By Ron Cheong

News Americas, TORONTO, Canada, Weds. April 29, 2026: CARICOM’s founding promise can be characterized as: One Region, One People, One Future – something it would be helpful to refocus on in moments like this.

The bloc began as a regional integration project grounded in shared history, collective resilience, and a unified diplomatic voice – that is now being tested by a sharper, more transactional global order. At the center of that strain lies a consequential shift: The United States has moved away from partnership toward influence through pressure. That shift is no longer abstract – it is playing out in symbols, alliances, and fractures across the globe including the Caribbean, which is our focus.

Few episodes capture this better than the recent “brooch diplomacy” controversy involving Delcy Rodríguez. Her decision to wear a brooch depicting Venezuela’s claim over Guyana’s Essequibo region during engagements with CARICOM leaders in Barbados and Grenada was more than a symbolic gesture – it was a calculated assertion of territorial ambition in a regional diplomatic space that is supposed to prioritize neutrality and cohesion.

For Guyana, the implications are stark. In the midst of navigating a volatile border controversy with Venezuela, this uncomfortable foray raises the possibility that elements within the CARICOM community could be somewhat open, directly or indirectly, to Venezuelan influence.

But to understand how CARICOM arrived at this moment, one must look beyond the region to Washington.

Pressure Over Partnership

For decades, U.S. – Caribbean relations were built on a mix of development assistance, trade access, and institutional cooperation. While never perfectly balanced, the relationship carried some sense of predictability. That is no longer the case.

Today, U.S. policy toward the Caribbean increasingly emphasizes sanctions, geopolitical alignment, and strategic compliance. Whether through its hardline stance on Cuba, military action in Venezuela, or sweeping tariff regimes, Washington’s posture has become more conditional and less collaborative.

The consequences are cumulative.

The long-running embargo on Cuba, now intensified into a de facto oil blockade, has forced Caribbean states into agonising choices between principle and survival. Cuban medical missions, long a backbone of regional healthcare systems, are now being unwound or restructured under pressure. Even Guyana, once deeply aligned with Havana, had been forced by imperatives of its security and survival to recalibrate this alignment and historical friendship.

In addition, rather than contributing to Guyana’s security, the recent U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, and arrest of Nicolas Maduro, culminated in an unstable paradox. Instead of ushering in a democratic transition led by opposition figures – and greater regional stability, the US chose to let power effectively remain within the existing governing structure, now fronted more prominently by Rodríguez herself.

If anything, this outcome has strengthened a figure who is arguably more diplomatically agile and legally sophisticated than Maduro, enabling Venezuela to engage the region with renewed effectiveness.

Oil, Influence, And Divergence

Energy politics further complicate the picture.

Venezuela’s oil industry remains state-controlled, giving Caracas a powerful tool of foreign policy: the ability to cultivate alliances through preferential energy arrangements. Historically, initiatives like Petrocaribe allowed Venezuela to build goodwill across the Caribbean by supplying oil on concessional terms.

Guyana, by contrast, sits on vast high quality oil reserves but operates within a very different model. Its sector is dominated by foreign firms, most notably ExxonMobil. While this has accelerated production and revenues, it limits Georgetown’s ability to deploy oil as a direct instrument of regional diplomacy. This divergence matters.

Where Venezuela can translate energy into influence, Guyana must rely more heavily on formal alliances – chief among them, its alignment with the United States for security backing against Venezuelan territorial claims. That alignment, however, comes at a cost.

A Hornet’s Nest of Contradictions

Guyana faces tough strategic options. There was little choice other than leaning toward Washington for protection in the face of the Venezuelan threat. But the U.S. influence in the region has not lead to more stabilization as would have been hoped.  Their approach, marked by coercion rather than consensus, has heightened tensions, disrupted economic flows, and placed CARICOM states under competing pressures. It also undermined the ties between some longstanding regional and ideological partners, and Cuba in particular.  

This weakens the very CARICOM unity that Guyana seeks to champion. The “broochgate” episode underscores the dilemma. Georgetown has protested that CARICOM members should not entertain Venezuelan symbolism which challenges its sovereignty.  But even as it did so – the political opposition in Guyana chimed in that: Guyana itself has shown selective solidarity in its actions.

The claim was that Although Cuba is not a CARICOM member it has long had ties with its members.  When Cuba faced intensified U.S. pressure, Guyana’s response was measured, even muted. And when regional states were forced to reconsider Cuban medical cooperation, Georgetown adjusted its position rather than seeking a unified defense. Notwithstanding Guyana has since sent humanitarian rice shipments to Cuba, the point was that these the actions are not consistent with mutual support.

CARICOM At A Crossroads

The deeper issue is not any single incident, but the fragmentation of strategic alignment within CARICOM.

External powers are no longer offering partnership frameworks – they are presenting choices, often framed as zero-sum. The United States demands alignment on security and geopolitics. China offers targeted economic engagement. Venezuela leverages energy diplomacy and regional familiarity. Cuba, despite its constraints, remains a vital social partner.

Each relationship pulls CARICOM states in different directions. Without a coordinated regional strategy, these pressures risk turning CARICOM from a unified bloc into a collection of individually managed relationships – precisely the kind of fragmentation its founders sought to avoid.

The Path Forward

For Guyana, the immediate priority is clear: defend its territorial integrity. But doing so effectively requires more than bilateral security guarantees – it requires regional legitimacy.

That, in turn, demands consistency. Guyana’s call for unwavering CARICOM support on Essequibo, should be supported by the same level of commitment on issues that matter to its community, whether related to Cuba, economic sovereignty, or external pressure.

More broadly, CARICOM must confront a hard truth: the era of comfortable alignment is over. The region is operating in a fluid, contested geopolitical space where influence is increasingly exercised through leverage rather than loyalty.

In that environment, unity is not just an aspiration – it is a necessity. Because if the Caribbean cannot hold a coherent center, others will define it from the outside.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Ron Cheong is a frequent political commentator and columnist whose recent work focuses on international relations, economic resilience, and Caribbean-American affairs. He is a community activist and dedicated volunteer with extensive international banking experience. Now residing in Toronto, Canada, he is a fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto.

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King Kong And The Island: America’s Moral Collapse And Cuba

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. April 27, 2026: YouTube sensation IShowSpeed, one of the world’s most popular online streamers, is continuing his high-energy Caribbean tour, with his latest stop bringing him to Barbados Monday, after earlier visits to Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.

Speed, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., is an American influencer and live-streamer known globally for his dramatic, fast-paced broadcasts and real-life travel streams that attract millions of viewers. He has emerged as a major digital figure, often acting as a cultural ambassador by showcasing countries and local experiences to global audiences in real time.

The global livestream star, known for his unpredictable and viral content, has been drawing attention across the region as he moves from island to island, blending entertainment with cultural immersion. After kicking off in Trinidad and Tobago, Speed traveled to Grenada, where he explored local culture, including scuba diving and participating in traditional Jab Jab celebrations. He then arrived in Barbados, where he made a stop at a local school, further fueling excitement among fans and even received a rock as a gift.

Barbados is often referred to as a “rock” due to its unique geological formation: a coral limestone island formed by tectonic plate collision, unlike many of its neighbors. The island, particularly on the east coast, features dramatic rock formations, including the famous Bathsheba Rock and Mushroom Rock, carved by Atlantic erosion.

While his exact next stop has not been officially confirmed, the broader Caribbean tour is expected to include Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the United States Virgin Islands.

Speed is widely regarded as one of the internet’s most-watched travel streamers, known for turning everyday interactions into viral moments through live broadcasts that attract massive global audiences.

His Caribbean run follows a series of global tours that have taken him across Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia/New Zealand. During a recent Africa tour spanning 20 countries in under a month, he gained more than 3.7 million YouTube subscribers and surpassed 50 million total subscribers, highlighting his growing global influence.

With streams often showcasing local culture, landmarks, and spontaneous fan interactions, Speed’s visits have proven to significantly boost online visibility for destinations featured.

This Caribbean leg also includes a personal touch. Speed has his younger brother Jamal joining him on the tour, adding to the energy and unpredictability that define his content.

Known for his high-energy personality and real-time engagement with fans, Speed’s presence is already generating buzz across the region, with crowds gathering and social media lighting up at each stop. As the tour continues, Caribbean audiences – and millions watching online – are tuning in to see where he lands next.

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By Felicia J. Persaud

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. April 24, 2026: At a time when immigration rhetoric in the United States has reached a fever pitch, a new report from the Pew Research Center offers a powerful reminder: the story being told about immigrants – particularly Black immigrants – is often not the truth.

The data tells a very different story. According to Pew’s latest analysis, there are now 5.6 million Black immigrants living in the United States, making up roughly one in ten Black people in the country.

That alone should shift the conversation. Because Black immigrants are not a small or marginal group. They are a significant and growing part of the American story.

And yet, they are rarely at the center of the national immigration debate. Even more telling is their legal status.

Despite narratives that often conflate immigration with illegality, the Pew data shows that 79% of Black immigrants are in the United States legally, while a majority – 61% – are naturalized U.S. citizens.

That means most Black immigrants are not only here lawfully, but they are also Americans who can vote.

Fully. Legally. Permanently.

And still, they are often treated as outsiders, with xenophobic talk about “eating cats and dogs,” committing crimes, or worse of all, being from “S-Hole” countries.

The data also challenges assumptions about education and contribution.

Today, 35% of Black immigrants hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, a rate that exceeds that of U.S.-born Black Americans. Among African-born immigrants, that number is even higher, with some of the most highly educated immigrant populations in the country coming from nations like Nigeria.

These are not communities on the margins. They are doctors, nurses, entrepreneurs, educators, and caregivers. They are part of the infrastructure of American life.

And their numbers are growing.

African-born immigrants, according to the data, are now the fastest-growing segment of the Black immigrant population, increasing fourfold since 2000. At the same time, Caribbean immigrants remain a dominant force, making up a similarly large share of the Black immigrant population.

Together, African and Caribbean immigrants account for the overwhelming majority of Black immigrants in the United States. That is not incidental.

It reflects a deep and ongoing relationship between the United States and the Black diaspora – one that has shaped culture, labor, politics, and identity for generations.

And yet, despite these contributions, the policy environment is moving in the opposite direction.

Immigration crackdowns are intensifying. Temporary protection is being challenged. Legal pathways are becoming more uncertain. Huge bonds are being tacked on to simple visitors and business visas.

And Black immigrants – like other immigrant groups – are increasingly caught in that shift. This disconnect between reality and rhetoric is where the real story lies. Because the data makes one thing clear: Black immigrants are not a burden on the United States. They are part of its growth. Part of its workforce. Part of its future.

And yet, the question of belonging continues to linger. Who gets to be seen as American? Who gets to be protected?, Who gets to stay? These are not new questions. But they take on new urgency in a moment where facts are often overshadowed by fear.

Because when a group that is largely legal, highly educated, and deeply embedded in the fabric of the country is still viewed through the lens of suspicion, it suggests that the issue is no longer just immigration. It is perception. And perhaps something deeper. Because the data tells a story.

The question is whether America is willing to listen.

Felicia J. Persaud is the founder and publisher of  NewsAmericasNow.com, the only daily syndicated newswire and digital platform dedicated exclusively to Caribbean Diaspora and Black immigrant news across the Americas.

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News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. April 22, 2026: A high-profile extradition case involving Guyana opposition leader and Azruddin Mohamed and his father, remains in legal limbo as the Caribbean Court of Justice, (CCJ), prepares to deliver a ruling that could determine whether proceedings against them can move forward.

The region’s highest court on Tuesday confirmed that an interim stay on the extradition of the Guyana opposition leader and his father, businessman Nasar Mohamed, will remain in place until a final judgment is handed down, effectively halting proceedings before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for now.

At the heart of the case is a legal dispute over whether the extradition process was compromised at its earliest stage, raising broader questions about fairness, due process, and the limits of executive authority in such matters.

Attorneys representing the Mohameds argued before the seven-member CCJ panel that the issuance of the Authority to Proceed, (ATP), by the Minister of Home Affairs was tainted by bias, potentially undermining the legitimacy of the entire extradition process. Senior Counsel Fyard Hosein, appearing for the appellants, maintained that the minister’s decision must meet established standards of procedural fairness. He argued that if bias exists at this preliminary stage, it could invalidate all subsequent steps in the process.

However, members of the CCJ bench, led by President Justice Winston Anderson, repeatedly challenged that position during the hearing, questioning whether concerns about bias could be addressed at later stages, including during committal proceedings or through habeas corpus applications.

Under sustained questioning, the defense acknowledged that no specific unlawful act had been identified beyond the allegation of bias, a point that appeared to weigh on the court’s consideration of the arguments presented.

Adding another dimension to the case, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde suggested that even if bias were proven, the law allows for the delegation of ministerial authority. He indicated that the process could continue under a different decision-maker rather than being brought to a complete halt.

Attorneys representing the state strongly rejected the claims of unfairness, arguing that the minister’s role in issuing the ATP is administrative in nature and limited to determining whether any obvious legal barriers exist.

Trinidadian Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, appearing on behalf of Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond, told the court that the applicants had effectively engaged with the minister’s office prior to the issuance of the ATP, suggesting acceptance of her role in the process. Mendes emphasized that the minister does not assess the merits of the case at this stage but instead performs a threshold function to determine whether the extradition request can proceed.

Guyana Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, supported that position, describing extradition as a “sui generis” process governed by international obligations and distinct from ordinary domestic legal proceedings. He also dismissed concerns about his public commentary on the matter, telling the court that his statements had been taken out of context.

The case has already moved through Guyana’s domestic legal system, with earlier challenges by the Mohameds dismissed in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Now before the CCJ, the outcome is expected to carry significant implications not only for the parties involved but also for how extradition cases are handled across the Caribbean, particularly in relation to procedural fairness and the role of government officials.

With the interim stay still in effect, the proceedings remain stalled – placing increased focus on the court’s pending ruling, which is likely to clarify key legal questions surrounding the balance between executive authority and judicial oversight. As the region awaits the CCJ’s decision, the case continues to highlight the complexities of extradition law and the high stakes involved when legal, political, and procedural issues intersect.

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News Americas, PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Mon. April 20, 2026: The United States has renewed its travel advisory for Trinidad and Tobago, urging travelers to reconsider travel due to ongoing concerns about crime and public safety.

The updated advisory, issued April 13th, comes amid heightened security measures in the twin-island nation following recent violent incidents, including the killing of a municipal police officer in San Fernando.

In response, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force has moved to an “elevated operational posture” to support ongoing investigations and national security efforts.

The US State Department advisory also follows the government’s declaration of a nationwide State of Emergency on March 2nd, aimed at addressing a spike in violent criminal activity that authorities say could threaten public safety. Under the State of Emergency, law enforcement agencies have been granted expanded powers, including the ability to arrest individuals on suspicion, conduct searches of properties, and suspend bail for certain offenses.

While officials note that crime levels have declined compared to previous years, concerns remain, particularly in parts of Trinidad. Tobago continues to experience lower crime rates. As of early April 2026, Trinidad and Tobago is experiencing a high-stakes struggle with violent crime, including a reported 92 murders by April 4th, prompting a State of Emergency declared on March 2nd to combat escalating violence. Despite initial reports claiming a sharp decrease in the number, and conflicting reports suggesting a surge in January, the country faced 11 deaths in the first 24 hours of 2026

The U.S. advisory highlights specific areas in Port of Spain where government personnel are restricted from traveling, including Laventille, parts of Charlotte Street, Piccadilly Street, Besson Street, and communities such as Beetham and Sea Lots. Additional restrictions apply at night in areas including downtown Port of Spain, beaches, Fort George, and the Queen’s Park Savannah.

The advisory also warns of a potential risk of terrorist activity, as well as limited access to healthcare services in rural areas across both islands. Travelers are being urged to exercise increased caution, remain aware of their surroundings, avoid displaying signs of wealth, and take additional safety precautions, particularly at night.

Authorities in Trinidad and Tobago have emphasized that security operations remain ongoing, and the situation continues to be monitored closely, with the potential for changes to restrictions under the State of Emergency.

The renewed advisory underscores ongoing concerns about safety and security in the Caribbean nation, even as officials continue efforts to stabilize conditions and reduce crime.

The travel advisory comes also on the heels of Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar close alignment with U.S. President Donald Trump on security and anti-drug trafficking initiatives. She has supported U.S. military actions in the Caribbean and Venezuela, resulting in meetings, such as at the Shield of the Americas Summit.