Carib Scope

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  • Leo, Edward to lead Saint Lucia in U23 cricket against Dominica

    Leo, Edward to lead Saint Lucia in U23 cricket against Dominica

    Saint Lucia’s Under-23 men’s cricket team is poised for an intense bilateral showdown against Dominica, commencing Thursday, December 4th at Benjamin’s Park in Portsmouth. The touring squad will be captained by dual leadership: Windward Islands Volcanoes senior wicketkeeper Noelle Leo will command the one-day team, while former West Indies Under-19 allrounder Tarrique Edward takes charge of the three-day unit.

    The upcoming series features a competitive format of three 50-over matches followed by a three-day fixture, marking the second edition of this emerging regional rivalry. Saint Lucia enters as defending champions, having dominated the inaugural 2024 series with a 2-1 victory in the limited-overs contests and a comprehensive win in the three-day match.

    Team selection reflects Saint Lucia’s developing cricket pipeline, featuring numerous current and alumni members of the Saint Lucia Cricket High Performance Centre. The squad blends experience with emerging talent, including returning players Bolton Sayers, Windward Islands senior pacer Keon Gaston, Royce Paul, Lee John, Isiah Jones, Shawnil Edward, Jayden Elibox and Kensley Paul.

    New additions strengthening the roster include talented batsman Theo Edward, wicketkeeper Jonathan Daniel, Aaron Joseph, wily spinner Cody Lesmond, Kevin Gassie and Kethan Charlemagne. The team departed Saint Lucia on Wednesday, December 3rd under the guidance of head coach John Eugene, with former Windward Islands spinner Larry Edward serving as team manager.

    Match Schedule:
    – December 4: 50-over Match 1
    – December 5: 50-over Match 2
    – December 7: 50-over Match 3
    – December 9-11: 3-day Match

  • Four Antigua Resorts Nominated for USA TODAY’s Best All-Inclusive Caribbean Award

    Four Antigua Resorts Nominated for USA TODAY’s Best All-Inclusive Caribbean Award

    Antigua’s tourism sector receives significant recognition as four of its premier resorts secure nominations for the coveted USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2025. The distinguished properties—Royalton Antigua, Hermitage Bay, Galley Bay Resort and Spa, and Curtain Bluff—have all been shortlisted in the highly competitive ‘Best All-Inclusive Caribbean Resort’ category, reinforcing the island’s status as an elite Caribbean getaway destination.

    This annual awards program, administered by USA TODAY, celebrates exemplary achievements within the hospitality industry, with recipients determined exclusively through democratic public voting. The selection process underscores consumer preferences and satisfaction levels, making the nominations particularly meaningful for both the resorts and the destination as a whole.

    Antiguan tourism authorities have enthusiastically endorsed these nominations, interpreting them as validation of the island’s commitment to delivering superior service standards and exceptional accommodation experiences. The recognition serves as a powerful endorsement of Antigua’s competitive positioning within the luxury travel market.

    The voting window remains open until December 29, 2025, providing an opportunity for both local supporters and international visitors to participate in determining the ultimate winners. The 10Best awards platform encompasses comprehensive travel categories, evaluating everything from hotel excellence to destination attractions and unique experiential offerings across the global tourism landscape.

  • PHOTOS: Roadworks Underway in Willikies

    PHOTOS: Roadworks Underway in Willikies

    Transportation authorities in Willikies have issued a formal advisory to motorists as significant road infrastructure upgrades progress throughout the region. Construction crews are currently executing comprehensive improvements to the area’s roadway network, requiring temporary traffic modifications and reduced speed limits in active work zones.

    The ongoing enhancement initiative, part of a broader infrastructure development plan, aims to substantially improve road quality, safety standards, and transportation efficiency for residents and commercial vehicles alike. While specific completion timelines remain undisclosed, officials confirm the project has entered its most intensive phase of implementation.

    Commuters traversing the Willikies area are strongly encouraged to allocate additional travel time and maintain heightened awareness of changing traffic patterns. Alternative routes are recommended where feasible to minimize congestion delays. The transportation department emphasizes that all temporary inconveniences will yield long-term benefits through enhanced road safety and improved driving conditions upon project completion.

    Regular updates regarding traffic flow adjustments will be communicated through official government channels and local media outlets to keep the public informed of progress and any schedule modifications.

  • Dodging Dutch Disease: Targeting services in Guyana

    Dodging Dutch Disease: Targeting services in Guyana

    Guyana’s economic landscape has undergone a seismic transformation since its inaugural oil production in 2019, achieving a world-leading 43.6% real GDP expansion in 2024. While petroleum exports now dominate, constituting 88% of total domestic exports, traditional sectors including gold, rice, and bauxite continue to contribute significantly to non-oil export revenues.

    This unprecedented growth positions the South American nation among the globe’s most rapidly expanding economies. However, this petroleum-driven prosperity introduces complex challenges, notably the looming threat of ‘Dutch disease’—an economic phenomenon where resource wealth undermines competitiveness in non-extractive sectors. As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), Guyana additionally confronts inherent vulnerabilities including commodity price volatility, constrained market scale, and rent-seeking behaviors.

    A pivotal 2023 World Trade Organization and World Bank collaborative study highlights services as accounting for half of global employment and two-thirds of worldwide GDP, surpassing combined agricultural and industrial outputs. In Guyana, both merchandise and services trade maintained positive correlation with GDP from 2005 to 2022. Notably, engineering and logistics services, predominantly oil-industry adjacent, expanded nearly fourteen-fold between 2005 and 2021.

    Paradoxically, Guyana sustains a substantial services trade deficit, exceeding US$4.4 billion in 2023, reflecting heavy dependence on imported high-value services for petroleum operations. Foreign direct investment patterns exacerbate this imbalance, with capital-intensive oil projects potentially crowding out domestic investment and creating limited local value addition.

    Economic diversification through services sector development emerges as the strategic imperative. High-productivity domains such as information and communication technology (ICT), professional services, and scientific technical services remain underdeveloped despite governmental initiatives including tuition-free education from nursery through university levels.

    Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) represent crucial agents for transformative growth, capable of driving innovation in tourism, digital services, and green finance. Policy recommendations include establishing specialized export development funds, providing low-interest financing, and creating incentives for high-value-added foreign direct investment that strengthens domestic enterprise capabilities.

    Institutional integrity enhancements through digital transparency portals and anti-corruption reforms are essential for equitable resource wealth distribution. Regionally, Guyana’s participation in multiple trade agreements—including accords with the European Union, Canada, Brazil, China, and Venezuela—provides frameworks for services trade expansion.

    The impending implementation of CARICOM’s free movement protocol offers professional mobility opportunities, though Guyana has requested a five-to-seven year adaptation period before full implementation. Tourism innovation presents particular promise, with proposals including transforming the decommissioned Demerara Harbour Bridge into a heritage attraction powered by renewable energy, simultaneously preserving history and advancing eco-tourism.

    Guyana stands at a critical economic juncture, where strategic investments in human capital, institutional governance, and entrepreneurial development could transform temporary resource wealth into sustainable, diversified prosperity for future generations.

  • Celia Roberts-Morgan named Coordinator for CHOGM 2026

    Celia Roberts-Morgan named Coordinator for CHOGM 2026

    The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has announced the strategic appointment of distinguished business consultant Celia Roberts-Morgan as Coordinator of the National Task Force for the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). This significant appointment positions Roberts-Morgan at the helm of the CHOGM Secretariat, headquartered within the Ministry of Trade on Friar’s Hill Road.

    In her pivotal role, Roberts-Morgan will exercise executive oversight of multiple specialized sub-committees tasked with the comprehensive planning and execution of all summit-related events. Her extensive portfolio includes direct support for the committee organizing the prestigious CHOGM Business Forum, alongside other major ancillary gatherings such as the People’s Forum, the Women’s Forum, and the Youth Forum.

    The official announcement was made public on Tuesday during a Task Force assembly held at the American University of Antigua, where chairs of the various sub-committees presented detailed progress reports on the ongoing preparations.

    Roberts-Morgan brings a formidable portfolio of expertise to this high-stakes position. With over twenty years of dedicated experience in organizational effectiveness and public-sector transformation throughout the Caribbean region, she is a recognized authority in her field. She serves as the founder and principal consultant at Roberts & Associates, a firm renowned for advising national governments, leading financial institutions, and major hospitality enterprises on critical matters of governance, policy reform, and enhancing institutional performance.

    Expressing her commitment to the role, Roberts-Morgan stated she was ‘deeply honoured’ by the confidence bestowed upon her. She described the appointment as ‘a profound responsibility and a significant moment for our nation as we prepare to welcome the Commonwealth family,’ further pledging to ‘serve with integrity and dedication.’ She also emphasized her anticipation for collaborating with ‘national, regional, and international partners to ensure CHOGM 2026 reflects the very best of who we are.’

    The appointment has garnered strong endorsements from senior government officials, including Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene, Task Force Head Ambassador Dr. Clarence Pilgrim, and High Commissioner to the UK Karen-Mae Hill, who collectively extended their congratulations and wishes for her success in steering the nation towards a landmark event.

  • Hangzhou University Delegation Strengthens Medical Ties with Antigua and Barbuda

    Hangzhou University Delegation Strengthens Medical Ties with Antigua and Barbuda

    A high-level academic delegation from Hangzhou University has concluded a significant diplomatic mission to Antigua and Barbuda, marking a substantial advancement in Sino-Caribbean medical cooperation. The visit, characterized by extensive bilateral discussions, has yielded concrete commitments toward enhancing healthcare infrastructure and medical education in the Eastern Caribbean nation.

    During the multi-day engagement, university representatives and Antiguan health officials formulated comprehensive strategies addressing critical healthcare challenges. The collaborative framework encompasses several pioneering initiatives, including the establishment of specialized telemedicine consultation services connecting Chinese medical specialists with Antiguan practitioners. Additionally, both parties finalized plans for specialized physician training programs and clinical knowledge-sharing platforms.

    Beyond immediate healthcare improvements, the partnership incorporates significant academic components. Hangzhou University will facilitate scholarship opportunities for Antiguan medical students pursuing advanced studies in China, while simultaneously organizing periodic medical expert exchanges and professional development workshops for Caribbean healthcare personnel.

    This bilateral cooperation represents a strategic expansion of China’s global health diplomacy efforts within Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states. The initiatives are specifically designed to build sustainable medical capacity through technology transfer and educational infrastructure development rather than temporary assistance.

    The strengthened partnership aligns with broader international development objectives while addressing specific regional health disparities. Through this sustained academic-medical collaboration, both institutions aim to create enduring improvements in Antigua and Barbuda’s healthcare delivery systems and medical education standards, potentially establishing a replicable model for South-South cooperation in global health.

  • A National Treasure: Celebrating Sir Lionel Alexander “Max” Hurst, KCN

    A National Treasure: Celebrating Sir Lionel Alexander “Max” Hurst, KCN

    In the corridors of Antigua and Barbuda’s government, December 4th stands as a date of profound significance—marking the birthday of Sir Lionel Hurst, a multifaceted statesman whose enduring influence continues to shape the nation’s trajectory. As Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Minister, Sir Lionel represents a rare blend of diplomatic expertise, historical knowledge, and administrative excellence that has served the Caribbean nation across multiple decades.

    Sir Lionel’s distinguished career embodies exceptional public service across numerous domains. Following his legal training and admission to the bars of New York and Florida, he embarked on an illustrious diplomatic career representing Antigua and Barbuda both in Washington and at the United Nations. During his ambassadorial tenure, he became renowned for his articulate advocacy on behalf of small island developing states, regional cooperation frameworks, and international justice mechanisms. Colleagues remember him as the voice that ensured Antigua and Barbuda’s perspectives resonated consistently within global forums.

    Beyond diplomacy, Sir Lionel has established himself as an intellectual force through his scholarly contributions. His authored work ‘Democracy by Diplomacy’ provides critical insights into the political evolution of Antigua and Barbuda, while his public lectures and media commentary have positioned him as a respected educator. Within government circles, he is often regarded as an unofficial teacher who provides essential historical context during policy deliberations.

    His current role as Chief of Staff places him at the epicenter of national decision-making, where he provides strategic guidance, institutional memory, and continuity between past and present governance approaches. Colleagues characterize him as a steady, principled adviser whose insights routinely inform government actions and policies.

    Adding to his remarkable narrative is the profound personal story of resilience—in 2008, his sister Ivy Hurst donated a kidney that extended his life and preserved his invaluable contributions to national development. This act ensured the continuation of a legacy that includes mentoring generations of public servants and shaping the very fabric of Antigua and Barbuda’s political consciousness.

    His formal recognition as Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of the Nation (KCN) stands as official acknowledgment of decades devoted to diplomatic excellence, national development, and unwavering public service. As government colleagues celebrate his birthday, they honor not just his professional achievements but the intellectual humility and deep patriotism that define his character.

  • Call to foster disability-inclusive societies for social progress

    Call to foster disability-inclusive societies for social progress

    The Albert Cecil Graham Development Centre (ACGDC), Barbados’ premier facility for children with developmental disabilities, marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with a powerful call to action for national inclusion. This year’s theme focusing on disability-inclusive societies for social progress resonated deeply with the organization’s four-decade mission.

    Established in 1981, ACGDC has pioneered multidisciplinary interventions through physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychological services, and specialized education programs. The center currently provides comprehensive support to 45 children through its Day Care, Education, and Workshop Units, while serving hundreds more with assessment and therapeutic services annually.

    Chairperson Julston Kinch delivered a compelling message: ‘True social progress remains unattainable while societal members face participation barriers. We challenge all Barbadians—from policymakers to business owners to citizens—to critically examine how their actions either construct or dismantle these obstacles.’

    The center specifically called for practical measures including installation of accessibility ramps, disability-appropriate facilities, and respectful use of designated parking spaces. ‘Accessibility constitutes not a privilege but a fundamental right,’ Kinch emphasized. ‘When businesses invest in ramps, accessible restrooms, and inclusive design, they broadcast that everyone is valued and welcome.’

    As a nonprofit organization, ACGDC depends significantly on community support to sustain its transformative programs. Donations directly fund therapeutic equipment, educational materials, transportation services, and specialized interventions that empower children to thrive. The center welcomes financial contributions, corporate partnerships, volunteer assistance, and in-kind donations.

    Kinch concluded with a vision statement: ‘Every child deserves the opportunity to contribute their unique gifts to our society. Collectively, we can construct a Barbados where inclusion transforms from aspiration to reality—enabling every person, regardless of ability, to participate fully in national progress.’

  • Minister’s message to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities

    Minister’s message to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities

    On December 3rd, Barbados joined the international community in observing the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities, reinforcing its commitment to building an inclusive society that values and empowers all citizens. This annual observance serves as a critical reminder of the ongoing need to understand disability experiences, protect rights, and eliminate barriers to full societal participation.

    The Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs (MPEA) is spearheading comprehensive social progress initiatives aligned with international best practices. Central to this effort is the newly enacted Persons with Disabilities Bill, which significantly strengthens anti-discrimination protections and guarantees equal access to education, employment, healthcare, housing, and social services.

    This year’s theme, ‘Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress,’ resonates deeply with Barbados’ national vision. The government emphasizes that inclusion is not a matter of charity but a fundamental human right and marker of national progress. Recognizing that disability doesn’t equate to inability, officials note that empowering persons with disabilities enhances workforce participation, stimulates innovation, and contributes substantially to economic development.

    The national strategy addresses multiple barrier categories: mental barriers (stigma, stereotypes), structural barriers (inaccessible buildings, transportation), and systemic barriers (policy, communication, financial challenges). Through the National Disabilities Unit (NDU), the government collaborates with stakeholders including the Barbados Council for the Disabled to conduct public awareness campaigns and educational initiatives.

    Concrete economic empowerment measures include the upcoming Mangrove Agricultural Project launching in January 2026, which will create employment for thirty persons with disabilities. The NDU will also resume monthly Entrepreneurial Markets at its Maxwelton location, providing over 40 disabled entrepreneurs with platforms to sell their products. Additional programs include a 12-week work experience initiative for youth with disabilities and strengthened partnerships with the Job Start Plus Programme and Ministry of Educational Transformation.

    To streamline service delivery, the government has established the Social Empowerment Agency (SEA), which integrates core social services into a single hub for assessments, referrals, home support, and financial assistance. This coordinated approach aims to reduce service gaps and accelerate support for vulnerable populations.

    With statistics indicating that fewer than 20% of individuals are born with disabilities while the majority acquire them later in life, officials emphasize the universal relevance of accessibility initiatives. The government calls for continued strengthening of laws, policies, and practices to build a truly inclusive Barbados that leaves no citizen behind.

  • Level Up Team Sends Relief Supplies to Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa

    Level Up Team Sends Relief Supplies to Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa

    In a powerful demonstration of regional solidarity, the Antigua-based team ‘Level Up’ has successfully organized a comprehensive relief drive to aid Jamaican communities devastated by the recent Hurricane Melissa. Operating under its foundational motto, “It’s nice to be nice,” the humanitarian group spent several weeks gathering critical supplies, including non-perishable food items, clothing, and other essential goods from local donors. A dedicated force of volunteers meticulously sorted, organized, and packed all donated materials into large shipping barrels, ensuring their readiness for distribution. These vital supplies are now en route to the island nation, where they will be delivered to families most affected by the catastrophic storm. The initiative was described by organizers as being deeply motivated by the longstanding cultural and historical bonds shared between Antigua and Barbuda and Jamaica, which added a profound layer of significance to the humanitarian mission. Leadership within the Level Up team has publicly reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to supporting the recovery and rebuilding efforts in Jamaica for as long as necessary, emphasizing that their mission of assistance continues well beyond the initial shipment of aid.