Robert Ready

Retired Diplomat w interest in Canadian politics, understanding the Caribbean. Follows developments in international economic policies (trade; investment; air transport)

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Venezuela
Venezuela's opposition-run Congress declares Maduro a usurper
Reuters
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a special session of the National Constituent Assembly to present his annual state of the nation in Caracas, Venezuela January 14, 2019. Miraflores Palace/Handout
New Jersey
U.S. Justice Dept broadens restrictions on internet gambling
Reuters India - By Diane Bartz and Hilary Russ
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department will effectively prohibit online gambling and lottery businesses, experts said on Tuesday, after it decided to broaden its interpretation of rules governing
The Real Story Behind the Havana Embassy Mystery
Vanity Fair - By Jack Hitt
U.S. officials say dozens of diplomats in Cuba were felled by a sonic “attack.” But the likeliest culprit is far less futuristic—and much more terrifying. The most dire diplomatic crisis of the Trump or
Great Britain
Why Does Britain Want to Build a Military Base in the Caribbean?
VICE - Phil Miller
And does it have anything to do with oil? "We have got to be so much more optimistic about our future as we exit the European Union," said Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson optimistically, in an extraordinary
Haiti
Haiti, Disaster, and Revolution
bostonreview.net
Jan 12, 2019 1 Min read time Suffering in Haiti is a manmade, not a natural, disaster. Today marks the ninth anniversary of Haiti’s devastating …
South China Sea
Russia warns it could respond to British plans to open new bases abroad
The Telegraph - By Alec Luhn
Moscow on Friday condemned British plans for military bases in South East Asia and the Caribbean, and warned of retaliation if Russian interests or those of its allies were threatened. Defence Secretary
Haiti
Is Haiti better prepared for disasters, 9 years on from the 2010 earthquake?
un.org
One of the survivors was Sophie Boutaud de la Combe, today the head of communications for the UN Mission for Justice in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), who was …
Guyana
Opposing leaders in Guyana meet, agree to new elections
Associated Press - By BERT WILKINSON
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Guyana’s two main political leaders met on Wednesday for the first time since the opposition approved a no-confidence motion last month and assured people that the South American
China
The PRC Bets on Climate Diplomacy in the Caribbean
jamestown.org
Climate change has become a central battleground in the PRC’s bid to brand itself as a leading partner and spokesman for the developing world. …
U.S. Politics
Trump move to cut off temporary status for Haitians heads to trial
pbs.org - Adam Geller, Associated Press
NEW YORK — A trial in New York over the Trump administration’s move to cut off permission for thousands of Haitians to live in the U.S. is …
Guyana
Venezuela to remap offshore oil, escalating tension with Exxon - Bloomberg
Seeking Alpha - Carl Surran
Venezuela will remap its Caribbean oil and gas prospects in a move that could escalate its long-time border dispute with Guyana and collide with …
Nicolás Maduro
Venezuela's Maduro warns of 'diplomatic measures' against LatAm critics
Reuters - by Vivian Sequera
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday warned he could take "diplomatic measures" against Latin American nations that signed a statement last week describing his second term,
Jamaica
Jamaica to use legislation to retake Petrojam shares from Venezuela
jamaica-gleaner.com
Syranno Baines, Gleaner Writer The government is to retake the 49 per cent stake held by Venezuela in state-owned oil refinery Petrojam. Speaking at a …
Venezuela
Why Venezuela Is Clashing With Its Old Foe Exxon Again
The Washington Post - By Kevin Crowley and Fabiola Zerpa | Bloomberg
Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro has vowed to block Exxon Mobil Corp. from exploring for oil in contested waters off neighboring Guyana. The dispute threatens the development of the world’s biggest deepwater
Venezuela
Mexico defends hands-off stance on Venezuela
miamiherald.com - The Associated Press
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador defended his administration's hands-off policy on Venezuela Monday, saying it marked a return to the …
Grenada
U.S. invasion of Grenada, 30 years later
miamiherald.com - By Juan O. Tamayo
As U.S. and Cuban troops fought in the tiny island of Grenada 30 years ago, Havana’s official news media reported that Cuba’s “glorious combatants” …
British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands signs agreement with Airbnb
travelweekly.com - By Gay Nagle Myers
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) is the latest destination to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbnb, joining a growing list of Caribbean …
Panama Canal
Editorial: While America slept, China gained a stranglehold on the Panama Canal
stltoday.com - By the Editorial Board
Decades have passed since tiny Panama ranked among Washington’s big national security concerns. The 1989 U.S. invasion notwithstanding, the two …
World News
Guyana government to challenge no-confidence vote in court
Reuters India - By Neil Marks
GEORGETOWN (Reuters) - Guyana's government will challenge in court a parliamentary no-confidence vote that toppled President David Granger's ruling coalition amid a dispute over developing the country's
Venezuela
Lima Group says it won’t recognize Maduro’s new term as president of Venezuela
miamiherald.com - By Jim Wyss
Thirteen members of the Lima Group of nations said they will not recognize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as the legitimate leader of his nation …
Guyana
Oil riches raise the political stakes in Guyana
The Economist
THIS YEAR was shaping up to be a hopeful one for Guyana, South America’s second-poorest country (after Bolivia). By early next year, oil should start …
Guyana
Guyana legislators to let court rule on no-confidence motion
Associated Press
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — Legislators in the South American country of Guyana have refused a government request to nullify a no-confidence motion approved last month. Parliament Speaker Barton Scotland
Guyana
Venezuela Unites (for Once) Around Guyana Territorial Dispute
Bloomberg - Fabiola Zerpa, Alex Vasquez
The socialist government of Venezuela and its political opponents at home who have been starkly divided over the past two decades on the best path …
Royal Caribbean
Cruise Line Issues Warning About The Bahamas
cruiseradio.net - Richard Simms
Following a rash of crimes in Nassau, Royal Caribbean cruise line is warning their passengers of dangers which could be found in the port. What The …
World News
Venezuela calls U.S. comments on Guyana dispute 'interventionist'
Reuters - by Luc Cohen and Vivian Sequera in Caracas
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's foreign ministry on Tuesday described as "interventionist and disrespectful" U.S. comments on a weekend incident in which the country's navy stopped two ships exploring
Haiti: Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) contributes US$1,500,000 to the UN Haiti Cholera Response MPTF
reliefweb.int - UN Development Programme
Source: UN Development ProgrammeCountry: Haiti Doha - Sultan Ahmed Al-Aseeri, Manager of Country Programs at Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) and Ms. …
Haiti faces a mass extinction of animals thanks to deforestation
haitiantimes.com
Extreme logging in Haiti is causing an irreversible change it the tropical rainforests and the habitat they provide. Haiti has faced more than its …
Venezuela
Venezuela-Guyana Feud Halts Exxon Project
The Wall Street Journal. - Kejal Vyas
Guyana criticizes ‘illegal, aggressive and hostile act’ by Venezuela’s Navy An oil exploration ship run by Exxon Mobil Corp. halted work and fled after being intercepted by Venezuela’s Navy, rekindling
World News
Venezuela navy confronts Exxon oil ship in Guyana border dispute
Reuters - by Neil Marks in Georgetown and Vivian Sequera in Caracas
GEORGETOWN/CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's navy "intercepted" a ship exploring for oil on behalf of Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) in Guyanese waters over the weekend, Guyana's foreign ministry said in a statement,
Human Rights
Jamaica: Special security zones are decreasing murders – but at what cost?
csmonitor.com - The Christian Science Monitor
Kingston, Jamaica Early on the morning of Sept. 23, police barged into Ann Marie Robinson’s cramped apartment, looking for her son. With their badge …

Robert Ready

Magazines

Trade Policy 2.0

Foreign Policy

Electoral Reform in Canada

Caribbean Tracker

Flips

Venezuela's opposition-run Congress declares Maduro a usurper

U.S. Justice Dept broadens restrictions on internet gambling

The Real Story Behind the Havana Embassy Mystery

Why Does Britain Want to Build a Military Base in the Caribbean?

Haiti, Disaster, and Revolution

Russia warns it could respond to British plans to open new bases abroad

Is Haiti better prepared for disasters, 9 years on from the 2010 earthquake?

Opposing leaders in Guyana meet, agree to new elections

The PRC Bets on Climate Diplomacy in the Caribbean

Trump move to cut off temporary status for Haitians heads to trial

Venezuela to remap offshore oil, escalating tension with Exxon - Bloomberg

Venezuela's Maduro warns of 'diplomatic measures' against LatAm critics

Jamaica to use legislation to retake Petrojam shares from Venezuela

Why Venezuela Is Clashing With Its Old Foe Exxon Again

Mexico defends hands-off stance on Venezuela

U.S. invasion of Grenada, 30 years later

British Virgin Islands signs agreement with Airbnb

Editorial: While America slept, China gained a stranglehold on the Panama Canal

Guyana government to challenge no-confidence vote in court

Lima Group says it won’t recognize Maduro’s new term as president of Venezuela

Oil riches raise the political stakes in Guyana

Guyana legislators to let court rule on no-confidence motion

Venezuela Unites (for Once) Around Guyana Territorial Dispute

Cruise Line Issues Warning About The Bahamas

Venezuela calls U.S. comments on Guyana dispute 'interventionist'

Haiti: Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) contributes US$1,500,000 to the UN Haiti Cholera Response MPTF

Haiti faces a mass extinction of animals thanks to deforestation

Venezuela-Guyana Feud Halts Exxon Project

Venezuela navy confronts Exxon oil ship in Guyana border dispute

Jamaica: Special security zones are decreasing murders – but at what cost?