Carib Scope

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  • Removal of all illegal moorings within the State of Grenada

    Removal of all illegal moorings within the State of Grenada

    The Government of Grenada has announced decisive enforcement action to remove all unauthorized mooring systems from the nation’s coastal waters, with concentrated efforts targeting Prickly Bay and Woburn/Clarke’s Court Bay. This initiative forms part of a broader strategy to enhance regulatory oversight within the yachting sector and safeguard fragile marine ecosystems.

    Authorities have clarified the legal protocol for mooring installation: prospective operators must secure formal approval through one of two designated channels. The Fisheries Division holds jurisdiction over installations within Marine Protected Areas, while the Grenada Ports Authority governs moorings situated in harbors under its administrative control.

    Despite prior warnings issued in August 2021 and again in September 2025, officials report persistent non-compliance with established regulations. In response, the government has designated MoorSouth Ltd/HarbourSecure Solutions Ltd as the officially licensed entity authorized to manage, install, and operate government-sanctioned mooring systems. Junior Cuffie has been appointed as the primary operator responsible for development and maintenance within Marine Protected Areas, with new system installations scheduled to commence imminently in the specified bays.

    The Ministry of The Blue Economy and Marine Affairs has established a compliance deadline of January 31 for all unauthorized moorings to be either removed or regularized through arrangement with the licensed operator. Enforcement teams will conduct ongoing surveillance of affected areas, with penalties awaiting those who fail to adhere to the directive as prescribed under Grenadian law.

  • Father and His Two Sons Need Your Help

    Father and His Two Sons Need Your Help

    A Belmopan family faces a long road to recovery following a catastrophic traffic collision this Tuesday that left a father and his two sons with severe injuries. Adolfo ‘Bull’ Guzman, alongside his children Adolfo Jr. and Jayden, is currently hospitalized after their navy blue SUV was completely crushed in the incident. While official details regarding the cause of the crash remain undisclosed by authorities, graphic images of the wreckage circulating online underscore the severity of the impact. In response to the mounting medical costs, the family has initiated a public appeal for financial contributions and urgent blood donations to support the ongoing treatment. The Guzman family has deep roots in the local community, with Adolfo Sr. having dedicated over a quarter-century of service to Builder’s Hardware Ltd. The company has publicly expressed its solidarity, issuing a social media statement that called upon the wider community to ‘keep Adolfo ‘Bull’ Guzman and his two sons… in your thoughts and prayers.’ Relatives have coordinated donation efforts, directing those able to assist with blood donations to contact Nelson Guzman or Elvia Marina Recinos.

  • St. John’s Catholic students tour AIDAperla, explore cruise and maritime careers

    St. John’s Catholic students tour AIDAperla, explore cruise and maritime careers

    In an immersive educational initiative, students from St. John’s Catholic School were granted exclusive access to explore the inner workings of the cruise ship AIDAperla during a meticulously guided tour. The event, orchestrated by Antigua Cruise Port, served as a dynamic platform for youth engagement with the island’s vital maritime sector.

    This excursion transcends a simple field trip, forming a critical component of the port’s sustained youth outreach programme. The primary objective is to illuminate the cruise industry’s profound and multifaceted role as an economic engine for Antigua and Barbuda. By stepping aboard a fully operational vessel, students moved beyond theoretical learning to gain tangible, first-hand insight into potential career pathways in hospitality, marine engineering, tourism management, and logistics.

    Antigua Cruise Port authorities have confirmed this event is not an isolated occurrence. The program is designed for expansion, with an open invitation extended to educational institutions across the nation to express their interest in participating in forthcoming scheduled tours. This long-term strategy aims to cultivate a knowledgeable, homegrown workforce poised to engage with and support the evolving cruise sector, thereby strengthening the nation’s economic resilience and fostering sustainable development within the local tourism ecosystem.

  • Teachers’ union president says he is disappointed by stalled contract talks

    Teachers’ union president says he is disappointed by stalled contract talks

    The Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers (A&BUT) has voiced significant discontent regarding the prolonged delay in initiating crucial contract discussions with government authorities. Union President Casroy Charles revealed his profound disappointment during a recent broadcast interview, highlighting that formal proposals for a new collective bargaining agreement were submitted over seven months ago in June 2025, yet substantive negotiations have failed to commence as of January 2026.

    Charles emphasized the recurring nature of these delays within the bargaining process, noting that the previous agreement covering the 2018-2024 period was finalized merely months before its expiration in 2024. This pattern of last-minute negotiations has created persistent challenges for educators, with Charles stating that ‘negotiating a protracted period has always been problematic’ and regrettably ‘become the norm’ for contracts covering periods that have already passed.

    Supporting these concerns, General Secretary Sharon Clifford Kelsick confirmed the union has repeatedly communicated with government officials through written correspondence seeking to initiate discussions for the 2025-2026 agreement. Kelsick emphasized that best practices dictate negotiations should commence well before contract expiration, ideally early in the preceding year, rather than during the final year of the existing agreement.

    Both union leaders warned that continued delays risk perpetuating a cycle of retroactive settlements and prolonged uncertainty for teachers. Despite maintaining communication with the Chief Establishment Officer, the union expresses growing concern over the lack of progress. Charles affirmed the union’s commitment to pursuing timely negotiations, stating ‘We will stick at it’ while expressing hope that future bargaining processes would demonstrate improved efficiency and foresight.

  • Teachers’ union flags security gaps, unpaid allowances, delayed back pay

    Teachers’ union flags security gaps, unpaid allowances, delayed back pay

    Educators in Antigua and Barbuda are confronting persistent systemic failures as unresolved contractual disputes continue to undermine the nation’s educational infrastructure. The Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers (ABUT) has escalated its demands for governmental action, highlighting critical deficiencies in campus security, delayed salary adjustments, and uncompensated travel expenses for multi-campus instructors.

    Security vulnerabilities remain a paramount concern, with General Secretary Sharon Clifford Kelsick revealing that numerous schools operate without mandated protection despite contractual obligations. ‘We are not satisfied with the security issue at all,’ Kelsick stated during a recent media engagement, noting instances where educators arrive at facilities with either absent or insufficient security personnel. While some individual institutions have addressed concerns temporarily, the union emphasizes that comprehensive national-level resolution remains elusive under current collective bargaining agreements.

    Financial grievances compound the crisis, as retroactive salary payments continue to be distributed unevenly across the teaching workforce. Although partial disbursements occurred in December, many educators await full settlement despite governmental assurances of a January 31st deadline. Kelsick characterized the fragmented payment system as fundamentally unsatisfactory, stressing that ‘nobody really enjoys back pay when it comes in bits and pieces.’

    ABUT President Casroy Charles provided alarming financial context, estimating that resolving outstanding arrears would require approximately 4.5 months’ salary allocations. He further questioned whether departed or retired educators would receive owed compensation, highlighting administrative gaps in maintaining contact and banking information for former staff.

    The travel compensation crisis represents another dimension of the dispute, with Charles noting that teachers transporting themselves between multiple campuses using personal vehicles receive no reimbursement despite contractual provisions. The Ministry of Education has acknowledged this inequity yet has failed to implement practical solutions, leaving educators bearing unauthorized financial burdens.

    With negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement currently suspended, union leadership vows to intensify advocacy until all outstanding matters receive satisfactory resolution.

  • LETTER TO THE EDITOR: My experience with the US visa interview process as a Dominican

    LETTER TO THE EDITOR: My experience with the US visa interview process as a Dominican

    A recent firsthand account from a visa applicant reveals the practical implementation of the Trump administration’s stringent visa policies targeting Caribbean nations with Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) programs. The applicant, a Dominican citizen with previous travel compliance to the United States, documented their experience during a January 2026 appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Barbados.

    Despite meticulous preparation including research on interview techniques and gathering supporting documentation such as job letters and bank statements, the encounter proved unexpectedly brief and ultimately unsuccessful. The approximately three-minute interview consisted of standard questions regarding travel history and compliance with previous visa terms, all of which the applicant answered satisfactorily based on their record of multiple previous visits to the U.S. without overstaying.

    Communication challenges marred the process, with the visa officer speaking quietly behind protective glass and through an unreliable intercom system. Critical wording—specifically the word “not” in the visa denial explanation—was unintelligible during the verbal exchange, creating confusion until written documentation clarified the outcome.

    The applicant received two yellow slips explaining the denial under current regulations, though the officer requested none of the prepared supporting materials that typically validate visa applications. The interaction concluded abruptly when the officer walked away without making eye contact, leaving the applicant with a sense that the denial was predetermined rather than based on individual merit.

    Notably, the embassy displayed unusually low activity, with no queue present—a significant departure from previous experiences at the facility. Conversations with successful applicants from non-restricted countries like Grenada suggested targeted differential treatment toward citizens from listed nations including Dominica and St. Lucia.

    The account suggests implementation of unspoken directives to visa officers to systematically deny applications from certain countries despite more nuanced public communications. The new bond requirement scheduled to take effect January 21, 2026, for Dominican citizens adds another layer of restriction to the visa process.

    This experience serves as both documentation and warning to citizens of affected countries regarding the current visa environment, suggesting that applications from these nations face effectively insurmountable barriers regardless of individual qualifications or preparation.

  • Residents in western Jamaica to receive skills training in construction through BRIDGE initiative

    Residents in western Jamaica to receive skills training in construction through BRIDGE initiative

    KINGSTON, Jamaica—A transformative workforce development program is launching across four Jamaican parishes to address both unemployment and hurricane recovery needs. The Building Resilience and Inspiring Development through Guided Experience (BRIDGE) initiative will provide comprehensive construction training to 200 unemployed individuals from St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. James, and Hanover.

    Education, Skills, Youth and Information Minister Senator Dana Morris Dixon unveiled the program during a ceremonial event held in partnership with the Jamaica Society for the Blind. The initiative represents a strategic response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, targeting communities that suffered severe impacts.

    Participants will gain practical expertise through immersive on-site training at active reconstruction projects. The curriculum encompasses essential construction disciplines including roof repair techniques, steel reinforcement installation, and masonry work. Instruction will be delivered by HEART/NSTA Trust-certified trainers supplemented by international technical experts through global partnerships.

    Beyond skill development, the program provides financial support through monthly stipends of J$65,000 to enable participation. Minister Dixon specifically emphasized inclusive programming, urging administrators to actively integrate persons with disabilities into the training cohort. “We need to ensure disabled community members can participate meaningfully in such developmental programs,” she stated, highlighting the initiative’s commitment to equitable access.

    The BRIDGE program represents a dual-purpose intervention addressing both workforce development and disaster recovery objectives while promoting social inclusion in Jamaica’s rebuilding efforts.

  • ASJA Girls’ Sando spike to three more wins in SSVL

    ASJA Girls’ Sando spike to three more wins in SSVL

    The Eastern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Tacarigua witnessed exceptional volleyball prowess on January 13, 2026, as ASJA Girls’ College San Fernando’s under-15 squad delivered a stunning performance in the Secondary Schools Volleyball League (SSVL). The team achieved a remarkable triple victory, winning all matches in straight sets without conceding a single game.

    Demonstrating absolute dominance, ASJA’s under-15 players overwhelmed El Dorado West Secondary with a decisive 25-6, 25-6 triumph. They continued their commanding performance against St Joseph’s Convent Port of Spain (SJCPoS) with a 25-6, 25-10 victory, and concluded their impressive run with a 25-13, 25-7 win over St Joseph’s Convent St Joseph.

    This outstanding achievement followed equally impressive results from ASJA’s under-17 team, which secured two victories during the tournament’s opening day on January 12, establishing the school as an early powerhouse in both age divisions.

    In other matches, St Joseph’s Convent Port of Spain displayed remarkable resilience after dropping the first set 18-25 against their sister school St Joseph’s Convent St Joseph. The SJCPoS team mounted a strong comeback, taking the subsequent sets 25-15 and 15-4 to claim a 2-1 match victory. SJCPoS later earned a straight-sets win against El Dorado West Secondary (25-16, 25-20), though El Dorado put up a spirited resistance throughout the contest.

    El Dorado West Secondary concluded the competition day without any victories, suffering an additional defeat against St Joseph’s Convent St Joseph (25-14, 25-12), which secured their sole win during the intensely competitive tournament.

    The current SSVL season follows International School of Port of Spain’s capture of the girls’ under-15 championship title in the previous year, setting the stage for an exciting competitive season ahead.

  • Red Force women seal 16-run win over Windwards in T20 Blaze

    Red Force women seal 16-run win over Windwards in T20 Blaze

    In a remarkable display of spin bowling prowess, Trinidad and Tobago women’s cricket team secured their inaugural victory at the Cricket West Indies T20 Blaze tournament on January 15th. The match, held at Arnos Vale Playing Field in Kingstown, St Vincent, witnessed TT defend a modest total of 95/7 by bowling out Windward Islands for 79 with just three deliveries remaining.

    The victory was orchestrated primarily by the spin duo of veteran off-spinner Anita Mohammed and emerging talent Samara Ramnath. Mohammed, drawing from her extensive experience as former Red Force skipper, delivered a masterclass with figures of 3/10, while Ramnath complemented brilliantly with 3/12. Their combined effort dismantled Windwards’ batting lineup after they appeared comfortably positioned at 58/5 with eight overs remaining.

    TT’s batting performance initially seemed concerning as their top order collapsed dramatically, managing only 18 runs collectively from the first five batters. At a precarious 39/6 after 12 overs, the match seemed slipping away until Mohammed (29*) and Lee-Ann Kirby (28) staged a crucial 54-run partnership that ultimately proved match-winning. Kirby later contributed with the ball as well, claiming 2/8.

    In parallel tournament action, Barbados women continued their dominant run with a second consecutive victory, defeating Jamaica by six wickets. Chasing Jamaica’s 110/6, built on contributions from Abigail Bryce and Rashada Williams (both 33), Barbados reached 111/4 with three overs to spare thanks to openers Eboni Brathwaite (36) and Tristan Holder (23).

    The tournament resumes on January 17th with TT facing Leeward Islands, Barbados taking on Windwards, and Jamaica meeting Guyana.

  • Holders Acono Sauce storm into Norman Windball semis

    Holders Acono Sauce storm into Norman Windball semis

    The 2025/26 Norman Windball Cricket League quarterfinals delivered thrilling performances and decisive victories, headlined by reigning champions Acono Sauce’s commanding advance. On January 11 at Buggy Haynes recreation ground in Tacarigua, Acono Sauce delivered an emphatic 85-run triumph against Supersonic to secure their premier division semifinal berth.

    Acono’s batting lineup demonstrated formidable power, amassing 148 for six within their allotted 12 overs. Opening batsman Hanuman Moonsammy spearheaded the charge with a explosive 63-run performance, receiving substantial support from Raj Persad (23), Sarvesh Dindial (21 not out), and Ariz Khan (17). Supersonic’s response proved inadequate as they struggled to 63 for seven, with only Christopher Calderon (16) and James Sooknarine (10) reaching double figures. Joshua Ramrattan’s bowling excellence (three for 15) effectively dismantled Supersonic’s batting order.

    CSK mirrored this dominance with a crushing 68-run victory against More Fire International. Avian Mejias and Imtiaz Mohammed both contributed 24 runs to establish CSK’s total of 109 for five. More Fire’s batting collapsed spectacularly, managing merely 41 for eight against CSK’s relentless bowling attack led by Keron Noreiga’s impressive three for five figures.

    The tournament witnessed contrasting contests as Big Drip Heavy Hitters edged Savannah Crew Sports by ten runs in a tense low-scoring encounter. Israel Mangaroo’s 35 runs propelled Heavy Hitters to 77 for seven, ultimately defending their total by restricting Savannah Crew to 67 for seven.

    Minibar Reload secured their semifinal position with a 22-run win over Poison Sports. Kadeem Williams (34 not out) and Kapil Harry (22 not out) orchestrated a crucial 54-run partnership to set a competitive target of 82 for three. Poison Sports faltered at 60 for five, overwhelmed by Kyle Dookran’s extraordinary bowling performance of three for two from just two overs.

    The competition’s best-of-the-rest bracket saw Knock Squad defeat Backyard Ballers by 31 runs on January 10, highlighted by Kelvin Danpatia’s spectacular six for 14 bowling figures. The tournament continues with best-of-the-rest semifinals scheduled for January 17-18, while premier division semifinals are set for January 25.