World

Sylvanie Burton to become the first woman President of Dominica

Published

3 years ago

September 28, 2023

DOMINICA – The second and final term of Hs Excellency Charles Savarin will end of October 1, 2023 and a new President will be inaugurated on October 2.

The Government of Dominica has nominated career public officer Mrs. Sylvanie Burton for the position. Mrs. Burton is set to be the first woman and first person of Kalinago decent to hold Dominica’s highest office.

A sitting of Parliament to elect a President became necessary when Prime Minister Skerrit informed the Speaker of the House that he and Leader of the Opposition Hon. Jesma Paul-Victor had not agreed on a joint nominee for the position of President.

“I have received a letter form the Hon. Prime Minister, which I shall read. It says that ‘Dear Hon. Speaker, in accordance to Section 19:3 of the Commonwealth of Dominica Constitution Order 1978, I hereby inform you that the Leader of the Opposition and I have been unable to agree on a joint nominee of a candidate for election as President. Signed Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister.’, the Hon. Speaker stated.

Chapter II of the Constitution outlines the procedures to follow once the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition do not agree on a joint nominee.

Parliament will meet again on September 27, where the Government of Dominica will officially nominate Mrs. Sylvanie Burton. Leader of the Opposition Hon. Jesma Paul Victor has given no indication as to who will be nominated by the Opposition.

“If you oppose, then you should have something else to propose. So we look forward to her proposed nominee if she has one, then there will be an election in the next fourteen days. We will come to Parliament so we can have a President Elect who will take up office on the 2^nd of October 20223. So today was important. It was a fulfillment of the obligations mandated by the constitution that I inform the Speaker that there is no joint nominee and the Speaker convenes Parliament to inform the Parliament of that situation and advising Parliament of the process involved in the nomination and election of a President for Dominica as per the provisions of the constitution,” Prime Minister Skerrit explained.

The nomination by Government of the first woman and first indigenous person for the position of President has been described as historic. Many have expressed surprise that the Opposition has not supported the nomination.

“It’s unfortunate that she allowed an opportunity to be a part of history to pass her as a woman, and I think that recognizing that our nominee is not only a woman but an Indigenous person. And I think that this has received tremendous regional and international accolades for not only a woman but an indigenous person. Those of us who are students of history understand and appreciate the contributions of Indigenous people to the protection and preservation of our patrimony,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Representative for the Marigot Constituency Hon. Anthony Charles has expressed support for Government’s nominee Mrs. Sylvanie Burton. Hon. Charles is calling for unity in the process of the election of the President.

“It’s not you come with one and you come with one and we agree. I think we should come together, call out some names and pick the best candidate together. We should have a mutual agreement. I have no problem with the young lady. Mrs. Sylvanie Burton is a close family friend, so I have no problem with the candidate, but it’s the process,” Hon. Charles stated.

A person shall be qualified to be nominated for election as President once he or she is a citizen of Dominica, above the age of forty and who at the date of his nomination has been resident in Dominica for five years immediately preceding his or her nomination.

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World

Ecuador Honors Marco Rubio With National Order of Merit Grand Cross

Published

6 days ago

September 10, 2026

FNN NEWS

US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL.) presents his gun plan in 2018. Photo via ABC News.

President Daniel Noboa recognizes U.S. secretary of state during Quito visit focused on security, counternarcotics cooperation and stronger U.S.-Ecuador relations

QUITO, Ecuador (FNN) — Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa awarded U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio the National Order of Merit in the degree of Grand Cross on Wednesday, recognizing Rubio’s role in strengthening relations between the United States and Ecuador.

The Sept. 9 ceremony took place at the Carondelet presidential palace in Quito during Rubio’s South American diplomatic tour. Official State Department photography confirms Noboa presented the decoration to Rubio during the ceremony.

The honor came as Rubio and Noboa emphasized deeper cooperation on regional security, transnational organized crime, drug trafficking and economic prosperity.

ECUADOR RECOGNIZES RUBIO’S ROLE IN BILATERAL RELATIONS

An executive decree read during the ceremony cited Rubio’s “distinguished services” and commitment to strengthening ties between Ecuador and the United States.

The decree highlighted bilateral cooperation against transnational organized crime, narcotics trafficking and illicit financial networks.

Noboa praised Rubio’s diplomatic engagement in Latin America and said the relationship between the two countries extends beyond government-to-government cooperation.

Ecuadorian media also reported that the award recognized Rubio’s contributions to bilateral relations and cooperation on security.

RUBIO: U.S.-ECUADOR RELATIONS HAVE IMPROVED

Accepting the decoration, Rubio called it a “great honor” and emphasized what he described as significant improvements in relations between the two countries.

Rubio focused particularly on two priorities: security and prosperity.

He said governments must provide security to create conditions for economic opportunity and pledged continued cooperation from President Donald Trump’s administration.

The Quito meeting was Rubio’s third meeting with Noboa, according to Rubio’s remarks.

SECURITY COOPERATION TAKES CENTER STAGE

The ceremony came during a broader visit focused heavily on counternarcotics and security cooperation.

Rubio announced that the Trump administration would seek approximately $45 million from Congress for security assistance to Ecuador, along with an additional $10 million targeting illegal gold mining, gang recruitment and illicit finance, according to Reuters.

The United States also designated Ecuadorian criminal organization Los Tiguerones as a foreign terrorist organization during Rubio’s visit.

Ecuador has become an increasingly important U.S. partner in regional counternarcotics operations under Noboa. The country has struggled with escalating violence involving criminal organizations competing over drug-trafficking routes and access to ports.

NOBOA PRAISES RUBIO’S LATIN AMERICAN ENGAGEMENT

Noboa used the ceremony to emphasize Rubio’s connection to Latin America and his work on regional security.

The Ecuadorian president said Rubio’s approach has helped strengthen relationships between the United States and countries throughout the region.

“We have achieved, working hand in hand with the United States, to provide more peace, health and also more liberties,” Noboa said through an interpreter, according to the ceremony transcript.

Noboa described the decoration as one of Ecuador’s highest honors. Independent reporting characterized the National Order of Merit in the Grand Cross degree as a major Ecuadorian national distinction awarded for extraordinary service.

RUBIO’S SOUTH AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC TOUR

Ecuador was part of a broader South American trip for Rubio.

He traveled to Ecuador after meeting Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella, with security, counternarcotics cooperation and economic relations among the major subjects of the trip. Rubio was then scheduled to travel to Peru.

The Ecuador visit underscored the Trump administration’s effort to strengthen relationships with regional governments cooperating with Washington on narcotics trafficking, migration and security.

For Rubio and Noboa, the Grand Cross ceremony also provided a symbolic backdrop for an expanding bilateral relationship centered on security cooperation, combating organized crime and economic ties.

US NATIONAL NEWS

U.S. Expands Sanctions Targeting Iran’s Financial Networks and Regime Financiers

Published

2 months ago

July 10, 2026

FNN NEWS

WASHINGTON (FNN NEWS) — The Trump administration announced a new round of sanctions Friday targeting individuals and businesses accused of helping finance Iran’s ruling elite and facilitating international financial transactions on behalf of the Iranian regime.

The sanctions, announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, target a global financial network that U.S. officials say supports Iran’s Supreme Leader and other senior regime officials.

Global Financial Network Targeted

According to the administration, the sanctions focus on Ali Ansari, a Dubai-based Iranian national accused of managing an extensive network of real estate and commercial holdings across multiple countries on behalf of Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s Supreme Leader, and other regime insiders.

U.S. officials said the network includes assets and business interests in:

Germany
United Kingdom
Spain
Cyprus
United Arab Emirates
Other international jurisdictions

The administration alleges the network has been used to help Iranian regime officials maintain access to international financial markets.

Currency Exchange Houses Sanctioned

The Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on three Iran-based currency exchange firms and their associated leadership:

Mohammad Darbani and Partners
Lavasani and Partners
Mohsen Khandan and Partners

The sanctions also extend to the firms’ managing partners and affiliated front companies.

According to the administration, these entities allegedly enabled Iran to obtain foreign currency and conduct international financial transactions despite existing U.S. sanctions.

Administration Cites Maximum Pressure Campaign

The White House said the latest designations are part of President Donald Trump’s broader strategy to increase economic pressure on Iran.

Administration officials said they will continue targeting individuals, businesses and financial institutions—including foreign entities—that facilitate illicit Iranian commerce or assist the regime in evading U.S. sanctions.

The administration maintains that the sanctions are intended to pressure Iran to end what it describes as destabilizing activities in the region and to hold accountable those who enable corruption within the Iranian government.

Authorities Used for Sanctions

The sanctions were imposed under multiple executive authorities, including:

Executive Order 13902, targeting Iran’s financial and petroleum sectors.
Executive Order 13876, focusing on Iran’s Supreme Leader and affiliated individuals.
Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886, which provides counterterrorism sanctions authority.

Treasury officials said the latest designations build upon previous actions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeting Iran’s shadow banking system and currency exchange networks.

World

U.S., CARICOM IMPACS Sign Landmark Biometrics Data-Sharing Agreement to Strengthen Border Security

Published

2 months ago

July 10, 2026

FNN NEWS

WASHINGTON (FNN NEWS) — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) signed a Biometrics Data Sharing Partnership (BDSP) Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on Friday, establishing a new framework for sharing biometric information to strengthen border security and immigration screening.

The agreement was signed July 10 at the Embassy of Saint Kitts and Nevis in Washington, D.C.

Strengthening National and Regional Security

According to DHS, the agreement enhances U.S. national security by enabling biometric information sharing between the United States and CARICOM member states that operate Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs.

Officials said the partnership will improve the ability of both the United States and participating Caribbean nations to identify potential security threats before individuals enter the United States.

The agreement is also intended to help prevent individuals from exploiting Citizenship by Investment programs to evade immigration or law enforcement screening, addressing what officials described as a critical gap in Western Hemisphere security.

Supporting Immigration Integrity

The memorandum also reflects Caribbean governments’ commitment to strengthening immigration integrity and aligning border security practices with U.S. standards.

DHS said the partnership reinforces regional cooperation on identity verification, information sharing and security screening while supporting lawful travel and international security efforts.

Senior Officials Attend Signing Ceremony

The signing ceremony brought together senior representatives from:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
White House Homeland Security Council
U.S. Department of State
CARICOM IMPACS

Diplomatic representatives from the following Caribbean nations also participated:

Antigua and Barbuda
Dominica
Grenada
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

These countries currently operate Citizenship by Investment programs that provide foreign nationals a pathway to citizenship through qualifying investments.

Regional Security Cooperation Expands

The Biometrics Data Sharing Partnership represents one of the most significant security cooperation agreements between the United States and CARICOM member states in recent years.

Officials said the framework will strengthen information sharing, improve border security, support immigration integrity and enhance efforts to identify individuals who may pose security risks before they travel to the United States.