Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • Kublalsingh: PM must ‘step aside’ for aligning with ‘imperialists’

    Kublalsingh: PM must ‘step aside’ for aligning with ‘imperialists’

    Prominent environmental activist Dr. Wayne Kublalsingh has issued a forceful demand for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to relinquish her position, accusing her of embroiling Trinidad and Tobago in what he characterizes as an “imperialist” agenda through alleged support of controversial US military operations in the region.

    The controversy stems from ongoing US counter-narcotics operations that have resulted in over 80 fatalities across more than 20 lethal strikes in the Southern Caribbean and Pacific since September 2. United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has declared these operations in violation of established international law.

    During a December 7 vigil for peace at Woodford Square in Port of Spain, organized amid escalating US-Venezuela tensions, Kublalsingh delivered a scathing indictment of the government’s foreign policy alignment. “She appears to be actively encouraging this military approach, mirroring the previous Trump administration’s attempted strategy of invading Venezuela, installing an illegitimate leader, and securing oil access,” he asserted.

    The environmental advocate accused the administration of abandoning diplomatic channels in favor of militarized approaches, stating that Persad-Bissessar was following the “American playbook” of confrontation rather than negotiation. He called for her to “step aside peacefully and diplomatically” to preserve national interests.

    Regarding ongoing US investigations into potential war crimes allegations, Kublalsingh warned that the Prime Minister was effectively painting targets on herself and her supporters. He challenged the evidentiary basis of the strikes, demanding: “Has America produced any verification that these vessels transported drugs? Any proof these individuals were traffickers? The answer is none.”

    Radio and television personality Abeo Jackson amplified these concerns in an impassioned address, urging national unity across political divisions to confront what she termed the government’s “betrayal” of economic sovereignty. She specifically referenced damaged relations with Venezuela and lost opportunities for oil access, arguing that the administration was sacrificing national interests to align with “big imperialist nations.”

    Movement for Social Justice leader David Abdulah, addressing questions about the modest turnout, emphasized the qualitative significance of the diverse cross-section of participants. He maintained that Trinidad and Tobago’s international reputation had suffered severe damage due to the administration’s policies, stating that protesters were “maintaining the integrity of TT” against complicity in questionable international operations.

    All three speakers framed the situation as a critical juncture for Caribbean sovereignty, invoking historical struggles for self-determination and calling for the region to maintain its status as a “zone of peace” through diplomatic engagement rather than military alignment.

  • Duke backs TPP: When Farley wins, we win

    Duke backs TPP: When Farley wins, we win

    In a dramatic political reversal, Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) leader Watson Duke has publicly endorsed the Tobago People’s Party (TPP) for the upcoming Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections scheduled for January 12. The announcement came during a December 8 media conference in Scarborough where Duke declared, “If Farley wins, we win. We are one.”

    This endorsement marks a significant reconciliation between formerly bitter political rivals. The PDP had achieved a landslide victory in the previous THA elections, securing 14 out of 15 seats. However, a substantial rupture occurred within the party just one year later when Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and twelve other assembly members defected from the PDP to establish the TPP following a very public dispute with Duke.

    The PDP subsequently experienced a disappointing performance in the April 28 general election, with Duke himself failing to secure victory as the Tobago East candidate. Following this electoral setback, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar disclosed that Duke had approached her seeking employment opportunities.

    Recent developments suggest a thaw in previously strained political relationships. Duke was among the attendees at a November 4 reception held at the Prime Minister’s official Blenheim residence in Tobago. The event followed Persad-Bissessar’s presentation of an export licence for the Studley Park project to Augustine. During the gathering, the Prime Minister acknowledged both political symbols, noting, “We have the flambeau (PDP symbol) and we have the anchor (TPP symbol),” while greeting Duke and another TPP official.

  • JLP hails court ruling in Buchanan matter as victory for rule of law

    JLP hails court ruling in Buchanan matter as victory for rule of law

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s Supreme Court has delivered a decisive ruling, rejecting a legal challenge against Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s electoral victory in the St Andrew West Central constituency. The court’s dismissal marks a significant affirmation of the country’s electoral integrity and judicial processes.

    Justice Sonya Wint-Blair presided over the case brought by Paul Buchanan, an aspirant from the opposition People’s National Party (PNP), who sought judicial review of the election results. In her Monday ruling, Justice Wint-Blair determined the case was legally unarguable and described it as having suffered a ‘knock-out blow’ in judicial terms. The court found two critical flaws: the challenge was filed after the expiration of the mandatory statutory period, and the application itself lacked substantive merit.

    Senator Abka Fitz-Henley, Chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Communication Task Force, welcomed the verdict as a victory for democratic principles. Fitz-Henley revealed that the JLP had anticipated this outcome based on prior legal counsel from King’s Counsel Tom Tavares-Finson, who also serves as a Commissioner of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica. ‘We are not taken aback by it,’ Fitz-Henley stated. ‘Indeed, we are of the view that it’s an indication of the upholding of our finest democratic traditions… an upholding of the rule of law.’

    The JLP representative further characterized the lawsuit as part of a pattern of political strategy, accusing the PNP of employing ‘disinformation, fake news and misinformation to burnish their political agenda.’ Fitz-Henley criticized affidavits submitted by individuals aligned with Buchanan, noting that independent electoral workers from the constituency did not support the claims of irregularities. He additionally accused the Mark Golding-led PNP of targeting Prime Minister Holness with ‘untruthful allegations,’ warning that such tactics could undermine public trust in Jamaica’s democratic institutions.

  • ‘Blue’ Johnson to run as independent candidate for Freetown

    ‘Blue’ Johnson to run as independent candidate for Freetown

    In a significant political development, Andrew ‘Blue’ Johnson has officially declared his independent candidacy for the Freetown constituency in the upcoming general election. This decision comes months after the Free National Movement (FNM) opted not to nominate him as their representative.

    Mr. Johnson’s campaign launch on Saturday revealed intriguing cross-party dynamics, with former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis making an unexpected appearance and Progressive Liberal Party MP Leroy Major opening the event with a prayer. This unusual show of support from figures across the political spectrum highlights the unpredictable nature of the upcoming election.

    The independent candidate has invested approximately $400,000 of personal funds to establish his constituency office in a barbershop formerly owned by his late father. Johnson has already demonstrated his commitment to the community through substantial grassroots initiatives, including repairing over 50 roofs, clearing properties, removing abandoned vehicles, providing school uniforms, and distributing food vouchers to residents.

    When questioned about his political affiliations, Johnson emphasized his primary loyalty lies with Freetown’s constituents rather than any political organization. ‘I am a, most of all, supporter of Free Town and its people,’ he stated, adding that he holds no opposition toward FNM, PLP, or COI parties but remains focused on serving his community’s needs.

    Political analysts suggest Johnson’s independent bid could significantly influence the electoral outcome in Freetown, potentially drawing votes from both major parties and altering the traditional political landscape in the constituency.

  • Kamla slams ‘malicious’ PNM over Couva Hospital — $100m in equipmentnow useless

    Kamla slams ‘malicious’ PNM over Couva Hospital — $100m in equipmentnow useless

    Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has publicly condemned the former PNM administration for what she characterized as “malicious neglect” regarding the Couva Children’s Hospital. Speaking at a re-dedication ceremony on Sunday, the Prime Minister revealed that the previous government maintained the state-of-the-art facility shuttered for an entire decade while allowing approximately $100 million worth of medical equipment to deteriorate into obsolescence.

    According to an initial assessment conducted after her administration assumed office, the squandered resources included 217 unused medical devices valued at over $20.68 million still confined to their original packaging. Additionally, ten major radiology systems—featuring advanced 3T MRI and 64-slice CT scanning technology—worth more than $33.5 million had expired beyond functionality. The inventory of losses further encompassed 45 medical items valued at $14.2 million that became obsolete and 225 critical diagnostic and sterilization systems valued at $31.9 million rendered non-functional.

    “This represents not mere bureaucratic delay but deliberate malicious neglect,” Persad-Bissessar asserted. “These resources, funded by taxpayers, could have provided life-saving treatment to countless children throughout these lost years.”

    The legacy of this neglect continues to burden the nation financially. A recent Urban Development Corporation (Udecott) assessment estimates that taxpayers must now allocate $78.2 million to repair and replace the compromised medical equipment and address structural deficiencies identified in a September 17 report. The facility requires comprehensive mechanical, plumbing, electrical, architectural, and structural remediation.

    Despite these challenges, the government has initiated partial operations at the 230-bed hospital. Since November 28, surgical teams from all four regional health authorities have performed 86 same-day procedures, including fistula repairs, varicose vein ablations, breast mass removals, lump extractions, and complex hernia repairs. These initial interventions begin addressing waiting lists that exceed 11,300 cases, including more than 4,600 delayed ophthalmology procedures.

    The hospital has also launched Paediatric Specialist Clinics since December 1, providing care to 16 children who otherwise would have required overseas treatment in specialties including neurology, rheumatology, neonatal care, endocrinology, and cardiology.

    In a significant regional development, Persad-Bissessar announced a partnership with Guyana’s government during the ceremony attended by Keoma Griffith, Guyana’s Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning. This collaboration will facilitate the recruitment of approximately 50 Trinidadian doctors to address staffing needs in Guyana’s expanding healthcare system.

    The South West Regional Health Authority has commenced recruiting 40 additional nurses specifically for the Couva facility. The government plans to gradually introduce full MRI and CT imaging services, cataract and ophthalmology surgeries, and expanded endoscopies in coming months while continuing specialist staff recruitment.

    The re-dedication ceremony also featured acknowledgments of corporate and individual donors, including Trinclean Ltd’s contribution of 60 wheelchairs and Inovaar Marketing Consultancy Agency Limited’s donation of 58,000 medical-grade masks with an additional 8,000 pledged.

    This development occurs against the backdrop of recent revelations before a parliamentary committee that $80 million worth of pharmaceutical drugs expired at Nipdec’s central stores over the past decade, further highlighting systemic issues in the nation’s healthcare infrastructure management.

  • Supreme Court rejects Buchanan’s request for judicial review in St Andrew WC election dispute

    Supreme Court rejects Buchanan’s request for judicial review in St Andrew WC election dispute

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s Supreme Court has delivered a significant ruling by rejecting a judicial review application from Paul Buchanan, the People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for St Andrew West Central. Buchanan had contested the September 3 general election results, alleging procedural irregularities in his constituency.

    The court’s decision hinged primarily on the expiration of the statutory period for challenging election outcomes, rendering Buchanan’s application legally untenable. Judicial authorities emphasized that while the Constituted Authority remains subject to judicial scrutiny, Buchanan failed to present substantiated grounds for his case.

    The ruling highlighted that election disputes are governed by strict timelines under Jamaican law. Although Buchanan filed within the three-month maximum period permitted by civil procedure rules, the court found his nine-day delay between the Authority’s September 30 determination and his October 8 application demonstrated insufficient urgency. The judgment noted that his constituency-specific complaints did not raise broader constitutional questions that might have justified exceptional consideration.

    This decision reinforces the judicial system’s commitment to procedural discipline in electoral matters and establishes important precedent regarding the timely resolution of election disputes.

  • Former Haitian first lady renews a demand for justice for her husband

    Former Haitian first lady renews a demand for justice for her husband

    PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti—Martine Moïse, widow of assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, has issued a powerful renewed demand for justice nearly three years after her husband’s brutal killing. The former first lady, who survived the July 7, 2021 attack that claimed the president’s life, delivered a scathing indictment of Haiti’s judicial system, describing it as a weaponized tool for political persecution rather than an instrument of justice.

    In an emotionally charged statement, Moïse characterized Haiti’s justice system as being ‘in the hands of a small group that manipulates an entire population,’ asserting that her husband had consistently denounced this corrupt system during his presidency. She revealed disturbing patterns within the judicial framework: those without powerful connections ‘die in prison,’ while wealthy individuals evade incarceration ‘even with solid evidence against them.’

    The former first lady drew direct connections between previous judicial attacks on her husband and his ultimate assassination, specifically referencing events on February 7, 2021, when Haitian authorities claimed to have thwarted an attempted coup against President Moïse. She pointedly questioned the whereabouts of judges who had issued warrants against the president while he was executing his constitutional duties, suggesting these legal instruments were ultimately weaponized to facilitate his murder.

    Moïse’s statement extended beyond personal tragedy to address Haiti’s broader crisis, attributing the country’s paralyzing violence to ‘oligarchs, corrupt politicians, and globalist whites’ who she claims ‘sacrificed the People by assassinating President Jovenel Moïse.’ She warned of ongoing strategies to consolidate power through violent means, creating what she described as a ‘violent, enslaving system that sucks their blood.’

    Invoking Haiti’s revolutionary heroes—Padrejean, Makandal, Boukman, Toussaint, and Dessalines—Moïse recalled their rallying cry of ‘Liberty or death’ as relevant to the current crisis. She concluded with her husband’s haunting question from a recorded video: ‘What will we do in the face of these criminals, these lawless bandits?’ asserting that ‘the people have had enough’ and that ‘the time has come for the system to collapse.’

  • EU losses due to sanctions on Russia estimate at 1.6 trillion euros

    EU losses due to sanctions on Russia estimate at 1.6 trillion euros

    In a strongly-worded declaration published on its official portal, Russia’s Foreign Ministry has characterized the extensive economic sanctions imposed by Western nations as fundamentally counterproductive instruments of neocolonial policy. While acknowledging unprecedented economic pressures, the Ministry asserted that Russia has demonstrated remarkable economic resilience and maintained growth trajectories despite these external challenges.

    The diplomatic communique presented a detailed economic assessment, claiming that anti-Russian restrictions alone would inflict approximately €1.6 trillion in losses upon European economies between 2022 and 2025. This projection underscores the Ministry’s central argument that unilateral coercive measures ultimately harm their initiators more than their intended targets.

    Beyond economic considerations, the statement framed these sanctions within a broader geopolitical context, alleging they represent deliberate attempts to undermine the emergence of a multipolar world order. The Ministry accused Western powers of employing restrictive measures as tools to maintain global dominance while deliberately constraining the development of major nations outside their sphere of influence.

    In response to these challenges, Russia announced its commitment to collaborating with like-minded international partners to combat what it termed ‘illegitimate restrictive measures’ and other manifestations of neocolonialism. The Ministry emphasized its determination to establish a more equitable global architecture free from what it described as the dictates of sanction-based diplomacy.

  • US Peace Plan for Ukraine needs radical changes

    US Peace Plan for Ukraine needs radical changes

    Russian Presidential Advisor Yuri Ushakov has indicated that ongoing diplomatic discussions with the United States require substantial revisions to American proposals, describing the necessary changes as “radical” in nature. In an interview with Rossiya 1 television journalist Pavel Zarubin, Ushakov revealed that American documents presented during negotiations “are constantly changing and being prepared,” suggesting a fluid negotiation process.

    The high-ranking Kremlin official reported improved bilateral understanding following the recent Moscow visit of US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. “Undoubtedly, now the Americans better understand the logic of our position,” Ushakov asserted, indicating a potential shift in diplomatic alignment between the two nations.

    Regarding the possibility of a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, Ushakov clarified that this specific topic remained outside recent discussion parameters. “That specific topic wasn’t even discussed,” the presidential advisor noted, dampening speculation about an imminent leadership meeting.

    The diplomatic exchanges occurred during a December 2 meeting at the Kremlin where President Putin received both Special Envoy Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and founder of Affinity Partners. These discussions centered on the White House’s peace proposal for Ukraine, which reportedly divides 27 negotiation points into four distinct packages for separate consideration.

    Ushakov characterized the Kremlin talks as “very substantive” and confirmed that contacts between Russia and the United States would continue. Notably, the advisor highlighted that Russia’s military achievements in conflict zones have positively influenced both the progression and character of the negotiations, suggesting battlefield developments directly impact diplomatic leverage.

  • Barbados’ diplomat remembers Cuba-CARICOM anniversary

    Barbados’ diplomat remembers Cuba-CARICOM anniversary

    CARICOM member states are preparing to mark a significant anniversary this December 8, celebrating what diplomatic officials characterize as one of the most courageous foreign policy decisions in Caribbean history. The commemoration honors the landmark 1972 joint declaration that defied hemispheric isolation policies against Cuba.

    Ambassador David Comissiong, in a recent social media statement, emphasized that the upcoming observance revitalizes the spirit of the historic October 1972 proclamation. During that pivotal Conference of Heads of Government in Chaguaramas, the prime ministers of four newly independent Caribbean nations—Barbados’ Errol Barrow, Jamaica’s Michael Manley, Trinidad and Tobago’s Eric Williams, and Guyana’s Forbes Burnham—collectively announced their sovereign decision to establish diplomatic relations with Cuba.

    This bold move, described by historians as ‘speaking truth to power,’ represented a direct challenge to the Organization of American States (OAS)-led isolation regime imposed on Cuba. The four youngest independent states in the Western Hemisphere demonstrated remarkable diplomatic autonomy by rejecting external pressures and asserting their right to independent foreign policy.

    The 1972 declaration explicitly affirmed the nations’ ‘sovereign right to establish relations with any other sovereign state’ and articulated their determination to ‘achieve meaningful and comprehensive economic cooperation among all Caribbean countries.’ This principle of regional cooperation and non-alignment continues to inform CARICOM’s foreign policy approach today.

    Ambassador Comissiong recalled Prime Minister Barrow’s seminal 1973 speech in Toronto, where the Barbadian leader declared that the decision ‘demonstrates that developing nations can take initiative. We cannot stand idly by in the Caribbean and expect our strategy to be dictated by the prejudices of people in other countries.’ This statement encapsulated the assertion of Caribbean agency in international relations that continues to resonate through regional diplomacy.