News Americas, PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, September 10, 2025: International health experts are urgently advising for immediate policy reform in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, insisting on the adoption of life-saving tobacco harm reduction strategies. They point to a proven global blueprint that has already empowered more than 150 million people to quit smoking.

Analysis from Smoke Free Sweden shows that more than 14 million lives can be saved globally by 2060 if governments act decisively to integrate tobacco harm reduction into traditional control methods. For the Caribbean, this depends on the speed with which governments can act. Adopting safer nicotine alternatives like vapes and oral pouches will prevent thousands of needless, premature deaths, but only if the correct policies are enacted now.

This urgent call to action is set against a backdrop of stubbornly high smoking rates, with nearly one in three men in Trinidad and Tobago and 11% of men in Barbados still dangerously addicted to cigarettes.

“Policymakers face a clear choice: lead a public health revolution or fail their citizens. The strategies to make smoking obsolete by making less hamrful alternatives accessible, affordable and acceptable are proven,” said Dr. Delon Human, leader of Smoke Free Sweden and a former secretary general of the World Medical Association. “Act now to save thousands of lives. ”

For example, in the United Kingdom, smoking rates fell by 41% as vaping became a popular alternative. Japan saw cigarette sales plummet by more than 40% following the introduction of heated tobacco products. Meanwhile, Sweden, which adopted safer alternatives decades ago, is on the verge of becoming officially ‘smoke-free’ and has the lowest rate of smoking-related death in the European Union.

“Let us use the evidence we have at hand. A constructive, evidence-based approach in the Caribbean will yield life-saving results. We are not just urging, but demanding that policymakers look at this global blueprint and act decisively. Hesitation will be measured in funerals,” Dr. Human added.

This demand for a science-backed policy shift comes just ahead of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control conference (COP11), where Caribbean delegations have a duty to champion public health innovation over outdated, ineffective and ideological dogma.

“For too long, the debate has been crippled by misinformation that ignores a fundamental truth: people smoke for the nicotine, but they die from the tar in combustibles,” said Dr. Human. “By denying smokers access to products that are up to 95% less harmful, governments are actively protecting the lethal cigarette trade. It is past time to put public health first and implement policies based on science, not fear.”

About Smoke Free Sweden:

Smoke Free Sweden is a movement which encourages other countries to follow the Swedish model when it comes to Tobacco Harm Reduction. Sweden’s smoke-free success can be attributed to its open attitude towards regulated alternative nicotine products.

For more information on Sweden’s successful approach to becoming a smoke-free nation, please visit www.smokefreesweden.org

News Americas, OREM, Utah, Sept. 10, 2025: Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot today while speaking at a Utah Valley University event, prompting immediate shock across political spheres. As the nation processes this tragic news, attention is turning to the inflammatory rhetoric that defined much of his public persona – remarks that targeted Haitians, Black professionals, immigration, and diversity initiatives.

Death at Utah Event

Kirk, age 31, was shot in the neck during his “American Comeback Tour” keynote. Authorities said the gunman fired from approximately 200 yards away and had not yet been identified or captured as of Wednesday evening. The university assured students and faculty that safety protocols were in place, and the FBI has joined the investigation.

FLASHBACK – Charlie Kirk debates with students at The Cambridge Union on May 19, 2025 in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. (Photo by Nordin Catic/Getty Images for The Cambridge Union)

Comments That Stirred Controversy

Among Kirk’s most incendiary remarks were vivid attacks on Haitian culture, especially his claim in March 2024 that “Haiti is legitimately infested with demonic voodoo,” complete with haunting references to supernatural incidents like “quasi-levitation” and Haitians turning into cats at night per Media Matters

He also implied that Haitian immigrants threatened to “become your masters” if former President Trump lost to Vice President Kamala Harris- comments widely denounced as racist and anti-immigrant per Medium

Kirk’s rhetoric extended beyond cultural attacks. In January 2024, he admitted he would question the qualifications of Black pilots—a remark many saw as reflecting racial bias in professional spaces as reported by Newsweek.

He also disparaged DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) programs as “anti-White” and criticized Martin Luther King Jr. as “awful,” labeling the Civil Rights Act a “huge mistake” that birthed a “permanent DEI-type bureaucracy,” arguing it had supplanted the U.S. Constitution as reported by WIRED.

In 2023, in Missouri, Kirk said according to the Springfield News Leader that immigration to the U.S. should be entirely stopped and any person who hated America or its allies should leave.

“There’s nothing racist or xenophobic about loving the country so much that you don’t want people who hate your country to come into your country,” Kirk was quoted as saying.

 In an 80-some-minute speech in 2021, Kirk called George Floyd a “scumbag,” railed against urban areas — especially Minneapolis.

On Immigration:

Kirk frequently called for a halt to immigration, citing a perceived decline in American culture and national identity. He controversially noted that America was at its “peak” when immigration was halted for a 40-year period and the foreign-born population was at its lowest point.

He also strongly condemned illegal immigration, arguing that entering the country illegally is a criminal act and those who do so should be deported. Kirk often used biblical interpretations to argue that a Christian nation of laws must maintain order, stating that God does not smile upon chaos caused by uninvited entry into a country.

He maintained that immigrants should fully assimilate into American culture, rather than maintaining “hyphenated American” identities. He emphasized that speaking English is a critical component of becoming American. He also argued that a country cannot survive if it accepts people who do not share its core values.

Kirk also prioritized the needs of American citizens over those of people in other countries. He used the analogy of putting on one’s own oxygen mask first on an airplane, stating that America must prioritize its own citizens before helping others. This view underpinned his opposition to foreign aid and his skepticism of arguments that immigration benefits the U.S. economy. And he frequently challenged the idea that immigration is necessary for economic growth, especially in skilled labor fields. Instead of importing foreign labor, he suggested that the U.S. should invest in national training programs to prepare Americans for those jobs.

Legacy at Turning Point USA

Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012 to promote conservative activism on college campuses and used it to inflame racial divides and stoke outrage. He became a prominent voice in right-wing media with a following among younger audiences. His stances on race, immigration, and DEI increasingly reflected a shift toward aggressive cultural critiques that energized some constituents but alienated others.

Broader Implications

Political analysts say Kirk’s passing raises urgent questions about political security, media ethics, and extremism. His track record of provocative commentary – now underscored by a sudden, violent death – demonstrates how incendiary rhetoric can leave lasting scars, especially for communities directly targeted in public discourse.

Continuing Investigation

Authorities urge eyewitnesses and media outlets to review any relevant footage that could assist with identifying the shooter.

News Americas, GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Weds. Sept. 3, 2025: With nearly all Statements of Poll posted but most of the final tallies still pending from Guyana’s Sept. 1, 2025 vote, three major observer missions on Wednesday praised a peaceful election day and laid out a reform to-do list they say would strengthen confidence before the next national contest.

The Commonwealth Observers group delivering a analysis of the 2025 Guyana elections. (Commonwealth image)

The Carter Center, the Commonwealth Observer Group and the CARICOM Election Observation Mission each urged faster, clearer rules, less politicization at the elections commission and tighter controls on campaign conduct and financing. GECOM’s website shows roughly 98% of SOPs uploaded nationwide. Region 7 remains the laggard all SOPs still to be posted.

Depoliticize and professionalize GECOM.
All three missions flagged the structure and perception of the Guyana Elections Commission as a core risk. The Carter Center said the current formula – three commissioners aligned with the governing party, three with the opposition and a chair chosen from a list acceptable to the president – has produced gridlock and eroded trust. It recommended moving to a more independent, less political model and publishing full written polling and tabulation procedures well ahead of any vote. The Commonwealth team likewise called for a review of GECOM’s composition and urged the immediate appointment of a substantive legal adviser to the body.

Voters wait in line to cast ballots at a polling location during the general election in Leonora, West Demerara, Guyana, on Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. Photographer: Yancey Haywood/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Make tabulation and communication more transparent.
Observers commended GECOM’s new step of publicly uploading SOPs and displaying them during tabulation, but noted delays where staff had to both upload and later re-display the same documents. They recommended streamlining the sequence and improving public guidance on how tabulation works. All three missions encouraged more frequent, consistent briefings and easier access to information for parties, media and citizens to cut space for rumor and misinformation.

Fix the voter list — and publish the census.
The size and integrity of the voters roll dominated stakeholder complaints, the missions said. The Carter Center urged GECOM to fully implement 2022 legal changes that allow removal of deceased voters using official data, and to explore methods for identifying electors who died overseas. It also recommended an independent “people test” sampling of the list before the next election. The Commonwealth and CARICOM teams said releasing results of the 2022 census would bolster transparency around demographics and the roll’s size.

Consider biometric verification.
Both the Commonwealth and CARICOM missions pressed for renewed, early-cycle consideration of voter-identification biometrics to reduce the risk of impersonation and restore confidence, noting GECOM cited technical and legal hurdles this year.

Curb misuse of state resources and modernize campaign finance.
Citing multiple complaints and evidence of blurred lines between state functions and party activity, observers urged clear legal prohibitions and enforcement against the use of public assets in campaigning. The missions also called current campaign-finance rules outdated and largely unenforced, and recommended a comprehensive framework covering donations, disclosure and oversight to level the playing field.

Broaden inclusion — women, persons with disabilities and smaller parties.
Women were highly visible in the process — making up roughly half of registered voters and the great majority of polling staff observed — but missions urged stricter enforcement of the legal requirement that party lists include at least one-third women and asked parties to publish gender data on their slates. All three groups faulted persistent accessibility barriers: many polling places lacked ramps; tactile ballot guides were not provided this cycle; and proxy voting, while available, compromises ballot secrecy for some voters with disabilities. The Commonwealth team recommended extending early voting to other essential workers beyond the disciplined services and offering more support so newer and smaller parties can participate on equal footing.

Strengthen domestic civic oversight and fact-checking.
The missions noted Guyana lacks a well-resourced, nonpartisan domestic observer network capable of nationwide coverage. They urged investment in civil society election monitoring and suggested an independent fact-checking mechanism to counter online misinformation that spiked during the campaign.

Implement recommendations — with deadlines.
Each mission stressed that many of these proposals echo past cycles. They urged the new Parliament to empower the Constitutional Reform Commission and enact priority electoral reforms — including GECOM restructuring, campaign-finance rules, access-to-information guarantees, and media-equity provisions — at least two years before the next vote.

Election day itself drew broad praise, however. The Carter Center said teams visited 234 polling stations across all 10 regions and reported orderly openings, trained staff and party agents present at nearly all locations. The Commonwealth and CARICOM groups observed punctual openings, calm voting and transparent counts, with SOPs signed and posted at polling sites and uploaded for public view.

As tabulation wraps up, the missions urged parties and supporters to remain patient and channel any disputes through the courts. The test ahead, they said, is not only announcing winners but converting a largely smooth election day into lasting confidence through visible, timely reforms.