Carib Scope

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  • LISTEN: UPP Accused of “Pretending” to Be United

    LISTEN: UPP Accused of “Pretending” to Be United

    As Antigua and Barbuda prepares for its upcoming general election, a sharp political clash has erupted, with sitting Prime Minister Gaston Browne calling into question the opposition’s public display of cohesion. During an interview on Pointe FM’s popular Browne and Browne Show, the incumbent leader made bold claims about the internal state of the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), arguing that the unified front the party presents to voters is nothing more than a carefully constructed false narrative.

    Browne emphasized that despite the UPP’s coordinated public appearances and campaign messaging designed to project a united team to the electorate, the party is actually fractured by deep-seated internal rifts. “They are totally disunited but pretending as though they have a team,” Browne stated plainly during the live radio segment, directly challenging the opposition’s branding ahead of the polls.

    Beyond allegations of disunity, Browne also pointed to systemic coordination failures within the opposition bloc. He claimed that rather than operating as a cohesive, aligned political unit working toward shared campaign goals, individual UPP members prioritize their own independent agendas. This lack of aligned strategy, he argued, further undermines the opposition’s ability to present a viable alternative to his governing administration ahead of the upcoming vote.

  • St. John’s Rural West Candidate Shares Message of Hope and Repentance at Easter

    St. John’s Rural West Candidate Shares Message of Hope and Repentance at Easter

    Easter stands as one of Christianity’s most profound observances, a celebration centered on the core themes of life, renewed hope and spiritual rebirth. Rooted in the belief of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, the holiday frames this event as an ultimate triumph over death, and a tangible demonstration of divine love for humanity. Beyond traditional rituals and family gatherings, the occasion calls on believers to engage in intentional self-reflection and wholehearted repentance.

    As worshippers and celebrants contemplate the dual stories of Christ’s crucifixion and rising again, they are encouraged to embody the unconditional love that lies at the heart of the faith—love that fosters lasting peace and brings divided communities together. This calling asks people to align their lives and actions with the spiritual principles Christ taught, extending mercy and genuine compassion to every person they encounter.

    Even when hurt by others and when the instinct for revenge pushes for retaliation, the message of Easter calls for forgiveness. Setting aside resentment and extending grace to those who have caused pain is framed as the truest way to live out Christ-like values.

    Celebration of the Resurrection also honors the core promise of Christian faith: that all believers will share in new life after death. This season invites people to pause and appreciate the gift of divine grace, and to share the hope of Easter with those who need it most—including people grappling with grief, hardship, uncertainty, who are in need of comfort, support and encouragement.

    This holy Easter, as families, friends and local communities gather to share joy and find connection in one another’s company, the message reminds all to keep Christ’s love, kindness and sacrificial gift to humanity at the center of celebrations. It also calls on celebrants to prioritize mutual care and personal safety as they mark the holiday together.

    In closing, the message extends special Easter blessings to all people, with a particular note of goodwill to residents of the St. John’s Rural West Constituency. It closes with a prayer that the love and peace of Christ may remain rooted in all hearts and communities through the season and beyond.

  • Autism association strengthens services with new centre

    Autism association strengthens services with new centre

    After more than two decades of operating without a fixed base, the Barbados Autism Association (BAA) has finally opened the doors to its permanent headquarters and training center, marking a transformative milestone for autism support services across the Caribbean nation.

    The new multi-purpose facility, strategically located at the intersection of Dayrells Road and Garrison Road in St. Michael, celebrated its official opening on Thursday evening. Designed to serve dual purposes, the space will house the association’s administrative operations while also functioning as a dedicated life skills training hub, with a core mission of boosting independent living capabilities for autistic people of all ages.

    BAA President Frederick Johnson framed the milestone as the product of 21 years of relentless advocacy, made possible by consistent backing from the national government, community partners, private donors, and autistic people’s families. “This building is far more than concrete and walls. It is a sanctuary where autistic children, teens, and adults can feel safe, seen, and valued for their authentic selves,” Johnson shared in his opening address.

    Johnson emphasized a core shift in the association’s philosophy: autism is a neurodivergence to be understood, not a condition to be corrected. “Our role as a community and as family members is not to change autistic people. It is to build accessible spaces and equip them with the tools they need to contribute fully to society, alongside their loved ones,” he explained. He also acknowledged the longstanding fear shared by many parents of autistic children about their kids’ long-term future, noting that the new facility is the critical first step toward building a more robust system of lifelong care and independent support.

    Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Adrian Forde called the achievement a national win, forged through years of sustained collaborative advocacy. Echoing Johnson’s framing, Forde noted that autism should never be treated as an inherent limitation, arguing that autistic people can thrive when given the right support systems. “Autism is not a barrier to contribution. When we open the door to equal opportunity, the unique gifts of autistic people will shine through,” he said, reaffirming that access to quality care and support is a fundamental human right for all disabled Barbadians.

    Finance Minister Ryan Straughn added that the new center is part of a wider national policy shift toward integrated, family-centered support for disabled communities. He highlighted the Social Empowerment Agency’s ongoing work to deliver more cohesive, needs-aligned services, and revealed upcoming government plans to develop specialized trusts that will help families secure long-term care for their autistic children, with officials set to work with local stakeholders to finalize the framework in the coming months.

    Roseanne Tudor, Operations Manager of the Barbados Council for the Disabled, walked attendees through the BAA’s 21-year history, from its founding in 2004 through periods of uneven progress and inactivity, to its major revitalization in 2017. Tudor called the new center a testament to the community’s unwavering persistence, noting that “it is far more than a building – it represents stability, it represents new opportunity, and it represents dignity for autistic Barbadians.”

    Even amid the celebration, Tudor urged stakeholders not to mistake progress for completion. “Our work is far from done,” she said, calling for sustained advocacy to embed disability inclusion as a non-negotiable principle across every sector of Barbadian society.

    Looking ahead, the BAA will launch its first life skills pilot programme later this year, serving six autistic adults transitioning out of the formal school system. The programme will focus on building practical, daily living skills to support independent living, with plans to expand access to more participants based on community demand as the association continues scaling its support for autistic people and their families across Barbados.

  • Golden arm: Deshawn Smart rockets to CARIFTA glory

    Golden arm: Deshawn Smart rockets to CARIFTA glory

    On April 4, Grenada earned its inaugural gold medal at the 2026 CARIFTA Games, thanks to a standout performance from rising javelin star Deshawn Smart, who dominated the Under-17 Boys’ Javelin Throw competition to claim the top spot on the podium. Smart delivered a career-defining winning throw of 65.09 meters, setting a new personal best and earning Grenada its only medal by the close of the Games’ first day of competition.

    While Smart’s gold-medal-winning distance fell 3.76 meters short of the existing CARIFTA Games record of 68.85 meters set by Antigua and Barbuda’s Maliek Francis in 2024, the result cements the young athlete’s position as one of the most promising young track and field talents across the Caribbean region.

    Smart’s breakthrough victory at the 2026 CARIFTA Games is far from an overnight success; it is the end result of years of consistent, incremental improvement that spans his competitive career across primary and secondary school competitions. His trajectory of growth leaves no question of his rising potential:

    In 2023, Smart claimed his first major regional youth title at the GUT National Primary School Championships, taking home the Under-13 gold with a throw of 30.24 meters while representing St Patrick’s Branch. Just one year later, at InterCol 2024, he placed sixth with an improved best throw of 36.62 meters, a gain of more than six meters in just 12 months. By 2025, Smart’s rapid progression continued, as he set a new Sub-Junior national record with a throw of 58.54 meters at that year’s InterCol competition, jumping more than 21 meters from his 2023 personal best.

    In the lead-up to the 2026 CARIFTA Games, Smart carried his winning momentum into domestic competitions. At InterCol 2026, he claimed the Junior national title with a throw of 64.56 meters, a performance that helped his school, St Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School (SAASS), secure a historic sweep of both the boys’ and girls’ overall division titles. Just weeks before CARIFTA, Smart won the national Under-17 title at the 2026 ARIZA National Championships with a throw of 65.07 meters, coming within centimeters of his eventual CARIFTA-winning mark.

    As of the close of Day 1 competition, Smart’s 65.09-meter throw remains the top performance from the entire Grenadian delegation at the 2026 CARIFTA Games, marking a high note to start the country’s campaign at one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious youth athletic competitions.

  • Antigua and Barbuda invites Commonwealth, OAS and CARICOM observers ahead of general election announcement

    Antigua and Barbuda invites Commonwealth, OAS and CARICOM observers ahead of general election announcement

    The twin-island Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda has taken a significant step toward reinforcing electoral transparency by formally inviting independent observer missions from three key international and regional bodies to oversee its forthcoming general election. The official invitation comes one week after the country’s Parliament was formally dissolved to clear the way for a national vote to select a new governing administration.

    In formal correspondence dated April 5, 2026, Prime Minister Gaston Browne notified three leading organizations – the Commonwealth, the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) – of the April 1 dissolution of the national legislative body. Browne confirmed in his letters that he plans to officially publicize the official polling date just two days after the invitations were sent, on April 7.

    Addressed respectively to Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey, OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin, and CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Barnett, each letter formally requests the deployment of independent observer teams to monitor every stage of the upcoming electoral process. “In these circumstances, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda would welcome the presence of a Commonwealth Observer Group,” Browne wrote in his correspondence to the Commonwealth chief, adding that matching invitations had been extended to both the OAS and CARICOM to ensure broad, multi-stakeholder oversight.

    The prime minister also gave a formal assurance that all standard logistical support, access, and diplomatic courtesies that are routinely extended to international electoral observation missions will be provided to each deployed team without exception.

    This targeted move to open the country’s electoral process to independent regional and international scrutiny underscores the Antigua and Barbuda government’s commitment to holding a free, fair, and verifiable election. Per the country’s foundational constitutional requirements, the general election must be convened and held no later than 90 days following the official dissolution of Parliament, putting the vote on track to take place before the end of June 2026.

  • Jurel Clement sets Decathlon 100m record

    Jurel Clement sets Decathlon 100m record

    The 2026 CARIFTA Games kicked off on April 4 at Grenada’s iconic Kirani James Athletic Stadium, delivering an immediate highlight as home-grown talent Jurel Clement etched his name into the competition’s record books with a new Under-20 Boys decathlon 100m personal and championship record.

    Clement, a Carriacou native who now represents Grenada on the regional stage, has been on a steady upward trajectory in combined events. He entered the 2026 CARIFTA Games fresh off a dominant gold medal win in the decathlon at Jamaica’s ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships, and did not disappoint in the opening discipline of the multi-event competition. Competing under wind-legal conditions, the 20-year-old clocked a blistering 10.93 seconds in the 100m, shaving 0.06 seconds off his own previous record. That prior mark of 10.99 seconds was set into a 1.1 m/s headwind at the 2025 CARIFTA Games hosted at Trinidad and Tobago’s Hasley Crawford Stadium, marking clear progress for the young athlete over the past year.

    Clement’s athletic journey has been shaped by a strategic move to advance his career: a former student at Hillsborough Secondary School in his home island of Carriacou, he relocated to Jamaica in 2023 to join the elite athletic program at Kingston College, where he has balanced academic work with elite combined events training.

    After the conclusion of the first five decathlon disciplines on opening day, two Grenadian athletes trained at Kingston College sit well within medal contention, setting up an exciting final day of competition. Leading the pair is Shyiem Phillip, who sits third overall heading into day two with a first-day total of 3,801 points, while Clement currently holds fifth place with 3,625 accumulated points. Like Clement, Phillip made the move from a Grenadian secondary school – Westerhall Secondary – to Kingston College ahead of the 2024-2025 athletic season, following a strong performance at the 2024 InterCol season where he earned bronze in the high jump, placed fourth in the 110m hurdles, and fifth in the long jump.

    Phillip already has prior CARIFTA Games experience under his belt: in 2025, he claimed a silver medal in the Under-17 octathlon with a total score of 4,766 points, and is slated to remain a key competitor for Kingston College through the 2027 athletic season. Analysts expect him to continue growing as a combined events athlete throughout his tenure at the Jamaican athletics powerhouse.

    For context, the decathlon is a grueling 10-discipline combined event spread across two consecutive days, with five events held each day. Unlike traditional single-sport competitions, points are awarded based on performance benchmarks in each event, rather than just finishing order, meaning consistent strong results across all disciplines are required to claim the top spot on the podium.

    The Under-20 decathlon will conclude its second and final day of competition on April 5, with the remaining five disciplines set to determine the final medal standings. With Phillip and Clement both well placed to challenge for podium spots after day one, the final day of competition is shaping up to be a tightly contested battle, as the young Grenadian duo look to deliver strong results across the remaining technical and endurance events to secure medals for their home country.

  • Antigua and Barbuda athletes record personal bests at CARIFTA Games

    Antigua and Barbuda athletes record personal bests at CARIFTA Games

    The CARIFTA Games delivered a breakout day of achievement for team Antigua and Barbuda, as a wave of track and field athletes smashed their own previous personal records to cap a landmark showing for the national delegation.

    In the 400-meter sprint discipline, four competitors — Tyra Fenton, Ryan Aikin, Jaeda Pigott, and Shaquan Garding — all turned in career-topping performances. Aikin led the group with a blistering time of 49.38 seconds, followed by Garding who crossed the finish line in 51.93 seconds, while Pigott notched a new personal best of 57.65 seconds to round out the quartet’s successful outing.

    Later in the competition schedule, two more young Antigua and Barbuda athletes picked up where the 400-meter group left off, securing personal bests in the Boys’ Under-17 1500-meter race. Shawn-Ze Joseph clocked an impressive 4 minutes 21.41 seconds, and his teammate Elite Thomas followed closely behind with a new career best of 4:43.74.

    The string of improved results across multiple event categories offers clear evidence of steady, ongoing growth for Antigua and Barbuda’s national track and field program. Team officials emphasized that these standout personal bests are a direct reflection of the rigorous preparation and unwavering commitment each athlete has put in ahead of the regional competition, with more events still remaining on the CARIFTA Games schedule for the delegation to compete in.

  • Three Barbadians qualify for 200m CARIFTA finals

    Three Barbadians qualify for 200m CARIFTA finals

    The CARIFTA Athletic Championships, hosted at Grenada’s iconic Kirani James Stadium, entered its second day of competition Sunday morning, and the Barbados national team exited the first session of the day with a string of standout performances and key qualifications to highlight. Leading the charge was defending 200m champion Jayden Green, a U.S.-based sprinter who dominated his Under-20 Boys 200m preliminary heat with a blistering time of 20.49 seconds to secure a spot in Monday’s highly anticipated final.

    Speaking to reporters in the event’s mixed zone after his win, Green shared that his 2024 track season has been marked by consistent progress, and he enters the final round in peak physical form. He extended public gratitude to the large contingent of Barbadian fans who have turned out to cheer on the national team throughout the championships, noting their support has been a major boost to all competing athletes. While Green’s advancement was a clear highlight for Barbados, teammate Jahkye Brewster finished third in his second semifinal with a time of 21.13 seconds and fell just short of qualifying for the final.

    The day’s successes extended beyond the men’s competition, with rising sprinter Aniya Nurse turning out another career-best performance fresh off a fourth-place finish in the Under-20 Girls 100m final held Saturday night. Nurse clocked 23.36 seconds to win her 200m semifinal, punching her ticket to Monday’s final round. Another feel-good story of the session came from Jalino Hamlett, the young Under-17 sprinter who saw his 400m semifinal end in disqualification Saturday morning after an early false start. Despite the disappointing early exit, Hamlett has received overwhelming support from fans both in the Grenada stands and across social media, and he turned that encouragement into a second-place finish in his 200m semifinal with a time of 21.46 seconds, qualifying for the final and leaving the young athlete visibly elated.

    In early field event finals, Barbados’ Aaron Massiah recorded a best leap of 7.12 meters to claim fourth place in the Under-20 Boys Long Jump, while teammate Jazzair Best finished 11th overall with a top jump of 6.79 meters. In the Under-17 Girls Discus, Jahzaria Ward posted a best throw of 27.89 meters to earn a ninth-place finish. On the hurdles track, Tarrell Johnson-Rouse suffered a mid-race fall in the second semifinal of the Under-20 Boys 400m hurdles and was unable to finish, missing out on a spot in the final. However, Rashad Gibson of Barbados secured third place in the first semifinal to advance to the next round. Leemiah London and T’nia Lashley both delivered solid performances to qualify for the Under-20 Girls 400m hurdles final, clocking 1:03.69 and 1:02.41 respectively. In the Under-17 Girls 200m, Taylor-Rai Wiggins ran 25.48 seconds in her semifinal but did not advance.

    Following the conclusion of the morning session, no changes were made to the overall athletics championship medal table: Barbados entered day two with one gold, one silver and two bronze medals earned on opening day, while Saint Lucia held one gold, one silver and one bronze. Parallel to the track and field competition in Grenada, the CARIFTA Swimming Championships kicked off its opening day in Martinique, where Barbados delivered a dominant performance, taking home seven gold, one silver and two bronze medals. Saint Lucia also put up a strong showing in the pool, earning a total of five medals including three gold.

    In a post-session media briefing with reporters, CARIFTA Games officials confirmed that a host venue for the 2027 edition of the regional championships has not yet been finalized. At least three candidate regions have already formally expressed interest in hosting the event, with the selection process still ongoing.

  • AHS and GSS feature prominently as Grenada unveils U16 Netball Squad

    AHS and GSS feature prominently as Grenada unveils U16 Netball Squad

    Grenada’s youth netball program is gearing up for regional competition, with the Grenada Netball Association officially revealing its 12-member under-16 national squad that will compete at the 2026 Jean Pierre Caribbean Youth Netball Tournament, hosted in Trinidad and Tobago from April 10 to 18. Known by their team nickname the Spice Girls, the side enters the tournament following a strong fourth-place finish in the 2025 edition, and is counting on a mix of returning veteran talent and promising young rookies to push for a podium finish this year.

    Reflecting the long-term dominance of top domestic high school programs, the squad draws a large contingent from one of Grenada’s most successful netball institutions: Anglican High School (AHS), a perennial powerhouse in the country’s Secondary School Netball Competition that has claimed multiple junior and senior championship titles. Four of AHS’s top young players earned spots on the national roster, a testament to the strength of the school’s athletic development pathway, which is supported by a strategic partnership with the Barbara Simpson Academy – widely recognized as one of Grenada’s most consistent pipelines for emerging elite netball talent.

    A key advantage for the 2026 side is the depth of returning experience, with six players coming back to the squad after competing in the 2025 tournament. Leading the returning core is Reshonna Francis of Grenville Secondary School, a standout shooter who was an integral part of the 2025 Spice Girls squad that won the title of Most Accurate Shooting Team at the event. Francis’s returning presence is expected to significantly strengthen the team’s offensive output heading into the 2026 competition.

    The remaining roster spots are filled by first-time national team debutantes hailing from six additional high schools across Grenada: Wesley College, Westmorland Secondary, St Joseph’s Convent St George’s, Happy Hill Secondary, Boca Secondary, and St Andrew’s Anglican Secondary. In total, the 12 squad members represent eight separate Grenadian high schools, showcasing the breadth of youth netball talent across the island nation.

    To prepare the team for peak performance at the regional tournament, the Spice Girls are led by a highly experienced off-court management and coaching staff. Constance Belfon serves as team manager, while Arlene Williams returns to her role as head coach, with Jamie John stepping in as assistant coach to oversee in-game tactical operations. Player health and well-being will be managed by primary care provider Keith Williams MBE, and Kathyann Gabriel will represent Grenada as the country’s nominated national umpire for the tournament.

    Head coach Arlene Williams expressed confidence in the team’s prospects for 2026, noting that the 2025 squad was a relatively inexperienced group, but the return of half the roster has created a solid foundation for improvement. “Last year the team was pretty new, but with half of the team returning, we are looking for a top-three finish. The girls look ready, and we’re going to give it our all,” Williams said.

    Grenada will face stiff competition from eight other Caribbean nations at the tournament, including defending champions Trinidad and Tobago and regional powerhouse Barbados, both of which are heavily favored to contend for the title. Despite the challenging competitive field, the Spice Girls enter the event focused on exceeding their 2025 fourth-place result and claiming a spot on the podium when tournament play kicks off in April.

  • Trump’s ‘48 Hours or Hell’ Warning Escalates Conflict with Iran

    Trump’s ‘48 Hours or Hell’ Warning Escalates Conflict with Iran

    Fresh geopolitical friction has erupted across the Middle East after former US President Donald Trump issued a stark 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, threatening devastating military action if Tehran fails to comply with US demands. The aggressive warning has sent already fraught relations between Washington and Tehran spiraling to a new dangerous low, raising fears of a full-scale regional conflict.