Carib Scope

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  • Indotel highlights digital connectivity as key to Dominican Republic’s economic growth

    Indotel highlights digital connectivity as key to Dominican Republic’s economic growth

    PUNTA CANA — As regional technology leaders gathered this week for one of the Caribbean’s most important telecommunications gatherings, a top Dominican regulator has framed universal digital access as the foundational pillar for shared growth across the island region.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 41st Annual Conference and Exhibition of the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organizations (CANTO), hosted August 9 to 12 at Punta Cana’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Guido Gómez Mazara, president of the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel) Board of Directors, emphasized that robust digital connectivity has evolved from a convenience to a core strategic driver of national competitiveness, foreign direct investment, social equity, and broad-based economic development across the entire Caribbean.

    Gómez Mazara outlined the Dominican Republic’s ambitious national agenda to reshape its domestic production model by prioritizing large-scale investment in digital infrastructure and expansion of the digital economy. At the heart of the country’s plans is a commitment to inject more than $500 million into upgrading digital exchange infrastructure, boosting international connectivity through new and expanded submarine cable routes, and advancing the implementation of the national Artificial Intelligence Strategy. Beyond infrastructure, the country is actively working to build homegrown AI innovation capacity and carve out a sustainable role for Dominican stakeholders in global semiconductor supply chains.

    Indotel’s immediate regulatory priorities also focus on closing long-standing access gaps across the country, Gómez Mazara noted. The agency is pushing forward with aggressive expansion of 4G and 5G mobile networks, modernizing management of the public radio spectrum to accommodate growing demand, cutting the persistent digital divide that leaves marginalized communities disconnected, and fostering healthy, pro-consumer competition across the telecommunications sector.

    A core principle of the country’s regulatory approach, he stressed, is balancing two critical goals: creating a clear, attractive policy environment that draws in private and public investment, while ensuring that all telecommunications services remain affordable and accessible to every segment of the population. This balance is designed to prevent exclusion from the digital economy rooted in cost barriers, geographic isolation, or gaps in digital literacy, he explained.

    The conference also marked a milestone for Indotel: the Dominican regulator formally joined CANTO as a full member, making this year’s event its first annual participation as an official member of the regional association. Gómez Mazara highlighted that cross-border cooperation between Caribbean nations is not optional, but essential, to tackle shared technological challenges, harmonize regulatory frameworks, and exchange successful policy experiences that benefit the entire region.

    This year’s CANTO conference gathers hundreds of telecommunications providers, regulators, technology innovators, and policy stakeholders from across the Caribbean and beyond. Attendees are engaging in four days of discussions covering pressing industry topics including universal connectivity expansion, emerging digital innovation, new investment opportunities, adaptive regulatory policy, and building long-term digital competitiveness for small and medium economies across the region.

  • Four Americans unharmed after helicopter makes emergency landing in Samaná

    Four Americans unharmed after helicopter makes emergency landing in Samaná

    On a Tuesday flight over the northern Dominican province of Samaná, an unexpected mechanical malfunction forced a helicopter to carry out an emergency landing on the sandy shores of Las Cañas Beach, located in El Limón municipal district.

    All four people on board the aircraft, who hold United States citizenship, walked away from the incident completely uninjured. Local emergency management officials confirmed that there have been no reports of injuries or deaths connected to the landing.

    Within minutes of receiving the distress alert, first responders from the 911 Emergency and Security System were dispatched to the coastal landing site. They were joined by personnel from the Dominican Republic Navy and the National Police, who worked together to secure the area and provide immediate support to the helicopter’s occupants.

    After being assessed at the scene, three of the four individuals on board were transported to a nearby accommodation, where they will stay temporarily while logistical and technical arrangements are finalized. A specialized aviation technician has been called in to conduct a full inspection of the helicopter to identify the root of the technical issues and outline what repairs will be required.

    Local law enforcement and aviation authorities have launched an official investigation into the circumstances that led to the emergency landing. The full assessment of the aircraft’s structural and mechanical condition will be the key factor in determining whether the helicopter can eventually return to active service.

  • Dominican Republic receives more than 436,000 vaccine doses to protect children

    Dominican Republic receives more than 436,000 vaccine doses to protect children

    In a major step forward for public health protection in the Dominican Republic, the nation’s Ministry of Public Health has added nearly 440,000 new vaccine doses to its national immunization stockpile, reinforcing the country’s longstanding Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) and guaranteeing free, life-saving protection for children against a range of serious, vaccine-preventable illnesses. The delivery includes 386,990 doses of acellular hexavalent vaccine and 50,000 doses of acellular quadrivalent vaccine, both critical to the country’s routine childhood vaccination schedule.

    The hexavalent vaccine included in this shipment is designed to guard against six life-threatening conditions: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, hepatitis B, and infection from Haemophilus influenzae type b. The latter is a bacterial pathogen that can trigger severe, potentially fatal complications such as bacterial meningitis, particularly in young children with underdeveloped immune systems. Per Dominican national health guidelines, this hexavalent vaccine is introduced to children starting at two months of age, with follow-up primary doses at four and six months, and a final booster shot administered once a child reaches 18 months old.

    The 50,000 doses of acellular quadrivalent vaccine, meanwhile, target four major diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio. This formulation is used exclusively as a booster dose for children once they reach four years of age, to extend and reinforce the immunity they received from earlier childhood vaccinations.

    Aida Lucía Vargas, who leads the Ministry’s Division of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, explained that the new doses were purchased through the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) Revolving Fund, a regional mechanism that streamlines vaccine procurement for countries across the Americas. A key benefit of this procurement pathway, Vargas noted, is that it guarantees all vaccine products meet strict international standards for quality, safety, and clinical efficacy, eliminating concerns about substandard biological products.

    All doses have already been pushed out through the country’s National Vaccination Network, and are currently available at no cost to families at more than 1,350 active vaccination centers spread across every region of the Dominican Republic. Beyond this immediate shipment, the Ministry of Public Health has confirmed it maintains robust strategic reserves of routine childhood vaccines, enough to keep immunization services running without interruption even if global supply chains face unexpected disruptions. Looking ahead, the ministry also anticipates receiving additional shipments of routine vaccines in the coming weeks, which will further bulk up national stockpiles and help the country maintain high rates of immunization coverage across all age groups.

  • PM Browne Seeks Public’s Advice on Removing Judges Over Lenient Sentences

    PM Browne Seeks Public’s Advice on Removing Judges Over Lenient Sentences

    The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, has reignited a long-running debate over the separation of powers between the executive and judicial branches of government, after announcing that his administration is considering action against justices who have overseen lenient sentencing for serious gun-related offenses.

    Years ago, Browne confirmed, parliament approved legislation that raised the maximum prison sentence for gun crimes to 15 years, a change driven by growing public concern over rampant gun violence in the country. At the time of the reform, members of the national judiciary advised the government against enacting mandatory minimum sentencing for these offenses. They argued that binding minimum sentences would unnecessarily limit judicial discretion, amounting to an overreach into the independent authority of the judicial branch.

    But despite the government’s compromise on that point, Browne says the current arrangement has led to a troubling outcome: a significant portion of the judiciary is misusing the discretionary power granted to them. Specifically, justices have been handing down unusually light sentences to repeat violent offenders and individuals convicted of particularly heinous violent crimes connected to illegal firearms.

    The prime minister warned that this pattern of lenient sentencing has created a tangible public safety crisis across the nation. To date, he estimates, roughly 250 convicted repeat offenders have been released early after serving short sentences, placing an unprecedented strain on local law enforcement agencies that are forced to continually re-arrest and re-process the same offenders. More importantly, Browne emphasized, these early releases put the broader public at constant risk of additional violent gun crime.

    Under the nation’s constitutional framework, Browne noted, the executive branch holds the legal authority to request the removal of underperforming or non-compliant judicial officials from active judicial jurisdiction. He went on to raise a second, more extreme option for non-citizen justices who refuse to step back from the bench after a formal request: if the judiciary fails to act to remove these lenient-sentencing justices, should the executive exercise its power to deport them from the country entirely? Browne framed the step as a measure justified by national security interests, arguing that the government has a core duty to protect citizens from the threat of violent crime enabled by irresponsible sentencing.

    Rather than moving forward unilaterally, the prime minister announced he is actively seeking input and guidance from the general public on how the government should proceed, opening a rare public consultation on a sensitive constitutional issue.

  • 15 Scarlet Macaws Released Into the Wild

    15 Scarlet Macaws Released Into the Wild

    On a Monday morning in August 2026, a landmark moment for Central American biodiversity unfolded in Belize’s forests: 15 rescued scarlet macaws took their first independent flights into the wild, marking a major milestone for a years-long collaborative conservation push led by two local organizations. The release, carried out jointly by Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) and Belize’s Forest Department, capped off an intensive rehabilitation process that began when the birds were pulled from high-risk survival situations.

    Rescue interventions for Belize’s scarlet macaws are only authorized as a last resort, following strict protocols established by the Forest Department. Most triggers for rescue stem from scenarios that drastically raise the risk of poaching or death, such as three macaw chicks competing for space and resources in a single nesting cavity. After being pulled from these dangerous situations, each bird spent an average of 100 days receiving specialized care in a dedicated rehabilitation facility before release.

    The rehabilitation process was carefully designed to prepare the macaws for full independence in their natural habitat. After initial feeding and medical care, the birds were transferred to large flight cages, where they built muscle mass, honed their flying skills, and regained the natural instincts needed to forage and avoid threats in the wild. When the release cage door swung open on Monday, the macaws first gathered at their familiar supply of fruit and nuts, before one by one venturing into the open forest. Some soared deep into the tree canopy immediately, while others lingered near the release site, testing their new freedom. For minutes after the release, the forest echoed with the macaws’ distinctive squawks as the flock settled into their new home.

    This release is just one component of a broader, ongoing scarlet macaw conservation initiative that launched in early March 2026, when FCD’s Research Unit began systematic biological monitoring of wild macaw populations across Belize. The core of this effort is consistent, on-the-ground presence near macaw nesting cavities, a strategy that serves two key goals: tracking the growth and development of wild chicks, and deterring poachers who target young macaws before they are able to fly. To date, the program has supported 24 macaw chicks that have successfully fledged from their natural nesting sites.

    Despite these gains, the conservation program continues to face significant challenges from the illegal wildlife trade. Already this year, two wild macaw chicks have been stolen by poachers, who are locally referred to as “guaqueros.” Stolen macaws are typically smuggled across the border into Guatemala for the illegal pet trade, a multi-million dollar black market that has decimated parrot populations across Central America. To counter this transnational criminal activity, FCD and Belize’s Forest Department have partnered with Guatemalan authorities to maintain a binational taskforce that shares intelligence and coordinates cross-border operations to disrupt trafficking networks. Even with this collaborative framework in place, conservation officials acknowledge that gaps remain: it is still nearly impossible to track the exact number of scarlet macaws lost to illegal trafficking each year, leaving long-term population projections uncertain.

  • Belangrijkste spelers om dit seizoen in het Europese voetbal in de gaten te houden

    Belangrijkste spelers om dit seizoen in het Europese voetbal in de gaten te houden

    As top European football leagues enter their final pre-season preparations with friendly matches and training camps in full swing, the global football community has turned its full attention to the ongoing summer transfer window, where clubs are rushing to fill final roster gaps for both their starting lineups and depth squads ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. This season, three global superstars — Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Lamine Yamal — stand out as the most anticipated players to watch across the Premier League, La Liga, and the UEFA Champions League.

    This summer’s transfer market has already delivered several high-profile moves: English international Elliot Anderson made the switch from Nottingham Forest to reigning Premier League champion Manchester City, while Ivorian talent Yan Diomandé moved from German side RB Leipzig to Spanish giant Real Madrid. Persistent transfer rumors also continue to swirl around Manchester City midfield anchor Rodri, with FC Barcelona emerging as a reported potential destination. Even with these big-name moves, this summer’s transfer activity has been surprisingly muted compared to recent years, marking one of the most stable off-seasons for European top-flight rosters in the last decade.

    Below, we break down the most influential players whose form will likely define their clubs’ title chances this coming season, backed by on-pitch performance data from recent campaigns:

    ### Declan Rice – Arsenal
    Fresh off a disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign with England, 27-year-old Declan Rice is fully focused on reaffirming his status as an irreplaceable cog for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side. Since joining from West Ham United, Rice has become the backbone of Arsenal’s defensive structure and ball retention system, while emerging as a lethal threat on set pieces – a major weapon for the Gunners last term. Arsenal scored a league-high 24 goals from set pieces last season, with eight coming from Rice’s deliveries and three more directly from his assists. The summer arrival of Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United has slightly eased the physical and tactical burden on Rice, but his role remains non-negotiable as Arsenal chases its first Premier League title in decades.

    ### Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United
    Bruno Fernandes has been the beating heart of Manchester United’s first team since his arrival in 2020, and he remains the club’s most irreplaceable player — a long-term injury to Fernandes would leave United with no easy replacement. Last season, Fernandes delivered a career-best performance in the Premier League, notching 21 assists, more than any other player in the league, while leading the division in total chances created and progressive passes. He generates a large share of United’s attacking opportunities, but the summer departure of midfield partner Casemiro is expected to increase his defensive workload, a shift that could have a major impact on his attacking output this season.

    ### Cole Palmer – Chelsea
    Cole Palmer’s value to Chelsea lies in his versatile attacking threat, which has quickly made him the focal point of the Blues’ rebuild. After a breakout 2024/25 season where he was directly involved in 29 Premier League goals, Chelsea has built its entire attacking structure around Palmer’s creative ability. His unique skill set, which allows him to both score consistently and create high-quality chances for teammates, makes him impossible to replace for the West London side. After a underwhelming 2025/26 campaign, the 2026-27 season represents a key test: Palmer needs to return to his top form to push Chelsea back into title and European contention.

    ### Erling Haaland – Manchester City
    Erling Haaland’s outsized importance to Manchester City is underscored by his 27 Premier League goals in the 2025/26 season, which earned him his third consecutive Premier League Golden Boot. As City’s elite finisher, he converts the team’s sustained attacking dominance into valuable points on the table. His mere presence forces opposing defenses to assign multiple markers to him, opening up space and opportunities for City’s other attacking playmakers. If Rodri does leave the club this summer, Haaland will face increased pressure to create and finish more goals to keep City at the top of the league.

    ### Dominik Szoboszlai – Liverpool
    Szoboszlai was a key driving force behind Liverpool’s 2024/25 Premier League title win, and he stepped up again to carry the team through a disappointing 2025/26 campaign. He led Liverpool in both chances created and successful passes in the final third of the pitch last season, and his positional versatility — which has seen him fill in effectively at right back when needed — makes him nearly irreplaceable for Arne Slot’s side.

    ### Kylian Mbappé – Real Madrid
    Mbappé’s form will go a long way toward determining whether Real Madrid can end Barcelona’s run of two consecutive La Liga titles. Last season, Mbappé notched 25 goals and five assists in 31 La Liga appearances, and he finished as the top scorer in the Champions League with 15 goals. The biggest challenge for Real Madrid is not Mbappé’s ability, but rather integrating his talent alongside fellow superstar Jude Bellingham to maximize both players’ impact. New Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has been tasked with solving this tactical puzzle ahead of the new season.

    ### Lamine Yamal – Barcelona
    The influence of 19-year-old Lamine Yamal has grown steadily at Barcelona, especially as former star striker Robert Lewandowski’s on-pitch impact has declined. Last season, Yamal recorded 16 goals and 11 assists in just 28 appearances, directly contributing to 27 competitive goals for the club. His ability to create chances and beat defenders one-on-one forces opposing defenses to completely adjust their structure to contain him. Yamal’s impact was a core factor in Barcelona’s domestic treble win last season.

    ### Ousmane Dembélé – Paris Saint-Germain
    Current Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé remains invaluable to PSG, thanks to his unique combination of finishing, creativity, and all-around attacking contribution. In the 2024/25 season, Dembélé scored 35 goals and was directly involved in 51 total goals for the French champions. He notched a solid 17 goals in 22 Ligue 1 appearances and 10 goals in eight Champions League matches last season, though the campaign was seen as a step down from his record-breaking 2024/25 form.

    ### Harry Kane – Bayern München
    Since joining Bayern München from Tottenham Hotspur, Harry Kane has transformed into one of the most lethal finishers in European football. Last season, he scored 36 goals in 31 Bundesliga appearances, earning him his third consecutive Bundesliga Golden Boot, and added another 14 goals in the Champions League. His relentless goalscoring instinct remains one of Bayern’s most valuable assets as they chase both domestic and European glory.

    ### Marcus Rashford – Manchester United (Tentative)
    After a rocky spell at Manchester United that saw him fall out of favor under former manager Ruben Amorim, Rashford revived his career last season on loan at Barcelona, where he reconnected with his best form. He is still not confirmed to be at Old Trafford for the 2026-27 season, but new interim manager Michael Carrick is open to giving Rashford a second chance at his boyhood club. In 32 La Liga appearances for Barcelona last season, Rashford scored eight goals, and his play showed clear signs of a return to the elite level he reached in previous years. Wherever he plays next season, if Rashford can fully regain his top form, his pace and clinical finishing will make him a nightmare for opposing defenses.

    From defending champions to title-chasing contenders, these 10 players are unquestionably the ones who will decide the story of the 2026-27 European football season.

  • Saint Lucia women to defend volleyball title after tense wait

    Saint Lucia women to defend volleyball title after tense wait

    The 2026 Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association (ECVA) Championships are set to kick off this week at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and for Saint Lucia’s national squads, the road to the tournament has been anything but smooth. The nation’s defending women’s champion team will step onto the court this week after weeks of uncertainty that almost kept both the women’s and men’s teams out of the competition entirely.

    Sources with direct knowledge of the Saint Lucia Volleyball Association (SLVA) confirmed to local media that up until the start of this week, program leaders for both national squads had no guarantee they would compete. Severe funding gaps left the association scrambling to cover travel costs, putting both teams at high risk of a last-minute withdrawal. In a dramatic turnaround over the 72 hours leading into the tournament, the SLVA successfully secured the full amount of funding needed to book a charter flight for both squads, clearing the final barrier to participation.

    For the defending champion women’s squad, the team brings a core of experienced veteran talent from their 2025 title-winning run. Seven players from the 2025 Final Four championship roster are returning to compete, including a host of award-winning standouts who dominated individual honors at the last tournament. Team captain Cindy Wilson, a decorated playmaker, previously earned the tournament’s Best Setter award. At the 2025 event, Tenayestigni Joseph took home two individual honors: Best Digger and Best Libero, while Amalia Louis claimed awards for Best Outside Hitter and Best Receiver. The other returning veterans include Nevaeh Wilson, Denila Prospere, Clio Phillip and Chenoa Evans.

    Head coach Kendall Charlery and team manager Khrisann Eugene have built out a 10-player roster for this year’s tournament, with three new talents joining the core group: Jemima Evans, Nyoka Nugent and Yosherbel Emmanuel. Notably absent from this year’s squad is star opposite player Lisa Casimie, who was the Most Valuable Player of the 2025 Final Four, and also took home awards for Best Opposite and Best Scorer at that event.

    Saint Lucia’s women’s program is one of the most successful in the history of the ECVA senior women’s division, with six overall championship titles to their name. Recent victories include titles in 2022, 2024, and the 2025 Final Four tournament held last September. The team also carries momentum from a recent gold medal win at the Windward Islands Schools Games just one month ago.

    Alongside the women’s squad, Saint Lucia’s men’s national team will also compete in this week’s ECVA Championships, joining the action at the Tortola venue. The men’s program enters the tournament with strong recent form: they claimed bronze at the last full-format ECVA competition and took home a silver medal at the 2025 Final Four tournament.

  • Halcyon Steel Orchestra Says thanks to its Partners and Supporters for Carnival 2026

    Halcyon Steel Orchestra Says thanks to its Partners and Supporters for Carnival 2026

    As the confetti settles on Antigua Carnival 2026, one of the island nation’s most storied cultural institutions, Halcyon Steel Orchestra, is closing out its landmark 55th anniversary season with a mix of reflective gratitude and quiet pride, even after falling short of the coveted Panorama competition title.

    Held on August 1 at Carnival City, this year’s annual Panorama contest saw the veteran ensemble retain the third-place position it earned in previous competitions. While the outcome did not align with the group’s championship ambitions, Halcyon’s collective membership emphasized that every performer can stand behind the work and dedication they brought to the 2026 season.

    In an official statement shared following the competition, the orchestra noted, “Above all, Pan in Antigua and by extension, Carnival 2026 was the true winner.” The group extended warm congratulations to every ensemble that took the stage for the annual “Great Showdown,” with particular praise for CUB Hells Gate Steel Orchestra, which made history by clinching an unprecedented seventh consecutive Panorama championship. West Indies Oil Company Gemonites Steel Orchestra claimed the second-place spot in this year’s competition.

    The close of the 2026 Carnival comes as Antigua and Barbuda prepares to mark World Steelpan Day, a global observance that celebrates the iconic Caribbean musical instrument born from the region’s cultural innovation. For Halcyon, the end of the season offers a natural moment to step back and celebrate another year of sharing cultural heritage, bringing communities together through music, and participating in the nation’s most beloved annual celebration.

    A core part of the orchestra’s end-of-season message centered on gratitude to the wide network of partners and supporters that made its 55th anniversary participation possible. Major supporting sponsors named by the group include Antigua Cruise Ports, PLH/Barbuda Ocean Club, Shirley Heights Lookout, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, Antigua Masonry Products, and private donor Michael Joseph, along with Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne.

    Halcyon also extended special appreciation to its own roster of players, the family members who support their craft, the hundreds of volunteers who manage behind-the-scenes operations, and every individual who contributed to the group’s 2026 campaign. “To our loyal supporters at home and across the globe, thank you for your unwavering encouragement throughout the season,” the statement read. “Your belief in Halcyon inspires us to strive for excellence year after year.”

    Looking ahead to future competitions and seasons, the steel orchestra confirmed it will carry forward the lessons learned from 2026, while reaffirming its longstanding commitment to preserving Antigua and Barbuda’s rich steelpan cultural heritage and chasing competitive excellence in all future performances.

  • New UWP candidate for Salisbury, Cara Shillingford, promises effective representation for constituents

    New UWP candidate for Salisbury, Cara Shillingford, promises effective representation for constituents

    In a decisive move that sets the stage for Dominica’s upcoming general election, attorney Cara Shillingford has been unanimously chosen as the United Workers Party (UWP) candidate to contest the parliamentary seat covering the Salisbury, Morne Rachette and Coulibistrie constituency. The historic selection took place during a well-attended meeting of the UWP Salisbury Constituency Association held this past weekend.

    Shortly after securing the party’s nomination, Shillingford shared her remarks during an interview on Q95 Radio’s popular current affairs programme *Talk on the Block*, hosted by Matt Peltier. There, she opened by extending heartfelt gratitude to constituency party members for the overwhelming trust they placed in her candidacy.

    “As you saw, I was unanimously elected as the next candidate for the United Workers’ Party for the Salisbury, Morne Rachette and Coulibistrie constituency,” Shillingford stated. “I am immensely grateful to the members of my constituency for placing their trust and confidence in me. I will try my best to ensure that they receive the representation that they deserve.”

    Beyond advocating for her constituency, Shillingford made clear that her broader priority is helping the UWP win a majority and form the next national government. She argued that Dominica currently lacks people-centered leadership, asserting that the island nation needs an administration that prioritizes public welfare and leverages the country’s natural and economic resources to lift up all Dominican citizens, rather than serving narrow interests.

    When explaining what pushed her to step into frontline electoral politics, Shillingford leveled sharp criticism at the long-ruling Dominica Labour Party, which has held national office for 26 years. She claimed the incumbent administration has failed to deliver sustained improvements to the daily lives of ordinary Dominican people, saying conditions across the country have steadily declined under its watch.

    “I can say with full confidence that the Dominica Labour Party has demonstrated that it does not have the will and the capacity to do what is necessary to improve the lives of Dominicans,” she said. “Things are getting from bad to worse.”

    Shillingford noted that while she plans to continue working as a practicing attorney, she reached a point where she could not remain on the political sidelines. She emphasized that meaningful, lasting progress on legal reform, policy change, and equitable economic growth can only be achieved from within government, adding that she could not in good conscience watch the country decline without acting.

    “I cannot, with good conscience, simply sit by and allow my country to go downhill,” she said. She went on to urge all eligible voters in the constituency and across Dominica to back the UWP in the upcoming election, framing the main opposition party as a cohesive, capable “solid team” and the only viable, better alternative to the current government.

    Shillingford also addressed circulating speculation about the candidate selection process, specifically pushing back against claims that former UWP parliamentary representative for the constituency Hector John was excluded from the process. She clarified that the selection meeting was widely advertised publicly and within the party, and John was fully aware of the scheduled time and date in advance.

    She paid tribute to John’s long tenure of public service for the constituency, acknowledging that he achieved many positive outcomes for the Salisbury area and remains a well-respected figure among UWP members. “We love Hector, we have respect for him, and we are happy to continue working with Hector for the best interests of Dominica and the best interests of the constituency,” Shillingford affirmed.

    Looking ahead to the election campaign, Shillingford outlined her immediate core objectives: winning the Salisbury, Morne Rachette and Coulibistrie seat to serve as its parliamentary representative, and taking a seat in a future UWP national administration. She closed by reiterating her confidence in the opposition party’s platform, repeating that the UWP is the best option for Dominica at this juncture and encouraging voters to support the party’s bid for power in the upcoming general polls.

  • Paul-Victor calls for better waste collection and future-focused skills training

    Paul-Victor calls for better waste collection and future-focused skills training

    As debate over Dominica’s 2026-2027 national budget unfolds, Opposition Leader and Salisbury constituency Member of Parliament Jesma Paul-Victor has laid out two urgent priorities for the island nation: addressing long-standing failures in basic local public services, and laying the foundational workforce capacity to support inclusive long-term economic growth.

    In her constituency intervention, Paul-Victor first spotlighted the persistent garbage collection crisis that has upended daily life for Salisbury residents. She explained that consistent, reliable waste collection across the area remains out of reach, rooted not in resident noncompliance, but in a critical shortage of operational equipment. With too few collection trucks assigned to serve local communities, scheduled pickups are repeatedly delayed, leaving waste bags piled along public roadsides for days or even weeks at a time.

    These uncollected waste piles create immediate risks for local residents, Paul-Victor warned. Stray animals frequently tear open garbage bags to forage, scattering debris across roads and open green spaces. Over time, accumulated waste draws disease-carrying insects and rodent populations, raising serious public health and environmental hazards that drag down local quality of life. Even amid these systemic challenges, Paul-Victor was quick to praise frontline sanitation workers, who have continued to fulfill their duties with limited resources to work with. She called on the national government and relevant municipal authorities to conduct a full, transparent assessment of Salisbury’s waste management needs and allocate additional funding and equipment to expand collection capacity. Strengthening waste infrastructure, she argued, is not a discretionary expense—it is a core investment that delivers cleaner neighborhoods, healthier families, and stronger environmental protection for all residents.

    Beyond immediate local service needs, Paul-Victor used her budget response to push for transformative investment in Dominica’s youth workforce. She emphasized that the island’s education system must evolve to match the demands of a fast-shifting global economy, with investment that extends far beyond traditional classroom instruction and standard academic programs.

    Paul-Victor identified eight high-priority areas for targeted workforce development: technical vocational training, digital literacy, artificial intelligence expertise, cybersecurity, renewable energy technology, construction trades, hospitality management, health sciences, and entrepreneurial skills. Mastery of these competencies, she argued, will decide whether young Dominicans get to be active participants in the nation’s ongoing economic transformation, or are left on the sidelines as passive observers.

    She also stressed that investment in skills must go hand in hand with efforts to create sufficient high-quality local employment. Major national infrastructure projects currently underway in Dominica—including the new international airport, coastal marina development, and expanding geothermal energy sector—should be leveraged as platforms to generate thousands of sustainable private-sector jobs for local workers, Paul-Victor argued. Ultimately, she said, cross-border migration should remain a free choice for young Dominicans, not an economic necessity forced on them by a lack of viable career opportunities at home.