分类： politics

On a significant diplomatic occasion at its headquarters in Dominica, the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba hosted a formal ceremony to celebrate the country’s National Rebellion Day, drawing attendees from two key bilateral organizations: the Dominica Guild of Cuban Graduates and the Dominica-Cuba Friendship Association.

Beyond its commemorative purpose, the gathering served as a platform to celebrate the decades-long collaborative bond between Havana and Roseau, while shining a spotlight on the critical contributions the two participating organizations have made over the years to nurturing people-to-people ties and advancing official cooperation between the two Caribbean nations.

In his keynote address to attendees, Cuban Ambassador to Dominica Miguel Fraga opened a discussion on the pressing contemporary challenges that Cuba navigates, according to an official press statement released by the embassy following the event. Fraga centered much of his remarks on the far-reaching harm caused by the longstanding, recently intensified economic, commercial and financial blockade enforced by the United States. He placed specific focus on the crippling impacts of the oil embargo component of the restrictions, detailing the widespread daily hardships the policy has imposed on ordinary Cuban citizens.

Fraga also directed sharp criticism at what he framed as the growing aggression and hostile policy threats against Cuba advanced by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, underscoring how these actions have exacerbated existing pressures on the island nation. Despite these challenges, the ambassador emphasized that Cuba retains widespread backing across the global community. He pointed to the most recent annual United Nations vote on the blockade as clear evidence of this support, noting that an overwhelming majority of UN member states once again voted in favor of a resolution calling for an immediate end to the U.S. embargo. Fraga noted that this lopsided outcome underscores the growing international isolation of Washington’s policy toward Cuba on the global stage.

As part of the day’s commemorative activities, the ceremony included a special honor for Dr. Damien Dublin, who was recognized by the Dominica Guild of Cuban Graduates for his unwavering, longstanding commitment to deepening bilateral friendship and cooperation between Cuba and Dominica, as well as his consistent public support for the Cuban Revolution.

Following the address and award presentation, representatives from all participating organizations issued a collective reaffirmation of their solidarity with Cuba. They pledged to continue standing with the Cuban people in defense of the country’s sovereign right to self-determination, in the face of ongoing U.S. sanctions and other unilateral coercive measures.

The event drew to a close with attendees reflecting on the deep, durable roots of the Cuban-Dominica relationship, which has been built across decades of shared cooperation, mutual respect for national sovereignty and reciprocal support. All attendees united in a public commitment to continuing work to expand and strengthen the bilateral partnership in the years ahead.

The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission has made a key strategic appointment to deepen cross-regional ties, announcing that Aisha Maina, current Chief Executive Officer of Pan-African advisory firm Aquarian Consult Limited, will take up the newly created role of Strategic Advisor for Africa-Caribbean Cooperation. Official OECS press materials confirm the appointment officially went into effect on July 1, 2026, and is designed to accelerate the bloc’s ongoing work to build stronger, mutually beneficial partnerships between Eastern Caribbean nations and African countries across trade, investment, and a range of shared priority sectors.

Maina brings a diverse and extensive professional background to the new position, with deep expertise spanning governance frameworks, international trade, energy development, agribusiness, the creative economy, and socially impactful investment, per OECS assessments. Over her tenure leading Aquarian Consult Limited, she has overseen the delivery of dozens of high-impact regional and international development initiatives, while building deep, collaborative relationships with public sector institutions and private sector leaders across every major region of Africa. These cross-sector connections and proven leadership track record position her uniquely to drive forward cooperation between the two regions, OECS officials note.

In welcoming Maina to the OECS team, OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules emphasized the strategic importance of the appointment. “We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Aisha Maina to the OECS Commission,” Jules said. “Her proven track record of delivery, transformational leadership at Aquarian Consult, and expansive, forward-thinking vision for equitable South-South collaboration make her the ideal person to lead our strategic engagement with African nations. This appointment is a clear reflection of our unwavering commitment to building a more resilient, globally connected, and economically prosperous community for all OECS member states.”

In her new advisory capacity, Maina will report directly to the Office of the Director General, collaborating closely with OECS leadership to co-design policies and strategic frameworks that unlock new economic opportunities for businesses and communities on both sides of the Atlantic, while strengthening institutional collaboration between the two regions.

Reacting to her appointment, Maina highlighted the deep historical, cultural, and social ties that have long bound African and Caribbean peoples together, and expressed measured optimism about the untapped potential of the expanded partnership. “It is a deep privilege to serve the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States in this capacity,” Maina said. “The historical, cultural, and economic synergy between Africa and the Caribbean represents an immense, largely untapped frontier of opportunity for shared growth. I look forward to working closely with Director General Dr. Didacus Jules and the entire OECS Commission team to translate our shared vision into transformative trade partnerships, inclusive sustainable growth, and lasting people-to-people connections for both our regions, strengthening what we see as a critical Transatlantic Bridge between the Global South.”

OECS leadership has framed the appointment as a deliberate, incremental step forward in the bloc’s broader commitment to advancing equitable South-South cooperation, and building deeper economic and cultural people-to-people ties between African nations and the 11 Eastern Caribbean member states that make up the OECS bloc.

Ahead of the upcoming Roseau North by-election, the leader of Dominica’s main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has ignited fresh controversy over the country’s electoral process, accusing the national Electoral Office of intentionally disenfranchising young eligible voters. Dr. Thomson Fontaine, head of the UWP, made the claims in a public statement posted to his official Facebook page on July 27, alleging that at least two Dominican students completing their higher education overseas were improperly turned away when they attempted to complete their first-time voter registration.

According to Fontaine’s account, the two eligible students traveled back to Dominica specifically to submit their registration applications, as required by protocol, but their submissions were rejected outright by Electoral Office staff. Fontaine pointed out that both students are widely assumed to support the UWP based on the political affiliations of their families, suggesting their rejection was no accidental administrative error.

“This is clearly an attempt by the EO to manipulate the voters’ list,” Fontaine wrote in his post, directly claiming the decision was driven by partisan political motivation. To back up his allegation that the students wrongfully rejected, he cited a clear provision in Dominica’s existing electoral legislation that outlines special rules for overseas students registering to vote. Under Article 7(2)(b) of the national Electoral Act, any individual that is classified as a bona fide full-time student studying outside of Dominica is legally exempt from the standard residency requirement that applies to most first-time voters. The legislation explicitly states that these students are deemed to retain their residency in the polling district where their family home is located, meaning their time spent abroad cannot be used to disqualify their registration.

Fontaine emphasized that this legal provision eliminates any ground for the Electoral Office to reject the students’ applications, and called on electoral authorities to end what he described as targeted disenfranchisement of young opposition-leaning voters. “Please stop attempting to disenfranchise our young voters,” he concluded his statement.

As of July 28, the Electoral Office has not issued any public response to address Fontaine’s specific allegations. The controversy comes amid ongoing preparations for the high-stakes Roseau North by-election. In recent public communications, electoral officials have urged Dominican residents to get all information about registration and voting directly from the Electoral Office, warning against unconfirmed misinformation spreading across social media platforms. The Office has also repeatedly reaffirmed its public commitment to running the upcoming by-election in a secure, transparent, and fully accountable manner, free from partisan interference.

Haiti’s long journey toward reestablishing stable constitutional rule has reached a landmark turning point, after the country’s Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) released a detailed timeline for upcoming general elections — a move that has earned formal praise from a top Caribbean diplomatic task force.

Created in May 2023 under the umbrella of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) functions as a high-level diplomatic body dedicated to addressing Haiti’s deepening political and security crisis. The group draws on decades of regional leadership experience, counting three former heads of government among its ranks: Dr. Kenny Anthony of Saint Lucia, Perry Christie of The Bahamas, and Bruce Golding of Jamaica. Its core mandate centers on facilitating inclusive cross-party political dialogue, forging consensus on urgent security priorities, and supporting Haitian-led efforts to rebuild functional democratic institutions and restore constitutional governance.

Earlier this year, the EPG made the decision to delay a planned on-the-ground visit to Haiti, noting that the team would hold off on travel to continue monitoring rapidly shifting political developments in the country. That posture of cautious observation shifted with the CEP’s publication of the electoral calendar, which the EPG described as a critical breakthrough that brings much-needed clarity to a process that has remained uncertain for years for both Haitian political actors and the broader international community.

Under the newly released timetable, the first round of voting is set to take place on December 13, 2026. Ballots will be cast to select a new president, fill all seats in the national legislature, and approve a package of proposed constitutional reforms. The calendar lays out clear timelines for all key pre-election preparatory steps, including the registration of political parties, individual candidates, electoral coalitions and platforms, as well as a national voter registration drive to update Haitian electoral rolls ahead of polling day.

In its official statement, the EPG underlined that sustained coordination between the CEP and every sector of Haitian society will be indispensable to keeping the electoral process on track. The group issued a formal call to all political parties, civil society organizations, community leaders and other national stakeholders to engage actively in the process, uphold procedural rules, and work collectively to ensure all electoral requirements are fully met before voting begins.

Successful inclusive preparation, the EPG argued, will clear the way for Haitian citizens to exercise their democratic right to choose their next government in a free, fair and credible process, laying the groundwork for the full restoration of constitutional order in a country that has operated without elected governance for years.

The task force also joined the CEP in highlighting a critical unmet need: dramatic improvements to national security before election preparations advance much further. A secure, stable environment is non-negotiable for a credible electoral process, the group stressed, and it called on all nations contributing troops and police to the multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to accelerate deployment of their personnel to Haiti. Early deployment of the GSF, the EPG noted, would allow international security assistance to take root and expand well in advance of the December 2026 first round voting, creating the secure conditions needed for a smooth election.

In closing, the EPG emphasized that parallel progress on two interconnected tracks will make or break Haiti’s democratic transition: steady advancement of electoral preparations, and concrete improvements to national security. Both are essential to delivering a credible election that sets Haiti on a sustainable path toward restored democratic rule.