Let Caribbean Leadership Shine

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By Dr. Isaac Newton

News Americas, New York, NY, Thurs. Dec. 18, 2025: The recent decision by President Donald Trump to impose U.S. visa restrictions on Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica should not be read as an ending, but as a diagnostic moment. Power has a way of speaking in policy rather than poetry, and when it does, small states are forced to interpret the subtext. The question is not whether the Caribbean has been treated fairly, but whether Caribbean leadership is prepared to respond with clarity rather than reflex.

FLASHBACK – US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrives for a meeting with House leadership on the military strikes against drug boats in the Caribbean, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, December 16, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)

Visa restrictions are not moral judgments. They are administrative signals shaped by data, trust, and institutional confidence. The real work therefore sits closer to home than to Washington. Leadership must focus on tightening governance systems, aligning regulatory practices, strengthening verification processes, and communicating seriousness through action rather than press statements. International confidence is rarely negotiated in crisis; it is accumulated through quiet consistency.

The vulnerability exposed here is not size but fragmentation. When responses are uncoordinated and reforms are delayed, small states appear uncertain even when they are capable. The global environment rewards countries that plan ahead, manage risk deliberately, and engage partners with preparation instead of protest. Strategic leadership requires foresight, not improvisation.

The Caribbean holds tangible strengths: location that matters, people who adapt quickly, and histories that have sharpened judgment. What remains is the disciplined translation of these assets into durable institutions and credible public administration. Modern sovereignty is not performed. It is practiced daily through reliability, competence, and measured decision-making.

This moment offers a choice. Remain trapped in explanation, or move decisively into reform. Travel restrictions may slow movement, but they do not define destiny. The Caribbean’s future will be shaped by leaders who think beyond reaction, govern beyond excuses, and build systems that work regardless of external pressure. Leadership, when it is deliberate and grounded, becomes its own form of access.

Editor’s Note: Dr. Isaac Newton is a strategist and scholar trained at Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia. He advises governments and international institutions on governance, transformation, and global justice, helping nations and organizations turn vision into sustainable progress.

Bridges Under Strain: Diplomacy, Due Process And The Caribbean U.S. Compact

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By Dr. Sheila Newton Moses

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Dec. 18, 2025: The United States’ recent expansion of travel restrictions to 39 countries has quietly but significantly drawn several small Caribbean states, including Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, into a policy framework justified by security, documentation integrity, and immigration compliance. Their inclusion raises a fundamental question for diplomacy. By what measurable standards were these countries assessed, and how were those standards applied?

Two US Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys depart at Mercedita International Airport on December 16, 2025 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Aircraft movements and coordinated exercises were observed throughout the day as part of heightened regional military readiness linked to ongoing operations at US military bases and maritime security efforts in the Caribbean. President Donald Trump administration is conducting a military campaign in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, deploying naval and air forces for what it calls an anti-drugs offensive. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP via Getty Images)

Categorized under partial restrictions, these nations are neither deemed hostile nor unstable. Yet their placement alongside vastly different geopolitical contexts invites scrutiny of both the criteria used and the transparency of the process. In international affairs, ambiguity itself carries consequence.

For Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, the implications extend beyond travel. Their economies are deeply interconnected with the United States through tourism, education, financial services, and remittances. Even a technical perception of elevated risk can undermine investor confidence, disrupt travel flows, and weaken diaspora engagement.

Antigua and Barbuda shares a particularly strong human bond with the United States. Many Antiguans and Barbudans are second and third generation American citizens, woven into U.S. civic, professional, and cultural life. Restrictions that complicate travel for family, study, or business risk straining not only economic ties but the social fabric linking these nations.

This moment also prompts diplomatic inquiry. Were bilateral consultations undertaken before the restrictions were imposed? Was there technical engagement or remediation to address U.S. concerns in advance? Historically, U.S. Caribbean relations have rested on cooperation and shared security interests, including counter narcotics efforts, maritime safety, disaster response, and regional stability. These are not distant partners but neighbors connected by maritime borders, economic interdependence, and decades of coordinated security dialogue.

At its core, this development tests the strength of a long standing relationship. While every sovereign nation has the right to secure its borders, effective diplomacy depends on clarity, engagement, and proportionality, especially among trusted partners. The central question is not whether security matters, but how it is pursued. Collaborative benchmarks and transparent dialogue can address concerns without eroding goodwill.

As Caribbean governments seek clarification and the United States advances its objectives, the durability of this relationship will depend on whether diplomacy once again leads the process, ensuring that longstanding bridges of partnership are preserved rather than weakened.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Sheila Newton Moses is a global consultant, educator, and writer specializing in policy, governance, and institutional accountability. Her interdisciplinary training informs rigorous, evidence grounded analysis that advances equity, collaboration, and durable public trust.

The Setai Expands Global Footprint With New Luxury Resort In St. Maarten, The Setai St. Maarten

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News Americas, MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, Thurs. December 18, 2025: The Setai Hotels, one of the world’s most celebrated names in luxury hospitality and Toronto-based Altree Developments, a leader in international real estate, today announced a strategic partnership and the next chapter in its global expansion.

Vie L’Ven is evolving into its next chapter through a new partnership with The Setai, the globally celebrated hospitality brand known for its refined approach to service and design. The primary hotel will now debut as The Setai St. Maarten, a luxurious 205-key and private villas set along the pristine shores of Indigo Bay. This collaboration marks The Setai’s highly anticipated Caribbean debut and a major step in the brand’s continued growing international portfolio. Expanding beyond its established destinations in the U.S. and the Middle East, this partnership brings together The Setai’s legacy of refined hospitality with Altree’s vision for world-class residential development, merging two forces known for excellence in design, service and craftsmanship. Construction is underway, with completion expected for 2028.

​​“We are thrilled to bring The Setai to the shores of St. Maarten, a destination that perfectly complements our vision of timeless luxury and cultural inspiration,” said the Nakash Family, owners of The Setai. “This project marks an exciting next chapter for our brand as we continue to grow globally, always guided by the principles of authenticity, sophistication, and unparalleled guest experience.”

Committed to redefining Caribbean luxury, the concept for The Setai St. Maarten has been brought to life by renowned partners Studio Munge, HKS Architects and Leading Hotels of The World, all of whom have been recognized globally for their dedication to creating world-class properties.

The Resort offerings will remain anchored with signature amenities that will include a beach club with dedicated cabanas and butler service, a Les Clefs d’Or concierge team, three pools, including an adults-only oasis, a 30,000 square foot Destination Spa, tennis and pickleball courts, on-beach water sports, a children’s playroom, childcare programs and access to a protected nature reserve.

Extending this same standard of excellence to its culinary program, the resort will feature five restaurant concepts, including Ocean Grill Beach Club and Jaya, both inspired by the acclaimed culinary concepts of The Setai, Miami Beach.

Zev Mandelbaum, President and CEO of Altree Developments, shared, “From the very beginning, our vision has been to create something extraordinary for the island. Teaming up with the Nakash family to bring The Setai’s first Caribbean property to life allows us to honor St. Maarten’s beauty and distinct character while shaping a new level of hospitality for the region.”

Blending The Setai’s renowned standard of luxury with the natural beauty of the Caribbean, the resort will feature both residential and hotel accommodations. The Setai St. Maarten will offer an array of spacious one to four-bedroom layouts, spanning from approximately 620 to over 2,000+ square feet and dual key residence options expanding up to 6,000 square feet.

The debut of The Setai St. Maarten marks a defining moment for the island, introducing a level of craftsmanship and service that will position St. Maarten among the world’s most distinguished luxury destinations.

For The Setai St. Maarten sales inquiries, contact Sales Representatives:

Anne-Wytske Hoekstra (annewytske@thesetaistmaarten.com)

Shirley van der Borden (shirley@thesetaistmaarten.com)

You can also call +1-721-544-1545, visit thesetaistmaarten.com, or tour the model suite at the presentation gallery on Indigo Bay Boulevard, St. Maarten. You can find The Setai St. Maarten on Instagram and Facebook.

About Altree Developments

Altree Developments is a leader in the international real estate landscape, rooted in a 70-year multi-generational family legacy in the development industry. Under the visionary leadership of Zev Mandelbaum, Altree is redefining urban living by transforming strategic residential and commercial sites into leading destinations. With an admirable portfolio that includes ultra-luxury condominiums and expansive master-planned communities, Altree’s influence stretches across some of the most coveted addresses in Canada, America, and now, Saint Maarten. Driven by an unwavering commitment to innovation and luxury, Altree’s projects are designed to stand the test of time, offering unparalleled value and shaping the future of urban living. For more information, visit altreedevelopments.com.

About The Setai Hotels

The Setai Hotels is a collection of privately owned hotels that represent a vision of unprecedented luxury and service, with a calm and serene ambiance at the heart of each property. The hotels offer connectivity to their host cities while also creating a discreet escape and utmost privacy for its guests. Its Miami Beach flagship holds membership with The Leading Hotels of the World; is recognized as an AAA Five Diamond hotel and Michelin Guide Key holder; and has been awarded in the Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, as well as by the coveted Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award consecutively since 2015. In 2018, the brand introduced the luxury, sophistication and renowned service to Tel Aviv as a LHW hotel in the historic old Jaffa region, followed by a third location in the Sea of Galilee. Looking ahead, the Setai St. Maarten is anticipated to open in 2028 as a LHW property. For more information, visit thesetaihotel.com.