Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • Truck crashes into gas station on Joaquín Balaguer Highway

    Truck crashes into gas station on Joaquín Balaguer Highway

    A major traffic incident unfolded in the early hours of Thursday morning in Santiago when a semi-trailer truck careened out of control and collided with a gas station situated near the Madeco area along the Joaquín Balaguer Highway. The violent impact resulted in extensive structural damage to the station’s infrastructure and adjacent property, creating a scene of significant disruption.

    The driver of the heavy-goods vehicle sustained grave injuries in the collision. Emergency services provided immediate critical assistance at the location before he was urgently transferred to a medical facility for specialized treatment. As of the latest reports, investigating authorities have refrained from disclosing specific details regarding the driver’s medical status or the definitive circumstances that precipitated the accident.

    Initial investigative findings suggest the truck inexplicably deviated from its designated lane, subsequently invading the premises of the gas station. During this trajectory, the truck struck an unoccupied parked vehicle, which also incurred substantial damage. Official sources confirm that a comprehensive investigation is actively underway to determine the precise causative factors, which remain unconfirmed at this time.

  • Vakbeweging slaat alarm over koopkracht en uitblijven afspraken

    Vakbeweging slaat alarm over koopkracht en uitblijven afspraken

    The Ravaksur Plus labor union coalition has issued a formal warning to the president regarding the government’s failure to implement previously agreed fiscal and wage measures, exacerbating the ongoing decline in purchasing power for employees and retirees. In a strongly worded letter dated January 22nd, the coalition outlined multiple systemic failures in socioeconomic dialogue that threaten to permanently stall crucial negotiations.

    The unions documented how 2025 concluded with persistently high inflation rates and volatile exchange fluctuations, creating severe economic pressure on broad population segments. Particularly affected are working citizens and pensioners who face diminishing real income values despite previous government commitments. Notably, promised fiscal relief measures—including raised tax-free thresholds and expanded tax brackets scheduled for implementation before January 1, 2026—remain unfulfilled.

    According to Ravaksur Plus, consultation meetings with government representatives have repeatedly failed to produce concrete decisions or actionable implementations. Even established dialogue structures within ministerial departments are reportedly functioning inadequately. Additionally, an expert team appointed by the president specifically to engage with labor representatives has yet to initiate contact, further demonstrating the breakdown in communication.

    The consequences are particularly severe for public servants, private sector employees, and retirees. Civil servants experience structural erosion of purchasing power, while private sector workers cannot achieve meaningful income improvements without the promised tax reforms. Pensioners bear disproportionate impact from rising prices due to fixed incomes.

    The coalition emphasizes that socioeconomic policy properly belongs within recognized high-level consultation bodies such as the Social-Economic Council (SER) and Tripartite Consultation. Ravaksur Plus demands the reactivation of these institutions to enable proper policy preparation through collaboration between government, labor representatives, and business sectors.

    The unions highlight that recent government debt restructuring and refinancing operations have created newfound fiscal space. They advocate allocating portions of these resources toward structural salary adjustments for public servants and genuine tax relief for private sector employees.

    Finally, Ravaksur Plus references a comprehensive manifesto submitted at the current administration’s inception containing proposals for structural socioeconomic improvements. The coalition notes they have received no substantive response to these proposals and now demand clarity regarding high-level consultation frameworks and implementation timelines for existing agreements. The letter concludes with a stark warning that continued government inaction risks fundamentally undermining confidence in the entire social dialogue model.

  • PM urges voter registration, seeks another mandate

    PM urges voter registration, seeks another mandate

    With Barbados’ general election set for February 11, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has issued an urgent nationwide appeal for voter registration verification and public support for her administration’s continuation. The Prime Minister delivered her impassioned plea during a Barbados Labour Party rally at Checker Hall, St Lucy, held on the significant national holiday of Errol Barrow Day.

    Mottley outlined critical deadlines, emphasizing that citizens have until Monday to confirm their electoral registration status. She detailed a streamlined verification process: “Text ebc.gov.bb with your ID number – if registered, your name will appear immediately.” For those not appearing on the electoral list, she directed them to visit either BLP campaign offices or the Electoral and Boundaries Commission headquarters for resolution.

    The BLP leader presented a stark warning against complacency: “This is not a time for persons to be lagging. When you lag, you end up outside with no control over outcomes.” She specifically addressed supporters who might assume victory without personal participation: “I don’t want to hear that you don’t need to disturb yourself. We need your vote, we need your permission – that’s what a mandate represents.”

    Mottley announced an intensive 21-day national campaign alongside all 29 BLP candidates, signaling the official commencement of election activities. She offered strong endorsement for St Lucy candidate Peter Phillips, praising his resilience despite recent personal tragedies: “When you see Peter Phillips, you see Mia Mottley. He has demonstrated extraordinary commitment through tremendous personal hardship.”

    While acknowledging her party’s imperfections, Mottley positioned the BLP as the optimal choice for Barbados’ future: “We have never professed perfection, but we are good for Barbados and good for you.” She requested public support to maintain governance without arrogance: “Help us remain confident but not arrogant, help us continue this mission in progress. We simply need your permission to continue leading.”

  • Volksgezondheid en IKBeN versterken samenwerking voor betere bescherming van kinderen

    Volksgezondheid en IKBeN versterken samenwerking voor betere bescherming van kinderen

    In a landmark move to address systemic child protection gaps, Suriname’s Minister of Public Health, Welfare, and Labor, André Misiekaba, has formalized a comprehensive partnership with the Integral Child Protection Network (IKBeN). This binding commitment establishes a reinforced collaborative framework between government agencies and civil society organizations to combat child abuse, violence, and neglect through coordinated action.

    The agreement, signed during a ceremony attended by key stakeholders, represents a strategic shift toward integrated child welfare management. IKBeN serves as a multilateral platform uniting government ministries, domestic NGOs, and international partners including UNICEF Suriname. The network will prioritize developing standardized case management protocols and referral systems to ensure timely intervention for children in high-risk situations.

    This policy intensification follows a severe incident in Commewijne that exposed critical vulnerabilities in existing child protection mechanisms. In response, authorities have drafted an action plan emphasizing targeted measures and high-level administrative integration of child-focused policies. A cross-ministerial pilot project will designate technical representatives from each ministry to streamline interdepartmental coordination.

    UNICEF Child Protection Officer Sandhya Soekhoe joined IKBeN focal points Angela Salmo and Dana Plet-Wardi in endorsing the pact, which commits signatories to unconditional support for child development rights. The agreement explicitly recognizes every child’s entitlement to security, personal growth, and social welfare, mandating improved information-sharing practices to make protective services universally accessible and effective.

  • PM Defends Plan to Classify Media as Essential Services

    PM Defends Plan to Classify Media as Essential Services

    Prime Minister John Briceño has articulated a robust defense of his administration’s proposal to designate media organizations as essential services within Belize’s telecommunications sector. The policy initiative, currently under cabinet consideration, would establish formal protections preventing service providers from arbitrarily disconnecting media outlets.

    During a recent press engagement, Briceño clarified the government’s position: “Our proposal through regulatory frameworks seeks to categorize media as essential infrastructure. This classification ensures service cannot be terminated without due process, while maintaining reasonable expectations that bills must be settled promptly.”

    The announcement follows mounting concerns from media representatives who reported service disruptions affecting Krem Television and Plus TV, with some speculating these incidents correlated with their editorial content. The Prime Minister directly addressed these allegations, stating: “I must challenge this presumption of content-based discrimination.”

    Briceño drew historical parallels to previous administration actions, notably recalling when the United Democratic Party government withdrew advertising from Channel Five (now Greater Belize Media). He pointedly questioned the media collective’s response: “I observed no collective outcry from media institutions when these punitive measures were enacted against Channel Five. Our administration fundamentally rejects such retaliatory practices.”

    The essential services designation would institute mandatory advance notification periods before any service discontinuation, providing media entities adequate opportunity to address billing disputes while safeguarding against politically motivated disruptions.

    This policy development emerges amid ongoing debates about press freedom and the government’s role in regulating telecommunications infrastructure, positioning Belize at the intersection of media rights and regulatory oversight.

  • Phillips pledges continued infrastructure upgrades in St Lucy

    Phillips pledges continued infrastructure upgrades in St Lucy

    In a compelling address at the Barbados Labour Party’s rally in Checker Hall, incumbent candidate Peter Phillips reaffirmed his commitment to advancing critical infrastructure projects throughout St Lucy constituency. The BLP representative acknowledged persistent water quality issues while highlighting substantial progress achieved under his party’s leadership.

    Phillips revealed that approximately 30 kilometers of water mains have been replaced across multiple communities including Rock Hall, Colleton, Crab Hill, Lowlands, and Chance Hall over the past seven years. While offering apologies for ongoing brown water concerns, the candidate contextualized the historical dimensions of the problem, noting that initial replacement initiatives began under former Prime Minister Owen Arthur in 1996 before being discontinued during the Democratic Labour Party’s administration.

    The candidate presented a comprehensive portfolio of completed infrastructure achievements, emphasizing tangible deliverables over mere promises. Notable accomplishments include the comprehensive road construction connecting Crab Hill Police Station to Archers Bay, alongside the successful completion of Lowlands Road and Chance Hall Road.

    Phillips further enumerated several signature developments under Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s administration, including the innovative agricultural project at Mount Poyer, the imminent opening of Hope Agricultural School, the extensive refurbishment of local post office facilities, and the establishment of a new social care center at Benthams.

    Concluding with the campaign slogan “When Labour leads, St Lucy succeeds,” Phillips urged constituents to maintain confidence in the BLP’s developmental agenda, asserting that while significant work has been accomplished, additional infrastructure enhancements remain priorities for the constituency’s continued advancement.

  • PM Backs Chebat, Says Stalled BTL Needs Merger to Survive

    PM Backs Chebat, Says Stalled BTL Needs Merger to Survive

    Belize’s Prime Minister John Briceño has issued a strong defense of his Public Utilities Minister Michel Chebat’s position regarding the proposed telecommunications merger involving Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL). The Prime Minister’s statements come following Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting where the controversial consolidation was discussed.

    Minister Chebat previously asserted that the market consolidation would not create a monopoly, highlighting the existence of approximately twenty-three broadband providers currently operating within Belize’s telecommunications landscape. Prime Minister Briceño expanded on this position with a stark warning about BTL’s financial trajectory.

    “Taxpayers invested almost seven hundred million dollars in BTL,” stated Briceño, “and if they do not make changes it is going to crash.” The Prime Minister revealed concerning internal projections showing the company’s growth flatlining for the next five years without consolidation, while operational costs continue to escalate.

    The government maintains that the proposed merger with Smart is fundamentally about creating operational efficiencies rather than market domination. Briceño emphasized that broadband services remain accessible through numerous competitors, contradicting monopoly concerns raised by critics.

    In response to questions about regulatory oversight, the Prime Minister confirmed plans to strengthen the Public Utilities Commission’s role and amend existing legislation where necessary. However, he reiterated that the primary objective remains preventing the collapse of a significant public investment and protecting stakeholders including Social Security and Belizean taxpayers.

    The administration’s unified stance signals a determined approach to telecommunications reform, framing the merger as an economic imperative rather than merely a market restructuring exercise.

  • Economy : Towards a revision of the personal income tax

    Economy : Towards a revision of the personal income tax

    Port-au-Prince, Haiti – In a significant move toward fiscal modernization, Haiti’s Ministry of Economy and Finance convened a high-level technical meeting on January 20, 2026, to advance revisions to the nation’s Personal Income Tax (IRPP) structure. Minister Alfred Fils Metellus led the session alongside members of the Tax Policy Committee (CPF), engaging economists and chartered accountants in substantive dialogue regarding proposed changes to the tax scale.

    The initiative represents a strategic effort to address systemic inefficiencies within Haiti’s current taxation framework. Ministry officials identified several critical areas for improvement, including the need to eliminate structural distortions and create a more equitable system aligned with contemporary economic realities. The revision process emphasizes technical precision while upholding fundamental taxation principles.

    Minister Metellus highlighted the reform’s potential impact on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), identifying them as crucial engines for economic expansion and employment generation. “Our objective is to establish a fiscal environment that actively promotes SME development through thoughtful policy adjustments,” Metellus stated during the proceedings. He further committed to maintaining inclusive dialogue with private sector stakeholders throughout the reform process.

    Technical discussions organized around four central pillars: equitable contribution according to economic capacity, systemic effectiveness promoting formal economic participation, simplified tax scale transparency, and overall structural coherence within Haiti’s tax architecture.

    CPF President Andral Joseph outlined complementary initiatives including the ongoing revision of Haiti’s General Tax Code and planned modernization of tax administration systems. Directors Romel Troissou and Carl-Edwice Estima presented analytical frameworks detailing multiple revision scenarios, emphasizing three core objectives: restoring fiscal justice, protecting low-income households, and maintaining budgetary sustainability.

    Prominent private sector representatives including economists Kesner Pharel and Duval Lucnaire contributed substantive assessments and recommendations. Their participatory engagement reflects a concerted effort to develop a taxation system characterized by enhanced fairness, operational transparency, and improved adaptation to Haiti’s distinctive economic conditions.

  • BTL Defends Merger Push, Says Efficiency Key to Protecting Consumers

    BTL Defends Merger Push, Says Efficiency Key to Protecting Consumers

    Amid mounting public scrutiny, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) is vigorously defending its proposed merger with Speednet, asserting that operational efficiency through consolidation represents the only viable path forward. BTL Chairman Mark Lizarraga presented a stark choice to Belizean consumers: embrace the merger or face potential reductions in dividends, infrastructure investment, and consumer benefits.

    In an exclusive interview, Lizarraga emphasized the enormous financial demands of maintaining and expanding telecommunications infrastructure in Belize’s small market. “Technology has a very short lifespan and they’re very expensive,” stated Lizarraga, highlighting the economic challenges of serving a limited population base without achieving greater operational efficiencies.

    The chairman outlined BTL’s dual commitment to both national development and consumer protection, noting the company’s pledge to maintain current pricing structures for at least two years regardless of the merger outcome. However, Lizarraga warned that without the proposed consolidation, BTL’s ability to expand services, lower prices, and maintain existing infrastructure would be severely compromised.

    Lizarraga positioned the merger as fundamentally connected to Belize’s broader digital transformation agenda, arguing that the telecommunications efficiencies gained would directly enable national progress. The chairman’s remarks come as public debate intensifies regarding the potential market consolidation and its implications for consumer choice and pricing in Belize’s telecommunications sector.

  • BTL Claims Speednet Acquisition Would Boost Efficiency

    BTL Claims Speednet Acquisition Would Boost Efficiency

    In the wake of recent warnings about operational sustainability, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) has articulated its strategic rationale for acquiring competitor Speednet, emphasizing significant efficiency gains rather than immediate financial figures. Chairman Mark Lizarraga presented the case that BTL’s existing infrastructure could absorb Speednet’s customer base with minimal additional expenditure, creating substantial operational synergies.

    The proposed merger, according to Lizarraga, represents a strategic move to enhance telecommunications efficiency in Belize without necessitating price increases or workforce reductions. The chairman emphasized that BTL’s current network capacity remains underutilized and could accommodate Speednet’s subscribers with virtually no incremental costs, thereby generating substantial savings.

    These efficiency gains, Lizarraga argued, would produce multifaceted benefits for multiple stakeholders. Consumers would benefit from maintained pricing structures, employees would see job security reinforced, and shareholders would value the improved operational metrics. Furthermore, the chairman positioned the acquisition as critical for national interests, noting that enhanced telecommunications efficiency would strengthen Belize’s competitiveness in the rapidly evolving digital economy.

    Lizarraga highlighted the indispensable nature of reliable internet services for modern economic activities, particularly referencing how Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sectors and other employment channels depend on robust digital infrastructure. The integration would theoretically create a more economically efficient telecommunications environment that supports national productivity.

    Despite these asserted advantages, the proposal remains subject to scrutiny as BTL has not disclosed specific financial projections or detailed cost-saving calculations. The absence of quantifiable metrics leaves unanswered questions regarding the precise economic impact and potential market implications of creating a consolidated telecommunications entity in Belize’s relatively compact market.