Antigua and Barbuda
The Antigua and Barbuda government says the cost of defending the sale of the mega yacht Alpha Nero in a US court is US$136,000.
A recent statement reiterated that the court action had been “triggered by operatives of the United Progressive Party,” but the main opposition party maintained its innocence.
The mega yacht abandoned by Russian businessman Andrey Guryev is now being pursued by his daughter, Yulia Guryeva-Motlokhov, who claims she is the rightful owner.
The attorneys for Guryeva-Motlokhov alleged that Browne’s administration had not released documents related to the US$40 million sale of the yacht.
“A complete fabrication of claims by a Russian citizen, fed to that individual by the members of the opposition, has now cost the Antigua and Barbuda public a significant sum which may yet increase. This unpatriotic, costly behavior has also damaged the country’s reputation and unjustly sullied the character of the country’s leader,” the Cabinet statement said.
In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the “financial records will speak for themselves as a federal judge in New York granted the attorneys of a Russian woman permission to issue subpoenas to access his financial records and other officials involved in the sale of a mega yacht that her father had abandoned.”
“Not a red cent was diverted or unaccounted for. We have laid bare the records with all supporting wire transfers, redacting confidential account numbers,” Browne said.
Barbados
The European Union (EU) has launched a campaign to celebrate the strong collaboration between Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean to pursue a more prosperous and sustainable future for all.
The “I’ve Got the Power” campaign focuses on the shared commitment to accessible, reliable, clean energy and the transformative impact of EU-supported initiatives in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.
The EU’s Global Gateway investment strategy represents a significant part of the campaign, exemplified by projects such as the Renewstable Barbados project.
This initiative aims to integrate solar power with on-site green hydrogen storage, ensuring a stable, clean, and reliable electricity supply for Barbados. The project addresses a critical weakness in Barbados’ energy infrastructure, enhancing energy security and significantly contributing to the country’s clean energy transition.
The EU’s Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Małgorzata Wasilewska, said, “The transition to renewable energy is not just about reducing carbon emissions; it’s about creating a more sustainable future for the people, the planet, and local economies in the region.
“Through this campaign, we want people to understand the importance of sustainable energy and realise how this transition can positively impact their lives and future,” the EU diplomat added.
Caribbean
The European Commission (EC) says it will provide euro 120 million in humanitarian aid this year to Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to help the region’s most vulnerable who struggle with humanitarian challenges, mainly due to the Venezuela crisis, natural disasters, and armed conflicts.
The EC said that part of this aid will bolster disaster preparedness due to the region’s exposure to natural hazards.
“As more and more people suffer the consequences of violence and political unrest across Latin America and the Caribbean, the European Union reaffirms its unwavering commitment to stand with the most vulnerable communities,” said EC commissioner for preparedness and crisis management Hadja Lahbib.
“This new EU funding will enable our humanitarian partners, many of whom are facing critical funding gaps, to continue delivering life-saving assistance where it is needed most. At the same time, the EU will continue supporting disaster preparedness in a region that is on the frontlines of climate change’s impacts and other hazards,” Lahbib added.
The EC said Haiti will receive more than eight million euros to tackle the humanitarian crisis caused by escalating gang violence. Other Caribbean countries have also been allocated more than 8.5 million euros, primarily for disaster preparedness.
Guyana
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has increased its presence along the Cuyuni River with intensified patrols and measures to secure the nation’s borders following recent attacks on its troops.
In the wake of three separate incidents in which armed men in civilian clothing, located on the Venezuelan side between Eteringbang and Makapa along the Cuyuni River, attacked GDF troops conducting riverine patrols, Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan said the GDF is equipped and ready to respond to any potential aggression by Venezuela.
Khan reaffirmed that the entire Cuyuni River is Guyanese territory. Therefore, the GDF and the Guyana Police Force have full authority to patrol, stop, and search anyone navigating those waters.
“Since the first incident, the GDF has heightened its operational posture and implemented drills designed to mitigate and respond effectively to such incidents. These drills have been executed successfully,” Khan stated.
Khan identified Baboon as the area where the armed Venezuelan civilians are reportedly based and known for intercepting civilian boats and extorting money for safe passage. He, however, noted that the location is far from populated areas.
While acknowledging that the incidents have raised concerns in border communities and visiting some villages, Khan said that residents expressed relief rather than fear at the increased military presence.
Haiti
The United States is reconsidering its policy towards Haiti, where criminal gangs are seeking to overthrow the government. Washington is also blaming the Organization of American States (OAS) for not doing more to effectively deal with the crisis in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
Washington recently designed the Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif gangs in Haiti as foreign terrorist organizations and specially designated global terrorists, adding that the age of impunity for those supporting violence in Haiti is over.
“We think that designating theme is important because both you and I know that there are individuals, including those living in our home states, who are in cohorts with some of these gangs,” US Secretary Of State Marco Rubio told the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“The fundamental challenge we have in Haiti is that none of our existing international mechanisms are built for this problem set. Our international mechanisms are largely built to keep warring factions, ideological factions, tribal factions, and political movements from each other.”
But Rubio said Haiti is a country that is being threatened by 35 to 40,000 members of a coalition of criminal enterprises.
“It is basically controlled by organized crime,” he said, adding that Washington is “undertaking right now a substantial review across the inter-agency what options exist to tackle a country that is being taken over by a mafia, for want of a better term.”
“They don’t care about governing the country. They want to control territory….it’s like allowing the mafia to take over the five boroughs of New York, ” he said, questioning the role of the OAS.
“Why do we have an OAS if the OAS can’t put together a mission to handle the most critical region in our hemisphere? We are going to challenge the OAS to build a mission of partners to confront this.”
Rubio added that while the United States is grateful for the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), “this is a regional problem, and it should have a regional solution.”
He further added that the United States would continue to support the MSS.
St . Lucia
The St. Lucia government has announced the launch of a new insurance initiative explicitly aimed at banana and plantain farmers whose crops are highly susceptible to storm and wind damage.
Minister of Agriculture Alfred Prospere made the announcement recently before the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane season started.
“This is the time of the year our farmers are most vulnerable,” Prospere said, noting that climate change is making each hurricane season increasingly uncertain.
The new insurance program, developed in partnership with Grace Kennedy, will initially target banana and plantain farmers. $1,000,000 has already been earmarked in this year’s national budget.
“We know it’s noting to cover the entire (agricultural) sector but we are going to start with the most vulnerable sector,” Prospere said.
“We have an insurance package in place to assist…if my plantation, if my investment is affected or impacted as a result of a natural disaster, I do not have to solely depend on the government for compensation.”
He said plans are in place to extend insurance coverage across the entire agricultural sector eventually.
“What we anticipate from our farmers is that at some point you will have to be called to make a contribution,” Prospere said, hinting at a future model where contributions could be tied to produce sales through local buyers such as the Marketing Board.
Compiled by Devika Ragoonanan
