Carib Scope

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  • Pinelands, Bulls, Lakers, Celtics in winners’ row

    Pinelands, Bulls, Lakers, Celtics in winners’ row

    The latest matchweek of the Barbados Amateur Basketball Association’s Premier League delivered four distinct outcomes across the Sunday fixture slate, with dominant performances and standout individual scoring taking center stage at the Barbados Community College host venue.

    Opening the day’s competition, KFC Pinelands secured a lopsided 18-point win over NSC Tridents, finalizing the score at 78-60. Adriel Brathwaite anchored Pinelands’ offensive output, leading all teammates with 19 total points, while the squad boasted four players hitting double-digit scoring totals. Forward Carl Thorpe chipped in 18 points, and both Rachad Hall and Khenti Morris added 14 points each to round out the balanced offensive attack. For the defeated Tridents, Zane Gaskin put up a team-high 18 points, with Bronson Gibson-D’ermo contributing 12 points in the losing effort.

    In the afternoon’s second matchup, Burger King Clapham Bulls pulled away for a comfortable 107-85 victory against Warrens All Stars. Brothers Rasheed Maynard and Simeon Maynard turned in matching 16-point performances to pace the Bulls’ winning effort. Even though Warrens All Stars guard Delan Willie recorded the highest individual scoring total of the entire game with 21 points, his side could not overcome the Bulls’ coordinated team play and fell short by 22 points.

    The third contest of the day saw Island Care Ambulance Service hold off a late push from PremiumFit Bears to claim a 71-61 win. The winning squad got a double-digit scoring boost from guard Tyreke Harewood, who dropped 18 points, and forward Keefe Birkett, who added 13 points to secure the 10-point victory. Despite a career-best outing from PremiumFit’s Antoine Winter, who scored a game-high 32 points, the Bears could not overcome a lack of consistent supporting scoring and dropped the fixture.

    Closing out the Sunday game schedule, C.A.M Smart Assurance City United Celtics defeated Fusionz Boutique Station Hill Cavaliers by a 16-point margin, closing the game out at 94-78. Swingman Theo Greenidge led all Celtics scorers with 28 points, while guard Kiserian Adams contributed 20 points and forward Deroni Hurly added 18 points to the winning total. Deveron Knight topped the scoring chart for the Cavaliers with 19 points in the loss.

  • ANN: Dominica sits on top of Windward Under-19 cricket after two matches

    ANN: Dominica sits on top of Windward Under-19 cricket after two matches

    DOMINICA, ROSEAU – As the 2026 WINLOTT/Windward Islands Under-19 Cricket Tournament unfolds on home soil, Dominica has surged to the top of the tournament standings following the completion of the first two rounds of group play. After earning two wins from their two opening matches, the host side currently holds a total of 4 points alongside an impressive net run rate of 2.695, putting them clear of competing teams at the early stage of the tournament.

    The battle for the second position on the leaderboard has been a tight contest between Saint Lucia and Grenada. Both teams have posted identical results through their first two matches, picking up one win and one loss apiece to leave them tied on 2 points each. The tiebreaker of net run rate ultimately placed Saint Lucia in the second spot, as the side holds a positive net run rate of 1.682, far outperforming Grenada’s negative net run rate of minus 1.188.

    This early tournament lead marks a strong opening showing for the young Dominica side, as they look to maintain their form through the remainder of the regional youth cricket competition, with more matches scheduled to determine the overall tournament champion in the coming rounds. [Photo: Shamel Hillaire (centre) celebrating the fall of another wicket, credit to WINLOTT – Robertson S. Henry]

  • He Won Over $300,000 in Mega Bingo

    He Won Over $300,000 in Mega Bingo

    A lucky yet methodic bingo player has walked away with a life-changing $370,000 Mega Bingo jackpot, crediting his long-term patience rather than pure random luck for the huge windfall, announced on April 13, 2026.

    After mandatory tax deductions, the winner takes home a net sum of approximately $315,000, a payout that has already reshaped his near-term financial plans. In a reflection on his winning strategy, the player shared that he has held fast to the same ticket number combination for years, even through a long break from playing the game.

    “I started purchasing Mega Bingo tickets when the game first launched, but I took an extended break from playing before I came back to it,” he explained. “Ever since I returned, I’ve bought the same exact ticket every time without ever changing the numbers. That consistency paid off in the end.”

    Now that the jackpot is secured, the winner says he has no plans to rush into reckless spending. Instead, his top priority is using the funds to support his mother and other loved ones who have supported him over the years. He emphasized that he intends to avoid impulsive financial decisions, noting that unplanned spending can drain even a large windfall faster than many people expect.

    As of press time, the report of the win has garnered more than 200 views from readers following the story.

  • We Live in a Hurricane Belt: “Every Year Could be Disastrous”

    We Live in a Hurricane Belt: “Every Year Could be Disastrous”

    Against a backdrop of escalating climate-driven hazards that have made the Caribbean one of the most disaster-prone regions on Earth, Belize took a critical step forward on April 13, 2026 to reinforce its emergency preparedness with a new digital initiative. In an official handover ceremony, 30 Samsung tablets were delivered to frontline disaster management agencies, equipping on-the-ground responders with modern tools to confront the growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

    Dr. Colin Young, Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), one of the key partners backing the initiative, outlined the transformative role the new devices will play during active crises. Unlike traditional paper-based assessment methods that delay data sharing and analysis, these tablets will allow officials to gather actionable, on-location information in real time as emergencies unfold. “They’ll be capturing geo-referenced photos, building footprint observations, and rapid assessments during storms, floods, and other emergencies,” Young explained. Beyond the mobile devices, the project also delivers high-resolution satellite imagery, customized digital maps, and detailed vulnerability assessments that highlight high-risk communities across Belize, giving planners and responders clearer insight into where threats are most acute.

    Young emphasized that technical equipment alone cannot deliver lasting improvement. To ensure long-term impact, the initiative includes structured training for at least 40 local officials, building sustained capacity within Belize’s disaster response ecosystem. When fully rolled out, project organizers estimate the benefits will reach hundreds of frontline workers directly, and thousands of at-risk community members indirectly, by cutting response times and improving the accuracy of emergency resource allocation.

    Cordel Hyde, Belize’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources, used the ceremony to underscore the urgent climate reality that makes investments like this non-negotiable for his small coastal nation. Located squarely within the Atlantic hurricane belt, Belize faces the constant threat of catastrophic extreme weather, with risks growing worse each year due to climate change. “We live in a hurricane belt. Every year could be disastrous, literally every year or multiple times per year,” Hyde warned. He went on to outline the full scope of compounding threats Belize now confronts with increasing regularity: crippling droughts that undermine drinking water security, out-of-control wildfires, destructive river and coastal flooding, deadly landslides, and accelerating shoreline erosion that eats away at valuable coastal land and community infrastructure.

    Hyde cited data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that puts the region’s long-standing disaster risk into stark perspective: of the 511 major disasters that have impacted small island developing states since 1950, roughly two thirds have occurred across the Caribbean. To date, these events have claimed more than 250,000 lives across the region, leaving a legacy of destruction and economic instability that persists for decades after each event. For Belize specifically, nearly 40.5% of the national population resides in low-lying coastal zones, putting hundreds of thousands of people directly in the path of storm surges, hurricane winds, and coastal erosion. “With 40.5% of our population living in coastal zones, strengthening community-level disaster preparedness is a must,” Hyde added.

    The digital handover is part of a broader project titled “Strengthening Data Management Foundation for Disaster Risk Preparedness in Belize”, a joint collaboration between the CCCCC and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). The primary agencies set to benefit from the new tools and training are Belize’s National Climate Change Office (NCCO), the Lands and Survey Department, and the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), the country’s lead agency for coordinating emergency response during large-scale disasters. This investment marks a key milestone in Belize’s ongoing efforts to build climate resilience and protect vulnerable communities from the growing impacts of global climate change.

  • ABLP Barbuda Candidate Kendra Beazer Pledges People-Focused Development After Nomination

    ABLP Barbuda Candidate Kendra Beazer Pledges People-Focused Development After Nomination

    As Antigua and Barbuda gears up for its upcoming general election on April 30, Nomination Day has marked a key milestone for the Barbuda constituency, with Kendra Beazer officially securing the spot as the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) nominee. Fresh from completing her nomination formalities on Monday, Beazer opened up about what the moment means to her and the island community, framing the nomination as the start of a transformative new era for Barbuda. Speaking in an official public statement, she shared that she feels deeply humbled and privileged to carry the ABLP banner into the upcoming electoral contest. At the core of Beazer’s campaign platform is a people-centered vision that ties together three foundational pillars: preserving the island’s unique cultural and historic heritage, advancing inclusive social development, and lifting up local community interests. She laid out clear priorities for her term ahead: protecting Barbuda’s long-held legacy, creating new pathways for empowerment among the island’s young population, expanding and upgrading public services that meet the growing needs of Barbuda’s senior residents, and collective action to build greater community resilience across the island. Beazer emphasized that sustainable, meaningful progress for Barbuda cannot be achieved through top-down planning alone. Instead, she argued, any long-term development strategy must be rooted in the shared values of local residents and built on consistent, meaningful involvement from across the Barbuda community. “With collective leadership and community spirit, we will ensure Barbuda’s development is rooted in dignity, opportunity, and hope,” Beazer said, reinforcing her commitment to collaborative governance. Beazer’s nomination is part of the wider candidate selection process that wrapped up on Nomination Day, where contenders across all of the country’s electoral constituencies, including the Barbuda seat, secured their places on the April 30 ballot. When election day arrives, registered voters across Antigua and Barbuda will head to the polls to select their parliamentary representatives for the new term, with the Barbuda contest set to be a key race to watch in the national election.

  • Jazz ‘n Creole 2026 unveils star-studded lineup for15th Edition in Portsmouth

    Jazz ‘n Creole 2026 unveils star-studded lineup for15th Edition in Portsmouth

    Dominica’s most beloved cultural music celebration, Jazz ‘n Creole, is preparing to mark its 15th anniversary this spring, with event organizers officially revealing a packed lineup of local fan favorites and acclaimed regional performers that promises a one-of-a-kind experience for attendees.

    The Discover Dominica Authority, the event organizer backed by the Government of Dominica which serves as this year’s presenting sponsor, has confirmed the full details of the gathering: the festival will kick off at 2:00 PM on Sunday, May 3, hosted at the scenic open-air location of Cabrits National Park in the northern city of Portsmouth.

    In an official press statement, the authority emphasized that Jazz ‘n Creole has grown into a key cultural and economic driver for Dominica’s northern region, consistently drawing international and domestic visitors alike and holding its place as a highlight of the island’s annual events calendar.

    This year’s talent roster brings together a dynamic mix of local Dominican artists, regional Caribbean acts, and internationally recognized performers. Headlining the festival are Jamaican reggae and jazz icon Tarrus Riley alongside his renowned group The Blak Soil Band, with legendary saxophonist Dean Fraser also joining the Jamaican contingent. Classic American R&B group The Manhattans will also take the main stage as international headliners. Representing Dominica’s thriving homegrown music scene are fan-favorite acts including Michele Henderson, Lili Octave, Khadija Joseph, Phael, Janea Jackson, the Riddim Knockarz Band, and the Swingin’ Stars.

    Under this year’s curated theme “Afro Elegance”, the festival will run across the entire afternoon and evening, designed to offer a fully immersive cultural experience beyond just musical performances. Organizers note that guests can expect a seamless blend of smooth jazz sounds and rhythmic Creole-influenced music, all set against the natural backdrop of Cabrits National Park, with carefully selected cultural displays and activities woven into the day’s schedule.

    Beyond the main concert at the national park, a full slate of fringe activities will be hosted across Portsmouth and surrounding nearby communities. Event officials are encouraging all attendees to extend their stay and explore the full range of outdoor and cultural experiences Dominica has to offer, including guided river excursions, world-class snorkeling and diving adventures, horseback riding tours, visits to the island’s famous waterfalls, immersive chocolate plantation tours, rum distillery tastings, and relaxation on Dominica’s unspoiled scenic beaches.

    The 15th anniversary iteration of the festival will also shine a spotlight on Dominica’s rich Creole culinary traditions, handcrafted local art, and maintain the event’s long-standing reputation as a welcoming, family-friendly gathering. Organizers have invited all attendees to embrace the “Afro Elegance” theme by wearing clothing that draws inspiration from African and Afro-Caribbean cultural heritage, adding an extra layer of collective celebration to the day.

    Marva Williams, CEO of the Discover Dominica Authority, noted that this year’s festival continues the event’s core mission: elevating Portsmouth as a top regional weekend travel destination while creating valuable opportunities for local Dominican artists to perform alongside globally recognized talent.

    For attendees planning to join the celebration, tickets are available for purchase online via the official festival website at www.dominicafestivals.com. Physical paper tickets can also be purchased in person at multiple locations: the Discover Dominica Authority’s main office on Great Marlborough Street in Roseau, as well as Depex Color Lab, Bullseye Pharmacy, and Waters Edge in Portsmouth.

    Anyone seeking additional updates or more detailed information about the full festival schedule can visit the official website or follow the “Dominica Festivals” accounts on Facebook and Instagram for the latest announcements.

  • Barbados to make licence applications digital

    Barbados to make licence applications digital

    Barbados’ Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw has unveiled an ambitious government-wide initiative to modernize public services, headlined by the upcoming full digitization of license applications and payment processing as a core component of the island nation’s broader digital transformation strategy.

    Bradshaw made the announcement Sunday during the National Security Division’s 50th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service, hosted at the People’s Cathedral. She outlined that the administration is pursuing three interconnected tracks to update public operations: upgrading core digital systems, integrating cutting-edge new technologies, and revising existing legislative frameworks to ensure regulations align with 21st-century operational needs.

    The shift to fully online license-related services is designed to unlock tangible improvements for citizens and industry stakeholders alike, boosting procedural efficiency, increasing government transparency, and expanding access to public services for people across the country. This transition is just one element of a far-reaching public sector modernization agenda that also includes the digitization of archival public records, the expansion of existing e-government platforms, and the rollout of unified cross-agency data systems designed to streamline coordination between disparate government ministries and departments.

    “In the near future, routine processes including license applications, annual industry registrations, and secure online payments for public services will all be completed entirely electronically,” Bradshaw confirmed, adding that foundational investments in information and communications technology infrastructure and specialized staff training are already progressing to support a smooth transition to the new digital systems.

    Bradshaw noted that the modernization push also extends to national security operations, where long-used manual processes are being replaced with technology-powered solutions designed to strengthen accountability and improve overall service delivery to the public.

    Speaking to the enduring legacy of the National Security Division, which was founded on April 1, 1976, and now employs more than 200 personnel, Bradshaw praised the agency’s 50-year track record of upholding safety and stability across all government institutions. She emphasized that continuous adaptation is non-negotiable for security agencies operating in an increasingly complex, digitally connected global landscape.

    Even as the government embraces technological innovation to strengthen operations, Bradshaw stressed that human expertise and professional judgment remain irreplaceable pillars of effective national security. “A nation is not made safe by systems alone; it is made safe by its people choosing every single day to be their brother’s keeper,” she told attendees of the milestone service.

  • Fuel panic buying, despite assurances supplies arriving

    Fuel panic buying, despite assurances supplies arriving

    On Monday, April 13, 2026, widespread panic buying of gasoline and diesel swept through major population centers in Guyana, leading to kilometer-long lines at operating fuel stations and leaving stations without stock completely empty. Even after President Irfaan Ali publicly confirmed that fresh fuel shipments would reach the country by Monday night following emergency talks with the nation’s top fuel importers, motorists rushed to fill their tanks and stock up on extra fuel supplies.

    The most dramatic scenes unfolded at GUYOIL and RUBIS stations, which remained partially stocked as the shortage unfolded. At GUYOIL’s high-traffic Regent Street location, motorcyclists bypassed standard vehicle queues entirely, arriving with five-gallon containers to stock up on reserve fuel to avoid future shortages. Local law enforcement was forced to implement emergency traffic restrictions on Regent Street, blocking through traffic west of Camp Street to accommodate the massive queues that wrapped from Regent and Camp Streets all the way back to South Road. A second, similarly large queue formed further west on Regent Street near Kong Street.

    In sharp contrast, the MOBIL filling station located at the intersection of Regent and King Streets sat almost entirely deserted, with no pump attendants on site — a clear indication the location had already sold out of all fuel stock.

    President Ali explained the root of the shortage during an interview with Demerara Waves Online News, noting that industry leader SOL/MOBIL encountered unexpected shipping and logistics issues after the anchorage for one of its fuel tankers failed, forcing the vessel to return to port for repairs. He clarified that the disruption has not impacted fuel supplies for Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the country’s primary public electricity provider, adding that critical power infrastructure would remain fully operational through the temporary disruption.

    The president added that state-owned GUYOIL confirmed it maintains adequate existing fuel stocks, while competitor RUBIS is already ramping up its incoming supply volumes. “RUBIS and GUYOIL said that they don’t foresee a challenge and they have orders in line and some of it will arrive as early as tonight (Monday) night,” Ali stated, noting that government officials are continuing to monitor the situation closely to ensure importers follow through on their delivery commitments.

    This level of widespread fuel shortage and consumer panic has not been seen in Guyana since the 1980s, when the country endured years of prolonged, widespread shortages of multiple fuel types including kerosene for household use.

  • Farming Without Chemicals? New $180K Bio Push Targets Sugar Crisis

    Farming Without Chemicals? New $180K Bio Push Targets Sugar Crisis

    As the sugar sector, one of Belize’s most economically vital industries, grapples with escalating threats from crop disease and climate-driven stress, stakeholders are shifting away from conventional chemical solutions toward innovative biological agricultural interventions. This week marked a key milestone in that transition, when the Climate Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture Project (CRESAP) distributed the first shipment of specialized biological agents to the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI).

    The delivery, valued at over $181,000, is the first of six planned shipments under the wider initiative, which forms a core part of Belize’s national strategy to safeguard its sugar production. Funding for the full $25 million program comes from the World Bank, marking a major international investment in sustainable agricultural transition for the small Central American nation.

    The specific biological agents being rolled out include three well-documented beneficial microbes: Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus subtilis, and Streptomyces lydicus. These naturally occurring microorganisms are targeted at controlling Fusarium, a widespread fungal disease that has decimated sugar cane yields across many tropical growing regions. Unlike synthetic chemical fungicides, these biological solutions work by leveraging natural microbial interactions to suppress pathogen growth, rather than relying on toxic synthetic compounds.

    According to an official statement released by the Belizean government, the beneficial properties of these agents extend beyond disease control. The microbes are expected to stimulate stronger root development in sugar cane plants, boost overall crop resilience, and improve plant health even amid shifting climate conditions that have created more favorable environments for fungal outbreaks. Ultimately, the initiative aims to stabilize and increase sugar yields for Belizean farmers without continuing to rely on chemical inputs that can carry long-term environmental and health costs.

    For Belize, where sugar production remains a cornerstone of rural employment and export revenue, the success of this biological push could set a precedent for other agricultural sectors grappling with climate change and disease pressure across the Global South.

  • SVB onderzoekt nationaliteitskwestie spelers en kiest voor lokale selectie tegen Belize

    SVB onderzoekt nationaliteitskwestie spelers en kiest voor lokale selectie tegen Belize

    Suriname’s national governing body for football, De Surinaamse Voetbal Bond (SVB), has launched a formal review into the nationality eligibility of multiple players across its men’s and women’s national senior teams, the organization confirmed in an official press statement on April 13. The review was triggered by recent media reports that raised questions over potential legal complications related to the nationality status of several of Suriname’s active international footballers. According to the SVB, relevant stakeholders including the players in question and their club employers have already been in contact regarding the issue, and a thorough, detailed assessment of the situation is currently underway. The association stressed that protecting the core interests of the affected players is the top priority throughout the entire review process, with the organization actively monitoring developments as the assessment moves forward. At the same time, the SVB reaffirmed that it remains committed to advancing the competitive sporting goals of its national teams, consistent with the public brand identity of the squads, known as “Natio – The Green Guardians”. In response to the ongoing review, the SVB has made the decision to field a squad drawn entirely from the country’s domestic local league for the upcoming women’s World Cup qualifying match against Belize. The association noted that this unexpected adjustment actually opens a unique door for emerging homegrown talent to gain high-level competitive experience on the international stage. The SVB added that it is working toward a structural, long-term solution that resolves the eligibility question permanently, and will release additional public updates once more concrete information becomes available.