Carib Scope

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  • Notice: Works at Fadi Building Supplies to Fresh and Eazy Supermarket

    Notice: Works at Fadi Building Supplies to Fresh and Eazy Supermarket

    Residents and commuters in Antigua and Barbuda are being notified of upcoming overnight infrastructure rehabilitation works along a key stretch of All Saints Road, running between FADI Building Supplies and the Fresh and Eazy Supermarket. The announcement was made publicly by the nation’s Ministry of Works, confirming that the works will kick off with a scheduled detour starting at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026, running through to 7:00 a.m. the following morning.

    Drivers traveling out of the urban center will follow a marked alternate route: they must turn left onto American Road before reaching the Townhouse Megastore junction traffic light, then continue along the way clearly mapped out by project organizers. For motorists heading into the town center, the detour requires a right turn immediately after passing John I Martin Racetrack, before continuing along the designated route.

    Project organizers have emphasized that some portions of the temporary detour are designated as one-way traffic zones, with all restricted areas clearly marked on the official project map. Directional signage has been placed along the entire alternate route to guide drivers traveling in both directions, reducing the risk of confusion or congestion. Local residents who live in the immediate area surrounding the work zone will retain full access to their properties throughout the construction period.

    To manage on-site traffic flow and ensure public safety, trained flag persons will be stationed near the active work area. Officials are urging all motorists to proceed with extreme caution through the region, as heavy-duty construction equipment will be operating in close proximity to the detour route. Crucially, all commercial businesses located along the affected stretch of All Saints Road will remain open for regular operations during the works.

    This upgrade forms part of the broader All Saints Road infrastructure improvement project, which is being executed by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to upgrade the corridor’s long-term functionality and safety. Project stakeholders and regular road users are advised to adjust their travel timetables and routes in advance, to account for potential expected delays during the construction window. Any member of the public with questions about the works or detour arrangements can reach the Project Implementation Management Unit directly by phone at 562-9173 for further information.

  • BHTA issues warning on rising violence

    BHTA issues warning on rising violence

    A fresh wave of concern has swept across Barbados’ key tourism sector after a triple fatal shooting near a popular St James beach bar left three men dead, pushing the island’s 2024 murder count to 23. Top industry leaders have issued their most severe warning to date, linking rising gun violence to the long-term survival of the country’s economic backbone.

    The shooting, which unfolded Sunday near the Thunder Bay Beach Bar in the tourist-heavy parish of St James, prompted an immediate and forceful response from the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA). In a public statement released this week, BHTA Chairman Javon Griffith issued a blunt condemnation of the attack, warning that the island can no longer afford to treat repeated outbreaks of gun violence as an unremarkable part of daily life.

    “What is perhaps most alarming is that these violent episodes are now beginning to feel like a regular weekend occurrence in Barbados,” Griffith said. “That is a reality which should concern every Barbadian, every visitor, and every stakeholder with an interest in the safety, stability, and reputation of this country.”

    For decades, Barbados has cultivated a global brand as a tranquil, welcoming, and secure luxury travel destination, drawing millions of visitors annually drawn to its white sand beaches, warm hospitality, and low crime rate. That reputation, Griffith emphasized, is the foundation of the island’s national economy, with tourism accounting for a substantial share of GDP, employment, and foreign exchange earnings. Travelers select Barbados over competing Caribbean destinations not only for its natural beauty and vibrant culture, but for the long-held assumption that it offers a safe, well-governed escape, he added.

    But the recent upward trend in deadly gun crime, Griffith warned, puts that hard-won reputation at existential risk. If authorities and national stakeholders fail to act quickly and decisively to curb the violence, he argued, traveler confidence will erode, potentially causing irreversible damage to the tourism industry that supports tens of thousands of Barbadian jobs.

    Griffith opened his statement by extending sincere condolences to the families of the three men killed in Sunday’s attack, as well as to local communities shaken by the latest outbreak of violence. He also recognized the ongoing work of law enforcement to address the crisis, but stressed that policing alone cannot reverse the growing trend of gun violence.

    “This is not solely a policing matter. It is a societal issue that calls for leadership, enforcement, intervention, community engagement and sustained action at every level,” Griffith said. “Barbados cannot afford to normalise gun violence. We cannot allow fear, lawlessness and indiscipline to gain further ground in our communities.”

    Calling for an urgent, whole-of-society response to the crisis, the BHTA chief urged all relevant national authorities and private and public stakeholders to treat the growing gun violence crisis with the urgency it demands. “The safety of our people must come first, and the protection of Barbados’ reputation as a safe and desirable destination must remain a national priority,” Griffith said. “The time for decisive action is now.”

  • St. Lucia delegation examining Guyana’s advancements in special education

    St. Lucia delegation examining Guyana’s advancements in special education

    On Monday, April 20, 2026, Guyana’s Ministry of Education announced that a high-level delegation from St. Lucia’s Ministry of Education, Youth Development, Sports and Digital Transformation is in the country for an official study visit focused on Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) from April 19 to 25. The Caribbean neighbor is seeking to draw on Guyana’s recent progress and proven best practices in advancing inclusive education for learners with disabilities and additional support needs.

    Earlier the same day, the visiting delegation held an opening working meeting with Guyana’s Minister of Education Sonia Parag, alongside the ministry’s most senior leadership: Permanent Secretary Shannielle Hoosein-Outar, Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain, Chief Planning Officer Miskcha White-Griffith, and Assistant Chief Education Officer Dr. Keon Cheong. During the discussion, representatives from both nations shared open insights into the progress, persistent challenges, and long-term strategic priorities for SEND development across their respective education systems.

    Guyana’s Ministry of Education emphasized in an official statement that the cross-border dialogue underscores the country’s sustained commitment to building a more inclusive education ecosystem. This commitment has been delivered through targeted strategic investments, updated policy frameworks, and the expansion of specialized support services tailored to meet the unique needs of diverse learners. Over the past several years, the Guyanese government has recorded major, tangible strides in expanding equitable access to high-quality education for SEND students, aligning with its national pledge to leave no child behind in education.

    Over the course of their week-long visit, the St. Lucian delegation will take part in a structured program of site visits to SEND facilities across Guyana. These on-the-ground visits will allow the delegation to observe first-hand the operational systems, institutional structures, and targeted intervention models that have driven Guyana’s measurable progress in this critical education sub-sector.

    For Guyana, the official knowledge-sharing visit cements the country’s growing reputation as a regional leader in progressive educational development, particularly in the space of inclusive education. Officials also noted that the exchange reflects the Guyanese government’s longstanding dedication to continuous improvement, cross-border collaboration, and innovation across the national education sector.

  • Transport Department Sends New Pickup Trucks to OW and PG

    Transport Department Sends New Pickup Trucks to OW and PG

    In a formal handover ceremony held April 20, 2026 at the Department of Transport’s Belmopan parking lot, two brand-new Nissan pickup trucks were officially transferred to the department for deployment to two regional districts. The new assets are part of a broader ongoing government initiative to upgrade road safety infrastructure and streamline daily operational capacity across Belize.

    Once assigned to the Orange Walk (OW) and Punta Gorda (PG) districts, the trucks will directly support local transport wardens in carrying out their routine and targeted traffic enforcement duties. Prior to this deployment, regional enforcement teams often faced operational limitations from outdated or insufficient vehicle resources, which slowed response times and hindered regular patrols across the large, spread-out districts.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Transport Minister Dr. Louis Zabaneh emphasized that the upgraded equipment is a critical investment in improving national traffic law compliance. “Hopefully with these new vehicles we will be able to get even higher compliance for our laws,” Dr. Zabaneh said, noting that consistent, accessible enforcement is one of the most effective tools for reducing reckless driving and preventing road traffic accidents.

    Deputy Chief Transport Officer Peter Williams expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Transport for its sustained commitment to upgrading frontline operational resources. Williams stressed that the addition of reliable new vehicles would deliver an immediate, visible improvement to daily work for regional wardens, eliminating common barriers like vehicle breakdowns that previously pulled officers off patrol routes.

    Department CEO Chester Williams further outlined plans to preserve the new assets for long-term public service, noting that structured maintenance protocols will be put in place to keep the trucks in optimal working condition. “I am sure that the officers who are going to be utilising them from both Punta Gorda and Orange Walk are going to make good use of these vehicles and maintain them in an acceptable standard,” Williams said. The deployment is expected to be completed within one week of the handover ceremony, with the trucks already cleared for active patrol duty.

  • Public invited to town hall meetings on weather-resilient housing project

    Public invited to town hall meetings on weather-resilient housing project

    Over the next three days, three consecutive public town hall meetings will open a channel for community input on the draft designs of climate-resilient housing units developed under Saint Lucia’s landmark Green Affordable Housing Project (GAH).

    First launched in 2021 by the Government of Saint Lucia, the GAH initiative was created to address a critical gap: making sustainable, climate-adapted housing accessible and affordable for the country’s low- and middle-income households. To advance this goal, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) has partnered with two leading global climate and development bodies—the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF)—to support the government in mobilizing $7.5 million in funding for a flagship pilot project.

    Under this pilot, 450 fully green-certified, climate-resilient homes will be constructed in the Balata district of Castries, the island nation’s capital. The planned residential units are designed to withstand the extreme weather events that threaten small island developing states like Saint Lucia, with proposed features including integrated rainwater harvesting systems, on-site solar energy generation, energy-efficient LED lighting, and hurricane-resistant building infrastructure. If the pilot is successfully completed, an estimated 1,800 local Saint Lucians stand to gain safe, sustainable affordable housing through the initiative.

    To ensure the project aligns with the needs of the community that will ultimately call these developments home, organizers have scheduled three town hall sessions across different regions of the country, each designed to accommodate local attendees. The first session, set for Monday, April 20, will be a virtual gathering open to stakeholders in the Castries area, running from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The following day, Tuesday, April 21, an in-person meeting will be held at the Human Resource Development Centre in Gros Islet from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The third and final session will take place on Wednesday, April 22 at Babonneau Secondary School, running from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

    During these public sessions, project teams will present the finalized proposed community layouts and housing designs, then open the floor to collect feedback and suggestions from residents, future prospective homeowners, and other local stakeholders. In an official statement, GGGI emphasized that public input is a core part of the project’s development process: the feedback collected will be integrated into final design adjustments to ensure the completed housing solutions directly reflect the needs and priorities of the people who will live in them, while also advancing the country’s broader goals for inclusive, sustainable national development.

  • BREAKING: IShowSpeed to Visit Antigua and Barbuda as Part of Caribbean Tour (VIDEO)

    BREAKING: IShowSpeed to Visit Antigua and Barbuda as Part of Caribbean Tour (VIDEO)

    In a breaking development that has sent ripples of excitement through online creator communities and Caribbean travel circles, prominent American internet personality and live streamer IShowSpeed has announced that Antigua and Barbuda will be an official stop on his upcoming regional Caribbean tour. The announcement was accompanied by newly released teaser video that offers fans a quick preview of the creator’s plans for the visit, building anticipation among his global fanbase ahead of the trip.

    Known for his high-energy live streams, gaming content and millions of loyal followers across major social platforms, IShowSpeed’s decision to include the twin-island Caribbean nation marks one of the highest-profile creator visits to the country in recent years. Travel and tourism stakeholders in Antigua and Barbuda have already noted the potential for the visit to boost the country’s visibility as a top tourist destination among younger, social media-savvy audiences worldwide.

    The teaser video released alongside the breaking announcement shares quick hints about the activities IShowSpeed is expected to take part in during his stay, though full details of his itinerary have not yet been revealed to the public. Fans both local to Antigua and Barbuda and those following the streamer internationally are waiting for further updates on scheduled public appearances, meet-and-greets and content that will be filmed during the tour stop.

  • Police Looking for One Man For Recent Murder

    Police Looking for One Man For Recent Murder

    A wide-ranging manhunt is underway in southern Belize for a suspect connected to the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Steve Lewis, a delivery worker from Dangriga Town whose decomposing body was found days after he went missing for a fake delivery job.

    Lewis was last seen alive on the morning of the previous Monday, when he left his home to complete what he believed was a standard, routine delivery. The following day, his common-law wife filed an official missing person report with local authorities after he failed to return home.

    Several days after Lewis disappeared, searchers located his remains along a rural feeder road branching off the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway, close to the small community of Silk Grass Village. Investigators recovered an expended bullet shell at the scene, which has helped detectives narrow down the cause of death.

    Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith confirmed to reporters that forensic evidence points to a gunshot wound as the likely cause of Lewis’s death. “Given that an expended shell was found on the scene, we suspect the cause to be a gunshot injury,” Smith stated in an official press briefing.

    Prior to his disappearance, Lewis received a phone call requesting a delivery to Silk Grass Village, and investigators are now deep diving into all communications linked to that fatal request to identify the caller. “We are following up on the level of communication that he had during that time to see how that can assist with the investigation,” ASP Smith added.

    Lewis’s mother, Suceli Lewis, shared new chilling details of her son’s final hours with local outlet News 5. She explained that an unknown young man contacted her son from Lake Land to arrange the delivery, and specifically instructed Lewis to bring a covered helmet with him for the job. “So my baby went to look for a cover up helmet and gone pick up the person and shoot out of Dangriga,” she said, confirming her son never made it back to town after leaving for the appointment.

    Local law enforcement has not yet released a description of the suspect they are seeking, but have urged residents of the Dangriga and Silk Grass Village areas to come forward with any information that could help speed up the investigation and bring the perpetrator to justice.

  • 36 Police Officers Complete Drill Training with BDF Support

    36 Police Officers Complete Drill Training with BDF Support

    A historic five-week specialized drill training program, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the Belize Police Department and the Belize Defence Force (BDF), has concluded with 36 officers successfully earning their graduation credentials, officials confirmed.

    The initiative, crafted to develop the next tier of junior leadership within the police ranks, launched in mid-March at the National Police Training Academy. Forty officers originally entered the rigorous course, which combined military-style discipline with police-specific leadership skill building, and 36 participants met all the program’s demanding requirements to cross the finish line at the end of the training cycle.

    Titled the Junior Non-Commissioned Officer Drill Course, the program was built around a core set of training objectives: refining officers’ proficiency in parade drill procedures, teaching them to identify and correct technical errors in formation movement, and ingraining precision in coordinated group maneuvers. Beyond technical drill skills, the curriculum also prioritized cultivating on-the-job confidence and foundational leadership capabilities that officers can bring to their daily community policing and operational duties.

    Training organizers structured the curriculum to blend practical, hands-on field drills with in-depth classroom instruction. This hybrid approach ensured participants built not only the physical discipline required for high-standard drill work but also the theoretical knowledge to lead drill sessions and apply learned discipline to their regular roles. Officials repeatedly emphasized the intensity and transformative impact of the course, noting that the partnership with the BDF brought unique military expertise and structure to the training that elevated the entire experience for participating officers.

    This joint program marks a new step in inter-agency cooperation between Belize’s national police and defense forces, aimed at lifting professional standards across the country’s law enforcement sector.

  • Tsjaad stuurt 1.500 troepen naar Haïti als onderdeel van VN-veiligheidsmacht

    Tsjaad stuurt 1.500 troepen naar Haïti als onderdeel van VN-veiligheidsmacht

    PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI – As Haiti grapples with a spiraling humanitarian and security crisis fueled by powerful gang coalitions that control most of the capital, the central African nation of Chad has formally committed to deploying 1,500 additional troops to the UN-endorsed multinational security mission tasked with stabilizing the Caribbean country. The announcement, made public Monday via a letter from the Chadian presidential office to the country’s national parliament, marks a major boost to the understaffed mission, which has long fallen short of its personnel recruitment targets.

    According to the official document, the first contingent of Chadian troops – roughly 400 service members – already arrived in Haiti on April 1, and is now operating under the command of the newly restructured UN mission leadership, which was reorganized late last year. Chad’s full deployment will consist of two full battalions of 750 troops each, with the entire force serving a 12-month tour of duty starting this month.

    Prior to Chad’s commitment, the multinational mission counted approximately 1,000 international personnel on the ground, most of whom are police officers from Kenya, supplemented by small specialized units from several Central American and Caribbean nations. The voluntary mission originally set an initial target of 2,500 troops, but as of early 2025, it had only reached 40% of that goal. That figure prompted UN security officials to raise the overall official target to 5,500 personnel by August this year, a milestone that Chad’s contribution will go a long way toward helping the coalition meet.

    The deployment boost comes as security conditions across Haiti continue to deteriorate, despite incremental efforts by international forces to push back against gang control. Over the past years of escalating conflict, the number of Haitians displaced by gang violence has skyrocketed from just over 133,000 to more than 1.4 million, with thousands of civilian lives lost to rampant attacks, sexual violence, and territorial clashes between rival factions. Once confined to the capital Port-au-Prince, gangs have now expanded their influence into rural areas surrounding the city, and the dominant gang alliance Viv Ansanm maintains de facto control over most of Port-au-Prince’s northeastern neighborhoods.

    In a small sign of incremental progress earlier this month, notorious gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier ordered his followers to withdraw from several northeastern Port-au-Prince districts and called on former residents to return to their homes. That move allowed hundreds of displaced residents to go back to the Delmas 30 neighborhood, though widespread insecurity persists across much of the country.

    The ongoing chaos has also derailed Haiti’s political transition: general elections have been repeatedly delayed, with the last national vote held a full decade ago. Compounding the crisis, a recent UN internal report has documented allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation committed by some members of the international security mission, adding another layer of challenge to the already fraught stabilization effort.

  • PM Browne Highlights Women’s Role in Politics, Backs Female Candidates at Manifesto Launch

    PM Browne Highlights Women’s Role in Politics, Backs Female Candidates at Manifesto Launch

    As campaigning enters its final stretch ahead of Antigua and Barbuda’s April 30 general election, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has positioned expanded female participation in national politics as a core pillar of his administration’s agenda, highlighting the transformative role women already play in the country’s leadership during the official launch of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) election manifesto.

    Addressing a crowd of party supporters on the island of St John’s, Browne wove women’s leadership into his government’s forward-looking vision for the nation, arguing that greater inclusion of women in political office directly drives more robust, equitable national development and more responsive governance. He specifically highlighted two female candidates running on the ABLP ticket — Kiz Johnson and Maria Browne — as concrete examples of the party’s commitment to elevating women into decision-making roles ahead of the polls.

    Browne framed the growing representation of women in Antigua and Barbuda’s political sphere as a key marker of the country’s evolving, modern democratic landscape, framing expanded female inclusion as a central component of the ABLP’s broader push for truly inclusive governance. The call for greater women’s participation formed just one section of the full manifesto rollout, where Browne also outlined the party’s key policy priorities if re-elected, including accelerating sustainable economic growth, advancing critical infrastructure projects, strengthening national public safety frameworks, and expanding impactful social programs that support working families and vulnerable communities across the twin-island nation.

    With less than two weeks remaining until voters head to the polls, campaign activity across all parties has ramped up significantly. Political analysts and party insiders note that the ABLP’s explicit focus on elevating female candidates and centering women’s leadership will remain a key talking point in the party’s voter outreach efforts as it works to secure a renewed mandate from the electorate.