Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • Iran, at UN, insists it will not submit to ‘lawless aggression’

    Iran, at UN, insists it will not submit to ‘lawless aggression’

    GENEVA — In a defiant address to the UN Human Rights Council, Iran’s ambassador Ali Bahreini declared his nation would not yield to what he termed ‘lawless aggression’ from the United States and Israel, asserting that 90 million Iranians face ‘immediate and grave danger’ from military strikes.

    The session, intended to examine Iran’s human rights record, transformed into a platform for geopolitical confrontation as Bahreini redirected focus toward external threats. He characterized the US and Israeli offensive launched February 28 as reckless militarism that endangered regional stability and civilian lives.

    UN experts meanwhile warned that Tehran’s domestic repression, particularly its deadly crackdown on protests beginning December 28, would likely intensify amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Special Rapporteur Mai Sato noted reports of over 7,000 protest-related deaths and expressed concern that ‘a very big crackdown’ could follow if the Islamic Republic emerges weakened from the war.

    Bahreini presented counter-allegations, accusing the US and Israel of attacking Iranian cultural heritage and massacring ‘innocent children at their school desks’ in Minab. He claimed 1,300 fatalities and 7,000 injuries in Iran since the strikes began.

    The diplomatic clash revealed deep international divisions. The Gulf Cooperation Council nations plus Jordan condemned Iran’s attacks on their territories as unjustifiable threats to regional security. Russia accused the US and Israel of seeking to ‘destroy this dissenting country,’ while China expressed grave concern and called for immediate ceasefire and dialogue. Western nations including Britain and France urged diplomatic solutions and warned against exploiting conflict to inflict violence on citizens.

    The session highlighted how geopolitical tensions have complicated human rights oversight, with both Iran and its accusers leveraging the platform to advance competing narratives of aggression and victimhood.

  • Audit flags possible fraud at JAS

    Audit flags possible fraud at JAS

    A comprehensive government audit has revealed significant financial irregularities and potential collusion within Jamaica’s agricultural sector, raising serious concerns about public fund management. The Internal Audit Directorate within the Ministry of Finance and Public Service documented these findings in the Government of Jamaica Audit Committees’ Annual Report for fiscal year 2024/25, which was formally presented to the House of Representatives on Thursday.

    The investigation uncovered that a senior manager allegedly diverted approximately $1.45 million in improper payments to third-party entities, suggesting possible coordinated misconduct within organizations under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining. The Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) was specifically implicated in these transactions that indicate potential collusion among officials.

    Beyond the diverted funds, auditors identified substantial gaps in financial documentation practices. The Fisheries Division and Castleton Botanical Gardens showed accountability lapses exceeding $2.1 million due to missing critical records including lodgement slips and payment vouchers. These documentation failures prevented proper financial tracking and verification.

    The report further detailed systematic misuse of government subventions, with funds repeatedly allocated for purposes inconsistent with their intended objectives. Additionally, multiple breaches of employment guidelines were detected within the ministry’s operational framework.

    These specific incidents form part of a broader pattern of governance deficiencies across Jamaican government entities. The audit revealed that internal control violations and non-compliance with financial protocols have resulted in substantial fiscal losses, including salary overpayments exceeding $200 million and project cost overruns surpassing $136 million nationwide.

    Perhaps most concerning is the declining responsiveness to audit findings. The report noted that management response timeliness dropped significantly to 33% during the reviewed period, down from 52% in the previous fiscal year, indicating reduced accountability measures within governmental departments.

  • Bostwick ‘saddened’ by Minnis, says FNM faces ‘uphill fight’

    Bostwick ‘saddened’ by Minnis, says FNM faces ‘uphill fight’

    In a significant political assessment, Dame Janet Bostwick—The Bahamas’ groundbreaking first female parliamentarian—has characterized her Free National Movement (FNM) party’s path to victory in the upcoming general election as an “uphill fight.” The revered stateswoman, who shattered glass ceilings by entering Parliament in 1982 and subsequently serving as attorney general and acting prime minister, shared her candid perspectives with journalists last Friday.

    Dame Janet expressed profound disappointment regarding former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis’ decision to contest the Killarney constituency as an independent candidate following his exclusion from the FNM’s official ticket. While acknowledging his constitutional right to pursue independent candidacy, she voiced concern that this move might potentially tarnish his established political legacy. “Dr. Minnis made great contributions to our party and to the country,” she noted, adding, “I would hope that even at this stage, he may decide to take a different direction.”

    The political pioneer acknowledged existing fractures within FNM ranks, confirming the party hasn’t achieved complete unity. She revealed that a minority faction has chosen to operate outside the official party structure, though she maintained that the organization retains its core base and has simultaneously gained new supporters. Despite these internal challenges, Dame Janet expressed confidence that the party remains well-positioned to effectively contest the impending electoral battle.

    Shifting to gender representation, the celebrated trailblazer welcomed the increasing number of female candidates preparing to contest the election but emphasized the critical need for substantially improved representation in the House of Assembly. With women currently occupying fewer than 25% of parliamentary seats despite constituting approximately half of the national population, Dame Janet advocated for affirmative action measures to ensure women achieve meaningful influence in national decision-making processes.

  • Fitz-Henley tasks G2K with budget communication

    Fitz-Henley tasks G2K with budget communication

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Senior Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) official Abka Fitz-Henley has called upon the party’s young professional arm, Generation 2000 (G2K), to actively educate citizens about the national budget currently under parliamentary debate. Addressing the G2K Portmore Chapter at the Youth Innovation Centre in Edgewater, Fitz-Henley emphasized the budget’s presentation during exceptionally difficult circumstances.

    The JLP Communication Taskforce Chairman highlighted the dual challenges of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation, which wiped out over 50% of Jamaica’s GDP, and ongoing global economic uncertainties. “This budget has been meticulously crafted and is now being debated at perhaps one of the most challenging periods in our nation’s recent history,” Fitz-Henley stated.

    He urged G2K members to adopt a sensitive communication approach: “Now is the time for G2K not to be boastful in its utterances but to be mindful of the hardships affecting segments of our population while explaining the budget’s provisions.”

    Fitz-Henley also cautioned against distractions from opposition tactics, noting: “The Opposition remains in apparent shock over their electoral defeat. Some had already been preparing to access the spoils of political office before the election, which explains their current desperation for power.”

    Additionally, he encouraged G2K to help maintain the spirit of unity that emerged during Hurricane Melissa’s aftermath. “As I toured affected areas, I witnessed remarkable camaraderie where communities supported neighbors during disaster. We must extend this collaborative spirit across society as we navigate ongoing challenges,” Fitz-Henley concluded.

  • Johnson Smith to lead engagements with foreign envoys for Diplomatic Days 2026

    Johnson Smith to lead engagements with foreign envoys for Diplomatic Days 2026

    Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is set to host Diplomatic Days 2026 from March 17-19, bringing together resident and non-resident diplomatic corps members for high-level engagements with government leadership. Foreign Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith will convene the three-day event designed to strengthen international cooperation, expand economic opportunities, and enhance climate resilience strategies.

    The gathering takes on particular significance as Jamaica continues reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Melissa’s devastating landfall on October 28, 2025, which caused extensive damage across the island’s western regions. Minister Johnson Smith emphasized that Jamaica maintains a pragmatic and principled diplomatic approach requiring sustained dialogue with international partners during this rebuilding phase.

    A centerpiece of the program will feature a policy briefing led by Johnson Smith alongside Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, who recently assumed presidency of the United Nations Environment Assembly. The event will also welcome newly appointed ambassadors from Greece, Ireland, Malta, Panama, Qatar, and Türkiye, along with high commissioners from Lesotho and Rwanda.

    The diplomatic proceedings will commence with formal credential presentations to Minister Johnson Smith, followed by official ceremonies with Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen at King’s House. Additional activities include bilateral meetings and a cultural visit to the National Gallery of Jamaica, culminating in the annual diplomatic dinner hosted by the Governor-General and Lady Allen.

    This strategic initiative forms part of Jamaica’s broader international engagement strategy to strengthen bilateral and multilateral partnerships while addressing post-disaster recovery challenges through coordinated global cooperation.

  • Trump vows to ‘take’ Cuba as island reels from oil embargo

    Trump vows to ‘take’ Cuba as island reels from oil embargo

    HAVANA, Cuba – In a stark escalation of rhetoric, U.S. President Donald Trump declared his intention to potentially ‘take’ Cuba, capitalizing on the communist nation’s severe economic and energy crisis. The threat was issued as the island of 9.6 million citizens endured a complete national power grid failure, a direct consequence of a stringent U.S. fuel embargo.

    Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump characterized Cuba as a ‘very weakened nation’ and asserted his capability to do ‘anything I want with it.’ This statement represents one of the most unambiguous threats from his administration, which has intensified pressure on Havana following the U.S.-backed ouster of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, a key Cuban ally and oil supplier.

    The total electrical blackout, confirmed by Cuba’s Unión Nacional Eléctrica (UNE), is symptomatic of a deeper collapse. The nation’s antiquated power generation infrastructure, crippled by an acute shortage of fuel, has led to daily outages lasting up to 20 hours in some regions. This energy deficit has forced the rationing of gasoline and compromised hospital services, while also dealing a severe blow to the vital tourism industry by curtailing airline flights.

    In a significant policy shift aimed at mitigating the economic stranglehold, senior Cuban economic official Oscar Perez-Oliva announced that the government is now open to investment and business ownership by Cuban exiles residing in the United States. This move is seen as both an economic relief measure and a concession to long-standing U.S. demands for market liberalization.

    The compounding crises of blackouts and shortages of food and medicine have ignited public unrest. Recent protests have included the vandalism of a provincial Communist Party office and nightly demonstrations where residents bang pots and pans while chanting ‘Libertad’ (freedom).

    While Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged the public’s ‘discontent’ over the blackouts, he condemned the associated violence. Concurrently, Trump framed the U.S. fuel blockade as a response to an ‘extraordinary threat’ from Cuba, suggesting a potential deal could be imminent following the resolution of tensions with Iran.

  • Cubans abroad will be able to invest, own businesses on island – minister

    Cubans abroad will be able to invest, own businesses on island – minister

    In a significant policy reversal, Cuban authorities announced Monday that expatriate citizens will now be permitted to invest in and own businesses on the island nation. The landmark decision comes as Cuba’s economy faces severe strain from prolonged US sanctions and recent oil embargoes.

    Oscar Perez-Oliva, Cuba’s Foreign Trade Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, confirmed the reform in an interview with NBC News, stating the government seeks “fluid commercial relationships” with both US corporations and Cubans residing abroad. The announcement represents a dramatic shift from decades of restrictive economic policies, particularly toward the exile community in Miami that has historically opposed the communist government.

    The reform initiative aims to revitalize critical economic sectors including tourism and mining, while addressing infrastructure challenges, notably the aging electrical grid responsible for frequent nationwide blackouts. This opening to diaspora investment marks a pragmatic response to Cuba’s deepening economic crisis, exacerbated by the Trump administration’s intensified pressure campaign.

    President Donald Trump acknowledged ongoing negotiations with Cuba, suggesting potential developments “pretty quickly” after addressing US concerns with Iran. The comments follow Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel’s confirmation of bilateral talks regarding “differences” between the two nations.

    The economic liberalization measure coincides with severe fuel shortages resulting from the termination of Venezuelan oil subsidies and Trump’s embargo policies, pushing Cuba’s already fragile economy toward potential collapse. The reform signals Havana’s willingness to engage previously antagonistic diaspora communities as it seeks economic stabilization amid mounting external pressures.

  • MP urges update to 60-year-old NISS law

    MP urges update to 60-year-old NISS law

    Barbados Parliamentarian Toni Moore has initiated a groundbreaking legislative proposal to comprehensively modernize the island nation’s nearly six-decade-old National Insurance and Social Security (NISS) Act. The government MP and Barbados Workers’ Union General Secretary presented a resolution before the House of Assembly advocating for a transformative national portable benefits system that would anchor social protection to individual workers rather than specific employment arrangements.

    Moore articulated that Barbados’ current social security framework has failed to adapt to the dramatic evolution of modern employment patterns. She highlighted the proliferation of non-traditional work arrangements including short-term contracts, subcontracting, digital platform engagements, and gig economy positions that have fundamentally reshaped the Barbadian labor landscape.

    “These workers contribute substantial labor value and productivity to Barbados’ development yet remain vulnerable to insecurity because social protection is erroneously treated as attaching to job classifications rather than to the worker as a human being,” Moore stated during her parliamentary address.

    The proposed portable benefits framework operates on the foundational principle that “Social Security must follow the worker, not the job” – a concept Moore characterized as essential for ensuring fairness, economic resilience, and national social stability. Under this revolutionary system, all employers, digital platforms, and agencies would be mandated to contribute to workers’ social security regardless of engagement duration or contractual form.

    Moore emphasized the particular urgency of protecting gig workers, construction laborers, domestic staff, and creative/digital economy participants who frequently rely on multiple income streams. She warned that without reform, many workers risk reaching retirement age only to discover their years of labor haven’t translated into adequate contributions for dignified retirement.

    The proposed overhaul would simultaneously strengthen the National Insurance Social Security Service by expanding participation, enhancing compliance, and closing longstanding regulatory loopholes that have fostered accountability gaps. Moore acknowledged implementation would require significant administrative modernization, including digital systems for payment processing, contribution tracking, and financial reconciliation.

    Additional components include strengthened inspection regimes, monitoring mechanisms, enforcement protocols, and proportionate penalties for non-compliance. The proposal also mandates comprehensive public education campaigns to ensure both workers and engagers fully understand their respective rights, duties, and responsibilities within the reformed system.

  • Amendement op initiatiefwet cassatierechtspraak maandag in DNA

    Amendement op initiatiefwet cassatierechtspraak maandag in DNA

    Suriname’s National Assembly (DNA) convened on Monday to deliberate transformative judicial reforms that could fundamentally reshape the nation’s legal landscape. The parliamentary session, conducted publicly, examined multiple legislative proposals featuring significant amendments to establish cassation jurisprudence within Suriname’s judicial system.

    The proposed reforms, introduced by DNA members Steven Reyme (A20), Xiaobao Zheng (PL), Ronny Asabina (BEP), and Rabin Parmessar (NDP), seek to create a third judicial tier specializing in cassation proceedings. This new judicial body would assume responsibility for reviewing lower court rulings for potential legal violations, effectively repositioning the current Court of Justice as the nation’s highest factual court rather than its supreme judicial authority.

    According to explanatory notes accompanying the amendments, the introduction of cassation jurisprudence aims to strengthen legal certainty, judicial development, and citizen protection within Suriname’s legal framework. The reform acknowledges that while numerous countries already maintain similar cassation institutions, Suriname currently lacks a secondary appellate mechanism.

    The comprehensive legislative package additionally proposes structural modifications to both the judiciary and Public Ministry. Constitutional amendments would establish that the Public Ministry be governed by an administrative board comprising the Attorney-General as chairperson alongside a minimum of two and maximum of four Advocates-General. Under the proposed terms, the government would appoint the Attorney-General for a maximum five-year term, with eligibility for one reappointment.

    Notably, the legislation contemplates potential international staffing solutions for the cassation court, recognizing that Suriname’s current judicial capacity might be insufficient to fully staff a third judicial institution with domestic magistrates alone. This provision reflects pragmatic considerations regarding implementation feasibility while maintaining commitment to judicial excellence.

  • Legal opinion clears T&T over US drug boat strikes

    Legal opinion clears T&T over US drug boat strikes

    A landmark legal opinion prepared for the Trinidad and Tobago government has concluded that U.S. military strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean constitute lawful acts of self-defense under international law. The analysis, authored by renowned British King’s Counsel Harish Salve of Blackstone Chambers, provides significant legal justification for operations targeting narcotics networks allegedly supported by the Venezuelan government.

    The legal assessment, commissioned by Attorney General John Jeremie, addresses the complex intersection of national security, non-state actors, and international jurisprudence. Central to Salve’s argument is Article 51 of the UN Charter, which recognizes the inherent right of self-defense. The opinion contends that modern security threats increasingly emanate from non-state actors operating with state support, requiring updated interpretations of international law.

    Salve’s analysis establishes that when criminal organizations operate with governmental support, their actions become attributable to the sponsoring state. The opinion references specific allegations against the Maduro government, including providing diplomatic passports to traffickers, offering diplomatic cover for illicit transport operations, and partnering with armed groups like Colombia’s FARC guerrillas.

    The legal framework acknowledges that affected states may implement preventive measures—including vessel destruction—when facing narcotics trafficking that threatens national security. However, Salve emphasizes that such actions must meet established international law principles of necessity and proportionality.

    Regarding Trinidad and Tobago’s potential liability, the opinion clarifies that the nation would not automatically bear responsibility for U.S. operations conducted in or near its waters. International law principles developed by the International Law Commission indicate that a state is only responsible if it knowingly assists another state in committing wrongful acts.

    The document further notes that Trinidad and Tobago itself suffers significantly from regional drug trafficking, having expended over $60 billion on national security during the past decade while continuing to combat smuggling networks and manage migration flows resulting from Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis.

    Salve’s opinion characterizes the global narcotics trade as a fundamental threat to national sovereignty, referencing UN treaties that recognize connections between drug trafficking, money laundering, arms trading, and terrorism financing. The analysis concludes that the profits from illicit drug operations frequently fund violence and governmental destabilization, imperiling the security of affected nations.