International
British Virgin Islands Elected to Leadership Role in Historic UN Decision
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) has been elected to a leadership role within the United Nations (UN) system, as a Vice Chair of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), solidifying its position as a key player in advancing the region’s economic and social development.
At the 40th session of UN ECLAC held in Lima, Peru, member states from across the Americas unanimously elected the BVI to the Vice Chairmanship, a position it will hold for the next two years. The BVI joins the leadership Bureau alongside Peru, which serves as Chair, and fellow Vice Chairs Colombia, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.
Special Envoy Mr. Benito Wheatley accepted the role on behalf of the British Virgin Islands, pledging full support for ECLAC’s agenda and for Peru’s leadership. “I am humbled by the decision of the Governments represented in UN ECLAC to elect the British Virgin Islands to serve as a Vice Chair of this important regional intergovernmental body,” Wheatley said. “It demonstrates the trust and confidence by our neighbours across the Americas in the British Virgin Islands and our commitment to the sustainability, climate resilience, economic development, and social transformation of the region.”
The election coincided with the 40th anniversary of the BVI’s Associate Membership in ECLAC, making the occasion particularly significant. Wheatley noted that the BVI is honoured to represent both its own interests and to be a voice for the wider Caribbean in ECLAC’s senior leadership.
In addition to its new Vice Chair role within ECLAC, the BVI currently serves as a Vice Chair of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC), ECLAC’s subsidiary body dedicated exclusively to the Caribbean subregion.
The 40th session of ECLAC focused on addressing critical development challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean. Delegates debated and endorsed an ECLAC report titled ‘Development Traps in Latin America and the Caribbean: Vital Transformations and How to Manage Them,’ which highlights key obstacles to growth, including low capacity for economic expansion, high inequality and weak social cohesion, and ineffective governance.
With its election to this influential leadership position, the British Virgin Islands will play an integral role in shaping the economic and social development strategies for Latin America and the Caribbean, driving initiatives that support sustainable growth and regional cooperation.
The British Virgin Islands first joined ECLAC as an Associate Member in 1984 and has actively participated in regional efforts to promote economic resilience and governance reforms.
The United States has announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is under indictment on federal drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges, formally asserting that the Venezuelan leader faces criminal prosecution in U.S. courts.
The announcement, made amid sharply escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas, confirms that Maduro is accused of conspiring to flood the United States with cocaine in coordination with armed groups and corrupt officials. U.S. prosecutors allege that Maduro played a central role in a criminal enterprise that used Venezuela as a key transit hub for narcotics destined for American cities.
The case remains pending in U.S. federal court, with American officials saying the indictment will stand until Maduro appears before a judge.
The BVI Airports Authority is advising the traveling public of current regional airspace restrictions resulting from a notice issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The notice affects U.S.-registered aircraft and U.S.-based carriers operating within the Caribbean region. As a result, flights to and from the Virgin Islands may be subject to delays, diversions, rescheduling, or cancellations, depending on individual airline routing and operational decisions.
The Authority emphasized that these restrictions are outside its control and are being managed directly by the affected airlines in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
Passengers are strongly advised to:
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Contact their airline directly for the most current and accurate information regarding flight status; and
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Confirm flight details before traveling to the airport, as schedules may change with limited notice.
The BVI Airports Authority said it remains in close communication with airline partners and relevant aviation stakeholders and will continue to provide updates as additional information becomes available.
The Authority thanked the public for its understanding and cooperation, noting that safety remains the top priority.
Former President Donald J. Trump claimed on Saturday, January 3, that U.S. forces had detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Venezuela’s first lady Cilia Flores Mr. Maduro and removed him from Venezuela during an overnight military operation.
In a statement posted in the early hours of Saturday, Jan. 3, Mr. Trump said American forces had carried out what he described as a decisive operation in and around Caracas, asserting that Mr. Maduro and Ms. Flores were taken into custody and flown out of the country. Mr. Trump did not specify which U.S. agencies were involved or where Mr. Maduro was being held.
There was no immediate confirmation from the White House, the Pentagon, or the State Department. As of early Saturday, U.S. officials declined to comment, and no formal announcement had been issued by the Biden administration or military leadership.
Reports of explosions in Caracas circulated on social media shortly before 2 a.m. local time. Journalists from CNN reported hearing multiple blasts and observing power outages in parts of the capital, though the cause and scope of the incidents remained unclear.
Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, said in a televised address that the government had not been able to confirm the whereabouts of Mr. Maduro or Ms. Flores. She accused the United States of what she called a “criminal military aggression” and said Venezuela had placed its armed forces on high alert. Her claims could not be independently verified.
In Washington, Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, said he had been briefed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told him that Mr. Maduro had been detained under longstanding U.S. criminal indictments. Senator Lee said the operation was intended to enforce an arrest warrant and ensure the safety of U.S. personnel involved.
Mr. Maduro has been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice since 2020 on charges including narcotrafficking, narco-terrorism, and conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States. U.S. prosecutors have accused him of leading the so-called Cartel of the Suns, allegations Mr. Maduro has repeatedly denied, calling them politically motivated.
For years, the U.S. government has offered millions of dollars in rewards for information leading to Mr. Maduro’s arrest. Until now, the charges had not been enforced through direct military action.
Legal experts said any U.S. military operation on Venezuelan soil would raise immediate constitutional questions, particularly in the absence of congressional authorization. Senator Lee himself has previously expressed concern over presidential war powers and the lack of a formal authorization for the use of military force.
Across Latin America, governments have historically opposed foreign military intervention in the region, and diplomatic reaction was expected to be swift. As of Saturday morning, Venezuelan state media had not acknowledged any detention of Mr. Maduro, and his location remained unknown.
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