Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • VES Inzicht waarschuwt voor gevolgen van politieke benoemingen zonder juiste deskundigheid

    VES Inzicht waarschuwt voor gevolgen van politieke benoemingen zonder juiste deskundigheid

    A new analysis published by the Suriname Association of Economists (VES) in its quarterly journal *VES Inzicht* has raised urgent alarms about the growing systemic risks posed by political appointments to public sector leadership positions, where candidates’ professional expertise and alignment with formal role requirements are consistently sidelined in favor of political affiliation. The report makes clear that in 2026, public sector board members and supervisors can no longer hide behind the longstanding excuse of “political reality” to justify unqualified appointments, as updated legislation, strengthened oversight mechanisms, and rising public expectations have imposed far stricter requirements for transparent and accountable governance across all state institutions.

    The analysis outlines the shifting regulatory landscape that has raised the stakes for improper appointments in recent years. It notes that the legal responsibilities and personal liabilities of public sector leaders have been firmly codified in updated national legislation, most notably the New Civil Code enacted in May 2025. Beyond legal changes, independent auditors now apply far more rigorous scrutiny to leadership decision-making, while commercial banks, grant providers, and regulatory oversight bodies have tightened their requirements to mandate demonstrated good governance and accurate financial accountability for any public entity seeking funding or regulatory approval.

    According to the VES analysis, public governance failures have accumulated at an accelerating rate in recent years, creating a clear pattern that points to a deep, structural problem rather than isolated missteps. Contrary to common critique, the association emphasizes that political appointments themselves are not the core issue. The critical flaw lies in the persistent mismatch between the qualifications of appointed individuals and the formal role requirements explicitly outlined for the position. These role profiles are already legally mandated, written into institutional statutes, national good governance guidelines, and internal organizational regulations. Deviating from these established requirements does not just undermine the day-to-day functioning of state-owned enterprises and government agencies, the report argues. It also erodes morale among career civil servants and institutional employees who possess the required expertise but are passed over for political connections.

    The report further highlights that national governments have a core strategic interest in converting political power into sustained public legitimacy. This legitimacy can only be maintained, the analysis stresses, if members of the public retain trust in the professional quality and institutional independence of public sector leaders and supervisors. To uphold this trust, the VES calls for oversight bodies to be constructed based on a deliberate, balanced balance of criteria: professional expertise, relevant practical experience, core competencies, institutional independence, gender representation, age diversity, and varied societal backgrounds. It also reinforces the critical need for clear, public role profiles for all commissioners and supervisory board members, with expertise, institutional size, and operational independence as central guiding criteria for candidate selection.

    In closing, the journal article issues an urgent call to Suriname’s policymakers and ruling officials to conduct a critical, retroactive evaluation of recent public sector appointments and nominations, and implement corrective changes where misalignments are found. *VES Inzicht* stresses that urgent action is needed to prevent past, isolated appointment errors from hardening into a permanent, damaging structural pattern across Suriname’s entire public administration.

  • New Programme Promises Real Jobs for Young Belizeans in Trades

    New Programme Promises Real Jobs for Young Belizeans in Trades

    A groundbreaking eight-month apprenticeship initiative designed to place young Belizeans directly into skilled trades careers has officially launched at the Orange Walk Institute of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ITVET), bringing tangible employment opportunities to the country’s youth workforce.

    Twenty aspiring tradespeople are already enrolled in the program, dubbed “Breaking Barriers”, which focuses on three high-demand skilled areas: air conditioning maintenance, refrigeration systems work, and electrical installation. By the end of the training cycle, participants will earn a Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) Level 2 credential in their selected field, a widely recognized certification that opens doors to regional employment.

    The project is a collaborative venture between Orange Walk ITVET and Belize’s Ministry of Education, with full funding provided through a grant from Canada’s Local Engagement Action Fund. According to the program’s project manager, planning for this workforce development effort has been years in the making. “Back in September last year we got the good news that we can apply for this grant, and we put all efforts to apply. And we were blessed to receive the grant from the Local Engagement Action Fund in Canada,” she shared in an interview following the official launch.

    Notably, two of the twenty current apprentices are young women, breaking traditional gender barriers in the skilled trades — both have already secured early internship placements with private sector companies ahead of their program completion.

    The program’s curriculum is structured to combine traditional theoretical instruction on the ITVET campus with immersive, on-the-job practical training hosted directly by local industry partners. This hybrid model was intentionally designed to address a common gap in vocational training: unlike many programs that only offer paper certification, Breaking Barriers is built to ensure graduates are fully job-ready from their first day of employment.

    For the initiative’s national coordinator, the impact of the program extends far beyond individual credentials. “What makes this programme especially meaningful is that it connects education directly with opportunities,” she explained, highlighting the program’s broader goal of strengthening Belize’s skilled workforce and reducing youth unemployment across the country.

  • COMMENTARY: International Day of Obstetric Fistula

    COMMENTARY: International Day of Obstetric Fistula

    Every year on May 23, the global community comes together to observe the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, shining a long-overdue spotlight on a devastating, entirely preventable childbirth injury that destroys the lives of hundreds of thousands of the world’s most vulnerable women and girls. For 2026, the observation carries the guiding theme *“Her Health Is a Right: Invest to End Fistula and Childbirth Injuries”*, which emphasizes that ending this crisis demands bold political commitment and targeted financial investment to expand prevention, advance comprehensive care, and defend the fundamental reproductive rights of women across low- and middle-income regions.

    Obstetric fistula develops most often when a person experiences prolonged, obstructed labor without access to timely, high-quality emergency obstetric care. The condition leaves survivors with continuous, uncontrollable leakage of urine, feces, or both, triggering a cascade of lifelong physical, social and psychological harm. Common complications include chronic infections, painful ulcerations, kidney disease, infertility, and in severe cases, death. Beyond physical harm, the constant odor associated with leakage fuels deep social stigma: many survivors are shamed by their communities, abandoned by family and friends, cut off from education and work opportunities, and pushed deeper into cycles of poverty. Isolation often leads to depression, suicidal ideation, and other chronic mental health struggles. “Obstetric fistula is not only a health problem, it is a condition that can isolate women and girls from their families, education, and other opportunities,” explains Nélida Rodrigues, UNFPA Representative in Mozambique, summarizing the far-reaching damage of the condition.

    While the most common cause is unmanaged obstructed labor, two less-discussed forms of the injury also contribute to the global caseload. Iatrogenic fistulas can develop during gynecological procedures such as hysterectomies or Caesarean sections, when care is substandard and surgical providers lack adequate specialized training. In conflict zones, traumatic fistulas are a direct consequence of sexual violence, with damage to vaginal tissue classified as a permanent war injury.

    Global data from the United Nations estimates that more than 500,000 women and girls currently live with obstetric fistula across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Arab States, and Latin America and the Caribbean, with thousands of new cases diagnosed each year. The stark reality is that obstetric fistula has been virtually eliminated in high-income countries, where universal access to quality maternal health care, skilled emergency obstetric providers, and timely Caesarean sections ensure the condition is almost never allowed to develop. This gap exposes the deep inequities that define global health outcomes: as global income inequality continues to widen, the world’s poorest and most marginalized populations bear the brunt of systemic failures in health and social protection, with women and girls disproportionately impacted.

    Multiple social and physiological factors amplify the risk of obstetric fistula. Poverty, a core driver of the crisis, is linked to early child marriage, restricted access to education and family planning, and widespread malnutrition. When girls become pregnant before their pelvises are fully developed, their risk of obstructed labor rises dramatically, and malnutrition, small stature, and overall poor pre-pregnancy health further compound this risk. While adolescent first-time mothers face the highest risk, older women who have previously given birth are also vulnerable to the condition.

    Public health experts emphasize that ending obstetric fistula requires a multi-layered approach centered on accessible, high-quality care. Midwives play a uniquely critical role in prevention and care at every level: the International Confederation of Midwives notes that ending the crisis demands full integration of midwifery expertise across community, national, regional and global health systems. Core prevention strategies include expanding access to contraception and family planning to reduce unplanned and early pregnancies, and guaranteeing universal access to emergency obstetric care, including timely Caesarean sections when complications arise.

    For women already living with the condition, the outlook is hopeful: obstetric fistula is highly treatable, and reconstructive surgery can repair damaged tissue, restore physical health, and help survivors reclaim their dignity. Beyond clinical care, long-term support for social reintegration is critical to helping survivors overcome stigma, rebuild their social connections, and access economic opportunities.

    Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), frames obstetric fistula as a clear symptom of global failure: it is a tragic outcome of systemic neglect of the reproductive rights of the most vulnerable and excluded women and girls. Moving forward, advancing progress requires governments to align their national health strategies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), and SDG 5 (gender equality) – three foundational goals that underpin all global development efforts.

    On this year’s International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, global health leaders and advocates are calling on policymakers, donors, and civil society to amplify awareness of this dehumanizing crisis, mobilize widespread public support, and redouble collective global efforts to eliminate the condition. Ending obstetric fistula requires more than incremental change: it demands a renewed sense of global political urgency and sustained commitment to increase investment in prevention and treatment, strengthen under-resourced health systems, and ensure all women can access the care they need to thrive – and live with dignity – after childbirth.

  • Caribbean Airlines to cut service to Dominica and other Caribbean destinations

    Caribbean Airlines to cut service to Dominica and other Caribbean destinations

    Trinidad’s Civil Aviation Minister Eli Zakour announced Wednesday during a parliamentary address that state-owned Caribbean Airlines will implement sweeping service adjustments starting June 1, cutting a series of money-losing regional routes that have drained more than $18 million from the carrier’s balance sheet amid broader efforts to restore long-term financial stability.

    The route withdrawals will fully exit three unprofitable markets: Dominica, where operations have accumulated $730,000 in losses through April 2026; St. Kitts, which has posted $1.65 million in losses; and the non-stop route connecting Guyana and Suriname, which has lost $1.24 million to date. Two additional regional routes to Martinique and Guadeloupe will see their flight frequencies slashed from four weekly rotations to just two, as the Martinique route has lost $1.23 million and Guadeloupe has recorded $1.86 million in losses, Zakour confirmed.

    These planned cuts are not the first round of restructuring for the airline, joining two previously discontinued high-loss routes: the Jamaica-Fort Lauderdale route, which ended service in November 2025 after amassing $7.2 million in losses, and the Trinidad-Puerto Rico route, which was shut down earlier this year after accumulating $4.92 million in losses through April 2026. Combined, the discontinued and adjusted routes have racked up a total of $18.84 million in cumulative losses for the carrier, prompting the urgent restructuring push.

    In a joint statement from the minister and a subsequent official press release from Caribbean Airlines, the airline emphasized that it is prioritizing support for passengers affected by the service changes. Affected customers will be offered re-accommodation on other available Caribbean Airlines services where possible, and the carrier will coordinate with partner regional carriers to find alternate travel arrangements when no in-network options exist. Passengers holding unused tickets will also be eligible for full refunds for the unused portion of their fares, or full travel credit for future bookings, subject to original fare conditions.

    Looking ahead, Caribbean Airlines is currently working to finalize a new codeshare partnership with another regional carrier. Once approved and implemented, the agreement will expand travel options for customers by granting access to a broader regional network, with coordinated scheduling, seamless connecting itineraries, and integrated ticketing that simplifies the travel experience. The carrier reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining reliable regional connectivity, noting that the restructuring is designed to build a “sustainable and commercially responsible network” that prioritizes operational consistency, improved customer experience, and long-term financial health.

  • Cricket set to return to Kensington Oval in 2026

    Cricket set to return to Kensington Oval in 2026

    For months, a fierce public debate has raged over the future of international cricket at one of the Caribbean’s most iconic sporting venues, Kensington Oval. The historic ground, widely known by its affectionate nickname ‘The Mecca’ among cricket fans, found itself at the center of controversy earlier this year when it was initially excluded from the calendar for both regional and international cricket matches. The debate grew so intense that it drew comment from the highest levels of Barbados’ government, with Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Minister of Sport Charles Griffith both adding their voices to the discussion. They were joined by key cricket governance leaders: Cricket West Indies President Dr Kishore Shallow and Barbados Cricket Association President Calvin Hope, all of whom weighed in on the future of the venue.

    Now, multiple reliable sources have confirmed to Barbados TODAY that a new agreement is close to being finalized that will bring international cricket back to Kensington Oval in 2026. Under the emerging deal, the legendary Barbados ground will play host to two One Day Internationals during New Zealand’s upcoming tour of the West Indies. Advanced discussions are already underway to schedule the matches for July 18 and 21, 2026, on the grounds of Bridgetown.

    Originally, the entire five-match ODI series was slated to be held exclusively at Guyana’s Providence Stadium. However, diplomatic and administrative talks between the governments of Barbados and Guyana have led to a proposed restructuring of the hosting arrangement. Under the new framework, the two nations will split the financial costs associated with hosting the five games, allowing two matches to be moved to Kensington Oval. Sources indicate that the revised plan is on track to receive formal approval from Cricket West Indies and both national governments in the very near future, with a public official announcement expected to follow shortly after sign-off.

  • Young Saint Lucian architect to present housing research at Caribbean forum

    Young Saint Lucian architect to present housing research at Caribbean forum

    A rising young architectural researcher from Saint Lucia is set to showcase her work on regional housing challenges on one of the Caribbean’s leading urban development platforms, marking a major milestone in her rapidly advancing career.

    Twenty-eight-year-old Bonita Bart, a junior architect, educator and design entrepreneur, has received formal acceptance to present her research paper *The Architectural Language in Affordable, Social, and Urban Housing* at the 2026 Caribbean Urban Forum (CUF), scheduled to kick off in Jamaica this coming June. The appearance will mark Bart’s first presentation at a high-profile regional gathering, and it will put a spotlight on both Saint Lucia and early-career researchers from small island developing states.

    The annual CUF convenes cross-sector stakeholders across the Caribbean, including urban planners, practicing architects, government policymakers, and academic researchers, to collaborate on tackling the most pressing challenges facing Caribbean urban centers and co-develop context-appropriate solutions tailored to the unique needs of small island nations.

    Bart’s work centers on an underexplored gap in housing research: how the terminology used to describe housing projects shapes outcomes for funding, implementation, and access. As she explained in an interview with local publication *St. Lucia Times*, her analysis investigates how housing-related terms are used both in professional architectural circles and in local community contexts, as well as how the language used by project teams influences relationships with funding bodies and private sector partners.

    First published in February 2025, Bart’s paper unpacks how clearer language use can improve responses to housing insecurity across the Caribbean, a region that disproportionately struggles with the global housing crisis. A core contribution of her work is untangling the common, consequential confusion between three widely used housing terms: affordable, social, and urban housing. These descriptors are frequently swapped interchangeably in industry and policy discourse, but Bart’s analysis demonstrates that they carry distinct meanings—and that recognizing these differences is critical to advancing effective housing solutions.

    “Many times, when we try to address the housing crisis, which is a global crisis especially for Small Island Developing States, we get stuck in confusion and unproductive debate,” Bart noted. “What stands out in existing research is that the most successful funded projects that actually solve housing challenges often don’t even use the term ‘affordable’.”

    She argues that in many cases, framing housing projects around terms that align with global development priorities—such as “green” or “resilient” housing—can improve both relevance to community needs and chances of securing critical funding. Adjusting terminology to match both local context and global funding priorities, she argues, can remove a key barrier to delivering housing that actually meets community needs across the region.

    Bart’s CUF presentation is just one output of the Caribtecture initiative, an ongoing research project she launched four years ago to advance scholarship on Caribbean architectural practice. The initiative’s core mission, as Bart describes it, is to nurture a distinct Caribbean architectural identity through targeted research, systematic documentation, and open critical discourse, framing the region’s architectural history and theory as active, practical tools that can shape better contemporary design across the islands.

    The Caribtecture initiative grew naturally out of Bart’s academic career: in 2022, she graduated from the University of Technology Jamaica with a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies, and her undergraduate final work won two of the institution’s top honors: Best Final Design Studio Project and Best Final Year Undergraduate Research Project.

    Beyond her research work, Bart holds multiple roles across Saint Lucia’s architectural and education sectors. She is the founder and lead design principal of iBart Design Studio, an independent local architectural practice based in Saint Lucia, serves as secretary of the Saint Lucia Institute of Architects, and works as a technical drawing instructor for local students.

  • BOG intensiveert bestrijding van chikungunya in delen van Blauwgrond

    BOG intensiveert bestrijding van chikungunya in delen van Blauwgrond

    Public health authorities in Blauwgrond are ramping up mosquito-borne disease response, launching a targeted chikungunya control initiative across residential districts of the region next week. The Bureau for Public Health (Bureau voor Openbare Gezondheidszorg, BOG) will deploy specialized spraying vehicles, commonly referred to as dengue trucks, to treat affected areas during the operation, scheduled to run from May 25 to May 29.

    Chikungunya is a viral infection transmitted almost exclusively by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the same vector that carries dengue and Zika viruses. Common symptoms of the disease include sudden high fever, severe joint pain that can persist for weeks or months, debilitating headaches, and extreme fatigue. Public health officials emphasize that vector control remains the most effective measure to slow transmission, particularly during wet seasons when standing water creates ideal breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes. Rainy periods amplify transmission risk, making proactive intervention critical to preventing larger outbreaks.

    All spraying operations will be conducted between 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM local time, with a pre-planned route covering different neighborhoods each day to ensure full coverage of high-risk areas. On Monday, May 25, teams will treat Surivillage 3, the Sabaku Project area, the Zusterproject district, Papayafowrustraat, Morgenstondstraat, Anton Drachtenweg, Powisistraat, Bonistraat, Tweekinderweg, Mr. R.W. Thurkowstraat, and all connecting side streets in these zones. The following day, Tuesday May 26, crews will move to the district surrounding Kleinestraat, Wolframstraat, Granietstraat, and Kristalstraat. On Thursday, May 28, operations will return to Granietstraat, Wolframstraat, and Kristalstraat, adding the districts of Johannes Vermeerstraat and Picassostraat to the schedule. The final day of spraying, Friday May 29, will cover Picassostraat, Johannes Vermeerstraat, Leo Heinemanstraat, Plutostraat, Aidastraat, and all adjacent side streets.

    To protect resident safety during the spraying operation, BOG has issued a series of clear precautionary guidelines for local communities. The agency advises residents to leave windows and doors open during spraying to ensure maximum penetration of the treatment into outdoor-adjacent spaces, while covering all human food and drinking water stored in open areas and securing caged pet birds to avoid exposure. After spraying is complete, all remaining food and drinking water intended for household pets should be discarded and replaced with fresh supplies. BOG also recommends that infants and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions stay in fully enclosed indoor spaces during spraying operations, and that all clothing left outside be brought indoors and stored away before treatment begins.

    The operation remains weather-dependent: all scheduled spraying will be canceled if heavy rain occurs, as precipitation negates the effectiveness of insecticide treatment. Residents are advised to monitor local updates for schedule changes in case of adverse weather.

  • Belizean Crime Scene Investigators Get a Look at How Europe Solves Crimes

    Belizean Crime Scene Investigators Get a Look at How Europe Solves Crimes

    From May 17 to 23, 2026, 22 police and forensic specialists from 12 Caribbean nations, including two representatives from Belize, wrapped up a week-long immersive study tour across Spain and France designed to upgrade regional crime investigation capacity. The exchange program, funded by the European Union and executed by UNDP Belize as part of the PACE Justice Project, builds on a foundational advanced forensic training course held in Barbados in 2025, extending the hands-on learning opportunity for regional law enforcement.

    Belize’s delegation included one seasoned crime scene investigator from the country’s National Forensic Science Service (NFSS) and one senior officer from the Belize Police Department. Over the course of the tour, the entire Caribbean cohort met with leading law enforcement and forensic experts from European agencies, gaining firsthand insight into how major transnational and complex criminal investigations are structured and executed across the continent. A core focus of the exchanges was exploring how cutting-edge digital technology is reshaping modern police work, closing gaps between regional practices and global innovation.

    Participants got to test and examine a suite of modern investigation tools that are increasingly standard across European law enforcement, including artificial intelligence-powered evidence analysis systems, virtual reality for crime scene reconstruction, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping technology. These tools are already streamlining workflows for European investigators, enabling more accurate crime scene mapping, faster evidence analysis, and more robust case building that holds up in judicial proceedings.

    For Belize specifically, this capacity building comes at a critical moment: the country has faced growing public pressure to improve the quality of criminal investigations and boost conviction rates for high-profile major crime cases. In an official statement released after the study tour concluded, the NFSS emphasized that international exchange and training programs like this are foundational to strengthening Belize’s broader criminal justice system. By integrating modern tools and evidence-based European practices, the service noted, Belize can increasingly rely on rigorous, sound scientific evidence to support both criminal investigations and prosecutions, ultimately increasing public trust in the country’s justice system. The PACE Justice Project organizers added that they plan to roll out follow-up training and knowledge sharing initiatives across Caribbean nations in the coming year to help participating agencies implement the new practices they learned during the tour.

  • Hundreds Join Annual Cancer Walk in Belize

    Hundreds Join Annual Cancer Walk in Belize

    On a pre-dawn Saturday, hundreds of residents from across Belize gathered to take part in the nation’s yearly Cancer Walk, a community event dedicated to standing in solidarity with individuals and families impacted by cancer. This year’s route stretched from the northern town of Ladyville all the way to the capital of Belize District, Belize City, drawing participants of all ages who came together to advance a critical public health message.

    Kicking off promptly at 5:00 a.m. from its starting point in Ladyville, the procession concluded at the Belize Cancer Society’s central headquarters in Belize City. Attendees joined in the event’s spirit by wearing bright neon attire, turning the multi-mile route into a lively, colorful display of collective support aligned with 2026’s official theme: “Early Detection. Equal Access. End Cancer.”

    For years, cancer has ranked among the top causes of mortality in Belize, and public health and cancer advocacy leaders have repeatedly identified late diagnosis as one of the most critical barriers to improving patient survival rates. Medical research and clinical outcomes consistently confirm that early detection of cancer dramatically boosts a patient’s chance of successful treatment and long-term survival, a core message the Belize Cancer Society works to embed in public consciousness through community events like this annual walk.

    As a non-profit organization operating across the country, the Belize Cancer Society fulfills three core missions: delivering public education on cancer prevention and screening, advocating for improved cancer care policies and access, and providing direct practical and emotional support to patients navigating diagnosis and treatment. The annual walk is one of the organization’s flagship annual activities, serving dual purposes as a major fundraiser to sustain its programming and a high-visibility public outreach campaign to spread awareness of early detection. While the flagship walk took place between Ladyville and Belize City this year, satellite events are hosted in multiple other regions across Belize to expand community participation nationwide.

  • Vendors welcome compensation promise amid Castries Market redevelopment concerns

    Vendors welcome compensation promise amid Castries Market redevelopment concerns

    A major redevelopment project at the Castries Vendors Arcade, a key tourism retail hub adjacent to Saint Lucia’s main cruise port, has left nearly 120 local vendors displaced, sparking mixed reactions as the head of the island’s vendors association commends the prime minister’s commitment to compensation while pushing for fair, inclusive relief and thoughtful relocation planning.

    The redevelopment forms a core component of a broader port upgrade initiative delivered through a public-private partnership between the government of Saint Lucia and Global Ports Holding. The project is designed to modernize the island’s primary cruise terminal and surrounding tourism infrastructure, with plans to completely rebuild the outdated vendors arcade to better serve both visitors and local sellers long-term. But the immediate phase of the work launched earlier this week, when demolition crews moved in to raze the existing structure, requiring all operating vendors to vacate their stalls in less than two weeks.

    While vendors received formal advance notice of the vacation timeline, the short window has created significant disruption for sellers, 90% of whom rely entirely on tourism-facing sales to make a living. Speaking to local outlet St. Lucia Times, Peter “Ras Ipa” Isaac, president of the Saint Lucia Vendors Association, said he was encouraged by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre’s public pledge to provide financial compensation to displaced sellers, a move he says aligned with his expectations of the leader.

    “I was expecting something like that because I know the Prime Minister. He has a place in his heart for little people, people like us who are struggling,” Isaac explained. “I must say bravo to him because if he didn’t react in the way that he reacted in terms of coming out and saying that the vendors would be compensated, I would be disappointed.”

    But Isaac’s praise comes with pointed questions about equitable treatment and practical planning for the dozens of sellers affected by the project. He pointed out that out of the 115 vendors displaced by the arcade closure, only 44 temporary stalls will be available in the first phase of relocation, leaving more than half of sellers without a designated space to operate while construction proceeds. Project delays, rooted in ongoing global supply chain disruptions and international conflicts, have pushed back the completion of new temporary facilities, creating uncertainty for sellers who have already lost their primary source of income.

    Many vendors also incurred unexpected costs to clear out their stalls in the required 12-day window, after investing thousands of dollars in permanent fixtures including shutters, display counters and storage units over years of operation. “People had to break those things down and hire transport to carry them home. We had very little time to do that,” Isaac said.

    The association leader also outlined the broader economic vulnerabilities facing local vendors, who already struggle with seasonal fluctuations in cruise tourism and unfair competition from on-board retail operations. “Sometimes in the off-season there’s one ship a week, sometimes none,” he noted, adding that cruise lines often sell identical locally-made souvenirs to passengers at lower prices than street vendors can offer, siphoning off critical revenue.

    Despite these challenges, Isaac emphasized that small-scale vendors are a foundational pillar of Saint Lucia’s economy, contributing to the island’s GDP alongside other small tourism-focused businesses. When combined with taxi operators, minibus drivers, local farmers and small manufacturers, these small businesses account for roughly 8% of the country’s total gross domestic product. “The moment a vendor makes five dollars, that money goes straight back into the economy,” he said. “They buy bread, take a bus home, pay bills and support other businesses.”

    Looking at past policy interventions, Isaac pointed to successful support measures implemented by previous governments, including a two-year rent freeze enacted by former Prime Minister Kenny Anthony, and targeted rental discounts approved by former Castries Town Clerk Lambert Nelson during extended slow tourism periods. Currently, vendors pay roughly $138 per month in rent after the addition of value-added tax, a cost that many already struggle to cover during off-peak seasons.

    To address the current displacement crisis, Isaac has put forward two key proposals: either relocate all displaced vendors to available unused space in the nearby Castries Market building for the duration of construction, or ensure that every displaced seller receives equal compensation, regardless of whether they have any outstanding rent arrears. “I think everyone who’s in there, whether they owe rent or not, should be compensated,” he said.

    Isaac also raised concerns about unconfirmed reports that the government plans to raise rents once vendors move into the newly rebuilt arcade. Local sellers have pushed for a two-year rent freeze after relocation to help them recover from the disruption of construction, and Isaac called for a fresh start for all vendors once the project is complete. “We welcome what the Prime Minister is saying. That’s a step in the right direction,” he noted. “But I think good sense must prevail that people must go into that place with a clean slate and start afresh.”