Carib Scope

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  • Paradise fight back to beat Wales in Champions Cup final

    Paradise fight back to beat Wales in Champions Cup final

    In a dramatic title decider at the Wildey Technical Centre on Sunday, Paradise FC produced a stunning late comeback to overturn a one-goal deficit and secure a 2-1 victory over defending champions Weymouth Wales, lifting the Barbados Football Association Champions Cup in a memorable final. It was a performance that embodied the grit and fighting spirit head coach Mario Harte has instilled in his squad throughout a grueling, up-and-down season, he told reporters in the immediate aftermath of the triumph as his players celebrated their hard-won silverware.

    The opening 45 minutes of the clash was defined by tight, cagey play from both sides, with neither outfit willing to cede ground to their opponent. It was not until first-half stoppage time that the deadlock was broken: a chaotic goalmouth scramble saw Mario Williams get the decisive final touch to put Weymouth Wales ahead heading into the halftime break. For most of the second half, the defending champions held onto their lead, and it appeared the fixture would end with Weymouth Wales retaining their title. That all changed in the 77th minute, when Jaron Oughterson found the back of the net to draw Paradise level. Just five minutes after the equalizer, Shamari Harewood curled a precision strike into the goal to score what would become the tournament-winning goal, sealing the 2-1 result for his side.

    For Harte, the knockout title run holds extra meaning, acting as validation for his squad after a turbulent regular league campaign. Paradise spent the vast majority of that season topping the overall points table, only to slip from a projected second-place finish all the way to fifth on the final matchday. The underwhelming end to the league season left the side hungry to prove their quality in the Champions Cup knockout stage, a goal they achieved with Sunday’s final win.

    “I always felt that we had a good start to the season, then we fell off, but anyone that was following Paradise from the time I was here would see that there was improvement. We finished third in this competition last year and now this year we won,” Harte said of the squad’s progress over the past 12 months.

    Reflecting on the second-half comeback, the head coach emphasized his side never lost their composure even when trailing at the break. “The half time talk was very calm because honestly I believe in the guys. We put in the work so it is only a matter of desire and how much you want it. The simple things make a big difference, and the things that worked for us tonight were obviously our wingers and us pressing. Our attackers did a magnificent job,” the elated coach added.

    Sunday’s title marks a career milestone for Harte, who just completed his second season as a head coach and his first campaign leading a side in the Premier League. He admitted that the disappointing end to the regular league season left him questioning his own performance, but he pushed through the self-doubt to lead his side to the title. “For me personally it is a real boost because coming out of the Premier League I honestly felt a little dejected and I was questioning myself. I started to reassess and doubt but then I snapped out of it and continued to knuckle down and it brought fruit,” Harte explained.

  • LIAT Passengers Left Stranded for Hours as Communication Breaks Down

    LIAT Passengers Left Stranded for Hours as Communication Breaks Down

    On Monday, hundreds of passengers flying with Caribbean regional carrier LIAT Air endured major travel disruptions on routes departing from St Kitts, bound for destinations including Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Lucia, leaving them stranded for hours and prompting widespread criticism of the airline’s customer service failures.

    Travelers told reporters that they received almost no updates about the delays even after making repeated inquiries to airline staff, with many stuck in airport terminals for more than five hours without guidance. Beyond the lack of information, multiple passengers also condemned LIAT Air for failing to offer even basic complimentary meals, water or other refreshments to stranded travelers during the extended wait.

    One traveler, who was booked on a 9 a.m. scheduled departure, said the flight had not even begun boarding by the early afternoon, with no timeline provided for when service would resume. Another passenger heading to Saint Lucia explained that the airline never made a single public announcement about the delay, forcing all passengers to actively track down information on their own instead of receiving proactive updates.

    For many travelers, the sudden disruption upended long-planned schedules and ruined what had been a positive trip: many visitors had traveled to St Kitts for the annual St Kitts Music Festival, and the delay forced them to miss upcoming work commitments back home. In one extreme case, a passenger was left stranded overnight in Antigua following an eight-hour delay, who described the airline’s communication as completely “non-existent.”

    Unconfirmed local media reports have speculated that the widespread delays could be tied to unresolved documentation issues that prevented the airline from refueling its aircraft at the St Kitts airport, though these claims have not been independently verified by third-party outlets or local aviation authorities. As of press time, LIAT 20, the current operating entity of the regional carrier, has not issued any public statement addressing the flood of passenger complaints, nor has it released an official explanation for the day-long operational disruptions.

  • Ashma McDougall says joining DLP was the ‘only choice’ as she addresses supporters

    Ashma McDougall says joining DLP was the ‘only choice’ as she addresses supporters

    The race for the vacant Roseau North Constituency parliamentary seat in Dominica has officially taken shape, with candidate Ashma McDougall publicly standing behind her choice to run under the banner of the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP). The position opened up after former sitting MP Miriam Blanchard stepped down, triggering a by-election that has drawn two formal nominees from the island’s major political blocs.

    A multi-disciplinary professional with a background in economics, entrepreneurship, and education, McDougall was officially ratified as the DLP’s candidate ahead of the vote. At her official campaign launch held Saturday at Lindo Park, she addressed a crowd of supporters with a fiery, unapologetic speech reaffirming both her loyalty to the party and her conviction that her decision to run with the DLP was the only correct path forward.

    “I made my choice, unapologetically,” McDougall emphasized to attendees. She explained that her decision came after months of deliberate reflection on where she could deliver the greatest tangible benefit to Roseau North residents and Dominicans as a whole. For McDougall, running as a DLP candidate represented the clearest and most effective avenue to continue the public service work she has built her career around.

    “I choose the Labour Party because I know that this is where I can best serve the people of Roseau North and Dominica by extension,” she said. “This is where I can translate a lifetime of service to the people of Roseau North. This is where I can make the greatest difference for the people I seek to serve. And this is where I can create opportunities. I can solve problems and I can improve the lives of people of the Roseau North constituency.”

    McDougall rooted her affiliation in the DLP’s proven track record of centering public investment and inclusive national development over her tenure. She highlighted the ruling administration’s key policy achievements across housing, education, and core infrastructure projects, noting that these investments have already lifted the quality of life for working families across the island.

    “Which party has consistently demonstrated that it believes in investing in people? And which party has built homes that has given families security? And which party has invested in education, opening doors of opportunities so that today homes can celebrate having a university graduate among them? And which party has invested in roads, in bridges, and infrastructure which connect our communities and strengthen our economy?” she asked rhetorically.

    In McDougall’s assessment, these accomplishments prove the DLP’s longstanding commitment to putting people first, expanding access to opportunity, and driving sustained national progress. After reviewing that record, she said, she had no doubt that the DLP was the only party aligned with her values of public service.

    “And when I examined that record, I knew that if I truly wanted to serve, there was no other place I could be,” she added.

    Looking ahead to the by-election and her potential tenure as MP, McDougall laid out a clear policy vision focused on advancing opportunity for all residents of Roseau North. Her priorities include expanding economic and educational pathways for young people, boosting targeted support for local small businesses, and strengthening household financial security across the constituency.

    She described her vision for Roseau North as: “A future that is built on opportunities for our young people, a future that is built on safer and cleaner communities we are proud to call home, a future that will be built on prosperity where small businesses thrive, jobs are created and local talent is given opportunity to succeed. A future that is built on stronger families, where every family has the security of a home and the dignity of land ownership. And a future built on dignity, comfort and opportunity.”

    McDougall stressed that this ambitious agenda is fully achievable for the constituency, and called on local residents to play an active role in shaping Roseau North’s next chapter. “And my friends, that future is not beyond our reach,” she emphasized. “Roseau North, as we ready ourselves to write the next chapter, I will be calling on your experience, on your skills and community knowledge, and I hope that you answer that call.”

    On the opposition side, the United Workers Party has already named its nominee for the seat: Daniel “Danny” Lugay, a former representative for Roseau North who will contest the by-election against McDougall. With both major parties now having formalized their candidates, campaigning across the constituency is expected to ramp up in the coming weeks ahead of the vote.

  • RM Cleaners win knockout domino title

    RM Cleaners win knockout domino title

    Barbados’ top dominoes talent gathered at the James Bryan Complex in Market Hill on June 25 for the highly anticipated national Three-hand Knockout tournament, where RM Cleaners pulled off a memorable victory to claim the championship crown. After all rounds of competitive play were completed, RM Cleaners finished atop the leaderboard with a total score of 76 points, outperforming a field of skilled local teams to secure the top honor. Finishing just behind the champions was BiMPay Central Bank, which racked up 69 points to earn the second-place position, while the Police team claimed the third spot on the podium with a total of 67 points. The winning team’s success was anchored by standout performances from duo Michael “Nat” Norville and Wayne Taylor, both of whom delivered consistent play to net 15 points apiece for RM Cleaners. When the tournament reached its final, high-stakes round, the Cleaners stepped up their game, ramping up defensive and offensive pressure at critical moments to lock in the winning margin. This championship win marks a major milestone for RM Cleaners in Barbados’ domestic dominoes circuit, cementing their status as one of the nation’s top competitive teams this season.

  • Police Officer Comes Under Gunfire

    Police Officer Comes Under Gunfire

    A shocking ambush attack targeting an off-duty Belizean police officer has launched a full criminal investigation in the Cayo District, law enforcement officials confirmed this week. The incident unfolded Saturday night along a remote stretch of road in the Young Gal area, located just outside Teakettle Village, when the officer identified as Eric Usher, a member of the department’s Special Patrol Unit, was traveling alone through the sparsely populated region.

    According to official accounts from the National Crimes Investigation Branch, two unidentified suspects emerged from thick vegetation lining the roadway as Usher passed, with one assailant immediately opening fire on the officer’s moving vehicle. Reacting quickly to the sudden attack, Usher sped away from the ambush site to safety, only discovering after escaping that multiple rounds had struck his vehicle, leaving several clear bullet holes across the car’s body.

    ACP Hilberto Romero, head of the National Crimes Investigation Branch, shared details of the ongoing probe with reporters, noting that investigators are leaving no stone unturned in their effort to identify and apprehend the attackers. At present, the investigation team is conducting a thorough review of all available evidence from the scene, and plans to carry out formal ballistics testing to corroborate the officer’s account and trace potential links to the weapons used in the attack.

    Key investigative details have also emerged that complicate the early stages of the case. Usher was off duty at the time of the shooting, and was in possession of his personally licensed firearm; that weapon has now been seized by investigators for forensic testing to rule out any alternative accounts of the gunfire. Compounding the challenge for investigators, the Young Gal area where the attack occurred is described as a dark, isolated stretch of road with no public or private surveillance cameras in place, eliminating the possibility of capturing footage of the suspects or their vehicle prior to the ambush.

    As of Tuesday, no suspects have been named in connection with the attack, and investigators have not released any information about potential motives for the shooting. Romero confirmed that the investigation remains active and ongoing, with updates to be released as additional evidence is processed.

  • U.S. Expands Military Relief Mission in Venezuela as More Aircraft, Troops Arrive

    U.S. Expands Military Relief Mission in Venezuela as More Aircraft, Troops Arrive

    As international disaster response operations gain momentum in the wake of Venezuela’s catastrophic earthquake, the United States has significantly expanded its military-supported humanitarian aid mission, deploying extra aircraft, military personnel and purpose-built disaster response equipment to affected regions.

    In an official statement released Monday, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced that six U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster cargo planes are slated to land in Venezuela carrying a U.S. Marine Corps Combat Logistics Company deployed from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The arriving Marine unit is bringing critical heavy engineering machinery, portable water purification systems, and a range of additional resources to bolster ongoing relief work. The operation aligns with a direct request from the Venezuelan government and is being coordinated through the U.S. Department of State.

    The expansion of the U.S. humanitarian mission does not end with this deployment: additional U.S. Air Force C-17 and C-130 Hercules airlift craft continue moving response personnel and emergency supplies into the country on an ongoing basis.

    A roughly 100-member Contingency Response Element, paired with a specialized U.S. military Airfield Assessment Team, is already on the ground working alongside Venezuelan government officials, local aviation management teams, and U.S. civilian agencies to upgrade operational capacity at airports serving the earthquake zone. These upgrades are designed to speed the flow of incoming relief flights, cutting down on delays for life-saving supplies and personnel.

    U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft maintain a steady shuttle route between a dedicated logistics hub in Curaçao and hard-hit regions of Venezuela, ferrying emergency responders, stockpiled supplies and heavy equipment to where they are needed most. The aircraft also conduct internal flights across Venezuela to support scattered relief operations across remote areas.

    SOUTHCOM has also confirmed that the key Port of La Guaira, which suffered damage in the quake, has resumed full commercial and relief operations. This reopening has allowed the USS Fort Lauderdale to offload desperately needed humanitarian supplies and response equipment directly at the Venezuelan port, eliminating the need for complex multi-stage transshipment.

    U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters are carrying out dual missions: they complete systematic aerial damage surveys of quake-ravaged communities, while also transporting U.S. State Department staff tasked with coordinating the overall U.S. relief effort.

    Meanwhile, U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters and flight crews from Joint Task Force-Bravo, stationed at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras, are providing on-the-ground airlift support for moving large cargo and personnel. Additional aircraft and crews are scheduled to arrive in the region within the next 48 hours to reinforce these operations.

    Even the U.S. Space Force is contributing to the response effort, providing high-resolution satellite imagery of damaged communities and critical infrastructure that helps emergency response planners map out priority areas for immediate life-saving assistance.

    SOUTHCOM notes that planning for further rounds of military support is still ongoing, carried out in close coordination with the U.S. State Department, Venezuelan government authorities, and international partner organizations involved in the disaster response. Additional deployments will be made public once they are finalized and confirmed.

  • Government Rejects Opposition Changes Before Passing Fatal Accidents Bill

    Government Rejects Opposition Changes Before Passing Fatal Accidents Bill

    ST. JOHN’S, Antigua — In a decisive vote on Monday, government senators leveraged their numerical majority in the Antigua and Barbuda Senate to advance the long-awaited Fatal Accidents Bill 2026, turning back all opposition-proposed adjustments to legislation aimed at updating the nation’s framework for wrongful death compensation claims by grieving families.

    The new law repeals Antigua and Barbuda’s century-old Fatal Accidents Act, which was first enacted in 1924, and replaces it with a modernized legal structure that expands access to damages for eligible dependents who have suffered financial hardship after a loved one’s wrongful death. Key provisions of the bill include a capped statutory bereavement award of up to $20,000, an expanded definition of qualifying dependents that aligns with contemporary family structures, the elimination of a mandate requiring equal splitting of bereavement awards among all beneficiaries, and a clear provision that compensation amounts will not be reduced if a family receives life insurance payouts or Social Security survivor benefits.

    Opening the government’s debate on the legislation, Leader of Government Business Senator Shenella Govia framed the bill as a critical, long-overdue update to the nation’s civil justice system. She emphasized that the reform has been shaped to reflect modern family dynamics and centers fairness and empathy for families navigating the aftermath of an unexpected wrongful death. “This bill is really about families,” Govia told the upper chamber of parliament. “Families whose lives have been shattered by the wrongful loss of a loved one.”

    Govia acknowledged that no financial award can ever undo the loss of a parent, spouse, or child, but stressed that the new legislation creates a far more equitable process for dependents seeking financial relief after a wrongful death. She also clarified that the law is not restricted to fatal motor vehicle collisions, and applies to all deaths resulting from another party’s negligent or intentional wrongful conduct.

    While opposition senators agreed that the 102-year-old existing law needed to be repealed, they argued that the bill should be strengthened before being finalized into law. Opposition Senator Jonathan Wehner acknowledged that the proposal represented a clear improvement over the outdated 1924 legislation, but urged lawmakers to address identified gaps prior to passage rather than leaving corrections for a later legislative session.

    Three core amendments were put forward by the opposition bloc. The first sought to adjust Clause 4 of the bill to extend eligibility for bereavement damages to surviving common-law partners. Opposition lawmakers noted that while Clause 2 already recognizes cohabiting partners as dependents for certain claim purposes, Clause 4 explicitly excludes them from bereavement award eligibility, creating an unnecessary inconsistency in the text of the law.

    The second proposed amendment would have cut the waiting period from 12 months to six months before dependents can initiate legal action on their own if the deceased person’s personal representative fails to file a claim. The third amendment called for the $20,000 maximum bereavement award to be subject to periodic parliamentary review, rather than remaining a fixed amount permanently written into law. Opposition lawmakers warned that ongoing inflation would gradually erode the purchasing power and value of the fixed award over time, suggesting that either indexing the payment to inflation or allowing routine adjustments via parliamentary regulation would resolve this issue.

    Opposition Senator Ashworth Azille backed all three proposed changes, noting that while the bill was a step in the right direction for civil justice reform, parliament had a responsibility to pass the strongest possible version of the legislation immediately, rather than delaying improvements to a future date.

    During the committee stage of debate, government senators rejected all of the opposition’s proposed amendments. Responding to the criticisms on behalf of the governing bloc, Govia argued that legislation evolves incrementally over time, and parliament can revisit the act in the future if practical experience demonstrates that additional changes are needed. “There is not ever going to be one perfect bill that covers everything because time evolves,” she said. “As we see situations arise, we come back to this honourable House and amend and adjust accordingly.”

    After all opposition amendments were defeated by majority vote, the full Senate approved the Fatal Accidents Bill 2026, clearing the final legislative hurdle for the legislation to replace the 102-year-old law that currently governs civil claims for wrongful death across Antigua and Barbuda.

  • Primary School Volleyball Festival boosts skills at Wildey Gym

    Primary School Volleyball Festival boosts skills at Wildey Gym

    On a bustling Monday at the Wildey Gymnasium, young athletes from eight primary schools across the island gathered for a one-of-a-kind Volleyball Festival organized by the National Sports Council (NSC), marking a bold new push to grow grassroots volleyball by introducing the sport to children years earlier than the traditional timeline.

    The polished gym floor quickly transformed into a buzzing hub of energy, with multiple courts hosting groups of nine to 11-year-old players as they dived into foundational skill sessions led by experienced NSC coaching staff. Unlike competitive inter-school tournaments that prioritize winning, this event centered on exploration and fun: students cycled through targeted drills for core techniques like underhand passes and serving, before testing their new skills in low-pressure friendly rally matches against pupils from other campuses.

    Andrew Culpepper, lead volleyball coach for the NSC, outlined the strategic vision driving the early exposure program. For years, Culpepper explained, volleyball development in the region only started when students reached secondary school, meaning young players spent ages 13 to 14 mastering basic skills when they should already be progressing to advanced techniques like spiking and blocking. By shifting the starting age down to upper primary, the NSC aims to build a stronger, more skilled talent pipeline that can accelerate player development long-term.

    Early results already have Culpepper impressed. “So far they are doing very well for this age group. Normally we start a little later, like in Secondary School, but some of these are even better than some of my Secondary School children,” he shared. The end goal, he added, is to embed volleyball culture in primary schools across the island, creating a steady stream of prepared players ready to compete at the secondary level and beyond.

    For participating students, the day was far more than just skill-building – it was a chance to connect with peers who share a love for the sport. Tariq Mayers, a student from participating St George Primary, already had some experience playing volleyball and said he jumped at the opportunity to attend. “Volleyball today was good and we practiced our serving, bumping and volleying and I really just enjoyed playing with my friends and having fun,” Mayers said.

    Nicholas Brathwaite, head coach for the St George Primary team, called the festival a transformative opportunity for both students and local school coaches alike. “It’s great for them to come out and not only learn the basics of the game but also have the experience of actually playing volleyball against some of their counterparts from other schools,” Brathwaite explained. “It’s been very informative, not only for the children but for myself as well. I’m learning some of the rules of volleyball, and it’s good for the students.”

    The event, captured by photographer Kurtis Hinds, represents a small but meaningful shift in how the island approaches youth sports development, with organizers hoping to expand the festival to more primary schools in coming years.

  • Parker Says Fatal Accidents Bill Covers More Than Road Traffic Deaths

    Parker Says Fatal Accidents Bill Covers More Than Road Traffic Deaths

    After a structured debate that saw opposition lawmakers push for progressive adjustments to modernize outdated legislation, Antigua and Barbuda’s Senate has formally approved the Fatal Accidents Bill 2026 — a comprehensive overhall of the country’s 102-year-old law governing wrongful death compensation claims. Leading the discussion from the opposition bench, Senator Malaka Parker has called on local residents to set aside narrow public misconceptions, emphasizing that the proposed legislation extends far beyond its most talked-about focus on road traffic fatalities to offer critical protections for grieving families across a wide spectrum of preventable death scenarios.

    During floor debate on the bill, Parker pointed out that the overwhelming majority of public discourse around the new legislation has fixated exclusively on its implications for fatal road crashes, a framing that overlooks the bill’s much broader scope. Unlike the century-old law it replaces, the 2026 bill establishes a flexible, updated legal framework that enables dependent family members to pursue rightful compensation for any wrongful death caused by another party’s intentional misconduct or negligent action.

    “The Fatal Accidents Bill is not simply about motor vehicle accidents,” Parker clarified to her fellow senators on the floor. She went on to outline the full range of scenarios the legislation covers, noting that it applies not only to road collisions but also to deaths resulting from medical malpractice, workplace safety failures, defective consumer products, aviation and maritime disasters, criminal violence, and many other forms of wrongful conduct.

    Beyond expanding the bill’s scope, Parker highlighted that the new legislation brings Antigua and Barbuda’s wrongful death laws into line with 21st-century social realities and modern legal standards for compensation, updating outdated provisions that failed to reflect contemporary family structures. While Parker expressed full support for the bill’s overarching goals of expanding protections for grieving families and reforming the country’s outdated civil justice framework, she put forward several targeted amendments to strengthen the legislation’s impact.

    Key amendments proposed by Parker included extending eligibility for bereavement damages to common-law partners, a change that aligns the law with modern relationship structures, implementing scheduled periodic reviews of the proposed $20,000 fixed bereavement award to adjust for inflation and maintain its real value over time, and cutting the mandatory waiting period before dependents can file certain compensation claims. Parker framed these adjustments as critical improvements to a bill that she described as a landmark step forward for Antigua and Barbuda’s civil justice system. Following debate, the Senate gave final approval to the bill, officially repealing the original 1924 Fatal Accidents Act and replacing it with the modernized 2026 framework.

  • Car driver in fatal Essequibo Coast accident was intoxicated- police

    Car driver in fatal Essequibo Coast accident was intoxicated- police

    Guyana law enforcement have confirmed that the driver involved in a fatal weekend collision that claimed the life of a local motorcyclist was operating his vehicle under the influence of alcohol, exceeding the country’s legal blood alcohol breath limit at the time of the crash. The fatal incident unfolded on the afternoon of June 27, 2026, along Reliance Public Road on the Essequibo Coast, leaving a 45-year-old construction worker dead just minutes after the collision.

    According to official statements released by the Guyana Police Force this Monday, June 29, the driver of the sedan involved in the crash, registered under plate number PAM 8929 and a resident of Coffee Grove, Essequibo Coast, registered a breath alcohol content of 48 micrograms during a mandatory breathalyzer test administered following the collision. Guyana’s legal limit for breath alcohol content is set at 35 micrograms, meaning the driver was more than a third over the permitted threshold. He has since been taken into police custody as investigations continue, and authorities have not yet released his identity to the public.

    The victim has been formally identified as Satesh Persaud, a 45-year-old construction worker based in the local Reliance Housing Scheme. Persaud was operating his motorcycle, registered under plate CM 2631, when the collision occurred. Police accounts of the incident outline that Persaud was traveling east, exiting an access road on the western side of the main public road, when he pulled onto the highway to cross to a connecting access road on the eastern side. As he entered the main roadway, he moved directly into the path of the oncoming sedan, which was traveling south along the road at the time of the incident.

    The high-impact collision threw Persaud from his motorcycle onto the pavement, where he sustained severe traumatic head injuries. Good Samaritans who witnessed the crash immediately pulled the unconscious motorcyclist from the roadway and rushed him to the nearby Lima Regional Hospital. Unfortunately, medical staff at the facility pronounced Persaud dead on arrival, shortly after he was admitted.

    Following the crash, Persaud’s remains were transferred to the mortuary at Suddie Public Hospital, where a post-mortem examination is scheduled to be carried out to confirm the official cause of death. Police investigations into the full circumstances of the collision remain ongoing as of Monday afternoon.