Carib Scope

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  • Dominica’s Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Executive pays courtesy visit to President Sylvanie Burton

    Dominica’s Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Executive pays courtesy visit to President Sylvanie Burton

    In a significant demonstration of institutional collaboration, senior representatives of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award program in Dominica conducted an official courtesy visit to Her Excellency President Sylvanie Burton on January 14, 2026. The high-level delegation included Deputy Chairperson Linda Gonzalez-Peltier, National Director Kerry-Ann Remie Timothy, Youth Development Coordinator Lilia Durand, and Gold Award recipient Brandon Remie.

    The primary purpose of the meeting centered on delivering a detailed briefing regarding Dominica’s participation in two major international conferences held in Lagos, Nigeria during November 2025. These gatherings—the International Gold Event (November 15-18) and Forum 2025—convened under the patronage of HRH Prince Edward and attracted more than 300 youth leaders and program administrators from across the global network.

    The International Gold Event, a biennial celebration recognizing exceptional youth achievement, provided a dynamic platform for Gold Award recipients to share experiences, establish international connections, and inspire collective progress. Concurrently, Forum 2025 assembled global Award leaders to strategically shape the program’s future trajectory, with particular emphasis on innovative approaches to youth empowerment and development methodologies.

    During the presidential briefing, Mr. Brandon Remie provided firsthand insights gained from his interactions with international delegates and experts at the Nigerian conferences. The delegation further utilized the opportunity to present recent program accomplishments, address operational challenges, and outline future initiatives designed to expand the Award’s national impact.

    Executive leadership expressed profound gratitude to President Burton for her sustained patronage and commitment to facilitating substantive dialogue on youth development priorities, reinforcing the program’s vital role in shaping Dominica’s next generation of leaders.

  • UN agency deplores closing of Palestinian health center

    UN agency deplores closing of Palestinian health center

    The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has disclosed a significant escalation in tensions with Israeli authorities, following a military raid on one of its primary healthcare facilities in East Jerusalem. Israeli forces reportedly issued a mandatory 30-day closure order for the center, immediately depriving thousands of vulnerable refugees of essential medical services.

    Compounding the healthcare crisis, UNRWA officials warned of impending utility cutoffs to multiple agency facilities, including educational centers. This action stems from recent legislation enacted by the Israeli parliament, potentially leaving critical humanitarian infrastructure without water or electricity within weeks.

    The agency characterized these developments as part of an ‘unprecedented legal offensive’ against its operations. Additional aggressive measures cited include systematic communications disruption, confiscation of UN assets, and the replacement of official UN flags with Israeli flags at agency facilities. These actions have created such a hostile environment that UNRWA was compelled to evacuate its staff from affected locations.

    Jonathan Fowler, UNRWA’s official spokesperson, emphasized the severe impact of the health center closure, noting it served hundreds of refugees daily—many with no alternative healthcare options. Fowler condemned the planned utility disconnections as ‘anti-humanitarian acts in many ways, particularly shocking.’

    In a strongly worded statement, Fowler declared, ‘These measures are shameful, and it is crucial that there be global awareness of what is happening because this goes far beyond East Jerusalem,’ suggesting the implications extend to broader humanitarian principles and international law.

  • Caribbean Court of Justice president visits Barbados to strengthen regional ties

    Caribbean Court of Justice president visits Barbados to strengthen regional ties

    Barbados is preparing to host a significant judicial delegation from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) from January 15-20, 2026. The high-level visit will be led by CCJ President Honourable Mr. Justice Winston Anderson and includes Mrs. Gabrielle Figaro-Jones, the Court’s Registrar and Chief Marshal.

    The centerpiece of the diplomatic mission will be President Anderson’s keynote address at the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute’s (CANARI) Partners Forum, where he will address critical climate justice concerns impacting Caribbean nations. This emphasis on environmental jurisprudence comes at a crucial time for the region facing increasing climate-related challenges.

    Beyond the environmental focus, the delegation has arranged courtesy meetings with Barbados’s highest government officials, including Prime Minister Mia Mottley, SC, MP; Chief Justice Leslie Haynes; and Opposition Leader Ralph Thornes, KC, MO. These strategic engagements form part of the CCJ’s institutional outreach initiative to strengthen relationships with national authorities across member states.

    This Barbados visit represents a continuation of President Anderson’s regional diplomatic efforts since assuming leadership in July 2025. His previous official travels included October 2025 courtesy calls in Guyana, where he met with President Irfaan Ali, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, and CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett.

    The current mission operationalizes objectives outlined in the CCJ’s Strategic Plan 2025-2032, specifically focusing on enhancing judicial accessibility, developing regional legal partnerships, and promoting institutional transparency. Through these high-level exchanges, the CCJ aims to reinforce its role as a pivotal institution in Caribbean governance and legal integration.

  • Turkiye urge for diplomatic solution to Iran crisis

    Turkiye urge for diplomatic solution to Iran crisis

    Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has articulated a nuanced perspective on Iran’s internal challenges, emphasizing their significant international ramifications. Speaking on the interconnected nature of domestic and foreign policy, Fidan highlighted how economic sanctions tied to Iran’s specific policies have created a ripple effect beyond its borders.

    In a detailed assessment, Fidan revealed that Ankara has formally counseled Iranian officials to pursue diplomatic resolutions to their regional disagreements. He specifically urged Tehran to engage without delay in constructive dialogue concerning its nuclear program through established diplomatic channels. The Minister asserted that such diplomatic engagement could potentially dismantle structural problems that have precipitated severe economic hardships for the Iranian population.

    Fidan issued a crucial warning about the social consequences of economic decline, noting that mounting frustrations stemming from diminished opportunities and financial instability are frequently mischaracterized as ideological opposition to the political establishment. He provided a more granular analysis, suggesting that these tensions originate not from political dissent but from complex socioeconomic conditions shaped by current economic policies and the practical challenges in reforming them.

    Emphatically rejecting any form of external interference in Iranian affairs, Fidan simultaneously addressed U.S. military posturing. While referencing policies during Donald Trump’s presidency, he observed no substantive indications suggesting Washington’s readiness to deploy ground forces in the region, presenting this assessment as part of Turkey’s broader strategic evaluation.

  • Cuba recieves the remains of 32 combatants killed in Venezuela

    Cuba recieves the remains of 32 combatants killed in Venezuela

    Cuba has commenced solemn nationwide ceremonies to honor combatants who perished in what authorities describe as an act of aggression and state terrorism. The commemorations began in Havana with a funeral procession from José Martí International Airport, where family members, government officials, and citizens accompanied the remains along Rancho Boyeros Avenue to the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) headquarters.

    The Caribbean nation announced posthumous military promotions for the fallen combatants, recognizing their exceptional heroism and service. Additional tributes are scheduled nationwide on Friday, with Havana residents gathering at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune for a March of the Combatant People.

    Simultaneous ceremonies will occur across all provincial capitals, where the honored combatants will be laid to rest in local Pantheons of the Fallen in Defense. Every municipality throughout Cuba will conduct posthumous tributes, underscoring the national significance of these commemorations and the government’s characterization of the deaths as resulting from criminal aggression against the nation.

  • St Vincent & the Grenadines’ newly renovated volcano observatory officially handed over

    St Vincent & the Grenadines’ newly renovated volcano observatory officially handed over

    The Eastern Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has officially commissioned its comprehensively upgraded Belmont Volcano Observatory, marking a transformative advancement in its geological disaster response capabilities. Michelle Forbes, Director of the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), hailed the facility as “remarkable” during this week’s formal handover ceremony attended by senior government officials including Deputy Prime Minister Major Hon. St. Clair Leacock.

    Funded through a World Bank concessional loan totaling EC$4.696 million (approximately US$1.74 million), the ambitious infrastructure project commenced construction in March 2024. Despite encountering implementation delays due to adverse weather conditions and unforeseen complications, contractors successfully completed the renovation by December 2025.

    Forbes emphasized the observatory’s critical role in enhancing the nation’s capacity to monitor volcanic activity at La Soufrière, which last erupted in 2021 forcing widespread evacuations. “We now possess significantly improved facilities for our scientists and local monitoring team to perform their essential work,” she stated, acknowledging the collaborative efforts of seismologists, architects, engineers, and construction teams who overcame numerous challenges through coordinated problem-solving.

    The modernization initiative forms a cornerstone of the Vincentian government’s strategic framework for disaster risk reduction and climate resilience enhancement. Officials confirm the upgraded installation will provide substantially enhanced early warning capabilities, integrated data analysis systems, and improved working conditions for the Soufrière Monitoring Unit and international researchers collaborating on volcanic studies.

    While expressing hope that another eruption wouldn’t occur imminently, Forbes noted the inevitability of future volcanic events and stressed that the nation is now fundamentally better equipped to safeguard both human lives and critical infrastructure when such events eventually transpire.

  • Aziza Clarke cleared after no-case submission

    Aziza Clarke cleared after no-case submission

    In a decisive legal victory, former calypso monarch Aziza Clarke has been fully exonerated of charges alleging she assisted an offender in evading law enforcement. The No. 5 Supreme Court delivered the ruling following a successful no-case submission presented by her defense team, led by King’s Counsel Michael Lashley and attorney Sade Harris.

    The case stemmed from allegations that Clarke, a resident of Bonnetts, Brittons Hill, St Michael, had knowingly transported Hakeem Stuart from Briar Hall to Graeme Hall, Christ Church on March 21, 2019. Prosecutors claimed this action was intended to obstruct Stuart’s lawful apprehension in connection with murder or another serious arrestable offense.

    Presiding Justice Pamela Beckles determined that the prosecution failed to establish the essential elements of knowledge and belief necessary to sustain the charge. In her ruling, Justice Beckles found insufficient evidence to prove Clarke had awareness of or belief in Stuart’s alleged criminal activities at the time of the incident. Consequently, the judge directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty, bringing the legal proceedings to a conclusive end.

    The judgment represents a significant judicial determination that the threshold for proving criminal intent in assistance cases requires substantial evidence of the defendant’s conscious knowledge of the offender’s actions, which the court found lacking in this instance.

  • Joella Lloyd to Receive Full Government Sponsorship for International Competition

    Joella Lloyd to Receive Full Government Sponsorship for International Competition

    The government of Antigua and Barbuda has committed to fully sponsoring national sprinter Joella Lloyd’s athletic career through a specialized financial assistance program. This decisive action emerged from Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, where officials unanimously endorsed comprehensive support for Lloyd’s training and competitive development as she targets major international competitions, including the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

    Maurice Merchant, Director General of Communications in the Prime Minister’s Office, confirmed the government’s commitment to providing direct sponsorship following substantive discussions about national sports development. The Cabinet’s resolution establishes a structured support program specifically designed to ensure Lloyd receives optimal training resources as she transitions from collegiate athletics to professional competition.

    This sponsorship arrangement represents a continuation of government support that began during Lloyd’s university years, where she previously received assistance while balancing academic and athletic pursuits. Having recently graduated, Lloyd can now dedicate her full attention to elite training and international competition preparation without financial constraints.

    The government’s investment reflects a strategic approach to sports development, recognizing Lloyd’s potential to represent Antigua and Barbuda on the global stage. The program will facilitate her participation in qualifying meets and provide necessary resources for her Olympic qualification campaign. This endorsement positions Lloyd as a flagship athlete in the nation’s sports development initiative, with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics serving as the primary long-term objective for both the athlete and her supporting government.

  • Dominica appoints three new magistrates to tackle case backlog

    Dominica appoints three new magistrates to tackle case backlog

    Dominica’s judicial system has reached a significant milestone with the appointment of three new magistrates in late 2025, bringing the country’s total to a full complement of eight judicial officers. Chief Magistrate Candia Carrette-George made the announcement during the New Law Year opening ceremony at the State House Conference Centre, marking a transformative development for the nation’s legal infrastructure.

    The newly appointed magistrates bring diverse legal expertise to their positions. Marie-Louise Pierre Louis, sworn in October 2025, transitions from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions with substantial criminal law experience and will primarily handle criminal matters. November saw the appointment of Pearlisa Morvan, previously from the Attorney General’s chambers, who will preside over case management hearings, civil litigation, and coroner’s court proceedings. Kimala Alfred, sworn in December 2025, joins from the legal aid clinic and will primarily oversee family and criminal cases.

    Chief Magistrate Carrette-George emphasized that this judicial expansion represents a strategic advancement in addressing systemic challenges within Dominica’s court system. The appointments are expected to significantly enhance court efficiency through improved case management protocols and specialized case allocation. This development directly targets the reduction of case backlogs that have hampered judicial timeliness, ensuring more effective disposition of legal matters across criminal, civil, and family court divisions.

    The achievement of a full magistrate complement underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening judicial capacity and access to justice. This structural enhancement positions Dominica’s legal system for improved service delivery and operational effectiveness throughout 2026 and beyond.

  • OECS Heads meet on urgent regional and geopolitical matters

    OECS Heads meet on urgent regional and geopolitical matters

    In a significant gathering marking his inaugural leadership, Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday of St. Vincent and the Grenadines chaired the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Heads of Government meeting in St. Lucia on January 13, 2026. The summit, hosted by St. Lucian Prime Minister Honourable Philip J Pierre, brought together regional leaders including Prime Ministers Roosevelt Skerrit (Dominica), Dickon Mitchell (Grenada), Dr. Terrance Drew (St. Kitts and Nevis), along with Premiers Reuben T Meade (Montserrat), Dr. Natalio Wheatley (British Virgin Islands), and Cora Richardson-Hodge (Anguilla), accompanied by OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules.

    The assembly addressed pressing geopolitical concerns, particularly monitoring developments between Venezuela and the United States and their potential implications for economic stability, regional security, energy provisions, migration patterns, and diplomatic relations. Reaffirming their commitment to hemispheric peace and stability, the leaders established a coordinated approach to US requests regarding Third Country Nationals (TCNs).

    Several OECS members have already signed non-binding memoranda with the United States, prompting the creation of a high-level, broad-based negotiating team to conduct technical discussions on migration matters. The leaders simultaneously addressed Citizenship by Investment Programs (CIPs), committing to enhanced regulatory frameworks through proposed legislative reforms and the establishment of an independent regional authority, while emphasizing continued dialogue with international partners including the European Union.

    In security enhancements, the governments pledged to implement biometric systems for travelers across OECS nations to strengthen border security while facilitating seamless travel experiences for citizens and visitors. Recognizing the rapidly evolving global landscape, the leaders agreed to maintain frequent political caucuses ensuring coordinated decision-making and reaffirmed their dedication to regional solidarity, principled international engagement, and sustainable development. The communique concluded with commitments to enhanced public communication regarding decisions affecting OECS citizens.