Carib Scope

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  • Perez: Protect Caye Caulker’s Charm

    Perez: Protect Caye Caulker’s Charm

    In a decisive move to preserve the unique character of Belize’s most beloved coastal communities, the national government announced a six-month moratorium last Thursday on new development approvals and construction for large-scale projects across four high-priority locations.

    The temporary ban applies to any structure that exceeds 45 feet in height or spans more than three floors, and the scope of the restrictions extends beyond just vertical construction. Andre Perez, the area representative for Belize Rural South, confirmed that the policy also includes a freeze on new dock development, part of a wider government effort to curb unchecked overgrowth along the country’s vulnerable coastlines.

    Among the four covered communities, Perez highlighted Caye Caulker as a location of particular concern. The small island is renowned globally for its laid-back, quaint atmosphere that draws millions of eco-tourists and casual visitors each year, and local officials have grown increasingly alarmed at the pace of unregulated large-scale development creeping into the area. “Caye Caulker is very special in terms of the quaintness we want to maintain,” Perez explained in a public address on the policy. “We don’t want to make overdevelopment take over that place and have high-rise buildings overtaking and then we compromise the charm of the town.”

    The moratorium, which was formally approved by the Belizean Cabinet, covers four coastal areas: Caye Caulker Village, Hopkins Village, the Placencia Peninsula, and Sittee River Village. While the restrictions are temporary, they are set to remain in effect while government agencies carry out two key processes: broad public consultations with local residents and stakeholders, and in-depth technical assessments to evaluate the long-term environmental, infrastructural and cultural impacts of high-density and vertical development across these coastal zones.

    Perez added that the temporary pause is just the first step in a broader overhaul of coastal development planning across Belize’s popular island regions. Officials are already drafting similar protective regulations for nearby San Pedro, another top tourist destination that has faced rapid growth in recent decades. “By extension, right now we’re working in the San Pedro plan as well to say enough is enough,” Perez said.

  • GOB Working to Retain Cuban Medical Personnel Amid US Pressure

    GOB Working to Retain Cuban Medical Personnel Amid US Pressure

    Facing mounting pressure from the United States that threatens the future of Cuba’s long-running medical cooperation program in Belize, Prime Minister John Briceño has outlined a two-pronged strategy to shore up the country’s healthcare system, confirming the government is both pursuing alternative recruitment channels and negotiating to keep willing Cuban medical staff in the country.

    In an interview with the local morning program *Open Your Eyes*, Briceño confirmed that Belize’s Ministry of Health has already launched global recruitment drives to prepare for any potential workforce gap that could open if Cuban personnel are forced to leave. The ministry is actively sourcing qualified nurses and physicians from a range of Latin American and Asian nations, including the Philippines, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, to backfill any sudden vacancies across the country’s public health facilities.

    Briceño emphasized that his administration remains committed to retaining Cuban medical workers who have expressed a desire to continue their service in Belize, and is currently working to craft a revised working arrangement that would satisfy Washington’s demands. The United States has drawn widespread criticism for labeling Cuba’s state-organized international medical missions as a form of human trafficking, a characterization that Belize has implicitly pushed back against through its longstanding implementation of direct payment policies.

    Notably, Briceño clarified that Belize has directly compensated individual Cuban medical personnel since the program’s inception, rather than routing payments through the Cuban government, a structure that aligns with US demands for proof that medical workers participate voluntarily. The government’s current goal is to formalize this arrangement in a way that meets US requirements, allowing willing Cuban staff to stay on.

    “We’re working to craft a framework that convinces the Americans that every medical worker here is present of their own free will,” Briceño stated, adding that he remains optimistic about reaching a workable compromise. “I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to work through this issue. I’ve always been a very optimistic person.”

    The standoff highlights the tricky diplomatic balancing act small Caribbean nations like Belize must navigate, as they seek to maintain beneficial bilateral cooperation agreements while avoiding punitive measures from the United States over its long-running sanctions and political pressure campaign against Cuba.

  • IN PICTURES & VIDEO: Fibreglass-reinforced plastic fishing boats for fishermen at Layou

    IN PICTURES & VIDEO: Fibreglass-reinforced plastic fishing boats for fishermen at Layou

    A long-awaited development for small-scale fishing communities in Layou is coming to fruition this afternoon, with a formal handover ceremony scheduled to deliver modern fibreglass-reinforced plastic fishing boats to local beneficiary fishermen at the Layou Fish Landing Site, kicking off at 3 p.m.

    For generations, many fishermen operating out of Layou have relied on aging, less durable vessels that struggle with rough coastal conditions and require frequent, costly repairs. The introduction of fibreglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) boats marks a significant upgrade over traditional wooden craft, offering superior corrosion resistance, longer service lifespans, lighter hull designs that improve fuel efficiency, and better structural stability on open water.

    The initiative, which targets local fishing households that depend on the industry for their primary livelihood, is designed to boost the productivity and safety of small-scale fishermen working in the region. Local community leaders and fisheries development stakeholders are expected to be in attendance at the handover, marking a key milestone in efforts to support the sustainability of Layou’s coastal fishing sector.

  • Marie-Claire Giraud Releases New Single “Honey Honey Baby”

    Marie-Claire Giraud Releases New Single “Honey Honey Baby”

    Acclaimed cross-genre vocalist Marie-Claire Giraud, a Dominican-American artist with a decades-long career spanning multiple performance platforms, has officially unveiled her highly anticipated new solo track “Honey Honey Baby”, which made its global debut on May 29, 2026.

    Crafted with a bold, genre-blending vision, the new single pulls core inspiration from the catchy, harmony-driven sound of 1960s girl-group pop, while weaving in unexpected, sophisticated layers of classical composition, improvisational jazz, and modern contemporary music to create a one-of-a-kind listening experience. The track also features a guest appearance from legendary rock guitarist Vernon Reid, the founding frontman and lead guitarist of iconic rock outfit Living Colour, who jumped at the chance to collaborate with the versatile vocalist.

    In his comments on the partnership, Reid celebrated Giraud’s rare ability to move seamlessly between disparate musical worlds, saying: “Marie-Claire is a vocalist completely at home in the divergent realms of classical, jazz, and pop music. I’m fortunate to contribute to her updated paean to 60’s ‘girl-group’ Pop.”

    This single release is not an isolated project: it serves as the first preview of a larger, full-length upcoming body of work currently in development. The upcoming collection will also include a collaborative track co-written by Giraud and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Harbison, a testament to the artist’s longstanding commitment to breaking down barriers between formal classical composition and accessible popular music.

    Giraud is no newcomer to the global stage, with an extensive performance resume that includes stops at some of the world’s most prestigious venues. She has graced the stage of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall twice, delivered sold-out sets at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater, and performed seven times at the United Nations General Assembly Hall. For years, she has been a fan-favorite jazz soloist at two of New York City’s most iconic jazz venues: Birdland Jazz Club and Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Most recently, she drew industry and audience attention for a well-received album listening event held at Manhattan’s Perelman Performing Arts Center ahead of the single’s launch.

    Her work has already earned widespread critical acclaim, with accolades including the Intercontinental Music Award for Best Original Jazz Song for her track “Chasin’ Rainbows”, and a Silver Award from the Amadeus International Classical Music Competition. Beyond her regular New York City stages, she has performed at a wide range of high-profile institutions and spaces, including the French Consulate in New York, Spotify’s global headquarters, the Barclays Center, and iconic cabaret space 54 Below.

    Beyond its musical innovation, “Honey Honey Baby” carries deeply personal meaning for Giraud, rooted in her transformative journey through the COVID-19 pandemic. The artist shared that during global lockdowns, she began therapeutic work to process long-held childhood trauma, a process that sparked profound personal and artistic growth that reshaped her approach to her work and her voice.

    Giraud’s journey back to her current sound was also marked by significant vocal challenges. Early in her career, she was classified as a contralto, but later developed dysphonia, a vocal condition characterized by persistent hoarseness that threatened her ability to perform. Working closely with acclaimed vocal instructors Anthony Manoli and David L. Jones, Giraud underwent years of rehabilitative work that allowed her to reclaim her soprano range, a breakthrough that forms the emotional core of her new release.

    Reflecting on the years of struggle and growth that led to “Honey Honey Baby”, Giraud said in a statement: “I have come through the fire and triumphed over insurmountable odds. This song is proof of that, it’s pure joy, and it’s time the world heard it.”

    As she kicks off the rollout for her new single and continues work on her upcoming full-length project, Marie-Claire Giraud continues to build her reputation as one of the most versatile and boundary-pushing vocal artists working today, expanding her reach across classical, jazz, pop, and rock circles alike.

  • Sir Hilary Beckles joins colleagues in mourning death of Sir Aziz Hadeed

    Sir Hilary Beckles joins colleagues in mourning death of Sir Aziz Hadeed

    The wider community of the University of the West Indies (UWI) is mourning the loss of Sir Aziz Hadeed, KCMG, CBE — a prominent Antigua and Barbuda-based businessman, public servant, and lifelong education advocate — with top regional leaders and university colleagues sharing tributes to his decades of service and transformative impact.

    In separate official statements released by UWI Five Islands Campus and the central Office of the UWI Vice-Chancellor, leaders outlined the profound legacy Sir Aziz leaves behind, particularly through his unwavering commitment to expanding educational access across the Caribbean region and driving national and regional development.

    A well-respected figure across public and private spheres, Sir Aziz held multiple senior public roles throughout his career: he served as a former Independent Senator, a former Cabinet Minister, and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps for Antigua and Barbuda. When UWI Five Islands Campus was formally established in August 2019, Sir Aziz was selected as the campus’ very first Council Chairman. He won reappointment for a second term in 2024 and held the leadership position up until his passing.

    Throughout his tenure, Sir Aziz steered the young campus through some of its most critical formative moments. His leadership guided the institution through its 2019 official launch, the unprecedented operational disruptions brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the negotiation of a landmark $80 million development partnership with the Saudi Fund for Development, secured in 2023.

    Under his strategic governance, the campus achieved explosive growth: student enrollment has surged from just 173 students in its inaugural academic year to more than 1,400 enrolled students today. Sir Aziz remained actively engaged in campus leadership up to his final days, chairing the March 2026 Council meeting themed “Building Beyond Borders.”

    UWI Vice-Chancellor Hilary Beckles highlighted that even in the relatively short time Sir Aziz led the campus council, he emerged as one of the university system’s most passionate and effective advocates across the Caribbean. “Within the short time span of graduation cycles, Sir Aziz Hadeed secured a reputation as a solid and passionate champion of The UWI’s mandate in Antigua and Barbuda, and beyond,” Beckles said in his statement.

    Beckles added that Sir Aziz moved quickly to lay strong, sustainable operational foundations for the Five Islands Campus Council, bringing clear strategic direction to all governance decisions and actions for the growing institution. Beyond his professional contributions, Beckles emphasized that university leadership held deep personal respect for Sir Aziz’s values and character.

    “Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, Professor C. Justin Robinson, and I came to respect and celebrate him as a lover of education who relished in the academic development of the youth. We admired his commitment to social justice and his passion for philanthropy. His impact on the University culture was considerable. We all benefited from his wisdom and friendship. We shall miss his mind and his calming manner,” Beckles noted.

    On behalf of the entire UWI system, Beckles extended sincere condolences to Sir Aziz’s family, friends, and colleagues, noting that the Caribbean region will continue to honor his transformative contributions and enduring legacy. “Together we shall celebrate the outstanding contributions of his life. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.

  • San Pedro Hospital Delayed but “No Failure Here”

    San Pedro Hospital Delayed but “No Failure Here”

    A major public healthcare infrastructure project in Belize’s San Pedro Town is grappling with unforeseen setbacks, pushing completion back more than a year and stretching costs far past the original budget, according to local authorities. But despite the challenges, the project is moving forward, with officials emphasizing the long-term value of the facility for the island community.

    Slated to become the second-largest hospital in Belize—only trailing the national Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in size—the 37,000-square-foot facility is funded by a development grant from Taiwan (Republic of China) and built by Taiwan-based contractor Overseas Engineering Construction Company (OECC), a firm that has previously delivered public works projects including road upgrades in the Sarteneja region of Belize.

    Local area representative Andre Perez told reporters that the project has deviated sharply from its initial timeline, which originally targeted completion between December 2025 and January 2026. Today, due to widespread labor shortages across San Pedro’s booming construction sector, the projected opening has been pushed back to early 2027.

    “The labour force has been hard to get, and we all know that the construction industry here in San Pedro is booming,” Perez explained, noting that competition for skilled and unskilled construction workers has driven daily wages for the project’s crew far above $100, a expense that was not included in the original budget projections.

    Labor shortages are not the only strain on the project’s finances. Global market volatility tied to ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East has sent prices for core construction inputs—including cement, steel, aggregate materials and fuel—soaring far higher than forecasts made when the project was first planned. These combined pressures have already pushed total costs past the original $33 million grant allocation.

    Perez pushed back against circulating claims that the project has accumulated a $15 million overrun, calling that estimate exaggerated, and noted that officials have not yet settled on a final updated total cost. Negotiations over additional funding are currently ongoing between the government of Belize and the Taiwanese grant partners, he added.

    Rejecting claims that the delays and cost increases represent a failure of project management or contracting, Perez stressed that nearly all headwinds facing the project stem from global and local economic factors outside the control of any involved party. “There’s no failure here,” he said.

    Perez reaffirmed that construction never halted and will continue through to full completion, with no plans to scale back the scope of the facility. A visit from Taiwan’s ambassador to Belize to inspect the construction site is scheduled for June 2026, to review progress and discuss ongoing funding arrangements.

  • Bolivia versoepelt regels noodtoestand te midden van aanhoudende onrust

    Bolivia versoepelt regels noodtoestand te midden van aanhoudende onrust

    LA PAZ, BOLIVIA – In a move that reshapes the executive branch’s emergency powers amid ongoing nationwide unrest, Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has formally revoked a law that previously set strict parameters and limits on the declaration of national states of emergency. Official government gazette confirmed the revocation on Wednesday, a change that streamlines the process for the Paz administration to enact emergency measures when facing public instability.

  • World Food Programme donates technology equipment to strengthen social services systems in Dominica

    World Food Programme donates technology equipment to strengthen social services systems in Dominica

    In a marked step forward for digital transformation of social services on the Caribbean island, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has officially handed over a critical shipment of technological equipment to Dominica’s Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services. The donation, delivered during a formal ceremony held at the ministry’s conference room and attended by representatives from the government, WFP, and local beneficiary agencies, is designed to upgrade the country’s social protection infrastructure and data management capabilities.

    The core allocation of devices, earmarked to support the government’s newly launched Social Welfare Information Management System (SWIMS), includes 12 desktop computers, one laptop, and three tablets. Beyond the national ministry’s allocation, an additional 22 tablets and two desktop computers have been distributed to village councils across the island through a coordinated effort between the Information System Support Unit (ISSU) and the Office of Disaster Management (ODM).

    Ayisha Richards, WFP Programme Assistant at the organization’s Caribbean Multi-Country Office Dominica Satellite Office, framed the donation as part of a sustained commitment to boosting Dominica’s capacity to serve vulnerable communities and respond to crises. “Together, these contributions support a broader goal: building stronger, more responsive, and shock-ready systems to better serve communities across Dominica,” Richards said. “WFP is proud to stand with the Government in this effort, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration to strengthen resilience and improve lives. This handover reflects our continued commitment to supporting Dominica in strengthening digital social protection systems and empowering institutions both on the national and community levels.”

    Local technology officials echoed that sentiment, emphasizing how digital upgrades will improve transparency and operational speed at the local level. Austin Lazarus, a computer analyst with the ISSU, noted that the new devices will complement existing digital tools already rolling out across village governance, including the Payment Conversion and Accounting System (PCAS), a platform that digitizes payment receipt tracking for local councils. “We have been supporting the councils through the PCAS primarily, which is basically a system that allows digital conversion of receipt of payment, which has been very impactful to the councils as well as the ministry and auditing,” Lazarus explained. “So with the use of the tablets, the councils will definitely be more enhanced and more efficient in their reporting, et cetera. So we’re very much grateful for this donation and ISSU is very much in partnership and in support of this movement.”

    Permanent Secretary Kyra Paul explained that the new equipment fills a critical gap as the ministry works to modernize its social services administration through the SWIMS platform. “Most recently, we have developed what we call the SWIMS, which is the Social Welfare Information Management System, a tool that will help with improvements and enhancements to our service delivery, introducing innovation and digital technology into the management and administration of our programs under the Social Services Department,” Paul noted. “Obviously, these pieces of equipment will help us in expanding our digital infrastructure. And of course, it’s an opportune time to demonstrate the kind of partnership that we’ve established with the ISSU Computer Center, under the Ministry of Finance, and with the ODM.”

    Paul also highlighted the joint development of another critical digital tool, the DECHA form, a consolidated multi-stakeholder data collection instrument created to capture accurate information on households and individuals affected by natural disasters and other emergencies. The tool was successfully piloted during a recent weather event, Paul confirmed, proving that coordinated data collection improves targeted service delivery for communities in crisis. “Fortunately, with the support of WFP as well, we were able to develop the DECHA form, which is a consolidated multi-stakeholder data collection tool to collect information on households and affected individuals post shock,” Paul said. “We were able to pilot the DECHA during the recent trough and it demonstrates that when we pull resources together for data collection, the targeting of services can improve and it can be more effective because it actually meets the specific needs of our clients.”

    Honourable Dr. Cassandra Williams, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services, formally thanked WFP for its longstanding partnership with Dominica’s social sector. “We thank you so much on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services for your partnership. You’ve been a partner to the Government of Dominica. You’ve helped us in so many ways and you have stuck with us and we are very grateful for that,” Williams said. She emphasized that upgrading tools for frontline social workers and welfare officers directly translates to better outcomes for vulnerable families: “When we strengthen the tools and systems used by our social workers and welfare officers, we strengthen our ability to reach families faster, respond more efficiently, and provide care with greater dignity and effectiveness.”

    The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to continuing collaborative work with WFP and other international development partners to expand and refine Dominica’s social protection systems and public services for all residents.

  • CARICOM Condemns US Actions on Cuba

    CARICOM Condemns US Actions on Cuba

    On May 27, 2026, the Caribbean Community’s Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) delivered a forceful rebuke of the United States’ recent tightening of economic and trade sanctions against Cuba, marking a major show of regional pushback against Washington’s long-standing policy toward the island nation.

    In an official statement released following the body’s latest deliberations, COFCOR emphasized that the 60-year U.S. embargo on Cuba has already inflicted widespread, sustained harm to Cuban households and local livelihoods across the country. The newly expanded restrictions, which include disruptions to Cuban fuel imports, have now pushed the country into a full-blown humanitarian emergency, the council argued. COFCOR reaffirmed Cuba’s sovereign right to import critical energy resources, and labeled the U.S. obstruction of these supplies as an unjustifiable violation of both fundamental human rights and the principles of free global trade.

    Beyond the economic and humanitarian impacts, regional leaders also sounded a urgent alarm about recent public discourse hinting at potential U.S. military action against Cuba. The council stressed that any act of military aggression targeting the island would send shockwaves through the entire Caribbean region, unraveling years of collaborative work to maintain the Caribbean’s status as an internationally recognized Zone of Peace. “Cuba poses no threat to any nation,” the statement reiterated, pushing back against narratives framing the country as a security risk to other hemispheric powers.

    Notably, the declaration did not receive unanimous backing from all 15 CARICOM member states. While the vast majority of bloc members endorsed the critical statement, two nations — Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago — chose to reserve their official positions on the text, revealing a small degree of internal division within the regional bloc over how to address tensions between the U.S. and Cuba.

    The rebuke comes as diplomatic friction over Cuba policy has reignited in the Caribbean, where many regional governments have long opposed the U.S. embargo as a violation of international law and a barrier to regional economic integration. COFCOR’s statement adds to growing global pressure on the United States to reconsider its long-standing sanctions regime, which has drawn repeated criticism from international bodies for its disproportionate impact on civilian populations.

  • Antiguan Janice Nix found guilty of Killing 5-year-old girl in London back in 1978

    Antiguan Janice Nix found guilty of Killing 5-year-old girl in London back in 1978

    Almost half a century after a 5-year-old girl’s death was officially recorded as an accident, a London jury has delivered a landmark guilty verdict against her stepmother, who forced the child into a scalding hot bath as punishment in 1978.

    Sixty-seven-year-old Janice Nix was found guilty of manslaughter on Tuesday, closing a cold case that stretched across 48 years. The killing took place in the family’s home in Thornton Heath, south London, where Andrea Bernard suffered third-degree burns covering 50% of her small body and ultimately died in hospital weeks after the brutal attack.

    The breakthrough that cracked this decades-old mystery came in 2022, when Andrea’s older brother, Desmond Bernard, reached out to investigators to share a new, unredacted account of what unfolded inside their family home. Desmond told the court that he had previously corroborated the false story of a tragic accident because he lived in constant fear of further abuse at the hands of Nix, who had terrorized him for years.

    During his testimony, Desmond recounted the sequence of events that led to his sister’s death. He told jurors that Nix flew into a violent rage after Andrea defied her order to stay home and assist with cleaning the house. Not long after the confrontation, he heard the sound of running water, followed by Andrea’s terrified sobs as she cried that the bath water was far too hot. Moments later, screams echoed through the entire house.

    When Desmond rushed into the bathroom, he told the court he found Andrea limp and unresponsive in Nix’s arms, her skin already peeling away from her burned body. He also detailed the years of abuse he endured himself at Nix’s hands, including regular beatings, burns, and repeated cruel punishments that he was forced to hide from the outside world.

    Medical experts who testified during the trial confirmed that the pattern of Andrea’s injuries matched the claim that she had been forcibly held in extremely hot water. They noted that a child would instinctively fight to escape scalding water, resulting in the specific pattern of burns Andrea suffered, contradicting the original claim that the injury was accidental.

    Throughout the trial, Nix consistently denied the charges against her, which included both manslaughter and child cruelty. She did, however, admit that she lied under oath during the original 1978 inquest, when she claimed Andrea had bathed alone and collapsed after accidentally running the water too hot. Nix claimed during the trial that she had panicked after the incident and lied because she had failed to properly supervise Andrea, but the jury rejected this explanation.

    Nix was ultimately taken into custody in February 2025, when she was arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport after disembarking a flight from Antigua, where she had been living in recent years. Prosecutors emphasized after the verdict that this conviction would never have been possible without Desmond Bernard’s decision to finally come forward and tell the truth more than four decades after his sister’s death, ending a long wait for justice for Andrea.