分类： politics

UDP Loses Key Cayo Figure Figueroa at Critical Moment

Belize’s main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) is grappling with a damaging setback just months ahead of critical municipal elections, after one of its most high-profile and effective representatives in the key Cayo North constituency announced his immediate departure. Dr. Omar Figueroa, a former area representative for Cayo North and the UDP’s appointed caretaker for the district, confirmed his exit in a statement that blamed unrelenting internal party attacks on his personal reputation as the core reason for stepping down.

The timing of Figueroa’s resignation could hardly be worse for the UDP, with municipal contests across the country scheduled to take place in less than a year, and the official voter transfer period for the election opening just two months from now. For the UDP, Cayo North has long stood as one of its most reliable and strategically important voting blocs in the hotly contested San Ignacio–Santa Elena municipal race. It is also the only municipality the party has managed to hold onto since 2021, making the stability of its local organization make-or-break for the party’s electoral prospects.

Figueroa was far more than a recognizable local name for the UDP. Over his tenure, he built a reputation as a vocal, unflinching watchdog for electoral integrity in the district. In recent months, he took bold action over persistent allegations of voter registration irregularities across Cayo, bringing a formal legal challenge to what he described as coordinated efforts by political operatives to register ineligible voters who do not actually reside within the district boundaries. While improper cross-district voter registration is a longstanding issue across Belize’s political landscape, political observers note that Figueroa’s willingness to confront the practice head-on had already led to measurable reductions in irregular registrations locally.

His sudden exit creates a significant leadership gap in the UDP’s most critical remaining electoral stronghold. Party strategists now face the steep challenge of rebuilding local organizational capacity and voter outreach just as the election season gets underway, all while addressing the underlying internal divisions that led to Figueroa’s departure. The resignation has also sparked renewed public scrutiny of the UDP’s internal unity, a key asset that political analysts say will be essential for the party to mount a competitive challenge to the ruling party across the country next year. With cohesion already a point of tension in recent years, Figueroa’s departure leaves the UDP facing a much steeper uphill battle to hold onto its last remaining municipal seat.

5 5 月, 2026
Almost Half a Year Later, No Ombudsman

Nearly half a year has passed since the term of Belize’s last Ombudsman expired, and the critical government office tasked with protecting ordinary citizens from official misconduct remains unstaffed, leaving residents without a dedicated channel to pursue grievances against abuses of power.

Created as an independent accountability body, Belize’s Office of the Ombudsman serves a core public function: it offers free, confidential support to any citizen seeking to file complaints against government officials and power holders for corruption, abusive treatment, and unfair treatment. For many Belizeans, the office acts as a last line of defense when they face injustice at the hands of state institutions.

The most recent person to hold the post was retired Major Gilbert Swaso, who began his three-year tenure in January 2023. His contract officially came to an end in December 2025, with little public notice surrounding its expiration. In the five months that have followed, the Ombudsman position has sat completely vacant, with no permanent appointee named to fill the role.

In March 2026, Belize’s Prime Minister addressed questions from reporters about the delayed appointment process, confirming that a parliamentary House committee had been tasked with drafting updated terms of reference for the role. Once that work was completed, the Prime Minister said, the vacancy would be publicly advertised to begin the search for a new Ombudsman.

More than one month has passed since that update, however, and no public posting for the position has been released. As the vacancy drags on, local observers and residents are growing increasingly concerned: when a Belizean citizen experiences corruption, abuse of power, or injustice at the hands of people in positions of authority, there is now no dedicated independent official they can turn to for help.

This report is a transcript of an evening television newscast published online on May 4, 2026.

5 5 月, 2026
FLASH : 46% increase in the minimum wage for subcontracting in Haiti

In a major policy announcement aimed at addressing longstanding worker grievances and easing cost-of-living pressures, Haiti’s Ministry of Economy and Finance has unveiled a sweeping set of economic measures, headlined by a near-46% increase to the daily minimum wage for workers in the country’s critical subcontracting sector. The announcement was made public by Minister Serge Gabriel Collin during a May 4, 2026 press conference hosted at the headquarters of Haiti’s Economic and Social Assistance Fund (FAES).

Prior to this adjustment, the daily minimum wage for Segment F subcontracting workers — a category that includes the country’s large textile manufacturing workforce — has remained frozen at 685 gourdes per day since 2022. Under the new ruling, that baseline will rise to 1,000 gourdes per day, a jump of just under 46%. The adjustment comes after months of advocacy from textile workers, who had originally called for a far steeper increase, pushing for a daily minimum wage set between 2,500 and 3,000 gourdes.

Minister Collin emphasized that the wage hike for subcontracting workers is only the first step in a broader, phased strategy to update minimum wage standards across all Haitian economic sectors. The government’s approach prioritizes a gradual rollout to avoid destabilizing Haiti’s fragile macroeconomic balance, he explained, balancing the urgent need to improve working people’s quality of life with the need to sustain overall economic stability.

Beyond minimum wage reform, the administration has moved to address another major pain point for domestic businesses: high energy costs. Recognizing the private sector’s central role in driving job creation and national wealth generation, Haitian officials have opened negotiations to bring down energy prices, with a specific focus on expanding access to affordable renewable energy. As a first concrete step, electricity rates for industrial operators in the Caracol Industrial Park will drop from 30 cents per kilowatt-hour to 21 cents per kilowatt-hour starting in January 2027.

To further bolster household purchasing power and strengthen the country’s social safety net, Minister Collin also announced direct targeted financial assistance for eligible workers. A total fund of 625 million gourdes will be distributed over the final five months of the 2025-2026 Haitian fiscal year, with resources earmarked for expanded social protection programs and direct support to offset rising consumer costs.

5 5 月, 2026
Monorath: kwestie rond Mixon volgens mij afgehandeld

Public and parliamentary criticism has mounted sharply in Suriname over the role of Jean “Saya” Mixon, who served as an advisor to Harish Monorath, the country’s Minister of Justice and Police. The backlash has grown so intense that some lawmakers have even called for Monorath’s resignation from his cabinet post.

In a blunt response to the demands, Monorath pushed back against critics, noting that the only authority that can remove him from office is the country’s president. “People can say whatever they want,” Monorath stated. “The day the president has had enough, I will leave office. It is that simple.”

The minister addressed the ongoing controversy shortly after presiding over a promotion ceremony for 205 new police recruits at the national Police Training Center, where he was pressed by reporters to clarify whether Mixon still retains any formal or informal connection to his ministry. When pressed for a concrete answer on Mixon’s current status, Monorath declined to provide explicit details, instead claiming the entire matter is already closed.

“Parliament requested me to confirm that the individual in question no longer holds an advisor position as defined by law,” Monorath explained. “I have done that. That’s it.”

When reporters asked whether Monorath had formally thanked Mixon for his past service, the minister denied any formal recognition took place. “Nothing was ever formalized, there was never an official appointment, so there was nothing to thank him for,” he added.

Monorath further pushed back against widespread claims that Mixon had been performing official work at the ministry, or accessing resources and facilities belonging to the Suriname Police Corps (KPS). “None of those claims are true,” he said. “He never came to the ministry office, and he never received security protection from the KPS.”

He also refuted allegations that Mixon has been receiving security detail from special reserve police officers. Monorath did acknowledge that it is common practice for regular police officers to take on private security work during their personal time off, including traveling into the country’s interior regions for private assignments when they have multiple consecutive days of leave.

4 5 月, 2026
COMMENTARY: World Press Freedom Day

As the world marks World Press Freedom Day 2026 on May 3, the latest annual assessment from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) delivers a stark warning: global press freedom has declined to its lowest point in two and a half decades, with more than half of all nations now categorized as having either “difficult” or “very serious” conditions for independent journalism.

The iconic American journalist Walter Cronkite once summarized the inseparable link between a free press and democratic governance: “Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy.” Decades later, that statement carries new urgency as the global retreat of press freedom accelerates. Journalists across every region face growing rates of imprisonment, targeted harassment, and heightened scrutiny of their work, while heavy-handed state regulation of media activity signals deepening democratic erosion. When press rights are curtailed, it is always the general public that bears the greatest cost, as independent oversight of power and access to unbiased information are eroded.

First introduced decades ago, RSF’s World Press Freedom Index evaluates the state of press freedom across 180 countries and territories. The framework defines press freedom as the ability of journalists to carry out their work independently, free from political, economic, legal, or social interference and without threats to personal safety. It scores countries based on five core indicators: the surrounding political context for media, the legal framework governing journalism, economic conditions for media workers, the broader socio-cultural environment, and on-the-ground safety for reporters.

Observed annually on May 3 and formally established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, World Press Freedom Day serves two core purposes: it is a day to stand in solidarity with media outlets facing censorship or attempts to shut down independent reporting, and a moment of remembrance for journalists who have lost their lives while pursuing the truth. The day also acts as a global checkpoint to celebrate the foundational principles of press freedom, assess global conditions for independent journalism, defend media independence from targeted attacks, and honor reporters killed while practicing their profession.

This year’s theme, “Shaping a Future at Peace,” aligns with the UN’s stance that independent, free media and press freedom underpin global peace, equitable economic recovery, sustainable development, and the protection of human rights by enabling access to reliable information, strengthening accountability, fostering constructive public dialogue, and building public trust. Today, that work is facing unprecedented new threats: malicious actors are leveraging artificial intelligence to spread disinformation and manipulate public discourse, eroding public trust in media and undermining national security. At the same time, independent media outlets face growing economic instability that threatens their survival. The RSF report notes that self-censorship among journalists has risen by more than 60% globally, driven by fear of retaliation, coordinated online harassment, judicial intimidation, and crippling economic pressure. Against this backdrop, World Press Freedom Day 2026 provides a critical opportunity to reaffirm global commitments to freedom of expression, and to align actors across journalism, technology (including the AI sector), and human rights groups around actionable solutions to strengthen resilient, independent information ecosystems for the future.

One of the most alarming trends highlighted in the 2026 index is the accelerating criminalization of journalism across the globe. Anne Bocande, a representative from RSF, emphasized that existing international protection mechanisms for journalists are no longer adequate, as international law is increasingly undermined and cases of violence against journalists go unpunished with widespread impunity. The erosion of journalistic independence and increasing suppression of core press principles are the central findings of the 2026 index.

Regional performance varies widely across the Americas and beyond. Jamaica ranked 26th out of 180 countries, holding a relatively strong regional standing but continuing a years-long downward slide: it fell from 24th place in both 2024 and 2025, and from a top-10 ranking in 2020, with growing concerns over journalist safety and declining government transparency driving the drop. Trinidad and Tobago fell 13 places to rank 32nd; while the country still holds an overall “good” rating for press freedom, worsening economic and political conditions have eroded its media environment. Canada placed 20th, while the United States ranked 64th. At the lower end of the index, Russia ranked 172nd, China 178th, North Korea 179th, and Eritrea ranked last at 180th. In the Caribbean, Guyana slipped three spots to 76th, with an overall score of 59.58 (down from 60.12 in 2025), placing its media environment in the “problematic” category. Haiti ranked 107th, with a global score of 50.32, landing it in the “Difficult” category, reflecting a ongoing, severe crisis for independent journalism in the country. Burkina Faso ranked 110th overall. For the tenth consecutive year, Norway held the top spot on the index, with the Netherlands and Estonia rising to second and third place respectively, leading a top tier dominated by Nordic and Baltic nations with strong protections for press freedom.

As the global community gathers to mark World Press Freedom Day 2026, the occasion serves as a urgent reminder to governments worldwide to uphold their formal commitments to protecting press freedom. It is also a moment for media professionals to reflect on the challenges facing press freedom and core ethical standards of their work. In the words of former U.S. President Barack Obama: “we have to uphold a free press and freedom of speech because, in the end, lies and misinformation are no match for the truth.”

This commentary is from Wayne Campbell, an educator and social commentator focused on how development policies shape culture and gender equity, and does not represent the views of Duravision Inc., Dominica News Online, or any of its affiliated brands.

4 5 月, 2026
GDF soldier shot on border with Venezuela

On Monday morning, May 4 2026, a shooting incident on the disputed Guyana-Venezuela border left a member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) wounded, adding new tension to a long-running territorial dispute that is currently being reviewed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

According to an official statement released by the GDF, the attack took place at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time in the Black Water area, where a GDF boat patrol was conducting an escort mission for three civilian vessels carrying personnel and cargo traveling from Makapa to Eteringbang. Unidentified attackers opened fire on the convoy, striking the deployed soldier twice in the right leg. Military medics quickly stabilized the injured service member, who is now being evacuated to the capital city of Georgetown to receive advanced medical care.

After the ambush, the GDF patrol engaged the attackers in return fire and successfully maneuvered the entire civilian convoy out of the high-risk zone to safety. To date, the GDF has not confirmed whether the individuals who opened fire were Venezuelan security forces or armed civilians operating from the Venezuelan side of the border. However, a senior unnamed GDF officer noted in an off-the-record comment that Venezuelan authorities must be aware of the armed groups operating in the area, which uses the dense jungle along the Cuyuni River as cover to launch attacks against Guyanese personnel. “We are being attacked from the Venezuelan side of the Cuyuni by a group who uses the jungle as cover from sight and fire. The Venezuelan authorities can not be unaware of this situation,” the senior officer stated.

This shooting is not an isolated event: the GDF confirmed that prior attacks targeting Guyanese soldiers have occurred in the same border region in previous months and years. The timing of Monday’s incident coincides with the opening of public hearings at the ICJ focused on the substantive merits of the territorial dispute between the two South American nations. At the core of the dispute is the legal validity of the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award, which originally established the current land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.

In the aftermath of the attack, the GDF reaffirmed its commitment to securing the country’s western border. “The Force remains fully committed to the protection of its personnel and the safeguarding of Guyana’s territorial integrity,” the statement read, adding that the military will maintain a robust, active operational presence across the entire border region moving forward.

4 5 月, 2026
Suriname, diaspora en de toekomst: drie lijnen voor duurzame ontwikkeling

At the PSA Diaspora and Investor Dialogue held in Amsterdam on Sunday, Ashwin Adhin, Speaker of the National Assembly of Suriname, laid out a comprehensive, long-term vision for strengthening ties between the South American nation and its global diaspora community, outlining three interconnected pillars to guide Suriname’s development through 2050.

Decades of institutional disconnection have shaped the relationship between Suriname and its diaspora: since the country gained independence from the Netherlands in 1975, hundreds of thousands of Surinamese people living abroad have fallen outside Suriname’s formal legal framework, losing their official citizenship status despite retaining deep cultural and emotional connections to their homeland. Adhin argues this long-standing gap requires a fundamental shift in policy framing.

For generations, Adhin noted, Suriname has approached its diaspora primarily through the lens of potential investment, rather than recognizing community members as full members of the Surinamese nation. To reverse this dynamic, Adhin proposed four legislative priorities he will bring back to the capital Paramaribo for formal consideration. These include practical adjustments such as extending existing PSA resident status and expanding residency rights, as well as more sweeping reform: a new Law of National Connection that would allow Surinamese people living abroad to restore their formal legal ties to Suriname without being forced to renounce their current citizenship. Additional proposals include a new “PSA-plus” status that grants broad rights to diaspora members without full citizenship, and a constitutional amendment to permanently enshrine the relationship between Suriname and its diaspora, preventing future governments from weakening these protections.

The second pillar of Adhin’s vision centers on economic development, with a specific focus on the country’s emerging oil and gas sector. Suriname is preparing to enter a transformative new phase, with commercial oil production from the country’s large GranMorgu field slated to begin in 2028. Projected revenues from the sector are expected to reach billions of dollars, representing an unprecedented opportunity for national growth.

Despite this potential, Adhin issued a clear warning against overreliance on fossil fuel extraction. Oil is not an end goal, he emphasized, but rather a tool to finance broad-based economic transformation. Overdependence on the sector would leave Suriname dangerously vulnerable to global oil price volatility and growing international pressure to transition away from fossil fuels.

To avoid this trap, Adhin introduced the “Oil & Gas Plus” strategy, which would channel oil revenues into developing six key non-extractive sectors to build a diversified economy: agriculture and food production, water economy, gold value chain expansion, carbon credit development and forest management, medical tourism, and ecotourism. Adhin added that the diaspora is uniquely positioned to drive growth in these new sectors, as many Surinamese people living abroad hold specialized expertise in high-demand fields including healthcare, information technology, finance, and education.

The third and final pillar lays out Adhin’s 2050 long-term vision, which aims to reposition Suriname from a commodity-dependent economy to a strategic regional hub. This shift would move Suriname from a “resource-based” national identity to a “network-based” identity, with four core focus areas: a regional financial hub with modern banking regulation and a regional stock exchange, a logistics hub with upgraded ports, aviation infrastructure and cross-border connections, a digital hub with investments in data centers, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure, and an educational hub that serves as a regional center for advanced training and higher education. Under this plan, the services sector would become the largest contributor to Suriname’s GDP by 2050, creating thousands of new jobs in technology, consulting, and financial services.

A core throughline of Adhin’s address was the recognition that the Surinamese diaspora is already a major economic force, not just a potential source of future investment. Diaspora members currently send hundreds of millions of dollars in remittances back to Suriname each year, making them current financial partners in the country’s development rather than distant future investors. Adhin called for expanded structural support to grow this role, highlighting existing opportunities including tax incentives and access to international financing through institutions such as Afreximbank for diaspora entrepreneurs looking to launch businesses in Suriname.

As Speaker of the National Assembly, Adhin emphasized that his role is not to implement policy directly, but to advance these priorities through legislative action, pushing for long-stalled dossiers to finally receive parliamentary consideration and enshrine the diaspora relationship in permanent law. He also stressed the critical importance of bilateral cooperation with the Netherlands, including updates to existing bilateral treaties, noting that mutually agreed bilateral arrangements are the only way to reach a sustainable, widely accepted solution to nationality and rights issues for diaspora members.

Closing his address, Adhin framed Suriname’s future as a collective choice for all Surinamese, whether they live within the country’s borders or abroad. The country must decide whether to remain dependent on finite natural resources, or build a resilient, diverse economy rooted in knowledge, strong institutions, and cross-community collaboration. The diaspora, he emphasized, is not just a source of capital – it is a core partner in building Suriname’s future for generations to come.

4 5 月, 2026
Caribbean Court of Justice strengthens judicial cooperation through high-level European knowledge exchange visit

Between April 27 and 30, 2026, a delegation led by Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) President Winston Anderson wrapped up a high-impact four-day knowledge-sharing and collaboration tour of key European judicial institutions, built to strengthen cross-regional judicial capacity and foster long-term institutional partnerships. Funded by the European Union through the 11th European Development Fund, the mission marked a deliberate step to connect two major regional judicial systems and exchange actionable insights on modern court operations.

The CCJ delegation’s itinerary centered on three of Europe’s most influential international legal bodies, starting with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) based in Luxembourg. There, the team was officially received by CJEU President Koen Lenaerts and Vice President Marc van der Woude, holding structured high-level discussions before observing ongoing court proceedings. Beyond formal dialogues, the delegation gained exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the CJEU’s core administrative functions, from digital case management infrastructure and communications protocols to specialized judicial library services. This hands-on exposure allowed the CCJ team to study the CJEU’s tested approaches to boosting operational efficiency and embedding innovation into daily court work.

From Luxembourg, the delegation traveled to Strasbourg, France—a global hub recognized for advancing international human rights law and intergovernmental legal cooperation—to meet with leadership from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Council of Europe. The CCJ team held judicial dialogues with ECtHR judge Arnfinn Bårdsen and members of the court’s Section V registrar team, and President Anderson also paid a formal courtesy call to Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset.

Across all Strasbourg engagements, participants centered talks on three defining priorities for modern regional courts: upholding unwavering judicial independence, advancing effective regional integration through law, and clarifying the critical role that supranational judicial bodies play in defending democratic values, the rule of law, and fundamental human rights. For the CCJ, these dialogues reinforced its long-standing commitment to continuous institutional improvement and mutually beneficial global judicial collaboration.

Unlike one-off diplomatic visits, this mission was designed as a two-way exchange: while the CCJ delegation drew on decades of European experience in supranational judicial governance to identify opportunities for refining its own operations, CCJ officials also shared their unique perspective on adjudicating disputes within a developing regional integration framework. The EU’s funding for the initiative underscores the bloc’s ongoing investment in strengthening rule of law institutions across the Caribbean, and lays the groundwork for future joint initiatives, training programs, and collaborative research between the CCJ and its European partner institutions.

4 5 月, 2026
Pringle Calls for Unity and Respect for Workers at ABWU Labour Day Rally

On Labour Day in Antigua and Barbuda, United Progressive Party (UPP) Leader and opposition head Jamale Pringle delivered a keynote address to crowds gathered at the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) rally, centering his remarks on honoring working people and pushing for cross-group unity to drive national progress. Opening his speech with formal greetings to the union’s executive branch, president, and general secretary, Pringle first extended his sincere praise to all members and organizers who dedicate their time and effort to sustain the union’s operations in service of the working class. Pringle emphasized that Labour Day carries far deeper meaning than a simple day off from work. He framed the annual observance as a living tribute to the generations of effort and sacrifice that workers across every sector of the country have poured into national growth. “Labour Day is not just a holiday. It is a celebration of dedication, skill, and the countless hours that keep our industries, businesses, and neighborhoods thriving,” he told the gathered crowd. Going beyond purely economic contributions, Pringle highlighted the far-reaching social impact of working people’s daily labor. He noted that workers’ effort does more than boost national output—it lays the foundation for strong families, nurtures individual and collective dreams, and builds the long-term future of Antigua and Barbuda. In his remarks, Pringle also acknowledged the persistent daily challenges that working people across the country face, while commending their consistent resilience in navigating and overcoming those barriers. A core policy-focused point of his address centered on workplace justice, with the UPP leader stressing that fair, respectful treatment must be non-negotiable for every worker. “Every worker deserves respect, fair treatment, and opportunity,” he stated, reaffirming his party’s commitment to advancing worker rights. The central throughline of Pringle’s speech was a urgent call for national unity, framing collective action as the only sustainable path toward meaningful national progress. “Progress is made together… we have to be united,” he told attendees, urging workers, union members, and political allies to align around shared goals for national development. Closing his address, Pringle reiterated unwavering solidarity between his party, the national labor movement, and all working people, closing with three rousing declarations of support: “Long live the United Progressive Party. Long live the working class. Long live the Antigua Barbuda Workers Union.”

4 5 月, 2026
PM Orders Back Pay to Be Cleared: ‘Every Single Worker Must Be Paid’

Fresh off his administration’s return to power following the April 30 general election, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda has delivered a forceful mandate to public sector leadership: clear all lingering back pay owed to public workers immediately, with no further delays or excuses.

Speaking at the annual Labour Day rally jointly hosted by the Antigua Trades and Labour Union (AT&LU) and the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party, Browne centered his address on upholding labor rights and fulfilling commitments to the nation’s workforce. Among his top priorities is resolving longstanding unpaid wage disputes, including those accumulated during the period of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, when dozens of workers faced suspended pay over compliance requirements.

The prime minister made clear that the administrative ball is now firmly in the court of senior public sector officials, who he has tasked with taking direct ownership of processing all outstanding claims. “When we said to you that they must process their back pay, we expect you to do so and to make sure that every single worker is paid,” Browne stated in his address. He went on to emphasize that funding for the payments is already secured and held in the national treasury, removing any financial justifications for continued hold-ups. “Do the research… provide the documentation, the money is in the treasury. Every single worker must be paid,” he added.

Browne’s hardline stance comes in response to persistent complaints from public sector workers across multiple departments, who have reported months-long delays in receiving owed back pay. Beyond the immediate financial issue, the prime minister warned that failing to address workers’ legitimate grievances erodes public trust in governmental institutions, stressing that all laborers deserve dignified, respectful treatment from their public sector employers. “Treat the workers with respect,” he said.

This order forms a core plank of the new administration’s broader labor agenda, which centers on raising wages, strengthening workplace protections, and improving overall working conditions for all workers across Antigua and Barbuda. Browne reaffirmed that securing full entitlements for the nation’s labor force will remain a top priority for his government as it works to deliver on the campaign commitments that secured its renewed mandate last month.

4 5 月, 2026