Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • 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.

  • Historic Full Attendance Marks 50th CARICOM Heads Meeting in Saint Kitts and Nevis

    Historic Full Attendance Marks 50th CARICOM Heads Meeting in Saint Kitts and Nevis

    In an unprecedented display of regional unity, Saint Kitts and Nevis hosted the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) with complete attendance from all member states—the first such gathering in over a decade. The historic event, which commenced on February 24, 2026, in Basseterre, marks a significant milestone for regional cooperation amid global challenges.

    Under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the opening ceremony witnessed a powerful demonstration of collective commitment from Caribbean leaders. Prime Minister Drew characterized the assembly as both symbolically important and substantively crucial given current international pressures and regional vulnerabilities.

    This remarkable convergence follows Dr. Drew’s extensive diplomatic tour across Caribbean capitals, where he conducted face-to-face bilateral engagements with fellow heads of government. These preparatory meetings, described as unprecedented in recent CARICOM history, focused on strengthening relationships, fostering dialogue, and building consensus around pressing regional priorities.

    In his address, Chairman Drew emphasized the significance of the full attendance: “At a time when critics suggest CARICOM has lost its way, today in Saint Kitts and Nevis are all the leaders of the full members of CARICOM.” His remarks were met with sustained applause from attendees, reflecting the renewed spirit of collaboration.

    The Prime Minister framed current adversities—including global supply chain disruptions, energy volatility, climate vulnerabilities, and security concerns—as opportunities for deeper integration and disciplined execution. He affirmed that collective action remains the region’s greatest strength in navigating these complex challenges.

    The 50th Meeting agenda features high-level deliberations on critical issues including food and energy security, climate resilience mechanisms, regional security cooperation, digital transformation initiatives, trade facilitation, and stabilization measures for vulnerable member states. This comprehensive agenda reflects the community’s commitment to addressing both immediate and long-term regional needs.

    As host nation and current CARICOM Chair, Saint Kitts and Nevis views this historic gathering as a clear affirmation of regional solidarity and a recommitment to advancing economic coordination, collective self-reliance, and meaningful integration for the benefit of all Caribbean citizens.

  • We will fight, we will struggle, we will resist, we will transform, and above all adversity and imperial threats, we will rise and triumph!

    We will fight, we will struggle, we will resist, we will transform, and above all adversity and imperial threats, we will rise and triumph!

    In a historic address commemorating the 50th anniversary of Cuba’s Local Bodies of People’s Power, President Miguel Díaz-Canel delivered a powerful call for democratic renewal amid significant national challenges. Speaking at the National Capitol Building on February 24, 2026—a date deeply embedded in Cuban revolutionary history—the leader framed the occasion as both a tribute to past achievements and an urgent mandate for systemic improvement.

    The President’s comprehensive speech traced the historical significance of February 24th through Cuba’s independence struggles, from José Martí’s 1895 uprising to the establishment of socialist democracy. He emphasized that the People’s Power system, initiated in 1976, represented the materialization of revolutionary principles where governance truly emanates from citizen participation.

    Díaz-Canel presented a candid assessment of contemporary challenges, citing economic difficulties exacerbated by the longstanding U.S. embargo, Cuba’s controversial inclusion on terrorism sponsorship lists, and internal administrative shortcomings. He acknowledged public frustrations with supply shortages, infrastructure problems, and youth disengagement while condemning external pressures as economically suffocating measures.

    The address outlined four fundamental imperatives for revitalizing People’s Power: enhancing community-level responsiveness, fostering genuine participatory mechanisms rather than ceremonial attendance, embracing critical self-evaluation to combat formalism and excessive centralization, and safeguarding national hope through concrete local achievements.

    President Díaz-Canel issued specific directives to delegates, urging them to prioritize street-level engagement over bureaucratic processes and transform criticisms into actionable solutions. He challenged local administrations to align governmental actions with community-identified priorities and eliminate procedural obstacles that dilute popular will.

    Calling for citizen involvement beyond electoral periods, the President emphasized that participatory democracy manifests through accountability assemblies, community organizing, and collective support for vulnerable populations. He characterized Cuba’s democracy as ‘trenches democracy’—built through sacrifice and daily perseverance rather than ceremonial performance.

    While celebrating the People’s Power system as a unique Cuban creation rooted in revolutionary thought and José Martí’s legacy, Díaz-Canel acknowledged it as an unfinished project requiring adaptation to demographic changes, technological evolution, and contemporary social expectations. He declared the anniversary a turning point for institutional transformation that strengthens social justice while preserving foundational principles.

    The address concluded with emotional tributes to grassroots delegates and reaffirmations of revolutionary slogans, positioning People’s Power as both governance structure and living expression of popular sovereignty in the face of ongoing challenges.

  • A collection to love, to learn from

    A collection to love, to learn from

    HAVANA – In a ceremony rich with historical symbolism, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez presided over the formal presentation of “Selected Works of Army General Raúl Castro Ruz” at the Palace of the Revolution’s Portocarrero Hall on Tuesday. The event, attended by one hundred carefully selected young Cubans, marked the unveiling of a comprehensive nine-volume collection documenting Castro’s six-decade revolutionary career.

    President Díaz-Canel framed the publication as essential reading for contemporary youth, emphasizing its value in “a world where truth is one of the most wounded virtues.” In his prologue to the collection, the Cuban leader characterized Castro as representing “that generation that valued life above all else and fought to defend it, even if it meant his own life.”

    The February 24th timing carried profound historical significance, as noted by Dr. Elier Ramírez Cañedo, PhD in Historical Sciences, who co-presented the works alongside Abel Prieto Jiménez, president of Casa de las Américas. The date coincides with multiple pivotal moments in Cuban history: the 1895 resumption of liberation struggles, General Máximo Gómez’s 1899 entry into Havana, the 1956 founding of the Revolutionary Directorate, and the 1976 proclamation of Cuba’s first Socialist Constitution.

    Compiled by Ediciones Celia over four years, the collection represents a monumental archival achievement containing more than 500 documents spanning over 5,000 pages, supplemented by extensive scholarly annotations. Each volume incorporates QR technology linking to photographic documentation of Castro at corresponding life stages.

    Prieto Jiménez highlighted the collection’s distinctive illumination of Castro’s leadership style, describing it as fundamentally different yet complementary to Fidel Castro’s approach. He emphasized Raúl’s deeply Martí-inspired philosophy, his distinctive colloquial communication style, and his consistent humanism manifested through policies rejecting the humiliation of subordinates.

    The presentation attracted Cuba’s highest leadership, including Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, Organization Secretary Roberto Morales Ojeda, Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa, and Secretary of the Council of Ministers José Amado Ricardo Guerra—all Political Bureau members.

    Simultaneously, at the University of Havana, historians emphasized the collection’s academic significance. Daily Sánchez Lemus, deputy director of the Office of Historical Affairs, noted the deliberate university venue selection, stating the institution traditionally teaches “how to be revolutionaries and to defend the Homeland.” The compilation begins appropriately with Castro’s 1951 article published in Saeta, the university’s publication.

    The digital edition has been available for several months through Communist Party platforms and national press outlets, with physical copies distributed to youth representatives from the Vladimir Ilich Lenin Pre-University Vocational Institute and various social sectors.

  • T&T PM roasts CARICOM for ignoring opposition, against affiliate parties campaigning in other countries

    T&T PM roasts CARICOM for ignoring opposition, against affiliate parties campaigning in other countries

    In a striking address at the CARICOM Summit opening in St. Kitts, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar delivered a severe condemnation of the regional body’s operational integrity and political impartiality. The veteran leader revealed that her formal communication regarding the 2022 coordinated kidnapping of a Trinidadian citizen from another member state—a incident validated by her nation’s Supreme Court—had been completely ignored by the CARICOM Secretariat for nearly four years.

    Persad-Bissessar articulated profound concerns about the organization’s apparent disregard for opposition voices, suggesting institutional bias toward incumbent governments. ‘The non-response may stem from poor management, lax accountability, or most troubling—the perception that one ceases to be recognized as a CARICOM citizen when not in government,’ she stated before assembled regional leaders.

    The Prime Minister further criticized the growing practice of affiliate political parties campaigning across national borders, labeling it a destructive force fostering ‘unneeded factional divisions and private conflicts.’ She highlighted the inherent contradiction in expecting collegial cooperation among leaders whose parties had actively intervened in each other’s domestic elections. Her comments referenced recent events where a senior member of her United National Congress had publicly attacked St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ leadership during their November general elections.

    Persad-Bissessar issued a compelling appeal for CARICOM to transcend partisan politics and serve all citizens equally, regardless of their governing status. ‘We are not red, yellow, blue, or green—we are all CARICOM persons deserving of mutual respect,’ she emphasized, urging the organization to reclaim its role as a unifying force rather than an instrument for political advantage.

  • Speaking Out Against Perez Allegedly Costs Hernandez His Job

    Speaking Out Against Perez Allegedly Costs Hernandez His Job

    A contentious land dispute in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, has escalated dramatically with allegations of political retaliation and wrongful termination. Jose Hernandez, a longtime resident, claims he was abruptly dismissed from his position at the San Pedro Town Council after publicly criticizing Area Representative Andre Perez.

    The conflict originated when Hernandez joined opposition politician Gabriel Zetina at a press conference last week, accusing Perez of denying him legal rights to property he has occupied for a decade. Perez countered that Hernandez’s wife already owns island property, making additional land grants inappropriate.

    Hernandez provides new context to the dispute, revealing he has been separated from his wife for three years and maintains no claim to her property. He asserts his former land allocation was personally revoked by Perez, leaving him without legal property rights despite decade-long occupancy.

    The situation intensified when Hernandez received an unexpected termination notice from the Town Council. He describes being instructed to surrender his vehicle keys without formal dismissal procedures or severance pay, despite his long-term employment through the pandemic period. The father of five now faces severe financial hardship, unable to provide basic school expenses for his children.

    Representative Perez denies involvement in the employment decision, stating Hernandez’s termination resulted from numerous parental complaints about his performance as a school transport driver. Perez characterizes the opposition’s support of Hernandez as political opportunism, pledging to provide evidence contradicting Hernandez’s claims of property development.

    This personal dispute has evolved into a broader examination of political influence, property rights, and accountability in local governance.

  • Youth, Unity, Action Define 50th CARICOM Meeting

    Youth, Unity, Action Define 50th CARICOM Meeting

    The 50th Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) commenced in St. Kitts and Nevis on February 24, 2026, signaling a transformative approach to regional governance. Under the leadership of Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett, the gathering has distinguished itself through its substantive focus rather than ceremonial formalities.

    Dr. Barnett highlighted the emergence of a ‘new energy’ characterizing this milestone meeting, crediting Prime Minister Terrence Drew’s proactive leadership since assuming the CARICOM chairmanship on January 1. The summit began with emergency sessions from its opening day, reflecting the urgency with which regional leaders are addressing pressing challenges.

    Notably, the presence of young CARICOM ambassadors established a tone of confidence and passion at the proceedings. Dr. Barnett emphasized that these youth representatives exemplify the region’s readiness for progressive advancement through their clarity and dedication.

    Despite being the Caribbean’s smallest sovereign state, St. Kitts and Nevis has demonstrated exceptional organizational capacity, having previously hosted two major CARICOM meetings in 2025. The current summit continues this tradition of excellence, with the host nation providing gracious hospitality to all delegations.

    The Secretary General expressed confidence that under Prime Minister Drew’s guidance, supported by regional institutions and fellow heads of government, CARICOM will achieve accelerated progress toward unified objectives, moving beyond rhetoric to deliver tangible results for the Caribbean community.

  • Cuban Ambassador Denounces US Blockade Pressure

    Cuban Ambassador Denounces US Blockade Pressure

    Cuba is confronting severe economic pressures as the United States intensifies its longstanding embargo, creating critical fuel shortages and triggering widespread power outages across the island nation. The situation has escalated to the point where the United Nations has issued warnings about a potential humanitarian crisis if energy needs remain unmet.

    In an exclusive interview, Cuban Ambassador to Belize Yahima Martinez Millán denounced what she characterized as Washington’s deliberate campaign of ‘economic suffocation.’ Despite these extreme pressures, Ambassador Millán emphatically stated that Cuba has not been paralyzed. ‘As the world is seeing, Cuba is facing a very complex period caused by the intensification of the US blockade. However, the country is not paralyzed,’ she declared.

    The Cuban government has implemented emergency measures to prioritize essential services, with particular focus on maintaining healthcare and education systems despite severe resource constraints. An energy-saving protocol has been adopted nationwide to ensure these critical services continue functioning.

    Ambassador Millán articulated Cuba’s unwavering position: ‘Our response remains the same during more than sixty years. Our response is independence, dignity and sovereignty.’ She emphasized that Cuba refuses to negotiate under pressure and threats, maintaining instead a diplomacy of ‘peace and cooperation.’

    International response is emerging, with both Canada and Mexico announcing plans to provide humanitarian aid. This development follows calls from regional leaders, including Belize’s former Foreign Affairs Minister Assad Shoman, for broader international support to counter the effects of the US blockade.

    When confronted with assessments that US policies could lead to Cuban deaths, Ambassador Millán rejected characterizations of political fragility, attributing the crisis exclusively to ‘external threat’ rather than internal causes. She reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to distributing resources equitably and protecting the most vulnerable populations throughout the crisis.

  • Saint Kitts and Nevis: Rubio meets Caribbean leaders as US raises pressure on Cuba

    Saint Kitts and Nevis: Rubio meets Caribbean leaders as US raises pressure on Cuba

    In a historic diplomatic engagement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio convened with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders in Saint Kitts and Nevis amid escalating regional tensions. The high-level summit marked the first visit by a U.S. Cabinet official to the dual-island nation, notable as the birthplace of American founding father Alexander Hamilton.

    The discussions centered on mounting apprehensions regarding Cuba’s deteriorating economic situation, exacerbated by recent disruptions in Venezuelan oil shipments following President Nicolás Maduro’s removal. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness articulated collective concerns, warning that “a prolonged crisis in Cuba will not remain confined to Cuba” and emphasizing potential regional destabilization and migration consequences.

    Despite historical tensions, Secretary Rubio adopted a measured diplomatic approach, seeking sustained cooperation on multiple fronts including Venezuela’s political transition and Haiti’s ongoing crisis. The Cuban-American diplomat, who has historically advocated for regime change in Havana, notably moderated his rhetoric while maintaining pressure through threatened sanctions against nations supplying oil to Cuba.

    The summit revealed divergent regional perspectives. Prime Minister Terrance Drew of host nation Saint Kitts and Nevis, himself a Cuba-educated physician, appealed for humanitarian assistance while acknowledging Cuba’s worsening conditions including food scarcity and power outages. Conversely, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar criticized communist governance while praising U.S. intervention in Venezuela and its positive impact on reducing regional arms trafficking.

    The diplomatic gathering occurred against the backdrop of the Trump administration’s “Donroe Doctrine,” which emphasizes unilateral intervention to advance U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere. Recent U.S. military actions against alleged drug trafficking operations in Caribbean waters have drawn international scrutiny regarding their legal and ethical foundations.