Health
How US Election Will Impact The Caribbean

As the United States gears up for the November presidential election, Trinidad and Tobago, along with the rest of the Caribbean region, holds its breath. The outcome of this election will have far-reaching consequences for the region, particularly in terms of trade, cultural ties, and diasporic connections. The current developments in the race for the White House are more crucial to T&T than ever before, especially given the need to maintain the policies established by the Joseph Biden administration that have resulted in economic gains for the region.
The tone on the ground, both locally and regionally, points towards a stronger affinity for Kamala Harris over Donald Trump. Harris’s partial Caribbean heritage, being the daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, has resonated deeply with the region. As a woman of color, she aims to break a glass ceiling that the Caribbean has long achieved, having had no fewer than five female heads of government in recent memory.
Beyond her personal connections, Harris has been at the forefront of US-Caribbean relations, having been appointed by Biden to lead talks with CARICOM heads. Her virtual meeting with CARICOM lead-ers in May 2022 saw plans to help the region in its post-COVID economic recovery and address the climate crisis, as well as energy and civil security. The commitments reached with regional leaders in-clude strong cooperation in the fight against the influx of guns from the US and the establishment of annual US-Caricom meetings.
Harris’s follow-up meeting in The Bahamas in 2023 saw the provision of US$28 million in food security assistance, a promise to invest US$210 million in the BlueGreen Investment Corporation over three years, and the announcement of additional investments in the US-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis, amounting to over US$35 million.
Read also : “CARICOM and UNEP-WCMC Join Forces to Boost Biodiversity Monitoring in the Caribbean
The region now faces an election that can result in an expansion of these ties under a Harris presiden-cy or a possible reversal of them under a Trump presidency. Trump’s “America First” focus had dimin-ished the attention that the US usually gives to small states.
T&T has a strong interest in the results of the November US election, particularly as it relates to energy future. The Biden administration’s easing of restrictions on Venezuela and the consequential licenses to pursue the Dragon Field gas agreement are less likely to continue under a Trump presidency. Trump’s foreign policy is likely to reverse the progress made under the Biden administration, which would be a severe blow to T&T’s prospects of regaining significant energy revenues.
Health
Nigerian Nurse Shuns US Greener Pastures, Returns Home In Search Of Fulfilling Life

In a move that has left many stunned, a Nigerian nurse, Judith Okoli, has relinquished her lucrative nursing job in the United States to relocate permanently to Nigeria.
Okoli’s decision has raised intense conversations about the true meaning of a good life, wealth, and happiness.
Speaking in a heartfelt video shared online, Okoli revealed that her decision was not taken lightly, but rather after deep reflection and a growing realization that wealth does not always equate to wellness or fulfillment.
“Everyone is asking me, ‘Why did you leave America? Are you okay? You want to suffer in Nigeria?'” she said in Pidgin English.
“But I hope you guys know that money is not everything at least, to some people. At least, to me.”
Okoli posited that quality of life is paramount, citing the example of an individual who earns a substantial income but is miserable, versus another who earns less but is happy and content.
“Someone can make N100 but be miserable insulted at work, restless, disconnected from life. Then another person makes just N50, but they are happy, they spend quality time with their family, they sleep well, they enjoy peace of mind. For me, it’s about quality of life,” she explained.
Okoli lamented the pursuit of economic gain in the West, which often strips people of the things that matter most community, connection, and contentment.
“Look at what the Western world is doing to us,” she said.
“Families are scattered, One child is in Germany, another in Canada, another in Dubai. Six siblings haven’t seen each other in three years—all in the name of seeking a better life, but forgetting about the quality of life.”
Okoli’s decision has resonated with many Nigerians, who are reevaluating their priorities and seeking a more balanced life.
Environment
UK Invests £180 Million In Solar Panels For Schools And Hospitals

In a bid to reduce the country’s planet-warming emissions, the UK government has announced a £180 million investment in solar panels for hundreds of schools and hospitals across the country.
This move is part of the government’s efforts to achieve its long-term climate goals and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
The investment, which is the first major project from Great British Energy, the government’s new state owned energy company, is expected to provide solar panels for 200 schools and 200 hospitals.
This will not only help reduce energy bills but also cut carbon emissions and promote sustainability.
According to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, “Great British Energy’s first major project will be to help our vital public institutions save hundreds of millions on bills to reinvest on the frontline.”
He added that the project will help reduce the financial pressure of energy bills on schools and hospitals.
The announcement has been welcomed by schools, unions, and NHS estate managers, who have long been advocating for measures to reduce energy costs.
Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary, said that the investment is a “step in the right direction” and will help schools manage energy bills, which have been a significant financial burden in recent years.
However, not everyone is optimistic about the investment.
Andrew Bowie, shadow energy secretary, argued that the government’s net zero plans will make the country “poorer.”
He claimed that the investment will lead to increased reliance on foreign powers like Russia.
In contrast, energy experts believe that investing in renewable energy will reduce the UK’s reliance on imports.
Jess Ralston, energy analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said that the investment in solar panels will improve energy security and reduce the amount of gas imported from countries like Russia.
The first solar panels are expected to be installed by the end of the summer, with a focus on areas of “highest need.”
Diaspora
America First” Policy Puts Global Health Progress In Jeopardy

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has suspended health contracts worldwide, leaving critical healthcare programs and assistance in jeopardy.
The decision, part of a review aimed at aligning
foreign aid with the Trump administration’s “America First” policy, has resulted in the termination of more than 90% of global health
programs, including those addressing HIV, malaria, maternal health, and other vital services.
The sudden and widespread cuts have sparked
widespread concern among health experts and organizations, who warn that the move will have devastating consequences for millions of people worldwide.
“The US funding cuts are dismantling the system. HIV treatment is crumbling. TB services are collapsing… Lives are on the line,” said International AIDS Society President Beatriz Grinsztejn, whose organization is not directly affected by the cuts.
In South Africa, several of the largest US-funded HIV/AIDS programs have been informed that their funding will not resume, leaving vulnerable groups, including LGBT+ individuals and sex workers, without access to critical healthcare services.
A major global non-profit working on malaria and maternal and newborn health has also had most of its contracts cancelled.
The US State Department has remained tight-lipped about the criteria used for the terminations, and it remains unclear how many organizations worldwide have been affected.
However, documents reviewed by Reuters confirm that UNAIDS, the UN agency dedicated to tackling HIV and AIDS, has had its contract with USAID cancelled.
The move has sparked widespread criticism, with many arguing that the cuts will undermine global health progress and put millions of lives at risk.
“This is a devastating blow to global health efforts,” said a spokesperson for the Global Health Council. “The US has long been a leader in global health, and these cuts will have far-reaching consequences for some of
the world’s most vulnerable populations.”
-
News1 week ago
Diaspora Watch – Vol. 43
-
Trending1 week ago
Vatican Announces Funeral Details for Pope Francis
-
Diaspora1 day ago
US, Iran to Hold New Talks in Oman Amid Nuclear Deal Push
-
News1 week ago
Prayers offered for Repose of Pope Francis Soul
-
Business2 days ago
$5.8 Billion Lost to Crypto Investment Scams in 2024: FBI Warns of Growing Threat
-
News2 days ago
Grenada PM Attends Caribbean Investment Summit in Antigua