The Caribbean at a glance

Cuba.
Labor minister resigns after denying existence of "beggars
On Monday July 14, before a parliamentary committee broadcast on television, the Cuban government's Minister of Labor Marta Elena Feito declared that the people rummaging through garbage cans in Cuba were not homeless but people "disguised as beggars". A statement that did not go unnoticed. So much so that the very next day, Marta Elena Feito was forced to tender her resignation. According to a report by Agence France Presse, picked up by the daily Le Monde, Marta Elena Feito, who is also Minister for Social Security, "acknowledged her mistakes" when she tendered her resignation from the government. The minister's exact statement to the parliamentary committee was as follows: "We see people who appear to be beggars, but, when you look at their hands, when you look at their clothes, you realize that they are disguised as beggars, they are not beggars. There are no beggars in Cuba. "In addition, she had also criticized street windshield washers, accusing them of seeking an "easy life", reports AFP. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel responded by stating: "None of us can act arrogantly, smugly, disconnected from the realities we live in. "For the record, Cuba has been going through a deep economic crisis for over a year. The daily Le Monde recalls: "In 2024, according to the government, 189,000 families and 350,000 people considered 'vulnerable' benefited from social assistance programs on the island, which has a population of 9.7 million. "

Grenada.
Legal age of marriage to be raised from 16 to 18
In Grenada, for the time being, people aged 16 and over can marry. With the consent of their parents or guardians, however, says the Caribbean National Weekly. In an article published on July 18, the news site mentions the government's intention to raise the legal age of marriage to 18. The Marriage Amendment Bill 2025 is due to be tabled in the Lower House on July 24, marking the first stage of the parliamentary process. The consent of their parents or guardians will be entirely abolished once the bill is passed and enacted, standardizing the age requirement and ensuring that minors will no longer be able to marry under any circumstances. These new provisions will also apply to foreign visitors. Thus, once approved by both houses of Parliament, the new law will de facto ban child marriage in Grenada and bring the country into line with international human rights standards, which set the minimum legal age for marriage at 18.
At the same time, the government of Grenada has announced its intention to lower the age of civil responsibility from 18 to 16, paving the way for minors to independently access sexual and reproductive health treatment without the need for parental or guardian consent.

Cayman Islands.
Towards a ban on foreign fishermen in territorial waters
An article in the Caymanian Times published on July 17 explains that the Cayman Islands government has approved the drafting of new legislation banning non-residents from fishing any marine species in territorial waters. The measure includes limited exceptions for regulated catch-and-release fishing. This proposal is part of a broader effort to protect marine biodiversity and preserve Cayman's fishery resources, the article points out. Measures are being considered to prohibit non-residents from fishing any marine species, including fish, conch, lobster and other marine species. The "limited exceptions" could be established through a licensing system that would authorize catch-and-release fishing close to the coast for certain species of fish of "high value".of certain species of "sport" fish, and catch-and-release fishing on the high seas for certain species of rostrum fish, details the Times. The proposal also includes new protections for vulnerable species, applicable to all fishermen, whatever their nationality. "Our marine ecosystems are under increasing pressure from overfishing and climate change," said Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainable Development, before adding: "By introducing additional restrictions, we are taking a proactive step to responsibly manage our marine ecosystem. These measures will help preserve the health of our reefs and marine life, preserving our natural resources for current and future generations. "

Puerto Rico.
27.8 million to renovate airports
Last week, Norberto Negrón Díaz, general manager of the Puerto Rico Port Authority (Ports), announced the unblocking of four federal subsidies, of which one is for the construction of a new airport.blocking of four federal grants, totaling $27.8 million, aimed at improving infrastructure at several airports in Puerto Rico. According to an article in the San Juan Daily Star, Norberto Negrón Díaz said the grants cover 95% of the funding needed for key initiatives. Among the notable allocations, $782,345 is earmarked for Ponce's Mercedita International Airport. The main objective of the project is to carry out a thorough and comprehensive study that will facilitate the planning and construction of advanced drainage systems for flood control, the news site points out. At the same time, a budget of $1.9 million will be earmarked for the development of the José Aponte de la Torre airport in Ceiba and the Antonio Rivera Rodríguez airport in Vieques. The funds allocated to these regional airports will be used to implement a specialized pavement design program, which should improve the quality and safety of runways and taxiways. and safety of runways and taxiways, thereby promoting their operational efficiency and guaranteeing a smoother experience for travelers, assures the San Juan Daily Star.

Sint Maarten.
NV Gebe's interim CEO under fire
NV Gebe is Sint Maarten's Dutch water and electricity company. Last week, its new interim director, Thomas Roggendorf, had a full-page advertorial published in the Daily Herald entitled: "A message from NV Gebe to the population. "At the same time, Thomas Roggendorf indicated that he would not respond to any interview requests until August. A "silence" that caused National Alliance (NA) MP Darryl York to jump to his feet. In a letter to the media, he expressed surprise that, after 70 days at the helm of the company, the interim CEO had not yet "presented a vision". Furthermore, the York MP notes that while Thomas Roggendorf refuses to respond to interview requests from local journalists, he has granted an interview to the USA Today newspaper "inaccessible to the Sint Maarten public". For his part, the acting director claims that billing operations have "stabilized" since the cyberattack on Gebe in March 2022, and that billing accuracy will be improved by the installation of smart meters. He assures that 3,000 have been installed to date, the Daily Herald points out, and this rollout should be completed by the end of 2026. He also announced the forthcoming launch of a new website in September, which will enable customers to pay their bills online. The York MP questions what he sees as "a lack of transparency" with regard to both the company's employees and the public.

Trinidad and Tobago.
A new state of emergency has been declared.
A few months ago, the government of Trinidad and Tobago lifted a state of emergency that had been in force for 105 days. Last Friday, July 18, President Christine Kangaloo declared a new state of emergency. At a press conference, reports Caribbean National Weekly, Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro, who has been in office for a month, said the decision followed disturbing intelligence reports received on Thursday July 17. Documents that point to a coordinated criminal network involving gang leaders, some of whom are incarcerated. "When I received this information, I was extremely disturbed," said Allister Guevarro. I had to address the National Security Council last night," he said. After addressing the Council, I had a briefing with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Attorney General John Jeremie. "The commissioner said he had personally overseen the extraction of several gang leaders from the Golden Grove high-security prison, transferring them to a more secure location with limited access to communications. Asked about possible corruption within the protection services, Allister Guevarro acknowledged internal complicity. My government came to power with a promise to tackle crime in Trinidad and Tobago as a priority," said Kamla Persad-Bissessar. I will not stand idly by while a minority of illegally armed individuals act in concert to intimidate the population. "For the time being, no curfew has been introduced.

Saint-Martin.
Access to the lagoon: the anger of resident yachtsmen
In a press release relayed by our Saint-Martin confrères, the association of resident yachtsmen of Saint-Martin (LPDSM) denounces its absence from the discussions that led to the drafting of the new management protocol for the Simpson Bay lagoon and territorial waters during cyclonic periods. The document, presented at a meeting held on July 16, imposes very strict access conditions for boats wishing to take refuge in the lagoon in the event of a cyclone. The aim is to limit the risks of grounding, pollution and hindering rescue operations, by ensuring clear coordination between the services concerned, explains the Soualiga Post. As a result, from June 1 each year, sea users wishing to enter Simpson Bay lagoon in the event of a cyclone warning must submit a complete file to the Port Authority. Under the new protocol, prior authorization is required, along with a confirmed reservation at a shipyard for dry docking. A point deemed unrealistic by the LPDSM: "Shipyards are already saturated, and imposing a place ashore as a prerequisite is neither feasible nor responsible. "According to the Soualiga Post, the association remains "open to dialogue".

Guadeloupe.
A link between the consumption of certain fruits and Parkinson's disease
A study by the neurology unit of the CHU de Guadeloupe has revealed a link between high consumption of certain fruits widely eaten in the West Indies, French Guiana and Reunion Island, and the development of Parkinson's disease. The findings of the study, which began some twenty years ago, were reported on France Culture and relayed by La 1ère. Fruits such as soursop, cachiman and zatte, for example, are said to contain a neuron-damaging molecule known as annonacin. If ingested regularly and in large quantities through fruit consumption, this molecule can lead to the development of a severe form of the neurodegenerative Parkinson's disease known as "Caribbean", write our authors. This specific form is characterized by classic signs of the disease, such as tremors, slowness, stiffness and cognitive signs. "It's more severe because we can see that there is damage to memory and reasoning. Overall, cognition can be affected," explains Jean-Médard Zola, a neurologist at the CHU de Guadeloupe who works with the Comité France Parkinson de Guadeloupe, on France Culture. According to the latest study conducted by the CHU de Guadeloupe, quoted by La 1ère, so-called "Caribbean" Parkinson's affects 70% of patients affected by the disease.