Carib Scope

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  • New Departure Fee Coming to Belize’s Municipal Airports

    New Departure Fee Coming to Belize’s Municipal Airports

    Starting in the near future, both local residents and international travelers flying out of Belize’s municipal airports will face an additional new cost for their trips, after the national Cabinet gave formal approval to a $10 aviation security fee that will apply to every departing passenger. This policy change, outlined in an official Cabinet briefing released this week, is framed as a necessary step to bring Belize’s municipal airport security protocols in line with global modern standards.

    As the national body tasked with overseeing the safety, security and operational efficiency of all civil aviation activities across Belize, the Belize Airports Authority will oversee the security upgrades the new fee will fund. Cabinet’s briefing notes that global aviation security requirements have shifted dramatically in recent years, driven by rising transnational security threats, rapid advancements in passenger and baggage screening technology, and more stringent international compliance mandates that all nations must meet to maintain safe air travel networks.

    All revenue generated from the new $10 fee will be allocated specifically to closing the gap between Belize’s current security infrastructure and modern requirements. Government officials confirmed that the funding will go toward expanding and upgrading screening procedures, as well as supporting a slate of broader modernization projects aimed at reinforcing security infrastructure at municipal airports across the country.

    Notably, the new fee only applies to passengers departing from municipal airports, and is separate from the existing international departure tax already collected from travelers leaving the country via Philip Goldson International Airport.

    The push to strengthen Belize’s aviation security framework comes one year after one of the most high-stakes aviation incidents in the country’s recent history: the Holy Thursday hijacking of a Tropic Air commercial flight traveling from Corozal to San Pedro. During that incident, an armed passenger attacked the flight crew mid-flight and demanded the aircraft be diverted to the United States. Pilot Howell Grange, who sustained multiple stab wounds during the confrontation, successfully maintained control of the plane and navigated it to a safe landing. The widely reported incident fundamentally shifted the Belizean aviation sector’s approach to pre-flight security and passenger screening, prompting the urgent push for infrastructure upgrades that the new fee will fund.

  • Vrouwelijke DNA-leden hervatten werk en eisen strengere gedragsregels na uitlating Van Samson

    Vrouwelijke DNA-leden hervatten werk en eisen strengere gedragsregels na uitlating Van Samson

    On August 6, female members of coalition caucuses in Suriname’s National Assembly announced they would return to their official parliamentary duties, but maintained their public protest against controversial, misogynistic remarks made by ruling VHP parliamentarian Cedric van Samson. Leading the group of protesting lawmakers, Rossellie Cotino of the opposition NDP delivered a formal letter to National Assembly Speaker Ashwin Adhin, calling for tightened parliamentary ethics rules and enforceable measures to combat gender-based discrimination within the legislature.

    The protest first erupted on July 30, when all female lawmakers walked out of the assembly chamber in response to comments van Samson made during a radio interview regarding women in leadership roles. At the time, the lawmakers left the chamber to pressure van Samson to retract his statements and issue a formal public apology. Cotino emphasized that the group is demanding accountability for discriminatory, anti-women rhetoric that has damaged public perception of and trust in women’s political leadership. “We will not back down from this demand, because these comments harm not just sitting female lawmakers, but all women seeking to lead in our country,” Cotino stated in her address to the assembly.

    Cotino expressed clear disappointment that van Samson has refused to issue an apology to date, even after widespread calls for accountability from national women’s rights organizations and other public groups. She also noted that while the VHP, van Samson’s own party, has publicly stated his comments are out of step with modern values, the party has not pushed its member to issue a formal apology.

    The formal letter delivered to Speaker Adhin outlines four core demands from the protesting female lawmakers. First, the letter labels van Samson’s comments discriminatory, offensive, and fundamentally anti-women. It calls on the National Assembly to implement formal policy to prevent gender discrimination, adopt stricter ethical and professional conduct standards for all elected representatives, update the body’s standing orders of procedure to codify these protections, and enforce the equal treatment guarantees enshrined in Article 8 of Suriname’s constitution. In addition to these domestic steps, Cotino announced the group will soon contact the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the global intergovernmental body that promotes parliamentary integrity, gender equality, and standardized ethical codes for legislatures worldwide. “We are returning to the work we were elected to do, but we will never allow anyone to undermine women’s ambitions or their right to hold leadership positions,” Cotino added.

    Responding to the protest, VHP caucus leader Asis Gajadien reiterated that his party publicly supports equal gender representation and women’s political rights, but argued that the body must avoid setting a constitutional precedent for penalizing statements made by lawmakers outside of official parliamentary proceedings. Gajadien called on the assembly leadership to handle the matter with extreme caution to avoid unintended institutional consequences.

    Speaker Adhin responded that all sitting assembly members retain the constitutional right to raise social and political issues in the chamber, citing Article 54 of Suriname’s constitution, which protects freedom of discussion and criticism within state institutions.

    The protesting female lawmakers have received cross-partisan support from multiple caucuses in the assembly. Ronny Asabina, the sole representative of the BEP party, expressed full solidarity with the group, describing van Samson’s comments as “unfit” and “unbecoming of an elected parliamentarian.” NDP caucus leader Rabin Parmessar commended the female lawmakers for choosing to resume their parliamentary duties after making their protest clear, reaffirming that Suriname’s constitutional principle prohibits all forms of discrimination, including gender discrimination. Steven Reyme of the A20 party also backed the female lawmakers’ position, noting he was raised by a single mother and highlighting that women have held critical leadership roles throughout religious history, from a Biblical perspective.

  • Dominica to establish creative economy development agency

    Dominica to establish creative economy development agency

    The Commonwealth of Dominica is set to establish a specialized government body to coordinate support for its growing creative industry, a move that marks a key milestone in the island nation’s broader economic diversification push. Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre first unveiled plans for the Dominica Creative Economy Development Agency (DCEDA) during his official presentation of the 2026/2027 national budget, confirming the initiative’s place as a core priority for the current administration.

    For years, Dominica’s economic landscape has been heavily tied to traditional sectors such as agriculture and tourism, leaving the country exposed to sudden external shocks ranging from global tourism downturns to climate-related agricultural disruptions. The new DCEDA initiative reflects a growing policy recognition that the nation’s rich pool of creative talent—from local musicians, visual artists and filmmakers to product designers and other cultural workers—holds untapped commercial value that can drive long-term, resilient growth.

    “To further harness the creative talent of our people, the Government has decided to establish Dominica’s Creative Economy Development Agency,” Dr. McIntyre stated in his budget address. In the months ahead, the government will launch a broad consultation process to gather input from creators, cultural practitioners, event organizers and other key stakeholders across the sector. Administration officials emphasized that this inclusive feedback process is critical to ensuring the final structural framework of the agency aligns with the actual on-the-ground needs and long-term professional ambitions of the people it will serve.

    Once established, the DCEDA will centralize and streamline government support for creative professionals, filling gaps in coordination that have historically limited the sector’s growth. This policy move forms a core component of the government’s wider economic diversification strategy, which aims to generate new sustainable streams of income and employment for Dominicans while reducing the national economy’s sensitivity to volatile global market shifts. By investing in the creative sector, the government hopes to build a more balanced, resilient economy that leverages Dominica’s unique cultural identity as a competitive economic asset.

  • NOAA Revises Atlantic Hurricane Outlook, Still Expects Below-Normal Season

    NOAA Revises Atlantic Hurricane Outlook, Still Expects Below-Normal Season

    As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season heads toward its climatological peak in early September, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reaffirmed its initial projection that the region will see substantially below-normal cyclone activity. The updated outlook, published Thursday, points to a rapidly strengthening El Niño event as the dominant factor suppressing storm formation and growth across the Atlantic basin.

    Per NOAA’s revised prediction, the entire Atlantic will see between seven and 13 named storms total, counting the two systems that have already formed through the current stage of the season. Of these projected storms, two to six are expected to strengthen into full hurricanes, and just zero to two are forecast to reach major hurricane status – the classification reserved for systems with sustained wind speeds of 111 mph (178 km/h) or greater, ranking Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

    The agency puts the probability of the season ending below the long-term average at 75%, with just a 20% chance of near-normal activity and a mere 5% chance of activity exceeding average levels. This updated outlook shows almost no shift from NOAA’s initial seasonal forecast released back in May, reflecting the consistent trajectory of climate conditions shaping the season.

    To put the projections in context, an average Atlantic hurricane season typically generates 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes. Through the first half of the 2026 season, only two named storms – Tropical Storm Arthur and Tropical Storm Bertha – have formed, and neither gained enough strength to reach hurricane status. Both systems originated in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall in Louisiana, bringing heavy downpours to the Gulf Coast; Arthur also spawned multiple tornadoes across the region during its passage.

    Ken Graham, director of NOAA’s National Weather Service, stressed that storm strength measured by wind speed does not capture the full scope of potential harm from tropical systems. “Inland rainfall is a major cause of damage from tropical storms and hurricanes, as Arthur demonstrated,” Graham noted. “That’s why it’s important to prepare for every storm that’s projected to impact your area, even if it never reaches hurricane strength.”

    Forecasters confirm that the primary force limiting Atlantic storm activity this year is the strengthening El Niño, which first developed in the equatorial Pacific back in June. El Niño alters global wind patterns to increase vertical wind shear across the entire Atlantic basin – a condition that tears apart developing tropical systems before they can organize and intensify, sharply reducing the overall number of storms that form.

    Matt Rosencrans, NOAA’s lead seasonal hurricane forecaster, explained that El Niño has solidified its role as the overriding climate influence for the 2026 Atlantic season. “When El Niño emerges, it usually becomes the dominant factor in total hurricane season activity, and this El Niño continues to get stronger every month,” Rosencrans said. “Compared to a mature El Niño, other mechanisms play a smaller role in determining the number and intensity of tropical storms in the Atlantic basin.”

    Two secondary climate factors are also factored into the outlook: near-average sea surface temperatures across the Atlantic and a neutral West African monsoon. Forecasters note both will have far less impact on overall seasonal activity than the strengthening El Niño event.

    While the Atlantic is set for a quieter than usual season, El Niño has the opposite effect on Pacific hurricane activity, pushing both the Eastern and Central Pacific basins toward above-average seasons this year. NOAA continues to project 15 to 22 named storms for the Eastern Pacific, where seven named storms – including two hurricanes and one major hurricane – have already formed, matching the above-average trajectory the agency initially predicted.

    NOAA underlines one critical caveat to its seasonal outlook: the broad projection of total storm activity does not include predictions for where any individual storm will make landfall. Landfall location is determined by short-term atmospheric patterns that can only be reliably forecast roughly one week in advance, the agency notes. The U.S. National Hurricane Center continues to issue regular, updated forecasts, watches and warnings for all active tropical systems to keep at-risk coastal communities informed.

  • Reminder: Queen Conch Closed Season Remains in Effect Until August 31

    Reminder: Queen Conch Closed Season Remains in Effect Until August 31

    ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – As the 2026 annual queen conch closed season enters its second month, local authorities and environmental conservation groups have reissued a public reminder to all residents, commercial fishers, and businesses across the twin-island nation that harvesting, trading, or holding queen conch remains illegal through August 31.

    This seasonal regulatory closure, which runs from July 1 to August 31 each year, aligns with the species’ critical annual breeding cycle. The pause in human harvesting activity gives queen conch populations unimpeded space to mate and reproduce, laying the groundwork for more robust population growth in the coming years. As one of Antigua and Barbuda’s most ecologically and economically valuable marine resources, long-term protection of queen conch is tied directly to the sustainability of the local fishing industry and the health of the nation’s coastal marine ecosystems.

    The Environmental Awareness Group (EAG), a leading local environmental advocacy organization, has emphasized that widespread public compliance with the closure rule is essential to preserving the species for future generations. Environmental advocates have called on community members to not only adhere to the regulations themselves but also remain vigilant for any suspicious activity related to the protected conch.

    Any member of the public who suspects illegal harvesting, sale, or possession of queen conch during the closed season is instructed to report the activity immediately to the national Fisheries Division via the dedicated contact line at 462-1372, enabling rapid enforcement of conservation rules.

  • Additional EC$19 million coming for Dominica’s small businesses, say officials

    Additional EC$19 million coming for Dominica’s small businesses, say officials

    Dominica’s government is expanding its successful micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) financing initiative, adding an additional EC$19 million in low-interest concessionary funding that will become accessible to local entrepreneurs starting this December. The announcement was made by Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre during his presentation of the 2026-2027 National Budget to Parliament this Tuesday.

    Under the expanded programme, the additional capital will be channeled through the AID Bank, which will manage direct lending to eligible MSMEs across the country. Dr. McIntyre outlined that the loan terms have been intentionally crafted to reduce financial strain for growing and emerging businesses: borrowers will pay a fixed 3.5 percent interest rate calculated on a reducing balance, with repayment windows stretching up to 10 years and a six-month grace period that covers both principal and interest payments.

    “These terms are designed to protect cash flow when a business is most vulnerable: during start-up or expansion,” Dr. McIntyre told lawmakers, emphasizing that the flexible structure addresses the unique financial challenges new and growing businesses face in their early stages.

    This new injection of funding builds on the success of the initial EC$27.8 million MSME Loan Facility, which supported 554 local businesses before all allocated funds were fully committed by March 31, 2026. Beneficiaries of the first round of funding spanned a wide range of key Dominican economic sectors, including agriculture, tourism, transportation, manufacturing, and various service industries.

    Dr. McIntyre noted that the rapid full uptake of the first programme’s funding sends a clear signal: local entrepreneurs are eager and ready to scale their operations when affordable, accessible financing is made available to them. He added that the Dominican government positions MSMEs as a foundational pillar of the national economy, critical to both boosting employment rates and advancing long-term economic diversification.

    “These businesses are not on the margins of the economy,” McIntyre said. “They are often where Dominicans earn their first wage, develop an idea, and build a livelihood.”

  • Chinese ambassador donates $20,000 to Parks Authority

    Chinese ambassador donates $20,000 to Parks Authority

    In a bilateral engagement aimed at strengthening community-focused cooperation between China and The Bahamas, Chinese Ambassador Yan Jiarong has contributed $20,000 to the Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority. The donation ceremony took place Wednesday during the ambassador’s official visit to the authority’s dual headquarters located on Gladstone Road and Fire Trail Road West.

    Before the formal handover, Ambassador Yan held in-depth talks with the authority’s executive leadership team and Board of Directors. The closed-door discussion centered on issues of shared interest, touching on potential areas of future collaboration related to public space preservation and cross-national cultural exchanges centered around Bahamian natural public assets. Following the meeting, both sides held a public press briefing to communicate the purpose and details of the donation to local media. At the close of the briefing, Ambassador Yan and Executive Chairman Jamahl Strachan formally completed the gift exchange.

    The seven-figure contribution (in Bahamian currency terms) is earmarked specifically to advance the authority’s core mandate: the ongoing upkeep, expansion, and improvement of public parks and beach spaces scattered across the entire archipelago of The Bahamas. These public spaces serve as critical recreational and cultural hubs for local residents, and form a core pillar of the country’s $3 billion a year tourism industry, which attracts millions of international visitors annually.

  • Santiago tourism cluster supports construction of Amber Tourist Highway

    Santiago tourism cluster supports construction of Amber Tourist Highway

    In the northern Dominican city of Santiago de los Caballeros, the leading regional tourism industry coalition has thrown its full support behind a proposed infrastructure project that promises to reshape travel and economic activity across two of the nation’s most popular tourism hubs. The Santiago Tourist Destination Cluster has publicly endorsed the development of the Amber Tourist Highway, arguing that the new roadway will fill critical gaps in regional connectivity between the provinces of Santiago and Puerto Plata, unlocking shared economic and tourism growth for both areas. Brenda Sánchez, president of the cluster, which represents a broad cross-section of local tourism-related businesses and stakeholders, framed the highway initiative as a transformative opportunity for the Dominican Republic’s northern tourism corridor. She emphasized that the project will make it far easier to cultivate multi-destination travel, a strategy that encourages visitors to extend their stays and explore more of the country rather than limiting their trips to a single location. Improved road links will also streamline travel for both domestic tourists traveling within the Dominican Republic and international visitors arriving from overseas, removing common logistical barriers that currently discourage cross-province travel. Beyond improving convenience for travelers, Sánchez noted that the highway will deepen the collaborative relationship between Santiago and Puerto Plata, two core pillars of the Dominican Republic’s $7 billion annual tourism industry. The interconnected nature of the new route will allow the two destinations to complement one another: visitors can explore the cultural and historic attractions of inland Santiago, then easily travel to the coastal resort hubs of Puerto Plata for beach getaways, creating a more well-rounded vacation experience. Sánchez added that this enhanced connectivity will also boost the region’s overall global competitiveness as a tourism destination. A more integrated, accessible corridor is likely to draw higher levels of foreign and domestic private investment into hotels, restaurants, adventure tourism operations, and other tourism-related businesses, creating new jobs and expanding tax revenues for local governments. For existing businesses across the sector, from small family-owned guest houses to large international resort chains, the improved infrastructure will translate to higher customer volumes and stronger revenue streams. In closing, the Santiago Tourist Destination Cluster reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to supporting strategic infrastructure projects that align with the goal of sustainable, inclusive tourism growth. The organization stressed that investments that improve regional mobility, expand access to tourism assets, and strengthen collaboration between complementary destinations are key to ensuring the long-term resilience and prosperity of the Dominican Republic’s tourism economy, which accounts for roughly 15% of the nation’s total GDP.

  • Dominican Agriculture Ministry and Indomet partner to strengthen climate resilience

    Dominican Agriculture Ministry and Indomet partner to strengthen climate resilience

    In a landmark step to address growing climate volatility in the agricultural sector, the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Agriculture and the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet) have formalized a new collaborative agreement focused on upgrading the nation’s climate risk management systems. The deal was signed in Santo Domingo by Agriculture Minister Francisco Oliverio Espaillat Bencosme and Indomet Director Gloria Ceballos, marking a coordinated effort to merge specialized climate and water data with day-to-day agricultural planning across the country.

    At its core, the partnership is designed to bridge the gap between scientific meteorological research and on-the-ground agricultural practice, enabling small-scale and large-scale producers alike to make more informed decisions that account for shifting weather patterns. Unlike past disconnected initiatives, this agreement institutionalizes data sharing between the two agencies, putting climate expertise directly in the hands of the farming communities that need it most.

    One of the most significant components of the new agreement is the planned expansion of the Agroclimatic Roundtables, regular collaborative forums that bring together a cross-sector group of stakeholders: professional meteorologists, leading agricultural scientists, local agricultural extension agents, and working farmers. At these roundtables, participants walk through the latest long and short-term weather forecasts, evaluate how projected conditions—from extended dry spells to unexpected heavy downpours—will impact local crops, and co-develop customized farming guidance tailored to the unique ecological and agricultural conditions of each Dominican region.

    Beyond expanding the roundtable program, the initiative includes a suite of complementary activities to embed climate adaptation across the sector. These include the regular publication of specialized agroclimatic bulletins that distill complex climate data into accessible, actionable updates for producers, ongoing hands-on training programs for both working farmers and agricultural technical staff, and sustained cross-agency exchange of the latest technical and scientific research related to climate and agriculture. The partnership will also provide active support for the development and implementation of public policies that prioritize building long-term resilience in the Dominican agricultural sector.

    Government and agency leaders emphasized that the agreement fills a critical gap in the nation’s approach to climate and agriculture. By helping farmers anticipate and prepare for climate-related events such as severe droughts, intense tropical rainfall, and record high temperatures, the partnership is expected to cut widespread crop and income losses that have hit Dominican farming communities in recent years. Beyond reducing immediate risk, officials noted, the initiative will strengthen the nation’s overall food security and encourage the adoption of more environmentally sustainable farming practices that align with long-term climate adaptation goals.

  • Abinader arrives in Colombia for presidential inauguration

    Abinader arrives in Colombia for presidential inauguration

    On a Friday morning marked by diplomatic protocol, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader touched down in the Colombian city of Cali, beginning a one-day official visit to attend the swearing-in ceremony of incoming Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella.

    After his aircraft arrived at Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport, Abinader was greeted by a welcoming party that included Félix Aracena, the Dominican Republic’s ambassador to Colombia, senior Colombian protocol officers, and ranking civil and military representatives from the host nation. The visit opened with formal military honors, a standard diplomatic gesture for visiting heads of state.

    Accompanying President Abinader on the trip is Roberto Álvarez, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. The visit was arranged in response to an official invitation extended to the Dominican government, a step that highlights the longstanding diplomatic bonds and collaborative partnership between the Caribbean nation and the South American country.

    Before the inauguration ceremony gets underway at the USC Arena, located on the campus of Santiago de Cali University, Abinader has a packed schedule of bilateral engagements with other visiting heads of state and high-level government officials from across the region. He is also slated to attend an official welcome reception hosted by President-elect de la Espriella and his spouse, Ana Lucía Pineda.

    Once the swearing-in ceremony concludes, President Abinader and the entire Dominican delegation are scheduled to depart Colombia and return to the Dominican Republic by the end of the same day, wrapping up the quick diplomatic mission.