Caribbean RoundUp

Antigua and Barbuda

Prime Minister Gaston Browne says shareholder governments in the now defunct LIAT (1975) Limited have agreed to sell at least three aircraft to the newly formed LIAT 2020.

Browne described the move as “significant”, saying it would facilitate a smooth transition into the new airline being formed in partnership with Air Peace, a private Nigerian airline and added that the new airline could launch its operations within 60 to 90 days.

“Within the last couple of days we have had the approvals from all of the heads of shareholding governments to sell their planes or aircraft to Antigua and Barbuda and I think now, the administrator (Cleveland Seaforth) is seeking to have a court hearing to have the deal ratified by the courts.

“The Caribbean Development Bank, they have concurred as well. So we are now a little closer towards the acquisition those aircraft,” he said, adding: “We would be paying a total US$12.1 million to acquire the aircraft and we will have to spend I believe at least another US$8M to get them fully operational.”

Browne said that his administration had previously indicated that it was prepared to invest between US$15-20 million in the new venture and that when the other shareholder governments of LIAT (1974) Ltd,. that is Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, had decided to collapse the airline because of the problems faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, Antigua and Barbuda decided against the move.

Barbados

Shortly after leaving the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) government, King’s Counsel Ralph Thorne has taken over the leadership of the opposition Democratic Labour Party (DLP).

In a statement with out- going DLP president and leader Dr. Ronnie Yearwood said, “We as a party needed to ensure our internal processing of welcoming our new political leader Ralph Thorne was done correctly and with the greatest care. We wish to greatly thank Barbadians for their kindness and patience at this time. We have seen that this country desires better, and truly deserves better.”

The DLP said Thorne “was successfully voted to be a member of the Democratic Labour Party, and is now our political leader.” They thanked the Barbadians for their”out-pouring support.”

“This is indeed a great moment for the party and Barbados as we now bring together the strengths, expertise and capacities of both Dr. Ronnie Yearwood and Mr. Ralph Thorne, K C” the party said.

It said that Yearwood remains president “who will manage and develop critical needs within the party to ready this great institution for when next the bell is rung.

Caribbean

The Caribbean Energy Chamber Inc (CEC) has been officially established in St. Lucia for greater global recognition of the energy challenges faced by the Caribbean and to prioritize affordable net-zero energy security for the region.

“The new pan-Caribbean chamber is a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent organization governed by a 23-member founding board for the first three years, with CEC members electing a new Board on an annual basis thereafter. CEC membership will comprise companies and individuals from the Caribbean and around the globe,” the CEC  said in a recent statement.

Melanie Chen, the founding chair said: “CEC will serve as a hub for uniting all energy stakeholders in the Caribbean, including those from both public and private sectors (demand and supply sides). We will be hosting workshops, round tables, and breakout sessions at conferences aimed at enabling actions to help the implementation of energy transition and security in the Caribbean.”

Chen said the establishment of CEC, with its headquarters in St Lucia, is seen as timely and valuable by regional governments and institutions. This is due to the open nature of Caribbean economies and the pragmatic foreign policy of most Caribbean leaders.

Eugene Tiah, founding president & CEO, noted, “These issues hold significant importance.”

“Climate change has a disproportionate impact on the Caribbean and requires global collaboration to address its effects. Additionally, geopolitical tensions outside the Caribbean like the Russian invasion of Ukraine resulted in soaring food and energy prices, underscoring the volatility of the global market,” he added.

Guyana

In his address at the opening of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo 2024, Guyana President Irfaan Ali is hopeful that the ferry service set to be launched between his country, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados will prove that inter-regional travel is profitable. The Guyanese president stressed how important the regional ferry service could be across many facets of the CARICOM market.

“Guyana, Barbados and Trinidad, we are launching very soon, with strong support from Trinidad and Tobago, a shipping asset that would allow movement of containers, movement of passengers, a ferry service as a test to prove the model that investment in the regional transport infrastructure is not only key and critical, but it is profitable,” President Ali said during his address.

“It is profitable and it helps us to achieve the goals of integration, greater levels of trade between ourselves and food security.”

In January, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley confirmed that the Galleons Passage will be used as part of a regional cargo ferry service between Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.

“We have added the supply chain to this conference and it is not added to this conference to prolong the title of the conference, but it is added because there is an important shift from a policy perspective, from an investment perspective, and from a development perspective, that we wanted to highlight to investors as the energy story continues to unfold in Guyana,” said President Ali.

“It is important for us to understand the role logistics and transport systems and investment will play in the building out of our economy, but more importantly in the integration, the full and complete integration of our economy with Caricom, South America, Dominican Republic and further afield. This is the priority, ensuring the economy is fully integrated within our region.”

Haiti

A judge in Haiti in charge of investigating the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse has indicted his widow, Martine Moïse, ex-prime minister Claude Joseph and the former chief of Haiti’s National Police, Léon Charles, among others.

The citations are expected to further destabilise Haiti, as it struggles with a surge in gang violence and recovers from a spate of violent protests demanding the resignation of current Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

Dozens of suspects were indicted by Walther Wesser Voltaire, the fifth judge to lead the investigation after previous ones stepped down for various reasons, including fear of being killed.

Charles, who was police chief when Moïse was killed and now serves as Haiti’s permanent representative to the Organization of the American States, faces the most serious charges: murder; attempted murder; possession and illegal carrying of weapons; conspiracy against the internal security of the state; and criminal association.

Joseph and Martine Moïse, who was injured in the attack, are accused of complicity and criminal association.

Joseph also again called on Henry to resign and noted that while he was still prime minister, he invited the FBI to help local authorities investigate the killing and wrote the UN and OAS for help.

Jamaica

Jamaica has recorded more than 100 murders so far this year, but the authorities say that there has been a significant decline over the same period last year.

Figures released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) showed that as of Feb. 17, the island recorded 122 murders, as against 163 last year, a 25 per centdecline for the year this far.

The JCF figures show that St. James had 20 murders, St. Catherine South had 13 killings, St .Catherine North had nine, and St. Ann, Clarendon and St. Andrew Central had eight murders each.

Police figures also show that gun related shootings are up 18 percent, and injured people reports have recorded 18 more year-on-year. Meanwhile, rape, robbery and break- ins have declined.

Last year in 2023, Jamaica recorded 1,393 murders, which is a 7.8 percent decline in murders than the previous year.

— Compiled by Devika Ragoonanan