International

Caribbean countries demand access to state-of-the-art technology

Photo: acn

September 16 |

The economic and social transformation of developing nations, through access to cutting-edge technology and innovation, is a demand made this Saturday by several Caribbean nations at the Summit of the Group of 77 (G77) + China.

On the second and last day of the international meeting being held in Cuba, Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith, praised Havana for its historic role in defending the interests of the South.

During her speech at the summit, Johnson Smith referred to the global crisis facing humanity and expressed her hope that science, technology and innovation will be catalysts in the economic and social transformation of developing nations.

The minister stressed the importance of the political declaration expected to be approved at the summit, which recognizes the challenges we face and reaffirms the need for the countries of the South to act together to seek solutions to common problems.

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Johnson Smith shared Jamaica’s experiences in applying science and technology to boost economic development.

She also took the opportunity to salute Cuba and acknowledge the significant progress it has made in the field of science, despite the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States.

The minister also emphasized the importance of financing to address climate change and promote development. She lamented that not all countries have equitable access to this funding, highlighting the need to address this inequality.

Minister Johnson Smith’s remarks reflect Jamaica’s recognition of the importance of science and technology in economic and social development, as well as its commitment to solidarity and cooperation among countries of the South to address common challenges.

Chet Greene, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Trade and Barbuda Affairs, expressed his condemnation of the blockade imposed on Cuba and the sanctions applied to Venezuela during the summit.

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He also emphasized solidarity with Morocco and Libya, countries that have recently been affected by natural disasters.

In his speech, Minister Greene underscored the need for the G77 countries and China to insist on access to finance for development in order to achieve the goals set out in the 2030 Agenda.

He referred to the archaic international financial architecture, which does not take into account the needs of small island states in key areas such as agriculture, food, education and health.

The minister expressed concern about the restrictive policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union, which force island states to borrow and accumulate debt.

He emphasized that climate change is an issue that fundamentally affects these nations and stressed the importance of receiving assistance in this regard. He thanked China for its support and for offering acceptable loan rates.

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Mr. Greene advocated access to technology at affordable prices, considering this a great support for the island nations.

At the end of his speech, the Minister recalled the passion of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro and his focus on the human mission of the summit, emphasizing the importance of guaranteeing equal rights for all human beings.

Another speaker was Denzil Douglas, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Economic Development, International Trade, Investment, Industry and Commerce of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

In his opportunity, he stated that the G77 and China Summit can be an engine for the adoption of practical actions that will drive the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and progress towards a sustainable and digital economy, including the incorporation of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence.

During his remarks, the minister highlighted St. Kitts and Nevis’ experiences in implementing technologies in key sectors such as health and education.

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He underscored his nation’s desire to ensure that no one is left behind in an increasingly digital world and emphasized the need to transform the current international financial architecture in this regard.

Douglas also emphasized the Caribbean’s particular vulnerability to hurricanes and other natural disasters as a result of climate change.

He noted that the pandemic has accelerated the need for changes in social policies and the development of digital services in order to achieve sustainable development.

International

Peruvian presidential candidate Napoleón Becerra dies in campaign road accident

Presidential candidate Napoleón Becerra, representing the Partido de los Trabajadores y Emprendedores (PTE) in Peru, died in a traffic accident while traveling to a campaign event, local authorities confirmed Sunday.

Becerra, who also served as president of the centrist political party, ranked among the lowest in opinion polls in a crowded field of more than 30 candidates competing in the presidential election scheduled for April 12.

Recent surveys place Rafael López Aliaga at the top of voter preferences.

The accident occurred near the town of Ayacucho, in southern Peru, when the vehicle carrying the candidate overturned for reasons that remain under investigation.

“The candidate Becerra has died,” Balvin Huamani, mayor of the district of Pilpichaca, told RPP radio.

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According to Huamani, he personally transported the 61-year-old candidate to a local health center, where doctors confirmed his death.

The Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE) expressed condolences over Becerra’s passing and wished a speedy recovery to the three people who were traveling with him and were injured in the crash.

International

Noboa intensifies anti-cartel crackdown as violence persists in Ecuador

A close ally of Washington, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has pursued a hardline security strategy against cocaine cartels for more than two years, yet homicide, disappearance and extortion rates remain high across the country.

Between Sunday night and the morning of March 31, Ecuador’s armed forces will launch a “very strong offensive” with “advisory support” from the United States, Interior Minister John Reimberg announced Tuesday.

The government has kept details of the operation confidential and has not confirmed whether U.S. troops will be deployed on Ecuadorian soil, as has occurred at times during Noboa’s administration.

As part of the security measures, residents in the coastal provinces of Guayas, Los Ríos, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, and El Oro will be subject to a nightly curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. local time for the next two weeks.

“We are in a war,” Reimberg said, urging citizens to remain indoors. “Do not take risks. Stay home and allow the security forces and our allies to do the work that must be done.”

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Although Ecuador does not produce cocaine, it has become a major departure point for drugs heading to the United States. Meanwhile, the violence associated with trafficking has increasingly affected the local population.

Bordering the world’s largest cocaine producers, Colombia and Peru, Ecuador has gone from being considered a relatively peaceful country to recording one of the highest homicide rates in Latin America—52 killings per 100,000 inhabitants—according to the **Observatory of Organized Crime.

International

Peruvian presidential candidate proposes death penalty amid crime surge

Peru is facing an unprecedented surge in crime ahead of its presidential election scheduled for April 12, with violence fueled by extortion networks and a wave of contract killings linked to organized crime.

Police data show that 2,200 homicides tied to organized crime were recorded in 2025, while extortion complaints increased by 19%, underscoring the growing security crisis in the South American nation.

Amid this backdrop, presidential candidate Álvarez has proposed reinstating the death penalty if elected, arguing that extreme measures are needed to curb the violence.

To implement the proposal, Álvarez said Peru would withdraw from the American Convention on Human Rights—also known as the Pact of San José—which the country signed in 1978. The agreement prevents member states that have abolished capital punishment from reinstating it.

Currently, Peruvian law only allows the death penalty in cases of treason during wartime.

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“We have to leave the Pact of San José and apply the death penalty in Peru because those miserable criminals don’t deserve to live,” Álvarez told AFP during a campaign stop at a market in Callao, the port city neighboring Lima.

“An iron fist against those criminals,” he added, proposing to declare hitmen as military targets.

During the campaign event, Álvarez walked through stalls selling vegetables, groceries, and fish, greeting vendors while musicians played cumbia music nearby.

The 62-year-old candidate, who spent more than four decades working in television as a comedian, is a newcomer to politics and is running for president under the País para Todos party.

Polls place him fifth in voter preference with nearly 4% support in a fragmented race featuring 36 candidates.