Carib Scope

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  • Saint Lucia prepares for ECVA Senior Beach Volleyball

    Saint Lucia prepares for ECVA Senior Beach Volleyball

    The Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Senior Beach Volleyball Championship is set to kick off over the Labour Day weekend, running from May 1 to 3 at the iconic Buckeye Facility in Cul de Sac, and the official draw has already placed the tournament’s most dominant athletes in the spotlight. Three-time consecutive title holders Joseph Clercent and Sheldon Descartes, who are gunning for an unprecedented fourth straight championship, have earned their spot in Pool A of the men’s division. They will not have to wait long to face their first challengers, as the opening matches of the tournament will pit the defending champions against two hungry visiting teams: Darron Oxford and Jonell Phillip from St Kitts & Nevis, and Tahj Jno Jules and J’den Robinson representing Dominica, both eager to end the Saint Lucian duo’s multi-year winning streak.

    Beyond the defending champions, two more Saint Lucian squads will compete for the top spot in the men’s draw, split across two separate pools. In Pool B, Peter Emmanuel and Lindan Clarke will share competition space with the tournament’s second-seeded Kittitian pair, Julian Bristol and Elkreen Morton, as well as Ronaldo Franklyn and Jamaar Cropper from St Vincent & the Grenadines. Over in Pool D, the local pairing of Diallo Albert and Levi Leonce will go head-to-head against three visiting teams: Cairon Davis and George Freeland of Antigua & Barbuda, Aiden Hazzard and Da’Quwan Fredericks from Anguilla, and Shreefkerk Jacob and Rajheem Meulens, the duo representing St Maarten.

    Topping Pool C of the men’s division is last year’s runner-up pairing from Bermuda, Benjamin Barnett and Sean Tucker, who are one of the top favorites to dethrone the defending champions this year. They will be joined in their pool by Dominica’s Yahn Florent and Mervin Mingo, as well as Antigua & Barbuda’s Dwight Bonnie and Raenor Sharpe, all of whom are eyeing an upset run to the final rounds.

    In the women’s division, last year’s bronze medallists, the top-seeded Saint Lucian pair Clio Phillip and Tenayestlgni Joseph, lead the line-up in Pool A. Two more local women’s squads will also compete: Denila Prospere and Amalia Louis are set to contest Pool B, while Tiannie Severin and Abigail Evans will look to fight their way out of Pool C and into the knockout rounds.

    As an officially sanctioned event on the NORCECA (North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation) calendar, this year’s championship brings together competitive athletes from nine ECVA member island nations, offering them a critical platform to test their skills against the best regional talent and earn higher standing in international beach volleyball rankings. In an official statement, the ECVA framed the upcoming tournament as more than just a competition: it is described as “a celebration of skill, passion and sportsmanship, uniting experienced players and emerging talent in an exciting beach volleyball showcase” that brings the Eastern Caribbean’s tight-knit volleyball community together.

  • Lobster, Parrotfish Closed Seasons Begin May 1; Violators Face Fines Up to $50,000

    Lobster, Parrotfish Closed Seasons Begin May 1; Violators Face Fines Up to $50,000

    Regional fisheries regulators have implemented annual closed fishing seasons for two ecologically critical marine species, Caribbean spiny lobster and parrotfish, in a move designed to safeguard spawning populations and support long-term fishery sustainability. The official notice, issued by Chief Fisheries Officer Ian Horsford, outlines that the closed period for Caribbean spiny lobster will run from May 1 through June 30 annually, while the closed season for parrotfish — known locally as “chub” — extends longer, from May 1 through July 31.

    Under the terms of the existing Fisheries Regulations, all fishing-related activity targeting these species is strictly prohibited throughout their respective closed seasons. This blanket ban covers not only catching and harvesting, but also commercial activities including offering the species for sale, purchasing them, and even private possession of any harvested lobster or parrotfish. Even small amounts of the prohibited species held by individuals during the closed window count as a violation of local fishing rules.

    The regulation marks the spawning window for both species, a critical life cycle stage when protecting breeding populations directly boosts future fish stocks and supports the long-term health of local marine ecosystems. Fisheries officials note that allowing these species to reproduce undisturbed helps maintain sustainable catch levels for commercial and recreational fishermen in future seasons, preserving a key food and economic resource for the region.

    Anyone found violating the closed season rules will face legal penalties under local fisheries law. Violators who receive a summary conviction can be fined up to 50,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars (XCD 50,000). Local authorities are calling on community members, fishermen, and seafood businesses to help enforce the ban by reporting any suspected violations directly to the Fisheries Division. Tips and reports can be submitted via phone at 462-1372 or 462-6106. This annual conservation measure reflects ongoing efforts by local fisheries management to balance human use of marine resources with the need to protect vulnerable populations during their most important reproductive period.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Government Plans Thousands More Affordable Homes in Housing Programme Expansion

    Antigua and Barbuda Government Plans Thousands More Affordable Homes in Housing Programme Expansion

    Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced a major expansion of the country’s flagship national housing initiative, revealing plans to add as many as 3,000 new residential units over the administration’s upcoming term. The commitment builds on the progress the current government has already delivered through a layered strategy of direct state construction and targeted financial subsidy programmes, which have collectively supported the creation of more than 4,000 homes to date. Breaking down the existing delivery, Browne explained that the state-run National Housing development body has completed more than 1,500 units on its own. When combined with developments delivered through the CHAPA housing scheme, the government’s direct construction output surpasses 2,000 completed homes. Adding in residential projects that received financial support through the CABI subsidy programme pushes the total number of homes built or assisted by the current administration over the 4,000 mark, according to the prime minister. Browne framed the ongoing housing drive as a core pillar of the government’s wider policy agenda, which centers on expanding rates of home ownership across all demographic groups and lifting national living standards. For the next phase of the programme, the administration is set to scale up construction activity dramatically, with a target range of between 2,000 and 3,000 additional new homes. “We expect to do at least maybe 2,000, 3,000 homes,” Browne confirmed. To keep the expanded construction pipeline moving quickly and meet ambitious output targets, Browne confirmed the government will bring in additional construction workers from the Dominican Republic to boost workforce capacity and shorten project timelines. Beyond simply easing current housing supply shortages, the prime minister emphasized that expanding accessible home ownership is a strategic investment in the country’s long-term economic stability. The core mission of the initiative, he added, remains rooted in advancing public well-being. “At the end of the day, it’s about improving the living standards of the people,” Browne said.

  • Soufriere soar to the top of Southern football

    Soufriere soar to the top of Southern football

    On April 24, the Saint Lucia Football Association Southern Zone Under-20 Men’s District Tournament concluded its championship match at the Phillip Marcellin Grounds, where visiting side Soufriere pulled off a memorable penalty shootout victory against hosts Vieux Fort South, dashing the home team’s hopes of claiming the regional title on their own turf.

    The tightly contested final kept fans on the edge of their seats from the opening whistle. Coming into the match as the tournament’s top goal scorer with 11 total strikes to his name, Soufriere’s star striker Eymani Butcher was tightly marked and effectively neutralized by Vieux Fort South’s defensive unit throughout regulation play. The deadlock was broken just minutes before the halftime break, when Kailon Flavius slotted home a clinical finish to put Soufriere up 1-0. The hosts pushed hard for an equalizer through the second half, and their persistence paid off in the final minute of regulation: Keivin Sylvester found the back of the net in the 89th minute to force the match to a penalty shootout.

    When the match moved to penalties to decide the champion, Soufriere held their nerve, converting five straight spot kicks to secure a 5-4 shootout win and claim the Southern Zone crown. The result marked a sweet revenge for Soufriere, who had fallen to Vieux Fort South in their earlier preliminary round matchup.

    Vieux Fort South’s road to the final was marked by its own dramatic twists. After dropping a 2-1 preliminary round match to Choiseul, the side bounced back with a narrow 1-0 victory over Choiseul in the knockout stage to advance, then crushed Vieux Fort North by a dominant 6-0 scoreline in the semifinal to secure their spot in the final.

    In the tournament’s third-place playoff held alongside the final, Vieux Fort North claimed bronze over Choiseul following another match that went to penalties. Regulation ended 2-2, and Vieux Fort North held on to win the shootout 4-2, matching their result against Choiseul from the group stage of the competition. In the third-place match, Keshawn Charles opened the scoring for Vieux Fort North in the 33rd minute, and the side extended their lead in the 54th minute when a misplayed clearance from Shakari Faucher went into his own net. Choiseul responded with an explosive two-goal run within 60 seconds: Christopher Montoute found the net in the 60th minute, followed by Devin Phillip just a minute later to level the score and force penalties.

    Across the entire Southern Zone tournament, a total of 49 goals were scored by all participating teams, with Butcher’s 11-goal haul accounting for more than 22 percent of the tournament’s total goals, cementing his status as the competition’s most dangerous offensive weapon. Following the final whistle, Soufriere was presented with the Southern Zone U-20 championship trophy to cap off their comeback title run.

  • API says referring Gonsalves as PM a ‘genuine error with malicious intent’

    API says referring Gonsalves as PM a ‘genuine error with malicious intent’

    Five months after a historic general election shifted power in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the country’s official government communications agency is facing growing public and political scrutiny over an embarrassing mislabeling mistake in a public press invitation.

    The error dates back to April 28, 2026, when the Agency for Public Information (API), the body mandated with disseminating accurate official information on behalf of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines government, distributed an unsigned media alert at 9 a.m. local time. The invitation incorrectly stated that the upcoming press conference would be hosted by Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, identifying him as the incumbent prime minister. Gonsalves, who led the Unity Labour Party (ULP) and held the prime minister’s office for 24 years starting in 2001, was removed from office following the November 27, 2025 general election, where Godwin Friday’s New Democratic Party (NDP) secured a landslide 14-1 majority over the incumbent ULP. Gonsalves was the sole ULP candidate to win his parliamentary seat, and now serves as leader of the parliamentary opposition.

    Just 29 minutes after the first incorrect email was sent, acting API director Nadia Slater issued a second communication, signed with her initials, requesting that media outlets ignore the original invite. Slater corrected the host of the press conference to incumbent Prime Minister Dr. Hon. Godwin Friday, and issued an initial apology for the mistake. However, this correction contained a second, even more controversial error: the apology stated the mix-up was “a genuine error with malicious intent.”

    Only three minutes after the second email was distributed, Slater issued a third correction, which attached the correct official press invitation and retracted the typo-ridden wording from the previous apology. In the final correction, Slater clarified that the original mislabeling was “a genuine error WITHOUT malicious intent.”

    The blunder has drawn unwanted attention to the API, which is tasked with upholding the accuracy of government communications, just months after the new administration took office. The timing of the mistake, coming five full months after the transfer of power, has sparked questions about how the agency could mistakenly misidentify the sitting prime minister, even as Slater has repeatedly stated that the incident was nothing more than an accidental typing error.

  • School closures extended in East and Northeast

    School closures extended in East and Northeast

    A powerful low-pressure trough system that swept across Dominica over the weekend brought extreme weather conditions including torrential downpours, widespread flash flooding and destructive landslides, prompting authorities to order a full day of closure for all educational institutions in the island nation’s East and Northeast districts on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The Dominican Ministry of Education confirmed the measure as a necessary precaution to safeguard the well-being of students and education staff while multi-agency teams work to clear damage and restore critical infrastructure across the hard-hit regions.

    A total of 12 schools across the affected districts are impacted by the closure order, spanning both primary and secondary public and private institutions. The full list includes Concord Primary, Atkinson Primary, Salybia Primary, Sineku Primary, Castle Bruce Primary, Lighthouse Christian Academy, Temple Seventh Day Adventist, San Sauveur Primary, Wesley Primary, Wills Strathmore Stevens (WS Stevens) Primary, Castle Bruce Secondary, and North East Comprehensive.

    Emergency management officials have outlined that the closures stem from widespread unsafe travel conditions across the region. Multiple major road routes connecting key communities have been rendered impassable by landslide debris, while residual floodwaters along low-lying corridors put any non-essential travel at high risk of incident. In response to the infrastructure damage, the Ministry of Public Works has already dispatched a fleet of heavy engineering equipment to cleared blocked roadways and remove loose debris from at-risk slopes.

    To support local residents displaced by the extreme weather event, emergency shelters have been opened and activated in three hard-hit locations: Atkinson, Castle Bruce, and the Kalinago Territory. Utility crews have also been deployed to the most severely impacted neighborhoods to restore disrupted electricity and potable water services, which were knocked offline by flood and landslide damage over the weekend.

    The National Emergency Planning Organization has mobilized its full regional response network to coordinate cross-agency relief efforts, with teams currently conducting systematic assessments of damage to the local agricultural sector, a key economic driver for many rural communities across eastern Dominica. National health services have also been placed on heightened alert to respond to any potential post-flood public health risks, though as of Tuesday morning authorities confirmed that no fatalities or critical injuries have been reported in connection with the weather event.

    With ground conditions remaining unstable across much of the affected region, local authorities have issued a formal advisory urging all residents to stay alert, avoid any travel that is not absolutely necessary, and rely on official government channels for the latest updates on the response effort. The Ministry of Education noted that additional announcements on the timeline for school reopening will be issued only after full safety assessments of campus grounds and access routes are completed to confirm it is safe for students and staff to return.

  • Bowen says a UPP government would investigate corruption

    Bowen says a UPP government would investigate corruption

    In a recent statement that has shifted the landscape of domestic political discourse, a senior leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Bowen, has made a bold campaign pledge that would reshape the government’s accountability framework if his party secures power in the upcoming election. Speaking to a gathering of party supporters and political journalists, Bowen outlined that a UPP-led administration would immediately launch a full-scale, independent investigation into allegations of systemic corruption that have lingered over the incumbent government for months. This commitment comes amid growing public frustration over unaddressed claims of misappropriation of public funds, opaque procurement deals, and unethical influence peddling that have eroded voter trust in the current ruling establishment. Bowen emphasized that the investigation would not be a partisan witch hunt, but a transparent process led by independent legal and auditing experts, designed to uncover the full truth, hold wrongdoers accountable regardless of their political standing, and rebuild public confidence in democratic institutions. The pledge has already galvanized UPP’s base, positioning anti-corruption as the central pillar of the party’s election platform heading into the polls.

  • St Mary’s pleased with Penn Relays debut

    St Mary’s pleased with Penn Relays debut

    One of the most iconic and largest annual track and field gatherings in the region, the Penn Relays, welcomed a groundbreaking first-time participant this year: St Mary’s College (SMC), the very first secondary school from Saint Lucia to ever compete in the prestigious event. A five-member student squad represented the island nation at the meet, which draws more than 1,000 competing schools and athletic clubs from across North America and the Caribbean, and turned in a performance that observers have called exceptional for a debut team.

    The team’s historic participation was made possible through a generous primary sponsorship from Hamilton Reserve Bank, which covered the costs of sending the squad and accompanying support staff to the event hosted at the University of Pennsylvania. Among the traveling party was Dr. Clarence Henry, a parent accompanying the team who has publicly shared his enthusiasm and pride for the young athletes’ results.

    Against a stacked field of more than 600 high school 4x100m relay teams, SMC’s squad secured a win in their qualifying heat and finished 295th overall, landing firmly in the top half of all competing teams. In the 4x400m relay, the young Saint Lucian runners earned second place in their heat and notched a 355th overall finish out of 532 competing squads.

    Henry emphasized that these results are even more impressive when accounting for the team’s lack of prior experience at the elite, large-scale event. “Most of the schools competing here are regular Penn Relays participants,” he explained. “They know what to expect from the track, they understand the unique pressure of this competition, and they have years of experience on this stage. Our boys were stepping onto this platform for the very first time.”

    Against that backdrop, Henry said the team’s results exceed any expectations he held ahead of the meet. “Five incredibly talented young men got the chance to prove their abilities against the best competition in the region, and they rose to the challenge. To win your 4x100m heat, take second in your 4x400m heat, and place in the top half of hundreds of elite teams? That is an excellent performance, by any measure.”

    While neighboring Caribbean nations including Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have long sent multiple schools to compete at the Penn Relays, 2026 marks the first time a Saint Lucian school has earned a spot at the event. Beyond the immediate results, Henry says the debut has already opened new doors for Saint Lucian track and field, with local schools already lining up to participate in future years.

    “This has been a goal of St Mary’s College for a long time, but it’s only now that it’s finally come to fruition,” Henry told reporters from St Lucia Times. “Now that this first barrier has been broken, doors are open for future teams. We’ve already gotten commitments to sponsor at least two or three Saint Lucian schools for future Penn Relays events.”

    The historic debut has created far greater opportunities for competitive Saint Lucian runners to test their skills against top international competition, Henry noted, adding that the island’s top competitive high schools will almost certainly prioritize securing a spot at future iterations of the event, now that sponsorship support is lined up. He closed by thanking Hamilton Reserve Bank for its critical support of this landmark moment for Saint Lucian athletics, and expressed hope that more local corporate partners will step up to back future participation.

  • Joseph and Newton Secure Funding for New Community Centres in Five Islands and All Saints

    Joseph and Newton Secure Funding for New Community Centres in Five Islands and All Saints

    Plans to build two modern community hubs in Five Islands Village and All Saints Village have cleared a key funding hurdle, with official financial approval now confirmed, two Antigua Labour Party (ALP) electoral candidates have announced. Michael M. Joseph, who is running for the Five Islands constituency, and Lamin Newton, the ABLP candidate for All Saints, released a joint statement sharing the milestone update on the long-awaited community infrastructure projects.

    As part of a broader targeted strategy to expand public community resources across the region, the two candidates are leading the development efforts for their respective local projects: Joseph oversees progress on the Five Islands facility, while Newton spearheads planning for the center in All Saints Village.

    Once completed, both community centers are designed to function as multipurpose gathering spaces for local residents. The facilities will host a wide range of programming, from open community engagement events and youth-focused recreational and educational activities to targeted social support programs. Organizers say the hubs will fill a critical gap in local public infrastructure, helping to strengthen local support networks and connect residents with resources they need to thrive.

    In their joint announcement, the candidates emphasized that the initiative is rooted in cross-stakeholder collaboration, built around the shared goal of delivering fit-for-purpose public amenities that will drive sustainable, long-term social and community development across both villages. To date, final details on construction start dates, project completion timelines, and specific building plans have not been finalized, and additional updates are expected to be shared with the public in the coming weeks as planning advances.

  • ANNOUNCEMENT: School closures extended in East and North East

    ANNOUNCEMENT: School closures extended in East and North East

    A formal announcement from the national Ministry of Education has confirmed that 12 educational institutions spanning the East and Northeast regions will suspend all in-person operations on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The affected facilities cover both primary and secondary education levels, and include Concord Primary, Atkinson Primary, Salybia Primary, Sineku Primary, Castle Bruce Primary, Lighthouse Christian Academy, Temple SDA, San Sauveur Primary, Wesley Primary, Wills Strathmore Stevens (WS Stevens) Primary, Castle Bruce Secondary, and North East Comprehensive. In the official statement, education officials emphasized that the temporary closure is a proactive safety measure designed to protect the health and well-being of all students, faculty, and non-teaching staff on campus. The closure will remain in effect until local conditions stabilize and are deemed safe enough for the resumption of regular academic activities, authorities added. No additional details on the specific underlying conditions prompting the closure were released alongside the initial announcement.