Carib Scope

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  • West Indies Women Name Exciting Squad for T20 Showdown with Sri Lanka in Grenada

    West Indies Women Name Exciting Squad for T20 Showdown with Sri Lanka in Grenada

    Cricket West Indies has announced a strategically selected 15-player roster for the upcoming Women’s T20 International series against Sri Lanka, scheduled from February 28 to March 3 at Grenada’s National Cricket Stadium. This three-match confrontation serves as critical preparation ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in the United Kingdom.

    Captain Hayley Matthews will lead a squad blending veteran experience with emerging talent. The most notable selection is 17-year-old Barbadian prodigy Eboni Brathwaite, who receives her first senior call-up following an explosive performance in the regional T20 Blaze tournament where she maintained a remarkable strike rate of 146.

    The selection panel has introduced fresh dynamics with Zaida James and Mandy Mangru joining the T20 lineup, replacing Ashmini Munisar and Shunelle Sawh from the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka. Brathwaite takes the spot of Realeanna Grimmond, signaling the team’s commitment to injecting new energy.

    Head Coach Shane Deitz emphasized the series’ significance within the broader World Cup context: “This T20 series provides invaluable preparation with the global tournament firmly in mind. Our players have maintained strong T20 performances since our last campaign, and the group is energized about the journey ahead.”

    The squad benefits from additional firepower with several players returning in excellent form from the Women’s Premier League. Deitz specifically highlighted Brathwaite’s power-hitting capabilities and the continued development of all-rounder Jahzara Claxton, whose skill set aligns perfectly with T20 demands.

    The series presents a compelling competitive dynamic with West Indies ranked sixth and Sri Lanka seventh in ICC Women’s T20 rankings. Cricket authorities have made admission free for all matches, encouraging Grenadian fans to create an electrifying home atmosphere.

    Regional supporters can follow the action live through Windies Cricket YouTube channel and Disney+ platforms, ensuring widespread accessibility for this important preparatory series.

  • Kamla hammers CARICOM; don’t talk to me about ‘zone of peace’

    Kamla hammers CARICOM; don’t talk to me about ‘zone of peace’

    In a striking address at the 50th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar delivered a robust defense of her nation’s security partnership with the United States while issuing sharp criticism of regional counterparts for their silence on Venezuelan aggression.

    The Prime Minister articulated her government’s position with exceptional clarity, emphasizing that sovereign nations must determine their own foreign policy approaches based on national security requirements. She directly addressed what she termed ‘the elephant in the room’ – Trinidad’s cooperation with the Trump administration – framing it as an essential measure for combating transnational crime rather than a deviation from regional unity.

    Persad-Bissessar presented compelling statistics to substantiate her position, revealing that Trinidad and Tobago, with a population of 1.4 million, had recorded 623 murders in 2024, with 40% directly linked to firearms and narcotics trafficking originating from Venezuela. She challenged the regional concept of a ‘zone of peace,’ arguing that such rhetoric becomes meaningless when member states face existential security threats.

    The Prime Minister detailed how policy shifts in 2025 – including designating drug cartels as violent terrorist organizations and collaborating with US military operations – produced dramatic results: a 42% reduction in murder rates equating to 257 fewer deaths. She extended specific gratitude to President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US military forces for their assistance in combating narco-trafficking, arms smuggling, and illegal migration networks.

    Persad-Bissessar contrasted her government’s approach with what she characterized as inadequate regional support, noting that many CARICOM members lack the military capacity to provide meaningful assistance. She acknowledged Jamaica’s success in reducing murder rates through specialized legislation while noting Trinidad’s parliamentary challenges in implementing similar measures.

    The Prime Minister concluded with a firm declaration that partnership with the United States represents not a undermining of Caribbean unity but rather a defense of regional security interests, vowing to continue cooperation to eliminate destructive criminal forces from the hemisphere.

  • DHL Operations Recognized for Outstanding Service Quality

    DHL Operations Recognized for Outstanding Service Quality

    In a significant achievement for its Caribbean network, DHL Operations across St. Kitts and Nevis has earned formal recognition for exceptional service quality standards. The accolade was confirmed through the company’s December 2025 Quarterly Service Quality Competition Report, highlighting the offices’ commitment to operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

    Ms. Rashidi Clarke, DHL Operations Manager (Agents), announced the results which positioned the Nevis office as first-place winner among sixteen regional competitors, with the St. Kitts office securing a strong second place finish. The rankings were determined through comprehensive evaluation of year-end performance targets across the logistics network.

    “Please join me in congratulating all teams for their hard work and commitment to excellence,” stated Clarke. “Let’s keep the momentum going as we aim for even greater success in 2026.”

    The achievement underscores both offices’ sustained focus on operational efficiency, timely delivery performance, and maintaining elevated service standards. This success has been driven by dedicated teams consistently exceeding customer and business partner expectations through continuous improvement initiatives and adherence to global best practices.

    DHL’s regional operations have demonstrated strong commitment to innovation and excellence, utilizing advanced logistics solutions while maintaining robust local presence. This approach ensures seamless connectivity to international markets while prioritizing safety protocols, sustainability measures, and enhanced customer experiences aligned with the DHL brand’s trusted standards.

    Looking forward, the company has reaffirmed its dedication to strengthening operational capabilities, investing in workforce development, and delivering world-class logistics services throughout the Caribbean region and beyond.

  • Jamaica PM says CARICOM is not a political union

    Jamaica PM says CARICOM is not a political union

    Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has delivered a paradigm-shifting address at the 50th CARICOM summit in Basseterre, fundamentally redefining the Caribbean Community’s operational philosophy. Contrary to popular perception, Holness emphasized that CARICOM constitutes an association of sovereign states rather than a political union, with no treaty obligations mandating unified foreign policies or supranational governance.

    The Prime Minister articulated a compelling vision for regional cooperation amidst accelerating global disruptions. “Climate shocks arrive faster than our financing mechanisms, criminal networks adapt faster than our institutions, and technological disruption reshapes economies faster than our regulatory frameworks,” Holness observed, highlighting the urgent need for responsive governance structures.

    Holness challenged conventional integration narratives, arguing that CARICOM’s strength lies not in uniformity but in its diversity of democratic expressions. “Variations in national perspectives are not a liability to be feared but a resource to be harnessed,” he asserted, framing member states’ differing risk assessments and priority sequences as natural expressions of sovereignty rather than institutional weakness.

    The address positioned regional security as a binding imperative, citing sophisticated transnational criminal networks that increasingly challenge state authority. Referencing Jamaica’s developed security architecture—forged through persistent violence—Holness proposed knowledge-sharing as organic integration: “Our region’s variability is not an obstacle to integration. It is integration, practical, organic and rooted in shared learning.”

    On geopolitical matters, Holness addressed Cuba’s escalating crisis with unprecedented candor, warning that economic hardship and energy shortages could trigger regional destabilization through migration and security spillovers. While affirming Jamaica’s commitment to democratic principles and market economies, he advocated for pragmatic U.S.-Cuba dialogue focused on humanitarian relief and de-escalation.

    The Prime Minister also delineated digital sovereignty as critical for Caribbean nations, noting that control over information platforms and algorithms now influences economic power as profoundly as physical resources historically did. He positioned the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) as the primary vehicle for building scalable digital infrastructure and economic resilience through flexible integration models.

    Holness concluded by framing CARICOM’s role as a community of democratic states offering cooperation rather than ideological bloc politics, emphasizing “principled realism” during global systemic transformation.

  • Suriname benadrukt belang regionale integratie tijdens Caricom-ministerraad

    Suriname benadrukt belang regionale integratie tijdens Caricom-ministerraad

    Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, and Cooperation (BIS), Melvin Bouva, participated in the 16th Special Meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council of Ministers held in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis. Accompanied by a technical delegation from his ministry, Bouva’s engagement underscored Suriname’s commitment to strengthening regional integration and collaborative governance within the Caribbean community.

    The meeting commenced with standard procedural formalities, including opening remarks and agenda adoption, before advancing to substantive policy discussions. Key agenda items encompassed the operationalization of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), with particular focus on expanding recognized categories of aviation personnel under the free movement of skills regime. This initiative aims to enhance labor mobility and economic cooperation across member states.

    Additional critical topics addressed included reparations, membership and associate membership applications—notably from Bermuda—and a proposed amendment to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas concerning CARICOM Rules of Origin. The development of a common industrial policy for the Community was also deliberated, alongside administrative matters such as the Secretariat’s 2026 work program, budget, and contribution formula.

    Suriname’s participation signals its strategic prioritization of a cohesive, economically resilient Caribbean region, reinforcing the nation’s role in shaping collaborative decision-making processes within CARICOM’s governance framework.

  • Don’t get trapped in or by Cuba

    Don’t get trapped in or by Cuba

    Cuba’s tourism industry, once hailed as the nation’s economic locomotive, now stands as a stark symbol of systemic failure and governmental mismanagement. The sector’s dramatic collapse has pushed the Caribbean nation toward its most severe economic crisis since the 1962 Missile Crisis, with far-reaching implications for both Cubans and international visitors.

    The industry’s trajectory reveals a complex history: initially privatized and mafia-controlled pre-1959 revolution, then abandoned due to criminal associations, before being resurrected as a Soviet alternative collapsed. The 2000s brought increased militarization under GAESA, a military conglomerate that now controls over one-third of Cuba’s GDP.

    Despite brief optimism during the Obama administration’s diplomatic thaw, which generated $3.3 billion in 2017 and supported nearly 500,000 direct and indirect jobs, the industry faced consecutive blows. Trump-era travel restrictions, COVID-19 pandemic disruptions, Ukraine conflict reducing Russian visitors, and most critically, fuel shortages resulting from U.S. pressure on Venezuela’s oil supply have created a perfect storm.

    Current visitor numbers tell a grim story: 2024 saw only 2.2 million tourists—less than half the 4.7 million recorded in 2018. This decline has devastated an economy that is approximately 15% smaller than its pre-pandemic peak.

    The situation has become so dire that Canada—historically Cuba’s largest tourism market with over 750,000 annual visitors—issued a February 2024 travel advisory warning citizens to avoid non-essential travel due to worsening shortages of fuel, electricity, and basic necessities. All Canadian airlines have suspended service indefinitely.

    Ricardo Torres, a Cuban economist at American University, describes the situation as “a disaster,” noting widespread public frustration with government investments in failing tourism infrastructure rather than addressing fundamental needs. Luxury hotels now stand as “gleaming symbols of inequality” amid nationwide power outages and humanitarian deterioration.

    The crisis extends beyond tourism, with experts describing Cuba’s energy generation, transportation, healthcare, agriculture, and water supply sectors as pushed to “the point of checkmate.” An estimated 10,000 tourism workers have fled the country, exacerbating the human capital crisis.

    This economic unraveling contrasts sharply with international diplomatic posturing, including past Canadian praise for Cuba’s “social rights” achievements while overlooking fundamental political freedoms. The growing disparity between governmental rhetoric and on-the-ground reality underscores the profound challenges facing ordinary Cubans, who increasingly view empty hotels not as potential economic saviors but as monuments to failed policies.

  • COE places three provinces on red alert due to heavy rains

    COE places three provinces on red alert due to heavy rains

    The Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Center (COE) has implemented a tiered alert system across multiple provinces in response to deteriorating weather conditions affecting the nation. A comprehensive three-tier warning structure has been activated, placing three provinces under red alert—the highest level—while maintaining five additional regions under yellow alert and four under green alert status.

    Meteorological data from the National Institute of Meteorology (INDOMET) indicates that a slow-moving frontal system is currently advancing toward the northwestern sector of the island, positioned near the southern Bahamas. This weather pattern continues to generate unstable atmospheric conditions nationwide, resulting in persistent precipitation and associated meteorological phenomena.

    Weather authorities have issued specific warnings regarding continued heavy rainfall, intermittent thunderstorms, and potentially damaging gusty winds. These conditions are expected to predominantly affect provinces along the Atlantic coastline, the Cibano Valley region, northeastern territories, border areas, and the Central Mountain Range.

    The provinces elevated to red alert status include:
    – Espaillat
    – María Trinidad Sánchez
    – Puerto Plata

    Areas under yellow alert comprise:
    – Santiago
    – Hermanas Mirabal
    – Monte Cristi
    – Samaná
    – La Vega

    Emergency management officials have issued critical safety recommendations for residents in affected regions. The COE specifically advises against crossing rivers, streams, or ravines with elevated water levels and has prohibited recreational activities at beaches and swimming areas throughout alerted provinces.

    Maritime restrictions have been implemented along the Atlantic coastal stretch from Manzanillo Bay to Cabo San Rafael, where operators of small, fragile, and medium-sized vessels are instructed to remain in port due to hazardous wind conditions and turbulent seas. Notably, the Caribbean coast remains exempt from these navigation restrictions at present.

    The COE maintains continuous monitoring of evolving weather patterns and has committed to updating alert levels as conditions develop throughout the ongoing meteorological event.

  • World Sailing Race Management Course delivered in SVG

    World Sailing Race Management Course delivered in SVG

    St. Vincent and the Grenadines has taken a significant stride in developing its maritime sports infrastructure by hosting an official World Sailing Race Management Course – Level 1. The three-day intensive program took place from February 20-22 at the SVG Sailing Association Centre of Excellence, located at the Coconut Grove Beach Club.

    Fifteen enthusiastic participants from junior sailing clubs across Union Island, Bequia, Mayreau, and St. Vincent gathered to enhance their race management capabilities. The course also welcomed three representatives from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority, who participated to gain practical expertise in preparation for the anticipated 2026 SVG Sailing Week, scheduled for March 29 to April 6.

    International sailing experts Becky Ashburn and Jeff Johnson, both renowned Olympic-level race officials from the San Diego Yacht Club, facilitated the training. Ashburn emphasized the critical importance of professional race management, noting: “What stood out here in SVG was the enthusiasm, commitment, and willingness to learn. These participants are building the skills that will allow local clubs and major regattas to be run safely, fairly, and to true international standards.”

    The curriculum blended theoretical classroom instruction with hands-on practical learning aligned with World Sailing’s global standards. Participants engaged with core competencies necessary for confidently managing club-level sailing events. Johnson explained the practical focus: “The goal of Level 1 is to teach officials the skills they can immediately use on the water. By the end of the course, participants understand not just the ‘how’, but the ‘why’ behind race management decisions.”

    This educational initiative represents part of World Sailing’s comprehensive global pathway designed to cultivate skilled race officials from grassroots to national levels. Participants universally praised the program for its practical applicability and international perspective.

    Nancy Saul-Demers from the Mayreau Junior Sailing Club shared: “This course opened my eyes to everything that goes into running a race that reflects World Sailing Association standards. I now feel much more confident in helping deliver regattas that better prepare our young sailors for higher-level competition.”

    Aina Browne of the SVG Tourism Authority highlighted the broader implications: “The training equipped local officials with the technical competencies to strengthen sailing events in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and to support the continued growth of our marine tourism sector.”

  • Record-smashing weekend for Blue Marlins

    Record-smashing weekend for Blue Marlins

    The Blue Marlins Swim Club made an extraordinary impact at the Barbados Aquatic Sports Association’s Long Course National Championships held last weekend, with a five-athlete delegation delivering exceptional performances. The team, comprising Hazen Da Briel, Belle Adams, Caghry Williams, Zane Da Briel, and Raya Adams, demonstrated remarkable competitive prowess throughout the event.

    Hazen Da Briel emerged as a standout performer, securing medals in nearly all his events with a total haul of 11 medals: 5 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze. His achievements were further elevated by breaking two Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Long Course National Records. He completed the 400m Individual Medley in 5 minutes 10.70 seconds and surpassed his own previous record in the 400m freestyle with a time of 4 minutes 29.78 seconds in the boys 15-17 age category.

    Zane Da Briel, Hazen’s younger brother, mirrored this excellence by medaling in every one of his races, collecting six silver medals. The promising swimmer, born in 2017, broke two longstanding national records – the 50m breaststroke with a time of 50.13 seconds (previously held since 2015) and the 50m backstroke record in 46.11 seconds.

    Belle Adams contributed significantly to the team’s success with three bronze medals in the 50m butterfly, 50m breaststroke, and 200m breaststroke events. Williams showcased his competitive edge by claiming gold in the 50m breaststroke and silver in the 100m breaststroke.

    The championships served as a testament to the athletes’ development, with all team members achieving personal best times that highlight their progressive improvement in competitive swimming. The Blue Marlins Swim Club continues its competitive season by participating in the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre Invitational Swimming Championships at Ratho Mill from Thursday through Sunday.

  • Air Europa extends Santo Domingo fuel stop on Havana–Madrid flights

    Air Europa extends Santo Domingo fuel stop on Havana–Madrid flights

    Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – Air Europa has formally prolonged its mandatory technical stopover protocol in Santo Domingo through March 11th for all Madrid-bound flights originating from Havana. This operational adjustment stems directly from Cuba’s deepening aviation fuel scarcity, which has rendered refueling operations at José Martí International Airport increasingly unreliable.

    The airline’s UX052 service, routinely scheduled for a 9:05 PM departure from Havana, now incorporates an essential refueling interruption at Las Américas International Airport (AILA) before commencing its transatlantic segment to Spain. This contingency strategy effectively prevents aircraft from becoming stranded on Cuban tarmacs due to insufficient fuel reserves.

    This development reflects broader systemic challenges within Cuba’s energy infrastructure, with official notifications from Cuban authorities alerting international carriers to critically depleted jet fuel inventories. The operational disruption extends beyond Air Europa, impacting numerous global airlines serving Cuban destinations.

    Multiple carriers including Air Canada, Iberia, Copa Airlines, Viva Aerobus, and Aeroméxico have implemented comparable contingency measures. These range from temporary flight suspensions to strategic refueling at alternative Caribbean hubs or loading supplemental fuel at originating airports.

    The aviation fuel deficit currently affects operational capabilities at nine Cuban international airports, underscoring the severe logistical constraints confronting the nation’s aviation sector amid persistent energy supply instability.