US VISA Restrictions on Complicit Politicans and their Family Members involved in the Cuban Government's Coercive Forced Labor Export Scheme

USA Visa Restrictions on African, Cuban, and Grenadian Government Officials Involved in the Cuban Regime’s Coercive Forced Labor Export Scheme

Today, the Department of State took steps to impose visa restrictions on African, Cuban, and Grenadian government officials, and their family members, for their complicity in the Cuban regime’s medical mission scheme in which medical professionals are ‘rented’ by other countries at high prices and most of the revenue is kept by the Cuban authorities.  This scheme enriches the corrupt Cuban regime while depriving the Cuban people of essential medical care.

The United States continues to engage governments, and will take action as needed, to bring an end to such forced labor.  We urge governments to pay the doctors directly for their services, not the regime slave masters.

The United States aims to support the Cuban people in their pursuit of freedom and dignity and promote accountability for those who perpetuate their exploitation.  We call on all nations that support democracy and human rights to join us in this effort to confront the Cuban regime’s abuses and stand with the Cuban people.

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What is Fidelism?

Fidelism Defined

Deo Adjuvante, Non Timendum

“With God as My Helper, I Have Nothing to Fear”

Fidelism Honoured

FIDELISM

By Dr. Kevin J. Turnquest-Alcena

Nassau, NP, The Bahamas

Fidelism, an enduring ideological phenomenon, was born nearly a century ago, completely transforming the geopolitics of the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa.  It irrevocably altered Cuba’s trajectory: over 3,000 institutions originate from this legacy and stand today as monuments of resilience, progress, and visionary leadership.

Fidelism demands reverence, admiration, and a salutation gilded in gold, echoing across time like a clarion call to solidarity.  This is not merely political doctrine; it is a metaphysical brotherhood and an unbreakable solidarity, unparalleled anywhere else in the world.  It springs from love for humanity, fused with sterling wisdom and geopolitical sagacity, giving birth to an enduring ideology that strides alongside us even now.

Cuba evokes fascination, a nation shaped, as myth tells it, in the Yucatán Mountains of Mexico, a mystical crucible giving rise to an unmistakable creation: a pillar forged of Teflon-like strength, impervious to erosion, resonating with perpetual excellence.  The spirit of Fidelism persists in perpetual motion, immortal in ethos.

On August 13, 1926, Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born in Birán, Cuba.  On November 25, 2016, he departed this world, yet his presence remains undiminished.  On his birthday, the Commander in Chief salutes comrades past and present, his strategic insight forever priming us to defeat any adversary.  In the spiritual realm, he salutes those who stood with him, for true brotherhood transcends death itself.

Voices of Praise and Solidarity

From Africa came unwavering praise.  As Nelson Mandela profoundly expressed in 1991:

“What other country has such a history of selfless behavior as Cuba has shown for the people of Africa?… What country has ever needed help from Cuba and has not received it?”

This sentiment was echoed by Thomas Sankara, who saw Cuba and Fidelism as sources of inspiration, sending hundreds of Burkinabé youth to Cuba for education and professional training.

Fidel Castro himself declared:

“A revolution is a struggle to the death between the future and the past.”

Marcus Garvey reminded us:

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”

On brotherhood, we recall the timeless words of Henry van Dyke:

“A brother is a friend given by Nature.”

This is the essence of Fidelism, brotherhood not born of blood, but of shared struggle, sacrifice, and purpose.

Culminating Invocation

You must recognize that the enemy will relentlessly peddle propaganda against the great nation of Cuba, but the unwavering spirit of Fidel, grounded in stoic endurance, will never allow them to strangle or derail the indomitable Cuban spirit of success.  There is a mystical order guarding Cuba’s destiny, one forged in history, faith, and sacrifice.

We thank Fidelism for educating the Caribbean, Latin America, and Asia; for training our engineers, teachers, and doctors; for advancing computer science, fostering global strategic partnerships, and leading in biological research.  Cuban brigades came to our aid during COVID, faithful even under the criminally cruel embargo.

Fidelism is not simply a movement; it is a living phenomenon.  Cuba can never be defeated, for the spiritual world protects her, and the blood of her people forever acknowledges the country’s sacrifices for the betterment of humankind.

Fidelism will never be defeated.  Solidarity will never perish.

Happy Birthday, Papi, your spirit still breathes among us.

09 August, 2025

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The Sacred Honour of Emancipation

Celebrate Emancipation

Deo Adjuvante, Non Timendum

“With God as My Helper, I Have Nothing to Fear”

Appreciating Our Emancipation

By Dr. Kevin J. Turnquest-Alcena
Nassau, NP, The Bahamas

Emancipation is a profound reflection on the brutal enslavement of Africans forcibly brought to the Americas.  We must never forget the arduous journey of our ancestors, as history remains a vigilant reminder of our resilience and collective strength.  Today, racism and fascism loom ominously, rearing their heads in ways reminiscent of past oppressions.  Many individuals harbor intentions rooted in repeating the dark chapters of history, aspiring to once again subjugate Black people.

In confronting such threats, we must steadfastly remember the significance of emancipation—where we originated, where we stand today, and where we must venture tomorrow.  We must remain acutely aware that slavery was a mere six generations past, yet its scars remain palpable in our contemporary societies.  Nations throughout Latin America are persistently entangled in structural apartheid, exemplified by classism and systemic racism.

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” – Marcus Garvey

Garvey highlights the vital importance of historical and cultural education for identity and resilience.

Exposing the neo-colonial agenda rooted in racism and the geopolitical exploitation of resources, especially within our ancestral continent, Africa, is imperative.  We must decipher and dismantle the mechanisms perpetuating racism, economic exploitation, and resource extraction.

“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

King emphasizes the necessity of active resistance to systemic oppression.

The pursuit of self-reliance through education and strategic partnerships with nations in Asia and Africa is vital.  Realizing autonomy requires concerted efforts and robust collaborations globally.  “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

Mandela’s words underline education as essential in dismantling oppression and fostering equality.

We must acknowledge that hate and racism persist, stemming largely from inherited colonial governance systems characterized by political clientelism.  Such governance stifles Caribbean development, compelling urgent reform.

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” – Frederick Douglass

Douglass argues that genuine advancement arises from persistent effort and resistance.

Democracy inherited by default necessitates deliberate reform, including significant improvements to our prison systems.  Proactivity in preserving and sharing our ancient history is vital.

“You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” – Malcolm X

Malcolm X clarifies that peace fundamentally requires freedom as its cornerstone.

Our emancipation celebration must impart a profound sense of responsibility to younger generations, emphasizing enthusiasm, unity, and brotherhood.  Recognizing our ancestral origins in the motherland enriches our cultural appreciation and underscores our historic contributions to humanity.

“History has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” – Michelle Obama

Obama inspires us to harness courage and hope in confronting ongoing challenges.

We, descendants of profound innovators and creators—pioneers of mathematics, astrology, chemistry, physics, and inventors of the wheel—must reclaim our rightful place in history.

“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change.  I am changing the things I cannot accept.” – Angela Davis

Davis encourages us to actively challenge and alter unjust realities.

History must cease the systematic reclassification erasing our truths.  Affirming the true identities of historical figures such as Jesus and Moses as Black individuals is integral to cultural authenticity.

“Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.” – Cornel West

West underscores justice as an expression of communal love and equity.

Governmental institutions across the region must rectify historical neglect within educational curricula, ensuring accurate representations of our history and the influential Haitian Revolution.

“Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.” – Chinua Achebe

Achebe highlights the need for self-narration to accurately reflect our histories.

On this Emancipation Day, let unity prevail in meditation and celebration, never forgetting our shared humanity and inherent dignity.

“I am because we are.” – Ubuntu Philosophy

This philosophy encapsulates the interconnectedness of human existence and collective well-being.

“No one is free until everyone is free.” – Fannie Lou Hamer

Hamer’s words stress the universal nature of liberation and justice.

“Truth is powerful and it prevails.” – Sojourner Truth

Truth inspires resilience and steadfastness in our ongoing struggle for equality.

“The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.” – W.E.B. Du Bois

Du Bois reminds us that freedom, despite its challenges, is always preferable to subjugation.

“The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X

We must proactively shape the future we desire by investing in our communities now.

August 01, 2025

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HIV Bahamas

HIV/AIDS Awareness - The Bahamas

There were 156 newly reported cases of HIV infections in The Bahamas in 2024 - according to Bahamian health officials.  There were 3,988 people living with HIV in The Bahamas at the end of 2024,  says Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Michael Darville, who noted that the figure represents 1.1 percent of The Bahamas population.

"Since 2010 new reports of HIV cases have decreased by 47 percent," he said.

Dr. Nikkiah Forbes, director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme at the Ministry of Health, said New Providence residents made up 82 percent of the new infections.  Grand Bahama residents accounted for 10 percent of the new cases, and the remaining eight percent were across the remaining islands.

Dr. Forbes said males represented 63 percent of the HIV cases in The Bahamas.

She said people between the ages of 30 and 39 accounted for 36 percent of those infections.  Those between 40 and 49 accounted for 19 percent of the new infections.

Seventeen percent of the new cases were 50 and over, and 14 percent were between ages 15 and 24.

Dr. Forbes said there was one recorded case of mother to baby HIV transmission.

Artificial Intelligence - AI Adoption in Latin America and the Caribbean

While AI adoption is moving fast in other parts of the world, Latin America and the Caribbean face a more basic challenge: access

By Liliana Serrano Pájaro

What comes to mind when you hear the words “artificial intelligence”? When we posed this question to students at two public schools in Colombia, their answers ranged from giggles to thoughtful silence—and one unforgettable response: 
 
“AI is like a unicorn-duck. It doesn’t exist.  It’s just something made up on computers or phones.” 

Her words captured something that many students across Latin America and the Caribbean are feeling: AI may be a hot topic, but it still feels distant – mythical, even.  Yes, it’s making its way into classrooms, but it hasn’t yet taken root in education systems across the region.

Without Access, There’s No Transformation 

While AI adoption is moving fast in other parts of the world, Latin America and the Caribbean face a more basic challenge: access.  In the U.S., nearly 40% of young people were already using generative AI tools by late 2022 – a much faster uptake than for the internet or computers.

In the region, 1 in 10 students still doesn’t have a computer at school, and 2 in 10 lack internet access.  This digital divide makes it hard to integrate AI into classrooms meaningfully.  Compared to OECD countries, where more than 90% of schools have internet for learning, the gap is clear.  The truth is, reliable internet, electricity, and devices remain out of reach for many schools in our region, making it impossible to unlock AI’s full potential.  That’s why our new publication urges a realistic approach: drawing on decades of experience, it provides a roadmap to help countries harness AI responsibly and equitably. 

Turning AI into Real Opportunity

Even as AI unlocks new possibilities, we must ask: Who truly benefits?  Can rural students without internet benefit as much as their urban peers?  Are we training teachers well enough, not just buying tech?  Are we protecting students’ data as carefully as we protect their safety?

These questions brought global experts and regional leaders together for the event “AI & Education: Challenge Accepted!” hosted by the IDB.  This was more than a conference – it was a call to rethink how AI can build inclusive, future-ready education systems in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Carvajalino Sisters, three young entrepreneurs and co-founders of The Biz Nation, opened the event with an inspiring talk about empowering thousands of young people across Latin America and the Caribbean through skills and innovation.  Throughout the event, speakers highlighted that AI could help personalize learning, make education systems more efficient, and support decision-making, but it should complement teachers, not replace them.  Some of the key takeaways from the event included: 

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• Equity comes first.  Without equity, there is no true digital transformation.  The lack of reliable internet, devices, and even electricity in many public schools across the region threatens to leave millions of students behind. Building up basic infrastructure is the first step. 

• Teachers must be at the heart of the strategy.  AI should enhance, not replace, educators.  Innovative models like Alpha School, 2-Hour Learning, and Minerva University show how AI can help optimize learning time, while tools created by organizations like Eedi and Stanford University’s National Student Support Accelerator emphasize the importance of keeping teachers at the center – guiding, supporting, and connecting with students. 

• Clear policies are critical.  Countries need strong regulatory frameworks, robust student data protection, and public policies that align with their education goals.  System-level strategies like Uruguay’s EduIA Lab and Brazil’s Gestão Presente program with Letrus provide practical roadmaps. These examples show that meaningful AI integration doesn’t start with the newest tools, but with thoughtful public investment and comprehensive data policies. 

A Long-Term Vision Is Essential.

With the rapid pace of AI development, education systems need to do more than react – they must anticipate. This means aligning education with labor market trends and fostering digital literacy, critical thinking, and adaptability.  Programs like PowerSchool in the United States and Stemi in Croatia are leading examples of how AI solutions and public-private partnerships can better connect schools with the skills that industries need. 

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• AI should be a catalyst for deeper learning, not just a shortcut for routine tasks. 
  
  
• Adopting AI must be guided by principles of inclusion, ethics, and responsibility, helping develop digital citizens who can strengthen their communities, engage in respectful dialogue, and shape public policy.  In this spirit, ISTE is redefining digital citizenship, showing that we must move beyond traditional fear-based approaches and focus on empowering responsible, proactive use.

The Road Ahead One student described AI as a unicorn-duck – something imaginary.  But AI is already here.  How we make it real, fair, and useful for everyone is what matters.  At the IDB, we’re committed to helping countries across Latin America and the Caribbean use AI to expand access, improve outcomes, and close gaps.  This event was just the beginning of a vital conversation. The real challenge isn’t whether we embrace AI, but how we do it and who we bring along. 

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There would never be a coup d'état in the United States of America - USA

'Why will there never be a coup d'état in the United States?'  Because there is no U.S. embassy in Washington”, says an old popular joke.

By Raúl Antonio Capote and Delfin Xiqués

U.S. embassies, with a long tradition in coups d'état and political subversion - Paraguay 1954, Guatemala 1954, Dominican Republic 1963, Brazil 1964, Argentina 1976, Bolivia 1971, Uruguay 1973, Chile 1973-, became the base of operations for destabilization in the continent.

The military occupation, the imposition of the Platt Amendment in Cuba and the multiple armed interventions of the United States in the internal affairs of the Island, during the first decades of the 20th century, symbolized the advent of the neocolonial Republic.

Then we had Yankee embassy in which more than ambassadors, proconsuls invested with more authority than a Spanish Captain General, bossed presidents, parliamentarians and military.

That lasted until January 1959, when the Revolution triumphed.  There were no direct bilateral diplomatic ties between the two countries between 1961 and 2015, after President Dwight D. Eisenhower broke off relations with the largest of the Antilles.

U.S. Ambassadors to Cuba

Herbert G. Squiers: May 20, 1902 - December 2, 1905

- He was a fervent annexationist.  He participated on behalf of his country in the signing of the first treaty on the Isle of Pines; he was such an interferenceist that he forced the U.S. State Department in 1905 to remove him from his post.

William E. Gonzales: June 21, 1913-December 18, 1919

- On August 9 he ratified the approval of the government of General Mario García Menocal, who by then succeeded that of General José Miguel Gómez, making use of the Platt Amendment.

Boaz W. Long: June 30, 1919 - June 17, 1921

- During his mission in Cuba, Enoch H. Crowder is appointed with the rank of “personal envoy” of U.S. President Warren G. Harding.  The “envoy” supervised Cuban state activities and acted as the highest authority, even above the President of the Republic.

Enoch H. Crowder: February 10, 1923 - May 28, 1927

- On March 5, 1923, he presented his credentials as the first ambassador of his country in the Caribbean nation, when the Northern Legation on the Island became an Embassy.

Harry F. Guggenheim: October 10, 1929 - April 2, 1933

- He was ambassador during the dictatorship of Gerardo Machado, which he supported on behalf of his government.

Sumner Welles: April 24, 1933 - December 13, 1933

- Sent to Cuba as “mediator” between the dictator Gerardo Machado and the popular forces.  His presence was declared unwelcome by the Hundred Days Government, due to his interfering attitude.

Jefferson Caffery: February 23, 1934- March 9, 1937

- He continued the same line of his predecessor and began to conspire with elements opposed to the revolutionary government to overthrow it.

Robert Butler: May 22, 1948- February 10, 1951

- On March 11, 1949, U.S. Marines, who had arrived in Havana's port, outraged the statue of José Martí.  The ambassador's apology showed the Government's contempt for him; he did not even know the name of Cuba's National Hero.

Arthur Gardner: May 28, 1953 - June 16, 1957

- He was a staunch supporter of Fulgencio Batista.  The CIA station in Havana had at that time more than two dozen operational officers in its embassy.  During his work, the Bureau for the Repression of Communist Activities (BRAC) was created on the island.

Earl E. Smith: June 3, 1957 - January 19, 1959

- Openly supported the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista.  After the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, Smith resigned on January 10, 1959 and was replaced by Phillip W. Bonsal.

Heads of the U.S. Interests Section (USINT)

The U.S. Interests Section (USINT) operated from September 1, 1977 to July 20, 2015, and became the headquarters of the counterrevolution in Cuba.

Lyle Franklin Lane: 1977-1979

- He was appointed by President Jimmy Carter as the first Chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana.

Curtis W. Kamman: 1985-1987

- On January 29, 1987, Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz warned Curtis W. Kamman about the espionage activities carried out from USINT.  In the summer of that year more than one hundred CIA officers, among those stationed at SINA, were unmasked.

Joseph Sullivan: 1993-1996

- Maintained close ties with “opposition” groups, among them the “dissidents” of Concilio Cubano.

Vicki Huddleston: 1999-2002

- In 2000, USINT sought to manipulate an event of great international prestige such as the 7th edition of the Havana Biennial.  Parallel to the event's activities, officials of the Interests Section developed their own plan: an aggressive operation of influence and recruitment.

James Cason: 2002-2005

- Following instructions from the White House, he used diplomatic immunity to organize meetings in his official residence with leaders of counterrevolutionary organizations.  He supported “opposition” organizations with all kinds of resources, which was denounced in 2003 by Cuban television.

Michael E. Parmly: 2005-2008

- He gave continuity to the work of his predecessor.  Notes exchanged between Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello and Cuban-Americans living in Florida implicated Parmly with Cuban-born terrorist Santiago Álvarez Fernández-Magriñá.

Jonathan D. Farrar:  2008-2010

- In 2010 the Wikileaks site declassified a cable from Farrar in which he acknowledged that he was in contact “with most of the official dissident movement in Havana,” whose members, he claimed, frequently visit USINT.

John Caulfield: 2011 - 2014

- On June 19, 2012, USINT culminated an Introduction to Journalism course through which about 26 counterrevolutionaries obtained their diplomas, issued by Florida International University.

All of the following served as Chargé d'Affaires a.i. at the U.S. Embassy.

Mara Tekach: July 20, 2018-July 21, 2020

- On November 20, 2019, Tekach was charged with working closely with Cuban counterrevolutionary José Daniel Ferrer.  He focused his work on the purpose of recruiting mercenaries, identified areas of the economy against which to target coercive measures, and actively engaged in defamation and open incitement to violence.

Timothy Zúñiga-Brown: July 31, 2020 to July 14, 2022

- He worked to create an artificial crisis, trying to portray as political an economic emigration caused, in the first place, by the very blockade measures designed for that purpose.  He was determined, like his predecessors, to provoke an explosion on the island by any means necessary.

Mike Hammer November 14, 2024

- The “Ambassador of the Cuban counterrevolution” carries out an active provocative work with the aim of creating a diplomatic crisis that will lead to his expulsion from Cuba and justify the closing of the embassy.  To that end he consciously violates everything established.

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Food Security in The Bahamas

The Bahamas Government National Food and Nutrition Security Initiatives Set on The Front Burners

The Bahamas Government 2025/26 Budget Communication outlines initiatives for sustainable agriculture and food security throughout The Bahamas

By: LEDEDRA MARCHE

GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND , The Bahamas — In its thrust to prioritize food security, reduce the country’s vulnerability to rising prices and grow more of our food on the home front, the Government is making substantial and important new investments in developing agriculture.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. Philip Davis revealed during the 2025/26 Budget Communication in Parliament on May 28, 2025 a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing to construct five hydroponic farms in the Family Islands and the capital to mitigate the high cost of living and the global inflation crisis.

“This past week, we signed an MOU to construct five hydroponic farms in New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Andros, and Cat Island as we embrace modern farming techniques that can provide healthy produce to even our most remote islands,” Prime Minister Davis said.

"Additionally, BAMSI is expanding its academic mission with 302 enrolled students and strategic partnerships with Prairie View A&M, Athens State, and Stanford University, providing the youth of The Bahamas with world-class educational opportunities.

“Of course, we are ensuring that scholarships are available for those who wish to launch careers in Agriculture and Marine Sciences.

"Overall, we are increasing support to farmers by 200% and expanding the overall agriculture budget from $25 million to $35 million,” he said.

With its expansion of grants to Bahamians, the Government’s goal is to create a new wave of successful Bahamian entrepreneurs, keep more Bahamian dollars inside the country and lower prices for families.

“We want both small-scale operations and larger food production companies – run and operated by Bahamians – to become much bigger players in our country and the region.  Twenty-first century farming does not look like the old days – this is big business,” Prime Minister Davis said.

With food security an important national priority, the Prime Minister added that the new Centre for Food and Nutrition Security will serve as a multi-disciplinary technical hub, advancing national food and nutrition security through cutting-edge research, policy development, innovation and community-based initiatives.

In the upcoming year, the centre will lead a series of transformative initiatives to strengthen national resilience and food sovereignty, which will include establishing urban farms and community food hubs to increase local food access, promote self-reliance and support neighborhood-based food systems.

It will also address health-related challenges linked to food insecurity; train farmers in climate-smart agriculture practices to enhance productivity while promoting environmental sustainability and resilience to climate change; and establish seed banks and promote native crop varieties to preserve biodiversity, ensure seed availability and support culturally appropriate food systems.

Prime Minister Davis noted that over the past year, his administration has transformed the country’s agricultural and marine sectors through decisive action and strategic investment.

“We launched our National Layer and Piggery Programme, distributing over 10,000 chicks and 3,000 adult chickens.  We also equipped farmers across Cat Island, Exuma and Acklins with tractors and other essential equipment,” he said.

The Golden Yolk Project, another major investment of the Government, has a large role to play in its plans for food security.

“We are investing $9 million in the construction of pullet buildings capable of housing 25,000 chicks, dual layer houses for 20,000 hens and an egg processing facility with capacity to process 8,000 eggs per hour,” Prime Minister Davis said.

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