Carib Scope

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  • Guyana emerging as a premier tourism destination, says president

    Guyana emerging as a premier tourism destination, says president

    GEORGETOWN, Guyana — President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has authoritatively declared Guyana’s transformation into a leading tourism hub for the Caribbean and South America, asserting that the nation’s long-anticipated tourism boom is no longer a future prospect but a present reality. The announcement was made during the inauguration of the new Plaza Court Hotel in Georgetown, symbolizing the country’s aggressive push into the global tourism market.

    President Ali emphasized that strategic and unprecedented government investments in critical infrastructure, national safety, and human capital development have fundamentally shifted Guyana’s position from an aspirant to a formidable competitor in the international tourism arena. ‘Guyana is not waiting for a tourism boom. The boom has already begun,’ he stated. ‘We are not speculators anymore. We are coming for the market, and we are coming to be successful.’

    A central theme of his address was the necessity for industry-wide collaboration. The President framed the entire national tourism sector as a unified entity selling a single product: ‘Brand Guyana.’ He urged all hotel operators and stakeholders to embrace shared standards and accountability, moving beyond individual branding to collectively enhance the nation’s appeal.

    Ali outlined a three-pillar framework—safety, service, and experience—as the cornerstone of Guyana’s tourism strategy. He detailed enhancements in security infrastructure and technology-driven monitoring systems that have significantly bolstered public safety. To elevate service quality, the government is advancing plans for a world-class Hospitality Institute designed to equip Guyanese workers with internationally recognized skills.

    Regarding the visitor experience, the President highlighted comprehensive upgrades, including streamlined airport processing, revitalized public spaces and historic corridors, and improved connectivity to entertainment districts, all aimed at creating a seamless and memorable tourist journey.

    The nation is already reaping the benefits of this strategic push, with a notable surge in interest from international organizations seeking to host major conferences and events in Guyana. The President credited the private sector’s confidence and substantial investments as a vital driver of this growth, reaffirming the government’s commitment to fostering a pro-business environment that generates jobs and raises living standards.

    Looking to the future, President Ali described a deliberate and sustained national project, fueled by historic investments in roads, bridges, ports, and airports, to establish Guyana as a premier sustainable tourism destination. The opening of the Plaza Court Hotel was presented as a tangible marker of this readiness, with the President concluding, ‘Brick by brick, runway by runway, room by room, we are laying the foundation for shared prosperity.’

  • WATCH: Williams revisits his viral ‘latte’ moment to tout real estate market

    WATCH: Williams revisits his viral ‘latte’ moment to tout real estate market

    Christopher Williams, Chairman and CEO of different Capital, has reflected on a controversial statement he made approximately six years ago regarding housing affordability for the middle class. During his previous tenure as chairman of Proven REIT, while promoting a new residential development, Williams suggested that prospective buyers could afford units by reducing their daily coffee purchases—a remark that sparked significant public criticism and led to his subsequent apology, which he acknowledged as inappropriate at the time.

    In a recent video address, Williams highlighted that the property in question, originally valued at $19 million, has now appreciated to an estimated $35 million. He presented this substantial valuation increase as evidence supporting his underlying argument about real estate’s wealth-building potential. “Don’t ramp and play around with real estate cause that is the path to your long-term wealth, think different,” Williams advised viewers, emphasizing strategic property investment as a key to financial growth.

    Following his departure from Proven last year, Williams co-founded different Capital alongside businessman Gary Matalon. The new real estate brokerage firm aims to provide clients with access to investment properties throughout the Caribbean region, expanding opportunities for property investment and portfolio diversification.

  • All Schools team to contest CASA final Sunday

    All Schools team to contest CASA final Sunday

    Jamaica’s All Schools squad has secured a place in the championship match of the Caribbean Americas Soccer Association (CASA) Youth Classic after delivering two dominant performances in the preliminary rounds. The team will compete against Rush in the tournament finale this Sunday at 5:00 PM, hosted at South Florida’s Lauderhill Sports Complex.

    The Jamaican team demonstrated remarkable offensive prowess during their opening matches, first defeating Cobras with a decisive 4-0 victory on Friday, followed by a 2-0 triumph over ESP on Saturday. The team’s success was largely propelled by the exceptional performance of striker Kadean Young, who emerged as the tournament’s standout player.

    During Friday’s contest, Young opened the scoring in the eighth minute before adding an insurance goal in the 76th minute. His efforts were complemented by teammates Kimarly Scott, who found the net in the 50th minute, and Kaieem Lewis, who scored in the 62nd minute.

    The following day, Young continued his scoring dominance by netting both goals in Jamaica’s victory over ESP. His fourth-minute strike established an early advantage, which he reinforced with another goal in the 33rd minute, securing the team’s undefeated path to the championship match.

    The upcoming final represents a significant opportunity for Jamaica’s youth soccer program to claim regional supremacy against Rush, setting the stage for an intense competition between two talented squads.

  • No Venus fairytale as Alcaraz, Sabalenka win Melbourne openers

    No Venus fairytale as Alcaraz, Sabalenka win Melbourne openers

    MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian Open commenced under scorching conditions, witnessing commanding performances from top seeds while concluding the historic campaign of tennis legend Venus Williams. World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz launched his quest for a career Grand Slam with a decisive 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 victory over Australian wildcard Adam Walton. Despite a challenging second set, the Spaniard expressed satisfaction with his opening-round form as he aims to dethrone reigning champion Jannik Sinner.

    Reigning women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka navigated a tricky encounter against French left-hander Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah, overcoming initial unforced errors to secure a 6-4, 6-1 win. The Belarusian acknowledged added pressure with tennis icons Roger Federer and Rod Laver observing from courtside.

    The tournament’s intense heat approached 30°C (86°F), contributing to dramatic scenes including a ball girl collapsing during Zeynep Sonmez’s match against Ekaterina Alexandrova. Attendance reached a record 100,000 despite complaints about lengthy queues in the oppressive conditions.

    Alexander Zverev demonstrated resilience after dropping the first set to Canada’s Gabriel Diallo, rallying to a 6-7 (1/7), 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory. The German third seed admitted needing to reset after his early struggles.

    The day’s most emotional moment came as 45-year-old Venus Williams, the oldest woman to compete in Australian Open history, fell to Serbia’s Olga Danilovic in a grueling 2-hour, 17-minute battle. Despite flashes of her legendary prowess, Williams succumbed 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-4 to an opponent more than two decades her junior.

    Other notable results saw British qualifier Arthur Fery upset 20th seed Flavio Cobolli, while seeded Ukrainians Dayana Yastremska and Marta Kostyuk suffered early exits. The tournament continues with Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek headlining Monday’s action.

  • Europe scrambles to respond to Trump tariff threat

    Europe scrambles to respond to Trump tariff threat

    BRUSSELS — European leaders have launched a coordinated diplomatic offensive against U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats targeting eight European nations, escalating tensions over his renewed pursuit of acquiring Greenland. The confrontation has triggered emergency meetings and warnings of transatlantic relationship damage.

    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, despite maintaining positive relations with Trump, explicitly cautioned the American administration against economic retaliation. During her official visit to Seoul, Meloni revealed she personally conveyed to Trump that imposing new sanctions would constitute a significant miscalculation, while simultaneously attributing the dispute to communication failures between the allies.

    The controversy stems from Trump’s intensified campaign to acquire the autonomous Danish territory since returning to office, with recent weeks witnessing heightened claims that have destabilized NATO partnerships. On Saturday, the president threatened punitive 10% tariffs commencing February 1 on imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Finland—potentially rising to 25% by June absent Greenland’s transfer agreement.

    British Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans direct discussions with Trump regarding what UK Culture Minister Lisa Nandy termed “deeply unhelpful and counterproductive” measures. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron advocated deploying the EU’s unprecedented trade defense mechanism—the so-called ‘bazooka’ instrument designed to counteract coercive practices through import restrictions.

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa jointly warned that such tariffs would precipitate a dangerous downward spiral in transatlantic cooperation. Their statement preceded an emergency assembly of EU ambassadors in Brussels to formulate a coordinated response.

    Civil society has mobilized against potential annexation, with thousands protesting in Nuuk, Copenhagen, and other Danish cities. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen announced imminent diplomatic visits to NATO partners Norway, Britain, and Sweden to reinforce Arctic security consensus.

    Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel condemned Trump’s approach as “inexplicable blackmail,” while French Agricultural Minister Annie Genevard noted reciprocal economic damage would affect American farmers and industrialists. The EU previously secured a July agreement limiting most exports to 15% U.S. levies, now jeopardized by the Greenland dispute.

  • WATCH: Slain cop laid to rest

    WATCH: Slain cop laid to rest

    KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Jamaican law enforcement community and grieving relatives gathered Saturday to honor the life and service of Constable Jemarey Gordon, one of two police officers fatally shot during a violent confrontation last November. The solemn thanksgiving service took place at the Church of the Open Bible on Washington Boulevard, drawing massive attendance from across the nation.

    The emotional ceremony brought together heartbroken family members, fellow officers from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and residents from Gordon’s hometown of Oakland Road. In a moving written tribute, Police Commissioner Dr. Kevin Blake memorialized Gordon’s nine years of dedicated service to national security. “With heavy hearts we honour the life of our dear colleague, No. 19415 Constable Gordon,” Commissioner Blake stated, extending official condolences to the fallen officer’s father, mother, siblings, and children.

    Significant representation came from Gordon’s assigned unit, the Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Investigation Branch (C-TOC), alongside delegates from the Police Federation. Superintendent Susan Bruce delivered the formal eulogy, honoring Gordon’s commitment to duty. The ceremony concluded with full police honors during interment at Meadowrest Memorial Gardens in St. Catherine, reflecting the department’s deep respect for their fallen comrade.

    The tragic incident occurred on November 13 along 83 Lane, Waltham Park Road, where Gordon and his colleague Constable Charles Stewart lost their lives during an armed confrontation with multiple assailants. Constable Stewart received his final honors during separate funeral proceedings the previous week, marking a devastating period for Jamaica’s law enforcement community.

  • Alliyah McNeil breaks North Texas school record in high jump

    Alliyah McNeil breaks North Texas school record in high jump

    Jamaican track and field athlete Alliyah McNeil achieved a historic milestone at the Arkansas Invitational on Friday, setting a new University of North Texas high jump record with an impressive clearance of 1.80 meters. The competition, held at the Tyson Indoor Facilities, saw McNeil surpass the previous record of 1.79 meters established by Shahaf Bareni back in 2013.

    McNeil, who has previously competed for both Iowa Western and the University of Minnesota, demonstrated her exceptional versatility by also securing second place in the long jump event with a mark of 6.22 meters.

    The weekend witnessed several other outstanding performances from Caribbean athletes across various collegiate meets. At the University of Tennessee, former Holmwood Technical ISSA girls’ athletics champion Cedricka Williams achieved a personal best of 19.39 meters in the women’s weight throw, ranking seventh all-time in the university’s history and claiming victory in her event.

    Meanwhile, at the HBCU Showcase in New York’s Armory, Hampton University athletes delivered strong performances. Rochele Solmon captured the women’s shot put title with a season’s best throw of 15.05 meters, while her teammate Damali Williams secured second place in the weight throw with a personal best of 16.92 meters.

    At the Corky Classic hosted by Texas Tech, Brandon Lloyd of Arizona State earned second place in the men’s shot put with a throw of 18.85 meters. University of Texas athlete Shaiquan Dunn finished sixth in the same event with a mark of 17.78 meters.

    Adding to the weekend’s achievements, Malaika Cunningham of Villanova University won the women’s high jump at the Quaker Invitational held at the University of Pennsylvania, clearing 1.73 meters.

  • Young doctors expanding access to compression care through Uniflo

    Young doctors expanding access to compression care through Uniflo

    Two Jamaican physicians, Dr. Mickhail Benjamin and Dr. Duhaney Johnson, are revolutionizing accessibility to essential medical compression therapy through their homegrown enterprise, Uniflo Compression Wear. Recognizing a critical gap in national healthcare provision for circulatory conditions, the longtime friends have established a direct-supply model that bypasses traditional intermediaries to offer medically graded compression garments at unprecedented affordability.

    The medical practitioners identified venous insufficiency as a widespread yet underserved health crisis disproportionately affecting occupational groups requiring prolonged standing or sitting—including security personnel, educators, transportation operators, and office workers. Women experience particularly heightened vulnerability due to hormonal influences, with approximately 40% developing circulation complications during pregnancy that frequently persist postpartum.

    Compression therapy represents the medical standard for managing poor circulation, employing graduated pressure to facilitate venous return and prevent complications ranging from edema and discomfort to chronic ulceration. Despite demonstrated efficacy, accessibility barriers have historically placed these interventions beyond reach for average Jamaicans due to prohibitive pricing and limited availability.

    Uniflo’s operational framework addresses these systemic challenges through strategic international sourcing that eliminates markup from conventional distribution channels. The company’s nomenclature derives from the medical principle of ‘unidirectional flow’—the physiological mechanism whereby veins transport blood toward the heart.

    Beyond compression garments, the venture has expanded its portfolio to include ripple mattress toppers that mitigate pressure injury risks for bedbound patients, demonstrating responsiveness to broader caregiver and patient needs.

    The doctors’ parallel journeys from modest beginnings—Dr. Benjamin from Spanish Town and Dr. Johnson from Portmore—inform their commitment to equitable healthcare access. Both recipients of prestigious Government of Jamaica scholarships covering 80% of medical school tuition, they represent the top 3% of academic achievers admitted to The University of the West Indies medical program. Their combined decade of clinical experience reinforces a patient-centered approach grounded in practical healthcare solutions.

    Their shared philosophy emphasizes transformative innovation through service: “Coming from humble beginnings, we are deeply aware of the social and economic challenges faced by many Jamaicans. Our journey reflects a determination not to become statistics of our environments, but to give back through accessible healthcare.”

  • Image Plus names Steven Lewis as new chairman

    Image Plus names Steven Lewis as new chairman

    Jamaica’s premier diagnostic imaging provider, Image Plus Consultants Limited operating as Apex Radiology, has commenced a meticulously planned leadership transition after three decades under its founding leadership. This strategic move aims to ensure operational continuity while propelling the publicly-traded healthcare enterprise into its next growth chapter.

    Dr. Karlene McDonnough, the visionary founder and longstanding Chairperson, will step down from her executive leadership position effective February 28, 2026. Her remarkable tenure witnessed the company’s evolution from a private startup to a Jamaica Stock Exchange-listed healthcare powerhouse currently generating annual revenues surpassing $1 billion. While relinquishing her chairmanship, Dr. McDonnough will maintain her board presence as an executive director and continue providing specialized expertise as lead consultant radiologist for nuclear medicine services.

    The corporate transition announcement expressed profound gratitude: “The entire IPCL family wishes to convey our heartfelt appreciation to Dr. McDonnough for her vision, unwavering support, and selfless leadership over the years. We extend our warmest wishes for God’s abundant blessings as she begins her well-earned semi-retirement.”

    Assuming the chairman role effective March 1, 2026 will be Dr. Steven Lewis, currently serving as deputy chairman since November 2024. With over two decades of institutional knowledge dating back to his initial joining as consultant radiologist in 2003 and board membership since 2010, Dr. Lewis brings extensive operational and governance expertise to the leadership position.

    This leadership evolution occurs amidst both operational challenges and strategic expansion initiatives. Recent quarterly results reveal resilient performance with Q3 FY2026 revenues reaching $277.2 million—the strongest quarterly achievement thus far in the financial year—despite operational disruptions from Hurricane Melissa that reduced patient volumes, particularly in regions outside Kingston.

    Nine-month financials show revenues of $803.3 million, reflecting a 3.9% year-over-year decrease, while pre-tax profits declined to $33.1 million from $41.6 million in the comparable prior period. Management attributed these contractions to reduced scan volumes and hurricane-related impacts, though strategic cost containment measures helped maintain stable gross margins and modestly reduced administrative expenses.

    Concurrently, the company has advanced its expansion strategy through the $69.8 million acquisition of The Woman’s Place diagnostic imaging operations. This transaction, comprising 75% cash payment with remainder deferred until October 2026, establishes Apex Radiology’s specialized mammography services platform. The acquired unit already contributed over 8% of total scan volume within its first operational month, with intangible assets valued at $49.4 million recognized through this acquisition.

    Future growth remains prioritized, with management indicating advanced negotiations for a second acquisition anticipated to be finalized in Q4 FY2026. Concurrently, the ongoing construction of the 33 LMR facility promises enhanced operational capacity and improved patient throughput upon completion in 2026.

  • Trinidad and Tobago Newsday – Sunday January 18th 2026

    Trinidad and Tobago Newsday – Sunday January 18th 2026

    A groundbreaking scientific investigation has revealed significant health hazards associated with widely consumed dietary supplements, challenging long-held assumptions about their safety and efficacy. The comprehensive study, conducted by an international consortium of researchers, identified potentially dangerous contaminants and inaccurate dosage labeling across numerous products available in the global market.

    The research team employed advanced spectroscopic analysis and biochemical screening methods to examine over 300 popular supplement formulations. Their findings demonstrated that approximately 23% of tested products contained undeclared pharmaceutical compounds, while nearly 35% showed substantial discrepancies between labeled and actual ingredient concentrations. Several products were found to contain heavy metal contaminants exceeding safety thresholds established by regulatory agencies.

    Medical experts have expressed particular concern about supplements marketed for weight loss and athletic performance enhancement, which showed the highest incidence of problematic formulations. The study also identified potential interactions between supplement ingredients and prescription medications that could lead to serious adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular complications and hepatic toxicity.

    Regulatory authorities are reviewing the findings to determine appropriate policy responses, while consumer advocacy groups are calling for stricter manufacturing standards and more transparent labeling requirements. The research team recommends that consumers consult healthcare professionals before incorporating any dietary supplements into their wellness routines and purchase products only from reputable manufacturers that undergo third-party quality verification.