Category: CANA News

Several Caribbean candidates are on the ballot in contesting the New York Democratic Primary on Tuesday.

Among the contestants in key races are Caribbean-American Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants; Haitian-born New York City Council Member Mercedes Narcisse; New York State Assembly Member Monique Chandler-Waterman, the daughter of Jamaican and Barbadian immigrants; Trinidadian-born Assembly Member Jaime Williams; District Leader Anthony Beckford, the son of Jamaican immigrants; and Guyanese-born lawyer Michelle DeSouza-Forte, who is running for a Civil Court judgeship in Brooklyn.

In seeking re-election in the predominantly Caribbean 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, Clarke told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that ‘proven fighters’ are currently needed in the US Congress.

‘The stakes could not be higher, and my determination for this community could not be stronger,’ said the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). ‘We have to fight like our lives depend on it. Act like our nation’s future is on the line. Vote like our livelihoods depend on it, because they do.

‘So, Brooklyn, are you with me? Are we ready to fight back?’ Clarke asked. ‘Because our community is counting on us, and the soul of this nation is on the line, let’s get out there. When we fight, we win.’

Clarke said she takes her passion for her Caribbean heritage to Congress, where she also co-chairs the Congressional Caribbean Caucus and works to foster relationships between the United States and the Caribbean Community.

Clarke is a senior member of the US House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee, and has been a CBC member since coming to Congress in 2007.

In the 58th New York State Assembly District in Brooklyn, Narcisse and Chandler-Waterman are in a bitter feud for district leadership.

‘Today is the day,’ Narcisse told constituents early Tuesday. ‘Polls are open until 9:00 p.m., and I am asking for your vote.’

Narcisse said she is running for re-election as the Democratic State Committee Member, otherwise known as district leader, for the 58th Assembly District.

‘It is an unpaid role, but it is how East Flatbush, Canarsie, Crown Heights, and Brownsville keep a voice where the real decisions get made,’ she said.

‘I spent my career as a nurse before I ever ran for office. I know what it means to take care of people, and that is exactly what I have done in this seat since 2022. I am not done.’

Narcisse said she was ‘proud to have the support’ of the former representative for the 59th Assembly District and former US Ambassador to Jamaica Nick Perry.

She said Jamaican-born Perry first asked her ‘to serve in this role and stands with me again today.’

On the other hand, Chandler-Waterman said she looks forward to making her case to the voters of the Assembly District 58 ‘that I can best represent their interests when it comes to being a part of a Kings County (Brooklyn) Democratic Committee who put people before politics.’

She said her election as district leader would help ‘ensure a fair and equitable judicial nomination process, recommending responsible poll workers and election inspectors to work on Election Day, and continue my grassroots advocacy to educate voters.’

A district leader is a representative elected by registered Democrats in their Assembly District to serve on the New York State Democratic Committee, which is the official governing body of the state party.

The role involves nominating judges, voting on party rules, platform positions, and party leadership at the state level.

It’s an elected but unpaid position, and it runs on a two-year cycle tied to the Primary calendar.

Jamaican-American District Leader Anthony Beckford, a long-standing community advocate, mentor and activist, is also seeking re-election the district leader for the 43rd Assembly District in Brooklyn.

Since taking office in 2024, Beckford said he has remained consistent and dedicated to the work and his campaign vision.

The United States Marine Corps veteran said that, among other things, he has appointed the most poll workers in Brooklyn; has helped to elevate judges who have deep connections to the communities; has remained consistent in the fight to protect democracy; has created five new youth and senior initiatives that help to provide services, mentorship and much-needed resources; and brought more resources to the community.

Beckford said he has remained ‘outspoken against Trump, his administration and the racist, tyrannical policies that they have implemented.’

He said he is a ‘true coalition builder’, and has partnered with Assemblymember Brian Cunningham, also the son of Jamaican immigrants; Haitian-born Councilmember Rita Joseph; and many of his other fellow elected officials and community-based organizations to advocate for education, affordable low-income housing, affordable medical services, the end to deed theft, protect workers rights, and make sure that ‘the voices and demands of the people are heard throughout all levels of government.’

As a grassroots, community-based elected official, Beckford said he looks forward to being re-elected in the 43rd Assembly District in Tuesday’s Democratic Primary.

Trinidadian-born, New York State Assemblymember Jaime Williams is underscoring a broad coalition of support that includes elected officials, labor organizations, faith leaders and community advocates from across Brooklyn.

Williams, representative for the 59th Assembly District in Brooklyn, said the endorsements reflect her work on affordability, neighborhood investments, community services, and support for homeowners, tenants, seniors, and working families throughout the 59th Assembly District.

Williams said the support reflects years of working alongside residents and stakeholders in securing resources, funding, and opportunities that benefit local families.

‘I am grateful for the support of so many community leaders, organizations, and elected officials who share my commitment to serving the people of our district,’ she said. ‘Together, we have worked to bring resources, investments, and opportunities to our neighborhoods.

‘And I look forward to continuing that work on behalf of the families, seniors, homeowners, and young people who call this community home…I encourage every eligible voter to participate in this election and make their voice heard,’ she added.

DeSouza-Forte said she has been receiving a growing coalition of community and Democratic leaders’ endorsement for Civil Court Judge in New York.

DeSouza-Forte, who is running for a judgeship in the 6th Municipal District in Kings County (Brooklyn), said that New York City Bar has ‘approved’ her candidacy.

She also disclosed that she has earned the endorsement of several elected officials, including Caribbean nationals, in Brooklyn.

In addition, DeSouza-Forte said the New York Progressive Action Network has endorsed her candidacy.

‘I am honoured to receive the support of respected elected officials, district leaders, and community advocates who have dedicated themselves to serving Brooklyn. These endorsements reflect a shared belief that our courts must be fair, impartial, and accessible to everyone who enters them.

‘I am grateful for their confidence in my experience, integrity, and commitment to public service,’ she added. ‘Local Civil Court Judges make decisions that affect families, tenants, consumers, workers, and small businesses every day.

‘I am running because I believe every person who comes before the court deserves fairness, professionalism, and a judge who understands the real-life impact of every decision,’ continued DeSouza-Forte, who is currently on leave from her position as an assistant corporation counsel with the New York City Law Department.

DeSouza-Forte, who migrated from Guyana in 1985, grew up in East Flatbush, Brooklyn and currently resides in Canarsie, also in Brooklyn.

Antigua and Barbuda has welcomed the historic adoption of the Declaration on Improving Mental Health in the Americas noting that climate-related disasters, economic vulnerability, social disruption and the enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have intensified the need for stronger mental health systems throughout the region.

The declaration was adopted at the ongoing 56th Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), with the Antigua and Barbuda ambassador, Sir Ronald Sanders, underscoring the importance of mental health as a pillar of human well-being, social cohesion and sustainable development. Sir Ronald noted that, at the request of Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Antigua and Barbuda had initiated the discussion on mental health at the previous General Assembly that was held in St. John’s.

He told delegates Tuesday that the initiative was driven by the conviction that mental health is fundamental to the resilience and progress of societies across the hemisphere with the Caribbean island stressing that these pressures are shared across the region and require a collective response through hemispheric cooperation.

He said that mental health must be understood not only as a health concern, but also as a development, education, labour and human rights issue. In that regard, the newly adopted Declaration is being viewed as an important commitment by member states to deepen cooperation, share best practices, expand access to quality mental health services, and advance people-centred policies focused on prevention, care and recovery.

Antigua and Barbuda further welcomed the Declaration’s recognition of the needs of persons and groups in situations of vulnerability, and its affirmation of inclusive approaches to mental health policy.

Sir Ronald said that for too long mental health has remained one of the most neglected public health challenges in the hemisphere and the Declaration represents a collective affirmation that mental health is integral to human dignity, social well-being and sustainable development, and an investment in healthier and more resilient societies throughout the Americas.

Leaders of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have agreed to increase the age of retirement for judges of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) from 65 to 70 years.

OECS chairman and Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said that the issue had been discussed at the two-day OECS summit which ended here on Monday. Browne said that discussions were held with the Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Madam Justice Margaret Price-Findlay and ‘one of the recommendations coming out of the discussions with the Chief Justice is that the retirement age for judges should be increased to 70 years of age’.

He acknowledge having a difficulty wen judges retire at the age 65’and then not being able to readily recruit judges, you know, who have the necessary expertise and experience.

‘And that recommendation was certainly met with the approval of heads, so we expect to see some changes in the upcoming maybe weeks and months,’ Browne added.

The ECSC is the superior court of record for the OECS. It handles both civil and criminal matters and serves six independent nations and three British overseas territories in the Caribbean region, namely Antigua and Barbuda, Dominicca, Grenada, St.Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sr. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.

Headquartered in St. Lucia, the ECSC is composed of two primary divisions, namely the High Court of Justice, which primarily serves as the court of first instance for trials and hearings in each member state and the Court of Appea, an itinerant court that travels from island to island to hear appeals from the High Court and local Magistrates’ courtts.

Leaders of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have agreed to increase the age of retirement for judges of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) from 65 to 70 years.

OECS chairman and Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said that the issue had been discussed at the two-day OECS summit which ended here on Monday. Browne said that discussions were held with the Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Madam Justice Margaret Price-Findlay and ‘one of the recommendations coming out of the discussions with the Chief Justice is that the retirement age for judges should be increased to 70 years of age’.

He acknowledge having a difficulty wen judges retire at the age 65’and then not being able to readily recruit judges, you know, who have the necessary expertise and experience.

‘And that recommendation was certainly met with the approval of heads, so we expect to see some changes in the upcoming maybe weeks and months,’ Browne added.

The ECSC is the superior court of record for the OECS. It handles both civil and criminal matters and serves six independent nations and three British overseas territories in the Caribbean region, namely Antigua and Barbuda, Dominicca, Grenada, St.Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sr. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.

Headquartered in St. Lucia, the ECSC is composed of two primary divisions, namely the High Court of Justice, which primarily serves as the court of first instance for trials and hearings in each member state and the Court of Appea, an itinerant court that travels from island to island to hear appeals from the High Court and local Magistrates’ courtts.

The US-based international oil and gas company that focuses on exploration and production activities in the Caribbean, Global Petroleum Group (GPG) says it is ready to launch a second major offshore drilling campaign in Grenadian waters.

But GPG executive director, Eduard Vasilyev, speaking on the Bubb Report television programme here, said the company has been unable to proceed because it has not received the necessary cooperation and approvals from the Grenada government. GPG spudded and subsequently logged a wildcat exploration well known as Nutmeg-2, which is located in about 400 feet of water near the maritime boundary with Venezuela.

Vasilyev told viewers that the company has repeatedly informed St. George’s that is prepared to move forward with a second drilling programme only to receive what he described as silence.

‘We were ready to drill. We informed the government many times in writing. We did not receive a single meaningful response,’ Vasilyev said.

He said that GPG’s first offshore drilling campaign in Block D confirmed the presence of commercially viable natural gas reserves after years of geological studies, including 2D and 3D seismic surveys.

‘The first thing we discovered was gas. We can say with full confidence that the discovery is commercial and can move into the production phase.’

Vasilyev maintained that the company was prepared to invest approximately US$350 million in a second drilling campaign involving five to six additional wells, adding that the programme would have revisited the Nutmeg-2 discovery area and tested several other prospects identified offshore Grenada.

Vasilyev also revealed that GPG has invested an estimated US$200 million in Grenada’s hydrocarbon sector and that it has advanced US$20 million to the government under provisions of its contractual agreement.

‘The government is our partner under the contract. Without the government’s permits and approvals, we cannot carry out drilling operations,’ he said, rejecting suggestions that the company has withheld information from the state.

He said that all geological and technical data generated over the years were formally handed over to government officials.

‘We never withheld information from the government of Grenada. Every document was transferred officially,’ he said, dismissing also reports that GPG had partnered with Nigerian investors, insisting that the company’s contractors remain American firms and that media reports to the contrary were inaccurate.

In 2023, the Dickon Mitchell government established a Hydrocarbons Technical Working Group to review the sector and advise on future policy, while regional discussions have continued on potential energy cooperation involving Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago and neighboring states.

Vasilyev said GPG remains willing to work with the government.

‘If we had been able to work productively together over the last four years, Grenada would already be seeing the benefits. The opportunities are still there, and we remain ready to move forward,’ he told the programme.

In June last year, Vasilyev led a GPG delegation to Trinidad and Tobago holding talks with that country’s Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, Dr. Roodal Moonilal and other officials.

A statement issued in Port of Spain then said that GPG is engaged in exploration and appraisal activities off Grenada’s southern coast, close to the Patao/Dragon fields in Venezuela and the North Coast Marine Area (NCMA) fields in Trinidad.

It said that in 2018, GPG successfully established a commercial agreement with the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago (NGC) and that this partnership emerged from the Energy Sector Development Framework Agreement signed in 2012 between the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) governments.

The statement said that building on this framework agreement, Moonilal reaffirmed the Trinidad and Tobago government’s commitment to collaboration with Grenada and to actively pursuing discussions aimed at strategically strengthening these bilateral relations.

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, has held talks with Haiti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Raina Forbin, ‘for a constructive exchange on the situation in Haiti and the path forward.

‘Our discussion reaffirmed the importance of sustained, coordinated, and practical support for the Haitian people at this critical moment. Haiti’s transition must succeed as a bridge toward restored security, renewed institutional confidence, constitutional order, and the holding of credible, inclusive, and peaceful elections,’ Ramdin said of the talks held ahead of the opening of the 56th Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly on Tuesday. Ramdin reiterated that the OAS ‘remains committed to supporting Haitian-led efforts to stabilize the country, strengthen democratic institutions, and create the conditions necessary for the Haitian people to freely choose their leaders.

‘This requires security progress, political responsibility, humanitarian attention, institutional strengthening, and a clear commitment by all stakeholders,’ Ramdin said, adding that he had ‘expressed his support for the ‘stability and success of the current transition until elections can be held.

‘At the same time, I emphasized that the transition must remain focused and results-oriented,’ Ramdin said, adding that in this regard, he is looking forward to visiting Haiti in the coming weeks ‘to continue consultations with national authorities, political and social actors, regional partners, and the international community.

‘The OAS will continue to work closely with Haiti, CARICOM, the United Nations, and other partners to help align efforts and support concrete progress,’ Ramdin added.

The proposed visit would follow that of the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, who paid a one day visit last week confident that the country’s transition ‘is moving forward.

‘A dynamic is there. And my call to the international community is therefore simple. Finally, assume your responsibilities,’ Guterres said, urging all stakeholders to stand together with the Haitian people for ‘peace, for security and for dignity’.

Guterres, who held talks with Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, told a news conference that the biggest wave is not the violence of the gangs operating in the country.

Earlier this month, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said that 2, 300 people have been killed in Haiti due to gang violence since the start of this year.

‘In Haiti, gang violence has resulted in at least 2,300 deaths, 1,100 injuries and 99 kidnappings since the start of the year. The Gang Suppression Force (GSF) is urgently needed and needs to operate in line with international human rights law,’ Turk said.

Late last year, the UN Security Council gave the green ight for the GSF, a multinational police and military force to combat escalating gang violence in Haiti. With a mandated troop size of up to 5,500, it replaces the previously under-resourced Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.

Meanwhile, Forbin and Ramdin joined Delphine Pronk, Deputy Director General for the Americas at the European External Action Service (EEAS), and Carlos Hoyos, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, at the launch of an EU-OAS initiative for the construction of five Forward Operating Bases ( FOBs ) in Port-au-Prince, to combat armed violence.

This project, jointly organised by the EU and the OAS around the theme ‘Safer societies: EU-OAS cooperation to combat firearms trafficking’, aims to strengthen the operational capacities of the Haitian National Police (PNH).

The project is funded by the European Union’s Foreign Policy Instrument (FPI) with Euro10 million (One Euro=US$1.29 cents) anshe said aligns perfectly with national security priorities and emohasising that the project will contribute to increasing the presence of security forces in high-risk areas and consolidating recaptured territories.

In a pre-recorded message, the Director General of the Haitian National Police, Vladimir Paraison, presented the evolution of the security situation as well as the progress made by the national security forces in their efforts to restore security and regain control of the territories affected by gang violence.

Ramdin, reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to supporting Haiti in its efforts toward stabilization and institutional strengthening.

‘At a time when Haiti is facing profound and complex challenges, this partnership between the OAS and the European Union is an important step in the right direction. It demonstrates the confidence placed in Haitian institutions and in the resilience of the Haitian people, as well as our shared determination to support a safer, more stable, and hopeful future for Haiti.

‘Let us move forward together to contribute to the restoration of security, the strengthening of institutions, and the creation of the foundations for lasting peace and stability,’ he added.

In her address, Pronk, underscored the European Union’s commitment to making a concrete contribution to the creation of a safe and secure operational environment at this crucial time for Haiti, particularly through the establishment of these five Forward Operating Bases.

Police have charged three people with several counts of money-laundering and fraud-related charges in an alleged financial scheme totalling US$50 million and spanning nearly six years.

In a statement the police said that Paul Bilzerian, Terri Steffen and Gregory Gilpin-Payne were each charged with money-laundering and fraud offences committed between November 2018 and July 2024. They said that during that period the accused, together with others, are alleged to have conspired to obtain US$$50 million by false pretenses and to have subsequently laundered the money.

According to the police statement, on June 18 this year, Bilzerian was charged with money laundering by transaction, conspiracy to commit money laundering, false pretense and conspiracy to commit false pretense.

The police said that Steffen has been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, while Gilpin-Payne is facing charges of money laundering by transaction, conspiracy to commit money laundering, false pretense, conspiracy to commit false pretense.

They said that the investigations into the matter are ongoing and ‘highly commends the White Collar Crime Unit for its work in bringing this matter to this stage and reaffirms the Federation’s unwavering commitment to combatting financial crime in all its forms.

‘ St. Kitts and Nevis will not be used as a vehicle for fraud, false pretense, or the laundering of criminally obtained funds, and the Force will continue to pursue all such matters with the full force of the law,’ the police statement warned.

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin, Tuesday underscored the important role played by the permanent observers in the hemispheric body meeting its obligations.

Ramdin told delegates attending the 56th OAS General Assembly that the work of the OAS is necessary in order to address the growing challenges in the Western Hemisphere and that multilateralism and solidarity are essential for the preservation of democracy, security, and economic development.

Speaking on the theme multilateralism in the events of democracy, hemispheric security, and stability in the member states, Ramdin said it was chosen by the host government, Panama as ‘a serious aspiration, but equally an immediate requirement of our time.

‘It speaks to the concerns of our region and to those of nations around the world. There is no better place to take up this discussion than here with the member states and the observers from around the world gathered here today.

‘In that same spirit, we deeply appreciate the active role that many observer states play in advancing the very theme of this year’s assembly. It is largely thanks to our permanent observers that the Organization of American States can continue to strengthen the promotion and defence of democracy through electoral observation missions, support peace-building efforts, and reinforce the work of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission.’

Ramdin said that it is also at the center of advancing the hemispheric body’s multidimensional security and sustainable development programmes in many countries and many regions.

‘These partnerships, ladies and gentlemen with observer states, help demonstrate the value of the OAS in supporting the countries and the peoples of the Americas,’ said the former Surinamese foreign affairs minister, noting that since taking office a year ago, he has made it a clear priority to deepen and widen the OAS’s engagement with permanent observer states.

‘I am deeply grateful for the meetings I have held with heads of state and other high-level authorities, both at headquarters and in your capitals. We have begun this effort with those observers that maintain dedicated missions to the Organization – Spain, Italy, France, and the Holy See.

‘Building on this foundation, we have launched more structured and forward-looking programmes of cooperation and exchange, and we sincerely thank you for the trust you have placed in us.’

Ramdin said last year, the OAS reached a historic milestone, receiving a record of US26.3 million in contributions from all members of the permanent observers, and directed to OAS programmes across the four pillars of the Organisation.

He said he would like to particularly highlight the recent contribution of Euro10 million (One Euro=US$1.29 cents) from the European Union to support the OAS programme for the construction and equipping of forward operating bases in Haiti’s West Department.

‘Looking ahead, we remain committed to building multi-year partnerships, frameworks with our permanent observers, aligned with the Organization’s institutional priorities. These frameworks are essential to promoting greater predictability, sustainability, and long-term impact for OAS initiatives.’

But he said at the same time, the OAS is conducting high-level political dialogues with strategic partners to assess the state of the existing cooperation and establish roadmaps for collaboration in the medium term.

‘So, no programmes for one year alone, but multi-year programmes. Most recently, I held dialogues with the European Union and Spain, during which we had productive exchanges on our existing cooperation and agreed on a roadmap structure to further strengthen our partnerships in the years ahead.

‘We are advancing the same model with key partners, including Spain, Italy, and Morocco, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration with permanent observers from every region of the world.’

Ramdin also highlighted the 20th anniversary of the Spanish fund to the OAS, which he described as a ‘landmark mechanism’ that has facilitated Spain’s cooperation and that serves as a blueprint for permanent observers to work with the OAS.

In his address, Ramdin said that the Americas face a convergence of challenges that transcend borders. He said from persistent inequality and democratic fragility, to insecurity, irregular migration and climate-related disasters, no country can effectively respond in isolation.

‘These are shared challenges that require shared solutions in our work,’ he said, noting that Haiti has been at the centre of these challenges.

‘Addressing the country’s ongoing security, humanitarian, and institutional challenges require sustained international solidarity and coordinated action. Supporting Haiti’s path towards stability, democratic governance, and recovery is essential not only for the well-being of its people, but also for the peace and stability of the wider region.’

Ramdin said he wants to especially thank the observer countries that have supported the Haiti roadmap towards peace and stability, namely the European Union, Spain, Japan, Serbia, Korea, and Ukraine.

‘…we look forward to others joining us in these efforts. So for us, it’s important that we seize this opportunity to continue strengthening our shared commitment to cooperation, dialogue, and multilateral action.

‘Together, we can continue building a hemisphere that is more democratic, more secure, better prepared to respond to the aspirations and needs of our people,’ Ramdin added.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a new 36-month precautionary Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for Barbados providing critical insurance in the event shocks generate balance of payments needs, while continuing to help anchor macroeconomic stability and support reform implementation under the homegrown Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan 2026 (BERT 2026).

The IMF said that the US$257 million SBA allows the authorities immediate access to US$64 million.

The Washington-based financial institution said that having made significant progress in implementing its first two BERT plans, supported by previous IMF arrangements, Barbados enters the new SBA in a stronger macroeconomic position.

It said that the outlook remains stable but subject to significant downside risks, amid high global policy uncertainty, elevated commodity prices, and vulnerability to natural disasters.

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is to seek a suspension of the Common External Tariff (CET) as the sub-regional grouping moves towards enhancing trade relations with South America, Panama and the Dominican Republic, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced.

Browne, who chaired the two-day OECS Summit that ended here on Monday, told a news conference that the meeting had discussed the issue of trade ‘and we felt that the region must look at alternative trade destinations to include South America, particularly Panama. ‘As you know, Cologne is the largest free trade zone within the hemisphere, and they do in excess of 33 billion US dollars a year in trade, and there are many opportunities for us to increase trade and to get very good quality products at affordable prices,’ said Browne, the new chairman of the nine-member grouping.

He said that many of those products leave Panama, then they go to the United States, subjected to a markup,’and then we are purchasing more expensive goods.

‘Now, the US’s policy of tariffication, that in itself would have resulted in an increase in the cost of goods, and that is why we have to explore new markets to try and address the issue of the rising cost of living within the OECS.

‘Many of our nationals complain about the increase in prices, and so that is a regional issue that is affecting our people, even affecting the quality of life. But outside of looking to South America and even Central America, we believe that the opportunities to import goods, especially food items from the Dominican Republic’.

Prime Minister Browne told reporters that the goods from the Dominican Republic could be obtained at ‘very, I would say, reasonable prices, competitive prices.

‘But in order to achieve that, we’ll have to approach CARICOM (Caribbean Community) for suspension of the common external tariff. So we have asked the OECS Commission, to do a study to determine the products that we can import at cheaper prices from the Dominican Republic, and for us to approach CARICOM for a temporary suspension of the CET…so that we will have the opportunity to import goods at lower prices into the sub-region.’

Browne said that currently, Antigua and Barbuda receives at least two shipments out of the Dominican Republic on a weekly basis and ‘so we have already established direct shipping links, and if we can import products directly at a cheaper price, that will certainly help to reduce the cost of living here in Antigua and Barbuda and within other OECS countries’.

The OECS groups the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Browne said that the two-day summit also discussed the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI).

Several of the OECS countries have CBI programmes through which foreign investors are granted citizenship of a particular OECS country in return for making a significant contribution to that country’s socio-economic development.

Prime Minister Browne said that the discussions on the CBI came against the backdrop of threats by the European Union to discontinue visa-free access under their Schengen visa-free programme.

‘It’s a matter of concern for heads, and we are now seeking to engage high-level officials within the European Union to see what we can do to, you know, get them to reconsider their position or to come to some other arrangement, possibly to introduce an ETA, an electronic travel authorisation, rather than suspending visa-free access.

‘But before we make such an entry, you want to make sure that we engage in high-level discussions with European officials, and we’ll be making efforts to try and have that engagement, hopefully by the fall of this year, and again just making sure that we continue to maintain constructive dialogue with the European Union, to obviously reiterate how important these programmes are.’

Browne described the CBI programme as a ‘very important source of non-cash revenue for the respective countries, and without any compensatory income, clearly it will result in some significant displacements in our respective countries, especially those countries that are heavily reliant on CBI revenues’.

He said the leaders also discussed the sub-region’s marine space and to develop strategies as to how they can sustainably exploit the marine resources, going beyond the typical fisheries, and at the same time to engage in research to see what type of marine resources available, including mineral resources.

He said that will determine whether or not ‘we have them in the commercial quality and quantity, so that we can explore alternatives.

‘In fact, we need to diversify our economies within the OECS. Most of us, all of us for that matter, we are tourism dependent, so if we can harness resources that may be available, even resources that we may not be aware of may exist in commercial quantities, then that will certainly help us to diversify our communities, our countries for that matter.

‘So we have asked the OECS Commission to develop a paper as to how we can collaborate and whether or not we can employ companies with satellite technologies and other technologies to help us to do a survey of our marine space and to see precisely what mineral and other resources we may have.’

Browne said that the leaders have decided to cooperate and share in the cost, because in many instances it will be cost ineffective for the islands to go it alone.

He said that another area to be ‘exploited’ will be the sargassum situation that has been a major problem for the OECS and the broader Caribbean.

‘We also have asked the OECS Commission to look at motor research technologies and equipment that can help us to not only harvest the sargassum weed, but also to convert it into usable products.

‘And where we can cooperate and to share costs associated with the acquisition of these technologies, we’re willing to do so. In fact, that will help to resolve a potential threat to our tourism product, while at the same time potentially helping us to convert sargassum into usable products or useful products, including fertiliser and possibly fuel, if they’re cost effective, ‘

Browne said that the leaders have also looked at the possibility of cooperating to create a carbon market within OECS, in which they can combine individual carbon credits as a result of their large seascape, which is about 500,000 kilometres larger than existing land space, to create this carbon credit market.

‘There are several carbon credit markets, including the European carbon credit (8:11) markets, and we would want to be in a position to participate in those markets and to use our (8:17) carbon credits as a source of revenue.

‘Clearly, the carbon sequestration that takes place within the respective countries is not sufficient for us to go it alone, so we are looking at the possibility of having a regional market so that we can negotiate with the European Union carbon credit market initiative or some other market in order to buy our carbon credits, so that we can raise revenues.’