Carib Scope

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  • Kesar: Borough Day on despite funding dispute

    Kesar: Borough Day on despite funding dispute

    A public dispute over financing has broken out ahead of the 2026 Point Fortin Borough Day celebrations, pitting the borough’s sitting Member of Parliament against local council leaders over who is to blame for ongoing budget shortfalls. Despite the conflict, the ruling national government has confirmed the iconic festival will move forward as scheduled, with its official launch kicking off this Saturday.

    In a social media video released Monday, Point Fortin MP Ernesto Kesar stated that the central government, which he represents, maintains full backing for the successful execution of the 2026 Borough Day. He extended an open invitation to Mayor Clyde James and the Borough Council to set aside political differences and collaborate to deliver a memorable event for local residents and visitors.

    The festival’s administrative status shifted in 2025, when last year’s celebration was designated a national festival, moving oversight from the local borough corporation to the central government. Prior to that, planning and funding responsibilities rested entirely with local authorities.

    Last week, Mayor James went public with the council’s financial woes in his own social media statement. He revealed that the 2026 budget allocation for festivals from the national government only totals $75,000, an amount he says is far too small to cover the event’s basic costs. Compounding the shortfall is the loss of long-time private sponsor Heritage Petroleum, which has left the Borough Council carrying an accumulated $300,000 debt from past events, much of which remains unpaid. James added that he had reached out to multiple national government ministries for emergency assistance but had not received any response, accusing the government and local MP of only offering empty “lip service” instead of tangible support.

    Deputy Mayor Kwesi Thomas echoed these concerns, noting that while the full calendar of 2026 events has already been printed, it has not been distributed to the public due to the ongoing financial crisis. Thomas added that the council has yet to receive confirmation of funding from most national agencies, with the only exception being Atlantic LNG, which has stepped in to sponsor the popular Pan on the Move segment of the festival.

    Kesar pushed back against these claims in his Monday address, pushing back the timeline of the council’s funding request as the root of the current shortfall. According to Kesar, the council submitted its funding proposal for 2026 in February 2026, when the required deadline for submissions was August 2025. This late submission left little time for processing and securing additional budget allocation, Kesar explained. He added that the time for budget negotiations was last year, when allocations were being finalized, not weeks ahead of the scheduled event.

    Addressing the unresolved $300,000 debt from 2025, Kesar acknowledged he was not in office when the debt was incurred, but has already offered to work with the mayor to resolve the outstanding obligations. He claimed there are political actors who do not want the festival to succeed, solely for the purpose of shifting blame to the national government. Kesar confirmed he spoke as recently as Sunday morning with Minister of Culture and Community Development, who plans to release an official statement on the government’s commitment to the festival before the end of the week.

    For Kesar, the top priority is supporting the people of Point Fortin, who rely on the annual festival to generate significant local income for small businesses, vendors and hospitality operators. He thanked the mayor and his council team for their work in planning the event, and reiterated that he remains open to collaboration, even after what he implied was a rejection of his outreach. “I offered my hand and it seems like they slapping away my hand. I will continue to offer my hand because my interest has always been the development of Point Fortin,” Kesar said.

    Kesar also pushed for the immediate distribution of the printed event calendar, noting that independent promoters have already reported that most festival events are completely sold out. With Pan on the Move confirmed and thousands of attendees already booked to travel to Point Fortin, Kesar insisted there is no deception surrounding the 2026 celebration: “Borough Day is going to happen…Borough Day 2026—it eh no tricks, come down and get in the mix. It will be excellent.”

    As of Tuesday, James has declined to issue any further public comment in response to Kesar’s social media address. Local media outlet The Express has confirmed that Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen is scheduled to meet on Wednesday with Point Fortin’s Mayor James and the leaders of all 14 regional corporations at the San Fernando City Corporation, where the Borough Day funding dispute is expected to be a top agenda item.

  • Abinader announces aid for families affected by heavy rains

    Abinader announces aid for families affected by heavy rains

    After conducting an on-site assessment of flood damage at the nation’s Emergency Operations Center (COE) on Wednesday, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader has rolled out a suite of emergency assistance packages targeted at households devastated by intense rainfall and widespread inundation that has battered Greater Santo Domingo and multiple other regions across the country.

    Speaking following his assessment visit, the president confirmed that a coordinated national response operation was mobilized in the early hours of Wednesday, with public officials placing top priority on safeguarding human life and streamlining the distribution of life-sustaining food supplies. The distribution effort is being led by the Directorate of Social and Community Assistance (DASAC), the country’s dedicated public body for community-focused social support. Beyond immediate food aid, Abinader noted that vulnerable households that suffered structural damage to their residences will also qualify for additional targeted financial and material support to help them recover.

    Local emergency officials have pinpointed the National District, along with Santo Domingo West, Los Alcarrizos, Pedro Brand, and Santo Domingo North as the areas bearing the brunt of the weather disaster. With unfavorable meteorological conditions persisting across the country, the COE has kept a number of provinces under active weather alerts, and continues to urge local residents to closely monitor official public bulletins and follow all safety guidance issued by the country’s civil protection authorities to avoid preventable harm.

  • Abrupte ommekeer Trump: na dreiging tot vernietiging, nu staakt-het-vuren met Iran

    Abrupte ommekeer Trump: na dreiging tot vernietiging, nu staakt-het-vuren met Iran

    On April 8, amid soaring regional tensions that pushed the Middle East to the brink of all-out war, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced an unexpected two-way ceasefire with Iran just hours before his own escalatory ultimatum was set to expire – a sudden reversal that pulled the globe back from the edge of major conflict.

    The 11th hour announcement came after a full day of rapidly escalating violence between allied U.S. and Israeli forces and Iran, which followed Trump’s dire warning hours earlier that an entire civilization would be erased overnight if Iran refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic global oil chokepoint. That stark threat had sent shockwaves through global markets and diplomatic circles, putting world leaders on high alert for a catastrophic regional war.

    Through the day preceding the announcement, U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted key infrastructure across Iran, hitting railway and road bridges, a major commercial airport, and a large petrochemical facility. Strikes also reached Kharg Island, Iran’s primary crude oil export terminal that handles the vast majority of the country’s overseas energy shipments. Iran quickly retaliated, launching new attacks on commercial vessels operating in the Persian Gulf and striking a large Saudi petrochemical complex. Late in the evening, explosions were also reported in the Qatari capital of Doha, further stoking fears of a spreading conflict.

    The six-week-long confrontation has already left a devastating human toll, claiming more than 5,000 lives across nearly a dozen nations, including over 1,600 civilian casualties inside Iran alone. Beyond the human cost, Iran’s temporary blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – through which roughly 20% of the world’s daily oil supplies transits – has sent global energy prices soaring, amplifying recession risks across the global economy.

    The ceasefire announcement also comes against a critical domestic political backdrop for Trump, with his approval ratings sitting at historic lows ahead of upcoming U.S. midterm elections. Polling shows broad opposition to the conflict among American voters, who have grown increasingly anxious over spiking fuel prices – a trend that threatens the Republican Party’s control of Congress in the upcoming vote.

    Breaking the news on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump confirmed the ceasefire would be bilateral, stating that U.S. forces had already achieved all core military objectives. He added that Washington had made significant progress toward negotiating a permanent peace agreement with Iran to stabilize the broader Middle East, noting that Iran had submitted a 10-point framework proposal that serves as a viable working foundation for formal talks. Trump expressed confidence that a final deal could be finalized within the 14-day ceasefire window.

    Iran’s Supreme National Security Council responded to the announcement with a cautiously worded conditional statement, confirming that negotiations would be held in Islamabad but making clear that Tehran retains deep distrust of the United States. Iranian officials agreed to the two-week negotiating timeline, stating that a ceasefire extension would be possible only if both sides mutually agree to the move.

    The Iranian statement emphasized the importance of domestic national unity, framing the upcoming talks as an extension of the country’s battlefield campaign under the oversight of Iran’s revolutionary leadership and top state institutions. “If the enemy’s retreat on the battlefield translates into a decisive political victory at the negotiating table, we will all celebrate this great triumph together,” the statement read. “If not, we will continue fighting until all the demands of the Iranian people are met.” The statement also carried a clear warning: “Our finger remains on the trigger, and the smallest mistake by the enemy will be met with a full force response.”

    In an unusually forceful public rebuke, Pope Leo also weighed in on the crisis, condemning Trump’s earlier escalatory threats as unacceptable. He called on people across the world to pressure their political leaders to bring the conflict to an immediate end, noting that “people everywhere want peace.” The Pope stressed the global moral responsibility to protect innocent civilians, including children and vulnerable people in medical facilities, and labeled attacks on civilian critical infrastructure a violation of international law – a direct reference to Trump’s open threats to target Iranian bridges and energy facilities.”

  • From Islands to Indo-Pacific: Saint Kitts and Nevis Plants Its Flag in New Delhi – Diplomat Today

    From Islands to Indo-Pacific: Saint Kitts and Nevis Plants Its Flag in New Delhi – Diplomat Today

    On April 6, 2026, Denzil L. Douglas touched down in New Delhi for a visit that, while understated in scale, carries profound strategic weight for relations between India and the Caribbean. On April 7, Douglas joined India’s Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar to officially inaugurate the first resident High Commission of Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Indian capital, marking a historic turning point for bilateral ties and South-South collaboration in a rapidly shifting global order.

    This permanent diplomatic posting is far more than a symbolic ceremonial milestone. It establishes a dedicated institutional foundation that will enable consistent, high-level dialogue, accelerate cross-government coordination, and unlock expanded cooperation across multiple sectors. For India, the move solidifies its growing strategic outreach to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the wider Caribbean region, advancing its ambition to deepen engagement with fellow Global South nations. For Saint Kitts and Nevis, the mission opens unprecedented access to partnership opportunities with one of the world’s fastest-expanding major economies.

    Talks during the inauguration visit covered a broad, forward-looking agenda centered on shared priorities for developing nations. Development cooperation took a prominent place on the agenda, with India reaffirming its commitment to supporting Saint Kitts and Nevis through targeted capacity-building programs, accessible technology transfer, and quick-impact development projects designed to meet the unique needs of small island developing states. This work aligns with India’s long-stated vision of positioning itself as a reliable development partner for the Global South, delivering scalable, sustainable solutions tailored to local contexts.

    Collaboration on healthcare and public health emerged as a second core pillar of the new partnership. As Saint Kitts and Nevis works to upgrade its domestic medical infrastructure, India’s globally recognized expertise in low-cost generic pharmaceuticals and community-focused healthcare delivery creates a natural, mutually beneficial alignment. Discussions also addressed improvements to cross-border emergency response systems and public health resilience – priorities that have taken on new urgency in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

    Technology-driven cooperation, particularly in the area of digital governance, also featured heavily in bilateral talks. India’s success in building inclusive, low-cost digital public infrastructure has emerged as a global model for developing nations, and leaders on both sides explored how adapting this framework could help Saint Kitts and Nevis transform public service delivery and cut administrative red tape. This focus on digital collaboration signals a clear shift toward modern, innovation-centered engagement between the two countries.

    Economic diversification and investment were also key topics of conversation. Saint Kitts and Nevis’ economy is heavily reliant on tourism, and government leaders have made expanding and diversifying the national economic base a top policy priority. With Indian businesses rapidly expanding their global footprint, the country is well-positioned to attract Indian investment in tourism development, critical infrastructure, and emerging growth sectors.

    Most notably, the two nations aligned on the urgent shared challenge of climate change adaptation and resilience. As a small island developing state, Saint Kitts and Nevis faces existential risk from rising sea levels and intensifying extreme weather events driven by global climate change. India’s longstanding advocacy for global climate justice and its investment in climate-resilient sustainable development initiatives resonated deeply with Saint Kitts and Nevis’ priorities, creating a strong foundation for deeper collective action on environmental challenges.

    Strategically, the opening of the High Commission reflects a broader global recalibration of international partnerships. Amid shifting global power dynamics, small and medium-sized nations are increasingly pursuing diversified diplomatic and economic alliances, while major emerging economies like India continue to expand their diplomatic and developmental footprint across every region of the Global South. The deepening of ties between India and Saint Kitts and Nevis fits perfectly into this evolving global landscape.

    Far from being just a ceremony to open a diplomatic office, Prime Minister Douglas’ April 2026 visit represents a deliberate step toward building long-term bridges between two regions separated by geography but united by shared priorities as Global South nations. It signals clear ambition and a shared vision for inclusive cooperation that transcends differences in size and geography. As New Delhi and Basseterre continue to deepen their engagement, this partnership has the potential to become a global model for meaningful cross-regional collaboration between developing nations in the 21st century.

  • Retired judge sues State, ex-CJ, alleges unlawful removal

    Retired judge sues State, ex-CJ, alleges unlawful removal

    A landmark legal challenge has rocked Barbados’ judicial sector, as retired High Court Justice Dr. Sonia Richards has brought a sweeping constitutional claim against the state of Barbados and its former top judicial officer, Sir Patterson Cheltenham. The unprecedented suit alleges multiple violations of Richards’ fundamental constitutional rights, including being unlawfully locked out of her official chambers and pushed out of her judicial post against established law.

    Filed by Richards last year and formally served on all named respondents just last week, the 25-page legal filing lays out a detailed series of grievances against the two defendants: the Office of the Attorney General, listed as the first respondent, and Sir Patterson, named in his former capacity as Chief Justice at the time of the alleged incidents. Richards, who was appointed to the High Court bench in April 2006 and formally left the judiciary in May 2022 at the age of 66, outlines multiple claims against the pair, including breach of constitutional protections, defamation, violation of her judicial employment terms, and severe personal harm stemming from the alleged actions.

    Per the court documents dated April 4, 2025, Richards is seeking multiple legal remedies, including exemplary and vindicatory damages, legal costs permitted for two senior counsel, accrued interest, and any additional relief the court deems appropriate. She has also asked the court to issue formal declarations confirming that the respondents violated core constitutional rights: protection against uncompensated property seizure, right to equal protection under the law, and protection against inhumane or degrading treatment.

    The core incident at the center of the suit dates back to April 2022, just over a month before Richards’ scheduled retirement. Richards alleges that on April 6, 2022, Sir Patterson ordered her to surrender her official building access swipe card and office keys, a demand she refused. Six days later, when she arrived for work at the Supreme Court Complex on White Park Road, she found neither her key nor swipe card worked to grant entry. Though security escorted her into the building, she discovered the lock to her office had been replaced, and her nameplate had been removed from the door. When she ultimately gained entry to the space, she found unfamiliar files left inside, and later learned an acting judge had already been assigned to use the office. While her access card was reactivated shortly before her official retirement, she never received a replacement office key, she claims.

    Beyond the April 2022 lockout incident, Richards alleges the event was the end result of years of unfair treatment in her role. She claims she was consistently assigned a heavier caseload than her fellow judges, routinely working until 9 or 10 p.m. on weekdays. The retired justice also argues the lockout amounted to defamation, as it implied to fellow judicial staff, legal practitioners, and the general public that she had acted improperly and no longer held authority to occupy her office.

    On the matter of her tenure extension, Richards notes that six months before she turned 65—the mandatory retirement age for judges without an extension—she submitted a formal request to the prime minister for a two-year extension of her term. She was ultimately granted only a one-year extension by the then-governor general, but she alleges the required consultation between herself and the viceroy, mandated under Section 84(1A) of the Barbados Constitution, never took place.

    Richards says the alleged actions of the defendants and other senior judicial and government officials left her with severe negative health impacts, including clinical depression, social withdrawal, loss of appetite, chronic insomnia, and a reluctance to leave her home.

    When contacted for comment this Tuesday, Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams declined to share further details beyond confirming he was aware of the legal action. Sir Patterson, however, issued an emphatic denial of all claims during an exclusive interview with Barbados TODAY. “I reject all of the assertions in there… deny all, reject all,” the former Chief Justice stated. He added that he had already held preliminary discussions with the Attorney General about legal representation, and was waiting for confirmation on which external counsel would be assigned to defend him in the case. No hearing date has been scheduled for the suit as of yet.

  • Indian Creek Council Distances Itself from Land Scheme

    Indian Creek Council Distances Itself from Land Scheme

    In an official statement released on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, the Indian Creek Village Council has publicly cut ties with an unauthorized, corrupt land distribution scheme that has roiled the small community, placing full blame for the irregular activity directly on the village Alcalde and his affiliated supporters.

    The council made clear in its strongly worded release that it had no involvement whatsoever in the controversial actions at the center of the dispute: the unauthorized marking of new survey lines and the distribution of unofficial land certificates that are now circulating among community members. Labeling the Alcalde-led actions as lawless and entirely invalid, the council added that the episode represents a significant embarrassment to all local governing institutions.

    Beyond the basic illegality of the scheme, the council highlighted a series of particularly alarming violations of local land regulations. According to the council’s findings, the unauthorized land distribution has allocated plots to a range of ineligible recipients, including non-residents of Indian Creek, individuals who already hold legal title to land within the village, and even minor children. These allocations directly contradict established village land use mandates, the council confirmed, and have already eroded public trust in local land governance.

    The council also moved to dismiss any claims that the unapproved scheme had legal backing. It emphasized that neither local Justices of the Peace nor the 2015 CCJ Consent Order – a existing legal framework for land management in the area – grant any authority for this type of ad-hoc land allocation.

    For years, the council noted, it has worked in good faith with local landowners to formalize and regularize land tenure for critical community assets, including public schools, the village cemetery, and private residential properties. These long-planned, community-benefiting efforts are now at serious risk because of the unauthorized actions, the council warned. The chaotic, self-serving land grabs have undermined legitimate negotiations that were meant to deliver fair, sustainable outcomes for the entire village, putting broader community development goals in jeopardy.

  • Belize–Taiwan Partnership Expands Beyond Diplomacy

    Belize–Taiwan Partnership Expands Beyond Diplomacy

    On April 7, 2026, bilateral diplomatic engagement between Belize and Taiwan took a tangible step forward, as senior officials from both sides gathered in Belmopan to advance new cooperation projects focused on practical, on-the-ground outcomes rather than formal diplomatic gestures alone. The meeting brought together Henry Usher, Belize’s Minister of the Public Service and Disaster Risk Management, and Amino C.Y. Chi, Taiwan’s recently appointed ambassador to the Central American nation, to map out joint initiatives across two high-priority areas: public sector modernization and climate and disaster resilience.

    Talks centered on plans to upgrade Belize’s public service ecosystem through structured technical training programs, cross-sector knowledge exchange, and targeted capacity building efforts. These initiatives are designed to streamline administrative processes, improve service delivery to Belizean communities, and bring the country’s public sector in line with modern governance standards. On the disaster preparedness front, both sides explored how Taiwan can expand support for Belize’s national emergency response framework. One prominent proposal under discussion leverages advanced drone technology to strengthen the capabilities of Belize’s National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO). Equipped with drones, NEMO would be able to conduct faster, more accurate post-disaster damage assessments, monitor active emergency situations in real time, and cut response times when hurricanes, floods, or other natural disasters strike – a critical upgrade for a small Caribbean nation highly vulnerable to climate-driven extreme weather.

    Throughout the discussions, both sides reaffirmed the deep, long-standing friendship that underpins their bilateral relationship. Officials emphasized that the partnership continues to be grounded in principles of mutual respect, with a shared strategic focus on building national resilience and advancing inclusive, long-term sustainable development for both peoples.

  • BREAKING: Antigua and Barbuda Will Go To The Polls On April 30

    BREAKING: Antigua and Barbuda Will Go To The Polls On April 30

    On a charged Tuesday night that kicked off the island nation’s next electoral cycle, Prime Minister Gaston Browne stood before thousands of cheering supporters at the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) headquarters, known locally as People’s Place, and formally announced the timeline for the country’s upcoming general election. Voting is scheduled to take place across Antigua and Barbuda on April 30, 2026, with official candidate nomination proceedings set for April 13, and a national public holiday scheduled for May 1 to accommodate post-election civic adjustments.

    The launch event was a sea of the ABLP’s signature red, as crowds of loyal backers packed the venue’s grounds to capacity. Energizing chants, upbeat music, and roaring cheers filled the air, turning the gathering into a dramatic declaration of the ruling party’s bid to make history by securing a fourth consecutive term in national government.

    Addressing the assembled crowd, Browne framed the 2026 poll as nothing less than a defining crossroads for the small Caribbean nation. He urged registered voters to throw their support behind his administration, pointing to what he characterized as a proven track record of delivering on campaign promises and providing consistent, steady leadership for the country.

    Browne emphasized that his government’s core mission is centered on lifting up and empowering every Antigua and Barbuda citizen, noting that the country has undergone sweeping, widespread transformation since the ABLP first took office in 2014. He reminded the crowd that when his party assumed power, it inherited an economy crippled by steep job losses from the previous United Progressive Party (UPP) administration. Since that time, he argued, the ABLP has methodically rebuilt the national economy, forging a stronger, more resilient nation better equipped to weather external shocks.

    In outlining the administration’s achievements, Browne highlighted ongoing large-scale investments in critical public infrastructure, including extensive road improvement projects and expanded access to clean drinking water across both islands. He also called attention to social policies designed to directly boost working and middle-class living standards, such as nationwide wage increases and targeted support programs that provide financial relief to vulnerable households. Browne stressed that the ABLP has consistently followed through on its past electoral pledges, and all ongoing policy initiatives are designed to continue improving citizen welfare and expanding economic strength.

    He told the energized crowd that the 2026 election presents voters with a clear, straightforward choice between the progressive progress of “Team Labour” and a return to the policies that stalled the country’s growth decades ago. With national progress already underway, Browne argued, voters should not risk undoing the tangible gains the country has made under ABLP leadership.

    As the official electoral timeline gets underway, political activity across Antigua and Barbuda is already ramping up, with all parties set to finalize their candidate slates ahead of the April 13 nomination deadline. The April 30 vote will ultimately decide whether the ABLP holds onto power to extend its 12-year run of governance, or if the opposition will unseat the ruling party to lead the nation into its next chapter.

  • Statement of facts CCCCI construction

    Statement of facts CCCCI construction

    A major construction materials supplier and contractor in Grenada has issued a formal public statement pushing back against recent claims made by the country’s Prime Minister regarding its contractual performance and operational competence. Consolidated Contractors Company Caribbean Inc (CCCCI), a locally based firm that holds a monopoly on key construction materials for Grenada’s infrastructure projects, has released a full breakdown of facts to correct what it frames as misinformation about its work.

    As the exclusive provider of asphalt across the island nation, and the sole supplier of road construction aggregate sourced from its own Mount Hartman Quarry, CCCCI emphasized that it has consistently met all contractual requirements for delivery timelines, volume of materials, and pricing for every client—including the Government of Grenada, third-party subcontractors, and independent contractors.

    Turning to one high-profile unfinished project, the Moliniere Road upgrade, CCCCI clarified the circumstances behind the incomplete road work. The company was contracted by lead contractor Rayneau to lay two layers of asphalt on the approaches to the new concrete segment of the road, over a base that Rayneau was responsible for preparing. Under the terms of the agreement, advance payment was required for each asphalt layer before work would commence. CCCCI confirmed it never installed the second layer because the required advance payment was never received. The firm also noted that the substandard condition of the current road surface stems from two factors beyond its control: the missing second asphalt layer due to non-payment, and an improperly prepared base layer delivered by main contractor Rayneau.

    CCCCl went on to detail significant unresolved payment arrears owed to it by the Government of Grenada across multiple active and completed infrastructure projects. On the ongoing Cliff Road Project, the company has completed 90 percent of the required work, but has only received roughly 25 percent of the total contracted sum—equaling just $4 million of the project’s full $16.5 million price tag. Despite this major breach of payment terms, CCCCI says it has continued work on the project in good faith, prioritizing the best interests of the Grenadian public over enforcing contractual payment requirements.

    For the True Blue Road Project, which CCCCI fully completed in compliance with all contract terms in 2024, the government still owes approximately 30 percent of the total agreed payment, equal to around $1.5 million. Additional unpaid balances for hot mix asphalt supplied by CCCCI to government projects in 2025 add another estimated $3.5 million to the government’s outstanding debt to the firm.

    The statement also addressed a separate prior agreement between CCCCI and the government. As part of a deal to secure three new contracts—two for River Road and one for the Cliff Road Project—the government requested a discount on the Cliff Road project, which CCCCI approved under the expectation that the two River Road contracts would be awarded to the company as agreed. CCCCI followed through on its end of the deal, reducing the Cliff Road project price by roughly $3 million, but the government has not yet awarded the promised River Road contracts to the firm.

    This formal statement from CCCCI marks a rare public break between a major private contractor and the Grenadian government, bringing long-running unresolved contract and payment disputes into the public eye following critical comments from the Prime Minister about CCCCI’s performance. Contact information for CCCCI is listed at the end of the statement for further inquiry: Queen’s Park, St George, Grenada, West Indies, email: [email protected], telephone: +1 (473) 444-3522/403-3522.

  • 223rd anniversary of the death of Toussaint Louverture, Speech by the Prime Minister of Haiti (video)

    223rd anniversary of the death of Toussaint Louverture, Speech by the Prime Minister of Haiti (video)

    On April 7, 2026, Haiti gathered in solemn commemoration to mark 223 years since the passing of Toussaint Louverture, the foundational leader of the Haitian independence movement who died in French captivity on the same date in 1803. Louverture, who led an armed resistance against Napoleon Bonaparte’s plan to reinstate chattel slavery in the former colony, was imprisoned on Napoleon’s orders at Fort de Joux in eastern France, where he spent his final days.

    The official commemoration ceremony, held at the Toussaint Louverture monument located in the heart of Port-au-Prince’s Champ de Mars, drew Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, senior members of his cabinet, and Marie Elisabeth Régine Joseph Haddad, Secretary General of the Haitian Presidency. Following a formal wreath-laying at the monument’s foot, the Prime Minister delivered an address that carried deep historical and national resonance. The event marked a dual celebration, also honoring the 43rd anniversary of the founding of the Museum of the Haitian National Pantheon (MUPANAH), the country’s leading institution preserving Haitian independence heritage.

    In his remarks, Fils-Aimé framed Haiti’s existence as a deliberate, revolutionary milestone rather than a historical footnote. “Haiti is not an accident of history; it is a founding act born of the courage, resistance, and quest for dignity of a people determined to break the chains of slavery,” he told attendees. The Prime Minister emphasized that Louverture’s legacy of anti-colonial resistance and fight for self-determination remains a vital source of inspiration for both current and future generations of Haitians.

    He used the occasion to call for urgent national unity, collective accountability, and a national reconstruction effort rooted in the core values that Louverture fought for: freedom, justice, and full national sovereignty. Fils-Aimé stressed that the annual commemoration goes far beyond a simple ceremonial tribute to the past. Instead, he argued, it represents an ongoing act of loyalty to Haiti’s revolutionary origins and a shared responsibility to uphold the founding promises of the nation. “It is not simply a matter of honoring, but of renewing a vow,” he added, underscoring the ongoing relevance of Louverture’s mission for modern Haiti.