Carib Scope

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  • BTL-Speednet Protest Divides Senate, Wade Stands Alone

    BTL-Speednet Protest Divides Senate, Wade Stands Alone

    A controversial debate has erupted across Belize’s political landscape following a high-stakes split in the Senate this week, after independent Church Senator Louis Wade broke ranks with fellow opposition and independent lawmakers to remain in the National Assembly chamber during a mass walkout protesting the proposed BTL-Speednet acquisition. The walkout, organized to demonstrate opposition to the buyout that critics warn would recreate a telecommunications monopoly in the country, left Wade isolated and facing sharp backlash, with some detractors even labeling him a political sellout. But the veteran senator has stood firmly by his unprecedented decision, arguing that his choice to stay allowed him to advance a long-stalled piece of pro-worker legislation that has waited nearly two decades for a Senate vote.

    In a public explanation of his decision, Wade emphasized that his primary obligation is to the Belizean people and the constituents he represents, not unified political protest tactics. The long-pending Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Bill, which had already advanced through 22 amendments with 46 still pending, provided a critical reason to remain, he argued. “I do not believe personally that walking out of a meeting where we represent not ourselves, but the people, would have been the best strategy yesterday,” Wade stated. “I believe that independent senators and the opposition has the right to use whatever strategy they believe is necessary to capture the attention of the Belizean people and government. However, I also believe I have the right to use whatever strategy I believe best that represents the church properly and can still get the same message across.”

    Wade made clear that he shares the widespread opposition to the BTL-Speednet deal, noting that the acquisition of Smart by BTL to form a new monopoly runs directly counter to the will of the Belizean people and undermines democratic market competition. “We have walked away from that [monopoly] and should never go back there,” he added. “So I felt it necessary to speak, rather than to walk out.”

    Despite Wade’s clarifications, key business stakeholders have backed the decision of the business-aligned senator who joined the walkout, doubling down on the view that the threat of a new telecommunications monopoly demands immediate political pushback that outweighs the urgency of the OSH Bill. Giacomo Sanchez, president of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), argued that the gravity of the BTL acquisition gives it higher priority than the decades-old safety legislation, which could withstand a short additional delay. “I think because of the gravity of the BTL acquisition, it ranks a bit higher in priority in terms of importance, at least at this point,” Sanchez explained. “The OSH Bill has been around for so long, we have been on pause for a while. So, we can pick up the pieces on that and ensure we get a good piece of legislation coming out of it.”

    Sanchez added that the spontaneous walkout was a necessary, immediate response to the controversial deal, saying “a walkout just suggest, or at least strikes to the heart of the opposition we have to this overall transaction.”

    In the end, the OSH Bill passed through the Senate on Tuesday without the votes of the six senators who participated in the walkout — three independents and three opposition lawmakers. The incident has ignited widespread public discussion over legislative priorities, protest tactics, and the risks of the proposed BTL-Speednet monopoly, with divisions remaining deep across political and business circles in the country.

  • PUP Convention Nears as Mayoral Contest Intensifies

    PUP Convention Nears as Mayoral Contest Intensifies

    As the countdown begins to the People’s United Party (PUP) internal convention scheduled for August 30, 2026, competition for the party’s Belize City mayoral nomination has entered a high-stakes final stretch, with two sitting councilors vying for the coveted spot on the party’s general election ticket.

    Current Belize City councilors Eluide Miller and Allan Pollard are the two contenders seeking the support of PUP delegates, who will cast their votes to select the party’s official candidate for the upcoming municipal elections. The contest has already drawn prominent backing from senior party leadership: Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca, who also serves as Area Representative for Freetown, has publicly thrown his weight behind Miller in the lead-up to the convention vote.

    In comments to reporters, Fonseca confirmed that preparations for the closely watched internal vote are progressing according to the timeline set by the PUP national executive. “The convention is set. As you know the national executive set a date for it. It’s August thirtieth. So, I think the delegates list will be prepared, and submitted sometime this week. And then, you know, the campaign proceeds over the next few weeks to engage with those delegates and we move forward from there,” Fonseca explained.

    Beyond the high-profile Belize City mayoral contest, the PUP is reporting widespread interest from candidates across all municipal seats up for grabs in the upcoming elections. Party data shows a total of 115 aspiring politicians have submitted applications to run under the PUP banner across all municipal contests, reflecting a deep pool of potential candidates for the party to draw from.

    This report is adapted from a transcript of an evening television news broadcast, with original Kriol-language commentary standardized to written English spelling per the original outlet’s editorial process.

  • Eight New Arrivals Reignite Safe Third Country Debate

    Eight New Arrivals Reignite Safe Third Country Debate

    In a development that has pulled a controversial bilateral migration agreement back into the public spotlight, Belize has received eight additional foreign nationals transferred under its Safe Third Country arrangement with the United States. The new arrivals, which include four Haitian citizens and four nationals from other Central American countries, have reignited public debate around the policy, with the most prominent criticism centering on unaddressed concerns over whether any transferred individuals could have a criminal history.

    Both the Government of Belize and the U.S. Embassy in Belize have moved quickly to push back against these concerns, issuing clear assurances that every person accepted into the program goes through rigorous multi-layered security vetting before any transfer is finalized. Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca defended the framework in an interview with local reporters, emphasizing that the entire screening process is conducted with extreme care, and that the agreement operates fully within the bounds of Belize’s existing national asylum and refugee infrastructure.

    Fonseca laid out the gradual rollout of the program to date, noting that the first transfer involved a single Haitian individual, with the eight new arrivals marking the latest group to enter the country under the pact. He framed the agreement as a complementary addition to Belize’s long-standing amnesty and refugee processing systems, pointing out that the Central American nation already accepts hundreds of people seeking refuge and protection from across the region every year. “So far it has been going very well,” Fonseca said of the program’s implementation.

    When questioned about support structures for the program, Fonseca confirmed that the United Nations Refugee Agency provides backing for asylum seekers transferred under the Safe Third Country agreement. Reporters also raised questions about support for Belizean citizens who are deported back to the country with no local family or social ties, a situation that has been documented in previous cases. Fonseca clarified that the government already maintains dedicated programming for this group, with support delivered through the Ministry of Human Development and the national refugee department, matching the assistance framework offered to transferred asylum seekers.

    A government spokesperson reiterated that every transfer request is subject to a rigorous individual case review, and Belizean authorities retain full authority to reject any application that fails to meet the country’s established security and eligibility requirements. This news report is a transcript of an evening television newscast, with Kriol language statements transcribed using a standardized spelling system for publication.

  • Fonseca Explains Absence from High-Level Washington Meeting

    Fonseca Explains Absence from High-Level Washington Meeting

    A high-profile diplomatic gathering in Washington D.C. that brought together top leaders from Belize and U.S. diplomatic officials to address critical foreign policy priorities was marked by one notable absence earlier this week. The meeting, which covered pressing agenda items including cross-border security, regional migration management, bilateral trade and inclusive economic development, saw Belize Prime Minister John Briceño hold talks with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. However, Belize’s top diplomat, Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca, was not present for the high-stakes discussions.

    In a public explanation of his absence shared on August 5, 2026, Fonseca confirmed that the decision to skip the Washington trip came down to ongoing health recovery: the minister recently underwent triple bypass heart surgery, and his medical team has not yet granted approval for international travel. To ensure Belize still had full representation at the talks, Fonseca and Prime Minister Briceño jointly invited Senator Courtenay to step in and accompany the prime minister during the Washington engagements.

    When asked by reporters to update the public on his current health status, Fonseca shared that he has made steady progress in his recovery. “Yeah, a lot better. I think getting stronger every day. So, you know, not one hundred percent yet, but getting there,” he told reporters.

    This update comes over a month after Fonseca first returned to his official ministerial duties. Following a two-month post-surgery recovery period, the foreign minister resumed his regular work responsibilities on July 1. This report is adapted from a transcribed broadcast of the outlet’s evening television newscast, with all quoted content preserved in its original context.

  • Opposition senator demands work permit overhaul

    Opposition senator demands work permit overhaul

    Debate over Barbados’ labor market policies has intensified in the Senate, with opposition Senator Ryan Walters pushing for sweeping changes to the country’s work permit framework, alongside stricter enforcement of national insurance rules and progress on resolving a years-long backlog in employment dispute hearings.

    Speaking during Wednesday’s Senate consideration of the Protection of Wages Bill, Walters argued that a growing number of entry-level to mid-tier roles currently being advertised to foreign workers could and should be filled by local job seekers, especially young Barbadians entering the workforce. He pointed to recent public job postings as evidence of systemic flaws in the current regime, listing roles ranging from retail store supervisors, warehouse clerks and sales associates to cellphone device repair technicians, all of which have been advertised for foreign applicants. Even senior leadership positions within the island’s key hotel sector, he added, are frequently being opened to outside candidates ahead of qualified local workers.

    “What we are seeing in public job postings makes clear that employers are consistently looking abroad for work that Barbadians – particularly young Barbadians – are fully capable of doing,” Walters said. “This is the perfect moment for the government to overhaul our outdated work permit system. It is unacceptable that in 2026, we still see this volume of work permit applications for these skill sets and entry-level roles.”

    Walters called for fundamental changes to the approval process, arguing new guardrails need to be put in place before employers even submit applications to hire foreign workers. He proposed pre-application guidance that would clearly outline which roles are eligible for outside hiring and which must be filled by local candidates first, tightening the entire regime to prioritize Barbadian workers.

    But Leader of Government Business Senator Lisa Cummins pushed back against Walters’ criticism, noting that the current system already includes rigorous assessment protocols that do not guarantee approval for every submitted application. She explained that all work permit requests are reviewed by a dedicated government department, and both current and former home affairs ministers – under whose purview the immigration department falls – have repeatedly clarified that a high number of applications does not equal a high number of approvals.

    Cummins argued that claims tying open work permit policies to blocked job opportunities for young Barbadians are misleading and factually incorrect. “It is erroneous to claim that the government is blocking young Barbadians from employment just because work permit applications are submitted,” she said. “There has been no public accounting of how many of these applications are actually approved, and submission does not mean applications are automatically granted.”

    Beyond the work permit debate, Walters raised two additional pressing labor issues that he said demand immediate government action. First, he called for aggressive enforcement against employers that fail to register their workers with the National Insurance and Social Security Scheme. Walters explained that while unregistered workers may take home slightly more pay in the short term, they are locked out of critical long-term benefits, forcing them to rely on taxpayer-funded welfare services instead of drawing from the national insurance system they have not contributed to.

    “Every worker in this country should be contributing to National Insurance, regardless of their income level,” he said. “Weak enforcement hurts workers in the long run and shifts the burden of support to the state.”

    Walters also drew attention to a backlog of roughly 3,000 unresolved employment disputes at the Employment Rights Tribunal, saying thousands of workers have waited years for their cases to be heard. He recalled that the governing administration promised in 2024 to transition the tribunal from a part-time body to a full-time institution with dedicated staff and permanent office space, but that campaign promise has yet to be fulfilled. Walters said he is hoping to receive a public update on the tribunal’s modernization during the ongoing debate over the Protection of Wages Bill.

  • BSTU head urges admin reforms as lapses disrupt school salaries

    BSTU head urges admin reforms as lapses disrupt school salaries

    A growing crisis of unpaid and delayed salaries for public school teachers in Barbados, driven by systemic administrative failures in national education payroll systems, has pushed a top teachers union leader and sitting senator to push for strict, enforceable reforms in the upcoming national Protection of Wages Bill.

    Independent Senator Mary-Anne Redman, who also serves as president of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU), laid out a wide-ranging pattern of persistent administrative breakdowns in a virtual address to the country’s senate. The problems she documented include months-long pay delays, incorrect salary calculations, and missing agreed-upon allowances that have left hundreds of public school educators unable to cover basic monthly living costs.

    Most alarmingly, Redman warned that the ongoing pay crisis is accelerating staff流失 in high-demand, critical subject areas. Talented early-career educators qualified in mathematics, physics and geography — roles already facing nationwide staffing shortages — are leaving the public education system entirely, she explained, because they cannot afford to work without consistent, timely pay. “To interfere with money that people have already earned through their work is a problem Caribbean workers should never have to confront, given our shared history,” Redman told the chamber. “Yet sadly, it is a challenge trade union leaders have had to address far too often.”

    Redman pointed to a lack of binding legislative enforcement as a core reason the payroll issues have continued to recur, with temporary teachers disproportionately affected by the gaps. She singled out inaction from some school board secretary-treasurers, tasked with inputting educator payroll data into national payment portals, as a primary driver of widespread frustration and disillusionment across the teaching profession. The BSTU receives a steady stream of monthly complaints from educators who go weeks or months without pay, many stemming from unprocessed paperwork tied to school reassignments.

    “Some teachers go for months without any pay at all,” Redman said. “This is incredibly frustrating, especially for new young teachers who already do not find starting teaching salaries attractive or working conditions ideal. Adding the stress of non-payment on top of that is a major deterrent that pushes people out of the sector.”

    The issues extend far beyond just total non-payment for extended periods. Even when educators do receive their salaries, they regularly face late disbursements, missing annual pay increments, and unpaid acting allowances for senior roles they have held for multiple years. In June alone, Redman revealed, 21 temporary teachers at one single school received their salaries weeks after the official scheduled payday. The delayed payment left many facing unexpected bank penalties, lasting damage to their personal credit ratings, and excessive tax deductions when their back pay was finally issued as a lump sum.

    Grounding her advocacy in international labor frameworks, Redman tied the Barbados pay crisis to the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) definition of “decent work,” specifically citing ILO Conventions 95 and 173 that outline global standards for wage protection and protections for workers when employers face insolvency. Withholding timely payment for completed work, she argued, is inherently exploitative and damaging to long-term societal stability. “There is nothing more exploitative, counterproductive, and indecent in an employment relationship than forcing people to work without fair, timely payment for the work they have already completed,” she said.

    While Redman acknowledged that the Ministry of Education and Ministry of the Public Service have made incremental improvements to payroll processing in recent months, she stressed that the new Protection of Wages Bill must include concrete, accessible redress mechanisms for public sector employees. The proposed legislation, which replaces the outdated Cap. 351 legal framework, currently requires standardized recurring pay dates, regulates unauthorized wage deductions, and expands the regulatory powers of the chief labour officer. However, Redman raised critical concerns that public employees do not have direct access to the Employment Rights Tribunal, forcing them to rely on lengthy grievance processes outlined in the Public Service Act. She cited a BSTU grievance first filed in 2016 that remains unresolved to this day as evidence of the system’s failures.

    To fix the ongoing administrative breakdowns, Redman outlined a series of targeted structural reforms designed to speed up dispute resolution and strengthen accountability across school administrations. A top priority recommendation is the creation of an expedited, standalone grievance mechanism exclusively for wage disputes involving public sector educators. Citing analysis from independent public policy analysts, she urged parliament to implement a fast-track process that bypasses the slow traditional bureaucratic channels to resolve payment disputes when the government is the defaulting employer.

    The BSTU also renewed its longstanding call for the immediate establishment of the long-delayed Teaching Service Commission, a dedicated oversight body that would overhaul human resources management across the entire Barbados public education system. “This commission has been over 50 years in the making,” Redman said, noting that the independent body would remove more than 4,000 public school teachers from the purview of the overstretched Public Service Commission, easing administrative backlogs. Dedicated, education-specific oversight, she argued, would significantly reduce the frustration, disillusionment, and desperation teachers face when waiting for the pay they have earned.

    Beyond the creation of the new commission, Redman called on the government to reclassify school secretary-treasurers as formal public officers, a shift that would enforce stricter operational standards and hold individual administrators accountable for meeting payroll deadlines. This change, she explained, would prevent individual inaction from derailing pay processing and putting educators’ livelihoods at risk. Redman also added that mandatory pre-appointment training for all school board of management members — particularly chairpersons and their deputies — is essential to ensure board leaders understand their legal responsibilities, financial regulatory requirements, and personnel management obligations. Many current board members, she noted, remain unaware that they are legally responsible for the performance and conduct of the secretary-treasurers on their boards.

    Despite her sharp critiques of current administrative practices and gaps in existing enforcement frameworks, Redman emphasized that she and the BSTU fully support the proposed Protection of Wages Bill, calling it a critical foundational step toward protecting worker dignity and codifying strong wage protections in Barbados law.

  • Dominican-French citizen pleads guilty in U.S. firearms smuggling case

    Dominican-French citizen pleads guilty in U.S. firearms smuggling case

    A cross-border illicit arms trafficking ring that smuggled American firearms and components out of the United States to the Caribbean nation of Dominica has resulted in a guilty plea from its alleged ringleader, according to official statements from U.S. law enforcement and prosecution agencies.

    Dimitri Beix, a 28-year-old dual Dominican-French citizen who resides permanently in Dominica, entered his guilty plea this Wednesday in the U.S. Federal District Court in Hartford, Connecticut. The charge against Beix is one count of conspiracy to violate the U.S. Export Control Reform Act, a federal law governing the lawful export of controlled goods including military and firearms-related technology.

    U.S. law enforcement investigators have laid out a nearly four-year scheme that they say Beix organized and directed between January 2021 and September 2024. Per official court filings and statements, Beix built a coordinated network to source firearms, their components, and ammunition from sellers across the United States, then arrange for illegal shipment to Dominica without the mandatory export licenses required by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

    Court documents detail the operational structure of the network: Beix coordinated with suppliers, buyers, and intermediate shippers based in Connecticut and multiple other U.S. states, providing curated lists of specific firearm parts for suppliers to purchase through online platforms including eBay and mainstream retail outlets. Investigators add that Beix directly used his own personal eBay accounts to acquire more than 100 individual firearm components, which were first shipped to U.S.-based contacts before being re-packaged and forwarded on to his contacts in Dominica.

    The first major break in the case came in February 2023, when Dominican customs authorities intercepted three inbound parcels addressed directly to Beix. Inside the packages, officials discovered six completed handguns, along with a cache of critical components including Glock pistol slides, trigger and sight assemblies, multiple magazines for rifles and pistols, receiver parts for AM15 rifles, a complete suppressor construction kit, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and dozens of additional unspecified firearms parts.

    The charge Beix pleaded guilty to carries a severe statutory penalty: a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled at a later date per federal court procedure. Beix has been in continuous custody since his November 27, 2024 arrest in Sint Maarten, which was executed at the formal request of U.S. law enforcement authorities. He was extradited from Caribbean jurisdiction to the United States to face prosecution in February 2026.

    The multi-year investigation was a joint transnational effort involving multiple U.S. federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division. HSI Caribbean, the Dominica Customs and Excise Division, and the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force all provided critical local support for the investigation.

    Prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Sean P. Mahard, alongside Trial Attorney Yifei Zheng of the U.S. Justice Department’s National Security Division. The U.S. Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and law enforcement authorities in Sint Maarten also provided key coordination support for Beix’s arrest and extradition process.

    Officials noted that this prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, a multi-agency anti-crime effort established under Executive Order 14159. The task force’s core mandate is targeting transnational criminal organizations, cracking down on illicit cross-border firearms trafficking, disrupting human smuggling networks, and prosecuting other international organized crime activities.

    This is not the first time Beix has faced firearms-related charges in his home country of Dominica. On March 16, 2021, he entered a not guilty plea to four criminal counts brought by Dominican police and customs authorities, after being arrested for illegal possession of 100 live rounds of ammunition at Dominica’s Canefield Airport. Bail was denied by Dominican courts in that prior case.

  • President Burton calls for greater respect for Dominica’s constitutional institutions

    President Burton calls for greater respect for Dominica’s constitutional institutions

    In a landmark address delivered to Parliament on Tuesday, Dominica’s Head of State President Sylvanie Burton has issued a clarion call for all Dominican citizens and public officials to safeguard and honor the nation’s foundational constitutional institutions. While acknowledging that economic expansion and large-scale infrastructure development are critical pillars of national progress, she emphasized that resilient, well-respected democratic bodies are equally non-negotiable for securing the country’s long-term future.

    Burton framed the national constitution as the irreplaceable bedrock of Dominica’s democratic system, system of governance, and commitment to the rule of law. She went on to outline the unique and critical role the Office of the President plays within the country’s governing framework, noting that the position is tasked with upholding national stability, guaranteeing uninterrupted continuity in government operations, and preserving public trust in state affairs.

    Unlike partisan political offices that advance specific partisan agendas, Burton explained that the presidency holds a distinct, cross-cutting role that serves the entire Dominican nation, rather than any narrow political interest. Through its constitutionally mandated duties, the Office works to ensure seamless government function, defend core democratic values, and sustain the principles of constitutional governance, she added.

    The President stressed that respect for the country’s constitutional institutions extends far beyond going through the motions of formal procedural requirements. Instead, she argued, this active respect is a public demonstration of Dominica’s enduring commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and the shared principles that unite all Dominican people.

    Burton pointed out that ordinary citizens, public servants, and national leaders all share a collective responsibility to uphold the dignity of these core institutions and reinforce public faith in the country’s democratic system. When this responsibility is upheld consistently, she said, it lays the groundwork for a more stable, unified Dominica that is better positioned to navigate whatever challenges the future brings.

    Closing her parliamentary address, Burton urged the entire nation to prioritize national unity and collective resilience, encouraging citizens and leaders alike to choose courage over uncertainty, collaboration over partisan division, and optimistic hope over despair. She reflected on Dominica’s long history of overcoming significant hardship and adversity, and challenged members of Parliament to ground every policy decision in four core values: wisdom, fairness, integrity, and a consistent focus on the well-being of both current and future generations of Dominicans.

    For context, the Commonwealth of Dominica has seen nine different presidents since it gained full independence in 1978. Sir Louis Cools-Lartigue served as the nation’s first interim president, after which Fred Degazon stepped in as the country’s first elected president. He was succeeded in turn by Aurelius Marie, Clarence Seignoret, Crispin Sorhaindo, Vernon Shaw, Nicholas Liverpool, Eliud Williams, and Charles Savarin. Sylvanie Burton made history when she took office as Dominica’s ninth president in October 2023.

  • APA, APNU pillory Edghill for going to Region 1 govt outreach, amid resignation calls over MV Barima tragedy

    APA, APNU pillory Edghill for going to Region 1 govt outreach, amid resignation calls over MV Barima tragedy

    On Wednesday, August 5, 2026, two major Guyanese groups — the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) and the main opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) — publicly condemned Juan Edghill, Guyana’s minister of maritime transportation, for joining a government-led community outreach in Region One (Barima-Waini), the home region of most victims of the July 19 MV Barima ferry sinking. The tragedy, one of the worst maritime disasters in the country’s recent history, has left 72 people confirmed dead, 30 others unaccounted for, and 76 survivors rescued. Widespread public and political demand for Edghill’s resignation or dismissal has persisted in the weeks since the sinking, as critics hold him responsible for the systemic failures that led to the disaster.

    Jean La Rose, an executive member of the APA, described Edghill’s inclusion in the outreach, which was headed by sitting President Irfaan Ali, as a deliberate mockery of grieving Region One communities. La Rose emphasized that the minister bears direct accountability for the tragedy and should step down immediately to clear the way for an uncompromised, independent investigation. She raised concerns that the government-orchestrated community meetings would restrict open criticism, noting that pre-screened, hand-picked speakers have been allowed to dominate similar government events in the past.

    When asked whether Edghill could have attended the outreach to address community questions directly, La Rose argued that he could only do so legitimately if he had already resigned from his post. She added that other key stakeholders, including the ferry’s captain, its first mate, and a senior superintendent from the Transport and Harbours Department, should also be present to answer for the failures that led to the sinking. La Rose also pointed to ongoing gaps in casualty accounting, arguing that a functioning accountability system would have provided an accurate, complete count of how many passengers were on board when the vessel went down. She further criticized the five-member Commission of Inquiry (COI) convened by the government, saying it was assembled hastily without public input on its membership or terms of reference. APNU has echoed these criticisms in full.

    Juretha Fernandes, an APNU member of parliament, argued that Edghill has already proven himself incapable of delivering safe maritime transportation for Guyanese citizens. She called Edghill’s presence at the Region One outreach a blatant “slap in the face” to grieving Indigenous families in the region. “This sends a clear message from the Guyanese government to the Indigenous people of Region One: we do not care about your lost loved ones, we do not care about your pain, and we have no empathy for what you are going through right now,” Fernandes stated. She urged Region One residents to unite in rejecting Edghill, who she labeled a “monument to impunity” that embodies the government’s refusal to hold officials accountable. “Over 100 lives were lost on this minister’s watch, due to his own negligence and incompetence, and now the government sends him to meet the very communities that lost so much,” Fernandes added.

    Fellow APNU parliamentarian Nima Flue-Bess extended the criticism to the government as a whole, arguing that Guyanese voters must ultimately decide how long they will tolerate what she called an “uncaring and unempathetic” administration. Flue-Bess claimed the outreach is just the latest government tactic to mislead the public, pointing to the hand-picked COI and quiet, private outreach to victim families as efforts to silence demands for justice. “All of these actions demonstrate a complete lack of care for the victims and their loved ones. It is time for the Guyanese people to respond in kind,” she said.

    To date, Edghill has not directly addressed the calls for his resignation, only stating that he will issue a statement at an “appropriate” time. Despite the widespread criticism, APNU parliamentary leader Dr. Terrence Campbell acknowledged that sustained public pressure from opposition and civil society groups has forced limited progress from the government. Campbell confirmed that the administration has now issued a call for expressions of interest from experienced marine firms to salvage the sunken MV Barima, a core demand for a thorough COI investigation. While Campbell said the opposition remains unsatisfied with the slow pace of progress, he added that the outcome proves protests work: “If we had not protested and kept up pressure, the PPP government would have left the MV Barima sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic, with no investigation and no accountability.” Campbell also noted that the disaster has galvanized opposition unity, which was on display during an earlier outreach led by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo in Linden on Tuesday. “Unified action is the only way we can hold this government accountable to the Guyanese people,” he said.

  • ICAR says cannabis law moving ‘too slow’; Hilaire says it’s ‘at finish line’

    ICAR says cannabis law moving ‘too slow’; Hilaire says it’s ‘at finish line’

    Thousands gathered in Vieux Fort on Sunday to mark Saint Lucia’s annual Emancipation Day observance, an event that spotlighted both a decades-long win for the island’s Rastafarian community and growing calls for accelerated action on long-awaited cannabis regulation reform.

    Opening his address to attendees, Aaron Alexander, president of the Iyanola Council for the Advancement of Rastafari and Pan African People (ICAR), opened with a reflection on how far the national recognition of Emancipation Day has come, rather than immediately turning to the cannabis policy debate that looms over the Rastafarian community. For more than 40 years, Alexander explained, Saint Lucia’s Rastafari community has borne the full responsibility of organizing and celebrating Emancipation Day alone, with little formal support or national recognition from government bodies. What was once dismissed by many as “another Rasta ting,” a local, niche observance, has now grown into a core national holiday and is gaining traction across the Caribbean region as a critical marker of shared regional history. That shift, Alexander told the crowd, represents a long-overdue milestone worth celebrating.

    After honoring that progress, Alexander shifted to the core policy priority his community has advocated for over decades: comprehensive cannabis reform that recognizes the cultural and spiritual role of cannabis in Rastafarian tradition, while building a formal, inclusive regulated industry. In his remarks, he emphasized that the drafting and parliamentary consideration of the necessary regulatory legislation has moved at a glacial pace, leaving the community waiting for action that has been promised for years. Despite that frustration, Alexander stressed that the Rastafarian community remains optimistic and committed to holding steady patience as the government works through the final stages of the policy process.

    Earlier the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire responded directly to those community concerns in a pre-recorded address released by the Regulatory Substance Authority (RSA), the government body tasked with developing the new regulatory framework. Hilaire acknowledged that Rastafarian community members and other key stakeholders have grown increasingly frustrated with the slow timeline of reform.

    “I hear your frustration… I assure you our work behind the scenes has been deliberate and unwavering,” Hilaire said in the address. The deputy prime minister added that regulators have prioritized building a robust, tightly controlled system that balances legal access for responsible use with strict public safety safeguards, a process that requires careful deliberation to avoid missteps.

    Central to the proposed framework, Hilaire explained, is a commitment to inclusion: the policy is designed to ensure that generations of Saint Lucians who have long cultivated and used cannabis, often at great personal risk under existing laws, are not sidelined as the legal industry grows and develops. The final legislation will center the protection of domestic Saint Lucian interests while laying the groundwork for a transparent, responsible, and well-regulated national cannabis sector.

    Closing his remarks, Hilaire struck an optimistic tone, telling stakeholders the reform process is nearly complete. “We are almost at the finish line. Together we will build a cannabis industry that serves and safeguards every Saint Lucian,” he said.