Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • Prime Minister Presses ECAB on Long-Delayed Share Conversion Plan

    Prime Minister Presses ECAB on Long-Delayed Share Conversion Plan

    Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda has escalated his administration’s campaign to transform the ownership structure of Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Bank (ECAB). The government is pushing for the conversion of preference shares into ordinary shares, a strategic move designed to facilitate wider public ownership among Antiguans and Barbudans.

    In a direct appeal to the financial institution’s leadership, Browne accused ECAB’s directors and shareholders of systematically obstructing this policy initiative. “You have been frustrating this policy initiative of our government,” stated Browne, emphasizing that the conversion would enable the subsequent divestment of shares to local citizens.

    The core objective behind this persistent effort is to democratize ownership within key economic enterprises. The administration believes that broadening local participation in major institutions like ECAB will create more direct economic benefits for citizens and foster greater financial inclusion.

    Despite prolonged discussions spanning several months, the initiative has encountered significant resistance from the bank’s current leadership and shareholder base. The Prime Minister indicated that this opposition has stalled progress, necessitating continued engagement between government officials and bank representatives to break the deadlock.

    This initiative aligns with Browne’s previously stated economic philosophy that expanding domestic equity participation is fundamental to building sustainable national wealth. The government views local ownership stakes in critical financial institutions as a cornerstone for long-term economic resilience and community empowerment.

  • Claudius King Charged in Connection with Multiple Property Damage and Larceny Offences

    Claudius King Charged in Connection with Multiple Property Damage and Larceny Offences

    ST. JOHN’S, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA – January 17, 2026 – Law enforcement authorities have formally charged Claudius King, a 24-year-old resident of Hatton, following his arrest in connection with a series of criminal incidents involving property damage and theft. The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda confirmed multiple charges against the suspect related to events occurring on January 13, 2026.

    According to official reports from the Office of Strategic Communications, King faces allegations spanning three distinct criminal incidents. The first case involves the theft of an automotive battery valued at $475 and the deliberate destruction of a rear panel window worth $300, belonging to a resident of Tindale Road.

    In a separate occurrence on Kentish Road, the accused stands charged with stealing two side mirrors with a combined value of $1,000 and a car jack priced at $100. This incident also includes charges for malicious damage to two quarter panel glasses valued at $600.

    An additional charge involves the intentional destruction of a toilet bowl valued at $700, marking another facet of the property damage allegations. The cumulative financial impact of the alleged crimes exceeds $3,000 across the various incidents.

    Police authorities have indicated that their investigative efforts remain active as they continue to examine the circumstances surrounding these offenses. The accused is scheduled to make an appearance in court proceedings, though specific dates for the judicial process have not yet been formally announced. The Royal Police Force has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing property crimes and maintaining public safety throughout the community.

  • Barbados and Caribbean Science Foundation launch major partnership to advance STEM

    Barbados and Caribbean Science Foundation launch major partnership to advance STEM

    Barbados has embarked on a transformative scientific partnership that promises to reshape the Caribbean’s technological landscape. The nation’s Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Science and Technology (MIST) has entered into a groundbreaking collaboration with the Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF), establishing a comprehensive framework for regional STEM advancement.

    Spearheading this initiative is Professor Cardinal Warde, the CSF’s Executive Director and MIT electrical engineering professor of Barbadian heritage. The partnership will introduce two landmark programs: a region-wide Caribbean STEM Olympiad for secondary students and the inaugural Caribbean SEED Summit scheduled for June 26-28, 2026.

    The SEED Summit (STEM Engine for Economic Development) will convene Caribbean innovators, diaspora experts, and global thought leaders for three days of intensive collaboration. The event will feature a STEM Startup Challenge connecting entrepreneurs with funding opportunities, visionary keynote addresses, and cutting-edge research presentations spanning climate resilience, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, and educational reform.

    Minister of Innovation Senator Jonathan Reid emphasized the strategic alignment between CSF’s ‘Science and Engineering for Economic Development’ approach and Barbados’ economic transformation agenda. “This partnership positions Barbados at the forefront of regional innovation-driven growth,” stated Minister Reid. “The SEED Summit represents a pivotal milestone in accelerating our national STEM strategy.”

    Beyond the summit, the collaboration will implement comprehensive educational reforms enhancing teacher training and curriculum development. Professor Warde highlighted Barbados’ emerging role as a Caribbean STEM catalyst: “We’re bringing decades of expertise to work hand-in-hand with government and young innovators to build a future grounded in science and driven by imagination.”

    The initiative supports Barbados’ broader digital development and reindustrialization goals, aiming to create attractive opportunities for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and global businesses. Minister Reid noted CSF’s proven track record in developing Caribbean talent for world-leading universities, stating the partnership would “leverage global scientific networks aligned with national priorities for sustainable growth and competitiveness.”

    This strategic alliance represents a significant step in Barbados’ mission to become a hub for high-skilled global talent, encouraging diaspora professionals to return while transforming the nation into a regional innovation powerhouse.

  • Breaking: Barbadians head to the polls next month as PM calls elections

    Breaking: Barbadians head to the polls next month as PM calls elections

    Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has officially declared February 11, 2026 as the date for the nation’s next general election. The announcement came during a formal ceremony on Saturday evening, setting in motion the democratic process for the Caribbean nation.

    In her address to the nation, Prime Minister Mottley confirmed she has advised President Sandra Mason to dissolve Parliament on Monday, January 19, effectively concluding the current parliamentary session. The administration has simultaneously initiated comprehensive preparations for the upcoming electoral process, with Nomination Day scheduled for January 27, when candidates will formally register their participation.

    This election marks the first parliamentary contest since Mottley’s Barbados Labour Party achieved an unprecedented political victory in 2022, securing all 30 seats in the House of Assembly. The previous election represented a historic moment in Barbadian politics, delivering the first clean sweep in the nation’s electoral history.

    The upcoming vote will test whether Prime Minister Mottley maintains her extraordinary popularity following her party’s constitutional reform agenda and economic management. Political analysts are closely watching whether any opposition parties can break the ruling party’s parliamentary monopoly in this forthcoming election.

    Barbados, a stable democracy within the Commonwealth, continues its tradition of peaceful political transitions as it prepares for this significant electoral event amidst ongoing regional and global challenges.

  • Nicholas acknowledges public frustration over water, pushes back on criticism

    Nicholas acknowledges public frustration over water, pushes back on criticism

    Antigua’s Utilities Minister Melford Nicholas has publicly recognized mounting citizen frustration over persistent water disruptions while simultaneously defending his administration’s handling of the crisis. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony for the new Barnacle Point reverse osmosis water plant, Nicholas acknowledged that public anger reflects water’s essential role in daily life, though he contends criticism frequently overlooks complex technical challenges.

    The minister articulated that current water production levels now adequately meet national demand, with ongoing outages primarily stemming from transmission and distribution deficiencies rather than insufficient supply. Nicholas emphasized that decades of infrastructure neglect and underinvestment have created systemic weaknesses that cannot be immediately resolved.

    Nicholas identified public expectation management as particularly challenging during infrastructure transitions, noting that criticism often intensifies even amid measurable progress. He referenced the newly operational Barnacle Point facility—contributing two million imperial gallons daily—and the earlier Fryes Beach plant as evidence of production improvements achieved through collaboration between Antigua Public Utilities Authority and Seven Seas Water Group.

    Looking forward, Nicholas outlined upcoming modernization efforts focusing on automated distribution systems and large-scale pipeline replacements. While acknowledging these projects won’t yield instantaneous results, he characterized them as essential for achieving islandwide service consistency. The minister concluded that government must simultaneously advance infrastructure improvements while maintaining transparent communication about achievements and ongoing challenges, cautioning against dismissing progress merely because transformation remains incomplete.

  • Nicholas warns low standards pose greatest risk at APUA

    Nicholas warns low standards pose greatest risk at APUA

    In a stark warning against institutional mediocrity, Antigua’s Minister of Public Utilities Melford Nicholas has identified complacency—not ambition—as the most severe threat facing the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA). Delivering his remarks during the commissioning ceremony of the new Barnacle Point reverse osmosis water plant, Minister Nicholas outlined a rigorous leadership philosophy built upon discipline, accountability, and the relentless pursuit of elevated performance benchmarks. He emphatically stated that the true danger lies not in setting overly ambitious goals, but in establishing low standards and comfortably meeting them. Since assuming oversight of the public utilities portfolio, Nicholas has adopted an intentionally hands-on approach, maintaining frequent communication with APUA’s senior management to closely monitor operational progress and institutional performance. He directly linked this drive for higher standards to public accountability, noting that failures in essential services like water distribution rapidly escalate into political crises. The minister stressed that utility leadership must be prepared with concrete data and effective solutions rather than excuses, particularly as new infrastructure like the Barnacle Point plant—a collaborative project with Seven Seas Water Group adding two million imperial gallons daily to the national system—comes online. Nicholas concluded that the next phase of reform must focus on transmission upgrades, automation, and a fundamental shift in institutional culture, aiming to build a utility capable of sustaining high performance under pressure and meeting public expectations.

  • Nicholas: Antigua now has enough water, but distribution flaws still leave gaps

    Nicholas: Antigua now has enough water, but distribution flaws still leave gaps

    Antigua and Barbuda has successfully resolved its water production deficit, yet significant distribution challenges persist, leaving numerous communities without reliable access. Utilities Minister Melford Nicholas confirmed the nation now possesses adequate production capacity to meet national demand, attributing ongoing supply interruptions to an aging and inefficient transmission network. The remarks were delivered during the commissioning ceremony of the new reverse osmosis plant at Barnacle Point.

    The recently activated Barnacle Point facility contributes an additional two million imperial gallons per day to the national supply. This development follows the earlier launch of a one-million-gallon-per-day plant at Fryes Beach. These expansions are the result of a collaborative partnership between the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) and the Seven Seas Water Group, substantially boosting the country’s overall production capabilities.

    Minister Nicholas delineated a clear distinction between the solved issue of production and the persistent problem of distribution. He openly acknowledged public frustration, noting that residents experiencing outages are typically unconcerned with technical explanations. This frustration places considerable political and social pressure on utility providers during service interruptions.

    The government’s strategy is now squarely focused on the next critical phase: modernizing the transmission and distribution infrastructure. This comprehensive plan includes the large-scale replacement of decades-old pipelines and the integration of automation systems to enhance operational efficiency and response times. APUA Chief Executive Officer John Bradshaw has previously emphasized that these upgrades are indispensable for equitable water distribution across the island, even as production records are being surpassed.

    Nicholas characterized the achievement in production as the completion of ‘the first leg of the relay.’ The remaining and more complex challenge involves ensuring that the increased water volume consistently reaches every household through a robust and modernized delivery network, while simultaneously managing public expectations throughout this transitional period.

  • Elderly Man Found Wandering

    Elderly Man Found Wandering

    Authorities in Antigua have launched a public appeal to help identify an elderly gentleman discovered in a disoriented state while wandering local streets. Despite initial efforts to secure appropriate care, officers encountered procedural limitations when Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital declined admission, citing the man’s status as a non-registered patient. The individual is currently receiving temporary care and protection at the St. John’s Police Station while investigators work to determine his identity and locate his family. Law enforcement officials are urging community members to come forward with any information that might assist in reuniting the gentleman with his loved ones. Those who recognize the individual or have knowledge of a missing person matching his description are encouraged to contact or visit the St. John’s Police Station immediately to facilitate his safe return home.

  • VES-secretaris Girdhari: Jaarrede president schetst richting, maar mist concrete uitwerking

    VES-secretaris Girdhari: Jaarrede president schetst richting, maar mist concrete uitwerking

    Suriname’s economic trajectory for 2025-2030, as outlined in President Jennifer Simons’ New Year address to the Association of Economists in Suriname (VES), presents both ambitious frameworks and substantial implementation concerns according to VES Secretary Swami Girdhari. While acknowledging the macroeconomic consistency of the presidential vision, which appropriately emphasized the crucial interconnection between fiscal policy, monetary measures, and structural reforms, Girdhari highlighted significant gaps in practical execution details.

    The address, delivered during a 45-minute presentation, successfully established broad policy contours but fell short in translating abstract concepts—including discipline, institutional strengthening, transparency, and good governance—into measurable policy choices, clear priorities, and concrete timelines. Girdhari noted that while time constraints might explain some omissions, society rightfully expects the government to provide specific operational details in the near future.

    A primary concern centers on governmental implementation capacity. Many proposed policies echo previous administrations’ declarations, raising questions about Suriname’s institutional and human resource capabilities to actualize these plans. The VES supports the president’s stance that export-earned foreign exchange must serve the national economy through full repatriation, emphasizing that production enhancement and revenue generation capacity remain fundamental requirements.

    Although tourism and agricultural sectors were correctly identified as key economic drivers, Girdhari observed that seven months into the administration, policy execution remains disappointing with no coherent, consistent strategy yet visible. Corruption prevention also received insufficient attention according to the VES, with merely two brief mentions in the speech contrasting sharply with daily reports about potential corruption cases from the previous administration involving LVV, Grassalco, EBS, Brownsberg, timber exports, gold smuggling, and land distribution.

    Additional criticism targeted the government’s personnel management approach, where dismissing officials without proven misconduct—often while maintaining their salaries—results in financial waste and human capital underutilization. Girdhari urged creative deployment of available expertise for national development.

    Regarding anticipated oil and gas revenues, the VES acknowledges the president’s correct emphasis on preparation but questions whether Suriname’s political and institutional systems possess sufficient robustness to maintain this course long-term. Ultimately, the association stresses that the president’s central promise of systemic transformation (“Kenki a Systeem”) must begin showing visible contours through tangible actions, noting that recent months’ developments haven’t yet aligned with this commitment.

  • Two men gunned down at shop in Belair

    Two men gunned down at shop in Belair

    The small Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been rocked by another deadly shooting incident, resulting in two fatalities and raising the nation’s homicide count to three for the year. The violence occurred Friday night at a commercial establishment in the West St. George community of Belair, marking the second such shop shooting in the St. George’s area to claim multiple lives within a year.

    Victims of the latest shooting include 26-year-old Anil Greaves, who succumbed to his injuries at the scene, and Quinn Greaves (also known as “Huncho”), who later died at a medical facility. Quinn was the son of prominent radio personality and artist Donnie Prince Collins, who expressed profound grief on social media, stating: “A man shouldn’t have to bury his son. I should grow old with my sons to carry my casket. RIP is something I never dreamt of saying about my son.”

    The incident represents a disturbing pattern of violence involving individuals previously charged with firearm offenses. Anil Greaves had been charged in 2022 alongside Tevin Miller and Carl Quow for possession of an unlicensed homemade firearm. Notably, Quow met a similar fate, being fatally shot on February 6, 2025, in an attack that also injured 17-year-old student Jolani Thompson.

    This shooting bears grim similarities to a previous tragedy less than a year prior, where 69-year-old businesswoman Lesline Davis and two of her patrons, Demeon Cumberbatch and Haynesly Browne, were shot and killed at Davis’ Shop in Belmont. Two individuals, Leon John and Kesroy Ryan, currently await trial for these murders while remanded in prison.

    Meanwhile, Kyle Providence and Joel Williams, both 21 and from Ottley Hall, have been charged with murder in connection with Quow’s death and attempted murder regarding Thompson’s injury. They remain incarcerated pending their next court appearance scheduled for January 26.

    The recurring nature of these incidents, particularly the targeting of commercial establishments and individuals with prior firearm charges, highlights growing concerns about public safety and gun violence in the island nation.