Carib Scope

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  • Simons in overleg met Lula over economie, veiligheid en infrastructuur

    Simons in overleg met Lula over economie, veiligheid en infrastructuur

    On May 28, top diplomatic talks between Suriname President Jennifer Simons and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took place in Brazil’s capital Brasília, marking a key milestone in advancing bilateral cooperation between the neighboring South American nations. The meeting, hosted at the Palácio do Planalto — Brazil’s official presidential working headquarters — opened with full ceremonial honors for Simons, who is currently on an official state visit to the country.

    Diplomatic preparations for this high-level encounter stretch back several months, laying solid groundwork for the wide-ranging talks held this week. The two leaders first met on the sidelines of the Belém Climate Summit in November 2025, where they established an initial framework for expanded collaboration across multiple priority sectors. Following that introductory meeting, foreign ministry teams from both nations continued behind-the-scenes diplomatic work to finalize the agenda for Simons’ official visit and advance concrete cooperative agreements.

    Discussions between the two presidents covered a broad spectrum of strategic topics aligned with Suriname’s stated development priorities. Core agenda items included enhanced cross-border security, expanded economic cooperation, agricultural development, energy sector collaboration, large-scale infrastructure projects, increased bilateral trade and investment, joint countermeasures against transnational crime, defense partnership, public safety improvement, and coordinated social policy development. Simons has previously emphasized that closer ties with Brazil will bring critical support to Suriname’s ongoing economic, agricultural, and social development efforts, while strengthening security along their shared border.

    A high-profile delegation of senior Surinamese ministers joined President Simons for the visit, including Melvin Bouva, Raymond Landveld, Diana Pokie, Mike Noersalim, and Uraiqit Ramsaran. Beyond bilateral issues, the two sides also exchanged views on a range of regional and global governance matters. These included coordination within the Organization of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (OTCA), implementation of the Brasília Consensus, and cooperation through major regional blocs such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Organization of American States (OAS). Talks also addressed advancing deeper integration between South America and the Caribbean, strengthening global multilateralism, and upholding the central role of the United Nations in international affairs.

    This meeting reaffirms the shared commitment of both nations to deepening their long-standing partnership, building on the preliminary diplomatic progress achieved in recent months. Officials from both sides expect the outcomes of the talks to deliver tangible benefits to communities in both countries, while advancing stability and integration across the broader South American region.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Welcomes Aisha Hinds for Culinary Month

    Antigua and Barbuda Welcomes Aisha Hinds for Culinary Month

    Antigua and Barbuda’s 2026 Culinary Month, a month-long celebration of the nation’s rich food culture and community spirit, has received a major boost from a high-profile visit: acclaimed international screen star Aisha Hinds has touched down on the twin islands to take part in the festivities, infusing the season of gastronomy and cultural celebration with fresh star power and amplified Caribbean pride.

    Widely recognized across the globe for her gripping, memorable performances across hit film and television projects, Hinds quickly embraced the signature warm hospitality that defines Antigua and Barbuda during her stay. She immersed herself fully in the destination’s layered culinary traditions, bold local flavors, and the innovative work of the islands’ food community — all elements that have steadily cemented the nation’s reputation as one of the Caribbean’s top culinary travel spots.

    Hinds’ visit aligned perfectly with the lineup of marquee events held across the archipelago throughout Culinary Month. Highlights of the celebration included carefully curated collaborative chef pop-ups that pair local culinary talent with international guests, as well as the widely anticipated FAB (Food, Art & Beverage) Fest, one of the season’s centerpiece attractions.

    Across all events, attendees had the opportunity to sample authentic traditional Antiguan and Barbudan dishes, view dynamic displays of local cultural heritage, enjoy immersive live entertainment, and take part in hands-on interactive culinary workshops. Each activity was designed to shine a spotlight on the twin islands’ distinct, vibrant cultural identity and their fast-growing footprint in the global Caribbean food tourism landscape.

  • Defending Rally Barbados champs set to compete following accident

    Defending Rally Barbados champs set to compete following accident

    One week after a dramatic, rollover crash at a pre-event shakedown competition, defending Rally Barbados champions Kyle Gregg and co-driver Kreigg Yearwood are confirmed to line up for the start of BICIC Rally Barbados when the iconic motorsport event kicks off this Friday with the Riddara Bushy Park Super Special stage.

    Rumors had swirled in local motorsport circles over whether the pair would be able to compete, after widely circulated footage of their high-speed crash at last Sunday’s First Citizens King of the Hill event showed their vehicle overturn and sustain severe chassis damage – though both competitors walked away from the incident completely unhurt. Sources close to the team have confirmed to Barbados TODAY that rapid repair work on their Ford Fiesta Rally2 has proceeded on schedule, clearing the way for their entry.

    Rally director Neil Barnard confirmed the updated entry list in an interview with Barbados TODAY following the mandatory pre-event competitor briefing on Wednesday, adding that another driver involved in last weekend’s crash, Jamaica’s Frasier McConnell, will also compete after sourcing a replacement ride. McConnell will pilot a R5-spec Skoda Fabia this year, stepping in for his heavily damaged original Mitsubishi Evolution that was written off in the Sunday rollover.

    Beyond the last-minute entry adjustments, this year’s running of Rally Barbados brings back a fan-favorite format that hasn’t been featured on the event calendar in years: mixed day-and-night stage action. Barnard explained that through the event’s first 15 years, it was standard to run a marathon 12 to 15-stage Saturday schedule that extended well into the evening, before organizers shifted to an all-daylight format with only limited Friday night competition. For 2024, organizers are revisiting that classic format without reviving the punishing 10 to 12 hour full-day grind, adding a small set of twilight stages to Saturday’s running to bring back the unique skill challenge of after-dark rallying.

    Organizers are projecting record crowds to turn out across the island for the weekend’s racing, and Barnard shared his top picks for spectator viewing locations across all three days of competition. For Saturday’s running, Barnard highlighted the Automotive Art Padmore stages as an unbeatable option for fans, noting the large open areas south of Bushy Park offer free unrestricted access and ample convenient parking for spectators. On Sunday, multiple accessible vantage points avoid the congestion and road access issues common at popular stages, with the corridor between Cherry Grove and Culleton ranked among the best. Areas around Easy Hall and Malvern also offer solid viewing, but Barnard said the event’s closing Sunday stage – which runs from Three Houses to a finish line inside the Bushy Park circuit, directly ahead of the awards podium ceremony – offers the most comfortable experience for casual fans.

    Last Sunday’s King of the Hill pre-event, which served as a warm-up for many competitors, crowned Britain’s Joe Cunningham and co-driver Kari Bates overall champions, with Suleman Esuf and Asif Suleman taking the top spot in the two-wheel drive class.

    With defending champs Gregg and Yearwood recovering from their crash, a deep competitive field including 2024 class champions Stuart Maloney and Kristian Yearwood, and the withdrawal of leading two-wheel drive contender Roger Mayers, Barnard says this year’s event is one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. “It’s one of the most open rallies that we’ve seen, whether it’s for outright runners, four wheel drive or two wheel drive competitors, and I think that it’s going to be closely fought,” he explained.

    Forecasters are calling for dry conditions across the rally route, a factor that should level the playing field for all competitors, but even with that clarity Barnard says predicting a winner is far from certain. “The weather forecast is for a dry rally, which is a good thing, but honestly, you’d be a brave man to bet on who’s going to win,” he concluded.

  • 2026 UWI Games return with official opening last week

    2026 UWI Games return with official opening last week

    After a years-long pause, one of the Caribbean’s most anticipated regional inter-university sporting competitions has made its official comeback. The 32nd edition of the UWI Games, held under the unifying theme “Reunited, Reignited, Ready,” opened its gates on Friday, May 22 at The University of the West Indies’ St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago, drawing more than 600 student-athletes from across the institution’s global network of campuses.

    The opening ceremony blended longstanding tradition with vibrant Caribbean cultural celebration, kicking off eight days of competitive action and community connection. The event kicked off with a lively parade of participating campus teams, where athletes marched into the venue proudly bearing their campus colors, while cheering supporters filled the space with rhythmic music, energetic dancing, and enthusiastic chants that set an electric tone for the games. Hosted by the St. Augustine Campus, the ceremony also featured curated cultural performances arranged by the campus’ Department of Creative and Festival Arts, which showcased the rich diversity of Caribbean musical talent, artistic creativity, and centuries-old regional heritage. Following parade and performances, the ceremony culminated in the traditional torch lighting, with Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles formally declaring the games open by unveiling the UWI Challenge Trophy.

    The feature address at the ceremony was delivered by Jehue Gordon, a UWI alumnus, World Championship gold medalist, and former Olympic finalist, who drew on his own experience balancing elite athletic training with rigorous academic coursework during his time at the university. Gordon shared the unique challenges student-athletes face, recalling the grind of leaving exhausted from lecture halls still heading to hours of training, chasing athletic greatness while navigating the demands of university life. He emphasized that the value of the university experience extends far beyond a degree, noting that UWI gave him a formative environment to build character, lasting relationships, self-discipline, and a broader global perspective, and provided a supportive community that believed in his potential long before the international sporting world knew his name. He encouraged all competing student-athletes to leverage their participation in the games as a pathway to building core life skills including discipline, leadership, and resilience.

    Vice-Chancellor Beckles framed the return of the UWI Games as a clear demonstration of the institution’s enduring commitment to integrating student development through both academics and athletics. This year’s games coincide with the 10th anniversary of UWI’s Faculty of Sport, a milestone that Beckles highlighted as a transformative shift for student-athletes: “Students, you no longer have to choose between being an athlete and an academic.”

    The 2026 games also mark two historic firsts for the regional competition: this is the first time the relatively new UWI Five Islands Campus will field a team, and the Global Campus is sending its largest delegation in the history of the event. Speaking on behalf of the organizing committee, Derek Chadee, Acting Campus Principal of St. Augustine and chair of both the local and regional organizing committees, welcomed all participants and emphasized that this year’s event is more than a simple resumption of the competition after years of disruption—it is a full renewal of a beloved regional tradition. Chadee also recognized the tireless work of organizers, coaches, support staff, and athletes themselves who worked to preserve the Caribbean’s legacy of sporting excellence through the games.

    Additional remarks were delivered by Dr. Roy McCree, Ronson Hackshaw, and Vedanand Hargobin, who spoke on behalf of UWI’s student leadership body. Hargobin stressed that the return of the games fills a critical gap in student life across the entire UWI system, noting that the most meaningful takeaways from the event will extend far beyond medal counts and final scores. “The memories created here will not only be about medals and scores. They will be about friendships, pride, laughter, rivalry and the feeling of being part of one Caribbean university,” he remarked.

    Over the eight days of competition, athletes will vie for top honors across ten distinct sporting disciplines: cricket, football, basketball, lawn tennis, swimming, table tennis, hockey, volleyball, track and field, and netball. Beyond competitive play, the 2026 games also integrate a community outreach component: on May 26, student-athletes hosted a sports clinic for children at a local children’s home, designed to provide mentorship, fundamental sports skills development, and positive intergenerational connection between UWI athletes and young community members.

    For fans unable to attend in person, all competition action is being streamed live via UWItv digital platforms, and entry to all in-person events remains completely free for UWI students, staff, alumni, and members of the general public to ensure broad access to the regional celebration.

  • Grenada’s rooftop solar promise deserves a harder look

    Grenada’s rooftop solar promise deserves a harder look

    Grenada’s newest political actor, the Democratic People’s Movement (DPM), has centered its recent electoral appeal around a bold, voter-friendly climate and energy policy: universal rooftop solar installations for every household across the island, marketed with zero upfront costs, guaranteed lower monthly energy bills, and a cleaner, more economically resilient national future. On its surface, the proposal aligns with widespread public support for expanding renewable energy and cutting household energy costs, but political analyst Michael Derek Roberts argues that the missing granular details in the campaign’s messaging undermine its credibility, leaving critical questions unanswered ahead of any potential implementation.\n\nThe first and most pressing unaddressed question, Roberts notes, centers on financing. While the DPM touts a $0 upfront cost for households, this marketing framing does not mean the installations themselves are free. If residential customers are not covering the initial capital outlay, that cost must fall to another stakeholder: the national government, a third-party lender, the public utility, an external private investor, or ultimately the general public through hidden taxes, new regulatory fees, or increased baseline electricity rates. Campaign communications conveniently omit this core part of the plan, but actionable energy policy requires clarity around who bears financial risk. Roberts points out that DPM leadership, led by veteran politician Peter David, is well-aware of these gaps; David, a seasoned political operator, has a track record of packaging polished spin and obfuscation as straightforward, voter-focused facts.\n\nA second critical gap is the lack of clarity around operational feasibility. Rooftop solar is not an untested concept in Grenada: the island already has regulatory frameworks for residential self-generation and net metering, which allow households to earn credit for excess energy they send back to the main grid. This existing infrastructure means small-scale expansion is technically achievable, but technical viability for a handful of projects does not translate to workability at the universal scale the DPM promises. Rolling out solar panels to every household would require coordinated, large-scale investment across multiple sectors: mandatory structural roof inspections to confirm suitability, streamlined permitting processes, mass customer enrollment campaigns, close coordination with the national utility, and almost certainly major upgrades to Grenada’s aging electricity grid to accommodate distributed energy generation. None of these logistical requirements or associated costs are mentioned in the DPM’s campaign slogans, leaving the entire universal rollout claim unmoored from on-the-ground reality.\n\nThe DPM’s guarantee of lower monthly energy bills for all households also fails to hold up under scrutiny, Roberts argues. It is true that a properly sized, well-structured rooftop solar system can cut monthly energy costs for Grenadian households, where most electricity is still generated by expensive imported fossil fuels. But actual savings depend on a wide range of variable factors: a household’s total energy consumption, the size of the solar system installed, the value of net metering export credits, whether a home has battery storage for excess power, and the utility’s existing tariff rules. If a system is undersized for a home’s needs, financed under unfavorable terms, or poorly installed, promised savings could end up being minimal or nonexistent for many households. In short, the general claim that solar can lower bills is plausible, but a blanket guarantee of savings for every household is unsupported by the realities of residential energy generation.\n\nThe DPM’s pledge to reach every household and every community highlights how the party’s political messaging has outpaced actual policy development, Roberts notes. A credible national rollout of universal solar would require a fully costed implementation roadmap, a dedicated financing body to manage the program, clear eligibility rules for consumers, and a public timeline for deployment. It would also need to confront long-standing structural inequities across Grenada: not every residential roof is structurally suitable for solar panels, not every household meets credit requirements to participate in zero-upfront programs, and different communities start with vastly different existing infrastructure and economic resources. This means the core policy question is not whether Grenada should expand solar energy — a goal that enjoys broad cross-party support — but how to prioritize access, what terms participation will follow, and how much public subsidy will be directed to low-income households. All of these critical details are missing from the DPM’s current campaign pitch.\n\nThe DPM has also framed small businesses as key beneficiaries of the plan, noting that commercial operations that run primarily during daylight hours can directly consume the power their rooftop panels generate, unlocking immediate savings. Roberts acknowledges that this benefit is real for many small businesses, but again, the lack of detail leaves critical questions open. The relevant policy question is not whether businesses can save money with solar, but how much those savings will be, how quickly businesses will see a return on their (or the program’s) investment, and who will absorb the upfront capital costs if businesses do not. Too often, political campaigns frame energy savings as an automatic outcome of installing solar, but in practice, consistent savings only come from carefully structured contracts and a phased, well-managed rollout.\n\nAt its core, the DPM’s solar plan aligns with a widely shared, legitimate national goal: both the party and current Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell have repeatedly emphasized that Grenada needs to cut its costly dependence on imported fossil fuels and make household electricity more affordable. But Roberts stresses that voters should not mistake polished campaign graphics for a complete, actionable policy blueprint. If the DPM wants to build credibility around its proposal, it must release full, transparent details to the public: total projected program costs, average cost per residential installation, the level of public subsidy that will be allocated, loan repayment terms for zero-upfront models, the expected impact on utility rates and grid reliability, and a clear implementation timeline. Until those details are published, Roberts concludes, the DPM’s universal rooftop solar plan will remain what many pre-election campaign promises are: an attractive, directionally popular proposal that is far too incomplete to be considered a serious policy.\n\n*Disclaimer: This content represents the opinion of contributor Michael Derek Roberts. NOW Grenada does not take responsibility for contributor statements or analysis.*

  • You Are Paying More for Gas, Food and Electricity

    You Are Paying More for Gas, Food and Electricity

    For working households across Belize, the financial squeeze of cost-of-living growth tightened further in April 2026, as across-the-board increases in fuel, food, and electricity pushed the nation’s annual inflation rate to 2.9 percent, new official data shows.

    The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, published by the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), documents a clear upward shift in consumer prices: the overall index climbed from 119.6 in April 2025 to 123.1 in April 2026. When broken down by spending category, the data reveals transportation costs far outpaced all other sectors, with the surge directly tied to widespread fuel price increases across the country.

    Among fuel products, diesel recorded the most dramatic jump, soaring 26 percent year-over-year to reach $14.68 per gallon in April 2026, up from just $11.66 per gallon a year prior. Regular gasoline followed with a 15.7 percent increase, while premium gasoline prices rose by 11 percent compared to April 2025.

    For millions of Belizean families already stretching budgets to cover basic daily needs, rising grocery bills added additional strain. The SIB reports that prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 2.6 percent year-over-year, with double-digit increases recorded for multiple staple goods. Stew pork saw a nearly 14 percent jump, while whole fish prices rose 9.4 percent and beef steak climbed 9.3 percent. Sugar notched one of the largest increases among groceries, surging 19.3 percent from April 2025 levels, and produce also grew far more expensive: limes, a common cooking staple across the country, rose by 29.2 percent.

    Higher utility and household energy costs also contributed significantly to the overall inflation growth. The broad “Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels” category saw a 2 percent year-over-year price increase, driven by two key factors: new higher electricity tariffs implemented at the start of 2026, and rising liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices for cooking. The average cost of a standard 100-pound cooking gas cylinder rose from $127.63 in April 2025 to $136.47 this year, a nearly 7 percent increase.

    Additional sectors saw modest but noticeable price growth last month: restaurant and café prices ticked upward, and healthcare costs rose 3.3 percent year-over-year, pushed by higher fees for doctor consultations, increased prescription medication prices, and more expensive medical procedures.

    Inflation levels varied across Belize’s municipal regions. Orange Walk Town recorded the highest regional inflation rate at 4.2 percent, while Belize City saw the lowest annual price increase at 2.4 percent, according to the SIB data.

  • Belize and Mexico Working to Resolve Fishermen Dispute Near Border

    Belize and Mexico Working to Resolve Fishermen Dispute Near Border

    A circulating video capturing a verbal standoff between Belizean and Mexican fishing crews over access to a contested northern border water fishing zone has brought a long-simmering maritime disagreement into public view, though diplomatic channels are already working to de-escalate tensions.

    Andre Perez, the elected representative for Belize’s Rural South constituency, clarified in a public statement that while low-level friction persists between the two groups of fishermen, the conflict has not turned violent or escalated beyond the localized dispute. The core of the disagreement centers on a small uninhabited island located in the shared boundary waters between the two nations, according to Perez.

    Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already initiated official contact with Mexico’s embassy based in Belize to open collaborative negotiations aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solution, Perez confirmed. A notable point of context that eases diplomatic progress, he noted, is the deep, centuries-long social and familial connections between communities on both sides of the border – including Belize’s coastal San Pedro Town and Mexico’s adjacent border town of Xcalak.

    Despite the current disagreement, relations between the neighboring communities remain amicable, Perez emphasized. “It’s not heated. We are amicable not only at the diplomatic levels, but the people of Xcalak and San Pedro, we get along,” Perez said. “We travel there. People go there. They come here.”

    Even so, Perez pointed to two key underlying drivers of the increasing friction that cannot be overlooked. The primary factor is the steady decline of commercial fish stocks in the shared border waters, a resource that local fishing communities on both sides depend on for their livelihoods. “The fish is getting scarce. That is something that is real,” he stated.

    A secondary factor shaping the current dynamic is Belize’s binding marine conservation commitments under the global 30-by-30 initiative, which the country advanced through its landmark Blue Bond financing arrangement. Those commitments require stricter management of protected marine areas, which has altered traditional access patterns for fishermen in the border region.

    As of May 28, 2026, negotiations remain ongoing, with both national governments working to preserve cross-border community ties while addressing the resource and management challenges driving the current dispute.

  • RGPF responds to allegations raised in Parliament

    RGPF responds to allegations raised in Parliament

    In a public statement issued from the Office of the Commissioner of Police, the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) confirmed Wednesday, May 27, 2026, that it has been formally notified of widespread allegations claiming hotel workers across the island have faced sexual abuse at the hands of foreign visitors. The allegations were first brought to public attention during an official sitting of Grenada’s House of Parliament, prompting law enforcement to address the matter directly. To date, no formal written or official complaint has been filed with the RGPF regarding these claims. Even so, the department stressed that all allegations of sexual violence and exploitation are treated with the utmost gravity, regardless of whether a formal complaint has been submitted. The force has made a public commitment to launch full, transparent, and thorough investigations into any claim of this nature that is officially brought to its attention. To advance any potential inquiry into the allegations, the RGPF is actively urging members of the public, including current and former hotel staff, witnesses, or any other individual with relevant information that could support an investigation, to reach out to authorities immediately. Tips can be submitted through multiple accessible channels: the dedicated Criminal Investigations Department hotline at 440-3921, the national 911 police emergency line, or by visiting any local police station across the country. This announcement comes as allegations of workplace sexual misconduct in Grenada’s key tourism sector have raised growing concerns over worker protections, highlighting the need for formal reporting and law enforcement action to address potential gaps in safety for hospitality employees. Disclaimer: NOW Grenada does not assume responsibility for the views, statements, or third-party content shared by contributors. Individuals can report abusive content via the platform’s designated reporting channel.

  • PRESS RELEASE: OECS launches second call for proposals for window 2 of the Regional MSME Matching Grants Programme

    PRESS RELEASE: OECS launches second call for proposals for window 2 of the Regional MSME Matching Grants Programme

    The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission has opened a second round of funding applications for Window 2 of its regional micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) matching grants program, rolling out new collaborative growth opportunities for the blue economy across three Eastern Caribbean nations: Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

    Officially launched via a virtual event on May 22, 2026, this funding window is specifically tailored to support registered Value Chain Groups operating in three core blue economy sectors: fisheries, coastal tourism, and waste management. Eligible groups can access grants between $100,000 and $150,000 to scale operations, boost productivity, embed more sustainable practices, and expand inclusive economic opportunity across the region’s blue economy.

    The initiative is implemented as part of the broader Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) project, and builds on the proven success of Window 1, which has already delivered tangible improvements to the operations and livelihoods of individual MSMEs across the OECS region.

    Kyle Garnes, senior grants advisor at UBEC/OECS, emphasized that collective collaboration between small businesses is the cornerstone of the program’s design. “Value Chain Groups are central to the success of the OECS Regional MSME Matching Grants Programme because they empower MSMEs to collaborate, strengthen market linkages, and create greater value across the OECS Blue Economy,” Garnes explained. “By working together, MSMEs can improve competitiveness, build resilience, and unlock sustainable growth opportunities that no single enterprise could achieve alone. Collaboration is how we transform individual MSMEs into stronger, more connected blue economy ecosystems.”

    For context, a Value Chain Group is defined as a coalition of three or more MSMEs operating within the same industry that partner to strengthen product offerings, improve service delivery, and expand access to regional and global markets. Practical examples include a fisher partnering with a seafood processor and a local restaurant or export business, a waste collection team joining forces with a recycler and a manufacturing firm that uses recycled inputs, or a coastal tour operator collaborating with a local boat captain and small accommodation provider to elevate visitor experiences and expand market reach.

    Program organizers are urging eligible groups to begin preparing their applications without delay, noting that the funding has the potential to drive measurable business expansion, create new local jobs, and strengthen household livelihoods across target communities. Early participants from Window 1 have already shared tangible success stories from their grant support.

    Kasha Ragbersingh, managing director of Glamping Grenada, a coastal tourism enterprise that received Window 1 funding, explained how the grant transformed her business’s sustainability efforts. “We operate in a very harsh environment and water conservation is a very important part of our operations,” Ragbersingh said. “The grant has allowed us to add capacity for an additional 2000 gallons of water – and it’s not just any water, we are literally harvesting rain water. This will allow us to service our pool and our garden area without putting extra strain on the public water system.”

    Cenus Hinds, co-owner of Cariway, a kayaking and paddle board tourism business based in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, reported similar benefits. Hinds noted that his small business lacked key safety infrastructure before receiving the grant: “One of the things that we did not have before is a support vessel that would follow the kayaks along or would follow the paddle boards, but when we got the grant that was one of the major things we wanted. The grant enabled us to get a 14 foot dingy and we were able to get an electric engine,” he said.

    To qualify for Window 2 funding, applicant groups must meet a clear set of eligibility requirements. All groups must be legally registered and actively operating in one of the three eligible countries, structured as a Value Chain Group with a minimum of three member MSMEs, and active in the fisheries, coastal tourism, or waste management sectors. Additional requirements include official business registration documentation, a minimum two-year operating track record supported by two years of financial or bank statements, fewer than 50 total employees across the group, combined annual revenue below $1 million, a demonstrated commitment to growth, innovation, sustainability and job creation, verifiable market demand for their offerings, and no business activities that cause significant environmental harm.

    Proposals will be evaluated based on criteria including alignment with program goals, innovative approaches, potential for scalability, long-term environmental and social sustainability, positive environmental impact, and projected benefits to the regional MSME sector.

    The OECS Commission is specifically encouraging participation from a diverse range of stakeholders, including independent entrepreneurs, cooperative groups, women-led businesses, youth-led ventures, and emerging blue economy innovators, to take advantage of the opportunity to build stronger regional collaboration through value chain partnerships.

    Full details on the second call for proposals, application guidelines, and submission instructions are available on the official Window 2 Matching Grants webpage at https://bit.ly/4dh0ZX9. General inquiries can be sent to [email protected], and completed applications should be submitted to [email protected].

  • Consumers Losing Confidence in Economy

    Consumers Losing Confidence in Economy

    New data from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) confirms that Belizean consumer confidence extended its steady downward trajectory through April 2026, marking another month of growing pessimism about short- and long-term economic outlooks across most of the country. The national Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) fell 3.7 percentage points from 45.7 in March to 44.0 in April, a decline that SIB analysts trace to fading optimism about both 12-month macroeconomic conditions and individual household financial stability.

    Breaking down the CCI into its core subcomponents reveals stark differences in how consumers assess current versus future economic conditions. The Expectations sub-index, which captures consumer outlooks for the coming year, suffered the sharpest decline, plummeting 7.7 points from 54.6 in March to 50.4 in April. Meanwhile, the Present Conditions sub-index, which measures how consumers rate current economic and household finances compared to 12 months prior, fell a more moderate 5 points, dropping from 43.2 to 41.0 over the same period.

    Against this overall gloomy trend, the survey recorded one small bright spot: attitudes toward large household purchases improved marginally. The Durable Goods sub-index, which tracks willingness to commit to big-ticket buys like home appliances, furniture and motor vehicles, rose 3.3 points from 39.3 in March to 40.6 in April, suggesting consumers are slightly less hesitant to make major spending commitments than they were last month.

    Geographically, the decline in confidence was far from uniform across Belize’s districts. Stann Creek recorded the most dramatic drop, with its CCI plummeting 14.1 points from a relatively optimistic 51.9 in March to 44.6 in April. SIB analysts attribute this steep decline to sharply worsening views of current local economic conditions and fading hope for improvements in personal finances over the coming year.

    In a notable exception to the national trend, Belize District was the only region to post an increase in consumer confidence last month. Sentiment there rose 4.4 points, climbing from 44.5 in March to 46.5 in April, with all three subcomponents of the index recording improvements to drive the overall gain.

    Demographic breakdowns of the survey data also reveal significant gaps in sentiment across gender, age and ethnic groups. Male consumer confidence fell 4.6 percent in April, more than double the 2.1 percent decline recorded among female respondents. Among age cohorts, consumers aged 25 to 34 saw the largest drop in confidence, with their index falling 10.5 percent month-over-month. Conversely, consumers aged 55 and older reported a notable improvement in sentiment, with their confidence index rising 7.6 percent.

    By ethnic identification, people who identify as Mestizo or Hispanic recorded the steepest decline in confidence, with their index falling 11.8 percent in April. At the same time, consumers of Mayan descent posted the largest improvement in sentiment, with their confidence rising 5.1 percent over the March reading.