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  • PM urges Vincies abroad to move from remittances to real partnership

    PM urges Vincies abroad to move from remittances to real partnership

    During a diaspora investment gathering held in New York on Saturday, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Prime Minister Godwin Friday delivered a landmark call to action, urging the tens of thousands of Vincentians living across the globe to evolve their role in national development from casual supporters to core strategic partners.

    Hosted under the theme “Reconnect, Reinvest, Rebuild: Turning Vincentian Global Success into Local Opportunity”, the event marked a turning point in how the newly elected NDP government frames diaspora engagement. Friday, who took office in November following his New Democratic Party’s decisive 14-1 election victory, emphasized that SVG has entered a critical new juncture of national development that demands deeper collaboration between citizens at home and abroad.

    For decades, Friday noted, the contribution of the SVG diaspora has largely been measured through the lens of personal remittances — funds sent home to support immediate family, cover household costs, and build local homes. He offered unreserved gratitude for this lifelong support, acknowledging that these hard-earned transfers have long been an invaluable backbone of household and community stability across SVG. But as the country pursues large-scale economic transformation, infrastructure modernization, climate resilience building, and private sector growth, Friday argued that the nation is ready to expand its partnership with the global Vincentian community.

    “This is more than a slogan. It is a call to action,” Friday told the assembled audience. “It is an invitation to see ourselves — wherever we live in the world — as one Vincentian family, bound together by a shared history, a shared identity, and a shared responsibility to shape our future.”

    Vincentians have built impressive global footprints across nearly every industry, Friday noted. From their island homeland, generations have migrated to North America, Europe, the wider Caribbean and beyond in search of education, opportunity, and improved livelihoods for their families. Today, they hold leading roles in medicine and nursing, finance, technology, hospitality, academia, law, sports, the arts, public service and community leadership. “Your success is not an accident,” he said. “It is born from the same resilience, creativity, and faith that sustain our people at home.”

    Despite these shared bonds, Friday warned of growing rifts between the homeland and its diaspora: beyond the obvious geographic separation, emotional and generational distance is expanding as younger generations of Vincentians born and raised abroad build lives far from SVG. Reconnection, he argued, cannot stop at occasional holiday visits or nostalgic cultural ties. It requires intentional, sustained engagement to rebuild bonds of trust, shared purpose, and open communication between all Vincentians, regardless of where they reside.

    Positioning himself as both head of government and a fellow citizen invested in national unity, Friday laid out a broad vision for expanded diaspora engagement that goes far beyond remittance flows. The new framework calls for Vincentians abroad to take equity stakes in local businesses and development projects, enter joint ventures with domestic entrepreneurs, share professional expertise through mentorship and training programs, open access to new global markets for SVG exporters, and participate in the country’s capital markets to channel diaspora savings into productive local investment.

    As Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Friday emphasized that sustained, inclusive growth does not occur by chance. It requires intentional policy, sound governance, and collaborative, long-term partnerships. To that end, he committed his administration to building an enabling environment that welcomes, protects, and incentivizes diaspora investment, pointing to already underway reforms to simplify business registration and operational processes, open targeted investment opportunities in high-priority sectors, and establish trusted intermediary institutions that connect diaspora investors with credible local partners. He also underlined a non-negotiable commitment to good governance, transparency, and accountability in all public-private partnership initiatives.

    Friday framed the call for diaspora investment against SVG’s long history of resilience in the face of crisis. The country has endured repeated shocks, including the devastating La Soufrière volcanic eruption, the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurricane Beryl, and the ongoing existential threat of climate change. “Our country knows what it means to rebuild,” he said. “Yet each time we are tested, Vincentians rise again.”

    True rebuilding, he argued, extends far beyond repairing damaged roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals. It requires rebuilding investor and community confidence, expanding inclusive economic opportunity, and strengthening the systems that allow all citizens to thrive. In this broader rebuilding effort, diaspora investment serves as a powerful tool to strengthen national resilience, create sustainable jobs and livelihoods, drive innovation in agriculture, fisheries, and food security, and expand authentic, community-led, environmentally responsible tourism offerings. The diaspora also holds unique potential to help SVG expand its digital technology and services ecosystem, connecting local small and medium-sized enterprises — the backbone of the SVG economy — to global markets, he added.

    A core focus of Friday’s remarks centered on young Vincentians, many of whom now study, work, and build lives overseas. He emphasized that the government’s goal is not to restrict mobility or dim young people’s global ambitions, but rather to maintain and deepen their ties to SVG’s development. “Our aim is not to limit their horizons, but to ensure that wherever they go, they remain connected to the development of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,” he said, outlining a vision where a young Vincentian based in New York, Toronto, London, or any other global city can clearly see a pathway to contribute to their homeland — whether through returning home, making an investment, serving as a mentor, or collaborating with local partners.

    To turn this vision into action, Friday announced that his administration, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Foreign Investment and Diaspora Affairs and the country’s global diplomatic network, is building structured, accessible channels for ongoing diaspora engagement, replacing the ad-hoc, occasional interactions that have defined past outreach. He identified high-impact priority sectors for partnership including sustainable and ecotourism, agriculture and agro-processing, food exports, renewable energy, climate-resilient infrastructure, information and communications technology, digital innovation hubs, education, healthcare, and the creative industries.

    Beyond economic partnership, Friday highlighted the symbolic and inspirational value of elevating diaspora achievements, stressing that the success of Vincentians abroad is an inseparable part of the national story. He committed the government to doing more to highlight these contributions, giving young Vincentians both at home and abroad visible role models that encourage them to pursue larger ambitions.

    Friday acknowledged that trust is the foundation of any productive investment partnership, noting that capital only flows to markets where investors feel confident in the rule of law and policy stability. “Investment flows where there is trust,” he said, adding that his administration is committed to strengthening that trust through open dialogue, clear, consistent policies, and responsible stewardship of the national interest. “We welcome scrutiny. We welcome collaboration. We welcome your questions, your ideas, and your expectations,” he told the audience.

    In closing, Friday returned to the event’s core theme, stressing that the work of building SVG’s future cannot be shouldered by the government alone. “When we say ‘Reconnect, Reinvest, Rebuild,’ we are really saying: let us shape the future of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines together,” he said.

    He outlined a shared vision for the nation: a country where all children born to Vincentian parents at home and abroad grow up proud of their identity; a diverse, competitive, and resilient economy that delivers rising living standards, quality education, and accessible high-quality healthcare; and a nation that preserves and amplifies its unique culture, stunning natural beauty, and long-held democratic traditions. “This is not the task of government alone,” he cautioned. “It is the task of a nation — of a global Vincentian family.”

    He closed with a personal challenge to every attendee, asking them to leave the event with three guiding questions: How can I reconnect more deeply with my homeland? In what ways can I reinvest — financially, professionally, personally — in the development of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines? How can I help rebuild and renew opportunity for the next generation?

    “If each of us leaves this event with one concrete action — one commitment to partner, to mentor, to invest, to advocate — then this gathering will have achieved its purpose,” he said. Thanking the diaspora for their enduring patriotism, perseverance, and love of country, Friday urged the community to bring the benefits of their global success back to the villages, towns, and communities that shaped them.

    “Together, let us reconnect. Together, let us reinvest. Together, let us rebuild,” he concluded. “And together, let us turn Vincentian global success into lasting local opportunity.”

  • UN Questions Belize on Missing Persons

    UN Questions Belize on Missing Persons

    In a scheduled review of Belize’s compliance with the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances has raised pressing questions about the Central American nation’s handling of hundreds of unresolved missing persons cases spanning 2019 to 2023.

    The Committee’s data collation shows that of the 589 missing person reports filed across that five-year window, 304 people were later located alive, 17 were confirmed deceased, leaving exactly 268 cases with no closure to date. In its official presentation to the committee, Belize’s government delegation asserted that the country has no officially recorded cases of enforced disappearance, a framing that has drawn targeted follow-up from the UN oversight body.

    Committee Chairperson Juan Pablo Albán Alencastro has formally requested Belize share up-to-date, disaggregated data on the outstanding 268 cases, including full updates on their investigation status through 2026. Despite the outstanding questions, Albán Alencastro did highlight one notable policy strength: Belize’s rule allowing members of the public to file missing persons reports immediately, with no mandatory waiting period. The chair characterized this policy as “very good” and noted it remains a rare practice among nations worldwide.

    Beyond the unresolved cases, the Committee also pushed Belize to address long-standing gaps in its domestic implementation of the convention. Belize formally acceded to the international treaty in 2015, but more than a decade later, it has yet to codify enforced disappearance as a distinct, standalone criminal offense under national law.

    Addressing this gap, Belize’s Permanent Representative Harold Young told the committee that the country’s cabinet gave formal approval to full domestication of the convention in June 2025, with formal legislative drafting scheduled to launch in June 2026. Young also acknowledged that Belize’s mandatory state report to the Committee was submitted past the deadline, attributing the delay to limited government resource constraints.

    On the topic of law enforcement training, the Belizean delegation confirmed that while regular police officers receive general human rights instruction as part of their standard training, no modules specific to responding to and investigating enforced disappearance cases are currently included. Work is underway to revise the national police training curriculum to add content focused on this specific offense, the delegation added.

    In broader context, Belize has recorded a total of 892 missing persons cases across the past several years. In 2025 alone, 99 people were reported missing across the country: official data shows 45% have been found safe, 4% were located deceased, and 47% remain open and under active investigation.

    The UN Committee is now wrapping up its review of Belize’s compliance and is expected to release official concluding observations, including targeted recommendations, in the coming weeks.

  • St Lucia officers receive training to strengthen border controls

    St Lucia officers receive training to strengthen border controls

    In a key step toward deepening economic integration across the Eastern Caribbean, border and regulatory officials from St. Lucia have completed a specialized three-day training program designed to streamline coordination, boost operational efficiency, and strengthen intelligence-driven practices at the island nation’s ports of entry.

    Hosted from August 18 to 20, 2026, at the Finance Administrative Centre in Castries, the workshop centered on upgrading frontline personnel’s mastery of risk management frameworks and cross-border goods movement protocols. The initiative is part of a broader rollout across all seven Member States of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) that are party to the OECS Protocol, with the ultimate goal of establishing a unified external border to enable a fully functional regional customs union and free circulation of goods across the bloc.

    Coordinated by the OECS Commission, the training brought together cross-agency personnel ranging from frontline officers to senior supervisors from St. Lucia’s Customs, Agriculture, Health, Standards Bureau, National Police, and Port Authorities. Funding for the program came from the European Union via its 11th European Development Fund Regional Integration through Growth Harmonisation and Technology (RIGHT) Programme, while instructional content was delivered by regional industry experts from AENOR Consulting.

    Opening the workshop via virtual address, Ricardo James, Head of Trade Policy Development at the OECS Commission, framed the customs union project as the next defining milestone in the region’s decades-long integration journey. “Among the protocol member states, we have already built major progress in enabling the free movement of people, backed by a shared single currency and a unified regional court,” James explained. “But the customs union is our next great frontier. We are replacing seven separate, independent customs territories with one single regional customs territory. Once any shipment enters an official port of entry in any member state, it will have access to the entire economic union.”

    Sherman Emmanuel, Comptroller of St. Lucia Customs and Excise, emphasized that the new training aligns both with the island’s domestic regulatory reforms and its international trade compliance obligations. “Our updated Risk Management framework will be central to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our border operations,” Emmanuel noted. “It is key to gaining stronger control over high-risk cargo and traveler movements, while simultaneously smoothing processing for compliant traders and visitors.”

    Emmanuel added that these upgraded risk management requirements are explicitly mandated under Article 7.4 of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, underscoring the global relevance of the initiative.

    Nigel Edwin, a representative from lead training provider AENOR Consulting, stressed that modern, effective border management cannot succeed as a siloed, single-agency effort. Instead, he argued, it requires all relevant government bodies to operate as an integrated, whole-of-government network.

    “Trade facilitation does not mean eliminating border controls entirely,” Edwin clarified. “Rather, it demands that we apply controls more intelligently, concentrating our limited regulatory resources on high-risk persons, goods, and activities, while allowing legitimate trade and travel to flow much more efficiently across borders. This is not simply a Customs-led initiative – it is a collaborative effort that requires buy-in and coordination across every agency with a role at the border.”

    Over the course of the three-day workshop, participating officials conducted joint reviews of St. Lucia’s existing border management arrangements, mapped out outstanding legal and operational gaps in current protocols, and refined a national implementation roadmap ahead of the upcoming regional pilot program for the unified border framework. The completed training lays critical groundwork for St. Lucia to fully participate in the next phase of OECS regional economic integration.

  • Citizens invited to nominate national honours recipients

    Citizens invited to nominate national honours recipients

    Barbados is rolling out a one-of-a-kind national distinction to mark two landmark national milestones: six decades of independence and five years since the country transitioned to a republican system of governance, the island nation’s Cabinet Office confirmed in a public announcement Friday. The award, named the Barbados Diamond Anniversary Honour, is designed to shine a spotlight on Barbadian citizens whose extraordinary work and commitment have advanced the cause of national growth and development.

    The announcement was delivered by Cabinet Secretary Selma Green during an official press event launching the full calendar of national independence celebrations, held at Ilaro Court, the official residence of the Prime Minister of Barbados. Green also used the occasion to confirm that nominations are now open for the 2026 iteration of the country’s existing National Independence Honours, alongside the new commemorative award.

    Green outlined that the special Diamond Anniversary Honour will accept nominations across a wide cross-section of national life. Eligible fields of contribution include public administration, education, healthcare, commerce, arts and culture, athletics, local community development, scientific research and technological innovation, national security, philanthropic work, and contributions from members of the global Barbadian diaspora.

    To qualify for the Diamond Anniversary Honour, candidates must hold Barbadian citizenship, and have demonstrated a track record of distinguished service, consistent commitment to national progress, unwavering integrity, strong leadership, exemplary professional or personal conduct, or outstanding achievement in their chosen field. One key eligibility caveat, Green clarified: individuals who already hold any existing national honour or state decoration will not be considered for the new commemorative award.

    In a call to action to the Barbadian public, Green urged nominating citizens to look beyond the nation’s most high-profile public figures when putting forward candidates for recognition. “As we commemorate 60 years of Independence and five years as a Republic, we’re reminded that the story of Barbados is ultimately the story of its people – those who have served, sacrificed, led, created, cared and worked often quietly and without expectation of recognition to build this beautiful nation,” Green said.

    She framed national honours as one of the most meaningful gestures a nation can extend to say thank you to the citizens who built it. “National honours and decorations are one of the most meaningful ways in which we as a grateful nation can say thank you,” she added.

    Unlike the special commemorative Diamond Anniversary award, the recurring National Independence Honours was established to recognize outstanding achievement and meritorious service across all sectors of Barbadian society, Green explained. Repeating her call to uplift unsung contributors to national life, she said, “I particularly encourage Barbadians to look beyond the familiar names.”

    Green highlighted a range of underrecognized contributions that deserve consideration: long-tenured teachers who have shaped multiple generations of Barbadian youth, community workers who have served local neighborhoods quietly for decades, creative artistes who have preserved and advanced Barbados’ unique cultural heritage, local entrepreneurs who have created jobs and economic opportunity for fellow citizens, and public service and national security officers who have consistently exemplified the highest standards of duty to the public.

    Green also noted that Barbadians living and working abroad who have brought positive international distinction to their home country are also eligible for nomination, and encouraged the public to put forward these candidates as well. The nomination window for both the 2026 National Independence Honours and the new Barbados Diamond Anniversary Honour will close one week from the announcement date, next Friday.

    All applications can be submitted digitally via an official nomination form hosted on the Barbadian government’s official website. The nomination portal will be promoted across the Barbados Government Information Service and all other official government digital platforms. For citizens who require support submitting their nomination, the Cabinet Office has committed to providing assistance upon request.

  • De Peiza steps down from CTUSAB leadership

    De Peiza steps down from CTUSAB leadership

    After four decades of dedicated service to the global labour movement, Dennis De Peiza has officially vacated his role as general secretary of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB), leaving behind a set of critical recommendations for the future of organized labour in the Caribbean nation. In an exclusive confirmation with local media outlet Barbados TODAY, the long-serving union figure confirmed he chose not to stand for re-election during the organization’s recently concluded 31st Biennial Delegates Conference, bringing his tenure in the top leadership post to a close.

    Reflecting on his decades-long career advocating for workers’ rights, De Peiza framed his departure as a natural and necessary step in any leader’s journey. “It’s time…everybody has to know [when] to move on,” he stated, emphasizing that his exit from the general secretary role does not signal a complete break from the movement he has served for most of his professional life. The veteran trade unionist made clear he will remain engaged in the CTUSAB’s work in a variety of advisory and supporting capacities, reaffirming his unwavering “commitment and support to the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados and to the cause of labour”.

    As he prepares to step back from day-to-day leadership, De Peiza is calling on the broader Barbadian trade union movement to undertake a critical self-examination and reframe its core priorities. While he stopped short of harsh public criticism of existing union structures, he stressed that a fundamental re-evaluation of union purpose is long overdue. “I am not going to throw the unions under the bus, but I’m going to say that the unionism in Barbados needs to have a look, a rethink, and we have to focus on what is the agenda for the unions,” he explained.

    In De Peiza’s view, the movement’s central mission must always remain centered on advancing the interests of working people and contributing to inclusive national development. “It cannot be on anything else but the causes of workers and what’s good for the country,” he said, repeating that workers’ interests must remain the non-negotiable top priority, even as leaders account for the broader social and economic ripple effects of the movement’s actions. Beyond refocusing on core mission, he warned current union leaders against the growing threat of outside interference that has impacted organized labour globally. He urged leaders to stay vigilant against external infiltration, emphasizing that the movement exists to serve the collective good of workers, not individual ambitions or outside agendas. “One has to bear in mind that we have to be wary of the influences, external influences, that are infiltrating the labour movement across the world. Our leaders have to be vigilant. They have to be respectful of the fact that it is not about individuals, it’s about the cause, and therefore it is not about self, it is about the collective,” he noted.

    One of the most pressing challenges De Peiza highlighted is the ongoing failure of many unions to build intentional, effective succession pipelines. He called the lack of robust succession planning “a big problem” for the movement globally, and argued that Barbadian unions must proactively mentor younger activists and create pathways for them to step into leadership roles. Simply recruiting young people to participate is not enough, he stressed: emerging leaders must be given meaningful, substantive responsibility and trusted to grow into their roles without excessive overmanagement from veteran leaders. “When you start to give me a responsibility and you want to do it yourself, then clearly you really don’t have confidence and trust in me, and that creates a problem for the relationship,” he explained, adding that a lack of trust between senior leaders and emerging talent undermines the entire development process.

    De Peiza concluded by noting that building a sustainable future for the labour movement does not require discarding the hard-won knowledge of past generations. He argued that leaders must balance the need for new perspectives and fresh leadership with the preservation of institutional wisdom accumulated over decades of organizing and advocacy. “We have to focus on those and see how we can make the best pathways so that we can keep the movement alive and hopefully don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. Always remember wisdom. There’s always institutional knowledge, and there’s always wisdom that comes through experiences,” he said.

  • Antigua and Barbuda PM Browne Holds CHOGM Talks With UK Caribbean Minister

    Antigua and Barbuda PM Browne Holds CHOGM Talks With UK Caribbean Minister

    As final-stage preparations ramp up for the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has held high-stakes diplomatic discussions with the United Kingdom’s top official for Caribbean affairs, moving the landmark event one step closer to its planned 2026 launch.

    The closed-door talks, held September 15 during Browne’s official visit to the UK, paired the Antiguan leader with Uma Kumaran, the UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with oversight for Caribbean relations. This meeting marked the second key diplomatic engagement of Browne’s trip, coming on the heels of separate bilateral discussions with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband earlier in the visit.

    At the core of the conversation between Browne and Kumaran was operational planning for the upcoming 2026 summit, which is set to be hosted by Antigua and Barbuda for the first time. Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to delivering a well-organized, productive summit that addresses the pressing priorities of the Commonwealth bloc.

    Scheduled to run from November 1 to 4, 2026, the summit will bring together heads of state, government leaders, and senior policymakers from all 56 member nations of the Commonwealth. The gathering will center on the official theme “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth”, with discussions expected to focus on boosting cross-bloc economic collaboration, expanding sustainable investment, and tackling shared challenges ranging from climate adaptation to inclusive economic growth.

    This latest round of coordination underscores the ongoing collaborative relationship between host nation Antigua and Barbuda and the United Kingdom, a founding Commonwealth member, as planning efforts enter their final phase ahead of the high-profile global gathering.

  • Antigua and Barbuda equips justice officials to fight human trafficking

    Antigua and Barbuda equips justice officials to fight human trafficking

    From September 14 to 18, 2026, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) partnered with Antigua and Barbuda’s national Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Unit to host a groundbreaking Advanced Multi-Disciplinary Trafficking in Persons (TIP) training programme for the country’s justice sector officials. The initiative, tailored specifically for experienced legal and law enforcement practitioners, aims to close coordination gaps across the justice system and strengthen the Caribbean nation’s ability to tackle modern slavery through more effective investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of trafficking cases.

    Unlike basic introductory anti-trafficking workshops, this five-day advanced programme deep dives into the complex practical challenges that arise in high-stakes trafficking investigations and court proceedings, prioritizing skill-building in critical analysis and strategic, real-time decision-making. More than 30 participants were drawn from across Antigua and Barbuda’s public safety and justice ecosystem, including officers from the Royal Police Force, Forensic Services, Immigration Department, Customs and Excise, the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy, senior prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and sitting members of the national judiciary.

    What sets this training apart from standard capacity-building courses is its immersive end-to-end simulation structure, which follows a single hypothetical trafficking case from the initial report of a victim through to final courtroom adjudication. Over the first two days, participating investigators worked in teams to build their case, conduct cross-border inquiry drills, analyze complex financial and digital evidence, and adapt their strategies to evolving, high-pressure scenario developments that test on-the-job decision-making. On the third day, prosecutors took over the investigative case files, honing their skills in evidence assessment, charging strategy, and compliance with legal disclosure requirements. The fourth day focused exclusively on judicial capacity, with a peer-led working session exploring best practices for managing trafficking proceedings, including tailored protections for vulnerable victims and child witnesses. The programme concluded with a full integrated simulation that brought investigators, prosecutors, and judges together to test the entire case process from start to finish.

    Roughly 60 percent of the programme’s content was hands-on practical training, with all curricula aligned to Antigua and Barbuda’s 2010 Trafficking in Persons (Prevention) Act (including its subsequent amendments) and the country’s national anti-trafficking action plan. Throughout the week, facilitators emphasized three core pillars of effective anti-trafficking work: a victim-centered approach to all cases, the principle of non-punishment for victims who are forced to commit offenses as part of their exploitation, and the critical importance of cross-border cooperation to disrupt transnational trafficking networks.

    Lt. Col. Michael Jones, Executive Director of CARICOM IMPACS, explained that successful anti-trafficking work requires far more than strong individual investigations—it demands seamless coordinated action across all parts of the justice system, from the moment a victim is first identified to the final resolution of the case. “Investigators, prosecutors, the judiciary, and victim-support services each have distinct roles to play, but unaddressed gaps between these groups can undermine both victim protection and access to justice,” Jones noted. “For CARICOM IMPACS, a whole-of-justice-system approach means strengthening those connections, both at the national level and across our region, while upholding core principles of judicial independence and due process. Our collective success should not be measured only by how many cases we bring to court, but by whether we deliver actual justice, hold traffickers accountable, and give survivors the support they need to rebuild their lives,” he added.

    Mrs. Phillisha Pardo, Acting Director of Antigua and Barbuda’s Trafficking In Persons (Prevention) Unit, reaffirmed the national government’s unwavering commitment to combating human trafficking in all its forms. “We will continue to advance public education, raise awareness, and build strategic partnerships to prevent this crime from occurring in our communities and strengthen our national response. When trafficking is identified, we will conduct thorough, rigorous investigations, prosecute offenders to the full extent of the law, and ensure that survivors receive the protection, support, and justice they are entitled to,” Pardo assured stakeholders.

    The programme was facilitated by a team of seasoned anti-trafficking practitioners from across the CARICOM region, drawn from Guyana and Jamaica. It forms part of a broader regional initiative led by CARICOM IMPACS to build coordinated national and regional capacity to counter human trafficking across all 15 CARICOM member states.

    Established in July 2006 during the 27th Meeting of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government held in Bird Rock, St Kitts and Nevis, CARICOM IMPACS serves as the operational implementation arm of the regional body’s crime and security action agenda. Its Training and Development Centre is the primary regional body delivering capacity-building programmes for border security, law enforcement, and justice sector agencies across all CARICOM member states.

  • HC Kevin Isaac celebrates St. Kitts and Nevis’ 43rd Independence with diaspora in London – WIC News

    HC Kevin Isaac celebrates St. Kitts and Nevis’ 43rd Independence with diaspora in London – WIC News

    On the cusp of St. Kitts and Nevis’ 43rd anniversary of sovereign independence, nearly 200 members of the country’s UK-based diaspora gathered in London to mark the milestone with High Commissioner Kevin Isaac and his mission staff. Centered on the unifying 2026 celebration theme “one people, one vision, endless possibilities,” the event brought together multigenerational Kittitians and Nevisians from across the United Kingdom, turning the London gathering into a call for cross-border collaboration for national progress.

    The day of commemoration opened with a solemn interlude at London’s iconic Westminster Abbey, where visiting nationals joined High Commissioner Isaac in a service of prayer for the island nation’s government and people, honoring the legacy of sacrifice that paved the way for independence in 1983. Moving from reflection to collective action, the main celebration shifted to a focus on the diaspora’s underrecognized role in shaping the country’s future.

    In his keynote address to the assembled crowd, Isaac framed independence not just as a historic achievement of political freedom, but as an ongoing shared responsibility. “While Independence gave us political freedom, it also gave us the responsibility to determine our own future; to build a country worthy of the sacrifices of those who came before us,” he told the gathering, emphasizing that the national theme carries special meaning for community members living thousands of miles from the twin islands.

    Isaac laid out a concrete vision for diaspora engagement, centering three core pathways to contribution: professional mentorship, targeted investment, and knowledge-sharing. He painted vivid examples of the impact cross-border connection could deliver: a London-based physician or nurse mentoring the next generation of healthcare leaders in the capital Basseterre, and a Birmingham-based engineer partnering on local development projects across Nevis. He urged attendees not to underestimate their value to the nation’s growth, rejecting the idea that distance erodes a diaspora member’s stake in national progress.

    “You may live thousands of miles away. But you are not disconnected. You are not forgotten,” Isaac emphasized. “Your knowledge matters. Your relationships matter. Your investment matters. Your voice matters. Your children matter. And your ideas matter.” The celebration comes as St. Kitts and Nevis continues to prioritize inclusive nation-building, with recent domestic milestones including a 20-year low in national homicide rates, reinforcing the momentum Isaac highlighted for collective progress across home and diaspora communities.

  • Jeremie: A terror T&T escaped

    Jeremie: A terror T&T escaped

    Trinidad and Tobago’s Attorney General John Jeremie has made a stunning disclosure during parliamentary debate on the 2026 Special Operations Bill: the man accused of ordering the assassination of State prosecutor Randall Hector has been in custody at Chaguaramas’ Teteron Barracks since last year. The revelation comes as the current Persad-Bissessar administration pushes for expanded powers to dismantle transnational criminal gangs that have terrorized the country for years, using the high-profile 2024 killing as a stark example of the failures of the previous People’s National Movement (PNM) government.

    Hector, a 43-year-old veteran prosecutor with deep experience targeting organized crime, was gunned down in a meticulously planned attack on New Year’s Eve 2024, just moments after he left a year-end church service at Port of Spain’s Stanmore Avenue Seventh Day Adventist Church. According to Jeremie’s account to the House of Representatives, Hector had just delivered a sermon on the goodness of God and was walking with his family toward their car when two vehicles — a black SUV and a Nissan B15 — ambushed the group. Hitmen exited the vehicles and fired seven shots into Hector’s chest, killing him instantly.

    What makes the killing even more damning for the former PNM administration, Jeremie argued, is the timing: the assassination occurred just hours after the then-government had declared a national state of emergency (SoE) in response to surging gang violence. The then-Attorney General Stuart Young had justified the SoE by citing police intelligence that warned of imminent brazen criminal attacks and reprisal killings between rival gangs, particularly in violence-plagued areas like Port of Spain and Laventille. Yet, Jeremie pointed out, then-Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley was nowhere to be seen during the crisis — he was photographed attending a social event in Tobago holding a drink, leaving the SoE announcement to Young instead of the sitting national security minister or prime minister.

    “The gangs’ immediate answer to the declaration of their state of emergency was to do precisely what the state of emergency was supposed to prevent,” Jeremie told the Deputy Speaker. He added that Hector’s murder was just one high-profile example of the systemic failure of gang policy under the PNM, which left the country reeling from a historic murder crisis: three consecutive years of annual homicide totals approaching or exceeding 600, culminating in a record-breaking bloodshed in 2024. When the current United National Congress (UNC)-led Persad-Bissessar administration took office, it inherited a nation grappling with unprecedented levels of gang-related terror, Jeremie noted.

    In his address to parliament, Jeremie confirmed that the alleged mastermind behind Hector’s killing has been cut off from his criminal network while in custody at Teteron Barracks, stripping him of the ability to exert the same level of violent influence that left the previous PNM administration “timid and silent.” Jeremie declined to name the suspect or confirm whether formal charges have been filed in connection with Hector’s death.

    Jeremie stressed that while national security has improved measurably under the current administration, with statistical data backing up claims of falling violence, this is no time for complacency. That is why the government is advancing the Special Operations Bill, which would grant law enforcement expanded powers to disrupt and dismantle organized criminal networks.

    Hector’s assassination sent immediate shockwaves through the country’s legal and justice system. The prosecutor had previously served as legal director of the Strategic Services Agency before opening his own private practice, and he was regularly retained by the state to prosecute high-profile cases against alleged gang leaders. In the wake of the killing, prosecutors across the country were left traumatized and boycotted court proceedings for the remainder of the week, forcing the rescheduling of jury selection in supreme courts across Port of Spain, San Fernando, and Tobago. The Law Association called for urgent enhanced security protections for prosecutors and judicial officers handling sensitive gang cases, and law enforcement quickly moved to implement additional security detail for at-risk legal personnel. As of April 2025, acting Police Commissioner Junior Benjamin confirmed that the investigation file had been sent to Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, who ordered additional inquiries before formal prosecution can proceed.

  • Young warns of ‘police state’

    Young warns of ‘police state’

    A fiery parliamentary debate over the revised Special Operations Bill 2026 has sparked major constitutional controversy in Trinidad and Tobago, with former National Security Minister Stuart Young launching a scathing attack on the ruling United National Congress (UNC) administration led by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

    Speaking on the floor of parliament Wednesday, Young issued a stark warning that the updated legislation — a revised version of the earlier withdrawn Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) bill — will effectively reconfigure the twin-island nation into an overt police state, eroding core constitutional protections for all citizens.

    Young went further than claiming democratic backsliding is on the horizon, telling legislators that authoritarian rule has already arrived in the country. “It is not creeping. We are in a dictatorship. That is clear,” he said, arguing that the public has gradually become desensitized to repeated encroachments on fundamental rights, allowing authoritarian practices to spread unchecked.

    Rejecting Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s public reassurance that law-abiding residents have nothing to fear from the new law, Young dismissed the claim as “complete rubbish”. He argued the legislation contains provisions that would enable authorities to detain individuals without sufficient evidentiary justification, echoing harms that he said already played out during the country’s two recent consecutive states of emergency, the second of which concluded on September 17.

    According to Young, the past six months of emergency rule already exposed the public to a pattern of rising authoritarianism and systemic rights suppression, with multiple documented cases of innocent citizens having their liberties violated through the use of preventive detention orders. He claimed the UNC administration has already made clear it has no coherent strategy to address violent crime beyond stripping citizens of their constitutionally guaranteed rights, and that the current bill is just the latest step in this deliberate campaign to restrict fundamental freedoms.

    Young stressed that while the constitution does allow for limited temporary infringements on rights in extraordinary circumstances, it also explicitly enshrines these protections as inalienable for all citizens. To prevent misuse of the sweeping powers laid out in the bill, he argued the legislation must be required to pass with a special majority vote in the Lower House, rather than a simple majority.

    The former minister outlined that the bill frames expanded policing powers through newly established “policing districts”, with wording that would allow every part of Trinidad and Tobago to be designated as such a district. “The UNC is passing legislation here today that makes Trinidad and Tobago nothing less than a police state, with a trampling on constitutional rights here of all citizens, not just those who engage in criminality,” he added.

    A core point of contention for Young is the bill’s permit system for movement in so-called “closed areas” — a rebranding of the original ZOSO framework. He raised alarm that the Prime Minister would hold unilateral authority to designate closed areas and deploy law enforcement to enforce movement restrictions, a power he called incompatible with democratic governance.

    In one of the most striking comparisons of his speech, Young drew a parallel between the proposed permit system and the segregationist movement control laws of apartheid-era South Africa, saying “This bill mirrors that.” He explained that authorities would be able to cordon off any area based on the presence of a small number of suspected criminals, operating outside the normal safeguards of civilian law, and require every person entering, exiting or residing in the area to hold an official government permit.

    Young highlighted the real-world risks this system would create for vulnerable citizens, pointing to the community of Morvant as an example. He questioned how elderly residents would access emergency care, how caregivers would reach people in need of assistance during a crisis, and what would happen to people who are unaware their neighborhood has been designated a closed area — whether they need to reach their home during a fire emergency or access urgent care during a curfew. He reminded law-abiding citizens that violating the closed area rules would carry criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment, meaning ordinary people could face punishment simply for trying to access their own homes during an unannounced closure.