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Safeguarding rights from authoritarian governments 

By Sir Ronald Sanders 

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States of America and the Organization of American States.   He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto) 

The rights of persons everywhere in the world have to be protected from authoritarian governments that suffocate them.

In the English-speaking Caribbean countries  – 13 of which are the core nations of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) – there is an outstanding tradition of respect for human, political and civil rights.

Establishing individual rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of the media, the right to organize trade unions and political parties, and to practice religious faith, were hard won.  The people of these 13 countries won these freedoms by overcoming the shackles of slavery and indentured labour, colonial rule, expatriate control of economies, and exploitation.

Today, the 12 independent English-speaking countries of the Caribbean can, for the most part, boast of a record of upholding and respecting rights.

Respect for rights is obvious when a political party loses office in a general election.  Power is handed over peacefully and orderly to the political party that wins the election through the ballot box.  This was obvious recently in Grenada, where a party that had held office for decades under the leadership of the longest serving head of government, accepted the decision of the electorate and handed over the reins of government.

Respect for rights also includes regard for criticism expressed in the media, and tolerance of social media where both supportive and opposing opinions and views are openly stated.

The benefit of respect and maintenance of these rights is that these 13 countries enjoy democratic freedoms in which the talents of individuals and groups can thrive without fear of repression.   In large measure, it is the enjoyment of these rights that allows these small countries to prosper despite the economic constraints of size and the effects of natural disasters.

The protection of these rights is, therefore, important.  Championing them abroad is as crucial as defending them at home.  When rights are violated and abused anywhere, threats are posed to them everywhere.

It is in this connection that CARICOM countries have to be concerned about human, political, and civil rights in neighbouring states and in the wider world.  Disregard for rights by governments can spread like a pandemic if it is not stopped.

The current situation in Nicaragua should be a matter of grave concern.  In November 2021, Daniel Ortega was re-elected as President in a process that trampled on rights.  Almost 40 opposition persons were imprisoned, including seven potential presidential candidates; and several political parties were blocked from participation in the election.  Additionally, independent media were stifled, journalists were jailed, and many non-governmental organizations were hounded into oblivion.  Peaceful demonstrations were ruthlessly broken-up, causing hundreds of deaths.

At the time of the November 2021 election, Ortega had been in power for 15 years since 2006.  During that time, he became as autocratic as the Somoza family whom he  had fought against four decades ago as head of the Sandinistas.

After the election, the restriction and suppression of rights continued, including by the harassment and imprisonment of some of the men and women who has fought with him to free Nicaragua from the tyranny of the Somoza dynasty.  Many of them suffered atrociously in prison, denied adequate food and medicines.  Charges were trumped up against them but their real crime in Ortega’s eyes was their expressed dissent to his government’s policies.

The current judicial system is corrupt and totally controlled by Ortega, incapable of delivering justice.  The legislature is also a sham, comprised mainly of members of his own party, opposition parties having been disqualified or eliminated.

In March 2022, this led to open condemnation by his Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Arturo McFields.  During a live webcast of a Permanent Council meeting, McFields described the Ortega government as a “dictatorship”, which, he said, is stifling civil and political freedoms in Nicaragua.

The situation in Nicaragua has steadily worsened since then.  For example, the number of political prisoners has increased from 177 in March to 190 at the end of June.  Additionally, on June 29, the government closed 101 civic and charity groups, including the local branch of the Missionaries of Charity established by Mother Teresa.  This brought the number of forced closures of non-governmental organizations over the last four years to 758.   Ortega’s government claims that these nongovernmental groups were working on behalf of foreign interests to destabilize his government.  Even if many of them were funded by foreign sources, the accusation that all 758 were working to destabilize his government rises to a high level of paranoia and strains credibility.

On July 6, the Nuns, from Mother Theresa’s missionary, which had been operating for 34 years as a children’s centre and a home for girls and a facility for the elderly, were driven to the border with Costa Rica and ordered out of the country.

On July 4, four months before scheduled municipal elections, the riot police seized the city halls of five municipalities that had been in the hands of an opposition party, guaranteeing that Ortega’s party would win what will now be sham elections.

All this has had a deleterious effect on Nicaragua.  Tens of thousands of its people have fled across the borders to Costa Rica and Panama.  Many more thousands have trekked through Mexico to the border with the United States, their lives in turmoil; their future uncertain.  The prospects for Nicaragua dim every day, epitomizing why human, political and civil rights are imperatives and why freedom loving persons must safeguard them – everywhere.

Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com 

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Caroni Central MP Arnold Ram – UNC

Caroni Central MP Arnold Ram expressed severe doubts about the Miscellaneous Provisions (Criminal Proceedings) Bill, 2021 while it was being debated in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The purpose of the bill is to amend the law to allow the retrial of persons who were acquitted of specific offences if there is new and compelling evidence, or the acquittal was tainted and “it is in the interest of justice that there be a retrial.”

Applicable offences include but are not limited to: murder, treason, piracy or hijacking and offences for which death is the penalty fixed by law.

Ram raised the issue of precisely what would qualify as new and compelling evidence.

He said, “So you are asking a police officer to determine compelling evidence. A police officer, I am saying Madam Speaker, may not be in the best position to determine what is compelling evidence. You might know what is new evidence but you’re asking them to do a legal interpretation of what is compelling evidence and I think that is why, in the United Kingdom, new evidence is defined separately from compelling evidence.”

He said the terms were defined the same as they were in the Criminal Justice Act of the United Kingdom but they are combined into one criteria in the bill.

However, speaking after Ram, Port of Spain South MP Keith Scotland clarified that it would be up to the Court of Appeal to decide this.

“It is not for the office of the DPP to just begin a fresh re-trial. The safeguard of commencing a fresh re-trial is placed in the capable hands of the Court of Appeal.

“Apart from satisfying the Court of Appeal that there is new and compelling evidence or that the acquittal was tainted, the DPP must satisfy the Court of Appeal that, in all the circumstances, it would be in the interest of justice to proceed with the re-trial of an acquitted person.

“That is a major and fundamental safeguard that has been put in place for persons or for individuals who may be affected by this legislation because it means that before any re-trial is ordered, the Court of Appeal must go through the relevant safeguards.”

Ram also spoke about the inefficiency of the justice system, saying, “When someone is ordered a re-trial, they then have the additional burden of hiring lawyers to defend them, first at the application stage at the Court of Appeal and if there is a re-trial, they have to go through the entire process.”

Ram said, at the current rate, the entire process could take up to 30 years of a person’s life.

“If there was an easier or quicker turnover of cases in the first instance, then that’s something we could possibly live with. However, having a process of ten to 15 years, then you have another ten to 15 years of having to go through that entire process again. And having to retain lawyers at exorbitant fees is something that raises my suspicion and concern.”

The bill was subsequently passed after being approved by a committee of the whole. No amendments were made.

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El presidente de la Asociación de Restaurantes de Puerto Rico (ASORE), Mateo Cidre, advirtió el jueves sobre el impacto que calificó de “nocivo” ante la aprobación de la Reforma Laboral.

“Luego de haber enfrentado los embates físicos y económicos de los huracanes del 2017, los terremotos del 2020, la pandemia, alzas continuas en agua y luz, interrupciones en la cadena de suministro y la actual economía inflacionaria, los restaurantes en Puerto Rico ahora tienen que lidiar con la recién aprobada Reforma Laboral (Proyecto de la Cámara 1244), una iniciativa que socavará el sector y el Proyecto de la Cámara 1133 para aumentar el salario mínimo por propinas a los trabajadores. La organización presentó datos y análisis económicos para ilustrar el profundo impacto negativo que estos proyectos tendrán en el sector”, dijo Cidre en declaraciones escritas.

“Los restaurantes no aguantamos más. Han sido ya casi siete años consecutivos de políticas públicas, fenómenos naturales y vaivenes del mercado que obstaculizan el progreso de una industria que es tan vital para la economía. Los aumentos siguen sin consideración al impacto que están teniendo en el ecosistema empresarial y en los propios trabajadores, pues cada negocio que se ve obligado a limitar o hasta cerrar operaciones significa más personas sin empleo y una reducción en actividad económica. Es una situación crítica que no solo afecta a nuestra industria, sino también a Puerto Rico”, añadió.

También advirtió sobre el impacto del Proyecto de la Cámara1133, una medida que se está canalizado en el Capitolio que busca cambiar el salario mínimo de los trabajadores a propina. De aprobarse, la ley supondría OTRO aumento drástico para los dueños y operadores de los restaurantes, así dificultando cada vez el desarrollo del sector.

ASORE no está solo en su reclamo, puesto que otras organizaciones profesionales también han alzado su voz en contra la Reforma. “No es coincidencia que prácticamente todos los sectores comerciales en Puerto Rico estamos profundamente consternados. Es una clara señal de que las enmiendas y la medida son problemáticas. Lo que vendieron como una victoria para los derechos a los trabajadores es también un impedimento para los emprendedores”, recalcó.

Según un modelo económico comisionado por ASORE a Caribbean Payroll Center, la implementación de las enmiendas a la Reforma Laboral y, de aprobarse, el Proyecto 1133 de la Cámara, además del recién aprobado aumento al salario mínimo, podría tener el siguiente efecto, por ejemplo, en un restaurante típico con 21 empleados:

Año

2022-2023
2023-2024
2024-2025
Total en salarios adicionales
$53,652.20
$112,708.92
$154,099.92
% de Aumento

18.39%
38.64%
52.82%
Aumento en contribuciones patronales
$1,479.10
$5,860.35
$8,698.50
Gasto de nómina adicional
$55,129.30
$118,569.27
$162,798.42
Gasto por empleado adicional promedio
$2,625.20
$5,646.16
$7,752.31

En resumen, para el 2024-2025 el restaurante típico de 21 empleados tendrá que absorber un aumento de entre $2,500 a $5,000 por empleado por las leyes aprobadas y por definir.

“Es insólito ver que el gobierno, en lugar de ser un facilitador del desarrollo económico, tome decisiones sin el análisis adecuado y sin el insumo de las industrias para imponer medidas como estas”, expresó Cidre.

El presidente de ASORE aseguró que la organización ha compartido sus recomendaciones con los legisladores para hallar una solución justa y viable para todas las partes interesadas. “Lamentamos la falta de consideración y que hayan optado por lacerar a un sector cada vez más vulnerable”, agregó.

La industria de restaurantes es un motor económico que emplea a más de 60,000 personas, la mayoría jefes y jefas de familia; se compone de una comunidad empresarial de sobre 4,000 comercios que, en conjunto, representa una actividad económica de promedio de $2 mil millones. Esto, sin contar aquellas actividades relacionadas como los distribuidores de alimentos, suplidores, camioneros, técnicos, personal de mantenimiento y servicios auxiliares como contabilidad, legal y otros.

“No podemos seguir aprobando proyectos que suenen muy bonitos para las gradas, y cuyo único efecto es estrangular al emprendedor puertorriqueño que quiere montar su negocio y apostar por Puerto Rico”, reclamó Cidre.

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The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is working to get to the bottom of the circumstances which led to a patient being able to escape the care of nurses on Ward A1 over the weekend.

In a press release issued today, the QEH stated that the patient in question was reported missing after Sunday, July 3, 2022, at approximately 2 pm, when he exited the ward and vacated the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s premises. The statement read that the hospital security was immediately alerted and engaged the services of the Barbados Police Service to locate the missing patient.

His body was subsequently discovered along Browne’s Beach, Bay Street, St Michael, three days later on Wednesday, July 6.

QEH explained also, due to our commitment to patient privacy and confidentiality, “we cannot disclose the nature of this patient’s illness or the treatment which he was receiving. However, we assure the public that matters of patient safety and security are taken very seriously, and the circumstances under which the patient was able to abscond from the ward are currently being investigated, to ensure that a similar situation does not occur in future.”

This matter continues to be investigated by the Barbados Police Force.

The Board, management and staff of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital extend sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

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