Carib Scope

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  • All Eyes on PUP Convention as Allan Pollard Joins Mayoral Race

    All Eyes on PUP Convention as Allan Pollard Joins Mayoral Race

    Belize City politics is entering a new, charged phase as sitting councilor Allan Pollard Jr. has formally thrown his hat into the ring for the 2026 mayoral race, transforming years of quiet ambition into an active, public campaign ahead of the People’s United Party (PUP) nominating convention.

    After being urged to wait his turn for a mayoral run back in 2023, Pollard opted not to stand down this cycle. On June 17, 2026, he filed his official candidacy paperwork surrounded by a large crowd of grassroots supporters, marking a clear break from his past posture of patient waiting and a full commitment to competing for Belize City’s highest municipal office.

    “I am formally submitting my application to become the next mayor of Belize City to support and represent the beautiful people of Belize City and the party,” Pollard told reporters on the day of his filing. When asked about the impressive show of public support that turned out for his announcement, he framed the turnout as organic goodwill from backers. “I asked family and friends to come, but you can’t tell people to come but you can’t tell people you can’t come. So they came out and support and this is all love. Convention day you will see the full extent of that support.”

    Pollard’s entry sets up a head-to-head battle for the PUP nomination at the upcoming convention against fellow sitting councilor Eluide Miller, who submitted his own candidacy the previous week. While Miller’s filing was backed by seven sitting fellow councilors, he has not drawn the same size of public grassroots turnout as Pollard saw at his announcement.

    The competitive tension of the race has already spilled into public view, with sharp criticism coming from Pollard’s father, veteran political figure Allan “Duck” Pollard Sr. He did not mince words when addressing the bloc of councilors backing Miller, calling the group “a bunch of snakes” and arguing that his son’s straightforward integrity set him apart from the bloc. “My son is too straight for those bunch of snakes. All of them is a snake, because my son put out his head for one of the councilors and the minute he get elected he turned on him,” Pollard Sr. said, adding that Miller’s support comes from political insiders rather than ordinary residents. “Miller, Miller you father-in-law wah endorse you? Dah the people, this dah the people you know, dah the people.”

    Many of Pollard Jr.’s supporters in the crowd echoed anti-establishment sentiment, chanting that they reject what they referred to as “a Wagner enterprise” — a reference to incumbent Mayor Wagner, who has publicly backed Miller’s candidacy. When asked directly if he saw a conflict of interest in the familial ties between Wagner and Miller and the mayor’s endorsement, Pollard Jr. struck a more measured tone, emphasizing respect for the democratic process.

    “No man if we were suppose to frown on that we should have from the time he ran as a councilor and I don’t see any conflict there. I don’t see any now,” Pollard said. “The people have opposing views but that is their views and right. For me, I respect anybody that wants to run and I respect anybody who the mayor wants to support. The mayor cannot deny my capabilities or myself as a candidate.”

    Pollard’s electoral track record gives his candidacy undeniable credibility. In both the 2021 and 2024 municipal elections, he earned more votes than any of his fellow councilors — even outperforming incumbent Mayor Wagner at the polls. That proven popularity with voters has positioned him as a formidable challenger to Miller for the nomination.

    Looking ahead to the lead-up to the convention and the general election, Pollard says he plans to spend the next nine months engaging directly with Belize City residents, crafting a policy platform that addresses local needs, and building on his existing grassroots support to win the nomination and, ultimately, the mayoral office. The deadline for all candidates to file their nomination papers is Friday, meaning all contenders for the PUP mayoral nomination will be confirmed by the end of the week.

    This report was compiled from original on-the-ground reporting by Paul Lopez for News Five.

  • Are Belize’s Watchdogs Being Held Back?

    Are Belize’s Watchdogs Being Held Back?

    A high-stakes legal battle unfolding in Belize has thrust the country’s system of government oversight into the public eye, raising urgent questions about whether key accountability institutions are able to operate free from political interference. The case, brought by retired Major Gilbert Swaso against the Belizean government, is far more than a routine legal dispute: it serves as a real-world test of how effectively the nation’s watchdog bodies actually fulfill their mandated role of checking government power.

    At the core of the legal challenge lies a fundamental, long-simmering question for Belize’s democratic governance: are these oversight bodies granted the independent authority they need to operate, or are systemic constraints holding them back from holding public officials accountable? As the courtroom proceedings progress, the dispute has already reignited a nationwide debate over governmental transparency, public trust, and whether the accountability safeguards designed to protect ordinary Belizeans are living up to their purpose.

    Tracy Panton, leader of the opposition United Democratic Party, has emphasized that the outcome of this case carries profound consequences for the future of Belize’s democratic institutions. In comments reported from an evening television news broadcast, Panton argued that optimal performance of oversight mechanisms is non-negotiable to preserve public trust in Belize’s governance structure. Without fully functional, independent watchdogs, she said, Belizeans lose the ability to have their concerns addressed on issues that shape their daily lives.

    Panton pointed to a rapid erosion of public confidence in Belize’s public institutions, a trend she attributes directly to the failure of oversight bodies to operate independently in the public interest. Key watchdog bodies including the Ombudsman’s Office, the Contractor General, the Integrity Commission, the Joint Public Accounts Committee, and the Auditor General’s Office all require meaningful autonomy to carry out their statutory duties, Panton noted. Only when these bodies can operate within the legal frameworks that govern their roles can ordinary Belizeans guarantee direct access to accountability and redress for grievances, she added.

    The opposition leader’s remarks reinforce the broader stakes of the ongoing legal fight: without strong, unhampered oversight institutions in place, Panton warned, Belizeans stand to lose confidence in the very systems established to protect their rights and interests. As the court process continues, the national conversation over watchdog independence is only expected to intensify, with the outcome set to shape public trust in Belize’s governance for years to come.

  • Did Savings Undermine the Coastal Plain Highway?

    Did Savings Undermine the Coastal Plain Highway?

    Recent severe flooding has left critical stretches of Belize’s flagship Coastal Plain Highway damaged, thrusting the years-long contentious infrastructure project back into the center of national political debate. The multi-million-dollar roadway, one of the largest public works initiatives in the country’s history, was originally planned, designed, and contracted under the previous United Democratic Party (UDP) administration, before being finalized and opened under the current People’s United Party (PUP) government. Conceived to improve inter-regional connectivity and stand up to extreme weather, the highway’s early structural damage following the flood has sparked sharp questions about whether reckless cost-cutting measures sacrificed long-term durability for short-term budget savings.

    Leading the charge against the current administration’s handling of the project is UDP leader Tracy Panton, who is pushing back on claims that the PUP inherited an overpriced contract from the previous government. In comments delivered during an evening news broadcast, Panton argued that the original UDP design intentionally included extra structural reinforcements and climate-resilient features to prepare the highway for shifting global weather patterns and increasingly frequent severe natural disasters that place heavy strain on Belize’s public infrastructure.

    Panton took direct aim at PUP’s Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing Julius Espat, who he says mounted a public relations campaign claiming the original UDP contract was bloated and inflated, cutting $28 million from the project to deliver short-term budget savings. “They have bragged repeatedly about cutting tens of millions in costs, but what looks like a win on a balance sheet today is going to cost taxpayers far more in the long run,” Panton said. “This is not an isolated incident. The Coastal Plain Highway has already required repairs at least three times since it was completed, all because the current government stripped out critical durability measures to score political points against the UDP’s record of good governance.”

    Panton emphasized that the latest flood damage proves her core argument: any short-term fiscal savings from cutting structural requirements will ultimately be dwarfed by the cumulative cost of repeated repairs. She questioned who actually benefits from the rushed cost-cutting, pointing out that it is ordinary Belizean drivers and taxpayers who will bear the burden of ongoing repair bills and unsafe road conditions. As of publication, the PUP government has not issued an official response to Panton’s accusations, and the full scope of the latest flood damage to the highway is still being assessed by public works officials.

  • Bradley Says Mira’s Case Doesn’t Meet Cyberbullying Threshold

    Bradley Says Mira’s Case Doesn’t Meet Cyberbullying Threshold

    A high-stakes cyberbullying complaint filed by a senior government minister is facing growing legal scrutiny, as a prominent local attorney argues the case fails to clear even the most basic threshold outlined in the nation’s cybercrime legislation, igniting fresh debate over how anti-cyberbullying laws could be misused to target political speech.

    The case centers on Oscar Mira, Belize’s Minister of Home Affairs, who filed a cyberbullying claim against Alberto August, former chairman of the opposition United Democratic Party. In an interview with local media, veteran defense attorney Dickie Bradley offered a detailed breakdown of why the case lacks legal merit, challenging the framing of the political content at the heart of the dispute as criminal cyberbullying.

    Bradley explained that the nation’s Cybercrime Act was crafted specifically to address severe, harmful online conduct: targeted harassment, non-consensual distribution of revenge pornography, and sharing explicit, obscene content intended to inflict substantial emotional harm on a victim. By design, he noted, the law does not extend to political satire, memes, or criticism targeting public officials — content that falls under the umbrella of protected political debate in democratic contexts.

    To secure a cyberbullying conviction under the current legislation, Bradley outlined, the content in question must meet a strict set of criteria: it must be obscene, lewd, indecent, or profane, and transmitted with the explicit intent to humiliate, harass, or cause severe emotional distress. It must also either subject the complainant to public hatred, contempt or embarrassment, or be sent repeatedly as part of a sustained campaign of abuse. Bradley emphasized that the political content in August’s posts does not clear this first, fundamental threshold, as it does not include the explicit or obscene material the law requires to open a cyberbullying case.

    Bradley also pointed to wider context around the political dispute, noting that the social media content at issue references a months-old statement Mira made about two Black individuals involved in criminal activity, and that the minister has remained silent on a recent high-profile, community-outrage killing of a well-loved local doctor. Far from meeting the legal definition of cyberbullying, Bradley said, the case amounts to a political disagreement over public commentary that does not belong in criminal court.

    Beyond questioning the legal standing of the complaint, Bradley warned that moving forward with the case would backfire badly for Mira. If the minister proceeds with the legal action, Bradley argued, he will ultimately be the one left in an uncomfortable, damaging public spotlight, and will suffer damage to his reputation when the case is thrown out. Instead of pursuing the claim, Bradley advised Mira to drop the matter entirely, refocus his attention on critical policy priorities — including ongoing work overseeing food supply regulation for produce and meat, which falls under his ministerial portfolio — rather than wasting public time and resources on what Bradley called “nonsense.”

    This report is adapted from a transcript of a broadcast evening news segment, transcribed for online distribution.

  • Frontline Officers Celebrated as Police Week Roars Back to Life

    Frontline Officers Celebrated as Police Week Roars Back to Life

    After a four-year pause brought by unstated global disruptions, one of Belize’s most cherished public service traditions is making a long-awaited comeback: Police Week, a dedicated occasion to celebrate the courage and commitment of the nation’s frontline law enforcement officers. On June 17, 2026, more than 300 serving police personnel stepped into the national spotlight to receive formal recognition for their years of service, with a range of awards marking ten, fifteen, twenty, and even 30 years of unbroken dedication to the Belizean people. Many attendees also earned well-deserved promotions, honoring their outstanding work that often extends far beyond the core requirements of their roles.

    For a profession that frequently operates behind the scenes, with sacrifices that often go unacknowledged by the general public, this resurrected ceremony carries far more weight than a simple celebratory event. It serves as a formal gesture of national gratitude, and a pivotal milestone for the future of policing across the country.

    In interviews on the sidelines of the ceremony, Belize’s Minister of Home Affairs Oscar Mira emphasized the profound challenges that come with law enforcement work in the country. “Today is about the police officers who are on the parade square,” Mira stated. “Many of them received awards, some for ten, fifteen, twenty, up to thirty years of dedicated service to our country. Some promotions as well. This is Police Week, and we are honoring police officers who go beyond what is the call of duty. It is not an easy job to do and a very unforgiving job at that.”

    Belize Police Commissioner Dr. Richard Rosado shared that the previous official medal and award ceremony was held back in September 2022, making this revival a particularly meaningful moment for the force. As the nation’s top law enforcement official, Rosado expressed deep satisfaction at being able to formally recognize the contributions of serving officers. “We are in the middle of Police Week and this is one of our highlights today,” he explained. “I am pleased to recognize our dedicated officers for their years of service, commitment and their excellence in service. So, it is truly a good feeling to be able to recognize them as the Commissioner of Police.”

    This report is an excerpt from a broadcast evening newscast, with full extended coverage of the Police Week ceremony set to air during Thursday night’s scheduled television program. Viewers can access the full unedited broadcast via the link included in the original online publication.

  • Greenidge concedes misstep after criticism over refusal to reveal BiMPay cost

    Greenidge concedes misstep after criticism over refusal to reveal BiMPay cost

    Barbados’ top banking official has issued a public apology for brushing off a reporter’s transparency question, finally releasing the first-phase cost figures for the country’s newly launched national instant payment platform BiMPay.

    Central Bank Governor Dr. Kevin Greenidge released an official video statement Wednesday acknowledging his inappropriate response to a journalist’s cost inquiry at a Monday post-launch press conference. At that earlier event, the governor sparked widespread public criticism when he dismissed the question, telling the reporter the cost did not matter and directing them to find embedded figures in existing financial reports rather than providing a direct answer.

    In his Wednesday address, Greenidge took accountability for the misstep, noting the public has a clear right to know how taxpayer-funded public resources are allocated. “A reporter asked me a fair question on the cost of BiMPay, and I should have answered it directly. There is no place for making light of a question like that, and no place for seeming dismissive of the public’s right to know how public resources are being used,” he said.

    The governor extended his apology first to the reporter, who he noted was only carrying out their professional duties, and then to all members of the public who perceived his response as disrespectful, evasive, or unwilling to meet accountability standards. He clarified he never intended to hide information, but acknowledged that his phrasing came across as non-transparent to audiences.

    Greenidge explained his initial hesitation stemmed from a desire to avoid out-of-context discussion of a single cost figure without context on what the spending covered, but emphasized this was not a justification for his evasiveness. He then released the official figures: the entire first-phase payment infrastructure for BiMPay, which launched last Friday, has so far cost approximately $6.7 million, coming in well under the $10 million approved total budget for the phase.

    “You cannot hide expenditure of this kind in public financial reporting to which I have referred. The Central Bank has always been prepared to explain clearly what has been spent, why it has been spent, and what Barbados has been receiving for it,” he added, noting that full final cost figures will be published once remaining works are completed and reconciled through standard public financial processes.

    BiMPay, the Caribbean nation’s first real-time domestic payment system, allows instant, secure money transfers between commercial banks and credit unions 24 hours a day. Early data from the Central Bank shows the platform processed 20,000 transactions totaling nearly $8 million in its first 48 hours of operation.

    Greenidge highlighted the system’s core public benefits, noting it reduces overall business costs: individual users pay no transaction fees, and fee caps have been put in place to protect micro and small businesses. He also addressed early user frustrations with token access, account registration, multi-account linking, and in-app performance, confirming the Central Bank is collaborating closely with participating financial institutions to resolve these growing pains quickly.

    The governor emphasized that public trust is foundational to the success of this major national digital infrastructure initiative, and reaffirmed his longstanding commitment to transparent communication of financial and economic issues to the Barbadian public, pointing to his years of public educational explainer series on complex topics. He closed by promising continued full accountability to citizens and collaborative work to ensure BiMPay delivers maximum public benefit.

  • Haiti’s Prime Minister engages in dialogue with the Voodoo sector

    Haiti’s Prime Minister engages in dialogue with the Voodoo sector

    In a landmark step toward national unity amid Haiti’s ongoing security and political crisis, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé convened a high-stakes dialogue with leaders of the country’s Voodoo community on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. The meeting, held at the prime minister’s initiative, included Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs Minister Raina Forbin alongside the Voodoo delegation, centering talks on three urgent national priorities: ending widespread insecurity, consolidating fractured national unity, and advancing lasting reconciliation.

    This historic gathering marks a significant shift in the Haitian government’s approach to inclusive governance, as officials have explicitly recognized Voodoo community leaders as key national stakeholders critical to stabilizing the country. For decades, the Voodoo tradition—one of Haiti’s most widely practiced faiths, deeply intertwined with the nation’s cultural and social fabric—has been marginalized in formal political processes. This meeting signals the administration’s commitment to expanding cross-sector consultations to lay the groundwork for what it calls credible, inclusive, and secure national elections, a long-delayed goal that remains central to restoring democratic governance to the Caribbean nation.

    During the closed-door discussions, Prime Minister Fils-Aimé outlined the executive branch’s roadmap to address Haiti’s acute security challenges, which have displaced hundreds of thousands and paralyzed state functions in recent years. The administration’s plan focuses on three core pillars: gradually expanding the operational capacity of national law enforcement agencies, improving coordination between overlapping security institutions, and mobilizing all available state resources to restore consistent security across every region of the country. Beyond immediate security action, attendees emphasized that long-term stability can only be achieved through open, inclusive dialogue across all segments of Haitian society, a process designed to strengthen social cohesion, expand access to justice, and repair deep divisions that have fueled conflict.

    A core theme of the talks centered on centering victims of gang violence and political unrest in all national reconstruction and peacebuilding efforts. Participants across both delegations agreed that any lasting peace must be rooted in public truth-telling, accountability for perpetrators of violence, and mutual respect between all cultural, religious, and political groups in the country.

    For their part, Voodoo community representatives reaffirmed their willingness to contribute to national recovery efforts, leveraging the faith’s deep roots in local communities to lead social mediation, resolve intercommunal tensions, and expand grassroots outreach to advance peacebuilding. Voodoo leaders have a long history of informal conflict resolution in rural and urban Haitian communities, a resource the government now hopes to formalize as part of its national stabilization strategy.

    By the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reached a concrete agreement to establish a permanent monitoring and coordination mechanism. This body will ensure the dialogue continues beyond the initial gathering and will oversee the implementation of all joint recommendations agreed upon during the talks, creating a sustained channel for collaboration between the government and the Voodoo sector moving forward.

  • Oscar Mira Finally Speaks to the Media on Allegations

    Oscar Mira Finally Speaks to the Media on Allegations

    After weeks of public silence and growing public pressure, Home Affairs Minister Oscar Mira has addressed long-circulating allegations that his close relatives secured millions of dollars in unfair, improperly awarded government contracts. The high-profile controversy has raised significant questions about ethical governance and transparency in public procurement, prompting the minister’s first on-the-record response to the claims.

    Mira, who had been unavailable for media comment for multiple weeks, pushed back against claims of personal involvement in the controversial contract awards. He emphasized that all public procurement committees are formally administered and overseen by the Ministry of Finance, not individual cabinet ministers, and stated he has never held a seat on any such committee — nor has he ever attempted to interfere in their decision-making processes.

    “All open tenders are publicly advertised in national newspapers,” Mira explained to reporters. “Any eligible interested party can submit an application and complete the required processes to bid. Those bids then go through a lengthy, formal evaluation process. I had no decision-making authority, and I was never part of any of these committees.” He stressed that any contracts awarded to members of his family were secured through independent, legitimate processes, with no input or influence from him at any stage.
    When questioned about reports that contract payments were deliberately structured to stay below a $10,000 reporting threshold — a tactic that would allow the deals to bypass formal Treasury oversight, and a common red flag for potential financial misconduct — Mira did not dismiss the validity of public concern. “I do not think that anyone wouldn’t be concerned,” he acknowledged. “But was anything illegally done? I do not know.”
    The minister admitted that even without proven wrongdoing, the situation creates an unflattering public perception that erodes trust. “I believe that it is probably something that, in every crisis, you learn from, and I myself am trying to make sure that I learn from this,” he said.

    Throughout his first media briefing on the controversy, Mira repeatedly clarified the scope of his role as Home Affairs Minister, noting his portfolio is focused exclusively on broad policy development and daily ministry operations, not financial management or public procurement. He reiterated that he has never served on a procurement committee during his tenure in any government ministry. Full additional details of the briefing and on-the-record comments will be broadcast in a special segment on News 5 Live at 6 p.m. this evening.

  • OAS verwerpt beschuldigingen aan adres van secretaris-generaal Ramdin

    OAS verwerpt beschuldigingen aan adres van secretaris-generaal Ramdin

    The Organization of American States (OAS) has issued an official statement pushing back against recent public allegations targeting Secretary-General Albert Ramdin, which center on claims of mismanaged finances and nepotism in senior appointments. The intergovernmental body has categorically dismissed the accusations as baseless, noting they do not align with findings from the organization’s existing internal oversight frameworks.

    Ramdin made history when he was unanimously voted into the role of OAS Secretary-General in March 2025, becoming the first holder of the position to come from the Caribbean Community (Caricom). The OAS emphasized in its statement that Ramdin has carried out all his official duties in full compliance with the OAS Charter and the organization’s established rules and operating procedures. It also reminded stakeholders that all member states are legally bound by the charter to uphold the institutional independence of the Secretary-General and the broader Secretariat staff.

    To clarify institutional responsibilities, the OAS underlined that day-to-day oversight of accounting, financial management, budget implementation and administrative processes falls under the remit of the OAS Executive Director, not the Secretary-General. Additionally, the entire Secretariat is subject to mandatory annual external independent audits, as well as regular internal reviews conducted by the Office of the Inspector General. As of the completion of Ramdin’s first year in office, no evidence of financial irregularities has been documented, the organization confirmed. Until the Inspector General’s office releases formal, substantiated findings, claims of financial mismanagement remain unsubstantiated and politically motivated speculation, the statement added.

    Allegations of nepotism connected to the appointment of Ramdin’s chief of staff were also outright rejected. The OAS clarified that internal rules explicitly grant the Secretary-General authority to make senior personnel appointments for his immediate office, and the hiring in question followed all required procedures. The organization also expressed regret that a sitting staff member has been subjected to unsubstantiated public attacks over the appointment.

    The statement further addressed concerns over staff compensation, confirming that all OAS employee salaries and benefits are not set arbitrarily. Instead, they follow a standardized pay structure approved by all member states that aligns with the United Nations’ common salary system, eliminating any room for improper favoritism in compensation.

    According to the OAS, Ramdin has repeatedly expressed his willingness to have any concerns reviewed through the organization’s official oversight channels. He has also stated he is fully open to a formal independent investigation if OAS member states collectively deem such a step necessary. The organization emphasized that full transparency is a core priority that serves the best interests of both the OAS and all its member nations.

    In the midst of the controversy, OAS leadership confirmed it remains focused on delivering its mandated core tasks and institutional programs, as well as finalizing preparations for the 56th OAS General Assembly, scheduled to be hosted in Panama City.

  • The total siege against Cuba

    The total siege against Cuba

    Written by Yadirys Echenique Paz, Cuba’s Ambassador to Grenada, this op-ed lays bare the coordinated, all-encompassing nature of Washington’s policy toward Cuba during Donald Trump’s second presidential term, framing it not as a collection of disconnected unilateral actions, but an intentional, systemic siege engineered to break the Cuban people, cripple the island’s economy, and coerce third nations into cutting their legitimate commercial and diplomatic ties with Havana.

    The data presented underscores the scope and intensity of this pressure campaign: over a mere 18-month period, the United States implemented 36 distinct coercive measures that cut across every core sector of Cuban activity, from finance and energy to migration, culture, international cooperation and diplomacy. Each new restriction acts as another link in a steadily tightening chain designed to economically strangle the island nation.

    In the financial domain, the January 20, 2025, re-listing of Cuba on the controversial, unilateral U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism roster artificially inflated the country’s sovereign risk profile and deterred much-needed tourism investment from European and Asian markets. Just 11 days later, on January 31, 2025, the Trump administration reactivated Title III of the decades-old Helms-Burton Act, a provision that enables U.S. citizens to file lawsuits against foreign companies that operate on property expropriated from U.S. owners by the Cuban government, creating widespread legal uncertainty that discourages international investment. The U.S. government’s February 6, 2025, addition of Cuban remittance firm Orbit S.A. to its list of restricted entities pushed global money transfer giant Western Union to halt all services to Cuba, cutting off a critical lifeline for millions of Cuban households that rely on family remittances for basic needs.

    The pressure campaign extended well beyond economic and financial levers, reaching into migration and cultural exchange. Between January and February 2025, Washington suspended humanitarian parole programs and entry visas for participants in academic, athletic, and scientific exchanges between the two countries. It also canceled planned bilateral migration talks scheduled for April 2025. Even youth and amateur sports delegations have been targeted: Cuba’s women’s national volleyball team was denied entry to a regional event on June 26, 2025, followed by a children’s baseball team from Cuba’s Pinar del Río province on July 13 that same year.

    In the area of international cooperation, the United States imposed visa restrictions in August 2025 on officials from African and Central American nations that participate in Cuban-led medical outreach programs, a move Ambassador Paz frames as a direct attack on Cuba’s longstanding culture of international medical solidarity that has brought free healthcare to millions of vulnerable people across the Global South.

    Energy security, a cornerstone of Cuba’s domestic stability, has also been a primary target. On January 29, 2026, the Trump administration authorized additional punitive tariffs on any country that supplies crude oil to Cuba, whether through direct or indirect trade routes. Two months later, on March 19, 2026, Cuba was explicitly excluded from U.S. licenses that allow third countries to trade in Russian crude oil, further cutting off the island’s access to critical energy supplies.

    Even diplomatic activity has not been spared. On April 18, 2025, the United States imposed new operational restrictions on Cuba’s embassy in Washington D.C. In September that same year, Cuban delegations were blocked from participating in official activities of the Pan American Health Organization, a regional United Nations agency, denying the country its right to participate in global public health governance.

    Ambassador Paz argues the overarching pattern of these actions leaves no room for doubt: this is a deliberate strategy of maximum pressure, extraterritorial coercion, and collective punishment against the entire Cuban population. This campaign is not rooted in legitimate political differences between the two governments, she emphasizes, but a deliberate strategy of economic strangulation designed to break the decades-long resistance of the Cuban people to U.S. interference.

    The February 21, 2026, inclusion of Cuba alongside major global powers including Venezuela, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and China on the U.S. roster of “foreign adversaries” further confirms Washington’s goal of total diplomatic and economic isolation of the island. In response to this designation, the ambassador poses a sharp rhetorical question: Who can reasonably claim that Cuba poses any genuine threat to the national security of the world’s largest military and economic power?

    In closing, the ambassador stresses that these cumulative measures are far more than routine targeted sanctions: they constitute a full-scale total blockade, an act of open economic warfare that directly violates core principles of international law and fundamental human rights. She calls on the global community to recognize that behind every bureaucratic restriction, every denied visa, and every punitive tariff, is an entire civilian population that suffers the consequences of U.S. policy, yet continues to stand firm in resistance.

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