Carib Scope

分类： world

  • Defense Ministry, MITUR, and UN Tourism collaborate to strengthen tourism education

    Defense Ministry, MITUR, and UN Tourism collaborate to strengthen tourism education

    The Dominican Republic’s national defense sector is forging a new collaborative alliance with global tourism bodies and national tourism authorities to address growing skills demand in one of the country’s most vital economic sectors. The Ministry of Defense (MIDE), working through the General Directorate of Vocational Schools of the Armed Forces and National Police (DIVEG), gathered this week with senior representatives from UN Tourism and the Dominican Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) to map out expanded cooperation in technical and vocational training for the tourism industry.

    The high-level working meeting brought together three key stakeholders leading the initiative: DIVEG Director Colonel José Ramón Reyes Suárez, UN Tourism Executive Director Natalia Bayona, and Dominican Vice Minister of Tourism Carlos A. Peguero. During the discussion, the group centered talks on designing and rolling out targeted initiatives to cultivate a highly skilled workforce that can keep pace with the rapid expansion of the Dominican Republic’s tourism sector, which is a major driver of national economic growth and job creation.

    Attendees explored a wide range of potential areas for collaboration, including joint academic programs that align training curricula with industry needs, projects focused on strengthening the institutional capacity of DIVEG’s training systems, and exchange schemes that facilitate increased mobility for both students and instructors across partner institutions. Following the formal discussions, the visiting delegation got an up-close look at DIVEG’s existing infrastructure, touring the organization’s hands-on workshops and modern training facilities to assess current capabilities and identify opportunities for upgrades.

    Per DIVEG’s official statement on the new partnership, the collaboration is projected to deliver far-reaching benefits for the Dominican labor market and national economy. By enhancing the quality of workforce training programs, the alliance aims to improve employability outcomes for trainees, foster a new generation of tourism-focused entrepreneurs, and underpin the sustained expansion of not only the tourism sector but also other key productive industries across the country.

  • Cuba’s stroomnet stort opnieuw in: derde landelijke black-out in 10 dagen

    Cuba’s stroomnet stort opnieuw in: derde landelijke black-out in 10 dagen

    Cuba has entered another period of widespread national crisis after its entire national power grid collapsed completely early Tuesday local time, leaving nearly 10 million Cuban residents without access to electricity. This outage marks the third full-scale nationwide blackout to hit the Caribbean island in just 10 days, and the fifth such major event recorded across the country in 2026.

    According to Unión Eléctrica (UNE), the Cuban state-owned national power authority, the full system collapse began around 11 a.m. local time. The Cuban Ministry of Energy and Mines later confirmed via social media platforms that all segments of the country’s interconnected power system had been completely taken offline.

    The repeated energy failures unfold against the backdrop of Cuba’s worst economic downturn in decades, a crisis that has been sharply exacerbated by a U.S.-imposed oil boycott that has cut off the island’s most critical energy supply lines. The U.S. trade embargo on oil shipments to Cuba deepened already severe fuel shortages across the island, pushing Cuba’s aging, outdated power grid – much of which was originally installed in the 1960s and 1980s – beyond its operational breaking point.

    The latest U.S. oil restrictions were implemented in January this year, shortly after the ousting of Venezuelan former president Nicolás Maduro. For decades, Venezuela served as Cuba’s primary supplier of heavily subsidized crude oil, a partnership that kept the island’s energy system running for generations. Following the U.S. imposition of the new boycott, Mexico also halted all fuel exports to Cuba under U.S. diplomatic pressure.

    Data from the International Energy Agency shows that as recently as 2023, Cuba only produced roughly 40 percent of the total oil its population and economy consumed annually, leaving the country overwhelmingly dependent on foreign energy imports to meet domestic demand.

    U.S. government officials have stated that the sanctions are explicitly designed to increase pressure on Cuba’s communist-led government to schedule free democratic elections and release hundreds of political detainees held in Cuban custody.

    The recurring, widespread blackouts have fueled growing public discontent across the island over the past two weeks. Just last week, spontaneous protests broke out in multiple neighborhoods across Havana, where residents banged pots and pans in coordinated demonstrations to demand the immediate restoration of power. During the previous round of national blackouts earlier this month, full power restoration across all regions of Cuba took more than 24 hours to complete.

  • Group of armed, patrolling Chinese arrested in Suriname

    Group of armed, patrolling Chinese arrested in Suriname

    On a Tuesday in mid-July 2026, a sweeping joint security operation carried out by Suriname’s National Police Force (KPS) and national military in the remote interior Sarakreek district resulted in the arrest of 14 Chinese men, according to official statements from Suriname’s law enforcement leadership. The operation was launched after authorities received credible tips and video evidence showing armed individuals matching the suspects’ descriptions moving through the area in uniformed attire, allegedly conducting patrol activities.

    Following a coordinated consultation between the Public Prosecution Service and the Office of the Surinamese President, officials greenlit an immediate deployment of a combined police-army task force, supported by two military helicopters to access the hard-to-reach interior region. The mission was commanded by the Central Regional Commander of the Suriname Police Force, with Minister of Justice and Police Harish Monorath confirming key details in an interview with local outlet Starnieuws.

    In addition to taking the 14 suspects into custody, law enforcement teams seized multiple firearms including semi-automatic weapons, other heavy weaponry, and an undisclosed amount of ammunition. A full inventory of seized items is still pending after one of the deployed helicopters experienced technical complications that disrupted initial counting efforts, so Monorath was unable to share an exact final count of confiscated weapons as of Wednesday’s update.

    All suspects have since been transferred to the capital Paramaribo, where ongoing criminal investigations and pre-trial arraignment processes are underway. Social media circulated images and video that showed former vice president and ruling ABOP party chair Ronnie Brunswijk present at the operation site, prompting public speculation about his involvement. However, Monorath clarified that Brunswijk did not lead or command the security mission, noting that the former leader traveled to Sarakreek independently to gather on-the-ground information and shared relevant details with official security teams.

    Monorath pushed back against early unconfirmed speculation about the suspects’ activities in the region, noting that initial tips suggested the group claimed to be carrying out private security work. He emphasized that any security operations within Suriname’s borders fall under the purview of the country’s own national army and police forces, and the investigation will fully clarify the legal status of the group’s activities. The minister also added that not all of the arrested Chinese men are in Suriname illegally: some hold valid residency and entry documentation, so officials will wait for the full outcome of the investigation before releasing any formal conclusions on the case.

  • Ruim 1.860 kilo drugs verbrand na onderschepping op Surinamerivier

    Ruim 1.860 kilo drugs verbrand na onderschepping op Surinamerivier

    In a public, transparency-focused operation held Tuesday in Kraka, Suriname’s Para district, law enforcement officials incinerated nearly 1,864 kilograms of seized illicit drugs with an estimated street value of more than $5.5 million. The large narcotics shipment was uncovered less than a week prior, following a targeted interception carried out by the country’s Justice Intervention Team (JIT) along the Suriname River.

    JIT team leader Radjinderkoemar Panchoe outlined the details of the interception in press statements: the contraband was hidden aboard a low-profile small cargo vessel called a barkas, which had departed from Dijkveld and was en route to the river’s mouth when JIT agents stopped the craft. After diverting the boat and its passengers to the Coast Guard jetty near the MAS area, law enforcement conducted a thorough search, ultimately uncovering the cache hidden in a secret compartment. The seizure consisted of 1,616 individual packages, each weighing approximately one kilogram on average.

    When questioned by reporters about the relatively fast timeline for destroying the seized drugs, Panchoe emphasized that the operation strictly followed the public prosecutor’s office established protocols and policy. He clarified that destruction only proceeds after all required legal procedural steps are completed, including full documentation of the shipment’s weight, the collection and securing of test samples for mandatory chemical analysis. As of the operation date, authorities have taken 10 people into custody in connection with the smuggling plot: one Surinamese national and nine foreign citizens.

    To prepare the narcotics for incineration, officials layered the packages between fuel pellets and discarded vehicle tires, before dousing the entire stack with accelerant. The entire pile was set ablaze shortly after preparation, with members of the press present to observe the full process. Before the incineration, authorities conducted random sample testing to confirm the packages contained illicit narcotics, and allowed reporters to select which packages to test. Two separate testing methods confirmed all selected packages contained illegal drugs, matching the contraband packaging descriptions.

    A key detail emerging from the seizure is that the individual packages bore distinct logos from multiple different groups, a marker Panchoe said indicates the shipment sourced from multiple separate producers. He reiterated a key point about Suriname’s role in global drug trafficking: the country does not produce illicit narcotics, and shipments are typically trafficked into Suriname across air, sea, and land routes before being moved onward to international markets. Early investigations indicate this large seized shipment was ultimately bound for foreign destinations, Panchoe added, noting the probe into the smuggling network remains ongoing.

    The public destruction operation represents part of Suriname’s ongoing push to disrupt transnational drug trafficking networks that use the country as a transit hub. By allowing press access to both testing and incineration, authorities aimed to demonstrate accountability and highlight the progress of anti-trafficking enforcement efforts.

  • News : Zapping…

    News : Zapping…

    Mid-July 2026 brings a collection of interconnected updates across multiple sectors of Haiti, highlighting ongoing challenges, institutional action, and moments of cultural progress for the Caribbean nation.

    First, in the tourism and travel sector, major international cruise line Royal Caribbean has announced a significant extension of its service suspension at Haiti’s Labadie port. The operator had already pulled Labadie from all 2026 itineraries, and the new extension will keep the port off all scheduled routes through at least the end of June 2027. In an official statement, the company confirmed the decision prioritizes the safety and welfare of guests and crew, noting that the extension comes as it continues ongoing assessments of Haiti’s evolving security and operational environment. All travelers affected by the itinerary changes have been notified directly by Royal Caribbean.

    In the Artibonite department’s Gonaïves municipality, a recent infrastructure assessment has exposed critical gaps in community water access. The Regional Office for Drinking Water and Sanitation (OREPA), working alongside the Departmental Rural Unit, conducted a needs evaluation at three community Lakous—shared water and sanitation sites in Badjo, Soukri, and Souvenance. The assessment found no functional potable water distribution systems or formal sanitation infrastructure at the sites, with overall hygiene conditions falling well below acceptable public health standards. Following the release of the assessment findings, Haitian Minister of Tourism Stéphanie Smith has directed department-level ministry staff to collaborate directly with OREPA to develop and deploy fit-for-purpose water and sanitation infrastructure for the communities.

    Haiti’s National Institute for Vocational Training (INFP) has moved to crack down on exploitative practices at private vocational training centers across the country. The institution issued a public reminder that graduation from vocational programs is a voluntary option, not a mandatory requirement for completion. INFP specifically called out private centers that coerce students from low-income households into paying large graduation fees denominated in U.S. dollars, creating an unfair financial burden for already struggling families and students. Beyond issuing the warning, INFP announced it is implementing strict punitive measures against centers engaging in these exploitative tactics, while also rolling out support, independent assessment, and official certification for students harmed by the practices.

    As Haiti moves toward planned general elections, the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) has advanced preparations with a full-scale simulation of the voter registration process. The drill was held on 11 July 2026 in Jacmel, located in the country’s Southeast Department. The exercise gave newly hired Electoral Register Agents (ADRE) and Electoral Security Agents (ASE) the chance to put into practice the protocols and procedures they learned during recent CEP-led refresher training, ensuring the team is prepared for the official launch of voter registration.

    On the cultural and academic fronts, Haiti earned two major marks of recognition this month. Two Haitian playwrights have advanced to the final round of the 2026 RFI Theatre Prize: Joubert Joseph for his work *Les Yeux que la nuit a pris* (The Eyes That the Night Took), and Alexandro Christi Nicolas for *Boukan*. The pair are among just 13 finalists selected for the international award, and the French Institute of Haiti has celebrated the achievement as proof of the enduring vibrancy of Haitian dramatic writing in the global Francophone theatre community. Separately, the Permanent Delegation of Haiti to UNESCO hosted the official launch of a new UNESCO research Chair focused on Anthropology, Archaeology, and History of Transatlantic Slavery. Led by France’s University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, part of the University of Paris-Saclay network, the international research initiative brings together academic institutions from across the regions connected by the transatlantic slave trade to study a shared history that reshaped the development of the modern world.

  • Donation of office equipment and solar power systems

    Donation of office equipment and solar power systems

    Haiti has long grappled with overlapping security, political, and humanitarian emergencies that have stretched state infrastructure and strained connections between national authorities and local communities. In this fragile context, fully functional local public institutions stand as a critical lifeline, keeping channels of communication and service delivery open between the state and the populations it serves. On July 10, 2026, UNDP Haiti, backed by funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, hosted an official handover ceremony at Cap-Haïtien City Hall to transfer a package of essential office equipment and off-grid solar power systems to 12 local public institutions across Cap-Haïtien and Les Cayes. The donation forms a core component of the UN-backed State-Citizen Relations (SCR) Project, an initiative designed to rebuild trust and strengthen governance at the local level.

    The ceremony drew a wide cross-section of national, local, and international stakeholders, including Michel Saint-Croix, Mayor of Cap-Haïtien; Nora Nadja Naji and Deborah Gribaudo, representatives of the UN Peacebuilding Support Office based in New York; and Sylvain Merlen, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Haiti. Senior departmental and local authorities from both regions also attended, alongside leadership from the 12 beneficiary institutions. Attendees included Jean Pierre Raynaud Phildor, Vice-Delegate of the Les Cayes district; Jean Renaud Joseph, representative of Les Cayes’ Association of Community Action Committees (CASECs); Jean Renel Ferdinand, a representative for Cap-Haïtien’s CASECs; and Serge Phanord, Departmental Director of the Office of Citizen Protection (OPC) for Haiti’s North department.

    The donation package covers a wide range of critical supplies tailored to the day-to-day operations of local public offices. It includes 12 laptops, 12 all-in-one multifunction printers, 180 visitor chairs, 15 metal work desks, 15 dedicated office chairs, 15 large work tables, secure filing cabinets, wall and standing fans, bottled water coolers, and 12 fully integrated solar power systems. The entire package is designed to address longstanding gaps in working conditions for local public employees, ensure consistent delivery of administrative services even amid frequent power outages, and remove barriers that prevent ordinary citizens from accessing the support they need.

    Twelve institutions across Haiti’s northern and southern regions will directly benefit from the donation: eight Communal Section Administrative Council (CASEC) offices, the vice-delegations of both the Les Cayes and Cap-Haïtien districts, and the OPC departmental offices for the North and South departments. These decentralized bodies serve as the first and often only point of contact between local populations and the Haitian state, with responsibilities ranging from processing public service requests to facilitating local conflict mediation and creating space for citizen participation in local governance. For the beneficiary institutions, the new resources address immediate, unmet needs that have severely limited their ability to carry out their core daily missions for years.

    Beyond the tangible donation of equipment and energy infrastructure, the SCR Project pursues a far broader, long-term goal: to sustainably strengthen the institutional capacity of Haiti’s local governance bodies and repair the fractured relationship between state institutions and Haitian citizens. To advance this mission, the project has already rolled out a series of complementary initiatives, including skills-building workshops focused on government transparency and accountability, participatory needs assessments to identify gaps in local institutional performance, targeted training for territorial authorities, and the formal establishment of the Joint Committee on Transparency and Accountability (CMSTR). The project has also supported the creation of a community-led monitoring and evaluation mechanism to track institutional performance, and public outreach initiatives designed to make local institutions more accessible to ordinary citizens, such as a popular open house week hosted by Les Cayes city hall earlier this year.

  • Skerrit calls for broader regional approach to security at Martinique conference

    Skerrit calls for broader regional approach to security at Martinique conference

    From July 1 to 3, 2026, two landmark regional gatherings – the Antilles Regional Security Conference and the 19th Antilles-Guyane Regional Cooperation Conference (CCRAG) – convened at the Université des Antilles in Martinique, bringing together political leaders, security officials, and regional bloc representatives from across the Caribbean and beyond to address interconnected modern challenges and deepen cross-territory collaboration.

    Hosted by the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique (CTM) and overseen by France’s Ambassador-at-Large for Regional Cooperation in the Atlantic Region Arnaud Mentré, the conferences centered on a redefined vision of regional security, one that moves far beyond traditional law enforcement and countercrime frameworks. Opening the discussions, Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, a key voice for Caribbean small island states, emphasized that 21st-century security encompasses a broad spectrum of interconnected priorities that no single nation can tackle alone. “Security today must be viewed differently,” Skerrit told assembled delegates. “It extends well beyond policing and defense. It includes protecting our maritime borders, strengthening cybersecurity, securing energy and food systems, and building resilience to natural disasters. These issues are felt collectively, and our response must be fully integrated. We cannot speak about security in isolation. For countries like ours, security is inseparable from climate resilience and economic stability.” Skerrit’s call for a comprehensive, coordinated cross-regional approach resonated across the three days of talks, aligning with growing recognition among Caribbean nations of overlapping shared vulnerabilities.

    Territorial leaders used the gathering to advance both regional integration and domestic autonomy priorities. Martinique President Serge Letchimy framed regional integration as a cornerstone of the territory’s long-term economic growth, noting Martinique’s unique dual position as an outermost region of the European Union and a recent member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Letchimy called for renewed negotiations with France and the EU under the EU-ACP partnership framework to secure Martinique a stronger voice in trade negotiations between the Caribbean bloc and Europe. On the first day of the conference, Letchimy also oversaw the signing of a new agreement with the French central government to launch talks on expanding Martinique’s local legislative powers, a reform designed to increase the territory’s autonomous decision-making capacity while preserving its status within the French Republic. Echoing Letchimy’s call for deeper collaboration, he noted that shifting global supply chain realities leave Caribbean territories with no alternative but to build new partnerships: “We have no choice but to seek different supply chain pathways; we have no choice but to work with all the Caribbean countries in research and development, innovation and biodiversity.”

    Louis Mussington, President of the Collectivité of Saint Martin, echoed the call for governance structures tailored to local needs within the EU framework, and highlighted the urgency of cooperation amid rising global economic uncertainty. Saint Martin joined the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in 2025, a step Mussington said reflected the growing importance of regional alignment. “Regional Caribbean cooperation never made as much sense as of now, given the rise of the economic insecurity sentiment in this global context,” Mussington said. “We need to be creative to imagine a multisectoral cooperation which takes into account our status.” He added that it was past time to resolve long-standing contradictions in regional governance: “It is time to go beyond paradoxes. It is time to modernize our working methods, for [the] convergence of our interests in the region supported by the reinforcement of our capacity of action.”

    Beyond security and governance, the conference also prioritized unlocking growth for the Caribbean’s creative economy. Saint Martin formally presented its long-planned proposal for a Caribbean Audiovisual and Cinema Network, to be hosted through the OECS. The initiative was first unveiled at the 49th OECS Commissioners Meeting in April 2026 and submitted to the OECS Authority for review in June 2026. OECS representatives also shared key findings from the 2025 OECS Creative Sector Survey during targeted workshops, data that will inform the development of the bloc’s new Orange Economy Strategy. The strategy aims to boost cross-regional collaboration across creative sectors, supporting joint production, improved access to financing, targeted skills development, and expanded distribution networks for Caribbean creative content. Patrick Sellin, representing the Regional Council of Guadeloupe, emphasized that meaningful regional integration cannot be mandated from above, but must be built through consistent, practical action: “Experience teaches us that regional integration cannot be decreed. It is built with consistency, confidence, and method. It relies on an affirmed political will, solid institutions, and projects useful to our populations.”

    The dedicated Antilles Regional Security Conference focused heavily on coordinated action to disrupt transnational drug trafficking and organized crime, bringing together senior officials from France, Caribbean and Latin American partner states, and major multilateral security bodies. Attendees included French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Overseas France Naïma Moutchou, and Minister Delegate to the French Minister of the Interior Jean-Didier Berger, alongside representatives from the Regional Security System (RSS), Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Organisation of American States (OAS), and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). French authorities used the conference to announce new plans to ramp up anti-drug trafficking operations across its Caribbean overseas territories and deepen operational cooperation with neighboring Caribbean nations. Officials also disclosed that nearly 52% of all drugs seized by France nationwide in 2025 – 42 tonnes of a total 81 tonnes – were intercepted in the Caribbean region, highlighting the critical role the area plays in global counter-narcotics efforts.

    By the conclusion of the conference on July 3, delegates had established new cross-border working groups focused on joint criminal investigations, judicial cooperation, and real-time intelligence sharing. The gathering closed with the formal adoption of the “Martinique Declaration,” a collective regional commitment to accelerating coordinated action against transnational criminal activity and advancing the integrated security agenda outlined by Skerrit and other regional leaders. The OECS was represented at the conferences by General Counsel Dwight Lay and Cooperation Officer Mendy Kilo.

  • Politie en leger houden 14 gewapende Chinezen aan in Sarakreek

    Politie en leger houden 14 gewapende Chinezen aan in Sarakreek

    A coordinated joint security operation carried out by the Suriname Police Corps (KPS) and the Suriname National Army has resulted in the arrest of 14 Chinese nationals in the remote Sarakreek area, alongside the seizure of multiple firearms and an undisclosed quantity of ammunition, Suriname’s Justice and Police Ministry confirmed earlier this month.

    The operation was launched after Surinamese authorities received multiple tips and video footage showing armed Chinese individuals patrolling the Sarakreek region while wearing matching uniforms. Following inter-agency consultations with the Public Prosecution Service and the President’s Cabinet, officials approved the immediate deployment of a combined police-military task force to the area, supported by two National Army helicopters. The entire mission was commanded by the KPS’s regional commander for central Suriname.

    When the operation concluded, 14 Chinese men were taken into custody, and law enforcement personnel recovered a cache of weapons including semi-automatic firearms, other heavy weaponry, and stockpiled ammunition. Justice and Police Minister Harish Monorath told local outlet Starnieuws that officials are still unable to release an exact count of seized weapons, as the full inventory process was delayed after one of the deployed helicopters suffered an unplanned technical malfunction. All 14 suspects have since been transported to the capital Paramaribo, where ongoing criminal investigations and pre-trial legal proceedings are underway.

    Circulating social media footage and a public Facebook video showed Ronald Brunswijk, chairman of Suriname’s General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP), was present at the operation site. Minister Monorath clarified that Brunswijk did not lead the mission, which remains fully under the command of Surinamese security forces. According to Monorath, Brunswijk traveled to the area independently to conduct on-site assessments and shared relevant information with official authorities.

    Monorath also noted that not all of the detained Chinese men are in Suriname illegally, with a portion holding valid immigration documentation. Officials have declined to speculate on the exact purpose of the group’s armed presence in Sarakreek. Initial unconfirmed reports suggest the men may have been working on private security operations, but Monorath emphasized that formal investigation will clarify their activities. He stressed that Suriname maintains its own official domestic security agencies, including the national police and military, and the inquiry will fully examine why the group was operating in an armed, uniformed capacity in the region. Officials say they will wait for the outcome of pre-trial hearings and the full criminal probe before releasing an official statement on the case.

  • Spain announces visa free travel for Trinidad and Tobago

    Spain announces visa free travel for Trinidad and Tobago

    BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – In a significant policy shift aimed at boosting tourism and cross-border connections, Spain announced Wednesday it has included nine Caribbean Community (Caricom) member states among 60 global nations whose citizens can now enter the country without a visa for short-term stays.

    The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Madrid released the official list of newly added countries, identifying the nine Caricom nations as Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Notably, five other Caricom members – Jamaica, Guyana, Suriname, Belize, and Haiti – were left off the revised visa-free roster, their citizens still required to complete the standard Schengen visa application process.

    Beyond the Caribbean bloc, the Spanish government also extended visa-free access to ordinary passport holders from eight African countries for stays not exceeding 90 days. The African nations added to the list are Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius, Seychelles, Cape Verde, and Rwanda. Travelers from these countries are now permitted to enter not only Spain but the entire Schengen Area without prior visa approval, marking a major easing of travel restrictions.

    The new visa-free arrangement covers all short-term visits, including leisure tourism, business engagements, and personal trips, within the 90-day limit across any 180-day rolling period – the standard timeframe for Schengen Area short stays.

    The policy change leaves the status quo unchanged for most other Caribbean and African nations, whose citizens will still need to obtain a valid Schengen visa before departing for Spain or any other participating country in the border-free Schengen zone. Regional tourism officials across the Caribbean have already signaled cautious optimism that the change could drive increased visitor arrivals from the nine qualifying nations, supporting the recovery of the region’s tourism-dependent economies after years of global travel disruptions.

  • “You Touch One, You Touch All”: Why Belize’s Garinagu Took to the Streets

    “You Touch One, You Touch All”: Why Belize’s Garinagu Took to the Streets

    On a recent morning in Belize City, hundreds of Garifuna activists and community members, organized under the umbrella of the National Garifuna Council, launched a coordinated peaceful demonstration to denounce forced land dispossession of Garifuna communities in neighboring Honduras. The procession began at Marion Jones Stadium, with participants moving rhythmically to the beat of traditional Garifuna drums, lifting their voices in collective song and carrying hand-painted placards that declared unwavering solidarity with Garifuna residents of San Juan de Lempira. Their destination was the Honduran Embassy, where they aimed to deliver a clear, unified message to the Honduran government that human rights violations against indigenous Garifuna peoples will not go unchallenged.

    Recent eyewitness reports of armed state security forces entering San Juan de Lempira to forcibly remove Garifuna families from their traditional ancestral lands sparked the demonstration. Placards carried by marchers featured slogans ranging from “Justice for San Juan” and “Garifuna Rights Are Human Rights” to “Our Land is Not For Sale,” with many signs also commemorating the 1937 San Juan massacre that displaced hundreds of Garinagu nearly a century ago.

    Ifasina Efunyemi, an executive member of the National Garifuna Council, addressed the crowd outside the embassy as Honduran diplomatic officials emerged to observe the protest. “We see uniformed military and police, fully armed, turning against our people to remove us yet again from the lands that have sustained us for generations. This we cannot allow to happen,” Efunyemi stated. Echoing the core collective ethos of the transnational Garifuna community, Efunyemi added: “We are one people. So you touch one, you touch all. We are a peaceful people, but if you stir us up, we are a warrior people.”

    The demonstration carries deep historical and familial ties for Belize’s Garifuna population, whose roots can be traced directly to survivors of the 1937 San Juan massacre. Following the violent repression and mass killing of Garinagu in the Honduran community that year, hundreds of survivors fled north to Belize, where today thousands of Garifuna residents across towns including Dangriga, Hopkins, Seine Bight, Punta Gorda, Georgetown and Barranco can trace their ancestry directly to those displaced refugees.

    The current crisis marks a reversal of a decade-old legal victory for indigenous land rights: in 2015, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued a landmark ruling in favor of Honduran Garifuna communities, formalizing their legal claim to the San Juan lands. The National Garifuna Council warns that the 2026 deployment of military forces to the region represents a deliberate, renewed attempt to displace Garifuna communities and seize land that they have already fought a lengthy legal battle to protect.

    Efunyemi emphasized that the demonstration outside the Honduran Embassy reflects far broader support than the visible crowd in Belize City suggests, noting that millions of Garifuna people and indigenous rights allies across the region and globe stand in solidarity with the San Juan community. “Even though the numbers that you see here may seem small to you, you are not seeing the millions that stand with us right at this moment,” Efunyemi said. The protest also sends a broader message to all regional governments whose nations were built in part by Garifuna labor and contribution: that the collective fight for indigenous land rights will not be silenced.