Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • Girard faces press, insists Youth Economy still delivering

    Girard faces press, insists Youth Economy still delivering

    In a rare public appearance with reporters ahead of this week’s Cabinet meeting, Saint Lucia’s Economic Development and Youth Economy Minister Wayne Girard pushed back against speculation that he has been avoiding media scrutiny, while offering clarity on recent internal shakeups at the country’s Youth Economy Agency (YEA) and reaffirming the organization’s core mission to empower young Saint Lucians.

    Girard, who had previously pledged to increase his public engagements with the press, addressed lingering questions about his limited visibility to date. He emphasized that his reduced public profile stemmed from a deliberate focus on advancing the priorities of his dual ministries, not a reluctance to engage with media. “It is not that I do not want to speak to reporters — I have plenty to share with the public,” he told journalists at Monday’s briefing. “I have no issues at all with being accessible to the press.”

    Much of the briefing centered on the YEA, a government body designed to support youth entrepreneurship across the island. Girard confirmed that the agency remains fully operational despite a wave of high-profile staff departures over the past 12 months, including former chief executive officer Bryan Vidal and multiple other original members of the leadership team. When asked if the exits signaled a fundamental shift in the agency’s direction or core philosophy, Girard framed the changes as unplanned, circumstantial transitions rather than a deliberate restructuring. He clarified that no staff were forced out of their roles, noting that Vidal made a personal choice to leave the organization. A new permanent CEO was already appointed to take over the role earlier this month, and the agency is currently moving forward with hiring for two additional open positions: a communications specialist and a procurement officer, according to the minister.

    Beyond addressing leadership changes, Girard made a forceful case for the YEA’s long-term importance to Saint Lucia’s economic and demographic future. Since its launch, the agency has disbursed more than 3,000 grants to young aspiring entrepreneurs across the country, with a new batch of applications currently under review, he said. Girard argued that the initiative is far more than a political gesture to court young voters: it is a critical policy intervention to address two of the island’s most pressing long-term challenges: an aging population and persistently low birth rates. If Saint Lucia fails to actively engage its young population in productive economic activity now, the country will face severe headwinds in the coming years, he warned. “If we do not get the situation of our young people right, we are going to be in significant trouble down the line,” he said. “This is not just politics carving out space for young people to turn their hobbies into business skills — it is a line of defense for the future of our country.”

    Girard also sought to dispel rumors that grant access is tied to political affiliation, stressing that all young Saint Lucians with viable business ideas are eligible for support regardless of their political leanings. He encouraged any young person with a entrepreneurial concept to reach out to the agency directly to access available resources. “If you come to the Youth Economy Agency with a solid idea and a clear initiative, you will get the assistance you need,” he said. “This has nothing to do with politics. It is simply about recognizing how important it is to ensure every young person in our country can contribute productively to our economy.”

  • “We Will Never Bow Our Head”: Iran’s President Tells Trump at UN

    “We Will Never Bow Our Head”: Iran’s President Tells Trump at UN

    At the 2026 United Nations General Assembly held in New York on September 23, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a defiant address to global leaders, pushing back against escalating pressure from the United States and reaffirming Iran’s refusal to concede to external coercion.

    A central focus of Pezeshkian’s speech centered on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical global waterway that carries a significant share of the world’s oil and maritime trade. He emphasized that Iran would not permit the United States or any foreign power to exploit the strait as a tool of aggression against Tehran. “We cannot let some have free access and gain their interest from a waterway while at the same time using that waterway to impose their aggressions upon us, to impose insecurity upon us, to forbid us access to our own waterways,” Pezeshkian told the assembled body.

    The Iranian leader directly rejected demands from US President Donald Trump, stating clearly that Iran would “never bow our head or bend at the knee” to external pressure. He clarified that Iran’s overture to international cooperation is not a sign of weakness, but a reflection of the nation’s confidence in its own resilience. “Iran extends her hand towards the world, we invite the world. We call the world, not out of weakness, but out of a deep belief in our own power and steadfastness to cooperate and collaborate,” he added.

    Pezeshkian’s remarks came in direct response to Trump’s address to the General Assembly one day earlier, where the US president claimed he faced a binary choice between annihilating Iran or negotiating a new deal to end ongoing hostilities between the two nations. On the sidelines of the UN gathering, US officials confirmed that American and Iranian delegations have held indirect talks through third-party mediators, though no details of the discussions have been released to the public.

    During his speech, Pezeshkian also accused the United States of ongoing aggression against Iran, noting that the Iranian people have long “been the victims of terrorism”. This portion of the address prompted the sole US delegate in attendance to walk out of the chamber in protest.

    The ongoing confrontation between the two nations has already had measurable global consequences. Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped sharply since the outbreak of hostilities, exacerbating economic instability in already tense global markets and extending the impact of the bilateral conflict far beyond the Middle East. Despite this pressure, Pezeshkian insisted that Iran would not surrender to economic sanctions, military posturing, or what he framed as international bullying, repeating that Tehran remains committed to working with the global community to achieve what he called “true peace and stability.”

  • Dominican Republic and Azerbaijan agree to visa-free travel for ordinary passport holders

    Dominican Republic and Azerbaijan agree to visa-free travel for ordinary passport holders

    Amid the bustling diplomatic activities of the 81st United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week in New York, two nations from different hemispheres have taken a significant step forward in deepening bilateral ties. The Dominican Republic and Azerbaijan have formally signed a landmark agreement that abolishes visa requirements for citizens of both countries holding valid ordinary passports, opening the door to enhanced people-to-people connectivity and closer cooperation across multiple sectors.

    The visa-free agreement was sealed by Dominican Foreign Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó and Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on the sidelines of the UN gathering. Under the terms of the newly struck deal, citizens from both nations can enter, exit, or transit through the other country without first obtaining a travel visa, and are permitted to stay for a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day period. This new policy is expected to remove a key barrier that has long hindered travel, business exchanges, and cultural interactions between the two countries.

    Beyond the visa waiver agreement, the two foreign ministers also put their signatures to a separate Memorandum of Understanding. This document establishes a formal mechanism for regular political consultations between the two governments, creating a structured channel for ongoing dialogue on issues of mutual interest. During their bilateral meeting held alongside the signing ceremony, the ministers explored a wide range of opportunities to expand collaboration, covering political engagement, economic and trade partnerships, and cooperation in emerging areas that hold mutual benefit for both nations.

    This round of diplomatic agreements aligns with the Dominican Republic’s broader strategic goal of diversifying its international partnerships. By forging closer ties with nations across the globe, the country aims to unlock new opportunities for trade growth, attract foreign investment, boost tourism development, and strengthen multilateral cooperation across a variety of fields. For Azerbaijan, the agreement represents another step forward in expanding its diplomatic footprint in the Americas and building new economic and political bridges outside of its traditional regional partnerships. Analysts note that this kind of people-centered diplomatic agreement lays the groundwork for deeper long-term engagement, as increased travel and exchange often pave the way for stronger business ties and more robust political cooperation in the future.

  • OPBAT framework allows US counter-drug operations

    OPBAT framework allows US counter-drug operations

    For over 40 years, Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos — widely known by its acronym OPBAT — has served as the formal legal foundation that allows United States counter-narcotics personnel and aircraft to conduct operations across Bahamian territory. This longstanding partnership has moved into the spotlight this week, as new questions emerge about the activities of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents operating in the island nation, putting OPBAT’s rules and authority under fresh scrutiny.

    The trilateral initiative was first launched in 1982 as a joint effort between the United States, the Bahamas, and the United Kingdom (which acts on behalf of the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory). It was created to address a rapidly growing crisis: the explosion of cocaine and marijuana trafficking through the northern Caribbean that had begun in the late 1970s. At that time, the chain of Bahamian islands and their surrounding waters had become critical transit points and refueling hubs for criminal organizations smuggling narcotics from South America to consumer markets in the United States.

    A 2011 U.S. congressional testimony laid out the core structure of the agreement: it explicitly authorizes OPBAT-affiliated helicopters and personnel to carry out counter-drug missions across both the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Operational leadership has fallen primarily to the DEA since the program’s founding, with close collaboration from multiple U.S. agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Department of State, alongside law enforcement units from the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands.

    From its earliest days, the partnership has divided responsibilities clearly between participating forces, per historical documentation. A 2001 State Department report on OPBAT activities notes that local officers from the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) Drug Enforcement Unit and the Turks and Caicos Police led all enforcement actions, including arrests and drug seizures. DEA special agents joined missions only to provide strategic guidance, cross-border coordination, and intelligence support. The program has relied heavily on U.S. assets to cover the Bahamas’ vast, spread-out archipelago, including advanced surveillance technology, aircraft, and maritime enforcement resources.

    The long-running partnership remains active decades later, with high-profile seizures continuing into 2024. In March of this year, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that OPBAT partners carried out a major seizure in Mayaguana, where Bahamian police and DEA agents intercepted a suspected smuggling aircraft and seized approximately 391 kilograms of cocaine. The RBPF took custody of the arrested suspect and lead the ongoing investigation, in line with the program’s longstanding role division.

    Beyond counter-narcotics work, OPBAT’s resources and infrastructure have been repurposed for other regional security priorities. U.S. authorities confirm that OPBAT assets have been deployed to disrupt human smuggling networks and support search-and-rescue operations across the northern Caribbean. The broader security partnership has also allowed the U.S. to deliver critical equipment and specialized training to Bahamian law enforcement agencies. Between 2013 and 2019, four high-speed marine interception vessels donated through U.S. assistance programs participated in OPBAT missions, contributing to the seizure of nearly eight metric tons of cocaine. Official data shows that OPBAT seized 219 metric tons of illegal drugs across the region in 2019 alone.

    Historical records highlight the program’s cumulative impact over four decades. By 2003, just 21 years after its launch, U.S. officials cited U.K. government data reporting that OPBAT had seized more than 75,000 kilograms of cocaine and 375,000 kilograms of marijuana since operations began. The U.S. Coast Guard has repeatedly described OPBAT as the cornerstone of regional security cooperation in the northern Caribbean, and officials from all participating nations have held ongoing discussions about updating and expanding the framework to address evolving transnational crime threats.

    Despite this long history of cooperation, the existence of the OPBAT framework does not resolve the questions at the heart of the current controversy. It remains unconfirmed whether the DEA agents at the center of this week’s dispute were conducting activities as part of an official OPBAT mission, or whether their actions fell within the scope of authority granted under the program’s founding agreements.

  • Abel Martínez says there is a “mafia” behind deportations of Haitians in the Dominican Republic

    Abel Martínez says there is a “mafia” behind deportations of Haitians in the Dominican Republic

    In campaign gatherings held in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, leading presidential aspirant Abel Martínez has raised explosive allegations of systemic corruption surrounding the country’s ongoing deportation operations targeting undocumented foreign residents, claiming a criminal “mafia” network has infiltrated official immigration procedures to extort bribes from migrants seeking to avoid expulsion.

    Speaking during his recurring grassroots “A Coffee with Abel” outreach sessions in the Bella Vista and Yagüita del Pastor neighborhoods, Martínez addressed the issue alongside local Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) members, community leaders, and assembled supporters, outlining his stark criticisms of the current government’s handling of immigration enforcement.

    The presidential candidate emphasized that all individuals residing in the Dominican Republic without valid legal documentation should be held accountable under existing immigration law, with no exceptions made based on nationality. He pushed back against the current administration’s approach, calling for federal authorities to implement more robust, transparent, and accountable action to uphold the country’s immigration statutes, and to follow through on the public enforcement commitments officials have already made to curb irregular migration.

    Martínez also reminded attendees that he has previously backed legitimate government efforts to regulate immigration flows into the country, but stressed that lax oversight and weak controls have created openings for corruption. He warned that the Dominican Republic cannot sustain its current approach to undocumented migration, arguing that more rigorous, transparent governance of the system is long overdue.

    Martínez’s comments come amid a sweeping year of immigration enforcement by the Dominican government in 2026. Official data from the General Directorate of Migration shows that as of August 21 this year, authorities have processed more than 250,000 undocumented migrants through detention and border control facilities. Of that total, nearly 186,140 people have been deported, while an additional 64,290 have undergone formal voluntary repatriation processes.

  • Abinader receives Americas Society’s highest honor for leadership and regional impact

    Abinader receives Americas Society’s highest honor for leadership and regional impact

    In a formal ceremony held in New York City this week, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader has been honored with the Gold Badge, the highest distinction bestowed by the Americas Society, in recognition of his transformative leadership at home, successful post-pandemic economic recovery, and unwavering commitment to democratic governance and cross-regional collaboration. The award was officially presented to Abinader by Susan Segal, President and CEO of Americas Society/Council of the Americas, and Andrés Gluski, the organization’s board chairman. The president was joined at the event by First Lady Raquel Arbaje, their daughters, and Dominican Republic Foreign Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó.

    In his acceptance address, President Abinader outlined the striking socioeconomic advances his administration has delivered over recent years, citing official domestic data to underscore progress. He noted that the Dominican Republic has maintained a steady 4.5% annual economic growth rate, while cutting the national monetary poverty rate nearly in half from 26% in 2019 to just 14.5% in the first half of 2026. Prevalence of undernourishment across the country has also plummeted over his tenure, dropping from 8.7% to less than 2.5%, he added.

    Looking ahead to the full year, Abinader projected that the Dominican Republic will welcome close to 12.4 million international tourists by the end of 2026, a new milestone for the country’s key tourism sector. He also forecast that total foreign direct investment inflows will surpass $5.2 billion this year. Abinader highlighted the rapid expansion of the country’s free trade zones, growing exports of medical devices and electronic equipment, and his administration’s forward-looking policy focus on emerging high-growth sectors including artificial intelligence and semiconductor assembly.

    Beyond economic progress, the president emphasized his administration’s longstanding commitment to strengthening democratic institutions across the Dominican Republic. He pointed to the 2024 constitutional reform that codified a two-term limit for sitting presidents, framing the measure as a core part of his administration’s lasting legacy. He used the occasion to reaffirm the Dominican Republic’s dedication to upholding democratic norms and deepening collaborative ties across the Americas.

    The Gold Badge, the Americas Society’s most prestigious award, is reserved exclusively for democratically elected leaders whose work has delivered significant, long-lasting positive impact to their nations and the broader Western Hemisphere. In his opening remarks ahead of the award presentation, Gluski praised Abinader for his effective leadership steering the Dominican Republic through post-crisis economic recovery, strengthening national public institutions, advancing regional cooperation on public security, and building more resilient global supply chains with partners across the hemisphere.

  • Dominican Republic establishes diplomatic ties with Somalia and expands international relations

    Dominican Republic establishes diplomatic ties with Somalia and expands international relations

    On the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Dominican Republic has advanced its global diplomatic outreach with a series of key agreements and engagements, highlighted by the formal establishment of full diplomatic relations with Somalia. This landmark accord brings the total number of nations that share formal diplomatic ties with the Caribbean country to 188, marking a significant milestone in the Dominican Republic’s efforts to broaden its international presence.

    The mutual diplomatic recognition agreement was signed Wednesday by top diplomatic leaders of both nations: Víctor “Ito” Bisonó, Dominican Republic’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Abdisalam Abdi Ali, Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The signing was formalized via a joint statement aligned with the protocols and frameworks set out in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
    Beyond the new partnership with Somalia, Bisonó secured a second key agreement on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session with Indonesia. The two nations signed a visa exemption arrangement covering holders of diplomatic, official, and service passports. Under the terms of the deal, qualifying passport holders from both countries can enter, exit, transit through, and remain in the other nation for up to 30 days without requiring a pre-arrival visa, a change expected to streamline official travel and deepen people-to-people and institutional connections between the two states.
    To wrap up his multilateral engagements during the UNGA, Bisonó also held structured bilateral meetings with two other top foreign policy leaders: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and Margus Tsahkna, Foreign Minister of Estonia. During these closed-door discussions, the parties reviewed the current state of their existing bilateral relations and explored a wide range of untapped opportunities to expand mutually beneficial cooperation across multiple sectors.
    These diplomatic moves underscore the Dominican Republic’s ongoing push to strengthen its global engagement, diversify its international partnerships, and create new pathways for collaboration across political, economic, and cultural spheres as it participates in the annual UN General Assembly gathering of world leaders.

  • Guyana to impose sanctions on Haitian, Venezuelan, other narco-terrorist groups

    Guyana to impose sanctions on Haitian, Venezuelan, other narco-terrorist groups

    On September 23, 2026, member states of the U.S.-led Shield of the Americas initiative concluded a high-stakes meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, unveiling a coordinated, historic crackdown on 24 transnational narco-terrorist organizations operating across the Americas, including Haiti’s most powerful violent gang coalition Viv Ansamn.

    The collective punitive measures, laid out in a formal Joint Statement on Defending Hemispheric Sovereignty released after talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, cover a range of targeted actions aligned with each participating nation’s domestic legislation and international legal commitments. These steps include freezing assets held by the listed groups and their affiliates, imposing strict immigration and visa bans on group members, associates, and financial backers, and establishing criminal accountability for any individual that knowingly provides material or logistical support to the blacklisted organizations.

    At the top of the sanctions list is Viv Ansamn, a large alliance of Haitian gangs headed by Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, a notorious former police officer. The bloc holds the group directly responsible for fueling widespread political instability across Haiti and blocking democratic national elections unless it is granted a direct role in the political process.

    Two major Venezuelan criminal groups—Tren de Aragua and Cartel de Los Soles—were also included in the first joint punitive action under the initiative’s new framework, which centers on coordinated individual and collective action to counter the spread of narco-terrorism. The Guyana government has previously raised repeated security alarms over incursions by Tren de Aragua members crossing the border from Venezuela into Guyana’s contested Essequibo Region. Notably, former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was ousted from power by U.S. military forces on January 3 this year, had already been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control for his documented ties to Cartel de Los Soles.

    Brazil’s two most formidable criminal networks also feature on the 24-group blacklist: Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), the country’s largest criminal organization, and Comando Vermelho (CV), a decades-old major drug trafficking syndicate.

    In justifying the unified sanctions regime, participating nations emphasized that transnational narco-terrorist groups represent an immediate, shared existential threat to the entire Western Hemisphere. These criminal networks undermine regional peace and security, and directly threaten the safety, stability, and long-term economic prosperity of all citizens across participating states.

    To formalize and institutionalize the punitive measures, Shield of the Americas members announced plans to submit a joint formal request to the Chair of the Organization of American States Permanent Council. The request will call for a consultation meeting to vote on establishing a formal Organ of Consultation under Articles 6 and 13 of the Inter-American Treaty on Reciprocal Assistance, widely known as the Rio Treaty.

    Beyond the sanctions framework, the 15 member bloc—made up of the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago—also agreed to a broader set of shared commitments. These include coordinated action to defend democratic governance against armed narco-terrorist networks, aligned sanctions designations, joint financial countermeasures against terrorists and criminal actors, expanded cross-border civilian law enforcement cooperation, and the delivery of humanitarian and public communications assistance to protect the popular democratic will across the hemisphere.

    Member states also pledged to uphold and advance mutual respect for national sovereignty and each nation’s right to self-determination through multilateral channels. They committed to coordinating on shared priorities, from catalyzing coordinated international enforcement action against transnational organized crime to advancing targeted reforms of key hemispheric multilateral institutions.

  • ‘Smooth talkers’ undermining government’s agenda — Leacock

    ‘Smooth talkers’ undermining government’s agenda — Leacock

    In a candid on-air address to ruling party supporters on Monday, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Acting Prime Minister St. Clair Leacock has issued a stark warning: the newly installed New Democratic Party (NDP) administration is facing deliberate, hidden obstruction from public sector officials who are working covertly to derail the government’s policy goals.

    Speaking during *New Times*, the NDP’s weekly radio broadcast, Leacock — who also holds the national security portfolio — detailed what he calls systemic institutional resistance and internal sabotage across key state agencies. He described a pattern of behavior where public officials offer warm, agreeable words to sitting ministers to build trust, while quietly working to slow or block reforms out of a desire to see the new government fail.

    Leacock recounted a conversation with a fellow cabinet minister who had reached the same conclusion about one senior public servant: the official told the minister exactly what he wanted to hear to earn confidence, but their actions offstage pushed against the administration’s agenda. “You develop greater and greater belief in you. But underneath, the undercurrents are going in a different direction,” Leacock said, recounting the minister’s observation. He added that many officials still underestimate the new leadership, falsely believing they can mislead ministers, fake progress on policy priorities, and sabotage outcomes without consequence.

    Leacock’s accusations came during a broad discussion of the administration’s ongoing challenges: the government is working to stabilize the national economy, bring down a towering debt-to-GDP ratio, and meet international monitoring standards set by the World Bank, which recently completed a country assessment. Beyond these well-documented fiscal pressures, Leacock says the government is fighting an uphill battle against bureaucratic inertia and in many cases, intentional obstruction that keeps even basic government functions from moving forward.

    Going further, the acting prime minister claimed that the most effective opposition to the NDP is not the formal parliamentary opposition, which he describes as weak and directionless. Instead, he argued, the opposition vacuum is being filled by dissident voices within the government and ruling party itself — people who once campaigned for political change, but are now actively undermining the administration from within. “Some of our people, who you think would know better — because we are not void or afraid of criticism — instead of constructively advancing conversations favourable to an administration struggling with the situation, you have literally usurped the role of the opposition,” Leacock said. He added that even within NDP ranks, some partisans selectively back only favored party members while abusing others, deepening internal divisions.

    Much of the public criticism the administration currently faces, Leacock argued, is “unwarranted, impatient, unfounded, and in some cases totally nonsensical,” rooted in a toxic “dangerous cocktail” of ignorance and arrogance. It was this need for open, direct conversation with the public that led Leacock to take over the weekly *New Times* radio slot previously hosted by NDP leader and Prime Minister Godwin Friday. “I believe it is necessary that we have these conversations, and be open to the criticisms and for the explanations, because in the absence of that, people have a right sometimes to speculate,” he explained. “Governmental politics and opposition politics is two different politics. This is where the tyres hit the road, and we have to deal with the reality that’s in front of us.”

    Leacock saved his harshest rebuke for public officials using their government positions to quietly derail the administration’s agenda. While he declined to name specific agencies or individuals, he made clear that disciplinary and personnel changes are already in motion, with more decisive action coming once obstruction patterns are confirmed. “You’re going to find more and more that is going to happen, where we find that there are stumbling blocks, other hindrances to getting the government policies going forward,” he said. “When people cry foul, you have to say, ‘Well, too bad.’”

    The acting prime minister framed this crackdown on internal resistance as a core part of the administration’s broader push to overhaul long-entrenched government culture. He called out “a lot of BS” in state agencies, where even routine tasks are blocked by unnecessary red tape or deliberate foot-dragging. Leacock traced this harmful mindset to the previous administration, which he claimed prioritized holding political power “at all costs”, leaving remnants of that self-serving culture embedded across the public service.

    Leacock also linked internal obstruction to two key priorities of his national security brief: cutting violent crime and attracting foreign investment. He noted that some actors are still “playing games with the government” to prevent new ministers from succeeding in their portfolios, warning that ongoing public disorder — including recent violent incidents involving schoolchildren and persistent gun crime — damages the country’s investment climate. “When that happens, you are disturbing the investment climate in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where people get the perception that this is a disorderly country in which my money is not safe, or which someone feels not safe to go there,” he said.

    Despite the array of challenges, Leacock emphasized that the NDP administration remains fully committed to delivering on its election mandate to the Vincentian people. He asked the public for “more time and more patience”, noting that the government is working to reverse 25 years of what he calls mismanagement by the previous government. The administration is committed to pursuing reform “the right way” even as it confronts massive debt pressure, urgent social demands, and hidden resistance across the state apparatus.

    “This is a government that is going to deliver in the shortest possible time the expectations of the people,” Leacock said. “But we are asking for more time and more patience as we do it the right way. We don’t want to mess up on it.”

  • IOM RELEASE: Dominica advances policy to strengthen integration of migrant labour in the agricultural sector

    IOM RELEASE: Dominica advances policy to strengthen integration of migrant labour in the agricultural sector

    Against a backdrop of persistent agricultural labour gaps and shifting demographic trends that threaten Dominica’s national food security goals, cross-sector stakeholders from government, industry, and civil society have convened to build a cohesive, inclusive framework for integrating migrant labour into the country’s farming sector. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Dominica partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy to host the Technical Validation Workshop for the Policy and Action Plan for Integrating Migrant Labour into the Agricultural Sector of Dominica, held at the Prevost Cinemall.

    The two-day workshop brought together representatives from all affected groups to review the draft policy and accompanying implementation plan, flag unaddressed gaps, and submit actionable revisions to ensure the final framework aligns with the on-the-ground needs of local farmers, migrant workers, and public agencies tasked with regulating labour migration. This collaborative effort is a core component of the broader Development of the Agricultural Sector in Dominica by Strengthening Migration Governance initiative.

    In her opening address to attendees, Viola Pascal, Project Coordinator for IOM Dominica, outlined that the draft policy and action plan were developed following a gender-inclusive agricultural labour assessment that centered the lived experiences and input of stakeholders across all segments of the sector. Pascal explained that widespread labour shortages and ongoing demographic shifts have made migrant labour an increasingly critical pillar of sustaining agricultural output and upholding national food security. She stressed, however, that a well-functioning system depends on clear regulatory guidelines, improved inter-agency coordination, dignified working conditions, and robust legal protections for all migrant workers. “This policy and action plan, developed by the government with IOM’s support, marks a critical milestone toward streamlining and formalizing this process,” Pascal noted.

    Honourable Roland Royer, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, identified consistent access to a reliable agricultural workforce as one of the most pressing barriers holding back Dominican farmers and the country’s push to expand domestic food production. Minister Royer shared that through the government’s existing temporary migrant farm labour programme, 189 migrant workers have already entered the country to support agricultural operations, directly benefiting 47 local farming operations. He emphasized a key point that guides the government’s approach: migrant workers are not intended to displace Dominican workers, but rather fill critical labour gaps where local workers cannot meet current demand.

    Minister Royer also noted that migrant labour integration is only one part of a broader transformation of Dominica’s agricultural sector. Long-term resilience, he argued, requires expanded investment in mechanization, broader adoption of modern agricultural technologies, and targeted outreach to encourage young Dominican people to view farming as a viable, rewarding long-term career. “What we need is a system that is clear, coordinated, accountable, and responsive to the needs of all farmers while protecting the rights and welfare of workers,” Royer stated.

    The workshop structured discussion into two focused technical sessions to allow for deep, targeted review of the proposed framework. Dr. Schuyler Esprit, Head Consultant at Create Caribbean, led the first session, which centered on the overarching policy goals and regulatory structure for integrating migrant labour into Dominican agriculture. The second session, facilitated by Create Caribbean’s Project Manager and Research Assistant, gave attendees space to examine the step-by-step implementation action plan and contribute revisions to improve its feasibility and impact.

    For participating stakeholders, the workshop reinforced how critical cross-sector input is to building a policy that works for all groups. LeSean Peter, a delegate from the Dominica National Council of Women, called the convening insightful, noting the value of creating structured spaces where stakeholders can address challenging topics and contribute meaningfully to the policy development process. Emmanuel Joseph, Agriculture Officer for the East Agricultural Region, echoed this perspective, highlighting that migrant labour governance extends far beyond the agricultural sector alone. While agriculture remains the focus of the policy, Joseph noted that stakeholders from public health, labour regulation, and national security all have critical roles to play in successful implementation.

    The Technical Validation Workshop marks another key step toward establishing a formal, responsive system for managing migrant agricultural labour that meets the needs of farmers while upholding the rights and well-being of migrant workers. Moving forward, IOM Dominica will continue collaborating with the Government of Dominica and cross-sector stakeholders to finalize the policy and action plan. The overarching goal of the effort is to strengthen national migration governance while building a more productive, resilient agricultural sector that can support Dominica’s long-term food security goals.