Carib Scope

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  • Belize, Guatemala Youths Paint Vision for Peace

    Belize, Guatemala Youths Paint Vision for Peace

    In a groundbreaking cross-border youth peace initiative backed by the Organization of American States (OAS), 17 young creatives from the shared Belize-Guatemala Adjacency Zone have collaborated to produce a public mural that channels grassroots aspirations for peace, regional cooperation, and environmental stewardship of the vital Mopan River. The finished artwork was officially unveiled on September 2, 2026, at the Ta’amay Training and Peace Promotion Centre in El Arenal, Guatemala, as a flagship project of the OAS-supported youth engagement program “La Zona / The Zone” and its accompanying innovation incubator, La Zona Lab.

    Before putting brush to wall, the diverse group of young participants spent extensive time collaborating to map the most pressing social and environmental challenges facing their cross-border communities. The resulting design weaves together iconic cultural symbols and native natural motifs from both Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize, and El Arenal, Guatemala, balancing a celebration of shared regional heritage with clear calls for cross-community peaceful coexistence and long-term protection of the Mopan River, a critical water source for communities on both sides of the border.

    OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin emphasized that the initiative fills a key gap in traditional regional peacebuilding efforts, noting that sustainable peace can never be achieved through top-tier diplomatic negotiations alone. “Community development is fundamental. If it is only about negotiations and dialogue, it is not enough,” Ramdin stated at the unveiling. He added that centering young people in peace processes is non-negotiable, as long-term stability depends on fostering a tangible sense of ownership over peacebuilding among the generation that will inherit the region’s future.

    Belizean Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca echoed that perspective, framing the La Zona program as a critical public education effort that bridges divides between the two neighboring nations. “La Zona is a part of that work of educating people about the process that’s taking place, educating people about Belize, about Guatemala, about our communities,” Fonseca explained, highlighting how grassroots cultural projects like this mural help demystify cross-border relations and build mutual understanding at the community level.

  • St Mary’s Primary scholarship winners get a surprise

    St Mary’s Primary scholarship winners get a surprise

    For Kailey Corbin, Sarah Mayers and their mothers, a routine summons from St Mary’s Primary School staff to the offices of Goddard Enterprises Ltd (GEL) carried an unexpected, life-changing reward. The group had no prior hint of the purpose of their visit, so the announcement that the two young students had been selected as the 2026 recipients of GEL’s prestigious secondary school transition scholarship came as a joyful shock.

    Established to ease the financial and logistical gap between primary and secondary education, the full scholarship will cover all core back-to-school costs for the students, including tuition fees, uniforms, footwear, and all other academic supplies required for enrollment at their new secondary institutions.

    Sarah Mayers, who will attend St George Secondary School when the new term begins, is already planning for her next chapter. A passionate netball player who held the Goal Shoot position on her primary school team, she hopes to rejoin the sport at her new school. A self-described grammar enthusiast, Sarah shared mixed feelings about leaving her primary school alma mater, but said she is eager to connect with new teachers, build new friendships, and dive into the new secondary-level subjects she has long heard about. After accepting her official scholarship plaque from GEL Executive Assistant Shareka Clarke, Sarah spoke to her academic reputation: teachers at St Mary’s Primary describe her as a respectful, diligent and goal-driven student with a sincere passion for learning. As a Senior Prefect during her final year, she demonstrated consistent responsibility, mature decision-making and natural leadership, earning praise as a positive role model for her fellow students.

    For Kailey Corbin, the next step will be attending St Michael School, the Martindale’s Road institution she has long dreamed of attending. While Kailey counts mathematics among her favorite current subjects, she is especially excited to continue developing her love of art – a long-time hobby that grew from her passion for drawing. She also looks forward to continuing her work in science and robotics, areas she already got to explore at St Mary’s Primary, where she had the chance to build robots from scratch. A dedicated builder at heart, she hopes her new school will expand these opportunities and let her grow the skills she has already started building.

    Like Sarah, Kailey served as a Senior Prefect at St Mary’s Primary, and her teachers share glowing assessments of her character and academic performance. They describe her as an exceptional student who has stood out among her peers for her strong work ethic, top-tier academic results, and consistently respectful, exemplary conduct. A committed learner who regularly shows resilience, accountability, and a willingness to support her classmates, Kailey’s positive mindset and dedication to self-improvement have earned her the respect of both staff and fellow students at her primary school.

    In her congratulatory remarks to the two scholarship recipients, Clarke urged the young graduates to stay focused on their long-term goals as they adjust to secondary school. She acknowledged that new environments often bring unexpected distractions, but reminded the students that their hard work and proven character had already prepared them to succeed.

  • Omari Caesar secures athletics scholarship to Jamaican track and field powerhouse

    Omari Caesar secures athletics scholarship to Jamaican track and field powerhouse

    Rising young distance running talent Omari Caesar from Dominica has achieved a major milestone in his early athletic career, earning a full track and field scholarship to Edwin Allen High School in Jamaica, one of the Caribbean’s most respected breeding grounds for elite international track and field competitors.

    A dedicated member of Dominica’s Aspirers Athletics Club, Caesar’s latest achievement is far more than a personal honor—it marks a critical stepping stone for the teen athlete, whose promising career has been built on years of relentless training and unwavering commitment to his craft. Unlike many junior athletes who gain opportunities through connections alone, Caesar worked his way to this opportunity through a string of standout performances that have already made him a household name in Dominican junior athletics.

    Caesar’s list of junior-level achievements reads like a summary of dominance in regional distance running. He earned the title of Most Outstanding Male Athlete at the Sports Division’s annual Independence Athletics Championship, and has broken standing records across three key disciplines: the Primary Schools Boys 1200 meters, national primary schools cross country, and the Dominican national 3000 meters. To add to this record of success, he claimed back-to-back wins at the Primary Schools Cross Country Championship, and made history as the first ever primary school student from Dominica to qualify for the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) Games, one of the region’s most competitive annual youth athletic tournaments.

    Most recently, Caesar extended his winning streak at the 2026 Trupial Classic hosted in Curaçao, where he took home three gold medals in his respective events, cementing his reputation as one of the Caribbean’s most exciting young distance running prospects.

    The Dominica Athletics Association Inc. (DAA Inc.) has publicly celebrated Caesar’s scholarship win, framing the achievement as a direct reflection of the young athlete’s natural ability, relentless determination, and consistent willingness to put in the grueling work required to reach elite levels of sport. The association specifically highlighted Caesar’s years of early-morning training sessions and high-intensity workouts at Portsmouth’s Benjamin’s Park, habits that have formed the foundation of his rapid athletic development.

    Along with extending formal congratulations to the rising star, DAA Inc. expressed hope that Caesar’s trailblazing success will serve as motivation for other young aspiring athletes across Dominica to chase their own athletic goals and commit to pursuing excellence in their chosen disciplines.

  • Paradise restore winning touch with 5-0 victory

    Paradise restore winning touch with 5-0 victory

    After dropping their first points of the 2024 campaign just 48 hours prior, runaway leaders of the Barbados Football Association Kotex Women’s League, Paradise, reasserted their dominance at the top of the standings with a commanding five-goal victory over fourth-ranked Technique on Tuesday.

    The lopsided contest unfolded at the Wildey Technical Centre, where a clinical attacking display from the Dover-based side left Technique struggling to contain their relentless offensive pressure from the opening whistle. It was Barbados international forward Acacia Small who set the tone for the rout, breaking the deadlock in the 26th minute with a well-taken finish, before doubling her personal tally and her side’s advantage just nine minutes later.

    Small, who has been in scintillating form throughout the entire season, completed her hat-trick in the 59th minute, leaving Technique with no answer to her movement and finishing in the final third. The goals kept coming for the league leaders as the second half progressed: winger Shanice Stevenson put Paradise four goals ahead in the 68th minute, before defender Solange Holford capped off the perfect team performance with a fifth goal in the 82nd minute, securing a clean sheet to go with the comprehensive three points.

    This dominant result comes on the heels of Paradise’s first dropped points of the season, when they were forced to share a 2-2 draw with third-placed Empire on Sunday, August 30. Despite that minor slip-up, the win extends their lead at the top of the table to four points, with Paradise now sitting on 22 points overall. Second-placed RF Prime remain just behind on 18 points, while Empire hold third position with 16 points. Technique, meanwhile, retain their fourth spot in the standings on 12 points, with the heavy defeat doing little to shift their position in the mid-table.

    Women’s league action will resume this coming Saturday at the same Wildey Technical Centre venue, with two intriguing fixtures scheduled to take place. Fifth-ranked Mavericks will face off against winless bottom-of-the-table side Whitehall, while seventh-placed FVFC Femeni will go head-to-head with sixth-raced Police, as both sides look to climb up the league table in the second half of the campaign.

  • Islands in Dialogue: The 9th Grenada Contemporary

    Islands in Dialogue: The 9th Grenada Contemporary

    Against a growing push to strengthen creative connections across Caribbean island communities, curators Susan Mains and Asher Mains have launched the 9th Grenada Contemporary initiative, a community-focused arts program designed to give local Grenadian artists access to immersive, collaborative skill-building opportunities with creators from neighboring islands.

    The centerpiece of this year’s program is a four-day intensive painting workshop led by veteran Trinidadian artist Edward Bowen, set to run from September 8 to 11, 5 PM to 8 PM daily at the Art House 473 venue located in Calliste, St. George. Bowen has framed the workshop as a deep experimental exploration of painterly practice, spanning a total of 9 to 10 contact hours over the four-day run. Participants will dive into hands-on work with a range of materials including ink, acrylic, and collage, while integrating personal memory and conceptual thinking to create new work. The workshop is structured to leverage both individual creative energy and group collaboration to help artists push past familiar boundaries and develop entirely original visual narratives and styles. Uniquely, the opportunity is open to creatives at all skill levels, from absolute beginners taking their first steps in painting to established professional artists looking to refresh their practice.

    Following the conclusion of the workshop, the program will continue on September 12 with a special free screening of *Fortune For All*, a feature-length narrative film directed by Trinidadian filmmaker Dr. Yao Ramesar. The 70-minute drama, rated 16+, centers on the fractured Fortune family, offering a nuanced, intimate portrait of Caribbean middle class life that centers the unique cadence and cultural richness of regional Caribbean language. The film’s plot unfolds around a series of devastating losses that draw estranged siblings back together: when the eldest Fortune sibling passes away, the remaining family members gather at their ancestral coastal estate for a period of isolation and bereavement, while their grieving mother stays behind at the family’s nearby farm. Each sibling carries their own unresolved struggles: Addo Fortune, already reeling from the earlier loss of his father and fiancée, has spent years stuck trying to finish his second novel. Kessie Fortune, the youngest sister and a rising star in the legal field, navigates the tension between her demanding professional career and personal life, while working to mediate ongoing conflict between her warring brothers. The youngest sibling, Adom Fortune, is in the middle of his first political campaign, fighting to manage public fallout from allegations made by his soon-to-be ex-wife and the resulting media firestorm. Through the quiet, charged days of their shared bereavement, the film unpacks long-silenced rifts and shared family history.

    Both events are available to attend entirely free of charge, made possible through financial and in-kind sponsorship from three local partners: the Susan Mains Gallery, Blue Horizons Garden Resort, and Art House 473. Interested attendees must complete pre-registration to secure a spot. Registration for Edward Bowen’s painting workshop can be completed through the Art House 473 website at https://arthouse473.org/9th-grenada-contemporary-islands-in-dialogue/, while registration for the *Fortune For All* screening is available at https://arthouse473.org/9th-grenada-contemporary-yao-ramesar/.

  • Government to hand over 215 resilient homes across nine Dominica communities

    Government to hand over 215 resilient homes across nine Dominica communities

    The Commonwealth of Dominica’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is gearing up for a major milestone in its national affordable housing strategy, with the upcoming distribution of keys to 215 newly completed residential units, the nation’s Housing Minister Melissa Poponne-Skerrit has officially confirmed. Designed to expand public access to secure, disaster-resistant housing across the country, the handover process will kick off this Friday with the first in a series of community-focused “Welcome Home” ceremonies to mark the occasion for new residents.

    The newly constructed housing stock, which includes both single-family homes and multi-occupancy apartment units, is spread across nine communities across Dominica: Canefield East, Trafalgar, Vieille Case, Paix Bouche, Pointe Michel, Grand Bay, Penville, Wesley and Woodford Hill. This geographic spread ensures that families across multiple regions of the island can benefit from the government’s investment in resilient housing.

    The project is integrated into the Dominica government’s overarching national housing programme, which carries the core mission of delivering durable, long-lasting housing that is engineered to withstand the extreme weather events that small island developing states like Dominica face regularly, including tropical storms and hurricanes. Branded under the unifying slogan “Building Homes, Strengthening Communities and Transforming Lives,” this housing initiative is a central component of Dominica’s broader national target to construct 5,000 climate-resilient homes across the country. The project directly supports the island nation’s long-term goals for post-disaster recovery and enhanced national climate adaptation and resilience, aligning housing policy with broader climate action priorities for the Caribbean region.

  • Deacons man identified as victim of fatal Fernihurst stabbing

    Deacons man identified as victim of fatal Fernihurst stabbing

    Authorities in Barbados have formally named 26-year-old Jamario Omar Holder as the victim of a fatal stabbing that rocked the quiet community of Fernihurst, St. Michael on Tuesday afternoon. Holding a residential address at Block 7, Farm Road, Deacons in the same parish, Holder lost his life following an altercation that unfolded just after 4:30 p.m. local time.

    According to official updates from the Barbados Police Service, early investigative work confirms the incident began as a confrontation between two men, during which Holder sustained multiple stab wounds. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, bystanders transported Holder via a private vehicle to the island’s main public care facility, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Despite medical intervention, Holder succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.

    As the investigation progresses, law enforcement officials confirmed that a person of interest is currently cooperating with detectives to help untangle the circumstances leading up to the fatal violence. To expand their leads and fill gaps in the timeline of the incident, police are now issuing a public appeal for any community members who may have witnessed the stabbing, or hold any detail that could advance the probe.

    Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to submit tips through multiple confidential and official channels: anonymous reports can be sent to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, emergency reports can be filed through the national police emergency line at 211, and tips can also be submitted directly to officers at the Black Rock Police Station via phone at 417-7500 or 417-7501.

  • Government reaffirms commitment to supporting Dominica’s senior citizens

    Government reaffirms commitment to supporting Dominica’s senior citizens

    As the Caribbean island nation of Dominica kicks off its annual Month of the Elderly observances, the government has publicly restated its ongoing dedication to elevating the quality of life for the country’s senior population. Speaking to journalists at the official launch event hosted by the Dominica Council on Ageing on Tuesday, Dr. Cassandra Williams, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services, outlined the full suite of targeted government programs designed to expand social support for older citizens across the country.

    Williams emphasized that these ongoing initiatives have long been anchored as core components of the administration’s national social protection strategy, with all programs formally retained in the 2023/24 national budget as key support mechanisms for Dominica’s vulnerable population groups. The major ongoing efforts include the widely accessed Yes We Care Programme, general public assistance grants, the Non-Contributory Pension for adults aged 65 and older, the Centenarian Programme, and targeted funding for non-governmental and community institutions that deliver frontline care services to seniors.

    Of these interventions, the Yes We Care Programme has emerged as a critical community-focused resource, delivering in-home support to elderly and vulnerable residents who struggle to complete daily tasks independently. Program services range from support with personal hygiene and meal preparation to help with routine household chores, addressing both practical needs and the widespread issue of social isolation among seniors by providing regular companionship for participants. According to earlier government data, 161 seniors currently receive ongoing assistance through the program, which receives an annual operational allocation of approximately $1 million.

    Another cornerstone of the country’s elderly social safety net is the Non-Contributory Pension, which the government expanded in recent years by lowering the minimum qualifying age from 70 to 65, opening up access to thousands of additional older adults who require financial support.

    Beyond outlining existing government policies, Williams used the launch event to issue a public appeal to all Dominican citizens, both on the island and in the large diaspora community overseas. She stressed that government assistance programs should not be seen as the sole source of support for the country’s older population, urging families, friends and local communities to take an active role in caring for older relatives, neighbors and peers. Williams encouraged people across the country to carve out consistent time to engage with seniors, offer practical help where it is needed, and honor the decades of experience and foundational contributions that older generations have made to Dominica’s social and economic development.

    This year’s Month of the Elderly, which centers the theme “Empowering Elder Voices for an Inclusive Future,” frames the government’s appeal for collective action around seniors’ rights and inclusion as a core part of its national agenda for the event.

  • Barbados to host third CARICOM Regional Conference on Reparations

    Barbados to host third CARICOM Regional Conference on Reparations

    A pivotal moment in the global movement for reparatory justice for the transatlantic trafficking and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans is approaching this September, as Barbados prepares to welcome hundreds of regional and international stakeholders for the third CARICOM Regional Conference on Reparations. Scheduled to run from September 17 to 19 at the Wyndham Grand Sam Lord’s Castle in Saint Philip, the three-day gathering is the product of a collaborative partnership between the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC), the Government of Barbados, and the CARICOM Secretariat, and it will unfold under the provocative, purpose-driven theme: “Reparatory Justice as the Coming Enlightenment.”

    This year’s conference arrives on the heels of a landmark global milestone: the United Nations’ adoption of Resolution A/RES/80/250 in March 2026, a historic document that formally recognized the transatlantic trafficking and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as “the gravest crime against humanity.” This global endorsement has created new momentum for the Caribbean reparations movement, which has spent more than a decade pushing for accountability and redress from former colonial powers.
    Conference organizers have laid out a clear, action-focused agenda for the gathering. A core priority will be advancing the practical implementation of the revised CARICOM Ten-Point Plan for Reparatory Justice, a framework that outlines concrete demands including formal apologies, financial compensation, educational reforms, and repatriation of cultural artifacts stolen from African and Caribbean communities during the colonial era. Attendees will also explore emerging perspectives on reparations from African and Caribbean political leadership, assess the state of global progress on reparative action, and mark a series of key global milestones: the 25th anniversary of the landmark Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, the conclusion of the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, and the launch of the African Union Decade for Reparatory Justice.
    Beyond policy discussions, the conference is designed to deepen coordination across the global movement for reparatory justice. Official statements from CARICOM note that the gathering is expected to strengthen collaborative ties between CARICOM, the African Union, grassroots civil society organizations, and the global African diaspora, while encouraging expanded participation from political, diplomatic, and community groups across the world.
    One of the most anticipated outcomes of the conference is the adoption of a 2027–2031 multi-year Action Plan for Reparatory Justice, which will establish clear, measurable targets for collective action across the global African community. This roadmap is expected to provide a unified framework for advocacy and implementation over the coming five years.
    The opening session of the conference will feature addresses from three of the movement’s most prominent leaders: Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett, and CRC Chair Sir Hilary Beckles. In addition to these opening remarks, the gathering will draw a diverse range of participants, including CARICOM Heads of Government, members of the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Reparations, official representatives from the African Union, United Nations delegates, national reparations commission members, activists from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Latin America, leading academic scholars, civil society leaders, cultural icons, and youth delegates representing the next generation of the reparations movement.
    This third regional conference marks a 13-year continuation of a formal movement launched at the inaugural CARICOM reparations conference. The first gathering was held in St Vincent and the Grenadines in September 2013, where the CARICOM Reparations Commission was officially established to coordinate regional advocacy. The second conference followed just one year later in September 2014, hosted by Antigua and Barbuda. Since its founding, the CRC has organized a range of focused conferences and symposia to explore specific dimensions of reparatory justice, including examinations of the role of global banking in colonial exploitation, the legacy of Barbadian economist Sir William Arthur Lewis, and the intersections between reparations and global cultural heritage (including the return of stolen royal and cultural artifacts).
    For organizations and individuals interested in attending the 2026 conference, registration and additional logistical information are available through the official conference website.

  • Six Caribbean groups receive grants to advance climate justice advocacy

    Six Caribbean groups receive grants to advance climate justice advocacy

    Against a backdrop of accelerating climate impacts that disproportionately harm small island developing states in the Caribbean, six local civil society organizations are set to advance community-centered climate justice work thanks to new small grants from a regional climate initiative.

    The funding is delivered through the 2026–2027 Climate Action Facility of the Caribbean Sea Innovation Fund, a collaborative effort between the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) and the Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance. Backed by core support from the Open Society Foundations, the initiative allocates awards ranging from $1,500 to $8,000 to frontline groups working to lift marginalized community voices in environmental decision-making.

    The six grant recipients span multiple Caribbean nations and represent a diverse cross-section of local climate action. They include the Alliance for Rural Communities (ARC) of Trinidad and Tobago, Equals Inc., Island City Lab, Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), The Crystal Clear Initiative for Trinidad and Tobago, and a partnership between the University of the West Indies Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (UWI-CERMES) and its Voices from the Shore Theatre Collective. ARC, one of the awardees, recently hosted the Festival of Collectives in Trinidad to build cross-community collaboration on local climate and environmental justice, featuring interactive activities like a Climate Maze alongside panel discussions and skill-sharing sessions.

    Each funded project targets a unique gap in regional climate justice action. Some initiatives will advance climate litigation to hold major emitters accountable, while another centers on elevating the critical, often underrecognized contributions of women working in Caribbean agriculture and fisheries. One project will document the long-lasting social and environmental damage left by Hurricanes Beryl and Melissa, and others will push for more equitable, community-informed approaches to building local climate resilience.

    A key focus of several grants is improving accessibility for marginalized groups in climate response. One initiative will develop practical, user-centered tools to adapt emergency climate shelters to better serve people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ community members, groups that are often overlooked in disaster planning. Across all projects, organizers also aim to build public understanding of climate-related human rights and expand opportunities for ordinary Caribbean citizens to shape environmental policies and governance that directly impact their lives.

    The funded work will feed into the broader mission of the Caribbean Climate Justice Alliance, a regional network that now unites more than 80 non-state actors, including civil society organizations, grassroots activists, academic researchers, creative practitioners, and media professionals across the Caribbean. Co-chaired and convened by CANARI, the alliance centers its work on amplifying the perspectives of frontline communities that face the worst effects of the climate crisis, while working to increase their influence over regional and national climate policy and practice. All of the alliance’s activities are aligned with the *Caribbean Climate Justice and Resilience Agenda 2023–2030*, a community-led framework that outlines clear priority actions to advance equitable climate justice and strengthen local resilience across the region.

    Moving forward, CANARI will share regular progress updates on all funded projects and their regional impact via its social media channels, keeping the public and broader climate community informed of ongoing work and outcomes.