Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • Cuban Ambassador highlights positive relations with the Holy See

    Cuban Ambassador highlights positive relations with the Holy See

    In a formal diplomatic meeting held at Vatican City, the newly appointed Cuban representative to the Holy See, Ambassador Rodriguez, has publicly voiced his appreciation for the warm hospitality extended to him by Vatican authorities, while outlining his core priorities for advancing bilateral ties during his diplomatic tenure.

    Rodriguez made clear that the Cuban government holds deep respect for the public statements and ongoing initiatives led by Pope Leo XIV, particularly the pontiff’s steadfast advocacy for peace, inclusive dialogue, and negotiated solutions to the international conflicts that have left widespread death and devastation across multiple nations.

    Beyond addressing global security issues, the ambassador underscored the Cuban administration’s unwavering focus on advancing domestic peace, social stability, and inclusive economic growth – goals made far more challenging by the steady escalation of unilateral economic sanctions imposed by the United States. He also reiterated that the U.S. maintains persistent threats of direct military aggression against the Caribbean island nation, creating additional uncertainty and strain for the Cuban people.

    Following discussions with the President of the Governorate of the Holy See, Rodriguez confirmed that the Vatican official provided a comprehensive overview of the support services, cultural institutions including Vatican museums, infrastructure projects, and programming available to the global diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See. The ambassador noted that this information was received with keen interest by the Cuban delegation.

  • LIVE: The Dominica Council Of Ageing hosts its Media Launch of the Month of the Elderly 2026

    LIVE: The Dominica Council Of Ageing hosts its Media Launch of the Month of the Elderly 2026

    The submitted news entry only includes social media sharing buttons and an image link, with no complete textual news content available for in-depth analysis, structural reconstruction, or rewriting. Without the core information, key facts, background context, and narrative details of the original news, it is impossible to generate a complete, accurate rewritten news article that meets the required standards. Users are advised to provide the full text content of the target news to enable proper processing and analysis.

  • Agriculture : Several sections of rural roads provisionally accepted in Grand’Anse

    Agriculture : Several sections of rural roads provisionally accepted in Grand’Anse

    Haiti’s Ministry of Agriculture is wrapping up a key rural infrastructure initiative in the Grand’Anse department, where rehabilitation works on multiple critical rural road segments in the municipalities of Beaumont and Pestel have passed preliminary compliance checks and received provisional acceptance as of August 26, 2026. The project is a core component of the national Resilient Agriculture for Food Security Project (PARSA), a broader development push focused on unlocking agricultural potential across underserved rural regions of the country.

    In total, the initiative delivered upgrades to 1,200 meters of rural roadway: 600 meters of reinforced concrete strip roads and an equal length of graded dirt roads. Broken down across the project sites, the works in Beaumont’s Chardonnette second communal section included 150 meters of concrete strip rehabilitation and 200 meters of dirt road improvements, while the nearby Dumois locality received an identical 150 meters of concrete work and 200 meters of dirt track upgrades. In Pestel’s Clément fourth communal section, along the key route linking the Desriveaux intersection to Macochon, crews completed 300 meters of concrete strip road rehabilitation and 200 meters of dirt road repairs.

    The provisional acceptance process was led by Ralph Wendy Despeignes, agricultural engineer and Departmental Director of Agriculture for Grand’Anse, working in collaboration with PARSA’s regional coordination office for Haiti’s Grand Sud region. Local government leaders and community representatives from the beneficiary populations were also in attendance to observe the compliance verification.

    The upgraded road segments were selected specifically for their outsize impact on both daily community life and agricultural activity. For local residents, the improved roadways will dramatically change access to critical essential services, including healthcare clinics, primary and secondary schools, and other public resources that many have long struggled to reach due to impassable or poorly maintained routes.

    For the region’s large community of smallholder and commercial agricultural producers, the upgrades address one of the most persistent barriers to livelihood growth: poor transportation connectivity. By smoothing routes between remote production zones and major urban consumption markets, the project is expected to cut down on product spoilage and post-harvest losses that have eroded producer incomes for decades. It will also reduce overall transportation costs, creating more favorable conditions for farmers to market their output at fair prices and invest in adding value to their products before they reach consumers. Beyond individual producer benefits, the improved connectivity is projected to stimulate stronger commercial exchange between rural production hubs and urban centers, laying the groundwork for long-term economic growth in one of Haiti’s key agricultural regions.

  • Eugene shines in Canadian cricket league

    Eugene shines in Canadian cricket league

    Against all odds, a former Caribbean youth cricket star has reignited talk of his professional prospects with a devastating century in Canada’s top regional club competition, putting his talent firmly back on the radar of West Indies and regional selection panels.

    27-year-old Johnnel Eugene, who previously represented the Windward Islands Volcanoes and came up through the West Indies youth development pathway, delivered a memorable innings this Sunday in the British Columbia Mainland Cricket League, pushing him to the top of the league’s batting leaderboard.

    Playing in the league’s elite Premier Division for Windies Cricket Club, Eugene has compiled an impressive 479 runs across 17 outings this season. His standout performance came against Langley Titans I, where he scored an unbeaten 107 runs off 120 deliveries, peppering the boundary with six fours and clearing the ropes nine times for sixes. The knock marked the clear highlight of his current North American campaign.

    Eugene’s potential has been recognized from the earliest stages of his career. In 2014, he earned a developmental tour of the United Kingdom as part of the West Indies Under-15 national squad, and later earned a spot in the regional West Indies Under-19 training program. His breakthrough youth performance came in 2016, when he was named Most Valuable Player of the West Indies Regional Under-17 Championship, cementing his status as one of the region’s most promising young talents.

    A former Saint Lucia Junior Sportsman of the Year, Eugene was previously drafted as an emerging player for the Saint Lucia Kings in the Caribbean Premier League, one of the world’s most high-profile T20 franchise competitions. Just last year, he rewrote the record books in the Saint Lucia Premier League, posting the highest individual score in the tournament’s history: a blistering 153 not out hit from only 67 deliveries, showcasing his explosive batting power.

    Beyond his contributions with the bat, Eugene has also impressed with his ball in Canada, claiming 10 wickets across 13 bowling innings while maintaining a strong economy rate of just 4.95 runs per over. Despite his consistent standout performances this season, which included a 92-run knock earlier in the campaign, Eugene’s Windies Cricket Club First XI has struggled for collective results, finishing at the bottom of the 10-team Premier Division table. Still, his individual form has served as a stark reminder of the talent he possesses, leaving many waiting to see if selectors will take note of his red-hot form.

  • Florenville circles Saint Lucia on foot, sets sights on Mt Everest

    Florenville circles Saint Lucia on foot, sets sights on Mt Everest

    On August 31, 2026, a long-distance runner from Saint Lucia etched his name into the island nation’s history books by completing a challenge no local had ever attempted before: running the full perimeter of Saint Lucia. Jordan Florenville, a native of the Babonneau district, crossed the finish line of his self-styled Iyanola 100 challenge after 35 consecutive hours of running, a feat that relied heavily on the widespread community support that accompanied him every step of the way.

    Data tracked by popular fitness platform Strava confirmed Florenville covered a total distance of 176.5 kilometers across the run. He launched his journey from the island’s east coast, making the strategic call to bypass the interior Barre D’Isle mountain range in favor of a coastal route that stretched from Point Du Cap, Saint Lucia’s northernmost headland, all the way south to Cape Moule-à-Chique, the country’s southernmost tip.

    From start to finish, Florenville never ran alone. Dozens of fellow runners joined him for segments of the trek, including Zepherinus Joseph, Saint Lucia’s own Olympic long-distance competitor. Two local runners, Clendon Donai and Philan James, emerged as his most consistent supporters, each completing a full 42-kilometer marathon alongside Florenville to keep him company through grueling stretches.

    Community backing extended far beyond fellow runners. Friends from Florenville’s hometown turned out to run segments with him, including Jn Louis Mathurin, a well-known local nature tour operator who goes by the nickname “Father Nature.” His immediate family, members of his local church, and hundreds of other Saint Lucians stepped in to offer encouragement, water, and rest breaks at different checkpoints across the route.

    For Florenville, the historic Iyanola 100 perimeter run is far more than a one-off personal challenge—it is a critical stepping stone toward a much bigger, bolder dream. The runner has set his sights on becoming the first person born in Saint Lucia to summit Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. His coastal run also carried deeper national significance: it was timed to align with Saint Lucia’s annual emancipation celebrations and received official backing from the country’s National Reparations Committee.

    In an interview with local outlet *St. Lucia Times*, Florenville opened up about the extreme physical and mental toll the challenge took, calling it one of the most difficult feats he has ever attempted. “On a difficulty scale where 10 is extremely hard, this was a solid 9. It was harder than I prepared for,” he explained. “The total distance ended up being longer than my initial projections, and the uneven coastal terrain was far more challenging than I anticipated. But honestly, I have to thank God first, and then every single person who showed up for me. If it weren’t for this community, I’d probably still be stuck near Canaries right now. 120% of this success belongs to the people of Saint Lucia.” He added that he chose not to name individual supporters because so many people contributed that it would be impossible to list them all fairly.

    Despite the overwhelming community turnout, the Iyanola 100 challenge received only minimal financial backing from local Saint Lucian businesses and corporate sponsors. Now that Florenville has completed his historic run, he is still seeking additional support to fund his next goals: he is currently producing a documentary chronicling his Iyanola 100 achievement, which remains incomplete due to a funding gap, and he is actively searching for long-term sponsors to back his Mount Everest expedition.

    Florenville issued a public call for support, emphasizing that he wants to lift up the next generation of Saint Lucian athletes alongside his own goals. “We need funding, and we also need more people to step up and sponsor young local athletes. The people of Saint Lucia are ready for Everest—let’s make this happen,” he said. “Whatever government ministry, whatever individual or business that wants to support, come forward. I’m ready. A GoFundMe link will be launched very soon for anyone who wants to contribute.”

    Members of the public and potential sponsors can connect with Florenville through his official social media profiles, or reach him directly by phone at +1 (758) 584-4654 or +1 (758) 287-0365.

  • Nepal: Overstromingen eisen meer dan 1.000 levens; massabegrafenissen begonnen

    Nepal: Overstromingen eisen meer dan 1.000 levens; massabegrafenissen begonnen

    A catastrophic glacial collapse in the Himalayan mountains has unleashed devastating flash floods across Nepal and adjacent regions of southern China, leaving a staggering toll of more than 1,000 people confirmed dead and more than 4,400 others unaccounted for as of September 1, 2026. Rescue teams are now focusing their urgent search and recovery efforts on damaged hydropower projects, where hundreds of workers are feared trapped deep in construction tunnels.

    According to the latest official update from Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), the death toll in Nepal alone has climbed to 1,003, up from an earlier count of 987. A total of 3,916 people remain missing in the country, including 583 foreign nationals working on regional infrastructure projects. Across the border in southern China, official reports confirm 16 dead and 546 missing, 261 of whom are non-Chinese citizens.

    The unprecedented disaster unfolded on August 26, when a large glacier collapsed into surrounding river valleys. The collapse sent a massive surge of rock debris, broken ice, and glacial meltwater rushing downstream, generating powerful floodwaters that swept through settlements and infrastructure in low-lying areas. Glaciologists and disaster researchers currently hypothesize that the collapse was triggered by structural failure of the bedrock beneath the glacier, a hazard that has become increasingly common as rising global temperatures destabilize Himalayan ice formations.

    The most high-stakes segment of the ongoing rescue operation centers on Nepal’s network of hydropower projects, which dot the country’s steep Himalayan river valleys. Hundreds of construction workers are believed to be trapped in partially collapsed access tunnels at multiple project sites. Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah confirmed that rescuers have so far extracted 279 workers from the affected projects, where more than 900 people were initially reported missing. Across all flood-affected regions of Nepal, a total of more than 11,000 at-risk people have been rescued and evacuated to safe shelter as of the latest update.

    In recent days, slow but tangible progress has been made in restoring critical infrastructure to support relief efforts. Power grids and communication lines have been repaired in many hard-hit areas, and access routes to previously cut-off locations such as Nuwakot District, one of the worst impacted regions, have been cleared, allowing rescue teams and aid convoys to reach affected communities more easily.

    The first mass burials for flood victims have already begun, as local authorities continue to recover bodies from mud and debris. In Betrabati village, Nuwakot alone, recovery teams have pulled 24 bodies from a single residential building destroyed by floodwaters. Search operations continue around the clock, with crews working through the night under artificial lighting to clear debris and locate remaining victims and potential survivors.

    The Nepalese government has already received more than $42 million in international disaster aid to support response and recovery efforts, and officials expect additional pledges to arrive in the coming weeks. Neighboring countries India and China have both contributed directly to on-the-ground response, assisting with the construction of temporary emergency bridges to reconnect isolated mountain communities cut off by flood-damaged roads.

    This disaster has drawn renewed attention to Nepal’s large-scale expansion of hydropower infrastructure over the past two decades. The country has heavily invested in hydropower projects to achieve energy independence and export surplus electricity to India, leveraging the Himalayas’ extreme elevation changes to generate power by routing river water through mountain tunnels. Experts warn that the region’s increasing infrastructure development in high-glacier hazard zones calls for stricter disaster risk assessment and mitigation to protect workers and local communities.

  • Daniel, Scott advance to BRTO round of 16

    Daniel, Scott advance to BRTO round of 16

    The Barbados Road Tennis Open (BRTO) continued its early round action Sunday at the Checker Hall venue in St Lucy, with top-ranked competitors delivering standout performances to punch their tickets to the tournament’s round of 16. Fourth-seeded men’s competitor Antoine “Lil Man” Daniel turned in a masterclass of controlled aggression, securing a straight-sets victory to move one step closer to the title.

    Daniel’s opening match against Lloyd Burke left no doubt about his tournament readiness. From the first serve, he unleashed a sequence of precision shots that left his opponent scrambling, building an insurmountable 18-6 lead early in the opening set. Though Burke tried to rally late, Daniel closed out the game comfortably at 21-10. The second set proved a tighter contest, with Burke forcing multiple deadlocks at 2-2, 5-5, 6-6 and 7-7. But Daniel seized momentum after pulling ahead 8-7, stretching his lead to five points at 13-8 and holding on to claim the set 21-15, wrapping up an unambiguous straight-set win.

    Tenth seed Adrian Scott also secured his spot in the next round, but he had to fight through a grueling three-set battle against Ahijah Blunt to get there. Blunt took the first set in a thrilling finish, edging Scott 23-21 to put the higher-ranked player on the brink of elimination. Scott dug deep to reset in the second set, controlling play from the baseline and closing out a 21-16 win to level the match. The deciding third set mirrored the first two’s intensity, with the pair trading leads and tying the score on multiple occasions – including four consecutive deadlocks at 7-7, 8-8, 9-9, and 12-12. Scott broke the tie to move ahead 13-12, never giving up his advantage and closing out the match 21-13 to advance.

    In other men’s draw matches, Mosai Williams cemented his place in the round of 16 for the second consecutive edition of the BRTO with a dominant showing against Christopher Renee. Williams outplayed his opponent from start to finish, dropping just 14 total points across two sets to win 21-8, 21-6. Dwayne Hope also earned his spot in the next round after a hard-fought three-set clash with Jayden Mayers. Hope claimed a narrow 22-20 win in the opening set, before Mayers responded with a 21-12 victory to force a deciding third game. Hope held his nerve under pressure, closing out the decider 21-18 to seal the match.

    In women’s draw action, Sharon Small also advanced to the round of 16 after a straightforward straight-sets win over Camille Ashby. Small claimed the opening set 21-18 before cruising to a 21-9 win in the second to lock in her spot. Two other women’s competitors moved on without playing, as Samantha Rogers advanced via walkover after opponent Cherene Ward withdrew, and Margo Lorde also moved into the next round by default when Krystal Harewood pulled out.

  • NOW, AI firm launch free business programme for women

    NOW, AI firm launch free business programme for women

    Barbados’ National Organisation of Women (NOW) has partnered with local AI capability firm Amplifi AI to launch a groundbreaking free training initiative that will equip up to 35 women with the skills to build sustainable, AI-integrated businesses. The programme, officially named *Build a Business with AI*, was unveiled during a press conference held Monday at the Ministry of People Empowerment in Warrens, with organizers framing it as a tangible step toward closing the gender gap in digital economic empowerment.

    NOW president Melissa Savoury-Gittens emphasized that encouragement alone is not enough to lift women into economic independence. For too long, she noted, women have been urged to dream bigger, launch ventures, and build financial security – but have been denied access to the practical tools and cutting-edge skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital economy. “Economic empowerment today means access, it means skills, it means knowledge, and it means opportunity,” Savoury-Gittens explained. “Increasingly, that also means ensuring women understand and can access the technology that is reshaping how we work, communicate, and do business.”

    Open to women of all ages, the three-session programme will run across three consecutive Saturdays – September 12, 19, and 26 – at Barbados’ Solidarity House. Unlike many superficial AI training courses that only introduce a list of tools, the initiative is structured to guide participants from initial business ideation all the way to a fully executable launch plan, with completion leading to an official certificate of participation.

    Janelle Germain, chief executive of Amplifi AI, clarified that the programme’s curriculum prioritizes foundational business knowledge first, before integrating AI as a complementary tool rather than a replacement for critical judgment. “Knowing 10 AI tools does not make a business,” Germain noted. “This programme follows one structured workflow: from idea to execution, with AI woven into every step of the process.” On the first day of training, participants will start by defining their target customer base, verifying market size, and calculating pricing for profitability – all before touching any AI platform. Germain stressed that core business expertise remains non-negotiable even in the age of generative AI: “You cannot direct artificial intelligence well if you do not understand the subject itself. You cannot judge whether the output AI gives you is correct or safe to attach your brand to it.”

    The curriculum is designed to support all participants, regardless of their starting point. For women who already have a business concept, the programme will help them test the idea’s actual revenue potential, addressing a common pitfall that leads new entrepreneurs to misjudge market opportunity. For participants who have not yet settled on an idea, trainers will work with them to identify viable ventures aligned with their available capital – whether they have $0, $500, or $5,000 to invest – tailored to the Barbados market.

    The initiative grew out of public demand following a successful earlier digital skills programme that NOW ran for young people earlier this year. After that programme wrapped, many women across age groups reached out to request a similar opportunity open to all adults, prompting NOW to partner with Amplifi AI to develop the new AI entrepreneurship training. The full $20,000+ value of the programme is covered through partnerships with NOW, Amplifi AI, and additional supporting stakeholders, meaning no participant pays any fees to attend.

    Germain noted that the programme fills a critical gap currently facing micro-entrepreneurs, small business owners, and workers in the informal economy, who rarely have access to specialized training to integrate AI into their operations. The programme will conclude with a live pitching event on October 10, where the three strongest business concepts will be presented to a panel of judges and a public audience. Germain’s ultimate goal is for every participant to leave with a business they can launch immediately, and for local stakeholders to step up to support these new ventures long-term. She is calling on local partners to contribute advertising and media exposure to help new businesses reach customers, small-scale financing for initial inventory and equipment, ongoing mentorship during the challenging early launch phase, and access to distribution channels such as retail shelf space and first client contracts.

    This first group of participants will serve as a pilot cohort, and Germain confirmed that additional rounds of the programme will be considered if public demand is strong. Applications for the programme are open now on Amplifi AI’s official website, and will close one week from the announcement date this Wednesday. Germain encouraged all women and young people with an interest in entrepreneurship to apply, noting that the programme is designed to give aspiring founders the structured framework they need to turn abstract ideas into viable, income-generating businesses.

  • Team Saint Lucia cop hardware at CAC bodybuilding

    Team Saint Lucia cop hardware at CAC bodybuilding

    The 53rd Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships concluded on Sunday night in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and three athletes representing the Saint Lucia Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (SLABFFA) are returning home with impressive results, including two top-three podium finishes and one top-six placement.

    Led by SLABFFA President Eugene Gabriel, the national team claimed two bronze medals at the event hosted at Gimnasio Teodoro Palacios Flores. Notably, Saint Lucia has been selected as the host nation for the 2025 iteration of the regional championship, marking a key milestone for the island nation’s fitness community.

    Rookie competitor Denver Florent got Saint Lucia off to a strong start on Saturday, clinching third place in the senior men’s bodybuilding category. This podium finish marked a stunning debut for Florent, who secured the country’s first medal of the competition.

    Following Florent’s success, multi-sport athlete Shanii Mesmain earned Saint Lucia’s second bronze medal in the men’s fit model class, finishing behind competitors from The Bahamas and the host nation Guatemala. Mesmain also advanced to the finals of the men’s physique over 1.76m division, ultimately finishing sixth overall. A well-known domestic cricketer hailing from Soufrière, this is not Mesmain’s first CAC competition: he made his regional debut at the 2024 CAC Championships in Georgetown, Guyana, where he placed seventh in the men’s silver fitness challenge.

    The third member of Team Saint Lucia, Jerren St Clair, a professional firefighter and former national track athlete, competed in the men’s fitness division at his first CAC Championships. Official final placements for St Clair have not yet been released, with results pending publication from the regional confederation.

    This year’s result builds on Saint Lucia’s strong track record at the regional championships. Two bronze medals in 2026 follow the country’s six-medal haul at the 2024 event in Guyana, and it follows Saint Lucia’s successful hosting of the 52nd CAC Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships in Rodney Bay in 2025. Gabriel, who previously served as vice president and coach at the 2024 Guyana competition, marked his first CAC Championships as the head of SLABFFA at this year’s event.

  • World Forum of the Haitian Diaspora

    World Forum of the Haitian Diaspora

    Between August 27 and 29, 2026, the Sheraton Hotel in Laval, Quebec, Canada, played host to a landmark gathering of global Haitian communities: the World Forum of the Haitian Diaspora (FOMADA). As guest of honor at the event, Haiti’s Minister of Culture and Communication Emmanuel Ménard brought a bold new vision for strengthening Haiti’s global cultural footprint, while acknowledging the critical role of diaspora communities in the nation’s future.

    Addressing a crowd of international delegations at the forum’s opening reception, Ménard opened by praising the unwavering solidarity Haitian communities spread across the globe have consistently extended to their loved ones back home. Amid ongoing challenges facing Haiti, the minister emphasized that collective action remains the most powerful tool for progress. He called on all diaspora associations to set aside divisions, unify their efforts, and combine their resources to drive tangible change. For Haitian cultural operators, artists, and artisans working both at home and abroad, he issued a rallying cry: draw deep inspiration from Haiti’s rich history, revolutionary thought, and unbroken national spirit to create work that honors and elevates the nation.

    In a passionate address to delegates, Ménard articulated a confident vision for Haiti’s cultural future, declaring, “Haiti can achieve the miracle of establishing itself as a cultural powerhouse.” He reaffirmed that the current administration of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé remains fully committed to this goal, noting that even with a packed agenda of urgent national priorities, the government stands firmly behind the cultural policies advanced by the Ministry of Culture and Communication.

    Putting that commitment into action, Ménard used the forum as a platform to make a major policy announcement: the official launch of a pilot project to develop the Haitian Cultural Center (CHAC). The initiative is designed to create new professional spaces and expanded international market access for Haitian creators, while ensuring the global spread and celebration of Haiti’s unique cultural heritage across every region of the world.

    Beyond his keynote remarks and official announcements, Ménard’s visit to Quebec included a full schedule of engagement with Haitian communities across the province. He traveled to both Montreal and Laval to meet with dozens of local associations and organized community groups, including representatives from the cultural collective “La Perle Retrouvée.” He also held a working meeting with renowned sculptor Anioclès Grégoire, who is currently crafting a 24-meter bronze statue of Haitian founding father Jean-Jacques Dessalines. The new monument will replace the original statue in Cap-Haitien’s Place d’Armes, which was destroyed by vandalism in recent years.

    Ménard also held high-level meetings during his trip to advance bilateral and investment cooperation. He met with Haitian-origin Canadian Senator Suze Youance to discuss opportunities for cross-border cultural collaboration, and held extensive working sessions with FOMADA coordinator Kurdy Larèche. Their talks centered on two core priorities: advancing plans to establish a Haitian Cultural Center node in Canada, and exploring major new investment opportunities in key cultural and economic sectors across Haiti.