Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • Belize sugar cane harvest and milling season starts

    Belize sugar cane harvest and milling season starts

    BELMOPAN, Belize – The 2026 sugarcane harvest and milling season has officially commenced in Northern Belize, signaling the beginning of what industry leaders project to be a remarkably productive crop year characterized by strengthened collaboration, improved agricultural conditions, and promising output forecasts.

    Prime Minister John Briceño delivered an inspiring address during the season’s inauguration, praising the resilience of sugarcane farmers who persevered through significant challenges including disease outbreaks, labor shortages, climate change impacts, rising operational costs, and scheduling delays. “Rather than retreating in the face of adversity, you demonstrated remarkable entrepreneurship by continuing to plant, maintain, and prepare your fields,” Briceño stated. “Your dedication has sustained families and communities across the region, earning the nation’s gratitude.”

    The season opening ceremony gathered government representatives, members of the Belize Sugarcane Farmers Associations, and milling company executives. Officials reported substantially healthier cane fields, superior harvest quality, and enhanced operational preparedness throughout the industry compared to previous seasons.

    Comprehensive preparatory efforts by farmers, associations, millers, and technical partners have established the foundation for a timely, efficient, and productive harvesting and milling process. These measures include advanced field management protocols, intensified disease surveillance systems, and beneficial weather patterns that have collectively contributed to a more stable and promising agricultural outlook.

    Early performance indicators already demonstrate improved cane quality and a more streamlined initiation of milling operations, suggesting favorable economic outcomes for both agricultural producers and the broader Belizean economy.

    The 2026 crop exemplifies unprecedented coordination across the entire sugarcane value chain, encompassing harvesting, transportation, and milling activities. This integrated approach is expected to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen industry resilience throughout the season.

    As harvesting and milling operations commence, the sugarcane sector begins with renewed confidence, unified purpose, and widespread optimism for achieving a safe, productive, and successful harvest for all stakeholders involved.

    This development follows December’s interim agreement between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and American Sugar Refinery/Belize Sugar Industries Ltd, which facilitated the current season’s launch. Authorities anticipate the season will yield approximately 1.3 million tonnes of sugarcane for processing.

  • Dr Nicole Solomon joins Children’s Life Fund board

    Dr Nicole Solomon joins Children’s Life Fund board

    In a significant development for Trinidad and Tobago’s healthcare sector, Dr. Nicole Solomon, an accomplished consultant paediatric nephrologist at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, has been formally appointed to the board of management of the Children’s Life Fund Authority (CLFA). The appointment was officially confirmed through a press release issued by the authority on January 20.

    Dr. Solomon brings exceptional expertise in paediatric renal care, with specialized knowledge in dialysis and transplantation services for children. Her professional background includes playing a pivotal role in advancing paediatric renal transplantation capabilities within Trinidad and Tobago through her collaborative work with the Transplant Links Community (TLC), an international medical charity.

    Beyond her clinical responsibilities, Dr. Solomon serves as a lecturer in child health at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, further demonstrating her commitment to medical education and knowledge transfer.

    CLFA Chairman Dr. Kevon Dindial expressed enthusiasm about the appointment, stating: “Dr. Solomon’s distinguished career in paediatric nephrology and her profound dedication to improving children’s health outcomes perfectly align with CLFA’s mission and strategic vision. Her compassionate approach and clinical insights will be invaluable as we develop innovative, child-focused solutions for the communities we serve.”

    Echoing this sentiment, CLFA CEO Vernessar Cummings noted: “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Solomon to our board. Her extensive expertise and commitment to public service will significantly enhance our ability to make meaningful impacts across the communities under our care.”

    The current CLFA board composition includes Chairman Dr. Kevon Dindial alongside directors Matthew Allahar, Dianne Baker-Henry, Nabila Greene, Dr. Rajindra Parag, Afeisha Sampson, and Stephanie Toolsie.

  • Dakar delights in Senegal parade honouring AFCON champions

    Dakar delights in Senegal parade honouring AFCON champions

    DAKAR, Senegal — The streets of Senegal’s capital transformed into a sea of national pride on Tuesday as the triumphant national football team embarked on a victory parade following their dramatic Africa Cup of Nations championship victory against Morocco. The Lions of Teranga, carrying their hard-won trophy aboard an open-top bus, navigated through massive crowds of ecstatic supporters that stretched across Dakar’s diverse neighborhoods.

    The celebration commenced in the working-class district of Patte d’Oie, where thousands of fans clad in team jerseys created a cacophony of cheers, vuvuzela blasts, and whistles that echoed throughout the city. The parade route showcased a cross-section of Senegalese society, with citizens of all ages and backgrounds lining highways, scaling buildings, and even perching on billboards to catch a glimpse of their returning heroes.

    This monumental welcome followed the team’s late Monday arrival aboard a special flight from Morocco, where they were greeted at the airport by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. The presidential reception underscored the national significance of Senegal’s second AFCON title, achieved through a contentious 1-0 extra-time victory against the host nation on Sunday.

    The championship match in Rabat had been marred by controversy when Senegalese players temporarily left the pitch in protest of a penalty decision. Team captain Sadio Mane played a crucial peacemaking role in convincing his teammates to return to play, ultimately leading to goalkeeper’s crucial save against Brahim Diaz’s Panenka attempt and Pape Gueye’s spectacular winning goal.

    Despite the Moroccan Football Association’s formal complaints to CAF and FIFA regarding the match’s contentious finish, Senegalese fans remained focused on celebrating their team’s resilience. Street vendor Amath Ndiaye exemplified the tournament’s economic impact, having successfully switched from selling tissues to marketing patriotic merchandise throughout AFCON and its celebratory aftermath.

    The parade culminated with an official presidential palace reception, cementing the Lions of Teranga’s status as national icons who have now reached three finals in the last four AFCON tournaments.

  • First-time farm worker aiming to ‘rise and shine’

    First-time farm worker aiming to ‘rise and shine’

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — A new chapter begins for 24-year-old Andre Hollinzed from Clarendon as he joins the first contingent of Jamaican workers departing for Canada under the longstanding Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP). The ambitious young farmer, speaking with JIS News during a farewell ceremony at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s Overseas Employment Centre, expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to transform his family’s circumstances through international employment.

    Hollinzed credits his agricultural background and his mother’s encouragement as driving forces behind his application. ‘My mom is a farmer, my dad is a farmer, so we all grew up in a farming area,’ he shared. ‘She motivated me to get a farm-work ticket. Now that I got through, it’s my time to rise and shine.’

    The determined participant has prepared meticulously for the Canadian climate, packing ample warm clothing to combat the harsh winter conditions. Beyond physical preparation, Hollinzed carries a deeper motivation: rebuilding his family’s home and livelihood devastated by Hurricane Melissa, which destroyed crops, livestock, and their roof. With four younger brothers depending on him, his aspirations extend beyond immediate earnings to establishing a solid foundation for his family’s future.

    Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr. offered inspirational guidance to the first-time participant, emphasizing the program’s transformative potential. ‘This is not only an opportunity to earn money but to help you restart and rebuild,’ Minister Charles noted. He highlighted the program’s dual benefit as both a skills development initiative and a cultural exchange, urging Hollinzed to maintain exemplary conduct as a Jamaican ambassador.

    The SAWP, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, represents a significant bilateral agreement between Jamaica and Canada that enables temporary agricultural employment while providing Jamaican workers with lawful employment, income security, and exposure to international practices. The 182 workers departing on January 6-7 will spend eight months working on farms across Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, contributing to greenhouse operations and fruit and vegetable cultivation while supporting their families back home.

  • Bermuda announces plans to become world’s first fully onchain national economy

    Bermuda announces plans to become world’s first fully onchain national economy

    BERMUDA LAUNCHES HISTORIC DIGITAL ECONOMY INITIATIVE AT DAVOS

    DAVOS, SWITZERLAND – In a groundbreaking announcement at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, the Bermuda government revealed its ambitious strategy to become the world’s first fully onchain national economy. This transformative initiative is being developed in collaboration with leading digital asset companies Circle and Coinbase, marking a significant milestone in global financial innovation.

    The partnership will leverage Circle and Coinbase’s advanced digital asset infrastructure and enterprise-grade tools to revolutionize Bermuda’s financial ecosystem. The comprehensive rollout will extend to government services, local banking institutions, insurance providers, SMEs, and individual consumers. Additionally, both companies will implement nationwide digital finance education programs and technical onboarding support to ensure seamless adoption.

    According to official government statements, transitioning to an onchain economy represents a fundamental shift toward utilizing digital assets as primary financial infrastructure. This move addresses critical challenges faced by Bermuda’s entrepreneurial economy, where traditional payment systems have proven costly and restrictive. The island’s classification alongside Caribbean jurisdictions has historically resulted in elevated processing fees and compressed merchant margins through conventional banking channels.

    Central to this transformation is the integration of USDC (USD Coin), Circle’s dollar-pegged stablecoin distinct from central bank digital currencies. This technology enables merchants to process rapid, low-cost transactions denominated in US dollars, providing unprecedented efficiency for daily commercial activities.

    Government officials highlighted multiple successful local implementations already demonstrating how onchain digital payments facilitate local transactions, support economic growth, and maintain regulatory compliance through modernized systems.

    This announcement builds upon Bermuda’s established leadership in digital asset regulation, dating back to 2018 when the territory implemented the pioneering Digital Asset Business Act – among the world’s first comprehensive regulatory frameworks for digital assets. Both Circle and Coinbase were early licensees under this legislation and have subsequently expanded operations within Bermuda’s growing digital finance ecosystem.

    The current partnership follows a significant demonstration at the Bermuda Digital Finance Forum 2025, where organizers executed a large-scale USDC airdrop distributing 100 USDC to each attendee for use with newly onboarded merchants. Subsequent developments have seen additional Bermudian businesses embracing digital payments, while local financial institutions have expanded their utilization of stablecoins and tokenized finance solutions.

  • Mathematician Gladys West, whose work helped create GPS, dies at 95

    Mathematician Gladys West, whose work helped create GPS, dies at 95

    The scientific community mourns the passing of Dr. Gladys West, the brilliant mathematician whose foundational work enabled the development of global positioning systems (GPS), at age 95. While her name remained obscure beyond academic circles for most of her career, West’s computational innovations ultimately revolutionized countless aspects of contemporary life—from navigation and aviation to emergency response systems and global communications.

    Born in 1930 in rural Virginia during the era of racial segregation, West demonstrated exceptional academic prowess from an early age. She earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics from Virginia State College (now Virginia State University) before joining the U.S. Navy’s research center in Dahlgren, Virginia, in 1956. She would dedicate the next 42 years of her professional life to what is now known as the Naval Surface Warfare Center.

    Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, West pioneered sophisticated mathematical models that utilized satellite data to precisely calculate the Earth’s geoid shape. Her groundbreaking work in satellite geodesy provided the essential mathematical framework that would later become the cornerstone of GPS technology. Despite retiring in 1998 after over four decades of service, her contributions remained largely unrecognized—a pattern all too common for women and people of color in STEM fields.

    Public recognition finally arrived in 2018 after West submitted a career summary for a sorority event, triggering widespread media coverage and institutional acknowledgments. These included her induction into the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame and the Female Alumna of the Year honor from the HBCU Awards. In a poignant 2020 interview with The Guardian, West revealed that despite her instrumental role in creating GPS technology, she personally favored paper maps during her travels—a testament to her generation’s traditions and her humble character.

  • Time to stop ‘flattering’ Trump — ex-NATO chief on Greenland crisis

    Time to stop ‘flattering’ Trump — ex-NATO chief on Greenland crisis

    BRUSSELS, Belgium — The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is confronting its most severe existential challenge in history due to President Donald Trump’s territorial aspirations toward Greenland, according to former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. In an exclusive interview with AFP at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the former alliance leader declared that diplomatic appeasement of the American president must immediately cease.

    Rasmussen, who served as NATO’s chief from 2009 to 2014 following his tenure as Danish Prime Minister, characterized the situation as not merely an institutional crisis but a fundamental threat to the entire transatlantic partnership and the post-World War II international order. “The future of NATO and the global governance framework hang in the balance,” Rasmussen asserted during the Tuesday briefing.

    The seasoned statesman urged current NATO leadership, including Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European counterparts to adopt a more assertive stance toward the White House following Trump’s tariff threats and unconventional territorial proposals. “Strategic recalibration is imperative—Trump exclusively respects demonstrated strength and consolidated unity,” Rasmussen emphasized. “European nations must collectively exhibit these qualities. The era of diplomatic flattery has conclusively ended.”

    Rasmussen’s stark assessment emerged as European diplomats, including Rutte, prepared for high-stakes negotiations with Trump during the Davos summit, aiming to de-escalate tensions surrounding the Arctic territory. While acknowledging that the current crisis remains potentially resolvable, Rasmussen warned that Trump’s actions have already precipitated a psychological schism between Washington and its traditional European allies—a development that strategically advantages Russia and China.

    “This geopolitical confrontation fundamentally differs from all previous disputes within NATO’s history,” Rasmussen observed. He issued a grave warning that any U.S. military action against Greenland would effectively terminate the alliance’s existence.

    The former Danish leader criticized Trump’s Greenland fascination as a “tactical diversion weapon” distracting from Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine. “While media focus remains fixed on Greenland—which presents no genuine threat to North Atlantic security—Moscow’s continued attacks against Ukraine constitute the actual danger requiring sustained international attention,” he noted.

    Rasmussen proposed potential diplomatic compromises, including modernizing the 1951 U.S.-Denmark defense agreement governing military deployments, facilitating American commercial access to Greenland’s mineral resources, and establishing joint exclusion of Russian and Chinese interests from the territory. However, he unequivocally rejected any territorial concession: “Greenland remains categorically unavailable for purchase. As an experienced real estate professional, the president should recognize that unavailable properties cannot be acquired.”

  • Willie Stewart hails ‘Cat’ Coore as musical genius

    Willie Stewart hails ‘Cat’ Coore as musical genius

    The music community is paying tribute to Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore, the visionary guitarist and co-founder of legendary reggae band Third World, who passed away in Kingston on June 18 at age 69. Former bandmate Willie Stewart, who drummed with Third World for over two decades, has characterized Coore as “a musical genius like no other” whose innovative approach fundamentally transformed reggae music.

    Coore established Third World in 1973 alongside keyboardist Ibo Cooper following their departure from Inner Circle. Together with Stewart, percussionist Irvin ‘Carrot’ Jarrett, lead singer Bunny Rugs, and bassist Richie Daley, they formed the classic lineup that produced iconic hits including ‘Now That We Found Love,’ ‘Try Jah Love,’ and ‘Always Around.’ Stewart and Daley remain the sole surviving members of this seminal configuration.

    Stewart reflected on their enduring connection that began during their school years at Wolmer’s Boys’ High School and Priory. “Cat was in Alley Cats in Barbican, while I was in Visions in Liguanea and Ibo was in Riddims in Mona,” Stewart recounted. Their collective journey through Inner Circle eventually culminated in Third World’s formation—a band that would boldly fuse reggae with pop and funk elements, ultimately bringing Jamaican music to international prominence.

    Third World’s distinctive sound—blending reggae, rock, funk, and R&B while drawing inspiration from acts like The Wailers, Santana, and Earth, Wind & Fire—captured the attention of music legends including Stevie Wonder, who collaborated on writing ‘Try Jah Love.’

    Stewart fondly recalled their final performances together at the 2023 Rhythms of Africa show and later at Ibo Cooper’s memorial celebration. “Even after all the years, the music was still magical. Same vibration. Same spirit. Same fire. Same love,” he expressed.

    In his emotional tribute, Stewart extended condolences to Coore’s wife, children Shiah, Kanna, Stephen, and Ashley, and all who cherished him. “Cat has now crossed over and joined our other founding brothers, Ibo, Carrot and Bunny Rugs, who have gone into the Dreamland we played and sang about so many years ago,” Stewart stated. “His work will never die. His impact can never be overshadowed. He lives on through his music, through his children, and forever set in the culture of Jamaica as a Reggae Ambassador for life.”

  • Immigration trainee fired over bribery voice notes

    Immigration trainee fired over bribery voice notes

    The Bahamas Department of Immigration has terminated Trainee Immigration Officer Alex K Riley following the circulation of compromising voice recordings that allegedly capture solicitation of bribes. Director of Immigration Stephen Laroda issued an immediate dismissal notice dated January 16, severing all employment ties with the officer.

    The disciplinary action follows the emergence of viral audio content featuring an unidentified male voice making explicit demands for monetary compensation. While authorities haven’t officially confirmed the voice belongs to an immigration officer, the recordings contain specific threats regarding intensified enforcement activities against Haitian nationals if financial demands remain unmet.

    In the controversial recordings, the voice states: ‘Now you going down to 150. Alex, by tomorrow let that whole 500 be there. I saved your life. Don’t make it hard for Haitians around there.’ The speaker further implies protection from immigration raids while warning that non-compliance would trigger increased enforcement presence.

    An immigration representative confirmed to The Tribune that the dismissal resulted from an investigation, though the exact nature of the probe—whether internal or involving law enforcement—remains unclear. This incident occurs amid heightened scrutiny of alleged misconduct within Bahamian law enforcement agencies, following a separate investigation into police officers allegedly soliciting bribes from tourists during traffic stops.

  • Leon Bailey back at Villa, recalled from loan at Roma

    Leon Bailey back at Villa, recalled from loan at Roma

    Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey is cutting short his loan spell with Italian Serie A club AS Roma and returning to England, according to confirmation from his agent and manager Craig Butler to the Jamaica Observer. The 28-year-old Jamaican international’s temporary move to Italy has been significantly hampered by persistent injury issues, prompting a strategic decision for his return to Premier League action.

    Butler disclosed that comprehensive discussions involving Aston Villa’s management, head coach Unai Emery, and the player himself culminated in the mutual agreement. ‘Leon maintains that reuniting with the club where he has established profound mutual respect and demonstrated exceptional performances represents the optimal path forward,’ Butler stated, emphasizing the existing successful relationship between player and club.

    While expressing gratitude towards AS Roma for the opportunity, Butler indicated a philosophical misalignment contributed to the premature termination. ‘We assessed the Roma opportunity, but concluded the tactical philosophy wasn’t the ideal fit at this juncture. We remain appreciative of the club and eagerly anticipate Leon’s positive resurgence in the Premier League, where he can delight his dedicated supporters at Aston Villa,’ he added.

    The return coincides with a critical phase in Villa’s season, as the club mounts a serious title challenge. Currently positioned third in the Premier League table with 43 points, just seven adrift of leaders Arsenal, Bailey’s comeback provides a significant boost to Unai Emery’s attacking arsenal. The Jamaican forward, who has netted 24 times in 144 appearances for Villa, recently committed his long-term future to the club by signing a contract extension in 2024 that will keep him at Villa Park until 2027. On the international stage, Bailey has scored 7 goals in 39 caps for the Reggae Boyz.