Carib Scope

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  • WASCO shares progress on projects to improve water supply

    WASCO shares progress on projects to improve water supply

    Residents across the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia are set to see tangible progress toward more consistent, dependable access to clean water in the months ahead, as four major public water infrastructure projects move through key pre-construction and active development phases. The timeline for accelerated delivery of these critical upgrades was outlined by Maurice Norville, head of the Project Management Unit at the Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO), during the organization’s regular monthly press briefing held this Wednesday.

    The largest of the four initiatives by investment value is the $22.8 million John Compton Dam Raw Water Pipeline Project, which remains on schedule to break ground in January 2027. Pre-construction activities are already well underway: the project has filled key leadership roles including a dedicated full-time engineer and community liaison officer, who have already held a series of consultative meetings with local landowners and agricultural producers to walk through project plans and address community concerns around potential impacts. Evaluation of proposals from firms competing for the supervision engineering consultant contract is ongoing, with selection expected to wrap up by the end of August and the winning firm onboarding by September. Discussions around required land acquisition for the pipeline route are also continuing, with no reported delays to the current construction timeline.

    The $5 million Theobalds Water Supply Rehabilitation Project, which will upgrade aging distribution infrastructure in the Theobalds region, is currently in the contractor procurement phase. Six competitive bids from regional construction firms were submitted to WASCO back in June, and the evaluation process to select a winning bidder is now active. A contractor is scheduled to be named in August, with physical construction kicking off the following month. The full rehabilitation work is projected to take 15 months, with a formal completion deadline set for December 2027.

    Further along in development is the $2 million Patience Water Supply Redevelopment Project, which has already reached 80% overall completion. Key core infrastructure is already finished: the raw water intake structure is fully constructed, civil site work for the new water treatment plant has been wrapped up, pumping station construction is 85% complete, and 40% of the new distribution pipeline has already been installed. The new treatment plant equipment is currently in transit from Europe, with delivery expected by the end of July. Following delivery, installation and testing of the new facility will take approximately two months, putting the full project on track to open by the end of October this year.

    The final initiative, the Northern Pipeline Project, has completed all core pre-construction contracting phases, with both the supervising consultant and main construction contractors formally signed on. Construction is slated to get underway in August. The Department of Physical Planning has already issued all required legal notices to landowners whose properties will be affected by the pipeline route, and utility corridor surveys are continuing. Currently, half of the required property boundary surveys have been completed, and WASCO officials confirmed this partial progress will not delay the planned start of construction. Site staking has already been finished, and survey teams are now finalizing elevation and benchmark data ahead of the contractor mobilizing to the site next month.

    Collectively, the four projects are designed to address longstanding gaps in water access, upgrade aging infrastructure, and boost the overall reliability of Saint Lucia’s national water supply for communities across the country, with work ramping up significantly over the remainder of the year.

  • CCJ Allows Extradition Proceedings To Continue Against Guyanese Opposition Leader and Father

    CCJ Allows Extradition Proceedings To Continue Against Guyanese Opposition Leader and Father

    PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago – In a landmark unanimous ruling delivered July 29, 2026, the full bench of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has dismissed a high-profile appeal brought by Guyana’s opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father Nazar Mohamed, who sought to invalidate the legal order that opened the door to their extradition to the United States.

    The legal dispute traces back to October 2025, when the government of Guyana received an official extradition request from U.S. authorities for the two men. Just 48 hours after the request landed, Guyana’s Minister of Home Affairs issued an Authority to Proceed (ATP), a required preliminary administrative document that launches the formal court-led extradition process under Guyana’s existing Fugitive Offenders Act.

    Unwilling to proceed with the extradition process, the pair launched an immediate legal challenge, arguing the ATP was legally invalid. Their core claim centered on allegations of both actual and apparent political bias, stemming from public comments made by senior Guyanese government officials during the country’s 2025 general election campaign. They also contended that the Minister of Home Affairs had improperly consulted the Attorney General, who they also claimed held biased views against them.

    Lower courts rejected the challenge out of hand: first the Guyana High Court, then the country’s Court of Appeal, both upheld the validity of the ATP. Undeterred, the Mohameds applied for special leave to appeal the decision to the regional CCJ, which agreed to hear both the leave application and the full substantive appeal in a single proceeding. The court also granted an temporary pause on all extradition proceedings while the appeal was under consideration.

    In a joint leading judgment, CCJ President Winston Anderson and Justice Barrow confirmed that the court would grant special leave to hear the appeal, but rejected the appellants’ core claims. They noted that while legal rules prohibiting biased decision-making do extend to ministerial decisions to issue an ATP, generalized claims of political bias alone are not enough to invalidate the order. The justices further found that the appellants had failed to provide concrete evidence that the ATP was issued as a result of improper bias, emphasizing that an ATP is only an early procedural step in the broader extradition process, not a final ruling on extradition itself. They pointed out that the pair never alleged the Minister failed to consider relevant legal factors or relied on irrelevant information – instead resting their entire case on unproven claims of political bias, which the court ruled was insufficient to invalidate the ATP.

    President Anderson and Justice Barrow also outlined a procedural framework for future challenges, noting that while challenges to an ATP can be filed before the committal stage of extradition proceedings, they should only be heard early in extraordinary circumstances. This approach, they reasoned, better aligns with Guyana’s domestic extradition legislation and the country’s international legal obligations.

    In a separate concurring opinion, Justices Rajnauth-Lee, Jamadar, and Bulkan agreed the appeal should be dismissed, but pushed back on the procedural guidance from the leading judgment, holding there is no legal rule that bars early judicial review of an ATP when bias is alleged. While they found no evidence of actual or apparent bias on the part of the Minister of Home Affairs, they concluded there was a real possibility of apparent bias on the part of the Attorney General. Even so, they ruled that any potential bias on the Attorney General’s part did not taint the Minister’s independent decision-making process, so the ATP remained valid.

    All three justices in this concurrence also joined the court’s broader emphasis on judicial independence, issuing a formal caution to public officials against making public comments on ongoing pending judicial proceedings. The court ordered that each party would cover its own legal costs related to the appeal.

    In a third separate concurring opinion, Justices Ononaiwu and Eboe-Osuji also backed the dismissal of the appeal. They stressed that bias allegations must be evaluated through the lens of a fair-minded, well-informed observer who takes full account of all surrounding circumstances. Applying that standard, they found no proof of bias in the case. They also echoed the focus on procedural timing, noting that the extradition process itself includes built-in mechanisms to address potential unfairness for requested persons.

    In its final outcome, the full 7-member CCJ bench unanimously granted the appellants special leave to appeal, but then voted unanimously to dismiss the substantive appeal. The temporary stay on extradition proceedings was immediately lifted. The court ruled no additional costs order would be issued for the CCJ proceeding, and reserved decision on costs related to the earlier lower court proceedings for a later date.

    The full bench that heard the appeal included President Winston Anderson, along with Justices Rajnauth-Lee, Barrow, Jamadar, Ononaiwu, Eboe-Osuji, and Bulkan. Legal representation for the appellants was led by Senior Counsel Fyard Hosein and Roysdale A. Forde, supported by barristers Sasha Bridgemohansingh, Siand Dhurjon, Damien Da Silva, and Aadam Hosein. Senior Counsel Douglas L. Mendes and Clay J. Hackett represented the first respondent, Guyana’s Minister of Home Affairs. Attorney General Senior Counsel Mohabir Anil Nandlall led representation for the second respondent, the Attorney General of Guyana, alongside Solicitor General Nigel O. Hawke, Deputy Solicitor General Shoshanna V. Lall, and Dishon Persaud. Arudranauth Gossai represented third respondent Magistrate Judy Latchman.

  • Republic Bank helping to revitalise Carriacou Regatta Festival

    Republic Bank helping to revitalise Carriacou Regatta Festival

    For over four decades, Republic Bank has stood as a steadfast partner to one of Grenada’s most beloved cultural cornerstones, the Carriacou Regatta Festival, and the regional financial institution has now formally committed to continuing that legacy with confirmed funding for the 2026 iteration of the event.

    Scheduled to run from July 31 to August 2 on the scenic island of Carriacou, the 2026 festival carries far greater weight than past installments. It marks the first full regatta held after Category 4 Hurricane Beryl tore through Carriacou and neighboring Petit Martinique in July 2024, leaving widespread destruction of infrastructure, homes and local livelihoods in its wake. For the island’s community, the revival of the annual regatta is far more than a seasonal gathering: it is a powerful public symbol of the resilience, unyielding determination and enduring communal spirit that defines Carriacou’s population in the wake of crisis.

    As part of its long-running sponsorship, Republic Bank will continue its support for the regatta’s popular Large Deck Sloop racing category. For the bank, however, the partnership extends far beyond backing a single sporting competition. The festival is a living celebration of Carriacou’s one-of-a-kind ancestral heritage, centered on the traditional practices of wooden boat building and open-ocean sailing that have been core to the island’s cultural identity for generations. Beyond preserving culture, the event also drives critical economic activity for local residents, drawing thousands of regional and international visitors that support local hospitality, small businesses, and cross-cultural exchange that sustains the island’s tourism economy.

    “Republic Bank is honoured to stand with the people of Carriacou as they celebrate the return of this iconic festival,” said Mavis Mc Burnie, Republic Bank’s General Manager for Operations. “For more than 4 decades, we have proudly supported the Carriacou Regatta because it preserves an important part of our national heritage, while creating meaningful economic opportunities for the island. We are especially pleased to support this year’s event as Carriacou continues its journey of recovery and renewal.”

    In closing, Republic Bank extended its warmest wishes to the Carriacou Regatta Festival Committee, competing participants, local residents and incoming visitors, hoping for a safe, successful and unforgettable 2026 festival that honors the island’s past and paves the way for its future.

    This announcement was carried by NOW Grenada, which notes that it is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by third-party contributors, and provides a channel for users to report any abusive content.

  • Jordan vraagt regering opheldering over controles bij Stolkertsijver

    Jordan vraagt regering opheldering over controles bij Stolkertsijver

    On Tuesday, July 29, Genevievre Jordan, a member of the National Assembly representing the ABOP party, formally called on the Surinamese government to provide clarifications regarding newly tightened security and customs controls at the key Stolkertsijver checkpoint, a critical entry and transit point for travel to the eastern part of the country. Lawmaker Jordan told the plenary session that the abrupt implementation of the stricter control measures has sparked widespread anxiety and disruption among cross-border travelers and commercial bus operators who service routes to eastern Suriname.

    Jordan shared that she has received multiple on-the-ground reports of detentions of travelers at the checkpoint and widespread confiscation of personal goods, most notably pre-packed food parcels and other staple food items carried by visitors. Beyond detentions and seizures, bus drivers servicing the route have been formally notified that they face imprisonment if they are found transporting any passengers without valid travel or residency documentation.

    The assembly member has raised significant questions over the legality and practicality of this new policy framework, arguing that verifying passenger travel and identification documents falls outside the scope of responsibility for private bus operators. “Document checks are the explicit mandate of the national Migration Service, not private transport workers,” Jordan emphasized to government representatives during the session. She further stressed that the government cannot roll out intensive new control measures and asset seizure policies without first providing clear, widespread public guidance on the updated rules that are now in effect. Jordan called on the administration to improve its policy communication practices with the general public ahead of implementing any new regulatory changes.

    Acting on behalf of residents of the Marowijne district, the region most affected by the checkpoint controls, and the bus operator community that maintains critical transit links to the area, Jordan has formally urged the government to revisit its current approach to controls at Stolkertsijver. She advocated for protecting the fundamental right of residents and travelers to move freely across the country and reach their destinations without unnecessary bureaucratic or regulatory barriers.

    “When policymakers design new rules and implement new regulatory measures, they have an obligation to communicate those changes clearly and completely to the public,” Jordan stated. She also emphasized that the seizure of personal food items from travelers during these controls is completely unacceptable, calling for an immediate review of this practice.

  • Understanding the Reformed SBA Framework

    Understanding the Reformed SBA Framework

    For decades, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC)’s School-Based Assessment (SBA) framework has provided Caribbean students with a flexible pathway to showcase their knowledge and practical skills in authentic school and community learning environments. Working hand-in-hand with regional governments across the Caribbean, CXC has spent years refining SBA administration to align with regional education goals. In recent years, however, growing gaps in the SBA’s ability to accurately measure student ability, paired with the rapid spread of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), have pushed the council to implement a multi-stage, far-reaching reform initiative that will roll out its full updated framework in 2026.

    CXC’s reform process did not begin overnight. Steady adjustments to SBA oversight started in 2020, when the council expanded moderation to cover 100% of SBA submissions across all assessment centers. In 2022, CXC shifted from center-level moderation to teacher-led moderation to increase scrutiny of assessment quality, while expanding the actionable feedback provided on student work. By 2024, the council issued a formal reminder to all education stakeholders of the requirement for candidates to submit original work aligned with CXC’s official examination regulations. The most recent policy update came in 2025, when CXC launched two landmark resources for the regional secondary education system: the CXC Responsible Generative AI Policy Framework, and the CXC Standards and Guidelines for the Use of AI in Assessments. These new guidelines include the Adapted Scale Levels and Descriptors for the AI Assessment Scale (AIAS), which defines clear boundaries for acceptable AI use in student work, guidance for teachers designing SBA-aligned assessments, and structured mechanisms for educators to verify the originality of student work when GenAI is used.

    The fully updated, reformed SBA framework, set to launch ahead of the 2026/2027 academic year, is designed to help the Caribbean regional education system keep pace with rapid technological change while protecting the academic integrity of school-based assessment as GenAI becomes increasingly accessible to students. Beyond upholding assessment standards, the reform will encourage responsible GenAI use among learners, deepen subject mastery, and better prepare students to demonstrate their competence in formal invigilated examinations. To further advance regional assessment transformation as a top strategic priority, CXC is also establishing a dedicated Educational Assessment Taskforce. While long-term systemic changes are already in early development, CXC moved to implement immediate updates to address widespread concerns about SBA quality ahead of the 2026/2027 academic year.

    All reform changes were developed following extensive consultation with education stakeholders across 21 Caribbean states, including classroom teachers, school principals, curriculum officers, local registrars, and national Ministries of Education. The finalized reforms have been formally approved, reflecting a shared regional commitment to upholding the rigorous standards that underpin CXC’s qualification and certification awards. CXC emphasizes that it takes seriously its responsibility to all stakeholders — students, parents, teachers, employers, and governments — to protect the validity of Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) certifications for both higher education matriculation and workforce entry.

    The reforms impact all 32 current CSEC subjects and 36 CAPE subjects offered by CXC, grouped into three categories each based on assessment changes. Practical, performance-based subjects will retain their existing SBA requirements, while non-practical subjects will shift to invigilated assessment via the Alternate Paper 032.

    For CSEC subjects, the 32 offerings are split into three groups: 12 subjects will retain their current SBA requirements with no changes; 7 subjects will expand SBA use, phasing out the Alternate Paper 032 entirely; and 13 subjects will transition to exclusive use of the Alternate Paper 032. The CSEC transition will proceed in phased stages: Group 1 subjects retain existing assessment rules permanently. For Group 2 subjects, the Alternate Paper 032 will be eliminated starting with the May–June 2028 examination session, requiring all candidates to complete the SBA. For Group 3 CSEC subjects, both SBA and Alternate Paper 032 will be accepted in May–June 2027, with only the Alternate Paper 032 permitted starting in May–June 2028.

    For CAPE subjects, the 36 offerings are similarly grouped: 11 subjects will retain current SBA requirements with no changes; 8 subjects will expand SBA use by eliminating the Alternate Paper 032; and 17 subjects will remove the SBA entirely and rely exclusively on the Alternate Paper 032. All CAPE changes will go into full effect starting with the May–June 2027 examination session.

    CXC has addressed common candidate questions regarding score reuse and transfer for the updated assessment model. Alternate Paper 032 scores will be transferable over a two-year period for both CSEC and CAPE, matching the previous transfer policy for SBA scores. For syllabuses modularized for the new Caribbean Targeted Education Certificate (CTEC), Alternate Paper 032 scores will be transferable over a four-year window, with full guidance available in subject syllabuses posted to CXC’s official website. For candidates pursuing modular CSEC Mathematics, Alternate Paper 032 scores from a first sitting can be reused across all modules within the four-year transfer window. Candidates registered for both CSEC English A and English B, or for CSEC Economics, Principles of Accounts, and Principles of Business, will only need to complete one combined Alternate Paper 032, matching the combined SBA structure previously in place. Longstanding score transfer policies, such as the ability to transfer CSEC Additional Mathematics scores to CSEC Mathematics (but not the reverse), and the ability to transfer CAPE Alternate Paper 032 scores between units where permitted by subject syllabi, will remain in effect.

    The Alternate Paper 032 itself will also see format updates to support candidate preparation. Assessment topics will be released approximately one month before the examination date, candidates will be permitted to bring printed or handwritten prepared reference notes into the examination room, and the allotted examination time may be increased. Electronic devices with stored notes are not permitted, and full additional guidance will be released to candidates before the examination period. Sample papers, marking schemes, and answer keys for the updated Alternate Paper 032 are already available for free download in subject syllabuses on CXC’s website.

    For the 2027 CSEC transition year, all decisions around assessment choice are made at the school level, not by individual candidates: a center must select either SBA or the Alternate Paper 032 for all its registered candidates across all subjects, though candidates who began an SBA in the 2025-2026 academic year will be permitted to complete and submit their existing SBA for the May-June 2027 session. For CSEC science subjects, the shift to exclusive SBA use does not take effect until May-June 2028, so the Alternate Paper 032 will remain available for January 2027 and January 2028 sittings. Starting in January 2029, only resit candidates carrying forward previously earned SBA scores will be permitted to register for January sittings of subjects where the Alternate Paper 032 has been eliminated. First-time private candidates registering for CSEC Biology, Chemistry, or Physics after May-June 2028 will be required to affiliate with a public or private examination center to complete required laboratory exercises.

    A clear timeline guides the full rollout of reforms: the updated SBA framework goes into effect for the 2026-2027 academic year, giving schools and candidates time to prepare for new arrangements. All CAPE changes take full effect in May-June 2027, while CSEC operates under a transitional arrangement that year. Full CSEC changes go into effect in May-June 2028, and the updated January sitting policy takes effect starting in January 2029.

  • Broken System or Lack of Accountability?

    Broken System or Lack of Accountability?

    Three weeks after Prime Minister John Briceño’s landmark pledge to hold all wrongdoers accountable in the unfolding Ministry of Defence procurement scandal, the narrative emerging from the government has taken a notable turn. What began as an investigation into individual breaches of public contracting rules has morphed into a debate over overhauling what incumbent officials characterize as a fundamentally broken national procurement system.

    At the heart of the scandal are two former Defence Ministers, Florencio Marin Jr. and Oscar Mira, who remain on administrative leave pending the completion of a national audit into suspect supply contracts and questionable public spending practices. When the scandal first broke, Briceño moved quickly to reassure the public of full transparency, stating on July 3 that no individual would be shielded from consequences. “If there were any wrongdoings, be it public officers or politicians, they will have to answer. We are not going to cover this up,” the prime minister affirmed at the time.

    Now, however, critics say the government’s reframing of the issue as a systemic failure rather than a question of individual accountability is a deliberate distraction from demands for action. Prominent local attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley is one of the most vocal opponents of this shift, arguing that structural reform alone cannot address the root issues at play.

    In an interview with News 5, Bradley laid out his sharp critique of the government’s current approach: “There is no accountability. There are no checks and balances. There is no transparency. You can’t run a country like that. We have started to see in the country that something is going terribly wrong with the control of public monies.”

    Bradley went on to push back against the framing that the scandal stems from a flawed system alone, arguing that the core failure lies with the public officials tasked with overseeing and processing government expenditures. As the audit into the controversial contracts continues, the country remains divided over whether the crisis will lead to meaningful accountability for individuals involved, or merely procedural changes to procurement rules.

  • Table tennis preps for CAC Games with National League

    Table tennis preps for CAC Games with National League

    As the 2026 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games draw near, Saint Lucia’s national table tennis squad has wrapped up a months-long preparation campaign anchored by two high-stakes domestic competitions: the National Premier League and the National Championships.

    Running from February through July 2026, the National Premier League brought seven teams together for intense, consistent play, and included every athlete selected to represent Saint Lucia at the August 1–8 CAC Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The men’s roster for the regional event features DeAndre Calderon, Manie Eleuthere and Leshon Francis, while Shatal Charles, Zarianne Anthony and Cherese Darcheville will compete in women’s events – all three of whom led the Blazers to the title of the league’s most competitive women’s side.

    In the men’s playoff bracket, Rising Stars turned in an undefeated postseason run to claim the national crown, a result head coach Chris Wells credits heavily to the late addition of DeAndre Calderon to the squad. Led by Calderon and key contributor Khamari Harris, Rising Stars swept defending champions Eagles 3-0 in the championship match. The undefeated run included dominant wins over Tigers, Challengers and Warriors en route to the title, with the roster also featuring coach Wells and teenage talent Daniella Symphorien. Eagles, who entered the final as the regular season’s most consistent side after posting four straight 5-0 wins against Challengers, Blazers, Tigers and Lucian Strikers, counted CAC-bound athletes Eleuthere and Francis alongside Leonardo Bovell on their roster.

    Following the domestic events, individual honors went to Calderon as the top male performer, while Charles took home the title of best female singles player, solidifying her standing among Saint Lucia’s top table tennis talent.

    Beyond the domestic titles, Wells emphasized that the two competitions serve as an invaluable preparation step for the upcoming CAC Games. The extended five-month league schedule gave athletes repeated opportunities to test the technical and tactical skills they refined in training against a diverse range of opponents and match scenarios, helping build critical decision-making abilities, match management skills and mental resilience under pressure.

    For the coaching staff, the league also provided a unique opportunity to track performance patterns over time, spot persistent weaknesses, and adjust training plans ahead of the regional qualifier and main CAC Games event.

    The National Championships, which hosted women’s team, women’s doubles, mixed doubles, men’s doubles and men’s and women’s singles events, further elevated preparation by creating a high-pressure tournament environment matching what athletes will face in Santo Domingo. The event also acted as a final assessment tool for the technical staff to evaluate athlete form, physical readiness and ability to execute game plans against the nation’s toughest competition.

    With preparations complete, Wells says the program’s core goal has been to get athletes peaking at the right time for the CAC Games. He expects his squad to compete fearlessly, leave everything on the table, and put into practice all the skills and experience gained from the domestic season. While each athlete enters the regional competition with their own individual targets, Wells will be watching closely to see how competitors execute their tactical game plans, maintain mental focus and lean into their well-honed physical abilities in Santo Domingo.

  • Junior Carnival Parade Underway Following Weather Delay

    Junior Carnival Parade Underway Following Weather Delay

    After an early-week postponement driven by severe inclement weather, the 2026 Junior Carnival parade finally kicked off on Wednesday afternoon, drawing hundreds of excited young participants to the streets of St. John’s, Antigua.

    Originally scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 26, the annual youth-focused celebration was called off by the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission just days earlier. The governing body cited unrelenting rainfall and active thunderstorms that had rendered the planned parade route unsafe for everyone involved, from young marchers to gathered onlookers.

    When announcing the delay, the Commission emphasized that safety remained its central guiding principle. The decision to reschedule came after a full review of both existing weather conditions and updated forecasts, with the well-being of children, participating families, spectators and the general public flagged as the organization’s top non-negotiable priority.

    The rescheduled event launched at 1 p.m. local time on Wednesday, bringing together young masqueraders, school groups and dedicated children’s performance troupes. Participants wound through the capital city’s streets, dazzling onlookers with their vibrant, intricately designed costumes and lively choreographed performances that capture the joyful spirit of Caribbean carnival culture.

    In the wake of the last-minute schedule change, festival leadership extended public gratitude to parents, masquerade groups, event organizers and all other stakeholders for their flexibility and patience during the disruption. Organizers also shared that they were eager to welcome all participants to the rescheduled event, with plans in place to deliver a fun, safe and memorable celebration for every attendee.

  • TUD’s Dupuis-Dubique calls for fair duty-free concessions and greater support for transport operators and fishers

    TUD’s Dupuis-Dubique calls for fair duty-free concessions and greater support for transport operators and fishers

    Ahead of upcoming political activity in Dominica’s Paix Bouche and Calibishie Constituency, Christine Dupuis-Dubique, the parliamentary candidate from opposition grouping Team Unity Dominica (TUD), has laid out a people-focused policy platform centered on lifting up two of the constituency’s most critical working groups: public transport operators and small-scale fishers.

    Speaking at an official TUD press briefing this week, Dupuis-Dubique framed her push for expanded support as a necessary correction to existing policies that have left key industry workers without the resources to sustain and grow their livelihoods. Her core proposal for public transport operators is a restructured, fully transparent duty-free concession program that ties benefits directly to compliance with core industry regulations.

    Under her framework, only registered operators that meet strict requirements for proper licensing, valid passenger insurance, regular roadworthiness inspections and documented passenger safety protocols would qualify for the concessions — a structure she says ensures benefits go to compliant, responsible operators while raising overall service standards for the public.

    Dupuis-Dubique argued that the island’s small-scale boat owners and commercial fishers, who form a backbone of the coastal constituency’s economy, deserve the same tier of targeted government support as transport operators. Beyond duty concessions for essential equipment, she is calling for sweeping reforms to expand small-scale fishers’ access to low-interest, affordable financing to purchase the safe, high-quality tools and vessels they need to operate sustainably. “Our boat owners and fishers have long powered our local economy, and they should not have to struggle to access the capital and resources they need to build lasting, successful businesses,” she said.

    In addition to financial support for existing industries, Dupuis-Dubique is pushing for major investments in accessible local skills training, eliminating the burden on constituency residents of traveling long distances off-site to gain professional qualifications. She called for the immediate rollout of community-based training programs covering high-demand, local industry-relevant skills including maritime safety, commercial navigation, boat engine maintenance, hospitality services and small business management. These programs would be hosted directly in population centers across the constituency, including Bense, Anse De Mai, Anse Soldat, Calibishie and Paix Bouche, making training accessible to working residents who cannot travel for extended coursework.

    Dupuis-Dubique emphasized that the Paix Bouche and Calibishie Constituency holds unique natural and economic advantages thanks to its deep, generations-long ties to both marine fisheries and coastal agriculture. These existing strengths, she argued, create a solid foundation for inclusive long-term economic growth — but that potential will remain untapped without targeted public investment in infrastructure, financial support and skills development tailored to local needs.

    A further key plank of her platform calls for local hiring requirements for public and private development projects carried out within the constituency. She stressed that qualified local workers should receive first consideration for contracts and jobs generated by community projects, ensuring that economic activity within the area directly benefits the residents who live there, rather than outside contractors. “When development work comes to our communities, local people deserve the first chance to share in the benefits,” she reiterated.

  • Greaves, Seales bowl Windies to 90-run win in first Test

    Greaves, Seales bowl Windies to 90-run win in first Test

    International cricket delivered a gripping opening chapter of a two-match Test series in Trinidad and Tobago this week, as the West Indies men’s side claimed a memorable four-day victory over Pakistan at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy to take an early 1-0 series advantage. The landmark win carried extra emotional weight for the home side, coming on what would have been the 88th birthday of legendary West Indies cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers, just one day before the cricket icon’s state funeral.

    From the first ball, the match ebbed and flowed with both sides trading periods of dominance on a tricky pitch that challenged batters and rewarded disciplined bowling. The West Indies got off to a solid start in their first innings, thanks to a critical 91-run partnership between captain Shai Hope and all-rounder Kavem Hodge that lifted the hosts to a total of 311. Hodge anchored the innings with a polished 84, while Hope fell just eight runs short of a century with 92. Fast bowler Shamar Joseph added explosive late-order hitting, smashing 23 runs off only 13 deliveries to push the total past 300.

    Pakistan responded with a fast start to their first innings, with openers Shan Masood and Imam-ul-Haq hitting boundaries in quick succession to put the West Indies attack under pressure. Masood went on to score the match’s only century, finishing with 109, while Imam contributed 63, but the home bowlers dug in to restrict Pakistan’s total and secure a narrow 29-run first-innings lead. The standout performance of the innings came from seamer Justin Greaves, who not only claimed his first career five-wicket haul with figures of 5 for 27, but made cricket history by taking five wickets in five consecutive wicket maidens — the first player ever to achieve the feat at international Test level.

    The West Indies stumbled in their second innings, being bowled out for 181, with Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas claiming his own five-wicket haul, finishing with 5 for 22. Once again, Joseph provided a vital late cameo, hitting 36 quick runs to push the West Indies’ combined lead past 200, setting Pakistan a manageable target that would require a strong batting performance to chase.

    When Pakistan took to the pitch for their final innings, the West Indies pace attack stepped up once again to seal the win. Spearheaded by Jayden Seales, who took five wickets, the home seamers bowled Pakistan out for just 120, securing the win by a comfortable margin. A remarkable statistical footnote of the match saw all 40 wickets fall to pace bowlers, a rare occurrence in modern Test cricket that highlighted the quality of the fast bowling on display from both sides.

    With the series already in their grasp, the West Indies will now turn their focus to securing a series sweep when the second Test gets underway on August 2. A win would give the Caribbean side consecutive Test series victories, capping a successful run of form for the rebuilding side.