Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • Mitchell warns us entry rules becoming ‘unforgiving’

    Mitchell warns us entry rules becoming ‘unforgiving’

    The Bahamas’ Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has issued a stark warning regarding increasingly stringent US immigration policies that are creating significant barriers for Bahamian citizens seeking entry to the United States. In recent discussions with American officials, including newly appointed US Ambassador Herschel Walker and former Chargé d’Affaires Kimberley Furnish, Minister Mitchell emphasized the critical nature of maintaining access between the two nations.

    Mitchell characterized the evolving immigration landscape as growing progressively ‘stricter’ and more ‘unforgiving’ with each passing week, noting that while access remains technically available, the practical hurdles continue to multiply. The minister highlighted the profound historical and demographic connections between the countries, pointing to the substantial Bahamian diaspora of over 57,000 individuals residing in the United States.

    The foreign minister referenced Robert Wilder’s novel ‘Wind From the Carolinas’ as a literary testament to an era when movement between The Bahamas and US was considerably more fluid and American visitors frequented Nassau with minimal restrictions. This historical contrast underscores the dramatic shift in contemporary border policies.

    Mitchell’s concerns extend beyond travel convenience to encompass fundamental economic considerations. The Bahamas faces persistent labor shortages across vital sectors including hospitality, construction, healthcare, and tourism—challenges that have prompted increased requests for work permits to supplement the domestic workforce. These economic realities create a complex bilateral dynamic where The Bahamas must balance its own labor needs while advocating for its citizens’ access to the United States.

    Contrary to assumptions about population decline, recent preliminary census data from the Bahamas National Statistical Institute reveals a 13.6 percent population increase between 2010 and 2022, primarily driven by net migration. The data further indicates that New Providence is experiencing more rapid growth compared to the Family Islands. Minister Mitchell concluded that without this migratory pattern, the Bahamian economy would face severe challenges, emphasizing the interconnected nature of immigration and economic stability.

  • TTFA president Kieron Edwards: We regained corporate, government trust in 2025

    TTFA president Kieron Edwards: We regained corporate, government trust in 2025

    In a transformative year for Caribbean football, Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) President Kieron Edwards has revealed how stringent financial reforms became the cornerstone of the organization’s dramatic resurgence in 2025. Through implementing rigorous transparency measures and strategic governance changes, the association successfully restored both corporate and governmental confidence in its operations.

    Edwards, speaking in a year-end interview with TTFA media on December 28, emphasized that his administration deliberately structured the executive board with financial expertise at its core. The strategic inclusion of multiple chartered accountants signaled the association’s commitment to fiscal responsibility from the highest levels of leadership.

    A pivotal development involved partnering with FIFA to install a dedicated financial consultant within the organization. This collaboration established a comprehensive audit system that ensures absolute accountability for all incoming funds. Corporate sponsors now receive detailed pre-investment expenditure plans and post-utilization reports, creating unprecedented transparency in how football funding is managed.

    The financial overhaul produced tangible results, with the TTFA securing major sponsorship agreements from prominent national companies including National Gas Company, bmobile, KFC, Stag, and Sunshine Snacks for the 2025-2026 period.

    Concurrently, the association fostered strengthened government relations, engaging promptly with newly appointed Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Phillip Watts following the April 28 government transition. This proactive approach yielded significant policy achievements, most notably the rapid passage of the ‘grandparent law’ that expands national team eligibility criteria.

    Infrastructure improvements complemented these administrative advances, with the Hasely Crawford Stadium’s home dressing room undergoing complete refurbishment. Edwards characterized these collective developments as ushering in ‘a new era of professionalism’ that positions Trinidad and Tobago football for sustained success in the modern sporting landscape.

  • Less first-class cricket leads to less mental strength

    Less first-class cricket leads to less mental strength

    The 1960/61 West Indies tour of Australia marked a transformative moment in cricket history, fundamentally altering the sport’s trajectory despite the Caribbean side’s 2-1 series defeat. This landmark engagement—featuring Test cricket’s first-ever tied match—rejuvenated public interest through the visitors’ electrifying style of play, contrasting sharply with the monotonous ‘Battle of the Snooze’ between Australia and England just two years prior.

    Captain Frank Worrell’s commitment to ‘natural West Indian cricket’ captivated Australian audiences to such extent that hundreds of thousands lined Melbourne’s streets to bid farewell to what became the most celebrated touring team in the nation’s cricketing history. This unprecedented popularity directly influenced England’s cricketing authorities to implement radical structural changes when welcoming the West Indies in 1963.

    Facing financial instability in county cricket, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) overhauled its system by accelerating West Indies’ return tour to 1966 instead of 1971 and introducing twin summer tours. The most significant reform came in 1968 with the abolition of archaic residency rules, permitting counties to employ two overseas players who could simultaneously represent their home nations. Thirteen of seventeen counties initially recruited West Indian talent, leveraging their attractive playing style to boost attendance and financial viability.

    This historical context highlights a stark contrast with contemporary challenges. Today’s Caribbean batsmen demonstrate diminished technical proficiency and mental resilience, attributes traditionally cultivated through first-class cricket’s rigorous demands. The T20 format’s dominance has created a generation unfamiliar with prolonged concentration against varied bowling strategies, where batsmen face temporary bowling threats rather than sustained tactical examinations.

    The foundational principles of batsmanship—developed through two-innings cricket where discipline and technique are paramount—are being eroded by excessive T20 exposure. Where Sir Frank Worrell’s team elevated cricket through artistic excellence, current development pathways prioritize explosive brevity over enduring craftsmanship, resulting in weakened batting fundamentals across West Indian cricket.

  • Keshorn, Bertrand are TTOC’s best; Wallace, Marchan cop junior awards for 2025

    Keshorn, Bertrand are TTOC’s best; Wallace, Marchan cop junior awards for 2025

    In a glittering ceremony at Queen’s Hall in Port of Spain on December 29, Olympic legend Keshorn Walcott secured the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee’s (TTOC) Sportsman of the Year award, culminating a remarkable season of athletic excellence. The 32-year-old javelin specialist, already a two-time Olympic medalist, added another prestigious accolade to his collection following his sensational gold medal performance at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

    Walcott’s championship-winning throw of 88.16 meters demonstrated his dominance in the field events, capping a year of consistent performances that included multiple throws exceeding 80 meters on the Diamond League circuit. His victory in Tokyo was particularly sweet given his injury-forced absence from the 2023 World Championships in Hungary, making this achievement a story of athletic redemption.

    On the women’s side, sprint sensation Leah Bertrand maintained her reign as Trinidad and Tobago’s premier female athlete, capturing the Sportswoman of the Year title for the second consecutive year. The rising track star achieved personal bests of 10.92 seconds in the 100-meter and 22.54 in the 200-meter events throughout the season, while successfully defending her national 100-meter title in August.

    The awards ceremony also celebrated other standout performers including sprinter Jereem Richards, who received the Sports Personality of the Year honor after setting a national record of 43.72 seconds in the 400-meter event at the World Championships. Cyclist Nicholas Paul enjoyed another successful year with multiple Pan American titles, while emerging talents Makaira Wallace and Jaden Marchan claimed Junior Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year awards respectively.

    The evening recognized both established champions and rising stars, highlighting Trinidad and Tobago’s continued excellence across multiple sporting disciplines on the international stage.

  • Fyzabad Elite Metronomes cop Southern Sports 30-over crown

    Fyzabad Elite Metronomes cop Southern Sports 30-over crown

    Fyzabad Elite Metronomes emerged triumphant in the 2025 Southern Sports Premier Sunday League 30-Over championship, securing a decisive 69-run victory against Independence Sports Club in a day/night finale at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba on December 21.

    The match was defined by an explosive batting performance from Fyzabad’s top-order batsman Miguel Heeraman, who delivered a spectacular 132 runs from just 66 deliveries. His innings, featuring 13 boundaries and seven sixes, formed the foundation of Fyzabad’s imposing total of 266/7. He received substantial support from opener Shazard Manshoor, who contributed a solid 63 runs, while Keshava Ramphal added 39 from 37 balls.

    Independence Sports Club’s bowling attack struggled to contain Fyzabad’s aggressive batting lineup, with captain Roman Singh emerging as the most successful bowler with figures of 3/56.

    In response, Independence’s chase was led by opener Vivek Gadraj, who fought valiantly with 74 runs from 61 balls. However, the team failed to build meaningful partnerships around him. Ravi Seetaram remained unbeaten on 30 and Akil Joseph added 23, but Independence ultimately fell short at 197/8 from their allotted overs.

    The bowling hero for Fyzabad was Sherwin Lutchman, whose exceptional spell of 6/31 dismantled Independence’s batting order and played a pivotal role in securing the championship. Lutchman’s precision bowling effectively stifled Independence’s progress throughout their innings.

    Looking ahead, the Southern Sports Cricket League has announced preparations for its 20th anniversary season in 2026, featuring division two, three, and four competitions alongside the Saturday T20 League. The Sunday League is scheduled to commence on February 1, with a grand meeting planned for January 13 where the 2026 rule book and registration forms will be distributed to participating clubs.

  • Keshorn Walcott’s Golden League Athletics set for January 4 return

    Keshorn Walcott’s Golden League Athletics set for January 4 return

    The Keshorn Walcott Golden League Athletics series is set to launch its second season on January 4, 2026, commencing at the Eddie Hart Recreation Grounds in Tacarigua. This developmental circuit, named after Trinidad and Tobago’s two-time Olympic medalist and world champion javelin thrower, will continue its mission to cultivate emerging track and field talent through structured competitive opportunities.

    The 2026 season will feature a four-meet qualifying series culminating in a championship finale at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex on March 14. Utilizing a points-based league format, athletes will accumulate scores across the initial competitions, with the top eight performers in each individual event advancing to the finals.

    Competition will be organized across six age divisions: Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, and Under-20 categories for both male and female athletes. Following the Tacarigua opener, the circuit will proceed to Shaw Park in Tobago (January 18), Toco Secondary School Grounds (January 31), and Mahaica Sporting Complex in Point Fortin (February 14).

    The inaugural 2024-2025 season, which ran from December 2024 through March 2025, successfully prepared numerous junior athletes for the 2025 Carifta Games hosted at Hasely Crawford Stadium. Standout performers including Shian Lewis, Da Shaun Lezama, Christopher Sammy, Alex Seepersad, and Omare Thompson demonstrated their competitive readiness by capturing multiple titles in last season’s finals.

    Organizers have announced free admission to all meets, encouraging families, schools, and local communities to support the development of Trinidad and Tobago’s next generation of athletic talent. The series receives support from major sponsors including bmobile, KW Rehab Centre, Massy Foundation, and the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee, with Dasani and Powerade serving as official beverages.

    According to a league statement, ‘Golden League Athletics continues to strengthen the national athletics pipeline by providing consistent competition, exposure and motivation for young athletes,’ reinforcing its commitment to grassroots development within the sport.

  • Thanks for Christmas gift, WASA

    Thanks for Christmas gift, WASA

    Residents of Mt Hope experienced severe water service disruptions throughout the Christmas holiday period, highlighting systemic failures in the Water and Sewerage Authority’s (WASA) customer service and communication protocols. The crisis began precisely at 6:00 AM on Christmas morning when water supply was completely terminated without prior notification to paying customers.

    Service restoration proved inconsistent and inadequate, with water returning briefly around 2:00 PM on Boxing Day only to be disconnected again at approximately 6:00 PM after merely trickling for most of the four-hour window. The pattern continued on December 27th with minimal water flow from 6:00 AM until 11:00 AM. As of 12:15 PM on December 28th, residents remained without reliable water service despite their status as paying customers.

    The utility’s information systems failed completely during the crisis. WASA’s official website showed no service interruption notices for the affected area, while customer service representatives answering the 800-LEAK helpline could provide no explanation for the service failure or estimated restoration timelines.

    The authority’s Corporate Communications Department, currently under Kristy Ramnarine-Bakr’s leadership, faced sharp criticism for its apparent absence during the holiday emergency. The situation has raised serious questions about WASA’s management approach toward its customers, with residents reporting feeling ‘treated like scum’ by the organization’s leadership.

    Writer Linus F Didier, in a public letter to the editor, specifically called upon WASA Chairman Roshan Babwah, Acting CEO Dain Maharaj, and Acting Director of Customer Care Ellen Lewis to emulate the TT Electricity Commission’s (T&TEC) customer service standards and operational protocols. The comparison underscores growing public frustration with WASA’s service delivery model and its apparent disregard for customer communication during utility emergencies.

  • Building healthier eating habits for 2026 and beyond

    Building healthier eating habits for 2026 and beyond

    As the calendar turns to 2026, registered dietitian Dana Chong presents a compelling case against drastic New Year’s dietary resolutions, advocating instead for sustainable nutritional practices that extend beyond January’s enthusiasm. With over five years of expertise since graduating from UWI, St Augustine and registering with Trinidad and Tobago’s Nutritionists and Dietitians Board, Chong emphasizes simplicity as the cornerstone of lasting wellness.

    Chong’s nutritional philosophy centers on consistent nourishment rather than food group elimination. She recommends small, frequent meals and snacks to maintain energy levels, warning against meal-skipping that leads to fatigue, brain fog, and diminished focus. Timing emerges as another critical factor, with Chong advising against heavy eating two to three hours before bedtime to mitigate acid reflux risks and obesity-related concerns supported by scientific studies.

    Hydration assumes paramount importance in tropical climates, with Chong recommending eight to ten daily water glasses while discouraging soft drinks, juices, and energy beverages. She notes water constitutes approximately 60% of body weight and facilitates essential bodily functions.

    Addressing practical constraints, Chong encourages home-cooked meal preparation through bulk cooking and freezing strategies. For budget-conscious individuals, she suggests combining carbohydrate and protein sources like rice with peas or bread with tuna, supplemented with local vegetables such as callaloo and lettuce for nutritional balance. When fast food becomes unavoidable, she recommends low-fat, low-sugar options with mindful portion control using an eight-inch plate method: one-quarter carbohydrates, one-quarter protein, and half vegetables.

    Chong provides specialized guidance for diabetics during festive seasons like Carnival, emphasizing strategic snacking with nuts, dried fruits, and whole wheat crackers to maintain stable blood sugar levels. She cautions against excessive alcohol consumption and sugary drinks, noting a single 500ml soft drink may contain double the recommended daily sugar intake.

    The dietitian highlights the gut-brain connection, explaining how nutritional choices directly impact mental health through neurological pathways. She recommends brain-boosting foods like leafy greens, fatty fish, berries, and walnuts while stressing the importance of overall dietary balance rather than perfection.

    Chong concludes that realistic, consistent habits—not extreme measures—forge enduring relationships with food that transcend seasonal resolutions and yield lifelong wellness benefits.

  • Exxon gets EMA approval, Moonilal says red tape costing TT US$120m annually

    Exxon gets EMA approval, Moonilal says red tape costing TT US$120m annually

    In a significant development for Trinidad and Tobago’s energy sector, ExxonMobil has received formal environmental clearance to commence seismic surveys in the massive TT Ultra Deep 1 (TTUD-1) block, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s economic revitalization efforts.

    The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) granted the Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) during a ceremony at the Eric Williams Finance Building in Port of Spain on December 29. Energy Minister Dr. Roodal Moonilal emphasized that ExxonMobil’s return could fundamentally reshape the country’s economic future, though he cautioned that bureaucratic delays continue to cost the nation substantial revenue.

    The TTUD-1 block, an aggregation of seven parcels east of Trinidad, represents an enormous undertaking at 7,165 square kilometers—significantly larger than Trinidad’s 5,128km surface area. The project’s initial phase carries a price tag of US$42.5 million (TT$288 million), with full development costs estimated between US$16.4 billion and US$21.7 billion.

    Technological advancements have been crucial in enabling this deepwater exploration. Modern drill ships, semi-submersibles, and high-pressure temperature technologies have overcome previous limitations, allowing operations at depths exceeding 2,000 meters (approximately 6,560 feet).

    ExxonMobil’s agreement includes drilling two exploration wells initially, with optional second and third phases containing additional wells. The company has committed to US$12.8 million (TT$87 million) in financial obligations during phase one, covering administrative charges, training contributions, research and development funding, technical assistance, equipment bonuses, and scholarships.

    Minister Moonilal revealed that accelerated decision-making could generate US$120 million annually for the nation. His ministry currently coordinates with 16 state agencies and ministries for various approvals, licenses, and legal orders, creating complex logistical challenges.

    To address these inefficiencies, the government is developing an energy hub that will streamline sector processes. With Cabinet approval pending, this hub will integrate entities both within and outside the energy ministry to resolve issues in real time—from lease operators facing bureaucratic delays to international companies awaiting work permits.

    Concurrently, Planning, Economic Affairs and Development Minister Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh announced the launch of the Priority Projects Portal, designed to provide transparent tracking of national initiatives as part of the government’s broader economic revitalization strategy.

  • Gonzales tells PM: Apologise for calling TT ‘lawless dump’

    Gonzales tells PM: Apologise for calling TT ‘lawless dump’

    Trinidad and Tobago’s political landscape has been shaken by a heated confrontation between government and opposition figures following controversial remarks by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The controversy emerged when the Prime Minister characterized the nation as a “lawless dump” during discussions about newly implemented traffic penalty increases on December 28.

    Opposition Chief Whip and PNM chairman Marvin Gonzales launched a scathing rebuke against the Prime Minister’s comments, demanding an immediate public apology. In a strongly worded Facebook statement on December 29, Gonzales condemned the description as “an appalling betrayal of the office she holds” and labeled the language as “careless and contemptuous.”

    The political firestorm centers around Legal Notice No 471 of 2025, published on December 25, which substantially increased penalties for traffic violations. The revised framework introduces tiered speeding fines ranging from $2,000 for minor violations to $6,000 for severe infractions, while driving without insurance now carries a staggering $10,000 penalty—a tenfold increase from previous rates.

    Gonzales emphasized that while Trinidad and Tobago faces challenges similar to other nations, the country remains “blessed and fortunate in ways far better than others.” He asserted that national leadership should demonstrate “humility, morality and integrity” rather than engaging in public degradation of the nation.

    The Opposition has scheduled a news conference for December 30 at the Opposition Leader’s office to address this controversy among other national issues. This development marks another chapter in the ongoing political tension between the ruling UNC party and opposition PNM, recalling Persad-Bissessar’s pre-election promise in April 2024 to reduce traffic fines and implement driver education programs when she served as opposition leader.

    The Prime Minister has defended the policy shift as necessary to combat persistent dangerous driving, arguing that previous measures including the demerit points system failed to adequately deter repeat offenders. The government has consequently scrapped most of the demerit system in favor of significantly higher fixed penalties.