Carib Scope

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  • Damage reported in central Cuba due to heavy rains

    Damage reported in central Cuba due to heavy rains

    Central Cuba’s Villa Clara province is confronting severe flooding as torrential rainfall continues to batter the region, affecting over 200 residents across multiple municipalities. The town of Sitiecito has emerged as the epicenter of the crisis, with overflowing rivers and severed road connections isolating communities.

    Meteorological experts from the Provincial Meteorological Center attribute the extreme weather conditions to a storm system currently positioned over central Cuba. Specialist Amaury Machado confirmed the system’s persistence, indicating that heavy precipitation will likely continue throughout the day.

    Quantitative measurements reveal the severity of the downpour. By 8:00 a.m. local time, the Institute of Hydraulic Resources recorded staggering rainfall accumulations: 156 millimeters in Sitiecito, 91.8 millimeters at the Alacranes reservoir, and 54 millimeters at the Sagua la Grande weather station. These measurements confirm locally intense rainfall exceeding normal thresholds.

    Provincial leadership has activated emergency protocols in response to the escalating situation. Governor Milaxy Sanchez announced comprehensive protective measures for vulnerable families, private property, and state infrastructure. Civil Defense units and the Integrated Medical Emergency System have been placed on high alert, implementing response strategies developed since the region’s last major flooding event in 2017.

  • CIP CEO defends programme’s integrity

    CIP CEO defends programme’s integrity

    Saint Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) has received a clean bill of health following an independent operational audit that found no evidence of corruption within its internal operations, according to CEO Mc Claude Emmanuel. The comprehensive review, conducted by professional services firm Deloitte, will be fully disclosed when the CIP’s 2024–2025 annual report is presented to Parliament in the upcoming session.

    This development emerges against the backdrop of ongoing legal proceedings initiated by former Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, who has sought judicial review of the program’s administration. The High Court is scheduled to hear Chastanet’s claim on January 26, though his previous application for an interlocutory injunction was rejected in an October judgment that permitted substantive allegations to proceed.

    Emmanuel, addressing corruption allegations in an exclusive interview with St. Lucia Times, emphasized that the audit examined processes spanning his tenure and previous administrations. “Internally, our audit shows that there has been no incidence of corruption,” he stated. “We recently performed our first operational audit by Deloitte, and nothing unsavoury was discovered.”

    The audit was conducted as part of Saint Lucia’s commitments under six agreed principles with the United States. Emmanuel provided conservative estimates indicating the program has generated “high hundreds of millions of dollars” since its inception, contributing approximately 7% (EC$189 million) to the national budget of EC$2 billion.

    Regarding fund allocation, Emmanuel clarified that while the CIP Unit processes applications and receives payments, all funds are transferred to the government treasury. “When it’s in the government’s control, I cannot tell you definitively what it is used for,” he explained, though noting several social initiatives funded through the program including infrastructure development, relief for vulnerable parents, subsidized school meals, and increased pensions.

    The program has approved only two projects in its nine-year history: the Caribbean Galaxy hotel project in Canelles and A’ila Resorts development at Rodney Bay. A third mega-project proposal never materialized due to missing approvals, policy changes, and COVID-19 disruptions.

    Emmanuel highlighted ongoing challenges including international pressure from countries like the United States and United Kingdom tightening border security measures. The program maintains strict due diligence procedures, currently banning applicants from Russia, Cuba, North Korea, Belarus, Italy, Venezuela, and Iran due to banking sanctions and due diligence limitations.

    Despite these safeguards, former Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony predicts the program’s eventual collapse following recent agreements among OECS member states to establish a Regional CIP Regulatory Authority that would remove decision-making from national units.

  • Colombia and Russia strengthen ties in Education

    Colombia and Russia strengthen ties in Education

    Colombia and Russia have formalized a comprehensive educational partnership through a newly signed memorandum that establishes extensive academic exchange programs between the two nations. The agreement enables Colombian students, academics, and professionals to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies at Russian universities, with particular emphasis on strategic fields including artificial intelligence, agribusiness, advanced technologies, and applied sciences.

    As part of the enhanced cooperation, Russia has committed to increasing its scholarship allocation for Colombian candidates by confirming an additional 20 scholarships immediately. Both governments anticipate this number will grow progressively following the memorandum’s implementation. The partnership framework also facilitates the development of dual-degree programs, collaborative research initiatives, and mutual exchange of scientific materials and educational resources.

    The bilateral agreement further provides for the organization of joint academic conferences, seminars, and research projects designed to address global challenges. Colombian authorities emphasized that this collaboration will significantly strengthen the quality of higher education in Colombia while connecting the nation to cutting-edge scientific and technological advancements worldwide.

    In reciprocal arrangements, Colombia will facilitate access for Russian citizens to its higher education institutions and provide additional consideration points for Russian applicants seeking Colombia Scholarship opportunities. The alliance additionally promotes linguistic exchange through mutual support for Russian and Spanish language learning programs, creating enhanced opportunities for students and professionals from both countries.

  • Cuban Film Festival concludes with screenings of award-winning works

    Cuban Film Festival concludes with screenings of award-winning works

    The 46th Havana Film Festival culminated in a grand finale with special screenings of its most celebrated cinematic works across multiple venues. The festival’s closing events showcased an impressive array of international co-productions that had earned top honors in the prestigious Coral Awards competition.

    At the Charles Chaplin Cinema, audiences were treated to ‘A Poet,’ the festival’s most awarded feature film, followed by ‘The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo’ (Chile-France collaboration), which claimed the Best First Feature category, and the Colombian-Honduran co-production ‘Eva,’ recognized for its outstanding Artistic Contribution.

    Simultaneously, Yara Cinema presented a diverse program including Cuba’s ‘Raptus’ (Animated Short/Medium-Length Film winner), Brazil’s ‘Sappho’ (Special Jury Prize recipient), and the Franco-Brazilian production ‘Heart of Darkness’ (Animated Feature Film Award winner).

    La Rampa cinema featured the multinational documentary ‘The Prince of Nanawa’ (Argentina-Paraguay-Colombia-Germany), honored with the Best Documentary Feature Coral Award. Additional venues including Acapulco, Infanta, and Glauber Rocha Foundation theaters screened notable works such as Cuba’s ‘Nora,’ France’s ‘Case 137,’ the transnational production ‘The Reborn’ (Argentina-Chile-Spain), and ‘Oca’ (Mexico-Argentina collaboration).

    The festival’s final day included special presentations at 23 y 12 cinema of the Cuban-Italian project ‘Baracoa’ (Sumate Award winner with Honorable Mention from Havana’s Agrarian University) and ‘Son of Tiger and Mule’ (Panama-Colombia), recipient of the Special Coral Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature. Multiple award-winning films including ‘Belen’ (Argentina), ‘Cuerpo Celeste’ (Chile-Italy), ‘Tierra enferma’ (Brazil), ‘El agente secreto’ (Brazil-France), and ‘Neurotica Anonima’ (Cuba) received encore presentations across Chaplin, Yara, and Acapulco theaters, bringing the cinematic celebration to a magnificent close.

  • BREAKING: Water Taxi Crashes, Passengers Injured

    BREAKING: Water Taxi Crashes, Passengers Injured

    A maritime emergency unfolded this morning when a Caribbean Sprinter water taxi vessel collided with a hazardous area known as ‘the cut off’ during its regular route from mainland Belize to the islands of Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye. The incident occurred shortly after the vessel’s 10:30 a.m. departure, according to initial reports from local authorities.

    Multiple passengers sustained injuries of varying severity in the impact, though specific numbers and conditions have not been officially confirmed. Emergency response teams were immediately dispatched to the scene following distress calls, with rescue operations currently underway.

    Eyewitness accounts from relatives of passengers describe a scene of chaos and trauma, with those on board reportedly experiencing significant shock following the sudden collision. The Caribbean Sprinter, which operates on a scheduled daily route between popular tourist destinations, was carrying both local residents and international visitors at the time of the accident.

    Maritime safety investigators have launched a comprehensive inquiry to determine the exact circumstances that led to the vessel striking the well-known navigational hazard. The area where the collision occurred presents particular challenges to watercraft due to its unique underwater topography and strong currents.

    Medical personnel are standing by at nearby facilities to receive and treat injured passengers as they are transported from the scene. The Belize Coast Guard has established a security perimeter around the incident site while recovery operations continue.

    This incident represents one of the most significant maritime accidents in recent Belizean waters, raising immediate questions about safety protocols and navigational procedures for commercial water taxis operating in the region.

  • Recensie: Tomas Ross: Nacht over Paramaribo

    Recensie: Tomas Ross: Nacht over Paramaribo

    Dutch author Tomas Ross, pseudonym of Willem Hogendoorn, reaffirms his status as a master of the ‘faction’ genre with his latest novel ‘Night Over Paramaribo.’ This gripping 460-page thriller delivers both heart-pounding suspense and a penetrating examination of Suriname’s complex history and its intricate ties with the Netherlands.

    The narrative boldly incorporates real political figures including former Surinamese president Desi Bouterse and his wife Ingrid, current president Chan Santokhi and first lady Mellisa, alongside Dutch politicians such as Hans van Mierlo and even Prince Bernhard. Ross presents their achievements and flaws with unflinching candor.

    At the core of the plot lies a provocative question: Why did the Netherlands never attempt to arrest Bouterse despite multiple opportunities? The answer points toward potential Dutch involvement in the 1980 coup, referencing Colonel Valk and a secret document known as Operation Black Tulip. This document, allegedly held by Bouterse in a secure box obtained from a former Dutch embassy employee, becomes the story’s central MacGuffin—a potential tool for blackmailing the Dutch government.

    Following Bouterse’s death in late 2024, the box is stolen from his villa, triggering an international manhunt involving spies, secret agents, and rival factions. The action moves dynamically from Suriname to various European locations, featuring brutal confrontations across the Netherlands, France, and Spain.

    The final act returns to Suriname, where Bouterse’s loyalists, the Unity Council, prepare a new coup dubbed Operation Silver Arrow. Protagonists Lex Hansen and Suzy Ling find themselves in a desperate race against time as they hurry toward Paramaribo, coinciding with a multinational military exercise involving Suriname, the Netherlands, the United States, and France—which Ross ingeniously portrays as the coup’s actual execution.

    While grounded in historical fact, Ross skillfully incorporates fictional elements, including a car rental company in Snesi Kondre and the improbable rental of a motor yacht in an inland village for navigating the treacherous Marowijne River. This deliberate blending of fact and imagination enhances the story’s intrigue.

    Ross demonstrates exceptional narrative pace and precision throughout. His vivid depictions of Paramaribo’s atmosphere, the Surinamese jungle, and European urban landscapes create an immersive reading experience. The potent combination of political intrigue, espionage, and personal drama establishes ‘Night Over Paramaribo’ as a standout thriller that maintains relentless tension despite its complex cast of characters.

  • EU-CELAC Summit, an oasis in the desert, says experts in Spain

    EU-CELAC Summit, an oasis in the desert, says experts in Spain

    At a recent policy seminar, former European Parliament member Ramón Jauregui delivered a candid assessment of the evolving international geopolitical landscape, emphasizing Latin America and the Caribbean’s critical role. His address centered on the pressing necessity for the European Union to finalize the long-pending Cooperation Agreement with Mercosur, the South American trade bloc.

    Jauregui provided a critical examination of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s disruptive foreign policy maneuvers, which included attempts to alter established international norms. These controversial actions ranged from proposals to rename the Gulf of Mexico to implementing aggressive tariff policies against trading partners.

    The discussion further addressed how such protectionist strategies could potentially destabilize European interests and create pressure on China through extraterritorial policies. Against this complex backdrop, Jauregui identified the recent EU-CELAC Summit in Santa Marta, Colombia, as providing a cautiously optimistic outlook for international cooperation, despite existing challenges.

    The seminar, titled ‘After the IV CELAC-EU Summit in Santa Marta: Results Achieved and Objectives to Fulfill,’ featured multiple experts who unanimously stressed the critical importance of developing new multilateral collaboration frameworks. Participants explored potential investment initiatives and analyzed the prospects for a comprehensive EU-Mercosur agreement, drawing comparisons to the EU’s existing successful partnerships with Chile and Mexico.

    Experts concluded that strengthening the EU-Mercosur partnership would serve as a robust response to evolving global trade mechanisms and reinforce international cooperation frameworks during a period of significant geopolitical transformation.

  • Heavy Rain Causes Flooding in Belize City

    Heavy Rain Causes Flooding in Belize City

    A torrential downpour that persisted through Friday night into Saturday morning has plunged sections of Belize City into a state of emergency, triggering significant flooding that inundated numerous residences. The intense rainfall transformed city streets into rivers, with water breaching the thresholds of homes, particularly in topographically vulnerable neighborhoods.

    Visual evidence, captured and disseminated by local residents, depicts a city grappling with the aftermath of the deluge. The shared photographs and video footage reveal submerged roadways and property damage as floodwaters encroached upon living spaces, highlighting the immediate impact on the community.

    Meteorological authorities at the National Meteorological Service of Belize have characterized current atmospheric conditions as ‘unsettled.’ The official forecast for the remainder of Saturday predicts a variable weather pattern, alternating between sunny intervals and extensive cloud cover. However, the reprieve may be temporary, as additional showers and isolated thunderstorms are anticipated primarily along coastal regions throughout the morning, shifting toward southern territories by nightfall.

    The service further indicates that the unstable weather pattern will persist through the weekend. Sunday is expected to bring predominantly cloudy skies accompanied by scattered showers across most of the country, with precipitation becoming concentrated along the coastal areas as evening approaches. This continuation of rainfall raises concerns regarding potential worsening of the existing flood situation and possible new inundations.

  • Colombian movie A Poet with 2 Coral Awards at Havana Film Festival

    Colombian movie A Poet with 2 Coral Awards at Havana Film Festival

    The Colombian cinematic production ‘A Poet’ has achieved remarkable international recognition, securing multiple prestigious awards at global film festivals. Directed by Simon Mesa, this dramatic feature earned both the Coral Award for Best Feature Film and the Coral Award for Best Actor for Ubeimar Rios’ compelling performance.

    The film’s acclaim extended beyond these honors to include the Don Quixote Award, presented by the International Federation of Film Societies, and the Signis Award from the World Catholic Association for Communication. This multi-national co-production between Colombia, Germany, and Sweden has demonstrated exceptional staying power in Colombian theaters, maintaining a three-month theatrical run—the longest of any Colombian film.

    At a press conference held at Hotel Nacional de Cuba in Havana, Professor Ubeimar Rios, who portrays the central character Oscar Restrepo, reflected on the film’s universal themes. He noted that while the narrative explores specific family dynamics in particular locations, the story resonates internationally as similar situations occur in numerous other communities worldwide.

    Rios revealed his personal connection to the role, explaining that much like his character, he shares a passion for poetry, works as a professor, and has experienced similar literary frustrations—a parallel he acknowledged with humorous self-awareness.

    The film’s narrative centers on Oscar Restrepo, whose obsessive pursuit of poetic glory has yielded little success or recognition. His life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Yurlady, a talented teenager from humble circumstances. While guiding her artistic development brings newfound purpose to his existence, the film thoughtfully examines whether introducing her to the demanding world of poetry represents the most appropriate mentorship approach.

    ‘A Poet’ stands as a significant achievement in international cinema, blending authentic local storytelling with themes that transcend cultural boundaries, earning both critical acclaim and audience appreciation across multiple continents.

  • Argentine ballet star to perform In Cuba

    Argentine ballet star to perform In Cuba

    In a landmark cultural exchange, principal dancer Marianela Nunez of London’s Royal Ballet will perform alongside Cuban-Australian star Patricio Reve at Havana’s Teatro Nacional de Cuba on December 28 and 30. The performances form part of the Cuban National Ballet’s special production of Don Quixote honoring legendary Cuban prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso on what would have been her 105th birthday.

    Nunez, celebrated by critics for her extraordinary technical mastery and captivating stage presence that has enthralled audiences at the world’s most prestigious venues, will share the stage with Reve—a product of Cuba’s National Ballet School who has risen to international prominence through his refined artistry and impeccable technique. Reve currently serves as guest artist with The Royal Ballet while maintaining his principal position with Queensland Ballet in Australia.

    The commemorative season will feature nine performances total, with the National Ballet Company (declared a National Cultural Heritage institution) showcasing both established stars and emerging talent. Company members Anette Delgado, Dani Hernandez, Yanquiel Vazquez, Anyelo Montero, Gabriela Druyet, Nadila Estrada, Laura Kamila, and Alejandro Alderete will make their debuts in leading roles during the production.

    This collaboration represents a significant moment of artistic diplomacy, bringing together Cuban-trained talent with international ballet stars in a celebration of Cuba’s rich ballet heritage and its global influence.