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Ed Miliband outlined his priorities following his appointment as foreign secretary

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Ed Miliband outlined his priorities following his appointment as foreign secretary

LONDON, England – It is a great honour and privilege to have been appointed by prime minister Andy Burnham, to serve as foreign secretary, Ed Miliband outlined in a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) statement:

“ My parents came to Britain as Jewish refugees from the Nazis. To them, Britain was both a sanctuary and a beacon of hope in the global fight against fascism. I will carry my parents’ faith in that spirit of Britain to my role representing our country.

I will be a foreign secretary who fights for Britain’s interests and our values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law on the world stage.

Today, as we face a time of greater instability and threat to international law and democracy than at any time since the Second World War, these values are more important than ever.

From Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine to conflict in the Middle East, time and again we have seen the consequences of a more dangerous world in the cost-of-living crisis that families and businesses face.

For Britain, that means we must work with others to defend the principles that we cherish, because it is in our national interest to do so, building on the excellent work of my predecessors and friends, Yvette Cooper and David Lammy.

I will seek to deepen and strengthen our strategic alliance with the European Union, which is so important for our prosperity and security and at the same time nurture our strong, enduring and essential alliance with the United States. I will uphold our commitment to multilateral institutions from NATO to the UN as well as working with global partners, particularly in the Global South.

Pursuing our interests and values means continuing to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine against Russia’s illegal invasion, as Britain has done for the last four years. It means playing our part to seek to end the conflict in Iran and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. It must also mean working tirelessly to seek a sustainable peace in Palestine and Israel, including an end to the terrible suffering of the people of Gaza and security for the people of Israel.

The FCDO I lead will also be at the forefront of issues which pose profound and substantial threats to justice and equality in Britain and across the world. We will work with others on tackling the climate crisis, strengthening our partnerships for international development, and reforming our international institutions so they deliver for all countries, including the world’s poorest people.

“FCDO is a great British institution filled with talented, expert, and committed staff who do crucial consular work for our country and have reach across the world. I look forward to working with Britain’s world-class network of embassies, diplomats, civil servants, businesses, and cultural organisations to represent and promote the interests and values of our great country.”

APEC deepens disaster preparedness as risks grow across region

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APEC deepens disaster preparedness as risks grow across region
    • 19th Senior Disaster Management Officials’ Forum

SINGAPORE – Weeks after Typhoon Dolphin brought record rainfall and flooding across parts of China, a powerful earthquake claimed lives and displaced thousands in Indonesia and torrential rains triggered flooding and landslides across parts of Korea, senior disaster management officials from APEC economies and leading international organisations are meeting in Dalian to strengthen regional cooperation on disaster preparedness and resilience.

The 19th APEC senior disaster management officials’ forum is putting a policy-heavy agenda at the center of that effort, spanning early warning systems, disaster risk financing, artificial intelligence, data governance, anticipatory action and community preparedness.

Experts from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) joined officials from APEC economies earlier this week, reflecting the increasingly cross-border and multidisciplinary nature of disaster risk management.

The discussions focus not only on responding faster when emergencies occur, but on building systems capable of identifying risks earlier, converting information into action and reducing impacts before they escalate.

“Disaster management cooperation is an indispensable pillar in building a resilient Asia-Pacific community,” said Xu Jia’ai, vice minister of China’s ministry of emergency management, calling for greater investment in early warning technology and deeper integration of artificial intelligence, big data, satellite remote sensing and the Internet of Things into disaster preparedness.

The first major policy track examines how economies can strengthen multi-hazard early warning systems from end to end, from risk monitoring and forecasting to information dissemination, institutional coordination and emergency response.

UNDRR brought the wider global disaster risk reduction policy agenda into the discussion, while WMO focused on regional efforts to expand early warning coverage. Economies also examined how ex-ante investment, financing frameworks and stronger decision-support systems can help authorities act before hazards translate into major economic and human losses.

The challenge is becoming more urgent as extreme weather patterns change. Zhang Zuqiang, vice administrator of the China Meteorological Administration, noted that northern China has experienced around 50 percent more heavy rainfall events on average over the past five years compared with the 1990s.

“Only through multilateral cooperation, complementary strengths and coordinated prevention and response can we address regional and systemic climate disaster risks,” Zhang said.

A second policy track turns to how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies can strengthen risk-informed emergency management.

Discussions include the use of AI in disaster management, satellite remote sensing and geographic information systems, alongside the less visible but equally important challenges surrounding data governance, institutional capacity and the ability of economies to turn technological advances into practical emergency-management tools.

ADPC is contributing experience on anticipatory action and how risk information can support earlier decisions, reinforcing a central theme of the forum: better forecasts matter most when institutions are equipped to act on them.

The final major track shifts attention from systems and technology to the people and institutions that ultimately carry out preparedness and response.

With insights from the IFRC, economies are examining whole-of-society approaches to disaster risk reduction, including stronger coordination between governments, humanitarian organizations, communities and the private sector.

The discussions also address local capacity building, emergency supply systems and the participation of women and young people, recognising that resilience depends not only on national systems but on whether communities can prepare, respond and recover effectively.

Together, the sessions reflect a broader shift in disaster management across the region, from responding to individual emergencies toward managing risk across the full cycle of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

The forum builds on cooperation through APEC’s Emergency Preparedness Working Group as economies work to strengthen regional resilience and turn policy, technology and partnerships into practical protection for communities across the Asia-Pacific.

Support the Troops: Bring them home!

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Support the Troops: Bring them home!

By Ron Paul

Last week we heard that US sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and other ships in the Middle East were being fed food that, from photos that surfaced in the media, looked worse than what you would feed a dog. Parents and spouses of service members risked disciplinary action against their loved ones to highlight to the US Navy Secretary and to the media the revolting conditions aboard the carrier, which has been at sea with no port of call for a record period of time.

Stories of broken toilets, filth, and mold everywhere were reported in the media last week. One troubling story in the Guardian claimed that multiple sailors aboard the Lincoln have attempted suicide due to the unbearable conditions aboard the carrier.

The Trump administration’s response speaks volumes about its claim to “support the troops.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth immediately brushed off concerns about conditions aboard the Abraham Lincoln as “fake news.” He didn’t utter a word of concern for the troops he so enjoys being photographed working out with. He didn’t order a thorough review of the conditions on the ship. He didn’t promise to get to the bottom of things. He didn’t express any concern for the troops. He just said reports were “fake news.”

President Trump responded to the allegations even more callously than Hegseth. When a reporter told him that family members are concerned about conditions aboard the Abraham Lincoln, president Trump said, “no they’re not.” When asked whether the carrier’s record eight-month deployment was too long, he responded, “no no no, not nearly long enough.”

I am sure the parents and spouses of the sailors aboard the Lincoln would disagree.

By the end of last week, we learned at least some of the reasons for the lack of decent food for the troops. According to a report in the New York Times, on the first day of the US attack on Iran, Iran responded by nearly destroying the US Naval base in Bahrain. That base, the (former) home of the US 5th Fleet, had been a major logistics hub for the US in the region and was critical for re-supply of fresh food for the service members on board. With Bahrain no longer capable of functioning as a major US base, the fallback was a US facility on the tiny island of Diego Garcia, more than 2,000 miles away.

There is a bigger lesson here than lack of planning for Trump’s war of choice on Iran. Our Constitution – the supreme law of the land – only allows the United States to go to war if the war is approved beforehand by “the people’s branch” of government, the US Congress. There is a reason for this. Unless under direct attack, the use of the military must be subject to a thorough public debate. It was never meant to ride on the whim of a President. Given the opportunity, the executive is much more likely to take the country to war for reasons not related to defending our country. That is the chief reason we broke with King George in the first place.

As I always said on the campaign trail, the best way to support the troops is to bring them home. Never has that message been clearer than today.

Guyana drives regional food production

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Guyana drives regional food production

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, (DPI) – Guyana is positioning its agricultural sector as a regional production and investment hub, leveraging its land, freshwater resources, expanding infrastructure and strategic access to CARICOM and northern Brazil to strengthen food security across the Caribbean.

Investment is being channelled into key areas including corn and soy production, livestock, aquaculture, large-scale farming, agro-processing, cold storage, logistics, packaging and value-added food production.

The focus is increasingly shifting away from the export of primary commodities, with Guyana seeking to attract investors to establish processing and other value-added operations locally.

This approach is expected to create greater productive capacity, expand employment and retain more of the value generated within the country.

According to chief investment officer of the Guyana Office for Investment, Peter Ramsaroop, during an interview with the Department of Information (DPI), this presents opportunities for CARICOM businesses through joint ventures, contract farming, processing facilities, regional distribution networks and technology partnerships.

“The investment proposition is straightforward: produce in Guyana, add value in Guyana and use Guyana as a platform to supply the Caribbean,” Ramsaroop urged.

CARICOM investment currently accounts for approximately five percent of recorded investment activity in Guyana, with notable participation from Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as investments from Barbados in services and other Caribbean markets.

However, the broader objective is to deepen regional economic integration by creating supply chains that connect Caribbean capital and expertise with Guyana’s agricultural resources and access to South American markets.

As Guyana expands its agricultural production and processing capacity, the country is seeking to become more than a supplier of raw commodities, positioning itself as a regional platform where production, processing, storage, and distribution converge to support CARICOM’s food-security objectives.

The strategy ultimately seeks to transform investment into sustained regional food security while creating new opportunities for Caribbean businesses to participate in Guyana’s expanding productive economy.

US sanctions Cuban regime actors associated with Marxist subversive networks and corrupt economic dealings

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US sanctions Cuban regime actors associated with Marxist subversive networks and corrupt economic dealings

USA / CUBA – The Cuban regime has long sponsored a vast subversive network in the United States aimed at identifying, cultivating, and radicalising subversives, largely operating under the pretext of educational or cultural exchange, according to US Department of State.

“Just days ago, the regime attempted to use Communist kingpin and despot Fidel Castro’s 100th birthday to reinvigorate this subversive network, ferrying a new brigade of international sympathisers to Havana to network with regime officials. The Trump administration will not stand by while a hostile foreign power seeks to exploit our freedoms—none of which are afforded to its people—by misleading and corrupting American citizens with lies, spy tradecraft, and other malfeasance as part of the regime’s raison d’être of exporting Marxism, racial resentment, and Communist violence across the world.”

Pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order (E.O.) 14404 of May 1, 2026:

“Imposing Sanctions on Those Responsible for Repression in Cuba and for Threats to United States National Security and Foreign Policy,” [today], I am designating three leaders of the sanctioned Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), including ICAP president Fernando González Llort.  Llort, a convicted Cuban spy who served 15 years in US prison for his role in the infamous Wasp Network — a massive illegal Cuban spy ring uncovered in Florida in the late 1990s – has continued his efforts to destabilise the United States following his return to Cuba through his involvement with ICAP.  ICAP was previously designated under E.O. 14404 for being a political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the government of Cuba. It hosts international brigades at facilities across Cuba, including Campamento Internacional Julio Antonio Mella (CIJAM), Casa Memorial Salvador Allende, and Casa de la Amistad, which I have identified as alternative addresses of ICAP and are to be treated as sanctioned property.”

“I am also designating nine entities, including the ministry of construction of Cuba, that sustain the regime’s repressive apparatus through control of key economic sectors,” the US State Department press release August 20, 2026, added: “Today’s designations make clear that the Trump administration will not tolerate the Cuban regime’s efforts to fund its repression or continue its decades-long campaign of subversive anti-American activities.”

The Department’s actions are being taken pursuant to E.O. 14404, which authorises sweeping sanctions on Cuba, including against persons who support the Cuban regime’s security apparatus and those responsible for repression in Cuba and other threats to US national security. These actions also further both E.O. 14380, “Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of Cuba,” and National Security Presidential Memorandum 5, which directs the Executive Branch to improve human rights, encourage the rule of law, foster free markets and free enterprise, and promote democracy in Cuba.  

InterContinental Grenada celebrates opening with exclusive offer

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InterContinental Grenada celebrates opening with exclusive offer

~Guests Can Save 40% on Best Available Rates Through January 2027, With Daily Breakfast, Welcome Cocktail and Complimentary Room Upgrade~

LA SAGESSE, Grenada – In celebration of its highly anticipated November 2026 opening, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is introducing an Exclusive Opening Offer inviting travellers to experience the newest luxury resort on Grenada’s southeastern coast. The offer includes 40 percent off the Best Available Rate for stays through January 2027, along with daily breakfast, a welcome cocktail upon arrival and a complimentary room upgrade at check-in, subject to availability.

Set along the sheltered shores of La Sagesse Bay, InterContinental Grenada Resort & Spa will offer a sophisticated yet relaxed approach to Caribbean luxury, pairing contemporary accommodations and elevated amenities with the natural beauty, culture and spirit of Grenada.

Guests booking the Exclusive Opening Offer will have the opportunity to settle into thoughtfully designed guest rooms and suites inspired by the island’s lush landscapes and vibrant character. Days can be spent relaxing along the resort’s secluded beach, exploring Grenada’s coastline and local culture, or enjoying the property’s expansive culinary and wellness offerings.

The resort will feature five distinctive dining experiences, including Mosaic, an island-inspired all-day dining restaurant; Coralie, an open-air Mediterranean restaurant; Solara, a rooftop bar overlooking the ocean; Cove, a pool and spa bar; and Café Amber, offering coffee, pastries and house-made selections.

Wellness will also be central to the experience, with an on-site spa, fitness facilities including Pilates reformers, and curated relaxation experiences designed to complement the restorative setting. Guests can also enjoy water sports, beach activities, culinary and cultural immersions, island-focused adventures and a dedicated Kids Club.

The Exclusive Opening Offer is designed to provide an opportunity for travellers to experience InterContinental Grenada Resort & Spa during its inaugural season, whether planning a Caribbean escape or a winter getaway.

The exclusive opening offer includes:

  • 40% off the Best Available Rate;
  • Daily breakfast;
  • Welcome cocktail upon arrival;
  • Complimentary room upgrade at check-in, subject to availability.

Terms & Conditions:

  • Valid for stays through January 2027;
  • Full pre-payment required at time of booking;
  • Reservations are non-refundable and non-cancellable;
  • No minimum length of stay required;
  • Offer is subject to availability and cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts.

Opening in November 2026, InterContinental Grenada Resort & Spa will introduce a new destination for luxury hospitality in Grenada.

Located along La Sagesse Bay on Grenada’s southeastern coast, the 120-room resort will offer sophisticated accommodations, immersive culinary experiences, a serene spa and wellness retreat, family-friendly programming and more than 20,000 square feet of versatile indoor and outdoor event space.

Designed to become Grenada’s social and cultural resort, the property will combine contemporary luxury with authentic island experiences rooted in connection, comfort and discovery.

For more information and reservations, visit InterContinental Grenada Resort & Spa.

WHO – Africa CDC welcomes Ebola vaccines to the DRC

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WHO – Africa CDC welcomes Ebola vaccines to the DRC

DRC / AFRICA – Last week, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) requested a release of Ervebo vaccines from the global Ebola virus disease vaccine stockpile, managed by the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision (ICG). The request was for use of the vaccine in the current Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak.

Ervebo vaccine is licensed and recommended for use in outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (previously called Zaire ebolavirus). On Monday, the ICG informed the DRC government of an immediate initial release of 70,000 doses.

The allocation includes 20,000 doses for a Phase 3 clinical trial to understand the impact of the vaccine on the Bundibugyo virus, and 50 000 doses for frontline and health workers in line with the current recommendations of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE).

It is not known whether Ervebo may be protective against the Bundibugyo virus in humans. Early laboratory and animal data suggest it may provide some protection. Thus, the clinical trial is expected to provide important new evidence, which is essential for policy-makers to inform future use of the Ervebo vaccine. It is key that the people offered the vaccine, in the trial and otherwise, receive information of the risks, potential benefits and limitations related to the use of the vaccine in an outbreak of Bundibugyo virus and are able to provide informed consent.

The ICG partners are WHO, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Médecins Sans Frontières and UNICEF. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, provides funding for the stockpile.

WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) welcome the allocation of vaccines to the DRC.

Against the backdrop of the ongoing outbreak, and based on the available evidence, WHO and Africa CDC support DRC’s focus on protecting the people of DRC and using a community-led approach, which empowers communities to play a central role in the response.

Africa CDC and WHO are united in support of the government of the DRC, to protect affected communities, save lives and bring the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak to an end, while generating the scientific evidence needed to strengthen Africa’s preparedness for future outbreaks.

ICG – Ebola vaccine stockpile

The International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision was established in 1997, following major outbreaks of meningitis in Africa, as a mechanism to manage and coordinate the provision of emergency vaccine supplies and antibiotics to countries during major outbreaks. The partners and founding institutions are the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, MSF, UNICEF and WHO. The core mandate of the ICG is to make available and ensure equitable access to licensed vaccines for cholera, meningitis, yellow fever, and Ebola virus disease during outbreaks.

Ebola vaccine stockpile: The ICG has managed the emergency stockpile of Ebola vaccine since January 2021, which was created as an additional tool to control outbreaks of Ebola virus (previously called Zaire ebolavirus). Since the establishment of ICG Ebola mechanism in 2021 until July 2026, over 56, 000 doses of Ervebo vaccine have been allocated to respond to Ebola virus outbreaks in DRC. A further 167 000 doses have been used in preventive campaigns for health and frontline workers in DRC, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Uganda.

US – Jamaica signs Status of Forces Agreement

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US – Jamaica signs Status of Forces Agreement

By War.gov

WASHINGTON, USA – The governments of the United States and Jamaica have signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). This agreement builds on the already strong bilateral security partnership acknowledged and discussed by United States secretary of war Pete Hegseth and the Jamaica deputy prime minister and minister of national security Dr Horace Chang during their bilateral meeting in the margins of the Americas Counter Cartels Coalition Forum in Panama on August 12, 2026.

Status of Forces Agreements are international instruments that establish and formalise the terms under which members of one country’s armed forces may be temporarily present in another country for mutually agreed activities, including training exercises and joint operations. Jamaica joins more than 120 partner nations that have similar agreements with the United States.

Jamaica and the United States have enjoyed decades of close security cooperation. Since the establishment of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), members of the United States Armed Forces and JDF have participated in joint training exercises, professional exchanges, humanitarian and disaster response activities, and other forms of security cooperation. This SOFA agreement is a message to the criminal organisations in the region, that the United States Armed Forces and JDF are committed to deepening and expanding their cooperation, including in their efforts to fight criminal organisations and narco-terrorists who traffic guns, drugs, and people.

The signing of the SOFA provides a modern and predictable framework to further strengthen cooperation in areas of shared interest, including regional security, defense cooperation, and disaster response. Through this agreement, the United States and Jamaica reaffirm their commitment to a strong security partnership that advances peace through strength and the mutual interests of our countries.

Caribbean MSMEs to benefit from new CDB supported digital transformation initiative

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Caribbean MSMEs to benefit from new CDB supported digital transformation initiative

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB / the Bank) and the Small Business Association of Barbados have launched a regional initiative designed to help Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) strengthen their digital capabilities, improve competitiveness, and expand their participation in regional and global markets.

The project, titled “Reengineering MSMEs for Growth: Adoption and Application of Digital Solutions to Build Resilience and Global Competitiveness,” was officially launched on August 19, 2026, at the CDB Conference Centre in Wildey, Barbados.

The initiative will support a minimum of 150 MSMEs across Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with targeted assistance to help firms assess their digital maturity, adopt practical digital solutions, and implement transformation plans. The project also places inclusion at its centre, with specific attention to women-led enterprises and underserved businesses that often face additional barriers to growth.

Delivering remarks at the launch, Daniel M. Best, president of the Caribbean Development Bank, said the initiative responds directly to the urgent need to strengthen the region’s private sector and prepare Caribbean businesses for a rapidly changing global economy.

“The future prosperity of the Caribbean depends on our ability to build economies that are more productive, resilient, and competitive. At the centre of that effort are our MSMEs, the businesses that create jobs, sustain families, support communities, and drive innovation across the region,” emphasised Best.

He noted that many MSMEs continue to face constraints linked to scale, geography, access to finance, digital readiness, and market access. However, he highlighted that digitalisation offers small states and firms a powerful opportunity to overcome traditional barriers, increase productivity, strengthen resilience, and compete more effectively.

The project combines knowledge, institutional support, local networks, and financing, including grant support for selected firms to implement their digital transformation plans. This integrated model is intended to help participating businesses move from ambition to action by applying digital tools in ways that improve operations, customer reach, and market competitiveness.

“This is what development partnership should look like: finance, knowledge, technology, institutional support, and local networks working together to help businesses move from ambition to action. Through this initiative, we are helping Caribbean MSMEs turn digital visibility into real sales, and business potential into greater productivity, resilience, and sustained global competitiveness,” said president Best.

In his keynote address, Kerrie Symmonds, senior minister and minister of energy, business development and consumer affairs, government of Barbados, welcomed the new initiative, noting that the pace of technological change makes digital transformation an imperative for Caribbean businesses.

“The rest of the world is moving swiftly in the direction of artificial intelligence and digital transformation. The Caribbean cannot be the last to move, and we cannot afford to be left behind. We have to confront the challenges of digital adoption, build the capacity of our businesses, and create an environment in which MSMEs can use technology to improve productivity and efficiency,” asserted minister Symmonds.

The launch brought together representatives of the government of Barbados, the Small Business Association of Barbados, Business Support Organisations, regional partners, and participating stakeholders from across the beneficiary countries.

The programme included remarks from Dr Lynette Holder, CEO of the Small Business Association of Barbados; Donna Hope, vice chairman of the Small Business Association of Barbados; Sunita Daniel, CEO of Export Saint Lucia; Victor Boyce, head of country, Barbados, CIBC Caribbean; and Natasha Edwin-Walcott, coordinator, MSME Development, Private Sector Division, Caribbean Development Bank.

The project also supports the wider goals of Small Business Week 2026, which will be held from September 13 to 19, 2026, under the theme “Beyond Borders: Positioning Small Business for the Global Economy.”

Through this partnership, the Caribbean Development Bank is reinforcing its commitment to a stronger, more innovative, and more inclusive private sector, while working with regional institutions to ensure that Caribbean entrepreneurs are better equipped to thrive in the digital economy.

Jamaica calls for reforms to multilateral system

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Jamaica calls for reforms to multilateral system

By Lisa Rowe

KINGSTON, Jamaica, (JIS) – Jamaica is advocating for reforms to the multilateral system to better recognise the vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and ensure equitable access to affordable and concessional financing.

The call was made by minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, senator Kamina Johnson Smith, when she delivered Jamaica’s third Voluntary National Review (VNR) report at the seventh meeting of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, in New York, recently.

“International trade, although still considered a driver of growth, is increasingly also a source of vulnerability. We remain exposed to exogenous shocks beyond our control. The multilateral system is, indeed, in need of reform. Systems and processes must recognise the special circumstances of SIDS to ensure real and measurable change in their development outcomes. Within this context, Jamaica calls for the use of complementary measures of progress that go beyond the GDP, including multidimensional vulnerabilities in order to secure equitable access to affordable and concessional finance,” senator Johnson Smith said.

Jamaica has embarked on a programme of economic resilience, including funding more of the domestic budget from tax revenue as development assistance declines and global interest rates rise.

Senator Johnson Smith also highlighted the need to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that 2030 is approaching and the world is not on track to achieve the ambitious agenda.

“In Jamaica, we have used successive analyses grounded in productive capacities, systems thinking, and other approaches to identify key points of intervention related to human capital, energy, and infrastructure, among others,” senator Johnson Smith disclosed. She identified SDGs 3, 4, 9 and 11 as potential accelerators because of their multiplier effects across lagging and regressing goals.

“Policy coherence and prioritisation are foundational to successful plan implementation,” the minister noted.

Senator Johnson Smith further stressed the importance of strong institutions and investment in priority policy areas to support macroeconomic stability, climate resilience and human capital development.

“Building and maintaining strong institutions will act as a cross-cutting accelerator, supporting macroeconomic stability, climate resilience, and human capital development, and investing in priority policy drivers can unlock progress within the timelines.” Senator Johnson Smith argued. Jamaica’s development journey will extend beyond 2030, and that strong international partnerships will remain critical.

“The post-2030 development agenda must, however, take lessons learned from this period and adopt clear means of implementation, manageable statistical frameworks, and early inclusion into national planning systems. In this context, we look forward to working within a reformed, relevant, and supportive multilateral system to deliver on an accelerated post-2030 agenda in the interests of present and future generations,” Senator Johnson Smith said.

ECLAC calls for driving productive formalisation to increase productivity and escape the trap of low capacity for growth

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ECLAC calls for driving productive formalisation to increase productivity and escape the trap of low capacity for growth
    • The United Nations regional commission projects regional economic growth of 2.2 percent in 2026 and 2.5 percent in 2027 and advises that increasing productivity and growth is necessary for reducing informality through productive formalisation strategies.

SANTIAGO, Chile –  The Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC), August 20, 2026, presented a new edition of its annual report Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2026. Growth and productivity amid high informality: constraints and challenges in fostering productive formalisation in the region.

The report indicates that the regional economy is expected to grow by 2.2 percent in 2026, after a 2.4 percent expansion in 2025, and show a partial recovery of up to 2.5 percent in 2027. If these projections prove correct, Latin America and the Caribbean will have maintained five years with average growth near 2.3 percent, an insufficient level to provide a sustained increase in income per inhabitant, close development gaps, and significantly expand political spaces.

It also indicates that a declining international context―marked by lower worldwide growth, greater geopolitical tensions, financial volatility, and pressures in energy markets―partly explain the deceleration predicted for 2026. However, it states that the main limitation for regional growth is structural in nature: low levels of investment, decreased dynamism in formal job creation, and high and persistent labor informality.

“The region has managed to maintain significant progress regarding macroeconomic stability, but that stability must become a platform for more and better growth. To overcome the trap of low capacity for growth, we must increase investment and productivity and simultaneously move toward productive formalisation that strengthens people’s and businesses’ productive capacity, expands social protection, and generates more high-quality formal employment,” stated the executive secretary of ECLAC, José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs.

Low growth in a new geopolitical era

During 2025, the region showed resilience in a reconfigured international context with increased uncertainty. Regional GDP grew by 2.4 percent ; inflation continued to converge toward central banks’ goals, employment continued to broaden, though less strongly, and real wages continued to recover. At the same time, the current account remained at a moderate level of 1.2 percent of regional GDP, and net capital flow facilitated accumulation of international reserves.

A global economic downturn is expected for 2026, with growth of 2.9 percent, the lowest rate since 2022. Geopolitical rivalries and the disruption of energy supplies have increased the prices of oil, fertilisers, and transportation, while the persistence of relatively high international interest rates and the appreciation of the dollar could worsen financing conditions for emerging economies.

At the regional level, ECLAC projects growth for Latin America and the Caribbean of 2.2 percent in 2026 and 2.5 percent in 2027, with marked heterogeneity at the subregional level. South America is expected to grow 2.5 percent in both 2026 and 2027. Growth in Central America is expected to be 1.6 percent in 2026 and 2.8 percent in 2027. This result is influenced by the contraction expected for Cuba and Haiti. If these two economies are excluded, the subregional average would be 4.0 percent for 2026 and 4.2 percent for 2027. The Caribbean is expected to grow 5.6 percent in 2026 and 7.9 percent in 2027, driven by increased growth in Guyana; if this country is not included, the subregional average would be 1.1 percent in 2026 and 2.2 percent in 2027.

Inflation is expected to remain contained, though its convergence toward goals will be slower. The recent price shock has been mainly concentrated on energy and fertilisers, with a more limited transmission to food than in previous incidents. However, increased energy costs could delay new reductions in monetary policy rates. In this context, ECLAC highlights the importance of preserving monetary credibility and actively using macroprudential tools to mitigate financial risks.

Regarding labor, the number of employed people increased by 1.6 percent in 2025—approximately 4.3 million jobs—but the job creation rate slowed for the third consecutive year. The unemployment rate decreased to 5.3%, and labor informality continued to drop, although it still includes nearly half of employed people. Indicators in early 2026 confirm a more moderate expansion of employment and show that the possibility of maintaining labor improvements will depend more and more on increases in investment, productivity, and growth.

Regarding fiscal matters, the stabilization of gross public debt at approximately 52 percent  of GDP in Latin America has not been sufficient to rebuild the fiscal space. Low growth, the high cost of financing, and increased interest payments limit resources available for increasing public investment, social protection, and accelerating productive transformation. In the Caribbean, gross public debt was approximately 73 percent of GDP in 2025, which also reinforced the same limitations to moving toward more productive, inclusive, and sustainable development.

Informality weakens growth capacity for increasing productivity

The second part of the Economic Survey2026 examines informality not only as a labor or social protection problem but also as a structural restriction that limits economies’ capacities to transform growth into sustained increases in productivity, investment, and high-quality employment. At the same time, informality is a consequence of low growth and one of the mechanisms that perpetuate the trap of low capacity for growth.

Historical evidence shows that the greatest progress in formalisation took place between 2000 and 2013, which was the most recent period of greater economic growth, high investment rates, productivity increases, and expansion of formal salaried employment. This process has been less robust since 2014, along with the deceleration of investment and stalling of productivity. Currently, nearly half of employed people in the region continue to work in informal activities.

The analysis presented in the report shows that growth increases productivity both in the formal and informal sectors, but that its effects are more intense, rapid, and persistent in the first. Formal companies have more capacity to take advantage of economies of scale, incorporate innovation, access financing, and accumulate productive capacities. Therefore, the greater the weight of informality, the less growth capacity there is to generate permanent improvements to productivity.

Productive formalisation: An integral strategy to grow more and better

Given this analysis, ECLAC proposes developing strategies to boost productive formalisation in the region. This concept refers to a process in which increased formality is accompanied by a strengthening of productive capacities of people and companies, increases in productivity, and a productive transformation able to maintain more dynamic and inclusive growth. This focus transcends regulatory reforms or isolated administrative incentives and requires coherence and complementarity among labor, fiscal, financial, and productive development policies.

The report identified four complementary action areas:

Labor policies: furthering programs for job creation, training, and labor insertion; reducing gender gaps; better articulating labor and social policies, and strengthening the care economy and the use of digital tools to facilitate access and permanence in formality.

Fiscal policies: moving toward social protection financing systems that reduce disincentives to formality; establishing progressive and flexible paths to formalisation, and using digitalisation and administrative interoperability to simplify compliance and strengthen oversight.

Financial policies: reinforcing the role of the development bank as an instrument for productive insertion; designing mechanisms that recognize the heterogeneity of company makeups, and broadening systems of guarantees to reduce credit segmentation.

Productive development policies: strengthening and scaling integrated routes for company support, with an emphasis on technological extensionism; focusing interventions territorially; promoting anticipatory and multi-actor governance, along with productive integration and strengthening information, monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems.

ECLAC concludes that reducing informality is a necessary condition for strengthening the region’s growth capacity and escaping the trap of low capacity for growth. Productive formalisation would allow for improvement of employment quality, broadening social protection, and reducing inequalities, as well as increasing economies’ capacity to convert growth into sustained progress in productivity, broadening the space for public policy, and consolidating processes of productive transformation that maintain high rates of growth in the long term.

Impacts of demographic changes in Latin America and the Caribbean – ECLAC reports

PAHO/WHO supports Colombia as health response enters next phase following earthquake

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PAHO/WHO supports Colombia as health response enters next phase following earthquake

WASHINGTON, USA, (PAHO) – Just over one week since a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on 10 August, the health response is moving into its next phase, with efforts focused on assessing damage levels to health infrastructure, identifying priority needs and maintaining essential health services in affected communities, according to the latest health situation report.

PAHO/WHO continues to support Colombia’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MSPS), the National Institute of Health (INS) and local health authorities across these areas, including through assessments of damaged health facilities, monitoring of health risks in temporary emergency shelters, coordination of Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs), and actions on water, sanitation, hygiene and mental health.

According to the situation report, 303 health establishments have been affected across 11 of the 15 departments impacted by the earthquake. As of 18 August, the mnistry of health had verified damage at 192 facilities and prioritised 50 where damage could compromise the continuity or capacity of health services.

“We are now moving from the immediate response to the next phase, where it is critical to understand the extent of damage to health services, identify the most urgent needs and ensure that essential care continues to reach affected communities,” said Dr Ana Rivière Cinnamond, PAHO/WHO Representative in Colombia. “PAHO/WHO is working closely with Colombia’s health authorities to strengthen these capacities and support decisions based on the needs identified on the ground.”

Assessing damage to maintain health services

PAHO/WHO is working with the ministry of health to assess the condition of health facilities affected by the earthquake and identify those requiring the most urgent attention.

PAHO/WHO has trained health personnel to carry out rapid assessments of damaged facilities. Where more serious damage is identified, engineers and architects carry out additional assessments to determine what is needed to reinforce or maintain services.

The Organization is also helping health authorities bring this information together so they can see where the greatest needs are and prioritise support and interventions.

Monitoring health risks in temporary shelters

PAHO/WHO is also supporting health authorities to monitor the health of people living in temporary emergency shelters.

As of 18 August, 75 temporary shelters were operating across seven affected departments and districts. PAHO/WHO has worked with the INS to strengthen a system that helps health authorities monitor symptoms and identify unusual increases in illness, allowing them to investigate potential health risks and respond early.

The information collected in the shelters is being brought together to help authorities monitor the situation and make timely decisions. According to the situation report, Colombia’s national disease surveillance system remains operational despite the earthquake, with 99.94 percent compliance with reporting requirements during epidemiological week 32.

PAHO/WHO is also supporting measures to reduce health risks in shelters and affected health facilities, including monitoring water quality, providing bottled water and cleaning supplies, promoting food safety and strengthening measures to control vectors and pests.

Coordinating emergency medical teams according to needs

At the request of the ministry of health, PAHO/WHO activated a virtual Emergency Medical Team Coordination Cell (CICOM) on 14 August to register and review offers of emergency medical assistance.

The response continues to rely primarily on national capacities. One national EMT is currently operating in three locations, while two additional teams are in the process of mobilisation. The Hospital Ship San Raffaele has deployed mobile teams in Bajo Calima, Río Cajambre and Cali, with additional specialised surgical capacity being mobilised for Litoral del San Juan.

International EMTs are also on standby should the Ministry of Health determine that their deployment is needed. The coordination mechanism will remain active to assess offers against identified needs, with no international deployment initiated without authorisation from the ministry.

Protecting health and restoring essential capacity

PAHO/WHO is supporting mental health and psychosocial response efforts through psychological first aid training, strengthening mental health referral pathways and supporting frontline responders.

Laboratory services are also being affected. Public health laboratories in Quindío, Risaralda and Caldas remain closed because of infrastructure damage, while activities at the Valle del Cauca public health laboratory have been temporarily suspended while its infrastructure, safety and equipment are assessed.

PAHO/WHO is supporting authorities to maintain alternative arrangements for receiving, transporting and processing priority samples while these laboratories work to restore their operations.

Continued support for the next phase

This emergency has deepened and amplified protracted, underlying vulnerabilities that were already affecting the population. As Colombia moves into the next phase of the response, significant health needs remain, including temporary health facilities, biomedical equipment, medicines, supplies to expand hospital capacity, diagnostic reagents and laboratory supplies, and materials to support water and food safety monitoring. These needs are compounded by concerns over increased rainfall associated with the El Niño phenomenon, which could further affect already vulnerable communities, increase the risk of waterborne and vector-borne diseases, and place additional pressure on health services.

PAHO/WHO continues to work with Colombia’s national and local health authorities and partners to identify critical gaps, strengthen response capacities and mobilise the support needed to maintain essential health services and protect the health of communities affected by the earthquake.

Former OAS secretary-general Luis Almagro backs Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for UN Secretary-General

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Former OAS secretary-general Luis Almagro backs Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for UN Secretary-General

By Caribbean News Global

USA / GUYANA – Former secretary-general of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, has expressed strong support for Guyana’s candidate for United Nations secretary-general, ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, describing the veteran diplomat as an “extraordinary person for the position” and saying she has the leadership and capacity required to head the global organisation.

In an interview aired on August 11, 2026 by La Diaria, a prominent Uruguayan media house, Almagro offered a personal assessment of Rodrigues-Birkett’s qualifications, drawing on his longstanding professional knowledge of the Guyanese diplomat.

“She would be an excellent secretary-general,” Almagro said. “Well, that’s because I know her personally. I know her leadership, I know her capacity to work, and honestly, she also did very, very well during her first poll of the first debate. So, she is a truly qualified person for that.”

Almagro’s endorsement comes as Rodrigues-Birkett has emerged as one of the leading contenders in the race to succeed António Guterres as secretary-general of the United Nations.

Guyana formally nominated Rodrigues-Birkett for the position on June 15, 2026. Three days later, she participated in the UN General Assembly’s interactive dialogue with candidates for the post, presenting her vision and priorities for the organisation before member states.

The Guardian reported on August 19, 2026, that, in the first straw poll conducted by the UN Security Council on July 30, 2026, Rodrigues-Birkett placed second among the seven candidates vying for the position, receiving nine “encourage” votes, two “discourage” votes and four “no opinion” votes. Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan led the poll.

The informal and non-binding straw polls allow the 15 members of the Security Council to indicate whether they “encourage,” “discourage” or have “no opinion” on each candidate. The results provide an important indication of the level of support candidates enjoy within the Council as the selection process advances.

The contest, however, remains open, with further Security Council consultations and straw polls expected as the selection process continues.

Against that backdrop, Almagro’s public support adds the voice of a former leader of one of the hemisphere’s principal multilateral organisations to Rodrigues-Birkett’s candidacy.

Almagro served as OAS Secretary General from 2015 to 2025, after previously serving as Uruguay’s minister of foreign affairs. His endorsement carries particular weight given his decade leading the hemisphere’s principal multilateral organisation and his longstanding professional relationship with Rodrigues-Birkett, whom he came to know through years of hemispheric diplomacy, including the period when they served concurrently as foreign ministers of Uruguay and Guyana.

Rodrigues-Birkett’s candidacy also carries historic significance for the Caribbean and for women in international diplomacy.

No woman has served as secretary-general since the United Nations was established in 1945, and no national of a Caribbean country has held the position. If Rodrigues-Birkett ultimately secures the post, she would make history as both the first woman and the first Caribbean national to serve as secretary-general of the United Nations.

Ghana sends a signal from Brussels – women in coffee are here

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Ghana sends a signal from Brussels – women in coffee are here

By ITC News

GHANA / BRUSSELS – Ghana produces coffee. Not many people know that yet, but the women growing, processing, and trading it just made sure the world’s coffee industry does.

Coffee has long played second fiddle to cocoa in Ghana’s agricultural identity. But the country has real and growing potential: Robusta coffee, well suited to Ghana’s lowland tropical climate, is produced by smallholder families across 10 regions, and is increasingly promoted as a strong second cash crop for cocoa-growing households.

Women are central to that production system, yet they represent only around 35 percent of supported smallholders, a gap rooted in unequal access to land, finance, training, and decision-making, despite carrying much of the sector’s day-to-day labour.

The International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) Ghana Chapter, launched in June 2026 on the sidelines of World of Coffee Brussels, exists specifically to close that gap. Bringing together farmers, processors, traders, roasters, exporters, and baristas across the value chain under a single women-led national platform, it creates the institutional infrastructure that allows women’s participation to be tracked, supported, and scaled, rather than left to informal or fragmented efforts. It also connects Ghanaian women in coffee to the global IWCA network, giving them access to peer learning, international visibility, and market linkages that would be far harder to build alone.

The Chapter’s formation was led by women in Ghana’s coffee sector, and facilitated by ITC under the EU–OACPS Business Friendly Programme, through stakeholder consultations, governance framework development, and capacity-building design. An IWCA Chapter, once launched, is self-governing. ITC’s role is to help get it structurally sound before stepping back.

Choosing to launch at World of Coffee Brussels was itself deliberate. The event draws buyers, roasters, and coffee organisations from across every producing and consuming region. Presenting the Ghana Chapter there sent an immediate signal: these women are entering the global stage where markets, partnerships, and recognition are made.

For the coffee sector in Ghana and globally, this move adds to a growing body of evidence that closing gender gaps in value chains is not a side issue. It is a core lever for quality, sustainability, and growth.

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