Victoria Mendizabal contributed research and drafting assistance to today’s newsletter.
Governance and Corruption
Brian Blue, a Surinamese drug trafficker, remains free despite reports linking him to Suriname's vice president. Despite his known role in the cocaine trade and an Interpol Red Notice, Surinamese authorities have not taken action. Blue’s influence within the government has permitted him to avoid scrutiny by leveraging connections. The situation underscores how corruption shields traffickers, raising public discontent amid economic challenges and perceptions of government corruption, reports InSight Crime.
Andrew Fahie, the former British Virgin Islands premier, has been found guilty on charges related to drug trafficking and racketeering, with a potential life sentence. His conviction came after an eight-day trial, with a jury unanimous in their decision. The case, largely built on evidence from a DEA informant, involved a plan to bribe authorities for the safe passage of cocaine through BVI to the US. Fahie's sentencing is scheduled for April 29, 2024. (Loop)
Vybz Kartel and his co-convicts have successfully appealed their murder conviction, previously upheld in 2014, due to jury misconduct. The UK Privy Council ruled that a retrial decision will now return to the Jamaican Court of Appeal. This development follows after a juror involved in their original trial was convicted of attempting to bribe another juror. Further details on the potential retrial are awaited. (Loop)
The Caribbean and The World
The transitional presidential council in Haiti is nearly set, but there have been switches in the names and political movements willing to participate. “Some are saying don’t be surprise if other names as replaced as high stakes political chess continues being played,” wrote Miami Herald correspondent Jacqueline Charles on social media.
A source said that Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados was angling to expand the voting members of the council to nine, from seven, according to the Miami Herald.
In a critical commentary, diasporan elder Jose Richards vocalized strong opposition towards the actions of Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and other CARICOM leaders regarding their approach to Haiti’s political crisis. Describing the collective as a "Motley crew," Richards equated their strategies to those observed in Palestine, criticizing them for allegedly perpetuating oppression in Haiti. (Caribbean Life)
“The history of Haiti is one in which the nation’s governing classes have exhibited a contempt for the masses extraordinary even by the standards of the global south,” writes Kenan Malik in the Guardian. “It is also one in which foreign powers have never shrunk from repression and bloodshed, or straightforward theft, in pursuit of their aims, sometimes in alliance with local elites, sometimes in opposition to them.”
Cuba’s government accused the U.S. of stoking a protest against electricity outages and food shortages in Santiago de Cuba on Sunday, reports the Guardian.
Finance and Economics
Fintech expert Kathryn Chin See encourages Caribbean financial institutions to embrace technology to serve unbanked and underbanked markets. She argues that digital transformation can lower costs, speed up services, and tap into new markets, enhancing competition against global fintechs. The focus should be on understanding local markets and leveraging cultural knowledge to outperform global players. (Caribbean Times)
Food Security
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is actively working with Latin America and the Caribbean to enhance the region's agricultural resilience and address food security challenges. At the FAO’s 38th regional conference in Guyana, Director General Qu Dongyu highlighted the importance of integrating traditional knowledge with scientific innovation to tackle economic slowdowns, high food prices, and climate change impacts. (Kaieteur News)
Climate and Environmental Justice
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to consider state obligations on climate change, drawing from various areas of law, including human rights. With climate impacts becoming undeniable, the ICJ's advisory opinion may highlight the right to a clean, healthy environment. This encompasses duties to mitigate and adapt to climate change, ensuring actions do not lead to further human or environmental costs. (Open Global Rights)
The Guardian profiles Dominican Republic land defender Esteban Polanco, who heads the Federation of Farmers Towards Progress (La Federación de Campesinos hacia el Progreso), which has, for decades, challenged successive governments and powerful business interests and famously stopped an international mining company from destroying and exploiting Loma de Blanco.
Christine Samwaroo from Guyana, influenced by her childhood experiences with injustices, has chosen a career focused on inspiring inclusion. As the Founder and Managing Director of The Breadfruit Collective, an organization dedicated to gender and environmental justice, she works with grassroots groups to promote intergenerational and inclusive programming.
A new episode of the podcast Think Change Rising tides, shifting borders - Migration in a changing climate is now available. Host Sara Pantuliano, Chief Executive ODI, will talk with Gaia Vince, Environmental Journalist and Author of Nomad Century: How climate migration will reshape our world, Michai Robertson, Research Fellow ODI, and Claire Kumar, Senior Research Fellow ODI Europe about migration during the ongoing climate crisis. Listen.
Human Rights
Haiti's healthcare system is on the brink of collapse amid violent gang conflicts, with most hospitals closed and medical supplies scarce. Only one public hospital in Port-au-Prince remains operational. Violence has displaced thousands and caused numerous deaths, severely impacting access to essential healthcare services. The situation resembles a war zone, with aid organizations struggling to provide medical care amidst the chaos. (The Guardian)
The Attorney General's Office has initiated a preliminary investigation into alleged corruption involving President Santokhi and two ministers over a reported US$7.5 million payment to Pan-American Real Estate using false documents. The investigation, triggered by a whistleblower's claims, involves high-profile interviews but no suspects have been formally identified yet. Samwaroo's commitment is grounded in witnessing gender-based violence and recognizing the intersection between climate and gender justice. (Loop)
Democratic Governance
Hundreds of Cubans protested in Santiago de Cuba last Sunday, outraged by ongoing power outages and food shortages. People at the rally changed “power and food,” according to videos posted on social media. (Reuters, Associated Press)
Rafael Bernabe discusses the emergence of La Alianza, a coalition between the Citizens’ Victory Movement (MVC) and the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), aimed at transforming Puerto Rican politics. This coalition seeks to address the disillusionment with traditional parties and the impact of economic downturns and government mismanagement. La Alianza emphasizes diverse social issues, including labor rights, environmental protection, and social justice, working towards a broad-based progressive platform. (Jacobin)
Julian Robinson, the Opposition Spokesperson on Finance, Planning, and Public Service in Jamaica, advocates for integrating character education into the national curriculum. He emphasizes the importance of teaching fundamental human values like honesty, kindness, and respect from an early age to cultivate morally responsible and self-disciplined citizens. (Caribbean Times)
During the 140th session of the UN Human Rights Committee, concerns were raised regarding the Guyanese government's lack of investigation into corruption allegations against Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. (Kaieteur News)
Public Security
The Sint Maarten Police Force is urging parents and guardians to actively participate in addressing the rise of school fights highlighted by disturbing videos on social media. The police stress the need for community-wide effort, including discussions on violence consequences and positive conflict resolution. The KPSM emphasizes that while they are committed to addressing the issue, the cooperation of parents, guardians, educators, and community leaders is essential in fostering respect and understanding among youth to prevent further escalation. (Loop)
Energy
Exxon Mobil's CEO, Darren Woods, highlighted the Guyana oil development as one of the most successful in the industry's history, attributing the success to Exxon's work. Since discovering oil in 2015, Exxon has made rapid developments, leading to significant oil discoveries and making Guyana the world's fastest-growing economy. (Kaietur News)
Culture
"West Indies: The Fugitive Slaves of Liberty," directed by Med Hondo, is a groundbreaking film that critiques French imperialism through a musical format. As the most expensive African film of its time, it adapts Daniel Boukman's play, "Les Négriers," into a visually striking narrative. The film unfolds on a set resembling a massive slave ship, where a variety of scenes depict the Caribbean's colonial history and its people's struggles. The movie will release in theatres on March 22nd. (Film Forum)
Trinidadian artist Christopher Cozier's "Tropical Night" series, comprising 269 pieces created between 2006 and 2012, will be exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York from March 29, 2024. Cozier expressed his astonishment at the inclusion, highlighting the rarity for artists from the Caribbean to gain such recognition. (Newsday)
The British Museum collaborates with Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke in a groundbreaking exhibition focusing on objects linked to British colonial rule. Born in 1959, Locke, a frequent visitor to the museum since the 1980s, explores the museum's collection, including items in storage, to question and reinterpret their narratives, especially those related to Britain's history in Africa, the Caribbean, and India. The exhibition will run from October 17, 2024, to February 9, 2025. (News Artnet)
Global Press Journal's new project in Puerto Rico aims to showcase diverse stories beyond natural disasters, highlighting the richness of art, culture, education, and society within local communities. (IJNET)
Keith "Jumbo" Martin, a beloved cricket nuts vendor in Trinidad and Tobago, passed away on March 13, just before turning 66. Known for his precision in tossing nuts to fans at sports events and his vibrant personality, Jumbo became a fixture in the Caribbean sports scene. His dedication to his craft, patriotic spirit, and advocacy for fellow vendors made him a national icon. His loss is felt deeply across the community, highlighting the impact of his unique blend of entrepreneurship and patriotism. (Global Voices)