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Trinidad and Tobago.
Couple kidnapped, $2.5 million ransom demanded
Since last Saturday, December 6, police in Trinidad and Tobago have been investigating the kidnapping of 70-year-old businessman Derrick Tardieu and his wife Claribel.pouse Claribel, 47, after a ransom of $2.5 million was demanded for their release. According to Caribbean National Weekly, the couple reside on the island of Monos and operate a shipyard in Chaguaramas. According to the police, a relative received a disturbing voice message from Mr. Tardieu's phone at around 9:44 pm. In the message, he said: "They are holding me and want 2.5 million US dollars for my release. "After receiving the message, Mr. Tardieu's son went to the couple's home in Blanchette Bay on Monos Island, but they were nowhere to be found, reports CNW. The house had been ransacked, and repeated calls to Mr. Tardieu's cell phone went unanswered. Later, a video showing the couple alive but visibly threatened was posted on a so-called "social" network. According to CNW, Derrick Tardieu can be heard pleading with a relative in English and Spanish, urging him to raise the money needed to free himself and his wife. On the Down D Islands, Derrick "stones" Tardieu is "an emblematic figure of navigation and fishing", writes T&T Newsday. In an article published on Wednesday December 10, the newspaper explains that "some boaters at Tardieu Marina in Chaguaramas confided that they already felt in danger even before the kidnapping". According to T&T Newsday, island residents and owners fear that the kidnapping marks "the beginning of a wave of criminal activity" in what is considered a peaceful haven.
Dominican Republic.
Over 300,000 Dominicans return for Christmas
As Christmas and the New Year approach, thousands of Dominicans living abroad are returning home. According to Dominican Today, although official figures for December have not yet been released, authorities expect the number of arrivals to exceed last year's 300,000 Dominicans if the current pace continues. Most travellers arrive via Las Américas International Airport (AILA), mainly from cities such as New York, Miami, Orlando, Boston, Atlanta and Philadelphia, as well as from European countries including Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland and Portugal. Others are arriving from Latin America and the Caribbean, including Chile, Argentina, Panama, Colombia, Guatemala, the Bahamas, St. Thomas and Martinique, home to large Dominican communities. Dominican Today points out that flights are fully booked, thanks in part to the exemption from customs duties granted each year by the government for the festive season. This measure allows Dominicans returning after an absence of more than six months to bring gifts and goods worth up to 5,500 dollars. This exceptional measure will remain in force until January 15.
Virgin Islands (US).
Waste management crisis
In an article published on December 4, the Virgin Islands Consortium reports that Hannibal Ware, executive director of the Waste Management Authority (WMA), informed senators that the territory's landfills, wastewater treatment system and financing are in crisis. He outlined grant-funded projects, problems with illegal dumping and the need for a waste fee, while legislators reviewed the agency's progress. Appointed less than two months ago to head the WMA, the director described a waste management system under severe pressure. "Our system, largely saturated, is now in crisis," Hannibal Ware prefaced his testimony. He described the current situation as "the culmination of long-standing structural problems, historic underinvestment and aging infrastructure that leaves us little room for maneuver." Despite the seriousness of the situation, he highlighted the initial progress made, including the recent award of a $46 million grant that will enable the closure of three-quarters of the Anguilla landfill on St. Croix and the expansion of the remaining portion. He said the expansion would provide "around five additional years of operational capacity" while a new landfill was being designed. One of the main difficulties is the mass of green waste sent to landfill every day. This is estimated at between 80 and 85 tonnes a day. In addition, illegal dumping remains a persistent problem. "Tires, used oil, household appliances and construction debris continue to appear in remote areas, creating risks for the environment and public health," deplored Hannibal Ware.
Sint Maarten.
Temporary military assistance requested from the Netherlands
A meeting between the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Luc Mercelina, and his Dutch counterpart, Dick Schoof, took place on Monday December 8 in the Netherlands. Discussions focused on "national security, the recent upsurge in organized crime and the situation in the Caribbean region", according to a Sint Maarten government press release. The meeting was held in the wake of recent incidents, including thefts in Divi Little Bay, Simpson Bay and Maho. Prime Minister Luc Mercelina, in consultation with Justice Minister Nathalie Tackling, was thus able to officially request temporary military assistance from the Netherlands. "This precautionary measure is aimed at reinforcing visible security and supporting local law enforcement during this period," it says in the government statement. "The safety of our visitors and citizens is our top priority," said Luc Mercelina. We are working closely with the Ministry of Justice, the KPSM and the Dutch Marines to reinforce the security presence at strategic sites as quickly as possible. "The two leaders also discussed US regional military activities in the Caribbean. Prime Minister Schoof reaffirmed that "the Netherlands is not involved in these operations" and that there is "no direct and immediate threat to Sint Maarten or the rest of the Kingdom". He also affirmed that "all US actions are taking place outside the Kingdom's territorial waters and there is no indication that Aruba, Curacao or Sint Maarten are involved in any conflict or military escalation".
Guadeloupe.
Five communes singled out for their elected representatives' entertainment expenses
An investigation published on December 3 by Mediapart focuses on the use of entertainment expenses by elected representatives in French local authorities. In Guadeloupe, no fewer than five communes are found to have high expenses, to say the least. Our colleagues at La 1ère naturally picked up on this Mediapart report. The communes with the highest amounts declared in 2024 are Trois-Rivières (9,472 euros, or 798 per month), Goyave (9,600 euros, 800 per month), Cap Excellence (10,000 euros, 833 per month), as well as Le Moule and Petit-Canal with the same amount (12,000 euros, 1,000 per month). Finally, La 1ère underlines the 2024 record set by Petit-Bourg, with representation costs amounting to 20,000 euros, or 1,667 euros per month. "More than Paris", emphasizes La 1ère. As Mediapart and La 1ère remind us, these expenses are decided by the town council and then left to the free use of elected representatives. No supporting documents are required, no systematic checks are planned, and they are often abused. "Some mayors even combine representation expenses for their commune with those linked to their role as president of the agglomeration, without the law requiring them to account for them", explains La 1ère. According to Mediapart's investigation, 1,288 mayors and presidents of public establishments for inter-communal cooperation received 2.9 million euros in entertainment expenses in 2024.
Saint-Martin.
Sébastien Galleyn, new director of Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital
On November 20, Sébastien Galleyn was appointed head of the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital in Saint-Martin. He succeeds Éric Villeneuve, who was appointed provisional administrator of the hospital for six months last May. Our 97150 colleagues report that the new director, aged 51, is a graduate of the École des hautes études en santé publique in Rennes. Sébastien Galleyn began his career as an officer in the army, before joining the Corsican civil service in 2007. From 2017 to 2024, he was deputy director in charge of human resources at the Castelluccio hospital in Ajaccio, before joining the Bouches du Rhône departmental gerontological center in Marseille. For the past 15 months, he has been deputy director of the center. On taking up his new post, the director told 97150: "I wanted to take over the management of the Saint-Martin hospital because, despite the difficulties facing the establishment, I believe it is vital that the island benefits from a healthcare offer that meets the expectations of the people of Saint-Martin. After twenty years working in Corsica, I'm well aware of the problems associated with insularity, both in terms of the attractiveness of the island for staff and in terms of the care on offer. The CHLCF has motivated staff and assets that will enable us to work with the hospital's teams to build a positive dynamic for the site, enabling us to perpetuate and develop medical and nursing activities in order to provide the best possible care for the population. All this in a budgetary context that is currently complex for healthcare establishments. I came to Saint-Martin with a long-term vision. I also want the people of Saint-Martin to regain confidence in their hospital. "
Puerto Rico.
A 5.5 million budget to boost maternal and child health
An article in the San Juan Star published on Wednesday December 10 reports on the announcement made the previous day, Tuesday, by Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera. The latter declared that an allocation of just over $5.5 million would be made to Puerto Rico's Department of Health to strengthen maternal and child health services, thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Regarding the use of the funds, the Resident Commissioner told the San Juan Star that the grant comes from the Maternal and Child Health Services program and will cover the period from October 1 of this year to September 30, 2027. According to information provided to the San Juan Star, the resources will fund prenatal care, pediatric services, vaccination campaigns and community education in preventive health.
