Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • Jamaica, Guyana to establish energy working group

    Jamaica, Guyana to establish energy working group

    On June 26, 2026, a landmark round of bilateral diplomacy between two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states delivered a framework for deepened cross-sector collaboration, anchored by a new initiative to advance regional energy security. The agreement-signing ceremony took place at Guyana’s State House, where Guyana’s Foreign Minister Hugh Todd and Jamaican Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith put their signatures to a series of memoranda of understanding (MoUs), with Guyana President Irfaan Ali and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness in attendance as official witnesses.

    Following the formal signing ceremony, the two leaders addressed a joint press briefing, outlining the scope of the new partnership. Beyond pre-agreed cooperation in security, tourism, agriculture and financial services, the two nations have committed to establishing a dedicated working group focused exclusively on energy sector collaboration. “We are committed to having a working group examine this closely to come up with recommendations and options as to how we can collaborate in the energy sector. There are some exciting ideas that we are already talking about,” President Ali told reporters.

    Prime Minister Holness confirmed that energy cooperation was a central topic of his bilateral talks with President Ali, building on remarks he made just days earlier at the 2026 Suriname Energy, Oil & Gas Summit & Exhibition (SEOGS). Speaking at a joint press conference with Suriname President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons following the summit, Holness emphasized that the rapid growth of hydrocarbon development across Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname has created an unprecedented opportunity for the Caribbean to achieve collective energy independence. “The CARICOM regional energy security is now within reach providing, of course, that regional governments cooperate in strategic ways,” he said at the time.

    Jamaica already maintains a state-owned oil refining facility, PetroJam, and is currently conducting exploratory activities for offshore oil reserves. To date, preliminary exploration data has indicated the potential for an active petroleum system off the island’s coast, Holness noted during his Suriname appearance.

    During his visit to Guyana, Holness added that the two sides also held detailed discussions on alignment in housing, in addition to the previously agreed priority sectors. He stressed that the two nations share a common vision for global affairs, particularly as the international order undergoes rapid shifts. “It is clear that Jamaica and Guyana are very much aligned, and we have a similar outlook on the world, similar understanding of the changing dynamics and the new nature of global politics,” he said.

    For his part, President Ali called on both countries to leverage their respective comparative advantages in areas including infrastructure development, to build a collaborative framework that delivers benefits not only for the two countries but for the broader Caribbean region. While full details of the signed MoUs have not been released to the public, President Ali confirmed that one of the agreements formalizes security and defense cooperation between the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). Under the pact, Guyana will expand educational opportunities for JDF personnel, including offering access to a Master’s Degree in Strategic Development at the GDF’s National Defence Institute – a program that maintains institutional links with the United States Pentagon and Colombian defense institutions.

  • Minister Zabaneh Leads New Faith-Based Partnership Drive

    Minister Zabaneh Leads New Faith-Based Partnership Drive

    Against the backdrop of Belize’s national push for inclusive community development, the Caribbean nation’s government is expanding its collaborative approach by partnering with faith-based organizations to advance shared progress across the country. Leading this new initiative is Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Constitution and Religious Affairs, who recently held high-level talks with a delegation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which traveled to Belize from neighboring Guatemala to explore collaborative opportunities.

    The two-day working meeting marked a key step in formalizing new development cooperation, with attendees focusing on aligning the Church’s existing on-the-ground presence, regional resources and community development experience with Belize’s stated national development priorities. Unlike formal top-down agreements, the talks centered on designing community-led initiatives that address local needs directly, building on the Church’s long-standing informal work in Belize’s towns and rural areas.

    Following policy discussions with government officials, the joint delegation conducted site visits to key public institutions to identify immediate collaborative openings. One stop was the Southern Regional Hospital, where members met with hospital administrators and senior healthcare leaders to discuss targeted interventions that would expand service access and address the growing unmet healthcare needs of residents in southern Belize, a region that has long faced resource gaps in medical services.

    A separate working session with leaders from Belize’s National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) focused on another critical national priority: strengthening the country’s disaster preparedness frameworks, improving emergency response capacity, and supporting the development of climate-resilient communities. Belize, like many small Caribbean nations, faces growing risks from climate-related extreme weather events, making enhanced disaster readiness a core policy goal for the current administration.

    For the Ministry of Constitution and Religious Affairs, this exploratory partnership is part of a broader government strategy to break down silos between public institutions and civil society organizations. By bringing together faith-based groups with existing community outreach infrastructure and the government’s policy and development resources, the administration aims to strengthen public social services and advance long-term, sustainable solutions that benefit all Belizeans.

    aA government spokesperson confirmed following the meetings that the administration will continue to prioritize and nurture this type of cross-sector collaboration, with the overarching goal of building more connected, robust and resilient communities across every region of Belize. Further talks are expected in the coming months to turn the exploratory agreements into concrete, actionable projects.

  • Nicholls: Birth tourism ads no cause for alarm

    Nicholls: Birth tourism ads no cause for alarm

    Recent online advertisements marketing birth tourism packages to Barbados have sparked public concern, but island officials have moved quickly to dismiss calls for urgent policy changes, citing years of proactive surveillance and data that shows no emerging crisis.

    Home Affairs Minister Gregory Nicholls spoke exclusively to Barbados TODAY to address the spreading reports, which highlighted at least one African travel firm marketing birth tourism services across six nations, including two CARICOM member states with Barbados among them. The company behind the ads makes a series of bold claims to prospective clients: that Barbados grants automatic citizenship by birth, issues immediate residency permits to new parents, allows entry to travelers holding valid UK visas, and offers birth tourists’ children visa-free travel access to 162 global destinations, including the UK, the entire Schengen Area and Canada. It also frames the service as a gateway to high-quality Caribbean healthcare, unmatched global mobility, and long-term life opportunities for children.

    Contrary to framing the ads as a new, unmanaged threat, Nicholls emphasized that these social media promotions have been circulating for years, and the Barbados Immigration Department has maintained continuous oversight of the activity to safeguard the nation’s interests. “These advertisements have been up on social media platforms for a number of years now, and the Immigration Department has been keeping a watchful eye to ensure that our immigration laws, our borders and our national interests have been properly enforced and protected,” Nicholls stated. He added that enhanced surveillance protocols and consistent passenger screening have allowed the department to fulfill its regulatory mandate effectively, and no systemic breaches of immigration law have been identified.

    While the minister declined to directly respond to the company’s claim that parents receive automatic immediate residency after childbirth, he shared official government data that undercuts the narrative of a growing, system-manipulating trend. Official records show that foreign visitors coming to Barbados for maternity medical services almost universally pay for their care out of pocket, placing no unnecessary burden on public government finances. Crucially, the data also confirms these visitors are not applying for permanent residency, citizenship, or any long-term immigration status after giving birth. When looking at total annual births to non-citizens, non-permanent residents, and non-ordinary residents, the numbers remain far too low to justify public alarm or abrupt policy shifts, Nicholls explained.

    The minister also pushed back against unsubstantiated rumors that specific airlines or shipping lines were intentionally facilitating unregulated birth tourism. He noted that all incoming passengers are subject to rigorous screening, a system that has been in place since the 2007 Cricket World Cup, when Barbados introduced the Advanced Passenger Information System to pre-screen all arrivals. Every passenger, regardless of carrier, is thoroughly assessed by trained immigration officers upon entry, so there is no evidence to single out any specific transport operator for scrutiny.

    Public birth records also do not support the hype around non-national access to obstetric and gynecological care in Barbados, Nicholls said, rejecting calls for a knee-jerk policy response to social media sensationalism. He further noted that Barbados has built a well-deserved global reputation as a top destination for specialized fertility treatment, a legitimate medical tourism sector that contributes significantly to the island’s economy and international standing. The nation also outperforms many neighboring countries, as well as most nations in Africa and Asia, on key maternal health outcomes: Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) data puts Barbados’ maternal mortality rate at 39 per 100,000 births, less than half the 80 per 100,000 average recorded in those regions, a achievement Nicholls credited to the island’s highly skilled nursing, midwifery and medical workforce.

    Rather than birth tourism, the government’s far more pressing demographic concern is Barbados’ plummeting native birth rate, which has pushed the country into a period of structural population decline, Nicholls revealed. Annual deaths now outpace births on the island, a trend that officials are actively working to address through targeted policy.

    Looking ahead, the government will continue to shore up border security through strengthened local and regional partnerships, including deepened collaboration with the Regional Security System and CARICOM’s IMPACS crime and security agency. Nicholls reaffirmed that the government will provide full support to immigration officers and the Barbados Police Service to enforce existing laws, protect the island’s borders, and keep both Barbadian citizens and visitors safe.

  • Nationaal Ontwikkelingsplatform moet koers Suriname tot 2050 uitstippelen

    Nationaal Ontwikkelingsplatform moet koers Suriname tot 2050 uitstippelen

    On June 26, Suriname’s President Jennifer Simons officially inaugurated the country’s new National Development Platform, a cross-sector initiative tasked with drafting a consensus-driven long-term development roadmap that will guide national policy across successive governments from 2030 through 2050. Led by chair Karel Eckhorst, the platform has been given a 12-month timeline to deliver its final integrated plan.

    The inauguration ceremony was held at the President’s Cabinet, with high-level attendees including Vice President Gregory Rusland, Minister of Finance and Planning Adelien Wijnerman, and Cabinet Chief of Staff Sergio Akiemboto. Bringing together stakeholders from across Suriname’s public and private spheres, the platform includes representatives from government, the business community, labor unions, political parties, and civil society organizations, reflecting its mandate to build a broadly shared vision for the nation’s future.

    In an official statement released via the Communication Service of Suriname, President Simons emphasized that the platform’s core task is to engage all segments of Surinamese society in shaping a collective development direction. “The goal is to assess what broad social consensus exists around the path Suriname should take for long-term growth,” the head of state noted. She stressed that the resulting plan will consolidate diverse perspectives and insights into a unified framework that successive administrations can implement consistently, regardless of political changes.

    Simons highlighted that Suriname is currently in a critical transitional period, as projected new revenues from the emerging oil and gas sector bring significant opportunities as well as notable risks. “We will soon receive new financial resources from oil and gas, but if we do not deploy those resources correctly, they carry major risks that we cannot ignore,” she underscored.

    Eckhorst, the newly appointed platform chair, echoed Simons’ observations, noting that Suriname stands on the cusp of transformative change as it prepares to join the ranks of global oil-producing nations. He emphasized that any future energy revenues must be deployed strategically to advance sustainable, inclusive development that benefits all Surinamese people.

    “Our development plan cannot be made for society – it must be made with society,” Eckhorst said. “At its core, development is about lifting up the entire community, and every effort must align with a single shared national vision.”

    Rekha Bissumbhar, chair of the Suriname Business Association (VSB) and a member of the platform’s core steering group, emphasized that advancing Suriname’s development is a shared responsibility across government, business, and civil society. She added that meaningful progress depends on moving beyond planning to consistent, timely execution.

    “Success is not found in drafting the plan itself – it is found in implementing it,” Bissumbhar stressed. “We need to see tangible results within the next year, followed by accelerated progress in subsequent years.”

    The platform’s core steering group includes Eckhorst, Akiemboto representing the President’s Cabinet, Bissumbhar for VSB, Reynold Simons from the Suriname Trade Union Council, Danny Lachman from the Suriname Planning Bureau, and Lothar Boksteen from the Confederation of Civil Service Organizations. President Simons also confirmed that the Association of Surinamese Economists (VES) was invited to join the platform but chose to remain an independent external stakeholder. In addition, Akiemboto will carry out his work for the platform on an unpaid basis.

    Full membership of the platform spans representation across all major political and institutional groups, including officials from the Vice President’s Cabinet, multiple political parties, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Association of Surinamese Manufacturers, among other stakeholders.

  • Grenada strengthens digital resilience

    Grenada strengthens digital resilience

    Against a backdrop of growing climate-driven natural hazard risk across the Eastern Caribbean, Grenada is advancing its digital transformation and public safety goals through active participation in the Regional Cell Broadcast Emergency Warning System (CB-EWS) initiative, a collaborative regional project designed to strengthen disaster preparedness and community protection via cutting-edge telecommunications infrastructure.

    In June 9–10, 2026, Grenada welcomed senior officials and technical experts from across the region to a landmark Validation Workshop for the CB-EWS project, co-hosted alongside regional partners. Attendees included delegations from five participating Eastern Caribbean nations: Dominica, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as representatives from regional intergovernmental bodies and international technical specialists.

    Opening the official proceedings, Grenada’s Minister for Digital Transformation Hon. Ron Redhead extended a welcome to all gathered participants, and reaffirmed the Grenadian government’s unwavering commitment to harnessing digital innovation to upgrade public services, boost national resilience against crises, and protect both civilian lives and critical property.

    The regional CB-EWS initiative is led jointly by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Bank, with regional coordination managed by the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU). It forms a core component of the ITU’s global contribution to the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, an ambitious global effort that aims to deliver universal coverage of effective multi-hazard early warning systems for every population on Earth by 2027.

    The two-day Validation Workshop marked a key milestone in the project timeline, giving participating member states the opportunity to review and sign off on the proposed technical, regulatory, and operational framework for rolling out the unified regional cell broadcast system. A core guiding principle baked into the framework preserves full national sovereignty over domestic emergency alert issuing processes, ensuring no country cedes authority over its own crisis response.

    Globally, cell broadcast technology is widely recognized as one of the most rapid and reliable methods for delivering mass emergency alerts to the public. Unlike conventional SMS alerts, which are routed individually to each device, cell broadcast pushes simultaneous alerts to every compatible mobile device connected to cell towers within a defined geographic area. Because alerts transmit directly from the cellular infrastructure, messages reach recipients in seconds—even during peak network congestion that often occurs in the immediate aftermath of major disasters, when communication demand surges.

    The system is engineered to deliver fast, targeted warnings for a full spectrum of threats, from hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and floods to hazardous material releases, public safety emergencies and other events requiring immediate public action. A key accessibility feature of the technology is that it requires no action from end users: there is no need to subscribe to a separate alert service, download a dedicated mobile application, or share personal contact information with authorities. Cell broadcast also upholds strict user privacy protections, as the technology does not collect or process any personal user data, including phone numbers, subscriber identities, or individual location data.

    Another major advantage of the system is its geotargeting capability. Alerts are only delivered to mobile devices located within the boundaries of the affected area, allowing emergency managers to share accurate, timely, location-specific information with at-risk communities without triggering unnecessary panic or disruption in adjacent unaffected regions. The system also automatically reaches travelers and tourists roaming on local cellular networks, regardless of their home country, closing a critical gap in emergency outreach that many legacy alert systems leave unaddressed.

    Workshop discussions confirmed broad, cross-regional buy-in for the initiative, and aligned participating nations on a set of core guiding principles that will shape the project’s implementation phase.

    Attendees reached a consensus that the authority to issue national emergency alerts will remain exclusively with each country’s officially designated national emergency management body, aligned with existing domestic legislation and institutional mandates. While regional coordination mechanisms will be established for transboundary hazards that impact multiple nations simultaneously, all alert authorization will remain a core national responsibility.

    Delegates from national telecommunications regulatory commissions further emphasized requirements for the system to be secure, resilient, and built on open international standards. Particular priority was placed on robust cybersecurity safeguards, strong authentication protocols for alert originators, clearly documented operational protocols, and vendor-agnostic technology standards that avoid lock-in to proprietary systems while ensuring long-term cross-border interoperability between all participating member states.

    Workshop sessions also addressed practical long-term considerations, including sustainable operational funding, regional hosting arrangements, regulatory preparedness across national jurisdictions, and alignment of the system framework with evolving regional data protection laws.

    For Grenada, the CB-EWS project represents a major milestone in the country’s multi-year Digital Transformation Agenda. The initiative demonstrates how digital innovation can deliver dual benefits: advancing economic development and modernizing government services, while also strengthening national crisis resilience and protecting civilian lives.

    The project integrates seamlessly with Grenada’s broader digital transformation portfolio, which includes expanding resilient broadband infrastructure, upgrading national cybersecurity capacity, modernizing digital public services, rolling out national digital identity systems, enhancing critical communications networks, improving national disaster risk management frameworks, and building an inclusive, secure digital economy.

    Recent regional events, including the devastating impact of Hurricane Beryl and other recurring natural hazards across the Caribbean, have underscored the urgent need for resilient communications infrastructure that can reach all segments of the population within seconds of a crisis unfolding. The CB-EWS will become a core component of Grenada’s national resilience framework, ensuring that both residents and visitors can access timely, trusted, actionable emergency information whenever lives are in immediate danger.

    Looking ahead, the next phase of the project will see each participating country conduct detailed national assessments of technical, legal, regulatory, and operational requirements for implementation. National telecommunications regulators will continue collaborating with national disaster management offices, national governments, local mobile network operators, and regional partners to finalize system design and roll out arrangements.

    The Government of Grenada has publicly expressed its gratitude to all stakeholders involved in the initiative, including the ITU, the World Bank, the CTU, participating OECS member states, national disaster management agencies, national telecommunications regulators, mobile network operators, and other contributing partners whose collaborative effort is advancing emergency preparedness and digital resilience across the Eastern Caribbean.

    As Grenada continues working toward its goal of becoming a modern, digitally connected nation, the CB-EWS initiative illustrates a core truth about intentional digital transformation: it is about far more than rolling out new technology. It is about leveraging innovation to build safer, more resilient communities, protect vulnerable lives, and improve quality of life for all citizens.

  • Monorath: Door Jones aangehaalde zaak ligt bij JIT onder gezag van Openbaar Ministerie

    Monorath: Door Jones aangehaalde zaak ligt bij JIT onder gezag van Openbaar Ministerie

    A routine budget debate in Suriname’s National Assembly was thrown into disarray Wednesday afternoon after an opposition parliamentarian brought forward explosive corruption allegations against the country’s police anti-corruption unit, triggering a temporary suspension of proceedings and a formal commitment from the justice minister to deliver a full update to lawmakers early next week.

    NDP Member of Parliament Ebu Jones claimed during the debate that he held concrete evidence of wrongdoing by the Corruption Investigation Unit (COT) of the Suriname Police Corps, forcing Assembly Speaker Ashwin Adhin to suspend the meeting to allow Minister of Justice and Police Harish Monorath time to verify Jones’ claims. When the session resumed after the break, Monorath clarified a key point of jurisdiction that undermines the core of Jones’ immediate allegations: the specific case Jones referenced is not being handled by the COT at all.

    Instead, the case falls under the purview of the Judicial Intervention Team (JIT), a specialized investigative unit that operates under the direct authority of the Public Prosecution Service (OM), not the national police. This jurisdictional split means the COT does not have direct access to updates on the case’s progress, Monorath explained. “The JIT falls under the Public Prosecution Service and is overseen by the prosecutor-general, so the COT does not hold direct information on the processing and conclusion of the referenced case,” the minister stated.

    Monorath further acknowledged long-standing challenges within the Suriname Police Corps that the government is actively working to address. “We have stated on multiple occasions that we are grappling with serious integrity issues within the force,” he said. “We work every day to restructure the corps so that it becomes safer and healthier from the inside out.” While police hold responsibility for investigating criminal offenses, prosecution of those cases falls to the Public Prosecution Service and the prosecutor-general, he added, outlining the clear separation of duties in the country’s justice system.

    Following the minister’s initial clarification, NDP parliamentary leader Rabin Parmessar proposed that Monorath coordinate with the Public Prosecution Service over the weekend to gather full details on the case, then present a comprehensive update to the National Assembly on Monday. Parmessar noted that the allegations directly impact public and parliamentary trust in corruption investigation and prosecution processes, making full transparency a critical priority. Monorath accepted the proposal, confirming that the government will continue its fact-finding over the coming days and provide lawmakers with as detailed a brief as possible on Monday.

    After receiving this formal commitment, Assembly Speaker Adhin ordered the resumption of the suspended budget debate, and requested that Jones set aside further discussion of the allegations until the government delivers its findings to the legislature.

  • Jones beschuldigt anti-corruptie-unit van corruptie; DNA geschorst voor onderzoek

    Jones beschuldigt anti-corruptie-unit van corruptie; DNA geschorst voor onderzoek

    A dramatic bombshell dropped during Suriname’s National Assembly budget debate on June 26, forcing an immediate suspension of proceedings after opposition NDP member of parliament Ebu Jones leveled serious corruption allegations against a serving officer in the Suriname Police Force’s anti-corruption unit.

    Jones told the plenary that he holds concrete evidence proving the senior unit official demanded a $7,000 bribe from a local entrepreneur in exchange for dropping an active investigation into alleged corruption at the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV). The lawmaker emphasized he did not make the accusation lightly, confirming he has secured audio recordings, screenshot evidence, voice messages, and an official police report numbered 131/2025 to back up his claims. A report against the officer has already been filed with authorities, Jones added, and despite the formal complaint, the implicated official remains on active duty within the anti-corruption unit. “When I speak, I do not speak without basis,” Jones told the assembled parliamentarians.

    Following the explosive allegations, Assembly Speaker Ashwin Adhin pushed Jones to confirm he would hand over all supporting evidence to the government for investigation, which the lawmaker agreed to do. Jones noted that relevant authorities already have access to the materials related to the complaint.

    Responding on behalf of the Suriname government, Minister André Misiekaba called the allegations far-reaching and stressed the administration cannot ignore claims of misconduct within a key police anti-corruption body. He urged Jones to immediately transfer all evidence to the government, while drawing a clear distinction: even if one officer is found to have acted improperly, this does not mean the entire anti-corruption unit is corrupt. Misiekaba confirmed that Minister of Justice and Police Kenneth Amoksi has already received an immediate order to launch a verification of all information Jones presented.

    After confirming Jones had shared sufficient concrete detail to warrant a full formal investigation, Speaker Adhin approved a proposal from the National Assembly to suspend the ongoing budget debate. The suspension gives the government time to complete its probe, with an official response expected when the budget debate resumes at a later point, expected during the same parliamentary sitting.

  • Lau: Suriname heeft geen geldprobleem, maar een uitvoeringsprobleem

    Lau: Suriname heeft geen geldprobleem, maar een uitvoeringsprobleem

    As Suriname stands on the cusp of a transformative new era driven by upcoming offshore oil and gas production, a senior Surinamese lawmaker has urged the nation to strengthen its administrative and policy delivery capabilities long before revenue starts flowing in. Jeffrey Lau, a member of the National Assembly from the National Party of Suriname (NPS) and part of the influential Committee of Rapporteurs, outlined his stance during the second round of national budget deliberations on June 26.

    Lau emphasized that Suriname is currently at a historic crossroads, with projected oil and gas revenues unlocking unprecedented opportunities for national development. But he pushed back against the common assumption that natural resource wealth alone will deliver long-term, sustainable growth. Contrary to the narrative that oil development only begins when commercial extraction starts, Lau argued that the foundation of Suriname’s oil economy is being built right now, through the policy choices and budget decisions the country makes today.

    A core warning from the lawmaker centered on the misallocation of future oil earnings: he stressed that incoming resource revenues should not be used to patch up long-standing, unresolved fiscal and structural problems. Instead, Suriname must prioritize strategic investments in three foundational areas: robust public institutions, transparent and effective governance, and long-term human capital development.

    On the current state of governance, Lau acknowledged that Suriname has already put in place key legal and regulatory frameworks to improve public financial management, including the Accounting Act and the legal structure for the country’s Savings and Stabilization Fund. Even with these structural advances in place, however, the country continues to struggle with consistent, effective policy implementation. “Suriname does not primarily face a money problem – it faces an implementation problem,” Lau explained. “We have already put together plans, passed legislation, and drafted policy documents, but what society demands and deserves is tangible results.”

    To address this gap, Lau called for the Surinamese government to adopt a more professional, efficient, and results-focused working culture. He also noted that the National Assembly retains a critical oversight role, requiring lawmakers to continue monitoring policy delivery with rigorous, critical scrutiny.

    Transparency and public accountability were another key focus of Lau’s remarks. He highlighted persistent transparency failures in the public and parastatal sectors, pointing to the Suriname Airways (SLM) as a prominent example: the state-owned airline has not published a full annual financial report for multiple consecutive years. Lau argued that the national government must enforce requirements for state-owned entities to submit timely financial disclosures, so that both parliament and the general public can oversee how public funds are being used.

    In closing, Lau stressed that oil revenues should be treated as a tool for development, not an end goal in themselves. The long-term future of Suriname will not be determined by how much crude oil the country extracts from its offshore reserves, but by how the proceeds from that extraction are invested to improve public welfare. Key priority areas for investment, he said, should include education, public healthcare, national infrastructure, and institutional capacity building.

    “The true wealth of a nation does not lie beneath its soil – it lies in its people,” Lau emphasized. “History will not judge us by how much oil we discover. It will judge us by what we build with that resource.”

  • Mira Millions: Defence Minister Florencio Marin Deflects Questions

    Mira Millions: Defence Minister Florencio Marin Deflects Questions

    A growing public corruption probe centered on millions in questionable government contract payments has put Belize’s top defense official in the hot seat, with Florencio Marin Jr., the country’s Minister of National Defence and Border Security, repeatedly declining to answer key questions about the ongoing investigation. Dubbed the ‘Mira Millions’ probe, the inquiry focuses on a series of contracts awarded during the tenure of former State Minister Oscar Mira, whose family members have been linked to several of the deals at the heart of the scandal.

    When pressed repeatedly by reporters from News 5 for clarity on whether taxpayers actually received the goods, services and completed construction work the government already paid for under these contracts, Marin refused to confirm or deny the delivery of contracted work. Instead, the sitting minister has repeatedly deferred all comment to the Office of the Auditor General, which is currently conducting the official 90-day investigation into the irregular payments.

    “I am prepared to speak, but please, let’s have the audit finished first,” Marin told reporters on the record. “Right now it is ongoing, and I believe it’s prudent that we reserve our comments to when that comes up.” This consistent line of deferral applied to every question posed by reporters, including inquiries into whether Marin or Mira had been notified of repeated large payments directed to the same small group of vendors, and whether the final audit report should be released fully to the public. All questions were pushed back to the independent auditor.

    Marin also declined to take a position on a proposed policy change that would raise the $10,000 contracting threshold for public bidding requirements. This stance puts him at odds with fellow cabinet minister Andre Perez, who has publicly argued that raising the threshold makes practical sense from a business perspective.

    The investigation was sparked after leaked internal Smart Stream procurement records obtained by News 5 revealed that more than $9.4 million in taxpayer-funded government payments are now under scrutiny. Multiple contracts tied to the probe have been connected to immediate family members of the former minister Oscar Mira. For his part, Mira has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that all tender processes were managed independently and that he never exerted influence over procurement decisions. In a public statement, Mira insisted he “had no say” in how the contracts were awarded.

    As the Auditor General’s inquiry moves forward, the public remains waiting for answers on how millions in public funds were allocated, and whether any misappropriation or improper influence occurred in the contracting process.

  • Dr Jules will be OECS Director General for a fourth term

    Dr Jules will be OECS Director General for a fourth term

    The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) will retain its steady leadership for another term, after Dr Didacus Jules was reappointed to serve a fourth consecutive mandate as Director General. Regional heads of government have formally reaffirmed their unwavering confidence in Jules’ leadership and his long-term vision for advancing deeper economic and political integration across the Eastern Caribbean bloc.

    The reappointment was formalized during the 78th official gathering of the OECS Authority, the organization’s highest governing body made up of member states’ Heads of Government. During the meeting, leaders did not only approve Jules’ new term, but also publicly commended the transformative contributions he has made to regional development, cross-border cooperation, and institutional capacity building throughout his tenure.

    Jules first stepped into the role of OECS Director General in 2014. Over the past nine years in office, he has spearheaded a wide range of high-impact strategic initiatives focused on advancing pressing regional priorities, including strengthening local food sovereignty, accelerating digital transformation across member states, building healthier and more equitable communities, and driving systemic education reform. Under his leadership, the OECS has also expanded its institutional capacity to proactively respond to a growing array of emerging challenges and capitalize on new economic and social opportunities that arise for its member nations.

    Dr Godwin Friday, former Chairman of the OECS Authority and Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, made the official announcement of the reappointment. He emphasized that the decision to retain Jules for a fourth term is a clear reflection of the entire OECS Authority’s trust in his leadership, and formal recognition of the invaluable work he has done to advance the bloc’s integration agenda and strengthen the organization’s institutional standing. “On behalf of the OECS Authority, I extend sincere congratulations on your reappointment and look forward to your continued service and dedication to the people and Governments of the OECS Member States,” Friday added.

    The OECS Authority notes that experienced, steady leadership is more critical than ever at this juncture, as the organization navigates an increasingly complex and shifting global geopolitical environment while working toward its core vision of building a more integrated, resilient and prosperous Eastern Caribbean region. The OECS Commission also issued a separate statement congratulating Jules on his reappointment, confirming that it is eager to continue its collaborative work with him to deliver tangible, meaningful benefits to all citizens across the bloc’s 11 member states.