Carib Scope

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  • 13‑year‑old Kaelynna Modeste claims first CARIFTA Medal

    13‑year‑old Kaelynna Modeste claims first CARIFTA Medal

    At the 2026 CARIFTA Games hosted at Grenada’s own Kirani James Athletics Stadium from April 4 to 6, 13-year-old Kaelynna Modeste etched her name into the country’s regional athletics history books, clinching a bronze medal in the Under-17 Women’s Triple Jump and securing her place as one of the youngest Caribbean Free Trade Association Games medalists Grenada has ever produced.

    Competing against a field of older, more seasoned rivals from across the Caribbean region, Modeste delivered a career-defining performance, recording a new personal best jump of 11.32 meters. This mark marked a remarkable nearly one-meter improvement on her previous best performance at the domestic InterCol Games just weeks prior, enough to earn her a spot on the podium. The gold medal went to The Bahamas’ Jazae Johnson, who topped the event with a jump of 12.35 meters, while Jamaica’s Stefvanco Henry claimed silver with a 11.51-meter effort.

    Modeste, a student-athlete at St. Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School (SAASS), has already built an impressive resume on the domestic circuit. She was a key contributor to SAASS’s historic double championship victory at the recent InterCol Games, where the school claimed both boys’ and girls’ team titles. Ahead of her CARIFTA selection, she turned in consistent results throughout the 2025-2026 domestic season: she won the national Under-17 Long Jump title with a 5.22-meter jump, took home gold in the InterCol Sub-Junior Long Jump with a 5.38-meter mark, and earned a silver medal in the Open Triple Jump behind defending champion Christanna Charles with a 10.36-meter effort.

    This bronze medal makes Modeste only the third Grenadian athlete to claim a podium finish in the Under-17 Triple Jump at the CARIFTA Games, following in the footsteps of Charles and fellow Grenadian medalist Nichonier George. Her result pushes Grenada’s all-time medal tally in the regional event to one gold and three bronze medals, underscoring the small island nation’s growing strength in track and field’s discipline events.

    Sports analysts and local athletics officials note that Modeste’s breakout performance at just 13 years old not only adds to Grenada’s growing athletics legacy but also signals a bright future for the young prodigy, as she continues to develop her skill on the regional and international stage.

  • ABLP leader Browne warns against ‘inexperience’, urges stability ahead of April 30 election

    ABLP leader Browne warns against ‘inexperience’, urges stability ahead of April 30 election

    As the small Caribbean twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda prepares for its hotly contested April 30 general election, incumbent leader of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party Gaston Browne has launched a pre-election push centered on framing his administration as a steady, proven steward, while cautioning voters against the dangers of handing power to untested opposition leadership.

    Speaking to hundreds of gathered party delegates at the ruling party’s national convention held at its headquarters, Browne positioned the upcoming ballot as a far more than routine democratic exercise: for a small developing state deeply vulnerable to shifting global currents, he argued, every leadership decision carries outsized consequences. Against a backdrop of persistent global economic volatility, soaring inflation worldwide, and escalating geopolitical tensions that threaten small open economies like Antigua and Barbuda, Browne stressed that the nation cannot afford to gamble on its future.

    “In such a world, the future cannot be gambled. It cannot be handed over to inexperience,” Browne told the crowd, pushing back against opposition calls for change by highlighting his administration’s tangible policy wins over its term in office. He pointed to the country’s robust post-COVID-19 economic recovery, consistent private-sector job creation, and growing household incomes as evidence that deliberate, experienced governance has delivered real results for residents.

    “These are not slogans. These are facts,” Browne emphasized, drawing a sharp contrast between his government’s track record and the uncertainty he claimed would accompany a transition to opposition leadership. The incumbent leader also outlined a continued vision for national development, highlighting ongoing and planned infrastructure investments that will outlast the upcoming election cycle, including upgrades to overburdened road networks, improved drinking water systems, and expanded access to core public services.

    “Our choices must be careful. Our leadership must be steady. Our direction must be clear,” Browne said, noting that preserving national economic and social stability is the single most critical factor to protect and expand the gains the country has made in recent years. He called on all party members and supporters to remain unified and actively mobilize ahead of voting day, warning that the election will determine whether Antigua and Barbuda continues along its current path of progress or faces disruptive policy shifts that put its growth at risk.

    While Browne stopped short of naming specific opposition leaders or parties by name, his remarks made clear his core critique: given the country’s small size and inherent exposure to external economic and geopolitical shocks, even minor policy missteps from inexperienced leadership could cause severe, long-lasting damage.

    Beyond Browne’s keynote address, the convention served as a final pre-election organizing event for the ruling party. Delegates formally ratified the full slate of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party’s candidates for the election, and party officials used the gathering to remind supporters to update and prepare their voter identification cards ahead of polling day.

    The April 30 general election is widely expected to be a tight, closely watched contest, with the incumbent Labour Party facing a coordinated challenge from a bloc of opposition groups working to unseat the ruling administration and take control of the country’s parliament.

  • Diplomat, musical artist and entertainer: Gary Errol Protain (1940–2026)

    Diplomat, musical artist and entertainer: Gary Errol Protain (1940–2026)

    Gary Errol Protain, a man whose life spanned distinguished careers in diplomacy, public relations and music, died peacefully on April 8, 2025, at his home in Aurora, Illinois, following a lengthy battle with illness. He was surrounded by his loving family when he passed, holding to the unshakable faith that defined his character through every chapter of his 85 years of life.

    Born mid-December 1940 at St George’s Colony Hospital in the Caribbean nation of Grenada, Protain was the only child of Errol Protain and Gertrude (Blackman) Protain, MBE. From his early school years at Grenada Boys Secondary School (GBSS), it was clear Protain was an exceptional talent: he stood at the top of his class academically while also dominating regional tennis competitions. In 1958, his perfect scores on University of Cambridge external examinations earned him the prestigious title of Island Scholar, opening the door for him to pursue higher education first at Trinity University in Ireland, and later earn professional diplomas in piano performance and composition from Trinity College London.

    Upon his return to his home country after completing his studies, Protain stepped into public service, playing a key behind-the-scenes role in preparing for Grenada’s historic independence from British rule in February 1974. His skill and poise quickly elevated him to senior diplomatic posts: he was appointed Deputy Ambassador to both the United Nations and the United States, representing Grenada’s interests on the global stage for years.

    After retiring from Grenada’s Foreign Service, Protain relocated to Toronto, Canada, where he pivoted to a new career in media and public relations. He joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) as a public relations manager for the network’s top celebrity television programs, before going on to serve as the private public relations manager for legendary Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson.

    It was not long before Protain returned to his first love of music, launching a successful solo career as a cruise line pianist performing for audiences across the Caribbean and North America with Carnival Cruise Lines. His tender, expressive playing style earned him enduring nicknames including “the Poet of the Piano” and “the Romantic Pianist” — praise echoed by celebrated American pianist Roger Williams, who publicly hailed Protain as a true master of his craft. Protain recorded a full studio album titled *The Poet of the Piano: A Sentimental Journey*, which remains available for music lovers to enjoy today.

    Protain is survived by his devoted wife Diane, two stepdaughters Stephany (married to Ray Mason) and Jennifer (married to Jose Zendejas), seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and a wide network of cousins and lifelong friends spanning the globe.

    In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and the American Stroke Association, organizations that advance research and care for the illnesses Protain battled in his later years.

    *This obituary was published by NOW Grenada, which notes that it does not take responsibility for contributor-submitted content. Readers may report alleged inappropriate content via the outlet’s official reporting channel.*

  • New ABPSA Executive Installed as Janela Evanson Takes Over as President

    New ABPSA Executive Installed as Janela Evanson Takes Over as President

    The Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association (ABPSA), a key advocacy body for the nation’s public sector workforce, has inaugurated a fully new executive leadership team following competitive elections held during its most recent annual general meeting.

    Long-time association insider Janela Evanson, who previously held the senior post of general secretary within the ABPSA, will step into the top leadership role as president. She succeeds outgoing leader Joan Peters, who made the decision not to stand for re-election ahead of the vote.

    In addition to Evanson’s elevation to the presidency, the election results brought several familiar and new faces to key leadership positions. Jannelle Wehner-Watts will retain her position as vice-president, returning to the role for another term. Karis George has been selected to fill Evanson’s former post as general secretary, while Sandra Benta-Richards will take over the critical treasury portfolio, managing the association’s finances and budget.

    The broader 9-member executive committee also includes well-known figures from Antigua and Barbuda’s public service sector: Dr. Janelle O’Mard, Dr. Desiree Antonio, Orrin Steele, Jenique Joseph, and Garolyn Cornelius-Hector, who will all support core governance and strategic initiatives over the coming term.

    Six shop stewards, tasked with direct grassroots representation for public sector workers across workplaces, were also elected to their posts. The cohort includes Onesha Elvin, Jeannette Mason, Sabrina Carlisle, Craig Martin, Delma Jules-St. Agnes, and Verlyn Charles, who won re-election to retain her seat. To complete the new ABPSA leadership structure, Kerry-Ann Mussington and Adrian Julian have been appointed as association trustees, responsible for fiduciary oversight.

    The freshly elected leadership team will now take the reins of the organization for a one-year term. Over the next 12 months, the executive will manage all day-to-day ABPSA operations, advance the policy priorities of public sector employees, and act as the official collective voice for the association’s membership in discussions with government and institutional stakeholders.

  • Systeemonderhoud Finabank uitgelopen; diensten pas dinsdag volledig hersteld

    Systeemonderhoud Finabank uitgelopen; diensten pas dinsdag volledig hersteld

    A planned system upgrade at Suriname-based Finabank has hit an unexpected delay, pushing the full restoration of most banking services much later than initially projected, the financial institution announced on Monday, 13 April. What was originally scheduled as a three-day maintenance window running from 10 April to 12 April, part of a broader initiative to improve the bank’s digital and core service infrastructure, will now keep most key services offline until 8:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday 14 April. The extended downtime has left large swathes of the bank’s core offerings limited or completely unavailable for account holders through the end of Monday.

    In a public statement, Finabank confirmed that customers will be unable to access a wide range of routine banking services until service restoration is complete. This includes all withdrawals and deposits via ATMs, point-of-sale (POS) debit payments using local-issued Finabank bank cards, and all online and mobile banking transactions for both domestic and international transfers. The outage has already created tangible disruptions for retail shoppers as well: at local merchants that rely exclusively on Finabank’s POS terminals, standard pin-based debit payments are currently impossible, forcing customers to seek alternative payment methods.

    Not all of the bank’s card services are affected by the outage, however. Credit card transactions using Finabank-issued Visa and Mastercard products remain fully operational, both for in-person POS purchases and online payments.

    For customers needing in-person assistance, Finabank’s physical branch locations will remain open on Monday 13 April for limited, priority services. Account holders can still visit branches to submit product and service applications, make cash deposits, address urgent banking matters, access general customer support, and retrieve or add items to safe deposit boxes held at the branch.

    Finabank has publicly acknowledged the inconvenience that the extended maintenance window creates for its customer base, and has urged account holders to adjust their upcoming financial plans to account for the current service disruptions. The bank has not shared additional details on what caused the maintenance work to run longer than initially forecast, but reaffirmed that the work is intended to deliver long-term improvements to its overall service reliability for customers once completed.

  • Tevaughn Hall ascends to 3rd in NACAC Rankings

    Tevaughn Hall ascends to 3rd in NACAC Rankings

    The 2026 CARIFTA Games, hosted on home soil in Grenada over the Easter holiday weekend, delivered a historic moment for Grenadian athletics as rising teen hurdler Tevaughn Hall secured a podium finish that ended a 25-year medal drought for the nation in the Under-18 400m hurdles.

    The young Inter-Col Under-17 champion, who represents St Andrews Anglican Secondary School (SAASS), delivered a career-defining performance in front of thousands of cheering local spectators. Hall crossed the finish line in a new personal best of 53.45 seconds to claim the bronze medal, marking a dramatic 1.59-second improvement on his previous record of 55.04 seconds set just weeks earlier at the 2026 Inter-Col competition. SAASS went on to claim its 22nd boys’ team title at that same event, with Hall as one of its standout contributing athletes.

    What makes Hall’s achievement particularly significant is its place in Grenadian track and field history. He is the first Grenadian athlete to earn a medal in any CARIFTA 400m hurdles event in 25 years. The nation’s last medal in the discipline came back in 2001, when Rodney George took home silver with a time of 54.39 seconds – a mark Hall’s new personal best already surpasses.

    Following his standout performance at the regional games, the latest NACAC (North American, Central American, and Caribbean Athletics Association) Outdoor Rankings, updated on April 6, 2026, place Hall third overall in the region for the Under-18 400m hurdles. He trails only Jamaican athletes Oniel Lawrence, the CARIFTA gold medallist, and Kavian Minnot, the silver medallist, cementing his status as the highest-ranked athlete in the event outside of Jamaica, a regional powerhouse in track and field.

    For local fans eager to see the young rising star compete again, the wait will be short. Hall is already scheduled to make his next competitive appearance at the 2026 Classique Lighting Communal Invitational, set to take place on April 25 and 26.

  • Strong winds cause structural damage at Malecón Center

    Strong winds cause structural damage at Malecón Center

    On a stormy Monday, intense downpours paired with powerful wind gusts left their mark on one of Santo Domingo’s popular commercial hubs, triggering a partial collapse of a metal framework at the Malecón Center shopping mall in the Dominican Republic’s National District.

    The structural failure sent broken construction debris tumbling into the mall’s adjacent parking lot, where multiple unoccupied parked vehicles suffered visible damage as falling fragments struck their exteriors. Within hours, user-shared footage circulating across major social media platforms captured the raw force of the extreme weather: tall trees lining the property sway violently under sustained wind, while sections of the compromised metal structure tear free from their supports and are hurled across open areas of the mall property.

    Local authorities have confirmed that despite the extensive property damage and widespread debris scattered across the parking zone, there were no reports of personal injuries linked to the incident. The collapse unfolded as the Dominican capital grapples with a period of unseasonably severe adverse weather that has disrupted daily activity across the region. Mall management has not yet released a formal timeline for repairs and full reopening of the affected area.

  • St. Kitts and Nevis tenders major solar-storage project

    St. Kitts and Nevis tenders major solar-storage project

    The Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis is taking a major step forward in expanding its renewable energy capacity, as the country’s state-owned St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) has formally launched a competitive tender process for the island’s first utility-scale solar and battery storage development.

    Named the Basseterre Valley project, the proposed facility will be built in the valley that sits just southeast of St. Kitts and Nevis’ national capital, Basseterre. The project is planned to pair 50 megawatts of solar photovoltaic generation capacity with 30.5 megawatts/30.5 megawatt-hours of battery energy storage, creating an integrated renewable power facility that can deliver consistent electricity to the island’s grid.

    Under the current first phase of the tender process, SKELEC is inviting all interested developers, investors, and contractors to register for access to the official request for proposals (RFP) documentation through the utility’s dedicated online bidding portal. The process is open to both international project developers and locally-based stakeholders, who are all encouraged to participate. As of the latest public update, the utility has not yet released a public deadline for the completion of registration.

    As the only public utility responsible for power generation, transmission, and distribution across the island of St. Kitts, SKELEC is wholly owned by the government of St. Kitts and Nevis. Clement Williams, the utility’s general manager, emphasized that the new Basseterre Valley project will deliver long-term strategic benefits to the Caribbean nation: it will strengthen the country’s national energy security and cut its longstanding dependence on costly imported fossil fuels for power generation.

    Current data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows that as of the end of last year, the entire country of St. Kitts and Nevis held just 5 megawatts of cumulative installed solar capacity, a figure that remained unchanged from the year prior. If completed as planned, the 50 MW project will represent a dramatic 10-fold expansion of the country’s total solar generation capacity, marking a pivotal turning point in its transition to clean energy.

  • Grenada stuns St Lucia in Windward Islands U19 Tournament

    Grenada stuns St Lucia in Windward Islands U19 Tournament

    The WINLOTT Super 6 Windward Islands U19 Tournament served up a thrilling comeback story on Sunday, 12 April 2026, at Dominica’s Benjamin’s Park, where Grenada’s under-19 men’s cricket side pulled off a dramatic win against St Lucia, powered by a career-best performance from young spinner Shamel Hillaire.

    Coming into the fixture, both sides carried contrasting momentum. Grenada was still bouncing back from a underwhelming defeat in their tournament opener, while St Lucia entered the match brimming with confidence after a lopsided win over St Vincent and the Grenadines. A brief rain shower pushed back the start of play, but once the action got underway, Grenada won the pre-match toss and opted to set a target batting first.

    Grenada’s batting innings got off to a disastrous start. The team lost their first wicket with just 8 runs on the board, when opening batsman Jordan John was clean-bowled for 5. Raekeim Lewis Charles followed just overs later, trapped leg before wicket for 11, leaving the Grenada camp reeling at 2 wickets down early. With St Lucia’s bowlers consistently hitting tight lines, runs proved difficult to come by, and Kemile Abraham’s attempt to steady the innings could not halt the wicket column. By the 14th over, Grenada had slumped to 42 runs for the loss of 4 wickets.

    A small but critical recovery followed, as Abraham and Hillaire put together a steady partnership to push the total up to 74 for 5 before another wicket fell. St Lucia’s bowling attack never let up on the pressure, however, and Grenada was eventually bowled out all out for 123 runs. Abraham finished as the team’s top scorer with 24 runs, while the best of the other contributions came from Jayonn Henry (16), Hillaire (12), Lewis Charles (11) and Jeremy Edwards, who finished not out on 11. For St Lucia, Bjorn Fanis led the bowling attack with impressive figures of 3 wickets for just 23 runs, receiving solid support from captain Theo Edward (2 for 20) and Cody Fontenelle (2 for 26), while Nathaniel Joseph and Tyler Venner each picked up one wicket apiece.

    Chasing a modest target of 124 runs to win, St Lucia only needed just over 3 runs per over to secure victory, and the early stages of their innings suggested they would cruise to a comfortable win. But Grenada’s bowlers had other plans, launching a clinical fightback that turned the match on its head.

    Pace bowler Aaron Edwards struck early blows, removing both of St Lucia’s opening batsmen – captain Theo Edward for 15 and Roystan Fannis for 9 – to leave St Lucia at 43 for 2 after 8 overs. Just three balls after Edwards’ second wicket, left-arm spinner Aravinda Bishop extended Grenada’s advantage by dismissing Jonathan Daniel lbw, dropping St Lucia to 43 for 3.

    A brief recovery pushed St Lucia to 73 for 3, but it was not enough to withstand the spin pressure that Grenada brought to bear. Bishop and Hillaire triggered a catastrophic collapse that saw St Lucia lose their final 7 wickets for just 30 runs, folding all out for 103 runs to hand Grenada a 20-run victory.

    Making his first tournament appearance after sitting out the opening match on the bench, Hillaire delivered a match-winning spell, finishing with sensational figures of 6 wickets for 26 runs from just 5.4 overs. The standout performance earned the young bowler well-deserved Man of the Match honours. Edwards backed up Hillaire with 2 wickets for 13 runs from 5 overs, while Bishop claimed 1 wicket for 20 runs to cap a dominant bowling display from Grenada.

    After the match, Grenada captain Khavaughn Bartholomew highlighted his side’s resilience following their opening loss, crediting the team’s adjusted game plan for the win. “I just want to thank the Lord for the opportunity. We didn’t get it right with the batting, but we came through with the bowling. We put the ball in the right areas, got early wickets and put them under pressure. The spinners played a massive role. The man of the match wasn’t with us yesterday, so we made a change, and you can see it worked.”

    Speaking after picking up his award, Hillaire said he had remained confident he would get his chance to contribute after starting the tournament on the bench. “I first want to thank God for the opportunity. We didn’t bat well today, but we came out on the field and fought until we won. I had faith that I would do well. I was on the bench yesterday, but I knew my time would come.”

    The result moves Grenada into third place in the tournament standings, trailing early leaders St Lucia and defending champions Dominica. Up next, Grenada will return to action on Tuesday, 14 April 2026, to take on St Vincent and the Grenadines as the round-robin phase of the tournament continues.

  • UPP Leader Jamale Pringle Promises Tax-Free Water Tanks, Pumps and Pressure Systems Under Water Relief Programme

    UPP Leader Jamale Pringle Promises Tax-Free Water Tanks, Pumps and Pressure Systems Under Water Relief Programme

    As Antigua prepares for its upcoming April 30 general election, opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) leader Jamale Pringle has put forward a targeted set of policy proposals aimed at addressing one of the nation’s most crippling domestic issues: chronic, unreliable water access that has left thousands of households struggling to meet basic daily needs.

    Speaking to party supporters at the UPP’s official campaign launch on Sunday evening, Pringle centered his address on the urgent humanitarian impact of ongoing water shortages, framing the crisis not as a mere public inconvenience, but as an affront to basic human dignity for communities across the country. In a bold promise of immediate action if his party secures victory at the polls, Pringle announced that a UPP-led administration would implement an immediate, fully funded Water Tanks and Accessories Relief Program to bring interim relief to affected households while long-term infrastructure overhauls are completed.

    The centerpiece of the interim relief plan is the full elimination of all taxes on critical water storage and distribution equipment, including residential water tanks, pressure tanks, and water pumps. Pringle emphasized that removing these fiscal barriers will lower the cost of essential storage tools for ordinary families, allowing them to maintain access to running water even during frequent supply interruptions that have become the norm under the current administration. He stressed that this stopgap measure is only the first step, designed to deliver tangible help to struggling households in the immediate aftermath of the election while his government works to fix the broken water system at its core.

    Beyond immediate tax relief, Pringle laid out his long-term vision for upgrading Antigua’s water infrastructure, criticizing the incumbent government for leaving billions of dollars in already built infrastructure underutilized. A key plank of his platform is the immediate activation and connection of all pre-installed community water storage tanks that currently sit idle across the nation. “Every single storage tank… will be connected and commissioned,” he affirmed, noting that tapping into existing unused infrastructure can quickly expand water access for underserved communities without the need for years of new construction.

    For sustained, long-term improvement, Pringle also committed his party to accelerating large-scale infrastructure upgrades through the Antigua Public Utilities Authority. These upgrades will include expanding the nation’s water pipeline network to reach more households and reduce delivery interruptions, as well as implementing proactive, regular maintenance for the country’s reverse osmosis desalination plants to boost overall clean water production capacity.

    The water relief plan forms a core part of the UPP’s broader election platform, as the party works to distinguish itself from the incumbent government by positioning itself as a problem-solving administration that can deliver both immediate relief to hurting families and lasting systemic change to address one of Antigua’s most persistent public service challenges.