Carib Scope

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  • Alexander Whittaker Leads 2026 National Road Race Champions

    Alexander Whittaker Leads 2026 National Road Race Champions

    The 2026 edition of Antigua and Barbuda’s National Road Race wrapped up Sunday, with local cyclist Alexander Whittaker earning the prestigious national champion title at the Top Ranking Ltd Individual Road Race. Though overall race victory went to Grenadian visitor Abbiel Fleming, who crossed the finish line after an intense 2 hours 37 minutes and 51 seconds of racing, Whittaker claimed national honours as the highest-ranked domestic competitor from Antigua and Barbuda.

    The one-day event did not just crown the elite senior men’s national champion, with titles awarded across a wide range of age and skill divisions to accommodate riders of all backgrounds. In the masters categories, which cater to experienced veteran competitors, Jason Adams secured the top spot on the podium in the Masters A division, while Vaughn Gomes took home the championship jersey in the closely contested Masters B category. Up-and-coming amateur competitor Tiger Tyson outpaced rivals to claim victory in the Sports Class division.

    Youth competitors also took centre stage during the event, showcasing the depth of emerging cycling talent across Antigua and Barbuda. In the juvenile ranks, Elite Thomas delivered a standout performance to win the division title, while D’Jani Richards earned the national champion crown in the cadet category. After hours of competitive racing across all divisions, event organizers brought the day to a close by extending recognition to every rider who participated, praising their dedication, athleticism and commitment throughout the challenging race.

  • NHC tenants ‘deserve better maintenance’ as ownership awaits – Rowe

    NHC tenants ‘deserve better maintenance’ as ownership awaits – Rowe

    During a Tuesday sitting of Barbados’ House of Assembly, Deputy Speaker Neil Rowe delivered a impassioned plea on behalf of long-term tenants of state-owned National Housing Corporation (NHC) accommodations, calling for fairer treatment as the body considers a historic bill that would transfer property titles to decades-long occupants.

    Rowe, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for St. Michael North West, threw his full support behind the State Acquisition and Vesting of Property Number 2 Bill — legislation that would grant full home ownership to 224 tenants who have occupied NHC-constructed units for extended periods. But while he hailed the bill as a transformative step for working families, he did not hold back criticism of the NHC’s longstanding failure to maintain properties in his constituency, even as tenants continue to fulfill their monthly rent obligations.

    “For many of my constituents, this bill is life-changing,” Rowe told the chamber. He shared that multiple households in his district have resided in their NHC terrace homes for 20, 25, even 30 years, turning these government-built units into deeply rooted community spaces. “Within those walls they raised children, cared for their elderly parents, celebrated birthdays, mourned loved ones and built strong communities. These are not merely buildings, they are homes,” he emphasized.

    The deputy speaker went on to outline the daily frustrations faced by his constituents, saying he feels profound distress that long-time tenants are still paying rent decades after moving in, yet cannot get even basic repair work completed. When residents reach out to the NHC’s central depot to request fixes for broken windows, damaged doors or leaking roofs, they are routinely turned away with the excuse that no funding is available for repair materials or labor.

    Rowe’s criticism extended to questions about financial accountability at the state-owned housing agency. “My question to the general manager and the management at the National Housing Corporation [is]: what is the National Housing Corporation doing with the rent that is being collected by tenants living in these units for more than 20 years, but still paying rent to the corporation?” he asked. He also called for transparency around how taxpayer funding allocated to the NHC is being used, noting that the problems affect hundreds of residents across four communities: Rosemont, Fernihurst, Deacon’s Farm and Golden Acre.

    Calling the ongoing situation a profound injustice, Rowe said constituents face an uphill battle every time they request basic upkeep, despite decades of consistent rent payments. “I take serious offense to things like this. I think it is a great injustice being done to my constituents that they are still paying rent to the corporation, but when it comes to maintenance and getting things done, it is very challenging, and sometimes seems like an uphill battle,” he said.

    In response to Rowe’s concerns, Minister of Housing Christopher Gibbs acknowledged that the NHC has fallen short on both customer service and maintenance response times. He committed to institutional changes to address the gaps, announcing plans to launch a dedicated rapid response maintenance unit within the Ministry of Housing, paired with a modernized web-based customer service portal that will let tenants submit and track repair requests far more efficiently.

    “We are going to be erecting a rapid response unit within the ministry,” Gibbs said. “We are going to tie that to an upgraded customer service platform that will be web-based…. The truth is we have to get with the times and upgrade our customer service so that our tenants and clients live in dignity.” The new unit, he added, will formalize tenants’ right to a timely and appropriate resolution whenever maintenance issues arise, bringing an end to long wait times and unaddressed requests.

  • Burning Flames frontman recovering in hospital after health scare

    Burning Flames frontman recovering in hospital after health scare

    The music world is awaiting updates on beloved Burning Flames band leader Sir Clarence “Oungku” Edwards, who is currently in recovery at Antigua’s Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre. The iconic performer was admitted to the facility this Tuesday after an unexpected medical event prompted urgent care.

    In a small sign of reassurance to fans, a photograph of Edwards has circulated alongside announcements of his hospitalization, capturing the frontman with a characteristic smile from his hospital bed. The warm image has offered a glimmer of comfort to followers who have shared well wishes across social media platforms since news of his admission broke.

    As of the latest updates, medical officials and representatives for the musician have not released any additional information about what led to his admission, nor have they shared specifics about the severity of Edwards’ condition or a projected timeline for his discharge. Fans and community members across the region continue to send messages of support, hopeful for a full and speedy recovery for the celebrated band leader.

  • Number of people living with cancer in DA is ‘alarming’, Dr. Velda Wade says

    Number of people living with cancer in DA is ‘alarming’, Dr. Velda Wade says

    In a stark warning delivered at the Dominica Cancer Society’s Annual General Meeting, held recently at the UWI Global Campus, medical practitioner Dr. Velda Wade has sounded the alarm over a growing public health crisis in the small Caribbean nation. Dr. Wade revealed that roughly 300 people across Dominica are currently living with a cancer diagnosis – a statistic that carries extraordinary weight for a country with such a limited population.

    The recorded cases cover every stage of the disease, she explained: from patients still awaiting confirmation of their diagnosis, to those actively undergoing chemotherapy treatment, individuals in remission, and patients receiving end-of-life care. Given the profound physical, emotional and financial strain that cancer places on healthcare systems and families alike, Dr. Wade emphasized that this caseload qualifies as an epidemic for Dominica.

    Calling the situation both dangerous and devastating, Dr. Wade framed the rising cancer burden as a wake-up call for the entire country. She added that the issue extends far beyond Dominica’s borders, noting that uncontrolled cancer rates are a shared challenge across the Caribbean region and the entire globe. “This is a nation under attack, a region under attack, a world of trouble,” she stated, challenging every citizen to examine what role they can play in confronting the rapidly growing burden of the disease.

    Citing global research from the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Dr. Wade highlighted that proactive prevention can drastically cut cancer rates. The data shows that as many as 40% of all cancer cases globally are preventable through targeted changes to environmental and infectious risk factors. This statistic, she explained, proves that individual and collective action holds real power to reduce the national cancer toll. Dr. Wade closed by urging greater investment in public health outreach, expanded preventive health initiatives, and coordinated community action to turn the tide on Dominica’s growing cancer crisis.

  • National summer camps to expand to 51 sites

    National summer camps to expand to 51 sites

    Barbados’ annual National Summer Camps initiative is entering a transformative new phase this year, with a major expansion that will see the program hosted at up to 51 locations across the island, welcome roughly 3,500 young participants, and introduce long-requested financial compensation for camp leadership alongside upgraded public safety protocols. Youth and Culture Minister Senator Shane Archer officially launched the 2024 iteration of the program during a Tuesday event held at the Division of Youth Affairs located in Haggatt Hall’s Sky Mall, noting that this year’s redesign was crafted specifically to address feedback and concerns raised by participants and organizers in previous years.

    Archer confirmed that the six-week program will get underway on July 13 and wrap up its activities on August 21. A key change responding to years of repeated requests from program staff is the introduction of stipends for camp directors and assistant directors, a policy the minister framed as a long-overdue recognition of the work put in by camp leadership. “We are reintroducing something that has been asked for… the directors and the assistant directors must have some type of stipend,” Archer explained. In addition to leadership stipends, the government has also allocated funding to cover transportation costs for volunteer staff traveling to and from camp locations.

    Most camp sites will be based at existing primary and secondary school facilities across the island, but the program has added community centers and local churches as alternate venues to accommodate ongoing renovation work at many public school properties. “We are preparing to operate up to 51 camps across Barbados, and we are expecting around 3,500 campers,” Archer said.

    The minister emphasized that the summer camp program is far more than a recreational outlet to keep young people occupied during school break, framing it as a strategic long-term investment in Barbados’ next generation. “This is not simply a programme to occupy young people throughout the summer vacation. We must see this as an investment into our young people,” he said.

    Reflecting that investment, the 2024 program features a dramatically expanded curriculum that covers far more than traditional summer activities. Campers will have access to coursework and workshops in financial literacy, emotional regulation, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), sustainable agriculture, national heritage, cultural arts, online safety, public health and wellness, team sports, and foundational life skills. A brand-new Spanish language immersion track has also been added to the program, developed with financial and logistical support from the Colombian, Cuban, and Venezuelan embassies based in Barbados.

    Beyond daily camp activities, the 2024 calendar will include inter-camp tournaments for sports and creative projects, a sharp increase in guided national heritage tours, a island-wide cultural arts showcase, a national “Make a Book” creative writing project, and a special celebration of International Youth Day scheduled for August 12.

    Safety protocols have also received a major upgrade this year, in response to past concerns. Archer reported that the program has added additional frontline camp personnel, mandated expanded first-aid training for all staff, and contracted private security firms to supplement existing government-provided security at all camp sites. Nutritional access has also been improved: all campers will receive a free daily lunch through the Ministry of Educational Transformation’s school meals program, and additional distribution hubs have been added to eliminate the delivery delays that impacted the program in 2023.

    Registration for the 2024 summer camps opened earlier this year, and already roughly 1,800 young people have secured their spots. Program officials have reminded families that registration remains open, but each camp location has a fixed maximum capacity, so parents and guardians are encouraged to complete registration as soon as possible to avoid being waitlisted.

    Senior Youth Commissioner Elizabeth Bowen highlighted three specialized camp tracks designed for older adolescents aged 15 to 17, including the YES Camp and Camp Employing Minds. Unlike the general camps open to a wider age range, these specialized programs focus on targeted skills development for youth transitioning out of secondary school. “They are the ones which have some targeted age groups. We offer soft skills development and kind of help them start planning their roadmap, as they transition into early adulthood and start to think about their plans for whether it’s tertiary education or entering into the world of work,” Bowen explained. “So I am pleased this year, extremely pleased with the offerings.”

  • Ministry of Agriculture Doubles Summer Internship Programme in 2026

    Ministry of Agriculture Doubles Summer Internship Programme in 2026

    Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Agriculture has marked a major milestone for its youth development initiative, welcoming the largest cohort of summer interns in the program’s history in just its second year of operation.

    Following the overwhelming success of the inaugural 2025 internship program, the ministry has more than doubled its intake capacity, growing from 15 positions last summer to over 30 openings for 2026. This rapid expansion is not a random adjustment: it directly responds to surging student interest in agricultural careers, while advancing the ministry’s long-standing mission to deliver high-impact, real-world work experience that nurtures emerging talent for both the agricultural sector and public service.

    Diversity is a defining feature of this year’s cohort, with participants drawn from 10 secondary and post-secondary institutions spanning both Antigua and Barbuda. Represented schools include Antigua Girls’ High School, Princess Margaret Secondary School, Pares Secondary School, Jennings Secondary School, Clare Hall Secondary School, Ottos Comprehensive School, All Saints Secondary School, Sir Novelle Richards Academy, Barbuda’s Sir McChesney George Secondary School, and the Antigua & Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS), bringing together young people from diverse communities across the twin-island nation.

    One particularly encouraging sign of the program’s early success is the return of seven interns who participated in the 2025 cohort. Their choice to rejoin the program speaks volumes about the transformative positive experience they gained a year prior, and underscores how the internship delivers tangible value: building hands-on technical skills, boosting professional confidence, and helping young people clarify long-term career pathways in agriculture and public work.

    Over the course of the summer, interns will dive into a full schedule of immersive, practical activities designed to introduce them to every corner of the national agricultural sector. A core component of the program will be guided visits to working farms and agricultural facilities across Antigua, giving students on-the-ground insight into daily operations, modern farming practices, and supply chain management. These hands-on experiences are designed to do more than build skills: they aim to foster a deeper public appreciation for agriculture, while helping young people understand the sector’s foundational role in driving Antigua and Barbuda’s national economic and social development.

    Ministry leadership has emphasized its pride in the program’s explosive growth in just two years. By doubling participant numbers and expanding outreach to include schools from more communities across both islands, the institution has reaffirmed its commitment to investing in Antigua and Barbuda’s youth, and cultivating the next generation of leaders who will steer the nation’s agricultural future and public service sector.

    In closing, the Ministry of Agriculture extended a warm official welcome to all new and returning interns, extending its well wishes for an educational, rewarding, and successful summer as the group embarks on this professional development journey.

  • Judge slams delays in prisoner transport to court

    Judge slams delays in prisoner transport to court

    A senior High Court justice has issued a blistering rebuke of persistent systemic delays in Barbados’ judicial system, sparked by repeated late transportation of inmates from Dodds Prison to court hearings. On Tuesday morning, when Supreme Court No. 5 finally gaveled into session just before 11 a.m., Justice Pamela Beckles publicly called out the escalating problem that has thrown court scheduling into chaos for weeks.

    Acting Senior State Counsel Maya Kellman confirmed the entire delay stemmed from the court waiting for the named accused to be transported from the Dodds correctional facility to the Supreme Court complex. In unusually pointed public comments from the bench, Justice Beckles emphasized this issue is not an isolated oversight, but a growing crisis that has disrupted court work across the island’s judicial facilities for an extended period.

    She outlined the steady worsening of the delays: what once was a manageable 10-minute wait has stretched to 30 minutes, and on Tuesday, stretched past an hour after court staff and all other parties had arrived by 9:30 a.m. Justice Beckles added that the logjam is not limited to her courtroom, noting that other courtrooms across the judicial complex were also held up, with some having not yet received their scheduled inmates as of 11 a.m.

    Calling the ongoing disruption unacceptable, Justice Beckles appealed to the senior authorities responsible for prison transportation and inter-agency coordination to intervene immediately to fix the broken system. She expressed hope that bringing public attention to the crisis will push the relevant decision-makers to implement the changes needed to restore timely court proceedings for all parties.

  • Constitutional reform process about to kick off

    Constitutional reform process about to kick off

    Guyana’s ambitious national constitutional review process is poised to open public input this weekend, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall confirmed in an announcement on his weekly social media program “Issues In The News” Tuesday evening. The process, led by the Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC), will kick off with a six-month window for written public submissions, to be followed by in-person public consultations held across every region of the South American nation.

    Under the framework outlined by Nandlall, the public can contribute recommendations via multiple channels: hand-delivered submissions to the CRC Secretariat office located on the Fifth Floor of the CRC building at 211 Camp and Lamaha Street in Georgetown, or emailed submissions sent to the official commission address gycrc2024@gmail.com. All submissions must include valid government-issued identification, Nandlall emphasized, ruling out anonymous input entirely. “This is serious business. If you want to make a contribution to such a nationally important process, then you must be able to say who you are and give us some form of ID, so that we can authenticate and verify who you are,” he explained in remarks Tuesday.

    The public engagement initiative comes amid mounting national and international debate around key governance and electoral issues that have divided Guyana’s political landscape in recent years. Top among the contentious topics are calls to clarify citizenship rules for non-Commonwealth migrants and migrant workers, and debate over whether foreign residents including Commonwealth citizens should be granted voting rights in national elections. The country’s opposition has repeatedly pushed for constitutional amendments to mandate periodic fresh voter registration, a change intended to remove names of deceased people and emigrated citizens from electoral rolls, addressing long-running claims of inflated voter lists and electoral fraud.

    Nandlall confirmed that electoral reform will be a core thematic priority for the review process, including potential changes to the composition of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the process for selecting GECOM’s chairman, and the commission’s jurisdiction over national registration and electoral administration. For decades, international election observation bodies have repeatedly called for an overhaul of Guyana’s voter registration system and a restructuring of GECOM to expand its representative base and resolve persistent political deadlock that has delayed past electoral processes.

    Beyond electoral changes, the CRC will consider a broad slate of additional reform priorities. These include strengthening legal protections for all fundamental rights and freedoms for Guyanese, upholding the specific rights of Indigenous peoples and children, eliminating all forms of systemic discrimination, guaranteeing minority representation in national decision-making, and expanding safeguards for economic, social and cultural rights for all citizens. Other key focus areas include measures to preserve and reinforce the independence of the judiciary, enhance accountability for public funds, and strengthen integrity standards for public office. The commission will also review the functioning of the National Assembly, exploring reforms to boost its capacity and effectiveness as a deliberative lawmaking body, and assess the local government system to identify improvements to its delivery and governance capacity.

    Notably, Nandlall stressed that the listed thematic areas are not exhaustive. Members of the public are welcome to submit recommendations on any constitutional matter that is not explicitly outlined in the public call, including proposals to add new provisions not currently included in the national charter. The attorney general issued a broad appeal for full participation from all segments of Guyanese society, including individuals, community groups, civil society organizations and public and private institutions.

    “This is a process of tremendous public importance. It will impact the type of amendments that we will see in the Constitution when the process concludes. Any responsible person, I think, would want to become part of this process,” Nandlall said, framing the reform process as a historic opportunity for Guyanese to shape the future of their national governance framework.

  • Summer camps seek volunteers as minister warns of decline in community service

    Summer camps seek volunteers as minister warns of decline in community service

    As Barbados prepares to mark two major national milestones – its 60th year of Independence and fifth anniversary as a republic – the island’s government is sounding the alarm over a fading culture of community service, launching a public appeal to young people and private enterprises to revitalize volunteering through the 2026 National Summer Camps programme.

    During the official launch of the initiative at the Division of Youth Affairs’ Sky Mall office in Haggatt Hall on Tuesday, Youth and Culture Minister Senator Shane Archer issued a direct call to action, targeting tertiary students in particular. Drawing on his own experience as a beneficiary of government-funded higher education, Archer stressed that students who have accessed state-supported learning have a unique opportunity to give back to the communities that invested in them.

    “I wanted to use the opportunity to really make a call to the students in the tertiary education system. We really need the volunteers to really step forward and to give back,” the minister said, addressing enrollees at all of Barbados’ leading post-secondary institutions, including the Barbados Community College (BCC), the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute (SJPI).

    Archer’s appeal comes amid growing concern that voluntarism across Barbados has fallen to an all-time low, eroding the long-held community spirit that has defined Barbadian national identity. The minister framed the revival of service culture as a critical national priority, particularly as the country gathers to celebrate its foundational national milestones. “Voluntarism in this country is at an all-time low, and we really need to work together to go back to the community spirit and the spirit that is really Barbadian,” he added.

    Beyond appealing to young prospective volunteers, Archer also extended a call to the island’s private sector to deepen investment in youth development through partnerships with the National Summer Camps programme. He highlighted existing support from major financial institutions including Republic Bank and CIBC, but expressed hope that more businesses would step forward to fill gaps in programme resources. In particular, he noted that the initiative is seeking sponsors to cover essential camp supplies, including branded apparel for participants and volunteer staff.

    “I hope that next year we can have a sponsor who will put their name on the shirts. This is also a call to those in the private sector to really invest into what it is that we’re doing,” Archer said. He added that expanded private sector backing would not only strengthen the current programme but also enable it to expand its reach and deliver more enriching experiences for young campers across the island.

  • Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Records EC$121.6 Million Profit

    Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Records EC$121.6 Million Profit

    Against a backdrop of persistent global economic headwinds, geopolitical friction and shifting trade frameworks that have strained small open economies worldwide, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) has delivered a resilient financial performance for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2026, according to its recently published 2025-2026 Annual Report. The regional central bank recorded a net profit of EC$121.6 million for the fiscal year, alongside a notable jump in foreign reserve assets that has reinforced both the stability of the Eastern Caribbean dollar and the ECCB’s strong underlying financial position.

    Full breakdown of the bank’s balance sheet shows total assets expanded year-over-year to EC$6.68 billion, up from EC$6.14 billion in the prior fiscal cycle. The bulk of this growth came from a EC$503.5 million increase in foreign reserve assets, while domestic assets contributed a more modest EC$40.8 million rise. By the end of the reporting period, total foreign currency reserves hit the EC$6 billion mark, climbing from roughly EC$5.5 billion 12 months earlier. This reserve growth allowed the ECCB to maintain a 97% backing ratio for the Eastern Caribbean dollar, continuing to underpin the long-standing fixed exchange rate of EC$2.70 per U.S. dollar.

    While the institution remained solidly profitable, the 2025-2026 net profit marked a 3.7% (EC$4.7 million) decline from the previous year’s EC$126.3 million earnings. The report notes that higher operating income, fueled by stronger net interest returns and increased earnings from foreign reserve holdings, was partially offset by rising operating expenses, leading to the slight dip in annual profit.

    Total equity of the ECCB also saw robust growth over the fiscal year, rising 7.8% (EC$37.5 million) to reach EC$520.5 million, up from EC$483 million in 2024-2025. This increase included a EC$25.3 million transfer from annual profit to the bank’s general reserve, alongside a EC$12.2 million expansion in other reserves, which incorporates valuation gains linked to the ECCB’s defined benefit pension plan.

    The strong financial performance of the central bank aligns with steady underlying growth across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU), which expanded by an estimated 2.5% in 2025. That growth was driven by a rebound in tourism and sustained large-scale infrastructure investment across the region. Inflationary pressures moderated in the second half of the year, while the regional banking system retained its resilience, boasting strong capital buffers, abundant liquidity and gradually improving asset quality.

    In his foreword to the annual report, ECCB Governor Timothy Antoine emphasized the institution’s unwavering commitment to upholding monetary and financial stability at a time of heightened global volatility. Antoine noted that evolving trade policies, shifting geopolitical alliances and ongoing cross-border tensions have underscored the critical need for prudent macroeconomic governance and coordinated regional cooperation for the ECCU. Looking ahead, the governor reaffirmed the ECCB’s mandate to preserve monetary stability while advancing three core priorities: expanding financial inclusion, accelerating digital transformation, and fostering sustainable long-term economic growth across the union’s eight member states.

    Beyond its annual financial results, the report outlines the ECCB’s bold new 2026-2031 Strategic Plan, branded *“The Big Push: Collective Action for Shared Prosperity in the ECCU.”* The ambitious five-year framework sets a long-term target to double the size of the ECCU’s overall economy over the next decade, with targeted investments and policy support focused on seven key pillars: strengthening food security, expanding access to affordable renewable energy, improving digital and physical connectivity, deepening regional financial markets, investing in human capital development, accelerating digital transformation across the bloc, and building a more diversified, resilient tourism sector.