The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency says it has disrupted the smuggling of 2.8 tonnes of cocaine, denying transnational criminal organizations approximately US$73,892,000. The CBP said the operation involved its Air and Marine Operations (AMO) and partners in the Eastern Caribbean. “Partnerships are key to stopping drugs from reaching our borders. We will continue to leverage unique capabilities to stop illicit smuggling on the seas,” said Creighton Skeen, director of Air and Marine Operations, Caribbean Air and Marine Branch. CBP said that, on April 8, a National Air ..read more

Haiti has named the members of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), paving the way for the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country to continue efforts at holding fresh elections in a bid to end the political and socio-economic crisis in the country. In a decree published in the country’s official gazette “Le Moniteur” late Tuesday, the members named are former diplomat Smith Augustin, ex-senator Louis Gerald Gilles, former central bank governor Fritz Alphonse Jean, ex-Senate president Edgard Leblanc Fils, entrepreneur Laurent Saint-Cyr, lawyer Emmanuel Vertilaire and Les ..read more

 Former Prime Ministers PJ Patterson and Portia Simpson Miller’s faces were obscured by a Jamaican flag emoji in a series of tweets on Alando Terrelonge’s social media accounts. Terrelonge, a state minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, expressed his apologies for the incident. The former opposition leaders of the  Peoples’ National Party were among those whose faces were hidden in the postings. Terrelonge, a member of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, stated that he “regretted” the tweet and that it did not accurately represent his attitude on ..read more

On April 17, 2024, President Nicolás Maduro’s attempts to solidify his hold on power were chastised by the Biden administration, which had lifted harsh oil sanctions six months earlier in an attempt to revive the now-failing prospects for a democratic opening in the OPEC member. During a press conference, a top US official explained that any US business investing in Venezuela would have 45 days to close down to prevent more unsettled conditions in the world oil markets. The official discussed US policy discussions while speaking on condition of anonymity. After agreeing to cooperate with oppo ..read more

In a groundbreaking event called the Women “Herstory” Awards State Senator Parker paid tribute to five outstanding women who epitomize philanthropy, leadership, and community engagement. The ceremony commemorating the event took place at the Kings Plaza Community Center. Additionally, five women-owned and operated businesses were acknowledged for their significant impact on the local community. “Hosting this inaugural Women’s Herstory Awards ceremony has been a true honor,” said Senator Parker. “It was an opportunity to showcase the remarkable contributions of women in our society and I am de ..read more

Barbette Lherisson epitomizes the spirit of community care like no other. As a first-generation Haitian American educated in the United States, Lherisson’s commitment to serving others runs deep in her veins. A graduate of the University of Albany, she learned early on in college that volunteering with community groups, registering students to vote, and marching for causes she believed in gave her purpose. Reflecting on her Haitian roots, Lherisson shared, “As a child of Haitian descent it’s ingrained in you to work hard, uplift the needy, and stand for what’s right.” Whether it’s volunteering ..read more

What began as the talented YG Marley’s early afternoon performance on April 14, 2024, on the Coachella Main Stage swiftly evolved into an all-star lineup featuring other major hip-hop acts including the legend herself Ms. Hill. A few minutes into the “Praise Jah in the Moonlight” performance, Marley introduced his mother Lauryn Hill, giving the rest of the evening over to a short procession of special guests who supported him throughout. Wearing a bright yellow costume, Ms. Hill performed a mini-set of her own, including her hits “Ex-Factor” and “Lost Ones,” in support of ..read more

At her Englewood, New Jersey, home, Faith Ringgold, a multimedia creator whose pictorial quilts portraying the African American experience paved the way for a second noteworthy career as a children’s book writer and illustrator, passed away on April 13, 2024, at the age of ninety-three-year-old. Her daughter Barbara Wallace had confirmed the sad passing of Ringgold.  Ms. Ringgold investigated issues of race, gender, class, family, and community for over fifty years using a wide range of mediums, including performance art, painting, sculpture, doll and mask making, textiles, and doll ..read more

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries Tuesday called for a multilateral approach to the transition to a “Blue economy” to harness the advantages of a new balance between economic development, social cohesion, and sustainability. In addition, the leaders of Dominica and Grenada said that such an initiative would also allow for the region to address some key challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change, unsustainable fishing, marine pollution especially from plastics, and unsustainable maritime transport. Addressing the ninth Our Ocean Conference in Greece, Dominica’s Prime Minister R ..read more

Cuba recently declared that at high-level migration negotiations that are scheduled to start in Washington on April 16, 2024, it will demand that the United States remove sanctions and stop giving special treatment to Cubans who enter its territory illegally. After being halted under Donald Trump’s administration, the twice-yearly gatherings began again in 2022, coinciding with a record high of around 500,000 illegal Cuban immigrants entering the country, as reported by US officials, starting in 2021. Cuba is experiencing a severe economic crisis that is typified by blackouts, runaway inflati ..read more