Carib Scope

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  • Voluntary recall of specific batches of Grace Tropical Rhythms Fruit Punch

    Voluntary recall of specific batches of Grace Tropical Rhythms Fruit Punch

    Food manufacturer GraceKennedy Foods (GK Foods) has launched a voluntary recall for two specific batches of its 1-litre Grace Tropical Rhythms Fruit Punch, distributed across Barbados and multiple other international markets.

    The recall only targets products marked with two distinct best-before codes printed on the top of the packaging: BB JUL 21 27 L6 and BB JUL 22 27 L6. Company officials emphasize that the action is restricted exclusively to these two batches in the affected distribution regions, and no other sizes, batches, or flavor variations of the Grace Tropical Rhythms line are included, nor are any products sold in non-identified markets impacted.

    In an official public statement released by the company, GK Foods clarified that preliminary investigations and internal assessments have categorized the issue as a product quality deviation, not a threat to consumer food safety. To date, the company has not received any reports of illness, allergic reactions, or other adverse health events linked to consumption of the affected batches, and food safety experts do not expect negative health outcomes from using the product.

    Andrea Coy, Chief Executive Officer of GraceKennedy Foods, emphasized that protecting product quality and upholding consumer trust are core priorities for the brand. “Even though this is ultimately a quality concern rather than a safety hazard, we made the decision to move forward with a voluntary recall out of an abundance of caution,” Coy explained. “This step ensures every product available to our customers continues to meet the rigorous quality standards they have come to expect from Grace.”

    Coy added that the company has coordinated closely with wholesale distributors and retail partners across all affected markets to accelerate the removal of the recalled products from store shelves. She also extended a formal apology to consumers and business customers for the disruption caused by the recall process.

    GK Foods is advising all consumers in affected regions who have purchased the 1-litre Fruit Punch with the targeted best-before codes to avoid consuming the product. Customers can return the unconsumed product to their original point of purchase to receive a full refund or a replacement product of equal value.

  • King: Help girls become their best selves

    King: Help girls become their best selves

    As Guide Month officially gets underway, the top leader of the Girl Guides association has laid out a clear, people-centered vision for empowering young girls: meet every girl where she stands, and meet her unique needs to help her grow into the best version of herself.

    Chief Commissioner Jenifer King shared this message during an opening church service Sunday at James Street Methodist Church, marking the official start of the annual celebration. In her remarks, King emphasized that no two girls enter the Girl Guides movement from the same starting line, and a one-size-fits-all approach to development has no place in the organization.

    “Some girls walk through our doors already brimming with confidence, hungry to step into leadership roles, while others arrive quiet, still searching for their voice, or navigating unseen personal challenges,” King explained. “Our responsibility is not to expect every girl to start from the same place. Our responsibility is to meet her where she is, walk alongside her, and help her take the next step.”

    King framed personal growth not as changing who a girl is to fit a predefined mold, but as helping each individual unlock her own unique potential. Growth can take many different forms, she noted: for some, it means finding the courage to speak up in a group setting; for others, it means mastering a new skill, stepping outside their comfort zone to try something they have never attempted before, or even learning from a mistake and having the resilience to try again. For many girls, King said, growth ultimately means discovering leadership strengths within themselves that they never knew they had. And at its core, growth is often about having someone outside yourself believe in your capabilities until you are able to believe in yourself, she added.

    The Chief Commissioner also challenged adult guiders across the organization to reframe their approach, prioritizing individualized support that responds to each girl’s specific needs rather than pushing all members toward a single standard of progress. Going forward, King said, the Girl Guides association must remain committed to upholding its core guiding values while continuing to cultivate safe, inclusive spaces where every girl feels seen, valued, and empowered to grow on her own terms.

    “Our goal is not simply to prepare girls for the future; it is to empower them to help shape that future,” King stressed. She also encouraged girls across the movement to actively reflect on their own growth journeys, identifying specific areas where they want to build themselves up – whether that is greater confidence, more courage, stronger relationships, deeper faith, or more effective leadership skills.

    As Guide Month gets underway, King expressed her hope that the celebration will serve as a catalyst for positive change across the entire community: for participating girls, for volunteer guiders, and for the association as a whole. She said she expects the month to be a period of new discovery, renewed courage, growing confidence, and expanded opportunity for everyone involved in the Girl Guides movement.

  • Saint Lucia’s Geothermal push gains steam

    Saint Lucia’s Geothermal push gains steam

    The Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia is pressing forward with a major geothermal energy exploration initiative, with field work underway across three rural communities as officials work to assess whether the country can tap underground heat reserves to generate domestic power.

    Speaking at his inaugural pre-Cabinet press conference after taking office as Physical Development and Public Utilities Minister, Keithson Charles confirmed that exploration activities are currently active in the Saltibus, Fond St Jacques and Belle Plaine regions, calling the World Bank-funded project significantly progressed. Currently, the initiative remains in the early exploratory phase, with the core goal of verifying whether the island’s subsurface geothermal resources have sufficient magnitude and accessibility to support scalable electricity production.

    To date, a full project implementation team has been assembled, and multiple rounds of community engagement have been completed with local residents and agricultural workers whose land falls within the exploration footprint. Charles noted that some site preparation work has required temporary and permanent relocation of local households, with exactly two families displaced to make way for survey activities. Under the project’s regulatory framework, replacement housing is already under construction for the affected households, and Charles emphasized that the government is adhering to strict guidelines to protect impacted communities, rather than pushing forward with development at the expense of local residents.

    Looking ahead, the next phase of the project will focus on core civil infrastructure upgrades, including the construction and expansion of access roads and the preparation of well pad sites that will host heavy drilling rigs once exploration advances. The competitive bidding process for civil construction and drilling contracts is already in its final stages, according to Charles, with winning contractors expected to be selected soon to move the project into the critical drilling phase. Once drilling is completed, officials will gain clear, on-the-ground data on the actual size and quality of Saint Lucia’s geothermal reserves, allowing for a final decision on whether to move to commercial energy production.

    Beyond the technical work of resource assessment, the long-term strategic goal of the geothermal project is to reduce Saint Lucia’s heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels, which has left the island’s electricity market vulnerable to wild swings in global oil prices. “We watch the constant volatility in fuel prices, which shift constantly, and we have been left exposed as victims of that volatility,” Charles explained. If the island is able to successfully develop geothermal energy, it would deliver major long-term stability to domestic electricity costs, he argued.

    “If we can harness a viable high-quality geothermal resource, we will be able to stabilize electricity costs for years to come,” Charles said, adding that while stabilized rates do not guarantee that power will be cheaper than current rates, it will deliver much-needed predictability for both households and businesses that plan their annual budgets around energy expenses. The geothermal project is just one plank of the government’s broader national strategy to transition to domestic renewable energy, Charles noted, adding that officials are also pursuing development of solar and wind energy to further cut the country’s dependence on imported fuel.

  • BAMP celebrates five decades with first Doctors’ Week

    BAMP celebrates five decades with first Doctors’ Week

    Five decades after its founding, the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) is marking a major milestone with the launch of its inaugural Doctors’ Week, an event designed to honor the work and sacrifices of physicians across the island’s entire healthcare system at a time of rapid transformation in the medical field.

    BAMP president Dr. Lynda Williams laid out the vision for the new celebration during opening remarks held at James Street Methodist Church on Sunday, emphasizing that the week-long observance fills a long-standing gap in recognizing the unique burden physicians carry. Beyond public recognition, Williams noted, the event also serves as a moment for the association to give back to the local community that has supported the professional growth of its members for half a century.

    In her address, Williams highlighted the sweeping shifts reshaping medical practice in the 21st century. From innovative educational pathways and the emergence of new medical schools to the growing integration of artificial intelligence into clinical care, the field looks far different today than it did when BAMP was founded. She also pointed to a widespread public trend that creates new challenges for practicing physicians: millions of patients now turn to search engines like Google to self-diagnose and research health conditions, often underestimating just how complex and nuanced the actual practice of medicine really is.

    Beyond industry shifts, Williams centered her remarks on the daily balancing act that defines every physician’s life. She reminded attendees that even casual caregivers – people who look after a single aging parent, aunt, or uncle – already understand how draining the work of prioritizing another person’s daily needs can be. For doctors, that level of responsibility is multiplied exponentially, as they juggle the constant demands of caring for dozens of patients with their own personal and family obligations.

    During the event, Williams formally presented a donation to Dr. Tanya Sargeant-Belle, a BAMP council member who leads the free medical clinic operating out of James Street Methodist Church, putting the association’s community-focused mission into action.

    Williams stressed that the celebration is intentionally inclusive, designed to recognize physicians working in every corner of Barbados’ health ecosystem, not just those in major hospital settings. The work of general practitioners, polyclinic staff, physicians serving in prisons, nursing homes, psychiatric facilities, and geriatric care centers all deserve recognition for their consistent, often uncelebrated service to the community, she added.

  • Minister Fernandez Encourages Job Seekers to Build Careers in Tourism

    Minister Fernandez Encourages Job Seekers to Build Careers in Tourism

    Against the backdrop of global efforts to recognize the contributions of tourism workers, Antigua and Barbuda has launched a targeted tourism industry job fair that bridges the gap between local job seekers and growing businesses in the hospitality and travel sector. Held throughout September, the annual month of observance for World Tourism Day (celebrated globally on September 27), the event created a unique in-person space for both sides of the labor market to connect directly, answering open questions that traditional remote hiring processes often leave unaddressed.

    During the fair, job seekers were able to hold one-on-one conversations with hiring managers to dive deep into key details: from the specific qualifications employers look for in new hires, to what entry-level candidates can expect from early roles, to the long-term career growth pathways available within Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism ecosystem. For many attendees considering entry into the sector, the event demystified common misconceptions that tourism jobs are only temporary or seasonal, a narrative industry leaders are actively working to change.

    Speaking with attendees throughout the day, Minister of Tourism (or senior industry official) Fernandez emphasized that tourism is fundamentally a people-powered industry, urging participants to view the sector as a viable space for long-term professional development. “Every interaction a visitor has, and every memorable experience they take home from Antigua and Barbuda, is shaped in some way by the people who work across this industry,” Fernandez shared with fair participants. “The quality of our workforce is what sets our destination apart from competitors across the Caribbean, and that strength cannot be taken for granted.”

    For participating tourism businesses, the fair filled a critical gap in ongoing workforce recruitment and development efforts that have picked up steam in the wake of global travel’s post-pandemic recovery. Many local hospitality, tour, and accommodation providers have struggled to rebuild and expand their teams after widespread labor disruptions in the 2020s, making direct in-person hiring events an effective tool to connect with engaged, motivated candidates.

    As Antigua and Barbuda continues its strategic push to expand and diversify its tourism offerings—adding new ecotourism experiences, luxury accommodation, and cultural attractions to draw a broader range of visitors year-round—Fernandez highlighted that sustained investment in people must remain a top policy and industry priority. The job fair, aligned with World Tourism Day’s focus on empowering tourism workers, serves as a cornerstone of that ongoing commitment to building a resilient, skilled, and supported local tourism workforce for years to come.

  • Former PNCR Leader Robert Corbin dies

    Former PNCR Leader Robert Corbin dies

    Veteran Guyanese political figure Robert Corbin, a former leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and one-time Opposition Leader of Guyana, has passed away at the age of 78, his family confirmed on Sunday.

    Charles Corbin, the late politician’s brother, verified that Robert Corbin died at a public hospital in Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana. Born Robert Herman Orlando Corbin, and widely known to his colleagues by the nickname “Brezhnev”, Corbin built a decades-long career in Guyanese politics that shaped the country’s modern opposition landscape.

    Corbin first entered political organizing in the 1970s, when he joined the PNCR’s youth wing. His rapid rise through the party ranks saw him earn a seat on the party’s Central Executive Committee before eventually taking on the role of PNCR General Secretary. In 2002, he stepped into the top leadership position of the PNCR, succeeding the late former Guyanese President Desmond Hoyte, and held the post until 2012.

    Between 1985 and 1992, Corbin served as Deputy Prime Minister of Guyana during the final PNC-led administration before the party’s defeat in the country’s first open, free and fair national election held in nearly three decades. After leaving government, Corbin remained a central figure in the country’s opposition movement. Both the PNCR and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) have long recognized Corbin and late WPA co-leader Dr Rupert Roopnaraine as the key architects behind the formation of A Partnership for National Unity, a major opposition coalition in Guyanese politics.

    Outside of his political career, Corbin was a practicing attorney-at-law. He is survived by his wife Carol, a retired senior officer who served at both the CARICOM Secretariat and Guyana’s Public Utilities Commission, and their five children.

  • Bus Driver Allegedly Pulls Gun on Passenger During Dispute

    Bus Driver Allegedly Pulls Gun on Passenger During Dispute

    A shocking public transit incident has sparked community concern after a local bus driver was accused of pulling a firearm on a passenger during a heated verbal dispute. Local law enforcement confirmed they received an emergency call about the altercation, which unfolded on a moving public bus carrying multiple other commuters during peak travel hours earlier this week.

    Witnesses on board the vehicle told responding officers that the conflict began over a routine passenger complaint, which quickly escalated into a shouting match between the two parties. According to eyewitness accounts, the driver suddenly pulled out a handgun and brandished it toward the passenger, leaving other people on the bus terrified and scrambling to distance themselves from the confrontation.

    No shots were fired during the incident, and no physical injuries were reported among any passengers or the driver. The transit agency that employs the driver has immediately suspended the worker without pay pending the outcome of the ongoing police investigation and an internal review. Agency officials released a statement emphasizing that the alleged behavior violates all of the organization’s safety policies and core values, and that they are committed to cooperating fully with law enforcement to ensure accountability.

    Police have confirmed that the case remains under active investigation, and that appropriate criminal charges will be filed if evidence supports the allegations against the driver. The incident has prompted renewed discussion about safety protocols for public transit workers and passengers, including screening policies for weapons on vehicles and de-escalation training for staff.

  • Three Apprentices Complete Maritime Training Programme

    Three Apprentices Complete Maritime Training Programme

    After six weeks of immersive, hands-on exploration of Antigua and Barbuda’s critical shipping and logistics ecosystem, three young emerging professionals have wrapped up their participation in the 2026 Maritime Apprenticeship Programme, a collaborative initiative designed to open new career pathways for youth in the island nation’s key maritime sector.

    The three apprentices – Dezante Maile, Myah Ward and Shekinah Hector – completed their rotational training on September 11, marking the milestone with an official certificate presentation ceremony hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority. Unlike traditional apprenticeship models that keep participants attached to a single employer for the full duration of training, this programme was structured to give learners a holistic 360-degree view of the entire maritime supply chain, rotating them through distinct segments of the industry to build broad foundational understanding.

    The training kicked off with a two-week placement at Tropical Shipping, where the apprentices gained firsthand insight into core shipping line operations and the behind-the-scenes work that keeps global trade flowing. From there, they moved to the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority, where they studied core port management processes and gained a broader overview of how the entire maritime sector operates within the country’s economic framework. Their final rotational segment placed them with private-sector logistics and distribution firms, where they explored the critical intersection of shipping, commercial activity and end-customer delivery: A.S. Bryden & Sons (Antigua) Ltd., Automotive Art and Chase Distributors Ltd. each hosted one apprentice for this stage of the programme.

    The apprenticeship is the result of a collaborative partnership between three key regional and local stakeholders: Tropical Shipping, the Port Management Association of the Caribbean (PMAC), and the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority. From its launch, the initiative has centered on a core mission: connecting young people to untapped career opportunities in shipping, logistics and allied maritime fields, addressing growing industry concerns about knowledge transfer to a new generation of workers.

    Tamara Lowe-James, Tropical Shipping’s Island Manager and the lead organizer of the programme, highlighted that facilitators observed marked growth in each participant over the six-week training period. “It was rewarding to see the growth, confidence and enthusiasm of the apprentices throughout the six weeks, and we are extremely grateful to all of our partners who helped make the programme possible,” she shared in remarks at the closing ceremony.

    The ceremony also shifted focus to the long-term work of sustaining the sector: what comes after young people get their first introduction to maritime careers. Darwin Telemaque, Chief Executive Officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority and Chairman of PMAC, used the closing event to call on established industry professionals to step into active mentorship roles for young people hoping to enter the field. His remarks centered on the urgent need for experienced workers to pass down institutional and practical knowledge to the next generation, equipping new entrants with the technical skills and professional confidence required to build long-term, successful careers in the maritime industry.

    This year’s 2026 programme builds on the success of a pilot initiative held in 2025, and organizers have already confirmed plans to continue the programme in 2027, opening the opportunity to an entirely new cohort of young people to gain firsthand, immersive experience in the maritime and logistics sector – an industry that forms the backbone of Antigua and Barbuda’s national economy.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Strengthens Health Partnership with PAHO at 63rd Directing Council

    Antigua and Barbuda Strengthens Health Partnership with PAHO at 63rd Directing Council

    High-level bilateral discussions between government representatives of Antigua and Barbuda and leadership of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), held on the sidelines of PAHO’s 63rd Directing Council, have resulted in a strengthened collaborative partnership focused on upgrading the Caribbean nation’s public health infrastructure.

    Three core priority areas anchored the productive talks, each targeted at closing long-standing gaps in Antigua and Barbuda’s health sector and expanding equitable access to life-saving care. First, stakeholders explored how cutting-edge tools including artificial intelligence and other emerging digital technologies can be integrated into national healthcare frameworks, boosting the speed and accuracy of public health responses while streamlining the delivery of routine and emergency health services to communities across the two-island nation.

    Second, negotiators advanced plans to expand Antigua and Barbuda’s access to two of PAHO’s key financing mechanisms: the Revolving Fund and the Strategic Fund. These platforms are designed to lower barriers for small member states seeking to purchase high-cost pharmaceuticals and specialized medical equipment, addressing cost-related barriers that have long limited access to critical care for Antigua and Barbuda’s population.

    Third, the two sides prioritized strengthening core primary healthcare services, the first point of contact for most patients seeking care. Talks centered on forging targeted partnerships and rolling out practical, context-appropriate strategies to resolve persistent gaps in the health workforce, ensuring that local primary care facilities across the country are staffed with qualified, well-supported personnel equipped to meet community health needs.

    The deepened partnership reflects Antigua and Barbuda’s ongoing strategic commitment to leveraging regional collaboration, expert technical guidance, and innovative solutions to build a more resilient, effective national health system. Ultimately, the collaboration aims to deliver measurable, long-term improvements in population health outcomes for all residents of the island nation.

  • Youth Parliamentarians Press for Teacher Payments and Caution Against AI Dependence

    Youth Parliamentarians Press for Teacher Payments and Caution Against AI Dependence

    A recent sitting of the Youth Parliament in Antigua and Barbuda has shone a bright spotlight on three of the most pressing challenges currently facing the nation’s education sector: delayed compensation for teachers, widespread out-of-pocket spending by educators on basic classroom supplies, and the growing risks of overreliance on artificial intelligence among students.

    Two participating youth parliamentarians brought personal and professional perspective to the debate, outlining urgent calls for action while also acknowledging incremental progress in expanding youth inclusion in national governance.

    For Cornelius, the representative for St. John’s City East, the most critical unaddressed issue is the large volume of retroactive payments still owed to teaching staff across the country. While she openly recognized the existing policy measures the government has rolled out to support the education workforce, she emphasized that resolving these outstanding wage obligations must stay at the top of the political priority list. In her address, Cornelius argued that public appreciation for educators’ work means little without tangible financial support: teachers cannot cover daily living costs and personal financial obligations on praise alone, and they are fully entitled to receive every cent of the compensation they have already earned.

    Taylor, another participant who drew from his own professional background as a practicing educator, shifted focus to the hidden financial burden that many teachers carry voluntarily just to keep their classrooms functional. He called out the widespread unspoken expectation that educators should dip into their own already modest salaries to purchase the basic books, stationery, learning tools and other materials necessary to deliver quality instruction to students.

    Beyond educator welfare, Taylor also turned attention to the fast-growing integration of artificial intelligence into student learning. While he acknowledged the tangible benefits of AI as a tool that can help students access new information and break down complex concepts more easily, he issued a clear warning against allowing the technology to replace independent, critical learning. His core concern is that many students are becoming overly dependent on pre-generated AI answers to complete assignments, skipping the rigorous process of building their own deep, foundational understanding of core academic subjects.

    Notably, the two youth delegates did not restrict their comments exclusively to criticism of existing education policy and governance. Both representatives highlighted what they view as meaningful progress under the current Gaston Browne administration, specifically noting that the government has opened new formal channels to incorporate young people’s perspectives and voices into national policy discussions.

    In all, their presentations struck a balanced tone: pairing measured praise for expanded youth participation with urgent calls for targeted action on long-standing unaddressed challenges. By leveraging the Youth Parliament platform, the delegates successfully elevated long-simmering concerns that affect both educators and students across Antigua and Barbuda, bringing these underdiscussed issues to the attention of national policymakers and the broader public.