Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • Raio’s dragen verbeterpunten aan na stage bij rechterlijke macht

    Raio’s dragen verbeterpunten aan na stage bij rechterlijke macht

    A cohort of trainee public prosecutors in the Netherlands has wrapped up a three-month orientation placement with the country’s sitting judiciary, a program designed to deepen their understanding of how the Dutch criminal justice system operates as an interconnected whole. Running from June through the end of August, the placement gave trainee prosecutors linked to the Public Prosecution Service (known locally as RAIO’s, or Officieren van justitie in opleiding) hands-on insight into the daily work and core responsibilities of the sitting judiciary, across three distinct judicial units.

    During their placement, the trainees rotated through the Unit for Misdemeanor Criminal Cases, the Office of the Investigating Judge, and the Court of Justice. By shadowing sitting judges and administrative staff across each of these sections, they did not only gain first-hand familiarity with every procedural stage of a criminal trial, they also identified actionable areas for improvement to existing workflows and courtroom trial management. As emerging legal professionals embedded in different parts of the justice system, the trainees brought a fresh, outside perspective to long-standing procedural frictions that routine insiders may overlook.

    At a closing ceremony held on August 31 to mark the end of the placement, the trainees presented their key takeaways, learning outcomes, and observations to judiciary and prosecution service leaders. Organized into five working groups, the cohort developed separate learning objectives tailored to each host unit, and outlined the key professional skills they built during their time in the placement. After mapping their experiences across each judicial division, they presented concrete suggestions for streamlining internal procedures and improving the overall handling of public court hearings.

    The orientation placement was intentionally structured to address a common gap in legal professional training: building a holistic understanding of how different branches of the criminal justice chain collaborate. Rather than training prosecutors to only see the system from the prosecution perspective, the program aims to foster cross-institutional understanding that supports smoother, more effective criminal proceedings. This placement also forms a core component of the broader RAIO training program for the standing prosecution service, which first launched on December 1, 2023, and is designed to prepare the next generation of Dutch public prosecutors for long-term professional practice.

  • UPP Pays Tribute to Former Assistant General Secretary Ernest Benjamin

    UPP Pays Tribute to Former Assistant General Secretary Ernest Benjamin

    The United Progressive Party (UPP) has released an official tribute celebrating the life and legacy of Ernest Benjamin, the party’s former Assistant General Secretary, who passed away recently. Remembered as a detail-oriented administrator, a distinguished public servant and a vocal champion for transparent, effective governance, Benjamin left an indelible mark on both the party and the broader national community. The party has formally extended its deepest condolences to Benjamin’s surviving family members, including his children Terry Ann and Vaughn, as well as all of his extended relatives.

    Throughout his decades-long affiliation with the UPP, Benjamin served the organization in a range of leadership roles, earning widespread respect across the party for his extraordinary dedication to accurate, thorough documentation. A legendary example of his meticulous work ethic saw him produce a 20-page typed set of minutes from a single routine executive meeting, a feat that remains a cornerstone of his legacy within the party. The UPP emphasized that Benjamin’s unwavering commitment to orderly process, structural accountability and adherence to constitutional principles grew out of his long and distinguished career in public service.

    During his time in the public sector, Benjamin climbed the ranks to reach the senior position of permanent secretary, holding the post within the Ministry of Economic Development when Lester Bird, who later served as prime minister, held the role of Deputy Prime Minister. It was during Benjamin’s tenure as permanent secretary that the St. John’s Development Corporation, a key entity tasked with advancing growth in the nation’s capital, was formally established.

    A lifelong resident of St. John’s, Benjamin also dedicated years of volunteer service as secretary of the UPP’s St. John’s City South Branch, where he actively advocated for the creation of a formal mayor and city council structure to guide the capital’s long-term development. Beyond his local and party work, Benjamin was a committed West Indian nationalist who prioritized advancing good governance and electoral fairness across the region. He collaborated closely with the Free and Fair Election League, and even as his health began to decline in later years, he continued his public engagement by co-hosting a weekly educational program on local station Progressive FM.

    In the closing lines of the tribute, the UPP reaffirmed its deep gratitude for Benjamin’s exceptional, selfless contributions to the party and the nation. Nodding to his famous reputation for meticulous record-keeping, the party closed with a warm, playful tribute: “when the next assembly of angels is called up yonder, Ernest will be called upon to take the minutes.” The tribute concluded, “Farewell, Ernest, our esteemed brother. Rest in peace until we meet again.”

  • Antigua And Barbuda Tourism Authority Takes Antigua Carnival To The Streets Of Brooklyn

    Antigua And Barbuda Tourism Authority Takes Antigua Carnival To The Streets Of Brooklyn

    In a bold move to showcase Caribbean culture to a North American audience, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority has brought the vibrant, world-famous Antigua Carnival from the twin-island nation’s sun-soaked shores to the busy urban streets of Brooklyn, New York. This cross-continental cultural exchange is designed to introduce millions of New Yorkers and visitors to the rich, rhythmic heritage that has made Antigua Carnival one of the most celebrated summer festivals in the Caribbean.

    For decades, Antigua Carnival has drawn thousands of tourists to the Caribbean nation each year, featuring elaborate costume parades, pulsating soca and calypso music performances, steelpan competitions, and lively street parties that celebrate the country’s emancipation from slavery and its unique cultural identity. By transporting a slice of this iconic festival to Brooklyn, a neighborhood renowned for its diverse multicultural communities, tourism officials are aiming to build greater awareness of Antigua and Barbuda as a top travel destination, strengthen cultural ties between the Caribbean and the United States, and attract new visitors eager to experience the full festival in person.

    Event organizers have worked for months to replicate the authentic energy of the original Antigua Carnival for Brooklyn audiences. Attendees can expect to see the same vibrant, hand-stitched feathered costumes that mark the original parade, listen to live sets from popular Antiguan soca and calypso artists, sample traditional Caribbean street food ranging from jerk chicken to fried bake and shark, and join in interactive dance sessions that invite participants of all backgrounds to partake in the festivities. Local Brooklyn community groups have also partnered with the tourism authority to ensure the event feels inclusive and welcoming to all visitors, blending Caribbean traditions with the neighborhood’s own dynamic cultural fabric.

    Industry analysts note that this initiative reflects a growing trend among small island tourism destinations: taking signature cultural events directly to key international markets to drive visitor interest. Following widespread travel disruptions caused by the global pandemic, many Caribbean tourism boards are pursuing creative, off-island marketing strategies to rebuild their tourism sectors, which represent a core pillar of many local economies. The Antigua Carnival pop-up in Brooklyn is expected to not only boost pre-bookings for the 2025 Antigua Carnival but also position Antigua and Barbuda as a year-round vacation spot for travelers seeking sun, culture, and warm hospitality.

    Local attendees who have never visited the Caribbean have already expressed widespread excitement about the opportunity to experience authentic Antiguan culture without leaving New York City. “This is such a unique chance to get a real taste of the Caribbean right here in Brooklyn,” one early attendee shared in an on-site interview. “I’d heard so much about Antigua Carnival, and now I’m already planning my trip to experience the full festival next year.”

  • Prime Minister Friday extends best wishes for a speedy recovery to St. Kitts and Nevis PM

    Prime Minister Friday extends best wishes for a speedy recovery to St. Kitts and Nevis PM

    Diplomatic goodwill is on display across the Caribbean as Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has issued a public message of support for his regional counterpart, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis, who is currently receiving ongoing medical treatment. The well-wishing message, shared publicly on Prime Minister Friday’s official Facebook page, extends hopes for a full and rapid recovery on behalf of both the SVG government and all of its citizens, as well as in Friday’s personal capacity.

    Prime Minister Friday noted in his statement that his thoughts remain with Drew and his immediate family amid this period of medical care. He acknowledged that Drew is already surrounded by the love and backing of his family, and offered prayers for steady medical progress, returning vitality, and restored strength in the coming days. Friday added that he eagerly anticipates seeing Drew return to his official duties fully recovered in the near future, aligning his wishes with those of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis and the broader Caribbean community.

    The regional well-wishes come after Drew experienced sudden onset of nausea, vomiting, and dizziness this past Sunday. Initial medical assessments were conducted on-island in St. Kitts, after which Drew traveled first to Martinique for targeted care, before proceeding to the United States to undergo additional diagnostic testing. As of the latest updates, Drew’s medical condition is listed as stable, leaving the regional community optimistic for his full recovery.

  • CARICOM Eminent Persons Group steps up Haiti engagement ahead of elections

    CARICOM Eminent Persons Group steps up Haiti engagement ahead of elections

    As Haiti enters the final stretch of preparations for its December 13, 2026 general elections, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has deepened its diplomatic and facilitation work to stabilize the crisis-battered nation, with its high-level Eminent Persons Group (EPG) currently on the ground holding talks with a broad cross-section of Haitian stakeholders.

    In a formal address delivered September 3, 2026 to the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett outlined that the EPG — a three-member panel of former prime ministers established in 2023 — is currently meeting with a diverse range of actors involved in the upcoming electoral cycle, including newly formed political parties, emerging electoral coalitions, and civil society leaders. This on-the-ground visit is part of CARICOM’s long-running mission to foster inclusive dialogue between Haiti’s fractured political and civic groups, and to back a homegrown resolution to the country’s years-long governance and security crisis.

    Barnett’s address marked a historic moment: she noted it is believed to be the first time a sitting CARICOM Secretary-General has addressed the OAS Permanent Council, a milestone that underscores the growing coordinated regional push to support Haiti. The trip by the EPG builds on a high-level inter-American and international fact-finding mission to Haiti held August 16 to 19, in which CARICOM took part at the invitation of OAS Secretary-General Albert Ramdin. That mission was organized under the OAS’s flagship Haiti initiative, *Towards a Haitian-Led Roadmap for Stability and Peace with Regional and International Support*.

    According to Barnett, the August visit delivered multiple key outcomes. It allowed participating international and regional actors to exchange on-the-ground experiences and lessons from past interventions, improved cross-partner coordination, and helped identify the most urgent unmet needs facing Haiti. Most critically, it sent a clear message to the Haitian public: despite the country’s years of overlapping political, security and humanitarian crises, the regional and international community has not abandoned them.

    Security remains the most pressing barrier to peaceful, credible elections, and Barnett emphasized that both CARICOM and the OAS strongly back an extension of the mandate for the multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF), deployed to combat Haiti’s powerful armed gang networks that control large swathes of the country. However, she warned that pledges made by international partners to provide the GSF with critical personnel, funding, military equipment, and logistical support have yet to be fully honored. Strengthening support for the GSF, Barnett argued, is non-negotiable to rolling back gang control of territory, reducing widespread violence, and creating the secure conditions required for Haitians to cast their ballots freely in December.

    As the electoral process moves forward, Barnett added that independent election observation will grow in importance to underpin Haiti’s return to constitutional democratic rule. She noted that CARICOM and the OAS have a proven track record of collaborating on election monitoring in Haiti, and stand ready to partner again on this critical task.

    Looking beyond the upcoming vote, CARICOM will continue its close collaboration with the OAS and other international partners to support Haiti, with a long-term focus on attracting sustainable investment, creating much-needed jobs, and expanding access to essential public services for Haitian citizens. Barnett drew special attention to the daily toll of criminal violence on ordinary Haitians, noting that pervasive insecurity has disrupted livelihoods, shuttered schools, blocked access to life-saving medical care, and restricted freedom of movement for millions across the country.

    In closing, Barnett reaffirmed that CARICOM’s core objective remains centered on empowering Haitians to lead their own path out of crisis, enabling the country to build long-term stability and improve quality of life for all its people.

  • Shanaka’s record CPL blitz crushes Kings

    Shanaka’s record CPL blitz crushes Kings

    The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) clash at Warner Park delivered a one-sided spectacle on matchday, as the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots handed the Saint Lucia Kings a crushing 137-run defeat — marking the second time the Patriots have beaten the Kings this 2024 season. The match opened with a glimmer of hope for the Kings, who struck an early breakthrough when Patriots star opener Kyle Mayers was caught behind the wicket in the first over. But that small early win was the only high point for Saint Lucia, as the Patriots took full control of the innings from that moment onward.

    A powerful batting partnership reignited the Patriots’ innings, forged by two ex-Saint Lucia Kings players Andre Fletcher and Johnson Charles. The pair put together an 81-run stand, peppering the boundary with a string of massive sixes that shifted momentum firmly St Kitts’ way. When Charles fell after scoring 26 runs off 23 deliveries, Fletcher survived two dropped catches just as he approached his half-century, extending his innings before he was finally dismissed for a well-compiled 64.

    The standout performance of the entire match came from Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka, who delivered a historic batting masterclass that will go down in CPL history. Shanaka blasted an incredible century off just 39 deliveries, breaking the record for the fastest hundred ever recorded in the tournament. He finished his innings unbeaten on 121, smashing 12 sixes and eight fours along the way, lifting the Patriots to a formidable total of 235 runs by the end of their batting innings.

    Chasing a mammoth 236 runs for victory, the Saint Lucia Kings got off to a disastrous start, losing star wicketkeeper-batter Kamil Pooran for a golden duck in the first over. Wickets continued to fall in quick succession, with only New Zealand batter Tim Seifert showing any meaningful resistance. Seifert scored a gritty half-century off 36 balls, accounting for more than half of the Kings’ total runs. By the end of the innings, the Kings were all out for just 98 runs, sealing the 137-run defeat. Jeremiah Louis was the pick of the Patriots’ bowlers, turning in an extraordinary spell that earned him five wickets for a mere 10 runs.

    The lopsided loss has significantly damaged the Saint Lucia Kings’ net run rate, dropping them to fourth position in the CPL table standings. Speaking after the match, Kings captain Roston Chase pinpointed unforced errors and missed opportunities as the key reasons for his side’s defeat. “We didn’t start well in the power play. Then when we got our chances, we didn’t take them and St Kitts made us pay,” Chase said. He acknowledged Shanaka’s record-breaking knock, adding “It was a brilliant knock by Shanaka, nevertheless. I don’t want to take anything away from him, but I thought that we could have been better.”

    Chase also noted that when chasing a steep total of 235, a strong opening start is non-negotiable: “Then, chasing a score like 235, you have to be on the throttle from ball one and we didn’t really get the start I was looking for. We were always on the back foot, losing quick wickets and never got going.” With just two matches left in the group stage, Chase said the side is focused on bouncing back quickly to secure a playoff spot. “I just think now we have to put this game behind us as quickly as possible. We still have two games to go, must-win games, and we need to get that playoff berth,” he added.

  • Could Fi WE Boledo  Fund Belize’s Sporting Future?

    Could Fi WE Boledo  Fund Belize’s Sporting Future?

    As Belize maps out a long-term vision to elevate its domestic sports ecosystem, a pressing question has emerged at the country’s first-ever National Sports Summit: can proceeds from the nation’s popular Fi We Boledo lottery unlock greater funding for athletic growth?

    Projections show Belizean consumers will spend upwards of $144 million on Fi We Boledo in 2026, matching the total revenue the game generated in the 2025–2026 fiscal year. After accounting for $100 million in prize payouts to winners and covering operational overheads, the Belize Lottery Board recorded a $27.4 million net profit from the lottery that year. Currently, only 7% of that profit – equal to $2 million – is allocated to the Ministry of Sports for athlete development and program support.

    Narda Garcia, chair of the Belize Lottery Board, told summit attendees on Tuesday that this contribution does not have to stay static. With the government pushing forward a new, coordinated national strategy to boost sports development and expand support for local sporting associations, Garcia argued that a larger share of Fi We Boledo profits could be redirected to the sector.

    “Even a modest increase in funding would go a long way to cover the overhead costs that sporting associations currently struggle with, and help scale up the pilot programs already in place,” Garcia said.

    The push for increased sports funding aligns with the government’s newly launched long-term sports development plan. The strategy centers on three core priorities: strengthening the operational capacity of local sporting associations, consolidating scattered resources into a coordinated national system, and building early talent identification pathways to nurture athletes from childhood.

    Sports Minister Anthony Mahler also outlined major infrastructure expansion plans as part of the strategy. Building on the success of the existing Marion Jones Sport Complex, the government aims to construct three additional high-performance training facilities across the country: one in Orange Walk District, a second in Cayo District, and a third in one of Belize’s two southern districts.

    Right now, the proposal to redirect more Fi We Boledo revenue to sports remains under discussion. With millions of dollars in annual consumer spending flowing into the national lottery, stakeholders across the sports sector are debating how large a share of those funds should be reinvested into the athletic system that the lottery already helps support.

  • Skerrit: UWP has let down Roseau North voters

    Skerrit: UWP has let down Roseau North voters

    As the highly anticipated Roseau North by-election approaches on September 7, Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has launched a targeted campaign push to win over voters for the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP) candidate Ashma McDougall, while leveling sharp criticism against the main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) for failing its long-time supporters. Speaking at a community gathering in Gutter Village, Skerrit focused heavily on mobilizing young voters, emphasizing that their electoral choices will directly shape their own future prospects in the country.

    Skerrit told attendees that meaningful progress for young Dominicans begins with intentional, informed decisions at the ballot box on September 7. “You cannot want to sit out in the campaign or vote the wrong choice and expect things to get better for you tomorrow,” he noted, urging all eligible residents to show up to vote and back the candidate he frames as the best option for the constituency. The prime minister extended his appeal even to voters who have never backed the DLP in previous elections, saying their past political allegiances should not stop them from supporting McDougall this time around. “As far as we are concerned, that doesn’t matter anymore,” Skerrit said of non-traditional DLP supporters, adding that the by-election presents a unique chance for voters to reassess their political choices and prioritize the nation’s long-term prosperity and public welfare.

    In his sharp rebuke of the opposition UWP, Skerrit claimed that the party has abandoned the very supporters who poured their time, limited financial resources, and energy into building the organization over decades. “Because the reality is the Workers’ Party has let you down. They have disappointed you. You invested all your years in them. You spent the money that you never had in them. You followed them. You fought for them, you cursed for them, and they have always abandoned you,” he told the crowd. Pointing to the UWP’s current standing in the constituency, Skerrit argued that the choice facing Roseau North voters is the clearest it has ever been in the constituency’s modern political history. “The choice couldn’t be so clear and so easy to make on September 7, that is to vote for Ashma McDougall and the Dominica Labour Party,” he added.

    Three candidates are vying for the open Roseau North seat in the upcoming by-election: McDougall representing the DLP, Daniel “Danny” Lugay running for the UWP, and Sherman Boston contesting as an independent candidate. With just days remaining before polling opens, all three candidates are making their final direct appeals to undecided voters across the constituency to secure their support on election day.

  • Grankreek maakt opnieuw bezwaar tegen zandafgravingen

    Grankreek maakt opnieuw bezwaar tegen zandafgravingen

    On Friday, the Indigenous community of Grankreek, located in Suriname’s Saramacca district, delivered a formal formal objection to District Commissioner Aniel Ramautar, pushing back against recent legal moves that could clear the way for restarting suspended sand extraction operations on their traditional ancestral land. The filing comes in response to a new court notice from one of the companies involved in the mining project, which seeks to overturn the stop-work order imposed on the activity earlier this year.

    The conflict between the Grankreek community and sand mining operators dates back to February 2024, when widespread local protests forced authorities to halt all extraction activities. More than six months have passed since the suspension, but community representatives say they have yet to receive clear, comprehensive answers to the core questions they have raised about the project.

    Over the past six months, Grankreek’s leadership has sent multiple formal correspondences, held multiple rounds of talks with regional and national authorities, and pushed for transparency around the ongoing official investigation into the project and the validity of the mining permits issued. To date, no conclusive updates have been provided on these processes, leaving the community in a state of uncertainty.

    Among the outstanding issues are the unaddressed environmental damage that community members confirm has already been caused by initial mining operations, as well as the unclear fate of the existing mining permits, which the community demands be fully revoked. This latest legal push to lift the suspension has reignited widespread anxiety across the village, with residents arguing that no resumption of work can be allowed until all fundamental questions about the project’s legality, environmental impacts, and respect for Indigenous land rights have been resolved.

    By submitting this formal objection to District Commissioner Ramautar, the Grankreek community is once again demanding urgent attention from national authorities. Village head Angelique Palmtak, who personally handed the objection letter to Ramautar, reaffirmed that the community will maintain its opposition to all mining activity on its traditional territory until full clarity is provided on all outstanding concerns. The full text of the community’s objection letter is being published as an attachment to this report.

  • McDougall outlines plans for Gutter community ahead of Roseau North by-election

    McDougall outlines plans for Gutter community ahead of Roseau North by-election

    As the September 7 by-election for Dominica’s Roseau North Constituency draws near, Dominica Labour Party (DLP) nominee Ashma McDougall has laid out a clear, community-centered agenda for the Gutter Village area, focusing on long-overlooked infrastructure, public services and constituent engagement. During a recent face-to-face meeting with Gutter Village residents, McDougall broke down her key priorities if elected, starting with improving walkway safety and accessibility for all community members.