Victoria Mendizabal contributed research and drafting assistance to today’s newsletter.
Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry agreed to step down on Monday at the urging of an international group led by CARICOM. But the proposal for a transitional council to govern Haiti hatched in Jamaica appears to be crumbling already. Critics and some local powerbrokers say the internationally brokered process to establish a transitional government is flawed.
A foreign-led stability pact repeats historical mistakes underlying Haitian instability, and seems “likely to lock in an unsustainable status quo at least in the short term,” argues CEPR’s Jake Johnston. An agreement pushed by foreign powers “is likely to face legitimacy concerns from the moment it forms.”
Political actors are negotiating behind closed doors — a process that “was met with criticism both abroad and in Haiti, where many people denounced a lack of transparency that smacked of international meddling and backroom deal-making,” reports the New York Times.
Haitian politician Jean-Charles Moïse (also known as Moïse Jean-Charles), the founder of the Platform Pitit Desalin party, was invited to help select a transition government. But Moïse said he would not participate in the CARICOM plan, and instead reiterated support for his own proposal: a three-person presidential council that includes Guy Philippe, the former rebel leader who led a 2004 rebellion that ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, reports the Miami Herald.
The socio-political organization Comuna Caribe has expressed disapproval of any attempt to use this intervention as an opportunity for military occupation or to establish measures that could lead to increased civil conflict. They make a call to the community to prevent such actions and reject interventionist and destabilizing plans that protect capitalist interests. (Comuna Caribe)
More Haiti
A new episode Kenya and the Chaos in Haiti of the podcast The Horn is now available. Host Alan talks to Diego Da Rin, Crisis Group’s Haiti expert, and Murithi Mutiga, Crisis Group’s Africa Director, about the latest surge in gang violence in Haiti, which has put the state on the brink of collapse, and the potential of an international mission led by Kenya to restore security. Listen.
Climate and Environmental Justice
The tugboat involved in the Tobago oil spill was linked to a Panamanian network known for transporting Venezuelan oil. Investigations raised concerns about the seaworthiness of the barge and ownership activities following the spill. This environmental crisis, which has spread across the Caribbean, underscores the need for better maritime oversight and accountability. (Bellingcat)
A new UN report highlights how climate change exacerbates natural disasters, leading to increased debt for vulnerable nations like the Bahamas. These disasters cripple economies dependent on industries like tourism, limiting government spending on essential services. The report suggests international support through concessional loans, debt cancellation, and contributions to the Loss and Damages Fund to assist affected countries. (Inside Climate News)
Jamaica is on track to exceed its emission reduction target by 2030, focusing on land use, waste management, and energy. The country has expanded forest cover and aims to protect over 30% of its land by 2025. Waste management improvements include closing dumps and adopting new waste management methods while the energy sector is transitioning towards electrification. (Jamaica Informative Service)
Between 2008 and 2016, 21.5 million people a year were forcibly displaced from their homes by weather-related events, and the UNHCR predicts that globally, 1.2 billion people could be displaced by 2050 due to climate change. Listen to the new episode of the podcast Think Change
Human Rights
Coast Guard members in Trinidad and Tobago are facing disciplinary actions regarding allegations of sexual exploitation of a Venezuelan migrant at the Chaguaramas Heliport. (Trinidad and Tobago Newsday)
St. Kitts-Nevis emerged as the highest-ranked CARICOM country in the 2023-24 Human Development Report by the UNDP, highlighting uneven progress and the need for resilience and social protection. The region faces significant challenges, with life expectancy exceeding the world average but lagging in income. (Caribbean Times)
Democratic Governance
Five minor political parties in Jamaica have united to form the Jamaica Unity Alliance (JUA) to advocate for significant constitutional changes. This unprecedented coalition aims to introduce a new governance framework, emphasizing the need for an executive presidency. (Jamaica Gleaner)
Economist Dr. Damien King supports increasing Jamaica's income tax threshold to $2.2 million, aiming to restore purchasing power similar to levels in 2016. The suggestion aligns with Prime Minister Andrew Holness's hints at a potential increase. (Jamaica Observer)
Human Rights
“For International Women’s Day, every day, more beyond inclusion. Identify who is missing, and center them. Create systems and processes that make their leadership — not mere participation — possible. Listen to them. Learn about their needs. Identify the systems and ideologies that led to those needs and that continue to result in those needs not being met. Be prepared to dismantle systems and discontinue processes and practices that are harmful and exclude women and girls”, writes Alicia Wallace in The Tribune.
Police conducted a raid at the Red Dragon Night Club in Guyana, rescuing 44 allegedly trafficked women. They are now receiving care, and an investigation is underway, which also led to the discovery of a firearm on the premises. The operation was part of ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking. (Kaietuer News)
On International Women's Day 2024, Jamaica highlighted the ongoing fight against gender-based violence and femicide. The day emphasized the importance of protecting women and girls, with a focus on combating abuse, discrimination, and injustices. Initiatives include amendments to the Domestic Violence Act for stronger victim protections, the establishment of more women's shelters, and the launch of a gender-based violence hotline. (Global Voices)
“Feminist narrative in Cuba faces the challenge of remaining relevant and addressing the immediate needs of diverse gender expressions”, explains Laura Vargas, feminist activist and creative director at Subalternas, for La Joven Cuba.
Energy
According to Ambassador and Professor, Dr. Kenrick Hunte, ExxonMobil has underpaid Guyana in royalties by over US$208M for crude produced in the Stabroek Block. He argues that Exxon's method of calculating royalty payments violates the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement, resulting in Guyana receiving a significantly lower royalty rate. (Kaieteur News)
Protesters, led by Red Thread Women, demand an unlimited parent company guarantee from ExxonMobil, arguing that the company profits while locals suffer. They highlight the recent Tobago oil spill as a warning for Guyana. Despite court orders for Exxon to provide a guarantee, the government has appealed, supporting Exxon. (Kaieteur News)
Frederick Collins and Godfrey Whyte have appealed to the full bench of the Court of Appeal, challenging a previous decision regarding the US$2 billion oil spill guarantee by ExxonMobil. They claim the earlier ruling prevents confirmation of ExxonMobil's compliance with court-ordered conditions and argue that the judge's refusal to enforce jurisdiction was incorrect. (Kaieteur News)
Culture
Morna Dodd, daughter of Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd, criticizes the portrayal of her father in the film "Bob Marley: One Love" as inaccurate and demands a public apology from Paramount Pictures and the Marley family. She emphasizes her father's significant, positive impact on Jamaican music and disputes the depiction of him as threatening. (Dance Hall Mag)
Kingston, Jamaica, is experiencing a cultural revival, emphasizing its rich history in music, art, and food. The city, once a musical hub for icons like Bob Marley, is rejuvenating its downtown area to reclaim its title as a cultural capital of the Caribbean. Key developments include the ROK Hotel, representing the "Rebirth of Kingston," and the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival, showcasing the city's culinary scene. (Repeating Islands)
Puerto Rican born artist Pablo Delano will be featured in the 2024 Venice Biennale. This year’s theme “Foreigners Everywhere,” resonates with Delano's request for Puerto Rican representation, highlighting the island's unique status as a nation without nationhood. (Connecticut Public)
Carlos Acosta, a Cuban ballet legend, has announced "Nutcracker in Havana" with his company Acosta Danza. This innovative version will blend Cuban rhythms with classical ballet, set to a Tchaikovsky score adapted by Cuban composer Pepe Gavilondo. The story is reimagined in a 1940s Havana setting, incorporating elements of Cuban culture and history. (The Guardian)
Guyana-born photographer Ingrid Pollard has won the prestigious Hasselblad Award, one of the most significant photography prizes globally, accompanied by a cash reward of over $196,000. Pollard's work, rooted in exploring the connections between British landscapes and Black identity, will be showcased in an exhibition at the Hasselblad Center in Gothenburg, Sweden, opening on October 11. (Art News)
"Code Noir: Afro-Caribbean Stories and Recipes" by Lelani Lewis delves into the Caribbean's diverse culinary heritage shaped by its complex colonial history. The cookbook, inspired by the colonial Code Noir decrees, pays homage to the resilience and creativity of Afro-Caribbean foodways. It explores dishes that blend traditions from various colonizers and the colonized, showcasing the richness of Caribbean cuisine born from adversity. (Saveur)
The 2024 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature has announced a diverse longlist with authors from five Caribbean countries. The Prize, which is the most prestigious award for Caribbean literature, has recognized books in three genres: poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. The final winners of the genre categories will be announced in April, with the overall prize winner to be revealed during the NGC Bocas Lit Fest. (Bocas List Fest)
Opportunities
Project Drawdown is looking for 3–4 Research Fellows to join our team, starting as soon as possible in Spring 2024. Fellows are anticipated to commit on average 20–25 hours/week over 6 to 9 months. Drawdown Research Fellows will analyze potential climate solutions, drawing upon years of advanced study, experience, and a wide range of backgrounds. More information.
UN Women Caribbean has opened several job offers such as a Gender-based Violence Case Manager based in Dominica (learn more), a Gender-based Violence Case Manager in St Vincents and the Grandedines (learn more), a home-based Podcast Producer Consultant (learn more), Gender and Development Economist home-based (learn more) and Baseline Study home-based (learn more). Applications are closing from the 21st of March till the 26th, depending on the position.
Events
21st March, Climate Tracker organizes an online Community Hangout where they will discuss water scarcity, climate, and the Caribbean featuring several experts such as Dr. Sharda Mahabir, National Coordinator GEF SGP Trinidad and Tobago at UNDP. Register.
From April 2nd to May 2nd, The Columbia Mailman School of Public Health is organizing the Caribean Climate and Health Responder Course: Education for Action which aims to amplify health professionals' knowledge, self-efficacy, and communication skills regarding the climate crisis. Register.