Fownhope’s Heart of Oak Society traces its roots to the age of friendly societies, when communities provided their own safety net. Its anniversary celebrations reveal a tradition still very much alive, says MARK SEDDON
GUSTAVO PETRO is the new president of Colombia. The country’s new vice-president is Francia Marquez, the first African-Colombian woman to hold the role.
Their coalition, the Historic Pact, drew together a broad front of progressive parties and received strong backing from young people, women, ethnic minorities, trade unions and the pro-peace movement.
That the Pact garnered strong support from sectors of the population historically excluded from national politics – often through violent means – reflects the desire for change and how this was embodied in the Historic Pact’s political agenda.
With Petro, Colombia has been making huge strides towards peace — but is all that at risk with the elections next year? MARK ROWE reports back after joining a delegation to the Latin American country
LEE BROWN highlights the latest attempts to undo progressive reforms instated during the presidency of Rafael Correa
Colombia’s success in controlling the drug trade should be recognised and its sovereignty respected, argues Dr GLORY SAAVEDRA
Alvaro Uribe is found guilty of witness tampering and procedural fraud, reports NICK MACWILLIAM


