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  • Trump’s nieuwe economische druk op Iran stuit op grote uitdaging: China

    Trump’s nieuwe economische druk op Iran stuit op grote uitdaging: China

    A new US campaign of economic pressure targeting Iran’s global financial ties has a major limiting factor that Washington cannot ignore: China, the Islamic Republic’s largest trading partner and the top buyer of its crude oil. As the United States pushes to isolate Tehran from its remaining economic partners, US President Donald Trump is preparing to host Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington next month, with the core goal of preserving a fragile bilateral trade truce that has calmed tensions after years of friction.

    When US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled what the administration has dubbed “Operation Economic Outcast”, he offered no specific details on how the Trump White House would address China’s ongoing extensive economic engagement with Iran. That lack of clarity has fueled growing questions about just how effective the new sanctions campaign can ultimately be, as Washington faces a delicate balancing act: it needs to ramp up maximum pressure on Iran without triggering a major escalation with Beijing that would damage the already fragile US economy.

    Edgard Kagan, senior advisor for China studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted the intentionally vague language in Bessent’s announcement was a calculated choice to avoid disrupting the planned high-level summit. Both sides view the upcoming meeting, which will mark Xi’s official state visit to Washington, as critically important to their respective policy goals.

    This balancing act leaves Washington and Beijing navigating what Kagan described as a “delicate dance”. The core open question remains: is there any room to convince China to scale back its trade with Iran, without Beijing rejecting the request as unreasonable and pulling back from even limited cooperation?

    Analysts broadly expect China will adopt a stance of minimal compliance with US demands. In its official response to the new US sanctions campaign, Beijing reiterated that all of its economic cooperation with Iran has always been conducted “within the framework of international law”. Currently, China receives more than 80 percent of Iran’s total oil exports, most of which flow through indirect trading channels to avoid existing US restrictions.

    A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that China’s normal cooperation with Iran “should not be disrupted or undermined”, and added that Beijing will “take all necessary measures to resolutely protect its own legitimate rights and interests”. China has repeatedly made clear its opposition to what it calls “illegal unilateral sanctions” imposed by the United States on other nations.

    Kagan characterized China’s official response as a calculated holding position, saying Beijing will do the absolute minimum to meet US demands while stopping short of openly confronting Washington. He added that existing evasion practices, such as ship-to-ship oil transfers designed to hide the origin of Iranian crude, will almost certainly continue uninterrupted.

    Sun Yun, a China analyst at the Stimson Center, projected that China will only show limited cooperation if the US campaign’s goal is to pressure Iran into making concessions on issues like security in the Strait of Hormuz, rather than demanding a full break in economic ties. In that scenario, Sun noted, China could slightly reduce its imports of Iranian oil to signal a willingness to compromise without severing long-standing economic links.

    With the Trump-Xi summit fast approaching, both sides have made clear they want to avoid a major escalation of bilateral tensions. Analysts agree that China will need to offer Washington some small concession to keep talks on track, while the US will have to accept that it will not achieve all of its demands regarding Iran-China trade.

    So far, the Trump administration has declined to impose sanctions on major Chinese banks and corporations that are connected to the US financial system, leaving them vulnerable to US punitive measures. While Bessent announced penalties on nearly 60 Iran-linked entities tied to Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs, cyber activities, and oil trade – including a small number of companies and individuals based in mainland China and Hong Kong – no major Chinese financial or industrial institutions were targeted.

    Analysts say that with Xi’s visit just weeks away, Trump has little incentive to take a hard line against Beijing. The US president is keen to preserve the existing bilateral trade truce and has emphasized his positive personal relationship with Xi, making it unlikely he will seek a direct confrontation on the eve of the high-profile state visit.

    Xi’s upcoming visit also paves the way for Trump to travel to China in November for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. In his second term, Trump has adopted a far less confrontational stance toward China than he did in his first term, regularly praising his strong relationship with Xi following the intense trade war that rattled global markets last year.

    The US business community has broadly welcomed Xi’s upcoming visit as a positive sign for bilateral relations, even as many acknowledge that sweeping new trade deals are unlikely to be finalized during the meeting.

    Craig Singleton, a senior analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted that Beijing is betting that Washington will not risk the positive dynamic of the upcoming summit by targeting major Chinese entities with new sanctions before the meeting even begins.

  • Update: Boat with Opposition Leader, other MPs intercepted, escorted to Coast Guard for search

    Update: Boat with Opposition Leader, other MPs intercepted, escorted to Coast Guard for search

    In an early morning incident that has amplified political tensions in Guyana, six members of the country’s main opposition bloc We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), including opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed, were escorted by law enforcement officials from a docked vessel to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard headquarters in Georgetown for a mandatory search of the boat, which is owned by the Mohamed family. The confrontation unfolded hours after the WIN parliamentary delegation completed a trip to meet with survivors and bereaved families of the deadly MV Barima river disaster.

    According to an official statement released by the Guyana Police Force, the incident traces back to a routine joint maritime patrol carried out by the GDF Coast Guard and local police shortly before 10:00 PM on Tuesday. Patrol officers reported spotting a high-speed ‘go-fast’ vessel entering the mouth of the Demerara River, and claimed the vessel ignored audible siren signals to stop, triggering a pursuit that ended when the boat was intercepted at the Friendship wharf on the East Bank of Demerara.

    Police accounts state that three individuals, including Mohamed, were found on board the vessel, while five other people believed to have traveled with the boat were located on the adjacent wharf. A joint investigation into the circumstances of the incident remains ongoing, per the official police statement.

    However, the opposition delegation has directly challenged key details of the police narrative, contradicting the claim that the vessel was chased and intercepted while on the river. Mohamed confirmed that the boat had already been securely docked at the family’s Friendship property when law enforcement personnel arrived at the site.

    A live broadcast streamed on Team Mohamed’s official Facebook page captured the on-site confrontation between lawmakers and officers. According to footage from the stream, law enforcement first requested official documentation for the vessel and the captain’s operating license, a request that had not been fulfilled as of the conclusion of the standoff. When a senior officer announced the boat would be towed to the GDF Coast Guard headquarters for inspection, WIN General Secretary Odessa Primus immediately resisted the order, stating officers had no authorization to board the private vessel and demanding to know who issued the instruction to move the craft.

    Mohamed pushed for the search to be conducted on-site at the Friendship wharf, but officers insisted the vessel would need to be towed to the Coast Guard facility regardless of an initial on-location inspection. The opposition leader and Primus eventually offered to open all compartments of the boat for an on-site search by a single officer, a proposal that was not accepted. During the back-and-forth, one officer openly confirmed law enforcement suspected the vessel was carrying illegal contraband.

    Primus repeatedly pushed back against the plan to relocate the vessel, alleging that law enforcement intended to plant illegal items on the boat to incriminate the opposition delegation. She claimed that after the opposition rejected the move to tow the vessel, officers suddenly abandoned plans to conduct an on-site search entirely.

    Before the confrontation, the entire WIN parliamentary team had spent Tuesday visiting communities in the North West District to meet with people affected by the MV Barima river tragedy, a recent fatal incident that has drawn public scrutiny of the government’s response to maritime safety. The six WIN lawmakers present on the boat during the incident are Mohamed, Primus, opposition chief whip Tabita Sarabo-Halley, Dawn Hastings, Deon LaCruz, and Natasha Singh. As of Wednesday morning, the joint investigation remains ongoing, with no additional details on potential charges or findings released by law enforcement.

  • Sapoen vraagt drastisch ingrijpen bij Cevihas

    Sapoen vraagt drastisch ingrijpen bij Cevihas

    A senior Surinamese coalition parliamentarian has sounded the alarm over deep-seated mismanagement and financial collapse at the country’s state-owned fisheries infrastructure company Cevihas N.V., calling on the administration to step in immediately to clean up the troubled enterprise.

    Raymond Sapoen, a member of the National Assembly (DNA) from the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), outlined the scope of the crisis in a parliamentary address Tuesday, stating that years of improper governance have left Cevihas – the Central Fisheries Ports Authority of Suriname – saddled with an estimated $6 million to $8 million in accumulated debt over the past five to seven years. Sapoen, who has previously raised red flags about issues at the parastatal, told the legislature that conditions have only deteriorated sharply since he first flagged problems, leaving the company mired in a full-blown financial crisis with no visible path to pay down its massive liabilities on its own.

    Beyond the crippling debt, Sapoen levelled sharp criticism at widespread failures in Cevihas’ core services to the national fishing sector. He detailed multiple critical shortcomings, ranging from non-compliance with critical safety regulations to inadequate sanitation, poor hygiene standards, and crumbling physical infrastructure that is supposed to support port operations for domestic and international fishing vessels. Notably, the lawmaker revealed that even the Venezuelan government has publicly raised dissatisfaction with Cevihas’ service quality. Approximately two weeks ago, Sapoen said, the Venezuelan embassy conveyed its discontent to Suriname’s government through official channels. The ongoing dysfunction, he argued, is damaging the international reputation of Suriname’s entire fishing industry, harming both domestic commercial interests and cross-border partnerships.

    Sapoen also drew attention to unfair and unstable working conditions for Cevihas employees, noting that workers face deep uncertainty over their pension benefits and are subject to what he described as biased, inequitable personnel policies. In a striking rebuke of company leadership, he accused top executives of living in luxury while rank-and-file staff confront persistent job and benefit insecurity, a gap he called unacceptable for a state-owned enterprise meant to serve public interests.

    After cataloging the financial, operational, and workplace failures, Sapoen concluded that the company is suffering from systemic severe mismanagement and financial misrule, and the time for incremental fixes has passed. He is calling for a full, comprehensive audit of the company to uncover all wrongdoing and lay the groundwork for restructuring. The Surinamese government did not provide a substantive response to Sapoen’s allegations during Tuesday’s question period, and has committed to delivering a formal answer to parliament on Thursday.

  • GHRA seeks international intervention to protect Indigenous Amerindians from gold mining

    GHRA seeks international intervention to protect Indigenous Amerindians from gold mining

    On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) issued an urgent formal appeal to the United Nations Development Programme, the European Union, and top global and regional human rights bodies calling for immediate intervention from the United Nations and Inter-American human rights systems to defend the territorial and human rights of Indigenous Amerindian communities in Guyana’s Chinese Landing region, where a controversial gold mining expansion is set to begin imminently.

    The appeal targets a broad roster of senior global leaders, including the UN Secretary-General, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, President of the UN General Assembly, President of the UN Security Council, head of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, Chair of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), the President of the European Union, and Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN. GHRA is pushing for global bodies to pressure the Guyanese government to immediately enforce long-ignored interim precautionary measures ordered by the IACHR to protect Indigenous lands, and to rein in private mining actors that have disregarded regional human rights recommendations.

    GHRA has framed the situation as a rapidly escalating crisis, warning that the imminent expansion of mining threatens to destroy Indigenous communities’ traditional lands, way of life, and physical assets. The rights group emphasized that the urgency of international intervention stems directly from the Guyanese government’s refusal to comply with the IACHR’s July 24, 2023 order for interim protection measures for the Indigenous communities that hold legal and traditional ownership of the contested lands. Far from enforcing the court-ordered measures, GHRA says the government has allowed a private mining operator to move heavy excavation and extraction equipment onto the territory despite widespread protests from local residents. “The situation is fraught with danger for the Indigenous Peoples and their lands and properties. Indigenous Lives are at risk. And the Government of Guyana is a silent witness to these events, instead of providing protection to the Indigenous Peoples affected,” the association stated in its appeal.

    The organization also highlighted systemic gaps in the protection of Indigenous rights across Guyana, noting that the country’s existing legal framework is not aligned with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and that a formally established national Commission on Indigenous Rights has never exercised its mandate to protect Indigenous communities. “Indigenous peoples are without protection, notwithstanding the existence on paper of a Commission on Indigenous Rights – which has never acted in protective mode,” GHRA said. The group is calling for the immediate establishment of an international monitoring regime to oversee compliance with global Indigenous rights norms in Guyana, and for an urgent situation report to be submitted to both the UN Human Rights Council and UN Security Council.

    Local Indigenous leaders have corroborated the GHRA’s warnings, detailing the mining operator’s repeated attempts to sneak heavy equipment onto their titled territory despite a lack of free, prior, and informed consent required under Guyana’s Amerindian Act and national constitution. In a public statement posted to Facebook, the Chinese Landing-Tassawini Village Council reported that mining operators recently redirected excavators that were blocked from entering Chinese Landing territory, offloading the machinery at nearby Kariako, a part of the village’s titled land, without notifying or gaining approval from the village council.

    “The excavators were ordered to leave Kariako lands immediately because the village council were not informed and no consent was given by the Kariako VC. It seems as though the miners would not leave but using all options to enter into Tassawin,” the council’s statement read. Over recent days, villagers have staged peaceful protests to block access to the Tassawin backdam, after recording the entry of at least nine excavators, two bulldozers, and multiple dredge engines transported via barge, all without formal village approval. The council confirmed all equipment is registered to a private miner that holds claims to several disputed mining blocks within the village’s official title.

    The village council noted it has been participating in good-faith mediation talks with the miner while a formal court case over the mining claims remains pending, and that the operator’s push to advance mining preparations during negotiations undermines the entire mediation process. “We consider it inappropriate for (the named miner) to prepare for or carry on mining activities while these discussions are ongoing, as these actions undermine the legitimacy and fairness of the mediation process,” the council said.

    After the on-duty officer from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) told the village council he lacked the authority or willingness to block the equipment from entering the disputed blocks, villagers made the decision to stage a physical blockade to stop the machinery from advancing deeper into their traditional lands. The village council has formally called on the Ministry of Natural Resources and GGMC to suspend all mining operations in the area until mediation concludes and the village grants formal consent for extraction activities. Mining on the site first resumed in March 2026, with the council only notified of the restart during the National Toshaos Conference held this past July.

    Responding to the escalating conflict, Vickram Bharrat, Guyana’s Minister of Natural Resources, told local outlet Demerara Waves Online News that the government is currently facilitating dialogue between the Indigenous community and the mining operator.

  • Canawaima mogelijk binnen enkele dagen weer in de vaart

    Canawaima mogelijk binnen enkele dagen weer in de vaart

    For weeks, cross-border travel and trade between Suriname and Guyana have been thrown into chaos after the Canawaima ferry was forced out of operation by a safety ban. Now, top Surinamese transport officials say a provisional resumption of the critical service could be just days away, but political leaders are demanding far-reaching structural reforms rather than quick fixes to the long-troubled operation.

    The Suriname Maritime Authority (MAS) imposed the operating ban on the Canawaima after a routine inspection uncovered serious gaps in mandatory safety equipment, including faulty or missing lifeboats, life buoys, life jackets, and emergency VHF communication radios. Further concerns were raised about the structural integrity of the vessel’s steel hull, which had not undergone dry dock maintenance since 2021.

    Speaking before the National Assembly on Tuesday evening, Transport, Communication and Tourism Minister Raymond Landveld reported that nearly all of the MAS’s mandatory safety corrections have now been completed. Hull thickness tests found that 99% of the sampled steel plating meets the required minimum standards, he said. Landveld has formally asked the MAS to lift the ban on a temporary basis, ahead of the vessel’s previously scheduled full dry dock maintenance set to begin August 31.

    “Nearly all of the MAS’s requirements have been satisfied,” Landveld told lawmakers. “I expect that a clearance certificate allowing the ferry to resume operations will be issued in the very near term.” After the Canawaima enters dry dock, the Guyanese ferry Sandaka, which is currently also undergoing maintenance, will take over the route on an interim basis.

    The shutdown has already caused widespread disruption, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded on both sides of the border, and cutting off critical supply links for local businesses and agricultural producers that rely on the ferry cross-border service. Lawmakers have also raised alarm over unregulated informal “backtrack” crossings that have surged since the shutdown, with reports of passengers including children crossing open water without life safety equipment.

    Political leaders have made clear that resolving the immediate travel crisis is not enough. Opposition National Democratic Party leader Rabin Parmessar pushed Landveld to take immediate administrative action to overhaul the ferry service’s management, arguing that the failure to maintain basic safety equipment is the result of systemic mismanagement, not a one-off technical error.

    “We hold you accountable right now, and that means you must intervene in the governance of this service,” Parmessar told the minister, doubling down on his demand for immediate action. National Party of Suriname leader Jerrel Pawiroredjo echoed that criticism, noting that both governance and regulatory oversight of the service have failed to meet basic standards, requiring root-and-branch reform. ruling party lawmaker Rawien Raghoenandan also emphasized the urgent human cost of the shutdown for stranded travelers.

    Minister Landveld acknowledged that the crisis cannot be dismissed as a simple technical failure, admitting that systemic problems have built up at Canawaima over years of inadequate management. He conceded that the service has long operated on a day-to-day reactive basis, without long-term planning, regular performance reporting, or structured forecasting for maintenance and investment needs.

    The 1998 bilateral management agreement that forms the basis of the Suriname-Guyana cross-border ferry partnership has never been updated or re-evaluated as required, Landveld confirmed. The service’s boards of commissioners have now been ordered to draft an updated agreement to reflect modern operational and safety standards, while a full audit of the Canawaima’s current business operations is already underway, with findings due by August 31.

    Landveld emphasized that his immediate priority is to restore safe service as quickly as possible to end the current disruption for travelers and businesses. Once service is provisionally restored, he said, the government will move forward with structural changes to the service’s governance, management and operating models to prevent a repeat of the crippling shutdown that has disrupted cross-border ties between the two South American nations.

  • US$175m health facilities targeted for 2029 opening

    US$175m health facilities targeted for 2029 opening

    Barbados is advancing a transformative $175 million national Health Services Resilience Programme that will deliver four major new and upgraded healthcare infrastructure projects, all scheduled to be fully operational by 2029, senior health officials confirmed during the first public consultation held this week. The event, co-hosted by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Inter-American Development Bank at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Monday evening, laid out the full scope of the initiative, which addresses both growing healthcare demand and emerging climate risks facing the island nation.

    The four core infrastructure projects under the programme are a new Geriatric Hospital in Waterford, St Michael; the Roseville Halfway House in St Peter; a major expansion of the island’s primary tertiary care facility, Queen Elizabeth Hospital; and the Odle’s Glenn Senior Village in St George. Beyond physical infrastructure, the initiative also includes a full upgrade of Barbados’ digital health ecosystem, with the rollout of a new integrated health information system designed to streamline access to patient medical records and connect primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities across the country.

    Speaking at the consultation, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Wellness Francine Blackman outlined the multi-lateral funding partnership backing the programme, which brings together the Inter-American Development Bank, Caribbean Development Bank, World Bank, and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF). Blackman emphasized that the programme is a strategic investment in the long-term development of Barbados’ healthcare system, designed to expand care capacity to meet the evolving needs of the island’s population, with a specific focus on unmet needs in chronic non-communicable disease care, mental health support, disability services, and geriatric care.

    “A core goal of this programme is to make high-quality healthcare more accessible to all local communities, while shifting the system toward a stronger emphasis on prevention, early detection of disease, and uninterrupted continuity of care for patients,” Blackman said. She added that the project is part of a broader national effort to reimagine Barbados’ entire healthcare continuum from primary care through to specialized tertiary treatment, noting that a healthier population will deliver significant spillover economic benefits for the island.

    “If we can build and maintain a healthier population, we will directly boost national productivity, because local businesses will see lower rates of employee absenteeism linked to preventable poor health,” Blackman explained.

    Currently, the entire programme is in the pre-construction planning and design phase, with mandatory environmental and social impact assessments ongoing ahead of the launch of procurement and on-ground project mobilization. Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Arthur Phillips told attendees that the public consultation phase will run through the third quarter of 2026, after which full implementation will get underway. “We will stand up the dedicated implementation team first, and by the second quarter of 2027, we will move into full implementation, with detailed planning, construction work, and eventually the commissioning of all new facilities,” Phillips said.

    Leisa Perch, a leading consultant on the project, noted that construction activities are scheduled to take place between 2027 and 2028, though individual projects will not all break ground simultaneously due to regulatory and logistical requirements. “There are a number of regulatory and procedural steps we have to complete first, but our target remains to have all four facilities fully operational and open to patients by 2029,” Perch confirmed.

    A key distinguishing feature of the programme is its explicit focus on building climate and disaster resilience into all new and upgraded facilities, a critical priority for small island developing states like Barbados that face growing climate hazards. Perch explained that the environmental impact assessment evaluated a full range of potential risks to the facilities, including hurricane force winds, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, drought, extreme heat, seismic activity, and seasonal incursions of Saharan dust. Of these risks, hurricane winds, storm surge, coastal flooding, and extreme heat were rated as high-priority risks across all project sites.

    To address these threats, planning includes provisions for backup power systems to ensure care can continue during service disruptions, as well as dedicated infrastructure to guarantee reliable access to clean water and other essential services. Heat-health protocols will be integrated into the design of all elderly care facilities, while upgraded drainage and wastewater systems are being included to boost flood resilience. The assessment also evaluated broader systemic pressures facing the healthcare system, including population ageing, the growing burden of chronic disease, labour compliance risks, digital health cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and the cumulative impact of multiple construction projects across the island. For sites involving rehabilitation of existing buildings, planners are also proactively addressing potential hazards including asbestos, lead paint, mould, and demolition debris.

    A full set of environmental and social management measures will be implemented throughout the project, covering disaster and climate risk reduction, traffic management around construction sites, sustainable waste management, and ongoing engagement with local stakeholders. Perch stressed that public input will not end with the initial consultation round; outreach and feedback mechanisms will be in place throughout the planning, construction, and operational phases of the programme. Proposed engagement methods include community town halls, targeted focus groups, mobile outreach to underserved areas, and quarterly public reporting, with all feedback incorporated into project design and construction adjustments as needed.

    Monday’s inaugural consultation focused specifically on the Roseville Halfway House project, with four additional public consultations scheduled over the next two weeks to cover the remaining initiatives. Multiple government agencies are collaborating on the broader programme: the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Project Execution Unit is supporting overall delivery, the Ministry of People Empowerment will lead collaboration on the Odle’s Glenn Senior Village, and the Ministry of Education will partner to strengthen the national school nutrition programme as part of the initiative’s public health focus.

  • GOB to Deliberate on BBA Fuel Subsidy Demands

    GOB to Deliberate on BBA Fuel Subsidy Demands

    On August 25, 2026, Belize’s government confirmed it will move forward with formal deliberations on long-simmering fuel subsidy demands from the Belize Bus Association (BBA), after a planned service disruption that threatened widespread disruption to daily commuter life was temporarily paused last week.

    For thousands of Belizean residents relying on public bus transit to reach workplaces, schools, and critical medical and community services, any interruption to service would carry immediate, severe consequences. That risk became tangible last week as frictions between the BBA and government escalated over skyrocketing global fuel prices. Bus operators have repeatedly emphasized that existing and expanded fuel subsidies are non-negotiable for keeping their small businesses operational and avoiding dramatic fare hikes that would price out low-income commuters. While operators have agreed to hold off on service cuts as negotiations progress, the core dispute remains unresolved, leaving both sides and commuters in a holding pattern.

    In an interview with local outlet News Five on the morning of August 25, Belize Transport Minister Dr. Louis Zabaneh outlined the government’s current approach to the negotiation, stressing that officials are prioritizing finding a durable outcome that avoids shifting undue burden to everyday commuters. “When the BBA first sent their formal request, they were still receiving existing subsidy allocations, and they were correct to flag that the terms needed to be revisited,” Zabaneh explained. “We committed to addressing the matter at the appropriate time, asked them to formally submit the request to the Prime Minister so we could bring it before cabinet, and that process is now underway.”

    Zabaneh walked through the history of Belize’s existing public transport fuel subsidy framework to contextualize the current deliberations. The original subsidy program was rolled out during a period of sustained global fuel price increases that put financial strain on transport operators and consumers across the world. After extensive back-and-forth negotiations between government and the BBA, the current framework was adopted, combining direct fuel subsidies with a modest, controlled fare increase. Officials also debated alternative adjustments at the time, including a larger per-mile fare hike and exemptions from import duties on key operational inputs like tires.

    “Putting together a data-driven proposal that accounts for current market conditions has required in-depth analysis from our technical team,” Zabaneh noted. “Right now, our team is finalizing that full presentation for cabinet, including a side-by-side comparison of current fuel price trends versus when the original subsidy was launched. Cabinet needs all relevant facts on the table to make a thoughtful, informed decision that works for both operators and commuters.”

    Moving forward, the Belizean government is focused on building a long-term sustainable solution through a new public-private partnership model for the public transport sector, according to Zabaneh. A formal cabinet deliberation on the BBA’s subsidy demands is scheduled for September 4, and officials expect to release a public update on the partnership’s progress and planned adjustments within the first six months of implementation.

  • Díaz-Canel met with representatives of the Cuban private sector

    Díaz-Canel met with representatives of the Cuban private sector

    On August 26, 2026, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez convened a landmark meeting with private sector representatives from across the island nation’s key economic sectors, cementing a new commitment to sustained, open engagement with the full spectrum of Cuba’s business ecosystem – encompassing both state and non-state management models.

    Accompanied by senior government and labor leaders, including Organization Secretary of the Central Committee Roberto Morales Ojeda, Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, and Cuban Workers’ Federation Secretary General Osnay Miguel Colina Rodríguez, Díaz-Canel framed systematic dialogue as an indispensable foundation for collective national progress. “We cannot deliver the transformative change our country needs without open, consistent communication,” he told attendees drawn from food production, agriculture, energy, transportation, legal services and other key industries. “Without regular dialogue, we cannot align our perspectives or build the consensus required to move forward.”

    The core goal of this expanded engagement, Díaz-Canel emphasized, is to align the ambitions of private business leaders with Cuba’s broader national development priorities, creating a mutually beneficial framework that drives sustainable growth amid what he described as an exceptionally complex global and domestic context. “What we are building is a system that ties your aspirations as entrepreneurs to the aspirations of the entire Cuban people, combining these goals to deliver shared prosperity,” he said. “This is how we build the momentum the country needs to deliver the better standard of living our citizens deserve.”

    During the meeting, the president laid out clear policy priorities for all economic actors, calling for aggressive expansion of domestic production of food, consumer goods and essential services, sharp reductions in wasteful unproductive costs and decreased reliance on imported finished goods. He also stressed the critical need to integrate new technology, specialized knowledge and innovative practices across all sectors of the economy.

    Díaz-Canel stressed that all economic entities – regardless of ownership model – must align with Cuba’s territorial development strategies and national development plan. He used the energy sector as a clear example, noting that both state-owned enterprises and private companies have defined roles to play, and that these contributions must be measurable in tangible outcomes: from energy generation output to job creation and increased national revenue.

    The president also issued a firm rebuke of unethical and illegal economic practices that harm Cuban communities, arguing that legitimate profit must be earned through effort, high productivity, efficiency, innovation and calculated risk – not through speculation, price gouging or exploitation of consumers. He warned that the non-state sector must not become a haven for illegal activity, tax evasion, corruption, hoarding or price fixing that is disconnected from the needs of working people. He specifically called out the harmful practice of refusing bank transfers, announcing that the government will continue its crackdown on the practice until it is fully eliminated.

    In redefining how success should be measured for all economic projects, Díaz-Canel argued that profitability alone should not be the sole metric of impact. “We should not judge a project’s value only by what ends up in a bank account,” he explained. “We must measure it by what it puts on a family’s table, what jobs it creates for young people, what opportunities it gives talented Cubans to build their lives here at home, how it improves local communities and drives municipal development, and ultimately how it strengthens our national sovereignty.”

    Díaz-Canel closed the meeting by reaffirming Cuba’s commitment to continuing its economic and social transformation, emphasizing that the process will always center on elevating the voices of all stakeholders and prioritizing the well-being of the Cuban people and long-term national development.

    During the discussion, participating private sector leaders shared on-the-ground insights from their work, highlighting persistent biases and operational obstacles at the middle management level, many of which stem from limited understanding of the 176 recently approved economic and social reforms. Attendees also presented new business initiatives, outlined community-focused social programs their enterprises are implementing, and shared key priorities – including the transition to new energy sources to prevent disruptive production shutdowns. They closed by reaffirming their commitment to the national collective effort, calling for full integration into Cuba’s unified business network as the country works to advance shared progress.

  • We couldn’t miss the Book Fair

    We couldn’t miss the Book Fair

    For passionate book lovers everywhere, there are few joys greater than arriving home after a book event with an armful of new reads. Even when this haul only lengthens the already interminable to-read pile and eats into the shrinking free space on bookshelves, the thrill is unmatched. The inevitable process of curating which volumes stay and which must be set aside always comes with a small, bittersweet sting, but it is a small price to pay for the magic of new stories.

    This year marked the 34th iteration of the Havana International Book Fair, and for long-time attendee Rafael Mena Brito, this edition brought a heavier haul of books than any he could recall from past events. While shifting personal selection criteria played a small role, Brito credits the far wider range of titles available to attendees this year — a notable achievement given the significant economic and infrastructural challenges Cuba currently navigates.

    It is impossible to ignore the shortcomings of this year’s venue change: the iconic historic site of the San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress, which has long hosted the fair, offered amenities that the new location at the Cultural Station on Línea and 18th Streets could not match. Attendees raised reasonable questions about event quality amid cramped space, oppressive August heat, widespread power outages, and persistent public transportation disruptions. Even with these barriers, however, the core spirit of the literary celebration shone through.

    For Brito, this year’s edition only reinforced a long-held belief he shares with friends: a true reader will always leave a book fair with a special find, no matter the circumstances. Unexpected treasures turn up at the most unassuming booths, and that element of happy surprise is impossible to replicate anywhere else. This year’s success was no accident: it was made possible by tireless work from Cuban cultural institutions, breakthrough progress from the country’s Territorial Publishing System (SET), and vital solidarity from partner nations across the region.

    International solidarity took tangible, accessible forms for fair attendees. Thanks to the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation’s Mexico office, visitors could claim free copies of *Selected Pages of Rosario Castellanos*, published by Casa de las Américas. Mexican authorities also offered Cuban youth a free 25-volume collection celebrating 25 years of cultural collaboration, presented by Mexican ambassador to Cuba Miguel Ignacio Díaz Reynoso and Fondo de Cultura Económica director Paco Ignacio Taibo II, at the request of Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum.

    This collection opened new doors for readers to engage with iconic Latin American and Caribbean voices: from the meditations on solitude, grief, and love in Colombian poet Piedad Bonnett’s work, to the vivid storytelling of Nobel Prize winner Miguel Ángel Asturias in *Week-end in Guatemala*. The lineup also included legends such as Gabriel García Márquez, Roberto Fernández Retamar, Eduardo Galeano, and Amparo Dávila, among dozens of other celebrated writers.

    Cuban publishing houses also delivered standout offerings this year. Leading imprints Letras Cubanas and Arte y Literatura brought back their popular *Biblioteca del Pueblo* collection, and multiple titles sold out entirely, a clear marker of the collection’s enduring popularity among Cuban readers. For readers seeking more unique finds at accessible price points, Havana’s iconic La Manigua bookstore set up a week-long pop-up at the fair, selling well-bound secondhand titles at lower prices than its permanent location.

    Regional publishing houses also turned out in force: Pinar del Río’s Ediciones Loynaz and Holguín’s La Luz marked the 26th anniversary of their participation in the fair by bringing more than 350 new titles to the capital, drawing huge crowds of attendees. While print runs remain smaller than they were in pre-crisis years, and popular releases often sell out within hours of launching, the mere act of transporting new works from across the country to Havana required an extraordinary collective effort from publishing teams that cannot be overstated.

    Make no mistake: this was a difficult year for the Havana International Book Fair, marked by systemic challenges that disrupted operations. Power outages compromised core services like digital payment processing, and coordination between publishing stakeholders left room for improvement. Organizers will no doubt draw lessons from this year’s experience at Línea and 18th Streets to address these gaps in future editions.

    Even so, the 34th Havana International Book Fair could not be canceled. It was a necessary celebration for established award-winning Cuban authors, for emerging writers seeing their first work in print, and most of all, for the reading public that turns out year after year. Against a backdrop of national difficulty, this year’s fair was more than a book sale: it was a much-needed respite, a breath of fresh life carried between the covers of books, and a chance to keep dreaming of what comes next.

  • 2C12: A Cuban candidate against cancer

    2C12: A Cuban candidate against cancer

    After years of targeted research focused on expanding local, accessible cancer treatment options, Cuban scientists at the island nation’s Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM) have announced that their novel immunotherapy candidate 2C12 is ready to enter its first clinical trial for patients with advanced melanoma. The announcement, shared officially via CIM’s public Facebook page on Monday, marks a key milestone for Cuba’s push toward domestic pharmaceutical sovereignty amid long-standing trade restrictions that limit access to costly imported cancer drugs.

    Designed to function similarly to pembrolizumab, a widely used global immunotherapy that activates the body’s own immune system to attack malignant tumor cells, 2C12 was developed in response to two overlapping challenges: the exorbitant price tag of many cutting-edge cancer treatments on the international market, and Cuba’s constrained ability to import these life-saving medications due to the United States’ decades-long economic, commercial, and financial blockade. For Cuban patients and healthcare systems, the homegrown candidate offers a potential path to a more affordable, widely available alternative to currently inaccessible immunotherapies.

    The first-phase clinical trial will enroll patients diagnosed with advanced melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer that has progressed to the point where surgical removal is no longer feasible or has spread to distant organs and tissues across the body. Multiple leading Cuban medical institutions will collaborate on the research, combining expertise from oncology centers across two provinces. In the capital city of Havana, teams from the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology and the Hermanos Ameijeiras Clinical Surgical Hospital will lead local trial operations, while the Dr. Celestino Hernández Robau Territorial University Oncology Hospital will oversee participant recruitment and care in Villa Clara province.

    Patients or their family members interested in learning more about trial eligibility requirements and participation opportunities are directed to reach out directly to oncology specialists at the participating medical sites. For Cuban science, the advancement of 2C12 to clinical testing represents far more than a new potential cancer treatment: it is a tangible outcome of decades of investment in domestic biomedical research, and a major step forward in the country’s goal of building full sovereign capacity to develop and produce its own life-saving medications.