Carib Scope

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  • ‘Why I backed the JLP’s crime plan?’

    ‘Why I backed the JLP’s crime plan?’

    In a significant political development, Government Senator Keith Duncan has publicly articulated his rationale for endorsing the Jamaica Labour Party Administration’s crime prevention blueprint, despite his lineage to the opposing People’s National Party. The revelation came during Friday’s Senate session where Duncan detailed his conversion after intensive consultations with National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang and former Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson.

    Duncan, appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Andrew Holness following the September general elections, recalled his initial skepticism during his 2019 tenure as president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ). Amid widespread criticism about the government’s perceived lack of strategic direction against crime, Duncan sought direct engagement with security leadership rather than joining popular criticism.

    The senator described being presented with the comprehensive ‘Plan Secure Jamaica’ framework, which outlined multi-faceted approaches including social transformation initiatives, modernization of police forces, military reforms, and legislative enhancements. Duncan emphasized the plan’s detailed resource allocation strategies covering both financial investments and human capital deployment.

    Central to Duncan’s endorsement was the creation of Project Star – a public-private partnership developed collaboratively with police leadership that operationalized community safety measures through the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Community Safety and Security Branch. The senator specifically highlighted the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSOS) as evidence of structured socio-economic transformation efforts in vulnerable communities.

    Citing unprecedented crime reduction statistics showing murders dropping below 700 annually for the first time in three decades – representing over 40% reduction compared to previous years – Duncan urged nationwide support for the continuation of these strategies. He framed crime reduction as a national imperative requiring collective action similar to Jamaica’s achievement of macroeconomic stability through fiscal responsibility.

    The senator acknowledged that not all security measures would enjoy universal approval but maintained that governing requires making difficult decisions. Duncan concluded that demonstrated leadership in executing this comprehensive strategy has produced measurable results that justify sustained implementation and broader societal support.

  • Trinidad and Tobago’s arrival, departure forms go online

    Trinidad and Tobago’s arrival, departure forms go online

    Trinidad and Tobago has officially launched a digital immigration and customs platform, marking a significant modernization of border control procedures at Piarco International Airport. The newly operational Trinidad and Tobago Online Arrival/Departure Platform, accessible at https://travel.gov.tt/, responds to long-standing passenger demands for streamlined airport processing.

    The digital system requires all travelers to complete mandatory immigration and customs documentation through the online portal within 72 hours preceding their arrival or departure. This initiative provides enhanced flexibility, allowing passengers to complete formalities at their convenience from any location rather than at airport counters.

    Upon submission, travelers receive digital receipts that must be saved to mobile devices or printed for presentation to immigration and customs officials. The platform necessitates providing flight details, passport information, a scanned copy of the passport’s biodata page in PNG or JPEG format, and a valid email address for processing.

    The comprehensive arrival form covers residential status, mode of entry (air or sea), flight specifics, port of entry details, personal information, travel history, destination address, health declarations, and customs information. The departure form maintains similar requirements excluding the customs declaration component.

    This digital transition aligns with broader Caribbean trends, where multiple nations implemented similar electronic processing systems during the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate contactless transit and reduce airport congestion. Authorities anticipate the platform will significantly enhance the passenger experience through reduced processing times and improved operational efficiency.

  • Caribbean immigrant advocacy group condemns Trump’s latest travel ban

    Caribbean immigrant advocacy group condemns Trump’s latest travel ban

    NEW YORK – A sweeping expansion of the United States’ travel ban policy has drawn sharp condemnation from advocacy groups and foreign governments. The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), representing over 200 immigrant and refugee rights organizations across New York State, has denounced the Trump administration’s latest proclamation imposing an indefinite suspension on legal immigration processing for nationals from 20 additional countries.

    The policy update, announced last week, effectively halts all visa processing and immigration benefits for petitioners from 39 countries and Palestine. President Trump’s proclamation specifically named Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Haiti among the newly restricted nations, with measures taking effect January 1, 2026.

    According to NYIC President and CEO Murad Awawdeh, the indefinite hold impacts a wide spectrum of immigration processes including citizenship applications, naturalization ceremonies, work permits, spousal petitions, and status adjustments administered by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

    Awawdeh characterized the policy as ‘driven by discrimination against applicants from African- and Muslim-majority countries’ and demonstrating ‘callous indifference to those fleeing war-torn regions.’ He warned the measure would create a vulnerable population ‘at risk of being funneled into the administration’s deportation machine,’ while enriching private prison corporations.

    The Caribbean Community (Caricom) has expressed formal concern regarding the restrictions affecting member states Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica. In an official statement, Caricom’s Bureau acknowledged nations’ rights to regulate border entry but noted concern over the lack of prior consultation and potential adverse effects on ‘legitimate travel, people-to-people exchanges, and the social and economic well-being of these small states.’

    The regional body specifically highlighted uncertainties regarding the status of existing visas after January 2026 and called for immediate engagement between US authorities and affected governments to address outstanding concerns. Caricom reaffirmed its commitment to ‘dialogue and cooperation based on mutual respect, shared interests and the rule of law.’

    Awawdeh has urged the US Congress to condemn the administration’s actions and demand policy reversal, noting that American taxpayers ultimately bear the costs of expanded detention programs while facing cuts to social services and healthcare access.

  • Hanover residents urged to remain vigilant against leptospirosis

    Hanover residents urged to remain vigilant against leptospirosis

    Health authorities in Hanover, Jamaica, are maintaining their alert against leptospirosis transmission despite observing a downward trend in both confirmed and suspected infections. Andrene Smith-Benjamin, the parish’s Health Promotion and Education Officer, has issued comprehensive guidance for residents engaged in Christmas cleanup activities, emphasizing the critical need for protective equipment like waterproof boots and gloves.

    The bacterial disease, primarily transmitted through contact with urine from infected rats, poses a significant environmental threat as the pathogen can persist in contaminated water and damp soil for several months. Smith-Benjamin specifically warned that improper footwear and lack of hand protection during cleanup operations substantially increases infection risks.

    During a recent Ministry of Health and Wellness outreach event at Ramble Health Centre, the health official delivered crucial food safety recommendations, urging residents to meticulously inspect all food items for evidence of rodent interference. Consumers should discard any packaged goods showing signs of bites, tampering, damaged packaging, or exposure to floodwaters. Particular caution was advised regarding rusty, dented, or unlabeled canned goods.

    Smith-Benjamin further highlighted the danger of newly formed water bodies created by recent hurricane activity, noting these constitute high-risk contamination sources. The bacteria can enter the body through mouth exposure or open wounds during swimming activities. Vulnerable individuals with cuts or abrasions face particularly severe risks when contacting potentially contaminated water.

    Leptospirosis manifests through symptoms including fever, muscle and joint pain (especially in calf and back regions), gastrointestinal distress, and jaundice evidenced by yellowing eyes or skin. While treatable with prompt medical intervention, the disease can prove fatal if left untreated. Health authorities strongly recommend immediate hospital visitation upon symptom appearance and continued adherence to safe hygiene, food handling, and environmental cleanup practices.

  • WATCH: Woman dead, daughter and grandkids injured, in Manchester crash

    WATCH: Woman dead, daughter and grandkids injured, in Manchester crash

    A tragic vehicular accident in Manchester, Jamaica, has resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries, casting a somber shadow over the parish this Sunday morning. The incident occurred approximately at 8:00 a.m. along New Green Road in the vicinity of Martin’s Hill dump.

    Preliminary investigative reports indicate that the driver of a Nissan AD Wagon experienced a catastrophic loss of control over the vehicle. This mechanical or driver error led the car to veer off the roadway and plummet an estimated 100 feet into a deep precipice, causing severe damage to the automobile and critical injuries to its occupants.

    The victims have been identified as a 57-year-old woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and three other family members—her daughter and two grandchildren—who sustained serious injuries. All survivors were rushed to a medical facility for emergency treatment and remain hospitalized.

    In the immediate aftermath of the crash, the driver, amidst the chaos, encountered difficulties reaching emergency services via the Mandeville Fire Station’s telephone lines. Demonstrating remarkable presence of mind, she instead contacted a local towing service, Big Rat Wrecking, to alert them of the dire situation and request urgent assistance from authorities.

    The rescue operation was a coordinated effort involving Manchester firefighters, local law enforcement officers, and several courageous passersby. Together, they worked to extract the trapped individuals from the mangled wreckage at the bottom of the ravine, a complex and dangerous task given the terrain and the vehicle’s condition.

    The community of Manchester is reeling from the shock of the incident, which highlights ongoing concerns regarding road safety in certain perilous areas of the parish. An official investigation into the precise cause of the accident is currently underway by the Jamaican police.

  • Jamaican-born pastor pleads guilty to tax evasion scheme in New York

    Jamaican-born pastor pleads guilty to tax evasion scheme in New York

    NEW YORK – A prominent Brooklyn pastor has entered a guilty plea in federal court for orchestrating a sophisticated tax evasion operation that diverted church funds for personal enrichment. Paul Mitchell, 60, the Jamaican-born leader of Changing Lives Christian Centre and president of its affiliated daycare, confessed to a single count of tax evasion following a Department of Justice investigation.

    The seven-year scheme, spanning from 2015 to 2022, involved systematic misuse of religious organization assets. Court documents reveal Mitchell utilized church credit cards for extravagant personal purchases including high-end jewelry, luxury timepieces, and premium men’s apparel. He additionally transferred substantial cash amounts from institutional accounts to his personal banking services and wrote checks directly from church accounts to settle personal credit card debts and income tax obligations.

    According to federal prosecutors, Mitchell deliberately concealed these illicit financial gains from tax authorities, creating a significant tax liability shortfall. His actions resulted in an estimated $2.9 million loss to the Internal Revenue Service and approximately $316,700 in unpaid state taxes to New York.

    The pastor, who previously worked in banking for over fourteen years before his religious calling, now faces potential imprisonment of up to five years alongside restitution requirements and fines reaching $250,000. Mitchell’s church biography describes him as “a man of integrity and uprightness” who believes in empowering community members, starkly contrasting with the criminal behavior admitted in court.

    Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Mitchell immigrated to the United States with his family in 1971. His transition from banking to religious leadership in 2003 was characterized by his congregation as seamless. The case highlights serious financial misconduct within religious institutions and underscores increased regulatory scrutiny on nonprofit organizations.

  • Electricity outage hits San Francisco, thousands without power

    Electricity outage hits San Francisco, thousands without power

    SAN FRANCISCO, United States – A substantial electrical failure severely impacted San Francisco on Saturday, resulting in a widespread blackout that deprived approximately 130,000 residents of power for an extended duration. The city’s primary utility provider, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), confirmed that a substation fire was the root cause of the disruption, which occurred during a critical pre-Christmas shopping weekend.

    At the peak of the incident, significant portions of the West Coast’s renowned technology hub were engulfed in darkness. The outage precipitated considerable public inconvenience, including the failure of numerous traffic signals and a suspension of services for the self-driving ride-hailing operator, Waymo. Public transportation networks also experienced considerable delays and disruptions.

    In an official communication via social media platform X, PG&E provided a restoration update, indicating that power had been successfully returned to roughly 90,000 customers by 9:00 PM local time. The utility company assured that efforts would continue through the night to restore electricity to the remaining 40,000 affected households.

    San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie addressed the public from the city’s emergency operations center, acknowledging the severity of the situation. He urged residents still without electricity to prioritize safety and to check on their neighbors. Mayor Lurie also confirmed that additional police, fire department personnel, and city officials had been deployed across affected areas and advised the public to remain at home unless absolutely necessary.

    The timing of the blackout proved particularly detrimental to local commerce. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that numerous businesses were compelled to shutter on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. Dense fog further compounded the challenging conditions, rendering typically vibrant commercial districts unusually quiet and causing what one retail manager described as a ‘devastating’ financial impact so close to the Christmas holiday.

  • US intercepts Venezuelan-linked oil tanker in Caribbean

    US intercepts Venezuelan-linked oil tanker in Caribbean

    In a significant escalation of maritime enforcement, United States authorities have intercepted a second oil tanker with connections to Venezuela within weeks. The operation, conducted in international waters east of Barbados, was carried out by the US Coast Guard with Pentagon support following President Donald Trump’s directive for a “total and complete blockade” against sanctioned vessels associated with Caracas.

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the interception on social media platform X, stating: “The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region. We will find you, and we will stop you.” Her announcement included aerial footage showing US military helicopters operating above a large tanker’s deck.

    White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly identified the vessel as part of Venezuela’s “shadow fleet,” alleging it was “falsely flagged” and engaged in trafficking “stolen oil to fund the narcoterrorist Maduro regime.” The tanker, believed to be the Panama-flagged ‘Centuries,’ had previously docked in Venezuela and was carrying sanctioned petroleum products.

    The Venezuelan government issued vehement condemnation through Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who denounced the action as “theft and hijacking” and cited the “forced disappearance” of the vessel’s crew. Rodríguez declared these acts “will not go unpunished” and promised to pursue complaints through the United Nations Security Council and other international bodies.

    Legal experts note the unusual nature of the seizure, as Jeremy Paner, a former OFAC investigator, pointed out that the specific vessel itself had not been under US sanctions. The incident raises broader concerns among Caribbean nations about US enforcement actions occurring in international waters within the region, potentially setting precedents for maritime jurisdiction and energy security.

  • Trini in troubled Tanzania seeks help to replace lost passport

    Trini in troubled Tanzania seeks help to replace lost passport

    A Trinidadian expatriate residing in Tanzania finds herself in a precarious legal limbo after immigration authorities misplaced her passport, leaving her without valid identification during a period of significant political turmoil. The woman, who chose to remain anonymous, originally relocated to Tanzania seeking career advancement opportunities unavailable in her homeland.

    Her residency renewal process typically involved submitting documentation through local immigration channels to the national headquarters in Dodoma. However, during her 2023 renewal attempt, officials claimed to have misplaced a supplementary travel document and subsequently refused to release her passport. The situation deteriorated further this year when immigration authorities admitted they could no longer locate her passport entirely.

    Her attempts to secure replacement documentation through Trinidad and Tobago’s diplomatic channels proved frustratingly ineffective. The High Commission in Nigeria redirected her to London, where communications went unanswered, leaving repatriation as the only apparent solution—an option she resisted due to professional commitments and seasonal business demands.

    This personal crisis escalated against the backdrop of Tanzania’s contentious October 29 general elections. Official results claiming a 97.66% victory for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party were met with widespread skepticism amid reports of electoral irregularities. Violent protests erupted, resulting in alleged hundreds of casualties according to external sources, though government figures remain unconfirmed.

    The administration responded by attributing the unrest to foreign agitators, implementing widespread identity checks and roadblocks. President Samia Suluhu Hassan publicly condemned the violence while emphasizing the involvement of non-Tanzanian elements. This official narrative intensified the Trinidadian woman’s vulnerability, as she lacked the documentation to prove her legal status.

    Following media intervention, immigration officials in Trinidad provided direct contacts to the London High Commission, which holds jurisdiction over passport issuance for citizens in Europe, Africa, and China. An officer suggested the passport might have been diverted for illegal trade, noting the high value of Trinidad and Tobago passports in document trafficking circles due to their visa-free access to numerous countries.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs has pledged assistance, and the woman has now received assurances from London that her replacement documents will be expedited once processed.

  • ‘Painting’ with coloured paper – Allisha Ali’s rising profile as Caribbean artist in Canada

    ‘Painting’ with coloured paper – Allisha Ali’s rising profile as Caribbean artist in Canada

    In an extraordinary fusion of technology and tradition, Toronto-based software engineering manager Allisha Ali has emerged as an unexpected force in the art world through her innovative paper-quilling techniques. Born in Trinidad and migrating to Canada at age ten, Ali has developed a distinctive artistic practice that transforms colored paper strips into vibrant visual narratives of Caribbean heritage and personal memory.

    Without formal art training, Ali discovered paper artistry as therapeutic expression during intervals between managing tech teams and raising her two daughters. Her unconventional medium involves meticulously layering and blending paper strips to create textured compositions that mimic brushstrokes—all without using any paint. “Just glue and paper,” Ali explains. “I have stacks of different colors and I blend them. It’s very tactile, very therapeutic.”

    Her engineering background profoundly influences her creative process. She describes her approach as “modular,” constructing artworks from individual components much like software systems are designed. This methodological crossover demonstrates how her technical expertise informs her artistic vision.

    At the heart of Ali’s work lies her Trinidadian roots and family history. Her breakthrough piece, “Oropouche,” depicts cocoa pods connected to her father’s lineage and the agricultural legacy of northeastern Trinidad. The artwork emerged from a deeply personal journey—returning to Trinidad seven years after her father’s death. “There was a lot of emotion in that trip—grief, nostalgia, joy,” she recalls. “I always think of Trinidad as paradise, but it’s layered.”

    Another significant work, “Bazodee,” captures the overwhelming experience of returning to bury her father, transitioning visually from anxiety to intense emotional release. Her portfolio has expanded to include socially conscious works like “The Water Protector,” honoring Indigenous water activists in Canada, and “Soul Rebel,” a portrait of Bob Marley that pays homage to the music that filled her childhood home.

    Despite recent recognition—including her first sale after someone discovered her work on Instagram and her inaugural exhibition in the Greater Toronto Area—Ali maintains her full-time tech career. She now aims to participate in juried exhibitions and eventually stage a solo show, all while continuing to develop more complex, message-driven works that create space for Caribbean stories in Canadian cultural spaces.