Carib Scope

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  • Dominican Republic maternal deaths fall 20%, malaria cases 82%

    Dominican Republic maternal deaths fall 20%, malaria cases 82%

    The Dominican Republic Ministry of Public Health has released its preliminary epidemiological bulletin for the 36th week of 2026, revealing significant across-the-board progress in reducing preventable mortality and controlling endemic and epidemic diseases across the country.

    One of the most striking improvements documented in the report is a 20% drop in maternal mortality when comparing the first 36 epidemiological weeks of 2026 to the same period in 2025. The national count fell from 126 maternal deaths in 2025 to 101 in 2026. Breaking down the 2026 figures, 52 of the deceased women were Dominican nationals, 47 were Haitian, and two held citizenship from other countries. During week 36 alone, three maternal deaths were registered: the women were aged 18, 24, and 33, and hailed from the provinces of Duarte, Elías Piña, and San Cristóbal respectively. Every maternal death is now subject to individual investigation and case review to pinpoint gaps in care and develop targeted prevention strategies for future cases.

    The bulletin also records steady progress in reducing infant and neonatal mortality. Through week 36 of 2026, 1,349 infant deaths were reported, a roughly 2% decrease from the 1,372 recorded in the same period of 2025. Neonatal deaths, which account for 81.5% of all 2026 infant mortality, also fell from 1,118 in 2025 to 1,100 this year. Forty-nine new infant deaths were added to the national count during the most recent reporting week.

    To drive further improvement, the Ministry of Public Health and the National Health Service have ramped up ongoing clinical audit programs. These initiatives involve systematic review of every mortality case, continuous monitoring of care quality across facilities, and targeted tracking of health institutions that report the highest incidence of adverse outcomes.

    Beyond maternal and child health, the country has achieved a dramatic reduction in confirmed malaria cases. Year-over-year through week 36, confirmed infections plummeted by approximately 82%, dropping from 760 cases in 2025 to just 137 in 2026. No new confirmed cases or malaria-related deaths were registered during week 36. Public health authorities are maintaining aggressive intervention measures including ongoing surveillance, active case finding, free rapid diagnosis, immediate treatment, and regular follow-up, particularly in the high-transmission hotspots of San Juan and Azua. The long-term goal of these efforts is to interrupt local transmission entirely and move the country closer to complete malaria elimination.

    Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection commonly linked to floodwater contamination and rodent exposure, has also seen a sharp decline in recent weeks. No new confirmed cases were reported in week 36, and only five cases have been recorded across the previous four weeks. That marks a stark drop from the 27 cases confirmed in the same four-week window in 2025. To date, the national cumulative total for 2026 stands at 275 confirmed cases. The province of Puerto Plata accounts for the largest share of cases, with 74 infections making up nearly 27% of the national total. Most of these cases emerged during and after major flooding events that impacted the province earlier this year. Authorities are continuing enhanced surveillance, rapid detection and treatment protocols, environmental sanitation work, targeted rodent control campaigns, and public education for communities, with a particular focus on areas recently affected by heavy rain and flooding.

    Dengue fever activity remains well within official safety thresholds, the bulletin confirms. Sixteen new confirmed cases were reported in week 36, bringing the 2026 cumulative national total to 338 confirmed cases and one recorded death. The national epidemiological curve stays within the established safe corridor, has not crossed the alarm threshold, and follows the expected pattern of seasonal variation. Notably, the Dominican Republic currently holds one of the lowest cumulative dengue incidence rates among all countries in the Americas. The Ministry continues to carry out territorial monitoring and prevention work alongside regional health directorates and local health services, including the implementation of the popular “Eliminate, Clean and Cover” strategy, which focuses on reducing mosquito breeding grounds and expanding community participation in vector control.

    Respiratory disease indicators also remain favorable across the country. Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) have stayed stable at low levels, with a consistent general downward trend recorded since epidemiological week 27. Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity is also running lower than public health projections and remains within the successful endemic corridor. Authorities continue to maintain multi-layered surveillance systems including routine, sentinel, and virological monitoring, alongside ongoing vaccination campaigns for high-priority groups and widespread public outreach for preventive measures.

    A key structural improvement to the country’s epidemiological monitoring system has also delivered major gains in reporting timeliness this year. During week 36, 2,692 of the 2,945 authorized health facilities nationwide submitted required epidemiological reports, representing a national reporting coverage rate of 91%. Ninety-one percent of these submitted reports were filed on time. Through the national SINAVE digital surveillance platform, 974 cases of notifiable diseases and public health events requiring immediate attention were reported, with 86% of these submissions meeting timely reporting requirements. Since the national strengthening intervention rolled out in 2026, the average time to notify public health authorities of a priority case has fallen dramatically from 17.6 days in 2025 to just 1.05 days this year. This drastic reduction in reporting delay enables public health teams to access more up-to-date data, verify potential alerts faster, and deploy interventions to affected communities much more quickly.

    Public health officials note that they will continue expanding and strengthening prevention, surveillance, and clinical care systems across the country to consolidate recent gains and address remaining public health challenges. Officials emphasize that faster information flow directly translates to faster, more effective public health responses. The ministry also added that all data included in the Week 36 Epidemiological Bulletin is preliminary and may be updated as case investigations, final case classification, and cross-referencing with other official morbidity and mortality sources are completed.

  • Family seeks RD$3 million to save one-week-old baby

    Family seeks RD$3 million to save one-week-old baby

    A tiny newborn fighting for her life has sparked an urgent public appeal for solidarity in the Dominican Republic, as just seven days after her birth, Dashley Alahia Calderón Guzmán faces a critical congenital heart condition that requires immediate, costly intervention to survive.

    Dashley’s medical diagnosis confirms she was born with a severe congenital heart malformation: her aorta is significantly underdeveloped, meaning the vital artery cannot pump enough oxygenated blood to sustain function across her body’s critical organs. Without prompt open-heart surgery, her prognosis remains grim.

    The infant’s desperate family has confirmed that while the country’s National Health Insurance scheme, Senasa, covers a portion of the procedure’s costs, the out-of-pocket expense the family must cover exceeds 3 million Dominican pesos. To date, community contributions have only added up to 60,000 pesos, leaving a massive gap that the low-income family cannot close on their own.

    To verify the urgency of their appeal, the family shared complete medical documentation with local national newspaper Hoy, including an official certification confirming Dashley’s diagnosis and the urgent need for surgery. One of these official medical documents was published alongside the original report to confirm the validity of the family’s request.

    Currently, Dashley is receiving ongoing stabilizing care at the Center for Advanced Medicine and Telemedicine (Cedimat), one of the country’s leading advanced medical facilities, as the family waits to raise enough funds to schedule the life-saving procedure.

    Members of the public who wish to support Dashley’s treatment can make donations to a dedicated Banreservas savings account under number 9605893768. Any members of the public with additional questions can also reach the family directly via phone at (809) 847-5461.

  • Descendants of Dominicans in the U.S. cling to their roots

    Descendants of Dominicans in the U.S. cling to their roots

    NEW YORK — Fifty-two years ago, Juan Díaz relocated to the United States, where one of his earliest and most pressing priorities was mastering English. Two decades later, his son Juan Francisco was born on U.S. soil, and his greatest concern stands in stark contrast: holding onto his cultural ties to his family’s origin, the Dominican Republic.

    Juan, who built a career in business administration and now owns his own company, is currently semi-retired, while Juan Francisco pursues a degree in civil engineering. The Díaz family’s experience reflects a broader trend across the more than 2 million Dominicans who have built lives in the United States, where second-generation diaspora members are increasingly advancing into professional careers, higher education, government roles, and private enterprise.

    For decades, public discussion of the Dominican diaspora centered almost exclusively on small neighborhood businesses such as corner bodegas, family-owned restaurants, and local beauty salons. But demographic and social shifts over recent years have transformed that narrative, new data shows.

    According to 2025 figures from research group INDEX, more than 3 million Dominicans currently reside outside their home country, with the United States hosting the overwhelming majority of that population: 2,398,000 as of the end of 2024, the latest official count available. Research from the Pew Research Center confirms the striking generational advancement of this community: among U.S.-born Dominicans aged 25 and older, 33% hold at least a bachelor’s degree, a rate that nearly doubles the 18% attainment recorded among Dominicans who were born in the Dominican Republic.

    This upward mobility is visible across countless individual stories. Ana Mercedes Chireno, a Brooklyn native born to Dominican immigrant parents, earned degrees in philosophy and political science and now works in partnership with nonprofits and New York City government. Arelia Taveras, another U.S.-born daughter of Dominican immigrants, holds a doctorate in law, operates her own legal practice, and leads a regional Latin restaurant association. Charlie Núñez, an architecture graduate, runs a diversified portfolio of businesses spanning event management, real estate, and hospitality.

    Across generations, the concerns of diaspora members vary widely, shaped by their place of birth and life experience. Ana Mercedes says she thinks often about the Dominican Republic, particularly its economic trajectory. Like many Dominican-Americans, she still has extended family relying on financial support from relatives in the U.S. “We all want to see the Dominican Republic develop in a stable, advanced way, because most of us hold onto the dream of returning one day,” she shared, her tone soft with nostalgia.

    For Arelia, the most pressing worries are rooted in daily life in the United States: access to quality employment, equal opportunity, and the soaring cost of living. “Prices have climbed far too fast,” she noted, adding that the restaurant industry — a long-standing entry point to the workforce for generations of Latino immigrants — is facing unprecedented strain that threatens that pathway for new arrivals.

    Charlie highlights ongoing shifts in U.S. immigration policy as the most critical issue facing the community today. “Right now, the biggest conversation is what’s happening with immigration enforcement,” he explained. “People live in fear of being here, of working openly, and the constant uncertainty of interactions with ICE.”

    Back to the Díaz family, their differing priorities underscore the generational divide. Juan emphasizes that fluency in English was non-negotiable for his generation of immigrants. “If you don’t learn the language, your opportunities are almost nonexistent,” he said, recalling a recent conversation with a man who has lived in the U.S. for 30 years and still speaks almost no English, leaving him locked out of most economic mobility.

    For Juan Francisco, who has spoken English since early childhood, the challenge is the reverse: actively working to preserve his connection to Dominican culture and Spanish language, even as he builds a life in the U.S. “The most important thing for someone whose father was born in the Dominican Republic is to hold onto that culture, that connection to our roots,” the young man explained, speaking Spanish with a noticeable English accent.

    One long-standing tradition of the Dominican diaspora has remained unchanged across generations: the regular flow of remittances to family back home. Data from the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic shows that between January and August 2025, the country received $8.4327 billion in remittances from abroad, marking a $511.7 million increase over the same period in 2015. The United States remains the single largest source of these critical funds.

    Juan estimates that his family sends an average of $800 back to the Dominican Republic each month. While he previously supported his late mother, he and his wife now cover living costs for other relatives and maintain the family home his mother owned in Moca. Carmen Hernández, who moved to the U.S. from Santo Domingo at age 5 and now works in arts programming in Brooklyn, says remittance culture is a core part of Dominican identity, regardless of how long a family has lived abroad. “Sending money home is just part of who we are, isn’t it?” she said. For most senders, she explained, the monthly amount falls between $200 and $300, covering basic needs: groceries, utility bills, and medication — which is prohibitively expensive for many families on the island. In addition to supporting daily needs, more diaspora members are now investing their money in Dominican real estate and small businesses. Ana Mercedes says her parents send monthly support for relatives’ basic needs, while other diaspora members Arelia works with are funding construction projects and business development in cities like Villa Tapia and Santiago. Juan already owns a fully furnished apartment in the Dominican Republic and is planning additional investments. Even so, Arelia notes that rising living costs in the U.S. have put pressure on this giving: when local expenses go up, the amount many can send or invest back home drops accordingly.

    For many Dominicans across generations, the idea of returning to their home country remains a powerful dream, even for those who never lived there. Ana Mercedes, the Brooklyn native, says she hopes to retire in the coastal Dominican towns of Samaná or Las Terrenas. “I miss the sun and the warmth of our country,” she said, her tone brightening. Carmen echoes that sentiment, citing the island’s beaches, open culture, and cuisine as pulling her back. Charlie has made multiple trips to the country this year and is actively considering it as a retirement destination, while Juan already has his apartment waiting for him when he chooses to return.

    Juan Francisco has never lived in the Dominican Republic, though he has visited many times — his last trip was two years ago. When asked what draws him to his father’s homeland, he describes an immediate sense of belonging: “The atmosphere, the warmth, the feeling that when you’re there, it feels like home.”

    Juan left the Dominican Republic more than half a century ago, and his son was born thousands of miles away in New York. Yet both share a deep, unbroken connection to their Dominican identity, illustrating a simple truth for diaspora communities: a person may leave their country, but the country never leaves them — and Dominican identity is born wherever its people choose to call home.

  • Dominican Republic reports rise in September gunfights

    Dominican Republic reports rise in September gunfights

    In the wake of a high-profile murder that sent shockwaves through Dominican society, a disturbing pattern of fatal police encounters has emerged, drawing condemnation from human rights advocates. Less than 24 hours after the country’s National Police confirmed that eight alleged criminals were shot and killed during separate gunfire exchanges across multiple regions of the Dominican Republic, human rights officials are sounding the alarm over a rapidly escalating death toll that far outpaces projections.

    The most recent wave of police killings follows the murder of Zenaida Castillo, wife of renowned merengue singer Julián Oro Duro. That high-profile incident, which has already resulted in four arrests, shook public trust in law enforcement’s ability to keep communities safe, but human rights leaders say the response from police has raised even more pressing concerns.

    Manuel María Mercedes, a representative of the Dominican Republic’s Human Rights Commission, reports that the official 8 fatalities in less than a day do not capture the full scale of the crisis. By his count, at least 31 people have been killed in police shootouts across the country already in September alone. When extended across the full calendar year, that figure jumps to 200 deaths linked to apparent exchanges of gunfire with police agents — a toll that Mercedes says has already far outpaced the projected total for 2025.

    Mercedes has publicly called on Dominican President Luis Abinader to intervene immediately, demanding an end to what human rights activists describe as extrajudicial “police killings.” He argues that law enforcement should prioritize capturing suspects alive whenever possible, pointing to the successful arrest of four suspects in the Zenaida Castillo murder as a model for appropriate police action.

    National Police spokesperson Diego Pesqueira has defended the most recent operations, noting that all eight people killed were alleged dangerous criminals with active arrest warrants and multiple criminal complaints filed against them. The fatal encounters took place across five jurisdictions: Los Alcarrizos, Cabral in Barahona province, Gaspar Hernández, Santo Domingo East, and Santo Domingo West.

    The deceased individuals have been publicly identified by police: Gabriel Luis Montero (also known as “Campeón”), Domingo Santiago Valdez (“La Fama”), and José Daniel De La Cruz Valdez (“Hernán” or “Nay”) were killed in Los Alcarrizos; Carlos Julio Feliz Sena died in Cabral; Ricardo Polanco García (“Richard Gatillo”) was killed in Gaspar Hernández; Genny Santos Franco Jimenez, nicknamed “El Come Hombre de Los Frailes” or “Man Eater of Los Frailes,” was shot dead in Santo Domingo Este; and Haitian national José Manuel San Luis (“Negrón”) was killed in Las Caobas, Santo Domingo West. All were linked to a range of serious crimes including drug trafficking, homicide, and membership in organized criminal groups, with “Man Eater of Los Frailes” having been the subject of a widespread manhunt for months.

    A ninth alleged criminal, Hansel “Boca Negra,” was killed separately in Samaná during a confrontation with arresting officers. Police say “Boca Negra” was the prime suspect in the fatal shootings of two DICRIM (Criminal Investigations Department) officers, Major Andrés Pascual and Corporal William Antonio Jesús Heredia, in separate previous attacks. He was found hiding in a building in the Honduras neighborhood of Samaná and was in possession of a Glock pistol when officers located him.

    Pesqueira confirmed that the National Police is currently conducting a full review of all recent cases, with official detailed reports set to be released to the public in the coming days.

  • The atmosphere comes alive with the arrival of more visitors

    The atmosphere comes alive with the arrival of more visitors

    The 28th iteration of the Santo Domingo International Book Fair (FILSD) 2026 entered a bustling new phase of activity Wednesday morning, as rising visitor numbers and coordinated school group visits transformed the Juan Pablo Duarte Cultural Plaza venue into a lively hub of literary and cultural exchange.\n\nFrom the moment gates opened at dawn, the sprawling venue began filling with a diverse stream of guests: teenagers browsing graphic novel stands, older adults searching for nonfiction titles, and organized groups of K-12 students moving between pavilions as part of school-led educational activities. Organizers noted that school participation has been a key driver of the increased foot traffic, injecting far more energy into the fair grounds than the opening days saw.\n\nAs visitors wandered the rows of exhibitor stands exploring the thousands of titles on offer and signing up for scheduled talks, writing workshops, and author meet-and-greets, local reporters conducted casual interviews to gauge public opinion on this year’s edition. Most attendees praised the wide selection of books from both domestic and international publishers, and highlighted how events like the FILSD play a critical role in fostering a reading culture among younger generations.\n\nJunior Méndez, a 24-year-old attendee, told reporters he came to the fair specifically to uncover lesser-known historical narratives that rarely appear in mainstream bookstores. Echoing the views of many literary enthusiasts at the event, he emphasized that consistent reading is one of the most accessible tools for intellectual enrichment. “I think every person owes it to themselves to give reading a real chance,” Méndez explained. “You don’t have to force yourself through genres you hate—just find what sparks your curiosity and give that a shot.”\n\nRetired educator Ernesto Betancourt echoed that sentiment, sharing that he made regular trips to the book fair with his students throughout his decades-long teaching career, and still encourages young people to attend today regardless of their individual interests. “Even when I was working full-time in the classroom, I always prioritized bringing my classes here,” Betancourt recalled. “I pushed them to pick up books, explore new topics, and immerse themselves in all the culture this event has to offer.”\n\nFor all the positive feedback around the breadth of the 2026 fair’s publishing offerings, a number of attendees shared one common criticism: many book prices are higher than expected. Several visitors told reporters that elevated price points will likely prevent them from purchasing multiple titles during their visit, even when multiple books catch their eye. “I came in expecting more accessible pricing, since this is a public book fair meant to encourage reading,” said attendee Pablo Henríquez. “But honestly, a lot of these prices are higher than I see at regular commercial bookstores—it’s disappointing.”’

  • Inzet €33,3 miljoen slavernijmiddelen loopt vertraging op

    Inzet €33,3 miljoen slavernijmiddelen loopt vertraging op

    During the first in-person meeting between Suriname President Jennifer Simons and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten in New York this Thursday, a key development emerged: the operationalization of a €33.3 million Dutch fund earmarked for policy interventions addressing the shared legacy of slavery has been pushed back due to the need for additional coordination on how the funds will be deployed.

    The full Dutch commitment to this initiative totals €66.6 million, with half of the amount designated to be managed through the Suriname Single Donor Trust Fund (SDTF) in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). While Simons noted that constructive discussions have already taken place around the fund, additional alignment between the two governments is required, leading to the current delay.

    The legacy of slavery was a central topic of the bilateral discussion. President Simons emphasized that Suriname prioritizes continued progress on recognition, healing, and forward-looking collaboration, particularly for Indigenous communities and descendants of enslaved people. She also referenced the upcoming state visit of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands to Suriname scheduled for December 2025, framing the visit as a milestone in the bilateral relationship. Simons stressed that future cooperation between the two nations must be built on a foundation of equal standing, mutual respect, and shared interests.

    Beyond the slavery legacy fund, the two leaders covered a broad range of bilateral cooperation priorities. In the health sector, Suriname is seeking Dutch support for capacity building and sustained funding to turn short-term training programs for healthcare workers into long-term structural initiatives. For education, Suriname has identified priority areas for collaboration including vocational training for construction, mechanical engineering, agricultural technology, and tourism.

    The meeting also included discussion of the Makandra Program, an existing initiative that Simons said has already delivered tangible improvements to the institutional capacity of Suriname’s government and public agencies. The recently launched Makandra 2.0, unveiled on July 23, is designed to further advance commitments made during the Dutch royal state visit.

    Additional agenda items included trade and investment, cultural heritage, security, and cross-border people-to-people movement. Suriname reiterated its longstanding call for the Netherlands to ease its visa procedures for Surinamese travelers, though no concrete details on proposed changes or a timeline for implementation were released following the meeting.

    Prime Minister Jetten commented after the meeting that the long shared history between the Netherlands and Suriname has created deep interconnectedness across multiple areas. He highlighted education, justice, health, and economic development as key sectors where the two nations hold aligned shared interests, laying the groundwork for continued collaborative progress.

  • Ali’s says he has been farming for 10 years

    Ali’s says he has been farming for 10 years

    During a town hall gathering with Guyanese diaspora members in Queens, New York on September 24, 2026, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali opened up about his long personal history in farming while making a pitch for diaspora investment in Guyana’s growing agricultural sector.

    Addressing the crowd, Ali clarified that his connection to farming stretches back 10 years, pushing back against recent narratives that frame his agricultural holdings as a new, undeclared political conflict of interest. “The reality is, I’m a farmer; not now, not yesterday, not last month, not a year ago. Ten years ago,” he told the assembled community members.

    The size of Ali’s farm along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway emerged as a major national political controversy more than a month earlier, in July 2026. The allegations were first raised by Azruddin Mohamed, a one-time close ally of Ali, leader of the opposition We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, and a prominent figure in Guyana’s Islamic community. Mohamed first brought public attention to the holding, sparking a heated debate over asset disclosure. While Ali has stated the farm spans 60 acres, independent measurements using Google Earth Pro of the cleared forest area put the actual size at roughly 114.81 acres.

    Ali has repeatedly pushed back against the criticism, noting that all of his personal assets have been properly declared to Guyana’s Integrity Commission, the national body tasked with oversight of public officials’ financial disclosures. He added that he has personally taken out loans to fund expansion of the farm, which produces cattle, fish, sheep, and a range of fruits and vegetables, reinvesting all generated revenues back into the operation.

    The President also addressed broader tensions between his administration and the Mohamed family, who are currently fighting extradition to the United States to face federal criminal charges. Without naming Azruddin Mohamed directly, Ali emphasized that no personal or political connections would shield individuals accused of crimes from accountability. “You can be my best friend but if you do the crime, you have to do the time,” he stated. He also pushed back against criticism that his government acted improperly in supporting the U.S. extradition request and imposing domestic sanctions on the Mohamed family, questioning why the administration should be held responsible for upholding legal obligations.

    The legal case against the Mohamed family dates back to June 2024, when the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Nazar Mohamed and his son, the younger Mohamed, over allegations that they evaded more than $50 million in taxes owed to the Guyanese government through a large-scale gold smuggling operation that moved over 10,000 kilograms of gold out of the country. The pair are currently fighting extradition to Florida, where a federal grand jury has returned an 11-count indictment charging them with wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering.

    Since the extradition request was made public, the Mohameds have made a series of explosive claims about their long-standing ties to Ali’s ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC). They say they provided financial backing to the PPPC during the party’s time in opposition from 2015 to 2020, and have been supporters of the party dating back to the 1990s. The younger Mohamed has also publicly claimed that he provided armed security and bulletproof vehicles for Ali in the period leading up to his 2020 inauguration as president. Photographic evidence confirms the pair were in attendance at Ali’s swearing-in ceremony at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre after he took office.

    Speaking to the Guyanese diaspora in New York, Ali doubled down on his position that past political support does not grant immunity from prosecution for criminal activity. “There are some people from the time they can’t get their way, we bad…. They believe they give the party some donation for election. You own the party, and you do whatever you want. and it can’t happen with the People’s Progressive Party,” he said.

  • Dominica-born Lynton Scotland appointed to Virgin Islands WAPA board

    Dominica-born Lynton Scotland appointed to Virgin Islands WAPA board

    A seasoned leader with decades of utility sector experience, Lynton Scotland, a native of Dominica, has officially secured a seat on the Governing Board of the U.S. Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA). The appointment, formally advanced by Governor Albert Bryan Jr., received final confirmation from the 36th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, and was publicly announced by WAPA through an official press statement.

    Scotland brings more than 30 years of top-tier executive leadership to the WAPA board, with a professional career spanning multiple critical segments of the energy and utility landscape. His expertise covers a broad range of core operational areas, including civil and industrial engineering, procurement strategy, end-to-end supply chain management, large-scale business operations, strategic sourcing, and cross-functional organizational leadership. Over his decades-long career, he has held senior leadership roles at some of the most prominent companies in the chemical, advanced materials, energy, and utility industries, including global industrial giant DuPont, U.S.-based energy firm NRG Energy, and New York’s major regulated utility Consolidated Edison Company of New York.

    Most recently, before his appointment to WAPA, Scotland served as Chief Supply Chain and Procurement Officer at Consolidated Edison, where he managed all strategic procurement and supply chain operations for one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the United States. WAPA leadership emphasized that Scotland’s deep, hands-on experience in the energy and utility sectors will deliver invaluable insight to the authority’s ongoing work: strengthening core service operations, boosting overall organizational performance, and addressing the long-term reliability needs for both energy and water infrastructure across the U.S. Virgin Islands.

    Beyond his corporate career, Scotland has deep roots in his home country of Dominica. Born in the parish of St. Joseph, he attended the elite Dominica Grammar School and is a founding member of the Dominica Academy of Arts & Sciences. He has also long been an active leader in Dominica’s global diaspora, focused on advancing the island nation’s development. In 2001, he organized the landmark Dominica Diaspora in the Development Process Symposium held in Brooklyn, New York, which brought together diaspora members to collaborate on national development initiatives.

    Following the devastating Category 5 Hurricane Maria that struck Dominica in 2017, Scotland leveraged his industry connections to coordinate a critical donation to the country: a 1-megawatt electric turbine, the first major energy infrastructure donation ever given to Dominica by a member of the diaspora, according to colleagues. That turbine has since become a key asset that has expanded Dominica’s total electricity-generating capacity, supporting recovery and long-term growth on the island. WAPA also reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to engaging with community members of all age groups through transparent, accessible, and meaningful communication as it advances its core service mandates.

  • Teenagers Natking Thomas and Dejonte Joseph Charged in Connection With Mordecai Francis Murder

    Teenagers Natking Thomas and Dejonte Joseph Charged in Connection With Mordecai Francis Murder

    Investigations into the fatal shooting of 60-year-old Swetes resident Mordecai Eleazar Francis have yielded new developments, with the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda announcing charges against two additional young suspects connected to the July 2026 killing. The homicide, which took place at Freeman’s Village, has been an active case for law enforcement for more than two months, and the latest arrests mark key progress in the inquiry.

    On Thursday, September 24, police officers took 18-year-old Natking Thomas of Cashew Hill into custody, formally charging him with the murder of Francis. A second 18-year-old suspect, Dejonte Joseph from Bathlodge, was arrested on the same day and faces a charge of accessory to murder for his alleged role in the incident. Both accused are scheduled to make their first court appearance on Friday, September 25, the day after the arrests.

    Despite these major steps forward, the investigation remains incomplete, as law enforcement continues to search for a fourth suspect, Janiah Antoine, who is still at large as of the latest police update. In an official appeal issued as part of the public statement, authorities are urging Antoine to turn himself in voluntarily at the closest police station without further delay.

    The Police Administration’s Office of Strategic Communications noted in the media release that the ongoing progress of the investigation would not have been possible without consistent support from community members. Officials extended gratitude to the public for their ongoing cooperation, patience, and ongoing assistance as officers work to bring all connected individuals into custody.

    Law enforcement is asking any member of the public who has current information about Antoine’s location, or who holds details that could help investigators track the suspect down, to reach out to authorities immediately. Tips can be submitted by visiting any local police station, or by calling the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline at 800-TIPS (8477), where informants can share information without revealing their identity.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Signs Visa Waiver Agreement With Azerbaijan at UN General Assembly

    Antigua and Barbuda Signs Visa Waiver Agreement With Azerbaijan at UN General Assembly

    Against the backdrop of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Antigua and Barbuda has marked a key milestone in expanding its global diplomatic footprint, cementing deeper bilateral ties with Azerbaijan through a new visa waiver agreement. This agreement stood out as one of the most tangible outcomes of a jam-packed, productive week of diplomatic negotiations led by E.P. Chet Greene, the island nation’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on the margins of the annual UN gathering.

    The formal signing of the visa waiver accord took place during a dedicated ceremony between Greene and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov. Under the terms of the agreement, eligible passport holders from both countries will no longer be required to secure advance travel visas for visits between the two nations, a change expected to boost people-to-people exchanges, business connectivity and tourism links moving forward.

    The visa agreement with Azerbaijan was just one component of Greene’s full schedule of bilateral meetings throughout the UNGA week, during which he engaged with core diplomatic partners of Antigua and Barbuda on a wide range of issues aligned with shared national interests.

    A top priority on Greene’s agenda was updating international partners on Antigua and Barbuda’s ongoing preparations to host the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), a landmark gathering for the 56-nation bloc. This preparation work took center stage during Greene’s bilateral discussion with Chris Elmore, UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.

    Greene also held a series of productive meetings with diplomatic representatives from multiple African nations, focused on aligning positions on shared global priorities and building support for the candidacy of Maria Espinosa for United Nations Secretary-General. During separate talks with Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Ablakwa and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi, Greene formally introduced Espinosa to the two senior African diplomats to advance her candidacy bid.

    In addition, Greene carved out time to meet with Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. The two leaders reviewed Antigua and Barbuda’s foreign policy stances across a range of regional and global issues, and also discussed Espinosa’s candidacy for the top UN post during the conversation. The full week of engagements underscores Antigua and Barbuda’s active role in multilateral diplomacy and its push to strengthen bilateral ties across diverse regions of the world, according to official notes from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda.