In a bold address at the United Nations Climate Summit, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne issued a stark warning to global leaders: if diplomatic efforts fail to address climate change, small island nations will resort to legal action to hold major polluters accountable. Browne emphasized that advancements in attribution science—research linking extreme weather events to fossil fuel emissions—now provide the necessary evidence to pursue such cases in court. ‘If diplomacy fails, then we should use the courts to hold these large polluters accountable,’ he declared. Browne framed the issue as a matter of survival for small island developing states (SIDS), which face existential threats from rising sea levels, intensifying storms, and escalating climate-related damages. He stressed that the 1.5-degree Celsius target set by the Paris Agreement is non-negotiable for these vulnerable nations. Browne also criticized the global financial system as ‘unfit for purpose,’ highlighting the staggering $387 billion annual cost of climate adaptation and the inadequacy of current climate finance. He endorsed the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, which advocates for a rules-based phase-out of coal, oil, and gas, supported by financial and technological transfers. Antigua and Barbuda has taken proactive steps with its National Adaptation Plan and plans to update its climate targets this year. However, Browne emphasized that national efforts alone are insufficient. He called for the international community to adopt the ‘polluter pays’ principle, expand concessional financing, and ensure access to affordable renewable technologies. ‘Let us treat the 1.5-degree limit as a lifeline, not as a line in the sand,’ he urged. ‘And let us act—not tomorrow, but today—so that the smallest and most vulnerable nations among us are not left to face the greatest storms alone.’
分类： politics
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Three Bills scheduled for the September 25 Sitting of the Nevis Island Assembly
The Nevis Island Assembly is set to convene on Thursday, September 25, 2025, with a legislative agenda featuring three significant bills. Premier and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Mark Brantley, will lead the proceedings, introducing two new bills for their first readings. These include the Nevis Limited Liability Company (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Nevis Public Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Both pieces of legislation aim to refine existing frameworks governing corporate structures and public entities on the island. Additionally, the Assembly will advance the Nevis Limited Partnership Bill, 2025, which was initially introduced on July 03, 2025, to its second and third readings. The session will commence at 10:00 a.m. in the Nevis Island Assembly Chambers in Charlestown, marking a pivotal moment in the island’s legislative calendar. This meeting underscores the administration’s commitment to enhancing regulatory frameworks and fostering economic growth.
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Mrs. Prince Drew Participates in Historic Gathering of First Ladies and Gentlemen at UNGA80
In a landmark event commemorating the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, Mrs. Diani Prince Drew, spouse of the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, joined First Ladies and Gentlemen from around the globe at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on September 24, 2025. The gathering, co-hosted by the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen Global Platform (SFLG), the Spouses of CARICOM Leaders Action Network (SCLAN), and the Alliance of Spouses of Heads of State and Representatives of Latin America (ALMA), was facilitated by the Global First Ladies Alliance (GFLA). The event centered on the theme “The Role of First Ladies and Gentlemen – United for Peace and Prosperity,” emphasizing their growing influence as catalysts for change. Participants underscored their commitment to advancing human dignity, peace, education, health, and social progress, transcending political boundaries. A Joint Statement was unveiled, reaffirming their dedication to fostering regional cooperation, supporting communities impacted by conflicts and crises, and promoting dialogue and inclusion as pillars of peace and security. Mrs. Prince Drew, representing SCLAN, highlighted Saint Kitts and Nevis’ dedication to people-centered solutions aligned with the Government’s Sustainable Island State vision. She emphasized that collaborative efforts across regions can pave the way for a more secure, compassionate, and prosperous future for families worldwide. The event featured opening and closing remarks from prominent figures, including Mrs. Olena Zelenska of Ukraine, Mrs. Ann Marie Davis of The Bahamas, and Mrs. Rossana Briceño of Belize, with representatives from Lebanon, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and numerous other nations also in attendance.
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Colombia’s president calls for criminal investigation against Trump over Caribbean strikes
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has demanded a criminal investigation into U.S. President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials following a series of deadly military strikes in the Caribbean. The strikes, which occurred this month, targeted boats allegedly transporting drugs, according to the White House. Petro condemned the attacks during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, accusing Trump of criminalizing poverty and migration. He argued that the passengers on the boats were not drug traffickers but impoverished young individuals from Latin America. Petro emphasized that criminal proceedings should be initiated against those responsible, including Trump, who authorized the operations.
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Opposition Leader Invites Public to Attend Upcoming Parliamentary Committee Meeting
Hon. Jamale Pringle, the Leader of the Opposition in Antigua and Barbuda, has issued a public invitation urging citizens and residents to attend the upcoming meeting of the Public Accounts Committee. The session is set to take place on Thursday, 25 September 2025, at 2:30 p.m. in the House of Parliament. In his statement, Mr. Pringle underscored the critical role of the Public Accounts Committee in promoting transparency and accountability by scrutinizing government expenditures and ensuring the efficient use of public funds. He emphasized the importance of civic participation in parliamentary proceedings, highlighting the committee’s function as a cornerstone of democratic oversight. While specific details of the meeting’s agenda remain undisclosed, this initiative reflects the Opposition’s ongoing commitment to fostering public engagement in governance. By encouraging community involvement, the Opposition aims to strengthen democratic processes and enhance trust in government operations. This move aligns with broader efforts to empower citizens and ensure that parliamentary activities remain accessible and transparent.
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VIDEO: Antigua and Barbuda PM Calls for Debt Relief and Financial Reform to Protect Small Island States
In a compelling address at the United Nations, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda called for urgent international action to address the escalating climate and economic crises threatening small island developing states (SIDS). Speaking before global leaders, Browne emphasized the profound challenges facing these nations, including trade fragmentation, financial volatility, and increasingly frequent climate disasters. He noted that climate-related disasters in 2024 alone caused $7 billion in damages across the region. Browne highlighted the vulnerability of economies heavily reliant on tourism, which in some islands contributes over 40% of GDP. He warned that rising sea levels, projected to reach up to one metre by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), could threaten homes, ports, and entire cultures. The Prime Minister stressed the gap between global pledges and action, citing slow progress on agreements such as the Paris Climate Accord and the UN’s 2030 Agenda. He outlined regional initiatives, including the establishment of a Debt Sustainability Support service (DSS) by the Antigua and Barbuda Gender for SIDS, aimed at restructuring debt and directing financing into resilience projects. Browne urged multilateral development banks and financial institutions to expand concessional financing, adopt vulnerability-based access, and implement automatic debt service pauses in the event of disasters. He also encouraged partnerships with philanthropy and private capital to fund resilient infrastructure, clean energy, and adaptation projects. ‘State-contingent debt, climate-resilient clauses, and debt-for-nature swaps must become standard practice, not pilots,’ he said, appealing for immediate global action to safeguard the futures of the world’s most vulnerable nations.
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Former FBI director charged as Trump steps up drive for revenge
In a significant escalation of his ongoing legal battles against political adversaries, former U.S. President Donald Trump has seen his long-time critic, former FBI Director James Comey, indicted on two criminal charges. The indictment, announced on Thursday, accuses Comey of making false statements and obstructing justice during his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and potential collusion with the Trump campaign. This development comes just days after Trump publicly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to take action against Comey and other perceived enemies. Trump, who has repeatedly denounced Comey as ‘one of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to,’ celebrated the indictment. Federal prosecutor Lindsey Halligan, a former personal lawyer to Trump with no prior prosecutorial experience, stated that Comey could face up to five years in prison if convicted. The charges have sparked controversy, with critics alleging that the move is part of a broader pattern of Trump using legal mechanisms to target political opponents. Current FBI Director Kash Patel condemned the ‘politicization of law enforcement’ during the Russiagate investigation, calling it a ‘disgraceful chapter in history.’ The indictment also follows a series of aggressive actions by Trump against critics, including the removal of security clearances from former officials and the withdrawal of federal funding from universities. This latest legal maneuver underscores the deepening political divisions in the U.S. and raises questions about the impartiality of the justice system under Trump’s influence.
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Trump warns of shutdown as White House threatens mass firings
President Donald Trump issued a stark warning on Thursday, signaling the potential for a government shutdown as tensions escalate between the White House and congressional Democrats. The standoff centers on spending negotiations ahead of the September 30 fiscal deadline, after which critical federal services could face severe disruptions. Trump, in a candid remark from the Oval Office, accused Democrats of being ‘crazed’ and unprepared, further intensifying the political rift. The White House has escalated the confrontation by instructing government agencies to prepare for mass layoffs, a move that goes beyond the typical temporary furloughs during shutdowns. A memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directed agencies to consider issuing Reduction in Force (RIF) notices to employees, adding to the strain on federal workers already impacted by earlier layoffs orchestrated by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Democrats have firmly rejected Republican proposals, demanding the reversal of certain spending cuts and the extension of healthcare subsidies. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries dismissed the layoff threats, urging the White House to ‘get lost’ and accusing OMB chief Russ Vought of being ‘out of control.’ A shutdown would halt non-essential government operations and leave hundreds of thousands of civil servants temporarily unpaid. The White House blamed Democrats for ‘insane demands,’ accusing them of disrupting a decade-long bipartisan tradition of avoiding shutdowns. With both chambers of Congress in recess and senators not returning until Monday, the day before the deadline, the window for reaching a resolution is rapidly closing. House Republicans have warned they will not return before the deadline, leaving the Senate to either accept their proposal or face a shutdown. The proposed bill, if passed, would only provide temporary funding through November 21. This latest impasse echoes the March shutdown, which was resolved at the eleventh hour after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer backed a Republican-drafted proposal.
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September 30 deadline to register for voters’ list
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) has issued a crucial reminder to the public regarding the upcoming deadline for voter registration. Eligible individuals must submit their applications by Tuesday, September 30, 2025, to be included in the updated voters’ list, which will be published on November 30, 2025. Applications received after this date will be processed for the subsequent list scheduled for May 31, 2026. The EOJ emphasizes that individuals already registered should refrain from reapplying. To register, applicants must visit any EOJ constituency office in person during specified hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm from Monday to Thursday and 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on Fridays. Applicants are advised to wear dark-colored clothing to facilitate the photograph-taking process. Following the in-office application, a residence verification team will visit the provided address to finalize the registration. The process is free of charge. Eligibility criteria require applicants to be at least 18 years old and either Jamaican citizens or Commonwealth citizens who have resided in Jamaica for at least 12 consecutive months prior to registration. Commonwealth citizens must present relevant documentation during the application process. The voters’ list is updated and published biannually on May 31 and November 30, ensuring the accuracy and inclusivity of Jamaica’s electoral system.
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Palestinian leader tells UN no role for Hamas in state
In a significant address to the United Nations General Assembly, Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas unequivocally rejected any future governance role for Hamas, distancing himself from the group’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Speaking via video after being denied a U.S. visa to attend in person, Abbas emphasized that Hamas’s actions did not represent the Palestinian people’s struggle for freedom and independence. He also condemned antisemitism, asserting that solidarity with Palestine should not be conflated with anti-Jewish sentiment. Abbas’s speech, which received applause from delegates, highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling it one of the most tragic chapters of the 20th and 21st centuries. He proposed an interim committee led by the Palestinian Authority to temporarily govern Gaza, a region controlled by Hamas since 2007. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to Palestinian statehood, despite recent recognitions by several Western powers. U.S. President Donald Trump, a staunch ally of Netanyahu, has backed Israel’s stance while engaging in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron noted alignment with the U.S. on opposing annexation, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto offered 20,000 troops to support peacekeeping efforts. Abbas’s Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank under the Oslo Accords, faces mounting challenges as global powers debate the path to peace.