Carib Scope

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  • Belize Appoints New Ambassador to UN Office

    Belize Appoints New Ambassador to UN Office

    In a strategic diplomatic appointment, Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño has selected Dr. Harold Young as the nation’s new ambassador to the United Nations Office in Geneva. The credential presentation ceremony occurred on Monday with UN Geneva Director General Tatiana Valovaya formally welcoming Dr. Young to his new position.

    Dr. Young brings exceptional academic and policy expertise to this critical diplomatic role. His professional background includes extensive experience in both Belizean and international educational institutions, most recently serving as a lecturer in political science and public management at Austin Peay State University in the United States. Additionally, he has provided advisory services to the history department at the University of Belize.

    The newly appointed ambassador holds a doctorate in public law from Georgia State University, where his scholarly research focused on the operational mechanisms of international courts, including the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Dr. Young has established himself as a published author in multiple disciplines, contributing significant works to the fields of law, political science, and historical studies.

    This appointment positions Dr. Young at the forefront of Belize’s international engagement strategy, where he will represent the nation’s interests within the complex multilateral environment of United Nations discussions and negotiations in Geneva.

  • PRESS RELEASE: West Indies Men secure Super Eight spot with three consecutive victories

    PRESS RELEASE: West Indies Men secure Super Eight spot with three consecutive victories

    The West Indies cricket team has emphatically secured their advancement to the Super Eight phase of the ICC T20 World Cup, becoming the first squad to clinch a berth following a devastating nine-wicket triumph over Nepal this Sunday at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. This victory represents their third consecutive win in the tournament, preserving an unblemished record in the group stages hosted across India and Sri Lanka.

    With one group match still remaining against Italy scheduled for Thursday in Kolkata, the Caribbean side has already guaranteed progression. Their pre-seeded position as the group’s second-ranked team ensures they will carry this seeding into the next round, regardless of the final group standings. The Super Eight stage will see them face formidable opponents in Group C: India, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, commencing on February 23.

    The match against Nepal was a demonstration of clinical efficiency. After electing to field, the West Indies bowling attack dismantled the Asian side’s top order, reducing them to a precarious 23 for 4 just after the powerplay. Pace bowler Jason Holder delivered a man-of-the-match performance, claiming 4 wickets for 27 runs and elevating his tournament tally to 7 wickets, placing him among the top five wicket-takers. Supported by Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Roston Chase, and Shamar Joseph—each taking a wicket—Nepal was restricted to a modest 133 for 8.

    The chase was executed with commanding ease. An opening partnership of 43 between Captain Shai Hope and Brandon King set a solid foundation. Following King’s dismissal for a brisk 22, Hope combined with Shimron Hetmyer in an unbroken, match-winning stand of 91 runs. Hope’s elegant innings of 61, featuring five fours and three sixes, also saw him surpass 1500 career T20I runs. Hetmyer provided explosive support, smashing 46 off just 32 balls.

    This comprehensive win builds upon earlier dominant performances. Hetmyer, now the team’s leading scorer with 133 runs at an average of 66.50, had previously blasted a half-century (64) to secure a win against Scotland. That match was also highlighted by Romario Shepherd’s international hat-trick. In the following game against arch-rivals England, Sherfane Rutherford’s career-best 74 and Gudakesh Motie’s spin bowling (3 for 33) sealed a comfortable 30-run victory.

    Captain Shai Hope emphasized the team’s process-oriented mindset, stating, ‘When we got on the plane to come here, that was the first step… we all want to lift the trophy but there is a process to get there by playing our best cricket and peaking at the right time.’

    The West Indies will conclude their group stage against Italy on Thursday, February 19, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Fans in the Caribbean can follow the action on ESPN Caribbean and Disney+.

  • Negen arrestaties in zaak illegale landingsbaan en semi-onderzeeër bij Witagron

    Negen arrestaties in zaak illegale landingsbaan en semi-onderzeeër bij Witagron

    Authorities in Suriname have dismantled a sophisticated narcotics trafficking operation, resulting in nine arrests following the discovery of an illegal airstrip and a semi-submersible vessel under construction near Witagron. The investigation has uncovered significant evidence, including weapons, ammunition, and specialized construction materials.

    The breakthrough occurred when law enforcement located the covert facilities, prompting several suspects to flee into the surrounding wilderness. On February 15th, officials seized eight 200-liter barrels of aviation gasoline (avgas) and multiple weapons at the site. That same day, a Venezuelan national was apprehended after hiding in the forest for several days; investigators believe he was directly involved in the semi-submarine’s construction.

    Operations expanded to Paramaribo on Monday with the arrest of two Surinamese brothers. One brother held the concession rights to the property where the illegal infrastructure was built. During his arrest, authorities confiscated an illegal handgun. A subsequent search of his residence revealed even more evidence: fourteen additional avgas barrels, an illegal AR-15 rifle, substantial ammunition, rolls of fiberglass (believed destined for the semi-submarine’s construction), and positive alerts from the Police Corps K-9 unit.

    The Public Prosecutor’s Office confirms the investigation remains active, with manhunts underway for additional suspects. Further arrests have not been ruled out as authorities continue to unravel the international drug trafficking network.

  • PALS Tropical Fiesta!!

    PALS Tropical Fiesta!!

    The philanthropic organization PALS is orchestrating a Tropical Fiesta, an evening dedicated to music, philanthropy, and hope, scheduled for a memorable night in support of the youth of St. Kitts and Nevis. This charitable event promises an engaging atmosphere where community members can unite for a noble cause.

    Scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the gala will offer attendees an unforgettable experience filled with entertainment and a shared spirit of giving. The primary objective is to generate support and resources for the nation’s children, underscoring a commitment to their welfare and future.

    Admission is set at an accessible price of US $100 or EC $270, ensuring broad community participation. Tickets are currently available for purchase at Harper’s Office Depot. Additionally, for convenience, organizers have established dedicated WhatsApp lines at 662-7600 and 662-7751 to facilitate easy ticket acquisition and inquiries.

    The event is promoted not merely as a gathering but as a significant community happening destined to create lasting memories while championing a hopeful future for the younger generation.

  • Alfred, Auguste take top honours at National Sports Awards

    Alfred, Auguste take top honours at National Sports Awards

    Saint Lucia’s athletic community gathered in grand celebration at the 44th National Sports Awards Ceremony, recognizing exceptional sporting achievements throughout the 2025 competitive season. The prestigious event, held at the Royalton Hotel on February 14th, honored the nation’s most distinguished athletes, coaches, administrators, and corporate supporters who contributed to a landmark year in Saint Lucian sports.

    Olympic champion Julien Alfred secured back-to-back Sportswoman of the Year titles following another historic season that saw her become Saint Lucia’s first-ever medalist at the World Athletics Championships with a bronze in the women’s 100m. Cricket sensation Ackeem Auguste claimed Sportsman of the Year honors after his remarkable double century performance in the Windward Islands tournament final.

    The junior categories showcased emerging talent with swimmer Antoine Destang earning Junior Sportsman of the Year for his record-breaking feats, including seven OECS records and four national records. Sprint prodigy Jady Emmanuel was crowned Junior Sportswoman of the Year after making history as Saint Lucia’s first CARIFTA Games sprint titlist, capturing gold in both the 100m and 200m dashes.

    Sports Minister Kenson Casimir addressed attendees, declaring 2025 “a truly outstanding year for Saint Lucia” and emphasizing that “our athletes have continued to demonstrate that regardless of our size as a nation, our talent, ambition, and determination place us firmly on the global stage.”

    The ceremony comprehensively recognized sporting excellence across categories including technical officials, administrators, coaches, teams, media personalities, corporate sponsors, educational institutions, and special achievement honorees. Notable team awards went to the National Golf Team, National Boxing Team, Senior Male Cricket Team, and multiple volleyball teams for their regional championship performances.

    Special recognition included Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Francis George, Minister’s Award winner Florian Combie, and special honoree Cuthbert “Twa-Ti-Nay” Modeste. The Saint Lucia Athletics Association received Association of the Year, while Chris Wells earned Coach of the Year honors, and Anse Chastanet/Jade Mountain was named Sponsor of the Year.

  • Roadworks Underway in Oliver’s, Mount Pleasant and Carty’s Hill

    Roadworks Underway in Oliver’s, Mount Pleasant and Carty’s Hill

    The Ministry of Works in Antigua and Barbuda is making significant headway with its comprehensive infrastructure enhancement initiative, targeting multiple residential communities with critical road and drainage upgrades. This strategic program represents a concerted effort to fortify public infrastructure and elevate living conditions for residents across the nation.

    Substantial progress is being reported from the Oliver’s housing area, where construction teams are actively executing concrete floor slab pours as a fundamental component of the community’s extensive road rehabilitation project. These structural improvements are designed to create more durable and reliable roadway surfaces.

    Simultaneously, in the Mount Pleasant district, specialized drainage enhancement operations are underway to optimize water runoff efficiency and substantially mitigate flooding risks during heavy precipitation events. Additional roadwork initiatives are progressing in the Carty’s Hill vicinity, demonstrating the program’s widespread implementation.

    Through consistent public communications, the Ministry has maintained transparency regarding these developmental projects, which collectively aim to reinforce critical infrastructure networks and upgrade transportation corridors within established residential neighborhoods throughout the twin-island nation. This multi-community approach underscores the government’s commitment to systematic infrastructure modernization and community resilience.

  • The UWI’s Historic Hosting of Nigerian Vice-Chancellors

    The UWI’s Historic Hosting of Nigerian Vice-Chancellors

    In a landmark move for South-South cooperation, twenty newly appointed Vice-Chancellors from Nigeria concluded a transformative three-day summit at The University of the West Indies (UWI) headquarters in Jamaica last week. The high-level delegation, representing Nigeria’s extensive network of approximately 280 public and private universities, engaged in intensive dialogues with Caribbean academic leaders from February 10-12.

    The initiative, orchestrated by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), sought to expose emerging university leaders to UWI’s acclaimed institutional model. Times Higher Education ranks UWI among the top 3.6% of global universities, making it an exemplary case study for institutions navigating contemporary challenges in higher education.

    Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles characterized the gathering as “a spiritual moment” during opening ceremonies, reflecting on Nigeria’s profound intellectual influence on UWI’s development. “We cannot tell our history without connecting to those fundamental moments,” Beckles noted, emphasizing the deeply rooted historical ties between the regions.

    The summit agenda featured robust exchanges on strategic planning, research development, curriculum quality, and preparations for global competitive rankings. A particularly pressing topic involved strategies for achieving greater institutional impact with constrained financing—a challenge familiar to many universities across the Global South.

    Dr. Gervan Fearon, President of George Brown Polytechnic and prominent West Indian diaspora member, delivered a powerful keynote address advocating for purpose-driven universities and indigenous publishing systems. His presentation highlighted the critical need to amplify research from Global South institutions on the international stage.

    Professor C. Justin Robinson, Pro Vice-Chancellor of UWI Five Islands Campus, delivered closing remarks that framed the collaboration as strategic imperative rather than optional partnership. “South-South collaboration is not a consolation prize,” Robinson asserted. “The solutions to challenges facing developing nations will increasingly come from institutions like ours—working together, learning from one another, and refusing to wait for permission to lead.”

    The enthusiastic participation of all UWI Principals and Pro Vice-Chancellors throughout the event demonstrated institutional commitment to the ONE UWI vision, fostering an atmosphere of genuine collaboration and meaningful dialogue that participants expect to catalyze future joint initiatives.

  • Details of fatal motorcycle accident in Louisville yesterday from full police report

    Details of fatal motorcycle accident in Louisville yesterday from full police report

    A fatal traffic incident on Valley Road has resulted in the death of a 45-year-old motorcyclist, prompting an ongoing investigation by the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force’s Traffic Department. The collision occurred on February 16, 2026, near the Louisville junction, claiming the life of Mackie McKenzie of River Street while his passenger sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

    Preliminary investigation reports indicate the tragedy unfolded when a Mitsubishi Fuso fighter truck was traveling eastbound while McKenzie operated his SH Scooter (registration #PY768) in the opposite direction. According to official statements, the motorcycle rider attempted evasive maneuvers upon noticing the approaching truck but subsequently lost control, veered off the roadway, and impacted a curb with significant force.

    The violent impact ejected both McKenzie and his pillion rider, identified as Shaquille Hector, also of River Street, from the vehicle onto the southern roadside. Emergency responders transported both individuals to the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department for immediate medical attention.

    Despite receiving prompt medical care, McKenzie was pronounced deceased at 12:48 hours on the day of the incident. Hector remains under medical supervision at the Alford Ward, with medical authorities confirming his injuries, while serious, are not considered life-threatening. The Traffic Department continues to examine the precise circumstances surrounding this tragic roadway incident.

  • Twenty-year-old facing possession, manufacturing firearm charges

    Twenty-year-old facing possession, manufacturing firearm charges

    Barbadian law enforcement authorities have formally charged Tevin Alijermaine Campbell, a 20-year-old resident of The Belle Main Road in St. Michael, with multiple serious firearm-related offenses. The charges stem from alleged criminal activities occurring on February 8 at Belle Gully Main Road, where Campbell stands accused of unlawfully manufacturing seven firearms according to police reports.

    In addition to the manufacturing charges, Campbell faces seven separate counts of unlawful firearm possession alongside ammunition-related offenses. Court documents indicate he was found in possession of ten rounds of ammunition without proper authorization on the same date, further compounding the legal allegations against him.

    In a separate but concurrent development, the young defendant has been charged with committing fear of violence on February 7, one day prior to the firearm-related incidents. This additional charge suggests a pattern of alleged threatening behavior that authorities have deemed serious enough to pursue through the judicial system.

    The case is scheduled for preliminary hearing at the Oistins Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where prosecutors will present evidence supporting the multiple charges. Legal experts note that firearm manufacturing charges represent particularly serious offenses in Barbados, where gun control measures have been strengthened in recent years to combat rising violence.

    This case emerges against the backdrop of ongoing regional efforts to address illegal weapon trafficking in the Caribbean, where homemade firearms have become an increasing concern for law enforcement agencies. The severity and quantity of charges suggest prosecutors consider this a significant enforcement action against alleged weapons proliferation activities.

  • Financing gap holding back women entrepreneurs, Caribbean leaders told

    Financing gap holding back women entrepreneurs, Caribbean leaders told

    Caribbean economic development is being severely constrained by systemic gender inequality in business financing, regional leaders were warned at a major EU-Caribbean Parliamentary Assembly forum in Antigua and Barbuda. Isiuwa Iyahen, Deputy Representative of UN Women’s Caribbean Multicountry Office, delivered a stark assessment that gender disparities represent a fundamental development challenge rather than a peripheral social issue.

    The high-level forum, building on discussions from last year’s Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), revealed that women-owned businesses receive approximately ten times less financing than male-owned enterprises. While women own 40% or more of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across many Caribbean nations and dominate vital sectors including tourism, hospitality, retail, and creative industries, they face severe financial exclusion.

    Alarming data presented at the assembly showed medium- and long-term loans to women-led enterprises average just US$156,000 compared to US$1.5 million for male-owned businesses. This financing gap persists despite women’s central role in economies where MSMEs account for over half of GDP and employment. Limited access to collateral continues to restrict women’s ability to formalize operations, expand businesses, and enter export markets.

    Iyahen characterized this disparity as ‘active marginalisation of women’s economic potential’ and emphasized that barriers often dismissed as social concerns—including unpaid care burdens, financial exclusion, and personal safety issues—actually function as direct economic constraints affecting trade participation. The International Finance Corporation estimates women-led MSMEs globally face a US$1.7 trillion financing gap, with Caribbean women particularly disadvantaged in accessing trade finance and export guarantees.
    Delegates heard that higher interest rates and tighter lending conditions disproportionately affect women entrepreneurs, who are overrepresented in small or new businesses that financial institutions typically perceive as high-risk. When liquidity contracts and microfinance providers scale back operations, women-owned enterprises are typically the first affected.

    The forum called for gender-responsive macroeconomic policies that deliberately measure and address financing disparities, alongside strengthened support for women’s leadership in economic strategy development. The European Union received commendation for existing regional partnerships promoting decent work, equal pay, and entrepreneurship, though participants acknowledged the Caribbean continues to struggle with slow regional integration and persistent inequalities that limit women’s full economic participation.