Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • US Embassy to now cost US$.5b

    US Embassy to now cost US$.5b

    The United States has officially confirmed a major diplomatic infrastructure investment exceeding $500 million for the construction of a new embassy compound in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. This substantial financial commitment, announced through the US Embassy’s social media channels, signifies a significant upgrade from earlier projections of $400 million when initial work commenced last year.

    The ambitious project, situated on the former Trinidad Country Club property along Long Circular Road in Maraval, represents one of America’s most substantial diplomatic construction endeavors in the Caribbean region. Embassy officials emphasize that the modern facility will incorporate advanced eco-friendly designs and sustainable materials, aligning with contemporary environmental standards while preserving historical elements of the site, including protected trees.

    Beyond its architectural significance, the embassy highlights the project’s substantial local economic impact. The construction phase is projected to generate numerous employment opportunities for Trinidad and Tobago nationals, providing a boost to the local workforce. The completed compound will feature expanded consular services and enhanced facilities aimed at improving the experience for visa applicants and citizens engaging with U.S. government services.

    While specific timelines weren’t reiterated in the latest announcement, previous indications pointed toward a projected completion date in 2029. The investment underscores the United States’ continued diplomatic commitment to Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean region, with the new embassy serving as both a functional diplomatic hub and a symbol of bilateral relations.

  • Rowley hit for ‘wajang’ language

    Rowley hit for ‘wajang’ language

    Trinidad and Tobago’s Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander has issued a scathing condemnation of former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, characterizing his recent statements on law enforcement protocols as “irresponsible and reckless.” The political confrontation emerged after Rowley suggested that legal advice obtained by the Attorney General could encourage security forces to employ lethal measures based solely on suspicion.

    At a Tuesday news conference, Rowley referenced a King’s Counsel opinion regarding the legality of US kinetic strikes against drug trafficking vessels in international waters. The former prime minister extrapolated this maritime precedent to suggest it created an “inducement” for Trinidadian law enforcement to apply similar lethal force standards on land. “If it is okay to kill people on the ocean on suspicion,” Rowley questioned, “isn’t it easier to kill people on land on the same suspicion?”

    Minister Alexander provided the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s explicit clarification to the Express, emphasizing that all officers operate under a strict “use of force” policy that clearly delineates when deadly force is legally permissible. Alexander expressed particular concern that Rowley’s commentary endangered police personnel by potentially emboldening criminal elements. “The former prime minister was reckless,” Alexander stated, “and only criminal elements will find great pleasure in that statement.”

    The security minister further criticized Rowley’s employment of derogatory language toward current Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who he reportedly called a “jamette” during the political exchange. Alexander characterized this terminology as “wajang” and “gutter language,” expressing profound disappointment as an African male who was taught to respect women as queens. “How can you sit aside and call a person’s name like that?” Alexander questioned, noting that such language reflects “shameful behavior” unbecoming of any former national leader.

    Rowley’s original comments referenced the Leahy Act, a United States human rights policy that prohibits military assistance to foreign security units implicated in gross human rights violations. The former prime minister revealed that during his administration, US authorities had approached him with concerns about extra-judicial killings by named police officers, suggesting that the current administration’s position might conflict with international human rights standards.

  • Friday calls for end to Cuba embargo, support for Haiti

    Friday calls for end to Cuba embargo, support for Haiti

    Prime Minister Godwin Friday of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has issued a powerful appeal for hemispheric solidarity, calling for the immediate termination of the United States’ economic embargo against Cuba and increased international support for Haiti during his address at the CELAC summit in Colombia.

    Addressing fellow leaders from the Americas, Friday characterized the six-decade-long sanctions against Cuba as “anti-development measures” that continue to inflict severe hardship on the Cuban population. He specifically highlighted how extraterritorial provisions and Cuba’s controversial designation as a state sponsor of terrorism have crippled the nation’s access to international financial systems and impeded socioeconomic progress.

    The Vincentian leader emphasized that the overwhelming majority of United Nations member states have consistently voted to condemn the embargo, with 165 countries supporting a resolution last year demanding its cessation. Despite this global consensus, Washington maintains its position, recently exacerbating Cuba’s energy crisis through efforts to restrict oil shipments to the island.

    Turning to the deteriorating situation in Haiti, Friday expressed profound solidarity with the Haitian people as they confront escalating gang violence and political instability following President Jovenel Moïse’s 2021 assassination. He advocated for Haitian-led solutions, strengthened security institutions, and concrete actions against illicit arms trafficking while supporting the timeline for elections outlined in the National Pact for Stability.

    Friday positioned these dual challenges as critical tests of international commitment to justice and South-South cooperation, urging CELAC and African nations to form a united front. He concluded with a vision of a coordinated Global South capable of reshaping international law, global governance structures, and development financing toward greater equity.

  • For Cuba, “Humanity Made Solidarity”

    For Cuba, “Humanity Made Solidarity”

    HAVANA – In a powerful demonstration of global solidarity, over 600 delegates from 33 nations convened at the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) headquarters on March 21st for the “Our America to Cuba Convoy” welcoming ceremony. The event featured Cuba’s highest leadership, including President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, and became a platform for resounding condemnation of the six-decade US economic embargo against the Caribbean nation.

    David Adler, co-general coordinator of Progressive International, set the tone by declaring: “Cuba has taught us what international solidarity means. We will never leave Cuba alone because fighting for Cuba is fighting for the right to self-determination of the peoples of the world.” Adler characterized the US blockade as a unique humanitarian crisis, asserting that convoy members represented millions globally who reject the policy of economic suffocation.

    The gathering served three fundamental purposes, according to Adler: humanitarian support for a nation under unprecedented sanctions, defense of Cuba’s revolutionary achievements as a viable alternative to capitalism, and resistance against what participants termed “genocidal policies” of the US government.

    Manolo de los Santos, executive director of The People’s Forum, praised Cuba’s resilience, stating: “This nation has given us the greatest lesson in what it means to create a true alternative to the horrors of capitalism and imperialism.” He explicitly labeled the blockade as “an act of genocide” for depriving Cubans of basic rights to life, peace, and normal international relations.

    Brazilian student leader Bianca Borges, president of the National Union of Students of Brazil, framed the event as elevating “the banners of solidarity, anti-imperialism, hope, and sovereignty” against imperial domination. She emphasized that solidarity with Cuba remains fundamental for achieving a just, integrated Latin America free from foreign domination.

    Fernando González Llort, Hero of the Republic and ICAP president, reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to internationalist principles, telling attendees: “You represent the certainty that no imperial siege can ever imprison the dignity of our peoples. The homeland we defend is not a strip of land under siege—it is a piece of humanity that refuses to surrender.”

    The ceremony concluded with participants vowing to combat media misinformation about Cuba upon returning to their home countries, positioning the convoy as the beginning of sustained international advocacy rather than a singular event.

  • LVV-minister Noersalim wil lokale producten voor schoolvoeding

    LVV-minister Noersalim wil lokale producten voor schoolvoeding

    In a significant move toward agricultural self-sufficiency, Suriname’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries Mike Noersalim has announced a comprehensive national strategy to source all school meal products locally. The initiative, unveiled during the launch ceremony of the highland rice project in Pokigron, represents a major shift in the government’s approach to food security and rural development.

    The ambitious program will require that all components of school meals—including rice, protein sources, and vegetables—be supplied by domestic producers rather than imported goods. Currently, students in participating interior schools receive meals consisting of rice with fish or meat and vegetables, but vegetables have been primarily sourced from Paramaribo or Saramacca regions.

    Minister Noersalim emphasized the program’s strategic importance during his address to traditional leaders, farmers, and residents of Pokigron. ‘The government is implementing the school feeding program with the specific intention of utilizing all locally grown products,’ he stated, highlighting the interconnected nature of agricultural development and food security.

    The ministry has already initiated a nationwide livestock program training entrepreneurs in poultry farming, with plans to extend these training programs to interior villages. ‘We have rice, complemented by chicken, and then we need vegetables to complete the meal,’ Noersalim explained, outlining the comprehensive approach to meal planning.

    The highland rice project, a three-year initiative implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Regional Development, marks the beginning of this agricultural transformation. The ceremony was attended by Regional Development Minister Miquella Huur, Assembly member Silvana Afonsoewa, and District Commissioner Humphrey Jeroe, demonstrating cross-ministerial support for the initiative.

    Minister Noersalim connected the local sourcing mandate to broader global challenges, noting that President Jennifer Simons has called for proactive measures in response to international tensions that have driven increased transportation costs and more expensive import products. He encouraged villagers to plant fruit trees as part of local juice production efforts.

    Addressing market access concerns, the minister pointed to the Directorate of Agricultural Research, Marketing, and Processing as a key resource for ensuring market guarantees. He emphasized the importance of establishing community hubs or processing units where agricultural products could be collected and distributed efficiently.

    The success of these projects depends on collective effort and cooperation, Noersalim stressed, warning that results would be elusive without proper collaboration. The ministry has already begun supporting land preparation for farmers seeking to expand their cultivation areas.

    Finally, the minister highlighted the critical role of agricultural cooperatives in organizing production and enabling targeted ministry support. By establishing clear production structures through cooperatives, the government aims to create a sustainable framework for Suriname’s agricultural development and food security goals.

  • Elections : Risks of infiltration on the CEP list by political parties complicit with gangs

    Elections : Risks of infiltration on the CEP list by political parties complicit with gangs

    Haiti’s fragile electoral process faces unprecedented challenges as the Civil Society Initiative (ISC) raises alarms about potential infiltration by gang-affiliated political entities. While acknowledging the efforts of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) to facilitate elections, the ISC expresses grave concerns regarding the integrity of the democratic process.

    The organization has identified a critical vulnerability among the 320 political parties registered with the CEP, warning that groups complicit with criminal gangs may exploit the system to gain political legitimacy. This development threatens to undermine Haiti’s already precarious security situation and democratic institutions.

    In response to these threats, the ISC has issued urgent appeals to multiple government bodies. The Justice system, Judicial Police, and CEP have been called upon to implement comprehensive screening mechanisms that would prevent politicians with gang affiliations from participating in elections. The civil society group emphasizes that Haiti’s judicial system must maintain its sovereign authority to prosecute and punish offenders without delegating these functions to international courts.

    Beyond security concerns, the ISC has highlighted additional complications in election preparation. The proposed voter re-registration process could potentially disenfranchise significant portions of the electorate and create unnecessary delays. The organization advocates for utilizing existing Dermalog identification cards and National Identification Office (ONI) registries to streamline voter list compilation, as successfully implemented in previous elections.

    Financial integrity represents another critical challenge. Past elections have been marred by excessive campaign spending that prioritized donor interests over public welfare. The ISC insists that electoral legislation regarding funding limits must be strictly enforced by relevant authorities including the Ministry of Finance, Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC), and Superior Court of Accounts.

    For Haiti to emerge from its current crisis, the ISC emphasizes that elections must transcend mere procedural compliance. The process must establish genuine security, demonstrate democratic transparency, and maintain credibility with both domestic and international observers to restore faith in Haiti’s governance institutions.

  • Antigua PM says election will be held in 90 days

    Antigua PM says election will be held in 90 days

    ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Prime Minister Gaston Browne has officially declared that general elections in Antigua and Barbuda will be conducted within the next 90 days, signaling a strategic move to capitalize on his party’s recent political momentum. The announcement came during Browne’s weekly radio address on Saturday, where he directed ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) candidates to initiate immediate door-to-door campaigns to ensure voter re-registration.

    Browne, who made history as the first prime minister to secure three consecutive terms, emphatically urged citizens to ‘do the responsible thing’ by updating their registration promptly. ‘I would say within 90 days and the earlier you go to get your card, the better,’ he stated, framing the election timeline as both urgent and inevitable.

    This calculated decision follows a decisive by-election victory last Monday in St. Philip North, where ABLP candidate Randy Baltimore secured a landslide win with 924 votes (69.5%) against main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) candidate Alex Browne’s 406 votes (30.5%). The seat had been held for five decades by Sir Robin Yearwood before his retirement.

    Regional political analyst Peter Wickham of Barbados had previously advised Browne to call early elections, noting the ABLP’s strengthened position following the by-election. Wickham highlighted concerning trends within the opposition UPP, including leadership challenges under Jamale Pringle, loss of key constituencies, and defection of candidates. He suggested the UPP requires urgent leadership reconsideration through a special conference.

    The current parliamentary composition shows ABLP holding nine of 17 seats, with UPP controlling six, the Barbuda People’s Movement holding one, and one independent seat. Recent political shifts include UPP’s gain following the murder of opposition legislator Asot Michael, countered by UPP legislator Anthony Smith’s defection to ABLP where he now serves as Agriculture Minister.

    The upcoming election will test whether Browne’s early call can convert recent by-election success into a renewed governing mandate, while opposition forces grapple with internal restructuring challenges.

  • NPS traint leden in Albina in gemeenschapsmobilisatie en projectvaardigheden

    NPS traint leden in Albina in gemeenschapsmobilisatie en projectvaardigheden

    The National Party of Suriname (NPS) has taken significant steps to strengthen community organizing capabilities through a specialized skills training program conducted on Saturday. The party’s Educational Institute organized the “Community Mobilization Skills” workshop specifically for members of the Albina subdivision in the Marowijne district.

    The training initiative was formally inaugurated by Lygia Pinas, Coordinator of the Albina subdivision, marking the party’s continued commitment to grassroots development. Party Leader Gregory Rusland emphasized the NPS’s dedication to supporting local chapters and subdivisions through comprehensive capacity-building programs. He expressed confidence that participants would leverage their newly acquired knowledge to enhance community activity organization within their respective regions.

    Throughout the practical training sessions, attendees gained essential skills in three critical areas: project planning, project management, and time management techniques. The curriculum focused on teaching effective and efficient project implementation strategies, including budget development for securing project financing. The structured program consisted of three comprehensive sessions designed to provide hands-on learning experiences.

    Expert instruction was provided by Virginia Asin-Oostburg, Chair of the NPS Educational Institute, alongside co-trainer Leon Brunings. The ceremonial certificate distribution was conducted by Dorothy Hoever and Shanelle Welzijn, both affiliated with the Educational Institute’s management board. The event concluded with participants receiving formal recognition for their completed training, symbolizing the party’s ongoing commitment to its “A Nyun Pasi” (A New Path) development strategy leading toward 2030.

  • Trump Gives Iran 48 Hours Before He “Obliterates” Their Power Plants

    Trump Gives Iran 48 Hours Before He “Obliterates” Their Power Plants

    In a dramatic escalation of tensions, former U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran demanding the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway, currently blockaded by Iranian forces, serves as a critical global oil transit route.

    Through his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump issued an unequivocal warning: “If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST.”

    The former president further asserted that U.S. military operations against Iran have exceeded expectations, claiming the elimination of Iranian leadership and the destruction of defense systems ahead of schedule. These assertions remain unverified by independent sources.

    The economic implications of the strait’s closure have already manifested globally, with oil prices surging past $100 per barrel—a development that threatens to exacerbate worldwide inflationary pressures.

    Iran responded sternly on Sunday, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warning via social media platform X that any attack on Iranian power infrastructure would trigger retaliatory strikes against U.S. assets and critical energy and desalination facilities throughout the Gulf region. Such countermeasures, Qalibaf cautioned, could cause “irreversible destruction” to Middle Eastern infrastructure.

    Military analysts note that targeting power plants would constitute an unprecedented escalation, potentially depriving millions of Iranian civilians of electricity and essential services, raising significant humanitarian concerns.

  • I will respond as I see fit

    I will respond as I see fit

    In a significant escalation of Trinidad and Tobago’s political tensions, former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has declared he will publicly respond to any perceived slander from current Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made within Parliament’s chambers. The opposition leader’s statement comes amid a brewing controversy surrounding media regulation and freedom of expression.

    The political clash intensified when the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) issued a formal warning to CNC3 television on March 20th, citing potential violations of broadcast content regulations. TATT’s letter specifically referenced Section D9 of licensing agreements, which prohibits content that discriminates or portrays individuals negatively based on race, origin, class, religion, or sex.

    This regulatory intervention follows Rowley’s controversial reference to Persad-Bissessar as a ‘jamette’ during a news conference at his Glencoe residence. The remark came in response to the Prime Minister’s allegations that the People’s National Movement (PNM) utilized criminal funds for Balisier House renovations. Both television broadcasts and print media coverage disseminated these exchanges nationwide.

    Rowley, communicating via WhatsApp and later Facebook, expressed profound concerns regarding TATT’s timing and motives. He questioned whether the authority represented a novel establishment in Trinidad and Tobago, suggesting possible political influence behind its recent actions. The former PM drew parallels to international patterns of media suppression, asking rhetorically if this constituted ‘threatening of the media part of what is happening abroad.’

    Highlighting perceived inconsistencies, Rowley referenced former United National Congress minister Jack Warner’s past allegations during election campaigns, demanding to know TATT’s whereabouts during those controversies. He specifically mentioned Warner’s claims about a former prime minister allegedly using taxpayer money to benefit associates with state positions.

    Rowley maintained that Persad-Bissessar ‘is only a victim when she is challenged,’ while defending his right to respond to parliamentary allegations externally. He concluded with defiance, stating critics ‘could take a hike’ and reaffirming his commitment to answer any slanderous statements made within Parliament through appropriate public channels.