Caribbean Insight
The Caribbean Council's Flagship Fortnightly Publication
Caribbean Insight is The Caribbean Council’s flagship fortnightly publication. Our comprehensive publication offers the latest in news, analysing business and political developments across the region.
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Lead Articles Featured on Caribbean Insight
28 November 2025
The US has removed key “reciprocal” tariffs on several Caribbean Community (CARICOM) exports, reversing measures that regional producers said were squeezing earnings and raising prices.
An executive order signed by US President Donald Trump on 14 November 2025 ends tariffs imposed in April 2025 and modified in August, restoring duty-free access for a number of agricultural and chemical products.
The CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) welcomed the shift, saying it brings “important relief to regional industries that had been negatively affected by the reciprocal tariffs implemented in April 2025 and updated in August 2025”. The group had estimated that the tariff regime could cut CARICOM export revenue by about US$653.6mn per year.
According to the CPSO’s study, agriculture and food exporters faced potential annual losses of US$117.7mn, while chemicals producers risked about US$86.1mn, including fertilisers and other industrial inputs.
CPSO Chief Executive Officer and Technical Director Patrick Antoine said the findings strengthened the case for collective lobbying by CARICOM Heads of Government, who engaged US counterparts on the urgency of addressing the measures affecting critical exports from the region.
Lower duties should ease cash-flow pressures on exporters of fresh produce, processed foods and other agri-items, while helping to rebuild confidence among US buyers who had begun shifting orders.
The rollback is particularly significant for Trinidad and Tobago, CARICOM’s leading industrial exporter and the member state hardest hit in the chemicals sector. Under the earlier America First measures, exports of methanol and nitrogen fertilisers were subjected to a 15% duty. With the new order, the CPSO said goods now exempted include ammonia and urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) as well as methanol and selected agri-food products.Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs reported that the country exported about TT$3bn ( US$442.2mn at current average exchange rates) in anhydrous ammonia, urea and UAN to the US in 2024. Officials expect the return to zero tariffs to restore price competitiveness in the US market and protect jobs across the fertiliser and energy value chain.
Trade and Investment Minister Kama Maharaj said the April tariffs had jeopardised the country’s largest trading relationship and posed a serious threat to the economy. He credited Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s sustained diplomacy for persuading Washington to reverse course, and praised her effort. “That is what world-class leadership looks like-when a leader puts country before comfort, and people before politics,” said Maharaj.
At the regional level, Antoine argued that the decision stabilises supply chains and delivers relief where it is most needed. “This decision is both timely and consequential,” he said, pointing to renewed competitiveness for Trinidad and Tobago’s chemicals exports and to the benefit for agricultural exporters across CARICOM. He noted that for Jamaica, the rollback comes as farmers rebuild after Hurricane Melissa, and stressed that “when the Community acts in a unified and coordinated manner toward a shared purpose, positive outcomes are achieved for the people of CARICOM.”
The CPSO expects the tariff removal to have knock-on effects inside the region. Several categories of imports from the US had risen in price after Caribbean firms absorbed higher costs for non-US inputs under the reciprocal regime. With those tariffs lifted, the organisation anticipates gradual reductions in input costs for agro-processing and manufacturing, providing some breathing room to firms that have faced months of uncertainty.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Sean Sobers welcomed the change, saying he was “encouraged and grateful for this outcome, which will bring meaningful relief to exporters.” He signalled that discussions with Washington will continue to seek elimination of remaining tariffs and wider market access for both energy and non-energy goods.
For CARICOM exporters heading into peak shipping months for fertilisers and agri-food products, the order removes a major cloud over sales to their largest market. While analysts have argued that the move by the US is aimed at seeking support for its current military operations in the region, the benefits to regional exporters cannot come at a better time.
Source: Caribbean Insight – Volume 47, Issue 23
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14 November 2025
The full economic toll of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica is rapidly escalating, with new modelling suggesting losses could exceed US$20bn, a value higher than the country’s entire 2024 economic output, even as international aid, insurance payouts and private relief efforts intensify.
Moody’s Event Response Services now estimates that overall economic losses from the Category 5 storm may surpass the equivalent of Jamaica’s 2024 GDP, far above the government’s initial damage estimate of US$6bn to US$7bn.
The modelling captures property destruction, severe business interruption, widespread infrastructure damage and non-modelled impacts such as extended shutdowns and flooding, signalling a systemic economic shock rather than a short-term setback.
Private insurance losses from Melissa across Jamaica and other affected territories, including The Bahamas, Haiti and the Turks and Caicos Islands, are projected between US$3bn and US$5bn, with a central estimate of US$3.5bn.
These losses are driven largely by wind damage to hotels, resorts and other commercial properties, with business interruption claims expected to be substantial. Verisk estimates insured losses in Jamaica alone at between US$2.2bn and US$4.2bn.
Yet the protection gap is stark. Only about 20% of Jamaican homes are insured and an estimated 95% of insured properties are underinsured, according to industry data cited by Moody’s, leaving tens of thousands of families exposed. “Most insured buildings are well-built… In contrast, uninsured residential buildings largely exhibit less stringent build quality… As a result, as Melissa’s catastrophic winds tracked across the island, immense damage was caused to several communities,” said Moody’s Managing Director of Modelling and Analytics Raj Vojjala.
The human cost is also mounting. At least 32 people have been confirmed dead in Jamaica, with dozens more killed elsewhere in the region. “All of Jamaica is going through this period of mourning and this period of pain,” said Education Minister Dana Morris Dixon. Entire communities in western parishes remain cut off as roads, bridges, electricity and telecommunications networks lie crippled. UN assessments indicate more than 1.5mn Jamaicans have been affected, over 100,000 housing structures damaged, and nearly 36,000 people in urgent need of food assistance.
Despite the devastation, Jamaica’s disaster risk financing strategy is beginning to unlock critical resources. The World Bank catastrophe bond will pay its full US$150mn trigger, while the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility is set to deliver a record US$91.9mn payout linked to excess rainfall and high winds. Together with contingent credit from development partners, these instruments amount to roughly 4% of GDP, providing essential short-term fiscal space even as overall losses climb.
The US has pledged a total of US$22mn in humanitarian assistance so far, alongside military and civilian assets airlifting supplies into isolated communities. “We were able to bring in heavy lift helicopters… they’ve moved more than half a million pounds of life-saving aid,” said US Under Secretary Jeremy Lewin, who stressed that Washington would remain engaged “for every stage of this recovery”. Prime Minister Andrew Holness hailed the US as one of the earliest and most decisive responders, particularly in reaching marooned communities.
The global cruise industry has also rallied. Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Group and Disney Cruise Line have each committed US$1mn, while Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has pledged up to US$100,000 plus matched donations, bringing total announced cruise-sector support to more than US$3mn. Cruise vessels and cargo ships have doubled as relief platforms, delivering pallets of water, medical supplies and essential goods to Ocho Rios and other key ports as operations resume.
Jamaica’s aviation sector, crucial for both tourism and logistics, has shown early signs of resilience, with over 1,100 flights recorded in the 13 days following the storm as airports facilitated incoming aid, cargo and outbound travellers. This rapid reopening underscores both the urgency of the relief effort and the determination to stabilise a core pillar of the economy.
Holness has warned that Melissa’s impact will strain public finances and require temporary suspension of fiscal rules. But he has also framed the disaster as a turning point. “Every repaired bridge, re-roofed home and rebuilt road must be designed for the storms of tomorrow, not the storms of yesterday,” he said, vowing to harden infrastructure, modernise the grid and leverage support from partners to “build back stronger and wiser”.
For now, as debris is cleared and aid corridors expand by air, sea and land, Jamaica stands at the intersection of immense loss and unprecedented mobilisation, a stark illustration of climate vulnerability, but also of how preparedness, insurance and international solidarity can shape the path from catastrophe toward recovery.
Source: Caribbean Insight – Volume 47, Issue 22
31 October 2025
Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of destruction across Jamaica and eastern Cuba, with winds that topped 185 mph and a regional death toll that climbed as search-and-rescue teams reach cut-off communities in several countries.
On Thursday, Jamaica confronted the aftermath of what officials called the most powerful storm in its recent history, while Cuba tallied severe structural damage and widespread flooding.
Scenes from Jamaica were stark; traffic lights strewn among debris, power lines tangled with uprooted trees, neighborhoods turned into rivers.
Speaking to the BBC, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that in some instances “there was total devastation” and that one town named Black River had been “totally destroyed”.
The United Nations said the damage was on a level “never seen before.” UN Resident Coordinator Dennis Zulu added, “I don’t think there’s any single soul on this island that was not affected by Hurricane Melissa.”
Cuba, struck hours after Melissa crossed Jamaica, also suffered extensive damage. Early reports said the storm caused severe structural and crop damage in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Holguín, with high seas and heavy rains bringing extensive flooding in low lying coastal areas and damage to bridges, dams, roads, and the energy supply. Authorities said some 735,000 people spent the night in shelters, underscoring the size of the emergency on the island.
Regional casualty counts continued to firm up as communications improved. The hurricane has killed at least four people in Jamaica and 27 more across the Caribbean this week, while separate tallies recorded additional deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic which were hard hit by flooding days before. With the storm weakening as it moved toward The Bahamas and Bermuda, officials stressed that Melissa was still a dangerous system.Aid began flowing, though logistics remain challenging. On Thursday, Jamaica’s airports started reopening to relief flights. “It will be open tomorrow at 7:00am for commercial operations, which include incoming and outgoing flights,” Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said, pledging that the recovery will begin once relief flights come. “The devastation is enormous. Words can’t describe based on my aerial tour, so we need all hands on deck,” he added.
International partners have began to mobilise. The US State Department said that it has dispatched a Regional Disaster Assistance Response Team and Urban Search and Rescue units, while NGOs moved quickly. The UN World Food Programme said it plans to deliver 2,000 emergency food boxes from Barbados.
The UK has announced emergency funding of US$3.2mn to support rapid humanitarian operations, with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper saying, “The UK is acting swiftly to support the Jamaican authorities in providing disaster relief and expertise in response to this terrible storm.”
Jamaica’s government highlighted national resilience alongside the grim reality. Despite the difficulties the Jamaican spirit shines through as a strong reminder we are a resilient nation with the capacity to triumph over adversity,” said Prime Minister Andrew Holness while touring hard-hit St. James.“
Financial cushions are set to activate. Jamaica is set to receive a US$150mn payout from its catastrophe bond, a first-of-its-kind backstop for the island as estimates of physical damage surged. Disaster modeller Chuck Watson said Melissa caused between US$5bn and US$16bn in damage, calling it “just about the worst scenario you can imagine.”
Market analysts also flagged Jamaica’s insurance protection gap, noting that the country’s commercial take-up rate is about 30% compared to only a 10% residential take-up rate in areas like Kingston, a shortfall that will push more of the burden onto government budgets and international support. Even with insurance structures in place, macroeconomic risks loom with the potential for deep recessionary effects, pressure on banks and insurers, and a prolonged recovery.
Across the stricken zones, emergency crews faced blocked roads, downed grids, and communications blackouts. In the short term the priority across the coutries is to restore power and water, shelter displaced families, reopen schools and clinics, and restart transportation lifelines. With one month left in the Atlantic hurricane season, Hurricane Melissa is the region’s latest reminder of its vulnerabilities.
Source: Caribbean Insight – Volume 47, Issue 21
17 October 2025
Trinidad and Tobago’s new administration has tabled a national budget totaling US$8.81bn for fiscal 2025/26, underpinned by oil at US$73.25 a barrel and natural gas at US$4.35 per mmbtu.
Presenting his maiden package, Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo told Parliament that the government expects to raise roughly US$8.24bn in revenue, US$8.81bn in spending and a deficit near US$575mn, about 2% of GDP.
Tancoo cast the plan as a people-first reset after the election. “Every dollar we spend, every measure we take, must be guided by a single principle: putting the people of Trinidad and Tobabo first,” he said to applause.
The spending side is dominated by social priorities. Education is allocated about US$1.30bn, Health US$1.22bn, National Security US$947mn and Public Utilities US$505mn, with Infrastructure (US$289mn), Transport (US$274mn), Rural Development and Local Government (US$269mn), Agriculture (US$168mn) and Housing (US$99mn) following.
Tobago’s total envelope, combining direct transfers and ministry projects, comes to roughly US$554mn, or 6.3% of expenditure.
The revenue plan mixes immediate excise and fee hikes with structural measures which take effect in 2026. For commercial and industrial users, an electricity surcharge of about US$0.0074 per kWh will begin next year (essential public services are exempt). A 0.25% asset levy on banks and insurers starts 1 January 2026, alongside a landlord business surcharge that requires registration and applies a small percentage to gross annual rent.
Excises on alcohol and tobacco take immediate effect, with rum and spirits doubling from the equivalent of about US$11.79 to US$23.59 per percent of alcohol, beer from ~US$0.77 to ~US$1.53 by gravity, and cigarettes from ~US$0.78 to ~US$1.57 per 20-pack.
A 5% import tax will apply to single-use plastics; the LPG subsidy on cylinders of 100 pounds and above is trimmed by US$0.074 per pound, while standard household cylinders are unchanged. National Insurance contributions rise by three percentage points in 2026 and again in 2027, with a gradual move of the full-pension age from 60 to 65 starting 2028.
Motorists who buy Super gasoline receive immediate relief: the pump price falls by the equivalent of US$0.15 per litre, cutting the typical 50-litre fill by about US$7.50 (from roughly US$1.15/L to US$1.00/L). VAT will be removed from a wide range of basic food items from 17 October 2025, and private pensions become tax-exempt from 1 January 2026.
Among the most far-reaching announcements was a 10% wage increase for public servants, which Tancoo said fulfills a key election promise. The increase will apply retroactively to two outstanding bargaining periods (2014–2016 and 2017–2019), bringing long-awaited back pay to thousands of state employees, including civil servants, statutory authority staff and Tobago House of Assembly workers.
Analysts estimate the measure will inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the economy, boosting disposable income and consumption, though it increases the wage bill and may also heighten inflationary pressures. Tancoo described the wage hike as both a moral and economic imperative, asserting that public servants “deserve to be treated with dignity after years of stagnation.”
To shift from short-term work schemes to permanent employment, the government will wind down the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme (CEPEP) and the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) and seed an Employment Fund worth about US$70.7mn, paired with roughly US$46.1mn from the Unemployment Fund for job creation. Tancoo also announced the Prime Minister will chair a new Financial Oversight & Appropriations Committee to police major outlays, while an Economic Resilience Council will steer investment and jobs.
The opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) derided the package as “fake and fraudulent,” focusing on the oil-price assumptions. Former Finance Minister Colm Imbert said the benchmark was “deliberately inflated.” “Having pegged the budget on a US$73 oil price when he knows that the price should really be US$53, what he is doing is overestimating revenue deliberately so that he can withdraw from the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund (HSF).”
Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles called the design regressive for households, warning, that it gives with one hand and takes with the other. Former prime minister Stuart Young cautioned consumers, arguingthat new business-side charges will feed through to prices and rents.
Business groups offered cautious support, welcoming customs modernisation, digital payments and governance reforms, but stressing execution risks. “Lasting impact will depend on consistent inter-agency coordination and predictable turnaround times,” said The American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago. Chambers in San Fernando and Tunapuna praised the fuel cut and the proposal to replace VAT with a simpler sales tax, provided long-delayed VAT refunds are cleared and foreign-exchange access improves.
Energy remains the macro swing factor. The government points to revived regional gas diplomacy and US backing for Venezuela-sourced supplies that could bolster output and foreign exchange. The 2025/26 budget marks a bold reset by the new administration, blending social relief with fiscal reform in an effort to revive growth and restore public confidence. Whether the ambitious mix of wage hikes, tax changes, and energy diplomacy succeeds will depend on disciplined execution, stable oil revenues, and the government’s ability to translate promises into tangible progress.
Source: Caribbean Insight – 17 October 2025 Volume 47, Issue 20
03 October 2025
ExxonMobil has sanctioned its seventh major offshore project in Guyana, approving a final investment decision (FID) of US$6.8bn for the Hammerhead development in the Stabroek Block.
The move comes a decade after the first oil discovery in the basin, underscoring Guyana’s emergence as one of the fastest-growing oil producers in the world. The Ministry of Natural Resources confirmed the issuance of a production licence, authorising ExxonMobil and its partners to proceed with development.
“The Hammerhead project is expected to boost energy security, drive industrial growth and create employment across various sectors as it joins a growing portfolio of developments which continue to position Guyana as a key player in the global energy landscape,” said the Ministry in a statement.
Hammerhead was discovered in 2018 in the southwestern part of the Stabroek Block. It will produce approximately 150,000 barrels of oil per day, supported by 10 production wells and eight injection wells, and will also deliver up to 95mn cubic feet of associated gas to shore to support the government’s Gas-to-Energy project.
Thedevelopment will employ a floating production, storage and offloading vessel converted from a very large crude carrier, with MODEC of Japan already undertaking early engineering work. The Ministry has forecast that Hammerhead will recover some 445mn barrels of oil over its lifetime.
Dan Ammann, President of ExxonMobil’s Upstream Company, hailed the achievement. “We continue to set a new standard in Guyana; advancing an impressive seventh project just 10 years after first discovery,” he said.
“In collaboration with the people and government of Guyana, we’ve helped build a thriving new oil-and-gas industry in the country that is creating jobs, supplier opportunities, profits and follow on investments,” added Ammann. “This is about more than barrels. It’s about building an industry that will last,” he said.
The Hammerhead development adds to a remarkable series of multi-billion-dollar projects already sanctioned offshore Guyana. ExxonMobil’s Yellowtail, Uaru and Whiptail projects each carried costs of between US$10bn and US$12.7bn, and in total the company and its partners have committed more than US$60bn to Guyana’s oil sector.
Exxon operates the Stabroek Block with a 45% stake, while Hess, which has been acquired by Chevron, holds 30%, and CNOOC owns the remaining 25%.
The lineup of sanctioned projects includes Liza Phase 1, which started production in 2019 and now produces 160,000 barrels per day, followed by Liza Phase 2 in 2022, which doubled capacity to 265,000 barrels. Payara came online in 2023 with 265,000 barrels, while Yellowtail, Guyana’s largest project to date, achieved first oil in August 2025 with 250,000 barrels. Uaru is scheduled for 2026, also producing 250,000 barrels, and Whiptail is on track for late 2027 or early 2028.
Hammerhead will round out the current sequence in 2029, with Longtail under consideration for around 2030. Taken together, ExxonMobil has stated that these projects could push Guyana’s oil output to 1.7mn barrels per day by the end of the decade, with total hydrocarbons production approaching 2mn barrels of oil equivalent.
International firm TechnipFMC has also secured a contract worth more than US$250mn to provide subsea production systems for Hammerhead, including manifolds, trees and associated controls. The award marks the seventh greenfield project ExxonMobil Guyana has given to the subsea contractor.
Domestically, the government has highlighted that Hammerhead’s production licence contains stronger provisions than earlier agreements, reflecting its new legislative and regulatory framework.
The licence aligns with Guyana’s Oil Pollution Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Responsibility Act 2025 and introduces new conditions covering off-specification fluid discharges, production management, and the transfer of associated gas to the Gas-to-Energy pipeline. The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to issue a separate permit for the development.
Meanwhile, ExxonMobil’s activities are continuing to have a transformative impact on the Guyanese economy through the Local Content Act. The company reported record spending of US$415.7mn with 1,800 local suppliers in the first half of 2025, bringing its cumulative local expenditure since 2015 to more than US$2.9bn.
Around 6,200 Guyanese, representing 70% of the Stabroek Block workforce, are now employed in the sector. The Private Sector Commission has praised the commencement of in-country fabrication services at the Vreed-en-Hoop Shore Base, describing it as a significant advance in building Guyana’s industrial capacity.
All told, the Hammerhead project, due to begin producing in 2029, marks the latest step in Guyana’s dramatic transformation into a global oil power. As the Ministry noted, it “joins a growing portfolio of developments which continue to position Guyana as a key player in the global energy landscape.”
Source: Caribbean Insight – 03 October 2025 Volume 47, Issue 19
19 September 2025
Guyana and Jamaica formally ushered in new Cabinets this week, signalling sharpened agendas in two countries at pivotal moments. Guyana is in the midst of an oil-fuelled boom and Jamaica sees the start of an historic third term for Prime Minister Andrew Holness who is pushing for reform and growth.
In Guyana, President Irfaan Ali was sworn in for a second term after his People’s Progressive Party/Civic won a majority in Parliament. In his first address after taking the oath, Ali projected a unifying and ambitious course. “The next five years will be the most consequential in our nation,” he said, pledging continued social programmes that build prosperity.
Days later at State House, Ali swore in a 25-member Cabinet designed, he said, to be “results-driven, people-centred and efficient.” Setting the tone for governance, the President declared that the next five years “must be years of results and of transformation.”
“Appointments were not made lightly. They were never about competition but about complementarity—about who can deliver, who can act decisively, who can move this government’s agenda forward without delay,” he stressed.
The new line-up mixes continuity with fresh faces and balances experience, youth, gender and technical competence. Among the newcomers are Keoma Griffith (Labour and Manpower Planning), Sarah Browne (Amerindian Affairs), Vanessa Benn (Housing, Minister within), Madanlall Ramraj (Public Works, Minister within), Vickash Ramkissoon (Agriculture, Minister within), Zulfikar Ally (Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation) and former national cricketer Steven Jacobs (Minister within Culture, Youth and Sport).
New portfolios include Public Utilities and Aviation; Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation; and Labour and Manpower Planning. These reflect the administration’s focus on service delivery and implementation capacity in a rapidly expanding economy. Ali reiterated that performance will be under constant scrutiny. “The measuring stick is clear: results, people, efficiency, transparency, and delivery,” he said, adding that changes will be made where necessary. Core veterans remain in place, including Mohabir Anil Nandlall (Attorney General), Dr Ashni Singh (Finance), Hugh Todd (Foreign Affairs), Zulfikar Mustapha (Agriculture) and Dr Frank Anthony (Health).
Beyond Cabinet mechanics, Ali’s policy priorities include offering free college tuition and raising the monthly minimum wage. He has also pledged to more than double pensions to US$500 for people 65 and older and to halve electricity bills by next year. The now minority opposition Partnership for National Unity (APNU) was critical of the new Cabinet, arguing that “all should have been fired and replaced,” and warning that “they will continue to blunder and flop.”
Meanwhile, after their surprise performance in the election, the newly minted main opposition We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) has announced its 16 members of parliament (MPs), with Party leader, Azruddin Mohamed confirming that he will enter the National Assembly as Opposition Leader.
In Jamaica, Holness took the oath of office for a new term and appealed for unity after a hard-fought election. “The elections are over. We must reunite and refocus on the business of the nation. Regardless of the outcome, we must choose Jamaica,” he said at King’s House. Extending an olive branch on constitutional reform, Holness added, “I extend my hand to the Opposition to create a space for the national interest; let us partner together to complete the work we started on making Jamaica a republic.”
Holness framed a governance and growth agenda anchored in cutting red tape through the SPEED (Streamlining Processes for Efficiency and Economic Development) programme. “A modern economy demands a modern Government. Jamaica cannot afford to be slow when the world is moving fast… By digitising transactions, streamlining approvals, and using technology to eliminate delays we will unleash productivity across the economy,” he explained.
Holness named 19 ministers, pairing stability with targeted changes geared to growth and state modernisation. Dr Horace Chang continues as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace; Fayval Williams retakes Finance and the Public Service; Kamina Johnson Smith remains at Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Edmund Bartlett continues at Tourism; Dr Christopher Tufton remains at Health and Wellness; and Olivia Grange stays at Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.
Delroy Chuck assumes a broadened justice remit as the Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs is joined with the Justice Ministry, formalising a merger intended to streamline legal and constitutional work, resulting in the exclusion of Marlene Malahoo Forte from the new Cabinet.
Senator Dana Morris Dixon leads Education, Skills, Youth and Information; Senator Aubyn Hill takes Industry, Investment and Commerce; Desmond McKenzie remains at Local Government and Rural Development; Pearnel Charles Jr oversees Labour and Social Security; Daryl Vaz manages Transport, Telecommunications and Energy; Floyd Green leads Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining; and Matthew Samuda is now Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change.
In the Prime Minister’s Office, Audrey Marks is responsible for Efficiency, Innovation and Digital Transformation. Robert Morgan has responsibility for Works in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, while Holness recalls Andrew Wheatley to oversee Science, Technology and Special Projects, and Robert Montague as Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development responsible for Land Titling and Settlements.
Their return to Cabinet has already begun to draw scrutiny. Wheatley returns more than seven years after leaving the energy, science and technology portfolio amid a corruption scandal involving several agencies under his watch, while Montague resigned in 2022 after an Integrity Commission report on the Firearm Licensing Authority found he had approved firearm permits for persons with criminal ties while he was national security minister.
Photo Credits:
Reference: https://www.facebook.com/pppcguyana
Source: Caribbean Insight – 19 September 2025 Volume 47, Issue 18
5 September 2025
Voters in Guyana and Jamaica delivered fresh mandates to their incumbent leaders this week, extending the region’s recent streak of political continuity while reshaping opposition landscapes in both countries.
In Guyana, President Irfaan Ali declared victory for a second five-year term as his People’s Progressive Party (PPP) surged to decisive district wins and a commanding popular vote lead. The BBC reported that the PPP had so far secured at least 242,000 votes and majorities in eight of 10 districts.
The new challenger, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), founded just three months ago by US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, stormed into second place with about 109,000 votes. This represents a major shift in a political arena long dominated by the PPP and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
Preliminary tallies suggest further upsets ahead in the 65-seat National Assembly. It is projected that WIN could pick up around 16 seats, while APNU, which formed government as recent as 2015, could sink to “no more than a dozen seats compared to the 31 it had in the last parliament.” The Alliance for Change (AFC), which previously partnered with APNU in government, has so far failed to secure a single seat.
The opposition’s fragmentation which stems from failure to agree to a coalition looms large in the outcome. “People were hoping for a coalition. When we didn’t get it, some felt you couldn’t win without it,” said APNU leader Aubrey Norton in a concession speech.
Political analyst Mark Kirton argues that WIN’s unconventional campaign found traction. “Mohamed de-intellectualised politics. He did not worry about things like fiscal policies and GDP. He addressed the needs of poor people with cash and other gifts and appealed to youth,” said Kirton, adding that the electorate were “unconcerned” about US sanctions allegations against Mohamed.
Ali’s renewed mandate comes amid Guyana’s oil-era transformation. Offshore discoveries announced since 2019 have quadrupled the national budget and vaulted the country into the ranks of the world’s fastest-growing economies. The PPP campaigned on channeling those oil revenues into infrastructure and poverty reduction while navigating a tense territorial standoff with Venezuela.
Election observers from the Organisation of American States “have not yet reported any instances of electoral fraud,” even as officials noted a security scare on the eve of the vote when a boat carrying election staff was reportedly shot at from the Venezuelan shore.
In Jamaica, Prime Minister Andrew Holness led the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to a historic third consecutive term, winning 34 of 63 seats against the People’s National Party’s (PNP) 29. The Gleaner reported that the JLP secured 413,502 votes, some 10,311 more than the PNP, with a voter turnout of about 39.5% (one of the lowest in decades). The victory extends the JLP’s dominance since it ended its 18-year drought in 2007, edging Holness closer to former Prime Minister P. J. Patterson’s record tenure.
“This was not victory by default. Make no mistake about it, this was not an easy victory, this was a fight, but we did not descend my political organisation, we did not descend to the gutter to fight… We did not seek to tear down Jamaica in order to be able to administer the affairs of Jamaicans. We ran a clean, disciplined, focused, well-organised campaign,” said Holness in a celebratory but measured speech.
The Prime Minister also addressed the sobering turnout and promised disciplined governance in a third term. “We must guard against arrogance… This Government, in our third term, must be laser-focused on ensuring that there is prosperity for all Jamaicans.”
The campaign spotlighted the JLP’s economic stewardship, including no new taxes in eight years, falling unemployment and poverty, and a reported 43% drop in murders this year, alongside pledges to double the minimum wage over the term. The PNP attacked the government over corruption allegations and infrastructure gaps, and promised tax relief and a 50,000-home building push, but fell short in key bellwether seats.
While both elections unfolded against a backdrop of heightened US naval activity in the southern Caribbean, the domestic verdict was clear: voters favoured the known quantities. In Guyana, the PPP’s renewed grip combines with an incoming, insurgent opposition, while in Jamaica, Holness’ JLP consolidates power with the promise of renewal. The results appear to be affirmation of incumbency in a region navigating economic windfalls, security anxieties, and democratic tests.
Photo Credits:
https://op.gov.gy/presidents-biography/
https://opm.gov.jm/your-government/the-prime-minister-of-jamaica/
Source: Caribbean Insight – 5 September 2025 Volume 47, Issue 17
8 August 2025
The fourth AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2025), held from 28-29 July, marked a milestone in Africa-Caribbean economic relations, with over US$290mn in agreements signed across sectors such as infrastructure, education, tourism, and trade.
Under the theme “Resilience and Transformation: Enhancing Africa-Caribbean Economic Cooperation in an Era of Global Uncertainty,” the Forum drew over 1,700 delegates from more than 80 countries, including eleven Heads of State and Government from Africa and the Caribbean.
“In under four years, we’ve ratified the Partnership Agreement in 11 CARICOM countries, providing the Bank a solid legal foundation to operate, support, and invest in their economies,” said Benedict Oramah, outgoing President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
This milestone reflects a “sovereign declaration, that the CARICOM States see in Africa, not just its past, but also its future,” he added.
Among Afreximbank’s flagship initiatives is the US$250mn Growth, Resilience, and Sustainability Fund (GRSF), a blended finance mechanism to support climate adaptation and sustainable development across CARICOM. Managed by Afreximbank’s Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) in collaboration with the CARICOM Development Fund, the GRSF exemplifies the forward-thinking approach to tackling climate challenges shared by both regions.
Among the landmark agreements signed were a US$100mn loan agreement with Bahamas Striping Group of Companies, aimed at rehabilitating over 200 miles of road infrastructure across The Bahamas and expanding the company’s reach into other Caribbean markets. Senior Vice President Dominic Sturrup called the deal “a great day” and lauded Afreximbank’s commitment to local development.
A US$50mn Education Construction and Rehabilitation Climate-Linked Facility between Afreximbank and the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis, designed to finance climate-resilient social infrastructure was aslo signed. Prime Minister Terrance Drew described the deal as “more than financing, it represents our vision for a stronger, more resilient Saint Kitts and Nevis.” There was also a US$40mn public-private partnership with Gemini Integrated Commodities Trading Company Ltd. to develop a modern commercial port in St Kitts.
The Bank signed a US$40mn facility to Cat Island Infrastructure Company Ltd. in The Bahamas for critical roadworks and a US$61.25mn agreement with Speedbird House Ltd. to finance a 150-room Homewood Suites by Hilton in Bridgetown, Barbados, under Afreximbank’s tourism-linked financing initiative, CONTOUR.
Additionally, the Forum saw the launch of the Caribbean Payment & Settlement System (CAPSS), modeled on Africa’s Pan African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS). CAPSS will enable real-time cross-border payments in local currencies, drastically reducing transaction costs and fostering deeper economic connectivity. A proposed CAPSS Card aims to further facilitate seamless regional transactions.
Creative and cultural industries also received a boost, with US$24mn committed to a film production and training hub in the Eastern Caribbea through CANEX. Other investments have empowered designers and chefs from Guyana, Trinidad, Jamaica, and Barbados to showcase their talents globally. Complementing this cultural renaissance, Afreximbank announced the launch of an Artificial Intelligence and generative technology hub in partnership with the P.J. Patterson Institute at the University of the West Indies, aiming to position Afro-Caribbean talent at the forefront of global innovation.
The Forum also featured a historic Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce, marking a new chapter of private sector-led regional economic cooperation.
ACTIF2025 underscored the importance of overcoming barriers such as visa restrictions and inadequate air and sea connectivity, which currently hamper Africa-Caribbean trade and cultural exchanges. Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell highlighted these challenges, urging investment in financial, trading, and air and sea shipping links “to create the kind of wealth, the kind of opportunity, and the kind of dignity and pride that global Africans deserve.”
Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda echoed calls for a reorientation of trade practices. “There are three major petroleum storage facilities within the Caribbean — one in Trinidad & Tobago, one in Jamaica, and another Antigua and Barbuda. But we’ve been buying extra-regionally and we have not patronised Africa,” said Browne, advocating for the Caribbean to purchase petroleum products directly from Africa.
This shared resolve to move beyond rhetoric toward measurable results was captured in the Forum’s communiqué, which committed to supporting an Africa–Caribbean Free Trade Arrangement, eliminating trade barriers, and fostering deeper cooperation in key sectors. Leaders pledged to accelerate infrastructure development, support SMEs and youth-led enterprises, and strengthen private sector linkages through the AfriCaribbean Business Council.
ACTIF2025 signals a potential bold new era of Africa-Caribbean partnership, built on shared heritage, mutual respect, and economic solidarity. What stands in the way is commitment and execution. As Prime Minister Mitchell concluded, “No one is going to save Global Africa but Global Africa itself.”
Source: Caribbean Insight – 8 August 2025 Volume 47, Issue 16
25 July 2025
Prime Minister Kamla Persad‑Bissessar has declared a nationwide State of Emergency (SoE), marking the second such decalaration in under a year since last December’s emergency lapsed in mid‑April.
The move comes after police uncovered a “coordinated and highly dangerous criminal network” operating within the prison system and plotting “assassinations, robberies, and kidnappings.”
Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro said months of intelligence gathering revealed that inmates had been using smuggled cellphones to exchange encrypted messages targeting senior law‑enforcement officers, judiciary members and state prosecutors.
“They were planning, actively so, to carry out assassinations, robberies, and kidnappings,” Guevarro told reporters, adding that “a criminal network” was plotting attacks on government institutions.
He confirmed that gang leaders housed in a maximum‑security prison have been “relocated to an unidentified facility” to disrupt their communications.
“There are persons who seem hellbent on facilitating the communication of these persons with the outside,” he said. “So by removing them from this environment and placing them in one where they are much more secure, I can feel rest assured that communication link is broken.”
Under the emergency regulations, police may search premises and make arrests without warrants, though no curfew has been imposed. As of 17 July, homicides stood at 214—down from 325 in the same period last year—but Attorney General John Jeremie warned of a resurgence in gang‑related killings and kidnappings. He said the SoE would remain “for as long as the security forces tell us that they need the additional legislative support.”
Prime Minister Persad‑Bissessar defended the move in a statement. She stressed that she “will not stand idly by for years, months, weeks or even days while a minority of illegally armed individuals act in concert to intimidate the people of Trinidad and Tobago.” The Prime Minister reiterated her government’s promise to address crime “as a matter of priority” and to safeguard citizens in their “homes, workplaces, schools, and places of worship.”
The main opposition Peoples National Movement (PNM) initially expressed concern about the abruptness of the annoncement by the police and the lack of a statement from government officials. Party members have also called out the hypocrisy of the Persad‑Bissessar led United National Congress (UNC) which criticised the last SoE when in opposition.
Former Police Commissioner Gary Griffith called the SoE “ridiculous,” arguing improved prison management could have sufficed and blamed corrupt prison staff for smuggled phones.
Within the first 24 hours, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) conducted 104 operations, 629 searches and 407 traffic stops, making 56 arrests and seizing six illegal firearms and 33 rounds of ammunition.
“These actions formed part of a strategic offensive targeting individuals affiliated with organised criminal syndicates and gangs operating across multiple divisions,” the TTPS said. They recovered pistols, a revolver, a shotgun and a rifle; tools “used by criminal networks to terrorise law‑abiding citizens,” the service noted.
The US Embassy in Port‑of‑Spain issued a security alert advising American citizens of increased police and military patrols. It reminded US personnel to carry identification at all times, cooperate with searches, avoid certain neighborhoods after dark, and enrol in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Programme for updates.
The business community has largely backed the emergency but called for sustainable solutions. The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce condemned “plans by criminals to undermine national security and endanger senior officials,” adding that “Given the grave threat identified, the TT Chamber supports the government’s decision to implement a SoE as an urgent and necessary measure to protect citizens and preserve national order.”
Baldath Maharaj, President of the Chaguanas Chamber, warned that if the plot were not “contained swiftly, this poses a direct threat not only to national security but to the social and economic stability of the country.”
At the Trade and Investment Convention, TTMA President Dale Parson said the SoE is “specific to a particular group of citizens in TT that are causing disruption. I think they are being proactive and taking the time to ensure that nothing drastic happens. This is a good thing.”
The Tobago House of Assembly also endorsed the measure. “While we support having the SoE as a decisive measure… we must point out that this is yet another opportunity for the government to have a radical response to those who are offensive to our democracy and our peace and our safety,” said Chief Secretary Farley Augustine.
The government has pledged regular updates on the emergency’s progress. If successful, the operation could signal more widespread used regionally for targeted, intelligence‑led interventions against organised crime without imposing broad curfews or restrictions. As officers press on with tactical operations and prison reforms, the country is divided on whether this decisive step will break the cycle of gang‑led violence gripping Trinidad and Tobago.
Source: Caribbean Insight – 25 July 2025 Volume 47, Issue 15