Carib Scope

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  • Machel, Skinny Fabulous join Saint Lucia’s best for Color Me Red

    Machel, Skinny Fabulous join Saint Lucia’s best for Color Me Red

    One of the most anticipated staples of Saint Lucia’s annual carnival calendar is gearing up for a milestone celebration, as organizers officially announced that Color Me Red (CMR) — the island’s signature standalone carnival concert — will return as “CMR – the Encore” on Carnival Friday, July 17, 2026. Held to mark the event’s 20th year as a cornerstone of Lucian carnival culture, the anniversary show will take place at the iconic Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Beausejour, drawing top soca talent from across the Caribbean.

    The lineup already boasts an impressive roster of homegrown and regional stars, including leading voices from Saint Lucia’s popular Dennery Segment movement: Blackboy, Mighty, Tallyboy, and fan-favorite Andrew “the biscuit man”. Completing the bill are award-winning local carnival soca acts: Groovy Monarch Kisha, Power Soca Monarch Ezra D’funmachine, Shemmy J, and Sedale. Headliners for the landmark anniversary show, however, are two of Caribbean soca’s biggest names who share decades of history with the CMR event, Skinny Fabulous and Machel Montano, both of whom opened up about their return at an official press conference held Thursday at Saint Lucia’s Windjammer Hotel.

    Speaking to attendees at the launch, Thaddeus Antoine, founder and director of Red Carnival — the production company behind CMR — explained the meaning behind the “Encore” moniker, emphasizing that the 20th iteration is unlike any previous edition. “Early in CMR’s run, Skinny Fabulous was just a rising artist studying at the University of the West Indies when he opened for Ricky T here. Machel graced our stage for five straight years, those were some of the best years CMR has ever had. Now both are back, and what do you call a return from fan favorites? That’s an encore,” Antoine said.

    For Vincentian soca star Skinny Fabulous, the 2026 show marks a full-circle moment in his decades-long career. He recalled his first trip to Saint Lucia, when he explored the coastal town of Soufriere and took in the world-famous views of the Pitons, and shared how early opportunities at CMR helped shape his path in the industry. “I competed against Ricky T, who I’ve always considered a legend, at the 2009 OECS Soca Monarch. I met Thaddeus back when he worked as an entertainment lawyer, and he was one of the first promoters to give me a large platform to perform. Now I’m back, sharing the stage not just with a pioneering promoter, but with my good friend and brother Machel — it’s really come full circle,” he explained.

    Skinny Fabulous echoed Antoine’s excitement, noting that Carnival Friday is widely considered the official start of the full carnival celebration in Saint Lucia, and promised attendees that the 20th anniversary show will be the largest and most impressive celebration of Lucian and Caribbean musical talent ever staged at CMR.

    Trinidadian soca icon Machel Montano, who also returns as a headliner, said he has long felt a deep connection to Saint Lucia, dating back to his childhood. “I’m absolutely thrilled to be here. This feels like sitting with family. I’ve been coming to Saint Lucia since I was 9 years old, back when I was too young to even perform soca,” Montano shared. “Two years ago, I played Saint Lucia Jazz and it was one of the best nights of my entire career, the energy from the crowd was unmatched. I haven’t experienced Saint Lucia carnival in years, and as they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. I’m coming with brand new hits this time around.”

    Montano also reflected on his long history of collaboration with Saint Lucian creatives, including producers Pen and Ace and soca legend Ricky T, noting that these cross-island partnerships helped lay the groundwork for the Caribbean unity the show celebrates today. He added that he has watched the island’s homegrown Dennery Segment genre grow from a local sound to a major, distinctive force across the Caribbean, and he is eager to share the stage with the movement’s leading artists. “It’s an honor to be invited back to CMR. This is a family affair, and I can’t wait to put on a show full of hits alongside my Saint Lucian and Caribbean family,” he said.

    To make the milestone celebration memorable for all attendees, organizers have curated special experiences for both general admission guests and VIP ticketholders. They also extended formal thanks to the event’s platinum sponsors — Bank of Saint Lucia and Windjammer — along with all supporting sponsors and partner organizations that have made the 20th anniversary show possible.

  • Olympic Committee “disappointed” Alfred will miss Commonwealth Games

    Olympic Committee “disappointed” Alfred will miss Commonwealth Games

    The 2026 Commonwealth Games are set to kick off in Glasgow, Scotland’s most populous city, on July 23, but one of the Caribbean’s most high-profile track and field stars will be missing from the starting line. Julien Alfred, the 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medalist and 2024 Paris Olympic 100-meter champion, has pulled out of the competition just weeks before the opening ceremony, leaving the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee Inc. (SLOC) frustrated and disappointed by the last-minute change of plans.

    The SLOC first unveiled its small 2026 Commonwealth Games team on July 1, more than two weeks ahead of the Games’ opening. The Caribbean nation is fielding athletes for just one of the event’s 10 total disciplines, with three track and field competitors set to represent the country: Khailan Vitalis in the men’s 110m hurdles, and Michael Joseph and Marvric Pamphile in the men’s 400m. Even at the time of the team announcement, local outlet St Lucia Times flagged Alfred’s unexpected absence, particularly after the sprinter had publicly shared her excitement to compete earlier this year. Back in January, Alfred told reporters she was eagerly anticipating the Glasgow Games, noting that she wanted to add a Commonwealth title to her growing collection of elite medals.

    It was not until ahead of last weekend’s Monaco Diamond League meet that the 25-year-old sprinter, a native of the Ciceron district of Saint Lucia, confirmed her withdrawal to the media. “It just doesn’t work with my schedule as of now, so no, I won’t be [in Glasgow],” she told reporters.

    On July 15, the SLOC, led by president Alfred Emmanuel, released an official statement on the withdrawal that laid out the committee’s position, though it offered little new detail on the root of the disagreement. The statement made clear that the national Olympic body is “extremely disappointed” by Alfred’s decision to skip the 2026 Games. According to the SLOC, both Alfred and her Bahamian manager Henry Rolle gave repeated assurances throughout 2025 that the sprinter would include the Commonwealth Games in her 2026 competition schedule. “Following talks with both Alfred and her manager Henry Rolles [sic] in 2025, our organisation was told that the Commonwealth Games would be included in her 2026 schedule,” the SLOC wrote in the statement.

    The SLOC first learned of Alfred’s plan to withdraw during an undated meeting with the Saint Lucia Athletics Association (SLAA), the national governing body for track and field. Rather than reaching out directly to Alfred or her team immediately, the SLOC tasked the SLAA with requesting a full explanation for the broken commitment from Rolle. Rolle reportedly sent only a brief one-line response to the SLAA’s inquiry. After that, the SLOC directly contacted Rolle to request full clarification, and received a much longer response from the manager — but the committee has chosen not to release any details of the response, only noting that it considered the correspondence “rather unfortunate.”

    Despite the public disappointment over Alfred’s withdrawal, the SLOC struck a conciliatory tone in closing its statement. The committee reaffirmed that there is a clear selection pathway for all Saint Lucian athletes aiming to compete at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, adding that it will continue to work with local member federations to ensure all eligible athletes get every possible opportunity to prepare and succeed at the highest levels of international sport. The SLOC also reiterated that it looks forward to continuing to support Alfred in all her future international competitions under the Saint Lucia national banner leading up to the LA 2028 Games.

  • Calypso Monarch Finalists Named for Antigua Carnival 2026

    Calypso Monarch Finalists Named for Antigua Carnival 2026

    The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission has officially named the 12 talented competitors who will advance to the highly anticipated 2026 Cavalier Rum Calypso Monarch, a marquee highlight of the annual Antigua Carnival celebration.

    This year’s final lineup brings together a diverse mix of established calypso artists and rising standout performers, including Lyrical Reds, Queen Gee Bee, Lady Melody, Di Dacta, Peetron, King Zacari, Willie Wawa, Dr. Solo, Queen Thalia, Faithful, King Young Destroyer and King Fiah.

    In an official statement following the announcement, the Commission extended warm congratulations to all 12 advancing acts, acknowledging the hard work and creativity that earned each performer a spot in the final round. The commission also shared expectations that the final competition will deliver an unforgettable evening of dynamic, top-tier live performance for attendees.

    As one of the most iconic and beloved signature events of Antigua Carnival, the Calypso Monarch competition holds deep cultural significance for the nation. Unlike general performance contests, the competition centers exclusively on original lyrical compositions, rooted in the centuries-old calypso tradition that weaves sharp social commentary, vivid cultural storytelling, and engaging entertainment into a unique artistic experience.

    When the final winner is crowned, they will take over the prestigious national title from the current reigning monarch, claiming the 2026 Calypso Monarch crown as their own for the coming year.

  • LETTER: The Cost of Bureaucratic Neglect at Wallings

    LETTER: The Cost of Bureaucratic Neglect at Wallings

    A recent summer camp outing to Antigua’s Wallings Forest Area has exposed a devastating collapse in the once-lauded conservation site, prompting a public call out for urgent government intervention to reverse the damage. On a July 16 visit to the protected woodland, a group of camp participants witnessed firsthand the total decay of an area long celebrated as a shining example of community-driven environmental stewardship.

    Today, the forest lacks every basic amenity required to host visitors and support its own conservation. Functional restrooms, educational signage that once guided guests and explained local ecosystems, and formal visitor orientation systems have all vanished. What little organization remains exists only through the unplanned, volunteer work of former site manager Refica Attwood, who stepped in as an informal guide for the visiting camp group. Her quick thinking and on-the-spot problem-solving prevented what could have been a dangerous, disorganized disaster for the group of children in the party, according to the letter writer.

    Despite Attwood and her small volunteer team’s tireless efforts to keep the day incident-free, the visit laid bare a grim truth: decades of collaborative community conservation work have been completely undone. The once-thriving reserve is now left abandoned, trapped in a state of administrative limbo stemming from unresolved government disputes.

    The letter’s author leaves no question of where blame lies: the Antiguan government, specifically the Ministry of Agriculture, has made a catastrophic error that puts this critical ecological site at permanent risk. By allowing public-private partnership negotiations to lapse and failing to put in place a permanent, structured system for local trail wardens to maintain the site, the ministry has allowed one of Antigua’s most biodiverse “crown jewels” to deteriorate into disrepair.

    The public has a right to know how this once world-class protected reserve was allowed to crumble, the writer argues. The call to action is clear: government officials must intervene immediately, resolve the ongoing administrative disputes that have paralyzed management, and restore dedicated, organized oversight of Wallings Forest before this irreplaceable environmental asset is lost forever.

  • Forecasters Monitoring Tropical Wave Near Cabo Verde Islands

    Forecasters Monitoring Tropical Wave Near Cabo Verde Islands

    The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) is currently keeping a close watch on two separate low-pressure weather systems across the Atlantic basin, with official projections showing neither is likely to strengthen into a significant tropical cyclone in the coming days.

    The first system, a broad tropical wave, is located in the eastern Atlantic Ocean roughly 175 miles southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands as of 8 a.m. local time Friday. Right now, the disturbance is producing only scattered, unstructured showers and thunderstorms across the region, and it is tracking west-northwest at a steady pace of between 10 and 15 miles per hour.

    According to NHC forecasters, atmospheric and oceanic conditions around this eastern Atlantic system are set to grow increasingly hostile for tropical development over the coming week. Official probability estimates put the chance of this system organizing into a named tropical cyclone at just 10% across both the next 48 hours and the full seven-day forecast window.

    In addition to the Cabo Verde-area disturbance, forecasters are also monitoring a second unorganized disturbance located in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Like its eastern Atlantic counterpart, this Gulf system is also projected to face a very low likelihood of significant tropical development in the coming days.

    Meteorologists across the basin continue to update projections as peak Atlantic hurricane season progresses, urging coastal and oceanic interests to stay updated on the latest official forecasts from the NHC regardless of current low risk estimates.

  • Brede steun voor ‘Kaalplukwet’; DNA vraagt aandacht voor rechtsbescherming en uitvoering

    Brede steun voor ‘Kaalplukwet’; DNA vraagt aandacht voor rechtsbescherming en uitvoering

    On July 17, Suriname’s National Assembly launched the first round of parliamentary debate for a landmark private member’s bill focused on seizing unlawfully obtained assets, widely known locally as the ‘Kaalplukwet’. While cross-party lawmakers have broadly backed the legislation’s core goal of stripping organized criminals of illicit wealth, the bill has sparked detailed discussions over legal safeguards, procedural fairness and implementation capacity, with debate set to resume next week.

    Leading the proceedings as chair of the parliamentary rapporteur committee, Ingrid Karta-Bink of the National Democratic Party (NDP) presented the committee’s report on the bill. She emphasized that the bill’s foundational principle is that crime should not pay, requiring that all illegally gained assets can be seized regardless of their location, whether held domestically or abroad. The committee collected expert input from multiple key bodies, including Suriname’s High Court of Justice, Public Prosecution Service (OM), Central Bank of Suriname, and the Suriname Business Association, among other specialized institutions. Though the High Court and OM preferred integrating the new asset forfeiture rules into a full-scale revision of the country’s criminal code, parliamentary leaders opted for a standalone specialized law to put a modern, effective asset seizure tool in place far faster to address growing criminal activity.

    Krishna Mathoera, representing the Progressive People’s Party (VHP), acknowledged that cracking down on transnational organized crime is an urgent priority for Suriname, but stressed that the rule of law must remain the central guiding principle throughout the drafting and implementation process. She called on the bill’s sponsors to clarify how the new legislation aligns with existing provisions in Suriname’s existing Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure. Mathoera also highlighted a series of outstanding concerns: the reversed burden of proof laid out in the bill, expanded powers granted to the Public Prosecution Service, protections for third-party assets, and whether police, prosecution and judicial bodies have enough trained staff and resources to conduct complex financial investigations. She also noted that the bill must include clear provisions to effectively track and seize modern assets including cryptocurrency, a gap in current legislation.

    Fellow NDP lawmaker Jennifer Vreedzaam added that the bill must be applied with extreme care, and that protection of fundamental legal rights must be guaranteed at every stage. She argued that asset forfeiture measures must not devolve into an extra, arbitrary punishment for defendants, and should only serve the sole purpose of stripping illicit gains. Vreedzaam raised questions around the specific role of the investigating judge, the implementation capacity of the OM and judiciary, and the need for clearly defined procedural rules to prevent arbitrary application of the law.

    BEP party lawmaker Ronny Asabina described the bill as a critical new tool in the fight against organized crime, but warned that core fundamental rights must not be sidelined to speed up asset seizures. He raised specific concerns over the reversed burden of proof, and called for clearer protections for third parties, including family members and business associates who may be inadvertently drawn into asset forfeiture investigations. Asabina also pushed for increased investment in specialized training for police and prosecution staff, and called for specific safeguards for indigenous and tribal communities to prevent asset seizure from disrupting traditional land rights.

    VHP representative Cheryll Dijksteel focused on Suriname’s international obligations to counter money laundering and terrorist financing. She stated that the bill must align with global regulatory standards, while also being carefully integrated with existing national legislation to avoid legal conflict. Dijksteel pointed to the risk of overlapping provisions with existing criminal code rules, and called for a mandatory effectiveness and implementation review of the law a few years after it enters into force.

    Steven Reyme from the A20 party noted that prison sentences alone fail to deter organized crime, as defendants often retain access to their illicit assets even after completing their sentences. He argued that the new bill consolidates scattered existing asset forfeiture provisions into a clear, unified framework, and better addresses modern forms of financial crime that existing rules were not designed to tackle. Reyme expressed appreciation for the bill’s sponsors, who incorporated feedback from a wide range of expert institutions during the drafting process. That said, he stressed that the bill can only deliver on its goals if implementing agencies have sufficient resources: trained financial investigators, specialized prosecutors, expert judges, and modern investigative tools. He also called for strengthened legal protections for whistleblowers to help expose illicit hidden assets.

    Rossellie Cotino, another member of the rapporteur committee, did not speak during the opening round of debate. After committee members concluded their opening contributions, VHP lawmaker Asis Gajadien became the first non-committee lawmaker to address the chamber. Gajadien confirmed that his parliamentary faction also supports the core principle of seizing all unlawfully obtained assets, but argued that the biggest challenge to effective asset forfeiture is not a lack of legislation, but gaps in on-the-ground implementation. He asked the bill’s sponsors to clarify what specific problem the new legislation addresses that cannot already be resolved under existing laws, and emphasized that strong institutions, a well-functioning Tax Administration, an effective Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), and improved cross-agency cooperation are all critical preconditions for success. Without these foundational elements in place, Gajadien warned, the law will deliver far less impact in practice than its supporters promise.

    The private member’s bill was originally submitted to the National Assembly on December 10, 2025 by NDP lawmaker Ebu Jones and NPS lawmaker Ivanildo Plein.

  • Benjamin Says Government Will Continue Investing in Police Technology and Training

    Benjamin Says Government Will Continue Investing in Police Technology and Training

    Against a backdrop of rapidly evolving criminal tactics that leverage cutting-edge technology, the government of Antigua and Barbuda has made a public commitment to sustained investment in law enforcement modernization. Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin outlined the ambitious upgrade strategy during the high-profile 50th graduation ceremony of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda’s Recruit Training Course on Thursday, emphasizing that modern policing demands far more than traditional enforcement skills.

    Criminal networks have grown increasingly sophisticated in recent years, shifting toward complex digital and transnational schemes that outpace outdated law enforcement frameworks. Benjamin stressed that to outmaneuver these adaptive threats, policing agencies must prioritize continuous upskilling, technological innovation and cross-sector collaboration to stay one step ahead of bad actors.

    To date, the administration has already delivered substantial tangible progress in modernizing the Royal Police Force, rolling out upgrades across multiple core capabilities. Key improvements include expanded surveillance infrastructure, enhanced specialist investigative tools, and the growth of the police canine unit—officers now have working dogs trained to detect firearms, explosives, and illicit narcotics.

    Regional and international partnerships have been central to the modernization push, Benjamin confirmed. Through collaborative efforts between CARICOM IMPACS and the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the force has acquired the advanced Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) and specialized bullet recovery equipment, alongside significant upgrades to its drone operations unit.

    Beyond hardware and infrastructure, the government has also invested heavily in specialized professional development for serving officers. Dozens of personnel have already completed targeted training programs in high-demand areas, including advanced radio communications, unmanned aerial system operation, and white-collar and financial crime investigation.

    All these upgrades are designed to lift overall service quality and equip the entire force to respond effectively to shifting national security risks, Benjamin explained. “These are all welcoming ways to help sharpen the skills of our officers so that we can provide better quality service to the public,” he said.

    Looking ahead, the government remains firmly committed to expanding and refreshing the police force through ongoing recruitment and training cycles. Preparations are already advancing for the next intake of new recruits, with the administration calling for dedicated, service-oriented men and women to join the force’s ranks.

    In closing remarks to the newly graduated recruit cohort, Benjamin noted that while technology and specialized training form a critical foundation for modern policing, retaining public trust depends ultimately on the individual conduct of officers. He urged the new graduates to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, personal integrity, and unwavering commitment to serving the people of Antigua and Barbuda throughout their careers.

  • Jeffers Announces New Police Recruitment Drive, Urges Public-Spirited Men and Women to Apply

    Jeffers Announces New Police Recruitment Drive, Urges Public-Spirited Men and Women to Apply

    At the Sir Wright F. George Police Academy’s graduation ceremony for its milestone 50th Recruit Training Course, Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda Commissioner Everton Jeffers made a key announcement: recruitment for the force’s next incoming class of officers is already officially open, and he is calling on public-spirited citizens across the nation to step forward and apply.

    The event marked a major milestone for the local police training system, as 43 dedicated recruits successfully completed the rigorous six-month training curriculum and were formally sworn into the force. This graduating cohort achieved an impressive overall pass rate of 95.6 percent, a result that reflects the high standards of the academy’s training programs.

    As the newly minted officers prepare to begin their frontline careers serving communities across Antigua and Barbuda, Jeffers emphasized that the force is already planning ahead for its next generation of law enforcement professionals. “As we continue to refine and improve our public safety services, we are already looking forward to our next graduation of officers, now that the recruitment process has kicked off,” Jeffers stated during his address to the graduating class. “We have always sought outstanding men and women who feel a genuine calling to serve their country.”

    The commissioner outlined the core qualities the force prioritizes in new applicants, stressing that modern policing is a mission of public service, not just a traditional nine-to-five job. “As your Commissioner, I want to make this clear: policing is far more than an eight-hour shift. It is not a role for people who only count down the clock to the end of their workday or those who are only here for a paycheck,” Jeffers told the graduates. “Today, you are not just walking away with a certificate of course completion. You are accepting a sacred responsibility placed in your hands by the public.”

    New recruits must be prepared to uphold the highest professional ethical standards at all times, Jeffers explained, and work consistently to earn and retain the trust of the communities they serve. “We need people who have the inherent qualities to excel as police officers: dependable, respectful, polite, and empathetic to the needs of all community members,” he said. He added that officers must also be able to maintain calm and professional composure in high-pressure situations, acting as respectful ambassadors for the force even when facing adversity. The attitude and conduct of serving officers, he noted, should always reflect the rigorous, high-quality training they received at the police academy.

    Beyond attracting the right candidates, Jeffers highlighted the ongoing modernization efforts underway across the Royal Police Force. The organization is investing heavily in updated infrastructure, cutting-edge technology, and specialized training to boost its operational capacity. Key upgrades include expanding specialized K-9 units trained to detect firearms, explosives, and illegal narcotics; acquiring a modern ballistic identification system to support criminal investigations; and delivering advanced training in areas including radio communications, unmanned aerial system operations, and white-collar crime investigation.

    While these technological and operational advances are critical to improving public safety outcomes, Jeffers emphasized that the force’s long-term success ultimately depends on the quality and commitment of its people. The force will only thrive if it continues to attract candidates dedicated to serving Antigua and Barbuda with unwavering integrity and professional conduct.

    “We will keep pushing for excellence in every aspect of our work, every step of the way,” Jeffers said. “Our core goal is to remain an inclusive organization that works hand-in-hand with the public and the communities we are sworn to protect.”

  • Benjamin Tells New Officers Integrity Cannot Be Legislated by Government

    Benjamin Tells New Officers Integrity Cannot Be Legislated by Government

    At a landmark graduation ceremony for the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda’s 50th Recruit Training Course this past Thursday, Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin delivered a stirring keynote address to the nation’s newest law enforcement recruits, centered on a powerful message: institutional investment can only go so far in building public trust, because the integrity that underpins effective policing cannot be manufactured or mandated by government.

    Benjamin stressed that while administrations can allocate millions of dollars in public funding to law enforcement initiatives, fund cutting-edge equipment, roll out modern policing technology, and construct purpose-built facilities to house operations, none of these investments can replace the inherent personal character of individual officers. “Governments can provide equipment, governments can provide technology, governments can provide buildings, but governments cannot manufacture integrity,” Benjamin told the assembled graduates, guests, and police leadership. “Integrity comes from within.”

    The newly minted officers now carry the respected police badge, a symbol that comes with far more than ceremonial significance, Benjamin reminded them. Every choice they make while on patrol, during interactions with community members, and even behind closed doors when no colleague or member of the public is watching, shapes not only their own personal standing but the entire reputation of the national police force. “When no one is looking, that is when your integrity is tested,” he said, urging the new recruits to anchor their careers in doing the right thing for its own sake, not for recognition or reward.

    Public confidence in law enforcement, Benjamin noted, is not earned through catchy public relations campaigns or empty policy statements. It is built gradually, over years of consistent action rooted in professionalism, equal treatment under the law, and unwavering honesty. Echoing a timeless observation, he added, “People may forget what you said, but they will never forget what you did.” That standard of conduct applies at all times, he emphasized: officers must serve as ethical leaders both while on official duty and in their personal lives off the clock.

    As the newest “guardians of the law” in Antigua and Barbuda, these graduates hold the reputation of the entire police organization in their hands, Benjamin said. The public will judge the entire force based on the daily actions and decisions of individual officers, so upholding high ethical standards is a collective as much as a personal responsibility.

    He reaffirmed the government’s ongoing commitment to modernizing policing across the country, with planned investments in upgraded technology, improved infrastructure, and ongoing advanced training for all ranks. But he made clear that these resources will only deliver meaningful results if every officer chooses to uphold the highest possible ethical standards in their work.

    In closing, Benjamin encouraged the graduating class to safeguard the longstanding reputation of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda by approaching every duty with humility, moral courage, and unshakable integrity. These core qualities, he noted, cannot be fully taught through classroom instruction alone; they must be cultivated and practiced every day throughout the entirety of an officer’s career.

  • Reports of rumbling sounds and earth movements in Gallion being investigated by disaster management office

    Reports of rumbling sounds and earth movements in Gallion being investigated by disaster management office

    The Caribbean island nation of Dominica has launched an official investigation into recent reports of unusual geological activity in its southern Gallion community, according to an official public notice from the country’s Office of Disaster Management (ODM).

    Local residents have reported experiencing light tremors and hearing unexplained rumbling sounds in the area, which prompted the ODM to activate its monitoring protocols in partnership with scientific experts. The agency confirmed that it is working closely with the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Center (UWI SRC), the region’s leading authority on volcanic and seismic activity, to identify the root cause of the phenomena.

    Located on the edge of an ancient volcanic crater, Gallion overlooks Scotts Head and Soufriere, two major fishing hubs that draw both local and tourism activity to Dominica’s southern coast. As a volcanic island, Dominica hosts nine active and dormant volcanoes across its territory, seven of which are concentrated in the southern half of the country. Regular monitoring of geological shifts is a core component of the nation’s disaster risk reduction and preparedness framework, given its location in the seismically active Lesser Antilles volcanic arc.

    As of the latest official update, investigations remain ongoing, with no definitive conclusions reached about the origin of the reported tremors and sounds. ODM has urged all residents in the affected area and across the island to remain calm and stay alert, reminding the public to only source information from verified official channels. The agency has also called on community members to avoid spreading unconfirmed reports or unfounded speculation that could generate unnecessary public anxiety, while encouraging residents to continue reporting any additional unusual geological activity to authorities.

    ODM has committed to releasing timely public updates as soon as the investigation team verifies any significant developments. Residents seeking more information or to report unusual activity can contact the agency directly at its published telephone line, 2664412.