Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • Politic : Presentation of the «National Pact for Stability and the Organization of Elections» (video)

    Politic : Presentation of the «National Pact for Stability and the Organization of Elections» (video)

    In a landmark ceremony at the Villa d’Accueil on February 23, 2026, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé presided over the formal unveiling of the “National Pact for Stability and the Organization of Elections.” The event marked a significant convergence of national stakeholders, including government officials, diplomatic representatives, political party leaders, economic sector delegates, and civil society advocates, all demonstrating unified commitment to institutional stabilization and constitutional restoration.

    The Pact represents a strategic milestone in Haiti’s transitional journey, embodying collective political determination to establish conditions for credible, inclusive, and transparent elections while reinforcing institutional stability and national security. Prime Minister Fils-Aimé praised signatories for choosing dialogue and historical responsibility over partisan interests, emphasizing that “the destiny of an entire nation rests on the decisions and commitments made by its children to serve it.”

    The agreement culminates from intensive consultations and consensus-building efforts, with the Prime Minister highlighting that the true victory lies in “the victory for democracy and the entire nation.” He noted that signatories had demonstrated to the world Haiti’s capacity to “pour the concrete of stability” for the nation.

    This collective commitment establishes a framework for a coordinated and planned transition, granting the government authority to strengthen public security, consolidate institutions, ensure electoral transparency, engage youth actively, and stimulate economic recovery. The Pact provides the Prime Minister and his administration with comprehensive powers without fixed term limits, including constitutional modification authority and power-sharing mechanisms.

    The document (available in French as a 4-page PDF) outlines provisions for implementing these transitional measures, representing Haiti’s most substantial effort to address prolonged political instability through nationally endorsed mechanisms.

  • PM to attend Caricom Heads of Government meeting

    PM to attend Caricom Heads of Government meeting

    Grenadian Prime Minister Hon. Dickon Mitchell is set to participate in the historic 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), taking place from February 24-27, 2026, in St. Kitts and Nevis. The significant regional gathering will feature Prime Minister Mitchell leading Grenada’s high-level delegation during the first three days of the summit.

    The conference inauguration will include keynote addresses from prominent regional figures: Chairman and Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis Dr. Terrance M. Drew; Jamaica’s Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness; St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Godwin Friday; and CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett.

    The event will welcome distinguished international participants including His Excellency Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Afreximbank President and Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr. George Elombi; and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, all scheduled to engage directly with Caribbean leaders throughout the proceedings.

    Prime Minister Mitchell’s participation will focus on critical multilateral discussions addressing regional integration frameworks, climate resilience strategies, security cooperation mechanisms, and trade enhancement initiatives. The Grenadian delegation will include Foreign Affairs and Export Development Minister Joseph Andall, alongside diplomatic representatives H.E. Tarlie Francis (Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United States) and H.E. Aaron Moses (CARICOM Ambassador).

    This milestone summit marks five decades of CARICOM’s mission to promote economic integration and foreign policy coordination among Caribbean nations, with Grenada playing an active role in shaping the community’s future trajectory.

  • Cotino en Afonsoewa willen openheid financiële positie en contracten SZF en RZW

    Cotino en Afonsoewa willen openheid financiële positie en contracten SZF en RZW

    In a significant parliamentary move, National Assembly members Rosselli Cotino and Silvana Afonsoewa (both NDP) have formally submitted an interpellation proposal addressing alleged irregularities within Suriname’s State Health Fund (SZF) and Wanica Regional Hospital (RZW). The legislators are demanding immediate government clarification regarding financial management practices, contractual obligations, and governance structures at both critical healthcare institutions.

    The proposal emphasizes the fundamental right to healthcare and the state’s constitutional responsibility to ensure transparent, efficient, and accountable management of public health resources. The initiators highlighted SZF’s pivotal role in financing and delivering medical services to a substantial portion of Suriname’s population.

    Recent signals and public reports have raised serious concerns about financial governance, contractual commitments, and internal decision-making processes within SZF. Growing societal apprehensions center on transparency deficits, governance quality, financial accountability, and potential conflicts of interest within the healthcare system.

    The document further identifies ambiguities surrounding undertaken obligations, personnel expenditures, external contracts, and supervisory frameworks. This perceived lack of clarity potentially undermines public confidence in the national healthcare infrastructure. Comprehensive transparency regarding SZF’s current financial position is deemed essential to safeguard uninterrupted healthcare service delivery.

    Parallel concerns extend to Wanica Regional Hospital, which operates primarily through public funding as an essential component of national hospital care. Questions have emerged regarding the contractual outsourcing of essential hospital services to external entities and whether due diligence was exercised in these arrangements.

    The submitting parliamentarians argue that long-term or financially significant obligations without proper public accountability could jeopardize both healthcare affordability and continuity. Exercising its supervisory mandate, the National Assembly considers it imperative to obtain clarity regarding the administration and financial management of these vital healthcare institutions.

    The interpellation proposal formally requests the government to provide comprehensive and transparent information regarding: current financial status, ongoing obligations, and governance structure of SZF; nature, scope, duration, and establishment processes of recent contractual commitments within SZF; internal control mechanisms and supervision frameworks; contractual agreements with external service providers at Wanica Regional Hospital, including their financial implications; procedures and approval pathways followed in establishing these agreements; and structural measures the government will implement to enhance transparency, responsible governance, and protection of public healthcare resources.

    This parliamentary initiative aims to deliver complete clarity to both the National Assembly and Surinamese society while reinforcing confidence in the nation’s healthcare system.

  • WATCH: Browne says Labour Party Building Future Leadership, Not Scrambling for Successor

    WATCH: Browne says Labour Party Building Future Leadership, Not Scrambling for Successor

    In a recent radio broadcast, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne unveiled his governing party’s systematic approach to developing future leadership. The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) has instituted a deliberate succession strategy designed to prevent potential leadership vacuums and ensure political continuity.

    During his appearance on the ‘Browne and Browne Show’ aired by Pointe FM, Browne emphasized that the party is methodically preparing younger ministers and senators for increased governmental responsibilities. This development program forms part of a comprehensive institutional strategy aimed at maintaining stable governance regardless of individual leadership changes.

    The Prime Minister drew sharp contrasts with opposition parties, characterizing them as facing leadership uncertainty while his party prioritizes long-term political stability. Browne asserted that the ABLP’s leadership cultivation is ‘intentional, not accidental,’ representing a proactive measure to strengthen both the party and national governance structures.

    According to Browne’s statements, the succession plan involves providing emerging leaders with practical experience through Cabinet and Senate roles, effectively preparing them for potential executive positions. This approach aims to create a robust pipeline of qualified leaders ready to assume critical governmental functions.

    These revelations emerged during broader discussions concerning party leadership structures and political continuity ahead of forthcoming electoral competitions, highlighting the ABLP’s preparations for future political challenges.

  • Simons stemt Surinaamse inzet af voor 50e Caricom-top

    Simons stemt Surinaamse inzet af voor 50e Caricom-top

    President Jennifer Simons of Suriname has intensified diplomatic preparations during the second day of her stay in St. Kitts and Nevis, conducting comprehensive working sessions with the Surinamese delegation ahead of the 50th Regular Conference of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government. The landmark summit, scheduled from February 24-27, 2026, will convene regional leaders to shape the future trajectory of Caribbean cooperation.

    During closed-door strategy meetings, President Simons and her team meticulously reviewed the conference agenda while harmonizing national positions on critical regional matters. Particular emphasis was placed on strategic and economic priorities affecting both Suriname and the broader Caribbean community. The preparatory discussions focused on aligning Suriname’s diplomatic approach with the summit’s overarching themes of enhanced regional integration and economic collaboration.

    The delegation also finalized plans for bilateral engagements with fellow heads of state and government leaders. President Simons established clear priorities for these diplomatic encounters, aiming to strengthen existing partnerships while exploring new trade and investment opportunities that could benefit Suriname’s economic development.

    These meticulous preparations demonstrate Suriname’s commitment to making substantive contributions to the plenary deliberations of this historic 50th CARICOM summit. The coordinated approach ensures that Suriname will present a unified and strategically coherent position during the high-level negotiations, potentially influencing regional policy decisions on trade, security, and economic cooperation for the coming years.

  • Marco Rubio to Meet with Caribbean Leaders

    Marco Rubio to Meet with Caribbean Leaders

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to convene with Caribbean community leaders this Wednesday in Saint Kitts and Nevis, with a strategic agenda focusing on pressing regional challenges. The diplomatic engagement will center on three critical areas: enhanced security cooperation, migration management strategies, and coordinated efforts to combat narcotics trafficking.

    The high-level discussions will occur concurrently with the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, which assembles leadership representatives from fifteen member nations across the Caribbean region. This timing provides a strategic platform for multilateral dialogue between the United States and Caribbean partners.

    Secretary Rubio, whose political perspective has been shaped by his family’s experience as Cuban exiles, has consistently advocated for stringent policies addressing Cuba’s communist leadership and Venezuela’s former left-wing government. His diplomatic mission follows recent escalated tensions in the region, including a January military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse, alongside casualties that included thirty-two Cuban security personnel.

    Concurrently, United States sanctions have significantly impacted regional energy dynamics, particularly through restrictions on oil shipments to Cuba that have exacerbated existing power shortages on the island nation.

    Among the distinguished attendees at the CARICOM summit is Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño, who departed for the conference accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca, Chief Executive Officer Amalia Mai, and CARICOM Ambassador Lawrence Sylvester. With the Prime Minister’s return scheduled for March 1st, Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde will assume the responsibilities of acting head of government during this absence.

  • More Than 1,500 Jailed Venezuelans Apply for Release

    More Than 1,500 Jailed Venezuelans Apply for Release

    Venezuela’s National Assembly has received over 1,500 applications for prisoner release under a recently enacted amnesty legislation, according to Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez. The announcement Thursday revealed that hundreds of detainees incarcerated for political reasons have already regained freedom, including prominent opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa.

    The comprehensive amnesty measure, which gained unanimous parliamentary approval on February 19, possesses the potential to affect approximately 11,000 incarcerated individuals nationwide. Rodríguez confirmed that judicial authorities are processing 1,557 petitions with immediate priority, indicating that prisoner releases have already commenced operationally.

    However, Guanipa’s case exemplifies the complex implementation challenges. Initially released on February 8, the opposition leader was rearrested within hours after prosecutors alleged violation of release conditions. He currently remains under house arrest pending further judicial review.

    The legislation has drawn substantial criticism from human rights organizations and opposition representatives who contend the amnesty excludes critical categories of political prisoners. Notably exempted are military personnel accused of insurrection against President Nicolás Maduro’s administration and individuals advocating for foreign military intervention.

    This development occurs amid heightened international scrutiny following Maduro’s extraordinary detention by United States authorities on January 3. The Venezuelan leader and his wife Cilia Flores currently face narcotics and weapons charges in US jurisdiction, with both maintaining not guilty pleas. Washington has consistently urged Caracas to expedite political prisoner releases throughout this diplomatic crisis.

  • Marc Rubio to join 50th CARICOM heads meeting, engage on ‘shared priorities’

    Marc Rubio to join 50th CARICOM heads meeting, engage on ‘shared priorities’

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is embarking on a significant diplomatic mission to Saint Kitts and Nevis on February 25th, where he will participate in the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM. This high-level engagement, confirmed by the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, represents a substantial effort by the United States to reinforce its strategic partnerships with Caribbean nations.

    During the conference, Secretary Rubio is scheduled to conduct bilateral meetings with Caribbean leaders to advance mutual priorities across multiple domains. The comprehensive agenda includes enhancing regional security mechanisms, strengthening collaborative frameworks to combat illegal immigration and illicit trafficking, and promoting sustainable economic development initiatives. Additional focus areas encompass public health cooperation and energy security projects designed to benefit the entire Caribbean region.

    This diplomatic outreach occurs within the context of what regional analysts describe as a deliberate ‘reset’ of U.S.-Caribbean relations. According to reporting from the St Kitts Observer, the initiative aims to foster closer alignment with Washington’s foreign policy objectives while addressing emerging geopolitical dynamics.

    Notably, sources indicate the United States seeks to garner increased regional support for its position regarding political developments in Havana. The visit also appears strategically timed to address concerns about China’s expanding influence within CARICOM member states, representing a concerted effort to integrate Caribbean nations more firmly into Washington’s partnership network while reaffirming American commitment to hemispheric stability and prosperity.

  • Human survival at stake

    Human survival at stake

    A coalition of eleven former Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads of government has intensified diplomatic efforts to address Cuba’s escalating humanitarian crisis, urging immediate termination of the United States’ oil embargo against the island nation. Their intervention precedes the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Conference commencing in St Kitts and Nevis.

    The distinguished group, including former Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson as principal spokesperson, characterized the fuel embargo as an existential threat to Cuba’s civilian population. “There can be no justification for imposing a fuel embargo which could extinguish 11 million civilian lives,” their collective statement emphasized. “Exposing citizens to starvation, disease, and extinction through energy resource denial constitutes a mortal danger that transcends ideological considerations.”

    The former leaders’ roster comprises significant regional figures: Donald Ramotar (Former President of Guyana), former Prime Ministers Freundel Stuart (Barbados), Edison James (Dominica), Tillman Thomas (Grenada), Bruce Golding (Jamaica), Dr. Kenny Anthony (St. Lucia), Dr. Keith Rowley (Trinidad & Tobago), alongside subsequent endorsers Baldwin Spencer (Antigua & Barbuda), Said Musa (Belize), and Dr. Ralph Gonsalves (St. Vincent & The Grenadines).

    This diplomatic maneuver occurs against Cuba’s severe energy catastrophe, exacerbated by the Trump administration’s policies designed to restrict oil access. The crisis deepened following the collapse of Venezuelan crude shipments after US intervention against Nicolás Maduro’s government, with additional threats against alternative suppliers.

    Cuban authorities have implemented drastic energy conservation protocols, including stringent fuel rationing and substantial reductions in public transportation services. The former CARICOM leaders condemned these developments as creating “catastrophic consequences” through the “strangulation of Cuba’s vital requirements for energy, food, medication, education, and basic livelihood.”

    The coalition specifically acknowledged Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s consistent advocacy against the embargo, noting her historical support for United Nations resolutions demanding its termination. Their statement concluded with a powerful appeal for regional solidarity: “Our considerable vocal firepower as past, present, and future leaders must be directed against hegemonic economic aggression threatening havoc in our Caribbean space.”

  • UK govt says will release files on ex-prince Andrew

    UK govt says will release files on ex-prince Andrew

    LONDON, United Kingdom – The British government has pledged to disclose previously confidential documents concerning the controversial appointment of former Prince Andrew as a trade envoy, responding to mounting political pressure in the wake of the expanding Jeffrey Epstein scandal. This development follows the arrest of veteran politician Peter Mandelson, further intensifying scrutiny on both royal and political establishments.

    Minister Chris Bryant announced in Parliament that vetting documents related to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s tenure as trade envoy (2001-2011) would be released, acknowledging this action as a fundamental obligation to Epstein’s victims. The commitment came after the Liberal Democrats successfully deployed an obscure parliamentary procedure known as a ‘humble address’ – a mechanism designed to compel ministerial disclosure of historical files dating back 26 years to Tony Blair’s administration.

    The political firestorm has created significant challenges for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government, which faces simultaneous police investigations into both Andrew and former minister Mandelson. Bryant characterized the former prince as ‘a rude, arrogant and entitled man’ but cautioned that document release would be coordinated with law enforcement to avoid compromising ongoing investigations.

    Andrew, stripped of royal titles in 2023, is under investigation for allegedly sharing sensitive documents with Epstein during his diplomatic tenure. His recent arrest for suspected misconduct in public office has drawn a rare response from King Charles III, who stated that ‘the law must take its course.’

    Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey condemned the associations between prominent British figures and Epstein as ‘a stain on our country,’ advocating for transparency as the necessary ‘disinfectant.’ The motion passed without opposition due to government support, though Bryant tempered expectations regarding the timeline for release, citing the volume and age of materials involved.

    The document release commitment coincides with preparations to publish files concerning Mandelson’s 2024 appointment as Washington ambassador. Mandelson, a central figure in Blair’s government nicknamed the ‘Prince of Darkness’ for his media manipulation prowess, faces separate misconduct allegations related to his Epstein connections. Biographer Andrew Lownie revealed that Blair and Mandelson had ‘pushed his [Andrew’s] appointment through’ as trade envoy.

    Starmer has already dismissed Mandelson from his diplomatic post after seven months following revelations about his Epstein ties, accepting the resignation of two top aides and apologizing to Epstein’s victims for the appointment. The prime minister has accused Mandelson of misleading officials during vetting procedures regarding the extent of his relationship with the convicted financier.

    Neither Andrew nor Mandelson has been formally charged with any offenses. Andrew previously settled a civil lawsuit with Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre in 2022 without admitting liability, while Mandelson has apologized for his friendship with Epstein while maintaining ignorance of his sexual crimes.