Category: CANA News

The Suriname government says persons insured with the State Health Insurance Fund (SZF) will no longer be required to pay extra for operations and medications that fall under the SZF allowance.

‘If you have SZF insurance and need to undergo surgery, you will no longer receive an invoice. It goes directly to SZF. Citizens no longer have to worry about co-payments,’ Health Minister, André Misiekaba said at the opening of the Medical Assistance GP Emergency Post on Nieuwweergevondenweg on the outskirts of the capital. Misiekaba said that on assuming office he had been confronted with complaints from patients who, despite having insurance, had to pay high additional fees at the Academic Hospital. He cited examples where the costs were as high as SRD60,000 (One SRD=US$0.02 cents) for an operation, which he described as an unaffordable burden for the average citizen.

As a result, the government says service providers such as hospitals, doctors, and pharmacies are no longer allowed to present invoices directly to patients. Instead, these costs are handled by SZF, so that citizens are no longer under financial pressure.

Misiekaba also announced that the national medication directory will be evaluated and updated in January. He said medications frequently used by society in recent years-such as those used by oncology and diabetes patients-will be added, ensuring they are always available at SZF pharmacies.

The minister said that service providers must adhere to their contractual agreements. If a doctor prescribes a different medication that doesn’t fall under the standard coverage, a limited additional payment may be requested.

Meanwhile, India and Suriname are further strengthening their collaboration in the field of traditional medicine in the lead-up to the second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, which will take place in New Delhi from December 17 to 19.

The Indian Embassy in Paramaribo said that the international summit, organized by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre and the Indian Ministry of Ayurveda, will focus on the integration of traditional knowledge into modern healthcare systems.

It said that India and Suriname will highlight their shared commitment to evidence-based and integrative care.

Both countries have a long history of collaboration in areas such as Ayurveda, capacity building, and institutional development.

This collaboration was formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding signed in January 2020.

In Suriname, this collaboration has taken shape with, among other things, the opening of an Ayurvedic Health Center and a medicinal plant garden in the Saramacca district, as well as the annual celebration of the International Day of Yoga and Ayurveda Day.

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) is forecasting that economic growth in the Caribbean, except Guyana for 2026, will be 1.8 per cent, at a slightly slower pace compared with 2025.

It said economic expansion is subject to tourism and construction trends in the subregion, which is highly vulnerable given its dependence on imported energy, high transport costs and exposure to natural disasters.

In its ‘Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean,’ released here on Tuesday, ECLAC said that economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean remained subdued in 2025, constrained by weak domestic demand and an uncertain global environment. It said external sector results were mixed: some countries recorded higher exports of goods and services, while others were affected by pressure on the terms of trade and greater trade volatility.

Latin America and the Caribbean will experience moderate economic growth in 2025. The slight uptick from 2.3 per cent in 2024 to a projected 2.4per cent this year is supported mainly by domestic demand in several economies, especially private consumption.

ECLAC says the regional economy remains largely dependent on services sectors, which account for the bulk of value added and continue to drive job creation and the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

ECLAC noted that Antigua and Barbuda will record economic growth of 4.8 per cent this year, increasing to five per cent next year, The Bahamas will register 2.1 per cent growth in 2025, slightly decreasing to two per cent next year, while Barbados growth of 2.9 per cent this year, will decline slightly to 2.1 in 2025.

According to ECLAC, Belize will register growth of 1.6 this year, increasing to 2.6 in 2025, while Dominica’s economic growth of 4.2 per cent this year, will decline to 3.1 per cent.

Grenada economic growth of 3.6 per cent this year will drop slightly to 3.1 per cent in 2025, with Guyana registering economic growth of 15.2 per cent this year and increasing to 24 per cent in 2025.

Jamaica, which is emerging from the battering it received from Hurricane Melissa in October will have economic growth of 1.5 per cent this year, declining to 1.4 per cent in 2025, while 4

Saint Kitts and Nevis’s economic growth of 1.1 per cent this year, will increase to 2.6 in 2025.

St. Lucia’s economic growth of 2.7 per cent this year, will increase slightly to 2.8 per cent in 2025, with St Vincent and the Grenadines registering growth of 4.7 this year, declining to 3.6 next year.

Suriname’s economic growth of 3.2 per cent in 2025 will increase slightly to 3.4 per cent next year, while Trinidad and Tobago will register growth of 2.5 this year, declining to 1.3 next year.

In its overall review, ECLAC said that on the fiscal front, fiscal consolidation measures and debt interest payments limited the scope for more active policies. Labour markets continued to recover, but more slowly. Employment grew moderately, labour participation and unemployment gaps between men and women persisted and informality remained high in most of the countries.

Inflation continued to decline, making it possible to move towards less restrictive monetary policies, although investment remained subdued and productivity showed no signs of picking up. Momentum came mainly from the services sector, while manufacturing and construction lagged behind.

For 2026, the economic outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean points to continued slow growth in the region, characterised by moderate growth rates, an uncertain international environment and persistent internal constraints on efforts to foster investment, strengthen productivity and expand formal employment.

ECLAC noted that in 2025, the current account deficit in Latin America and the Caribbean will stabilise at around1.6 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), roughly US$105 billion, but there will be marked differences between subregions. These regional results stem from a combination of international and national factors.

The balance, which represents a continuation of the correction that began in 2022, is a considerable improvement compared to the period 2015-2019, when the deficit averaged around 2.5 per cent of GDP.

A deficit is also projected for 2026, albeit slightly smaller at 1.5 per cent, reflecting the continuation of a consolidation process to address external imbalances.

ECLAC notes that the subregional results were mixed. Central America is closer to balancing its current account, having reduced its deficit thanks to a steady flow of remittances. South American economies recorded a moderate deficit, helped along by a goods account surplus owed to the partial recovery of natural resources exports.

In the Caribbean, meanwhile, a weaker tourism sector and high external financing costs resulted in a significant deterioration in the current account

Inflation continues to subside in the region. In the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean, inflation continued its descent throughout 2025, confirming the trend that begun in 2024.

Fiscal space remained limited amid persistent deficits and declining but still-high debt levels. Public debt in the Caribbean declined to 68 per cent of GDP in June 2025, returning to pre-pandemic levels; nonetheless, that indicator remained above 80 per cent of GDP in several countries.

ECLAC noted that deficits persist in Latin America, while fiscal balances in the Caribbean are expected to worsen. It said that although some countries managed to improve their fiscal balances by increasing tax revenue or curbing public expenditures, others faced additional spending pressures linked to greater interest payments, especially on debt denominated in foreign currency or owed to a large share of foreign creditors, which represents a source of macroeconomic vulnerability.

In its economic outlook for next year, ECLAC is forecasting that growth is expected to remain weak in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2026, amid still-uncertain global conditions

The region’s GDP growth is projected at 2.4 per cent in 2025 and 2.3 per cent in 2026, reflecting four consecutive years of rates close to 2.3 per cent and confirming that Latin America and the Caribbean is caught in a trap of low capacity for growth, ECLAC noted.

The St. Kitts and Nevis government has established an ad hoc Advisory Committee to review the Special Sustainability Zones Authorisation Act, 2025 (SSZA Act).

Last month, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew had assured citizens that an independent, representative body would be created to carefully examine the legislation, address public concerns, and ensure that the legislation is implemented in a transparent and accountable manner. The government said that the Advisory Committee is tasked with reviewing the provisions of the SSZA Act, considering its practical implementation, and making recommendations to the Government on any proposed amendments, procedural improvements, or safeguards needed to strengthen public confidence.

It said that its work will also be guided by regional and international best practices and the principles of the Sustainable Island State Agenda.

Prime Minister Drew said that the SSZ Act does not itself create or approve any special sustainability zones, nor is it tied to any specific private development.

He said that the Act establishes a clear legal process for how any future proposals must be evaluated, disclosed, and approved, including parliamentary oversight and constitutional safeguards.

The Advisory Committee brings together a broad cross-section of civil society, professional bodies, and stakeholder organisations, reflecting the government’s commitment to inclusive and participatory governance.

The government statement said that organisations invited to nominate representatives to serve on the Advisory Committee include the Saint Kitts Christian Council; the Saint Kitts Evangelical Association; the Saint Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce; the Saint Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union; the Bankers and Financial Services Association; as well as the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions; the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank; the Organisation of Rastafari in Unity; and the Saint Kitts and Nevis Medical and Dental Association.

The Saint Kitts and Nevis Bar Association; the local branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Eastern Caribbean, the Saint Kitts-Nevis Institute of Architects, the Saint Kitts and Nevis Building Contractors Association and the Saint Christopher National Trust.

The statement said that recognising the regional implications of the legislation and the value of comparative expertise, the government has invited written opinions from several regional institutions including the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) , the OECS Bar Association; and the Caribbean Development Bank.

Prime Minister Drew said that Committee’s work will be conducted openly and that its findings and recommendations will be submitted to the cabinet for consideration.

He reiterated that the process is intended to strengthen governance, protect national sovereignty, and ensure that any future development under the SSZ framework delivers long-term benefits for the people of the twin island Federation.

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission Tuesday congratulated St. Lucia on the formal endorsement of the country’s Coastal and Marine Spatial Plan, saying that it underscores the country’s ‘continued leadership and commitment to sustainable ocean governance and the advancement of its Blue Economy aspirations’.

Developed under the Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Project (CROP),with support from the World Bank, the Coastal and Marine Spatial Plan provides an integrated, forward-looking framework to guide the sustainable use, management, and development of St. Lucia’s coastal and marine resources. The OECS Commission said that at the heart of the plan lies a coastal master plan, which sets out a suite of priority interventions and investment opportunities, designed to strengthen economic resilience and foster inclusive growth.

It said that these priorities, shaped through extensive stakeholder engagement and community participation, reflect the real and emerging opportunities within St. Lucia’s coastal and marine environments.

The key areas highlighted in the accompanying marketing plan include five potential investment packages, namely village tourism, solar farm enhancement, resilient fisheries facilities, business accommodation and wind energy development

‘Together, these initiatives support St. Lucia’s transition toward a robust, climate-resilient Blue Economy, unlocking sustainable economic pathways while preserving the nation’s natural coastal assets.’

The OECS Commission said that the Plan also features a Marine Spatial Plan that sets out a framework for managing nearshore and offshore areas.

‘This tool strengthens decision-making by reducing conflicts among competing uses, aligning land-sea interactions, and mitigating risks associated with coastal and marine investment,’ it said, adding that the tool offers clarity and certainty for public and private stakeholders, which are essential for the foundation of sustainable ocean development.

‘The OECS Commission applauds St. Lucia for this strategic step forward and reaffirms its commitment to supporting member states in the development and implementation of integrated ocean governance frameworks.

‘St. Lucia’s Coastal and Marine Spatial Plan stands as a model for regional collaboration, environmental stewardship, and Blue Economy transformation,’ the OECS Commission added.

The Dominica government Tuesday night said that it is seeking to ‘obtain formal clarification on the scope of the measures’ announced by President Donald Trump earlier in which he stated that nationals the island and two other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries would either be ‘fully’ restricted or have limited entry into the United States.

‘The Government of Dominica acknowledges the decision of the Government of the United States of America, announced by the White House on December 16, 2025, to impose partial travel restrictions affecting Dominican nationals, effective January 1, 2026,’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy said in a statement. The Roosevelt Skerrit administration said that it ‘understands the concern this announcement may cause and wishes to reassure all Dominicans, that this matter is being treated with the utmost seriousness and urgency

‘To this end, the Government is actively engaging officials of the United States Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, to obtain formal clarification on the scope of the measures, the basis on which they were taken and the specific implications for Dominican travellers, students, families and other legitimate holders of U.S. visas,’ the statement said.

In his latest executive order, Trump said that apart from Dominica, nationals from Antigua and Barbuda and Haiti would also be affected by the immigration policy.

He said that during his first administration he had restricted the entry of certain foreign nationals into the United States to prevent national security and public safety threats from reaching our borders.

He said that the Supreme Court upheld these restrictions and as a result he reinstated these successful policies in his executive order of January 2025.

‘It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from foreign nationals who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security and public safety, incite hate crimes, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes.’

He said in an earlier proclamation he had restricted the entry of foreign nationals into the United States from countries with deficient screening and vetting information to protect the national security and public safety of the United States and its people.

Trump said most of the countries identified in the earlier proclamation as well as others, continue to exhibit woeful inadequacies in screening, vetting, and provision of information.

He said that some of these countries have offered Citizenship by Investment (CBI) without residency, which poses challenges for screening and vetting purposes.

Under the CBI programme, several Caribbean countries including Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica offer citizenship to foreign investors in return for making a substantial investment in the socio-economic development of these countries.

Trump said both Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica have ‘historically had CBI without residency’ and that the entry into the United States of nationals of these two countries as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, is hereby suspended.

He said consular officers shall reduce the validity for any other nonimmigrant visa issued to nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica ‘to the extent permitted by law.

Trump said in its latest executive order justifying the action taken against the Caribbean countries that ‘as an example, a foreign national from a country that is subject to travel restrictions could purchase CBI from a second country that is not subject to travel restrictions, obtain a passport in the citizenship of that second country, and subsequently apply for a United States visa for travel to the United States, thus evading the travel restrictions on his or her first country.

‘ Additionally, United States law enforcement and the Department of State have found that, historically, CBI programmes have been susceptible to several risks. These risks include allowing an individual to conceal his or her identity and assets to circumvent travel restrictions or financial or banking restrictions,’ he said.

In its statement, the Dominica government said that it ‘will continue to work closely with U.S. authorities to address any issues identified, to protect the interests of Dominican citizens and to ensure that accurate information is provided to the public.

‘Further updates will be issued as soon as additional details are confirmed,’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says she is ‘not bothered’ by the decision of Venezuela to cancel with ‘immediate effect’ any existing contract, agreement or negotiation with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country after accusing Port of Spain of being complicit in the decision of the United States to seize a Venezuela oil tanker last week.

‘They should direct their complaints to President Trump as it is the US military that has seized the sanctioned oil tanker. In the meantime we continue to have peaceful relations with the Venezuelan people,’ Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar told the Trinidad Express newspaper. Caracas had in the past regarded the seizure as an act of piracy and in a statement posted on her Instagram page, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez noted that ‘in immediate response to this ‘escalation of hostilities and serious aggressions’, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has made the decision to immediately terminate any existing contract, agreement, or negotiation for the supply of natural gas to Trinidad and Tobago’.

The statement noted that Caracas had ‘full knowledge’ of Trinidad and Tobago’s participation in the ‘theft’ of Venezuelan oil committed on December 10 by the US administration through the assault on a ship transporting the product.

It described the incident as ‘a serious violation of international law and a clear transgression of the principles of free navigation and trade’ and blamed Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar for having ‘revealed a hostile agenda against Venezuela since her arrival in government’.

President Maduro has also denounced the Energy Cooperation Framework Agreement previously signed with Trinidad and Tobago.

‘Faced with this ‘very serious act that aims to blatantly steal Venezuela’s oil’, the Government has decided to sever energy ties with the Caribbean nation.

‘Venezuela demands respect! And it will not allow any colonial entity and its vassals to threaten the sacred sovereignty of the country and its right to development. Venezuela will always prevail,’ Rodriguez said in her statement.

But Persad-Bissessar told the newspaper that Trinidad and Tobago is not dependent on Venezuelan gas.

‘We have never depended on Venezuela for natural gas supplies. We have adequate reserves within our territory,’ she said, adding that her administration is working to address bureaucratic systems that cause delays.

‘We are aggressively working to reduce bureaucratic barriers to speed up approvals for energy companies. The real issue is bureaucracy is hindering our exploration and production,’ she added.

Last Wednesday, Guyana said the oil tanker seized by the United States earlier during the day ‘was falsely flying the Guyana flag’ and is not registered there.

In a statement, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) said it has ‘observed the proliferation and unacceptable use of the Guyana flag by vessels that are not registered in Guyana’.

It said that the US government had informed MARAD ‘that they encountered the Motor Tanker SKIPPER (ex-ADISA) IMO Number 9304667 in international waters. It was falsely flying the Guyana Flag, as it is not registered in Guyana’.

US President Donald Trump had earlier said that the SKIPPER was the largest crude tanker ever seized by American authorities even as the Venezuelan authorities called the seizure of the vessel ‘piracy’

Trump said that the US would seize the oil in the tanker.

The United States has been beefing up its military presence near Venezuela allegedly to deal with the illegal drugs trade, even as some political observers say it is part of the Donald Trump strategy to engage in regime change in Caracas.

The Trump administration has declared Maduro an alleged narco-terrorist and a key figure in Cartel of the Suns, both of which have been sanctioned by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

So far more than 80 persons have been killed by the US military as they were travelling in the Caribbean sea and the Pacific allegedly with cocaine destined for the US.

A High Court judge has sentenced a man to 63 years in jail for the murder of Darnell Govia, which occurred on June 20, 2017.

Justice Iain Morley sentenced Shakeim Cranston, also known as ‘Shaq’ and ‘Little Nuzzle’ after he was unanimously convicted by a jury verdict.

The court found that the killing was wholly premeditated, carried out with a firearm, and occurred in a public hospital setting, placing members of the public at risk.

The court was shown extensive CCTV footage, forensic findings, and eyewitness testimony and in sentencing, the judge identified multiple aggravating factors, including the use of a firearm, the public location, the calculated nature of the offence, and the fact that the murder was committed while the defendant was on bail for a previous firearm offence.

The High Court noted there was no formal mitigation, no admission of responsibility, and no expression of remorse.

Time spent on remand since June 2017 will count toward the sentence, and the defendant will be eligible for statutory remission for good behaviour in accordance with prison regulations.

Meanwhile, in a separate matter, to brothers, Divon Trotman was jailed for 22.5 years and Dijon Trotman to 21.5 years’ imprisonment for the offence of wounding with intent to murder.

They were convicted following a lengthy trial relating to a coordinated and sustained attack on Keon Fyfield on March 7, 2021.

The High Court heard that the defendants jointly attacked the victim using a knife and a concrete block, inflicting multiple severe head injuries, including stab wounds penetrating the skull.

Although Fyfield later died in hospital, the murder charge was withdrawn after the Crown could not establish causation beyond reasonable doubt due to intervening medical issues. The Court nevertheless characterised the offence as a particularly grave example of attempted murder, involving weapons, multiple blows, and efforts to conceal evidence.

Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit Monday said he his country is prepared to act as a mediator in the current conflict between the United States and Venezuela reiterating that the Caribbean region should always be a zone of peace.

Speaking at the end of year news conference, Skerrit told reporters that Dominica and the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region is urging ‘dialogue and diplomacy’ to deal with the situation given that ‘there would be an impact on every country’ should there be a war in the Caribbean. ‘Dominica is a good friend of both the United States and Venezuela and in the past we have worked together as an intermediary and we are prepared to do so in this current situation if there are messages from either side to each other.

Dominica believes it is well placed to provide that service. But we hope and pray that nothing happens and the US President himself has been involved in a number of negotiations across the world and has used the US’s influence to bring a number of conflicts to an end and I would urge the United States to draw upon that trajectory to advance that noble cause and actions that he has been able to achieve over the years,’ Skerrit said.

Since September, the Donald Trump administration has carried out a series of military strikes off the coast of Venezuela, across the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific as part of what it terms the war on illegal drugs.

But political observers say President Trump is involved in regime change in Caracas, given his public statements made about President Nicolas Maduro, whom he has labelled as a narco-terrorist and the build up of military assets in the international waters near the South American country.

The US military has carried out several hits on vessels, killing more than 80 people, including two Trinidad and Tobago nationals, without providing any proof that they were engaged in drugs.

The United Nations UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also strongly condemned the airstrikes carried out by the United States against alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Volker Trk said in a statement that the strikes ‘violate international human rights law’, demanding that they be stopped immediately.

Earlier this month, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has expressed its ‘deep concern’ regarding reports of lethal operations against non-state vessels or boats conducted by the United States in the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean since early September.

The IACHR said that these operations have allegedly resulted in the deaths of a high number of persons and is urging Washington to ensure that all security operations, including those carried out beyond its borders, ‘are consistent with international human rights obligations, particularly regarding the protection of the right to life, the use of force, due process guarantees, and accountability mechanisms’.

CARICOM has also issued a statement reiterating the ned for the region to be a zone of peace, but the statement was not endorsed by the Trinidad and Tobago government, whose Prime Minister, has said that those involved in the illegal drugs trade should be killed ‘violently’.

Skerrit told reporters regarding the presence of the US military in Caribbean waters, Dominica and the wider Caribbean have enjoyed ‘excellent collaboration’ with Washington in fighting illicit activities in the region.

‘The US has been the number one partner of Dominica and continues to be, even today in terms of their investment in Dominica for national security,’ he said, noting that a radar had been made available to the island ‘to deal with our marine spaces and that was recently installed.

‘There are a number of other major infrastructural projects .that the Americans are financing.and other matters where national security is concerned. So on the issue of fighting crime and so on, the US is our partner.

‘We always maintain that the Caribbean should be a zone of peace and that any thought of military actions in the Caribbean should be reconsidered. We believe that dialogue and diplomatic channels are better ways to solve problems, differences, views that do not coincide and this is what we are urging in the circumstance.

‘Certainly, if there is a breakout anywhere in the Caribbean sea it will have a negative impact on all of us,’ Skerrit told reporters.

Former CARICOM and Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Amery Browne, has described as ‘deceptive’ a statement issued by the Trinidad and Tobago government on Monday indicating that it had granted approval for United States military aircraft to transit the local airspace ‘in the coming weeks’.

‘The United States has advised that these movements are logistical in nature, facilitating supply replenishment and routine personnel relations,’ the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs said in a statement. But, speaking on a local radio station, Browne told listeners that ‘this was a very deceptive media release by the government today.

‘Never before has our country given blanket permission for unspecified foreign military aircraft to use the airports, airspace of Trinidad and Tobago in the build up to a regime change war. There is nothing routine about this,’ Browne told radio listeners, adding ‘this has nothing to do with the usual cooperation, friendly collaborations that we have enjoyed for decades with the USA and all our neighbours’.

He said that the statement by the government ‘takes Trinidad and Tobago a further step down the path od satellite state, which has dismissed CARICOM and international law an embraced a might is right philosophy.’

Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Sean Sobers said the government is maintaining ‘close engagement’ with the US Embassy here, adding that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar ‘has affirmed the government’s commitment to cooperation and collaboration in the pursuit of safety and security for Trinidad and Tobago and the wider region.

‘We welcome the continued support for the United States,’ he added.

Prime Minister Persaud-Bissessar has over the past few months backed the United States military operation in the Caribbean as part of its drug-eradication programme, despite political observers and Venezuela itself saying that Washington’s aim is to effect regime change in Caracas and remove President Nicolas Maduro from power.

Persad-Bissessar’s position is at variance with the rest of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that has insisted that the region be maintained as a zone of peace, even while supporting Washington’s efforts to deal with the illegal drugs trade.

In its statement, the Ministry of CARICOM and Foreign Affairs said that through its ongoing partnership with the United States, Trinidad and Tobago has benefitted from joint military training exercises, enhanced surveillance capabilities, ‘including the installation of an effective radar system and collaborative efforts that have contributed to the interdiction of millions of dollars worth of illegal narcotics’.

It said that the embassy here has also been engaged in supporting national development through educational initiatives.

Browne said that for the past six months, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar ‘has refused to address this nation and properly explain what she has done to our neutral foreign policy and our standing in the region and the world’.

One of the lawyers representing the Public Service Union (PSU) says it will pursue the vaccine mandate case before the London-based Privy Council, regardless of any decision taken by the new St. Vincent and the Grenadines government.

Attorney Shirlan Barnwell told a news conference that ‘the matter proceeds, irrespective of the government’s position, there are other aspects of the claim that need to be addressed so that this kind of matter doesn’t happen again. ‘Remember, we had a judicial review coupled with a constitutional claim,’ Barnwell said, adding ‘so, outside of just the abandonment aspect of it, wherein the officers have been returned to work, there are other issues that need to be addressed. So, the matter proceeds.’

The PSU, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union and the Police Welfare Association sponsored a lawsuit against the government after it fired hundreds of public sector workers in 2021 for failing to take a COVID-19 vaccine.

The High Court ruled in March 2023 that the government’s actions were illegal, but the Court of Appeal overturned that ruling in February 2025. The public sector workers have been granted permission to appeal to the Privy Council, the country’s highest and final court.

Prior to its defeat in the November 27, general election, the Ralph Gonsalves government which had implemented the mandate, had urged affected workers to reapply for their jobs, with all benefits intact.

However, some workers refused, saying that they did not abandon their jobs.

During the election campaign, the now ruling New Democratic Party (NDP) of Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday, promised to reinstate the workers, and several of them have since returned to their jobs.

Barnwell noted that the legal team has conditional leave to appeal to the Privy Council and has 90 days in which to file the record with the Privy Council, adding ‘ we’re currently working on that to meet that deadline’.

She said the legal team wants the Privy Council to rule on several matters, including whether the Public Service Commission (PSC) acted independently or followed a directive of the minister.

The lawyer noted that the PSC is an independent constitutional body set up to be autonomous, separate and distinct from political interference.

‘Its job is to hire, promote, appoint and transfer persons independent of any directive. So, one of the things that we have challenged that was overturned on appeal was that the Public Service Commission was acting on a direction of the minister.’

The legal team is also arguing that the government changed the meaning of abandonment.

Before the mandate, the law stated that a worker absent without leave for 10 consecutive days was deemed to have abandoned their job.

However, the legal team argues that the government expanded the definition to include any person who failed or refused to take the vaccine for 10 days and that this meant that unvaccinated workers who attended work were deemed to be absent, and, after 10 days, were deemed to have abandoned their jobs.

‘We also dealt with the issue of the fact that the prime minister was able to, under the COVID-19 Miscellaneous Act, I believe that the minister of security back then, which was the prime minister, was able to amend the act without going to Parliament, by including aspects that were not there under the Police Act . That can’t stand as well,’ Barnwell said.

‘That any type of amendment that you have to make to any legislation, save an exception of regulation that was of the act itself, the Police Act was done without going to Parliament.’

Barnwell said that the legal team was also challenging the manner in which the national emergency declaration was made under Section 17(7) of the Constitution, arguing that a proper declaration was not made, as the Parliament should have made the declaration.