Carib Scope

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  • Climate Forum Wraps with Warning of Less Rain

    Climate Forum Wraps with Warning of Less Rain

    After three days of collaborative data analysis and cross-border discussion, the annual regional Climate and Hydrological Forum drew to a close on April 23, 2026, in Belize City, with a stark forecast that has put agricultural stakeholders and climate planners on alert across Central America.

    The forum, a rotating event hosted by member countries across the region, brings together hydrologists, climate scientists, policy leaders and agricultural extension officers to align on seasonal weather projections and share adaptive strategies for a shifting climate. This year’s gathering centered on one high-stakes question: what conditions can the region expect between May and July, a critical window for crop planting and growth?

    Climate experts at the event confirmed a major transition in global ocean-atmosphere patterns: the cooling La Niña phenomenon that dominated recent years is now retreating, giving way to the warming El Niño. The shift is projected to bring significantly drier conditions and below-average cumulative rainfall across Belize and much of Central America through the core growing months. Unusually widespread rainfall across Belize in early April already served as an early indicator of this unexpected climate shift, a deviation from historical patterns that experts say signals the growing volatility of regional weather.

    Orlando Habet, Belize’s Minister of Sustainable Development, emphasized the unique value of the annual collaborative forum ahead of this projected shift. “This gathering has been held for decades across different Central American nations, and its impact goes far beyond just sharing climate data,” Habet explained in closing remarks. “By pooling observations and technical experiences, and integrating new advances in forecasting technology, we can build more robust, region-wide early warning systems that benefit every sector, from disaster management to food production.”

    Habet added that the advance projection of El Niño-driven dry conditions is particularly critical for hurricane preparedness and protecting national food security. Early forecasts let agricultural communities time their planting decisions appropriately, while disaster response agencies can activate readiness protocols ahead of an active storm season, he noted.

    For Belize’s agricultural community, which anchors a large share of the national economy and supports rural livelihoods, the forecast is more than a climate update—it is a make-or-break guide for planting decisions that will shape harvest outcomes and food supplies for the year. May through July marks the traditional start of the main planting season, when farmers prepare fields and sow crops in anticipation of seasonal rains. A prolonged dry spell immediately after planting would leave young seedlings without sufficient moisture, likely leading to widespread crop failure.

    Andrew Mejia, Director of Extension at Belize’s Ministry of Agriculture, explained that the national government is already moving to support farmers in adapting to the projected dry conditions. “Accurate long-range forecasting is the foundation of agricultural resilience,” Mejia said. “It lets us guide farmers on when to plant, when to hold off, and what adjustments to make to protect their crops and their livelihoods. With this forecast calling for below-average rain across May, June, and July, we are urging caution to avoid devastating losses from post-planting drought.”

    To support preparedness, the Ministry of Agriculture has partnered with the World Food Program and Belize’s National Meteorological Service to roll out “Anticipatory Action”, a targeted support project designed to help smallholder farmers mitigate drought-related risks. Mejia noted that forecasting accuracy from the national meteorological service has improved steadily over the past decade, giving policymakers and farmers greater confidence in planning around the three-month projection. The consensus takeaway for producers across the country is straightforward: hold off on early planting, monitor weekly conditions closely, and adjust plans to account for the drier outlook.

    As climate change continues to amplify the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events across Central America, regional collaborative forums like this one have grown in importance, helping nations align on projections and share adaptive strategies to protect vulnerable communities and food systems.

  • Gonsalves opposes motion on national dev’t bank

    Gonsalves opposes motion on national dev’t bank

    A heated parliamentary debate has emerged in St. Vincent and the Grenadines over the New Democratic Party-led government’s plan to establish a new national development bank, a proposal that is drawing sharp pushback from the country’s newly ousted former prime minister. Opposition leader Ralph Gonsalves, whose Unity Labour Party exited power last November after holding office for 25 years, has publicly rejected the motion introduced by government senator Chelsea Alexander, calling for a full rethink of the initiative on the floor of parliament.

    In introducing the proposal, Alexander framed the new national development bank as a core pillar of the NDP government’s agenda to restructure national economic institutions to remove long-standing barriers to inclusive growth. She emphasized that the bank would address a critical gap in the country’s financial ecosystem: young entrepreneurs and innovators operating in emerging industries are frequently locked out of traditional commercial lending, leaving promising small businesses unable to get off the ground. By offering specialized, flexible financing tailored to these groups, the new bank would bridge this capital gap, Alexander argued. Beyond funding, she positioned the institution as an open invitation for young Vincentians to challenge conventional economic thinking, embrace innovation and entrepreneurship, and reimagine the country’s traditional industries for the modern era.

    But Gonsalves, who served as finance minister for 16 years during his administration, drew on decades of institutional history in SVG to argue that the current proposal is unnecessary and poorly conceived. He outlined a long history of failed development banking attempts in the country, dating back to a 2000 initiative launched by the then-NDP administration. That effort saw all assets — including a large portfolio of non-performing loans — from the 1960s-era Development Corporation transferred to a new development bank capitalized at just EC$5 million. Gonsalves noted that the bad loans far outstripped the new bank’s capital base, leaving the institution insolvent from its launch, a stillborn project that never delivered on its promises.

    When Gonsalves’ Unity Labour Party took office in 2001, the government inherited two insolvent state financial institutions: the failed development bank and the National Commercial Bank (NCB). To resolve the crisis, the ULP restructured the sector: viable development bank loans were transferred to NCB, a special entity was created to manage non-performing assets, and a network of targeted, sector-specific financing institutions was built to replace the failed single development bank model. When the majority stake in NCB was later sold to the Bank of Saint Lucia, the new ownership phased out the micro-enterprise lending program, prompting the ULP to expand the targeted network instead of reestablishing a central development bank.

    Today, that existing ecosystem includes the Student Loan Company, the Farmer Support Company launched in 2014 with EC$5 million in seed capital, and PRYME — the Promoting Youth Micro-Enterprises initiative that offers grants up to EC$40,000 to young founders. It also includes the ULP’s widely accessed 100% mortgage program for public servants. Gonsalves argued that this distributed, fit-for-purpose network already serves all the functions the proposed national development bank claims to fill, across every key sector from agriculture and education to housing and creative industries.

    He further warned that creating a new, standalone national development bank would carry unnecessary administrative costs, and could even force the government to shutter the successful existing targeted institutions to fund the new bank. Gonsalves also raised critical questions about capitalization, pointing out that a development bank cannot operate without secure, low-cost source of capital to offer concessional lending while covering operating costs and expected non-performing loans. He noted that Alexander has not outlined a clear plan for securing this low-cost funding, calling a bank without sufficient capital a logical contradiction.

    Responding to the government’s reference to successful development banks in other regional Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) nations, Gonsalves argued that SVG’s existing institutional landscape already meets the country’s needs, and that existing commercial banks already actively seek bankable projects across all the sectors the proposal names. He also pushed back on the NDP’s framing of the bank as a key campaign promise, noting that campaign pledges are often framed broadly, but governing requires practical, grounded policy that works within the country’s actual economic context. Gonsalves clarified that he supports the government’s broad goals of inclusive economic development and supporting small and medium enterprises, but cannot endorse the proposal in its current form.

    The parliamentary debate on the motion was not completed before the statutory 5 p.m. deadline for private members’ business, and will resume at a future sitting of parliament.

  • PM rejects claim his MPs embarrassing him in Parliament (+video)

    PM rejects claim his MPs embarrassing him in Parliament (+video)

    A sharp political exchange has unfolded in St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ House of Assembly, where Prime Minister Godwin Friday has forcefully pushed back against allegations from Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves that unruly conduct by ruling party lawmakers is undermining his authority. The clash erupted during Tuesday’s debate on a private member motion — tabled by Government Senator Chelsea Alexander — that calls for the establishment of a new national development bank.

    During his opening remarks on the motion, Gonsalves centered a portion of his argument on the disruptive behavior of government backbenchers. He claimed that frequent unscheduled interjections and constant cross-talk from the ruling party benches not only prevented Friday from speaking on his own behalf but also weakened the prime minister’s public standing, embarrassing him before the legislative body and the public.

    The debate was ultimately suspended before a vote could take place, as the allocated time for private member motions expired before deliberations concluded. It was during this adjournment that Friday issued his sharp rebuttal to Gonsalves’ claims, turning the criticism back on the opposition leader.

    “The Honourable Leader of the Opposition talks about members embarrassing me. On November 27, the members on this side of the House embarrassed him. And let them continue,” Friday stated publicly, dismissing Gonsalves’ characterization outright. The prime minister went on to accuse Gonsalves of underestimating the competence and impact of ruling party lawmakers, noting that volume of speech does not equate to quality of argument. “It’s not who talk loud is who talk best,” he added, teasing that more unexpected political developments are on the horizon that Gonsalves has not anticipated. “And… what we have seen is that he got a surprise that he didn’t know was coming, and there’s more to come.”

    Observers widely interpret Friday’s reference to an unexpected surprise as tied to the ruling administration’s last-minute decision to postpone debate on a proposed constitutional amendment. The amendment had been listed on the House’s official Order Paper, prompting Gonsalves to launch a public campaign against the change just one week prior, immediately after the Order Paper was published.

    Gonsalves has alleged that the government’s push to amend the Constitution and national election law is a self-serving “insurance policy” designed to protect the prime minister and Foreign Minister Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble. The opposition leader’s Unity Labour Party has filed legal petitions challenging the eligibility of both Friday and Bramble to contest the November 2024 general election, a legal dispute that remains unresolved.

    Tuesday’s debate was marked by repeated disruptions from both sides of the aisle, with House Speaker Ronnia Durham Balcombe repeatedly issuing appeals for lawmakers to curb cross-talk and allow speakers to deliver their remarks without interruption. Gonsalves doubled down on his claim during his contribution, arguing that when government lawmakers interjected over his speech to respond on Friday’s behalf, it only reinforced his view that the conduct was embarrassing the prime minister.

    Beyond rejecting the embarrassment claim, Friday expanded his critique to Gonsalves’ broader approach to policy and governance, particularly in the context of the national development bank proposal. The prime minister framed the exchange as a reflection of deep ideological and policy divides between the ruling and opposition blocs, accusing Gonsalves of being stuck in outdated thinking.

    “Everything that I heard from the Honourable Leader of the Opposition displays a stunning lack of imagination,” Friday said. “You can’t govern based on simply everything that you saw in the past; you have to plan for the future. And that is what we bring to the table… a fresh approach, a new way of looking at things, more creativity, more diligence, hard work and putting the people of this country first.”

    Debate on the national development bank motion will resume at a later date, which will be finalized after Speaker Balcombe consults with Prime Minister Friday, the Clerk of the House, and motion sponsor Senator Alexander.

  • Guyanese cargo vessels again using Corentyne River free of cost

    Guyanese cargo vessels again using Corentyne River free of cost

    Last Updated: Thursday, 23 April 2026, 19:54
    By Denis Chabrol

    A simmering cross-border waterway fee dispute between Caribbean neighbors Guyana and Suriname has entered a new, uncertain phase, after a high-level government source confirmed Suriname has temporarily halted collection of controversial steep charges that previously reached over $5,000 USD per passage for Guyanese cargo vessels transiting the shared Corentyne River.

    The suspended fees included a $5,000 USD pilotage charge per trip, plus an additional $1.50 USD per tonne levy on bulk quarry exports including stone and timber produced at Guyanese concessions on the river’s western bank. The sudden pause in collection has Guyana holding out hope for a permanent, mutually agreeable resolution that restores low-cost access for its commercial shipping, but key negotiating gaps remain wide as of this week.

    Speaking exclusively to Demerara Waves Online News, Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd confirmed that Georgetown has yet to receive a formal response from the Suriname government to its core proposal: a return to the pre-2025 status quo, where Guyanese vessels paid a modest flat rate of just $75 USD per river crossing. Todd noted that this historic rate has long been viewed as fair and reasonable by the Guyanese government, and is the outcome the administration of President Irfaan Ali is pushing to reinstate.

    As of Thursday, however, Todd confirmed that Suriname has not agreed to roll back its new, sharply higher fee structure. “What they’re implying is that the fees that they are charging now are going to remain,” the foreign minister explained.

    The dispute escalated earlier this year after President Ali issued a warning that Guyana could implement reciprocal measures that would negatively impact Surinamese commercial operations based in Guyana. In response to that warning, authorities in Paramaribo, Suriname’s capital, offered a partial compromise: they asked Georgetown to submit a list of Guyanese vessels that it wanted exempted from the steep new fees.

    But Todd said Guyana has rejected that partial workaround, and has not moved forward to prepare the requested exemption list. “That is not an agenda item for us so far,” he said. Government agencies across Guyana are still holding internal consultations to align on a unified negotiating position and potential long-term administrative frameworks for river access, he added.

    Todd emphasized that Guyana remains committed to resolving the standoff through diplomatic channels, saying: “We’ll have to have continuous dialogue with our counterparts in Suriname because it is a matter that requires dialogue and a solution that is mutually acceptable.” The foreign minister added he remains optimistic that a bilateral resolution can be reached, despite the current impasse.

    When asked if Guyana had shared a list of Guyanese firms affected by Suriname’s new fees with Suriname’s government, Todd said disclosing specific company names “is not necessary for us.” Demerara Waves has independently confirmed that the Guyanese government has raised specific concerns about the impact of the fees on at least one major Guyanese quarry operating along the river.

  • BNSI urges workers to embrace AI

    BNSI urges workers to embrace AI

    As artificial intelligence reshapes workplaces across every global sector, the Barbados National Standards Institution (BNSI) is sounding a clear call to action: local workers and businesses that delay integrating AI and updating their change management frameworks risk falling permanently behind in an increasingly competitive digital economy. BNSI director Haydn Rhynd emphasized in an address to the Barbados Association of Administrative Professionals conference on Wednesday that the Caribbean nation simply cannot afford to put off embracing this transformative technology.

    Speaking exclusively to Barbados TODAY on the sidelines of the event, Rhynd acknowledged that widespread anxiety around AI’s impact on employment is common among the island’s workforce. Many workers, he noted, already grapple with internal fear of the unknown, with common concerns ranging from self-doubt about digital literacy to questions about whether they need full retraining to keep up, or even age-related anxiety about learning new systems. This tendency to view organizational and technological change as an inherently threatening force, he said, is the biggest barrier to widespread AI adoption on the island right now.

    Contrary to popular narratives that AI will eliminate millions of jobs, Rhynd argued that the technology is transforming existing roles rather than erasing them entirely. Workers that choose to embrace the shift rather than resist it will not only stay relevant in the evolving job market – they will gain a competitive edge that allows them to lead their fields. By learning to leverage AI tools to handle repetitive, mundane tasks, employees free up valuable time and mental bandwidth to focus on high-value work that relies on uniquely human skills like creativity, critical thinking, and interpersonal connection. This, Rhynd stressed, makes the current era of rapid technological change a fantastic opportunity rather than an unprecedented threat.

    To help local businesses and workers navigate this transition smoothly, BNSI has developed a comprehensive set of industry-specific change management standards designed to lower barriers to AI adoption. Beyond the standardized frameworks, the institution also offers hands-on training support tailored to organizations of all sizes and sectors. These training sessions walk participants through the fundamentals of working with AI, helping teams select the right tools for their specific operational needs and demystify the process of integration. Rhynd reported that growing numbers of previously reluctant Barbadian organizations are now recognizing the urgency of action, with more stakeholders than ever coming to the conclusion that inaction on AI is no longer a viable option.

    However, Rhynd also issued a critical caution for businesses rushing to integrate AI: the shift to the technology requires equal attention to strengthening cybersecurity and data protection protocols. Widespread questions remain around confidentiality, with many leaders unsure what types of internal information is safe to share with public AI tools, and how to build secure processes for data handling. To address this gap, BNSI also offers targeted standards to guide organizations through the process of building robust data protection frameworks that mitigate risk while still allowing them to benefit from AI capabilities.

    Pointing to the accelerating pace of AI innovation, Rhynd noted that the technology has already proven adaptable to virtually every sector of the global economy. From healthcare and food production to manufacturing, agriculture, finance, and general business operations, AI can deliver efficiency gains and productivity improvements across every part of Barbados’ economy. No industry can afford to write off AI as irrelevant to their work, he added, urging all stakeholders to move quickly to position the island for success in the AI-driven future.

  • David Collado and Leah Campos tour historic sites in the Colonial City

    David Collado and Leah Campos tour historic sites in the Colonial City

    On Thursday, a joint site visit led by Dominican Republic Tourism Minister David Collado and U.S. Ambassador to the nation Leah Castillo put a much-needed spotlight on the Colonial City, one of the country’s most culturally rich yet underpromoted heritage destinations, as part of a broader push to boost cultural tourism draw. The walking tour kicked off at Parque Duarte, where local producers and artisans had set up immersive displays showcasing the breadth of Dominican-made goods and handcrafted creations. During their stop at the park, both senior officials got a first-hand taste of local culture, sampling popular traditional chilled treats and fresh coconut water, while admiring intricately designed handcrafts fashioned from two of the region’s most iconic natural stones: amber and rare blue larimar.

    After wrapping up their time at Parque Duarte, the official delegation made their way through a curated route of the Colonial City’s most iconic and historically significant landmarks. The 16th-century walled district, which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the Americas, currently draws approximately 8% of all international tourists that visit the Dominican Republic each year, a figure tourism officials hope to grow through targeted promotion and infrastructure investment. The tour itinerary included stops at famous pedestrian corridors Calle Billini and Calle Isabel la Católica, the historic Convento de los Dominicos, public gathering spaces Plaza Tirso de Molina, Plaza de España and Plaza San Antón, the centuries-old Iglesia Las Mercedes, and the Museo Fortaleza de Santo Domingo, a former military fortress that now houses exhibits tracing the capital’s colonial and post-independence history.

    The joint visit comes as the Dominican Republic works to expand its tourism product beyond the sun-and-beach getaways that have long been the country’s main tourist draw, highlighting cultural and heritage travel as a key growth area that can attract longer-staying, higher-spending visitors while supporting local artisans and small businesses. Collaboration between the Dominican tourism sector and U.S. diplomatic officials also aims to strengthen bilateral ties through people-to-people cultural exchange, and encourage more U.S. travelers, who make up the largest share of the country’s international visitors, to explore the Colonial City’s unique offerings.

  • PAHO waarschuwt voor stijging mazelengevallen en roept op tot vaccinatie

    PAHO waarschuwt voor stijging mazelengevallen en roept op tot vaccinatie

    A sharp, sustained surge in measles infections across the Americas has spurred the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) to issue an urgent call for regional governments to ramp up immunization campaigns, as 2026 case counts have already outpaced the total number recorded across the entire previous year. The public health warning comes just ahead of the upcoming Americas Vaccination Week, scheduled to run from April 25 through May 2, an initiative that aims to deliver nearly 90 million vaccine doses across the region, including catch-up inoculations for more than 7.2 million children who have missed routine vaccinations.

    PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa acknowledged that the Americas has made landmark progress in public health immunization over recent decades: the region was the first in the world to successfully eliminate both polio and rubella, and overall routine vaccination coverage has now rebounded fully to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. Despite these wins, critical gaps in coverage leave the region vulnerable to preventable disease outbreaks. Data from 2024 shows that coverage for the first dose of the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine stood at 89%, while coverage for the required second dose reached only 79%. Coverage for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) vaccines hit 87% in the same year, but more than 1.4 million children in the region remain completely unvaccinated against all routine preventable diseases.

    Measles represents the most pressing immediate public health threat, according to PAHO data. In 2025, nearly 14,800 confirmed measles cases were reported across 13 countries in the region—an over 30-fold increase compared to case counts recorded in 2024. This alarming upward trend has continued into 2026: by early April of this year, more than 15,300 cases had already been confirmed, surpassing the entire 2025 total before the year is even halfway over.

    While the majority of global measles cases still occur outside the Americas, the region’s share of the global caseload is rising rapidly. In the first three months of 2026, the Americas accounted for 21% of all measles cases reported worldwide.

    PAHO officials stress that measles is far from a harmless childhood illness. The viral infection can cause severe, life-altering complications including pneumonia, encephalitis, and permanent blindness, and can be fatal for vulnerable groups including young children and immunocompromised people. In 2025, roughly 13% of all confirmed measles patients in the region required hospital admission, and the overwhelming majority of these severe cases occurred among unvaccinated people.

    Contrary to common assumptions, PAHO says the root of the current measles resurgence is not a lack of available vaccines, but persistent barriers to reaching unvaccinated populations. Multiple obstacles contribute to the gap: widespread misinformation about vaccine safety, low public perception of measles risk, and limited access to routine healthcare services in marginalized and underserved communities all keep vaccination coverage below the required threshold.

    To stop ongoing outbreaks and prevent large-scale resurgence, PAHO emphasizes that regions need to maintain at least 95% coverage of two doses of measles-containing vaccine. Barbosa warned that even a single confirmed case can spark a widespread community outbreak if coverage falls below this critical threshold.

    To support regional governments in addressing the crisis, PAHO is providing practical assistance including improved disease surveillance systems, rapid response support for active outbreaks, and expanded access to vaccines through joint regional procurement mechanisms. Barbosa framed the effort to eliminate measles as a collective public responsibility, noting that “Vaccination is not just an individual choice, it is an act of solidarity. We brought measles under control before, and we can do it again.”

  • Climate experts say hotter, drier days ahead

    Climate experts say hotter, drier days ahead

    Leading regional climate research institutions have issued an urgent warning that the Caribbean region is likely to face two consecutive years of unusually high temperatures and prolonged dry conditions, driven by a strengthening El Niño event that raises the likelihood of widespread drought, public health risks, and far-reaching economic fallout. The joint alert comes from two leading regional bodies: the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) and the Climate Studies Group Mona at the University of the West Indies. Both organizations are calling on every sector of society, from national governments and private businesses to small-scale farmers and individual households, to launch immediate preparedness measures to mitigate potential damage.

    Climatologist Cedric Van Meerbeeck explained that current long-range forecasts point to extended periods of below-average rainfall paired with sustained spikes in temperature and humidity across much of the region. This combination of conditions does not only put severe pressure on already strained freshwater supplies; it also threatens to undermine agricultural output and create measurable risks to public human health.

    Looking at historical climate patterns, major El Niño events have repeatedly triggered extreme, long-lasting drought across the Caribbean. Notable examples include the severe dry spells recorded in 2009–2010 and again in 2014–2016. Experts emphasize that Eastern Caribbean nations, which are already struggling with ongoing dry conditions, face a particularly challenging outlook: water reserves may recover far more slowly than usual even once the annual wet season gets underway.

    Beyond the immediate threat of drought, the region is bracing for a cascade of overlapping climate hazards. Extreme heat events will increase the risk of uncontrolled wildfires across dry landscapes, while marine heatwaves threaten to trigger widespread coral bleaching that can permanently damage fragile Caribbean marine ecosystems that underpin tourism and fishing industries.

    University of the West Indies professor Michael Taylor, a leading climate researcher in the region, warned that current forecasts point to the emergence of what he termed a “multi-hazard regime”. In this scenario, heat, drought, and marine climate impacts do not occur in isolation; they overlap and amplify each other, creating more severe risks than any single hazard would pose alone. Taylor stressed that these compound extreme events pose an existential threat to the livelihoods of millions of Caribbean residents, and require coordinated, cross-border collective action to address effectively.

    While El Niño is historically linked to a less active Atlantic hurricane season, climate specialists are quick to note that hurricane risk has not been eliminated entirely. Even a single intense storm or a short period of extreme rainfall can cause catastrophic damage to Caribbean communities, as demonstrated by past destructive events including Hurricane Andrew and Tropical Storm Erika.

    The potential impacts of this El Niño event extend far beyond immediate weather-related disruption. Reduced rainfall and higher average temperatures will place additional strain on already vulnerable water and energy infrastructure, cut into expected agricultural yields, and exacerbate public health risks — ranging from a rise in heat-related illnesses to growing challenges maintaining safe drinking water quality across the region.

    Wider economic ripple effects are also already on the horizon. Climate-driven disruptions are already altering key global trade routes that the Caribbean depends on, most notably the Panama Canal, where ongoing drought conditions have forced restrictions on shipping traffic. These disruptions are expected to trickle down to Caribbean supply chains, driving up the cost of imported goods for local consumers.

    Climate specialists say that ongoing monitoring of evolving conditions remains critical, noting that the accuracy of El Niño projections typically improves significantly starting in May. Updated, detailed guidance will be presented at the upcoming Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum, where regional climate specialists will share refined projections ahead of the annual wet and hurricane seasons.

    Regional officials reiterated that early public awareness and proactive preparedness will be the most critical factors in reducing the potential damage that this developing climate pattern could inflict on communities across the Caribbean.

  • Treasury Names Former Government Employees, Calls on Them to Make Contact Over Outstanding Matters

    Treasury Names Former Government Employees, Calls on Them to Make Contact Over Outstanding Matters

    ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – April 23, 2026 – The Treasury Department under Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Finance and Corporate Governance has issued a formal public service announcement reaching out to hundreds of former government employees who have unresolved administrative matters requiring immediate attention.

    In line with the department’s mandate to uphold transparent, efficient management of public funds, the notice urges all individuals named on the published list to connect with the Treasury Department Helpdesk as quickly as possible. The announcement also requests members of the public who have information about the current location or contact details of any listed person to share that information with the helpdesk to speed up the resolution process.

    To complete the required outreach, individuals must submit specific documentation when contacting the helpdesk: a clear, legible copy of a valid government-issued photo ID – which may include a national identification card, passport, or driver’s license – along with full name, updated active contact number, and official confirmation of the government ministry or agency where they held their last public sector position.

    The published roster of individuals requiring follow-up spans more than 300 names, ranging from Aaliyah Martin and Aarion Ryner to Zachrias Fritz and Zamicha O’Garro, covering every letter of the alphabet. The Treasury Department has not released specific details about the nature of the outstanding matters for each individual, citing standard administrative privacy protocols, but emphasized that prompt response from all listed people is critical to ensuring proper stewardship of government finances and closing out legacy personnel and financial records.

    “This public notice aligns with our core responsibility to maintain full accountability for public resources,” a department spokesperson noted in a preamble to the announcement. “We encourage any person on this list, or anyone who can help connect us to them, to cooperate as soon as possible to resolve these outstanding items without delay.”

    The announcement was formally issued by the Treasury Department on April 23, 2026, and distributed through official government communication channels to reach as many affected individuals and their connections as possible.

  • Berger Paints closes plant, 44 jobs lost

    Berger Paints closes plant, 44 jobs lost

    A decades-long chapter of local paint manufacturing in Barbados is drawing to a close this week, as Berger Paints prepares to shutter all its local production, warehouse, retail and administrative facilities on Friday, putting 44 long-tenured employees out of work. While the company will continue selling its branded products through local retail partners, all manufacturing operations will be relocated to other sites across the Caribbean region. The company publicly confirmed its restructuring plan Wednesday, confirming the full scope of facility closures tied to its transition to a third-party distribution model.

    For the affected workers, many of whom have spent well over a decade building their careers with the firm, the sudden shift has brought devastating uncertainty and financial upheaval, according to Toni Moore, who serves both as a Member of Parliament and General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), the union representing the displaced employees. Moore noted that the average tenure of workers at the Berger Barbados plant ranges between 10 and 15 years, meaning most employees have structured their entire lives and livelihoods around steady employment at the company. Even though many are still within working age, their mid-career status makes a sudden job search particularly daunting, she added, and the unanticipated loss of long-term employment has taken a heavy emotional and psychological toll on workers who dedicated years of service to the brand.

    The controversy around the closure first emerged when the company announced its restructuring plans back in February, prompting immediate pushback from labor leaders and government officials over the alleged failure to follow legally mandated consultation processes. Barbados’ Minister of Labour Colin Jordan raised early concerns that the company had already finalized its decision to close the plant before starting required consultations with the Ministry of Labour and the workers’ union. Under Barbadian law, companies planning mass redundancies are required to conduct a six-week consultation period with affected stakeholders, and legal precedent mandates that these discussions must be substantive rather than procedural. Jordan argued that it is impossible to hold meaningful consultations when the final decision has already been made and is non-negotiable, adding that the pre-determined outcome undermines the entire process set out in national labor law.

    The Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) has joined the BWU in condemning the decision, calling for a formal investigation over allegations that workers’ legal rights have been violated throughout the restructuring process. CTUSAB General Secretary Dennis Depeiza emphasized that the incident exposes critical gaps in labor regulation enforcement in the country, calling for a full review of existing oversight mechanisms under the national Employment Rights Act. Depeiza argued that stronger enforcement is needed to ensure companies comply with mandatory consultation procedures when planning business closures that result in mass layoffs, to prevent employers from cutting corners at the expense of workers’ rights.

    Moore also echoed widespread public concern over the company’s post-closure business model, noting that Berger Paints will continue to generate revenue from sales in Barbados even as it eliminates all local manufacturing jobs. Currently, the company has arrangements in place to keep its products on local shelves through retail partners including Carters (operating via Blades and Williams) and Ace H&B Hardware, with all production moving to regional facilities outside Barbados. As labor groups continue to push for accountability, questions remain about whether the company followed all legal requirements for the closure, and what support will be provided to the dozens of workers who lost their livelihoods this week.