Carib Scope

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  • Pact Celebrates Women Leaders in Conservation with Art Showcase

    Pact Celebrates Women Leaders in Conservation with Art Showcase

    As the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) of Belize enters its fourth decade of protecting the country’s biodiverse natural landscapes, the organization is centering the long-overlooked contributions of women to local conservation through a unique, month-long anniversary celebration that merges environmental advocacy, community storytelling, and local artistic craft.

    Titled “Rooted and Rising,” the signature event of PACT’s anniversary calendar was born from a collaborative partnership between the trust and three of Belize’s most talented female artists and creative entrepreneurs. The project pairs each creator with a trailblazing female conservation leader, tasking artists to translate the decades of work, personal journeys, and lasting impact of these environmental champions into one-of-a-kind, custom art pieces.

    For generations, women have formed the quiet backbone of Belize’s conservation movement, often leading community-led initiatives that balance local livelihoods with ecosystem protection. This showcase brings their stories out of the background and into public view. PACT Executive Director Abil Castañeda explained the core vision behind the cross-sector collaboration, noting that the project was designed to honor the lifetime of dedication these women have poured into protecting Belize’s natural heritage. “We took their life, their careers and their profession in conservation, and asked some of our brightest minds in creative arts to develop products that commemorate that life, to commemorate that dedication that they have shown over decades,” Castañeda shared.

    Three standout conservation leaders were featured in the showcase: Jessie Young of the Women’s Conservation Group at the Community Baboon Sanctuary, Maria Garcia of the Itzamna Society, and Christina Garcia of the Ya’axche Conservation Trust. Young detailed the extraordinary progress her community-led group has achieved in protecting Belize’s black howler monkey population: when the sanctuary launched in 1985, only 800 monkeys remained in the area. Today, thanks to decades of consistent on-the-ground work led by local women, that population has surged to more than 6,000. Young added that managing a community-based conservation organization comes with unique complexities, but as women born and raised in the region, the team brings inherent insight into local needs and the resilience to see long-term conservation goals through. “We believe as women we have the strength that it takes to manage anything, and so we stepped in, and the landowners gave us permission to take over the management,” Young said.

    The three participating artists — Zyania Alonzo, Aesha Garel, and Landee Longsworth — each poured hours of detailed work into pieces that reflect their paired conservationist’s mission. Alonzo, who collaborated with Maria Garcia, created a handcrafted tote bag that draws direct inspiration from forest ecosystems. “I wanted to do something that represents the forest and its intricacy, so the body of the bag represents the root system that is in the forest. And then I also wanted to add the handles from the forest as well, which is made from supa seeds,” Alonzo explained, noting that the printing process for the bag’s body alone takes roughly 14 hours, with hand-braided tassels and hand-finished satin lining adding to the piece’s one-of-a-kind craftsmanship.

    Belize’s Minister of Sustainable Development Orlando Habet attended the opening of the showcase, and emphasized that the event marks a growing national recognition of women’s irreplaceable role in conservation. Today, more women than ever hold leadership, management, and technical roles across Belize’s entire network of protected areas, and the initiative also opens new pathways for local artisans to contribute to the country’s growing orange economy — the sector that encompasses cultural, creative, and heritage-based economic activity. Habet called for broader cross-government participation to support the growth of the orange economy, noting that it centers people, culture, history, and untapped creative potential that drives both economic and environmental progress.

    The showcase concluded with a public pop-up marketplace that gave visitors the chance to view and purchase the custom works. To continue supporting the featured conservation work, half of all proceeds from art sales will be donated directly to the participating conservation organizations to fund their ongoing environmental initiatives across the country.

  • Girls Hit the Court for Basketball, Mentorship, and Fun

    Girls Hit the Court for Basketball, Mentorship, and Fun

    As summer hits Belize, a one-of-a-kind sports initiative is creating more than just skilled basketball players—it’s building a supportive sisterhood for females of all ages. Now entering its third year, the three-day Ballin’ Like Her Basketball Camp kicked off earlier this week in Cayo before relocating to The Hub in Belize City, where it will wrap up its 2026 programming on July 3. Open to everyone from preschool-aged girls to current college students, the camp blends on-court skill development with intentional mentorship, confidence-building, and community connection.

    Unlike generic youth sports camps, Ballin’ Like Her centers young women’s unique needs by bringing in current and former NCAA Division I athletes as instructors and mentors. This setup gives camp participants the rare chance to learn directly from women who have excelled at the highest levels of collegiate basketball, while creating space for them to form lasting friendships with peers who share their love of the game.

    Cheyenne Givens, the founder of Ballin’ Like Her, explained that the initiative’s core mission goes far beyond improving jump shots and defensive technique. “We’re using the sport of basketball, and we’re specifically focusing on young females, providing a space for them, a community for them to enjoy basketball, learn about basketball, make friends,” Givens said. “We’re just making an impact on their lives in any way that we can, whether that’s they wanna learn more from us in terms of basketball or they wanna make friends, whichever one. We’re here. We wanna let them know that we care about them and we care about their futures.”

    Becky Obimna, one of the camp’s facilitators, echoed that sentiment, noting that the summer timing makes the camp a welcoming escape for young women looking for meaningful summer activity. “We’re here to build community. At the end of the day, we want them to have fun. We also know it’s summer, so at the end of the day, it’s like, come enjoy basketball,” Obimna said. “We’re here to support you. We’re here to have fun. We wanna be able to teach you some life skills as well, because at the end of the day, this is what we’re here to do. We’re all here to build community. So, I’m grateful to be a part of this experience and we would love for girls to just share the news and just show up.”

    Daily programming runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Hub, and organizers are still welcoming late registrations and drop-in participants. Facilitator Lovely Sonnier shared that interested girls can connect with the camp team through multiple channels, including the camp’s Instagram page or by reaching out to organizer Miss Chanelle. She added that organizers are counting on camp participants to help spread the word to friends who might want to join. “We also want them to reach out to their friends. Spread the word. Spread the word. As we spread the word to them, we want them to spread the word for us as well,” Sonnier said.

    Looking ahead, the Ballin’ Like Her team has plans to grow the initiative in the coming years, with talks of expanding camp programming to other regions across Belize to reach even more young women.

  • Staande ovatie voor documentaire over Affiba, oudste vrouw van Paramaribo

    Staande ovatie voor documentaire over Affiba, oudste vrouw van Paramaribo

    On the eve of Keti Koti, the annual commemoration of the abolition of slavery in the former Dutch colonies, Surinamese director Ida Does’ deeply personal documentary *Affiba, de oudste vrouw van Paramaribo* celebrated its world premiere at Amsterdam’s iconic Rijksmuseum, closing the evening to a thunderous standing ovation from an audience of invited guests, researchers, descendants and cultural leaders. Now, the production team is finalizing plans for a domestic premiere in Paramaribo, Suriname, slated to take place later this year, with exact dates and venues set to be announced in the coming months.

    The 54-minute feature follows the journey of developmental psychologist Joan Windzak, a direct descendant of Affiba, as she embarks on a years-long search to untangle her family’s hidden history. What begins as a personal quest for genealogical clarity evolves into a groundbreaking historical investigation: Windzak’s research does not only reconstruct the life stories of four generations of women in her family line, it also reshapes public understanding of one of the most recognizable photographs in Suriname’s archival history.

    Affiba, born into chattel slavery, was granted her manumission in 1827. At the age of 104, in 1889, she was photographed alongside three generations of her female descendants. For more than a century, the image sat in archival collections, but in recent decades it has emerged as a powerful cultural symbol of intergenerational resilience, Black family identity, and the push for historical recognition of Suriname’s enslaved community. The documentary weaves together archival deep dives, intimate personal recollections, and newly uncovered historical research to bring this long-overlooked family story to mainstream audiences.

    Filming took place across two continents, on location in both the Netherlands and Suriname, with shoots in Paramaribo and Meerzorg. Cinematography was split between Milton Kam, a Dutch camera operator, and Surinamese filmmaker Dave Edhard. Beyond Windzak’s personal narrative, the film features interviews with archival researchers, museum specialists, and Surinamese secondary school students, framing the legacy of slavery not as a closed chapter of the past, but as a living history that continues to shape communities and identities in the present day.

    In remarks following the premiere screening, director Ida Does shared that she was first drawn to the project after encountering the 1889 photograph at the Rijksmuseum, where the original print is held in the permanent collection. She recalled being immediately struck by the quiet, unwavering dignity radiated by the four women in the frame. For Does, the project extends far beyond one family’s story: it is a meditation on human dignity, the fight for historical justice, and the erasure of Black voices from mainstream historical narratives.

    The choice to host the world premiere at the Rijksmuseum carried unique symbolic weight, as the institution has cared for Affiba’s iconic photograph for decades. Following the screening, a panel discussion was held featuring Taco Dibbits, the Rijksmuseum’s general director; lead curator Eveline Sint Nicolaas; John Leerdam, director of the Dutch National Slavery Museum; director Ida Does; and Joan Windzak, the documentary’s central subject. Attendees included multiple generations of Affiba’s descendants, leading scholars, representatives from major cultural institutions, and other invited guests.

    Ida Does is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, author and producer with a decades-long career centering underrepresented stories from the Caribbean and Surinamese diaspora. Her previous work explores the lives of iconic figures including anti-colonial activist Anton de Kom, Nobel Prize-winning poet Derek Walcott, and critical race scholar Philomena Essed. Her films have screened at international festivals and earned major industry honors across the globe. As work continues on the Surinamese premiere, the production team plans to expand distribution for the documentary to reach broader audiences across the Netherlands and the Caribbean in 2027.

  • Pine thoroughfare named for road engineer

    Pine thoroughfare named for road engineer

    In an unprecedented departure from long-standing local naming traditions, the government of Barbados has honored the decades-long infrastructure legacy of late senior engineer Philip Adrian Howard Tudor by renaming one of the island nation’s key thoroughfares after him. Previously known as Pine East-West Boulevard, the major road now officially carries Tudor’s name, marking a rare recognition of a career civil servant’s contributions that breaks from the norm of naming highways and public roads exclusively for heads of government, cabinet ministers, elected parliamentarians, and national cricket icons.

    The official unveiling ceremony, held Thursday afternoon as part of the country’s National Honours Ceremony themed around “Community, Service and Excellence”, drew top government leadership including Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Deputy Prime Minister and local Member of Parliament Santia Bradshaw, and Minister of Transport and Works Kirk Humphrey, alongside senior public officials and members of Tudor’s extended family. Government officials confirmed that the road renaming is the first of two permanent institutional tributes planned to preserve Tudor’s professional legacy, with the second being a renaming of the central laboratory at the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW) headquarters, where the engineer spent the bulk of his decades-long career.

    Bradshaw, who collaborated closely with Tudor during her own tenure as Minister of Transport and Works, emphasized that these tributes are far more than empty symbolic acts. Instead, she framed them as enduring reminders of a lifetime spent advancing Barbados’ development and lifting the quality of life for all its citizens. She noted that the boulevard holds particular personal and professional resonance for Tudor, who commuted along this route to work for nearly 40 years while leading the design and expansion of the island’s entire road network.

    “There are people who work on roads, and then there are people who dedicate their entire lives to building them, improving them, and using them as instruments of national development,” Bradshaw said in her remarks. “Philip Tudor belonged firmly in the latter category.” Bradshaw added that Tudor possessed a rare understanding of the profound social role of infrastructure beyond asphalt and concrete: “He understood that roads were lifelines. They connected families to schools. They connect farmers to markets. They connect patients to healthcare and communities to opportunity.”

    Accepting the honor on behalf of the entire Tudor family, the engineer’s son Alair Tudor thanked the government for ensuring his father’s decades of quiet service would not be erased from national memory. Standing alongside his mother and Tudor’s wife Dr Lesandra Tudor beside the newly unveiled road sign, Alair noted that the permanent renaming enshrines his father’s legacy for coming generations, cementing his reputation as a dedicated professional who led by quiet example.

    “Today we’re celebrating a man that gave his all to his work, ensuring his name is enshrined in history for future generations to know of his dedication to his profession and his craft,” he said. “He silently encouraged many of us to be better and to give your all in what you do.”

    Prime Minister Mottley, who counted Tudor as a professional acquaintance for more than 30 years, echoed those remarks, praising the late engineer as the gold standard of public service. “the consummate public servant… but above all else, he was human. He was fair and he was a man who always displayed heart,” Mottley said. She added that Tudor served every successive national administration with equal levels of professionalism and impartiality, using the occasion to call for greater recognition of unsung career public servants whose work lays the foundation for long-term national growth long after their own tenures end.

  • FAO training equips Saint Lucian farmers with climate-smart irrigation skills

    FAO training equips Saint Lucian farmers with climate-smart irrigation skills

    Against a backdrop of growing climate uncertainty, small island agricultural communities are increasingly facing pressure to adapt their growing practices to shifting conditions. For the Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia, that adaptation is getting a boost from a targeted new capacity-building initiative that equips local farmers with practical, climate-smart farming techniques.

    Organized jointly by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development, a series of hands-on professional training workshops focused on integrated crop management, with a specific focus on improving irrigation, fertigation and nutrient strategies to boost yields and build long-term farm resilience. Titled “Practical Integrated Crop Management: Improving Crop Performance through Irrigation, Fertigation and Nutrient Management”, the workshops were held earlier this month across two locations: Soufrière in the southwest and Union in the north, to serve farming communities across the island.

    In total, 38 stakeholders took part in the sessions, representing a cross-section of Saint Lucia’s agricultural sector: small-scale and commercial farmers, plant nursery operators, government agricultural officers, extension service personnel, technical specialists, ministry support staff, and representatives from both public and private agricultural entities. Hosting the training in two geographically distinct regions of the island was a deliberate choice, FAO officials explained, that made the program far more accessible to participants from across the country while also allowing attendees to test how these modern practices work across Saint Lucia’s varied local growing conditions.

    Led by FAO Horticulture Specialist Marcko Theodoracopoulos and FAO Plant Production and Protection Specialist Anne Desrochers, who also serves as the project’s Lead Technical Officer, the workshops dug into the interconnected relationships between irrigation scheduling, fertigation application, crop nutrition requirements, plant growth stages, and unique local field conditions. Attendees learned how to weave all these factors into cohesive, effective daily farm management plans.

    Practical skill-building formed the core of the program. Participants received step-by-step instruction on how to design, operate, and maintain drip irrigation systems, covering critical operational details from filtration system maintenance and regular line flushing to leak prevention and water flow and pressure management. A major section of the training was dedicated to addressing the unique challenges of running irrigation systems on Saint Lucia’s famously hilly terrain, where changes in elevation can disrupt water pressure and lead to uneven distribution of both water and crop nutrients.

    Additional training modules covered the installation and calibration of Venturi fertiliser injectors, proper fertiliser preparation, and adjusting injection rates to match crop needs. Farmers learned actionable techniques to prevent common system blockages, prepare concentrated fertiliser stock solutions, and use electrical conductivity and pH measurements to fine-tune fertigation applications and reduce crop stress caused by inconsistent nutrient or water access.

    Live, hands-on demonstrations held on working commercial farms let participants observe irrigation and fertigation systems in real operating conditions. Attendees got the chance to troubleshoot common mechanical and operational problems firsthand, and discuss how to adapt these technologies to fit the specific size, terrain, and crop needs of their own farms.

    Desrochers noted that holding sessions across both the northern and southern regions of the island made the training far more relevant to participants’ on-the-ground experiences. “Delivering the training in the North and South allowed participants to relate the technical information directly to the conditions they manage on their farms,” she explained. “Irrigation and fertigation systems must be adapted to each site, particularly where terrain, water access and pressure vary. Strengthening farmers’ and extension officers’ capacity to make these adjustments is essential for ensuring that the technologies provided through the project are used effectively and sustainably.”

    Feedback from participating farmers has been overwhelmingly positive. Erbert Lionel, a local farmer who attended the Soufrière session, called the program both engaging and deeply valuable. “On behalf of the farmers, I would like to sincerely thank FAO for helping us better understand these practices and how to combine them to achieve better results,” he said.

    Anderson Emillaire, who participated in the Union workshop, added that the session reinforced existing farming knowledge while introducing innovative new approaches. “We really appreciate the knowledge provided during the session. Even where some of the topics were familiar, it was helpful to revisit them, and we would welcome more training as the project progresses,” he said.

    This crop management training forms one component of a broader FAO technical mission to Saint Lucia. During the mission, FAO specialists joined Ministry of Agriculture officials to visit farms that are already benefiting from the project, to assess progress on land preparation, greenhouse construction, water access development, irrigation needs assessment, and the installation of new project-funded technologies. Farmers also received customized one-on-one guidance on bed layout, contour alignment for sloped terrain, drainage system design, water flow and pressure adjustment, and the placement of mainlines and driplines ahead of upcoming installation work.

    The mission also included an inspection of a recently refurbished biological control laboratory that was commissioned as part of the same overall project. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to strengthen Saint Lucia’s domestic capacity to produce and deploy natural biological pest control agents, as part of the country’s broader push to expand integrated pest management and reduce agricultural reliance on chemical pesticides.

  • If Plastic Pouches are Banned, What Will Replace It?

    If Plastic Pouches are Banned, What Will Replace It?

    As a broad coalition of environmental and community groups pushes for a gradual three-year national ban on single-use plastic pouches, Belize’s top sustainability official has outlined the significant regulatory and economic barriers that must be overcome before the policy can move forward. Sustainable Development Minister Orlando Habet acknowledged growing public and organizational pressure to eliminate the ubiquitous single-use plastic items, which are a major contributor to marine and terrestrial plastic pollution across the Caribbean nation. But in recent comments, he made clear that policymakers are still grappling with unresolved challenges that have derailed previous efforts to transition away from conventional plastic packaging.

    Back when Belize first implemented formal biodegradability standards requiring plastic products to contain at least 52% biodegradable material, regulators moved faster than regional supply chains could support, Habet explained. The policy was crafted without first verifying whether alternative biodegradable inputs would be readily accessible for local and regional manufacturers, leaving the market unable to meet the new requirements. Today, the core obstacle remains a regional supply gap, he noted: without neighboring nations adopting similar restrictions on single-use plastics, there is little incentive for regional manufacturing industries to scale up production of biodegradable alternatives, keeping supplies scarce and prices high in Belize.

    Long-term, Habet said Belize could build a domestic biodegradable packaging industry using locally sourced, renewable raw materials such as bagasse (the fibrous byproduct of sugarcane processing), bamboo pulp, and plantain suckers. But developing this homegrown sector would require years of investment, infrastructure building, and market development to create a viable, affordable supply that can meet current demand for low-cost packaging. Minister Habet also echoed a concern widely shared by Belizean residents and small business owners: millions of consumers currently rely on low-cost single-use plastic pouches for affordable, portable drinking water, and many small entrepreneurs build their businesses around these low-cost packaging options. A premature ban without affordable, widely available alternatives would disproportionately harm low-income households and small business operators, he argued.

    The coalition of more than 40 organizations backing the ban has put forward a phased roadmap for implementation: the restriction would first take effect in all government buildings, then expand to public and private schools across the country, before moving to a full nationwide ban within three years. So far, the Belize Department of the Environment (DOE) has adopted a cautious approach, noting that it is still in the process of consulting with 36 major plastic importing companies to understand industry perspectives and potential impacts. Department officials have emphasized that the question of banning single-use plastic pouches is not a simple binary yes-or-no decision; rather, it is a complex policy process that requires broad stakeholder consultation and careful preparation to avoid unintended negative consequences for consumers and businesses.

  • West Indies aim to seal series victory against Sri Lanka

    West Indies aim to seal series victory against Sri Lanka

    Fresh off a dominant innings-and-217-run triumph in the opening Test of their head-to-head against Sri Lanka, the West Indies men’s cricket side has set its sights on completing a clean sweep when the second match gets underway this Friday at the iconic Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in Antigua.

    In a pre-match press briefing ahead of the first day of play, West Indies skipper Roston Chase projected unshakable confidence, noting that the side’s sole priority is locking in consecutive Test victories to close out the series. “Holding a 1-0 lead going into this second match, the only outcome we’re chasing is another win to wrap up the series and claim our first ever series victory in the ICC World Test Championship,” Chase explained. “That’s the goal that’s pushing every single one of the guys right now. I know the entire squad is confident and eager to take the field and put in our best performance for the region.”

    When asked about potential adjustments Sri Lanka could make to turn the tide of the series, Chase made clear the West Indies camp is staying focused on internal improvement rather than overanalyzing the opposition. “I can’t say for certain what changes Sri Lanka will make, and honestly, that’s not something we’re wasting energy worrying about. Our focus is leaning into our strengths, building on what worked so well for us in the opening Test, and fixing the small areas where we fell short. At the end of the day, the only performance we can control is our own.”

    Chase also drew motivation from the West Indies’ long-standing undefeated home record against Sri Lanka: the side has never dropped a Test series to the South Asian nation on home soil, but has not claimed a Test series win against Sri Lanka since 2003. “Securing this win would mean everything to this group,” Chase said. “This would be our first Test series win in the current cycle of the ICC Test championship, and that’s a milestone that would mean a lot after what we went through last year. 2023 was a tough year for us—we didn’t win a single series, or even a single Test match. We’re ready to leave that behind us. Getting a win in our first series of the year to kick off 2024 would be absolutely fantastic.”

    To shore up the side’s bowling unit, the West Indies has added seamer Kemo Paul to the match squad as an injury replacement cover for paceman Kemar Roach, who is continuing his recovery from a hamstring strain. Chase expressed full confidence that Paul is ready to deliver if called upon to step in. “Kemo has been in excellent form in this year’s four-day domestic championship, where he bowled long, demanding spells and consistently generated pace and movement off the wicket,” Chase noted. “If he gets the opportunity to play, I can’t wait to see him take the field. I’ve played alongside Kemo for years, and he’s a tough competitor who never backs down, no matter how tough the match situation gets. He’s always ready to step up for the team, and I have absolutely no doubt he’ll get the job done if he’s called on.”

    The Test series comes on the heels of the two sides’ limited-overs matches held earlier on the tour: Sri Lanka claimed a 1-0 win in a rain-disrupted three-match ODI series, while West Indies held on to take the T20I series 2-1.

  • Belizean Students in Venezuela to Return Home

    Belizean Students in Venezuela to Return Home

    In the wake of catastrophic back-to-back earthquakes that have left Venezuela reeling from widespread destruction and human loss, the government of Belize has announced plans to repatriate all of its citizens studying in the South American nation. Belize’s Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca confirmed the evacuation order in an official statement delivered Wednesday, noting that all five Belizean students currently enrolled in Venezuelan educational institutions have been confirmed unharmed, but will return to their home country due to the continued hazardous and unstable conditions across the affected regions.

    “This is a profound human tragedy,” Fonseca shared in his remarks. “Our hearts go out to the Venezuelan people who are enduring this unimaginable disaster. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters there, and we are actively coordinating with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to organize and deliver much-needed relief assistance to support response and recovery efforts.”

    Fonseca explained that Belize’s ambassador to Venezuela, Annie Lou Burns, has maintained constant communication with the students alongside teams from Belize’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education to monitor their situation closely. “We have received consistent updates that all of our students are safe and accounted for,” he said. “Nevertheless, given the extremely difficult living conditions across Venezuela right now, we have made the decision that evacuating them back to Belize is the best course of action to ensure their ongoing safety and well-being. We expect them to arrive home in the very near future.”

    As of the latest official update from the Venezuelan government, the confirmed death toll from the earthquakes has climbed to at least 2,295. More than 11,000 people have been reported injured, and an estimated 50,000 people remain unaccounted for in the aftermath of the quakes. While search and rescue operations are still ongoing across the hardest-hit areas, multiple independent observers have raised concerns about the accuracy of the official death count. Forensic investigators, opposition political figures, and United Nations officials have all warned that the actual number of fatalities is likely significantly higher than the figure published by Venezuelan authorities, as rescue teams continue to pull bodies from collapsed buildings and debris fields.

  • Barbados, Guyana launch historic ID Card travel initiative

    Barbados, Guyana launch historic ID Card travel initiative

    Starting July 1, a new historic milestone in regional integration has come into force for two Caribbean nations: Barbados and Guyana now allow their respective citizens to travel between their borders using ICAO-compliant digital national identification cards as valid travel documents, eliminating the mandatory requirement for a passport for most eligible travelers.

    The launch of this bilateral initiative was marked by a ceremonial inaugural travel on Caribbean Airlines flight BW 0217, which carried senior government and immigration officials from Guyana to Barbados to mark the occasion. The official delegation included Barbados’ Senator Jonathan Reid, Minister of Innovation, Industry, Science and Technology (MIST), Barbados Chief Immigration Officer Margaret Inniss, and Guyana’s Deputy Chief Immigration Officer Stephen Telford, a Senior Superintendent of Police.

    Minister Reid outlined that the agreement, first negotiated between Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Guyanese President Dr Irfaan Ali, progressed from negotiation to full implementation in less than six weeks, a timeline he called remarkably efficient. He emphasized the collaborative work between his ministry and Guyanese authorities to align technical systems, share critical verification infrastructure, and standardize identity checking protocols to bring the leaders’ shared vision of easier cross-border movement to life. Calling the launch “a really exciting moment,” Reid noted that the cross-agency partnership laid the groundwork for broader regional expansion of the program.

    Chief Immigration Officer Inniss explained that the new system operates seamlessly alongside existing immigration protocols, streamlining the travel experience for ordinary citizens while maintaining strict border security. While it is a bilateral pilot initiative between the two countries, Inniss stressed that the program directly advances the broader free movement goals outlined in Article 45 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the foundational agreement governing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) bloc. “First of July 2024 is a historic moment indeed, a change that helps to integrate full free movement in accordance with Article 45,” she stated.

    The initiative includes specific caveats for travelers to ensure ongoing compliance. For Barbadian travelers under the age of 16, a valid passport remains mandatory for cross-border travel between the two countries. All travelers, regardless of age or nationality, are also advised to carry their passports as a secondary document, in the event that an airline diverts a flight to a third country that is not part of the bilateral ID travel agreement.

    Deputy Chief Immigration Officer Telford echoed his Barbadian counterparts’ enthusiasm for the initiative, noting that it represents a transformative shift for Guyanese travelers who previously needed a passport to enter Barbados. “Today is a significant day for Guyana. This is an exciting time for Guyana, and this is so wonderful to know that you can travel with a card from Guyana to Barbados and back, if you don’t have a passport,” he said. Addressing concerns over identity fraud, Telford confirmed that the approved digital ID cards include the same level of embedded security features as traditional passports. Hidden security markers can be detected using standard verification equipment used by immigration officials, allowing for fast, reliable authentication of document validity.

    To ensure a smooth travel process, officials have reminded all passengers of mandatory pre-departure requirements: all travelers must complete both the Guyana Embarkation/Disembarkation Form, accessible via the Guyana Police Force’s official portal, and the Barbados Online ED Card via Barbados’ official travel form website, before departing for their trip. Officials also clarified key details for filling out these forms: the document number requested on immigration forms is not the national ID number printed on the card, but a separate identifier located on the front of the ID card below the embedded chip, with Guyanese identifiers starting with a letter followed by a sequence of numbers.

    In closing, Inniss and Telford urged eligible Barbadian and Guyanese citizens to take advantage of the simplified travel process for upcoming trips between the two nations. They also extended an invitation to other CARICOM member states to join the initiative, advancing the regional bloc’s decades-long goal of establishing full free movement of people across all member borders.

  • The Belize-Guatemala ICJ Ruling Nears to ‘Settle the Unfounded Claim’

    The Belize-Guatemala ICJ Ruling Nears to ‘Settle the Unfounded Claim’

    As Central America stands on the cusp of ending one of its longest-running territorial disagreements, Belize is calling for national unity ahead of an upcoming binding judgment from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that will finally settle Guatemala’s long-contested territorial claim over Belizean territory.

    The decades-long dispute between the two neighboring Central American nations is now approaching a historic, peaceful conclusion, according to Belize’s top diplomat. Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca emphasized that national solidarity is critical in the period leading up to the ICJ’s final ruling, particularly as Belize prepares to mark 45 years of independence in 2026.

    “In the next two years, we expect this decades-long issue to be permanently resolved and laid to rest through a peaceful, diplomatic process,” Fonseca stated. “Once and for all, we will settle this unfounded claim.”

    Just days before Fonseca’s remarks, both Belize and Guatemala took a key step toward cementing their commitment to a peaceful outcome. During the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly held in Panama, the two governments signed a joint declaration that reaffirmed their pledge to respect and implement the ICJ’s final decision. Both nations agreed the court’s ruling will be final and legally binding, and formally requested that the OAS continue supporting ongoing confidence-building initiatives between the two countries until the judgment is publicly delivered.

    While the ICJ’s upcoming decision will stand as one of the most defining milestones in the modern history of both Belize and Guatemala, Fonseca stressed that the unity and resilience of Belize’s people remain the nation’s most valuable asset as it approaches this turning point. “Our people are the greatest strength of our country,” he added, urging continued national cohesion through the final stages of the diplomatic process.