Carib Scope

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  • UWI Five Islands Says Emancipation Means Protecting Caribbean Genius for Future Generations

    UWI Five Islands Says Emancipation Means Protecting Caribbean Genius for Future Generations

    As Antigua and Barbuda prepares to mark Emancipation Day, The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus has issued a powerful 2026 message framing the holiday as more than a historical commemoration: it is a moment for national reflection, collective peace, and renewed commitment to ending the exploitation of Caribbean potential. Titled “The Price of Genius,” the message from Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal Professor Justin Robinson centers on a little-known 19th-century anecdote to anchor a broader argument about righting historical injustice and centering regional talent.

    Robinson opens with the story of Isaac, an enslaved man whose multiple skills were documented in an 1854 letter written by slave trader agent A.J. McElveen. In the note, McElveen lavished praise on Isaac’s proficiency across a wide range of trades: he was a trained carriage driver, a skilled painter, a talented craftsman, a practiced musician, and a capable cook. Despite acknowledging Isaac’s breadth of ability, McElveen reduced that exceptional talent to a market price, valuing Isaac at $1,500 for resale.

    This dehumanizing transaction is not an isolated historical footnote, the university emphasizes. Isaac’s experience mirrors that of millions of enslaved Africans brought to the Caribbean and the Americas, whose inherent intelligence, creative gifts, and learned skills were treated as tradable commodities to be inventoried, appraised, and sold for the profit of outside owners. “This is what Emancipation Day asks us to remember,” the message reads. “Not slavery as an abstraction, but slavery as an arithmetic, a system that could look genius in the face, acknowledge it, and still put a dollar figure on it.”

    Against this grim historical context, Robinson pushes back against the idea that this history of exploitation can define the people it targeted. For generations, he notes, enslaved Africans held fast to their core identities, preserving their family structures, native languages, spiritual traditions, musical heritage, and cultural practices against systemic erasure. That legacy of resilience, he argues, remains the foundation of modern Caribbean society today.

    For Robinson, UWI itself has a core mission rooted in correcting this historical harm: for centuries, Caribbean genius built wealth and prosperity for foreign powers rather than the region itself, and the university exists to reverse that injustice. “Every classroom at Five Islands Campus stands as an answer to that letter from Sumterville,” Robinson says. He urges students to approach their education not merely as a pathway to personal qualification, but as both a legacy inherited from the resilient generations that came before them, and a responsibility to lift their entire region forward.

    The message also extends recognition to the campus’s own faculty and staff, who work to build institutional and regional capacity in a context of limited resources. Robinson notes that even with structural constraints, the people of the Caribbean have consistently delivered extraordinary achievements, a testament to the untapped potential the university is working to nurture.

    While legal chattel slavery was formally ended by emancipation, Robinson stresses that the work of building true freedom remains incomplete across the region. “Freedom is the work of every generation, and our assignment is to free the Caribbean mind from the idea that we are too small to matter, or too dependent to act, and to build societies where no one’s genius is ever again someone else’s property,” he says.

    In closing, Robinson encourages both the UWI Five Islands Campus community and all residents of Antigua and Barbuda to observe this year’s Emancipation Day as two things: a celebration of the unbreakable resilience of Caribbean people, and a public commitment to building a future that honors the sacrifices of all who endured the violence of slavery.

  • Judge upholds cannabis restrictions as constitutional

    Judge upholds cannabis restrictions as constitutional

    In a landmark constitutional ruling that balances religious accommodation with public welfare priorities, a High Court judge has dismissed a legal challenge brought by a Rastafarian practitioner seeking to expand the rights to sacramental cannabis use in private homes. Paul Ras Simba Rock, represented by attorney Lalu Hanuman, argued that key provisions of the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act (DAPCA) were discriminatory, and claimed that location restrictions on permitted Rastafarian cannabis use outlined in the Sacramental Cannabis Act (SCA) unlawfully infringed on his constitutionally protected religious freedom.

    Delivering the final judgment, Justice Michelle Weekes rejected Rock’s core discrimination claim against the DAPCA, noting that the legislation applies uniformly across all populations, and that the SCA already creates an explicit carve-out that benefits Rastafarians rather than targeting the community for adverse treatment.

    Justice Weekes acknowledged in her ruling that Sections 6, 8, and 11 of the DAPCA do, on their face, interfere with constitutional protections enshrined in Sections 11 and 19 of the national constitution — including the right to home privacy and freedom of conscience — and that these restrictions carry disproportionate weight for Rastafarians, for whom cannabis holds central sacramental importance in religious practice. However, she emphasized that this superficial interference does not automatically render the contested provisions unconstitutional.

    “On the evidence before the court, the state has demonstrated that the restrictions imposed by the DAPCA are reasonably required to protect public health, maintain public order, preserve public safety, and prevent criminal activity,” Justice Weekes wrote. “The claimant has failed to overcome this public interest justification, or prove that the provisions are not reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.”

    The judgment clarified that the SCA already establishes a limited, legal exception permitting Rastafarians to use cannabis for sacramental purposes exclusively in officially approved places of worship. Justice Weekes stressed that the fact the exception does not extend to private home use or private cultivation, as Rock requested, does not make the underlying legislation unconstitutional. “It is not this court’s role to create new statutory provisions or rewrite existing legislation that Parliament has enacted,” she noted. “That legislative authority rests exclusively with the elected parliamentary body.”

    In his original challenge, Rock alleged multiple violations of his constitutional rights, including the right to personal liberty, privacy, equal protection under the law, freedom of conscience, expression, assembly and association, freedom of religion, and protection from discrimination based on creed — violations he claimed ran counter to both domestic constitutional provisions and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

    The court accepted that the DAPCA’s prohibitions on cannabis possession, cultivation, and non-medical use engage the rights outlined in Article 11 of the constitution, and that the law intrudes on home privacy because its prohibitions apply even to private, personal use within a person’s own residence. It also formally acknowledged that cannabis plays a central role in Rastafarian worship, meditation, healing, and spiritual observance.

    Supporting the state’s defense, witness testimony from senior law enforcement and mental health experts — including Deputy Police Commissioner Erwin Boyce, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist Brian MacLachlan, and senior psychiatry lecturer Dr Maisha Emmanuel — outlined compelling public health and crime prevention justifications for maintaining strict cannabis regulation.

    Addressing the challenge to the SCA’s limited scope, Justice Weekes explained that the SCA does not itself criminalize private home cannabis use: that prohibition comes from the DAPCA, while the SCA acts to relax the general ban by creating a permitted regime for sacramental use, possession, cultivation, preparation, storage and disposal in approved settings. “The question is not whether the SCA itself criminalizes the claimant’s preferred religious practices, but whether the accommodation it creates is so narrow or burdensome as to amount to unconstitutional interference,” she said. “The court is not satisfied that this is the case.”

    She added that while the claimant may be disappointed the exemption does not extend to private homes, that disappointment does not turn the existing accommodation into an unconstitutional ban, and the court has no authority to expand the statutory exemption beyond what Parliament has written into law. On the claim of violated religious freedom under Article 19, Justice Weekes ruled that the state had sufficiently justified the DAPCA’s limitations by linking broad prohibitions to core public health, public safety and crime reduction goals, and that Rock had failed to prove the limitation was unreasonable in a democratic society.

    The judge also dismissed the discrimination claim brought under Article 23, noting that Rock had not presented evidence showing Rastafarians receive less favorable treatment than followers of other faiths in comparable circumstances. “The DAPCA’s contested provisions apply generally to all people, regardless of religious creed,” Justice Weekes explained. “Any disproportionate impact on Rastafarians arises because cannabis is sacramental to their faith, not because the law targets or classifies people based on their religion. And as we have found, this impact is justified by overriding public health, public order and crime prevention priorities.”

    She further emphasized that the SCA explicitly prioritizes Rastafarians by creating a statutory accommodation that is not available to followers of other religions or the general public. “A limited benefit is not the same as less favorable treatment under anti-discrimination law,” she concluded.

  • Flow Makes Carnival Dreams Come True for Latest “We Live For This” Summer Campaign Winner

    Flow Makes Carnival Dreams Come True for Latest “We Live For This” Summer Campaign Winner

    For many people, a trip to a world-famous carnival is a long-held dream that feels just out of reach — too expensive, too far, too packed into a busy schedule to ever become a reality. But this summer, one lucky winner got to watch that years-old fantasy turn into an unforgettable real-life experience, thanks to Flow’s popular annual “We Live For This” summer campaign.

    Flow, a brand built around connecting with community members and celebrating life’s most joyful moments, launched the “We Live For This” campaign earlier this year with a clear mission: to give ordinary people the chance to check a long-coveted experience off their bucket lists. Thousands of participants from across the country submitted their own personal dream experiences, sharing stories of why the specific event or trip meant so much to them. After weeks of public voting and careful judging by the campaign’s organizing committee, the winner was selected for their heartfelt story about a lifelong desire to attend the iconic carnival.

    In the lead-up to the trip, the brand arranged every detail to tailor the experience to the winner’s preferences, from secured event passes to accommodation and curated activities that aligned with what the winner had described in their entry. When the winner arrived at the carnival, they were able to immerse themselves in the vibrant parades, live performances, savory street food, and electric atmosphere that make the event famous around the globe.

    Campaign organizers say the “We Live For This” initiative is more than just a promotional contest — it’s a way for Flow to reaffirm its commitment to putting customers’ dreams first. “We created this campaign because we believe that everyone deserves a chance to experience the things that make life feel rich and meaningful,” said a Flow spokesperson in a statement following the trip. “Seeing this winner’s reaction when their dream came alive is exactly why we do this. It’s not just about giving away a prize; it’s about creating memories that last a lifetime.”

    Local community members have praised the campaign for its focus on personal, meaningful experiences over generic giveaways, and organizers have already confirmed that the program will return next summer, giving more people the chance to share their own dreams and potentially see them fulfilled.

  • “You Cannot Leave Public Service to Politicians”: PSU on SARA

    “You Cannot Leave Public Service to Politicians”: PSU on SARA

    On July 31, 2026, just hours after Belize Prime Minister John Briceño tabled the long-awaited Revenue Authority Bill (SARA) before the House of Representatives, tax administration officials gathered with leaders of the Public Service Union (PSU) for an emergency consultation. The meeting was held to review the proposed legislative text, unpack its potential impacts on public sector workers, and formalize collective concerns ahead of the bill’s next debate and vote in the National Assembly.

    Briceño has framed SARA as a landmark modernization effort designed to streamline Belize’s outdated tax administration system. The proposal includes a flexible transition framework for existing tax department employees: currently serving officers can choose to transfer their employment to the newly created independent revenue authority, retain their positions within the general public service, or opt for early retirement with all previously accrued employment benefits preserved.

    But PSU President Dean Flowers argues that the process of shaping public sector reform cannot be left exclusively to political actors. Speaking to assembled workers following the consultation, Flowers pointed to the high-profile “Mira Millions” corruption scandal as evidence of the risks of sidelining frontline public servants from policy design. If politicians are allowed to dictate the terms of public service restructuring unilaterally, he argued, the country will only see a repeat of the systemic problems that have long plagued the sector, now laid bare by the ongoing corruption investigation.

    Flowers emphasized that the union’s core objective is to shape the final version of the legislation before it is formalized, regardless of whether the final vote is held in October or delayed to meet the demands of the workers who will operate the new tax system. He noted that the strong turnout for the consultation reflects a growing collective awareness among public officers about the importance of their participation.

    “Right now, there is a real sense of pride across our union,” Flowers said. “The turnout we saw today proves that our members understand that public service must be shaped by the people who work in it. Those responsible for delivering public services have to be an integral part of the decision-making process – if they are excluded, the reform simply will not work.”

  • Government Introduces Bill to Create SARA

    Government Introduces Bill to Create SARA

    On July 31, 2026, the Briceño administration of Belize took a major step toward overhauling the country’s tax governance by formally tabling the Revenue Authority Bill, legislation that would create the long-planned Semi-Autonomous Revenue Authority (SARA), at the nation’s National Assembly.

    Prime Minister John Briceño framed the proposed agency as a cornerstone of his government’s efforts to modernize Belize’s tax administration system, emphasizing repeatedly that the reform will not raise tax rates for businesses or ordinary citizens. Before the draft legislation arrived for consideration in the House of Representatives, Briceño noted, a multi-stakeholder review committee carried out extensive assessments of the proposal. That committee included representatives from three key groups: the Public Service Union, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ensuring that voices from both labor and the private sector were heard during the drafting process.

    The core goal of the legislative reform is to address long-standing structural challenges that have hampered the country’s current tax service, Briceño explained. For years, the Belize Tax Service has struggled with prolonged recruitment delays, limited flexibility to hire and retain specialized professional talent, and an outdated performance appraisal system that fails to support results-driven work. The Prime Minister stressed that this critique of the system is not a condemnation of current public servants. “This is in no way a criticism of our public service institution or our public service officers; rather, it recognises that revenue administration have particular skills that they need, as do other specialised public bodies such as the Central Bank of Belize and the Judiciary,” he said.

    To address concerns raised by current public sector employees who would be affected by the transition to the new semi-autonomous structure, the legislation offers three clear pathways for affected workers, with all earned retirement benefits fully protected. Staff can choose to retire early, apply for positions within the newly established SARA, or transfer to other roles within the wider public service. Briceño emphasized that the framework is designed to protect worker rights rather than erode them. “This bill gives public officers clear options. The purpose is not to diminish earned rights, but to build and obtain the special capacity Belize needs, while treating every officer fairly,” he stated.

    Reiterating the government’s commitment to not increasing tax burdens, Briceño pushed back against potential misinformation surrounding the bill. “And before anyone tries to be reckless, let me state, this bill does not increase taxes. It will not place a heavier burden on businesses and citizens already meeting their obligations. This bill seeks to make administration fairer, faster, more consistent, more effective and more efficient,” he said.

    Under the proposed structure, SARA will operate with a new, merit-focused recruitment system designed to attract and retain specialized talent, alongside clearer performance standards and expanded investment in professional development. The authority will be led by a qualified chief executive officer and overseen by a seven-member advisory board. The bill is now set to move through the standard legislative process for debate and voting in the National Assembly.

  • One-Third of Government Spending Goes to Wages, Can a $8M Loan Fix It?

    One-Third of Government Spending Goes to Wages, Can a $8M Loan Fix It?

    On July 31, 2026, the Briceño administration of Belize tabled a critical $8 million loan motion before the House of Representatives, aiming to address a long-running fiscal challenge: the public sector wage bill that now consumes more than one-third of the country’s total government spending.

    According to official projections, the public sector wage allocation for the 2025–2026 fiscal year will account for 33.2% of total government expenditure, equal to roughly 8% of Belize’s national Gross Domestic Product. While the current administration has already achieved a major fiscal milestone—cutting the country’s public debt ratio from 120% to 60% of GDP—Prime Minister John Briceño acknowledged that unsustainable wage bill growth remains a persistent hurdle to long-term fiscal stability.

    The proposed 25-year loan from the Inter-American Development Bank will fund a broad public sector modernization project, with a total estimated cost of $9 million. The Belizean government will contribute $1 million in local counterpart funding to the initiative, which will be executed by the Ministry of Public Service and Disaster Risk Management, led by Minister Henry Charles Usher.

    Briceño framed the initiative as a forward-looking investment rather than a short-term patch. The project’s core goals are to cut unnecessary public expenditure, strengthen strategic workforce planning across the public sector, drive digital transformation in human resources management, integrate data analytics into public service HR operations, and build institutional capacity for HR governance across all central government agencies.

    For Usher, the funding marks a key milestone in the government’s ongoing push to bring Belize’s outdated public service into the 21st century through systematic reform and modernization. “We have been undergoing a series of reforms, a series of modernisation… a series of initiatives to bring the public service into the 21st century and this project will take us there,” Usher said of the planned overhaul.

    Under the agreed loan terms, Belize will benefit from a 66-month grace period before the first principal repayment is due. The full $8 million principal will be repaid through 39 semi-annual installments, each totaling approximately $205,128.21.

    While opposition leader Tracy Panton has announced her conditional support for the loan motion, she has called for full transparency throughout the project’s implementation. Panton emphasized that her backing depends on the government providing regular, detailed updates to ensure the investment delivers tangible, lasting change to Belize’s public sector rather than temporary fiscal relief.

  • 600 households to get backyard farming boost

    600 households to get backyard farming boost

    Barbados is set to expand domestic food production and reignite public interest in agriculture through a landmark new community farming program that will directly benefit 600 households across the island starting next month, Minister of Agriculture Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight confirmed in a formal announcement Friday. Unveiled during the closing ceremony for the Ministry of Agriculture’s annual Hearts and Minds summer camp, the initiative will operate under the government’s existing One Family Programme, kicking off with three strategically designed demonstration farms before a nationwide rollout to participating households and local communities.

    Dr. Munro-Knight emphasized that the demonstration sites are intended to hand agricultural innovation back to local communities, arguing that Barbadians will rekindle their connection to farming when given the space, resources, and autonomy to lead small-scale growing projects. One of the three demonstration farms will be dedicated exclusively to showcasing cutting-edge modern agricultural technology, designed to introduce community members and young people to advanced, sustainable growing methods that challenge outdated perceptions of farming work.

    Under the program’s household-focused component, participating families will receive all the core resources required to establish their own backyard growing operations at no cost, including starter seedlings, portable grow bags, raised grow boxes, chicken coops for small-scale poultry production, and ongoing on-demand technical support from Ministry of Agriculture specialists. The program does not limit production to small herbs and leafy greens; participating households are encouraged to grow staple crops including sweet potato, raise poultry for meat and eggs, and even pursue small-scale aquaculture, tailored to their household’s needs and available space.

    This community farming push forms a central pillar of the Ministry of Agriculture’s broader Hearts and Minds strategy, a long-term policy agenda designed to re-engage Barbadians in the agricultural sector and boost participation, especially among the nation’s youth. Currently, nearly 200 post-secondary students from leading local institutions – including Barbados Community College, the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology, and the University of the West Indies – are completing structured internships across different departments of the Ministry of Agriculture to expose them to the full scope of career opportunities in the sector.

    Dr. Munro-Knight noted that these internships are a key step to dismantle the persistent myth that agriculture only consists of manual farm work, highlighting the wide range of specialized professional roles in the sector, from veterinary services and animal nutrition to tissue culture research, soil science, and plant protection – all critical components of a functional, resilient national food system.

    To further expand youth access to industry exposure, the minister also announced a suite of international training scholarships for young Barbadians interested in agricultural careers. Approximately five full scholarships will fund study and placement in Europe to focus on agribusiness, with additional scholarships available for training programs in Canada and Florida targeted at addressing skills gaps in the domestic sector.

    Dr. Munro-Knight framed investment in youth agricultural training as a non-negotiable priority for Barbados’ long-term national development. “Agriculture is critical for our national development, and if we say that, then we need to invest in the future of that national development,” she explained, adding that engaging young people today creates a ripple effect that will strengthen the sector for generations to come.

    In the coming weeks, Ministry of Agriculture officials will launch a series of statewide consultations with existing small-scale and commercial farmers to review the ministry’s new strategic plans, listen to on-the-ground challenges facing local producers, and incorporate farmer feedback into policy adjustments. Dr. Munro-Knight reaffirmed the ministry’s deep, foundational commitment to transforming Barbados’ agricultural sector and scaling up domestic production to meet the nation’s long-term food security goals.

  • Nauru herneemt traditionele naam Naoero en eert zijn erfgoed

    Nauru herneemt traditionele naam Naoero en eert zijn erfgoed

    The tiny Pacific island nation previously known globally as Nauru has formally restored its traditional indigenous name, officially becoming the Republic of Naoero in a historic move that reverses a colonial-era alteration and advances the preservation of the country’s unique cultural heritage.

    As the world’s third smallest sovereign state, ranking only behind Vatican City and Monaco, Naoero is home to roughly 12,000 people. The current name change traces its origins back more than a century, to the period of European colonial rule over the island. Colonizers altered the original indigenous name Naoero to Nauru because they found the traditional pronunciation difficult to master. In the local Dorerin Naoero language, Naoero translates directly to “our island”, carrying centuries of collective history and cultural meaning for the indigenous population.

    The formal transition follows a constitutional amendment approved by the country’s parliament back in May. On Wednesday evening, President David Adeang announced via social media that a planned national referendum on the name change had been canceled. He explained that the change does not introduce a new identity that requires popular approval, but instead formally recognizes the identity that the Naoero people have held since long before colonial intervention.

    “The decision to cancel the referendum came after careful consideration,” Adeang stated. “Naoero is not a new name seeking public acceptance. It has always been the identity of our people, it is already featured on our national coat of arms, and it is used in daily conversation across our communities. Above all, it is fully permitted under our existing constitution.”

    Under the new official designation, the country’s short formal name is now Naoero, and residents will be referred to as dei-Naoero. The government has already notified all relevant international organizations and foreign governments of the change, and the gradual transition to update official documents, global references, and state communications is already underway.

    Despite the country’s small geographic size and population, the name change carries profound symbolic and practical significance for the indigenous community’s efforts to preserve its cultural identity. Adeang emphasized that the move is not a political statement, but a step rooted in cultural stewardship and intergenerational heritage protection. “This initiative is intended to preserve the legacy of our ancestors and strengthen the cultural foundation we pass on to our children,” he said.

    The restoration of the traditional name aligns with broader government efforts to safeguard Naoero’s endangered indigenous language. Dorerin Naoero is currently classified as “severely endangered” by UNESCO. While the language remains in daily use within local communities, it has not historically been a standard part of the national education curriculum. Last year, however, the government passed legislation to integrate the language into school curricula in the coming years, marking another major milestone in protecting and revitalizing the country’s indigenous cultural heritage.

    Taken together, the name change and the move to expand indigenous language education highlight the small island nation’s ongoing commitment to preserving its unique cultural identity in the face of historical colonial erasure and the homogenizing pressures of modern globalization.

  • Saint Lucia loses respected business leader Evaristus Jn Marie

    Saint Lucia loses respected business leader Evaristus Jn Marie

    The Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia is mourning the loss of one of its most prominent cross-sector leaders, Evaristus Jn Marie, who passed away Friday at 67 after a period of illness that was never publicly disclosed.

    Over a professional career that stretched across more than 30 years, Jn Marie built a reputation as a steady, respected leader across both private business and national public institutions. At the time of his death, he held multiple critical leadership posts: he served as chairman of two major national entities, the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) and the Bank of Saint Lucia. He also held a board seat at the East Caribbean Financial Holding Company Ltd, acted as managing director for his family’s enterprise Jn Marie & Sons Ltd., and served as a board director for the Saint Lucia Electricity Services Limited, widely known as LUCELEC.

    Beyond his corporate and institutional roles, Jn Marie emerged as a leading voice for the island’s fuel retail sector during his tenure as president of the Saint Lucia Petroleum Dealers Association. He regularly stepped into the public eye to advocate on behalf of local petroleum retailers, particularly during policy and pricing debates that directly impacted the sector’s stability and the livelihoods of its operators.

    Jn Marie also dedicated years to formal public service, serving as an independent senator before rising to the position of Deputy President of the Senate of Saint Lucia.

    Following the announcement of his passing, tributes have poured in from across the island’s political and business communities. Among those paying respects is House Speaker Claudius Francis, a lifelong friend of Jn Marie and a former classmate from St Mary’s College. Francis remembered Jn Marie not just as a respected leader, but as a trusted confidant whose commitment to serving the Saint Lucian public went far beyond the titles he held.

    In a written tribute, Francis noted: “He gave himself to public service with a seriousness that marked him as a man of immense value.”

    Francis reflected on Jn Marie’s consistent willingness to answer calls to serve his country, highlighting that his guidance was always steady, his loyalty to the people of Saint Lucia never wavered, and his leadership was never motivated by personal acclaim. Instead, Francis emphasized, Jn Marie’s work was driven by a core goal: to ensure that every institution he served operated in the best interest of the Saint Lucian public.

  • Champions League 2026 : Victory against El Salvador, Haiti qualifies for the quarter-finals (video)

    Champions League 2026 : Victory against El Salvador, Haiti qualifies for the quarter-finals (video)

    The 2026 CONCACAF U-20 Champions League hosted in Puebla, Mexico, delivered a pivotal moment for Haiti’s young men’s national team, dubbed the Grenadiers, on July 31. In their third and final Group A stage match against El Salvador’s Cuscatlecos at Estadio Universitario BUAP, Haiti pulled off a tense 2-1 victory to punch their ticket to the tournament’s quarterfinal round, marking their second win of the group stage.

    Cuban head coach Raul Gonzalez Triana opted for consistency in his game-day selection, fielding the exact starting eleven that secured a dramatic 3-2 win over Cuba earlier in the group stage. The team lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, with goalkeeper Carlos Bré of Haiti’s Real Hope FA leading the backline, captained by Real Hope FA defender Arthur Alcimé. The starting squad featured a mix of domestic and international-based talent, with players plying their trade at clubs across Haiti, Jamaica, and the United States.

    The match got off to a strong start for Haiti, with forward Clavens Exantus breaking the deadlock in the 22nd minute. Exantus clinically converted a precision through ball from winger Emerson Laissé to put Haiti up 1-0 heading into halftime. The narrative shifted dramatically in the 56th minute, when midfielder Shaun A. Brun was shown a red card for a foul inside the penalty area, reducing Haiti to 10 men and handing El Salvador a golden equalizing opportunity. Salvadoran forward Christian Coreas made no mistake from the penalty spot, leveling the score at 1-1.

    Just 16 minutes later, second-half substitute D. Jacquet—who entered the match at the start of halftime to replace Nikolai Pierre—restored Haiti’s lead. Jacquet netted a well-placed header from the center of the penalty area off a rebounded attempt, putting Haiti ahead 2-1 in the 62nd minute. Haiti held on through the final 30 minutes of play, despite their numerical disadvantage, to secure the full three points.

    In additional substitutions made during the match, J. Ortiz replaced Clavens Exantus in the 60th minute, J. Anglade came on for Ramy Fabilus in the 84th minute, and J. Charles replaced Emerson Laissé in second-half stoppage time.

    After the conclusion of all Group A matches, the final group standings placed the United States atop the table with a perfect record of three wins from three matches, 11 goals scored and zero conceded, earning nine points. Haiti finished second with six points from two wins and one loss, having scored five goals and conceded six. Cuba claimed third place with three points, while El Salvador finished bottom of the group with zero points.

    As Group A’s second-place finisher, Haiti will advance to the quarterfinals, where they are scheduled to face Costa Rica’s Ticos at Puebla’s Cuauhtémoc Stadium on August 5, 2026 (the date may shift to August 4 pending final confirmation of group stage standings, which wrap up on August 1). A win in the quarterfinal will see Haiti qualify for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup, marking a potentially historic milestone for the nation’s youth football program.