Carib Scope

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  • Antigua and Barbuda Targets 1.5 Million Cruise Visitors Within Two Years

    Antigua and Barbuda Targets 1.5 Million Cruise Visitors Within Two Years

    ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda — As the Caribbean nation accelerates upgrades to its cruise infrastructure and on-shore visitor experiences, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has unveiled an ambitious goal to draw roughly 1.5 million annual cruise ship visitors to Antigua and Barbuda over the next 24 months.

    When Browne’s administration first took office more than 10 years ago, the country welcomed just 500,000 cruise tourists annually, meaning the new target would represent a 200% jump in visitor volumes from that baseline. Browne shared the projection during his regular weekly broadcast to the public, emphasizing how far the country’s cruise sector has come in the past decade.

    Among the key developments poised to support this growth goal is the Upland Development project located on Newgate Street, a shoreside commercial space built specifically to cater to cruise passengers. Browne confirmed the project is in its final stages of completion and will be fully operational in time for the upcoming cruise season. The development will host 20 retail outlets, with a notable portion of the commercial space reserved exclusively for local small businesses, ensuring community members benefit directly from growing tourism demand.

    Browne highlighted the critical role of international partner Global Ports Holding in advancing the country’s cruise ambitions, noting the firm has poured significant capital into expanding and upgrading Antigua and Barbuda’s port infrastructure. That investment has transformed the country’s standing in the competitive Caribbean cruise market: just over a decade ago, Antigua and Barbuda was widely regarded as having one of the weakest cruise tourism offerings in the entire region. Today, it is gaining international recognition as a top-tier cruise destination and building the capacity to capture a much larger share of the regional market.

    Despite the clear optimism around the growth target, Browne did not release additional granular details to support the projection. He offered no specifics on projected numbers of ship calls, pre-confirmed passenger bookings from major cruise lines, or what additional large-scale infrastructure projects will need to be completed to handle a tripling of annual visitor volumes. Industry analysts note that hitting the 1.5 million target will hinge on several critical factors: sustained growth in the number of cruise ships choosing to include Antigua and Barbuda on their itineraries, sufficient port capacity to accommodate larger and more frequent vessel arrivals, and the country’s ability to scale up complementary services including ground transportation, guided tours, retail offerings, and hospitality staff to serve the sudden influx of passengers.

  • Prime Minister’s promise to CFEF and ENS students

    Prime Minister’s promise to CFEF and ENS students

    A September 12, 2026 online gathering between senior Haitian education officials and hundreds of trainee teachers has brought new hope to education sector interns who have waited months for rightfully owed stipend payments. Hosted by Minister of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) Vijonet Déméro, the meeting brought together probationary trainees from the Port-au-Prince-based Training Center for Fundamental Education (CFEF) and graduate students from the École Normale Supérieure (ENS), alongside top ministry leadership including MENFP Human Resources Director Dr. Jean Ricot Docteur, Ministry Administrator Rousseau Dumond Larionne, Departmental Education Directorates Coordination Unit Coordinator Ernest Clergé, and CFEF Administrative Director Jacques Ronald Jean.

    The working session was convened specifically to address a long-running backlog: dozens of trainees that had already completed required probationary periods, internship hours, and all required reporting documentation, but had yet to receive their final payment checks. For the first time, participants gave students a direct platform to ask questions about their individual file statuses and raise concerns about processing delays.

    During the open discussion, Minister Déméro reaffirmed the Haitian government’s full commitment to fulfilling its financial obligations to the trainee educators, restating the promise he first made during a September 7, 2026 appearance on Radio Caraïbes’ popular talk program *Premye Okazyon*. He stressed that resolving the backlog is a top priority for his ministry, and emphasized his determination to wrap up the entire process in the shortest possible timeline.

    Dr. Jean Ricot Docteur, the ministry’s human resources director, provided a key update to attendees: all required administrative approvals and document sign-offs were completed as of September 4, 2026, clearing the final bureaucratic hurdle that had stalled the payment process. Per directives issued by Minister Déméro, he confirmed that eligible trainees should be able to collect their owed checks within the week of the meeting.

    Ministry Administrator Rousseau Dumond Larionne echoed this commitment, pledging to work closely with Dr. Jean Ricot Docteur to cut through any remaining red tape and deliver payments to eligible trainees as quickly as possible. To keep the process moving, Larionne announced that he would schedule a follow-up meeting with the Ministry of Finance’s public accountant on September 14, 2026, to coordinate final processing steps and remove any remaining interdepartmental barriers.

    For the trainee educators who completed their required service months ago, the meeting marks a long-awaited breakthrough. After months of uncertainty while waiting for owed compensation, the clear timeline and official commitments from top ministry leadership have left the group optimistic that the backlog will be resolved imminently.

  • Antigua and Barbuda’s PM Accuses Local Banks Of Failing Borrowers with Conservative Lending

    Antigua and Barbuda’s PM Accuses Local Banks Of Failing Borrowers with Conservative Lending

    The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda has publicly raised sharp criticisms against the nation’s domestic banking sector, arguing that excessively conservative lending approaches are leaving countless qualified borrowers locked out of access to critical capital. In a recent public address, the country’s leader highlighted that local financial institutions have drastically tightened their lending standards in recent months, adopting risk-aversion policies that go far beyond prudent financial management.

    This overly cautious stance, the prime minister claims, is creating unnecessary barriers for small business owners, aspiring homeowners, and entrepreneurs seeking funding to grow their ventures or cover unexpected expenses. Many borrowers who would have previously qualified for mortgages, small business loans, or personal lines of credit are now being rejected outright or offered terms with prohibitively high interest rates that put financing out of reach.

    The prime minister emphasized that this trend is not just harming individual borrowers—it is also dragging down broader economic growth across the twin-island nation. Restricted access to credit slows business expansion, suppresses job creation, and weakens the housing market, creating ripple effects that touch multiple sectors of the local economy. The head of government has indicated that he intends to convene urgent talks with banking industry leaders to address the issue, pushing for a reevaluation of current lending policies that balances the banks’ need for risk management with the economy’s demand for accessible, affordable credit. He called on financial institutions to find a middle ground that supports both financial stability and inclusive economic growth, warning that continued inaction could lead to prolonged stagnation for businesses and households alike.

  • Health : Towards strengthening the capacity of the National Ambulance Center (video)

    Health : Towards strengthening the capacity of the National Ambulance Center (video)

    On September 12, 2026, Haiti’s National Ambulance Center (CAN) gathered key domestic and international stakeholders at Port-au-Prince’s Royal Hotel to mark World First Aid Day with a day of strategic reflection and collective mobilization focused on transforming the country’s fragmented emergency response infrastructure. Convened under the theme “Strengthening the Emergency Response Chain in Haiti for a More Resilient Emergency Management System”, the event was led by CAN Director General Dr. Ricardo Jean Baptiste, with administrative support from his senior leadership team including Director of Administration and Budget Hansy Beethoven Joseph.

    Attendees included high-ranking officials and institutional partners spanning multiple sectors: Cheng Hao Hu, Ambassador of Taiwan (Republic of China) to Haiti; Haitian Minister of the Environment Valéry Fils-Aimé; Director General of Haiti’s National Civil Protection Emmanuel Pierre; emergency response units from the Haitian National Police; delegates from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); Delmas municipal firefighting teams; and dozens of representatives from Haiti’s public and private health and emergency services sectors.

    In his keynote address to attendees, Dr. Jean Baptiste outlined a sweeping multi-part plan to overhaul CAN operations across all 10 of Haiti’s administrative departments. The first core component of the plan is a full systemic reorganization of CAN’s emergency call handling workflow, designed to streamline intake, inter-agency coordination, and dispatch of emergency services to communities in need. Second, Dr. Jean Baptiste confirmed planned investments in upgraded life-saving medical equipment to reinforce CAN’s clinical capabilities, with the explicit goal of raising the standard of care for Haitian residents facing acute medical emergencies. The third major initiative is an infrastructure expansion project that will see nine new regional CAN administrative offices constructed across the country. This expansion is intended to address longstanding gaps in working conditions for frontline ambulance staff and extend CAN’s formal institutional presence to underserved rural and regional departments.

    Dr. Jean Baptiste also used the occasion to publicly thank the ICRC for its critical ongoing support to CAN, highlighting a recently completed partnership that restored 13 idle CAN ambulances to active service. Funded through coordination with Haiti’s Ministry of Public Health, the ambulance repair project has already delivered measurable gains to the network’s response capacity by increasing the number of fully operational vehicles available for emergency deployments.

    Following opening remarks, the day’s program progressed to two expert panels that centered on the most pressing challenges facing Haiti’s emergency management sector. The first panel, focused on the unique complexities of delivering first aid in Haiti’s growing migration context, featured a keynote presentation from Emmanuel Pierre and was moderated by Dr. Jeanty Fils Exalus, who also served as the event’s master of ceremonies. The second panel, which aligned with the day’s overarching theme of building a more resilient national emergency system, was moderated by Dr. Rose Anaëlle Pierre Jean, and brought together stakeholders to unpack both structural barriers to progress and untapped opportunities for system-wide improvement.

    The event concluded with the formal launch of a new national regulatory initiative: the National Program for the Registration and Certification of Ambulance Companies and First Aid Training Schools, presented by Midelson Emmanuel Jr. Juste, coordinator of CAN’s Legal Unit. The new regulatory framework aims to formalize the fragmented emergency response sector, enforce consistent professional standards for practitioners, and improve the overall quality of first aid and emergency care accessible to Haitian communities across the country.

  • Dominica to launch climate change resilience project for Caribbean fisheries sector

    Dominica to launch climate change resilience project for Caribbean fisheries sector

    Small island nations across the Caribbean have long watched climate change erode the marine ecosystems that underpin their food security, cultural identity, and economic stability. This week, one regional step forward aims to turn the tide for local fishing communities: the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy of the Commonwealth of Dominica is preparing to officially launch the CC4FISH-II Climate Change Resilience in the Caribbean Fisheries Sector Project on September 15, 2026.

    This landmark resilience-building initiative does not move forward alone. It brings together three leading global and regional environmental and development bodies for coordinated impact: the Global Environment Facility (GEF) provides core funding support, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO brings technical expertise and global fisheries insight, and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) contributes on-the-ground regional knowledge tailored to the unique vulnerabilities of Caribbean coastal nations.

    The official launch event is scheduled to kick off at 10:30 a.m. local time, organized in a hybrid format to maximize participation across the region and beyond. Attendees will have the option to join in person at a venue in Dominica, or connect remotely from anywhere in the world, breaking down barriers to stakeholder involvement that often limit small regional projects.

    At its core, CC4FISH-II is designed to directly address the growing climate crisis facing Caribbean fisheries. For years, rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, more intense tropical storms, and shifting fish migration patterns have threatened the viability of marine resources that millions of people in the region depend on for daily sustenance and livelihoods. Fishing communities, particularly small-scale artisanal operations that form the backbone of many local economies, have borne the brunt of these changes with few resources to adapt. The new project prioritizes strengthening the adaptive capacity of the sector, building long-term resilience that can protect both marine ecosystems and the human communities that rely on them for generations to come.

  • Christ Church man bailed on cannabis charges

    Christ Church man bailed on cannabis charges

    A criminal court hearing in Christ Church has concluded with a 47-year-old local supervisor being released on bail following charges connected to a major cannabis seizure. Ishan Saquan Alleyne, a resident of Town House #8 on Fordes Road in Clapham, faces three separate indictable offenses: possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to supply, and trafficking of cannabis. All charges stem from an enforcement operation that took place on September 11. Law enforcement seized approximately 47.5 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis from the scene, which local authorities have valued at an estimated street price of $237,500. When the charges were formally read out in court by presiding Magistrate Jared Richards, Alleyne was not required to enter a plea at this procedural stage of the case. The defendant is represented by two experienced defense attorneys, Simon Clarke and Neville Reid, who argued for bail ahead of the next court hearing. In the end, Magistrate Richards granted bail set at $20,000, which requires two sureties to be secured before Alleyne’s release. The case is scheduled to resume in court on December 9, when further procedural steps or evidence presentation will take place. The seizure represents one of the larger bulk cannabis cases processed by local courts in recent months, highlighting ongoing enforcement efforts targeting drug trafficking and distribution in the region.

  • Nurse Prevost urges Dominicans to prioritize health during festive season

    Nurse Prevost urges Dominicans to prioritize health during festive season

    As the Dominican Republic prepares for its annual independence festive season, a leading national nursing figure is sounding the call for all Dominican residents to center personal health and well-being as a year-round priority, not just a passing wellness goal. In an exclusive interview with independent news editor Richie Ferrol held on September 13, 2026, Priscilla Prevost, who serves both as a practicing family nurse practitioner and president of the National Nurses Council, laid out her public health message tailored to the upcoming period of widespread celebration.

    Prevost opened her remarks by acknowledging that communal gatherings and joyful celebrations are deeply woven into the cultural fabric of Dominican life, and the upcoming independence season will bring a marked increase in these social events across the country. She noted that amid the excitement of holiday festivities, it is all too common for individuals to set aside their usual healthy habits and overlook the long-term impacts of their daily choices.

    Beyond framing health as a personal goal, Prevost emphasized that protecting and maintaining individual wellness is a shared collective responsibility that ripples out to benefit entire communities. She described the human body as a sacred vessel, encouraging people to treat it with greater intentional care. Contrary to common misconceptions that health focus only centers on diet, she explained that holistic well-being encompasses far more than eating nutrient-dense foods. Key components include making intentional, responsible choices around alcoholic beverage consumption, prioritizing consistent, adequate sleep each night, and nurturing supportive, positive social connections.

    Prevost also drew attention to the underrecognized impact of chronic exposure to negative environments and interactions, explaining that ongoing negativity can erode both a person’s overall emotional state and weaken their immune system function. Based on this, she encouraged all Dominicans to adopt sustainable, healthier daily habits and stay mindful of the interconnected factors that shape physical, mental, and emotional health outcomes.

    The nursing leader further stressed that reckless personal choices do not only affect the individual making them—they can carry severe, life-altering consequences for family members, coworkers, and the broader public. To illustrate this point, she cited the common high-risk behavior of drinking and driving during holiday seasons, noting that a single irresponsible decision can lead to devastating road traffic accidents that harm innocent passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians, not just the person behind the wheel.

    Closing her message, Prevost urged Dominicans to reflect on how individual choices shape collective community well-being, and to recognize the inherent value of each person’s ongoing contribution to national life. “Every decision that we make has consequences, whether for good or for bad,” she said, reaffirming that responsible personal conduct and sustained health investment are critical to allowing individuals to continue making meaningful, positive contributions to Dominican society for years to come.

  • Government moving to establish Marigot as port of entry

    Government moving to establish Marigot as port of entry

    Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica has formally confirmed that the national government is pressing ahead with long-planned initiatives to convert the existing Marigot Fisheries Complex into a fully functional port of entry for the island. The announcement came during a recent press briefing held last week, where Skerrit outlined that earlier concerns raised by local fishing communities have now been successfully addressed, removing the last major barrier to advancing the project.

    With stakeholder disagreements reconciled, government agencies and the Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority (DASPA) can now begin installing the operational infrastructure, regulatory systems, and supporting facilities required to open the new port to international traffic. Skerrit emphasized that the local project coordinator has made significant progress on pre-operational preparations, and responsibility now shifts to state bodies and DASPA to bring the initiative across the finish line.

    When completed, the new port of entry will be able to receive incoming vessels traveling from nearby French territorial jurisdictions in the Caribbean. Beyond streamlining cross-border maritime travel, the development is projected to unlock widespread commercial opportunities for local businesses, including new customer bases for neighborhood shops, coastal restaurants, local transportation providers, and a wide range of other service-focused enterprises.

    Skerrit framed the port conversion as a transformative economic catalyst for not just Marigot, but the entire northeastern corridor of Dominica, stretching from Marigot through surrounding communities to Calibishie and the Kalinago Territory. The project is also integrated into a broader suite of regional development initiatives for Dominica’s northeast, which includes the construction of a new international airport and a proposed redevelopment of Douglas-Charles Airport. Once the new international airport becomes operational, the Douglas-Charles site is set to be repurposed into a dedicated cargo hub and multi-use alternative sports facility that can host motor racing competitions, car shows, motorcycle rallies, and other large public events.

    Additional complementary components of the regional development strategy include expanding access to agricultural land leases and scaling up domestic food production across the northeast. Skerrit noted that the overarching goal of linking these interconnected projects is to generate sustained, broad-based economic growth and activity across Marigot and all adjacent communities, unlocking new livelihood opportunities for local residents and supporting long-term regional development.

  • PM Says Son Will Cooperate Fully With U.S. Subpoena in Alfa Nero Case

    PM Says Son Will Cooperate Fully With U.S. Subpoena in Alfa Nero Case

    The political fallout surrounding the contentious sale of the Russian-linked Alfa Nero superyacht has taken a new turn, with Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne publicly confirming that his son, Gaston Andron Browne III, will comply fully with any U.S. court subpoena issued as part of the ongoing legal process. In a recent public statement, Browne clarified that his son remains based in the twin-island nation and has made no attempt to avoid being served with legal documents, after a U.S. federal court granted approval to collect testimony and records from the younger Browne alongside multiple other individuals and corporate entities based in Florida.

    “Send somebody on a plane with the document. He will gladly receive it,” Browne stated plainly, adding that his son is prepared to appear before the Florida court and that the government and family are committed to full cooperation with the judicial process. The approval for pursuing subpoenas was granted September 7 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Marty Fulgueira Elfenbein, acting on an evidence-gathering application filed by Russian national Yulia Guryeva-Motlokhov, who intends to use the obtained materials in parallel legal proceedings hosted outside the United States. It is important to note that the judge’s order only permits the service of subpoenas, and makes no ruling on the validity of any claims Guryeva-Motlokhov has put forward in her application.
    Browne acknowledged that his son will likely retain independent legal counsel to navigate the process, but stressed that no member of the family will take any step to obstruct or delay the U.S. court’s investigation. Beyond addressing the subpoena matter, the prime minister issued a firm denial of all allegations claiming that either he or his son illicitly profited from the sale of the 266-foot luxury superyacht. This includes rejecting claims the pair received $6 million in improper proceeds from the transaction, as well as unsubstantiated assertions that the family holds $700 million in hidden offshore assets.

    “I don’t have one cent outside of Antigua and Barbuda,” Browne asserted. “I have no savings, no stocks, no shares and no bonds outside of Antigua and Barbuda. I have no third party holding any stocks, bonds or savings for me.” The prime minister explained that all income he has earned during his career in Antigua and Barbuda has been reinvested in domestic assets within the country. He did acknowledge past limited offshore financial activity: he held personal bank accounts during his time residing in the United Kingdom, and made a roughly $30,000 stock investment during a period living in South America, most of which was lost when the global technology market crashed in the early 2000s.
    Browne also addressed public scrutiny over his son’s residential property in Florida, explaining that the purchase was funded entirely by a roughly $2 million profit from a private land development deal in Antigua’s Long Bay area. “I can say categorically that he did not get a single cent – not even a toffee – from Alfa Nero,” Browne emphasized. Guryeva-Motlokhov’s application notes that any evidence obtained through the U.S. subpoena process will be utilized in upcoming legal proceedings in three jurisdictions: Antigua and Barbuda, Russia, and the United States.

  • PM Drew’s health scare puts spotlight on four years of tireless public service – WIC News

    PM Drew’s health scare puts spotlight on four years of tireless public service – WIC News

    The head of government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has opened up about a sudden serious health event that has drawn new attention to his relentless four-year tenure in office, confirming he is now on the path to recovery after weeks of specialized medical care abroad.

    Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew made the official announcement in a pre-recorded video address from Florida, United States, on September 13, 2026, nearly two weeks after he was first hospitalized for unexplained symptoms. The 8th Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis confirmed that the medical episode he experienced at the end of August was a stroke, adding that he has been released from hospital care and is now progressing through a structured rehabilitation program.

    The chain of events began on August 30, when Drew sought urgent care at Basseterre’s Joseph N. France General Hospital after reporting a suite of concerning symptoms: nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, mild headache and persistent dizziness. When local clinicians stabilized his condition, he was first evacuated to Martinique for advanced assessment before being transferred to a Florida medical facility on September 2 for ongoing specialized treatment.

    Sources close to the prime minister attribute the stroke to years of unrelenting professional pressure and a grueling work schedule that Drew maintained voluntarily throughout his time in office. A trained medical doctor before entering politics, Drew has prioritized hands-on governance since taking office four years ago, rejecting secondhand reports from cabinet ministers in favor of conducting on-site inspections of infrastructure and development projects across both islands of the federation. His schedule has long included frequent international diplomatic and economic engagements paired with constant community outreach, as he centered his administration on a core mission to improve quality of life for all citizens and build a more stable, prosperous nation.

    Over his first term, Drew maintained a round-the-clock work ethic, never stepping back from public responsibilities even when facing fatigue. Colleagues and close aides confirmed that in the days leading up to his hospitalization, Drew continued to fulfill all his official duties and even attended scheduled site visits for ongoing development projects. He has repeatedly framed his public role as a calling rather than a burden, pouring all his personal time and energy into advancing the needs of St. Kitts and Nevis over the past four years – a level of dedication that ultimately led him to neglect his own physical health, insiders say.

    In Drew’s absence, Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Geoffrey Hanley has stepped in to lead the federal cabinet on an acting basis. The Cabinet Secretariat has confirmed that all governance functions, as well as ongoing social and economic development initiatives across the federation, continue to operate without disruption. In his video address, Drew extended his sincere gratitude to members of the public across St. Kitts and Nevis and well-wishers around the world for the flood of prayers and support he has received since his hospitalization.