Carib Scope

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  • Town Clerk, PPP Councillor distance themselves from lawsuit over Constabulary Training Complex

    Town Clerk, PPP Councillor distance themselves from lawsuit over Constabulary Training Complex

    A brewing ownership dispute over a prime Georgetown waterfront property has erupted into open controversy, with Georgetown’s top municipal administrator publicly distancing herself from an unauthorised High Court lawsuit filed against the Guyanese government and a private security firm.

    In a statement issued to Demerara Waves Online News on Friday, Town Clerk Candace Nelson clarified that court documents naming her as the applicant in the legal action against the Attorney General and RK Security do not carry her signature, nor do they reflect any formal decision by the Georgetown City Council. Nelson, who is currently on official leave, emphasized that the listing of her name on the filing is only a procedural legal convention that places council-related legal actions under the office of the Town Clerk, not an indication of her personal or official involvement.

    Nelson detailed that when she was first approached about the potential lawsuit last Thursday, she immediately flagged concerns about the validity of the claim and pushed for formal procedural steps to be followed. She instructed Councillors Clayton Hinds and Lelon to consult with Mayor Alfred Mentore, submit an official memorandum, and circulate a round-robin poll among council members to authorize another official to sign the required court documents. To date, that signed round-robin has never been delivered to her office, she said.

    “I never signed that document. I had nothing to do with it,” Nelson reiterated, noting she had already been formally recused from the matter after the council assigned another representative to handle related issues. The lawsuit, which was filed in the Town Clerk’s name, demands High Court orders and injunctions to force the government and RK Security to vacate the Water Street property that formerly housed the City Constabulary Training Complex, claims GY$5 million in damages, and alleges the defendants trespassed on land the council says it has owned since the 1800s.

    Nelson also directly disputed a key claim laid out in the court filings: that the Georgetown Municipality passed a formal resolution at an extraordinary March 27, 2026 meeting authorizing the mayor to pursue legal action to protect the council’s claim to the training complex. According to Nelson, the extraordinary meeting was convened exclusively to address the central government’s takeover of several municipal roads, and no resolution related to the Water Street training complex was ever approved by the full council. While the mayor briefly raised the property issue during the session, no vote or formal decision to proceed with litigation was taken, she said.

    The controversy has deepened with other council members also denying knowledge of the legal action. Don Singh, a People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) representative on the city council, told reporters none of the PPPC councillors were notified of the lawsuit or received the round-robin poll for approval. “As a councillor of Georgetown, I have no knowledge of this. No action was taken by the council to officially vote, that I am aware of, to proceed with legal proceedings,” Singh stated.

    Attempts to reach acting Town Clerk Carlyn Joseph to ask whether she authorized or signed the court filing have been unsuccessful to date.

    The legal action was launched after Mayor Mentore discovered members of the Guyana Police Force and representatives of RK Security on the property on March 27, with a new official sign posted on the site’s perimeter fence. The dispute has roots in competing claims of ownership: Local Government Minister Priya Manickchand has recently affirmed that the property is state-owned, with title dating back to the colonial era, while Mentore maintains the city council holds formal documentation proving its ownership.

  • Caribbean countries strengthen prison intake systems

    Caribbean countries strengthen prison intake systems

    Thirteen Caribbean nations have united to advance correctional system reform, wrapping up a three-day intensive training workshop in Bridgetown, Barbados, focused on overhauling prison intake and assessment protocols to boost rehabilitation outcomes and reduce recidivism. Held from March 25 to 27 at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, the workshop brought together prison and probation leaders from across the region, brought into being through a collaborative partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Partnership of the Caribbean and Europe on Justice (PACE Justice) initiative and EL PACCTO 2.0, the European Union’s flagship justice and security cooperation program.

    Participants represented Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica and Suriname, all gathering to address longstanding gaps in the first critical step of the custodial process: intake assessment. Experts leading the workshop emphasized that rigorous, well-structured intake procedures lay the foundation for effective correctional policy from an individual’s first day in custody. When implemented correctly, these processes allow authorities to map an individual’s unique risks and needs early, streamline administrative decision-making around detention or community-based alternatives, cut costly bureaucratic delays, and set the stage for targeted rehabilitation work that supports long-term reintegration. Functional intake systems also address two of the Caribbean’s most pressing correctional challenges: prison overcrowding and unnecessary pre-trial detention.

    Vanessa Untiedt, PACE Justice Project Specialist with the UNDP, framed the work as a fundamental step toward breaking intergenerational cycles of crime. “A proper intake assessment process can significantly improve a prisoner’s experience within the facility and, ultimately, their reintegration into society. In short, it can help break the cycle of crime,” Untiedt said.

    Angela Dixon, Director of the Barbados Probation Service and President of the Caribbean Association of Probation and Parole, centered the conversation on the underrecognized role of probation services in building a holistic, person-centered intake system. Dixon noted that probation officers bring unique, irreplaceable insight to the assessment process, thanks to their ongoing connections to offenders and communities. “Probation’s defining value is continuity of knowledge about the individual. No other service carries the same depth of pre-existing relationship, community intelligence, and risk history,” Dixon explained.

    Luuk Bruijn, EL PACCTO 2.0’s Field Officer for the Caribbean, highlighted that cross-regional collaboration is key to building correctional systems that work for all Caribbean contexts. Bruijn explained that a shared regional framework does not erase local needs; rather, it creates a consistent foundation rooted in regional best practice that can be adapted to local contexts. “The development of a standard procedure for intake assessment in prisons allows for local adaptations to a regionally agreed framework, taking into account best practices and expertise from across the Caribbean, ultimately strengthening the overall management of penitentiary systems,” Bruijn said.

    By the close of the three-day workshop, participants reached a landmark agreement: a unified regional framework for prison intake and assessment that preserves flexibility for country-specific implementation. The agreement marks a major milestone toward establishing more consistent, fair, and effective correctional practices across the entire Caribbean region.

    Moving forward, the partnership will turn its attention to translating the high-level framework into actionable Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that frontline prison and probation staff can implement in daily work. Planners are also exploring development of a lightweight digital tool to streamline intake workflows, improve standardized record-keeping, and strengthen cross-agency information sharing. A core priority of the next phase will be deepening coordination between prison authorities and probation and parole services to ensure all decisions are rooted in robust, comprehensive evidence.

    This workshop is part of the PACE Justice project’s ongoing mission to support fair, effective, human rights-aligned correctional systems across the Caribbean. The initiative operates on the core principle that safer, more humane prison systems are the building blocks of safer, more resilient communities across the region.

  • Fire Rips Through Olympic Sports Facility in Brazil

    Fire Rips Through Olympic Sports Facility in Brazil

    In the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday, April 10, 2026, a significant fire broke out across the roof of the velodrome located at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Olympic Park, triggering an urgent large-scale response from local fire authorities. Roughly 80 firefighters backed by 20 fire engines were deployed to the site within minutes of the emergency call, which came in just after 4 a.m. local time.

    Unlike standard competitive venues, this velodrome carries unique historical significance: it currently houses the official Olympic Museum dedicated to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics, the first modern Olympic Games ever hosted on South American soil. The museum holds a vast collection of one-of-a-kind artefacts, interactive exhibits, and commemorative items from the landmark 2016 sporting event.

    Emergency response teams adopted a dual strategy to tackle the blaze, with crews attacking the fire from both the interior and exterior of the structure. A core priority for first responders was protecting the irreplaceable historical collections stored within the museum as they worked to contain the spread of the fire.

    Thankfully, early official updates confirm no casualties were reported from the incident. It is also not the first time the venue has faced fire risk: the velodrome suffered two separate roof fires back in 2016, both of which were traced to stray, falling sky lanterns that ignited flammable materials on the roof structure. As of the latest update, authorities have not yet released a new preliminary cause for the 2026 blaze.

  • Kamala Harris Says She Is ‘Thinking About’ 2028 Presidential Run in Candid Remarks

    Kamala Harris Says She Is ‘Thinking About’ 2028 Presidential Run in Candid Remarks

    At the 2026 National Action Network Convention on Friday, former U.S. Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris delivered her most public and open comments on her political future to date, confirming that she is actively weighing a third run for the White House in the 2028 presidential election.

    When Rev. Al Sharpton, the host of the convention, directly asked whether she planned to launch another presidential campaign, Harris responded directly: “Listen, I might, I might. I’m thinking about it. I’m thinking about it.”

    Her latest remarks come amid growing political speculation about her next career move, which began after she published a campaign memoir in late 2025 and launched a cross-country book tour to promote the work. Per earlier CNN reporting, Harris is also scheduled to attend a series of Democratic Party events across four Southern states later this month, a itinerary that has further fueled chatter about her potential 2028 bid.

    This is not the first time Harris has hinted at another presidential run. In an August 2025 interview with CBS’ Stephen Colbert, she stated that she did not “want to go back in the system,” but just months later, she sent a clear signal of her possible return to national politics during a conversation with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, saying simply: “I am not done.”

    The progressive convention, which has deep roots in the American civil rights movement, gave Harris a warm, enthusiastic reception. At multiple points during her appearance, attendees broke out in loud chants of “run again” that briefly paused her remarks.

    Expanding on her consideration of a 2028 campaign, Harris emphasized her firsthand experience in the nation’s highest office. “I served for four years being a heartbeat away from the presidency of the United States,” she said. “I spent countless hours in my West Wing office, footsteps away from the Oval Office. I spent countless hours in the Oval Office, in the Situation Room. I know what the job is. And I know what it requires.”

    Harris noted that over the past year, she has traveled extensively across the country, with a particular focus on Southern states. As a crowded Democratic primary field begins to take shape for 2028, she outlined the core driving force behind her potential candidacy: the failures of the current political order. “The one thing I’m really clear about also, is the status quo is not working, and hasn’t been working for a lot of people for a long time,” she added.

    Since leaving office at the end of the previous administration, Harris has remained an active and vocal critic of incumbent President Donald Trump. During her conversation with Sharpton, she singled out Trump’s foreign policy decisions for criticism, particularly the ongoing conflict with Iran, which she described as an unnecessary “choice” by the current administration.

    Harris also argued that Trump’s growing friction with traditional U.S. allies, especially NATO member states, carries real costs for American citizens and global partners alike. “It is harmful to the people of America, not to mention people in allied nations around the world,” she said, adding that the consequences of Trump’s foreign policy approach “keeps me up at night.”

    This report has been updated to include additional context and details of Harris’ remarks.

  • Caye Caulker Village Council Rejects Proposed Sale of Police Property

    Caye Caulker Village Council Rejects Proposed Sale of Police Property

    On the popular island destination of Caye Caulker, Belize, a fierce public policy dispute has emerged over the fate of a key police-owned parcel of land, with the local Caye Caulker Village Council (CCVC) issuing a firm rejection of any proposed sale or transfer of the property to outside interests.

    Parcel 815, the plot in question, is categorized by the CCVC as an irreplaceable public asset that must remain in communal hands for public use. Local governing leaders argue that retaining the land under public control is non-negotiable for upholding the safety and security of the island’s permanent resident population, and they have ruled out any sale or handover for private or non-local development projects.

    A core point of contention for the village council is the complete absence of community engagement around the proposed land deal. The CCVC confirms that neither local elected leaders nor ordinary residents have been invited to participate in any discussions about the future of the property, a lack of transparency that has amplified local opposition to the proposal.

    The conflict unfolds against the backdrop of a national public safety improvement initiative already underway on the island. Months ago, the Belizean government unveiled plans to build a modern, upgraded police station to serve Caye Caulker’s growing community and tourism sector. In January 2026, the Ministry of Economic Transformation finalized a construction contract with Coleman Construction Limited for the project, with Police Minister Oscar Mira and Belize Rural South Area Representative Andre Perez in attendance as witnesses.

    The new Caye Caulker police station is part of the $60 million Belize Integral Security Programme (BISP), a nationwide security capacity-building effort backed by funding from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. The BISP framework is designed to expand operational capabilities for the Belize Police Department and raise overall levels of citizen security across the country. The Caye Caulker facility carries a price tag of roughly 1.5 million Belize dollars, and will offer more than 3,500 square feet of purpose-built working space. Planned amenities include a dedicated domestic violence response unit, climate-controlled secure evidence storage, confidential private interview rooms, a specialized crime investigation suite, and a community meeting and conference space, all built to serve both long-term residents and the island’s fast-growing annual tourist population.

    Despite the widely supported goal of upgrading local policing infrastructure, the CCVC has raised urgent alarms about the risks tied to any transfer of the existing police land. Local leaders warn that losing control of the parcel would erase critical public space that currently hosts a range of community activities and youth engagement programs, delivering long-term harm to local quality of life.

    Now, the village council is demanding concrete action from national authorities: an immediate freeze on all ongoing land transfer processes, full public disclosure of all agreements related to the property, and inclusive, meaningful consultation with Caye Caulker residents before any final decisions are made about the land’s future.

  • Body Found Behind Port of Belize

    Body Found Behind Port of Belize

    Authorities in Belize have launched a criminal investigation following the grim discovery of a young man’s body early on the morning of April 10, 2026, in the area surrounding the Port of Belize, located in Belize City – the country’s former capital.

    Local law enforcement confirmed that they received reports of the remains shortly after daybreak, and have since secured the crime scene to begin processing evidence. According to multiple sources familiar with the preliminary investigation, the deceased has been identified as a young man who was a resident of Belize City. Preliminary examination of the body has revealed visible gunshot wounds, indicating the death is being treated as a suspected homicide.

    As the investigation remains in its early active phase, law enforcement has not yet released additional details about the victim’s identity, potential suspects, or the circumstances leading up to the discovery. Local outlet News 5 has confirmed that it will publish a full detailed report on the incident during its 6 p.m. live broadcast, once more information becomes available from investigating authorities.

  • Official Visit of H E Delcy Rodriquez

    Official Visit of H E Delcy Rodriquez

    On April 9, 2026, the Government of Grenada hosted a landmark diplomatic moment, welcoming Venezuela Acting President Delcy Rodriguez for her first official visit to the Caribbean island nation. Rodriguez was joined by a full delegation of senior Venezuelan government officials for the one-day diplomatic engagement, which unfolded in a warm and collaborative atmosphere designed to advance the decades-long friendship between the two states.

    The visit began with Rodriguez’s departure from Venezuela’s Maiquetía International Airport, where an official aircraft transported the delegation directly to Grenada’s Maurice Bishop International Airport. Upon landing, the Venezuelan leader received a formal ceremonial welcome from Grenadian government representatives, complemented by an honour guard organized by the Commissioner of Police and personnel from the Royal Grenada Police Force.

    Following her arrival, Rodriguez carried out her first scheduled engagement: a courtesy call with Dame Cécile La Grenade, Grenada’s Governor-General, at the Governor-General’s official office in Point Salines. Next, she moved to Grenada’s Parliament building for an in-depth working meeting with Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, who was joined by a select group of his cabinet ministers for the talks.

    The discussion spanned three core areas: bilateral cooperation initiatives, shared regional policy priorities, and other topics of mutual interest to both governments. During the talks, both delegations reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening diplomatic bonds and expanding collaborative work across a range of high-priority sectors. Key areas identified for enhanced partnership include energy security, inclusive economic development, climate-resilient agriculture, professional skills training, and expanded educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

    Representatives from Grenada’s government and public extended gratitude for Rodriguez’s visit, highlighting the enduring spirit of solidarity and collaborative partnership that has defined relations between Caracas and St. George’s for decades. For her part, Rodriguez offered sincere thanks to the Grenadian government and people for the warm hospitality extended to her and her delegation throughout the engagement. The historic first official visit concluded the same day, on April 9, 2026, marking a new step forward in bilateral relations between the two Caribbean and Latin American nations.

    This report was issued from the Office of the Prime Minister of Grenada.

  • Air Services Limited plane crashes in rough terrain

    Air Services Limited plane crashes in rough terrain

    On Friday, 10 April 2026, a single-engine Cessna 208 operated by regional Caribbean carrier Air Services Limited (ASL) crashed in dense, mountainous forestland in Guyana, triggering an urgent large-scale search and rescue operation, local aviation officials confirmed.

    The aircraft, registered under the identification number 8R-YAC, was operating a short domestic flight from Mahdia to Imbaimadai when it lost contact with air traffic controllers. According to official records released by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the plane departed Mahdia at 8:10 a.m. local time and was scheduled to land at its destination just 30 minutes later, at 8:40 a.m. When the Cessna failed to send an arrival confirmation, aviation regulators launched an immediate missing aircraft check just four minutes after the expected landing time, at 8:44 a.m.

    Initial reports from the GCAA confirm that only one person was on board at the time of the crash: a foreign pilot contracted to fly for ASL. Investigators also noted that severe adverse weather conditions were present across the flight route when the aircraft went missing, a factor that will be examined as part of the upcoming accident probe.

    Thanks to recent upgrades to Guyana’s national search and rescue infrastructure, teams were able to quickly narrow down the plane’s approximate crash location. First, an ASL reconnaissance aircraft spotted the downed plane from the air, and the sighting was later independently verified by two Trans Guyana Airways Cessna Caravans and a Britten-Norman Islander survey plane.

    Authorities have now mobilized a full rescue response, led by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). The operation includes elite special operations troops, specialized medical personnel, and a recently acquired Bell helicopter fitted with a winch to access the hard-to-reach terrain. A senior official involved in the mission noted that rescue teams will need to rappel and hike across steep, unforgiving mountain slopes to reach the crash site, adding that the operation is in a time-sensitive race against the clock.

    As of the latest update from the GCAA, the incident response remains active, and all current details are considered preliminary pending full on-site verification by recovery and investigation teams.

  • DJ Bravo serves up new single, ‘Table’, on Santa Jamaica Riddim

    DJ Bravo serves up new single, ‘Table’, on Santa Jamaica Riddim

    For years, Dwayne “DJ Bravo” has captivated audiences as one of international cricket’s most iconic personalities, celebrated equally for his on-field brilliance and his off-field larger-than-life, entertainment-focused persona. Now, the global star is stepping into an unexpected new creative space with the release of his latest musical project, the thoughtful single “Table”, featured on the dynamic, rhythm-driven *Santa Jamaica Riddim* compilation from Digital1 Muzic.

    Unlike many of Bravo’s previous upbeat, high-energy releases, “Table” pulls the artist into a far more reflective creative lane. The track takes a playful but pointed look at the unspoken dynamics that shape modern romantic partnerships, centering its core hook around a provocative question that cuts through superficial dating culture: What are you really bringing to the table? For long-time fans who know Bravo primarily through his charismatic public persona, the track marks a deliberate departure from the entertainer’s well-known “player” image, revealing a grounded, nuanced perspective on love, loyalty, and what makes a partnership last.

    Beneath its lighthearted tone, “Table” addresses a deeper cultural truth: in an era where social media and superficial appearances often dominate how people present themselves and evaluate potential partners, the track serves as a timely reminder that romantic partners bring far more value to relationships than surface-level attraction. It shines a spotlight on the quiet, foundational qualities that truly sustain long-term connection: genuine substance, mutual support, aligned mindset, and shared positive energy – traits that rarely make it to viral highlight reels, but end up defining the strength of any lasting bond.

    The single itself is a collaborative creative work, co-written by Bravo alongside songwriter Tommy Sanchez, with production handled by Richard “DIGITAL1” Roache and 47 Productions. Clendon Auguste oversaw mixing and mastering for the track, which was recorded at Trinidad’s 47 Studios by 47 Ronzy. The final product strikes a careful balance between authentic Caribbean island sound that draws from Bravo’s Trinidadian roots and accessible, cross-cultural production that appeals to global music listeners.

    To accompany the audio release, a full official music video, directed by Christian Burkett and Ian Davis of Audio Rose Productions, has also been launched, translating the track’s core message into vivid visual storytelling. Released under the 47 Productions label, “Table” is positioned as more than just a new song – it’s designed to spark open, honest conversation about what people really value in modern relationships. The single is available for streaming right now on all major digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL, Amazon Music, Deezer, and dozens of other streaming services, while the official music video is available to view for free on YouTube.

  • Miljoenen stemmen in India bij aanvang serie deelstaatverkiezingen

    Miljoenen stemmen in India bij aanvang serie deelstaatverkiezingen

    Millions of Indian voters turned out across polling stations on Thursday to cast their ballots in the first phase of four critical state-level elections this month, kicking off a political contest widely viewed as a critical gauge of public support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led national coalition.

    The first round of voting opened on Thursday in two states, Assam and Kerala, as well as the federal union territory of Puducherry. Two more major states, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, will hold their polls later this April, with all final results scheduled to be announced on May 2. While state-level elections do not directly shake the stability of India’s federal government, political analysts and party leaders across the spectrum are watching the outcomes closely to detect shifting voter sentiment ahead of future national elections, as the BJP works to consolidate its national hold on power amid mounting economic and geopolitical headwinds.

    Pre-election polling from leading opinion platform Vote Vibe projects a comfortable victory for the BJP-led alliance in Assam, where the ruling coalition has already held power for two consecutive terms. Kerala, by contrast, is widely expected to remain under opposition control. In West Bengal, the race is projected to be a tight neck-and-neck contest: the incumbent regional party currently holds a slight lead in polling, while the BJP — which has never governed the state — has centered its campaign on a promise to curb what it frames as illegal immigration from neighboring Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation. In Tamil Nadu, Vote Vibe data also predicts a close battle between the BJP-backed opposition coalition and the sitting regional ruling party.

    This year’s election cycle unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing conflict in the Middle East that has sent global energy prices soaring and created scattered fuel shortages across parts of the world. But Prime Minister Modi’s federal government has moved aggressively to keep domestic fuel costs stable for Indian consumers, a policy that has resonated with voters even as India relies on the Middle East for more than 40% of its crude oil imports and over 90% of its domestic cooking gas supplies. To absorb global price shocks, New Delhi has frozen retail prices for standard gasoline and diesel, and redirected a portion of industrial cooking gas allocations to meet household demand.

    Amitabh Tiwari, founder of Vote Vibe, noted that the full impact of global energy market disruptions on voter behavior remains unclear ahead of the final vote counts. Still, early polling data shows that a majority of voters have praised the Modi administration for its handling of energy security since the escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East earlier this year. As the election process unfolds over the coming weeks, the final results will offer clear insight into how Indian voters judge the Modi government’s policy record, from domestic economic management to its approach to both regional and international geopolitical tensions, and will shape national political dynamics in the months leading up to the next general election.