Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • US/Venezuela impasse tops the headlines

    US/Venezuela impasse tops the headlines

    The year 2025 marked a profound political transformation for Trinidad and Tobago, characterized by unprecedented female leadership and critical foreign policy decisions that defined the nation’s geopolitical stance. The year commenced with the anticipated departure of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley and the subsequent installation of Stuart Young as his hand-picked successor. Young’s tenure proved historically brief as the nation overwhelmingly voted for change on April 28, resulting in the United National Congress (UNC) returning to power and making Kamla Persad-Bissessar the country’s first and only female prime minister—reclaiming her previous position.

    The political revolution extended beyond the executive branch as the opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) appointed its first female Opposition Leader after dismissing their previous leader following a mere 42-day tenure. This development created a remarkable historical moment with women simultaneously occupying the nation’s presidency, prime ministership, and opposition leadership.

    Despite domestic developments including the extension of a state of emergency, the arrest of a sitting police commissioner, and alleged assassination plots against government officials, the dominant headline of 2025 emerged from the international arena. The escalating diplomatic impasse between the United States and Venezuela positioned Trinidad and Tobago at a critical juncture, requiring careful navigation of complex geopolitical tensions.

    Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s unequivocal alignment with the United States in its ongoing conflict with Venezuela generated significant discourse. This strategic positioning prevented severe deterioration of bilateral relations with the United States, as evidenced by comparative analysis with other Caribbean nations like Dominica and Antigua that faced diplomatic consequences for different approaches.

    Historical analysis suggests alternative leadership under either Rowley or Young would have likely resulted in overt support for Nicolás Maduro’s Venezuelan regime under the guise of sovereignty and independence. Such alignment would have placed Trinidad and Tobago in an untenable position with the United States, potentially resulting in substantial national detriment driven by what the author characterizes as masculine pride and arrogance.

    As the nation progresses into 2026, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar demonstrates leadership qualities deemed appropriate for this complex historical period. The outlook includes hopes for peaceful conflict resolution, enhanced dialogue with CARICOM leaders, and cautious optimism for navigating forthcoming challenges while achieving meaningful successes for the Trinidad and Tobago populace.

  • Chronic Law rules YouTube… again

    Chronic Law rules YouTube… again

    For the second consecutive year, Jamaican dancehall sensation Chronic Law has decisively secured his position as YouTube’s most-viewed artist, accumulating a staggering 154 million views throughout 2025. According to official platform statistics, Chronic Law’s viewership nearly doubled that of his closest competitor, incarcerated artist Vybz Kartel, who maintained the second position with 85.7 million views.

    The YouTube Music Charts, which remain the primary streaming platform for many Jamaican audiences, revealed the complete rankings for the period spanning December 28, 2024, to December 28, 2025. Emerging artist Skippa captured third place with 79.9 million views, while established stars Masicka (74.5 million) and Squash (64.1 million) completed the top five. The list continued with Alkaline, Jamal, Malie Donn, Popcaan, and producer DJ Mac rounding out the top ten.

    Geographic data analysis indicates Chronic Law’s strongest viewership originated from Kingston, Jamaica; New York, USA; Port of Spain, Trinidad; and London, England. His most-streamed tracks included ‘New York Girls,’ ‘Empty,’ ‘Higher Life’ (a collaboration with Kranium), ‘Kick It Wid Myself’ (with Popcaan), and ‘Don’t Fall.’

    Vybz Kartel demonstrated remarkable international appeal with his primary audiences located in Nairobi, Kenya; Paris, France; and Accra, Ghana. His top-performing songs were ‘God is the Greatest,’ ‘Ignite the World,’ ‘Fever,’ ‘Unstoppable,’ and ‘Whine to the Top.’

    Despite the overall artist dominance by male performers, the year’s most-streamed individual track was the ‘Shake It To The Max’ remix featuring Shenseea and Skillibeng, which has amassed nearly 220 billion views since its March 2025 premiere. This was followed by ‘Beloved and Blessed’ by Jaame.sss featuring Inner Circle’s Skatta Lopa and Armanii’s ‘8:00 PM’ in third place.

    Notably, for the second consecutive year, no female dancehall artists appeared in the top 15 most-viewed artists ranking, nor were any solo female tracks represented in the year’s top songs list, highlighting an ongoing gender disparity within the genre’s digital landscape.

  • Dwight Smith on rescue mission at struggling Spanish Town Police

    Dwight Smith on rescue mission at struggling Spanish Town Police

    In a significant managerial shift within the Jamaica Premier League (JPL), Dwight Smith has been appointed as the new Head Coach of the beleaguered Spanish Town Police FC. This appointment follows the acquisition of the club by his former employers, Old Harbour United, prompting a strategic leadership change that sees Smith replacing Brian Spencer. The club is currently entrenched at the very bottom of the 14-team league table, having secured a mere eight points from 14 matches with a record of just two victories and ten defeats, making the avoidance of relegation the paramount objective.

    Smith, who celebrates his 40th birthday this Saturday, confronts the formidable challenge with a blend of realism and resolve. In a recent statement, he acknowledged the precariousness of the situation, emphasizing the immediate need to ‘get points on the board.’ However, his assessment of the squad’s inherent quality remains optimistic. Smith has indicated that reinforcements are anticipated, with players from the successful Old Harbour United squad, last season’s St Catherine title winners, expected to bolster the roster.

    Highlighting the competitive nature of the JPL, Smith argued that the disparity in quality across the league is not insurmountable. ‘The gap is not that wide. If you win three games, you are up the table,’ he noted, framing the task as one of effective man-management and motivation. His strategy will focus on rallying the existing talent and extracting peak performance from the players.

    The incoming coach brings a wealth of experience to this critical role. His coaching pedigree includes a stint as assistant coach at Vere United (Jamalco) and a period as head coach of their women’s team. Smith rose to prominence as the assistant to Vassell Reynolds during Kingston College’s triumphant 2024 campaign, where they secured both the Manning Cup and the prestigious all-island Olivier Shield titles. His academic qualifications are robust, holding Concacaf B and C licences and being on the cusp of completing his UEFA C Licence.

    Smith’s first test in this new chapter will be a crucial match against Dunbeholden FC this Sunday, marking the JPL’s return to action for the new year. This fixture represents the starting point for Spanish Town Police’s urgent quest to climb away from the bottom of the table and secure their Premier League status.

  • JFJ alarmed at fatal shootings on first day of 2026

    JFJ alarmed at fatal shootings on first day of 2026

    A stark contrast in Jamaica’s law enforcement outcomes emerged as the nation entered 2026, with human rights advocates acknowledging historic crime reduction while raising urgent concerns about police-related fatalities. The January 1st security operations resulted in seven fatalities, including four-year-old Romain Bowman of St. James and Delano Leslie, a wanted individual from Westmoreland known as ‘Crazy’ who had been featured on the police force’s Wanted Wednesdays initiative.

    Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) Executive Director Mickel Jackson characterized the situation as ‘untenable’ despite welcoming the police performance in reducing murders through various initiatives. Official data revealed that 2025 recorded 666 murders between January 1 and December 27, representing a dramatic 41% reduction (487 fewer deaths) compared to the corresponding period in 2024.

    However, this achievement was severely undermined by a concurrent 65% surge in police-involved fatalities, with 311 recorded deaths marking the highest number since the 2010 Tivoli Gardens incursion. Jackson emphasized that this alarming trend demands immediate scrutiny, noting that conflicting accounts between law enforcement and citizens frequently emerge in these cases, raising fundamental questions about transparency, proportionality, and accountability.

    The organization cited several concerning incidents, including the September 2025 killing of 22-year-old Jahmar Farquharson in Clarendon and the March 2024 shooting of 27-year-old Romario Sterling in St. Catherine. In both cases, CCTV footage allegedly showed the individuals in postures of compliance moments before being fatally shot. Another incident on Windward Road in Kingston resulted in murder charges against officers accused of planting evidence.

    JFJ reiterated its call for accelerated implementation of body-worn cameras, referencing Police Commissioner Dr. Kevin Blake’s September 2025 announcement that procurement was nearing completion. Jackson pressed for clarity on the status of additional cameras approved by Cabinet and questioned why procurement issues continued to hinder implementation given the existing storage and IT infrastructure.

    Hugh Faulkner, commissioner of the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), cautioned against premature speculation while acknowledging the regrettable nature of the fatalities. He emphasized INDECOM’s mandate to thoroughly investigate all incidents and produce comprehensive reports, noting that establishing trends required more than single-day data analysis despite the concerning numbers.

  • Kyle Butler embraces leadership role at Phoenix Chapelton

    Kyle Butler embraces leadership role at Phoenix Chapelton

    In a significant organizational shift, Phoenix Chapelton Maroons of the Jamaica Premier League have appointed former player Kyle Butler as their new Director of Football. The promotion marks a strategic transition for Butler from on-field contributor to executive leadership, a move he believes will fundamentally strengthen club dynamics rather than create division.

    Butler, whose sister Kaycie Butler heads the Phoenix Group that owns the club, brings unique insight from his recent experience as an active player. He emphasizes that his existing relationships with teammates—built on mutual respect and shared competitive experience—provide a foundation for effective leadership rather than presenting obstacles.

    “The transition from teammate to leader is one I am very conscious of,” Butler told the Jamaica Observer. “The foundation we already share actually strengthens my position rather than weakens it.”

    His appointment represents both an honor and profound responsibility toward the institution that shaped his career. Butler describes his new role as stewardship—protecting the club’s culture while elevating its structural professionalism and long-term vision. While acknowledging that clear boundaries will be established, he intends to manage the transition through open communication and consistent standards.

    Operationally, Butler will collaborate directly with Head Coach Donovan Duckie, overseeing recruitment and player development while additionally serving as attacking coach for midfielders and strikers. His leadership philosophy centers on empathy, credibility, and performance-driven decisions, informed by his recent presence in the dressing room and understanding of player psychology.

    The timing is critical for Phoenix Chapelton, which currently sits ninth in the standings with 15 points from 13 matches—just three points shy of playoff qualification. Butler’s recent success coaching Vauxhall High School to historic quarter-final qualification in the Manning Cup demonstrated his capacity for building culture-driven programs, experience that will now be applied to the Maroons’ relegation avoidance campaign and push for top-six contention.

    Butler’s approach prioritizes sustainable development over short-term results, emphasizing that “culture and standards come before results” and that discipline and structure are non-negotiable for lasting success.

  • Government eyes placing parts of electricy grid underground

    Government eyes placing parts of electricy grid underground

    In a significant address at the JPS Hunt’s Bay Power Plant, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced the initiation of high-level Cabinet discussions with Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) to underground critical portions of the nation’s electricity infrastructure. This strategic move forms the cornerstone of a comprehensive effort to transform Jamaica’s power grid into a storm-resilient system capable of withstanding future climate challenges.

    The Prime Minister’s declaration came during a ceremony marking the deployment of 175 specialized utility vehicles—including bucket trucks, diggers, and pole trailers—to accelerate restoration efforts in communities still without power since Hurricane Melissa struck on October 28, 2025. This latest addition brings the total fleet of recovery vehicles to 247, substantially enhancing operational capacity during the critical final phase of restoration.

    Holness framed the crisis as an opportunity for transformative change, emphasizing that mere restoration would be insufficient. “The opportunity comes when we look at the poles we are putting up and say: How do we put up stronger poles? How do we introduce microgrids? How do we put some of our lines underground?” he stated, revealing that preliminary cost assessments have already been presented to the government.

    While acknowledging the substantial financial investment required, the Prime Minister presented a compelling economic argument for resilience, questioning: “What is it that we lose by not having resilience in the grid?” He detailed how prolonged outages cripple hospitals, security services, businesses, and overall economic activity, justifying the government’s approach to treating electricity as an essential public good.

    This perspective underpinned the administration’s controversial decision to facilitate a US$150-million loan to the privately-owned JPS, which Holness defended as necessary for protecting public interest. He explicitly separated this emergency financing from ongoing license renegotiations with the utility company, assuring citizens that their interests would be safeguarded in both processes.

    Current restoration statistics indicate approximately 90% of the island has regained power, with the hardest-hit parishes reaching nearly 70% recovery—a pace Holness described as creditable compared to international benchmarks following major storms.

    The Prime Minister linked these recovery efforts to broader economic resilience, citing recent Planning Institute of Jamaica data showing over 5% growth in the last quarter. He characterized resilience as the product of deliberate policy choices rather than chance, stating: “It requires planning, and therefore, the reason why you are seeing the economy displaying resilience is because the government that you elected took decisions that contributed to that outcome.”

    As restoration enters its final phase, Holness committed to prioritizing citizenship over cost-benefit calculations, envisioning a rebuilt Jamaica that emerges stronger than before. The strategy specifically targets strengthening critical corridors in western Jamaica and Kingston to ensure faster recovery when future storms inevitably strike.

  • Gaston Browne aims to meet Kamla to discuss Clico

    Gaston Browne aims to meet Kamla to discuss Clico

    Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced his intention to seek bilateral discussions with Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar regarding outstanding compensation commitments for victims of the CLICO and BAICO insurance collapses. The meeting is anticipated to occur during the upcoming CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting scheduled for February in St. Kitts and Nevis.

    The insurance crisis originated in 2009 when Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO), a Trinidad-based financial conglomerate with diversified interests across energy, beverages, and construction, experienced severe liquidity problems following the global financial crisis. The subsequent collapse affected thousands of policyholders throughout the Eastern Caribbean region, with many investors losing substantial portions of their life savings and investments.

    According to Prime Minister Browne, the Trinidad and Tobago government had previously pledged US$100 million toward a regional relief initiative but has only disbursed approximately 40% of this commitment to date. “With the commitment that was made, we still have a significant amount outstanding,” Browne stated, emphasizing the ongoing financial hardship faced by hundreds of affected residents in his nation and thousands more throughout the Eastern Caribbean.

    Browne expressed optimism about the prospects for resolution, noting that Persad-Bissessar’s previous administration had demonstrated serious intent to address the matter. “I am very thankful that her administration had shown seriousness about the issue in the past,” he remarked. “From this standpoint, I hope she remains consistent and we can bring further relief to the CLICO-BAICO situation.”

    While some regional governments have negotiated partial settlements and implemented restructuring measures over the past decade, many policyholders continue to await full recovery of their funds. Browne has vowed to continue advocating for affected citizens and expects Trinidad and Tobago, as the home jurisdiction of the failed insurance conglomerate, to honor its financial commitments in full.

  • TTUTA: BoAs, some teachers unpaid in December

    TTUTA: BoAs, some teachers unpaid in December

    A significant payroll crisis is jeopardizing the smooth reopening of schools in Trinidad and Tobago, with hundreds of education professionals facing financial uncertainty days before the new semester. TT Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) President Crystal Ashe revealed that over 100 Business Operations Assistants (BoAs) haven’t received salaries since their contracts lapsed in late November.

    These essential administrative staff, who serve as critical support personnel for school principals, worked through December without compensation and face January without employment security. Ashe emphasized the severe operational implications, noting that without BoAs handling administrative burdens, principals must assume additional responsibilities that compromise school management effectiveness.

    The situation extends beyond BoAs, with at least 20 teachers reporting missing December paychecks due to alleged administrative discrepancies within the education ministry’s accounts department. Despite these financial hardships, affected staff demonstrate remarkable dedication by preparing to return to classrooms without payment assurances.

    Education Ministry officials acknowledged the concerns, stating the matter is “under active consideration” pending Cabinet approvals for contract renewals. The ministry committed to providing “clearer guidance” once bureaucratic processes conclude but offered no specific timeline for resolution.

    Compounding the payroll crisis, several schools face infrastructural challenges that threaten Monday’s reopening. Richmond Street Boys Anglican School remains closed due to rodent infestation issues that forced premature closure last semester, with no confirmation regarding remediation progress.

    TTUTA leadership characterizes the situation as profoundly concerning, emphasizing that the absence of financial security for education professionals undermines both institutional stability and individual welfare. The association urges immediate governmental intervention to ensure timely payments and contract resolutions before the academic term commences.

  • Help Coming

    Help Coming

    World Athletics President Sebastian Coe is cutting short his Caribbean vacation to undertake a critical four-day mission to Jamaica, focusing on hurricane recovery efforts for the nation’s track and field infrastructure. The visit, prompted by the devastation wrought by Hurricane Melissa in late October, aims to formulate a concrete support plan for the sport’s rebuilding process.

    Lord Coe, accompanied by World Athletics’ Director of International Relations and Development Helen Delaney, is scheduled for high-level discussions with the Jamaican government, the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), and the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA). The itinerary includes a firsthand inspection of the severely damaged Montego Bay Sports Complex, a key regional athletic hub that hosted the 2011 Carifta Games. The hurricane flooded the stadium, depositing thick layers of clay on its football field and synthetic track, while also causing extensive damage to floodlight towers and electrical systems. Preliminary estimates by local officials place the repair costs at over $300 million.

    The impact extends beyond the stadium, affecting numerous schools across western parishes including Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, Hanover, St James, and Trelawny. These institutions have lost vital sports equipment, crippling athletic programs and forcing teams to undertake costly weekly travel to Kingston for competitions. JAAA President Garth Gayle expressed optimism about the visit, indicating that World Athletics support would ‘come in various forms’ and is expected to significantly bolster track and field development throughout the region.

    The diplomatic agenda includes meetings with Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Opposition Leader Mark Golding, and JOA President Christopher Samuda, underscoring the collaborative national effort toward recovery. The visit concludes with a press conference on Wednesday, where specific aid packages and long-term development strategies are anticipated to be announced.

  • Sweet relief

    Sweet relief

    NEW YORK — Members of the Jamaican diaspora in the United States have expressed widespread approval of their government’s decision to extend customs duty exemptions on hurricane relief shipments for a second time. The move facilitates continued humanitarian support for communities devastated by Hurricane Melissa’s October 2025 impact.

    Finance Minister Fayval Williams announced the extension this week, pushing the deadline from December 31, 2025, to January 15, 2026. The waiver covers both import duties and General Consumption Tax (GCT) for designated relief items, originally implemented to encourage donations following the hurricane’s widespread destruction.

    Michelle Tulloch-Neil, Northeast US representative for the Global Jamaica Diaspora Council, praised the government’s responsiveness to diaspora concerns. ‘This decision demonstrates clear understanding of the needs of Jamaicans both at home and abroad,’ she stated, while suggesting a March deadline would have better accommodated ongoing shipment preparations.

    The government acknowledged logistical challenges during the holiday season that hampered shipping capacity. Minister Williams noted, however, that the January 15 extension would represent a ‘hard stop’ due to significant revenue losses exceeding approximately $12 billion in customs collections.

    Diaspora leaders across the United States uniformly welcomed the development. Pennsylvania-based Stafford Grant of the Jamaica Ex-Servicemen and Women Foundation noted the extension provides ‘breathing space’ for tons of supplies awaiting clearance. California representative Dr. Roy Davidson described the news as ‘welcome’ for ongoing relief efforts, emphasizing the importance of utilizing the extended window.

    Former GJDC representative Dr. Karen Dunkley highlighted the decision’s symbolic importance, stating it ‘reflects meaningful recognition of the vital partnership between the Government of Jamaica and Global Jamaica Diaspora Council’ in expediting humanitarian aid delivery.