Carib Scope

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  • Crime, Venezuela, and Energy Take Center Stage at CARICOM–Rubio Meeting

    Crime, Venezuela, and Energy Take Center Stage at CARICOM–Rubio Meeting

    In a significant diplomatic engagement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio convened with CARICOM leaders in Basseterre, St. Kitts, for comprehensive talks addressing pressing regional and international matters. The closed-door discussions, characterized by participants as fruitful and open, yielded expectations of tangible outcomes in the near future.

    Secretary Rubio positioned energy cooperation as a cornerstone of U.S.-Caribbean relations, emphasizing America’s commitment to partnership in responsible resource development. “Energy is critical for every economy to prosper,” Rubio asserted. “Many countries represented here have energy resources that can generate wealth and prosperity for your people, and we want to be your partner in that regard.”

    The Venezuela situation featured prominently in discussions, with Rubio acknowledging regional concerns while highlighting substantial progress under interim leadership. The Secretary detailed improvements including prisoner releases, closure of the notorious Helicoide prison, and redirected oil revenues toward public benefit. “Venezuela is better off today than it was eight weeks ago,” Rubio stated, noting the reopening of the U.S. embassy in Caracas and the transition from stability measures to recovery phase operations.

    Regional security emerged as another critical agenda item, with Rubio addressing the escalating threat of transnational criminal organizations. These entities, armed with sophisticated weaponry often sourced from the United States, now operate with financial and operational capabilities rivaling nation-states. The Secretary outlined coordinated efforts to combat narcotrafficking networks through targeted designations and law enforcement collaboration.

    Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis confirmed the constructive nature of the dialogue while maintaining discretion regarding specific negotiation details. The summit signals strengthened U.S.-CARICOM alignment on economic development, security cooperation, and democratic stability in the hemisphere, with further policy developments anticipated in coming weeks.

  • Prime Minister Browne in Saint Kitts and Nevis for CARICOM Meeting

    Prime Minister Browne in Saint Kitts and Nevis for CARICOM Meeting

    BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts and Nevis – Caribbean leaders gathered for a landmark regional summit this week, marking the 50th Regular Meeting of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government from February 24-27, 2026. The high-level assembly, chaired by Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, brings together regional dignitaries including Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne and his delegation.

    Prime Minister Browne’s contingent features Dr. Clarence Henry, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to CARICOM, alongside Senior Foreign Service Officer Kurt Williams. The conference occurs during a period of significant regional importance, with leaders addressing pressing economic, security, and geopolitical concerns affecting member states.

    The Haitian crisis dominates summit discussions as the nation enters a critical governance phase. CARICOM leaders are receiving comprehensive briefings on stabilization efforts, including the implementation of a sustainable transitional governance framework. The Eminent Persons Group’s diplomatic initiatives to foster consensus among Haitian stakeholders feature prominently in deliberations. Security considerations, particularly the deployment of the UN-authorized Gang Suppression Force, form a crucial component of the strategy to restore order and create conditions conducive to credible elections.

    Beyond immediate security concerns, the conference agenda encompasses broader regional development initiatives. Dr. George Elombi, President and Chairman of Afreximbank, is engaging with leaders to strengthen CARICOM-Africa partnerships. These discussions aim to enhance trade relationships, accelerate investment flows, and improve access to development financing mechanisms following the Second CARICOM-Africa Summit.

    Additional priority areas include advancing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) framework, addressing climate change financing challenges, improving regional transportation infrastructure, ensuring food security, managing external trade relations, pursuing reparations dialogues, and reforming the Community’s governance and financial architecture.

  • Kamla hammers CARICOM; don’t talk to me about ‘zone of peace’

    Kamla hammers CARICOM; don’t talk to me about ‘zone of peace’

    In a striking address at the 50th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar delivered a robust defense of her nation’s security partnership with the United States while issuing sharp criticism of regional counterparts for their silence on Venezuelan aggression.

    The Prime Minister articulated her government’s position with exceptional clarity, emphasizing that sovereign nations must determine their own foreign policy approaches based on national security requirements. She directly addressed what she termed ‘the elephant in the room’ – Trinidad’s cooperation with the Trump administration – framing it as an essential measure for combating transnational crime rather than a deviation from regional unity.

    Persad-Bissessar presented compelling statistics to substantiate her position, revealing that Trinidad and Tobago, with a population of 1.4 million, had recorded 623 murders in 2024, with 40% directly linked to firearms and narcotics trafficking originating from Venezuela. She challenged the regional concept of a ‘zone of peace,’ arguing that such rhetoric becomes meaningless when member states face existential security threats.

    The Prime Minister detailed how policy shifts in 2025 – including designating drug cartels as violent terrorist organizations and collaborating with US military operations – produced dramatic results: a 42% reduction in murder rates equating to 257 fewer deaths. She extended specific gratitude to President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US military forces for their assistance in combating narco-trafficking, arms smuggling, and illegal migration networks.

    Persad-Bissessar contrasted her government’s approach with what she characterized as inadequate regional support, noting that many CARICOM members lack the military capacity to provide meaningful assistance. She acknowledged Jamaica’s success in reducing murder rates through specialized legislation while noting Trinidad’s parliamentary challenges in implementing similar measures.

    The Prime Minister concluded with a firm declaration that partnership with the United States represents not a undermining of Caribbean unity but rather a defense of regional security interests, vowing to continue cooperation to eliminate destructive criminal forces from the hemisphere.

  • Jamaica PM says CARICOM is not a political union

    Jamaica PM says CARICOM is not a political union

    Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has delivered a paradigm-shifting address at the 50th CARICOM summit in Basseterre, fundamentally redefining the Caribbean Community’s operational philosophy. Contrary to popular perception, Holness emphasized that CARICOM constitutes an association of sovereign states rather than a political union, with no treaty obligations mandating unified foreign policies or supranational governance.

    The Prime Minister articulated a compelling vision for regional cooperation amidst accelerating global disruptions. “Climate shocks arrive faster than our financing mechanisms, criminal networks adapt faster than our institutions, and technological disruption reshapes economies faster than our regulatory frameworks,” Holness observed, highlighting the urgent need for responsive governance structures.

    Holness challenged conventional integration narratives, arguing that CARICOM’s strength lies not in uniformity but in its diversity of democratic expressions. “Variations in national perspectives are not a liability to be feared but a resource to be harnessed,” he asserted, framing member states’ differing risk assessments and priority sequences as natural expressions of sovereignty rather than institutional weakness.

    The address positioned regional security as a binding imperative, citing sophisticated transnational criminal networks that increasingly challenge state authority. Referencing Jamaica’s developed security architecture—forged through persistent violence—Holness proposed knowledge-sharing as organic integration: “Our region’s variability is not an obstacle to integration. It is integration, practical, organic and rooted in shared learning.”

    On geopolitical matters, Holness addressed Cuba’s escalating crisis with unprecedented candor, warning that economic hardship and energy shortages could trigger regional destabilization through migration and security spillovers. While affirming Jamaica’s commitment to democratic principles and market economies, he advocated for pragmatic U.S.-Cuba dialogue focused on humanitarian relief and de-escalation.

    The Prime Minister also delineated digital sovereignty as critical for Caribbean nations, noting that control over information platforms and algorithms now influences economic power as profoundly as physical resources historically did. He positioned the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) as the primary vehicle for building scalable digital infrastructure and economic resilience through flexible integration models.

    Holness concluded by framing CARICOM’s role as a community of democratic states offering cooperation rather than ideological bloc politics, emphasizing “principled realism” during global systemic transformation.

  • Suriname benadrukt belang regionale integratie tijdens Caricom-ministerraad

    Suriname benadrukt belang regionale integratie tijdens Caricom-ministerraad

    Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, and Cooperation (BIS), Melvin Bouva, participated in the 16th Special Meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council of Ministers held in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis. Accompanied by a technical delegation from his ministry, Bouva’s engagement underscored Suriname’s commitment to strengthening regional integration and collaborative governance within the Caribbean community.

    The meeting commenced with standard procedural formalities, including opening remarks and agenda adoption, before advancing to substantive policy discussions. Key agenda items encompassed the operationalization of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), with particular focus on expanding recognized categories of aviation personnel under the free movement of skills regime. This initiative aims to enhance labor mobility and economic cooperation across member states.

    Additional critical topics addressed included reparations, membership and associate membership applications—notably from Bermuda—and a proposed amendment to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas concerning CARICOM Rules of Origin. The development of a common industrial policy for the Community was also deliberated, alongside administrative matters such as the Secretariat’s 2026 work program, budget, and contribution formula.

    Suriname’s participation signals its strategic prioritization of a cohesive, economically resilient Caribbean region, reinforcing the nation’s role in shaping collaborative decision-making processes within CARICOM’s governance framework.

  • Abrahams bij herdenking 25 februari: President, treed hard op tegen wie de idealen beschamen

    Abrahams bij herdenking 25 februari: President, treed hard op tegen wie de idealen beschamen

    In a solemn nighttime address marking the 46th anniversary of Suriname’s February Revolution, National Democratic Party (NDP) Vice Chairman Ramon Abrahams delivered a politically charged speech blending historical reflection with contemporary warnings. Dressed entirely in black, the veteran revolutionary figure addressed the gathering as the final speaker during the February 25, 1980 commemoration event.

    Abrahams opened by acknowledging the absence of NDP Chairwoman and President Jennifer Simons, who was detained by state obligations but had submitted a prerecorded message. He praised Assembly Chairman and NDP Vice Chairman Ashwin Adhin, who spoke earlier, as “the pristine example of how the revolution’s ideals have been integrated” into contemporary leadership.

    This year’s ceremony marked the third commemoration without former leader Desi Bouterse, whose absence remains palpably felt within the movement. Abrahams suggested Bouterse would have taken pride in the NDP’s electoral victory and subsequent return to governing authority.

    The vice chairman reflected on what he characterized as a turbulent post-election period, noting the administration had inherited both governmental weakening and systemic ‘wreckage’ from the 2020-2025 period. He further referenced surprising developments that allegedly disrupted the nation’s reward structures.

    Abrahams issued particularly stern warnings to fellow party members, cautioning against engagement in social media debates that he claimed are engineered by groups who lost power in 2025 to pit NDP members against each other. He emphasized the heightened responsibility borne by party representatives, stating they are “automatically placed under a microscope” due to their NDP affiliation.

    Regarding internal party matters, Abrahams stressed that such discussions would occur exclusively within established party structures, utilizing statutory and regulatory frameworks available through ongoing dialogues with the party chairwoman and president.

    The revolutionary veteran framed the 1980 uprising as an ongoing process requiring continuation by newer generations. He referenced sacrifices made throughout previous decades and affirmed the revolution’s ideals remain fundamentally guiding principles.

    Abrahams’ most forceful moment came during his direct appeal to President Simons: “President of the Republic of Suriname, I call upon you to act firmly without regard for persons against those who disgrace the process and ideals of February 25.” He reiterated that no individual, regardless of position or background, should stand above the revolution’s foundational ideals.

    Concluding his address, Abrahams emphasized February 25’s indelible place in Surinamese history and the NDP’s responsibility to contribute toward national development while honoring the revolution’s legacy. He advocated reinstating the date as a national holiday and specifically remembered detained comrades Ernst Gefferie, Stephanus Dendoe, and Benny Brondenstein, insisting their sacrifices must never be forgotten.

  • Adhin laat Bouterse herleven tijdens herdenking van 25 februari

    Adhin laat Bouterse herleven tijdens herdenking van 25 februari

    In a politically charged address during Suriname’s commemoration of the February 25, 1980 revolution, National Assembly Speaker and NDP Vice Chairman Ashwin Adhin positioned former leader Desi Bouterse at the center of national discourse. Adhin emerged as a staunch revolutionary advocate, dedicating his entire speech to Bouterse’s political legacy while calling for national unity and hinting at potential legal resolutions for three convicted ex-military personnel.

    The assembly speaker characterized the absence of Stephanus Dendoe, Ernst Gefferie, and Benny Brondenstein as a significant loss, revealing that legal ‘pathways’ remain open for their cases. Adhin expressed confidence that President Jennifer Simons would exercise her constitutional authorities appropriately, including potential pardon powers, at the proper time and manner.

    Adhin redefined the 1980 revolution as a multicultural, unifying people’s movement that transcended ethnic divisions in Surinamese society. He acknowledged the period’s mixed legacy of achievements and painful moments, emphasizing that meaningful commemoration requires transforming history into acts of unity, discipline, and national development.

    In a deeply personal segment, Adhin reflected on his relationship with Bouterse, stating he had not only admired but actively sought to understand and share responsibility for the revolutionary ideology. The speaker emotionally channeled Bouterse’s tradition by singing lines from ‘I Did It My Way’ and Hindi ballad ‘Zara Chahra To Dikhaao,’ symbolizing Bouterse’s political and personal journey.

    Linking his message to current political cooperation between former rivals in government, Adhin framed this constellation as a historic opportunity for reconciliation with the past. He warned against increasing polarization while advocating for humanity, discipline, and solidarity as essential conditions for national development and sovereignty protection.

    Through his address, Adhin imbued the revolution anniversary with distinct political significance, explicitly connecting Bouterse’s legacy, revolutionary heritage, and contemporary constitutional questions within Suriname’s ongoing political narrative.

  • REMARKS: Dr Carla Barnett, CARICOM Secretary-General Opening Ceremony – 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government

    REMARKS: Dr Carla Barnett, CARICOM Secretary-General Opening Ceremony – 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government

    The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) commenced its landmark 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in St. Kitts and Nevis, with Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett presiding over the opening ceremony. The gathering marks a significant milestone for regional integration amidst complex global challenges.

    Secretary-General Barnett extended formal acknowledgments to host nation leadership, including Governor-General Dame Marcella A. Liburd and Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, who currently chairs the CARICOM leadership council. The Secretary-General praised St. Kitts and Nevis for demonstrating exceptional organizational capability despite being the smallest sovereign state within the community, having previously hosted two major CARICOM meetings in 2025.

    Prime Minister Drew’s tenure as chairman, which began January 1, has already established a pattern of proactive engagement, commencing with emergency regional meetings during the year’s first weekend and continuing with extensive diplomatic visits throughout member states.

    The address reflected on 2025 as one of the most challenging periods in CARICOM’s history, particularly highlighting Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic impact across Haiti, The Bahamas, Bermuda, and Jamaica. The Category 5 system caused extensive devastation, with Jamaica experiencing particularly severe consequences. The community collectively acknowledged former Chairman Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica for his decisive leadership during the crisis response.

    CARICOM’s institutional response mechanisms, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency and the Caribbean Public Health Agency, demonstrated remarkable coordination in providing immediate humanitarian assistance, technical damage assessments, and recovery support. This collective action exemplified the community’s resilience and mutual support principles.

    The past year also witnessed significant democratic exercises across seven member states and four associate members, with several landmark electoral outcomes. Suriname inaugurated its first female president, Dr. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, while multiple nations returned or elected new leadership through peaceful processes.

    The current summit’s agenda addresses pressing regional priorities, with substantial time allocated for candid deliberations. Full representation at the head-of-government level despite domestic pressures underscores member states’ commitment to collective action.

    Notable developments include four member states—Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines—implementing full free movement provisions under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy framework since October 2025. This pioneering integration effort has already facilitated increased economic activity and people-to-people connections.

    The evolving global landscape presents both challenges and opportunities, particularly in energy transition, digital infrastructure, climate resilience, and technological advancement. CARICOM’s coordinated foreign policy approach continues to attract international engagement, evidenced by high-level participation from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

    The community is actively strengthening South-South partnerships, notably with the African Union through institutions like Afreximbank. The second CARICOM-Africa Summit in 2025 established frameworks for enhanced cooperation in finance, reparations advocacy, air connectivity, and cultural exchange.

    As CARICOM celebrates five decades of regional integration, the organization continues to advance human development, foreign policy coordination, security cooperation, and economic progress. The current summit aims to translate commitments into concrete actions that ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for all Caribbean citizens.

  • Youth Ambassadors Call for Bold Action at CARICOM’s 50th Heads of Government Meeting

    Youth Ambassadors Call for Bold Action at CARICOM’s 50th Heads of Government Meeting

    At the landmark 50th Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government in St. Kitts and Nevis, Youth Ambassadors Aquanjé Robinson and Siobhan Phipps-Harding delivered a compelling call for transformative action that resonated through the opening ceremony. The young leaders articulated a clear vision for moving beyond symbolic unity toward tangible regional progress.

    Phipps-Harding established the tone by emphasizing the critical juncture at which the Caribbean Community finds itself. “Our Region’s people and youth are no longer looking for togetherness written in ink,” she declared, “but they are looking for progress etched into our landscapes.” Her remarks highlighted the growing impatience with diplomatic formalities without substantive implementation.

    The ambassadors identified pressing regional challenges including climate volatility, unsustainable debt burdens, and brain drain migration patterns that deprive Caribbean nations of their most talented citizens. They framed these issues not as insurmountable obstacles but as opportunities for coordinated regional response.

    Robinson powerfully reframed the Caribbean narrative around the concept of resilience as historical inheritance rather than contemporary buzzword. “It is woven into our shared history,” he noted, “from the resistance of our ancestors to the reconstruction of our islands after every storm.” This resilience, he argued, provides the foundation for bold, intentional action.

    The youth representatives outlined specific pillars for a thriving CARICOM: digital connectivity to dissolve educational and commercial borders, food security to break import dependence, and climate justice that transitions from rhetoric to tangible community protection. They emphasized that true regional integration requires governing “with the resolve of one Caribbean” despite geographical separation.

    Both ambassadors closed with a unified message urging leaders to ensure this historic meeting would be remembered for visionary implementation rather than elegant speeches. Their concluding statement—”our Region’s future is bright because we are building it together”—served as both encouragement and reminder of collective responsibility.

  • “A World Without CARICOM Would Be Culturally Poorer” Prime Minister Drew

    “A World Without CARICOM Would Be Culturally Poorer” Prime Minister Drew

    In a profound address marking a historic milestone, Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew delivered a compelling defense of Caribbean regional integration during the 50th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government. Speaking as the current Chairman of the Caribbean Community, Dr. Drew articulated a vision of collective strength that has defined the region’s trajectory for half a century.

    Before an assembly of regional leaders and international partners, the Prime Minister reflected on the Caribbean’s extraordinary journey from colonial subjugation to sovereign independence. He positioned CARICOM not as a mere political arrangement but as a fundamental expression of Caribbean identity and resilience. ‘Our integration was neither accidental nor casual,’ Dr. Drew asserted, characterizing the Treaty of Chaguaramas as ‘a declaration of Caribbean confidence’ that transcended its legal framework.

    The address contained a striking declaration: ‘A world without CARICOM would be culturally poorer, intellectually diminished and spiritually less vibrant.’ This statement encapsulated the Prime Minister’s central thesis that the Caribbean has made disproportionate contributions to global culture, intellectual thought, and spiritual movements despite its relatively small population and geographical size.

    Dr. Drew provided concrete examples of regional institutions that demonstrate CARICOM’s practical value. He highlighted the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), which has coordinated regional health responses; the Regional Security System (RSS) that maintains collective safety; the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) that standardizes educational excellence; and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) that fuels economic progress. ‘By ourselves, many of our states could not have achieved what togetherness has made possible,’ he emphasized.

    The Prime Minister connected CARICOM’s historical mission to contemporary global challenges, noting that supply chain disruptions, climate emergencies, energy instability, and geopolitical tensions make regional cooperation more essential than ever. He argued that fragmentation increases vulnerability while unity generates resilience in this new era of uncertainty.

    As CARICOM celebrates its 50th regular meeting, Dr. Drew’s address served as both a tribute to past achievements and a call to reinvigorate the founding principles of functional cooperation, economic coordination, and collective self-reliance that continue to define the Caribbean community’s unique approach to regional integration.