分类： world

EU ambassador presents credentials to OECS Director General, reaffirms commitment to regional partnership

In a formal virtual diplomatic ceremony held on July 2, 2026, Her Excellency Fiona Ramsey, the newly appointed European Union Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, officially presented her credentials to Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), marking a new chapter in the long-standing collaboration between the two blocs. The event, detailed in an official OECS press release, not only signaled the formal launch of Ramsey’s tenure working with the regional integration body but also reinforced the European Union’s unwavering commitment to advancing shared priorities across the Eastern Caribbean.

Welcoming Ramsey to her new post, Dr. Jules extended his congratulations and reflected on the decades-long collaborative bond between the OECS and the EU. He emphasized that the European Union stands as one of the OECS’ most steadfast development partners, with a relationship rooted in mutual respect, shared democratic values, and a joint dedication to advancing sustainable development, multilateralism, and improved quality of life for the people of the Eastern Caribbean.

In her remarks, Ambassador Ramsey celebrated the OECS’ 40-plus year track record of driving regional integration and cooperation across its 11 member states. She also offered a unique perspective on the geographic and strategic closeness of the EU and the Caribbean region, noting that Europe is not merely a distant transatlantic partner. Through French overseas territories of Martinique and Guadeloupe, as well as other EU-affiliated overseas countries and territories in the region, Europe is an immediate neighbor sharing the same maritime space, facing many of the same transboundary challenges, from climate impacts to maritime management. This proximity, Ramsey argued, makes deep, coordinated cooperation between the EU and OECS both a natural alignment and a strategic necessity.

The ambassador brought official greetings from two of the European Union’s top leaders: European Council President António Luís Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. She used the occasion to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to expanding its partnership with the Caribbean bloc through the bloc’s flagship Global Gateway Investment Agenda, a strategic infrastructure and development investment initiative rolled out across the globe.

Ramsey outlined the broad scope of existing collaboration between the two sides, spanning a wide range of priority areas critical to the Eastern Caribbean’s long-term stability and growth: renewable energy development, climate disaster resilience, water security, biodiversity conservation, sustainable tourism growth, food sovereignty, expanded digital connectivity, sargassum seaweed management, and accessible climate finance. She also highlighted new educational mobility and learning opportunities for Caribbean students opened through the EU’s Erasmus+ programme, a long-running initiative that supports cross-border education and training across the globe.

In a key institutional announcement during the ceremony, Ramsey confirmed that starting in September 2026, the existing EU Delegation to Barbados will be upgraded to an enhanced regional delegation. This expanded mandate will task the delegation with leading and coordinating implementation of the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy across the entire Caribbean region, streamlining delivery of development projects and investment initiatives.

Following the formal credential presentation, Ambassador Ramsey and Director General Jules held closed working discussions focused on expanding the scope and impact of EU-OECS cooperation. The talks centered on priority areas including climate resilience, renewable energy scale-up, sustainable ocean governance, digital transformation, expanded educational access, technological innovation, deepened regional integration, and cross-border infrastructure development.

Both leaders underlined the need for a more strategic, coordinated approach to development cooperation that aligns the OECS’ own long-term Development Strategy with the EU’s Global Gateway Investment Agenda. They closed the meeting by reaffirming their shared commitment to unlocking new economic and social opportunities for the people of the Eastern Caribbean through strengthened collaboration, targeted innovation, and responsible, sustainable investment.

8 7 月, 2026
Trump Threatens Fresh Strikes on Iran as Ceasefire Appears to Collapse

On July 8, 2026, a fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran collapsed dramatically, sending tensions between the two nations soaring and triggering widespread alarm over the risk of a full-scale regional conflict. Speaking at the NATO summit held in Ankara, Turkey, U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a blunt statement confirming that the truce, which had briefly raised hopes of de-escalating months of mounting violence between the two countries, was effectively dead. Trump went on to warn that a new round of harsh U.S. military strikes could be launched as early as later the same night.

The president’s incendiary remarks rejected any path forward for diplomatic engagement with Tehran. In harsh language, he stated, “I don’t want to deal with them anymore. They’re scum. They’re sick people, they’re led by sick people.” While he did not fully rule out the theoretical possibility of future talks, he dismissed any such effort as a fruitless waste of time for all parties involved.

Trump’s comments followed a major overnight U.S. military operation that targeted more than 80 Iranian positions across the country. According to official statements from Iranian authorities, the overnight strikes left eight service members from Iran’s air force and navy dead.

Iran has responded to the escalating aggression with stark warnings of its own. Iranian officials cautioned that Trump’s hostile rhetoric is pushing the entire Middle East region “toward fire,” and added that Tehran’s network of regional military allies already have their “finger on the triggers” ready to retaliate. Iranian state media also issued a critical threat: if the U.S. proceeds with additional attacks, Iran will move to close the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow global shipping chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supplies pass every day.

The sudden collapse of the ceasefire and rising threat of wider conflict sent immediate shockwaves through global financial markets. Fears that sustained fighting could disrupt critical global energy supplies pushed Brent crude oil prices up 5% in a single day, reaching roughly $80 per barrel.

In additional comments, Trump addressed the status of Iran’s nuclear program, claiming that all of Iran’s remaining nuclear material is stored in deeply buried underground facilities that “nobody is going to be able to get it except us.” He also ruled out an immediate U.S. ground invasion, noting that such an operation would only be launched if the goal is to “completely eliminate” Iran’s current government or if a new nuclear and security agreement is reached with Tehran.

The rapid unraveling of the truce has ended a brief period of cautious optimism that emerged just days earlier, when the ceasefire was expected to dial back months of back-and-forth escalation. Now, analysts and global policymakers are bracing for a rapid expansion of conflict that could destabilize the entire Middle East and send shockwaves through the global economy.

8 7 月, 2026
COE places seven provinces and National District under yellow alert

Authorities in the Dominican Republic have rolled out expanded weather emergency alerts across much of the country, after a combination of a trough and an active tropical wave created persistently unstable atmospheric conditions that raise risks of extreme weather events including intense downpours, thunderstorms, powerful wind gusts and isolated hail episodes.

Following an official meteorological assessment issued by the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (INDOMET), the country’s Emergency Operations Center (COE) activated yellow-level weather alerts for seven provinces and the National District. The areas placed under the higher yellow alert, which signals elevated risk of hazardous conditions, are La Vega, Monseñor Nouel, Sánchez Ramírez, Santo Domingo, the National District, San Pedro de Macorís and San Cristóbal.

An additional eight provinces remain under green alert, a lower-tier warning that calls for sustained precaution amid the ongoing unstable weather pattern. These provinces are Hato Mayor, Monte Plata, San José de Ocoa, Duarte, Espaillat, Puerto Plata, Santiago and Hermanas Mirabal.

National emergency and meteorological officials have issued clear warnings that the interacting weather systems will sustain a moisture-saturated, highly unstable atmosphere across the affected regions through the coming period. This conditions sets the stage for repeated rounds of heavy rainfall, severe thunderstorms, sudden strong wind gusts and occasional isolated hailstorms, all of which carry heightened risks of flash flooding and landslides in vulnerable areas.

To reduce the risk of preventable accidents, the COE has issued urgent guidance to residents living in all alert zones. The agency strongly advises against attempting to cross swollen rivers, fast-flowing streams and steep ravines that are carrying elevated water volumes, and reminds the public to avoid all recreational activities on affected waterways until conditions improve.

Alongside inland weather warnings, maritime safety advisories remain in effect for both the country’s Caribbean and Atlantic coastlines. On the Caribbean coast stretching from Cabo Rojo in Pedernales to Neiba Bay in Barahona, operators of small and medium-sized watercraft have been told to keep their vessels docked in port, as choppy, dangerous sea conditions create significant navigation risks. For all other stretches of the Dominican Caribbean coast, officials urge mariners to exercise heightened caution while underway.

On the Atlantic side of the country, covering the stretch from Saona Island in La Altagracia to Cabo Cabrón in Samaná, operators of small, medium and less structurally sturdy boats are also ordered to remain in port due to the threat of dangerous swells. All remaining sections of the Dominican Atlantic coastline are under a caution advisory, with particular warning for navigation close to the shoreline.

8 7 月, 2026
French Guiana becomes CARICOM’s eighth associate member

On July 7, a landmark agreement was signed in Saint Lucia that formally admitted French Guiana as the eighth Associate Member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), marking a major milestone in Caribbean regional integration.

The accession document was signed by two key regional leaders: Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and current Chairman of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government, and Gabriel Serville, President of the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana. The agreement clearly outlines the terms and framework that will govern French Guiana’s participation in the 15-nation regional bloc. Immediately following the signing, French Guiana’s delegation took part in the opening proceedings of the 51st Regular Meeting of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government, which is being hosted this year by Saint Lucia.

In his ceremonial address to assembled regional leaders and delegates, Pierre extended a warm welcome to French Guiana, emphasizing the broad spectrum of collaborative opportunities that this new associate membership will unlock for both the territory and the wider CARICOM community. “French Guiana’s participation as an Associate Member will provide opportunities for closer dialogue and cooperation in areas of mutual interest,” Pierre noted.

As the sitting Chairman of CARICOM’s highest governing body, Pierre expressed his honor at formalizing the accession on behalf of the entire community. “May this signing open a new chapter of cooperation, friendship, and shared progress between French Guiana and the Caribbean Community,” he said in his closing remarks for the ceremony.

In his full remarks delivered during the event, Pierre framed the accession as far more than a routine institutional adjustment. He described it as a meaningful step toward expanding the scope of the Caribbean regional family, noting that the Caribbean has long been united by shared geographic ties, historical experiences, cultural connections, common economic and climate vulnerabilities, and collective aspirations for progress, regardless of differences in territorial size, official language, constitutional status, or development pathways.

“Today’s ceremony, therefore, represents not only a legal or institutional step but also a meaningful act of regional inclusion. It reflects CARICOM’s commitment to deepening cooperation with the wider Caribbean and ensuring that our regional architecture remains responsive to the realities of our neighbourhood,” Pierre stated.

He highlighted that associate membership will open new avenues for collaboration across a wide range of priority sectors, including sustainable regional development, expanded trade and economic integration, enhanced climate change resilience, cross-border security cooperation, cultural exchange, educational partnerships, public health coordination, environmental protection, and expanded people-to-people connections between Caribbean nations.

Pierre also emphasized that regional integration is an evolving, dynamic process rather than a static end goal. “Integration is not static. It is a living process. It grows when we create new bridges. It strengthens when we expand cooperation. It becomes more relevant when it reflects the real geography, diversity, and potential of the Caribbean,” he explained.

The CARICOM Chairman extended gratitude to the CARICOM Secretariat, led by Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, for its sustained work to advance the accession process, as well as to the Government of France and French Guiana’s negotiating team for their collaborative engagement throughout the multi-year process of preparing for membership.

With French Guiana’s formal admission, CARICOM now counts eight Associate Members alongside its fifteen full Member States, bringing the regional body one step closer to its goal of building a deeply integrated, inclusive wider Caribbean community that reflects the full geographic and social diversity of the region.

8 7 月, 2026
PM Browne Praises Global Charity’s Work During CARICOM Summit Meeting

On the margins of the annual CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne held a high-profile courtesy meeting with Dr. Eslene Richmond-Shockley, the founder, president and chief executive officer of U.S.-headquartered international humanitarian organization Caring For Others, Inc., where he offered glowing praise for the group’s impactful work across vulnerable communities.

During the discussion, the two stakeholders focused heavily on the charity’s multi-pronged development programming, which delivers direct, life-changing support to marginalized populations through core initiatives covering food distribution, clothing donations, educational access, and affordable housing assistance. Browne specifically highlighted Dr. Richmond-Shockley’s decades-long personal commitment to humanitarian service, noting that her leadership has positioned Caring For Others, Inc. as a trusted partner for communities in need across the Caribbean and beyond.

The prime minister extended formal congratulations to the entire organization for its measurable achievements in lifting vulnerable populations out of hardship, and shared his optimistic outlook for future collaboration, expressing clear hope that the group will continue expanding its footprint and deepening its support for underserved people across the region.

This bilateral courtesy engagement was one of dozens of side meetings held by Browne during the landmark regional summit, which brought together heads of government from across the Caribbean bloc to negotiate and address pressing shared challenges. Key priority topics on the summit’s agenda include strengthening cross-regional integration and cooperation, shoring up fragile national food and energy security frameworks, and coordinating regional responses to shifting global geopolitical developments that impact small island developing states.

8 7 月, 2026
It’s not just about the money: Inside CARICOM’s ten-point plan for reparatory justice

Against the backdrop of the 51st Regular Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government hosted in Saint Lucia, regional leaders and reparations advocates gathered this week to advance a long-running fight for redress for the harms of transatlantic chattel slavery and centuries of colonial rule. At a dedicated pre-conference workshop focused on advancing socio-economic reparatory justice, sustainable development, and historical truth-telling, attendees centered discussion on the newly unveiled *Manifesto for the Coming Enlightenment* and CARICOM’s updated 10-point action plan for reparatory justice.

During an opening panel discussion, former Saint Lucian Ambassador to CARICOM and the OECS Dr. June Soomer addressed one of the most persistent questions asked of reparations advocates: when, and if, the region will ever secure financial compensation for historical harms. In a response that shaped the entire conversation that followed, Dr. Soomer reframed the core purpose of the movement beyond direct financial payments. “It’s not about the money. Yes, the money is important, but it is about the return of our dignity, of our personhood, of who we are as a people,” she told the assembled delegates.

Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, chair of the CARICOM Reparations Commission, officially presented the landmark manifesto to attendees, framing the moment as a critical turning point for the global reparations movement. After decades of building momentum and laying ideological groundwork, Beckles argued that the movement has now entered a phase where the priority must shift from raising awareness to delivering tangible reparatory outcomes. “This is our time, our duty, our responsibility to honour the legacy of all our ancestors who demanded justice,” he said, urging Caribbean nations to maintain unified pressure on former European colonial powers.

The manifesto and accompanying 10-point plan lay out a holistic, multi-dimensional approach to reparatory justice that goes far beyond the financial compensation that dominates most public discussion of the issue. Each pillar of the plan is designed to address distinct, intergenerational harms rooted in slavery and colonial exploitation:

1. **A Formal Apology**: The plan rejects vague statements of regret from former colonial powers, demanding explicit, formal public apologies that acknowledge full legal and moral responsibility for the crimes of enslavement and colonial subjugation.
2. **Repatriation**: It codifies support for voluntary repatriation programs for descendants of enslaved Africans who wish to resettle in their ancestral homelands, including assistance with citizenship processing, housing, and cultural reintegration.
3. **Indigenous Peoples Development Programme**: Recognizing that Indigenous Caribbean communities continue to suffer the lingering impacts of genocide, forced displacement, and mass land dispossession, the plan calls for targeted, community-led investment to improve Indigenous social and economic outcomes.
4. **Cultural Institutions**: The commission advocates for increased investment in regional museums, research centers, and historical preservation projects that center Caribbean narratives of slavery and colonialism, arguing that truthful public storytelling is a foundational step in collective healing.
5. **Public Health**: The plan draws a direct line between the structural inequities of slavery and the disproportionately high rates of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension among modern Caribbean populations, calling on former colonial powers to fund regional public health infrastructure, research, and care initiatives.
6. **Illiteracy Eradication**: Citing the intentional underinvestment in education by colonial regimes that left many Caribbean societies with enduring high illiteracy rates, the plan calls for targeted support from former colonial powers to expand literacy programs and close longstanding educational gaps.
7. **African Knowledge Programme**: To reverse centuries of forced erasure of African cultural identity, the plan proposes cross-continental educational exchanges, cultural partnerships, and people-to-people programs to help Caribbean descendants of enslaved Africans reconnect with their ancestral heritage.
8. **Psychological Rehabilitation**: Acknowledging the intergenerational trauma inflicted by chattel slavery and colonial dehumanization, the plan calls for expanded community programming focused on emotional healing, collective identity-building, and public education about historical trauma.
9. **Technology Transfer**: The plan argues that intentional colonial policies blocked the development of independent Caribbean scientific and industrial capacity, creating long-term economic dependency. To redress this, it calls for expanded access to modern technology, innovation support, and technical expertise from former colonial powers to drive inclusive regional growth.
10. **Debt Cancellation and Financial Compensation**: The final pillar addresses the economic legacy of colonialism, calling for full cancellation of Caribbean sovereign debt held by former colonial powers, alongside targeted financial reparations to redress centuries of extracted wealth.

As the 51st CARICOM Heads of Government meeting progresses, the new framework makes clear that the regional reparations movement is pursuing far more than a one-time financial settlement. From closing educational gaps to preserving cultural heritage, supporting Indigenous self-determination to building modern economic capacity, the plan frames reparatory justice as a holistic project that restores the dignity, self-determination, and opportunity stripped from generations of Caribbean people — a goal that money alone cannot achieve.

8 7 月, 2026
Venezuela: Meer dan 3.500 doden na aardbevingen, gezondheidscrisis dreigt

One month after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela, the South American nation continues to struggle with the devastating aftermath of the disaster, with rising casualty figures and a growing looming public health emergency that has compounded existing suffering.

As of the latest official update, the confirmed death toll from the June 24 quakes has climbed to 3,535. More than 16,700 people have been injured, and nearly 18,000 residents have lost their homes. Currently, over 12,800 displaced people are sheltering across 80 emergency evacuation centers distributed across the hardest-hit regions of Caracas and La Guaira. Preliminary assessments estimate more than 60,000 buildings across the affected areas have sustained damage or been completely destroyed.

On Monday, at La Esperanza Cemetery in the hard-hit coastal state of La Guaira, forensic teams and transport trucks were seen moving remains of earthquake victims, while excavators dug graves on a plot marked with white crosses ahead of mass burials.

The situation remains deeply alarming, beyond the staggering loss of life and widespread physical destruction. A secondary public health crisis is now rapidly emerging, driven by dangerous living conditions for displaced survivors. Thousands of people are forced to sleep in overcrowded temporary shelters or even in open outdoor spaces, with limited to no access to clean drinking water, basic sanitation, or emergency medical care. These conditions have accelerated the spread of infectious diseases and left many traumatic injuries untreated.

Eugenio Cova, head of trauma care at Caracas’ Hospital Jose Gregorio Hernandez, warned that infection is now the leading health risk for survivors who have been exposed to unsanitary conditions in the weeks since the disaster. “We are now in a phase where infections are complicating existing traumatic injuries,” Cova stated recently.

On-ground reports confirm the rapid escalation of health concerns. Journalists covering the response have recorded a sharp increase in cases of diarrhea and other communicable diseases among people staying in emergency shelters. Local responders have issued urgent calls for additional sanitation infrastructure, including portable toilets, and better coordination to reduce overcrowding that fuels disease transmission.

Public frustration has grown steadily over what many describe as a slow and inadequate response from the Venezuelan national government. Local volunteers and independent aid organizations have stepped into the gap to lead search operations for missing survivors and distribute critical relief supplies to affected communities.

Carolina Jimenez, a researcher with the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), noted that the Venezuelan government has acted as a last-resort responder rather than a leader in the emergency effort. In hard-hit areas like Catia la Mar, located just north of Caracas, government presence remains almost non-existent, leaving local residents and independent humanitarian workers to manage the crisis on their own. Even amid overwhelming logistical and resource challenges, these volunteer teams have continued working tirelessly to search for survivors and deliver aid to vulnerable communities.

The international community and global humanitarian organizations have issued renewed calls for increased support and urgent intervention to stop the worsening health crisis and address the sprawling unmet humanitarian need in Venezuela. For the nation’s affected population, the long, difficult road to recovery from one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent South American history is only just beginning.

8 7 月, 2026
FLASH : Forced landing in Lafito

On the morning of Wednesday, July 8, 2026, a domestic Zed Airlines flight traveling between two major Haitian cities was forced to execute an emergency landing in the Lafito area of the country, the carrier confirmed in an official statement released earlier the same day. The incident, which unfolded at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time, involved Flight 6502, a route connecting Cap-Haïtien in northern Haiti to the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

The aircraft operating the service is identified as a Cessna 402B, registered under the number HI-1056. In line with standard aviation safety protocols, both national Haitian aviation authorities and the airline’s in-house technical investigation team will launch a full, comprehensive probe into the root causes of the emergency landing. Officials have emphasized that no stone will be left unturned in determining what led to the unplanned landing, to prevent similar incidents in the future.

At the time of the incident, the small commercial aircraft carried only three people: one experienced pilot and two passengers. Early preliminary reports confirm no fatalities have resulted from the forced landing. All three occupants of the plane are currently receiving targeted medical care, and the airline has confirmed it is providing all required assistance, logistical support and care to those affected by the incident.

8 7 月, 2026
News : Zapping…

As the Caribbean nation of Haiti enters the second week of July 2026, a series of key political, diplomatic and cultural developments are unfolding across the country, marking both moments of national remembrance and steps forward for governance and community engagement.

On July 7, 2026 – exactly five years after former Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated by mercenary attackers – local officials in Cap-Haïtien gathered to honor his memory. Leading the municipal delegation was Cap-Haïtien Mayor Michel Saint-Croix, who was joined by Deputy Mayor Edeline Jean and senior members of the city’s municipal administration. The group traveled to Moïse’s mausoleum, where they held a formal memorial service and laid a floral tribute to the late head of state. In a statement following the ceremony, the Cap-Haïtien Municipal Administration confirmed its alignment with the national day of remembrance, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to upholding republican values, fulfilling the national duty of remembrance, and strengthening the country’s democratic institutions. Former Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe also released a public statement marking the somber anniversary, condemning the assassination as an act of “unimaginable barbarity” that altered the entire trajectory of Haiti’s national destiny. Lamothe, who has faced significant personal repercussions for his public calls for full accountability and justice for Moïse’s killing, emphasized that his calls for truth would not waver. “His assassins thought they were killing a man. They shattered the destiny of a nation,” Lamothe wrote. “Jovenel fell, but his memory will live on. I paid a heavy price for refusing to remain silent and demanding justice. I would do it again without hesitation. For Jovenel, for Haiti, until the whole truth comes out.”

One day before the commemoration, on July 6, 2026, veteran Haitian journalist Lucien Jura officially stepped into the role of Secretary of State for Communication. Jura succeeds Jean Willio, who oversaw a structured handover of institutional knowledge to ensure a smooth transition focused entirely on advancing national priorities.

In regional diplomatic news, Haitian Foreign Minister Raina Forbin held a high-level bilateral meeting with her Bahamian counterpart Frederick A. Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Public Service of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, on the sidelines of the 51st Ordinary Session of the CARICOM Council of Heads of State and Government hosted in Saint Lucia. Forbin attended the CARICOM summit alongside Haitian Prime Minister Fils-Aimé. The two diplomats centered their discussions on deepening bilateral collaboration between Haiti and The Bahamas, with a particular focus on pressing shared regional priorities: restoring stability and security across Haiti, expanding joint action on maritime security, supporting Haiti’s ongoing electoral process, and addressing evolving tensions across the Caribbean region.

In cultural news, two Haitian literary voices have earned a spot among the six finalists for the inaugural Quai d’Orsay Literary Prize, a new award launched in 2025 by France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Louis-Philippe Dalembert’s novel *Je n’ai jamais dit Papa* (I Never Said Dad), published by Éditions Robert Laffont, and Lyonel Trouillot’s *Bréviaire des anonymes* (Breviary of the Anonymous), published by Actes Sud, were selected as finalists from a pool of submitted entries, marking a major milestone for Haitian literature on the global stage.

On the community cultural front, two Haitian cultural organizations have launched a new initiative to preserve the country’s iconic traditional drumming heritage in Les Cayes. On June 27, La Fabrique des Arts partnered with the Institute for the Promotion and Development of Education and Culture (IPDEC) to launch recurring weekly drum classes open to young residents of the city. Experienced local drummers Ricardo Paisible and Fen Josil lead the instruction, and the first session drew more than a dozen young participants eager to learn traditional Haitian rhythmic patterns in a structured, inclusive, and dynamic learning space. Over the course of the program, participants will build their technical skill, rhythmic awareness, and understanding of drumming’s central role in Haitian cultural identity. The joint initiative aims to intergenerationally transmit traditional knowledge, safeguard Haiti’s musical heritage, and nurture the next generation of Haitian drummers.

8 7 月, 2026
French Guiana becomes CARICOM’s eighth Associate Member

In a landmark double expansion for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), French Guiana has officially become the regional integration bloc’s eighth Associate Member, marking the second new accession in just 48 hours. The historic milestone was reached on Tuesday during the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, hosted this year in Saint Lucia.

During the meeting’s official ceremony, French Guiana signed the formal accession agreement that outlines the terms and status of its associate membership within the bloc. The document was signed by two key leaders: Philip J. Pierre, current Chairman of CARICOM and Prime Minister of host nation Saint Lucia, and Gabriel Serville, President of the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana. A photo of Serville signing the agreement has been released by CARICOM, crediting the organization for the image.

With the completion of the accession process, French Guiana is now eligible to take part in all ongoing activities of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government, granting the South American territory greater formal access to regional cooperation frameworks across the Caribbean.

This rapid sequence of new accessions follows hot on the heels of Martinique’s acceptance as CARICOM’s seventh Associate Member. Martinique’s membership, which was agreed via a February 2025 accession signing and completed through the formal ratification of CARICOM’s Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities, is set to enter into full legal effect on June 16, 2026. The back-to-back additions of the two French overseas territories mark one of the fastest periods of expansion in CARICOM’s recent history, deepening the bloc’s ties with European territorial partners in the broader Caribbean region.

8 7 月, 2026