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  • PM renews CARICOM reparations call at Accra conference

    PM renews CARICOM reparations call at Accra conference

    On Thursday, at the NEXT STEPS 2026 High-Level Consultative Conference held in Accra, the capital of Ghana, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, speaking on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), delivered a forceful address that renewed the regional bloc’s longstanding demand for reparatory justice for the transatlantic slave trade. Mottley challenged global leaders to move beyond symbolic acknowledgement of the atrocities of centuries of slavery and address the persistent, intergenerational harm the system left behind, stressing that advocates will accept “no retreat on repair”.

    The Accra gathering, which builds on years of CARICOM advocacy and landmark United Nations General Assembly resolutions condemning the trafficking of enslaved Africans, brought together a cross-segment group of stakeholders: African and Caribbean policymakers, academic researchers, civil society representatives, and international partners. Attendees gathered to outline concrete steps to implement the UN resolution, turning global recognition of historical harm into tangible action.

    In her speech, Mottley pointed to a striking global double standard: while the international community broadly and unanimously condemns a wide range of crimes against humanity in the modern era, it has failed to reach the same unified consensus around the historic crime of chattel slavery. “We have not found the moral courage to state unanimously across humanity that this grave crime against humanity that persisted for centuries ought to be declared so by all,” she said, adding that “That others choose to remain silent is a reflection of them, not of us.”

    Mottley traced CARICOM’s advocacy for reparations back nearly a decade, framing the Accra conference as a turning point in the global movement. Reflecting on Barbados’ unflinching confrontation with its own role in the history of slavery, she noted that the island’s 1661 Slave Code predated France’s well-documented Code Noir by 20 years, and went on to serve as a template for slave laws across other Caribbean colonies and parts of what became the United States. This legal framework stripped generations of enslaved Africans of their most fundamental rights by classifying them as subhuman property, a dehumanization that inflicted harm that echoes through communities to this day. “It is the categorisation of us as subhuman. It is the categorisation of us as chattel, as property, that stripped us of our dignity first and foremost, but equally removed from us the choices that are necessary in life to truly express freedom,” Mottley explained.

    Crucially, the prime minister emphasized that the global push for reparations is not rooted in animosity or a desire to deepen divisions. Instead, it is a necessary step toward collective healing for all humanity. “The language used from this platform this morning is not one of aggression, is not one of violence, but it is one of the necessities for healing for humanity,” she said, repeating the core mantra of the movement: “There should be no retreat on repair.”

    Mottley also highlighted CARICOM’s updated 10-point reparatory justice plan, which was distributed to all conference attendees. The framework outlines clear, actionable demands including a formal public apology from formerly slave-trading and colonial powers, the restitution of stolen cultural artifacts, investment in public health and education initiatives targeted at affected communities, widespread debt relief for former colonial states, and direct compensation for the enduring socioeconomic impacts of slavery and colonialism.

    Closing her address, Mottley urged unified action from African and Caribbean nations, warning that deliberate external divisions have long undermined progress for marginalized nations in global justice movements. “These committees, however, will only mean something if we can stay together united and not allow division yet again to be the anchor for those who want to win against us,” she said. She added that reparations must be understood not as a charitable gesture toward formerly colonized nations, but as a fundamental requirement of global justice: “Once that process is started, then it becomes easier for us to engage, not as an act of charity, as you have heard from these platforms, but as an act of justice.” Reaffirming the movement’s commitment, Mottley concluded that just as repair is always required after harm is done in any area of life, it is non-negotiable for the centuries-long crime of chattel slavery: “Our role is to ensure that there is no retreat from our requests and that we recognise that repair comes after recognition.”

  • Jamaica signs onto Ocean Coordination Mechanism, strengthening Caribbean blue economy partnership

    Jamaica signs onto Ocean Coordination Mechanism, strengthening Caribbean blue economy partnership

    At an official side gathering of the 2026 Our Ocean Conference, Caribbean ocean governance crossed a major threshold, as Jamaica formalized its membership in the regional Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Barbados. The agreement was signed by Jamaica’s Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, the Hon. Mathew Samuda, on behalf of the Jamaican government, while H.E. William Alexander McDonald, Barbados’ High Commissioner to Kenya, signed for the Barbadian government, per a joint official statement released after the ceremony.

    The historic signing ceremony was co-hosted by the Government of Jamaica, the OCM, the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), and a wide coalition of regional and international partners focused on ocean sustainability. Organizers of the event frame the accession as a transformative leap forward for cross-border cooperation focused on advancing a regenerative, inclusive blue economy across the entire Wider Caribbean region.

    The OCM was established specifically to confront longstanding systemic challenges facing the Caribbean’s shared marine environments. The region’s ocean ecosystems are inherently interconnected, spanning national boundaries and tying communities together through overlapping environmental, economic and cultural ties to the sea. For decades, however, fragmented national governance frameworks, accelerating marine environmental degradation, and the intensifying impacts of anthropogenic climate change have held back sustainable development efforts, limiting the ability of local communities to access and benefit from marine resources equitably.

    By design, the OCM addresses these gaps by strengthening aligned coordination between national governments, intergovernmental bodies, and the full spectrum of ocean-focused stakeholders, from non-profit conservation groups to local fishing cooperatives. Through enhanced cross-sector collaboration and streamlined institutional efficiency, the mechanism works to tackle pressing marine threats while unlocking the full range of social, economic and ecological benefits that healthy, productive oceans provide to regional populations.

    In an era of growing global conversation around ocean stewardship, the OCM has positioned the Wider Caribbean as a global leader in regional ocean governance. International attention has increasingly centered on the urgent need for stronger cross-organization coordination for marine resource management and ocean protection, and the OCM provides a uniquely tailored framework for regional cooperation that addresses the specific needs of Caribbean nations. This structure is particularly critical at a time of shifting overseas development assistance patterns and disjointed ocean action across national and regional levels, offering a centralized strategic platform to amplify the impact of existing resources and align action across the region.

    Addressing attendees at the signing ceremony, Minister Samuda underscored Jamaica’s longstanding commitment to collaborative ocean stewardship, explaining the country’s decision to join the mechanism. “Jamaica has recognized the OCM as an important regional coordinating mechanism on ocean-related matters, it is for this reason we have decided to become a member of the OCM. Jamaica looks forward to a constructive partnership with the OCM in advancing the global, regional and national ocean agenda,” Samuda said.

    Already, the OCM has advanced multiple high-priority initiatives to advance regional ocean health. Key ongoing projects include the development of a comprehensive regional Ocean Action Programme, the launch of a regular public reporting series on the “State of the Marine Environment and Associated Economies,” and targeted capacity-building efforts to strengthen climate-resilient ocean-based economies across the region.

    These efforts carry disproportionate importance for the Caribbean’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which rely almost entirely on healthy marine ecosystems and sustainable ocean industries for livelihoods, food security and economic growth, while bearing the brunt of climate change impacts including sea level rise, ocean acidification and more intense tropical storms.

    Looking ahead, regional stakeholders expect Jamaica’s accession to the OCM to deepen collective collaboration across the Caribbean, strengthening unified action on ocean governance, marine conservation, and inclusive sustainable economic development for all nations in the region.

  • FAO Sub-regional Office of the Cbean pays tribute to the late Dr Shelly-Ann Cox

    FAO Sub-regional Office of the Cbean pays tribute to the late Dr Shelly-Ann Cox

    The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is honoring the legacy of Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox, Barbados’ late Chief Fisheries Officer, following her unexpected death, hailing her as a transformative trailblazer who redefined sustainable fisheries management across the Caribbean island nation and left an indelible mark on the entire region.

    In an official tribute released after her passing, the FAO described Dr. Cox as an irreplaceable strategic collaborator whose work drove critical progress in sustainable fishing and aquaculture through forward-thinking policy design, strengthened institutional governance, and an unwavering dedication to the long-term growth of the global blue economy. The entire FAO team covering Barbados and the wider Caribbean expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the leader, who reshaped the sector in just three years in her role as chief officer.

    From the start of her tenure, Dr. Cox worked hand-in-hand with FAO as an ally to advance sustainable fisheries development across Barbados and the Caribbean, aligning local efforts with the UN body’s Blue Transformation vision for ocean sustainability. In her short time in the top role, she delivered outsized impact, drawing on deep technical expertise, a collaborative leadership style, and a persistent focus on empowering the next generation of fisheries professionals. Her vision, drive, and devotion to fishing communities stood out as unmatched among regional peers, FAO noted.

    One of Dr. Cox’s most landmark achievements was guiding Barbados’ 2023–2033 National Fisheries Policy through its final development and approval stages, an initiative backed by FAO funding and technical support. Under her leadership, the policy broke new ground by introducing innovative frameworks to add value to fish by-products, turning what was long categorized as discarded waste into new opportunities for economic growth and reduced environmental impact. Her success in turning policy text into actionable, on-the-ground change has already become a model for other Caribbean nations working to advance their own sustainable fisheries transitions.

    Planning to update and modernize Barbados’ outdated fisheries legislation began before the COVID-19 pandemic, and when public health priorities shifted short-term focus to developing the national fisheries policy through the FAO-supported StewardFish Project, Dr. Cox never abandoned her broader goal of reforming the entire legal framework for aquatic food system sustainability. Building on the foundation laid during the policy development process, she took a central role in steering the drafting and adoption of Barbados’ 2025 Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act, a flagship initiative of the island’s government.

    Her technical knowledge and leadership shaped this ground-breaking legislation, which strengthens fisheries governance, boosts environmental protection standards, expands social safety nets for fishing communities, and ensures Barbados maintains access to key international markets by meeting the compliance requirements of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act. Through these systemic reforms, Dr. Cox secured a lasting legacy that will benefit Barbados’ fisheries resources and the thousands of families that depend on the sector for generations, FAO emphasized.

    In a May 2026 meeting with FAO leadership, just shortly before her passing, Dr. Cox laid out her bold long-term vision: that Barbados could reach the milestone of zero fish waste by 2028. That ambitious target reflected both her relentless drive for progress and her confidence in the gains the country had already made toward building a sustainable, circular bioeconomy for aquatic food systems.

    Dr. Cox’s final professional projects with FAO underscored her enduring commitment to advancing regional fisheries development. These included wrapping up work on a new guide to anchored Fish Aggregating Devices (aFADs), a common fishing practice across the Caribbean, and launching a regional study on dolphinfish maturity. Barbados was selected as the pilot nation for this initiative by the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC), a choice that reflected the widespread regional confidence in Dr. Cox’s leadership and Barbados’ technical capacity under her direction.

    Tributes continue to flow in from colleagues, project partners, and industry stakeholders who worked alongside Dr. Cox on FAO-backed initiatives, all of whom highlight that beyond her far-reaching professional achievements, she will be remembered for her warm personality, contagious passion for her work, and unwavering commitment to lifting up others. Her collaborative approach united diverse stakeholders around shared goals, her leadership inspired confidence and urgent action, and her genuine kindness left a lasting impact on every person she worked with.

    While her sudden passing has left a deep gap across the regional fisheries community, FAO notes that the impact of her life’s work and the legacy she leaves behind will continue to shape progress across Barbados, the Caribbean, and all the communities and institutions she served with such passion. “Rest well, Dr. Cox. We will miss you,” the tribute concludes.

  • Gaza ceasefire a ‘deadly illusion’ — UNICEF

    Gaza ceasefire a ‘deadly illusion’ — UNICEF

    GENEVA, Switzerland – Eight months after a formal ceasefire was supposed to halt hostilities in Gaza, senior United Nations officials have issued a scathing condemnation of the ongoing violence, labeling the truce a dangerous deception that has cost the lives of hundreds of Palestinian children.

    The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the governing authority of Gaza, was announced in October 2025. But according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health – whose casualty data is deemed credible by the UN – Israeli military operations have continued unabated across the enclave, leaving at least 992 Palestinians dead since the truce took effect. Of that death toll, 265 are children, a statistic the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called an unconscionable and catastrophic injustice.

    Speaking to reporters in Geneva via video link from Amman, Jordan, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder laid bare the grim scale of child harm in the supposed period of peace. “Over more than eight months, on average, one child has been killed every single day during a window that was meant to bring restraint and safety to Gaza,” Elder said. “For months, the global community has been told a ceasefire is in place. But for Palestinian children, this supposed truce is nothing less than a cruel, deadly illusion.”

    Elder emphasized that the children killed since October have not died in active battlefront combat. Instead, they have been cut down in spaces meant to be safe: in their family homes, inside school grounds, while playing football with peers, and while fishing off Gaza’s coast. Their deaths have come from sniper fire, aerial bombardments, and strikes from unmanned quadcopters, he added. This week alone, the violence continued its unrelenting pattern: a two-year-old boy shot dead by Israeli forces, a 13-year-old killed inside his displacement camp tent, a five-year-old boy and his father killed in an Israeli strike, with dozens more similar incidents documented.

    Beyond the fatalities, more than 400 children have sustained injuries since the ceasefire was declared, many of whom suffer life-altering, catastrophic wounds. Hundreds of these injured children require urgent medical evacuation out of Gaza to receive life-saving care, but Israeli restrictions on the entry of essential medicines have worsened their suffering. Elder explained that these limitations leave wounded children grappling with extreme pain, and face far higher risks of infection, life-threatening complications, and additional amputations.

    Alongside physical harm, Elder highlighted the intergenerational psychological damage being inflicted on Gaza’s younger generation. “Fear, grief, and constant violence are stitched into the very core of childhood here,” he said. “The trauma is so deep that it disrupts children’s basic ability to eat, sleep, and grow and develop normally, harm that will resonate for decades to come.”

    Elder pushed back against the narrative that the ongoing child deaths are an unavoidable consequence of intractable conflict, arguing instead that the violence persists because of a global lack of political will to enforce the truce. “We cannot continue to accept levels of child death that would spark immediate, widespread international outrage if they occurred anywhere else on the planet,” he said. “It is long past time to stop normalizing what is plainly, unacceptably abnormal.”

  • Caricom EPG to schedule visit to Haiti ‘as soon as possible’

    Caricom EPG to schedule visit to Haiti ‘as soon as possible’

    GEORGETOWN, Guyana — A high-level advisory panel assembled by the Caribbean Community (Caricom) has announced its intention to deploy an on-the-ground mission to Haiti at the earliest possible date, as the regional bloc ramps up its monitoring of the Caribbean nation’s fast-shifting political and security landscape.

    The Caricom Eminent Persons Group (EPG)—a three-member panel led by former Saint Lucia Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony, with fellow ex-heads of government Bruce Golding of Jamaica and Perry Christie of the Bahamas as members—has been tracking unfolding events in Port-au-Prince via consistent virtual consultations with a broad cross-section of Haitian stakeholders. These discussions have included input from government representatives, opposition political parties, and grassroots civil society organizations, the group confirmed in an official statement released this week.

    “Recognizing that firsthand engagement on the ground is critical to refining our understanding of the situation, and committed to empowering Haitian stakeholders to lead their own path out of crisis, the EPG will move forward with scheduling an in-country visit as soon as conditions allow,” the statement read. During the mission, panel members will hold face-to-face talks with political leaders, civil society representatives, and senior government officials to advance dialogue toward a peaceful resolution of the country’s long-running instability.

    Caricom first established the EPG in May 2023 with a clear mandate to broker inclusive dialogue and guide Haitian stakeholders through the country’s unprecedented overlapping political, security, and institutional breakdown. Beyond facilitating dialogue, the group is tasked with supporting the development of homegrown Haitian solutions that bring all major sectors together to build a peaceful transitional governance framework ahead of planned free and fair elections. It also backs targeted efforts to disarm and neutralize violent gang networks, reestablish state control over public spaces, and improve security for ordinary Haitian citizens who have borne the brunt of years of chaos.

    Since the panel was formed, it has already emerged as a key intermediary in the country’s fragile transition. Most notably, it played a central role in supporting the formation of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council and guiding the complex leadership changes that followed the ouster of former de facto leader Jovenel Moïse’s successor.

    The EPG’s announcement comes just days after United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres completed his own official visit to Haiti, during which he told reporters he remains confident the country’s transitional process is gaining momentum.

    “A positive dynamic is already in motion,” Guterres said during his trip. “My message to the international community is straightforward: it is past time for all of us to step up and meet our responsibilities to the Haitian people.” He called on every domestic stakeholder to unite alongside Haitians to work toward a shared future of peace, improved security, and human dignity.

    During his visit, Guterres held formal talks with interim Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, and used his public remarks to push back against what he calls the international community’s longstanding neglect of the crisis. He argued that the greatest threat facing Haiti today is not the pervasive violence of armed gang groups that control swathes of the country’s territory, but the global indifference that has allowed the crisis to fester for years.

    “The biggest wave we face is indifference—the tendency of the world to turn its attention away from Haiti for far too long,” Guterres said. “There is a direct connection between the international community’s absence and the lack of security that Haitian people live with every single day.

    Still, the UN chief struck an optimistic tone about the path forward, noting that incremental progress has already created opportunities to reverse the country’s downward trajectory. “Some key neighborhoods in central Port-au-Prince have already been recaptured by state security forces from gang control,” he pointed out. “The Council of Ministers has resumed holding regular meetings at the National Palace for the first time in more than three years. This is not just a symbolic moment—it is a clear sign that the Haitian state is progressively reestablishing its presence across the country.”

  • Dominican Republic activates emergency plan as El Niño increases drought threat

    Dominican Republic activates emergency plan as El Niño increases drought threat

    Against the backdrop of shifting global climate patterns, climate scientists and meteorological bodies have issued a clear call to action for the Dominican Republic: the nation must brace for overlapping extreme weather threats tied to El Niño during the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. Unlike typical hurricane season outlooks, this year’s forecast brings a contradictory mix of conditions: suppressed overall tropical cyclone activity paired with elevated risks of prolonged drought and record-high temperatures across the wider Caribbean basin.

    El Niño, a climate phenomenon driven by anomalous warming of surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, is known to reshape global atmospheric circulation by shifting warm air masses toward the Caribbean. For the region, this shift consistently delivers two key outcomes: it creates unfavorable atmospheric conditions that dampen tropical cyclone formation, and it amplifies the risk of extended dry spells and above-average seasonal temperatures. Even with the projected dip in total storm numbers, meteorologists stress that reduced activity does not equal zero risk – major, destructive hurricanes can still form and impact coastal Caribbean nations including the Dominican Republic.

    The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially spans from June 1 to November 30, is currently forecast to produce between 8 and 14 named storms. Of these, 3 to 6 are expected to strengthen into hurricanes, with 1 to 3 reaching major hurricane strength (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale). If the forecast holds, 2026 will mark the second consecutive below-normal Atlantic hurricane season, following 2025’s 13-storm season that also fell short of the long-term historical average.

    In response to the forecast, Dominican authorities have already formally activated the national 2026 Cyclone Season Contingency Plan during an official launch event hosted at the country’s Emergency Operations Center (COE), with President Luis Abinader in attendance. During the event, President Abinader underscored that even the most current projections do not rule out the development of powerful, destructive storms, and called for fully coordinated preparedness across every level of government and public institution.

    Abinader also announced upcoming scheduled meetings with the national Governing Council and local municipal authorities to refine and reinforce community-level prevention strategies. He emphasized that preparedness efforts must extend beyond hurricane response to address the full suite of El Niño and climate change-driven hazards, including extreme heat events, episodic intense rainfall, and prolonged regional drought.

    As part of the contingency plan rollout, national agencies conducted a full-scale simulation of a Category 4 hurricane landfall response. During the exercise, President Abinader issued a formal directive requiring all state institutions to make their resources fully available to emergency response teams. He also publicly recognized and commended the pre-season preparedness work carried out by the Emergency Operations Center, the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), and national civil protection agencies.

    International climate projections, including updated analysis from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), indicate that the ongoing El Niño event is likely to intensify in the coming months, with a 63% probability of it strengthening to a “very strong” classification between November 2026 and January 2027. A very strong El Niño would exacerbate existing rainfall deficits and prolong periods of extreme heat across the entire Caribbean region.

    These international warnings have been echoed by Dominican meteorological experts, who note that El Niño’s typical impacts in the country include reduced seasonal precipitation and a sharp increase in the likelihood of widespread meteorological drought, particularly during the second half of 2026 and the early months of 2027. Local experts have urged both the general public and key economic sectors, including agriculture and tourism, to embed a permanent culture of prevention to mitigate potential losses.

    Beyond emergency response planning, the Dominican government has already begun rolling out targeted preventive measures to address projected water shortages. National water authorities confirmed that preliminary water rationing protocols have already been implemented in at-risk regions to pre-empt supply shortfalls, while the interagency Water and Construction Committee continues to hold weekly coordination meetings to monitor conditions and adjust strategies as needed.

    Data from the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI) shows that the country’s major strategic dams currently hold approximately 73% of their total capacity, a level that provides stable water supplies for the near term. However, senior water resource officials warn that storage levels could drop rapidly if prolonged dry conditions take hold across the country in the coming months.

    As the Dominican Republic moves into the peak months of the 2026 hurricane season under El Niño conditions, national authorities continue to stress that proactive preparedness remains non-negotiable. The nation faces a unique balancing act: while the odds favor fewer named storms than average, the overlapping risks of major hurricane landfall, extreme heat, and worsening drought mean that constant vigilance and coordinated preparation remain critical to protecting communities and critical infrastructure.

  • CELAC and OLADE launch regional strategy for clean energy interconnection

    CELAC and OLADE launch regional strategy for clean energy interconnection

    On June 17 in Montevideo, Uruguay, two leading regional bodies—the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLADE) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)—unveiled an ambitious long-term strategy designed to transform energy integration across the region by 2040: the Regional Indicative Plan for Electrical Interconnection.

    This landmark initiative is not a solo undertaking: it was developed in partnership with the European Union under the broader Euroclima environmental program, with German development agency GIZ tapped to handle on-the-ground implementation. At its core, the plan maps out 16 priority cross-border infrastructure projects that will form critical new electricity transmission corridors, laying the groundwork for seamless energy connectivity across Latin America and the Caribbean.

    Technical projections for the initiative paint a compelling economic and environmental case. The full program requires an estimated $3.5 billion in cumulative upfront investment by 2040, with remarkably short payback periods ranging from just two to six years, positioning the plan as a high-return infrastructure opportunity. Once completed, the network will deliver a total optimized interconnection capacity of 5,000 megawatts, enabling expanded cross-border trade of renewable energy. This interconnected system will cut the region’s collective reliance on polluting fossil fuels and drive major reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, aligning with global climate action goals.

    Beyond climate benefits, the plan delivers substantial economic upside for participating nations. Officials calculate the initiative will deliver a 10:1 benefit-cost ratio, with annual net economic gains projected to fall between $1 billion and $5 billion, depending on how quickly member states expand regional access to electricity. These gains stem from three core improvements: more efficient energy distribution across national borders, strengthened resilience to supply disruptions, and lower overall energy costs for end users.

    The official launch of the plan coincided with the VIII CELAC Energy Ministerial Meeting, held June 18 in the same host city. The gathering brought together senior government representatives, leaders from global and regional financial institutions, and international development partners to address pressing shared challenges, including the need to harmonize inconsistent energy regulations across the region. This regulatory work comes at a critical juncture, as Latin America and the Caribbean face growing climate volatility and are navigating a rapid expansion of renewable energy capacity that outpaces existing cross-border frameworks.

    In his remarks to the meeting, OLADE Executive Secretary Andrés Rebolledo underscored the urgent need for progress toward a formal, binding Energy Integration Treaty for the region. He pointed out that no such unifying legal framework currently exists for cross-border energy cooperation, and that creating it has become increasingly critical to advancing three core priorities: strengthening regional energy security, deepening collaborative ties between member states, and accelerating the just transition to low-carbon sustainable energy systems.

    The ministerial meeting functioned as a key strategic launching pad for formal political negotiations around the proposed treaty. CELAC member states have set out a shared goal of establishing a future agreement that will standardize energy regulations across borders, streamline the sharing of energy resources, and reinforce collective energy security. This coordinated approach will position the region to better respond to shifting global energy market dynamics and evolving climate-related energy challenges.

  • Florida operator defends Bahamas jet ski industry

    Florida operator defends Bahamas jet ski industry

    A cross-border debate over travel safety has erupted in The Bahamas after the US Embassy issued a stark public alert labeling the country’s jet ski rental sector as rife with “serious and ongoing” dangers — prompting a Florida-based jet ski business owner to travel to the archipelago to defend the industry and warn the warning threatens the livelihoods of thousands of tourism-dependent Bahamian workers.

    John Rosen, founder of Jet Ski Fort Lauderdale, delivered his rebuttal on location at Cabbage Beach, a popular Nassau tourist hub adjacent to the Atlantis resort, just days after the embassy rolled out its formal advisory. The warning, announced in a Monday video address by US Ambassador Herschel Walker, outlined a series of grave allegations: multiple American tourists have died, been hospitalized, and subjected to sexual assault at the hands of unregulated jet ski operators, who frequently target visitors and transport assault victims to isolated, remote areas.

    Breaking down the specific incidents cited in the advisory, the embassy reported that six US citizens have required hospital care following jet ski accidents since August 2024, three of whom needed emergency medical evacuation off the islands. It added that two American women reported sexual assaults by jet ski operators in 2024, with two additional allegations filed already in 205. The advisory also criticized inconsistent regulatory oversight of rental zones, noting that unlicensed “rogue operators” continue to aggressively solicit customers on Nassau’s most heavily trafficked shorelines.

    But legitimate, long-running operators on Cabbage Beach pushed back against the broad-brush condemnation, arguing the sector needs stronger regulation and enforcement rather than blanket stigmatization. They emphasize that a tiny minority of bad actors should not be allowed to ruin the reputations and businesses of law-abiding operators who have built their livelihoods in the country’s $40 billion-plus tourism economy, which fuels more than half of The Bahamas’ national GDP.

    Rosen, who traveled to Nassau specifically to push back against what he calls a misleading and damaging portrayal of the industry, noted that jet ski rentals remain one of the most popular outdoor activities for visitors to The Bahamas. “I just wanted to help the public really understand the statistics and what jet ski rentals bring to the industry here in The Bahamas, and anywhere around the world in general — you know, the dangers but also all the great things that come with it,” he said in an interview on the beach.

    Putting the incident numbers in context, Rosen explained that The Bahamas welcomes roughly 12 million annual visitors, an estimated 250,000 of whom choose to rent jet skis during their stay. Comparing the embassy cited incident count to other common recreational activities, he pointed out that only six hospitalizations and one fatality — which he clarified was caused by an unlicensed boat operator, not a jet ski renter or licensed operator — have been recorded over the last three years.

    To put that risk in perspective, Rosen drew a comparison to bicycle accidents in his home region of South Florida. “When you’re going to compare that to injuries and accidents, maybe with other activities, such as where I live, you have bikes that are constantly in the news for accidents and casualties,” he said. “Just in 2024 alone, where I live, there were almost 10,000 bicycle accidents that led to hospitalisations and over 200 deaths. You know, so if they want to tell people to stop renting jet skis in The Bahamas, they better start telling people to stop riding bikes in South Florida.”

    Rosen urged tourists to simply choose licensed, insured, reputable rental companies rather than avoid jet skiing entirely, and offered to share the proven safety protocols his operation uses in Fort Lauderdale to help Bahamian operators improve their own safety standards. He also noted that Bahamian authorities have already taken concrete action to address the reported sexual assaults, including making arrests, filing criminal charges, and enacting a landmark new regulation that prohibits operators from riding on the same jet ski as renters — a policy change explicitly designed to reduce the risk of assault.

    “So clearly they’re taking action to make sure these things don’t happen, and anywhere you go around the world, there’s always a risk of some bad thing happening, but we don’t want to take away what’s so great and respected about the Bahamas. Jet skiing is what people want to do. Do not discourage people from renting and riding jet skis; it’s something that we all need to enjoy with our families,” Rosen added.

    He argued the sector should be reformed, not shut down, and questioned whether US Embassy officials fully grasp how damaging their broad warning could be to ordinary Bahamians who depend on tourism for work. “I don’t think they understand the implications of their message and how it’s going to affect the people that come here, because they really are scaring people, when in reality they don’t have a reason to be scared. You just have to look at the statistics, and the numbers speak for themselves, honestly,” he said.

    The latest US warning comes as The Bahamas’ government faces renewed scrutiny of its special jet ski regulatory task force, launched in March 2024 to crack down on unregulated operators and strengthen safety standards across the sector. To date, authorities have seized unlicensed equipment, issued thousands in fines, and revoked operating licenses for repeat violators, but industry leaders have openly acknowledged that enforcement remains uneven across popular beach areas, and more work is needed to bring all operators into compliance with safety and licensing rules.

    Devane Ferguson, a 20-year veteran Cabbage Beach jet ski operator, said established, law-abiding businesses need targeted government support to counteract the damage from the US warning and the actions of rogue operators. Ferguson explained that serious incidents almost always involve unlicensed new entrants to the industry, not the long-standing operators that have served tourists safely for decades. He acknowledged that the advisory has caused a measurable slowdown in bookings, but added that most informed tourists have continued to patronize legitimate local operators.

  • Italian Tourist dies after Hotel fire in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic

    Italian Tourist dies after Hotel fire in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic

    A tragic incident in the popular coastal destination of Bayahíbe, located in the Dominican Republic’s La Altagracia province, has claimed the life of a 46-year-old Italian visitor, who passed away Friday while receiving treatment for injuries sustained in a hotel complex fire.

    The deceased has been identified as Francesca Valentino, a resident of Caserta, Italy. Immediately after the fire broke out at the Hotel Viva Dominicus, personnel from the Dominican Republic’s National Emergency and Security Response System (911) arrived on scene to extract and stabilize the injured tourist, before rushing her to a medical center in neighboring La Romana province. Despite aggressive intervention and round-the-clock care from attending medical staff, Valentino succumbed to her injuries.

    The blaze triggered a massive coordinated emergency response across multiple local agencies, overseen by the national 911 system. In total, the deployment included eight response units from the Extrahospital Emergency Care Directorate (DAEH), a single National Police detail, 15 fire crew units drawn from surrounding departments, one traffic safety unit from the General Directorate of Traffic and Land Transportation Safety (DIGESETT), and two specialized drone units operated directly by the 911 Emergency System to aid in search and assessment operations.

    As of the latest updates, local authorities have not yet publicly disclosed information about the root cause of the fire nor the full scope of property damage and other potential casualties sparked by the incident. Official investigations into the circumstances of the blaze remain active and ongoing as authorities work to compile a full report on the incident.

  • Prime Minister Drew: Protecting People Must Remain Central to the Global Response to Sea-Level Rise

    Prime Minister Drew: Protecting People Must Remain Central to the Global Response to Sea-Level Rise

    On June 18, 2026, at the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum — a high-profile gathering co-hosted by the Global Centre for Climate Mobility (GCCM) and the Robert Bosch Stiftung focused on climate-driven displacement and adaptation — Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis delivered a urgent call to reorient global climate action around vulnerable communities, as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) already grapple with the irreversible, daily impacts of rising sea levels.

    Participating in a panel discussion centered on protecting human rights amid accelerating sea-level rise, Drew joined a cohort of global leaders, policy architects, climate researchers, and international development partners to share the on-the-ground reality of climate change for low-lying island nations. Unlike many regions still preparing for future sea-level rise impacts, Drew emphasized that his twin-island federation is already confronting the cascading harms of this climate crisis.

    “Our nation is not waiting for future consequences of sea-level rise — we are actively managing its harsh reality today,” Drew told the assembled audience. He detailed the overlapping threats already reshaping life across St. Kitts and Nevis: accelerating coastal erosion that eats away at populated shorelines, widespread degradation of protective coral reefs, more intense and destructive storm surges, and the permanent loss of culturally significant historic sites. These challenges, Drew argued, extend far beyond environmental harm — they directly erode fundamental human rights for local communities.

    “Sea-level rise is far more than a single-dimensional environmental issue,” Drew explained. “When we talk about protecting rights in this context, we are highlighting threats to every core pillar of human dignity: the right to life and safety, the right to housing and ancestral land, the right to food, clean water and basic necessities, the right to health, the right to stable livelihoods, and the right to preserve our culture, identity and shared heritage.”

    Drew stressed that any effective global response to sea-level rise must keep protecting vulnerable people at its core, rather than prioritizing abstract policy targets or economic interests. All resilience-building efforts, he added, should be designed to safeguard at-risk communities while preserving their inherent dignity, cultural heritage, and access to equitable opportunity.

    During the forum, Drew also showcased St. Kitts and Nevis’ forward-looking national development framework: the Sustainable Island State Agenda. This strategy anchors climate resilience, environmental stewardship, and community empowerment at the heart of all national policy, and the federation has already advanced targeted initiatives and global partnerships to strengthen coastal defense systems, support vulnerable coastal populations, and embed long-term sustainability across all sectors of the economy.

    The prime minister highlighted the impactful ongoing partnership between St. Kitts and Nevis and the GCCM as a model for effective global climate cooperation. He pointed to the joint Communities Climate Adaptation Facility as a successful example of how international collaboration can deliver practical, locally led solutions: the initiative provides critical financing and policy guidance to support community-driven adaptation projects that directly address the needs of at-risk groups.

    “Multilateralism — which I have long championed — and intentional global partnership are not just abstract ideals for us. They are our most valuable tools for recourse and our only clear pathway to survival,” Drew said.

    He further emphasized that climate adaptation strategies can only succeed if they are shaped by the people who bear the brunt of sea-level rise impacts. Long-term, effective solutions require coordinated collaboration between national governments, local communities, development partners, and civil society organizations to ensure interventions align with local realities, knowledge, and lived experiences, rather than being imposed from outside.

    As St. Kitts and Nevis continues to advocate for ambitious climate action on the global stage, Drew closed by reaffirming the federation’s unwavering commitment to working alongside international partners to protect the rights, livelihoods, and future prospects of all vulnerable populations disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis.