Carib Scope

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  • Tributes pour in for Kesi Fevrier after her death in Canada

    Tributes pour in for Kesi Fevrier after her death in Canada

    A promising young Saint Lucian woman, Kesi Fevrier, has died tragically in Ottawa, Canada, leaving multiple community and educational institutions across two countries in mourning, with condolences pouring in for her loved ones.

    Fevrier, a native of the Saint Lucian community of Mon Repos, was discovered deceased at a private residence on Guigues Avenue in the Canadian capital on August 22. Even after relocating to Canada to build her life abroad, Fevrier remained deeply connected to her roots and stayed actively engaged with the Saint Lucian diaspora, her former institutions and community peers recalled.

    Fevrier cut her academic teeth at two prominent Saint Lucian educational institutions: Saint Joseph’s Convent, where she graduated as part of the 2015 senior class, and the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC), where she completed her Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) studies between 2015 and 2017. Beyond her academic work, Fevrier was an enthusiastic participant in campus life, serving as an active cheerleader throughout her time at SALCC.

    In an official public statement shared to its Facebook page, SALCC confirmed its grief over the passing of one of its former students. “The Sir Arthur Lewis Community College mourns the tragic passing of Kesi Fevrier, a former CAPE student of the College,” the statement read. “We extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, former classmates, and all those who knew and loved her.”

    Saint Joseph’s Convent, Fevrier’s alma mater for secondary education, also released a statement honoring her memory and offering support to her loved ones. “The Saint Joseph’s Convent community mourns the passing of our past student, Kesi Fevrier, Class of 2015,” the school shared. “We offer our sincere prayers and condolences to Kesi’s family and friends in Canada and at home. May she rest in eternal peace.”

    This latest loss marks an especially painful stretch for the Saint Joseph’s Convent community: Fevrier is the second former student the institution has lost in just four months to an alleged case of femicide. In May, the school community was already reeling from the death of 24-year-old Joy St. Omer, another former graduate who died violently.

    Beyond educational circles, the Saint Lucian diaspora in Ottawa is also processing the loss. The Saint Lucia Ottawa Association (SLOA), a community organization for Saint Lucians living in the region, confirmed Fevrier was an active contributing member of the association, serving on its Entertainment and Marketing Committee. SLOA President Marshall Celestin remembered Fevrier for her warm demeanor, contagious positive energy, and consistent willingness to step up and support the group and its members.

    “This tragedy has left us with profound sadness, disbelief, and grief,” the association said in a statement. “Words cannot fully express the pain of losing someone whose life held so much promise and whose journey had so much more to offer.” The organization added that Fevrier left a lasting, positive impact on everyone she met, and that her presence will be deeply missed across the entire Saint Lucian community both at home and abroad.

  • PG gelast opsporing Torilal voor moord en andere zware misdrijven

    PG gelast opsporing Torilal voor moord en andere zware misdrijven

    On August 26, Suriname police officially launched a public manhunt for Ryan Kenneth Torilal, a 42-year-old suspect connected to the high-profile disappearance of Rodney Leysner, Chief Commercial Officer of local beverage company Rudisa. The country’s prosecutor-general has ordered the immediate arrest and pre-trial arraignment of Torilal, who faces a slate of serious criminal charges including murder, manslaughter, intentional kidnapping, and participation in a organized criminal enterprise.

    Law enforcement has issued a critical public warning: Torilal is considered armed and an extreme flight risk. The official manhunt order was formally issued on Wednesday, just hours after Ishita Hunte, commissioner of the Police’s Heavy Crime Control Division (BZC), confirmed to reporters during a leadership press briefing that the manhunt process was in its final preparation stages.

    Per the official police warrant, Torilal, who was born in Paramaribo on August 20, 1984, is wanted for a series of felony offenses. Beyond participation in a criminal organization and the murder and manslaughter charges tied to Leysner’s disappearance, he is also suspected of aiding and abetting these crimes, committing aggravated assault with premeditation that resulted in death, unlawful deprivation of liberty, and harboring a criminal.

    The prosecutor-general has released three known residential addresses linked to Torilal, all located in Paramaribo: Galileistraat, Jansteenstraat, and Okerstraat.

    Investigators outlined that the suspect’s status shifted over the course of the probe. Hunte confirmed earlier Wednesday that Torilal was initially questioned as a person of interest, not a formal suspect, in the disappearance investigation. His classification was upgraded to suspect following new developments in the case, a change Hunte said was rooted in “the facts and circumstances at that stage” of the inquiry. She emphasized that police must complete a series of mandatory procedural steps before labeling an individual a formal suspect, and the same regulatory requirements apply to launching a public manhunt.

    Before a public manhunt can be authorized, sufficient evidence tying the person of interest to the crime must be gathered, and consultations with the Public Prosecution Service are required. Internal case review and targeted searches are always conducted before a public appeal for information is launched.

    To date, three other suspects have already been taken into custody and remanded in connection with the Leysner case. On Wednesday, a judge-commissioner formally validated the lawfulness of their detention.

    Suriname police are urging any member of the public with information about Torilal’s current whereabouts to contact the Capital Crimes Division directly at 403645 or 403252, reach the national police Command Center at 115, or visit the closest local police station to share details.

  • Caribbean Music Awards heads home, moves from New York to Trinidad & Tobago

    Caribbean Music Awards heads home, moves from New York to Trinidad & Tobago

    After three successful years hosted at Brooklyn’s iconic Kings Theatre in New York City, the annual Caribbean Music Awards (CMA) is making a landmark move: the fourth iteration of the celebration will take place September 19, 2026, at Port of Spain’s National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Trinidad and Tobago, marking the start of a new long-term vision for the event.

  • Missing Ocean-Monitoring Buoy Recovered in Barbuda as Met Office Warns Against Tampering

    Missing Ocean-Monitoring Buoy Recovered in Barbuda as Met Office Warns Against Tampering

    Authorities from the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service have successfully recovered one of three ocean observation buoys that vanished from its deployment site over the weekend. The recovered device was located along the coast of Barbuda, and inspection confirms it remained nearly undamaged through its unplanned displacement.

    These purpose-built monitoring buoys serve a critical public function: they collect continuous, real-time observational data on multiple key ocean and atmospheric variables, including significant wave height, ocean surface temperature, marine current speed and direction, and near-surface wind conditions. The data gathered by the network directly feeds into improving the accuracy of regional marine forecasts and general weather predictions, while also forming a foundational component of the country’s natural disaster early-warning systems for events like tropical storms and storm surges.

    In the wake of the recovery, the Meteorological Service has issued a formal public appeal. The agency emphasized that the entire buoy network counts as critical national infrastructure, and is asking all commercial mariners, small-scale fishers, and members of the general public to avoid moving, damaging, or tampering with any of the deployed buoys. Additionally, the service is calling on the public to report any suspicious activity involving the monitoring equipment directly to agency officials to prevent future losses or damage to the network.

  • Drie verdachten blijven vast; politie bereidt opsporing Ryan Torilal voor

    Drie verdachten blijven vast; politie bereidt opsporing Ryan Torilal voor

    Authorities in Suriname have confirmed that three suspects arrested in connection with the disappearance of Rudisa Chief Commercial Officer Rodney Leysner will remain in pre-trial custody. On Tuesday, a judge-commissioner validated the legality of their continued detention, marking the latest development in an ongoing high-profile investigation that has captured public attention.

    During a press conference held Tuesday, Eshita Hunte, commissioner heading the country’s Department for Combating Serious Crime (BZC), announced that law enforcement is currently preparing an official nationwide manhunt for Ryan Torilal, who has recently been formally classified as a suspect and remains at large. Hunte emphasized that the investigation is still in a critical, sensitive phase, and authorities are taking strict precautions to prevent premature leaks of information that could compromise the probe or the search for the fugitive. The press conference also marked the first public appearance of Suriname’s police leadership in the service’s new official uniform.

    Addressing the change in Torilal’s case status, Hunte explained that the individual was initially questioned only as a witness, with the classification upgrade to suspect coming as the investigation uncovered new evidence. “This adjustment is entirely based on the facts, circumstances, and the latest progress of the investigation,” Hunte stated, noting that formal suspect status is only granted after all required procedural steps are completed and sufficient evidence has been gathered.

    She added that the nationwide manhunt for Torilal is still moving through required official protocols, including mandatory consultations with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, internal documentation, and preliminary internal search arrangements. “The general manhunt is in development,” Hunte said. “It is only a matter of time before it is officially launched.”

    Hunte also pushed back against persistent unconfirmed rumors circulating on social media in recent days, stressing that investigators have not yet recovered Leysner’s body. What authorities have located is Leysner’s burned-out vehicle, which was recovered earlier in the investigation. Law enforcement continues to keep most details of the case confidential to protect the integrity of the investigation. “If there was any tangible progress toward solving this case, we would be eager to share that update with the public,” Hunte said, adding that police are equally invested in reaching a swift resolution to the case.

    When asked about the potential for international assistance in the investigation, Suriname’s police leadership confirmed that the Suriname Police Corps has not formally requested support from foreign law enforcement agencies to date. However, Hunte noted that Leysner’s family has launched independent initiatives to secure international help, and has maintained regular contact with local police to explore where official support for these efforts can be provided.

  • Police Urge Organizers to Reschedule Major Events During CHOGM 2026

    Police Urge Organizers to Reschedule Major Events During CHOGM 2026

    ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbua – August 26, 2026 – As the Caribbean nation prepares to welcome global leaders for the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has issued a formal public appeal asking event organizers and industry stakeholders to adjust their plans for the end of October and early November. The law enforcement agency is calling on promoters, entertainment planners, and other event hosts to reschedule any large-scale gatherings currently slated to run between October 30 and November 5, the official dates of the upcoming high-profile summit.

    CHOGM, which brings together heads of government from across the Commonwealth bloc, will require a sweeping national security operation to protect all attendees and the general public. To deliver this safety mandate, a large share of the Royal Police Force’s personnel and critical security resources will be reassigned to CHOGM-specific duty for the duration of the event. Even with this rediversion of resources, the force remains obligated to uphold its core day-to-day responsibilities: continuing regular crime prevention work and maintaining essential community policing services across both Antigua and Barbuda.

    Against this resource allocation challenge, police administration is strongly encouraging organizers to hold off on submitting new permit applications for large entertainment and major public events during the CHOGM window. For events that have already been planned, officials are asking stakeholders to defer these gatherings to dates outside the October 30 to November 5 period wherever possible.

    In issuing the appeal, police leadership emphasized that they recognize the outsized social and economic contribution the events and entertainment sector makes to Antigua and Barbuda, and expressed gratitude in advance for the cooperation, flexibility and understanding expected from organizers, promoters and the general public as the nation hosts this landmark international gathering.

  • NSWMA Seeks Public’s Help to Identify Owner of White Skip Bin at Fryes

    NSWMA Seeks Public’s Help to Identify Owner of White Skip Bin at Fryes

    Local waste management officials are reaching out to the general community for help resolving an unusual case involving an unclaimed waste container in the Fryes area. The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), the government body responsible for overseeing waste collection and disposal operations across the region, has confirmed that it is currently searching for the legal owner of a white skip bin that is currently situated at an unspecified location in Fryes.

    Skip bins are large, open-topped waste containers commonly used for construction debris, household cleanouts, and commercial waste removal, typically placed on private property or approved public locations when rented by a property owner or contractor. In this instance, NSWMA representatives have not reported any issues with the placement of the bin itself, but have stated that no registered owner has come forward to claim ownership or confirm the bin’s legal placement.

    The authority has issued a public notice urging any local residents, business owners, or contractors who may have information about the skip bin — including who placed it there, who rented it, or who holds legal ownership — to come forward with their details. Officials note that public collaboration will be critical to quickly resolving this matter, ensuring that waste management protocols are followed, and avoiding any unnecessary disruptions or safety concerns for the Fryes community. The NSWMA has expressed its gratitude in advance for the public’s willingness to cooperate and share information to assist with this process.

  • GFNC launches hypertension management programme to empower communities

    GFNC launches hypertension management programme to empower communities

    Grenada’s public health landscape has gained a critical new tool to combat one of the country’s most pressing chronic health challenges, with the official launch of the Enhancing Self-Monitoring and Nutrition Awareness for Hypertension Management Programme by the Grenada Food and Nutrition Council (GFNC). This targeted community-focused initiative is designed to empower local residents with the practical knowledge, hands-on skills, and essential resources to take proactive control of their blood pressure levels and build long-term healthy daily habits. Backed by funding from the Pump It Up! Initiative run by Grenada Cooperative Bank Ltd., the programme advances GFNC’s long-standing core mission to expand public nutrition education and improve outcomes for people living with non-communicable diseases across the island nation.

    Hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, continues to be a leading public health concern in Grenada, contributing to widespread risk of cardiovascular and other chronic conditions. A key barrier to effective at-home management for many local residents has been limited access to reliable blood pressure monitoring equipment, a gap this new programme directly addresses. To remove this obstacle, all participants who complete the full 4-week curriculum will receive a professionally validated blood pressure monitor to keep at home, alongside a curated collection of heart-healthy recipes and dedicated logbooks to track regular blood pressure readings. Beyond these initial resources, participants will also gain access to ongoing follow-up guidance and peer and professional support to help them maintain the positive lifestyle changes they adopt throughout the programme.

    The curriculum combines multiple evidence-based approaches to hypertension management, integrating interactive nutrition education, live cooking demonstrations, guided lifestyle modification planning, and hands-on training in regular blood pressure self-monitoring. Each week of the programme focuses on actionable practical skills: sessions cover evidence-based strategies for cutting excess sodium intake, methods to increase daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, guidance for managing healthy portion sizes, and training to easily interpret and understand nutrition product labels. The first in-person session was already completed successfully in the St Patrick region, with upcoming sessions already scheduled to roll out across Petite Martinique, St Mark, and St John in the coming weeks.

    Aligned with the World Health Organization’s HEARTS technical package for cardiovascular disease management, the new programme directly advances two of the six core HEARTS components: Healthy-lifestyle counselling and Systems for blood pressure monitoring. Through these aligned components, the programme supports participants to make intentional, informed decisions about their daily diet, physical activity routines, and overall lifestyle habits, while equipping them with the tangible tools needed to track their blood pressure consistently over time.

    Representatives from GFNC have expressed sincere gratitude to Grenada Cooperative Bank Ltd. for its funding support through the Pump It Up! Initiative, and issued a public call to all Grenadians to prioritize their heart health by learning their blood pressure numbers, evaluating their daily food choices, adopting sustainable healthy habits, and taking personal control of their long-term well-being. Residents interested in learning more about the programme and GFNC’s broader work can visit the council’s official website at https://gfnc.gov.gd/about-us/ or follow its social media channels via https://linktr.ee/473GFNC for ongoing updates.

  • Crown seeks to revoke Shiver’s bail in murder conspiracy case

    Crown seeks to revoke Shiver’s bail in murder conspiracy case

    A high-profile legal proceeding unfolded this week in the Bahamas, where former Georgia beauty queen Lindsay Shiver returned to a Bahamian court to fight prosecutors’ bid to revoke her bail. Shiver, who faces a conspiracy to commit murder charge alongside two local men, Terrance Bethel and Faron Newbold Jr., is accused of plotting to kill her husband Robert Shiver back in July 2023, and prosecutors argue she has repeatedly violated the strict terms of her pre-trial release.

    The hearing, held before Senior Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson, centered on persistent issues with Shiver’s court-ordered electronic monitoring equipment, which is a core requirement of her bail agreement that allowed her to return to the United States to await trial. A representative from Migrafil, the private monitoring firm contracted to oversee Shiver’s location tracking, took the stand to outline the long-running issues the company has faced with her monitoring devices.

    The witness testified that multiple monitoring devices assigned to Shiver experienced malfunctions over the course of several months. According to their testimony, problems with Shiver’s monitoring can be traced back to December of last year, when Shiver notified the company that she could not attend a scheduled device servicing appointment at the firm’s designated service location in Miami, Florida. The witness confirmed that Migrafil offered to replace Shiver’s malfunctioning device back in December, but Shiver declined to travel to Miami at that time.

    Defense attorney Terrel Butler pushed back against prosecutors’ claims that Shiver deliberately violated her bail terms, arguing that equipment malfunctions are a common issue in the electronic monitoring industry, and that technical failures do not equal intentional non-compliance. Butler explained that Shiver was unable to travel to Miami for the December servicing appointment because she had a separate pre-scheduled court matter in the United States that barred her from making the long trip. By May of this year, the Migrafil representative confirmed the company had made three separate attempts to arrange device servicing, but all fell through before a replacement was finally completed.

    Butler also told the court that Shiver was unable to check in with the monitoring company in May because she was suffering from an illness. When the replacement eventually took place, the swap was conducted inside a vehicle in a U.S. post office parking lot, a far cry from the designated Miami location. The defense added that even for this ad-hoc appointment, Shiver had to drive more than five hours to reach the meeting spot while sick with a summer flu. The Migrafil witness acknowledged they could not confirm Shiver had made any deliberate attempt to evade monitoring, and also could not say whether the mobile service provider responsible for the swap could have arranged a closer meeting location for Shiver.

    This is not the first time Shiver has faced threats to her bail. Earlier in 2024, she briefly lost her pre-trial release after prosecutors alleged she had repeatedly left the state of Alabama in violation of a court-ordered travel restriction. The current conspiracy charge stems from an alleged plot to kill Robert Shiver on July 16, 2023. Authorities have said they first uncovered the alleged plot after seizing a mobile phone during a separate, unrelated criminal investigation on Guana Cay. Shiver was granted bail last year and allowed to return to the U.S. under strict monitoring conditions, a decision that has been contested by prosecutors throughout the pre-trial process. Karine MacVean represented the prosecution in this week’s hearing.

  • Inversiones Calpe installs bollards at Playa Encuentro property following court rulings

    Inversiones Calpe installs bollards at Playa Encuentro property following court rulings

    In the coastal town of Cabarete, located in Puerto Plata province of the Dominican Republic, a long-running legal conflict over land rights and public beach access has entered a new phase: private investment firm Inversiones Calpe, S.R.L. has begun installing concrete bollards along the boundaries of what it confirms is its privately held parcel at the popular surf destination Playa Encuentro.

    Led by U.S. investor Lance B. Lundberg, the company has emphasized that all construction work is taking place strictly within its registered property lines. The bollards, company representatives explain, are only intended to block unauthorized vehicle and foot traffic that has historically cut across the private land to reach the beach. Far from cutting off public access to the shoreline, Calpe notes that the project leaves intact the court-recognized public access route that all visitors can use to reach the beach. To accommodate beachgoers, the firm has even set aside part of its land for public parking, added public restrooms, outdoor showers, and on-site security for visitor convenience.

    Beyond property protection, Calpe frames the boundary installation as an environmental conservation measure. By redirecting all public traffic to the designated public route, the work will cut down on unregulated vehicle passage through ecologically fragile coastal habitats, helping to preserve the area’s sensitive natural ecosystem, the company says.

    All of the current work aligns with a series of binding Dominican court rulings dating back to late 2024. In a decision issued April 30, 2025, the Fifth Chamber of the Superior Administrative Court (TSA) ordered that Calpe be allowed to fence and mark the boundaries of Parcel 1-Ref-13, Cadastral District No. 2 of Puerto Plata, without interference from any government bodies. The ruling also required state institutions to remove misleading signs placed on the private property that incorrectly directed beach traffic across the land, and correct incorrect directional signage in surrounding areas. The court explicitly stated that public access to the beach’s public-domain section should not use Calpe’s private land, as a formal public right-of-way already exists for that purpose.

    The legal dispute originated with an earlier TSA ruling issued November 13, 2024, which first ordered state agencies to end interference with Calpe’s property rights and correct misleading access signage. When compliance stalled, the court issued a follow-up ruling on April 10, 2026, finding that two key agencies—the Ministry of Tourism and the Dominican Navy—had failed to comply with the 2025 order for 213 days, between June 24, 2025 and January 22, 2026. The court imposed cumulative daily penalties (called astreinte) totaling RD$213,000 to be paid jointly by the two agencies, gave them 30 days to achieve full compliance, and increased the daily fine for future noncompliance to RD$1,500. This 2026 ruling also explicitly banned the Ministry of Tourism and Dominican Navy from entering the private property without explicit permission from Calpe.

    Calpe further confirmed that the Third Chamber of the Dominican Supreme Court of Justice rejected appeals filed by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources challenging the 2025 TSA ruling, in a decision dated December 18, 2025, numbered SCJ-TS-25-4322.

    According to Calpe, the current bollard and fencing project simply fulfills the rights granted to the company by these binding court decisions. The work’s core goals are to clearly mark the private parcel’s boundaries, deter unauthorized trespassing, and direct all beach visitors to the court-authorized public access route. The company has issued a public call for both government authorities and beach visitors to respect two equally important principles: the public status of the majority of Playa Encuentro, and the private property rights that have been repeatedly upheld by Dominican courts.

    A broad group of Dominican government institutions have been involved in the dispute, including the Ministry of Tourism, the Committee for the Execution of Tourism Zone Infrastructure (CEIZTUR), the Dominican Navy, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, and the National Environmental Protection Service (SENPA).