Caribbean News
Jamaica to Strengthen Technical Co-Operation with Rwanda
#Kingston, April 16, 2022 – Jamaica is to strengthen its technical cooperation with the Republic of Rwanda in several fields, including culture, information and communications technology (ICT), health, tourism and sport.
This was disclosed by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, in his address at a joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament on Thursday (April 14), which was held as part of activities for the three-day State visit of the President of the Republic of Rwanda, His Excellency Paul Kagame.
“We congratulate and admire Rwanda for its many milestone achievements over the past 28 years, and we believe that there is much for us to share and learn from each other,” the Prime Minister said.
Mr. Holness said the country is also looking forward to advancing both States’ economic relations through increased trade and investment prospects, particularly as it relates to logistics, special economic zones, agriculture and manufacturing.
“I also welcome the other occasions and events during this visit that will allow for us to share views and opinions on a variety of global and local issues,” he said.
Mr. Holness noted that Jamaica and Rwanda have forged a collaborative partnership since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1998, and that the Rwandan President’s visit is a great opportunity to deepen both countries’ collaboration at the bilateral level and maximise the level of engagement.
“Indeed, the Jamaica/Rwanda relationship is one of kinship, and so we hope to continue to deepen our friendship, in keeping with my Administration’s goal to strengthen engagement with the African continent,” he said.
The Prime Minister stressed that Rwanda is a powerhouse of socio-economic development and advancement, and, like Jamaica, has a level of influence and impact that far surpasses its geographical size.
“Rwanda has overcome unimaginable challenges and it now embraces its rightful place in regional and global leadership. Rwanda’s rise and its status as one of Africa’s fastest growing economies has been achieved under President Kagame’s able leadership, steady guidance, built upon his fight for the country’s liberation,” he said.
Mr. Holness noted that Rwanda is now a model of the true spirit of “umuganda” – the coming together in a common purpose to achieve an outcome – adding that Rwanda is also a practical voice for environmental management and innovation and stands as a shining example in its empowerment of women and girls.
In his address, President Kagame congratulated the country on the launch of its celebrations last evening marking the 60th Anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence, which he said, was “a fitting tribute to the enormous progress Jamaica has made”.
“Independence is a date in history, but it is also a mindset. The power of an anniversary comes from the opportunity to remind a new generation of the struggles that came before. Even more important is upholding the spirit of self-reliance needed to sustain and deepen what has been accomplished in the time since,” he said.
The Rwandan President also expressed the desire to strengthen ties with Jamaica, noting that several Jamaican professionals residing in Rwanda have been making meaningful contributions to the African continent.
“As Rwanda, we are also keen to cooperate with Jamaica much more closely and share experiences in trade and investment, as well as national unity and citizen development. Let’s exchange with each other directly and, thereby, honour the history that joins us, and make it a potent force for practical cooperation in the modern world,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition, Mark Golding; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Marisa Dalrymple Philibert; and President of the Senate, Senator the Hon. Tom Tavares-Finson, also welcomed President Kagame in their remarks.
President Kagame’s visit is intended to deepen bilateral relations between Jamaica and Rwanda. He has the distinction of being the first Rwandan Head of State to visit Jamaica.
Contact: Alecia Smith
By Deandrea Hamilton | Magnetic Media
October 14, 2025 – It’s being called political theatre — but for citizens, constitutional watchdogs, and democracy advocates across the Caribbean, it feels far more serious. Within a single week, two national parliaments — in Trinidad and Tobago and St. Kitts and Nevis — descended into turmoil as opposition members stormed out in protest, accusing their Speakers of bias, overreach, and abuse of parliamentary procedure.
For observers, the walkouts signal a deeper problem: erosion of trust in the very institutions meant to safeguard democracy. When Speakers are viewed as political enforcers instead of neutral referees, parliaments stop functioning as chambers of debate and start performing as stages for power and spectacle — with citizens left wondering who, if anyone, is still accountable.
October 6: St. Kitts Parliament Erupts
The first walkout erupted in Basseterre on October 6, 2025, when Dr. Timothy Harris, former Prime Minister and now Opposition Leader,
led his team out of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly in a protest that stunned the chamber.
The flashpoint came as the Speaker moved to approve more than three years’ worth of unratified parliamentary minutes in one sitting — covering 27 meetings and three national budgets — without individual review or debate.
Dr. Harris called the move “a flagrant breach of the Constitution and parliamentary tradition,” warning that the practice undermines transparency and accountability. “No serious parliament can go years without approving a single set of minutes,” he said after exiting the chamber.
The Speaker defended the decision as administrative housekeeping, but critics were unconvinced, branding the move a “world record disgrace.” The opposition’s walkout triggered renewed calls for the Speaker’s resignation and sparked a wider public discussion about record-keeping, accountability, and respect for parliamentary norms in St. Kitts and Nevis.
October 10: Trinidad Opposition Follows Suit
Four days later, on October 10, 2025, the Opposition United National Congress (UNC) in Trinidad and Tobago staged its own walkout from the House of Representatives in Port of Spain.
The UNC accused the Speaker of partisan bias, claiming she had repeatedly blocked urgent questions, ignored points of order, and allowed government members to breach standing orders without consequence.
“The Speaker has failed in her duty to act impartially,” the Opposition declared in a statement. “Parliament is not the property of any political party or Presiding Officer.”
The dramatic exit was seen as a culmination of months of rising tension and frustration, with opposition MPs arguing that parliamentary rules were being selectively applied to silence dissenting voices.
Political analyst Dr. Marcia Ferdinand described the twin walkouts as “a warning sign that parliamentary democracy in the Caribbean is teetering on the edge of performative politics.”
“When chairs become political shields rather than constitutional referees,” she said, “democracy becomes theatre, not governance.”
A Pattern Emerging
While St. Kitts and Trinidad are very different political environments, both incidents point to the same regional fault line: the perception that Speakers — the guardians of parliamentary order — are no longer impartial.
In Westminster-style systems like those across the Caribbean, the Speaker’s authority depends not on power but on public confidence in fairness. Once that credibility erodes, parliamentary control collapses into confrontation.
Governance experts say the implications are serious: eroded trust between government and opposition, declining public confidence in state institutions, and growing voter cynicism that “rules” are flexible tools of political advantage.
Why It Matters
Parliamentary walkouts are not new in the Caribbean, but what makes these recent events different is their frequency and intensity — and
the regional echo they’ve created. Social media has amplified images of lawmakers storming out, with citizens from Barbados to Belize questioning whether the same erosion of decorum could be happening in their own legislatures.
Analysts warn that if this perception takes hold, it risks diminishing the moral authority of parliamentary democracy itself.
“Once opposition MPs believe the rules are rigged, and once citizens believe Parliament is just performance,” said one Caribbean governance researcher, “you’ve lost the most valuable currency in democracy — trust.”
Restoring Balance
Political reformers across the region are calling for tighter Standing Order enforcement, independent parliamentary service commissions, and training to strengthen Speaker neutrality. Civil society leaders say the public must also play its part by demanding transparency and refusing to normalize partisan manipulation of parliamentary procedure.
Whether these twin walkouts become catalysts for reform — or simply another episode of Caribbean political theatre — will depend on what happens next inside those chambers.
For now, democracy watchers agree on one thing: when opposition leaders feel the only way to be heard is to walk out, the entire democratic house — not just its Speaker — is in danger of collapse.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
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