behind calls for the island’s meaningful inclusion in the UN system, bringing the long-contested cross-Strait issue back to the center of global diplomatic debate.

    Taiwan has remained locked out of UN bodies and most formal international mechanisms for decades due to firm opposition from the People’s Republic of China, which asserts the island as an inalienable part of its territory. Despite this exclusion, the self-governing island has repeatedly sought to contribute its technological capacity, public health expertise, and other resources to collective global action, according to its supporters.

    Speaking during the General Assembly’s general debate, Geoffrey Hanley, Deputy Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, reaffirmed his nation’s unwavering commitment to its diplomatic partnership with Taiwan and its backing for the island’s meaningful participation across the international community. Hanley recalled that earlier in 2026, St. Kitts and Nevis joined other like-minded nations in supporting Taiwan’s bid to participate as an observer in the 79th World Health Assembly. He added that the Caribbean nation would continue to advocate for Taiwan’s inclusion in the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and other relevant UN-affiliated mechanisms, while noting that all disputes across the Taiwan Strait must be resolved through peaceful means.

    Philippe Pierre, Prime Minister of St. Lucia, used his address to the assembly to go a step further, stating his country’s explicit support for Taiwan’s full membership in the United Nations. Pierre framed his position as part of a broader push for comprehensive UN reform, arguing that any truly inclusive global body must ensure its decision-making structures accurately reflect the full diversity of the world it exists to serve. He noted that structural reforms, including an overhaul of the UN Security Council, are needed to boost the body’s legitimacy and effectiveness in tackling pressing global challenges and rebuild public trust in multilateral governance.

    For St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Godwin Friday anchored his support in the 45-year history of formal diplomatic ties and people-centered cooperation between his country and Taiwan. “I wish in this August body to recognize our country’s 45 years of diplomatic ties and friendship with Taiwan that has seen us work together in development, in disaster response, education and in public health,” Friday told the gathered leaders. He emphasized that Taiwan has consistently demonstrated that it is ready to act as a responsible stakeholder in the global order, and renewed his call for the island’s inclusion in the UN system and its specialized agencies.

    Belize Prime Minister John Briceño echoed these calls, tying the push for Taiwan’s participation to a broader argument about the importance of centering the voices of small and mid-sized states in global problem-solving. “We hold no illusion that a small state can resolve these crises, but smallness does not relieve us of the duty to speak or voice joins every call for the protection of civilians, for accountability and for the diplomacy,” Briceño said. He reaffirmed that open diplomatic engagement remains an essential foundation for securing lasting, durable peace across all global hotspots.

  • Rechterlijke macht krijgt versterking met benoeming vijftien nieuwe leden

    Rechterlijke macht krijgt versterking met benoeming vijftien nieuwe leden

    On September 28, President Jennifer Simons formally swore in 15 individuals as deputy members of the Court of Justice of Suriname during an official appointment ceremony held at the Presidential Palace at 10:00 a.m. local time. According to reporting from local outlet Starnieuws, a secondary swearing-in ceremony will be led by Court President Iwan Rasoelbaks in early October, ahead of the new judicial sitting year that kicks off the same month. The newly appointed deputy judges will immediately begin taking on casework once the new sitting term opens.

    Official documents from the Ministry of Justice and Security of Suriname confirm that the 15 nominees received formal endorsement for their positions as early as March 30, 2026, when the ministry submitted the recommendation to the national government. The 15 newly appointed deputy judges are: Cherida R. Tamsiran-Harris, Genaro L.E. Alpin, Kajal Tahdil, Olton J. Helstone, Vanessa A. Akaamba, Anushka A. Bajnath, Julio Amatoemar, Nathaly N. Amatkarijo, Maytrie Behari, Grasila A.T.T. Sitaram, Shusant R. Mohan, Latoya S. Rozenblad, Stéphanie M. Doelbakir-Kent, Charisma N. Voorburg-Blank, and Negesty Winter.

    This expansion of judicial personnel comes after years of sustained advocacy from the Court of Justice for increased capacity to address growing caseloads. At the opening of the 2025-2026 sitting year, court leadership reported that the institution operated with only 31 active judges to handle all incoming civil and criminal matters, supported by a staff of more than 270 administrative and operational personnel. Court leadership has long prioritized improving the timeliness and accessibility of judicial services for the public, a goal that has been held back by persistent understaffing, making the arrival of a new cohort of judges a critical milestone for the institution.

    The current expansion is the culmination of a multi-year judicial workforce development initiative launched several years ago. Back in January 2023, when the three-year RAIO civil judicial training program opened, 15 candidates were selected out of 75 total applicants to join the training pipeline. At that time, Rasoelbaks projected that after the cohort completed their training, the total number of active judges at the court could rise to 46, accounting for the 15 new additions. He also noted at the time that the final net increase would depend on expected outgoing personnel, most notably judges retiring from service.

    The addition of 15 newly trained deputy judges represents a significant long-awaited boost to the court’s operational capacity, though questions remain about how many additional active judges will ultimately be available for casework after accounting for impending retirements and other personnel departures. Court leadership and justice sector stakeholders have welcomed the appointment as a key step toward reducing case backlogs and improving access to justice for Surinamese citizens.

  • PMO denies reports of Barbados UNGA walkout

    PMO denies reports of Barbados UNGA walkout

    In the wake of widespread international media reports claiming that Barbados was among the roughly 70 nations that staged a walkout or skipped the United Nations General Assembly session when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his keynote address last Thursday, the Office of the Prime Minister of Barbados has issued an official rebuttal setting the record straight.

    Many global news organizations had claimed that Barbados, alongside a number of other Caribbean nations, joined the coordinated absence to protest ongoing Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, which have drawn sharp international criticism in recent months. The walkout was framed as a collective stand against the humanitarian impact of Israel’s campaign in the region.

    But in a formal public statement released on Sunday, the Barbados Prime Minister’s Office pushed back against these accounts. The statement confirmed that the entire Barbadian delegation, including sitting Prime Minister Mia Mottley, stayed in their seats throughout Netanyahu’s address. Rather than joining the walkout, the delegation was using the time to put the final touches on Mottley’s own address to the UNGA, which the prime minister delivered later that same Thursday afternoon.

    The statement also noted that Mottley’s speech to the assembly explicitly laid out Barbados’s formal stance on not only the current active conflict in Gaza, but also the decades-long, unresolved Arab-Israeli dispute that has shaped regional and global politics for generations. No further details on the content of that stance were included in the Prime Minister’s Office rebuttal.

  • Bouva bespreekt met Cuba samenwerking landbouw en zonne-energie

    Bouva bespreekt met Cuba samenwerking landbouw en zonne-energie

    On the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, top diplomatic officials from Suriname and Cuba have held a high-stakes bilateral meeting focused on unlocking new avenues for deepened cross-national cooperation across critical priority sectors. The gathering brought together Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation Melvin Bouva and his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, to review long-standing ties between the two nations and map out future areas of collaboration.

    Minister Bouva opened the discussion by expressing sincere appreciation for the decades-long partnership between Suriname and Cuba, highlighting the tangible contributions the alliance has already delivered to both peoples. He specifically cited the critical work of Cuban professional experts deployed to Suriname over the years, as well as the ongoing educational opportunities that Cuban institutions extend to Surinamese students seeking advanced training.

    Building on this foundation of collaboration, Bouva put forward a proposal to expand joint work in the agricultural sector, with a core focus on skills training, cross-border knowledge sharing, and joint efforts to strengthen regional food security. The two ministers also turned their attention to pressing energy challenges, with Rodríguez updating his Surinamese counterpart on the ongoing economic and energy difficulties that Cuba currently faces, including the tangible impacts these hardships have on the daily lives of ordinary Cuban citizens. Amid this discussion, the pair explored potential cooperation in the solar energy space, a growing renewable sector that could help both nations advance their sustainability and energy security goals.

    As Bouva currently serves as Chair of the CARICOM Council of Foreign Ministers, he also used the meeting to raise shared regional concerns regarding the situation of the Cuban people, and called for targeted attention to the needs of CARICOM-region students currently residing and studying in Cuba. Bouva emphasized that peaceful diplomatic dialogue remains the foundational path to advancing solutions that deliver tangible benefits to all communities across the Caribbean, and reiterated the region’s commitment to constructive engagement.

    Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining open, regular communication and will continue mapping additional areas for expanded collaboration. All future joint work will be rooted in a shared goal: delivering concrete, meaningful benefits to the populations of both Suriname and Cuba.

  • VOICE NOTE: PM Browne Calls Prison Voice Recording ‘Chilling’ as He Pushes Tougher Sentences

    VOICE NOTE: PM Browne Calls Prison Voice Recording ‘Chilling’ as He Pushes Tougher Sentences

    Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has doubled down on his push for stricter mandatory minimum sentences for gun-related offenses, saying a recently circulated voice recording allegedly captured from prison inmates has only reinforced his belief that current sentencing practices are far too lenient.

    Speaking during an appearance on the Pointe FM current affairs program *Browne and Browne Show* this past Saturday, Browne characterized the leaked audio as deeply disturbing, describing it as both “chilling” and “horrifying.” According to his account of the recording, the individuals speaking on the tape openly discussed waiting out their short current prison sentences before immediately returning to violent criminal activity once released.

    Browne used the emergence of this recording to bolster his argument that the Caribbean nation’s criminal justice system is failing to curb gun violence by allowing dangerous offenders to return to the streets far too quickly after sentencing. He confirmed that his administration is preparing to table new legislation in national Parliament that will formalize mandatory minimum prison sentences for all gun-related crimes, a move that comes amid open criticism from the prime minister of what he views as consistently lenient sentencing decisions handed down by the country’s judicial branch.

    In a nod to the need for a holistic approach to curbing youth violence, Browne stressed that harsher prison sentences alone will not solve the nation’s growing gun crime crisis. He issued a public call for collective action, urging parents, faith institutions including churches, local business owners, and community-based organizations to collaborate on efforts to guide at-risk young people away from cycles of violence and criminal activity before they become involved in serious offenses.

    Notably, Browne did not disclose key details about the recording during his broadcast: he declined to name the speakers alleged to be on the audio, and provided no verifiable evidence confirming when or where the recording was captured. To date, neither the origin of the recording nor the identities of the people purported to be speaking on it have undergone independent verification by third-party outlets or investigators.

  • Abinader accepts William Paterson University’s Presidential Meda

    Abinader accepts William Paterson University’s Presidential Meda

    In a formal ceremony held on the campus of William Paterson University in New Jersey, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader was awarded the institution’s Presidential Medal, the highest honor the university bestows on distinguished public figures. First Lady of the Dominican Republic Raquel Arbaje accompanied President Abinader for the honorary event.

    Dr. Richard J. Helldobler, president of William Paterson University, opened the ceremony by outlining the rationale for the recognition. He explained that the medal celebrates Abinader’s decisive leadership and unwavering dedication to serving Dominican communities both at home and across the globe, including thousands of Dominican people holding dual citizenship in the United States.

    Helldobler went on to detail the breadth of progress the Abinader administration has delivered across multiple critical policy sectors. He called out specific advances, from strengthening institutional transparency and boosting national citizen security to advancing a national energy transition and expanding digital transformation across the country. The university president also highlighted progress in upgrading urban mobility infrastructure, expanding universal access to clean drinking water, modernizing the national electrical grid, and ramping up environmental protection initiatives. Beyond domestic policy, he noted the Dominican Republic has emerged as an increasingly attractive destination for foreign direct investment, expanded women’s equal access and participation in the national labor market, and achieved a robust, inclusive economic recovery in the years following the global COVID-19 pandemic.

    Helldobler also emphasized the deep, long-standing ties between William Paterson University and the large Dominican community rooted in New Jersey, noting the institution has built sustained collaborative partnerships with a range of Dominican educational, cultural and governmental organizations and leaders over decades.

    After accepting the medal, Abinader addressed the assembled audience, framing the honor not as a final recognition but as a renewed commitment to upholding the core governance principles that have defined his administration: efficiency, honesty, and full transparency in public office.

    A central focus of Abinader’s remarks centered on strengthening democratic governance in the Dominican Republic. He identified the consolidation of democratic institutions as the defining legacy of his time in office, and stressed the critical importance of placing clear limits on presidential reelection to safeguard democratic stability.

    Abinader explained that despite winning reelection in the 2024 general election and securing a governing majority in the national congress – a political alignment that could have allowed his administration to pursue constitutional changes to open the door for additional presidential terms beyond current limits – his administration instead backed reforms that make it harder to amend the constitution to extend executive term limits.

    Reiterating his long-held stance, the president emphasized that peaceful, regular alternation of power is a non-negotiable foundation of any healthy democracy. He confirmed once again that he will step down from office and leave power peacefully when his current second term concludes in 2028, honoring the country’s constitutional term limits.

    Abinader also used the occasion to highlight another upcoming milestone for the Dominican nation: the country is set to receive official United Nations Zero Hunger certification on October 12, an achievement he called a transformative win for the country’s development and commitment to ending food insecurity.

    Closing his remarks, Abinader expressed profound pride in the vibrant Dominican community based in New Jersey and across the United States. He urged all Dominicans living abroad to carry forward the country’s positive reputation through their daily work and actions, serving as cultural and civic ambassadors for their home nation.

  • Davis urges stronger Africa-Caribbean economic ties

    Davis urges stronger Africa-Caribbean economic ties

    During the Diaspora and Friends of South Africa Roundtable held in New York, Bahamas Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis has issued a clarion call for African and Caribbean nations to take greater ownership of the critical infrastructure that powers the movement of people, capital and data across both regions. Davis argues that self-owned infrastructure is the foundation of long-term economic sovereignty, pushing for targeted investment in cross-regional assets including data centers, digital payment platforms, air connectivity and integrated trade corridors that would link African economies to each other and the Caribbean.

    In his address, Davis drew a clear distinction between remittances and strategic investment, noting: “Remittance is love. Investment is power. Love keeps a family alive. Power keeps a nation free.” He went on to position The Bahamas as a strategic hub connecting Africa, the Caribbean and the broader Americas, highlighting untapped investment opportunities across key sectors including food security, renewable energy development, financial technology (fintech), manufacturing and logistics. “Let The Bahamas be your gateway to the Caribbean and the Americas,” he invited attendees.

    Davis acknowledged that despite deep shared historical and cultural ties between Africa and the Caribbean, tangible practical and economic connections between the two regions remain woefully underdeveloped. Reflecting on The Bahamas’ own historical economic orientation, he noted: “For most of our life as an independent nation, The Bahamas has looked north. North for our visitors, our capital, our markets and our banks. There were good reasons. But in looking north for so long, we forgot to look east, towards the land our ancestors came from.”

    The Prime Minister openly admitted that his administration still faces work to deepen these cross-regional ties, pointing to the significant barriers that currently complicate travel between The Bahamas and South Africa as one clear example. Rather than framing these gaps as insurmountable challenges, Davis reframed them as high-potential economic opportunities for forward-thinking investors.

    He outlined key structural inequities holding back both regions: Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most expensive region globally for sending remittances, and cross-border payments between Caribbean and African businesses are almost always routed through third-party financial institutions in other parts of the world. On the digital infrastructure front, he highlighted a staggering gap: Africa is home to nearly 20 percent of the global population but holds less than 1 percent of the world’s total data center capacity.

    “Digital sovereignty means deciding where our data lives, who may use it and on what terms,” Davis said. “It means sharing in the value it creates. It means entering the digital age as owners, not only as users.”

    Turning to The Bahamas’ own investment landscape, Davis outlined two key priority areas for international partnership: The country currently imports approximately 90 percent of its food supply, creating opening for local agricultural and food processing investment, and it has set a target to generate 30 percent of its total electricity from renewable sources by 2030. He also highlighted The Bahamas’ growing fintech and digital sectors, as well as the competitive advantages offered by Grand Bahama’s free trade zone and deep-water port.

    Davis pointed to the growing partnership between The Bahamas government and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) as a blueprint for future cross-regional collaboration. In February 2025, The Bahamas signed a $200 million framework agreement with Afreximbank to develop climate-resilient infrastructure, and the bank has recently expanded its financing ceiling for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) from $3 billion to $5 billion. “African capital is building Caribbean resilience, and earning a return doing it,” Davis said. “Solidarity is not a speech. Solidarity is a balance sheet.”

    Looking back to historical ties between The Bahamas and anti-apartheid movement, Davis invoked the 1985 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Nassau, where global leaders adopted the landmark Nassau Accord calling for coordinated international action against apartheid in South Africa. He also recalled Nelson Mandela’s historic visit to The Bahamas following his release from prison. For the current generation of leaders, Davis argued, the core challenge is advancing economic and digital sovereignty for both regions. “In 1985, The Bahamas chose South Africa’s freedom,” Davis said. “In 2026, let Africa and the Caribbean choose each other.”