Carib Scope

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  • Man Caught With Loaded 9mm in PG

    Man Caught With Loaded 9mm in PG

    In the early hours of a June morning in Punta Gorda Town, a routine mobile patrol by local law enforcement unfolded into a high-speed chase that ended with the seizure of a loaded unlicensed pistol and the arrest of a 22-year-old local security guard.

    According to official police accounts, the incident unfolded just after 1:00 a.m. on Front Street, when patrolling officers spotted two men traveling on motorcycles. For reasons still under investigation, the two men immediately accelerated and attempted to evade contact with police as soon as they spotted the patrol vehicle.

    A short pursuit followed the fleeing motorcyclists. During the chase, one of the two men lost control of his motorcycle and fell to the road. He immediately abandoned the bike and tried to run away from officers on foot, but law enforcement quickly closed in and took him into custody. The apprehended suspect was identified as Rushan Virez, a 22-year-old security guard who resides in the Indianville neighborhood of Punta Gorda Town.

    Once in custody, officers conducted a legal search of Virez’s possessions, including his backpack. Inside the bag, investigators discovered a BRG9 9mm semi-automatic pistol, which was loaded with an ammunition magazine holding 18 live rounds. When questioned by authorities, Virez was unable to produce any valid gun license for either the firearm or the ammunition he was carrying.

    He was formally arrested and processed by police, and on Tuesday he was officially charged with two criminal offenses: keeping a firearm without a valid gun license, and keeping ammunition without a valid gun license. He is currently awaiting his next court appearance as the case moves through the local justice system.

  • Video shows the extent of oil “leak” and efforts to contain it

    Video shows the extent of oil “leak” and efforts to contain it

    When analyzing and processing news content, a complete set of textual information is required to produce accurate, in-depth results. The current submission only includes the line “Video Courtesy George Wehner”, which is an attribution line for video source, rather than a complete news story with a defined topic, core events, background details or verifiable facts. Without the full body of the news report that this source line accompanies, it is impossible to conduct a full analysis, reconstruct the narrative, or verify the key claims that would normally be part of a news piece. Journalistic processing and rewriting relies on having all relevant context to maintain accuracy and authority, which is unavailable in this instance. Readers or contributors looking to have a news story processed should provide the full text of the report alongside any source attributions to ensure a complete, high-quality outcome.

  • DNA bepaalt donderdag wijze van stemmen over vordering oud-bewindslieden

    DNA bepaalt donderdag wijze van stemmen over vordering oud-bewindslieden

    Suriname’s legislative body, De Nationale Assemblee (DNA), has scheduled a plenary sitting for Thursday to consider impeachment motions against three former cabinet members, bringing a long-running political accountability process to a critical voting stage.

    Before the public portion of the sitting gets underway, lawmakers will first convene a closed internal administrative meeting. During this preliminary session, the special parliamentary committee tasked with questioning current and former elected officials will present its official investigative report on the impeachment case against the three ex-ministers.

    Once the committee’s findings are delivered to the full assembly, legislators will first vote on procedural rules: specifically, whether the final vote on the impeachment motions will be conducted via written secret ballot or through a public show of hands. This procedural decision is widely viewed as consequential for the entire trajectory of the proceedings, as it may shape how lawmakers position themselves ahead of the final vote.

    After settling the voting method, the assembly will move into public session to open debate on the impeachment motions against Gillmore Hoefdraad, the former Minister of Finance, Bronto Somohardjo, ex-Minister of Internal Affairs, and Riad Nurmohamed, former Minister of Public Works. The entire process is grounded in the investigative report compiled by the special committee led by sitting assembly member Rabin Parmessar, which carried out months of hearings and evidence gathering with support from other assembly legislators and independent legal experts.

    Following the procedural vote, the full parliament will deliver its final ruling on the impeachment referral submitted by the Prosecutor General of Suriname, marking a key milestone in efforts to hold former high-level public officials accountable for alleged misconduct in office.

  • Banana producers unite to address growing threat of fungus strain

    Banana producers unite to address growing threat of fungus strain

    When one of the world’s most widely consumed food crops faces an accelerating existential risk, producers and industry partners from across the globe come together to coordinate a collective defense. Over 100 banana growers from Latin America, the Caribbean, and African nations recently convened in Mérida, Mexico, to address the rapidly escalating danger of Tropical Race 4 (TR4), a virulent strain of the Fusarium fungus that imperils commercial banana production and threatens the livelihoods of millions of workers and smallholder farmers dependent on the crop.

    Per an official statement from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), which administers the executive secretariat of the coordinating body for global TR4 response efforts, the soil-borne pathogen remains one of the most intractable challenges facing the global banana sector. Once TR4 establishes itself in soil, no commercially or practically effective method currently exists to fully eradicate it. The fungus specifically targets Cavendish bananas, the dominant variety cultivated for international export and global commercial markets that makes up nearly 50% of all banana production worldwide.

    First identified in South Asia decades ago, TR4 has spread steadily across continents in recent years, with confirmed detections in multiple Latin American countries—including several of the world’s top banana exporting nations. This cross-regional spread has sparked urgent alarm among stakeholders, as unregulated spread of the pathogen could severely disrupt global supply chains, erode food security in producing regions, and devastate rural economies that rely on banana exports for critical revenue.

    The Mérida gathering was organized by the Global Alliance Against TR4, an international coalition launched in 2020 that unites representatives from government agricultural agencies, private agribusinesses, academic research institutions, civil society organizations, and multilateral bodies to align response and prevention efforts around the globe. During the closed-door working sessions, participating producers outlined five core barriers that have slowed effective local and regional action against the spread of TR4: limited financial resources for small and medium-sized farmers to adopt expensive biosecurity measures, fragmented and poorly distributed information about pathogen detection and spread, lack of customized technical assistance adapted to unique local farm conditions, fragmented collaboration across different industry stakeholders, and insufficient hands-on, field-based training for farm workers to identify and contain early outbreaks.

    Attendees also highlighted a dual layer of vulnerability facing the global banana sector today. Beyond the direct biological threat of TR4, producers are already grappling with mounting economic pressure: input and production costs have risen sharply in recent years, yet the global market price per box of bananas has remained largely stagnant, squeezing profit margins and leaving fewer resources available to invest in disease prevention.

    José Manuel Domínguez, Senior Manager of Fresh Fruit Business Operations at Bayer—a coalition member that supported the Mérida event—emphasized the critical value of the gathering: “Spaces where producers can speak openly about their on-the-ground challenges are exactly what the industry needs most. When producers share their candid experiences, we all listen and learn.”

    Since its founding, the Global Alliance Against TR4 has centered its work on two core priorities: supporting international scientific research to identify traditional banana landraces with natural genetic tolerance to TR4 that can be used for breeding new resistant varieties, and expanding both online and in-person training initiatives to strengthen on-farm biosecurity and contain existing pathogen outbreaks. During the Mérida meeting, attendees were presented with the latest findings from ongoing TR4 research and field management trials, including new studies of soil microbiome interactions with the fungus, integrated disease management models successfully deployed in the Philippines, and the long-term resilience benefits of introducing disease-resistant commercial banana varieties to global markets.

    Lloyd Day, Executive Secretary of the Global Alliance Against TR4 and Deputy Director General of IICA, outlined the coalition’s core approach to tackling the threat: “Prevention must be translated into real solutions that farmers can implement directly on their land. For that reason, the alliance prioritizes widespread adoption of on-farm biosecurity protocols, continuous workforce training, cross-regional knowledge sharing among producing nations, deployment of evidence-based management tools, and practical collaborative action across all stakeholder groups. The response to TR4 is not only a technical challenge—it is a collective one.”

    In its post-meeting summary, IICA noted that the gathering reinforced a shared consensus across all participating groups: coordinated international cooperation and targeted on-the-ground action are essential to protecting one of the world’s most important food and export crops from a pathogen that continues to threaten the long-term future of the global banana industry.

  • Central Bank unveils BiMPay instant payment system

    Central Bank unveils BiMPay instant payment system

    On a Tuesday gathering held at the Courtney Blackman Grand Salle as part of the internal “Unlock” launch and staff appreciation event, the Central Bank of Barbados made a landmark announcement: the Caribbean nation will usher in a new era of digital finance on June 12 with the official rollout of BiMPay, the country’s first national real-time instant payment system. The platform, which has been hailed as one of the most transformative infrastructure projects the Central Bank has delivered in modern history, will enable frictionless, immediate transactions across all participating commercial banks, credit unions and other licensed financial institutions across the island.

    Deputy Central Bank Governor Michelle Doyle kicked off the event by walking attendees through the intensive two-year development journey that brought the project from concept to launch. She recalled that when work first kicked off in 2024, the team did not start with coding or tech infrastructure — they started with dialogue. Stakeholder workshops were held to map core business requirements, from defining the platform’s core features to deciding which financial entities would join the network, identifying end user needs, and designing a system that would integrate seamlessly into the daily financial lives of all Barbadians.

    Development accelerated dramatically over the past six months, requiring cross-functional collaboration between internal Central Bank departments, external industry consultants, and global fintech vendor Montran, which deployed specialized development teams based in Romania and Ecuador to support the build. Doyle noted that the project effectively compressed 12 months of planned work into just six months, crediting the unwavering commitment of cross-sector teams that sacrificed weekends and personal family time to hit the pre-set launch timeline. Ten days out from the official go-live, Doyle said the platform is ready for launch thanks to the team’s assiduous work, relentless persistence and meticulous attention to detail.

    Central Bank Governor Dr. Kevin Greenidge expanded on the far-reaching economic impact of BiMPay, emphasizing that the initiative represents far more than a simple technological upgrade — it is a foundational overhaul of Barbados’ national financial infrastructure. To illustrate the platform’s purpose, he used a relatable transportation analogy: just as Barbados’ national road network connects communities, residential areas and businesses to enable movement and growth, BiMPay acts as a national financial highway that connects all payment service providers, banks and credit unions into a single interconnected system, allowing funds to move between institutions instantly and seamlessly.

    Greenidge stressed that the core end goal of BiMPay is to advance deep, widespread financial inclusion across every segment of Barbadian society. The platform is designed to make digital payments faster, simpler, more secure and accessible to every person, business and community across the island, including the estimated 10 to 15 percent of Barbadian adults who remain unbanked. “We want to make sure that every Barbadian, whether they have an existing bank account or not, every street vendor, every small business owner, everyone has access to the digital payment system,” he explained.

    To address widespread misconceptions that the central bank would be entering commercial competition with private sector financial institutions, Greenidge clarified that BiMPay operates as a national infrastructure layer, not a commercial service. All customer-facing services are delivered through users’ existing financial providers, with the Central Bank only facilitating the underlying inter-infrastructure transaction network. “We are not competing. We are facilitating,” he emphasized.

    To remove barriers for unbanked and underbanked citizens seeking to access the new system, Sagicor Bank has stepped in as the pioneer partner to streamline onboarding for new users. While existing bank customers will have their accounts automatically and instantly linked to the BiMPay mobile application, the bank has set a 30-minute benchmark for completing full registration and due diligence for first-time users without an existing bank account. Greenidge confirmed that the sector has committed to getting unregistered new users access to a fully functional BiMPay-enabled account within 30 minutes of them downloading the mobile application, cutting through traditional slow onboarding processes.

    Central Bank Director of Communications Noveline Brewster then laid out the step-by-step rollout timeline leading up to and following the June 12 launch. The country’s legacy Automated Clearing House (ACH) and older Real-Time Payments (RTP) platforms will go offline at 2:00 PM on June 12 to enable a seamless midnight switchover to the new BiMPay network. A public evening launch event will be held the same day, featuring live product demonstrations, the first official public transaction processed through the platform, and the world premiere of a custom calypso track dedicated to BiMPay, performed by local artists LeadPipe & Sadis. A nationwide public education and marketing media campaign will launch the following Monday, June 15, to build public awareness and understanding of the new system.

    In a key initiative to ensure no vulnerable groups are left behind during the digital transition, Brewster announced a new strategic partnership with the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP). The Central Bank has signed a memorandum of understanding with BARP to distribute digital tablets and deliver specialized, hands-on in-person training to help senior citizens learn how to use the BiMPay platform safely and confidently.

    Speaking to Central Bank staff in attendance, Greenidge urged employees to act as public ambassadors for BiMPay, helping guide everyday Barbadians through the digital transition. “This is important for families; it is important for all of us,” he said.

  • Arouca-born Jennifer Johnson-Carroll nominated as US Ambassador to T&T

    Arouca-born Jennifer Johnson-Carroll nominated as US Ambassador to T&T

    The American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T) has issued an official statement of support for President Donald J. Trump’s nomination of Jennifer Johnson-Carroll to the post of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Announced in the Chamber’s public release on Tuesday, the formal nomination was transmitted to the United States Senate for consideration on June 2, 2026, a procedural step that AMCHAM T&T frames as a meaningful milestone reinforcing the deep, decades-long bilateral ties between the two nations. What makes Johnson-Carroll’s nomination particularly historic is her roots: a native of Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago, if confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she will make history as the first woman born in Trinidad and Tobago to hold the ambassadorial post to her home country. This breakthrough, the chamber notes, shines a light on the outsized contributions of the Trinidadian and Tobagonian diaspora to global diplomacy and public service. Johnson-Carroll brings to the nomination an extensive, award-winning track record of leadership and public service. She previously made history of her own as the 18th Lieutenant Governor of Florida, where she became the first woman ever elected to the role, as well as the first Caribbean-born person to win a statewide public office in the state. Over the course of her decades-long career, she has occupied senior leadership roles across government, public policy development, community outreach, and advocacy work, building a reputation for unwavering commitment to civic good and collaborative leadership. AMCHAM T&T was careful to note that the nomination still must complete the full U.S. Senate confirmation process, which includes an initial review by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee followed by a full floor vote by the entire Senate. The organization says it is optimistic about a successful outcome and is preparing to welcome the new ambassador once the process concludes. Beyond the nomination itself, AMCHAM T&T reaffirmed the critical importance of the U.S.-Trinidad and Tobago bilateral relationship, noting that the United States ranks among the Caribbean nation’s most vital strategic partners. Ties between the two countries extend across multiple critical sectors, including cross-border trade, foreign direct investment, energy collaboration, national security, academic exchange, technological partnership, and deep people-to-people connections built on decades of migration and cultural exchange. This ongoing partnership, the organization says, continues to drive inclusive economic growth, uphold shared democratic values, and strengthen cooperative action across the Caribbean region. AMCHAM T&T closed its statement by reaffirming its longstanding commitment to deepening the commercial and political ties between the two nations. The group says it stands ready to partner with the confirmed ambassador to expand collaborative opportunities, unlock new investment flows, foster cross-border innovation, and build shared prosperity for citizens of both the United States and Trinidad and Tobago.

  • CDPF launches professional development series with lecture on criminal offences

    CDPF launches professional development series with lecture on criminal offences

    In a move to reinforce its long-standing dedication to elevating police professional standards, the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) has kicked off a new series of capacity-building training with a specialized lecture focused on identifying criminal offenses. Held on May 28, 2026, the opening session was led by two of the force’s most seasoned law enforcement professionals: Deputy Chief of Police Jeoffrey James and Acting Superintendent Chaucer James, both of whom bring decades of hands-on expertise in criminal investigation protocol and police operational procedure.

    Unlike traditional passive training formats, the event adopted a practical, experience-centered teaching framework that fostered open engagement between instructors and attending officers. Per an official statement released via CDPF’s social media channels, this interactive approach turned the lecture into a dynamic discussion where participating personnel could share real-world case experiences, ask targeted questions, and deepen their foundational comprehension of how to correctly categorize and recognize different types of criminal activity.

    The training session counted the Chief of Police among its attendees, and was formally chaired by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Antonia Moses. Following the conclusion of the lecture, participating officers widely praised the initiative, noting that the content was both highly relevant to their daily on-the-job challenges and packed with actionable insights that will directly improve their ability to fulfill their law enforcement duties.

    This opening lecture is not an isolated event, but rather the first step in a sustained organizational push for continuous improvement. The CDPF confirmed in its statement that the series will continue rolling out additional professional development opportunities designed to upgrade the expertise, technical skills, and overall operational effectiveness of officers at all levels of the force. Staying true to its core public mission, the CDPF reiterated its unwavering commitment to a culture of lifelong learning and policing excellence, as it works tirelessly to deliver better protection and service to all communities across Dominica.

  • JCA boss concerned about potential low turnout for ODIs at Sabina Park

    JCA boss concerned about potential low turnout for ODIs at Sabina Park

    As anticipation builds for Wednesday’s opening One-Day International between West Indies and Sri Lanka at Kingston’s iconic Sabina Park, Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) President Dr. Donovan Bennett has flagged a troubling issue: underwhelming ticket sales for the three-match 50-over series, even as final preparations for the long-awaited fixture wrap up. This series marks a historic milestone for Kingston cricket, bringing ODI action back to the city for the first time since West Indies hosted Ireland in 2022, and welcoming Sri Lanka to Jamaican soil for the first time in more than a decade – the visitors last competed here back in 2013, during a tri-nation tournament with West Indies and India. In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, Bennett shared that logistical preparations for this series have gone far more smoothly than last summer’s hosting of Australia, which required a major venue overhaul. Back then, with financial and logistical support from both the Jamaican and Indian governments, the JCA was forced to rush to install new floodlights, a digital electronic scoreboard, and upgrade the player dressing rooms ahead of the series. This time around, only one minor setback disrupted preparations. “The only little hiccup we had was that the lights were blown out of focus during the passage of the hurricane but we have refocused those — those were done last week. Otherwise, we’re pretty good,” Bennett explained, confirming that the venue is now fully prepared to welcome players and fans. While Bennett says he is encouraged by strong early ticket demand for the three-match T20 International series scheduled to follow the ODIs next week, low sales for the 50-over opener – just one day out from the first ball – remains a major point of concern. He noted that ticketing campaigns launched by Cricket West Indies (CWI) got off the ground later than he would have liked, leading to the slow start in purchases. “I have been pleading and trying to get CWI to get this thing going a little bit quicker, but the sales have gone up a little bit late,” he said. “I would hope that over the next two days there will be a rush, because I am not satisfied with what I am hearing re the 50 over games.” To keep Jamaica positioned as a preferred host for future top-tier international cricket events, Bennett is making a direct appeal to local cricket fans to turn out in force for the series. He stressed that fan attendance is a critical factor that international cricket governing bodies consider when allocating future matches to host venues. “The public needs to understand that the JCA has a part to play in bringing international cricket to Jamaica but the cricketing public also has a part to play because if we don’t get crowds then we don’t get matches — so they need to turn out,” he said. With high-profile Test and ODI series against India and England scheduled to visit the Caribbean next year, Bennett urged fans to act now to secure the island’s spot as a regular host. “And especially next year, when we have both India and England coming to the Caribbean, they need to strengthen our hands by coming out and giving us good support.” Sabina Park has established a strong track record as an international host over the past two years, welcoming sell-out and well-attended series between West Indies and top ranked sides including South Africa, Bangladesh and Australia. Both the West Indies and Sri Lanka squads have already arrived in Kingston and are set to hold their final practice sessions at the venue on Tuesday, ahead of the 9:30 a.m. first ball on Wednesday.

  • Social Security Board Marks 45 Years With New Chair

    Social Security Board Marks 45 Years With New Chair

    On Monday, June 2, 2026, the Social Security Board (SSB) marked a major milestone in its institutional history, celebrating 45 years of public service while announcing a leadership transition that paves the way for its next chapter of reform.

    Dr. Sheree Smiling Craig will step into the role of new board chair, taking over from Chandra Nisbet-Cansino, who departed the position following the conclusion of her tenure leading the social security institution. In an official statement, the SSB lauded Nisbet-Cansino for her consistent, steady guidance through years of shifting policy and economic challenges, while emphasizing that Dr. Smiling Craig brings a robust combination of hands-on experience, deep professional expertise, and a long-standing commitment to public service that aligns with the board’s core mission.

    The anniversary celebration drew high-level participation from the national government, with Prime Minister John Briceno making a personal visit to one of the SSB’s regional facilities to honor the occasion. In a public post shared to his social media channels, Briceno extended his recognition to the entire SSB workforce. “Thank you so much for the wonderful work that you do across this country,” he wrote. “I want to continue to encourage you to serve the people and serve them best. And to another 45 years.”

    Beyond the ceremonial milestones, the 45th anniversary arrives at a moment of significant operational and structural change for the SSB, as the institution rolls out a series of upgrades designed to improve service delivery and accountability. Starting December 1, 2025, all sickness benefit claims transitioned to a fully digital online process, eliminating the longstanding requirement for beneficiaries to visit a physical SSB office in person to submit requests. The organization has also launched a formal whistleblower reporting system to crack down on fraud, professional misconduct, and false benefit claims that drain public resources.

    The most consequential proposed change, which could reshape contribution obligations for millions of workers and employers across the country, remains in the consultation phase. The SSB recently wrapped up a series of public engagement sessions held nationwide to gather feedback on a plan to overhaul the existing contribution structure, moving from a tier-based system to a percentage-based model.

    Currently, worker and employer contributions are calculated based on fixed income brackets, with contributors assigned a fixed payment level based on which bracket their salary falls into. If the proposal is approved, all contributors will pay a uniform set percentage of their total monthly income, regardless of how much they earn, creating a more proportional contribution framework.

  • DNA vraagt opheldering over sloop Danny’s Villapark; districtscommissaris grijpt in

    DNA vraagt opheldering over sloop Danny’s Villapark; districtscommissaris grijpt in

    A simmering housing rights dispute centered on the Mungra Project, better known locally as Danny’s Villapark, has been brought before Suriname’s National Assembly (DNA) after hundreds of residents submitted a formal petition demanding an end to ongoing evictions and home demolitions. In a swift intervention that has paused immediate action against affected families, Marlon Budike, District Commissioner for Northeast Paramaribo, has ordered an immediate halt to all demolition work in the area, which had previously been carried out under police supervision.

    Prior to the National Assembly’s public plenary session on June 2, residents delivered their petition, calling for a full independent inquiry into the land ownership rights of the plots where they have built their homes. According to the petitioners, dozens of households purchased their parcels in good faith decades ago, and have spent years investing time, labor and savings into constructing their family residences.

    The dispute was opened for debate during the public parliamentary session, where multiple members of the assembly pressed the national government for clarity on how the crisis unfolded. Lawmakers highlighted the urgent need to clarify residents’ legal standing and investigate the circumstances under which demolitions were authorized and carried out.

    In their petition, residents outlined that their claims to the land have been challenged by a private foundation, which asserts full ownership of all property within the Danny’s Villapark project area. Critically, residents say they have never been given an opportunity to be heard in the legal dispute over the land, and have not received any formal notification of court proceedings related to their homes and parcels.

    Residents further allege that heavy machinery has already been used to demolish multiple occupied homes, and that families have been ordered to evacuate their properties immediately. The petition also notes the presence of armed individuals in the residential area, an escalation that has created widespread fear and a pervasive sense of insecurity among the local population.

    Budike’s administrative order has brought a temporary stop to further demolition activity, offering a brief reprieve for affected families. As the National Assembly takes up the issue, residents are calling on lawmakers and the national government to move quickly to resolve the uncertainty surrounding the land’s legal status and formalize protections for the impacted households. Petition organizers estimate that between 50 and 70 families are directly affected by the dispute. Beyond an independent probe into land ownership, residents are calling for the eviction moratorium to remain in place until full clarity is reached on who holds legal title to the land.