Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • 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.

  • VS en Iran hervatten diplomatiek contact tijdens VN-top

    VS en Iran hervatten diplomatiek contact tijdens VN-top

    Against the backdrop of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, the United States and Iran launched indirect, multi-hour negotiations mediated by regional third parties on Tuesday, with discussions centered on ending regional hostilities and reopening the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. While both sides have described the initial round of talks as promising, no breakthrough has yet been announced, and core differences on priorities and sequencing of concessions remain unresolved.

    U.S. President Donald Trump initially stated that his special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner held three hours of direct discussions with Iranian officials, calling the session “very good” and “very productive”, noting significant momentum toward a final agreement. He later confirmed that talks would continue and expressed confidence that a final arrangement would be reached. The White House later clarified that Trump himself did not participate in the negotiations, and that mediators shuttled between the U.S. and Iranian delegations led by Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi respectively. Witkoff characterized the completed first negotiating round as potentially “constructive and promising”, adding that mediators would continue their shuttle work in the coming days.

    At the heart of Iran’s negotiating position are its demands for the United States to roll back economic and military pressure in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media report that Tehran conveyed its formal terms to Washington via mediators: these include lifting the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, unfreezing billions of dollars in Iranian assets held abroad, and ending U.S.-led military campaigns against Iran and its regional allied armed factions. A senior Iranian official told state media that Tehran would be willing to fully restore open shipping through the strait within seven days if Washington agrees to reduce military pressure and scale back economic sanctions.

    The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, carrying roughly a fifth of global oil supplies and a large share of liquefied natural gas exports from Gulf producing states to global markets. Disruptions and uncertainty around shipping through the waterway have already roiled global energy markets, with Reuters market data showing Brent crude prices climbed above $100 per barrel on Tuesday following news of the negotiations.

    Washington’s priorities differ sharply from Tehran’s. Trump has repeatedly emphasized two non-negotiable U.S. red lines: Iran will not be permitted to develop a nuclear weapon, and unimpeded commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz must be restored immediately. This leaves the two sides’ core negotiating objectives directly opposed: Iran demands that relief from pressure come first, while the U.S. insists on tangible Iranian commitments on shipping security and nuclear limits before making any concessions.

    A notable dynamic of the current process is the gap between harsh public rhetoric and quiet diplomatic outreach. Just hours before the negotiations opened, Trump used his address to the UN General Assembly to deliver sharp criticism of Iran, saying he faced a “major decision” between a deal that would allow Iran’s economy to recover and further military escalation. He reaffirmed that the U.S. would never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, with the White House identifying Iran’s nuclear program as one of the administration’s top global security priorities.

    Iran responded in kind: the Iranian General Staff issued a warning that the country would deliver a stronger and more unpredictable response to any new U.S. attacks. Still, Iranian officials have left the door open to a diplomatic resolution, stating that talks can progress if Tehran’s core conditions are met. Analysts quoted by Al Jazeera note that the combative public language from both sides is a deliberate negotiating tactic: both governments face domestic political pressure, and neither wants to be seen as making concessions under duress to the other side.

    Qatar and Pakistan have taken on the lead role as mediators between the two governments, working to narrow gaps and bring the parties closer to an agreement. Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met with Araghchi in New York on Tuesday to discuss regional developments, de-escalation, and laying the groundwork for sustained dialogue. Qatar has also previously held exploratory talks on establishing a temporary shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz and practical cooperation to clear the waterway for commercial traffic, highlighting that diplomacy is not just focused on a high-level political agreement, but also on putting in place practical arrangements to resume global shipping.

    According to Reuters, negotiators are also exploring a broader regional security framework that would include Iran and the Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf States. This proposal would tie negotiations on the Strait of Hormuz to wider agreements on long-term security across the Gulf region, though the text of the proposal has not yet been made public.

    Outside of the mediated bilateral talks, France has put forward a separate international initiative to protect shipping through the strait. Reuters reports that Paris is drafting a UN Security Council resolution to authorize an international maritime mission to guarantee free navigation through Hormuz, a proposal that is being coordinated with Washington. Previous attempts to launch such a mission stalled due to objections from China and Russia, which argued that the initiative would be disproportionately targeted at Iran. Paris is now working to revise the text to explicitly frame the mission as focused solely on protecting commercial shipping and global energy security, rather than confronting Tehran.

    Despite the opening of talks and signs of goodwill on both sides, key obstacles remain unaddressed. Beyond conflicting core priorities, the two sides cannot agree on the sequencing of concessions. Tehran refuses to give up its leverage over Hormuz shipping before it receives the economic and military relief it has demanded, while Washington insists on seeing concrete Iranian action on its core demands first. This impasse means any final agreement will likely require a carefully structured package of simultaneous or phased reciprocal steps from both sides.

    The ongoing UN General Assembly, which runs from September 22 to 28 in New York, provides a critical immediate diplomatic window for further talks, with senior officials from both sides already on location for the global summit.

  • Up to 50 Antigua and Barbuda Delegates Could Receive EC$430 for Commonwealth People’s Forum

    Up to 50 Antigua and Barbuda Delegates Could Receive EC$430 for Commonwealth People’s Forum

    A new funding initiative has been launched to expand access to the 2026 Commonwealth People’s Forum, with up to 50 local delegates from Antigua and Barbuda set to receive financial support to offset their participation costs. The program is a joint effort between the Commonwealth Foundation and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, backing the three-day international gathering scheduled to take place from November 2 to 4 at the American University of Antigua (AUA).

    Eligibility for the stipend is open exclusively to residents of Antigua and Barbuda, with priority given to civil society leaders, grassroots advocates, and community organizers working across the nation. Tertiary students based in the country are also invited to submit applications for the funding opportunity. Each selected delegate will receive a one-time contribution of EC$430, a sum designed to remove financial barriers that would otherwise prevent interested community representatives from attending the high-level forum. According to the Commonwealth Foundation, the support aims to ensure diverse voices from small island states can contribute meaningfully to global discussions hosted at the event.

    To secure the stipend, successful applicants must complete two mandatory steps: finalize their official registration for the Commonwealth People’s Forum and obtain accreditation for the concurrent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) by the September 30 deadline. Awardees are also required to attend all three days of scheduled forum programming, with stipend disbursement scheduled to take place on the final day of the event, November 4.

    The Commonwealth People’s Forum is a recurring civil society gathering held in parallel with CHOGM, which brings together non-state actors, community representatives, and stakeholder groups from all 56 member states of the Commonwealth. The 2026 agenda covers a broad range of pressing global and regional issues, including freedom of expression, climate and environmental justice, equitable economic inclusion, responsible artificial intelligence governance, sustainable blue economy development, and global health financing.

    The Commonwealth Foundation has issued a note of caution to prospective applicants: submitting an expression of interest does not automatically guarantee a spot at the event. Final acceptance is contingent on remaining venue capacity and successful completion of the full accreditation process, the organization confirmed. All relevant resources, including event registration forms, eligibility criteria, and full program details, are now available online for interested applicants.

  • Skerrit and Francis pay tribute to Desiree John, wife of former PM, following her death

    Skerrit and Francis pay tribute to Desiree John, wife of former PM, following her death

    The small Caribbean nation of Dominica is in mourning this week following the death of Desiree John, 78, the widow of Patrick John — the country’s first prime minister after it achieved independence in 1978. Mrs. John passed away on Tuesday, September 22, while receiving treatment in the intensive care unit of Dominica-Friendship Hospital. As of Wednesday, no official cause of death has been released to the public.

    Top political figures from across Dominica’s partisan divide have stepped forward to honor her legacy and offer condolences to her grieving family. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, speaking from the floor of Parliament, opened the legislative session with reflections on Mrs. John’s unrecognized contributions to Dominica during the critical early years of the nation’s statehood.

    Though Desiree John never held an official appointed or elected position in government, Skerrit emphasized that her steady support for her husband during his tenure in national leadership represented an important contribution to the country’s development during one of the most pivotal periods of its modern history. Patrick John, popularly known across the country by his nickname “PJ,” led the Dominica Labour Party and served as the nation’s first prime minister following independence from the United Kingdom. He passed away in July 2021 at the age of 83.

    Opposition United Progressive Party leader Joshua Francis also issued a formal statement on the party’s behalf, extending heartfelt sympathy to the entire John family. Francis echoed Skerrit’s framing of Mrs. John’s life as deeply connected to the defining moments of Dominica’s post-independence journey, praising her personal character and commitment to her loved ones.

    “Mrs. John leaves behind a legacy of quiet strength, resilience, devotion to family, and steadfastness through some of the defining moments of our nation’s journey,” Francis wrote in his statement. He extended condolences to her children, grandchildren, extended relatives, and close friends, noting that the entire nation of Dominica joins the family in mourning her loss. Francis closed his statement by expressing hope that cherished memories of Mrs. John would bring the family comfort in this difficult time, adding, “May her soul rest in eternal peace.”

  • Parliament passes Banking Amendment Bill to strengthen consumer protection

    Parliament passes Banking Amendment Bill to strengthen consumer protection

    In a significant step toward strengthening consumer safeguards and regulating the domestic banking sector, Dominica’s House of Assembly greenlit the Banking Amendment Bill 2026 on Tuesday, rolling out a series of updated rules designed to tighten oversight of how commercial banks interact with their customers.

    The legislative changes expand the regulatory purview of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), granting the institution broader authority to supervise the market conduct of licensed lending institutions. Under the newly introduced provisions outlined for parliament, all covered banks will be legally mandated to uphold fair treatment for customers and formalize robust internal mechanisms to resolve consumer complaints in a timely manner.

    A key structural change enabled by the bill is the establishment of a dedicated office for financial market conduct and financial inclusion within the ECCB. This new unit will take ownership of two core priorities: overseeing compliance with consumer protection standards and rolling out mandated financial education initiatives for the public. The legislation also codifies clear financial penalties for institutions that fail to meet the new requirements, creating enforceable accountability for non-compliance.

    During parliamentary debate on the bill, Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre clarified key details of the new framework, addressing concerns about the scope of the legislation and its potential impact on consumers and community financial institutions. Dr. McIntyre confirmed that the amendments add a new layer of ECCB oversight over the service and transaction fees that banks charge their customers, a common point of consumer concern in the region.

    He emphasized that the regulatory changes only apply to financial institutions already licensed and supervised directly by the ECCB, explicitly excluding credit unions from the new requirements. “The Banking Amendment Act only refers to financial institutions licensed and regulated by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, so credit unions do not come under this, so there will be no added costs to any of the members of the credit union,” Dr. McIntyre stated.

    He went on to note that by monitoring bank fees, the legislation directly addresses widespread consumer worries about rising banking costs. “Even within this Bill, the concern of yours, as for the cost for the customers, this Bill also monitors this,” he added.

    Dr. McIntyre framed the reform as a positive step forward for both consumers and the broader financial sector. “From the point of view of the welfare of the consumers that’s important and also in terms of the fairness to the financial sector and how efficient and how sustainable it is that’s also very important,” he said.

    The bill also includes provisions designed to increase consumer choice in the banking market, a development Dr. McIntyre highlighted as a particularly encouraging outcome. Beyond expanding choice, the strengthened oversight framework is expected to boost overall public confidence in the domestic banking system. “All in all, it is really an effective system to redress consumer concerns,” he noted.

    Looking at the bigger policy picture, Dr. McIntyre argued the bill aligns with the country’s long-term national development goals and strengthens the overall resilience of Dominica’s financial system. “This is moving in the right direction considering where we are in our national development agenda and in terms of our financial resilience,” he told the House. “This Bill adds to our financial resilience, not just resilience in terms of us having money for a rainy day, but in terms of how we conduct business in the country.”

  • Kosovo asks SVG to recognise its independence

    Kosovo asks SVG to recognise its independence

    Against the backdrop of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, two key diplomatic engagements led by Dr. Godwin Friday, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), have advanced international dialogue on sovereignty, small-state cooperation, and climate action.

    In a bilateral meeting with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti held on the UNGA sidelines, the two leaders centered discussions on Kosovo’s long-standing request for formal recognition as an independent sovereign state, alongside exploring pathways for future bilateral partnership.

    The conversation opened with a reflection on shared experiences of small nations navigating global governance, with Friday grounding SVG’s perspective on self-determination and sovereignty in the country’s colonial history and the legacy of Garifuna resistance to outside rule. For his part, Kurti laid out the full context of Kosovo’s claim to recognition: referencing its 2008 declaration of independence, the 2010 International Court of Justice advisory opinion that ruled the declaration did not violate international law, and the ongoing European Union-facilitated normalization dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

    Friday made clear that SVG holds sympathy for Kosovo’s request, but emphasized that no final decision would be made without extensive domestic and regional consultations. No formal commitment to recognition was issued during the meeting, a point confirmed by official accounts of the discussion.

    Beyond the recognition question, the two leaders identified multiple promising areas for practical collaboration. Kosovo highlighted its expanding digital technology sector, developed tourism infrastructure, and specialized search-and-rescue capabilities as areas for potential partnership. In response, Friday expressed SVG’s strong interest in deepening digital cooperation, and outlined the core priorities SVG holds as a small island developing state (SIDS): building robust climate resilience, strengthening disaster preparedness frameworks, and securing access to rapid emergency financing in the aftermath of climate-driven natural disasters. Kurti responded by affirming Kosovo’s willingness to advocate for greater global attention to the acute climate vulnerabilities that threaten SVG and other SIDS across the globe. By the end of the meeting, both sides agreed that continued open engagement and collaborative exploration of shared interests would benefit both small states, regardless of the eventual outcome of the recognition discussion.

    In a separate diplomatic meeting on the margins of the General Assembly, Friday also held talks with Austria’s Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker and Austria’s UN Ambassador Gregor W. Koessler focused on strengthening bilateral ties between SVG and Austria. Friday was joined for the meeting by senior SVG diplomatic officials: Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble, the country’s minister of foreign affairs, foreign trade, foreign investment and diaspora affairs, and Vynnette Frederick, SVG’s permanent representative to the United Nations.

    The meeting concluded with the signing of a bilateral memorandum of understanding that establishes a formal framework for deepening cooperation across multiple priority areas. Discussions between the two delegations centered on advancing peace and multilateral cooperation, addressing the unique structural challenges that SIDS confront, progressing climate resilience and post-disaster recovery efforts, and expanding access to development and disaster-related financing. Friday used the engagement to highlight SVG’s ambitious renewable energy goals, including ongoing exploration of geothermal energy potential and emerging opportunities in wave energy, as the country works to strengthen national energy security and accelerate its transition to a sustainable, climate-resilient energy system.

  • Prime Minister Browne Leads Antigua and Barbuda Delegation to 81st United Nations General Assembly

    Prime Minister Browne Leads Antigua and Barbuda Delegation to 81st United Nations General Assembly

    NEW YORK, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) — As the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) convenes in New York this week, Antigua and Barbuda has dispatched a high-level delegation led by Prime Minister Gaston Browne to advance the priorities and amplify the concerns of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) across a packed schedule of diplomatic events.

  • Minister Greene advocates at the UN for greater cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean

    Minister Greene advocates at the UN for greater cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean

    Against the backdrop of the 81st United Nations General Assembly convening in New York, a high-level dialogue between the African Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) has brought renewed focus to South-South collaboration. At this gathering, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Greene, delivered a clear call for intensified practical partnership between Africa and the Caribbean, rooted in shared history and aligned against common global challenges.

    CELAC, a bloc uniting 33 nations across Latin America and the Caribbean, has built a foundational partnership with the African Union that carries unprecedented strategic weight in today’s global landscape. Greene emphasized that this alliance creates a rare opportunity for African, Caribbean and Latin American nations to align their positions and speak with a unified, powerful voice on critical global issues, spanning inclusive development, climate finance reform, equitable trade frameworks, and more. What binds these regions together beyond policy coordination is a common legacy: generations of colonial rule and enslavement, alongside a shared urgent need to build tangible, mutually beneficial cooperation across trade, cross-border investment, technology transfer, and climate disaster resilience.

    “Our CELAC-Africa partnership holds deep strategic significance,” Greene told attendees. “Together, our regions account for a substantial portion of the global population, endowed with abundant economic, human and natural resources. Even more importantly, we carry shared historical experiences, face overlapping development hurdles, and stand united in our commitment to building a far more equitable global order.”

    Despite this strong foundation of shared values and aspirations, Greene stressed that common ground alone is not enough to deliver meaningful progress. He argued that the time for incremental dialogue has passed, and the global South must move quickly to translate goodwill into actionable, on-the-ground cooperation. The minister outlined a range of high-potential areas for mutual growth, noting that both regions stand to gain from deeper collaboration across trade and investment, cross-regional connectivity, technological innovation, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy expansion, education, public health, and the creative economy.

    However, Greene also sounded a note of caution: tangible advancement will remain out of reach unless regional leaders confront the long-standing structural barriers that continue to stifle increased trade and investment flows between Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. To turn his vision for collaboration into reality, Greene laid out a clear roadmap of core priorities for fellow leaders to advance, focused on strengthening practical ties and deepening institutional bonds across the three regions.

    Key priorities identified in the roadmap include expanding air and maritime connectivity between African and CELAC nations, boosting regulatory and institutional coordination to cut red tape for cross-border trade and investment, expanding access to development funding and innovative financing tools for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and structurally vulnerable economies, and leveraging digital technology to better connect businesses, public institutions and regional markets.

    Greene also placed particular emphasis on the urgent need to deepen partnership around climate resilience and sustainable development, highlighting the disproportionate vulnerability of Small Island Developing States like Antigua and Barbuda to the impacts of climate change, even though they contribute the least to global emissions.

    Concluding his address, Greene reaffirmed Antigua and Barbuda’s unwavering commitment to growing the CELAC-Africa relationship, built on the core principles of mutual respect, solidarity, sovereign equality, and shared mutual benefit. “Let us seize this moment to deepen our partnership, amplify our collective voice within the multilateral system, and advance a development agenda that is more inclusive, more resilient, and far more responsive to the needs of all our people,” he said.