分类： world

Ambassador Dorbrene O’Marde, Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission (ABRSC), has been selected to represent Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at the upcoming Africa Celebrates 2025 event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from November 4–9. Ambassador O’Marde will serve as a featured speaker and panelist at the Africa Reparation Forum and Diaspora Africa Konnect, both hosted at the African Union and United Nations headquarters in the Ethiopian capital. The event’s theme, aligned with the African Union’s agenda, is “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through and Beyond Reparations.” The forum will delve into the socio-economic implications of reparatory justice and discuss strategies for leveraging diaspora resources to foster investment, heritage preservation, and sustainable economic growth across Africa and the Caribbean. In their invitation, organizers lauded Ambassador O’Marde’s leadership as Chairperson of the ABRSC and Vice-Chair of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, emphasizing his critical role in sharing insights on reparations as a catalyst for development and unity among people of African descent. Africa Celebrates aims to promote cultural exchange, trade, and innovation within Africa and its diaspora. Its objectives include showcasing Africa’s cultural and creative diversity, encouraging the patronage of African-made goods, and advancing intra-African trade, investment, and tourism, with a particular focus on empowering women and youth. Since its inception in 2021, the event has grown exponentially, with participation increasing from 12 countries in its inaugural year to over 40 African nations and diaspora communities by 2024. Organizers anticipate that the 2025 edition will be the largest yet, featuring contributions from 13 countries and a diverse array of cultural, business, and academic leaders.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne is set to spearhead Antigua and Barbuda’s delegation at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), scheduled to take place in Belém, Brazil, from November 5 to 21, 2025. The high-profile event will convene global leaders, international organizations, and senior officials to accelerate climate action, with a particular emphasis on renewable energy, carbon markets, and financial mechanisms for adaptation and addressing loss and damage. Browne is anticipated to champion the cause of climate justice and sustainable financing, underscoring the existential threats posed by rising sea levels and extreme weather events to Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The delegation comprises Climate Ambassador Ruleta Camacho-Thomas, Environment Director Diann Black-Layne, and technical experts from the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment, and Civil Service Affairs. Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph will participate in the Ministerial Segment, focusing on discussions related to environmental health and resilience.

The unveiling of the ‘4 Island – One Escape’ island-hopping experience marks a significant milestone for regional tourism in the Northeast Caribbean. This innovative initiative promises to deliver a seamless, multi-island adventure, highlighting the unique diversity and charm of interconnected destinations. While this development is being celebrated as a fresh approach, it is, in fact, a revival of a visionary concept introduced over three decades ago. The original idea, spearheaded by Brian Meade and the Northeast Caribbean Tourism Alliance (NECTA), aimed to promote the region’s offerings globally, positioning airlines as catalysts for tourism development rather than mere carriers. However, the momentum was tragically halted by Hurricane Luis in 1995, which devastated infrastructure and led to the alliance’s dissolution. Despite this setback, the dream of regional unity and multi-island travel endured. Today, as the ‘4 Island – One Escape’ initiative takes flight, it pays homage to the legacy of NECTA and Meade’s foresight. This new chapter in Caribbean tourism stands on the shoulders of a dream that envisioned the region not as a collection of competitors but as a family of destinations with a shared narrative. The architects of this initiative are encouraged to draw inspiration from the past, as sometimes, the best way forward is to remember where the journey began.

The extradition of Mehul Choksi, an Indian-born diamond magnate and Antiguan citizen, has been temporarily suspended following his appeal to Belgium’s Supreme Court. The appeal challenges a lower court’s decision that had approved his return to India to face charges related to a $1.55 billion fraud at Punjab National Bank (PNB). Ken Witpas, the public prosecutor at the Antwerp Court of Appeal, confirmed the suspension, stating that the Court of Cassation will now review the legal validity of Choksi’s case. Choksi, the founder of the Gitanjali Group, is accused of conspiring with his nephew Nirav Modi and bank officials to fraudulently obtain Letters of Undertaking and Foreign Letters of Credit, resulting in losses of approximately $730 million. On October 17, the Antwerp Court of Appeals ruled that Choksi would not face unfair treatment or trial in India, but he filed an appeal on October 30, halting the extradition process. Choksi fled India in 2018, acquired Antiguan citizenship, and reportedly relocated to Belgium in 2023. If extradited, he would be detained at Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, which Indian authorities claim complies with European human rights standards. The Supreme Court’s forthcoming decision will determine whether Choksi, who has evaded Indian authorities for nearly seven years, will finally stand trial on charges including criminal conspiracy, cheating, and corruption.