Carib Scope

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  • CXC announces major changes to school-based assessments as AI reshapes education

    CXC announces major changes to school-based assessments as AI reshapes education

    As generative artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into classroom learning across the globe, regional education assessment bodies are moving quickly to adapt their systems to protect the credibility of qualifications. The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has become one of the first major regional assessment organizations to announce sweeping reforms to its decades-old School-Based Assessment (SBA) program, rolling out a restructured framework set to launch in 2027 that directly addresses the risks of AI-generated student work.

    The changes, which will impact both the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) programs, follow more than a year of extensive consultations with education stakeholders across 21 Caribbean countries and territories. CXC leadership emphasized that the reforms are not intended to ban student use of generative AI, but rather to ensure that exam results continue to accurately measure individual student knowledge and skills amid a shifting educational landscape.

    “The SBA has served Caribbean students well for nearly half a century, and we do not reform it lightly,” said Dr. Wayne Wesley, CXC Registrar and Chief Executive Officer. “But the integrity of our qualifications is not negotiable. When the system that was designed to assess a student’s work can no longer reliably do so, we have an obligation to act, and to act decisively.” Wesley added that the council recognizes generative AI can function as a valuable learning tool, and the reforms only seek to preserve public trust in the assessment process that Caribbean families, educators, and employers have relied on for generations.

    The new framework adopts a targeted, subject-specific approach to assessment. For programs that rely heavily on hands-on, practical, or project-based work where in-person skill demonstration is critical, the traditional SBA model will remain in place. These subjects include Agricultural Science, Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education, Technical Drawing, and Food, Nutrition and Health. CXC has also announced it will strengthen moderation processes for these practical SBA programs to add an additional layer of integrity oversight.

    For primarily theory-based subjects including Mathematics, English, Caribbean History, Social Studies, Principles of Business, and Information Technology, the traditional SBA will be phased out entirely over the next two years. In place of take-home, out-of-examination SBA projects, students in these subjects will complete Paper 032, an in-exam assessment that was previously used only as an alternative option for select candidates.

    Under the revised Paper 032 model, students will receive their assessment topics one month in advance of the exam date to allow for extended research and preparation, will be granted extra time to complete the assessment, and will be permitted to bring approved reference notes into the exam room. This structure retains the original SBA’s focus on extended, reflective learning while ensuring all work submitted is completed by the student under supervised conditions, eliminating the risk of undetectable AI-generated content.

    Dr. Nicole Manning, CXC Director of Operations, explained that the redesigned assessment strikes a careful balance between supporting meaningful learning and protecting the authenticity of student work. “The new, deliberate and necessary design of the SBA, preserves the spirit of extended, reflective assessment while restoring CXC’s confidence in authorship and authenticity,” Manning said. She emphasized that the value of CXC qualifications matters to every stakeholder in the region, from employers and universities to families that have invested years of time and resources into students’ education, making collective commitment to high assessment standards a shared priority.

    CXC has outlined a clear implementation timeline for the transition. For CAPE candidates enrolled in non-practical, theory-based subjects, Paper 032 will replace the traditional SBA starting with the May-June 2027 exam session. For CSEC, the council will allow a one-year transition period, where schools can choose between the traditional SBA and the new Paper 032 model for their 2027 candidates. Starting with the May-June 2028 CSEC exam session, all non-practical subject candidates will be required to complete Paper 032. The council also confirmed that its existing two-year mark transfer policy will remain in place for both remaining SBA programs and the new Paper 032 assessment, allowing students to carry over valid scores from previous exam sittings under the same terms that have applied to SBA marks for decades.

  • Police Officers to Receive Enhanced Insurance and Welfare Support, Benjamin Says

    Police Officers to Receive Enhanced Insurance and Welfare Support, Benjamin Says

    In a significant announcement made during a landmark police graduation event, Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin has formally committed the government of Antigua and Barbuda to upgrading insurance coverage and welfare benefits for the nation’s police force. Speaking as the keynote speaker at the 50th recruit graduation ceremony of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda on Thursday, Benjamin outlined that the state carries a core obligation to safeguard the women and men who put their lives at risk daily to protect public safety.

    Benjamin stressed that policing stands among the most high-stress, dangerous professions across the country. Serving officers and their families should never be forced to face uncertainty about financial security if a line-of-duty tragedy leaves an officer injured or killed, he added. Right now, government officials are conducting a comprehensive review of existing policies, with the explicit goal of rolling out expanded insurance coverage for on-the-job injuries and more robust welfare support packages for the families of fallen or disabled officers.

    “Law enforcement officers regularly step into harm’s way to keep our communities safe, and they are fully deserving of ironclad guarantees that the state will stand by them and their loved ones when they need it most,” Benjamin told the gathered crowd of new graduates, senior police officials and government guests. He added that meaningful investment in officer welfare goes far beyond base salaries and upgraded equipment. It requires building a holistic support system that properly acknowledges the enormous personal and professional sacrifices that police officers and their families make in service to the nation.

    Beyond welfare commitments, Benjamin also highlighted the government’s broader ongoing investment in national security. He detailed that multiple initiatives are already underway to modernize the country’s police force, including the adoption of new policing technologies, expanded professional training programs for officers at all ranks, and upgrades to critical police infrastructure across the islands.

    Speaking directly to the 50 newly graduated recruits, the Attorney General urged the incoming class of officers to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and compassion throughout their careers. He reminded the new officers that public trust in law enforcement depends not just on successful enforcement of the law, but also on how officers interact with and serve the communities they protect.

    Closing his address, Benjamin framed the new welfare commitments as a core part of the government’s broader national security strategy. Sustainable national development, he argued, relies on a professional, well-resourced police service that is prepared to address the growing complexity of 21st century security challenges. By supporting officers properly, the government is laying the groundwork for a safer, more prosperous future for all Antigua and Barbuda residents.

  • Young swimmers reach finals, rewrite records at PanAms

    Young swimmers reach finals, rewrite records at PanAms

    The 2026 PanAm Aquatics Swimming Championships, held from July 8 to 12 at the Hernando Arbeláez Jiménez Olympic Swimming Pools in Ibagué, Colombia, brought together more than 500 elite swimmers from 31 countries and territories around the Americas. Among the competing delegations, Team Saint Lucia turned in a standout performance that defied expectations, with eight athletes advancing to multiple event finals and shattering a host of national and age-group records—even though the Caribbean nation left the competition without earning a single podium medal.

    Thirteen-year-old rising star Sapphire Parks emerged as the most impressive performer from Saint Lucia’s squad, turning heads with her consistency across multiple events in the girls’ 13-15 age division. Parks, already a two-time CARIFTA Aquatics gold medalist, secured a sixth-place finish in the 400m Individual Medley final with a time of 5:32.90, and followed that up with a seventh-place showing in the 100m butterfly final at 1:07.21. She went on to qualify for finals in three additional events: the 100m backstroke, 200m butterfly, and 200m breaststroke. Pending official ratification by the Saint Lucia Aquatics Federation, Parks broke five age-group records at the championships, including improving her own existing senior national record in the 400m IM. Across all her events, she earned a total of 78 ranking points to finish seventh out of 48 competing girls in her division.

    In the women’s 19 & Over category, Tokyo 2020 Olympian Mikaili Charlemagne delivered a solid performance for the delegation. Charlemagne finished fifth in the 50m butterfly final clocking 28.90 seconds, and added a sixth-place finish in the 100m butterfly competition. She narrowly missed qualifying for two additional finals, finishing in ninth place in both the 50m and 100m freestyle events by just fractions of a second.

    Fayth Jeffrey, a 16-year-old Saint Lucian swimmer based in the United States who will turn 17 in December, qualified for the final in her only individual event of the championships. Competing in the 16-18 girls’ 50m breaststroke, she posted a time of 35.77 seconds to secure an eighth-place finish in the final round.

    In the boys’ 16-18 division, Jayden Xu—who claimed a medal at the same PanAm Aquatics event in 2025—replicated his success by advancing to the 50m backstroke final, where he finished seventh with a time of 28.68 seconds. While Tyler Dantes failed to qualify for any individual finals, he still left his mark on the competition: he set a new age-group record for 13-16 boys in the 50m backstroke, finishing sixth in his preliminary heat with a time of 30.76 seconds.

    Beyond individual success, Saint Lucia’s senior mixed relay squads also punched their tickets directly to the championship finals. The 19 & Over mixed 4×100m medley relay team, made up of Xu, Caden Calderon, Jeffrey, and Charlemagne, finished fifth overall with a combined time of 4:28.24. The nation’s mixed 4×100m freestyle relay team also matched that result, taking fifth place in the final.

    At the conclusion of the five-day competition, Mexico claimed the title of Absolute Championship by points total. Host nation Colombia led the overall medal table with 85 total medals, 31 of which were gold. Mexico followed close behind with 99 total medals and 30 gold medals. Chile finished with 31 total medals, 18 of them gold, while Argentina rounded out the top performing nations with 42 total medals including 13 gold.

  • Forecasters Track Tropical Wave in Eastern Atlantic

    Forecasters Track Tropical Wave in Eastern Atlantic

    Meteorologists at the U.S. National Hurricane Center are keeping a close watch on an emerging tropical disturbance in the extreme eastern Atlantic Ocean, though current projections indicate the system will remain weak throughout its projected west-northwest track away from the African coastline.

    Located several hundred miles southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands, the disturbance currently generates scattered, unstructured showers and thunderstorm activity across the surrounding waters. While forecasters acknowledge that minor, slow strengthening could occur over the next 48 hours, broader atmospheric conditions are expected to degrade significantly by the start of the weekend, putting a firm cap on any potential intensification.

    Tracking west-northwest at a steady speed of roughly 10 miles per hour (equivalent to 16 kilometers per hour), the system carries just a 10% probability of organizing into a tropical depression within both the next two days and the coming seven-day forecast window.

    The primary barrier to development, according to meteorologists, is the system’s expected trajectory through the dry, dust-filled Saharan Air Layer, a mass of arid atmospheric conditions that is well-documented to suppress thunderstorm formation and prevent the organization of tropical cyclones.

    As of the latest update, the disturbance poses no immediate risk to any Caribbean nations, including Antigua and Barbuda, and no adverse weather impacts are forecast for landmasses along its current path across the open Atlantic. Forecasters have confirmed they will continue daily monitoring of the system to track any unexpected changes in structure or intensity.

  • DFP welcomes Dame Eugenia Charles’ inclusion on new EC$20 banknote

    DFP welcomes Dame Eugenia Charles’ inclusion on new EC$20 banknote

    In a move that honors trailblazing leadership across the Eastern Caribbean, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has launched a newly redesigned series of Eastern Caribbean dollar banknotes, drawing praise from the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) for selecting one of the nation’s most iconic figures to grace the EC$20 denomination.

    The new banknote series was officially unveiled on July 9 at the ECCB Monetary Council Chairmanship Hand-over Ceremony held in Roseau, Dominica. A key shift in this redesign replaces the portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II with celebrated national heroes and distinguished regional leaders from across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU), highlighting the bloc’s unique history and developmental legacy. The unveiling was led by ECCB Governor Timothy N.J. Antoine alongside members of the Monetary Council, and the ceremony also marked a formal transition in council leadership: Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister and Finance Minister Gaston Browne officially handed the chairmanship to Dominica’s Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre.

    For the DFP, the selection of the late Dame Mary Eugenia Charles to represent Dominica on the new EC$20 note is a moment of national pride. In an official statement released following the unveiling, the party extended sincere gratitude to the ECCB Monetary Council, the governor’s office, and all ECCB staff for developing the new series that centers the contributions of figures who shaped regional progress.

    Dame Eugenia Charles holds a unique place in Caribbean political history. A lifelong leader of the DFP, she served as the party’s political head from 1968 to 1995, and made history as Dominica’s first and, to date, only female prime minister, holding office from 1980 to 1995. Beyond Dominica’s borders, she broke ground as the first woman to serve as prime minister across the entire Caribbean, and remains the only woman to ever lead a government within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

    The DFP emphasized that Dame Charles’ impact extended far beyond national politics, making her selection a fitting tribute to a leader who shaped the entire Eastern Caribbean sub-region. Her portrayal on the banknote, the party noted, is a reflection of her “sterling leadership and enduring legacy” that continues to resonate decades after her time in office. The party added that Dame Charles’ well-earned reputation for radical honesty, uncompromising ethical governance, straightforward approach to policy, and unwavering commitment to advancing both national and regional development were likely key factors that led to the ECCB’s decision to honor her.

    In closing, the DFP also extended congratulations to all other ECCU member states whose own distinguished citizens have been recognized on other denominations of the new banknote series, framing the entire project as a meaningful celebration of the region’s collective heritage.

  • Minister Benjamin Signals Budget Support for New Police Academy

    Minister Benjamin Signals Budget Support for New Police Academy

    Amid growing calls to modernize law enforcement training in Antigua and Barbuda, Minister of Public Safety Sir Steadroy Benjamin has formally committed to placing the construction of a new state-of-the-art police academy on the agenda for this year’s national budget deliberations. The commitment comes in direct response to an urgent appeal from Superintendent Rodney Ellis, commandant of the existing Sir Wright F. George Police Academy, who has long highlighted critical gaps in the country’s current police training infrastructure.

    Speaking immediately after Ellis delivered his appeal for government investment in a purpose-built training facility during the academy’s 50th graduation ceremony, Benjamin confirmed that the request would receive full consideration during budget negotiations. “Commandant, your words didn’t fall on deaf ears,” Benjamin told Ellis during the public event. “As you spoke, I whispered to my private secretary, and she said to me, ‘Minister, we’ve got to make sure that when we have our discussions this year for the budget, provisions remain for the construction of a police complex on this very road.’” He added, “My brother, you have foreseen the future.”

    Ellis’s appeal centered on the reality that Antigua and Barbuda has made substantial public investments in key sectors including healthcare, education, and new police station infrastructure in recent years, but law enforcement training facilities have failed to keep up with the shifting demands of 21st-century policing. In an era where transnational and domestic criminal groups are adopting increasingly sophisticated tactics, Ellis argued that ongoing investment in professional development for officers is not a luxury, but a core requirement for protecting national security.

    Under Ellis’s proposal, the new academy would offer specialized, career-long training across high-priority domains that are currently underserved by existing facilities. These include leadership development for senior officers, updated legal training for frontline personnel, hands-on forensic science coursework, specialized cybercrime investigation training, and education in intelligence-led policing strategies. The plan also proposes building academic partnerships with regional higher education institutions, notably the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, to elevate the quality of instruction and accreditation.

    For Benjamin, the proposal carries personal as well as professional weight: the minister launched his own public service career as a member of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, giving him a firsthand understanding of the needs of serving officers. “Whenever I address this body, there’s a sense of oneness with me because those of you who know me would know that I started my career at the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda,” he explained.

    The ceremony where the announcement was made marked a major institutional milestone: it celebrated the graduation of the 50th cohort of recruits from the Sir Wright F. George Police Academy, and Benjamin extended formal congratulations to all new officers on achieving the milestone. While Benjamin’s comments signal clear momentum behind the proposal as the government prepares its next budget, no official timeline for construction or specific funding allocation has been released to date.

  • Valedictorian Dante Browne Urges New Police Officers to Wear Badge With Integrity and Compassion

    Valedictorian Dante Browne Urges New Police Officers to Wear Badge With Integrity and Compassion

    On a celebratory Thursday at the Sir Wright F. George Police Academy, 43 newly minted officers of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda crossed the graduation stage to cap off six months of grueling recruit training, with their class valedictorian issuing a powerful reminder that policing is first and foremost a commitment to public service, not just authority.

    Special Constable Dante Browne, the top-performing graduate of the force’s 50th Recruit Training Course, delivered the keynote address to his fellow graduates, guests, and police leadership, reflecting on the rigorous journey that turned a group of 54 aspiring trainees into 43 sworn officers ready to serve their communities.

    Browne opened his address by walking the audience through the humble and humbling start of the cohort’s training. When the group first arrived at the academy, most arrived confident they understood the demands of a policing career, he recalled. That illusion shattered quickly, with the first harsh command from training instructors pushing recruits into unexpected physical exertion that left many questioning their choice to join the force. He quipped that many recruits experienced the physical strain in unflattering, unforgettable ways that drew laughter from the assembled crowd.

    That early adversity, Browne emphasized, was intentional: it taught the class humility from day one and forced every trainee to confront their core motivations for pursuing a career in law enforcement. Of the 54 recruits who started the program, only 43 completed it — a attrition rate that Browne framed as a story of sacrifice, pain, and relentless perseverance. “That number tells a story — a story of pain, sacrifice and perseverance, a story of mental fortitude, of pushing forward when the body had stopped and the mind whispered doubts,” he said. “But more importantly, it is a story of purpose.”

    Over the six months of training, Browne explained, the cohort built core foundational values that extend far beyond learning to enforce the law. On the parade square, they learned precision and unwavering discipline. Through grueling daily physical training, they built resilience and learned that excuses have no place in public service. In the classroom, they developed the professional judgment needed to serve and protect communities, with instructors emphasizing that policing is at its core a people-centered profession.

    Browne specifically thanked the academy’s training team, singling out Chief Magistrate Nyoh Emmanuel and Senior Sergeant Donald Shackle for reinforcing the academy’s most critical lesson: that law enforcement work is rooted in serving people, not just writing citations or making arrests. He also extended gratitude to Commissioner of Police Everton Jeffers, the entire command staff, academy instructors, and the family members who supported the recruits through the demanding training period, noting that the graduates’ success would not have been possible without the collective sacrifice and encouragement of those around them.

    In his closing challenge to his fellow graduates, Browne reminded the cohort that the badge they now wear carries a meaning far greater than symbolic authority. “As we stand here today, we must remember that the badge we now wear is more than just a symbol of authority. It is a symbol of public trust,” he said.

    While Thursday was reserved for celebration, Browne noted that the real work of serving Antigua and Barbuda begins the moment graduates leave the academy. He urged his classmates to lead with courage when facing difficult situations, hold fast to integrity when their values are tested, and lead with compassion whenever communities need it most. He called on the new officers to support one another, hold each other accountable to the high standards of the force, and serve with unwavering honor.

    “Service is not about convenience, it is about commitment,” he said. Closing with a rallying cry for public service, Browne emphasized that nations are built not by those who take the easy path, but by those who answer the call to serve even when it requires great personal sacrifice. “When duty calls, it is not comfort that responds. It is courage, discipline and an unshakable commitment to protect and serve,” he said.

  • Six Saint Lucians selected in Windwards U19 women’s squad

    Six Saint Lucians selected in Windwards U19 women’s squad

    A new generation of young female cricket talent from Saint Lucia is set to take the regional stage this summer, with six players named to the Windward Islands roster for the 2025 Cricket West Indies Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Tournament, hosted this August in Trinidad and Tobago. In a noticeable shift for the program, only one of the six selected Saint Lucia athletes returning to the squad competed in last year’s tournament, bringing fresh energy to the regional side.

    Key veteran leaders from previous iterations of the team are no longer eligible to compete at the under-19 level, including former captain Natalia Phillip and Selena Ross, a fast bowler who has already represented the West Indies at the under-19 international level. This turnover opens the door for more emerging players to step into leadership roles, with Ammie Antoine positioned as one of the squad’s most experienced returning cricketers. Antoine already holds experience at the senior regional level, alongside fellow Saint Lucia bowler Gillia McLaurent; the pair were part of the Saint Lucia senior squad that claimed third place in the January edition of the Windward Islands Women’s T20 Championship.

    The remaining four selections are all first-time call-ups to the Windward Islands under-19 squad: Avannelle Leo, Brianna Marcellin, Morgan Octave and Emma Joseph. All four young prospects have cut their teeth in the structured women’s youth development initiatives operated by the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association over the past two years, a pipeline that has prepared them for their first regional competitive opportunity.

    Leading the full Windward Islands squad into the tournament is expected to be Amiah Gilbert, a player who already holds international caps with the West Indies Under-19 team. The 2025 tournament follows last year’s championship, which saw Barbados claim the title after defeating the Leeward Islands by seven wickets in a decisive final match.

  • San Lazaro Farmer Charged for Murder of Elderly Man

    San Lazaro Farmer Charged for Murder of Elderly Man

    A shocking act of violence has convulsed the small farming community of San Lazaro in Belize’s Orange Walk District, after a local farmer was officially charged with the murder of a well-liked 68-year-old resident killed while out cycling earlier this week.

    On July 16, 2026, Belizean police announced they had filed formal murder charges against 26-year-old Christian Navel Velasquez, a farmer based in San Lazaro. Velasquez is accused of carrying out the fatal attack on 68-year-old Virginio Carillo on the afternoon of July 13, as Carillo rode his bicycle along a rural road adjacent to a local sugar cane field.

    According to preliminary findings from the ongoing investigation, the attacker waited in dense vegetation alongside the road before emerging to launch the sudden, deadly assault on Carillo. No motive for the killing has been released to the public as detectives continue to piece together details of the incident.

    News of the murder has sent ripples of fear and grief through the close-knit San Lazaro community, where Carillo was widely known as a hard-working, dedicated resident who was actively involved in local village life. Residents have expressed shock over the unprovoked attack on an elderly, well-regarded community member.

    As of the latest update, Velasquez remains in custody and is scheduled to appear before the courts, with the official investigation still ongoing to uncover all circumstances surrounding the killing.

  • 124 Women Entrepreneurs Graduate from Business Incubator Programme

    124 Women Entrepreneurs Graduate from Business Incubator Programme

    In a milestone for women’s economic empowerment in Belize, 124 women entrepreneurs from every corner of the country have officially graduated from the incubator phase of the landmark “Catalyse Her Potential: Fuelling Female Entrepreneurship Project” on July 16, 2026. The initiative was crafted with a clear mission: to level the playing field for women in business by equipping emerging female founders with the practical resources, skills, and connections required to build and scale sustainable, successful enterprises.

    Funded by RF&G, the program is executed on the ground by NIME Belize Inc. in strategic partnership with IDB Lab. Unlike generic business training programs, the incubator phase was tailored specifically to meet the needs of early-stage women-led ventures. Over the course of the program, participants gained hands-on training in core business areas including business model development, strategic planning, and market positioning. Beyond technical skills, the initiative also opened doors to one-on-one mentorship from experienced industry leaders, and created a dedicated collaborative space for female founders to network, share challenges, and exchange actionable ideas with peers who understand their unique obstacles.

    The graduating cohort reflects the broad geographic reach of the project, drawing participants from all six of Belize’s administrative districts. The highest turnout came from Belize District, which contributed 50 graduates, followed by Cayo District with 24, Toledo with 21, Orange Walk with 11, Stann Creek with 10, and Corozal with 8. This cross-district participation underscores the widespread demand for targeted support for female entrepreneurs across both urban and rural areas of the country.

    Even before the ink dried on the incubator phase graduation certificates, 91 participants moved forward to the program’s next stage: the accelerator phase, which officially launched on July 13. Where the incubator phase focused on laying a strong foundational framework for new businesses, the accelerator phase is designed to help more established female-led businesses expand their operations. The curriculum for this stage centers on advanced growth strategy development, financial planning and readiness, expanded access to top industry experts, continued personalized mentorship, and connections to potential investors who are focused on supporting women-owned ventures.

    Overall, the “Catalyse Her Potential” project is structured around three interconnected core pillars that address common barriers facing women entrepreneurs in Belize. The first pillar is comprehensive capacity building, delivered through a flexible learning management system that allows participants to access training materials on their own schedule. The second pillar is intentional networking and connection, designed to bridge gaps between emerging founders, experienced mentors, and established industry professionals. The third and final pillar is seed capital and micro-financing support, which directly addresses one of the most significant challenges women business owners face: limited access to affordable capital to grow their operations.