Carib Scope

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  • Consumer Affairs Office marks World Consumer Rights Day

    Consumer Affairs Office marks World Consumer Rights Day

    The Consumer Affairs Office is poised to commemorate two significant milestones simultaneously in March 2026: World Consumer Rights Day on March 15 and the second anniversary of its operational launch on the same date in 2024. The department has announced an extensive week-long program from March 9-15, 2026, designed to reinforce consumer protection awareness and market confidence through various educational and engagement initiatives.

    Aligned with the international theme ‘Safe products, Confident Consumers,’ the 2026 observance emphasizes the critical connection between product safety standards and consumer trust in global markets. The campaign reaffirms that access to secure and reliable goods and services constitutes both a fundamental consumer right and an essential component of equitable and prosperous economic systems.

    Director Merlyn Horsford-Williams articulated the department’s mission, stating: ‘Our second anniversary coincides with a global call to prioritize consumer safety and trust. Product safety transcends regulatory compliance—it represents a moral imperative to safeguard both lives and livelihoods. Through collaborative awareness initiatives and responsible business conduct, we can cultivate market environments where consumers feel genuinely protected.’

    The office reiterated the Consumer Protection Act’s provisions, which shield consumers from unfair trade practices, hazardous products, and deceptive information while delineating businesses’ ethical operational responsibilities. Businesses received specific guidance to ensure market-ready product safety compliance, provide transparent consumer information, and honor refund/exchange policies alongside fair treatment protocols.

    Consumers were advised to exercise vigilance through careful label examination, expiration date verification, proactive information seeking, and reporting questionable products or practices to authorities. The department maintains accessible communication channels including telephone, email, and official website resources for public inquiries and violation reports.

  • Does Robotics Have a Future in Belize?

    Does Robotics Have a Future in Belize?

    Belize has embarked on an ambitious national initiative to integrate robotics education into its academic curriculum through a groundbreaking tripartite agreement. The collaborative effort unites the Ministry of E-Governance, the Belize Robotics Federation, and U.S.-based VEX Robotics in a comprehensive strategy to transform digital learning nationwide.

    The formal partnership was cemented on Wednesday through a memorandum of understanding signed by Prime Minister John Briceño, E-Governance CEO Jose Urbina, and Belize Robotics Federation President Jamie Lee Usher. The ceremony highlighted the government’s commitment to preparing Belizean youth for future technological careers through hands-on robotics programming and construction experiences.

    Prime Minister Briceño addressed students during the signing event, contrasting contemporary educational opportunities with those of his generation. “When I was your age, I was excited when you could have given a leather football,” he remarked. “This generation are excited over pieces of building blocks and wires and circuits that you put together and can build something amazing and how the world has changed.” He characterized the agreement as “a contract with the future of Belize,” emphasizing that robotics education transcends mere play to become a viable pathway toward employment and innovation.

    The initiative will leverage Belize’s existing network of 14 Digital Connect Centres operated by the Ministry of E-Governance. CEO Urbina revealed that the program originated from a successful pilot robotics training session conducted last year in San Esteban. The Prime Minister’s enthusiastic response to this demonstration sparked the ambition to develop a nationwide implementation strategy.

    Urbina recounted the leadership’s vision: “The Prime Minister was very interested and was asking, but how can we grow this countrywide? How can we make this a national initiative?” The ministry now collaborates with the Ministry of Education to establish recognized accreditation standards for the robotics curriculum, ensuring formal educational validation.

    International expertise and resources from VEX Robotics will provide the technological foundation, supplying both equipment and structured learning programs with global recognition. This strategic partnership aims to position Belize at the forefront of Central American technological education, creating sustainable opportunities for youth development in emerging digital fields.

  • GDB hosts successful tax compliance workshop in Carriacou

    GDB hosts successful tax compliance workshop in Carriacou

    More than 40 business operators from Carriacou gained essential taxation knowledge through a comprehensive compliance workshop organized by the Grenada Development Bank (GDB) in partnership with the Inland Revenue Division (IRD). The event, held on March 3rd at Hillsborough’s Mermaid Conference Room, provided practical guidance on fundamental tax principles, accurate tax calculation methods, and proper filing preparation techniques.

    The workshop featured Khalene Emmons, Tax Inspector from the Inland Revenue Department, who conducted an interactive demonstration of Grenada’s innovative digital tax platform, GTAX. Participants received live walkthrough instruction on electronic registration, return filing, and payment processing through the government’s online portal.

    GDB General Manager Royston Cumberbatch emphasized the critical importance of maintaining precise financial records during his presentation. He detailed how systematic documentation of sales receipts, invoices, and expense logs enables business owners to accurately track financial activities, compute tax obligations correctly, and avoid penalties associated with filing errors or delays.

    Cumberbatch explained that enhancing financial literacy among entrepreneurs represents a core component of the bank’s developmental mandate. “Many small enterprises encounter taxation challenges primarily due to procedural uncertainty or inadequate record-keeping practices. These educational initiatives aim to demystify compliance requirements while providing business owners with both the confidence and practical tools needed to strengthen their operational management,” he stated.

    Attendees praised the workshop’s interactive format and expert guidance, with one participant noting: “The session provided exceptional clarity on previously confusing taxation aspects. I now possess a substantially improved understanding of tax computation and GTAX platform utilization.” Another business owner described the training as “perfectly timed and immensely beneficial,” adding that the step-by-step approach delivered actionable knowledge for maintaining organizational compliance.

    The workshop constituted part of GDB’s broader outreach initiative to Carriacou and Petite Martinique, designed to enhance engagement with sister island businesses and communities. The program included extended consultations with Petite Martinique entrepreneurs regarding financing opportunities, business support services, and financial management strategies.

  • E-waste recycling drive coming to Anse La Raye

    E-waste recycling drive coming to Anse La Raye

    The Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority (SLSWMA) and Greening the Caribbean Inc. (GtC) are launching a community recycling initiative that transforms household clutter into potential prizes. On Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Anse La Raye Playing Field will host a special collection event for electronic waste and aluminum cans.

    This event strategically aligns with Global Recycling Day 2026, an international observance that reframes waste management as economic opportunity under its thematic banner: ‘Don’t think waste, think opportunity.’ The initiative represents the second community drop-off program organized under the Integrated E-Waste Management (IEWM) Project, a sustainable waste management scheme backed by IDB Lab and implemented through collaboration between GtC and SLSWMA.

    Residents are encouraged to gather portable electronic devices including mobile phones, laptops, tablets, computer peripherals, small kitchen appliances, personal electronics, and aluminum beverage containers. The organizers have established a practical guideline: ‘If you can carry it in, we can take it.’ Notably excluded are large household appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and oversized televisions.

    Beyond environmental benefits, participants will receive tokens for each contributed item and become eligible for prize drawings sponsored by Massy Stores throughout the event day. The initiative enjoys substantial institutional support from Invest Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA), Anse La Raye Constituency Council, and several government ministries, demonstrating a collaborative approach to sustainable development.

    GtC emphasized the broader significance: ‘When government agencies, the private sector and the community unite around a shared environmental goal, that convergence creates the foundation for lasting ecological change.’ This event represents a practical implementation of circular economy principles, empowering Saint Lucian communities to actively participate in building more sustainable waste management systems.

  • STATEMENT: Electoral Office update on voter confirmation

    STATEMENT: Electoral Office update on voter confirmation

    The Commonwealth of Dominica has initiated a systematic nationwide voter confirmation campaign as part of its broader strategy to modernize and refine the national Register of Electors. This critical democratic exercise enables previously registered voters to visit officially designated confirmation centers to validate and amend their personal information within the electoral database.

    The comprehensive verification process represents a key implementation phase of the landmark Registration of Electors Act enacted in 2025. This legislation introduced robust new protocols specifically designed to enhance the precision, transparency, and overall integrity of the nation’s voter registry. By implementing these strengthened verification measures, the Electoral Office aims to establish an unimpeachable electoral framework that safeguards the democratic process.

    Authorities have commenced providing regular updates regarding the progress of this ongoing voter authentication initiative, demonstrating the government’s commitment to maintaining transparent communication throughout the modernization effort. The exercise underscores Dominica’s dedication to employing methodical approaches to electoral management that prioritize both accessibility and security within the democratic system.

  • Grenadian women making waves across the region with Sandals Resorts

    Grenadian women making waves across the region with Sandals Resorts

    The 2013 inauguration of Sandals Resort at Grenada’s Point Salines marked a transformative moment for the island’s hospitality sector, generating unprecedented employment opportunities and career pathways for local talent. This development proved particularly impactful for recent graduates of T A Marryshow Community College, whose professional journeys would eventually span multiple Caribbean nations within the Sandals portfolio.

    Onika Phillip, originally from Chantimelle, St Patrick, commenced her career as a restaurant server at Sandals Grenada after completing the Tourism and Hospitality Management programme. “That inaugural professional experience proved invaluable,” Phillip reflected. “It instilled discipline, communication proficiency, teamwork dynamics, and personal accountability while mastering restaurant operations and multitasking requirements.”

    Her career trajectory accelerated dramatically through Sandals’ innovative Task Force Programme, which deploys team members across regional resorts to reinforce operational standards and cultural integration. A six-month assignment at Sandals Royal Bahamian in 2019 served as Phillip’s pivotal breakthrough, culminating in her promotion to restaurant hostess—her initial leadership position.

    “Opportunities frequently present themselves once in a lifetime,” Phillip advised aspiring professionals. “I embraced the challenge, adapted to requirements, and submitted applications. That experience fundamentally expanded my capabilities and prepared me for managerial responsibilities.”

    By 2025, Phillip had ascended to Senior Restaurants Manager at Sandals Royal Curaçao, overseeing nine distinct dining establishments. Rodrigo Maza Gama, Director of Food and Beverage at the resort, characterized her as “naturally charismatic in inspiring and connecting with team members, consistently exceeding expectations through determined leadership.”

    Simultaneously, Ashley Gittens of Belmont, St George, launched her hospitality career as a Club Sandals agent despite limited industry knowledge. “During interviews, management recognized my potential and invested substantially in training development,” Gittens acknowledged.

    Her participation in two task force assignments—at Sandals Royal Bahamian and Beaches Turks and Caicos—prompted a strategic decision to pursue advanced education. In 2019, Gittens temporarily paused her corporate advancement to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism Management with specializations in destination branding and sustainability at HZ University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.

    “The task force initiative solidified my educational aspirations,” Gittens explained. “Collaborating with regional excellence professionals inspired both academic and career development.” Despite multilingual fluency in German and Dutch creating international opportunities, she ultimately returned to Caribbean hospitality, rejoining Sandals as Club Sandals Manager at the newly operational Sandals Dunn’s River in Jamaica.

    Melissa Dauvergne, Hotel Manager at Sandals Dunn’s River, commended Gittens as “gracious, intelligent, and resilient—embodying the definition of a powerful woman refined through unwavering dedication to excellence.”

    Both executives emphasize proactive career management for emerging professionals. Phillip recommends actively “requesting opportunities, training, promotions, and understanding industry dynamics with intentional development planning.” Gittens concurs, advising perseverance: “Continue pursuing objectives diligently while maintaining openness to unforeseen opportunities.”

    The parallel journeys demonstrate how corporate investment in local talent development, combined with structured mobility programmes, can cultivate leadership excellence while strengthening regional hospitality integration.

  • Small footprints, high stakes

    Small footprints, high stakes

    A striking disparity in carbon dioxide emissions across Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations has been revealed by the latest data from the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR), compiled by the World Bank. The 2024 statistics demonstrate that thirteen of the fourteen member states maintain per capita emissions significantly below the global average of 4.69 tonnes.

    Trinidad and Tobago stands as the sole regional outlier, registering a substantial 19.58 tonnes of CO₂ per person—more than quadruple the worldwide average. This elevated figure is directly attributable to its petrochemical-dependent economy. Notably, however, the country has achieved a 28% reduction in its per capita emissions since 2015, coinciding with a downturn in its energy sector’s output.

    In stark contrast, several CARICOM members exhibit minimal carbon footprints. Haiti records the region’s lowest output at a mere 0.30 tonnes per capita, followed by Belize at 0.93 tonnes. The Eastern Caribbean nations of Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Lucia all maintain emissions below 2 tonnes per person, representing less than half the global average.

    Guyana emerges as the region’s most significant upward trend, with a 67% surge in per capita emissions since 2015—climbing from 2.73 to 4.56 tonnes. This dramatic increase parallels the rapid development of its offshore oil industry.

    This data underscores a profound climate injustice: those Caribbean nations contributing the least to global carbon emissions simultaneously face the most severe threats from its consequences, including rising sea levels and intensifying weather events.

  • The Lifelong Skills Training was also represented at Wednesday’s Health fair

    The Lifelong Skills Training was also represented at Wednesday’s Health fair

    In a landmark initiative addressing healthcare accessibility, Barbados’ Social Empowerment Agency (SEA) hosted its inaugural Month of the Disabled health fair at its Collymore Rock headquarters this Wednesday. The event represented a significant collaboration between pharmaceutical manufacturer Carlisle Laboratories, the Disabilities Unit, and several private health organizations including the Diabetes and Hypertension Association of Barbados and Eventa Limited.

    Dozens of attendees received complimentary medical screenings for blood glucose levels, cholesterol, hypertension, and glaucoma, alongside educational workshops focusing on mental health support. Acting SEA director Wayne Nurse highlighted the financial barriers preventing comprehensive healthcare access for disabled individuals, noting that the event specifically aimed to eliminate cost-related obstacles through free specialized testing.

    The health fair coincided with implementation efforts for Barbados’ recently ratified national disabilities policy, which seeks to improve systemic accessibility to medical services. Nurse emphasized that policy reforms would ensure “persons with disabilities will be able to access healthcare just like anybody else.”

    Medical professionals provided critical insights during the screenings. Ophthalmologist Dr. Kendi Griffith warned about glaucoma’s asymptomatic nature, describing it as “a painless disease that causes blindness in advanced stages” while stressing the necessity of regular pressure testing. Meanwhile, Aventa Limited’s Medical Sales Representative Janelle Carrington-Greenidge revealed alarming statistics: approximately 40-44% of Barbadians live with hypertension, while one in five faces diabetes risks, emphasizing the importance of proactive testing.

    The event also incorporated therapeutic services, with massage therapist Donna Potthoff demonstrating how therapeutic massage provides both physical and mental benefits for disabled individuals. For participants like Suzanne Harewood, who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis since childhood, such events represent rare opportunities to access typically cost-prohibitive services like dental and vision care, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by unemployed disabled individuals in maintaining comprehensive healthcare.

  • Iran’s New Supreme Leader Vows to Keep Strait of Hormuz Closed

    Iran’s New Supreme Leader Vows to Keep Strait of Hormuz Closed

    In a definitive declaration that has intensified global energy concerns, Iran’s newly installed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has affirmed the continued closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The announcement, delivered through state television on Thursday, marks Khamenei’s first official communication since assuming the nation’s highest authority.

    Characterizing the waterway as a ‘tool of pressure,’ Khamenei’s statement reinforces Iran’s position amid escalating regional hostilities that have created unprecedented disruptions in worldwide energy supplies. The Strait typically facilitates the transit of approximately 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, representing nearly 20 million barrels daily.

    The geopolitical ramifications extend beyond energy markets. Khamenei issued explicit warnings to neighboring nations hosting United States military installations, accusing Washington of utilizing regional bases for operations against Iranian interests.

    Market analysts confirm the closure has triggered the most significant oil supply disruption in recorded history, with over 15 million barrels per day effectively removed from global circulation. Although alternative pipelines exist—including Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline and the UAE’s Habshan-Fujairah route—their combined capacity falls substantially short of compensating for the blocked maritime channel. Both infrastructure projects face operational challenges, with the Emirati pipeline reportedly sustaining damage from recent attacks.

    In Washington, the administration presented conflicting responses. While President Trump emphasized potential benefits for domestic energy producers from elevated prices, his Energy Secretary conceded the U.S. Navy currently lacks capability to ensure safe commercial passage through the contested strait. Simultaneously, senior military officials indicated robust responses targeting nations assisting Iranian operations against American forces, with specific allegations of Russian intelligence sharing and drone tactic development.

  • Officials urge public to cease vandalism at Concord Water Level Centre

    Officials urge public to cease vandalism at Concord Water Level Centre

    A senior official from the Dominica Meteorological Service has issued a public appeal following acts of vandalism against crucial environmental monitoring equipment. Ashar Bryan, an Instrument Technician, disclosed the security breach during an appearance on the ‘Disaster and You’ program broadcast by state-owned Radio DBS.

    The incident occurred at a strategic water level monitoring station situated on the Bailey Bridge leading to Concord, en route to Horseback Ridge. According to Bryan, unidentified individuals severely damaged the solar panel powering the station, likely using rocks or similar projectiles. While the critical equipment remains operational despite the attack, the protective glass on the solar panel was completely shattered.

    Bryan expressed particular concern that children might be responsible for the destruction, though emphasized the importance of avoiding assumptions without evidence. The technician made a heartfelt plea for community awareness, urging citizens to educate both themselves and their children about the purpose of scientific instrumentation deployed across the island.

    Emphasizing the collective importance of these monitoring systems, Bryan explained that the equipment serves as an essential component of Dominica’s early warning infrastructure. The data collected provides meteorologists with vital information to forecast potential hazards and issue timely public advisories. Damage to these systems compromises the entire community’s safety by eliminating crucial preparation time during emergencies.