Carib Scope

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  • COE expands green alert to six areas amid trough effects

    COE expands green alert to six areas amid trough effects

    In the Dominican Republic’s capital of Santo Domingo, national emergency officials have broadened a green weather alert to cover five inland provinces and the country’s National District, responding to an unstable weather trough that is disrupting atmospheric conditions across the entire island nation.

    Data collected from satellite monitoring systems and ground-based weather radar confirms that the system has driven a sharp increase in cloud formation across the affected regions. This buildup of cloud cover is expected to produce moderate to intense rainfall through the coming days, paired with scattered isolated thunderstorms and sudden gusty winds that could create hazardous conditions for local communities.

    The areas officially placed under the expanded green alert are the province of Santo Domingo, the National District, San Cristóbal, Monseñor Nouel, La Vega, and San José de Ocoa. Green alerts, the lowest tier of weather warnings in the Dominican Republic’s emergency system, are issued to inform the public of developing dangerous conditions that require heightened awareness and preparation.

    Emergency management authorities have issued clear guidance for residents in all affected zones to mitigate risk. The public has been strongly advised against attempting to cross swollen rivers, fast-flowing streams, and rain-swollen ravines, as rising water levels can create sudden life-threatening hazards. Additionally, residents and visitors have been instructed to avoid all recreational water sites, including beaches and inland swimming spots, across the warning areas until conditions improve.

    Along the Dominican Republic’s Atlantic coastline, stretching from the eastern edge of Saona Island northward to Monte Cristi, additional precautions are in place for maritime traffic. Operators of small, structurally less sturdy vessels have been told to keep their boats docked in port, as sustained strong winds and choppy, dangerous wave conditions put small craft at high risk of capsizing or distress.

  • Inmates join Holy Week safety operations as part of a pilot program

    Inmates join Holy Week safety operations as part of a pilot program

    In a groundbreaking move aimed at reimagining inmate rehabilitation, Dominican Republic authorities have launched an unprecedented pilot initiative that integrates currently incarcerated individuals into official Holy Week preventive operations, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the country’s Civil Defense and national Penitentiary System.

    The pilot program, centered on advancing meaningful social reintegration for people behind bars, marks a departure from traditional rehabilitation approaches by giving selected inmates a direct chance to contribute to public safety efforts during one of the country’s busiest annual travel and religious observance periods. The Directorate of Community Corrections confirmed that 10 inmates from various correctional facilities across the nation have been tapped for the initial phase of the project, with selections based strictly on consistent exemplary behavior during their incarceration.

    These selected participants will work side-by-side with trained Civil Defense teams throughout Holy Week 2026, supporting a range of prevention and public assistance activities as part of the annual emergency and safety operations for the holiday. Civil Defense director Juan Salas outlined the core vision behind the new framework, noting that the program is intentionally structured to create a tangible, practical pathway for reintegration rather than relying solely on theoretical rehabilitation programs.

    By participating in organized community service that directly benefits the broader public, inmates get the opportunity to rebuild connections with society and demonstrate their commitment to positive change, Salas explained. Government officials overseeing the initiative emphasized that the pilot is designed for gradual, data-driven expansion. Moving forward, authorities will evaluate participant performance and public impact to refine the model, with the long-term goal of creating a scalable platform that supports consistent rehabilitation and lasting social inclusion for incarcerated individuals across the country.

  • IICA launches CDB-funded AgriMSE business and regional market integration initiative with support from the CARICOM Private Sector Organization

    IICA launches CDB-funded AgriMSE business and regional market integration initiative with support from the CARICOM Private Sector Organization

    On March 11, 2026, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) officially launched the AgriMSE Business Development and Regional Market Integration Project during a virtual regional event, bringing targeted support to small-scale agricultural producers across five Caribbean nations. Funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the initiative focuses on strengthening the competitiveness, operational efficiency and cross-border market access of Agricultural Micro and Small Enterprises (AgriMSEs) based in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. Over an 18 to 24-month implementation period, the project will deliver diagnostic business assessments, tailored technical training, and structured market development opportunities to participating AgriMSEs, with a call for interested producers who missed the launch to reach out to the project coordination team for inclusion.

    At the opening of the launch event, Diana Francis, IICA’s representative for Trinidad and Tobago, framed the project as far more than a short-term technical intervention. She emphasized that AgriMSEs are foundational pillars of regional agricultural value chains, sustainable rural livelihoods, and collective food security, making targeted investment in their growth a regional priority. To successfully integrate small-scale agricultural producers into formal domestic, regional, and global markets, Francis noted that sustained cross-sector collaboration is non-negotiable. Critical partners include regional development institutions, national governments, private sector actors, and end consumers, with logistics, distribution, and marketing firms playing an especially vital role in moving AgriMSE products from farm gates to commercial outlets across borders.

    To deliver structured, specialized support, the project is organized into three coordinated technical consultancy streams, with IICA overseeing overall integration, stakeholder outreach, and ongoing technical backstopping. The first stream, led by EconoTech Ltd., focuses on optimizing business and production operations to help AgriMSEs scale their output and meet market entry requirements. The second, headed by consultant Jai Rampersad, prioritizes streamlining intra-regional trade and removing barriers to export readiness. The third stream, managed by GBest Consulting, works to improve AgriMSE credit ratings, build investment readiness, and expand access to formal financing and capital opportunities. All three streams work in close partnership with national agricultural entities to align interventions with local needs and priorities.

    The new IICA-CDB project is complemented by longstanding agricultural development initiatives funded by the European Union (EU) across the Caribbean. Janet Lawrence, IICA’s Barbados-based agricultural health, food safety and quality specialist for the Caribbean, outlined the EU’s 10+ year track record of supporting regional agriculture, particularly through funding for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) capacity building and regulatory framework improvements. These EU-backed initiatives add complementary resources that support not only AgriMSEs directly, but also the policymakers and regional institutions tasked with building an enabling policy environment for agricultural growth. By addressing foundational priorities including agricultural health, food safety, quality assurance, and aligned regulatory standards, the EU projects create the necessary conditions for AgriMSEs to compete effectively in regional and international export markets, reinforcing the core objectives of the new CDB-funded project.

    Patrick Antoine, Chief Executive Officer and Technical Director of the CARICOM Private Sector Organization (CPSO), highlighted the critical role of private sector collaboration in sustaining the project’s impact beyond its implementation period. Antoine emphasized that small agricultural enterprises often face shared systemic barriers related to production scale, logistics infrastructure, and processing capacity, gaps that can be addressed through closer partnership with larger regional firms. To this end, the CPSO is establishing a permanent Regional Agribusiness Working Group, designed to carry forward the project’s objectives long after the initial consultancy phase concludes.

    “The intention behind the Regional Agribusiness Working Group is to bring together the experience, networks and technical capabilities of larger regional enterprises to directly support the growth of AgriMSEs,” Antoine explained. “Through collaboration in areas such as shared processing, logistics and packaging, we can help smaller enterprises overcome scale constraints and position themselves more effectively for regional and even international markets.”

    Antoine also shared updates on growing cross-region investment opportunities tied to deepening engagement between Caribbean and African private sectors. He confirmed that the African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) has recently increased its investment commitment to the Caribbean from US$3 billion to US$5 billion, opening new financing avenues for regional agricultural enterprises. The new Regional Agribusiness Working Group will leverage this and other strategic partnerships, alongside a public Regional AgriMSE Database being developed as part of the project, to deliver ongoing targeted support to small producers. This long-term structure will also advance the CARICOM 25 by 2025 plus 5 food security agenda, which aims to reduce regional food import dependence by 25% by 2030.

    Early feedback from AgriMSE representatives who attended the launch has been overwhelmingly positive. One participating producer described the introductory session as insightful, noting that it brings together all the resources and support small agricultural producers have long requested in a single coordinated initiative, restoring hope and reinforcing purpose for small-scale producers across the region. Francis echoed this sentiment, reiterating that the project’s core goal is to ensure that agri-food products from Caribbean AgriMSEs meet both the quality standards and price competitiveness requirements needed to gain and sustain market share in domestic and export markets. It also seeks to build a durable collaborative ecosystem for AgriMSE support through the long-term IICA-CPSO partnership and a network of aligned stakeholders.

    As the leading specialized agricultural agency for the Inter-American system, IICA holds a mandate to support its 34 member states in advancing inclusive agricultural development and rural well-being through high-quality international technical cooperation. The CPSO, the most recently accredited associate institution of the Caribbean Community, is a member-led service organization focused on mobilizing private sector participation across the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), with membership open to private entities of all sizes including micro, small, and medium enterprises.

  • LIVE: Holy Thursday Mass at Our Lady of Fatima

    LIVE: Holy Thursday Mass at Our Lady of Fatima

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  • Grenlec backs next generation of Grenadian and Caribbean talent

    Grenlec backs next generation of Grenadian and Caribbean talent

    As hundreds of the Caribbean’s most promising young track and field athletes gear up to compete on home soil in Grenada, the “Spice Isle”, long-time regional energy provider Grenlec has announced it will once again back the iconic CARIFTA Games through a renewed partnership with the Grenada Athletics Association (GAA). This collaboration is far from a one-off commitment: it grows out of decades of aligned work between the two organizations, both rooted in a shared mission to lift up Caribbean youth and nurture national pride across the region.

    The partnership falls under the Grenlec Community Partnership Initiative (GCPI), the company’s flagship community investment program that has poured more than 30 years of resources into four core pillars: community development, education, sports, and local culture. For GCPI leaders, supporting the CARIFTA Games represents more than just sponsoring a regional sporting event—it is a strategic investment in the next generation of Caribbean leaders.

    Speaking at the official team presentation ceremony for Grenada’s national CARIFTA delegation, Grenlec representative Eric Williams emphasized the company’s long-held belief in sport’s unique power to shape well-rounded, confident, and resilient young people. “Our longstanding relationship with the Grenada Athletics Association is one we value greatly,” Williams said. “That the CARIFTA Games have returned to our shores so quickly is a credit to the hard work and dedication of our association.”

    With countdown clocks ticking down to the opening ceremony and excitement building among athletes, fans, and local communities across Grenada, the entire Grenlec team has extended warm well wishes to all stakeholders involved in the 2024 games. Greetings went out to visiting teams and supporters from neighboring Caribbean islands, the GAA and the full local organizing committee, and specifically to Grenada’s own national team, who will compete in front of a home crowd.

  • Grenada at Palm Beach International Boat Show

    Grenada at Palm Beach International Boat Show

    Building on its growing reputation as one of the Caribbean’s top yachting hotspots, Grenada has made a major push to expand its share of the global luxury nautical tourism market with a high-profile presence at the 2024 Palm Beach International Boat Show in West Palm Beach, Florida. The mission, led by the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA), wrapped up successfully after days of targeted engagement with key industry stakeholders, marking a key milestone in the organization’s long-term strategy.

    Heading the GTA delegation were CEO Stacey Liburd and Nautical Development Manager Shanai St Bernard. The trip was not a casual industry appearance, but a calculated step in GTA’s broader plan to solidify the tri-island nation of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique as the Caribbean’s leading hub for luxury yacht charters, permanent homeporting, and world-class nautical tourism services.

    At the core of the GTA’s mission was an invitation-only Brokers Breakfast, co-hosted with international industry leader Boat International Media. The exclusive gathering brought together senior decision-makers from the world’s most influential luxury yacht brokerage firms, including Ocean Independence, IYC, Fraser, Burgess, Camper & Nicholsons, and Denison Yachting. During the curated forum, the GTA team delivered a detailed presentation showcasing the tri-island state’s competitive advantages for luxury yachting: modern, well-equipped marina infrastructure, protected, calm anchorages, accessible open cruising routes, a wide range of soft onshore adventure activities, and one-of-a-kind scuba diving experiences that draw enthusiasts from across the globe. By facilitating direct, personalized engagement between the GTA and leading brokerage professionals, the initiative ensures Grenada stays top of mind when these experts make destination recommendations to high-net-worth clients.

    In comments after the event, Liburd emphasized that the Palm Beach mission was rooted in deliberate, strategic outreach. “Our mission at Palm Beach was defined by intentionality,” Liburd said. “By connecting directly with the architects of the world’s most prestigious yachting itineraries, we are ensuring Grenada is continuously recognised as a premier destination for the global fleet. We remain dedicated to cultivating these kinds of partnerships that secure a resilient future for our tourism industry.”

    Beyond the broker-focused breakfast, the GTA team expanded the reach of its yachting campaign through a full schedule of media and corporate partnership meetings. One key session included representatives from luxury lifestyle outlet Robb Report, as part of the authority’s ongoing, yachting-focused global marketing push. Discussions with core industry partners centered on deepening existing collaborative relationships and exploring new pathways for strategic growth with Boat International and other leading yachting sector stakeholders. By boosting Grenada’s visibility in the high-end luxury travel space, these engagements reinforce the tri-island state’s standing as a first-choice destination for elite yacht charters and maritime tourism investment.

    St Bernard highlighted how participation in these major international events drives long-term development for Grenada’s blue economy. “These engagements are critical to the evolution of our blue economy. Throughout this event, we sent a clear message: Grenada offers the infrastructure and the authentic experience that luxury clients around the globe demand,” St Bernard explained. She added that the GTA is building on the momentum from this and other industry events to firmly cement the tri-island nation’s position as the preferred yachting hub in the Southern Caribbean for elite charters.

    Moving forward, the Grenada Tourism Authority will continue prioritizing these strategic industry partnerships to grow Grenada’s global market share in luxury yachting and support sustainable, long-term growth for the islands’ key nautical tourism sector.

  • One Year After Hijacking, Airport Security Overhauled

    One Year After Hijacking, Airport Security Overhauled

    It has been 12 months since the 2025 Tropic Air hijacking, a national crisis that laid bare critical, life-threatening security gaps across all of Belize’s municipal airports. What began as a tragedy that left the public shaken and distrustful of domestic air travel has now evolved into a sweeping push for institutional reform, with a complete restructuring of airport security operations entering its final phase this week.

    At the heart of this transformation is Vinay Bhojwani, the current General Manager of the Belize Airports Authority, who has prioritized closing the vulnerabilities that allowed the 2025 hijacking to occur. In an interview, Bhojwani outlined the sweeping upgrades the authority has rolled out across all of the country’s aerodromes. “We’ve definitely made a lot more improvements in terms of security,” he said. “I know that before there was a question whether the security implementation was up to par and met international standards. However, this time around we made sure that we went through the proper channels, the proper avenues to engage proper security that are qualified to takeover at all of our aerodromes.”

    The upgrades stretch far beyond just increased personnel, Bhojwani confirmed: more than 100 new high-resolution surveillance cameras are currently being installed across airport premises, creating full coverage to monitor all public and restricted areas for potential threats.

    Unlike the unvetted contracting processes that drew widespread criticism after the hijacking, this overhaul has followed strict competitive bidding rules. As of this week, all national municipal airport security operations are officially under the management of Security Alliance, a private firm that already holds the trusted contract to protect the U.S. Embassy in Belize. This marks the first time in Belize’s history that a fully vetted, experienced professional security company is responsible for the safety of domestic air travel.

    Narda Garcia, CEO of Belize’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, noted that the contracting process followed all required public protocols. “They have gone through the process. They tendered, they advertised, and they tendered out. And I think the board has arrived at a decision of contracting a company that has all, has filled all the requirements that were put out there,” Garcia explained.

    This sweeping reform did not materialize immediately. In the chaotic days immediately following the April 2025 hijacking, the Belize government relied on emergency temporary measures, deploying armed officers from the Belize Police Department to all aerodromes to stabilize the system and calm public fear. Nigel Carter, Director of Civil Aviation, recalled that immediate intervention required domestic airlines to implement basic baseline safeguards that had been missing before the attack. “The Government of Belize deployed police officers to all aerodromes,” Carter said. “The CEO in the ministry consulted with the domestic airlines and we asked or required them to put in place basic security measures, passenger screening, bag screening and so forth.”

    The 2025 hijacking, which occurred on Holy Thursday, exposed not just security gaps, but deep flaws in the government’s contracting and oversight process. In the weeks after the attack, public controversy erupted when it was revealed that months before the hijacking, authorities had awarded security contracts to two firms, I-Security and Four Diamond Security, neither of which had any prior experience protecting airport operations. Thea Garcia-Ramirez, the former General Manager of the Belize Airports Authority, told reporters she had raised procedural concerns about the contracts before the attack. “I was sick. So when it came to me I advised that maybe it would be better for legal counsel to look over the contract, which would be basic and standard procedure,” Garcia-Ramirez said. “I am unaware if that was done, but when I came back those contracts were signed and on my table.”

    That lack of proper oversight and screening allowed the hijacker to board a Tropic Air domestic flight without detection, thanks to minimal passenger and bag screening and inconsistent oversight across the country’s municipal airstrips. Today, Bhojwani says the core mission of the Belize Airports Authority is non-negotiable: to ensure such a catastrophic security breach never happens again.

    Bhojwani, who took on his role after the hijacking to lead the reform effort, noted that preventing a repeat attack has been his top priority from day one. “I know it was definitely a turn of events. No one saw it coming. However, I knew that in this position I was more than capable enough to be able to make that change. So something like that doesn’t happen again. And that has been my number one priority since entering into the position,” he said. “Coming up on the one year anniversary, of course it’ll still be at the forefront of a lot of people’s minds. Especially after that time, I know everyone was a bit timid when it comes to flying and different things like that. However, my goal is to change a narrative. We’re making sure that there’s a security presence there to help you feel safe and they’re actually very good at communicating with people as well.”

    One year on, the public memory of the Tropic Air hijacking and the fear it sparked still lingers for many Belizeans. But alongside those scars, the crisis has spurred long-overdue institutional change, creating a far more tightly monitored, accountable and secure system for domestic air travel across the country. This report from Shane Williams was produced for News Five.

  • Loved Ones Plead for Help in Deborah Arthurs Disappearance

    Loved Ones Plead for Help in Deborah Arthurs Disappearance

    A desperate search is underway for 28-year-old Deborah Bree Arthurs, a Belize-based call center worker and mother, after she vanished without a trace more than five days ago, leaving loved ones and law enforcement pleading for public assistance to bring her home safely.

    According to official police reports and family statements, Arthurs was last spotted shortly after noon on Friday, March 27, standing outside the popular La Popular Bakery location in central Belize City. Witness accounts confirm she entered a silver Chevy Equinox shortly after being seen in the area. Her planned route that day took her from her home in Belmopan to Belize City, where she had dropped her only child off at the city’s water taxi terminal before she was expected to make the return trip west to her residence.

    In the week since her disappearance, Arthurs has cut off all contact with family members and failed to show up for her scheduled shifts at work. Relatives emphasize that this uncharacteristic silence is deeply out of keeping with Arthurs’ behavior, noting she is a deeply dedicated parent who would never voluntarily leave her son or cut off contact without warning.

    Growing increasingly anxious for answers, Arthurs’ family has put up a $10,000 reward for any tip or piece of information that helps law enforcement confirm her current whereabouts and confirm her safety. The family has also organized an independent search party made up of friends, neighbors and extended relatives to comb areas of interest connected to her disappearance, alongside official police searches.

    One close family member spoke publicly about the family’s urgency, saying Arthurs has always been willing to “move heaven and earth” to support and protect the people she loves. Now, the family says, they are prepared to do exactly the same to find her and bring her home.

    Authorities are urging anyone who saw Arthurs on the day of her disappearance, recognizes the description of the vehicle she entered, or has any other relevant details to contact their nearest Belizean police station or submit an anonymous tip through the local Crime Stoppers hotline.

  • Customs Seizes Mike Feinstein’s Aircraft Over Expired Import Permit

    Customs Seizes Mike Feinstein’s Aircraft Over Expired Import Permit

    On April 2, 2026, Belizean customs enforcement authorities executed a seizure of a private aircraft in Belize City, taking possession of a 1980 Beech F90 owned by American businessman Michael Feinstein over a clear violation of the country’s temporary import regulations.

    The Belize Customs and Excise Department confirmed that the aircraft entered the nation under a temporary import agreement, a regulatory framework designed to allow foreign-owned aircraft to remain in Belize for an initial period of six months, with the option to apply for a single extension of up to one additional year. The rules governing this program leave no ambiguity for aircraft owners: once the approved temporary stay expires, the owner must either complete the required customs processes by paying all applicable import duties and taxes to convert the status to a permanent import, or arrange to export the aircraft out of Belizean jurisdiction immediately.

    In this instance, neither requirement was met by Feinstein. His temporary import permit lapsed without resolution, the financial bond posted to cover potential duty payments was not renewed by the deadline, and no steps were taken to move the aircraft out of the country. In response, the Belize City Enforcement Unit launched the enforcement action, removing the aircraft from active use at the airport and placing it under official customs custody. The department emphasized that the seizure was a routine enforcement of existing import regulations, applied consistently to all aircraft owners operating under temporary import status in the country.

  • Belize Bus Association Seeks Help; Transport Minister Draws the Line

    Belize Bus Association Seeks Help; Transport Minister Draws the Line

    As global diesel costs continue their upward climb, Belize’s private bus operators are facing mounting financial pressure that threatens to push the industry to a breaking point. In response, the Belize Bus Association has formally submitted a set of proposals to the national government, calling for targeted relief to offset skyrocketing fuel expenses that have steadily eroded operator profit margins. On April 2, 2026, Transport Minister Dr. Louis Zabaneh delivered a clear, definitive response to the industry’s appeal, outlining which policy solutions remain on the table and which have been firmly taken off the negotiation agenda.

    One critical assurance Dr. Zabaneh extended to commuters across Belize is that bus fares will not be increased to offset higher fuel costs, a decision rooted in the already heavy financial strain facing ordinary travelers. “We received the association’s letter late Monday evening, and I have already shared its contents with Cabinet,” Dr. Zabaneh explained in an interview following the submission. “Formal discussions will get underway immediately after the Easter holiday, and we will deliver a structured official response promptly after that. We have already ruled out the association’s third proposal entirely – a fare increase – because commuters are already under significant economic stress. That option is completely off the table.”

    The two remaining requests from the association are government fuel subsidies and fuel tax exemptions for bus operators, but Dr. Zabaneh noted that both options present substantial practical challenges for the government. A key point of tension in the discussions has been longstanding claims from independent operators that state support for the National Bus Company (NBC) creates an uneven playing field, putting private independent operators at an unfair disadvantage.

    Dr. Zabaneh pushed back firmly against these claims, attributing the NBC’s greater resilience to high diesel prices to the inherent advantages of economies of scale, rather than unfair government favors. Larger operations like the NBC are able to purchase bulk supplies of fuel, tires and other critical operational materials at discounted rates, a benefit that independent small-scale operators cannot access when they choose to run separate businesses. “Independent operators made a deliberate choice to operate as individual sole proprietors, and that is perfectly permissible,” Dr. Zabaneh said. “We have repeatedly discussed the financial benefits of merging into the National Bus Company, but many operators still do not grasp the basic value of economies of scale. This is a fundamental industry principle: larger operations get better bulk pricing on core supplies, which cuts down per-unit costs dramatically. Choosing to remain independent means accepting the financial responsibilities that come with that choice.”

    Addressing claims that the government gives the NBC unfair special treatment, Dr. Zabaneh emphasized that the only support the state has provided is facilitation to help form the company and investment to upgrade the country’s aging, run-down bus terminals, a public improvement that benefits all operators and commuters. Unlike the Belize Bus Association, the NBC has not requested either a fare increase or government fuel subsidies, meaning there is no unequal treatment between state-backed and independent operators. “The argument that we are giving unfair advantage to the NBC holds no water,” Dr. Zabaneh added. “The government has not given the NBC any support that is not available to other operators, and our terminal upgrades are a public good for the entire country.”

    Talks between the government and the Belize Bus Association are set to resume in the coming weeks, with both sides still open to negotiating a solution that eases operator financial strain without passing higher costs on to commuters.