Carib Scope

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  • Auslando Davis Selected for Global Beverage Scholarship

    Auslando Davis Selected for Global Beverage Scholarship

    A promising Antiguan hospitality professional has earned a spot among the beverage industry’s most exciting emerging talents, after securing a prestigious international scholarship that will open doors to global learning and professional development. Auslando Davis, who currently serves as assistant food and beverage manager at the renowned Curtain Bluff resort, beat out hundreds of high-caliber applicants from across the globe to claim the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Global Beverage Scholarship.

    The award marks a major milestone for Davis, granting him full access to the 24th annual Tales of the Cocktail Conference, one of the beverage industry’s most influential professional gatherings, set to take place in New Orleans from July 19 to 26. During the week-long event, Davis will have the unparalleled chance to connect with leading beverage innovators, master distillers, award-winning bartenders and industry executives from every corner of the world. Through immersive workshops, panel discussions, hands-on demonstrations and networking sessions, he will deepen his expertise, learn cutting-edge industry practices and expand his professional network on a global scale.

    For Davis, the opportunity is far more than a personal career boost—it is a chance to lift up the entire hospitality sector of his home nation. In remarks following the announcement of his selection, Davis emphasized his commitment to bringing the knowledge and insights he gains back to Antigua and Barbuda. “This is a tremendous opportunity to learn from some of the best in the global beverage industry and bring that knowledge and experience back home,” he said. He went on to share his plan to use his new skills to mentor emerging local bartenders and beverage professionals, working collectively to raise the overall service standard of Antigua and Barbuda’s thriving hospitality industry, which is a core pillar of the nation’s economy.

    Davis’s inclusion in the scholarship program also puts Antigua and Barbuda front and center on the international beverage stage, joining a diverse roster of nations represented at the annual conference. The event, which draws thousands of beverage professionals each year, serves as a global hub for sharing innovation, celebrating cultural cocktail traditions and shaping the future of the international hospitality and beverage sector. For the small Caribbean nation, Davis’s participation opens new opportunities to showcase its growing hospitality talent and build stronger connections with global industry partners.

  • ‘We’re tired of the killing’: Chapman Lane shaken by year’s third slaying

    ‘We’re tired of the killing’: Chapman Lane shaken by year’s third slaying

    The tight-knit residential community of Chapman Lane, St Michael, is grappling with fresh grief and growing fear after a third local resident was killed in a fatal shooting this year, an incident that has sent waves of frustration through a neighborhood already battered by persistent violent crime. The victim, 30-year-old Jameson Fields, who lived on 3rd Avenue in Chapman Lane and was affectionately known to neighbors as Juni, was gunned down in a public space on Sunday afternoon, pushing the Caribbean island of Barbados’s total murder count for the calendar year to 33. According to initial police and eyewitness accounts, at approximately 5:35 p.m. on Sunday, Fields was sitting near a small shed in Hutson Alley, located in the heart of Bridgetown, when an unidentified attacker opened fire on him. Emergency responders rushed the wounded 30-year-old to the island’s main public care facility, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, but medical teams were unable to save him, and he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival from his gunshot injuries. When a team from local outlet Barbados TODAY visited the Chapman Lane neighborhood one day after the shooting, residents spoke openly about their exhaustion with the cycle of violence that has repeatedly rocked their community over the past 12 months, saying they have grown weary of near-constant shootings and live in daily fear for the safety of the children who grow up in the area. “Too much of this, it has to stop,” one long-time Chapman Lane resident told reporters. “You can never get used to this, you always have to watch your children closely. It’s such a blessing that no little kids were outside when this shooting happened—this alley is right through where so many young kids play every day, and this happened so early in the evening. It’s just awful.” The woman recalled that she was woken from rest by a neighbor knocking on her door to alert her that shots had been fired near the alley. She said she ran outside immediately, fearing for her own daughter who lives a short distance from the shooting site, and arrived to find Fields lying motionless on the ground. “I ran out right away because my daughter lives nearby, and I saw him laying there. I still couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” she said. She went on to recount the string of killings that have hit the small community in just the first few months of this year, noting: “We’ve had three murders right here this year. One happened right at this spot, another one was around the back, and now this one here.” Another local resident expanded on the scope of recent violence, saying the latest killing brings the total number of homicides in the immediate area to four in less than 12 months, dating back to the end of June last year. Beyond the grief of losing another community member, neighbors remembered Fields as a warm, friendly young man with a playful sense of humor who was universally liked across Chapman Lane. “He was such a nice, quiet kid, I just can’t believe this is real,” one emotional resident told Barbados TODAY. “He would walk through the neighborhood all the time, crack jokes with people, always made everyone laugh. Just last week I was sitting at home and he came through messing around, making noise like a siren. People told him he had to stop, because folks would think there was an emergency going on, but that was just his playful way.” The resident also shared concern for Fields’ mother, saying the sudden, violent loss of her son has had a severe impact on her health. “I heard she’s not doing well at all. This is her child, of course her blood pressure went through the roof. You don’t know what this feels like unless you’ve gone through it yourself,” she said.

  • “That Is My Sister”: Ella Waight Defends New RECONDEV Chair

    “That Is My Sister”: Ella Waight Defends New RECONDEV Chair

    In a sweeping shakeup of the Reconstruction and Development Corporation (RECONDEV) ordered by the Prime Minister of Belize, long-serving board chairman Brian Mira has been ousted, with retired educator Myrna “Tibby” Waight stepping into the top leadership role. The restructuring, which saw a mix of existing directors retained and new politically aligned appointments added to the panel, has sparked immediate public and political scrutiny over the government’s decision-making process.

    Myrna Waight brings a familiar background to the role: she previously served as RECONDEV’s deputy chair, holds a seat on Belize’s National Women’s Commission, and is the daughter of Samuel Waight, a former People’s United Party (PUP) area representative for Cayo South. Widely recognized as a PUP supporter, she has been the center of questions swirling over potential political ties to the outgoing chair Mira and claims of improper political patronage in her appointment.

    Stepping forward to defend her sister against circulating speculation, National Trade Union Congress President Ella Waight has pushed back firmly against allegations of improper connections between Myrna Waight and the Mira family. In an interview with local outlet XTV, Ella clarified key personal details about Myrna, correcting misinformation that had circulated about her marital ties to the Mira family, stating: “The chair now is my sister. My sister, Myrna Waight. No, she’s not married [to any member of the Mira family]. She is a retired teacher from Belmopan… daughter of Samuel Waight.”

    When pressed to address any lingering questions about political alignment between Myrna and Mira, Ella Waight acknowledged that she could not confirm whether Myrna has ever campaigned for Mira, but confirmed her sister’s long-standing active participation in the People’s United Women, the PUP’s official women’s affiliate group. Beyond addressing personal speculation, Ella Waight also defended the government’s choice to retain some sitting board members rather than dismissing the entire panel, arguing that a full overhaul would eliminate critical institutional knowledge that keeps the agency functioning effectively. She added: “As far as I know, the board did not do anything wrong” to warrant a full purge of its membership.

    Among the directors who will retain their seats on the restructured board are Belmopan Mayor Pablo Cawich, who holds an ex officio position, as well as incumbent members Lysandra Berbey, Wilfredo Galvez and Cedric Borland. Three new political appointees will join the board to fill vacant seats: George Castro, Carla Bradley, and Michael Rudon, who currently serves as the Director of the Government Press Office.

  • Convicted Murderer Gets Two Life Sentences

    Convicted Murderer Gets Two Life Sentences

    Three years after a shocking broad-daylight double shooting in Ladyville left two people dead, a Belizean High Court has handed down the final sentence for the convicted perpetrator: two life terms for the murders of his own wife and brother. On July 20, 2026, the court formally sentenced Miguelito Encalada, who was found guilty in May of killing Desiree Gonzalez, his spouse, and George Rochester, his sibling. The killings, which stunned the local community, unfolded in open view in Ladyville back in April 2023.

    During the trial, Encalada mounted a dramatic defense, claiming that armed intruders had forced their way into his business premises, executed the two victims, and inexplicably left him unharmed. But Justice Candace Nanton rejected this version of events entirely. Prosecutors presented compelling evidence that tied Encalada directly to the crime, most notably forensic testing that linked bullet casings and ballistic markers recovered from the scene to Encalada’s own legally licensed firearm. This evidence, Justice Nanton ruled, proved Encalada’s guilt beyond any reasonable doubt, leaving no room for acquittal.

    Under Belize’s existing legal framework, the court’s process does not end with a life sentence imposition. Longstanding judicial precedent requires that any offender sentenced to life in prison must also receive a fixed minimum term that they must complete before they can become eligible to submit a parole application. As of the court’s latest ruling, the establishment of this minimum eligibility term is still pending finalization. For the families of the two victims, the sentencing marks a long-awaited step toward closure after three years of legal proceedings following the brutal 2023 attack.

  • QEH mortuary to undergo major upgrade

    QEH mortuary to undergo major upgrade

    Starting next week, one of Barbados’ main public healthcare facilities, Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), will launch an extensive eight to 10-month renovation project for its mortuary, a long-awaited upgrade designed to bring the aging facility in line with modern clinical and public health standards. All postmortem examinations and related services will be temporarily relocated for the duration of the construction work, hospital officials confirmed earlier this week. The official announcement was delivered Monday during the hospital’s weekly QEH Pulse Radio Show by QEH public spokesperson Shane Sealy, who noted that comprehensive contingency arrangements have already been finalized and activated to avoid disruption to core services.

    From Monday, all coroner-authorized and hospital-ordered postmortems have been moved to Tudor’s Funeral Home, located in the parish of Ivy, St Michael. Sealy confirmed that all identification and private viewing services for families of the deceased will also be hosted at the temporary funeral home location for the entire duration of the renovation.

    The core focus of the overhaul is the installation of a cutting-edge negative-pressure ventilation system, a critical infrastructure update that addresses longstanding infection control gaps at the existing mortuary. Along with the new ventilation system, the project includes a suite of other targeted structural and technological upgrades to modernize the facility. Sealy explained that the new ventilation infrastructure will not only improve overall operational efficiency for mortuary staff but also create clearer, more effective separation between clinical workspaces and private areas reserved for grieving families, a key improvement for both staff safety and visitor dignity.

    Sealy emphasized that every enhancement included in the project was developed to meet current global healthcare standards, with the dual goal of creating a safer, more respectful environment for all facility users – from clinical and mortuary staff to families visiting to identify or view their loved ones.

    Addressing public concerns about potential disruption to critical postmortem services, Sealy gave a formal assurance that the temporary transfer of operations will not compromise the quality, accuracy or integrity of any postmortem examinations conducted during the renovation period. He added that mortuary staff will maintain close, consistent communication with bereaved families and relevant regulatory authorities throughout the entire project, and all individuals requiring guidance or support to arrange identification or viewings will receive dedicated assistance at the temporary site.

    Sealy also reinforced remarks made by Jerry Warner, QEH’s acting director of support services, who framed the overhaul as a strategic, high-priority investment to modernize a core, essential clinical service. Warner noted that once completed, the upgrades will not only transform the working environment for mortuary teams but also strengthen the facility’s infection prevention protocols, ensuring that families receive care and services in a space that meets the expectations of modern healthcare.

  • Turks and Caicos partners with CARPHA to strengthen laboratory and health security systems

    Turks and Caicos partners with CARPHA to strengthen laboratory and health security systems

    A major public health initiative to combat the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has wrapped up in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), after a five-day technical assessment mission conducted by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) between July 13 and 17, 2026.

    The mission forms part of CARPHA’s broader Integrated Antimicrobial Resistance Programme, which works across the Caribbean region to strengthen local capacities for AMR detection, monitoring and rapid response, with a specific focus on upgrading laboratory infrastructure, standardizing surveillance practices and reinforcing regional health security frameworks.

    A specialized three-person technical delegation led the on-the-ground assessment. The team included Mohamed Elsherbiny, Senior Technical Advisor in the Office of the CARPHA Executive Director and head of the integrated AMR programme; Dr Gabriel Gonzalez Escobar, Assistant Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control, who also leads CARPHA’s central Medical Microbiology Laboratory; and Megan Bardsley, an epidemiologist assigned to the agency’s integrated AMR initiative.

    Over the course of the five-day visit, the CARPHA team held consultation sessions with a wide range of local stakeholders, including senior officials from TCI’s Ministry of Health, technical leads from the National Epidemiology and Research Unit (NERU), management and staff from the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), clinical leadership from TCI Hospital, and representatives from national infection prevention and control teams.

    The assessment carried out by the delegation covered a broad scope of critical areas tied to AMR response. Technical experts evaluated the condition of local laboratory facilities, the functionality of existing diagnostic equipment, current staffing capacity and training gaps, national AMR governance structures, adherence to established biosafety protocols, the robustness of local AMR data management systems, and the effectiveness of ongoing AMR surveillance activities. As part of the broader review, the team also assessed national tuberculosis patient specimen referral processes and evaluated TCI’s existing pandemic preparedness capabilities to respond to emerging public health threats.

    In its post-mission statement, CARPHA noted that the agency has a long-standing and productive collaborative relationship with the TCI National Public Health Laboratory. The organization specifically highlighted the lab’s consistent work in confirming test results for high-priority pathogens, as well as the successful recent rollout of the MolBio mobile testing platform, which has expanded local diagnostic reach.

    Following the comprehensive assessment, the CARPHA team identified multiple actionable opportunities to advance TCI’s AMR response capacity. Key areas for improvement include expanding core diagnostic services, boosting overall laboratory operational efficiency, updating and strengthening biosafety and biosecurity protocols, scaling up antimicrobial susceptibility testing and molecular diagnostic capabilities, and standardizing processes for more accurate and complete AMR data collection and reporting.

    The review also explored adjustments to cross-border specimen referral arrangements within CARPHA’s regional laboratory network. Proposals on the table include deepening collaborative ties with Jamaica’s national laboratory system, to ensure TCI clinicians and researchers have reliable access to specialized regional testing and reference services that are not available locally.

    DR. Lisa Indar, Executive Director of CARPHA, emphasized the urgency of coordinated action on AMR in her statement following the mission. “Antimicrobial resistance stands as one of the most pressing threats to global public health today,” Indar said. “Strengthening robust laboratory systems and standardized surveillance is absolutely fundamental to enabling timely detection of drug-resistant pathogens and guiding evidence-based public health action. We are deeply encouraged by the clear commitment demonstrated by our colleagues in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and we look forward to supporting the full implementation of the recommendations developed during this assessment mission.”

    Looking ahead, CARPHA has confirmed that it will maintain long-term engagement with TCI’s Ministry of Health and Human Services and local national partners. Next steps include co-developing a phased implementation roadmap for the mission’s recommendations, providing ongoing targeted technical support to local teams, and further integrating TCI into CARPHA’s regional AMR surveillance network to improve cross-border coordination on this shared public health threat.

  • Nieuwe Britse premier Andy Burnham belooft ‘nieuwe economie’

    Nieuwe Britse premier Andy Burnham belooft ‘nieuwe economie’

    On Monday, Andy Burnham officially took office as the seventh Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in just 10 years, marking another major shift in the country’s turbulent political landscape. Following his formal audience with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, the new Labour Party leader unveiled an ambitious, if still outline-only, plan to reshape British politics and tackle the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, anchored by a 10-year strategy to build what he calls “a new economy.”

    Stepping into a role shaped by years of successive leadership turnover, Burnham openly acknowledged his government’s potentially fragile position and stressed the urgent need for a break from Britain’s recent fractured political trajectory. “We are going to change politics – it will be less about scoring points, and more about working together and finding solutions,” he stated in his first public address as prime minister. He has pledged to decentralize state power, devolve greater responsibility to local communities, and use robust government intervention to bring essential living costs back within reach for ordinary households.

    A former mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham succeeds Keir Starmer, who stepped down after two years in office and one landslide general election victory, amid mounting internal party tensions and public criticism. Starmer delivered his farewell address on Monday, saying “My work is done. I leave with my head held high and proud of what we have achieved.”

    The handover of power followed longstanding royal protocol with the traditional “kissing hands” ceremony at Buckingham Palace, though the practice of kissing the monarch’s hand was not observed during this meeting. Burnham said he is “very conscious” of the rapid turnover of leadership at 10 Downing Street, and called on his generation of political leaders to “improve the game” and rebuild public trust in British democratic institutions.

    Burnham ran unopposed for the Labour Party leadership, securing the backing of 379 out of 403 sitting Labour members of parliament. He inherits a daunting slate of pressing challenges: a stagnant, slow-growing national economy, the persistent cost-of-living crisis that has squeezed millions of households, overstretched public services stretched to breaking point, and complex global diplomatic priorities including the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

    In his inaugural speech as prime minister, he also committed to ending homelessness across the United Kingdom and breaking up a political system that he argues has been marked by bad policy choices – including widespread privatization – since the 1980s.

    Critical observers are eagerly awaiting the full details of Burnham’s flagship 10-year plan, which he is set to formally present on Tuesday. Joshi Herrmann, founder of Manchester-based news platform The Mill, noted that the plan will only deliver on its promises if the government can unlock substantial, sustained economic growth.

    Beyond policy proposals, widespread attention is also focused on the composition of Burnham’s first cabinet. Major changes are expected at key top posts, including Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary, and Home Secretary.

    Starmer leaves Downing Street with a number of notable legislative and policy achievements, including strengthened worker protections, reductions in childhood poverty, and increased defense spending. Even so, maintaining stable, consistent governance proved an uphill battle during his tenure, amid ongoing internal divisions and external pressures.

    As Burnham moves into 10 Downing Street, he carries an inbox full of urgent, unresolved policy files and the defining mission of restoring public faith in politics for a nation that has long craved stability and tangible progress after a decade of constant upheaval.

  • Humanity is Polluting Space Faster Than It Can Explore It

    Humanity is Polluting Space Faster Than It Can Explore It

    On July 20, 2026, which marks the annual observance of International Moon Day, the United Nations has issued a stark wake-up call to the global community: human activity is polluting outer space at a rate that far outpaces the expansion of new exploration efforts, leaving a growing, dangerous trail of orbital debris that threatens both space operations and life on Earth.

    According to UN estimates, more than 140 million pieces of debris are currently circling Earth. While the vast majority of these fragments measure larger than 1 millimeter and are too small for existing tracking systems to monitor, they still carry enough velocity and mass to cause catastrophic damage to operational satellites and crewed spacecraft, exacerbating what experts already call an escalating orbital pollution crisis.

    The timing of the UN’s warning is no coincidence: countries and private aerospace entities around the world are ramping up investment and planning for a new wave of lunar exploration over the coming decade. Major spacefaring nations including the United States via NASA, China, India, and Japan have all laid out ambitious lunar mission timelines, with goals ranging from scientific research to establishing permanent surface infrastructure and testing resource extraction capabilities.

    “Decades of rapidly expanding space activity have shown that each launch leaves an environmental footprint, and it can take a long time to understand the impact fully,” explained Jason Jabbour, Senior Officer at the UN Environment Programme. “This is why it is so crucial to consider the sustainability of these programmes early on.”

    The risks posed by orbital debris extend far beyond collisions in low-Earth orbit, the UN notes. Fragments from defunct satellites and spent rocket stages already regularly re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, and some large, heavy components survive the fiery descent to crash into populated or ecologically sensitive land areas. Even when debris burns up completely during re-entry, it releases hazardous heavy metals into the upper atmosphere, a pollutant source that scientists are still working to fully characterize. Currently, researchers are conducting ongoing studies to determine whether this accumulating space pollution could alter atmospheric chemistry and damage the planet’s protective ozone layer, which shields all life from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

    While existing international space treaties include language promoting responsible exploration and debris mitigation, the UN argues that current measures are insufficient to keep pace with the coming boom in lunar and deep space activity. The organization is calling on national governments to strengthen regulations, adopt stricter debris reduction mandates for both public and private space missions, and prioritize long-term environmental protection for both Earth and outer space before the new era of lunar exploration fully launches.

  • Mahaut, Jimmit and Tarreau set for St. Ann parish feast celebrations

    Mahaut, Jimmit and Tarreau set for St. Ann parish feast celebrations

    Community leaders in Mahaut Jimmit Tarreau are gearing up for their much-anticipated annual celebration of the Parish Feast of St. Ann, with a full lineup of inclusive activities scheduled to run from July 23 to 26, 2026. Organized jointly by the Mahaut Jimmit Tarreau Village Council and the area’s Parliamentary Representative, this year’s gathering blends religious tradition, local cultural expression, and recreational entertainment to create space for residents and out-of-town visitors to connect and honor the feast day.

    One of the flagship events of the celebration is a Gospel Fest, which will shine a spotlight on homegrown creative talent from across the region. Confirmed performers include vocalists Janet Azzouz, Mikael Ferrol, Julien Rivierre, and Dennis Augustine, Michel “Micho” Mason, alongside a special performance from the Men’s Ministry of the Mahaut Baptist Mission Church, with additional guest acts set to make appearances throughout the festival.

    Beyond the Gospel Fest, organizers have packed the four-day schedule with a diverse array of community-focused activities. Attendees can look forward to a popular Fish Night social gathering, an Oldie Goldie Dance throwing back to classic hit tracks, helmed by popular local DJs Dr. Miguel Labaddie and Flip the Boss, an early morning Jouvé street celebration, and the highly anticipated return of the MAHAUT EXPO. The expo will highlight handmade crafts, artisanal goods, and fresh agricultural produce from local communities spanning the route from Tarreau to Canefield, giving small-scale creators and farmers a platform to showcase their work to the public. The schedule also includes a lively Band Splash performance gathering at Zaaman Park and a relaxed Kool Down event to wind down between larger activities.

    The entire celebration will draw to a close with a solemn grand Mass held at Massacre Parish Church, a traditional closing tribute to St. Ann that anchors the festive four-day gathering in its religious roots. Organizers have extended an open invitation to all residents, visitors, and community members from surrounding areas to join in the celebrations, reminding attendees that outside independent vendors will not be allowed to operate during the scheduled events to keep the focus on local participants.

  • Police search Azruddin Mohamed’s house in “Paper Shorts” murder probe

    Police search Azruddin Mohamed’s house in “Paper Shorts” murder probe

    On Monday, July 20, 2026, Guyana’s national police force confirmed it had carried out a court-authorized search of the home of controversial local businessman Azruddin Mohamed, located in the Friendship community on East Bank Demerara. The operation, which has amplified already high political tensions across the South American nation, was carried out under a search warrant approved by a local magistrate following a review of evidence gathered by investigators, police said in an official public statement.

    While the law enforcement agency did not explicitly name Mohamed in its formal announcement, the businessman’s sister confirmed the search on social media, noting that the raid took place while Mohamed was participating in official recovery efforts for victims of the MV Barima ferry sinking that occurred on the previous Saturday night.

    Police clarified that the search is tied to the ongoing investigation into the 2021 assassination of Ricardo Fagundes, a well-known local figure better known by his nickname “Paper Shorts.” Fagundes was shot dead in broad daylight on Main Street in Georgetown in March 2021, just moments after leaving the popular Palm Court entertainment venue. Shaheen “Roger” Khan, who was with Fagundes immediately before the shooting, has long stated he believes he was the actual intended target of the attack.

    In recent weeks, law enforcement has interviewed multiple persons of interest in the long-stalled Fagundes case, a development that has prompted sharp pushback from Mohamed. The businessman has publicly claimed the investigations are a politically motivated witch hunt, launched by the administration of President Irfaan Ali in retaliation for Mohamed’s earlier public revelations about a multi-acre private farm owned by Ali located along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

    The search also adds another layer to the long-running legal troubles facing Mohamed and his family. Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, are currently wanted by United States law enforcement authorities to face trial on multiple federal charges including money laundering, wire fraud, and mail fraud connected to their family-owned gold trading enterprise.

    The development comes as Guyana grapples with growing public scrutiny of political corruption and cross-border criminal activity tied to its booming gold sector, with the overlapping investigations expected to deepen political divides in the country ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.