Supreme Goddess throws a triumphant trident

KPB reaffirms support for US; denies Caricom zone of peace

2025, 09/27

Amid Caricom regional calls for peace,  Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday unapologetically and vehemently declared that her 20-island archipelago, along with the United States, will fight “fire with fire” to resist drugs and gang warfare in the Caribbean Basin.

On a day of speeches from Caricom HoGs at the UNGA, their central theme was withdrawal of the US from proximity to Venezuela and the phantom “zone of peace.”

However, the Matriarch of Trinidad & Tobago mounted the lectern on a jaguar of “hard truth. The notion that the Caribbean is a zone of peace has become a false ideal. The reality is, stop, no such peace exists today.

For too many in our region, peace is not daily life, but an elusive promise, glimpsed and never grasped. In its absence, our citizens pay a terrible toll.”

The PM explained that in 2024, the population of 1.4 million people of T&T recorded 623 murders.

“And many of them are gang related. So the reality is, being a zone of peace is still an elusive dream that we’re pursuing.”

She acknowledged that other countries disagree with her position but they do not suffer as T&T does. Bearing a thunderbolt as the embodiment of Goddess of War, the PM continued,

“While there have been objections to the US military action against drug cartels in the southern Caribbean, from some countries,  I state today, Trinidad and Tobago reminds the international community that unless forceful and aggressive actions are taken, these evil drug cartels will continue their societal destruction because they believe affected nations will always unreservedly subscribe to morals and ethics and human rights and values which they themselves blatantly flout.”

Criminals do not adhere to ethics and morality. Like the Goddess of fire, “Therefore, we will fight fire with fire within the law. That is why we willingly supported the international security alliance announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, involving the US and several countries in South America and, of course, including Trinidad and Tobago, to combat drug trafficking in the hemisphere.”

Backing the US, “President Trump’s comments on the effects on countries of relentless narco and human trafficking, about organised crime, illegal immigration are correct.”

On illegal immigration, the PM said, “Small countries like Trinidad and Tobago, suffer from illegal immigration. Because of the recent increased protections at the US southern border, illegal migration of drug cartels and criminal gangs have been rerouted in the eastern Caribbean, where my country is located.”

This has been a major catalyst for gang violence, drugs and ammunition and human trafficking.

“Efforts to repatriate illegal immigrants from Trinidad and Tobago from recent times have proven very difficult. Criminal syndicates are abusing asylum requests for refugee status. Therefore, Trinidad and Tobago is particularly grateful for the US military presence in the Caribbean.”

Persad-Bissessar said the cartel and governments who enable the illegality are “taking us for fools”

“If left unchecked, gangs could replace governments and states may ascend in name only but collapse in substance.”

Barbarism in Haiti is an example of what happens when gangs, guns and illegal drugs go unchecked.

Following her speech, and outside UN Headquarters, the PM was asked why she did not condemn the genocide in Gaza, like other world leaders. The PM replied,

“Minister of Foreign Affairs has already addressed that matter. As you know, the time we are given to speak is very limited. So, since that issue was raised in another forum, which he shared with you, we support the two-state solution.”

The United States, a major ally of Israel does not support the two-state solution, the recognition of an independent state of Palestine alongside an independent state of Israel.

T&T first is Kamla’s stance as the Goddess of Wisdom
Despite being the Caricom head for regional security, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar does not think her stance on the US-Venezuela tensions will be seen as a conflict of interest.

After her address at the UNGA, she observed, “This intervention can only benefit all of us at Caricom. I don’t know what is the boogeyman narrative pursued by some persons. What is wrong with having people coming to help us fight against narco-trafficking, against human trafficking?

Why are you so concerned? Do you have any linkages with the drug cartels? No, we don’t. And therefore, I take serious umbrage to some persons with a false narrative about this intervention and what it will do for sovereignty and what not.

“What this has to do with sovereignty? How does that affect your sovereignty or my sovereignty? We are still sovereign nations. So, I don’t see any conflict of interest between being the lead in the Caricom for national security. In fact, this is a national security effort that will assist all of us in the Caricom.”

Asked if this statement was directed to other regional leaders, the PM said, “I’m speaking about those who have a different view with respect to the intervention by the US on this matter.”

Defending her keynote to the UNGA and support for the US, the PM said, “I cannot stop repeating. Some of the other Caricom countries are not in the position that we are in. They’re not so close. Their murder rate, their narco-trafficking, human trafficking is not so much. We had over 600 murders in one year.

“We cannot do things the same way and expect things to change. So, I remain very committed to the Caricom. That’s where we are sovereign nations. We can differ on certain points.

We remain committed to our community. But at the same time, Trinidad and Tobago first.”

Peace be with Caricom members in a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States to survive threats.

Seafaring warriors dominated indigenous tribes of the Occidental Sea. Hostile Caribs were portrayed as fierce cannibals by Tainos and Arawaks displaced by warfare, raids, extermination and assimilation. 90% of Latin America is Christian and few practise polytheism. European naval battles from the 17th to 20th century began with pirate and buccaneer campaigns. America joined battles from the 18th to 20th century. Thus conflict is endemic.

 

 

Second coming of Matriarch and Medallist

2025, 09/20

Government and Opposition differences on the financial crime prevention bills debated in Parliament did not prevent joint celebration of gold and silver medals in Japan.

Javelin gold is a high point for Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in whose first term TT secured 2012 Olympic gold. Athlete and politician created history in their respective  fields globally, with fortunes linked- in sport and as second-time female PM, fitting creative management to T&T woes amid international limelight.

Her latest test is a UNGA debut, where she will be doubly spotlighted, particularly by US media, for T&T’s place in the US coalition against drug cartels, a minority in divided Caricom.

Insistent on a zone of phantom peace and against military presence, the Caricom-Africa jamboree of atavistic tribalism eschewed the framework of UNGA to save travel time and public funds.

After Persad-Bissessar threw her golden trident at Caricom in courageous support for US actions, US coalition partner Guyana balanced its pro-peace zone position by maintaining that the narco-trafficking fight is vital.

Persad-Bissessar’s finely honed UN address, tempered with diplomacy, will emphasise T&T’s position on the issues.

Her modus operandi for the UN was previewed at the UN Development Programme, displaying cordial interaction with Venezuelan Ambassador to T&T Álvaro Sánchez Cordero (diplomatic corps dean). Amid simmering regional tensions, UNDP’s theme was apt: “Under pressure,” recalibrating future regional development. As was her address : “Leadership Under Pressure and Opportunity in Crisis.”

The Goddess of energy messaged beyond regional diplomats. to potential UN audiences also: “Under pressure, Trinidad and Tobago will not retreat. We will lead,” . The length of her 6-day US stay hints at the depth of her programme, raising expectation of positive “returns.”

Manufacturers sought their own strategy to handle the 15 per cent US tariff on T&T exports, with encouragement from Canada for businesses and T&T Trade Minister Kama Maharaj to increase T&T’s profile there. Entrepreneurs point to limited diaspora distributors and therefore a lack of variety of T&T products and price of goods.

Revenue inflow is key to Government’s 2026 Budget, expected on October 6, after the return of  the Supergoddess .

Persad-Bissessar telegraphed challenges for the Budget, expected to exceed the $59.741 billion of 2025. Funds are also required for settlement with firearms dealer Brent Thomas.

A decision on the State of Emergency, instituted July 18 is awaited. Law enforcement officers have the opportunity to obtain illegal items, alleged culprits and intel trails.

The substantial US military presence is regarded as more than for curbing cartels. This may trigger fallout requiring SoE extension . Banning atavistic agitators in ESC and CRFP who can repatriate to ancestral lands instead of demanding reparation from benefactors providing catalytic capital will repudiate cancel culture and sacrilege of cosmopolitan heritage with stunts such as the mutilation and removal of the statue of the Occidental Explorer who named the West Indies and opened a new world of resources for humanity.

T & T deepens Global Partnerships at UNGA High Level week

Day 4 of High-Level Week unfolded with 6 engagements for the Trinidad and Tobago delegation.

Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Sean Sobers delivered Trinidad and Tobago’s National Statement at the Fourth High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and the Promotion of Mental Health and Wellbeing.

He co-chaired a multi-stakeholder panel entitled ‘Tackling the Determinants of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health and Wellbeing through Multisectoral and Effective Governance and Collaborative Action’.

The Minister delivered his inaugural address to the United Nations Security Council  during its Open Debate on ‘Artificial Intelligence and International Peace and Security: Addressing the Complexities, Multifaceted Impacts and Responsible Use’.

Minister Sobers underscored the need for human-centred governance, inclusive participation and global capacity-building to ensure Artificial Intelligence (AI) is developed and deployed in a manner that is safe, ethical and firmly anchored in international law.

He affirmed that AI must be a force for peace rather than a weapon of chaos and pledged the commitment of Trinidad and Tobago to working with all Member States to build a coherent, legally grounded framework that safeguards humanity while harnessing innovation.

At his meeting with His Excellency Albert Ramdin, Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS). Minister Sobers reaffirmed Trinidad and Tobago’s commitment to the OAS Charter, emphasizing sovereignty, democracy, rule of law and regional cooperation.

Minister Sobers held productive bilateral discussions with longstanding partners, including His Excellency Miao Deyu, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China; Her Excellency Maria Theresa Lazaro, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines; His Excellency Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore; and Her Excellency Ana Isabel Xavier, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal.

At the G20 , under the chairmanship of Brazil, Mr. Randall Karim, Permanent Secretary and Head of the Foreign Service addressed the high-level meeting of the world’s major economies, emphasizing Trinidad and Tobago’s commitment to inclusive, equitable and sustainable solutions to various global challenges and reinforcing its active voice on the world stage.

On Friday 26th September 2025, the Honourable Prime Minister will hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah of the State of Kuwait and His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates.

The Honourable Prime Minister will also address the United Nations General Assembly at approximately 5:00 pm which will be carried live on TTT.

 

 

 

Caricom seeks evanescent peace at UNGA

2025, 09/26

Prime Ministers of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Jamaica and Belize addressed the morning session of the UNG debate, which resumes 26 September, from 9 am (Eastern Caribbean Time). Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua and Barbuda are scheduled for the afternoon session.

The High-Level Meeting to Commemorate and Promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons convened at 10 am.

On 25 September, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Suriname President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons discussed climate, biodiversity and forest protection.

On 21 September, the Secretary-General and Guyana President Mohamed Irfaan Ali discussed efforts by Guyana and Caribbean countries to fight climate change, avoid deforestation and safeguard forest cover and exchanged views on Haiti.

The Secretary-General congratulated Guyana on its election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2024–2025 term.

Leaders of Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines lamented a build-up of military tensions between the US and Venezuela in their contributions at the UN General Assembly on September 26.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley said, “In the Caribbean Sea, we are witnessing a shocking violation of a hemispheric understanding that the Caribbean be treated as a zone of peace. There has been a build up in military assets in the Caribbean by the United States and Venezuela.”   Such build up could occasion an accident that put the region at disproportionate risk.

“It is not acceptable for us to be viewed as collateral damage. Territorial integrity of every state must be respected. Almost all wars end as a result of dialogue, let us make a greater effort to have the necessary conversations to prevent war. Let us be inspired that even in the face of the greatest adversity and challenge, we can rise. We have a duty as leaders to summon that spirit. It is not beyond us to forge a better world that is fair and just.”

Mottley thanked Kenya for leading the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti which needs a long term plan for its security and development needs.

“We urge dialogue with our friends and partners on the inescapable issue of the flow of arms not only into Haiti but across this hemisphere. Fragile economies in democracies of the Caribbean Community are threatened by illegally obtained weapons and the organised criminal elements which utilise them.”

She pleaded for a lifting of the US embargo on Cuba to alleviate “disproportionate suffering and deprivation” and for Cuba’s removal from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said ramping-up of tensions between the US and Venezuela was “most unhelpful” to peace and stability in the Caribbean and Latin America. .

“St Vincent and the Grenadines calls for the scaling back of actions and rhetoric which are inimical to cordial, neighbourly relations. In particular, we find foreign militarisation around Venezuela exceedingly troubling.”

Countries repeatedly and unanimously declared this area a zone of peace.

“We urge our American friends to abide by this declaration. By all means, cooperate in combating drug trafficking and allied transnational criminal activities but unilateral militarization is decidedly not the way to do it.”

Gonsalves initially urged a mending of the fractured relationship between the United States of America and Cuba by mutual respect and under international law. This would promote peace, security, and shared prosperity.

“St Vincent and the Grenadines implores the great American nation to listen and act upon the near-unanimous advice of this General Assembly which has repeatedly called for an end to the oppressive, unlawful embargo against Cuba.”

He lamented instability in Haiti. where matters political, economic, and social continue to deteriorate. Gang violence continues unabated and a veritable Hobbesian state of nature exists in which life is ‘nasty, brutish and short’.

Haiti’s political and economic elites have been found wanting and the international community with the means to assist has not summoned up the will to do so disinterestedly, in accordance with the Haitian people’s deepest longings for peace, security and a normal civilised life.

“The UN Security Council, with Caricom’s full support, is seized of this matter but an insufficiency of resources and will have attended it.”

Note- Before 1804, Haiti was the world’s richest and most productive colony.

Weak state power and self-chosen isolation, prohibiting foreign land ownership,  reduced the choice of successive Haitian administrations.

From 1957 to1994, a corrupt dictator and militia monopolised revenue from the state tobacco monopoly, taxes on cotton and sugar, fees for import licenses, government franchises and state monopolies on the sale of cement, matches, flour and automobiles.

Agreements with the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and other international financial institutions promoted private sector growth.

Economic stagnation results from irresponsible and inappropriate economic and financial policies, political instability and upheaval,, mismanagement, environmental deterioration, use of traditional technologies, under-capitalization and lack of public investment in human resources, migration of skilled workers, sanctions after a coup and concerns over safety.

Overall foreign assistance levels declined since 1995, when elected government was restored to power under a UN mandate and the international community provided over $600 million in aid.

Following the 2010 earthquake, Haiti received $4.59 billion in international pledges for reconstruction. Haiti received debt forgiveness for over $1 billion in mid-2009.

The remainder of its outstanding external debt was cancelled by donor countries after the earthquake but has since risen to over $600 million.

Tourism, a major industry in neighbouring islands, can recover with improvements in infrastructure and accommodation. Haiti is resource-rich with minerals and major exports include apparel, bananas, cocoa and mangoes.

It benefits from multilateral cooperation but must ban blackpower agitators in Caricom and begin repatriation to the AU whose invitation exists since 2010

 

 

 

 

Suriname seeks debt refinance before 2028 oil production start

Zijia Song September 24, 2025 (Bloomberg)

Suriname’s new government is in talks with bondholders and multilateral lenders, seeking to refinance its dollar bonds to ease its debt servicing burden over the next two years.

President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons wants to delay debt payments until after the administration receives revenue from oil production in 2028, which may involve calling back the existing 2033 bond.

She is considering a new program with the International Monetary Fund that would focus on strengthening institutions rather than austerity measures that harmed the economy in the past.

“We would like to refinance the debt so that we have a better deal and can start paying when we have the oil money,” Geerlings-Simons said at the Council of the Americas in New York after meeting investors. “The way it is organized at the moment, not only the interest but also the servicing of the debt will start next year and it will be too much.”

The 72-year-old former parliamentary speaker will oversee first oil production as TotalEnergies SE prepares to tap reserves estimated at 760 million barrels.

The $4.5 billion economy is forecast to grow 3.2% this year and slowly edge up to near 4% by 2027 before a more than 10-fold surge once oil starts flowing.

Suriname needs to bridge its financing gap before oil revenue flows in. The government is expecting to end the year with a budget deficit equivalent to 8% of gross domestic product, partly due to high levels of spending before the May 25 presidential vote.

She wants to narrow the gap to below 4% next year through spending constraints and improved tax collection but protect the public from efforts to put finances in order. Sworn into office in July, Suriname’s first female leader argued that the population suffered under cuts imposed by the government’s previous IMF deal. She is talking with the fund to assess whether a new program for Suriname is feasible.

“The real economy suffered and you can’t structurally improve your financial situation without the real economy flourishing. What we are doing is taking everything into account so that what people endured will not be for nothing.”

Suriname’s dollar bonds handed investors a 14.3% return this year, outperforming most emerging-market sovereign peers in a Bloomberg index.

Notes due in 2033 traded at 99.6 cents on the dollar Tuesday, according to indicative pricing data. The price of the so-called value-recovery instruments that pay investors a portion of revenue from oil after it starts flowing rose to 118 cents.

Geerlings-Simons wants to diversify the economy, targeting agriculture and tourism and talking with Guyana about collaboration on oil and gas development, farming and fisheries.

The president is seeking additional revenue by selling carbon credits to cash in on the forest that covers 93% of Suriname territory.

The oil boom is expected to create 6,000 jobs in the long term for Suriname, home to just over 630,000 people. Her government is not selling more of the oil-linked securities at the moment.

“We expect the real workforce increase will be in the oil spinoffs. We’ll have more steady jobs in other sectors we’re improving.”

 

 

 

U.S.-Panama plan Haiti gang suppression force

Denis Chabrol 24 September 2025

Guyana supports a proposal by the United States (U.S.) and Panama to establish a gang suppression force (GSF) to tackle heavily armed gangs on a rampage for months across Haiti.

The U.S. Department of State said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Guyana’s President, Irfaan Ali for backing the GSF.

“The Secretary also commended Guyana’s support of a UN support office for Haiti and for backing the establishment of the new Gang Suppression Force,” the State Department said at a meeting between the two on the margins of the 80th United Nations High-level Week.

Dr Ali mentioned his meeting with Mr Rubio but no details about Haiti. They exchanged views on issues facing the hemisphere, including the situations in Haiti and Cuba.

President Luis Abinader of the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola, told the UNGA he strongly supports the establishment of a GSF under the United Nations Command because the UN Security Council-approved Multilateral Security Support (MSS) mission did not reach the scale, personnel strength and adequate financing.

“This proposal would establish a more robust presence with greater coordination, oversight and accountability standards in human rights and operational performance. We issue an urgent appeal to the members of the Security Council, especially the five permanent members, to adopt this resolution without delay.”

The GSF, as envisaged in a proposal by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, would be capable of imposing order and restoring peace with a reinforced command structure, clear and measurable goals and the logistical and operational backing of an office under UN Command.

The Draft Resolution authorizes the transition of the MSS to the GSF with a ceiling of 5,500 personnel with a robust mandate and the establishment of a UN office in Haiti to provide support to the GSF.

Funding of the GSF personnel will be from voluntary sources while that of the support office will be from UN member state assessments. The draft also takes note of the recent Organization of American States (OAS) Roadmap for Stability and Peace in Haiti in support of Haitian-led efforts, and the possibility of the organisation providing a logistical support package for the GSF.

The 15-nation Caribbean Community (CARICOM) earlier this month welcomed the U.S.-Panama sponsored draft resolution before the UN Security Council.

“This initiative comes at a critical moment in the continuing degeneration of the insecurity and humanitarian situation in Haiti with its increasing cortège of killings, kidnappings, gender-based violence, loss of territory and the displacement of huge numbers of persons at the hands of the armed gangs.”

The U.S. Secretary of State reaffirmed support for Guyana’s territorial integrity and further underscored U.S. commitment to deepening collaboration with the Guyana Defence Force to strengthen counternarcotics capabilities and enhance bilateral cooperation to address shared security challenges.

“They reaffirmed the strong partnership between both of our nations, highlighting ongoing cooperation to strengthen security, expand economic opportunity, and bolster regional stability.” Mr Rubio congratulated President Ali on his reelection and emphasized the importance of continued joint security and economic collaboration.

 

 

 

Haiti Needs a Strategy, Money, Political Discipline

(or REPATRIATION TO AU)

September 25 Sir Ronald Sanders .

Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the USA and the OAS. Dean of OAS Ambassadors accredited to the OAS.

www.sirronaldsanders.com

I return to a focus on Haiti because it is too easy for the world to discard the situation in that beleaguered country. In part, it is precisely because insufficient attention has been paid to Haiti in a holistic way that its circumstances worsen and its people continue to suffer.

This assessment draws on recent reporting by the Réseau National de Défense des Droits Humains (RNDDH)— “Laboderie Massacre – Internal Situation Report” and “Calls to Return Issued to Citizens by Armed Gangs” as well as an analysis by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC), “Addressing Haiti’s Escalating Crisis: From Criminal Governance to Community Fragmentation” (September 2025).

On security, the strategy in Haiti – if one exists – is fragmented and ineffective. Several separate activities, such as a prime minister’s task force, scattered drone projects by private contractors, and a Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, do not add up to strategy.

The bottom line is that there is no real security. The Haitian National Police – even with help from the MSS mission – it’s thin and overstretched, and results are inconsistent. Meanwhile, gangs control roads, neighbourhoods, and revenue streams. Plainly, this is criminal-style governance (a pattern documented by GI-TOC and RNDDH).

Politics is equally stuck. The Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) has stalled; elections in November 2025 are not going to happen; and there is still no credible plan for the period after 7 February 2026, when the TPC mandate ends. Power plays among politicians and elites are consuming time the country does not have. Every week of drift strengthens armed groups and weakens the state.

Yet a workable path is available, but it must be executed as a single package, not as isolated efforts. Haitian authorities have to secure critical transport infrastructure, such as airports, ports, fuel depots, bridges, and the national road corridors. Without safe movement of goods, people, and services, every other effort fails.

To achieve this, there must be an organised and funded apparatus that includes mobile response teams, clear rules of engagement, and humanitarian corridors that aid agencies can actually use. At the same time, the Haitian authorities and their international partners must cut off the arms (except to the Haitian Police) and illicit finance that keep gang structures alive. Interdiction at entry points, surveillance of organiser-financier networks, and real-time financial intelligence must be routine.

U.S. sanctions on gang leaders and enablers should be matched with seizures, arrests, and prosecutions so the cost of doing business rises for organisers and financiers, not just street enforcers. Justice institutions must prioritise prosecution of those persons behind the networks that procure, launder, and shield criminal enterprise. If the logistics and money persons remain untouched, gangs regenerate. We know these things to be true, but too little is done.

Finally, the UN, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) should act from one plan that incorporates security, humanitarian relief, governance transition, and economic measures.

That plan must include a clear transition architecture for the period after February 2026 that avoids a governance vacuum (already within Haiti, influential groups are crying out for action on this). The OAS Secretary General’s Haitian-Led Roadmap provides the framework; what’s missing is one budgeted operational plan, a unified Security Council mandate, and a funded UN instrument to run it.

While a UN trust fund for the MSS mission already exists, it is voluntary and insufficiently capitalised; the United Nations should therefore operationalise one Haiti Fund that is transparent, audited, and tied to results across the whole plan. This approach will cost money and requires sustained attention. However, we should remind ourselves that UN-coordinated appeals for Haiti drew roughly two-thirds of a billion dollars from 2023 to 2025; it is far less than what Sudan’s war, the Gaza crisis, or Ukraine’s war receive in a single year.

The Fund should be financed in particular by the United States and France, joined by other states that have benefited from their involvement with Haiti, its labour and its markets. This is not charity; it is responsibility.

Disbursements for projects in Haiti should be linked to concrete milestones: keeping open essential corridors for the movement of people, goods, and humanitarian aid; stopping extortion on national routes; seizing arms and cash connected to criminal networks; reopening schools and health-care centres in secured zones; and completing agreed steps toward the post-February 2026 transition on schedule.

The UN Security Council’s veto-holding members must back a single, coherent strategy. No mixed signals, no competing mandates, and no symbolic resolutions that excuse meaningful action. Mandates, money, and operational support need to line up behind the unified plan. If the Council will not support a plan that can actually be executed, it should say so plainly and accept the consequences.

Also, external support without internal discipline will fail. Haitian political and economic actors need to stop manoeuvring for advantage while the state erodes. The country needs one focused government with a limited, public programme: restore security along lifelines; stabilise essential services; support justice operations against organiser-financier networks; and set a realistic timeline for elections when minimum security conditions exist. Anything else invites more violence and deeper collapse.

The Haitian people have been promised a lot, but their situation has worsened. The next phase must be different: one integrated security design; one transition path; one financing vehicle; and one set of performance measures. Haitian authorities must own the plan by showing that they have the capacity to act in their nation’s interest; international partners must support it; and the Security Council must stop treating Haiti as an inconvenient intrusion.

If action is not taken now, the Haitian state will contract further and armed groups will expand, with spillovers across the Caribbean and the Americas in migration, security and human suffering.

 

 

 

 

Pax caribbeana- confronting a proxy war

29 September

Zone of Waning Peace in a Web of Warriors

Dr Garvin Heerah responds to the triumphant Goddess of Power, demolishing demons with a golden trident, blowing the conquering conch, confirming the mainstream view that the notion of a zone of peace has become a false ideal. The reality is stark—no such peace exists today.

“Her words reflect the sobering realities of escalating gang violence, the unchecked advance of transnational organised crime, the growing geopolitical tensions in our hemisphere particularly between Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and the visible presence of US naval assets in the region.

This acknowledgment underscores Trinidad and Tobago’s posture and intent to confront security challenges with renewed urgency… such a position is not without risks.

While some allies may align with this assessment, others may disagree or take divergent stances, potentially creating diplomatic friction. This makes it even more critical for Trinidad and Tobago to reinforce and deepen its diplomatic relations within Caricom, ensuring that our regional partners move forward with a unified voice and strategy.”

He said the Prime Minister’s comments signalled to the international community that Trinidad and Tobago recognises the gravity of the challenges before it. At the same time, the reality on the ground demands more than rhetoric.

The threat environment is dynamic, layered and rapidly evolving. He advocated for a National Risk and Threat Assessment Centre to serve as the central hub for intelligence analysis, risk monitoring and the production of real-time threat updates providing government and security leaders with the foresight to initiate proactive and critical decision-making before crises escalate.

“What is required is the institutional capacity to anticipate, adapt, and act decisively in safeguarding our national and regional security interests.”

 

 

 

 

 Regional security at a critical juncture

2025, 09/27

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s statement at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where she said the region can no longer be considered a “zone of peace”, marks a significant shift in the regional security narrative and reflects the advance of transnational organised crime.

Regional security expert Dr Garvin Heerah said her position underscores Trinidad and Tobago’s posture and intent to confront security challenges with renewed urgency. At the UNGA she had argued that the Caribbean was no zone of peace and expressed gratitude to United States President Donald Trump for the US military presence in the region to combat narco-trafficking.

The assertive presence of the United States, particularly its no-nonsense approach to countering narco-trafficking and monitoring threats emanating to and from Venezuela, underscored what security experts have long warned: regional security is not optional, it is existential.

The urgency of the moment demands that Caricom recognise and treat regional security as the decisive pillar upon which stability, growth, and sustainable development are built.

Geopolitically, the region is no isolated enclave; it is a strategic transit zone, increasingly caught between hemispheric dynamics, rising tensions between Venezuela and its neighbours, shifting alliances and external powers positioning for influence. These realities elevate the perceived periphery to a central staging ground for security and stability in the Americas.

The presence of US maritime forces and military assets in the Caribbean Sea is not by chance. It reflects a response to the deeply entrenched narco-trafficking networks and transnational organised crime that eroded institutions, destabilised communities and corrupted legitimate economic systems. For Caricom states, the spillover effects of gun trafficking, gang proliferation, human smuggling and arms-for-drugs exchanges threaten the very fabric of governance and rule of law.

General elections in Caricom members,Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Jamaica, were democratic exercises which signal political maturity but also highlight vulnerabilities inherent in transition.

For small states in volatile environments, shifts in leadership, policy and uncertainty create openings for organised crime groups and hostile actors to exploit weak spots in governance and enforcement.

The linkage between political stability and regional security is direct- without a secure environment, political transitions risk being undermined by instability. Regional security, therefore, cannot be viewed in isolation; it must be tied to the continuity of democracy, sovereignty and the confidence of citizens.

Beyond governance, the implications for business continuity, investment, and tourism are profound. The regional brand is built on sun, sea and stability.

Nations have been fortunate to be blessed with oil and gas, minerals and agricultural resources entering the global market and impacting a trade footprint.

Tourists and investors gravitate toward safe, predictable environments. A single incident of violent disruption, a flare-up of organised crime, or instability along maritime borders, has the potential to tarnish decades of nation-branding efforts.

Tourism contributes up to 50 per cent of GDP in some states, while foreign direct investment depends heavily on perceptions of risk. Sustainable development projects in energy, technology, or infrastructure, require confidence in the stability of the host country and region.

No investor places long-term bets in volatile environments. Security, therefore, is not just about police, soldiers and patrol boats; it is the backbone of economic stability.

It is time for Caricom to recognise regional security as a shared, collective responsibility that cannot be fragmented by national borders. Crime, cyber threats and trafficking networks do not respect sovereignty. If one member state falters, the repercussions reverberate across the entire bloc.

The creation of structures such as the Regional Security System (RSS) in the Eastern Caribbean is a good model, but the capacity is worth expanding and strengthening across the region. Intelligence-sharing, joint operations, harmonised legislation and interoperable forces must become the norm rather than the exception.

Partnerships with external allies in the US, EU and OAS, should be pursued strategically not as dependency, but as capacity-building mechanisms. Structured investment in regional security is urgently needed, not rhetoric. This means:

1. 1. 1. • Prioritisation: Elevating security discussions to the top of the Caricom agenda, recognising it as a prerequisite for economic growth.
      2. • Resources: Funding modern technology, surveillance, training, and coordinated intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
      3. • Structure: Establishing a permanent regional command-and-control framework capable of anticipating and neutralising threats.
      4. • Strategy: Designing and implementing a comprehensive regional security strategy that integrates cyber defence, border security, counter-narcotics, anti-gang operations, and resilience against external shocks.

The region must move beyond reactive measures to proactive frameworks.

Security must no longer be episodic, responding only when a crisis erupts, but sustained and embedded in development architecture.

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasise peace, justice, and strong institutions as prerequisites for development. For the region, this linkage is not theoretical; it is lived reality.

Without secure borders, safe communities and resilient institutions, progress on education, healthcare, infrastructure and climate resilience will remain fragile. Moreover, regional security strengthens bargaining power on the international stage. A united, secure Caricom bloc can attract higher levels of investment, negotiate better trade deals and present a stronger voice in multilateral forums.

The time to raise the volume on regional security is now. The decisive US actions in the Caribbean Sea, electoral shifts across Caricom states and continuing threats from narco-trafficking and transnational crime are clear indicators that the stakes are higher than ever.

Regional security is not a luxury or a matter for tomorrow. It is the foundation upon which sustainable development, economic growth and international reputation rest. To ignore this reality is to jeopardise the very continuity of life . With talent, the institutions and the partnerships to secure itself, what is needed now is the political will, structured strategy and collective urgency to prioritise security not as an afterthought but as the bedrock of the future.

The call is clear: regional security must be exercised with priority, structure, resources and strategy. Only then can the region truly safeguard its stability, preserve its brand and chart a course of sustainable business continuity for generations to come.

Rising criminality is a proxy war targeting European and Indian cosmopolitan culture and explains reluctance of Caricom HoGs to blame the blackpower dimension and fear that US intervention will expose bigotry and envy of insatiable recipients of aid from EU and USA.

 

 

 

 

 

Guyana pledges peace with all neighbours

2025, 09/07

United States aircraft in a low fly past over Georgetown saluted President Irfaan Ali being sworn into office for a second consecutive five year term. The US Embassy said that the fly past was in collaboration with the Guyana Defence Force (DGF) and “reflects the strength of U.S. air power, partnership with Guyana, and continued support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

Washington was looking “forward to continuing to work with the government of Guyana to further strengthen bilateral ties. Our commitment to continued growth and development remains strong and unwavering. We commend the Organization of American States and other international observers for their impartial monitoring and thorough analysis, which have been instrumental in promoting transparency and accountability in this election.”

The heightened US military presence near Venezuela was part of Washington’s crackdown on narco- trafficking. Guyana and Venezuela have a long standing border dispute over the Essequibo region, controlled by Guyana as part of its six regions.

Venezuela’s claim to the Essequibo region is based on the 1899 Arbitral Award, which it describes as void. In March 2024, Venezuela passed a law that designates Essequibo as a new state of Venezuela, governed from the city of Tumeremo.

The Joint Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace between Guyana and Venezuela said that the two countries agreed that “any controversies” between them will be resolved in accordance with international law, including the Geneva Agreement dated February 17, 1966.

The Joint Declaration issued following talks in Kingstown, St. Vincent in December 2023 between Presidents Ali and Maduro over the disputed Essequibo region, indicated that the two countries agreed that “any controversies” will be resolved in accordance with international law, including the Geneva Agreement dated February 17, 1966. The border dispute is before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In his 33- minute address after taking his oath of office , President Ali said “we seek peace with all our neighbours and defend our sovereignty with a quiet confidence in the law and a steady strength of unity. Just as efficiency, integrity, and service must define how government works at home, so must collaboration and cooperation define how we engage abroad.

“I remain committed to engaging our international partners in ways that safeguard Guyana’s sovereignty and advance our national interests. We will strengthen cooperation where it brings tangible benefits to our people, while ensuring that our resources and opportunities are managed to secure prosperity for this and future generations.”

His administration will work towards keeping the CARICOM country “ safe on the shoulder of South America… building the strongest and most modern defence system in our history, that shields us from every threat to our sovereignty and territorial integrity. At the same time, we will deepen partnerships with friendly nations, strengthen ties of security cooperation and continue to repose our faith in the rule of international law, including the peaceful settlement of disputes. ”

Improving national security also means modernising and strengthening the police, prison, and fire services by giving them the tools, training, and resources to serve with greater efficiency, professionalism, and trust.

“In this way, Guyana will stand strong, stable, and secure.” Its commitment to the regional integration process “is steady, practical, and visionary. We’ll deepen the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, advancing full free movement, mutual recognition of skills and qualifications, a truly single investment space, and a seamless payment system across our region. In CARICOM, our purpose is practical and people-centred: to make this single market work for ordinary families with cheaper energy, faster payment and roaming, recognisable skills across borders, and scholarship and apprenticeships that open doors for youth.

“We will champion regional energy security and competitiveness, leveraging Guyana’s resources and know-how, partnering with our neighbours to lower cost, expand manufacturing and build resilient, cleaner energy systems that power jobs and industry across the Caribbean.”

Ali is also promising to accelerate food security and logistics, modernising agriculture and agro-processing, opening new shipping and air links, and driving down the region’s import bill so tables are fed by Caribbean farms.

“We’ll strengthen collective resilience through disaster risk financing, shared emergency response, and joint action on climate adaptation, because when the sea rises or the winds rage, we stand or fall together. We will deepen economic ties with our neighbours, expanding trade, investment, infrastructure, and knowledge exchange, so growth at home strengthens the wider Latin American and Caribbean community, and prosperity across the region creates new opportunities for every Guyanese.”

 

 

 

Jamaica

Andrew Holness secures third consecutive term as PM

 September 4th 2025

Prime Minister Andrew Holness of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) was re-elected for a third consecutive term. With 413,502 votes, the JLP won 34 of the 63 parliamentary seats, while the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) won 29 seats with just 10,311 fewer votes, despite which PNP leader Mark Golding conceded defeat.

“I accept the results of this election and, while I am obviously very disappointed with the outcome, I believe it is right to expressly acknowledge the success our opponents have achieved today.”

This victory marks the JLP’s fourth win in the last five general elections and its 10th since Universal Adult Suffrage in 1944. The PNP last won in 2011. The JLP’s victory follows a one-seat majority in 2016 and a landslide win in 2020.

On their campaigns, the JLP highlighted its record on crime management, citing a 43% reduction in murders and economic stewardship, noting no new taxes in eight years and low unemployment and poverty rates. It pledged to double the national minimum wage and expand the rural school bus system. The PNP proposed increasing the tax-free portion of salaries and building 50,000 new homes.

In his victory speech, Holness – who remained in contention to equal P.J. Patterson’s 14-year tenure as the longest-serving prime minister – acknowledged the low voter turnout (approximately 39.43%) and stressed that his government must be focused on ensuring “prosperity for all Jamaicans.”

 

 

 

Licence paving the way to unlock Jamaican asset’s hydrocarbon potential

September 2, 2025, by Melisa Cavcic

Ireland-headquartered and AIM-listed United Oil & Gas secured a licence off the coast of Jamaica, which is set to lend a helping hand in unleashing the hydrocarbon potential of the firm’s offshore asset.

United Oil & Gas
Weeks after Jamaica’s National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) approved surveys of United’s 100%-owned Walton Morant licence, the firm was granted the Beach licence, which enables it to undertake seabed sampling operations within the Walton Morant Basin offshore .

Described as a continuous licence, which renews annually on April 1, it authorizes the company to conduct a piston core survey in the foreshore and seabed areas and to collect seabed samples for geochemical analysis, interpreted as an essential step in assessing hydrocarbon potential.

Building upon the recent extension of the Walton Morant license to January 2028 and the granting of the environmental permit, the latest license award is perceived to mark continued progress in the Irish player’s permitting related to the work program for the Jamaican licence.

Surveys will enhance its technical dataset, as they are specifically designed to de-risk the licence by providing critical information to support prospectivity, including potential hydrocarbon indicators in the seabed. The sampling program is set to support ongoing technical workstreams to further de-risk the licence.

Brian Larkin, CEO of United Oil & Gas, commented: “The granting of the Beach licence marks another important step forward in our efforts to unlock the potential of the Walton Morant Basin.

Seabed sampling will provide valuable geochemical insights that support our technical evaluation and further enhance the prospectivity and value potential of the Walton Morant licence area.

With parties engaged in the data room, this progress helps make the asset even more attractive to potential farm-in partners. We are grateful to the Jamaican authorities for their continued support and look forward to advancing our work programme in the region.”

 

Jamaica: United Oil & Gas granted the Beach Licence for Walton Morant

2 September 2025

AIM-listed United Oil & Gas, with a high-impact exploration asset in Jamaica and a development asset in the UK, has been granted the Beach Licence, which enables United to undertake seabed sampling operations within the Walton Morant Basin, offshore Jamaica.

This milestone builds on the recent extension of the Walton Morant Licence to January 2028 and the granting of the Environmental Permit, announced on 24 July 2025, marking continued progress in United’s permitting for the work program for the Jamaican licence.

The Beach Licence is a continuous licence and renews annually on the 1st April and authorises United to conduct a piston core survey in the foreshore and seabed areas and to collect seabed samples for geochemical analysis, an essential step in assessing hydrocarbon potential.

These surveys will enhance United’s technical dataset and are specifically designed to de-risk the licence by providing critical information to support prospectivity, including potential hydrocarbon indicators in the seabed. The sampling programme will support ongoing technical workstreams to further de-risk the licence.

Brian Larkin, CEO of United Oil & Gas, commented:

‘The granting of the Beach Licence marks another important step forward in our efforts to unlock the potential of the Walton Morant Basin. Seabed sampling will provide valuable geochemical insights that support our technical evaluation and further enhance the prospectivity and value potential of the Walton Morant licence area.

With parties engaged in the data room, this progress helps make the asset even more attractive to potential farm-in partners We are grateful to the Jamaican authorities for their continued support and look forward to advancing our work programme in the region.’

Source: United Oil & Gas

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barbados:LNG deal with Florida firm fortifies energy security

September 3, 2025, by Melisa Cavcic

Florida-headquartered Sawgrass LNG & Power, a provider of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and turnkey gas-to-power solutions across the Southeastern United States and Caribbean, has strengthened its years-long ties with Barbados National Energy Company Limited (BNECL) through a new LNG supply contract.

This LNG supply deal in the Caribbean region expands a nearly decade-long partnership, dating back to 2016, between Sawgrass LNG & Power and Barbados National Energy Company Limited, taking it into a new decade to ensure “a reliable, secure, and sustainable” LNG supply for Barbados.

James Browne, Officer-In-Charge of BNECL, commented: “At BNECL, LNG plays a critical transitional role in our long-term vision of strategically diversifying our energy mix beyond traditional fossil fuels toward a more resilient, low-emissions energy system.

As an island economy, Barbados faces unique energy challenges that demand adaptability and resilience.This partnership enables us to focus on both short-term energy stability, the incremental integration of intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind in addition to adding battery energy storage systems (BESS), for the long-term sustainability of our people, country and planet.”

The agreement enables the Florida-based firm to continue to provide LNG to support Barbados’ growing energy needs. Sawgrass LNG & Power operates an LNG facility with a production capacity of 100,000 gallons per day and 270,000 gallons of onsite storage, said to ensure cost-effective and reliable energy supply to businesses and communities.

Daniel McLaughlin, President & Chief Commercial Officer of Sawgrass LNG & Power, emphasized: “We are honored to continue supporting Barbados and BNECL with dependable, lower-emissions energy.“From the beginning of our relationship in 2016, our shared commitment to energy security and sustainability has been at the heart of this partnership. We are excited to build on this foundation and support Barbados’ energy goals and future growth.”

Recently, the Barbados Investment & Development Corporation (BIDC) set the stage to pool resources with Global OTEC for the deployment of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) systems in Barbados.

 

 

 

Border  Carbon  Adjustment

August 22

As temperatures soar, storms worsen and the threat of a climate crisis looms , systems like Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs) stimulate decarbonisation efforts . By imposing charges on imports based on their level of production emissions,

BCAs aim to encourage industries around the world to strengthen climate policy and safeguard those that are climate-compliant. Safeguarding compliant players includes preventing businesses from relocating to countries with little environmental policy and no charges, a practice known as carbon leakage. As the EU and UK aim to implement Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAMS) in 2026 and 2027, respectively, other countries are expected to follow suit.

Challenges in the local market

With these international changes underway, the UK CBAM Implication for TT was a study published by UWI dons Dr Preeya Mohan and Dr Jaymeion Jagessar, exploring TT’s positions..

Combining research, data analysis and stakeholder workshops, the study, submitted to the British High Commission of Port of Spain, examines the potential impact of CBAMs on TT’s economy and how they can be navigated. Mohan presented the study at the High Commissioner’s residence, Port of Spain, on August 21.

“The first major concern is the economic impact on developing countries in particular, countries like TT, which are going to face higher export prices, hurting our competitiveness.”…If you want to pay less of these carbon taxes, the idea is that you decarbonise your production process and exports.”

Mohan noted the difficulty in that, with limited tools for decarbonisation and limited access to climate financing due to TT’s high GDP, TT’s high-emission exports can become more costly under these new carbon policies.

“We’re going to face increased costs from both (UK and EU CBAMS), our imports are going to be more costly as we export to the UK and EU and the carbon content of our products is going to affect the tax that we pay.”

With both the EU and UK CBAMs preferring third-party verified emissions data, recorded by exporters to calculate carbon tax, Mohan says TT will also face an administrative compliance burden for businesses.

Carbon capture and storage infographic. –    Photo courtesy European Commission, DG TREN

“If we cannot provide that data, a default value will be provided to us. That number is an average value that will be calculated across all countries in the world, and that default value will, of course, be higher than what we would submit.”

 

Mohan said it is in TT’s best interest to actively and accurately record the carbon content of its products.

Despite 2023 data placing TT among the top ten carbon dioxide emitters per capita worldwide, due to our carbon-intensive industries, TT produces less than one per cent of the world’s total emissions.

Compared to countries like China, which still use coal and markets like the US using shale gas as opposed to TT’s slightly less pollutive deepwater gas, TT’s carbon taxes could fall well below the global average tax, given the needed documentation.

Despite the administrative burden, systems like the CBAM incentivise shifts towards clean energy, drive innovations in clean technology and encourage overall decarbonisation. CBAMS also stimulate the implementation of TT’s carbon price, which will limit and tax carbon emissions locally and ease the taxes required under the mechanisms.

The study recommends that the government establish a clear regulatory framework that defines mandatory reporting requirements for key export sectors, outlining methods for calculating direct and indirect emissions that meet international standards. The study recommended establishing a clear timeline for this implementation.

The government must urgently prioritise…investing in national MRV (measurement, reporting and verification) infrastructure, providing funding and technical support for the development of national databases, training programmes for industry personnel on emissions accounting and potentially establishing a national accreditation body for emissions verifiers.

The study recommended closer collaboration with exporting companies to understand their specific needs and challenges in emissions monitoring and tailoring the MRV system to be practical and effective.

Unified policy

Mohan encouraged stakeholders to advocate for a unified policy to reduce the burden on administrators. Head of Multilateral Environmental Agreements at the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development, Kishan Kumarsingh, said the process is ongoing to legally require reporting of emissions according to prescribed international quality assurance standards and third-party verification.   This legislation would be tied to any carbon pricing developments.

“We are in the process of finalising a proposal to develop the carbon pricing mechanism. We did some work with the UN climate change secretariat some years ago and came out with some baseline work and some broad recommendations of what it would look like.

We now hope to build on that to develop a more robust carbon pricing system. We know the UK CBAM comes into effect in 2027, but we will have some experience with it from January 2026 when we comply with the EU CBAM because they’ve already begun their calculations to produce the formulae for the taxes that would have to be paid.”

Kumarsingh also noted the need for a robust carbon capture and storage system to further decarbonisation efforts.

“The next step will be to submit the technical drafting instructions for the national transparency system, which will include the MRV system to make it more robust and reliant.”

The Planning Ministry has been consulted by other countries to help them develop their own MRV system. Noting the UK’s goal of reducing its emissions by 68 per cent from 1990 levels by 2030 and becoming net-zero by 2050, British High Commissioner Jon Mark Dean noted the potential challenges the UK CBAM could present to TT but assured a collaborative approach in its implementation.

“We recognise that policies like the CBAM may have broader implications, in particular for partners like TT. The export segments here are not only vital for the national economy but also closely linked to the UK with longstanding trade and investment relationships. That’s why it’s essential that we approach this transition with care, foresight and collaboration.”

 

 

 

 

 

CARICOM letter to US regarding military build-up

2025, 09/03

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) foreign ministers urged the United States to provide an assurance that any military action aimed at Venezuela will not threaten regional stability or occur without prior consultation and warning.

Last week, the United States ordered an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean Sea as part of efforts to address threats from Latin American drug cartels.   A nuclear-powered attack submarine, additional P8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser were allocated to US Southern Command as part of the mission.

Venezuela has since responded to what it termed the threat posed by the United States and marshalled its troops along its borders.

CARICOM foreign ministers met last week and while there has been no official statement by the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat regarding the outcome of their deliberations, Barbados’ Foreign Minister, Kerrie Symmonds told the media that the meeting….

“….was designed to address this issue among some others. We settled that a letter should be written and has been drafted by Dr Denzil Douglas, chair of the Conference of Foreign Ministers, and five-time prime minister in St Kitts and is being sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“What effectively we are trying to do is to work through the diplomatic channels of making sure that there are no surprises and practices, so that you get notification wherever it is feasible for actions that are going to have a foreseeable regional impact; and that equally, we are able to review from time to time, the nature of the dialogue which we are having.”

He acknowledged that some actions may be classified or legally constrained and that it is important to have more robust dialogue on these issues.

“In that way we avoid misunderstandings and we can maintain and strengthen our mutual confidence with each other.” Symmonds said he saw the draft of the letter which should have been sent by now.

The Minister said there are two major considerations for the region with regard to the US presence .

“The presence of the military armada from the United States gives rise to the threat to the traditionally held posture or position of the Caribbean Sea as a zone of peace. And I don’t think at this point that there is any reason to believe that there is any change in that.

What we have seen is a clearly articulated focus by the United States on the question of drugs and guns. And to that extent, I believe we all would want to be party to supporting that because, to the extent that it would be successful, it helps us to solve problems in Barbados, in Trinidad, in Guyana and across this region.”

Closely related to the question of illegal drugs in the region is also the issue of illegal firearms.

“And to the extent that that is a problem, then Barbados is fully supportive of any effort which seeks to interdict the movement of illegal firearms, because this country has been facing that problem, and it is a scourge, not only on us, it is a scourge on our neighbours in Trinidad and Tobago and they are still under a public health emergency.”

Symmonds recalled that CARICOM leaders addressed illegal gun crime as a public health issue in several meetings.

“We have met at the level of the Heads of Government with the chief justices of the region because it is necessary for the courts and for the Heads to understand what is going through the minds of the judiciary and vice versa.

So, there have been a number of obvious efforts to bring a specific focus on this type of matter. Where there is probably a little bit of daylight or the appearance of daylight, is that the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago has indicated, very openly, that the only people who should be worried about the activities of the US military are those who are engaged in enabling criminal activity. And perhaps, the way she put it is what is the root of this problem.”

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar welcomed the attack by the United States military on an alleged Venezuela-based drug vessel, saying

“illegally trafficked drugs and arms have caused death and destruction in our society over the last 25 years”.

United States President Donald Trump told a news conference that the strike on the vessel occurred in the southern Caribbean Sea and his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, described the operation as a “lethal strike” against a vessel operated by a designated narco-terrorist organisation.

Prime Minister Persad Bissessar, who openly supported Washington’s war on drugs in the region , said she had “no sympathy for traffickers” and that the US military should “kill them all violently. I, along with most of the country, am happy that the US naval deployment is having success in their mission.”

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Sept 3, CMC –CMC/ah/ir/2025

 

 

 

CDB and RevUP Caribbean Power Next Wave of Caribbean Entrepreneurs

with Incubation Programme

SEPTEMBER 5, 2025

KINGSTON, Jamaica

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB, the Bank) and RevUP Caribbean Limited launched Phase II of the RevUP Caribbean Incubation Programme, a two-year initiative aimed at creating jobs, scaling startups and strengthening regional innovation.

Building on the success of Phase I, this next chapter will support at least 60 early-stage companies through business training, mentorship, technology support, and improved access to financing.

“The Bank is proud to collaborate with RevUP to unlock Caribbean entrepreneurial potential” said Lisa Harding, Division Chief, Private Sector, CDB. “We envision a future with stronger Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs), aligned with CDB’s commitment to fostering private sector growth, driving innovation, building climate resilience, and ensuring equitable access to financing.”

Phase II introduces partnerships with the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator (CCSA) and the Caribbean Export Development Agency. These collaborations will aid in producing climate-smart and export-oriented firms. Partnerships with European incubators and accelerators under the EU-LAC Innovation Cooperation Initiative will also expand the Caribbean startups’ global networks.

The RevUP Caribbean programme will continue to leverage FirstAngels Caribbean and other investor networks, helping entrepreneurs connect with angel investors, commercial banks, and venture capital firms.

Key features of Phase II are:

1. 1. 1. Startup Pipeline: Engaging high-potential, women-led, and climate-smart ventures.
      2. Capacity Building: Tailored training to improve investment readiness and operational efficiency.
      3. Mentorship: Guidance from regional and international coaches.
      4. Finance Access: Pitch opportunities to unlock growth capital.

“Phase II represents a strategic expansion of our mission to empower Caribbean entrepreneurs,” said Harry “Tomi” Davies, Chairman of RevUP Caribbean Limited. “With partners like CDB, the Development Bank of Jamaica, the Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator, and Caribbean Export, we are driving sustainable and inclusive growth.”

With strong governance and global partnerships, Phase II of the RevUP Caribbean Incubation Programme is set to equip entrepreneurs with the tools, capital, and networks to build resilient, high-growth businesses that create jobs and transform regional economies.

 

 

 

Caribbean Development Bank

September 3, 2025 , Barbados:

President of the CDB, the Bank), Mr. Daniel M. Best, issued a rallying call for the Caribbean to abandon piecemeal responses and adopt integrated, cross-sectoral strategies to confront the web of risks  threatening sustainable development across the region.

President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Mr. Daniel M. Best Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy, Regional Manager for the Caribbean at CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean and Mr. Isaac Anthony, Chief Executive Officer of CCRIF SPC joined forces to officially open the 2nd Wider Caribbean Regional Risk Conference, a joint initiative of their institutions, in Barbados from September 3 – 4, 2025.

Contacts:

1. 1. 1. Caribbean Development Bank Camille Taylor camille.taylor@caribank.org
      2. CCRIF SPC Elizabeth Emanuel pr@ccrif.org
      3. CAF Khamal E Georges kgeorges@caf.com

i.)    The Caribbean Development Bank is a regional financial institution established in 1970 to contribute to the harmonious economic growth and development of its Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs).

In addition to the 19 BMCs, CDB’s membership includes four regional, non-borrowing members, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela, and five non-regional, non-borrowing members, Canada, China, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.

CDB’s total assets in its Ordinary Capital Resources stood at US2.02 billion as at December 31, 2024, while it also manages US$1.40 billion of Special Funds Resources.

The Bank is rated Aa1 Stable by Moody’s, AA+ Stable by Standard & Poor’s and AA+ Stable by Fitch Ratings.     –  caribank.org

 

ii)  CCRIF SPC is a segregated portfolio company, owned, operated, and registered in the Caribbean. It limits the financial impact of catastrophic hurricanes, earthquakes, and excess rainfall events to Caribbean and Central American governments by quickly providing short-term liquidity when a parametric insurance policy is triggered.

It is the world’s first regional fund utilising parametric insurance, giving member governments the unique opportunity to purchase earthquake, hurricane and excess rainfall catastrophe coverage with lowest possible pricing.

CCRIF offers parametric insurance policies to Caribbean and Central American governments for tropical cyclones, earthquakes, excess rainfall and fisheries and also to electric and water utility companies in the Caribbean.

CCRIF was developed under the technical leadership of the World Bank and with a grant from the Government of Japan. It was capitalized through contributions to a Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) by the Government of Canada, the European Union, the World Bank, the governments of the UK and France, the Caribbean Development Bank and the governments of Ireland and Bermuda, as well as through membership fees paid by participating governments.

In 2014, the Central America and Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Program (CACCRIP) MDTF was established by the World Bank to support the development of CCRIF SPC’s new products for current and potential members and facilitate the entry of Central American countries and additional Caribbean countries.

The MDTF currently channels funds from various donors, including Canada, through Global Affairs Canada; the United States, through the Department of the Treasury; the European Union, through the European Commission, and Germany, through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and KfW.

Additional financing has been provided by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), with resources provided by Mexico; the Government of Ireland; and the European Union through its Regional Resilience Building Facility managed by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the World Bank.

In 2024, CCRIF received funding from CDB, through the Canada-CARICOM Climate Adaptation Fund, to enable seven CCRIF members to increase their coverage and make their national social protection systems more shock responsive.

More information at www.ccrif.org

iii.)  CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean

The mission of CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – is to promote sustainable development and regional integration through the financing of projects in the public and private sectors, providing technical cooperation and other specialised services.

Created in 1970, the Bank has 23 shareholder countries: 19 Latin American and Caribbean, together with Spain and Portugal, and 13 private banks.

CAF is one of the main sources of multilateral financing and an important generator of knowledge for the region. More information at www.caf.com

 

 

 

Dominica

CDB Financial Close on Geothermal Energy Project

September 1 2025

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB / the Bank) reached financial close on a facility for the landmark Dominica Geothermal Energy 10MW Project. The facility is made available to the Geothermal Power Company of Dominica (GPC) established specifically to implement the project.

GPC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ormat Technologies Inc, a leading international geothermal developer. This transaction is the first geothermal project in the region to reach this stage with a private sector partner.

Mr. Isaac Solomon, CDB Vice President of Operations, underscored the significance of the project by explaining, “This is a pivotal transaction for the Bank, for Dominica, and for the region. It showcases the potential of blended concessional finance to mobilise private sector expertise and deliver transformative clean energy solutions in small island developing states.”

The power plant development phase is being implemented as a private sector-led initiative, with CDB acting as the lead financial arranger. The project has secured USD 34.8 million in concessional funding. Of this amount, USD 25.4 million is provided by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in the form of a concessional loan, which was mobilized through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)-GCF program titled “FP020: Sustainable Energy Facility for the Eastern Caribbean.”

An additional USD 9.4 million is being provided from Canada’s Supporting Resilient Green Energy Initiative in the Caribbean (SuRGE) programme. The CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) is also contributing USD 15 million in loan financing out of its own capital fund resources, as the major element of the CDF’s Country Assistance Programme for Dominica.

Mr. Rodinald Soomer, CDF Chief Executive Officer highlighted the strategic regional importance of the project. ‘It leverages Dominica’s natural resource endowments to create a sustainable productive asset that helps the country address the inherent disadvantages as one of the Least Developed Countries in CARICOM, in producing goods and services for regional and global markets at internationally competitive prices.”

Mr. Anton Edmunds, IDB General Manager for the Caribbean, congratulated CDB, CDF, and GCF for this landmark achievement in regional energy development by stating, “This milestone represents a ‘before and after’ moment in Dominica’s energy transformation and underscores the steadfast commitment of our institutions to advancing sustainable development.

As the implementing entity of the GCF, we at the IDB are proud to have played a key role in securing the financing for the first geothermal power plant to operate under a public-private partnership in the English-speaking Caribbean.

When the plant starts to operate, the very next day, up to 70% the energy matrix of the country will be powered by geothermal energy, liberating important resources that were used to import fossil fuels for power generation.”

Ms. Kristin Lang, Director of the Green Climate Fund’s Department of the Latin America and the Caribbean Region, commended the project by saying, “We are pleased to see the growing momentum of this landmark geothermal energy project, which is turning ambitions and partnerships into clean energy solutions for small island developing states in the Caribbean.

By deploying catalytic capital to unlock clean energy access, this initiative demonstrates how innovative financing, including the private sector, can transform the energy sector in the region.”

H.E. Brenda Wills, High Commissioner of Canada to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean emphasised support for the initiative by adding, “Canada is pleased to partner with the Caribbean Development Bank in enhancing access to clean energy in Dominica and supporting the country’s ambition of becoming more climate resilient and energy secure.

This project is an important part of Canada’s Supporting Resilient Green Energy Initiative in the Caribbean (SuRGE) programme, which aims to accelerate the region’s transition towards sustainable energy.”

The Dominica geothermal plant is a transformative initiative, setting the stage for the full development of the country’s extensive geothermal resource, estimated at up to 1000 MW. Construction of the facility in the Roseau Valley is underway and, once operational, it will deliver firm renewable energy to the national grid, replace diesel-based generation and lower electricity production costs.

The Honourable Vince Henderson, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy for Dominica, champions the development of the country’s geothermal resources. “The development of this truly green, resilient and renewable energy infrastructure in Dominica is a massive step forward for the island and the wider region. We are pleased to see our regional financing partners take a lead role in providing concessional financing for this initial 10 MW geothermal power plant.”

The project is expected to enhance energy security, stabilise tariffs, cut greenhouse gas emissions and drive long-term economic growth. It supports Dominica’s climate resilience and development goals while creating opportunities to engage in the global market for green energy products such as green electricity, green hydrogen and green ammonia.

The initiative reflects CDB’s commitment to advancing a clean, resilient and inclusive energy future for the region.

 

 

 

OECS signs MoU on solar energy

2 September

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to strengthen support for the member countries of the sub-region in advancing their sustainable energy goals. ISA is an intergovernmental organisation working to accelerate adoption of solar energy technologies by providing policy support, capacity building and technical assistance to 124 members across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and Asia and the Pacific (APAC) regions.>

The agreement was signed during the ISA seventh meeting in Chile under the theme “Harnessing solar power for resilience, growth, and unity in the region”. The OECS was represented by Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The meeting discussed advances in solar energy and opportunities to best leverage financing and partnerships to increase the uptake of solar energy.

The MoU acknowledges the critical role that clean energy plays in building resilience to climate change in the Eastern Caribbean, as well as the pivotal role indigenous energy can play in transforming the economies of small island developing states (SIDS).

The partnership framework establishes several areas of cooperation, including supporting the promotion of solar energy, the OECS Sustainable Energy Framework, the OECS Sustainable Energy Greenprint, and the Caribbean NDC Finance Initiative.

It also plans to jointly mobilise public and private finance in OECS member states for solar energy advancement and investments, including through blended finance models and climate finance instruments such as ISA’s Global Solar Facility. The agreement also strengthens institutional capacities through the implementation of regional training programmes, technical assistance and exchanges anchored in the Solar Technology Application Resource Centres (STAR–C) of ISA in OECS member states, either existing or proposed, subject to mutual agreement.

“We must recognise that the continuing challenges, especially access to financing for the energy transition, remain a major challenge for SIDS,” said Grenada’s Minister of Climate Resilience, Environment and Renewable Energy Kerryne James, who is also the ISA co-chair for the LAC Regional Committee.

 

 

 

Grenada joins CAF

 September 4

September 4

Grenada is the latest member of the Development Bank of Central America (CAF), becoming a Series C shareholder in the bank. CAF announced it now has six Caricom members among its 24 shareholder countries. Grenada’s decision to join the bank gives it access to agile, flexible and innovative financing tailored to its national sustainable development goals.

“Grenada, like many small island developing states (SIDS), continues to experience the impact of climate crisis, from intensifying hurricanes and rising sea levels to the challenges of sargassum inundation.”These pressures create serious financial and resource constraints that impact the economy and the well-being of its people.”

CAF looks forward to partnering with Grenada to advance stable and sustainable development solutions for the country.

CAF executive president Sergio Diaz-Granados said the bank was ready to work with the government and the people. “Grenada embodies the resilience and ingenuity of SIDS.

“Over the past two decades, the country has endured the impacts of several severe hurricanes, yet it has demonstrated remarkable capacity to rebuild while helping to develop innovative solutions to strengthen its future and the Caribbean’s.”

As a development bank rooted in this region, CAF stands ready to support the government and people of Grenada in their efforts to build a resilient country that can serve as an example to others.

“We are honoured to welcome Grenada into our family of member countries and look forward to working together to build a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future.”

 

 

 

Grenada, T&T energy deal

2025, 08/30

Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell presented Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar with a token of novelty items from Grenada, during his courtesy call at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s, yesterday.

Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada renewed efforts to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector, with Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar and Prime Minister Mitchell meeting to formally restart the process. At the meeting, were Attorney General John Jeremie, Attorney General of Grenada Claudette Joseph, Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers, and Minister of Energy Roodal Moonilal.

Both governments acknowledged their shared interest in continuing collaboration in energy, recalling the 2012 Framework Agreement on Energy Sector Cooperation, which remains in effect through automatic renewal. Under the arrangement, T&T will name its representatives to the Steering Committee within three weeks to resume discussions.

As part of the renewed engagement, the Ministry of Energy will sign a data use agreement with Grenada next week. This will provide Grenada access to seismic and well data from Trinidad’s North Coast, supporting its ongoing regional technical study. T&T will also supply technical experts to assist Grenada in developing a petroleum regulatory framework and review studies conducted by consultants.

After the meeting, Persad-Bissessar said energy cooperation remained central to the discussions.

“Several matters were discussed; chief concern was cooperation in the energy sector. When I formed the Government, in my first speech I talked about having closer relationships with Grenada.

Asked about possible energy projects with Venezuela, she replied that the focus is on Grenada.

“I just want to say thanks to the Honourable Prime Minister of Grenada joining us here in Trinidad and Tobago on the eve of independence. So, we want to wish you all and our nation happy independence on Sunday, a day of prayer and reflection for us. Again, Prime Minister (Mitchell), I want to thank you very much and we had very fruitful discussions.”

Mitchell described T&T as Grenada’s “closest neighbour” and welcomed the collaboration.

“I also want to take the opportunity to also congratulate the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on the celebration of yet another anniversary of independence.

Trinidad is our closest neighbour, not just geographically, but in terms of our partnership, our relationship. There are many people who live in Trinidad who are either descendants of Grenadians or Grenadians.

And so whether it’s Carnival, music, food, culture, we’re only 35 minutes away. And so, I’m indeed very, very happy to have been given the opportunity to be hosted. As the Prime Minister said, it was a very good meeting. The primary discussion was a focus on energy.”

As part of the continuing cooperation, Grenada will finalise its technical study and make data available for potential investors, focusing first on unlicensed areas. T&T will help with a promotional campaign to market Grenada’s acreage and support multinational involvement in technical and institutional assistance.

The talks also touched on medical collaboration, with T&T pledging to explore ways of assisting Grenada in addressing shortages of specialist doctors.

T&T, with decades of experience as a hydrocarbon producer, is positioned to share its expertise and infrastructure to help Grenada develop its resources. A key part of cooperation involves the Nutmeg gas field, discovered in 2017 in waters between the two countries.

The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago already holds a commercial agreement with Global Petroleum Group, giving it first preference to purchase gas from the field and use T&T’s infrastructure for processing.

Both leaders closed by committing to “sustained, meaningful engagement” across energy, health and other areas, reaffirming their longstanding friendship and shared heritage.

 

 

 

 

63rd Independence /Day of Prayer

2025, 08/30
.

Unbending support for American military deployment to eliminate drug cartels is now chronicled as the most consequential, controversial step of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, shifting T&T into a watershed moment for its 63rd Independence anniversary tomorrow without military parades while forces cruise the region aboard US vessels, with more expected next week.

Among Caricom’s founders, T&T bucked the collective Caricom mantra and assorted treaties deeming the region a zone of peace, in favour of seeking peace at home, where the drug trade genesis of crime is concerned.

Despite various Caricom signals of dissent on the US mission, peace among the regional fraternity appears to be a priority, after Caricom’s congratulatory message to Persad-Bissessar on T&T Independence: stating Caricom’s relationship with T&T remains strong and recognising T&T commitment to regional integration with contributions.

Whether or not perfunctory, it’s a boost for Persad-Bissessar in the issue which put T&T further on the map regarding alignment with the US’ international ‘Coalition against Cartels.’ The US administration’s show of strength is its latest, after assorted headliners on the world stage and home turf. It messaged some Venezuelan allies with whom the US is currently clashing and boosted US regional support—with Caricom’s two leading members in tow —though fragmenting Caricom unity and strength.

Questions remain on the mission as half of its corps comprises Marines, an amphibious force trained for fight in spaces between land and sea – a ground combat element. Beyond landing destinations, T&T’s contribution also requires details. On Tuesday, Persad- Bissessar did not reply on whether there was any approach to use T&T’s security agencies’ intel or otherwise. Persad-Bissessar’s statement taking the US side had already contradicted her Foreign Affairs Minister Sean Sobers’ preceding statement that T&T was “staying out” of US-Venezuela issues – latest inconsistency between ministers/PM utterances.

Heat on the matter showed on Wednesday, when Persad-Bissessar acknowledged she may “get damaged” for her “T&T First” push. Emulating similar US policy and being among the supporting actors in star US cast won’t suffice locally. Some are bitterly affected by Government’s changed policies. UNC members await opportunities. The public is seeing more job cuts . Government’s acute awareness of unsteady” ground” has been shown in statements dominated by “promise delivery” announcements.

After the White House mention and T&T’s seat at the US “table,” Persad-Bissessar’s statements on security alliances being beneficial in T&T’s crime fight, have raised public expectation of relief. Also: of immediate concern by business groups who met last Wednesday, is getting the US’ 15 per cent tariff on T&T exports reverted to 10 per cent.

TTMA officials seek urgent action, “T&T’s in trade imbalance … We export more (41 per cent) to the US than import, T&T’s tariff was hiked from 10 per cent to 15. Guyana’s was cut from 38 to 15. Caricom/Latin America have 10 per cent. The Prime Minister must use this US deployment link to get tariffs back to 10 per cent.”

A Finance official advised, “Talks with the US are a work in progress. We’re in the early stages of diplomatic conversations. Many others similarly affected would also be pursuing this.”

Business wants attention, uncertain if possible disunity on the US mission affects T&T’s Caricom market, accounting for almost 10 per cent of exports.

Persad-Bissessar’s distance from Caricom was marked since her absence from the July conference, where current chairman, Jamaica’s PM Andrew Holness, cited unity and cooperation as Caricom’s future.

Regional views against the US buildup telegraphed by six Caricom states in the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) group were followed by Barbados PM Mia Mottley’s concerns and declaration that the region must remain a zone of peace, echoed by Antigua leader Gaston Browne.

After Caricom’s Independence big-up and the visit by Grenada PM Dickon Mitchell, late Dominican PM Eugenia Charles—who broke ground with US support in Grenada’s 1983 invasion—may have a 21st century successor for her “Iron Lady” title. Genuine relief may arrive by T&T’s 64th Independence.

 

 

 

October 6 Budget; Caricom leaders speaking at UN on peace zone

2025, 09/13

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s dismissal of alleged drug boat occupants still topped any firebrand remarks at yesterday’s House of Representatives sitting. Exchanges showed there had been no recess from work for either Government or Opposition. Particularly, Persad-Bissessar, in Parliament yesterday, delivered another statement to reinforce unity with workers.

Even if not on the list of approved questions, the “elephant in the room” of the Parliament Chamber was the US military deployment in the regiom – dividing Caricom’s heartland and global players, East and West. Persad-Bissessar’s upcoming attendance at the United Nations’ General Assembly, her first international appearance after no-shows at Caricom summits, will present her to world stage audiences, displaying her leadership in the spotlight, arising from T&T’s place in the US coalition against drug cartels.

If Persad-Bissessar hasn’t seen Caricom leaders yet, she’ll be among some at the UNGA. Antigua & Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne will speak on the US military deployment.

“I won’t prioritise diplomatic niceties but will send a strong message that we’re against any form of military intervention in our hemisphere.”

Browne welcomed US efforts against narco-trafficking, “But it must done with respect for human and constitutional rights and due process. I’m not seeking confrontation, simply standing on my uncompromising principles of truth, peace, love and justice.”

Leaders from Barbados, St Vincent and St Kitts (now chairing Caricom) are also expected at UNGA and collectively, may finally unveil views there. UN Secretary General António Guterres, at Caricom’s unity-themed February summit, said there was “trouble in paradise” on the Caribbean’s beauty. Citing a unified Caribbean as an “unstoppable force,” he urged leaders to use that power to push the world to deliver on its promise. Guterres cited areas where a unified Caribbean was crucial for progress, including peace and security.

Government aides say Persad-Bissessar’s address may combine lamentations on  thousands lost to narco-fuelled crime, emphasis that peace cannot come without cartel eradication and iron-clad support for US assistance.

Pressure on the PM, following her recent controversial statements, was confirmed with defence by frontliners. Support was rallied at the Ganesh Utsav event, where she went to ground and where her comment acknowledged challenges her statements triggered.

An address by India’s High Commissioner there, conveyed, in the same way the Grenada PM’s recent visit did, that Government’s relations with others continues, despite their country or regional grouping holding positions different to her alliances.

Beyond what Persad-Bissessar’s US visit brings T&T, manufacturers no longer await a reduction of the US’ 15 per cent tariff on T&T exports. TTMA president Dale Parsons says most manufacturers agreed to absorb half the tariff and importers in the US will pay the other half – increasing cost to US consumers of T&T goods.

Post UNGA’s September 27 conclusion, after the PM’s return, Government’s 2026 Budget may be presented by October 6, officials hinted.

The package is designed to return the shine to UNC’s profile, after stamping its entry into government with halted programmes, firings, State of Emergency and severing friendships with some neighbours. UNC officials confirm UNC members need jobs/opportunities. UNC MPs’ offices are besieged on constituency days, with an average of 500 to 700 at some.

UNC’s first Budget is expected to give with one hand and punch PNM with another. Sources said ministers’ submissions were finalised recently. Funding for public servants’ settlements is reportedly identified and awaiting approval.

Future UNC Government planning is expected to benefit from the US$131m court award from the Piarco Airport case – which was piloted by the former government and AG Faris Al-Rawi.    As Government and Opposition know: no success minus unity.

 

 

 

 

Temporary Independent Senator Wesley Gibbings seeks Caricom unity

2025, 09/18

Temporary Independent Senator Wesley Gibbings says a united Caricom position is vital and absolutely essential on the current issues concerning Venezuela, and he sees no sense in fragmentation being proposed by some.

Gibbings was yesterday sworn in as a temporary replacement in the absence of Independent Senator Dr Desiree Murray. Gibbings said it was a great honour to serve his country and the new position approximated what he did as a journalist, to have a close look at the exercise of power and the quality of this and being free to represent his views and those of others, unrepresented or under-represented.

Asked about his view on T&T’s stance and the current US-Venezuela issue, Gibbings said, “Well, my personal view has been for a very long time that when we speak about ‘we’, the ‘we’ I speak about are citizens. So, the Caribbean community.

We’ve had the Federation experience, and I think it was a missed boat that has lingered, and it is there, perhaps a little further away than we had expected in years past. So, a united Caricom position is vital and absolutely essential, and I don’t see any sense in the fragmentation being proposed by some.”

Gibbings was asked if the situation would be worsened by United National Congress (UNC) Senator Phillip Alexander’s admission that he was speaking “off the top of his head” and engaging in hyperbole during a “live,” saying India stood ready to “nuke” Venezuela to defend T&T.

He said, “To the extent that people are inclined to take it seriously, I think it will bother some folk, but for those who’ve looked at this issue very clearly in terms of geopolitical arrangements and the position of T&T and the Caribbean in the wider geopolitics, there would be a different kind of understanding of what is required and what is the current state of affairs.”

Gibbings was asked how he might deal with the Independent senatorship, after pressure on the Independent bench , including the UNC PRO’s remark that the Independent bench was like “another Opposition in the Parliament.”

He said his journalistic record showed his position on things has always been one of independence—not aligned to any particular political position.

 

 

 

Dual role as Energy Power and Biodiversity Leader

September 11, 2025

NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE , one of the most influential and widely read American media outlets, has placed a global spotlight on Guyana’s unique role as a rising oil and gas power and one of the leading biodiversity strongholds.

In an in-depth feature and companion video documentary by Arick Wierson, Guyana’s strategy of harnessing hydrocarbon wealth to reinvest in climate action and biodiversity protection was showcased as a model.

Filmed partly on location in Guyana’s interior, the documentary included reporting from the summit of  in the Iwokrama reserve, where Wierson contrasted the pristine rainforest canopy with Guyana’s booming role in global energy markets. That paradox is precisely what makes Guyana’s story so compelling: far from being a contradiction, it is the basis of a new approach to sustainability.

HARNESSING OIL TO PROTECT FORESTS

At last month’s Global Biodiversity Summit, July 23–25 in Georgetown, President Ali made the case for this model in his opening address: “We cannot wait for others to determine our fate. Guyana will use its resources not to destroy, but to protect and to lead—for our people, for our region, and for the planet we all share.”

Wierson pressed the assembled leaders on whether emerging economies will step up when industrialised powers appear to be retreating from climate commitments. The consensus was clear: dialogue with the North remains essential, but the South must now lead with its own ideas, strategies, and priorities.

REGIONAL VOICES BACK GUYANA’S APPROACH

The documentary featured interviews between Wierson and Prime Ministers Mia Mottley of Barbados and Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and former Colombian President, Iván Duque at the summit.

Mottley emphasised that reframing climate policy in terms of efficiency and profitability may be the only way to engage skeptics in Washington and Europe. Duque sought a new metric — Gross Biodiversity Product — to treat natural capital as a strategic asset, aligning with Guyana’s push to monetize and protect forests.

Gonsalves said some observers mistakenly view Guyana’s oil expansion and its biodiversity agenda as contradictory, but President Ali’s strategy is exactly the opposite:

“What President Ali is doing makes a great deal of sense. By using hydrocarbon revenues to protect forests and invest in sustainability, he is showing vision where others only see conflict. That is why his leadership is visionary.”

GUYANA AS PROTAGONIST

The feature underscored that Guyana is no longer just participating in international climate conversations — it is helping to shape them. Ali’s stewardship of new oil wealth, combined with its vast intact rainforest, positions the country to lead a coalition unwilling to wait for the North to dictate terms.

The Georgetown summit was as much about diplomacy as policy, with Guyana signalling that it was ready to lead by example, rally the region, and insist on a stronger voice in shaping the world’s environmental future.

A GLOBAL VOICE

For Guyana, the Newsweek spotlight is more than recognition from mainstream U.S. media—it is powerful validation of the petrostate’s strategy on the international stage. By aligning energy production with biodiversity protection, Guyana is demonstrating a model that is both coherent and transformative.

While dialogue with Washington and Brussels will continue, the broader message from Georgetown was unmistakable: the South is mobilising, innovating, and leading. As Gonsalves noted and Duque affirmed, Ali’s leadership is both visionary and rooted in common sense—a combination that has put Guyana at the forefront of a global movement showing that nations on the front lines of climate change’s most severe impacts can safeguard the planet while securing sustainable prosperity for their peoples.

 

 

 

 

 

The European Union and Caribbean Export Launch BRIDGE Facility to Accelerate SME Growth

BRIDGE-Flyers_Hero-scaled

1. 1. 1. Caribbean Export and IDB Sign Strategic MOU to Boost Investment and Project Development Across the Caribbean
      2. Caribbean Investment Forum 2025 Concludes with Strong Momentum for Regional Growth and Announces 2026 Host
      3. Caribbean Investment Forum 2025 Opens with Visionary Call for Sustainable Growth and Regional Competitiveness
      4. Caribbean must shift from consumption to production, says Caribbean Export Development Agency head
      5. Financing A ‘Green Caribbean’ Is Possible!

 

 

CNOOC 2025 interim results note record output

28 August 2025

• • Net production increased by 6.1% year-on-year (“YoY”) while natural gas up 12.0%
  • Remained cost competitive and net profit attributable to equity shareholders reaching RMB 69.5billion
  • Actively sharing development results, HK$0.73 per share (tax inclusive) of interim dividend declared

In the first half of 2025, with the concerted efforts of all employees, CNOOC Limited, an investor in Guyana offshore contained the impact of oil price volatility by continuing its strategy of reserves and production growth while strictly controlling costs.

The Company demonstrated profitability, resilience and steady progress toward high-quality development.

CNOOC continued to increase reserves and production, obtaining fruitful results in oil and gas exploration. In the first half of the year, 5 oil and gas discoveries were made and 18 petroliferous structures were successfully appraised.

Offshore China, the Company discovered Jinzhou 27-6, Caofeidian 22-3, Weizhou 10-5 South, and successfully appraised Qinhuangdao 29-6 and Lingshui 25-1.

Overseas, the Company actively advanced deployment in strategic areas. Reserves in Guyana continued to grow through three-dimensional deepwater exploration. The Company signed its first oil exploration contract for a new block in Kazakhstan, further expanding its overseas exploration potential.

The Company efficiently promoted the construction of major projects, achieving record-high oil and gas output. In the first half of the year, net production was 384.6 million BOE, representing an increase of 6.1% YoY, with both domestic and international production exceeding previous record highs for the same period.

10 oil and gas field development projects successfully commenced production, including the Bozhong 26-6 Oilfield Development Project (Phase I), Wenchang 9-7 Oilfield Development Project and the Buzios7 and Mero4 projects in Brazil, demonstrating the Company’s outstanding project execution capabilities.

Natural gas production surged by 12.0% YoY, showing strong momentum of growth. The Dongfang 29-1 Gas Field Development Project and the Dongfang 1-1 Gas Field 13-3 Block Development Project commenced production, while output from major producing gas fields such as Shenhai-1 and Bozhong 19-6 continued to ramp up. With Shenhai-1 Phase II Natural Gas Development Project on-stream, “Shenhai-1” is expected to produce over 4.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per annum, becoming China’s largest offshore gas field.

CNOOC Limited remained committed to innovation-driven growth, advancing its digital and intelligent transformation in an orderly manner. Key technologies for reserves and production growth were developed and applied. Reserve utilization and oil recovery rates continued to improve, while the natural decline rate of oilfields offshore China remained at a low level.

Advanced geophysical technologies were applied to improve the quality of seismic data from deep plays. Intelligent injection-production technologies were deployed on a large scale to help control the natural decline rate. The Company promoted excellent intelligent drilling and completion, with the construction speed of the demonstration projects accelerated by 26%.

The Company deployed “AI+” application scenarios, while the “Shenhai-1” Intelligent Gas Field was recognized as one of China’s first batch of top-tier smart facilities. The Company integrated satellite remote sensing, unmanned equipment and AI algorithms, to enhance its emergency response capability against typhoon-related risks, laying a solid foundation for safe production.

The Company adhered to integrated development of oil and gas and new energy sectors, making solid progress in green transition. By adopting multiple measures, including energy conservation in oil and gas production, green electricity substitution and renewable power generation, the Company made new progress in producing hydrocarbons in a cleaner way.

In the first half of the year, the Company applied permanent magnet electric submersible pumps on a large scale and the Qinhuangdao 32-6 Oilfields saved approximately 18 million kWh of electricity through lean power management. The Company generated over 900 million kWh of green power, while “HaiyouGuanlan” provided stable green electricity to the Wenchang Oilfields.

The Company purchased and consumed 500 million kWh of green electricity. To foster new industries, China’s first offshore CCUS project was commissioned on the Enping 15-1 platform, pioneering a new mode of carbon-driven oil recovery and oil-based carbon sequestration. The Bohai Oilfields are planned to host the largest offshore CCUS center in northern China, realizing full-cycle capture, injection and storage of CO2.

CNOOC Limited remained cost competitive, benefiting from lean management. In the first half of the year, the Company tackled the uncertainties of external environment with stable high-quality development, demonstrating profitability resilience against oil price changes.

Oil and gas sales revenue reached RMB 171.7 billion. Effective control over all-in cost was sustained, which remained flat YoY at US$26.94 per BOE. Net profit attributable to equity shareholders amounted to RMB 69.5 billion.

The Company has always actively returned to its shareholders. The Board of Directors resolved to declare an interim dividend of HK$0.73 per share (tax inclusive).

Mr. Zhang Chuanjiang, Chairman of CNOOC Limited, said: ‘In the first half of the year, the Company advanced oil and gas development and production in a steady and efficient manner, effectively responding to market fluctuations and laying a solid foundation for achieving the full-year targets.

Looking ahead to the second half of the year, the Company will stick to its strategy, remain committed to ensuring safe operations, to complete annual tasks, and strive to promote the high-quality development of China’s offshore energy industry to a new level.’

Source: CNOOC Ltd

 

 

The International Business Conference (IBC) Guyana 2025

Hosted by the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce (SGCC) and supported by the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest) and the Suriname Investment and Trade Agency (SITA) IBC Guyana 2025 will run from October 14–16, 2025, at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown, under the theme “Bridging Businesses for Regional Prosperity.”

This private sector–led, 3-day event will convene high-level stakeholders from Guyana, Suriname, regional and international markets to explore investment opportunities, share innovative business solutions and build cross-border partnerships.

With a strong focus on key growth sectors— energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, ICT, logistics, agriculture and financial services—IBC Guyana 2025 is designed to foster meaningful B2B engagement, support regional integration and ensure the benefits of economic growth are widely shared.

IBC GUYANA 2025  14-16 October 2025

 

Sponsorship & Exhibition Enquiries – International Companies

Giancarlo Riveros  Commercial Director  email: spex@ibcguyana.com             Cell: +44 74 8384 6699

 

Sponsorship & Exhibition Enquiries- Locally Headquartered Companies

Divya Doerga    IBC Project Director   email: spex@ibcguyana.com     Cell: +592 223 5583 ext 103

 

Delegate Enquiries – International Companies

Sara Sefi   Commercial Manager    email: delegates@ibcguyana.com    Cell: +20 115 390 1628

 

Delegate Enquiries -Locally Headquar Companiestered

Divya Doerga    IBC Project Director   email: delegates@ibcguyana.com   Cell: +592 223 5583 ext 103

 

Media, Press & Program Enquiries

Amrita Naraine   IBC Project Officer   email: media@ibcguyana.com  Cell: +592 223 5583 ext. 101     email: speakers@ibcguyana.com 

 

Suriname Guyana Chamber Inquiries

Rahul Lildhar    CEO   email: ceo@surguychamber.org    Cell: +592 703 0020