Posts

The Insurance Association of the Caribbean appoints Equisoft’s insurance expert as new board member

/0 Comments/in /by

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, Sept. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Equisoft, a leading global provider of digital solutions for the insurance and wealth industries, is pleased to announce that Ruben Veerasamy, Equisoft’s leading insurance expert in the Caribbean, has joined the IAC Board of Directors. The announcement was made during the 43rd Annual Caribbean Insurance Conference in Panama.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ruben as a new member of our Board of Directors. With over 20 years of extensive experience in the industry, we believe Ruben will significantly contribute to fulfilling IAC’s mission of promoting and fostering the advancement of the Caribbean insurance industry,” said Patrick G. W. Ward, President, IAC.

Ruben brings a unique blend of technical expertise and strategic leadership to the IAC board. In his current role overseeing sales, project delivery, and account management for the Caribbean region, Ruben has helped 18 Caribbean insurers modernize their legacy systems. His hands-on experience guiding insurance carriers through complex digital transformations, ensuring optimal solutions are delivered on-time and on-budget, positions him to provide valuable insights that will help shape the future direction of the Caribbean insurance industry.

“I’m deeply honored to join the IAC Board of Directors. I’m excited to contribute to help drive forward IAC’s mission in fostering the advancement of the Caribbean insurance industry,” said Ruben Veerasamy, Equisoft Senior VP, Caribbean. “Partnering with IAC is part of Equisoft’s global mission to make financial services accessible to all through innovative technologies and industry collaborations,” added Veerasamy.

About IAC

IAC was the brainchild of a small group of visionaries (industry leaders from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana and Barbados) who wanted to prepare the indigenous insurance industry for the future challenges of the remaining century. Its mission is to promote and foster the advancement of the Caribbean insurance industry through research, education and advocacy, in so doing to create a platform for regional harmonisation and integration in the industry.

About Equisoft

Founded in 1994, Equisoft is a global provider of advanced insurance and investment digital solutions. Recognized as a valued partner by over 300 of the world’s leading financial institutions, Equisoft offers a complete ecosystem of solutions, from innovative front-end applications to extensive back-office services and unique data migration expertise. The firm’s flagship solutions include SaaS policy administration, CRM, financial needs analysis, financial planning, asset allocation, fund and portfolio analysis, quotes and illustrations, electronic application, agency management systems, as well as customer, agent and broker portals. With its business-driven approach, deep industry knowledge, innovative technology, and multicultural team of experts based in North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, Equisoft helps its clients tackle any challenge in this era of digital disruption. For more information, please visit www.equisoft.com.

Safer Nicotine Alternatives Could Save Thousands Of Lives In Barbados And Trinidad And Tobago, Experts Say

/0 Comments/in /by

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

Caribbean Roots Kamala Harris Breaks Silence In Tell-All New Book On Biden And 2024 Run

/0 Comments/in /by

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Sept. 10, 2025: Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has broken her silence on one of the most consequential political decisions in modern American history, calling President Joe Biden’s 2024 re-election bid an act of “recklessness.” In excerpts from her forthcoming memoir, 107 Days, published in The Atlantic today, Harris reflects candidly on the mistakes, missed opportunities, and strained loyalties that shaped her historic tenure as the first Black and first Caribbean American vice president of the United States.

FLASHBACK – The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Vice President Kamala Harris during Thursday’s July 31, 2025 show. (Photo by Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images)

Harris, the daughter of Jamaican economist Donald Harris and Indian-born cancer researcher Shyamala Gopalan, roots her political identity in the immigrant values of resilience, service, and justice. Her father’s Jamaican heritage and her mother’s South Asian background gave her a unique lens on the challenges of marginalized communities, something she has repeatedly described as central to her public life.

“Recklessness” and a Missed Opportunity

In the memoir, Harris writes that Democrats, herself included, made a grave mistake in allowing Biden to decide unchallenged that he would seek another term at the age of 81. While she never directly questioned his physical or mental fitness to serve, she said it became clear that “at 81, Joe got tired.” The signs of age, from verbal stumbles to visible exhaustion during grueling schedules, underscored her view that the stakes were too high to defer to “an individual’s ego” or ambition.

“During all those months of growing panic, should I have told Joe to consider not running? Perhaps,” Harris admits. “But the American people had chosen him before in the same matchup. Maybe he was right to believe they would do so again. In retrospect, I think it was recklessness. This wasn’t a choice that should have been left to an individual’s ego. It should have been more than a personal decision.”

Her candor is striking given her loyalty throughout Biden’s presidency. Harris publicly defended him after his faltering debate performance against Donald Trump in 2024, insisting then that the president was up to the job. But her memoir paints a more complicated picture of private doubts, internal tensions, and frustration with Biden’s inner circle.

Undermined and Underestimated

Beyond the election question, Harris details how members of Biden’s team often failed to support her — and at times, actively undermined her. She recalls being sidelined in speeches, inadequately defended against conservative attacks on her competence, and denied effective backup in responding to media narratives about “chaos” within her office.

“Their thinking was zero-sum: if she’s shining, he’s dimmed,” Harris writes. “None of them grasped that if I did well, he did well. Given the concerns about his age, my visible success as his vice president was vital. It would serve as a testament to his judgment in choosing me and reassurance that if something happened, the country was in good hands.”

Despite these slights, Harris emphasizes her commitment to loyalty — to Biden, to the Democratic Party, and most importantly, to the country. Yet her tone is one of clear disappointment that the team around the president did not see her success as part of Biden’s legacy.

A Caribbean Voice in U.S. Politics

For many in the Caribbean diaspora, Harris’ rise to the vice presidency was proof of the region’s enduring impact on global politics even though she did little to celebrate that side of her heritage. In critiquing Biden’s re-election bid and recounting her challenges in office, Harris frames her honesty as a duty.

Looking Ahead

Harris’s memoir arrives as Democrats continue to assess how the 2024 loss reshaped the party and as she carves out her next chapter. By publicly admitting she regrets not challenging Biden’s decision to run, Harris strives to distinguish herself from many party leaders who remain hesitant to criticize him directly.

Her words also raise questions about how future leaders will handle the balance between loyalty and candor, particularly when the stakes are existential. 107 Days is set for release on September 23rd.

Charlie Kirk’s Controversial Remarks on Haiti, DEI, Immigration and Race Resurface Amid His Death

/0 Comments/in /by

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.

Guyanese Roots David Lammy Makes History As UK’s First Black PM

/0 Comments/in /by

By NAN News Editor

News Americas, LONDON, England, Fri. Sept. 5, 2025: David Lammy, the son of Guyanese immigrants who built their lives in Britain, has etched his name into history as the first Black Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and its new Justice secretary. His appointment, following the resignation of Angela Rayner in a tax scandal, is not only a political reshuffle but also a profound moment of representation for the Caribbean Diaspora.

From Guyana to North London

Lammy was born in 1972 at Whittington Hospital in Archway, North London, to Guyanese parents David and Rosalind Lammy. His parents, like many from Guyana and the wider Caribbean, migrated to the UK seeking opportunities promised in the era following World War II. They joined the community of Windrush descendants who would shape Britain’s cultural and political fabric for generations.

Raised in Tottenham, Lammy’s early life was far from easy. His father left when he was just 12, leaving his mother to raise five children on her own. That upbringing in a working-class Caribbean household profoundly influenced his values. He has often credited his mother’s resilience, faith, and insistence on education as the foundation for his career.

“The lessons I carry are Guyanese lessons,” Lammy once told an interviewer. “You work hard, you give back, and you never forget where you come from.”

A Guyanese Heritage Intertwined With British Politics

Lammy has long embraced his dual identity. He holds both British and Guyanese citizenship, and his family history stretches back to Guyana’s complex story of migration. His great-grandmother migrated to Guyana from India as part of the indenture system, tying Lammy’s roots to both the African and Indian diasporas that make up Guyana’s multi-ethnic identity.

This layered heritage, he has said, gave him an innate understanding of injustice and resilience. It has also fueled his advocacy for Caribbean immigrants in Britain, especially during the Windrush scandal, when thousands of legal Caribbean residents were wrongfully targeted by immigration authorities.

Education and Early Firsts

Lammy’s talent and determination opened doors. At the age of 10, he won a choral scholarship to sing at Peterborough Cathedral, later attending The King’s School, Peterborough. He studied law at SOAS, University of London, and in 1994 was called to the bar.

But his biggest “first” came in 1997 when he became the first Black Briton to attend Harvard Law School, where he earned a Master of Laws degree. That milestone made headlines in both Britain and the Caribbean, where Lammy was celebrated as a son of Guyanese soil making history abroad.

Political Rise

Lammy entered Parliament in 2000 at just 27, winning the Tottenham by-election after the passing of veteran MP Bernie Grant, another trailblazer of Caribbean descent. In his early years, he served in the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, holding portfolios ranging from public health to higher education.

After a decade on the backbenches, Lammy returned to prominence under Labour leader Keir Starmer, serving as Shadow Foreign Secretary before being appointed Foreign Secretary in 2024. His appointment as Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary, and Lord Chancellor in September 2025 represents the pinnacle of a career defined by persistence and advocacy.

Symbolism for Guyana and the Diaspora

Lammy’s appointment resonates far beyond Westminster. In Guyana, commentators have hailed the achievement as a “Diaspora triumph,” a reminder that the Caribbean continues to shape leadership on the global stage. Across the Caribbean and its Diaspora in North America, Lammy’s rise is being celebrated as proof that the children of Caribbean migrants can ascend to the very top of British politics.

For Lammy himself, it is also personal. He has often spoken about how his heritage shaped his politics — from his insistence on addressing inequality in the justice system to his calls for reparative justice for slavery and colonialism. His leadership, he argues, is not just about representation but about reshaping the systems that excluded people like his parents.

A Historic Moment With Caribbean Roots

David Lammy’s story — from a Tottenham boy raised by a single Guyanese mother to the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom — is one of perseverance, identity, and heritage. It is also a reminder of the Caribbean’s deep and lasting impact on global politics.

For Guyana, his appointment is not simply symbolic. It is a proud moment of recognition that its sons and daughters continue to help shape the destiny of nations far beyond its borders.

Observers Urge Major Reforms To Guyana Elections Commission, Voter List And Campaign Rules

/0 Comments/in /by

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.

Jamaica Election 2025 – Jamaicans Head To The Polls As Tight Race Hinges On Turnout

/0 Comments/in /by

News Americas, KINGSTON, Jamaica, Weds. Sept. 3, 2025: Jamaicans including from the Diaspora will vote today, September 3rd, in the 2025 Jamaica election that analysts say could come down less to persuasion than participation – with the incumbent Jamaica Labour Party, (JLP) and main opposition People’s National Party, (PNP) running neck and neck in the final polls.

FLASHBACK – Voters at a polling station at the Ewarton Methodist Church, Edna Leslie memorial hall, St Catherine north west on Election day September 3, 2020. (Photo by RICARDO MAKYN/AFP via Getty Images)

The last Don Anderson/RJR-Gleaner survey showed the PNP with a razor-thin 0.8-point edge over the JLP, well within the margin of error. But nearly one in three voters remains undecided or disenchanted – a block large enough to tip the balance in the Caribbean island’s 63-seat parliament.

“The deciding factor may not be persuasion, but mobilization,” political analyst Helene Davis-Whyte told the Gleaner. “This election could hinge on which party gets its base to the polls.”

Competing Messages

The JLP, in power since 2016, has campaigned on stability, pointing to falling unemployment, fiscal discipline and a sharp drop in murders this year. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has promised deeper reforms, more land titles, tax relief and 50 percent renewable power by 2030.

The PNP, led by Opposition Leader Mark Golding, insists that stability has not translated into opportunity for ordinary Jamaicans. Its platform calls for low-income housing, constitutional reform, lower electricity costs and programs aimed at youth and the poor.

Anti-incumbency is a strong driver among PNP backers. The Anderson poll found that nearly three in 10 opposition supporters said their main motivation was simply to remove the JLP. For government supporters, the main driver was the belief the administration “is doing a good job.”

Disillusionment and Protest

With more than 2 million registered voters, turnout will be closely watched. In the last election in 2020, participation slumped to just 37 percent.

Adding another wrinkle, the Jamaica First Movement, a small group led by Reverend Al Miller, is urging voters who feel alienated to still show up and mark “0” on their ballots as a formal protest against all candidates. Miller said disengagement only gives “silent approval,” while a “0” vote records discontent.

Heavy Oversight

The Organization of American States and CARICOM have both deployed observer missions across Jamaica’s 14 parishes. OAS mission chief Kenny D. Anthony, the former prime minister of Saint Lucia, urged citizens to exercise their democratic right peacefully.

The CARICOM mission, led by Trinidad and Tobago elections chief Fern Narcis, will observe preparations, voting, counting and the tabulation of results. Both groups are expected to issue preliminary statements later this week.

High Stakes

Jamaica’s election comes at a sensitive moment. The island has posted steady economic growth and debt reduction but still faces stubborn inequality, crime and pressure to accelerate the shift to renewable energy.

With polls too close to call, the result may rest on whether undecided Jamaicans – especially younger voters, who are the least engaged – decide to stay home, cast a protest ballot or rally behind one of the two major parties.

Investor Outlook

Both the Jamaica Labour Party, (JLP) and the People’s National Party, (PNP) have released detailed manifestos that present starkly different roadmaps for economic growth, foreign investment, and private-sector opportunities.

The stakes are high. Jamaica has enjoyed strong tourism rebounds, an expanding IPO market, and steady GDP growth in recent years. At the same time, debt management, high energy costs, and the need for economic diversification remain top concerns. For international and local investors, the September election outcome could shape whether Jamaica doubles down on its stability-first policies or pivots toward diversification and new industries. For the investor community, Jamaica’s 2025 election represents a choice between two investment philosophies:

The JLP’s Stability Play: Doubling down on fiscal discipline, major tourism projects, and proven economic management.

The PNP’s Transformation Agenda: Betting on diversification into new industries, green growth, and SME financing as engines of long-term resilience.

With Jamaica already attracting record IPOs and steady foreign direct investment, both visions hold appeal. However, the party that wins in September will decide whether investors can expect more of the same stability or a bold pivot toward new industries.

Guyana Votes Amid Border Tensions With Venezuela

/0 Comments/in /by

NEWS AMERICAS, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. Sept. 1, 2025: Voters in the oil rich CARICOM, South American nation of Guyana head to the polls today in a high-stakes general and regional election overshadowed by fresh border tensions with Venezuela – a dispute that has loomed over the country for more than a century.

This aerial view shows Georgetown, on August 26, 2025. Guyana will hold presidential elections next September 1st. (Photo by Joaquin Sarmiento / AFP) (Photo by JOAQUIN SARMIENTO/AFP via Getty Images)

The disdpute flared again this weekend after election officials came under fire near the frontier. Authorities said a joint patrol of soldiers and police escorting ballot boxes along the Upper Cuyuni River came under fire from across the Venezuelan shore Sunday. No one was injured and election materials were not compromised, but the incident underscored how national security and sovereignty loom large as voters decide who will govern the oil-rich South American nation for the next five years.

In March 2024, Venezuela passed a law that designates Essequibo as a new state of Venezuela, governed from the city of Tumeremo.

The Joint Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace between Guyana and Venezuela said that the two countries agreed that “any controversies” between them will be resolved in accordance with international law, including the Geneva Agreement dated February 17, 1966.

The Joint Declaration issued following talks in Kingstown, St. Vincent in December 2023 between President Irfaan Ali and President Nicolas Maduro over the disputed Essequibo region, also indicated that the two countries agreed that “any controversies” between them will be resolved in accordance with international law, including the Geneva Agreement dated February 17, 1966.

The border dispute is before the International Court of  Justice (ICJ).

Nearly 758,000 people are eligible to vote in the election for 65 seats in the National Assembly and 10 regional councils. Six presidential candidates are on the ballot, but the race is widely seen as a showdown between the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), led by President Irfaan Ali, the main opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), formerly the Peoples National Congress, (PNC), led by Aubrey Norton and the newly formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, that has gained momentum in only 3 months.

Guyana’s President and presidential candidate for re-election Mohamed Irfaan Ali delivers a speech at a rally on August 26, 2025. (Photo by JOAQUIN SARMIENTO/AFP via Getty Images)

Ali’s party is campaigning on economic growth fueled by Guyana’s massive oil discoveries, touting investments in infrastructure, housing, and social services. “Victory must be secured at the ballot box,” Ali told supporters in his final rally.

Supporters of Guyana’s presidential candidate Aubrey Norton from the APNU party take part in a rally in Georgetown, on August 30, 2025. (Photo by JOAQUIN SARMIENTO/AFP via Getty Images)

Norton and APNU accuse the government of mismanaging the country’s oil wealth and promise to “rescue” Guyana from corruption and poverty. “This is a movement to take back our country,” Norton declared.

Supporters of Guyana’s presidential candidate Azruddin Mohamed from the WIN party take part in a campaign rally in Georgetown on August 30, 2025. Guyana will hold presidential elections on September 1, 2025. (Photo by JOAQUIN SARMIENTO/AFP via Getty Images)

The WIN party, led by businessman Azruddin Mohamed, is also vying for seats, showing off its multi-ethnic supporters as the key to winning the election against the two main parties that have dominated politics in Guyana for over 5 decades since independence in 1966. Mohamed, despite being sanctioned by the US, has pitched himself as the key to moving Guyanese to another level and out of poverty. Guyana’s poverty level is estimated at over 40 percent despite its new found oil riches.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) said late Saturday it approved last-minute accreditations for party polling agents to ensure “fairness and transparency.” The other parties in the race are attorney Nigel Hughes of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Amanza Walton-Desir of the Forward Guyana Movement and the leader of the Assembly for Liberty & Prosperity (ALP) movement, Dr. Simona Broomes.

The polls are being monitored by international observers from CARICOM, the Organization of American States, the Commonwealth, and the Carter Center.

Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken said the force has deployed nationwide to guarantee safe voting. “This is an important moment for our country,” he said. “We must show the world that Guyana is a peaceful and united nation.”

West Indian Day Parade Returns To Brooklyn This Weekend

/0 Comments/in /by

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Aug. 29, 2025: The biggest carnival in North America – the West Indian American Day Carnival – is back in Brooklyn this Labor Day weekend, set to transform the borough into a kaleidoscope of Caribbean culture, music, and pride.

FLASHBACK – People wearing costumes take part in the Labor Day Parade, also known as West Indian Carnival, an annual celebration held on American Labor Day (the first Monday in September) in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, United States on September 5, 2022. The carnival attracts thousands of participants with colorful costumes accompanied with native music. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The Main Parade

On Labor Day Monday, thousands are expected to flood Eastern Parkway for the 58th Annual West Indian American Day Parade & Carnival, themed “Vive Le Carnivale.” The parade will officially step off at 11 a.m. from Eastern Parkway and Rochester Avenue, marching all the way to Grand Army Plaza, and is expected to wrap up around 6 p.m.

Before the main event, the more traditional mas event, J’Ouvert, kicks off at 6 a.m. Monday, running until 11 a.m. with early spectator access opening at 2 a.m. Revelers will take over sections of Empire Boulevard and Nostrand Avenue in Crown Heights, carrying forward the deep-rooted Caribbean tradition of pre-dawn festivities.

A New York cop with carnival revelers on Labor Day, Sept. 7, 2015.

Weekend of Events

The Carnival weekend is packed with music, culture, and community pride:

Friday, Aug. 29: Soca heavyweights Kes the Band, Bunji Garlin, and Fay-Ann Lyons headline the Soca Festival at the Brooklyn Museum. Event link

Saturday, Aug. 30:

Youth Fest Info

Junior Carnival & Parade Tickets, featuring young masqueraders along President Street and Franklin Avenue.

Panorama 2025 at the Brooklyn Museum, where steel pan orchestras compete in one of the most anticipated showcases of the year. Event link

Sunday, Aug. 31: The Ultimate Fete takes over Brooklyn, celebrating rum, music, and Caribbean unity. Event link

Street Closures & Security

Marchers are covered in motor oil, paint and chalk as they celebrate J’Ouvert in the Crown Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn on September 02, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

The NYPD has announced widespread street closures beginning Sunday night through Monday evening. Key closures include:

Flatbush Avenue, Empire Boulevard, Nostrand Avenue, and sections of Eastern Parkway.

On parade day, additional closures roll out from Utica Avenue to Grand Army Plaza starting at 10:30 a.m.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch emphasized that this will be “the largest deployment of the year — larger than New Year’s Eve in Times Square or July Fourth.” Thousands of officers, along with helicopters and drones, will monitor the event to ensure safety.

Drivers are strongly urged to use public transportation as all northbound and southbound streets feeding into Eastern Parkway will be closed.

A full list of street closures is available via the NYC Department of Transportation.

ABOUT CARIBBEAN AMERICANS IN THE USA

The demographic footprint of Caribbean immigrants or West Indians in the United States remains undeniable. Caribbean immigrant Alexander Hamilton, born in Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis, was a U.S. Founding Father and the nation’s first Secretary of the Treasury. A key architect of America’s financial system, Hamilton served under President George Washington from 1789 to 1795. He also co-founded the Federalist Party and the African Free School, and played a pivotal role in shaping the early United States. Hamilton was married to Elizabeth Schuyler and was tragically killed in a duel in 1804. His legacy as a Caribbean-born visionary and American statesman endures.

Meanwhile, according to 2020 U.S. Census data – the first decennial survey to allow respondents to write in their Caribbean ancestry – some 4.6 million people in the U.S. identified as having roots in the Caribbean. The majority hailed from three nations: Jamaica (1,047,117), Haiti (1,032,747), and Trinidad and Tobago (194,364).

Geographically, Caribbean Americans are most heavily concentrated in Florida (30%), New York (25%), and New Jersey (6%). The data also show that most Caribbean Americans fall within the 45–64 age range, reflecting a well-established and mature population.

Caribbean presence in the U.S. dates back centuries. Historians like Jennifer Faith Gray of the Scottish Centre for Global History note that enslaved Africans were brought from the Caribbean to the U.S. as early as the 1660s, with one-third to half of enslaved persons in the Carolinas during the colonial era coming directly from the Caribbean. Harvard University, among others, profited from Caribbean slave labor through financial instruments and loans.

One of the most notable acts of Caribbean American resistance in U.S. history came in 1822, when Denmark Vesey, a Caribbean-born former slave, led a planned slave revolt in Charleston, South Carolina – one of the largest of its time.

What Jamaica’s Main Parties Are Offering Investors Ahead Of The 2025 Elections

/0 Comments/in /by

News Americas, New York, NY, Tues. Aug. 26, 2025: As Jamaica approaches its hotly contested 2025 general elections, investors are paying close attention to what the island’s two main political parties are promising. Both the Jamaica Labour Party, (JLP) and the People’s National Party, (PNP) have released detailed manifestos that present starkly different roadmaps for economic growth, foreign investment, and private-sector opportunities.

The stakes are high. Jamaica has enjoyed strong tourism rebounds, an expanding IPO market, and steady GDP growth in recent years. At the same time, debt management, high energy costs, and the need for economic diversification remain top concerns. For international and local investors, the September election outcome could shape whether Jamaica doubles down on its stability-first policies or pivots toward diversification and new industries.

FLASHBACK – Jamaicans wait in line to cast ballots outside the Flankers All-Age and Junior High School near Montego Bay on September, 3, 2007. (Photo credit: PAUL REID/AFP via Getty Images)

JLP: Stability, Tourism, and Fiscal Discipline

The ruling JLP’s manifesto, Choose What Works, positions the party as the guardian of stability and continuity. For investors, the JLP highlights its track record of debt reduction, record IPO activity, and job creation as proof that Jamaica is a secure destination for capital.

Key proposals include:

Tax Simplification: Consolidation of statutory deductions into a single, simplified system and a phased reduction of personal income tax to a base rate of 15%.

Large-Scale Incentives: The rollout of the Large-Scale Projects and Pioneer Industries Relief Act in 2025, designed to attract global investors with targeted tax breaks.

Capital Market Expansion: The launch of a Micro Stock Exchange to encourage small business participation and broaden investment opportunities.

Sovereign Wealth Fund: Once debt falls below 60% of GDP, Jamaica plans to establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund to channel revenues into renewable energy, infrastructure, and overseas investments.

Tourism Expansion: Development of an additional 20,000 hotel rooms, expanded eco-tourism offerings, and stronger linkages between tourism and local agriculture.

The JLP’s core pitch is that investors can rely on Jamaica to remain fiscally disciplined while continuing to expand in its strongest-performing sectors—tourism, logistics, and real estate.

A ship at a bay in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Montego Bay, a major city in Jamaica, is a famous port and tourist destination known for its long coastline and rich historical heritage. With its modern resorts, vibrant street life and distinctive local markets, it attracts visitors from all over the world. (Photo by Li Mengxin/Xinhua via Getty Images)

PNP: Diversification, Green Growth, and Digital Future

The opposition PNP’s manifesto, The Next Chapter, presents a different vision: transforming Jamaica’s economic base by diversifying beyond tourism and logistics. The party is courting investors interested in renewable energy, technology, agro-processing, and creative industries.

Key pledges include:

National Investment Funds: Creation of targeted funds for green energy, agro-industry, and tech innovation, designed to channel capital into emerging sectors.

SME Financing: A state-backed credit guarantee scheme and stronger development banking support to cut borrowing costs for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Agro-Industrial Hubs: Establishment of agro-parks and export processing zones to boost value-added exports and link farmers to international markets.

Renewable Energy Drive: Aggressive pursuit of clean energy partnerships and financing, with an emphasis on solar and wind development.

Digital Transformation: Comprehensive modernization of government services to reduce red tape, accelerate business approvals, and build investor confidence.

Tourism Diversification: Broadening the industry into cultural, heritage, and community-based tourism, reducing reliance on all-inclusive resorts.

The PNP is framing itself as the party that will prepare Jamaica for the next wave of global competition by backing green energy, technology, and value-added exports.

Investor Outlook

For the investor community, Jamaica’s 2025 election represents a choice between two investment philosophies:

The JLP’s Stability Play: Doubling down on fiscal discipline, major tourism projects, and proven economic management.

The PNP’s Transformation Agenda: Betting on diversification into new industries, green growth, and SME financing as engines of long-term resilience.

With Jamaica already attracting record IPOs and steady foreign direct investment, both visions hold appeal. However, the party that wins in September will decide whether investors can expect more of the same stability or a bold pivot toward new industries.