Pompeo’s final disrespect for the Caribbean Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (15 January 2021) — As if Mike Pompeo hadn’t shown enough disrespect for the Caribbean during his turbid tenure as US Secretary of State, his final parting shot against Cuba was a bridge too far even for those Caribbean leaders who have dutifully adhered and supported Donald Trump’s policies in the hemisphere. While each country’s position on designation of Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism is not discernible...
CARICOM can’t afford to Wait too late to be Right Ambassador Denis G. Antoine (10 July 2020) — The future we want for sustained prosperity in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has been staring us in the face long enough. It’s time to unlock and turn on the secret power sources of the region. CARICOM proudly declares that it has been on a long journey. Therefore, it seems like a fitting juncture in its history for introspection to avert faltering. CARICOM’s arrival at this...
Pompeo’s visit to Jamaica shatters any hope of Caribbean unity Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (20 January 2020) – The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s agenda in visiting Jamaica on January 21st is to pursue the Trump administration’s geopolitical agenda in the hemisphere, and in particular to ensure continued support in the Organization of American States (OAS). With the exception of the five Caribbean leaders invited to Mar-a-Lago by president Donald Trump, as a token of appreciation...
CARICOM fiddles while Haiti explodes Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (11 January 2020) — Approximately 20 years since its last hearing on Haiti, the U.S. Congress is now paying attention to this troubled Caribbean country. This long overdue attention to the plight of the Haitian people must not be a one-off attempt. It should be the beginning of a concerted effort to help find ways to restore and strengthen Haiti’s fledgling democracy, build the country’s rule of law and justice capacity...
Leadership at the UN: Grasping Opportunities to enhance Profile and Influence Dr. Eddie Greene The decade of 2020 has begun with St Vincent and the Grenadines and Guyana headlining the Caribbean at the helm of global leadership at the United Nations. On January 2, St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) signified the magnitude of its international status, the smallest country ever to sit on the Security Council, the highest UN organ. It is one of 10 non-permanent members of the Security...
OAS votes make diplomatic solution for Venezuela crisis more difficult Ambassador Curtis A. Ward The vote in the OAS General Assembly (OASGA) in Medellin, Colombia (June 26-28) to accredit the designee of the National Assembly of Venezuela is a retrograde step for the OAS. It further erodes any slender possibility the OAS had to play an impartial role in seeking a negotiated settlement of the Venezuelan crisis. This latest vote is yet another in a series of divisive and controversial votes in...
CARICOM’s Implementation Deficit & Functional Cooperation–A Community for All Dr. Edward Greene (03 July 2018) — The CARICOM Heads of Government Conference in Montego Bay 4-6 July, 2018 has a golden opportunity to change the directions of the Community, triggered by the insightful recommendations of the Golding Report, Reviewing Jamaica’s Relations within the CARICOM and CARIFORUM Frameworks, March 2017. There have so far been several forums and valuable opinions and...
Tillerson’s Jamaica visit will divide CARICOM, Unless… Ambassador Curtis A. Ward While Secretary Rex Tillerson’s scheduled visit to Jamaica has been received with some level of scepticism, any visit by a U.S. Secretary of State to Jamaica should be welcome news. Ordinarily, such visits are expressions of good working relationships, and often used to strengthen ties even further. On the other hand, there are also visits by U.S. Secretaries of State which are triggered by disagreements on...
Defying Trump’s Blackmail on UN Vote – Caribbean Countries Divided Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (21 December 2017) — The recent decision by President Donald Trump to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was in complete defiance of United Nations resolutions and international norms. Trump’s decision was in contravention of UN resolutions which have stood for decades. The Palestinians and countries around the world...
Hemispheric Issues under the Radar as Global Tensions Rise Ambassador Curtis A. Ward (14 Oct. 2017) -– Rising tensions over the past several weeks between the United States and two foreign adversaries – North Korea and Iran have focused our attention globally while we pay scant attention to issues in the Western Hemisphere. Important developments in the hemisphere between the United States and the countries of Cuba and Venezuela should be watched carefully by the governments and people of...
