World

Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit Chais 60th Meeting of OECS Authority

Published

11 years ago

February 4, 2015

Roseau, Dominica – Wednesday, February 04, 2015 – Prime Minister of Dominica the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit is in Fort de France, Martinique for the 60th Meeting of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Authority. Prime Minister Skerrit as Chairman of the OECS will preside over the February 4-5 meeting during which Martinique will become the newest Associate Member of the OECS.

This is the first time that an OECS Authority Meeting is being held outside of the OECS jurisdiction. Prime Minister Skerrit in welcoming Martinique as an Associate Member felt that it would have been appropriate to hold the meeting in Martinique as a sign of embracing “our brothers and sisters in Martinique.”

“It is an important historic event for the OECS that we are bringing Martinique into the fray of the OECS as an associate member. I think it is important for the region, it is important for the people of Martinique that while they are part of Europe but more critically they are also part of the Caribbean and there are a number of things that we can do together as Caribbean people towards addressing common challenges which we have in the region whether it is in health, whether it is in security, whether it is in education, culture, energy, food security. There are a number of things that we can cooperate on and I believe that it is important for us to have the French Departments as part of those discussions, as part of those discourse and encounters,” Prime Minister Skerrit stated.

Prime Minister Skerrit is accompanied to the meeting by His Excellency Felix Gregoire Dominica’s Ambassador to the OECS. Minister for Social Services, Family and Gender Affairs Honourable Catherine Daniel will act as Prime Minister while Prime Minister Skerrit is out of state.

Politics

King Charles Strips Prince Andrew of All Royal Titles, Now Known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor

Published

2 hours ago

October 31, 2025

Willie David

LONDON (FNN) – In a historic and unprecedented decision, King Charles has stripped his younger brother, Prince Andrew, of all royal titles, including “Prince,” effectively removing him from the public and formal life of the British monarchy.

Buckingham Palace confirmed Thursday, October 30, 2025, that Andrew, 65, will no longer be referred to as His Royal Highness or by any of his former peerages. Instead, he will be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles, and Honours of Prince Andrew,” Buckingham Palace said in an official statement. “Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.”

Royal Titles and Honors Revoked

Andrew, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, had held the title of Duke of York since 1986, as well as Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh, all granted on his wedding day to Sarah Ferguson. Those titles, along with his honors as a Knight of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, have now been revoked.

The move also affects his long-term residence. Andrew has been ordered to surrender his lease at Royal Lodge in Windsor, where he has lived for decades.

“His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence,” the palace said. “Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease, and he will move to alternative private accommodation.”

The statement emphasized that these measures were necessary “notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.”

Epstein Scandal and Royal Family Reaction

The decision comes amid renewed scrutiny of Andrew’s association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and ongoing public backlash over past allegations of misconduct. While Andrew continues to deny all accusations, palace insiders say the King’s decision reflects concerns about the monarchy’s integrity and public image.

“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse,” the statement concluded.

According to royal sources, King Charles used his Royal Prerogative—a power allowing the sovereign to manage royal titles and honors without parliamentary approval—to finalize the move. The decision reportedly has the support of Prince William and other senior members of the royal family.

The last time a British royal was formally stripped of a title was in 1917, when Prince Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, lost his titles under the Titles Deprivation Act after swearing allegiance to Germany during World War I.

With this move, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor becomes the first modern royal to be fully divested of all royal status by a reigning monarch.

World

“Machado Awarded Nobel Peace Prize; Dedication Includes Tribute to Trump”

Published

3 weeks ago

October 11, 2025

FNN NEWS

OSLO, Norway (FNN) — The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced on October 10, 2025, that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 has been awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”

In delivering its verdict, the committee lauded Machado as a “brave and committed champion of peace” who continues to keep “the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”

Machado, 58, is a veteran opposition figure who has long resisted the Maduro regime’s crackdown on political dissent. She was barred from running in the contested 2024 presidential election and has since been living in hiding due to threats, yet remained in the country rather than leaving.

Shortly after the announcement, Machado dedicated portions of the award to the Venezuelan people and to former U.S. President Donald Trump, praising his “decisive support” for Venezuela’s democratic cause.
Trump, who had long campaigned for a Nobel Peace Prize, was not selected for the honor. The Nobel Committee affirmed that its decision was finalized before any potential Israel–Gaza peace deal could influence the 2025 award.

The selection of Machado is widely viewed as a moral boost for Venezuela’s suppressed opposition movement and a sharp symbolic rebuke to authoritarian regimes in the region. Analysts suggest the prize amplifies international pressure on the Maduro government and offers renewed hope to Venezuelans enduring economic collapse, human rights abuses, and mass exodus.

The Nobel ceremony will be held in Oslo on December 10, 2025, where Machado is expected to accept the medal, diploma, and the monetary award of roughly 11.1 million Swedish kronor.

1. Award Justification & Nobel Rationale
The Nobel Committee cited Machado’s “tireless work promoting democratic rights” and her efforts for a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.

2. Political Context & Struggles
Machado was disqualified from the 2024 presidential race by Venezuela’s authorities, forced into clandestinity, and faces constant threats, yet has remained a vocal symbol of opposition.

3. Dedication & Relationship with Trump
Although the prize went to Machado, she dedicated it in part to President Trump, citing his support for Venezuela’s opposition and praising his role in the region.

4. Trump’s Campaign & Nobel Snub
Trump and his allies vigorously lobbied for the Nobel Prize, especially highlighting peace deals in the Middle East. But the Nobel Committee stated the decision was made before potential deal outcomes could influence the process.

5. Implications & Aftermath
The award raises the international profile of Venezuela’s opposition, intensifies pressure on Maduro’s government, and underscores the global importance of defending democratic norms in repressive states.

What’s Next for President Trump (Re: Nobel Peace Prize Ambitions)?

Continue Emphasizing Peace Diplomacy
Trump may double down on presenting himself as a global peacemaker, especially in ongoing or future conflict zones (e.g. Middle East, Eastern Europe), to build a case for future Nobel consideration.
Lobbying & Public Relations Campaigns
His team may intensify campaigns to influence public opinion, seek endorsements, and promote narratives that frame his foreign policy moves as peace-making efforts.
Leverage the Snub in Messaging
The “Nobel snub” may be used politically as proof of establishment bias or to appeal to his base, with claims that he was unfairly rejected or that the Nobel Prize has become politicized.
Target the 2026 Prize Consideration
If Trump can engineer a breakthrough peace deal in 2025–2026 that has global impact, he may try to time it so the talk sways the Nobel Committee for the 2026 award cycle.
Counter Narratives & Scrutiny over Policy Complexity
He will likely face heightened scrutiny over whether his “peace deals” are substantive or symbolic. Critics may stress that lasting peace requires political reconciliation and structural changes—not just temporary ceasefires.

In short: Trump’s path to a future Nobel Prize would hinge on securing a widely recognized, credible peace achievement and shaping the global narrative to highlight his role in it.

World

Ghana’s President Declares Transatlantic Slave Trade the “Greatest Crime Against Humanity,” Calls for Global Reparations

Published

4 weeks ago

October 6, 2025

Willie David

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has called the Transatlantic Slave Trade “the greatest crime against humanity” and urged the U.N. to establish a formal framework for reparations. UN Photo / Loey Flipe

NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA (FNN) – Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has called the Transatlantic Slave Trade “the greatest crime against humanity” and urged the U.N. to establish a formal framework for reparations.

The address marked a defining moment in the global conversation about racial and historical justice, as African nations came together for the first time to demand reparative measures from the international community for the enduring legacies of slavery and colonialism.

A Global Call for Recognition, Responsibility, and Restitution

President Mahama’s remarks underscored that reparatory justice is not about pity, but about accountability and fairness.

“Reparatory justice is not about pity—it is about recognition, responsibility, and restitution,” Mahama said. “The descendants of Africa deserve the dignity of acknowledgement and the fairness of redress.”

His speech laid out Ghana’s intention to submit the first formal motion urging the U.N. to recognize slavery’s global impact and to establish concrete compensation measures for Africans and people of African descent worldwide—including Black Americans affected by slavery’s continuing economic and social consequences.

A Historic Moment in Pan-African and Global Unity

The call for reparations received broad support from African and Latin American nations, including the Central African Republic and Bolivia, which advocated for a comprehensive framework that includes financial restitution, environmental restoration, and the return of stolen cultural heritage.

“This is not only about money,” Mahama stressed, “but about justice—justice for the enslavement of our people, for the colonization of our land, for the theft of our natural resources, and for the looting of our cultural treasures that remain abroad.”

This united effort represents the most forceful Pan-African appeal yet for global reparations and signals a new phase of diplomatic cooperation aimed at confronting centuries-old injustices through international law and moral obligation.

Historical Context: A Legacy of Exploitation and Exclusion

Over 12.5 million Africans were forcibly displaced during the Transatlantic Slave Trade, generating vast wealth for Western powers while impoverishing African societies. In Ghana alone, colonial exploitation extracted up to 98% of national wealth, primarily through gold, cocoa, and human labor, enriching Britain and the U.S.

The historical paradox remains striking: after the abolition of slavery, Western governments compensated slave owners for their economic losses—but no compensation was ever given to the enslaved or their descendants.

Today, African leaders argue that this imbalance continues to perpetuate global inequities, and that reparations are a moral, economic, and historical imperative.

The Modern Movement for Reparations and Reconnection

Ghana’s leadership in reparatory justice is built on initiatives like the “Year of Return”, which invited members of the African diaspora—especially Black Americans—to reconnect with their ancestral homeland. While the campaign inspired global attention and migration, it also raised questions about economic gentrification and displacement within Ghana, exposing the complexities of reconciling historical repair with modern realities.

Still, Mahama emphasized that reparations are essential to restore balance between former colonizers and the colonized, affirming that “true reconciliation requires more than remembrance—it requires restitution.”

A Turning Point for International Justice

If the United Nations advances a global reparations framework, it could have far-reaching implications—not only for Africa but for Black communities worldwide, including in the United States, where the fight for federal acknowledgment of slavery’s legacy remains ongoing.

African leaders believe that a U.N.-endorsed plan could amplify global momentum toward reparative justice and economic equality, finally addressing centuries of exploitation and cultural theft.