Colombian President Gustavo Petro will meet at midday on Friday in Caracas with Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez, in what marks the first official meeting between a head of state and the Venezuelan leader since she took office on January 5, following the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro in a US military operation on January 3 of this year.
By NAN Business Editor News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri, April 24, 2026: Caribbean economies are set to follow sharply different growth paths in 2026 and 2027, with oil-producing nations surging ahead while tourism-dependent economies face slower expansion, according to new data from the World Bank.
The latest Latin America and Caribbean Economic Update shows that while the Caribbean economic growth overall continues to struggle with slow growth, the Caribbean is increasingly split between high-growth and moderate-growth economies.
At the center of this divergence is Guyana, which remains the region’s fastest-growing economy, driven by its oil boom.
Growth is projected at 16.3% in 2026, rising further to 23.5% in 2027, far outpacing every other Caribbean nation.
Suriname is also emerging as a strong performer, with growth expected to reach 4.0% in 2026 and 4.5% in 2027, supported by energy-related investments and future oil production expectations.
By contrast, many tourism-dependent economies are seeing more modest expansion.
The Bahamas is projected to grow at 2.2% in 2026 and 1.9% in 2027, while Barbados is expected to post 2.7% growth in 2026 and 3.0% in 2027.
Jamaica, however, stands out on the downside, with the economy expected to contract by -1.0% in 2026 before recovering to 3.2% in 2027, reflecting ongoing economic pressures and recovery challenges.
Smaller economies like Grenada, Dominica and St.
Vincent and the Grenadines are expected to maintain steady but moderate growth in the 2.8%–3.1% range over the next two years.
Haiti remains one of the region’s most fragile economies, with growth projected at just 0.6% in 2026, rising to 1.9% in 2027, underscoring continued structural challenges.
Overall, the World Bank warns that despite pockets of strong performance, the Caribbean’s outlook reflects a broader pattern across Latin America and the Caribbean, where growth remains constrained by limited investment, global uncertainty, and structural weaknesses.
“Stagnation in economic growth and persistent difficulties in creating high-quality jobs have moved industrial policy back to the radar of the policy debate,” the Bank noted.
As global conditions remain uncertain, the report emphasizes that long-term growth across the Caribbean will depend on stronger institutions, improved investment climates, and the ability to attract capital into productive sectors.
Invest Caribbean CEO, Felicia J.
Persaud, noted that “for investors, the takeaway is clear: growth is not uniform – and capital must be deployed strategically.” Understanding where growth is accelerating – and where it is constrained – will be critical for deploying capital effectively across the Caribbean in 2026 and beyond.Assess your project’s funding readiness now.
RELATED: U.S., China Tensions Rise Over Bahamas Hospital Project
By NAN Business Editor News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri.
April 24, 2026: The upcoming AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2026) is being positioned as a key platform to deepen trade and investment ties between Africa and the Caribbean – but a persistent challenge remains: project readiness.
Afreximbank has signed a hosting agreement with the Government of St.
Kitts and Nevis for the fifth edition of the forum, scheduled for July 29–31, 2026 in Basseterre.
The event is expected to bring together governments, investors, development finance institutions, and private sector leaders from across both regions.
ACTIF has emerged as a leading platform for mobilizing capital and advancing Africa–Caribbean economic cooperation.
The 2025 edition resulted in five Caribbean deals totaling approximately US$291 million, while Afreximbank has approved more than US$700 million in financing across CARICOM markets in recent years.
The 2026 forum is expected to focus on identifying priority projects and accelerating execution across sectors including infrastructure, tourism, energy, and trade.
But while opportunity is expanding, access to capital is not automatic.
Across the Caribbean, many projects continue to face challenges in securing financing – not due to lack of investor interest, but due to gaps in structure, financial clarity, and overall investment readiness.
Invest Caribbean CEO Felicia J.
Persaud noted that “the challenge is not just access to capital – it is qualification.” Many otherwise promising projects fail to secure funding due to gaps in financial clarity, collateral structures, and execution planning, she added.
Still others struggle to understand the differences between debt and equity financing, or the stages of capital – from pre-seed to Series A – often approaching investors without the level of structure or documentation required to support multi-million-dollar raises.
To put that into perspective, institutional lenders like Afreximbank require far more than an idea or concept.
Financing consideration typically depends on a fully developed project package – including feasibility studies, ownership and governance structures, land title and regulatory approvals, detailed financial models, and clearly defined debt and equity frameworks.
Projects must also demonstrate market demand, operational readiness, environmental compliance, and realistic revenue projections backed by data.
As global institutions like Afreximbank expand their footprint in the region, the demand for bankable, well-structured projects is increasing – but the supply of investment-ready opportunities remains limited.
Without that alignment, opportunities risk remaining announcements rather than funded deals, Persaud said.
ACTIF2026 is expected to play a critical role in strengthening Africa–Caribbean partnerships and advancing the concept of “Global Africa,” but translating interest into actual investment will depend heavily on the quality and readiness of projects presented.
Assess your project’s funding readiness through Invest Caribbean and AI Capital Exchange RELATED: US Travel Warning Issued For Trinidad and Tobago
Invisibilizado, casi oculto y sin ninguna trascendencia en el debate futbolístico del fútbol chileno, Michael Clark finalmente decidió dar un paso al costado y renunció a la presidencia y la dirección ejecutiva del club Universidad de Chile, asediado por las querellas en su contra y los dictámenes de la Comisión del Mercado Financiero por su opaca gestión al frente de Sartor, la empresa que decidió comprar la mayoría de las acciones de Azul Azul con la peregrina idea de refundar un club popular e histórico.
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La “calle del deporte” del centro de la Ciudad de México se despliega como una meca de los clones futboleros.
Las varias cuadras de tiendas con jerseys, balones y llaveros con logos de dudosa procedencia ilustran un nuevo campo de batalla económica: el Gobierno de México contra la piratería.
“Las ventas han estado un poco estancadas, justamente por el miedo a los operativos.
Pero nada más esperamos el primer partido para que nos pegue la euforia del Mundial”, dijo un comerciante que resguardó su nombre.
Minutos antes había vendido una copia de la camiseta de la selección mexicana a unos 200 pesos, un tercio de lo que cuesta la original.
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El presidente de Colombia, Gustavo Petro, y la presidenta encargada de Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, lo intentarán por segunda vez.
Los dos mandatarios tienen previsto verse este viernes, al mediodía local, en Caracas, según anunció el propio mandatario colombiano.
Este será el primer encuentro oficial de un jefe de Estado en la Venezuela sin Nicolás Maduro y un paso más en la consolidación de Rodríguez en el poder.
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Diego Andrés López, alcalde de Mesitas del Colegio, un municipio a 50 kilómetros de Bogotá, está marcado por la historia de las mujeres de su familia.
Primero fue su madre, Lucila Suárez.
Palomo, como es conocido, cuenta que creció viéndola sostener el hogar mientras criaba seis hijos.
Eran los años ochenta y noventa y, aunque dedicó buena parte de su vida a cuidar de su familia, nunca logró completar las semanas exigidas para pensionarse.
Años después, López vio otra brecha, ahora cuando sus hermanas tuvieron que interrumpir la lactancia materna exclusiva cuando, tras 18 semanas, terminaron sus licencias de maternidad.
Las luchas de esas mujeres se convirtieron en suyas, y el administrador público las llevó hasta la Corte Constitucional.
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La supuesta trama de fraude desplegada por Metaxchange Capital ha dejado tras de sí más de un millar de clientes afectados, unos 2.000 millones de pesos en depósitos y más de un centenar de denuncias.
El caso cobró relevancia a fines de febrero pasado cuando la actriz y cantante Sandra Echeverría denunció en sus redes sociales el quebranto económico que sufrió a manos de la empresa.
Tras meses del rastreo de cuentas y análisis de testimonios y pruebas, la directora de la firma, Nazaret Rodríguez, fue detenida la semana pasada en un exclusivo barrio de Ciudad de México y este jueves ha sido vinculada a proceso.
“Todos los discursos que la señora ha sustentado sobre su inocencia y sobre tratar de culpar a gente que fue inversionista son completamente falsos”, indicó la intérprete después de acudir a la segunda audiencia sobre el caso en Ciudad de México.
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Two commercial aircraft collided on the ground at Santiago's Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport on Wednesday evening in an incident that left no injuries but forced the rescheduling of both affected flights.
The collision occurred at around 8:00 p.m.
local time, when a LATAM Airlines Airbus A321 struck a stationary Aerolíneas Argentinas Boeing 737 that was holding on the apron awaiting clearance for take-off.
By Nyan Reynolds News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs.
April 23, 2026: In a move that signals a significant shift in federal drug policy, on Thursday, the administration of Donald Trump has delivered on marijuana rescheduling, reclassifiying medical marijuana from a Schedule I substance to a Schedule III drug.
This decision, formalized under the direction of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, does not legalize marijuana at the federal level.
However, it marks a pivotal transition in how the government perceives its risk, utility, and place within the broader healthcare and legal framework of the United States.
At face value, this policy shift appears administrative, even overdue.
But beneath the surface lies a far more complex and uncomfortable question.
What does this reclassification mean for the thousands of individuals, disproportionately Black, Brown, and Caribbean, who were incarcerated, deported, or otherwise destabilized under the very laws that are now being softened?
This is not an argument for or against marijuana use.
It is an examination of policy evolution, historical consequences, and strategic accountability.
The War On Drugs: Policy Without Perspective To understand the significance of this moment, one must revisit the architecture of the War on Drugs.
For decades, marijuana was categorized alongside substances considered to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
This classification justified aggressive enforcement policies that reached their peak during the 1990s.
The passage of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 under Bill Clinton, commonly associated with the three strikes provision, intensified penalties for repeat offenders.
While not exclusively about marijuana, its enforcement disproportionately impacted individuals whose offenses included nonviolent drug related charges.
The result was not merely incarceration.
It was systemic disruption.
Families were fractured.
Economic mobility was halted.
Entire communities, particularly Black and Caribbean communities, found themselves entangled in a justice system that treated possession as a gateway to long term punishment rather than rehabilitation or medical consideration.
In many Caribbean cultures, marijuana was not introduced as a recreational vice, but as a traditional remedy.
It was used for stress, pain, and spiritual grounding.
For immigrants who carried these cultural norms into the United States, the clash between cultural practice and legal restriction became a high stakes risk, one that many paid for with their freedom or their residency.
Cultural Context Vs.
Legal Reality In cities like New York, where Caribbean populations are deeply rooted, marijuana use existed in a complex space.
It was normalized within households, often framed as medicinal or therapeutic, yet criminalized within the broader legal system.
This disconnect created a silent tension.
Individuals who viewed marijuana as a tool for managing anxiety, chronic pain, or emotional distress found themselves labeled as offenders.
The law did not differentiate between cultural context and criminal intent.
It operated with rigidity, and in doing so, it erased nuance.
The consequences extended beyond incarceration.
For non-citizens, a marijuana related conviction could trigger deportation proceedings.
Families who had built lives in the United States were suddenly uprooted, not because of violent behavior, but because of a substance that is now, in 2026, recognized as having medical value.
The Strategic Shift: From Schedule I To Schedule III The reclassification of marijuana to a Schedule III drug represents a fundamental change in federal posture.
Schedule III substances are defined as having a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence, and importantly, recognized medical use.
This shift aligns federal policy, at least partially, with the direction many states have already taken.
Dozens of states have legalized medical marijuana, and several have gone further to permit recreational use.
From a strategic standpoint, this alignment reduces friction between state and federal systems.
It also opens the door for expanded research, which has long been hindered by marijuana’s previous classification.
According to statements surrounding the decision, the intent is to facilitate scientific inquiry into the safety and efficacy of marijuana.
This is a critical development.
For decades, policymakers cited a lack of research as justification for prohibition, while simultaneously restricting the very research that could provide clarity.
Now, that barrier is being lowered.
The Human Cost Of Policy Evolution Policy shifts are often measured in legislative language and institutional outcomes.
But they must also be measured in human impact.
What happens when a substance once deemed dangerous and illegal is later acknowledged as medically beneficial?
The answer is not simple, but it is necessary.
There are individuals who served years in prison for offenses that, under today’s framework, might not result in incarceration at all.
There are families who endured separation, financial hardship, and emotional trauma as a direct result of policies that are now being reconsidered.
This raises a difficult but unavoidable question.
Were these individuals casualties of a flawed system, or were they, in some sense, contributors to a broader societal shift?
The term martyr may feel heavy, but it captures the tension.
These individuals did not set out to change policy.
Yet their experiences, their cases, and the cumulative weight of enforcement outcomes have shaped the national conversation around marijuana.
Public Perception And The Role Of Influence Cultural narratives have also played a role in this shift.
In a recent reflection, Rosie Perez shared a story about a moment with Tupac Shakur in the 1990s, where they smoked marijuana privately at a time when such behavior was heavily stigmatized, especially for public figures.
This anecdote is not isolated.
It represents a broader pattern of hidden use among individuals who feared legal and reputational consequences.
Over time, as more voices emerged, both public and private, the perception of marijuana began to shift.
It moved from being seen solely as a recreational drug to being recognized for its potential therapeutic benefits.
This evolution in perception has influenced policy, but it has also highlighted the disparity between those who could engage in such behavior discreetly and those who faced immediate legal consequences.
Policy Lag And Its Strategic Implications One of the most critical lessons in this transition is the concept of policy lag, the delay between emerging societal realities and the laws that govern them.
For years, states began to recognize the medical benefits of marijuana, implementing their own legalization frameworks.
Meanwhile, federal policy remained static, creating a fragmented system where legality depended on geography.
This lag had strategic implications.
It undermined trust in institutions, created enforcement inconsistencies, and placed individuals in precarious legal positions.
Now, with reclassification, the federal government is beginning to close that gap.
But the question remains.
How does it reconcile the consequences of that delay?
Beyond Reclassification: What Comes Next?
Reclassification is not resolution.
It is a step.
From a leadership and policy perspective, this moment demands a broader conversation about restorative justice.
If the system acknowledges that its previous stance may have been overly punitive or misaligned with emerging evidence, then there must be consideration for those who were impacted.
This could take many forms.
Expungement of past convictionsReview of sentencing for nonviolent drug offensesSupport for communities disproportionately affected by enforcementPathways for those previously incarcerated to participate in the legal cannabis industry These are not acts of leniency.
They are strategic decisions that address long term system integrity.
A Balanced Lens: Law, Accountability, And Evolution It is important to maintain balance in this discussion.
At the time these laws were enforced, marijuana was illegal.
Individuals who violated those laws did so within a known legal framework.
Accountability, in that sense, cannot be dismissed.
However, leadership requires the ability to reassess decisions in light of new information.
It requires acknowledging when policies, though legal, may have produced unintended or disproportionate consequences.
The reclassification of marijuana is an example of that reassessment.
It reflects a shift not only in scientific understanding, but in societal values and priorities.
As the United States moves forward with a more nuanced approach to marijuana policy, it must resist the temptation to focus solely on present outcomes.
Progress without memory is incomplete.
The communities that bore the weight of past policies, Black, Brown, and Caribbean communities, must be part of the conversation moving forward.
Their experiences are not peripheral.
They are central to understanding the full impact of the War on Drugs.
This moment is not just about reclassification.
It is about recognition.
Recognition that policies evolve.
Recognition that systems can be imperfect.
And recognition that leadership, at its highest level, is not just about making new decisions, but about understanding the cost of old ones.
In that understanding lies the opportunity to build something more just, more informed, and more aligned with the realities of the people those policies are meant to serve.Top of Form EDITOR’S NOTE: Nyan Reynolds is a U.S.
Army veteran and published author whose novels and cultural works draw from his Jamaican heritage, military service, and life experiences.
His writing blends storytelling, resilience, and heritage to inspire readers. RELATED: The Healing Rhythm: How Reggae Transcends Struggle And Tells Jamaica’s Story Bottom of Form
News Americas, ROSEAU, Dominica, Thurs.
April 23, 2026: Dominica has revoked the citizenship of an Iranian national linked to a widening international sanctions probe, in a move that underscores growing scrutiny of the Caribbean’s Citizenship by Investment, (CBI), programs.
The decision follows an investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which found that Abolfazl Shamkhani and his brother, sanctioned oil trader Hossein Shamkhani, used Dominican-issued identities to quietly build a luxury real estate portfolio in Dubai valued at approximately $29 million.
According to documents obtained by OCCRP, Dominica revoked Abolfazl Shamkhani’s citizenship – which had been granted under the name “Sami Hayek” – citing the concealment of key information during the application process.
Officials said Shamkhani failed to disclose his connection to his father, Ali Shamkhani, a senior Iranian political figure, when applying for citizenship in 2020.
The revocation letter also cited actions deemed incompatible with loyalty to Dominica, and gave Shamkhani 25 days to request a formal review of the decision.
The move mirrors a similar action taken in 2025 against his brother, Hossein Shamkhani, who has been sanctioned by the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom for his alleged role in a large-scale oil smuggling network tied to Iran and Russia.
Authorities allege that the network used offshore companies, global shipping operations, and foreign passports to evade sanctions and move funds across borders.
U.S.
officials have further claimed that the Shamkhani network funneled millions into international real estate holdings and shell companies to conceal the origins of its wealth.
While Abolfazl Shamkhani has not been criminally charged, U.S.
prosecutors have linked him to companies associated with the broader network and are currently pursuing the seizure of millions in assets connected to those operations.
The case is also drawing renewed attention to the use of Caribbean citizenship programs by high-net-worth individuals seeking global mobility, and the risks of such programs being exploited.
In response, Dominica has begun tightening its CBI program, including restricting new applications from Iranian nationals unless strict residency and financial disclosure conditions are met.
The government says the changes are aimed at protecting the integrity of the program and ensuring compliance with international standards.
The developments highlight the increasing pressure on Caribbean nations to strengthen due diligence frameworks, as global scrutiny intensifies around the intersection of citizenship programs, financial networks, and geopolitical risk.
RELATED: The Top 10 Caribbean Passports For 2026
Brazilian group BTG Pactual, Latin America's largest investment bank, is awaiting authorisation from Uruguay's Central Bank (BCU) to begin operating in the local financial market following its $175 million acquisition of HSBC Uruguay, agreed in July 2025.
Group executives expect regulatory approval to come through by mid-year, allowing them to begin operations gradually in the second half of 2026.
NASSAU, The Bahamas, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Bahamas Grid Company (BGC) today announced the appointment of Nikolai Sawyer and Debra Symonette to its Board of Directors, effective April 20, 2026.
These appointments follow the company’s recent transition to a fully independent, Bahamian-led operating model, including the conclusion of Island Grid Solutions’ management role and the appointment of new executive leadership.
Mr.
Sawyer is a senior financial attorney with over 20 years of experience across corporate law, banking, and financial services.
He brings deep expertise in regulatory strategy, risk management, and corporate governance.
Ms.
Symonette is President and Director of Super Value Food Stores Limited and a Certified Public Accountant with over 25 years of financial leadership experience.
She has held senior roles in accounting, audit, and corporate governance, and currently serves as a Director of Commonwealth Bank.
“With these appointments, BGC continues to strengthen its governance as we move forward as a fully Bahamian-led organization,” said Anthony Ferguson, Chairman of BGC.
“Nikolai and Debra bring extensive legal, financial, and operational experience that will support the company’s long-term performance and accountability.” “This is an important step in BGC’s continued evolution,” said Dareo McKenzie, Chief Executive Officer.
“I look forward to working with the Board to drive long-term performance and reliability across the system.” The company’s Board of Directors now comprises Anthony Ferguson (Chairman), Nikolai Sawyer, and Debra Symonette.
About Bahamas Grid CompanyBahamas Grid Company (BGC) is a utility company in New Providence responsible for upgrading, maintaining, and operating the island’s transmission and distribution infrastructure, with the goal of delivering reliable, resilient, and sustainable power to all residents and businesses.
Piero Corvetto resigned as head of Peru's National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) on Tuesday, ten days after the April 12 first-round presidential vote, amid judicial investigations and an institutional credibility crisis deepened by the logistical failures recorded during the election.
The National Justice Board (JNJ) accepted the resignation unanimously.
A week after remarks by Argentine Rear Admiral Hernán Montero on the eastern mouth of the Strait of Magellan went viral, the Chilean government has consolidated a unified stance in defense of its sovereignty, while internal debate has shifted toward the executive's handling of the communications response.
