News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Tues. Sept. 30, 2025: The U.S. Department of State’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report has placed two Caribbean nations in its lowest category – Tier 3 – while ranking others across Tier 2 and the Tier 2 Watch List, underscoring the region’s ongoing struggle to meet global anti-trafficking standards.

FLASHBACK – Detainees accused of involvement in a network of international sexual exploitation, are escorted after a hearing at the Permanent Attention Court of the National District, in Santo Domingo, on August 29, 2022. – Judge Kenya Romero issued 18 months of preventive detention against 11 of the 21 defendants, of Dominican, Colombian and Venezuelan nationalities, belonging to the alleged human trafficking network for sexual exploitation, which was dismantled in Operation Cattleya. Eighty women from Colombia and Venezuela who were lured into the Dominican Republic with false promises of well paid jobs, were rescued in the operation. (Photo by Erika SANTELICES / AFP) (Photo by ERIKA SANTELICES/afp/AFP via Getty Images)

The Dutch Caribbean territory of Sint Maarten joins Cuba on the Tier 3 list this year again this year, signaling governments failed to meet the minimum standards of the US’ Trafficking Victims Protection Act, (TVPA), and are not making significant efforts to do so. According to the report, Tier 3 nations can face restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance and reduced support in accessing international financing.

What Tier 3 Means

Tier 3 is considered the most serious category under the TVPA. Countries in this ranking are judged not only to have widespread trafficking challenges but also to lack the political will or sufficient measures to combat the issue. Sanctions may include withholding of non-humanitarian aid and blocking loans from multilateral institutions like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, unless waived by the U.S. President for strategic or humanitarian reasons.

For Sint Maarten and Cuba, the listing highlights systemic failures in protecting vulnerable populations and prosecuting traffickers. It also raises concerns about complicity or inaction among government officials in addressing the crisis.

Tier 2 and Tier 2 Watch List in the Caribbean

While only two Caribbean nations landed on Tier 3, many others remain under close scrutiny.

Tier 2 countries include:

Antigua & Barbuda

Belize

Jamaica

Curaçao

Dominican Republic

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Aruba

Trinidad and Tobago.

These governments “do not fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance.” That effort includes passing laws, prosecuting cases, or supporting victims, though progress remains uneven. Last year, Curacao was on the Tier 3 level but has managed to move into Tier 2 this year.

Meanwhile, Saint Lucia and Barbados were placed on the Tier 2 Watch List. Countries on this list face additional warning signs: significant increases in estimated trafficking victims, insufficient evidence of progress compared to prior years, or troubling signs of complicity by government officials. A Watch List designation is often a precursor to Tier 3 if sustained improvements are not made.

How Trafficking Is Defined

A model walks the runway wearing Stop Human Trafficking during Prestige NYFW 2025 on September 12, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Sean Zanni/Getty Images for Prestige NYFW)

Under the TVPA and the UN’s Palermo Protocol, human trafficking encompasses:

Acts: recruiting, transporting, or harboring people for labor or sex.

Means: using force, fraud, or coercion.

Purpose: exploiting victims for commercial sex, forced labor, or slavery-like practices.

Notably, a person does not need to be moved across borders for trafficking to occur. Victims can be exploited within their own communities.

US Findings and Sources

The TIP Report is compiled from a wide range of sources, including U.S. embassies, international NGOs, survivor testimony, government data, and investigative journalism. The 2025 report covers efforts between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025.

According to the State Department, governments are judged not on the size of the trafficking problem, but on their concrete efforts to combat it. These efforts are assessed based on prosecutions, victim protections, prevention campaigns, and budgetary resources devoted to anti-trafficking measures.

Implications for the Caribbean

The findings come as a warning for Caribbean governments that remain vulnerable to human trafficking due to porous borders, reliance on migrant labor, and tourism-driven economies. Sint Maarten’s downgrade to Tier 3 alongside Cuba raises particular concern given its role as both a tourist destination and transit point.

For nations on Tier 2 and the Watch List, the report serves as both recognition of progress and a cautionary note that efforts must be scaled up. The U.S. emphasized that countries failing to demonstrate measurable progress may face automatic downgrades in future reports.

The Bottom Line

Human trafficking continues to pose a grave threat across the Caribbean, with women, children, and migrant workers especially at risk. The 2025 TIP Report makes clear that while some governments are moving in the right direction, others risk international isolation for their failure to act.

News Americas, LONDON, UK, Fri. Sept. 26, 2025: British actor, writer, and filmmaker Noel Clarke, whose parents hail from Trinidad and Grenada, was arrested Thursday, September 25th, just weeks after losing a high-profile libel case against The Guardian.

FLASHBACK – Noel Clarke, former Doctor Who actor, arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice on 29th January 2025 in London, United Kingdom. His lawyers were applying for Guardian News and Media’s defence to his libel claim to be struck out in advance of a full trial expected to be held in March. (photo by Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images)

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Clarke’s London home was searched for several hours, with officers leaving the property carrying seized items. The reason for his arrest has not been publicly disclosed.

Clarke, 49, is best known internationally for his role as Mickey Smith in the Doctor Who revival (2005–2010) and for writing, directing, and starring in the critically acclaimed “Hood Trilogy” films Kidulthood (2006), Adulthood (2008), and Brotherhood (2016), which spotlighted the lives of working-class Black British youth. He has been credited with bringing authentic depictions of Britain’s inner-city communities to mainstream cinema and television.

But in recent years, Clarke’s career has been overshadowed by scandal. In 2021, 26 women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct, bullying, and verbal abuse. While Clarke denied the allegations, BAFTA suspended his Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award and his membership.

In April 2025, Clarke’s six-week libel trial against The Guardian concluded with Justice Steyn of the High Court ruling that the paper’s reporting on the allegations was “substantially true” and “in the public interest.” Clarke was ordered to pay an interim £3 million towards the publisher’s legal costs, with a final amount expected to exceed £6 million. Clarke expressed disappointment after the loss, stating that the reporting contained inaccuracies and damaged his career and family. 

He maintained that he was not the person described in the articles but admitted he was not perfect, though he vowed to continue fighting the judgment. In his 2021 initial response to the allegations of sexual misconduct, he had sincerely apologized for any discomfort but vehemently denied all allegations of misconduct and intended to defend himself against the false claims. 

The Thursday September 25th arrest marks the latest chapter in the ongoing fallout from the case. Police have not released further details about whether the arrest is connected to the civil judgment or to any new criminal investigation.

Clarke, born in London to Trinidadian parents Gemma and Alf Clarke, has frequently spoken about how his Caribbean heritage shaped his storytelling. In a 2018 episode of the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?, Clarke traced his family roots to Trinidad, Saint Vincent, and Grenada.

The actor has not yet issued a statement regarding his arrest.

FAST FACTS ABOUT CLARKE

He is among the 25 actors to have acted in both the Star Trek and Doctor Who franchises.

Voted Best Male Guest Actor by readers of Doctor Who Magazine for his appearances in the 2006 Season.

He was awarded BAFTA’s Orange Rising Star Award in 2009.

Third son born October 2015.

He was awarded the 2003 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Most Promising Newcomer of 2002 for his performance in “Where Do We Live” at the Royal Court Theatre.

His top quotes

“I’m just who I am. I don’t try to change myself for other people.”

“I’d always much rather be second choice on anything because it makes you work harder.”

“I wouldn’t say that I’m a jack-of-all-trades, master of none, but I wouldn’t say that I’m brilliant at any.”

“I think it’s important that we have a new batch of British film-makers that aren’t doing the same old stuff. And that includes me.”

“I just started to write because I was fed up of not seeing the stories that I wanted, so I was like ‘Stop moaning and write something.”

“I don’t like doing things that are too easy.”

“I couldn’t tell you the ratio, but probably for every job you see me do, there would be 20 rejections.”

“I think that’s important for all ages, to not be afraid of being an individual. I grew up on my own, as an only child, so early on I think I was quite capable of making decisions by myself and being an individual.”

“I don’t think I’m egotistical, and I know what my limits are: I’m a black guy who’s probably losing his hair. But I’m happy to play roles that I’m given, and I’m happy to play roles that I write.”

By News Americas Staff Writer

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Sept. 25, 2025: The New York City Council has introduced sweeping new legislation aimed at raising safety standards and pay for the city’s 82,000 private security officers – in honor of Haitian-born security officer Aland Etienne, who was killed while protecting office workers during the July Midtown mass shooting at 345 Park Avenue.

NYC Council Introduces Aland Etienne Safety and Security Act To Honor Fallen Haitian-Born Guard.

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams joined hundreds of security officers, union leaders from 32BJ SEIU, elected officials, and Etienne’s family on the steps of City Hall Thursday morning to unveil the Aland Etienne Safety and Security Act.

The legislation, which was announced ahead of the Council’s Stated Meeting, will create citywide standards for training, wages, and benefits for the security workforce, which currently faces a 77 percent turnover rate.

“Aland Etienne was a beloved father, son, brother, and partner who cared deeply about the safety of the people who call this city home,” Speaker Adams said. “Security officers like Aland are integral to New York City’s public safety infrastructure, but too often they are not compensated or treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. I’m proud to introduce the Aland Etienne Safety and Security Act, which would establish and enforce minimum pay standards, benefits, and training for our city’s security guards, while ensuring they have the support and preparation they need. This historic legislation is part of the legacy of Aland Etienne, whose fierce love and commitment to New York City will be remembered forever. I thank 32BJ, Aland’s family and loved ones, and Council Member Hudson for their support of this legislation.”

What The Act Does

Under the bill, security employers would be required to provide an additional 16 hours of emergency preparedness and active shooter response training within an officer’s first 120 days of hire, followed by annual 8-hour refresher courses.

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) will also be tasked with setting fair wage, benefits, and paid time-off standards, phased in over four years to give employers and building owners time to adjust.

A 2025 UC Berkeley Labor Center report underscored the urgency for reform, revealing that New York City security guards earn a median annual income of $40,311 — less than 40% of the city’s area median income. Nearly 38% have no access to employer-provided health insurance.

Remembering Aland Etienne

Etienne, a member of 32BJ SEIU, was killed on July 12, 2025, after confronting the shooter at 345 Park Avenue. His younger brother, Smith Etienne, told supporters: “If he were with us today, he’d be fighting for this legislation. Let’s honor his legacy by uplifting and protecting his colleagues across the city. Protect the protectors. Aland is a New York hero.”

Colleagues also spoke about the risks they face every day. “As security officers, we’re really on the forefront. Whatever happens, we’re there,” said Brian Telfair, who worked alongside Etienne.

Broader Impact

Union leaders hailed the bill as a first-of-its-kind measure that would make New York safer while helping retain experienced officers. “Security officers are on the frontlines of every imaginable emergency,” said 32BJ SEIU President Manny Pastreich. “That was made tragically clear when our union brother Aland Etienne was gunned down while trying to save the lives of others during a mass shooting. Unfortunately, the security officers who we trust to watch over our loved ones are often overlooked. But New York City is a city that stands with first responders. Let’s make that clear by showing our support for this essential workforce and passing the Aland Etienne Safety and Security Act to ensure all officers get the training they need to respond to crises, and the wages, benefits and time off to stay in the force. Investing in our brave security officers will make us all more safe.”

Smith Etienne, Aland Etienne’s younger brother, said: “My brother was someone who protected and uplifted others. He protected the public on the job. And as a father, partner, brother, son and mentor he did whatever he could to uplift not just his family and friends, but strangers and colleagues alike. If he were with us today, he’d be fighting for this legislation. Let’s honor his legacy by uplifting and protecting his colleagues across the city. Protect the protectors. Aland is a New York hero.”

The measure will now move through the legislative process, with advocates pressing for swift passage to honor Etienne’s sacrifice and improve public safety for millions of New Yorkers.