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  • Greene Tells St. Paul’s Constituents to ‘Judge Me by the Work’ as He Seeks Re-Election

    Greene Tells St. Paul’s Constituents to ‘Judge Me by the Work’ as He Seeks Re-Election

    As campaign season kicks into high gear for congressional seats across the United States, incumbent Representative Greene is making his case to voters in St. Paul, urging constituents to base their November voting decisions on his tangible policy achievements over his current term rather than outside noise or partisan rhetoric.

    In a series of recent community meetings and public addresses hosted across the district’s diverse neighborhoods, from downtown St. Paul business districts to suburban residential blocks, Greene directly addressed questions about his record and encouraged voters to hold him accountable for the work he has delivered since taking office.

    “I don’t ask anyone to support me based on party labels or empty campaign promises,” Greene told a packed gathering of local residents last week. “What I ask is simple: judge me by the work I have done for this community, the progress we have delivered together, and the plans I have to move St. Paul forward over the next term.”

    Over his current tenure, Greene has prioritized legislation focused on expanding access to affordable healthcare for low-income constituents, securing federal funding for local infrastructure upgrades—including road repairs and public transit improvements—and pushing for stronger funding for St. Paul’s public K-12 school systems. He has also positioned himself as a key advocate for small businesses in the district, backing tax relief packages and grant programs designed to help local establishments recover from recent economic headwinds.

    His re-election bid comes as control of Congress hangs in the balance, with competitive races across the country expected to determine which party sets the legislative agenda in Washington for the next two years. The St. Paul district has long been viewed as a competitive seat, with national party committees already pouring resources into both the Greene campaign and that of his challenger. For his part, Greene has centered his campaign on local issues rather than national partisan fights, a strategy designed to resonate with independent voters who make up a sizable share of the district’s electorate.

    Local voter reaction has been mixed so far: long-time supporters have praised Greene’s focus on constituent services and his consistent presence in the district, while some undecided voters note they are still weighing his record against the policy proposals put forward by his opponent. Regardless, Greene’s call for performance-based evaluation represents a common tactic for incumbents seeking to turn their time in office into a key electoral advantage, framing the race as a choice between proven results and untested opposition.

  • Skerrit backs IMF findings despite minor disagreements

    Skerrit backs IMF findings despite minor disagreements

    In a recent address to Dominica’s Parliament, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has publicly endorsed the methodological rigor of the International Monetary Fund’s January 2026 update to the World Economic Outlook, affirming the report was compiled diligently and properly even as he acknowledged points of disagreement with its findings.

    The latest iteration of the IMF’s flagship economic analysis revises the fund’s earlier October 2025 global growth projections upward, forecasting a 3.3% global expansion in 2026 followed by a 3.2% rise in 2027. The modest upgrade is attributed to four key drivers: growing capital allocation to technology, widespread productivity gains unlocked by artificial intelligence adoption, accommodative fiscal and monetary policy frameworks across major economies, and unexpectedly resilient activity in the global private sector.

    The report also highlights the uneven nature of the post-pandemic global recovery, noting that advanced and major emerging economies including the United States and India are on track to outperform slower-growing regions such as the eurozone and China, a gap rooted in divergent structural conditions and recovery trajectories. Domestically, the IMF’s assessment paints a largely positive picture of Dominica’s 2025 economic performance: real GDP growth accelerated to 4.5% up from 3.5% in 2024, fueled by a booming tourism sector that now sits 36% above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, alongside targeted public development investments across key infrastructure sectors. Skerrit outlined these investments to parliamentary representatives, noting major ongoing projects include a new airport, a cable car tourism development, a marina, expanded affordable housing, road network upgrades, support for the local hotel industry and private sector growth, and ongoing reforms to improve Dominica’s business climate and agricultural sector.

    On price stability, the report notes Dominica has successfully tamed inflation, with annual average inflation reaching 2.5% in 2025, an outcome that aligns with the broader global trend of moderating price growth. Globally, the IMF observes that while aggregate inflation is cooling, many emerging market economies still face persistent upward price pressures that demand careful, targeted monetary policy management. The fund also projects that U.S. inflation will return to the central bank’s 2% target at a more gradual pace than initially expected.

    Skerrit pushed back against domestic critics who have framed the IMF’s findings as critical to his administration, telling lawmakers “They believe that some of the things that the IMF said is a negative to the government, but I tell them no. I love the IMF report, I do not agree with some of the things they say, the kind of language they use sometimes, but I respect the report.”

    Quoting the report’s core policy recommendations, Skerrit noted the IMF emphasizes that sustained long-term growth momentum depends on fiscal consolidation, targeted structural economic reforms, and expanded multilateral cooperation. The fund advises global policymakers to rebuild depleted fiscal buffers, preserve price and financial sector stability, reduce policy uncertainty that drags on investment, and roll out focused industrial policies to boost long-term productivity.

    On one key observation — an elevated current account deficit driven largely by high volumes of construction-related imports — Skerrit offered a counterinterpretation, framing the gap as a positive indicator of ongoing economic activity. “It means Mr. Speaker, in essence, some things are happening,” he told parliament, signaling that the import surge is a byproduct of the large-scale infrastructure investments driving Dominica’s current growth phase.

  • UPP Saying ‘Duty-Free’ vehicles on Political Platform but ‘50% Cut’ on website

    UPP Saying ‘Duty-Free’ vehicles on Political Platform but ‘50% Cut’ on website

    A prominent political party, the United People’s Party (UPP), has found itself in the center of growing public attention after a notable discrepancy emerged between its official election campaign platform and the policy details posted on its public website. According to the full political platform presented to voters during campaign rallies, the party has made a bold promise to introduce full duty-free exemptions for imported private vehicles if it secures victory in upcoming elections. This policy was framed as a key measure to reduce living costs for ordinary citizens and expand access to personal transportation across the country.

    However, when members of the public and political observers checked the party’s official website to confirm the details of this high-profile pledge, they discovered a drastically different policy outlined: instead of a total elimination of import duties, the document posted online only promises a 50 percent reduction in vehicle import tariffs. This inconsistency between the two official communications from the party has sparked debate among political commentators, citizens, and opposition groups, who are questioning the clarity and reliability of the UPP’s policy agenda ahead of the vote.

    Political analysts note that this mismatch has raised concerns about internal communication within the party, as well as the accuracy of campaign promises being presented to electorate. Voters have taken to social media to express mixed reactions, with some arguing that the discrepancy is an unintentional administrative error, while others claim it represents a misleading attempt to attract support from car owners and prospective vehicle buyers. As of this reporting, the UPP has not yet issued an official statement clarifying the discrepancy or confirming which version of the policy represents the party’s official position.

  • Pringle Proposes ‘Win-Win’ Social Security Investment Plan to Boost Pensions and Growth

    Pringle Proposes ‘Win-Win’ Social Security Investment Plan to Boost Pensions and Growth

    As the political campaign in Antigua and Barbuda gains momentum, Jamale Pringle, the leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP), has put forward an ambitious “win-win” Social Security investment proposal that seeks to kill two birds with one stone: boosting earnings for scheme contributors and unlocking capital for critical domestic development projects.

    Speaking to a crowd of enthusiastic supporters at a recent campaign rally, Pringle laid out the core logic of his plan: a shift from the current investment strategy to a more strategically aligned approach that delivers stronger long-term financial returns. This, he argues, will not only translate to higher pension payments for retirees but also shore up the long-term viability of the entire Social Security system, which has faced growing questions about the adequacy of current benefits.

    A central pillar of the proposal is a explicit priority on domestic investments within Antigua and Barbuda. By directing a larger share of Social Security funds to local projects, the plan would inject much-needed capital into the national economy, creating a mutually reinforcing cycle: targeted investments drive job creation and broad economic expansion, which in turn grows the Social Security fund’s value, creating more resources to support beneficiaries down the line. Pringle emphasized that too much of the country’s Social Security resources currently sit underutilized, arguing that public funds should be put to work directly for the Antiguan and Barbudan people who contribute to the system over their working lives.

    Under the framework, investments will be concentrated in productive domestic sectors that have the demonstrated capacity to create new jobs and expand overall economic output. Though Pringle stopped short of naming specific projects that would qualify for investment, he made clear that all investment decisions would be structured to carefully balance risk exposure and return potential, with protecting contributors’ hard-earned savings as the top priority alongside maximizing long-term benefits.

    The Social Security plan is a key plank in the UPP’s broader 202X campaign platform, which centers heavily on delivering economic relief to struggling households, shoring up income security for all workers, and raising overall living standards for both working-age residents and retired pensioners. Pringle closed his remarks by framing the initiative as a transformative shift that would turn Social Security from a passive benefit scheme into an active engine of inclusive national growth, delivering tangible, meaningful gains for every contributor who relies on the system for retirement security.

  • Pringle Says UPP Will Implement Four-Day Work Week by 2027

    Pringle Says UPP Will Implement Four-Day Work Week by 2027

    As Antigua and Barbuda prepares for its upcoming general election, United Progressive Party (UPP) leader Jamale Pringle has made a bold, worker-focused policy pledge: if his party secures power, a UPP administration will roll out a permanent four-day work week for the public sector by 2027. This policy sits at the heart of a sweeping public service reform package crafted specifically to address long-running grievances among government employees.

  • Greene Says New Eye and Dental Clinics Coming for St. Paul’s Constituents

    Greene Says New Eye and Dental Clinics Coming for St. Paul’s Constituents

    During a recent community meet-and-greet with voters in his St. Paul’s constituency, Foreign Affairs Minister E. P. Chet Greene has announced targeted infrastructure plans to expand local access to critical healthcare services, anchored by the construction of two new specialized clinics focused on eye care and dental treatment.

    The development project is already in its early phases, with a core expanded primary care facility currently under construction. Greene laid out the phased roadmap for the initiative, noting that after the completion of the expanded base clinic, the next stage of work will deliver the long-awaited specialized care facilities that residents have repeatedly called for.

    “We have an expanding new clinic that comes to us,” Greene shared with local residents, highlighting ongoing work to reinforce the constituency’s overall healthcare delivery network. Outlining the next steps, he emphasized that the new specialized services are designed to cut down on the need for local residents to travel outside the St. Paul area to receive routine and specialized care.

    “ We will build an eye-care clinic,” Greene confirmed. He added that all necessary medical equipment for the facility has already been secured, with the goal of opening a first-class, world-standard facility that meets the full eye health needs of the local community.

    To round out the expanded healthcare hub, Greene also officially confirmed separate plans for a full-service dental clinic. When completed, the two new specialized facilities, paired with the expanded primary care clinic, will form a centralized, comprehensive medical hub that serves the entire St. Paul region.

    “We also intend [to build] a dental clinic. So when you have the dental clinic, what we have is a compact medical [hub], which will serve all of the people here in the St. Paul area,” he explained.

    The Foreign Minister emphasized that the entire project is rooted in a core goal: making essential healthcare more accessible for local residents and strengthening community-centered care at a time when demand for local services continues to climb steadily. These new clinics are part of the governing administration’s post-election development agenda, with healthcare policy remaining a top priority for the government, according to Greene.

    The announcement comes after months of ongoing resident feedback and concerns about gaps in local healthcare access. Once operational, the new facilities are projected to reduce strain on the area’s existing overstretched healthcare infrastructure and ultimately improve health outcomes for thousands of residents living in the St. Paul constituency.

  • Voter ID replacement drive passes halfway mark in Antigua and Barbuda

    Voter ID replacement drive passes halfway mark in Antigua and Barbuda

    As Antigua and Barbuda’s nationwide voter identification card replacement initiative accelerates, the country’s Electoral Commission has confirmed that more than half of all eligible voters have already finalized the process, according to the latest official data for April 2026. The overall national completion rate now stands at just over 55%, with significant variation in uptake across different constituencies, the commission’s updated report reveals. Several constituencies have already posted participation rates well above the national average, emerging as standouts in the ongoing program. Leading the pack is the St Peter constituency, where an impressive 87% of registered voters have successfully swapped out their old identification cards for new ones. Close behind, St Philip North and the island of Barbuda also outpace the national average, clocking completion rates of 75% and 76% respectively. However, the data also highlights uneven progress across the country, with some constituencies falling significantly behind the midpoint mark. St Mary’s North and St John’s Rural West are among the areas with completion rates still below the 55% national threshold, pointing to slower adoption in these regions. Since the voter ID replacement program launched, the commission has processed a cumulative total of 28,926 applications, with 5,575 of those applications coming in April alone, as of the latest data cut-off. Looking at recent weekly trends, the program saw a notable surge in activity earlier this month, with 2,894 applications processed between April 5 and 11. A further 1,604 applications were finalized in the following week spanning April 12 to 18. That said, the latest report shows daily application processing totals dropped to zero after April 14, a gap that officials have not explicitly explained, leaving open two potential explanations: a temporary pause in processing operations, or delayed entry of the most recent data into the commission’s tracking system. By constituency, the highest weekly application volume between April 12 and 18 was recorded in St John’s Rural West, which notched 177 new applications. St George followed close behind with 173 applications, and All Saints West came in third with 157 submissions. With critical upcoming electoral deadlines drawing near, the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission is stepping up appeals to all registered voters across the twin-island nation to complete their ID replacement as soon as possible. The commission has issued a clear warning: voters who fail to finalize the replacement process before the deadline could lose their ability to cast a ballot in upcoming elections. To address the existing gaps in participation, officials confirmed that outreach and access efforts will be expanded moving forward, with a particular focus on the constituencies that have lagged behind the national average to help boost uptake and ensure all eligible voters can exercise their voting rights. These targeted efforts are expected to close the regional gap and push the overall completion rate higher in the coming weeks, the commission added.

  • Griffith: We cannot bury our heads in the sand

    Griffith: We cannot bury our heads in the sand

    In an official move aligned with global counter-terrorism frameworks, the government of Trinidad and Tobago has formally designated three Middle Eastern paramilitary and political organizations — Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — as proscribed terrorist entities. The designation, processed following formal applications submitted by the country’s Office of the Attorney General between April 8 and 9, was officially published in the national government gazette this Monday.

    The listing is carried out under the country’s Anti-Terrorism Act, specifically Chapter 12:07, pursuant to Section 22B(3)(a) of the legislation. Accompanying the designation is a court order mandating an immediate freeze on all assets held or controlled by the three entities, regardless of whether ownership is full or partial, direct or indirect. This asset freeze extends to all proceeds generated from funds or property connected to the organizations, cutting off potential financial streams that could be used to support their activities.

    Under the terms of the court order, an official copy must be served to Trinidad and Tobago’s Financial Intelligence Unit in compliance with the 1998 Civil Proceedings Rules. The Attorney General is further required to publish the full order alongside a notice of mandatory six-month reviews in the national gazette and two major daily newspapers within a seven-day window. Per Section 22B(9) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Attorney General will conduct a formal review of the designation every six months to ensure its continued relevance and compliance.

    Gary Griffith, Trinidad and Tobago’s former national security minister and former police commissioner, has publicly thrown his support behind the new measures, framing the designation as a critical step to block terrorist organizations from exploiting local financial and governance systems to expand their regional and global operations. Griffith noted that this action builds on international counter-terrorism cooperation that was first formalized more than a decade ago.

    In an interview with local media outlet Express, Griffith recalled that a United Nations counter-terrorism resolution targeting this very threat was first introduced in 2014, which garnered support from more than 100 countries around the world. The resolution’s core goal is to prevent terrorist groups from infiltrating sovereign states through front and affiliated organizations. Griffith explained that extremist groups routinely move illicit funds across borders through these underground affiliate networks. Those funds, he said, are typically used to train new recruits, scale up operational capacity, and lure young people to travel to the Middle East to train as foreign terrorist fighters, many of whom later return to their home countries to plan and carry out attacks.

    The former security chief emphasized that adding these three organizations to the national terrorist list is a natural extension of early counter-terrorism commitments and “should be welcomed” by all stakeholders. At the same time, he raised alarm over growing pushback against the measures, questioning whether public resistance stems from sympathy for the proscribed terrorist groups.

    Griffith also referenced a years-old debate on national counter-terrorism policy, pointing to what he called an “alarming” 2014 statement by former opposition leader Dr. Keith Rowley, who claimed that supporting international action against ISIS would put Trinidad and Tobago at increased security risk. Griffith pushed back against that claim, arguing that failing to address transnational terrorism carries far greater consequences. In his view, countries that choose to ignore the growing threat of terrorist infiltration create openings for extremist networks to establish a permanent domestic foothold.

    “We cannot afford to deal with global terrorist problems by burying our heads in the sand and pretending it will go away,” Griffith said. He added that without updating and strengthening domestic financial regulations and cross-agency intelligence coordination, illicit terrorist funds could easily flow into the country and fuel the expansion of regional terrorist networks.

    Griffith stressed that close, sustained collaboration between financial regulatory bodies and domestic intelligence agencies is non-negotiable to prevent extremist activity from taking root. He warned that without proactive intervention to block terrorist financing and infiltration, “it is only a matter of time before we are affected.” Closing his statement, the former minister reaffirmed that targeted actions like the new designation are essential to national security and deserve broad public and institutional support.

  • Dennis opts out, pledges PNM support

    Dennis opts out, pledges PNM support

    Veteran political figure Ancil Dennis, the outgoing leader of the People’s National Movement (PNM) Tobago Council and former Chief Secretary of Tobago, has announced he will not stand for any party position in the upcoming PNM internal election, bringing a formal close to his latest chapter in frontline partisan leadership.

    In a public statement posted to social media yesterday, titled “Grateful, Grounded, Moving Forward”, Dennis made clear that while he would not seek office in the April 26 vote, he remains a committed member of the PNM. “I will be voting. I am a member of the PNM and I will be voting in the internal election. I will be voting for the PNM,” he emphasized in his address.

    Reflecting on his decades-long political career and recent electoral experience, Dennis shared philosophical insights on victory, defeat and the nature of democratic leadership. He argued that true leadership is not measured only by election wins, but by the grace to accept loss, engage in honest self-reflection, and grow through setbacks. “Winning teaches you confidence, but losing teaches you truth,” he wrote. “Winning convinces you that effort always equals reward; losing reminds you that politics moves in cycles larger than any one person.”

    Dennis drew a parallel between his first entry into electoral politics in 2013 and his most recent race. Back in 2013, he won a seat in the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) representing the Buccoo/Mt Pleasant district with 1,802 votes, a moment he described as feeling like “arrival; validation, momentum, purpose.” Earlier this year, he contested the same largely unchanged district with the same dedication to local constituents, but faced a very different final result.

    Calling the moment the end of one chapter and the start of another, Dennis expressed deep pride in the policy accomplishments of his tenure as Chief Secretary. Among his key achievements, he highlighted meaningful progress in strengthening Tobago’s agricultural sector: expanding local production, delivering targeted support to smallholder farmers, and repositioning agriculture as a core pillar of the island’s long-term economic resilience. He also pointed to decisive regulatory reforms at the Buccoo marine park, which brought greater transparency, accountability and order to the popular natural site, balancing protection of Tobago’s environmental assets with new safety and sustainability standards for operators and visitors. Dennis acknowledged these reforms were often politically challenging, but maintained they were critical decisions made in the best interest of Tobago’s future development.

    Dennis framed political power as a temporary public trust rather than a permanent asset. “Power is borrowed, never owned. Seats are held temporarily. What lasts is character; how you win, how you lose, and whether you respect the rhythm of democracy when it turns against you,” he added.

    He extended sincere gratitude to the residents of Buccoo/Mt Pleasant and all Tobagonians who supported him throughout his career. “I want to thank you; to the people of Buccoo/Mt Pleasant and Tobago by extension; who trusted me, challenged me, supported me, and walked this journey with me over the years,” he said. He also thanked his political team, who he said stood by him during the most difficult periods, stayed committed when abandoning the cause would have been easier, and gave their full effort without any guarantee of personal gain.

    Looking ahead to the future of the PNM Tobago Council, Dennis offered unreserved encouragement and support to the emerging generation of leaders running in the internal election. He reminded new candidates that leadership is not just about holding public office, but about earning public trust, making unpopular but necessary choices, and prioritizing service to the community over personal advancement. “You will face pressure, criticism, and moments of doubt,” he said. “Meet them with courage, discipline, and a clear sense of purpose. Tobago’s future will, in many ways, be shaped by your choices, and I am confident that, if you remain focused on the greater good, you will rise to the occasion. I stand ready, where appropriate, to support in the continued development and advancement of our island.”

    When asked by local outlet *Trinidad and Tobago Express* about his own personal plans, Dennis confirmed he intends to launch a new private business venture in the near future.

  • Peru: Fujimori leidt eerste ronde presidentsverkiezingen terwijl hertelling voortduurt

    Peru: Fujimori leidt eerste ronde presidentsverkiezingen terwijl hertelling voortduurt

    As Peru’s post-general election vote counting stretched into its third day on Tuesday, political tensions have surged across the Andean nation, sparking parliamentary investigations and unsubstantiated claims of widespread electoral fraud. With roughly 80% of ballots now counted, the identity of the candidate that will face conservative frontrunner Keiko Fujimori in the June 7 presidential runoff remains uncertain.

    Fujimori, a former congresswoman and daughter of late former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori, currently holds a narrow lead in official vote tallies with 16.8% of the vote. No candidate has secured the 50% of support required for an outright first-round victory, meaning Fujimori – who is making her fourth bid for the country’s highest office – is all but guaranteed a spot in the second round of voting.

    A tight and shifting race for second place has unfolded behind the frontrunner, according to data from Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), the country’s independent electoral authority. Right-wing former Lima mayor Rafael Lopez Aliaga sits in second position with roughly 12% of the vote, just a single percentage point ahead of center-left candidate Jorge Nieto, who holds 11%. Left-wing congressman Roberto Sanchez trails closely in fourth place with just over 10% of counted ballots.

    As the slow counting process drags on, accusations of electoral fraud have grown louder from trailing candidates. Lopez Aliaga has already publicly decried what he calls “brutal fraud”, and he earned public backing from Sanchez on Tuesday, who also raised questions about the integrity of the voting process. Neither candidate has presented concrete evidence to support their fraud claims to date.

    Critics have drawn parallels between the current slow counting process and previous elections in the copper-rich South American nation, recalling that former president Pedro Castillo was not officially confirmed as the winner until eight days after the 2021 second round vote.

    European Union electoral observers, who monitored Sunday’s first round vote, have acknowledged significant logistical issues during the electoral process but found no concrete evidence to support the widespread fraud claims that have circulated since polling opened. “There have been clear problems,” said Annalisa Corrado, head of the EU’s electoral observation mission to Peru. “But we have not found objective elements that support the narrative of fraud.”

    The extended counting period follows major logistical disruptions to ballot distribution on polling day Sunday. The issues forced election officials to extend voting hours into Monday for more than 50,000 eligible voters, concentrated mostly in parts of Lima, the national capital that is home to roughly one-third of Peru’s total electorate.

    ONPE head Piero Corvetto was summoned before Peru’s parliament this week to explain the delays to the vote counting process. He denied that serious irregularities had taken place, framing the distribution issues as an isolated error in the rollout of electoral materials. Corvetto also issued a public apology for the disruptions to voting and counting.

    He emphasized that both the presidential and parliamentary elections presented unprecedented challenges for voters and electoral officials alike, particularly amid years of sustained political unrest that has eroded public trust in national institutions and left many voters disillusioned with the political class.

    Long-running political instability remains one of the most pressing issues facing Peru, regardless of the final election outcome. The country has seen multiple presidents turnover in recent years, creating widespread skepticism that any new administration will be able to complete a full five-year term. Repeat impeachments, high-profile corruption scandals, and fragile legislative coalitions have made it nearly impossible for recent administrations to serve out their full terms.

    The current interim president, José Balcázar, was appointed by parliament in February after legislators removed his predecessor José Dina from office. Dina had served only four months in office before being ousted over a scandal involving secret meetings with a Chinese business executive.