Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • President buiten jaarredetekst om: Ik wil geen drugsvliegtuigen in mijn achterland

    President buiten jaarredetekst om: Ik wil geen drugsvliegtuigen in mijn achterland

    In an unplanned, notable departure from her prepared annual address to the country’s national legislature DNA, Suriname President Jennifer Simons delivered a firm rebuke of unauthorised drug trafficking planes operating in the nation’s interior on Wednesday. The off-the-cuff remarks came immediately after Simons outlined Suriname’s upcoming 2027 half-term presidency of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a role the South American nation will assume from January through June of that year. As host of the bloc’s 52nd regular meeting of heads of government scheduled for February 2027, Simons used the address to underscore both the value of regional collaboration and the importance of Suriname maintaining an independent policy agenda, with the CARICOM presidency details included in the official version of her annual speech.

    After touching on regional leadership, Simons veered outside her prepared text to address longstanding concerns over territorial security and drug trafficking in Suriname’s under-monitored interior. She confirmed the nation has already requested international support to boost surveillance of remote inland areas, where unregistered small aircraft have repeatedly been documented landing for trafficking operations.

    In unusually blunt language, Simons pushed back on questions about the final destinations of these illicit flights, making her administration’s non-negotiable position clear: “It does not matter to me where they are going. I do not want them here at all. I will not tolerate drug planes in our country’s interior.”

    The president framed the push for enhanced inland surveillance as a proactive measure to secure Suriname’s full sovereignty over its territory, rather than a reactive response to crises. She argued that consistent, targeted policy and full territorial control can only be achieved with real-time, comprehensive information on activity in remote inland regions. “To be the master of our own territory and implement effective border policy, we need far more visibility into what is happening in our interior,” Simons stated.

    To advance this goal, Simons highlighted ongoing security cooperation with friendly partner nations, specifically naming Brazil. She noted that a formal cooperation agreement related to this effort has already been finalized and submitted to the National Assembly for approval, expressing confidence that lawmakers will move quickly to ratify the pact so Suriname can access the intelligence and support it needs. Closing her remarks on foreign and security policy, Simons laid out her administration’s core guiding principles: Suriname will pursue “peace without passivity,” “sovereignty without isolation,” and “collaboration without subordination.”

  • Deputy Police Commissioner Albert Wade to Take Over as Superintendent of His Majesty’s Prison

    Deputy Police Commissioner Albert Wade to Take Over as Superintendent of His Majesty’s Prison

    In a series of post-Cabinet announcements made Thursday, the government of Antigua and Barbuda has laid out an ambitious slate of corrections system overhauls, headlined by the upcoming appointment of Deputy Police Commissioner Albert Wade as the new head of His Majesty’s Prison. The leadership change comes amid a broader restructuring triggered by recently passed legislation that imposes harsher penalties for convictions involving illegal firearms and sexual violence, a policy shift that officials project will drive a significant increase in the country’s prison population in the coming months.

    An interim leader has overseen daily prison operations since October 1, when the previous superintendent officially retired after concluding their term. Cabinet spokesperson Maurice Merchant confirmed the timeline for Wade’s permanent appointment, telling reporters that the veteran law enforcement official will formally step into the superintendent role within the next few weeks. “Within the coming weeks, the prison will have a new superintendent in the person of Deputy Commissioner of Police Albert Wade,” Merchant stated during the media briefing.

    Prime Minister Gaston Browne has framed the reforms as a proactive response to the pressures that stricter sentencing will place on the country’s existing correctional infrastructure. During Cabinet deliberations, Browne emphasized that longer, more stringent sentences will create new operational demands for His Majesty’s Prison, and issued a formal directive requiring the Attorney General’s office and senior correctional leadership to draft a full, coordinated prison reform plan within a 30-day window.

    Unlike traditional punitive overhauls tied to harsher sentencing, the government’s planned changes center heavily on rehabilitative outcomes for incarcerated people. Officials confirmed that the new framework will prioritize expanding access to vocational training and life skills development, with the explicit goal of equipping inmates to successfully reenter local communities as productive, law-abiding members after completing their sentences.

    Beyond programming changes, the Cabinet has also approved plans to expand the facility’s existing on-site prison farm. Browne has called for converting additional unused adjacent land into agricultural production space, with plans to scale up cultivation of staple food crops and expand livestock operations including pig, chicken and other small animal rearing. The expansion is expected to reduce the prison’s operational food costs while providing meaningful work experience for inmates participating in the program.

    As part of the broader preparations for a growing inmate population, Cabinet members also opened discussions about potential changes to the judicial system. With increased law enforcement efforts and stricter sentencing expected to push more criminal cases through the court pipeline, officials are assessing whether additional magistrates and judges will need to be appointed to prevent case backlogs and ensure that legal proceedings move forward efficiently. No final decision on additional judicial appointments has been announced, with discussions set to continue in the coming weeks as the reform plan takes shape.

  • Chief Magistrate Engages Police Officers on Customer Service and Professionalism

    Chief Magistrate Engages Police Officers on Customer Service and Professionalism

    In a targeted effort to elevate public service standards and strengthen inter-agency collaboration within Antigua and Barbuda’s justice system, Chief Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel hosted a specialized professional development workshop for police court orderlies and prosecuting officers at the St. John’s Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, October 1, 2026.

    The interactive session centered on two core pillars of effective judicial operations: customer-centric public service and consistent workplace professionalism. Attendees explored a range of high-priority topics, from refining the execution of routine court duties to establishing respectful, appropriate communication with community members navigating the judicial system. The workshop also dedicated significant time to outlining best practices for managing confidential and sensitive court-related matters, ensuring personnel are equipped to uphold public trust through rigorous ethical practice.

    Feedback from participating officers was overwhelmingly positive, with many noting that the opportunity to draw on Emanuel’s decades of judicial experience offered unique, actionable insights that cannot be gained through standard internal training. Attendees formally committed to integrating the guidance and strategies shared during the presentation into their daily work, with the shared goal of steadily raising the overall quality of service delivered to Antigua and Barbuda residents.

    To close the event, organizers honored Constable Clinton Williams, badge number 26, with the Outstanding Court Orderly award. The recognition highlighted Williams’ long-standing track record of exceptional work ethic, unwavering professionalism, consistent dedication, and relentless commitment to upholding the standards of his role.

    Senior leadership of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda issued a formal statement following the workshop, extending sincere gratitude to Chief Magistrate Emanuel for her willingness to invest time in developing police personnel and her ongoing support for force-wide professional growth. The statement emphasized that police administration deeply values the long-standing, collaborative working relationship between the Royal Police Force and the national Magistracy.

    Leadership further noted that sustained collaboration, targeted professional development, and cross-institutional mutual support are foundational to strengthening the overall administration of justice in Antigua and Barbuda, and to ensuring the public receives accessible, high-quality judicial and law enforcement services. The agency confirmed that similar joint professional development sessions will be planned in the future to continue building capacity across the justice sector.

  • Les Côteaux : Opening of the 7th Technical Higher Education Center

    Les Côteaux : Opening of the 7th Technical Higher Education Center

    On September 28, 2026, the coastal municipality of Les Côteaux in Haiti’s South Department celebrated a landmark milestone for accessible higher technical education with the official opening of the country’s seventh Center for Higher Technical Education (Centres d’Enseignement Supérieur Technique, CEST). The new institution operates under the academic and administrative oversight of the Public University of the South in Les Cayes (UPSAC), marking another key step in the Haitian government’s national expansion of vocational-focused higher education across underserved regions.

    The inauguration ceremony drew a cross-section of senior stakeholders, including the top political leadership of the South Department, rectors from multiple departmental public universities, Les Côteaux municipal government representatives, and prominent leaders from local civil society. Presiding over the event was Professor Jean-Robert Dossaint, head of the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) delegation and strategic advisor to Minister Vijonet Déméro, who outlined a community-centered vision for the new center in his official remarks.

    Dossaint emphasized that the impact of a technical higher education institution extends far beyond its physical campus, emphasizing its core territorial mandate to serve the broader region. “The Les Côteaux CEST must therefore look beyond its own walls,” he stated. “It must look toward other coastal municipalities. It must look toward the communal sections, agricultural operations, fishing activities, small businesses, enterprises, associations, and all the initiatives that sustain this region. Training must originate in the territory, address its needs, and return to the territory in the form of skills and solutions.”

    Dr. Magdala Jean-Baptiste, Vice-President of the Council of Rectors of Departmental Public Universities (UPD) and Rector of the Public University of the Southeast in Jacmel (UPSEJ), echoed this place-based approach, noting that the center’s training programs will be tailored to align with the local economic landscape and the unique development potential of Les Côteaux and its neighboring municipalities.

    For his part, Professor Edouard Jules, Rector of UPSAC, traced the growing institutional footprint of departmental public universities across Haiti, highlighting their evolving role as regional hubs of specialized knowledge. “A university established in a region does not merely train students; it helps create an intellectual, scientific, and professional environment capable of transforming that region,” Jules explained.

    Etienne Louisseul France, Departmental Director of Education for the West, expanded on the transformative promise of practice-focused higher education, noting: “Higher education holds a special promise. It unites the acquisition of knowledge with its practical application; it links reflection with action, and the mastery of knowledge with the ability to receive, organize, execute, and solve the problems facing societies.”

    The opening of the Les Côteaux CEST follows a series of similar institutional launches across Haiti in recent months, including new centers in Thiotte, Dame-Marie, and Petit-Goâve, as part of a broader national plan to roll out nine new technical higher education centers and six new secondary schools to expand education access across the country.

  • Bijna kwart begrote uitgaven voor schuldenlast

    Bijna kwart begrote uitgaven voor schuldenlast

    Suriname’s government has released its official State Debt Plan for 2027, outlining that a total of 16.5 billion Surinamese dollars (equal to roughly $433.6 million USD) will need to be set aside to cover interest payments, principal amortization, and other associated costs related to the country’s outstanding national debt. This planned allocation accounts for 23% of the total projected government expenditure outlined in the 2027 budget framework. Of the total debt service budget, 62% is earmarked for principal repayments, while the remaining 38% will go toward interest payments and administrative fees.

    Foreign-held debt represents the largest share of Suriname’s 2027 debt service obligations. Around 63% of the total allocation, or approximately $275 million USD, is dedicated to servicing external debt, while $158.7 million USD is reserved for domestic debt obligations. Broken down by payment type, the 2027 total principal amortization is projected at $270.1 million USD, with total interest costs estimated at $163.5 million USD.

    According to the plan, the heaviest payment deadlines will fall in the months of March, June, September, and December. For external creditors, principal repayments are set at around $176.3 million USD, with interest payments on foreign debt projected to hit roughly $96.5 million USD.

    For domestic debt, principal repayments to commercial banks are estimated at $64.6 million USD, equivalent to 2.45 billion Surinamese dollars. An additional $20.3 million USD, or around 771 million Surinamese dollars, is budgeted for principal repayments on debts tied to infrastructure projects across the country.

    A key provision in the plan that eases short-term budget pressure is the pre-allocation of $152.2 million USD for interest payments on the country’s Global Notes 2030, Global Notes 2035, and its dedicated Social Bond. These funds have already been transferred to an independent third-party managed escrow account, which means these payments will not create additional fiscal strain on the 2027 national budget, the plan confirms.

    To address the country’s ongoing financing gap, the Surinamese government plans to draw on existing approved loan facilities, secure new domestic and external financing, and continue advancing the development of the local capital market to boost domestic funding options.

  • Kenscoff : Call for solidarity to rehabilitate access roads

    Kenscoff : Call for solidarity to rehabilitate access roads

    Kenscoff, Haiti – As the mountain commune of Kenscoff grapples with severely damaged access routes that have upended daily life and hampered security operations, local Mayor Massillon Jean has issued a urgent public call for cross-community solidarity and collective action to rehabilitate these critical infrastructure links. The initiative, launched by the Kenscoff municipal administration, aims to pool resources and labor from all segments of local society to clear debris, repair damaged surfaces, and reopen key roads that currently block movement, public services and the return of displaced residents.

  • Dominica to launch four tier missing person alert system on October 5

    Dominica to launch four tier missing person alert system on October 5

    The Caribbean nation of Dominica is set to introduce a comprehensive national missing person alert system on October 5, a public safety initiative designed to split emergency notifications into four distinct categories tailored to different types of disappearance cases, National Security and Legal Affairs Minister Rayburn Blackmoore confirmed during an official ministry press briefing.

    Blackmoore emphasized that the window immediately following a person’s disappearance is often the most critical for successful search and rescue operations. Under the new framework, the system will break down barriers between law enforcement, the general public, and local media, enabling rapid, coordinated information sharing that expands the scope of search efforts far beyond what investigative teams can cover alone. By mobilizing communities across the country, the initiative turns ordinary citizens into extra eyes and ears for police, drastically cutting down on the time it takes to locate missing individuals.

    To keep notifications clear and contextually appropriate, the system uses color-coded tiers for different case types. Missing children and minors will trigger a pink alert, the highest-priority classification for the youngest and most at-risk vulnerable groups. A separate category is reserved for individuals who cannot adequately protect themselves due to disability, chronic illness, or other personal vulnerabilities, addressing gaps in previous ad-hoc search protocols that often failed to flag these high-risk cases quickly.

    General missing adult cases will fall under a standard public alert, while a new blue alert designation will be activated for incidents involving active-duty police officers where a dangerous suspect remains at large. This specialized tier addresses the unique public safety threat posed by these situations, allowing for rapid mobilization of the public to help locate the suspect before further harm occurs.

    Under the draft operational structure, the Dominican police force will develop formal response protocols and a dedicated secure hotline for residents to report missing persons. When a report meets the criteria for a public alert, the police chief will be notified immediately, and trained authorized staff will distribute the alert to all participating media outlets across the country.

    In a major step to ensure maximum visibility, all participating media organizations have already agreed to interrupt their regularly scheduled programming to broadcast the alerts simultaneously, ensuring that the information reaches as many people as possible in the shortest time frame. Government officials also plan to display photos of missing individuals on public digital screens located in high-traffic areas across the country, further expanding outreach.

    Police Chief Lincoln Corbette has publicly endorsed the new system, noting that full details of operational rules and response procedures will be released to the public during the official launch ceremony on October 5. All classifications and reporting arrangements announced at the press briefing remain preliminary, and will be finalized ahead of the launch once full operational protocols are approved by law enforcement leadership.

  • SoundLeap students put training into practice at Sound Fest

    SoundLeap students put training into practice at Sound Fest

    Sixteen aspiring live sound engineering professionals have wrapped up the first iteration of SoundLeap, a groundbreaking six-month hands-on training initiative based in Grenada, capping their 5.5 months of learning with a real-world test of their skills at the island’s Sound Fest on Saturday, September 26. Launched in mid-April of this year to fill a critical gap in local technical training for the entertainment industry, SoundLeap’s first cohort marked a major milestone for the program, which is already set to open its second intake in April 2027.

    The practical capstone event took place on the lush Le Phare Bleu lawn in Petite Calivigny, where students stepped into core technical roles across every stage of Sound Fest’s operations. From leading front-of-house audio engineering to managing stage monitoring systems and overseeing on-site stage technology, the cohort handled end-to-end technical preparation: they arrived on-site a full day early for Friday soundchecks, adjusted setups through performance day Saturday, and stayed after the final act to break down gear and restore the venue. For student Jeavid Neckles, the event offered a unique double challenge: he balanced technical duties alongside a performance slot playing guitar alongside Thamara “Song Bird” St Bernard-Neckles.

    What made the inaugural cohort particularly notable was its wide range of starting experience levels, reflecting SoundLeap’s mission to lift up new entrants while elevating existing professionals. Some participants already held informal roles working with local bands, church events, and small community productions, while others joined with almost no hands-on experience in audio work. Timon John, one student who entered with limited background, shared that the program transformed his understanding of core technical skills including mixer operation, equalization, dynamic compression, and noise gating. “I came in with almost no information, and I learned a lot,” John explained. “I’m not the most experienced here, but I’m still very confident — way better than how I came in.”

    For seasoned participants, the program offered a chance to refine self-taught techniques and adopt more effective, industry-standard practices. Michael Hutchinson, who had already worked with local bands and small events before enrolling, noted that the training revealed gaps in methods he had developed on his own. “You just learned it in ways that worked, but there were better ways and safer ways and things that could make you do it much better,” he said. At Sound Fest, Hutchinson put his new skills to work as front-of-house engineer for the Thamara set featuring Jeavid Neckles, and served as a stage technician for performances by Sabrina Francis and the Treehouse Band.

    Beyond structured classroom learning, the Sound Fest capstone gave students hands-on experience troubleshooting real-time issues that arise during live events. Unlike training exercises where learners have time to work through problems step-by-step, live production requires fast critical thinking to resolve unexpected gear or audio failures mid-performance. John noted that response strategies shift depending on the specific issue, while Hutchinson emphasized that the program taught him the importance of advance preparation — including maintaining standby gear and having clear protocols for troubleshooting emergency electronic failures.

    SoundLeap’s successful launch is rooted in its leadership team, which draws on decades of collective experience across Grenada’s music and entertainment sector. Lead instructor Petroc “Rocky” Bernard, who has worked in the live sound industry for roughly 20 years, explained that the program was created to address a longstanding local need for more comprehensive formal training for sound engineers and stage technicians. The full instructional team brings a diverse range of expertise: Hervin Hood counts more than 19 years of recording studio engineering experience alongside 9 years in live production; Dieter Burkhalter has over 45 years of multi-faceted experience as a musician, promoter, organizer, educator, arranger, and sound engineer; Jerrod “Rodey” Nelson contributes expertise as a working bassist and musical director; Alesia Aird brings professional experience in live music production; Ryan Richards is a practicing sound engineer; and Sabrina Francis, an award-winning singer-songwriter and 2026 Groovy Monarch winner, adds more than a decade of Caribbean music industry experience and a critical artist perspective to the curriculum.

    Unlike short, one-off workshops common in the region, SoundLeap’s 6-month curriculum covers foundational and advanced topics ranging from the history of sound transducers and audio physics to audio component design, signal flow, and modern console technology. Following the successful completion of the first cohort, Bernard noted that many graduates have already secured entry-level work in the field and will continue building their skills through the SoundLeap network. Moving forward, the initiative aims to grow into a sustained professional community that supports ongoing learning and career development for Grenada’s next generation of live sound professionals, with the second cohort set to begin training in April 2027.

  • Temple Yard return in sight, but vendors still in the dark

    Temple Yard return in sight, but vendors still in the dark

    After nearly two years of displacement amid a major redevelopment project at the historic City Centre Temple Yard in Barbados, displaced local artisans are still stuck in limbo, with conflicting timelines and a lack of official outreach leaving many legacy vendors uncertain about when they can return to their original trading space. The project, which is transforming the iconic craft hub, is on track to wrap up its first construction phase ahead of Barbados’ Independence Day, according to Minister of Housing Chris Gibbs, who confirmed the milestone timeline during comments Tuesday. However, for the original vendors that moved to temporary accommodation at Pelican Village, no concrete information about their relocation back to the redeveloped site has been shared since talks with local media last year. Craftswoman Sherry-Ann Knight, one of the displaced legacy vendors, says she has only seen the near-finished construction from a distance and heard unconfirmed rumours about the project, with no official consultations or organized meetings held for the relocated group since 2023. She described business conditions at the Pelican Village temporary site as catastrophic, with foot traffic nearly non-existent: “Zero plus zero equals zero; these folks ain’t come out, food man ain’t come out, only one leather man come out.” Visibly frustrated by the ongoing uncertainty, Knight said she can only watch the construction progress from afar with no clear next steps for her craft business. Vendors were first displaced from Temple Yard almost two years ago to make way for the redevelopment, splitting the community across temporary trading locations. While some vendors like Tyrone Howell, a veteran leather craftsman, remain cautiously optimistic about returning to the original site, he also confirmed that no official updates on a relocation timeline have been shared with vendors since the project kicked off. “When we first come there she talk to we but since that day we ain’t had no more meetings,” Howell explained, noting he has observed new stall infrastructure being added to the back of the redeveloped site, suggesting finishing work is still ongoing. Howell maintains that the original legacy vendors should be the first to move back into the completed space, a priority he hopes project officials will honour. He added that regular customers constantly ask when the group will return to their central Cheapside location opposite the General Post Office, as most shoppers do not travel to the remote Pelican Village site to patronize the artisans. “A lot of people can’t come on here. I missing customers. A lot of people don’t even know who on here,” Howell said, sharing his hope that the relocation will happen before the Christmas holiday rush, giving vendors time to rebuild their customer base ahead of the busiest trading period of the year. Officials with Barbados Tourism Investment Inc (BTII), the agency leading the redevelopment, say the relocation process is moving forward and that original Temple Yard artisans will be given priority access to the new stalls. BTII communications consultant and spokesperson Joy-Ann Haigh confirmed that the application process for new stall leases at the redeveloped site is now finalized, and will be shared first with the legacy vendors that were temporarily displaced. “We’ll continue to communicate with them, and we will be sharing the application process with them shortly,” Haigh said, noting that displaced legacy artisans will be screened and approved before the agency considers applications from any new vendors that align with Temple Yard’s mission as a local craft hub. The application package will include full details of lease agreements, as well as clear outlines of the responsibilities for both vendors and government stakeholders once the facility opens to the public, Haigh added. She confirmed that BTII plans to hold an in-person meeting with the original Temple Yard vendors first to share all relevant information, but declined to provide a specific date for that meeting, saying the vendors deserve to be informed directly before any details are released to the public. “It’s gonna be shortly because we don’t have a date yet, and I would rather tell them first than to tell you because they’re not supposed to read about it in the newspaper first,” Haigh said.

  • Ariza increases support to Waggy T Super Knockout

    Ariza increases support to Waggy T Super Knockout

    As one of the most anticipated local football tournaments prepares to kick off its 16th iteration, regional financial institution Ariza Credit Union has announced a major expansion of its long-running support, raising its total sponsorship commitment to $20,000 – double the amount it contributed in previous installments. The announcement was formally delivered during the official media launch event for the tournament, where representatives from the credit union also reaffirmed their enduring collaborative relationship with event organizer Megaforce Promotions, a partnership that has lasted for more than 10 years. The expanded sponsorship package includes both direct cash funding and curated prizes for participants. A standout component of the prize pool is complimentary Ariza Credit Union memberships and shares, an offering designed to introduce young athletes to formal financial services and help them start building long-term financial stability with the institution. In a formal address at the launch, Ariza Credit Union Chief Executive Officer Mervyn Lord emphasized that the cooperative has consistently prioritized community programs that deliver tangible, life-changing opportunities for young people across the region. “At Ariza, we hold the core belief that investing in our youth is equivalent to investing in the long-term prosperity of our local communities and our entire nation,” Lord explained. “Events like the Waggy T Super Knockout create a structured space for young athletes to nurture their football skills, strengthen their personal character, and internalize core values including collaborative teamwork, self-discipline, and consistent perseverance. We are thrilled to expand our support this year, and to continue our successful partnership with Megaforce Promotions as we work to open new doors for the next generation.” Beyond the tournament itself, Ariza Credit Union highlighted its pride in sustaining this beloved community sporting tradition, noting that the competition has become a cornerstone of local youth athletic development over the past 15 editions. The institution also emphasized its commitment to continuing to nurture opportunities for young competitors to grow, test their skills against top peers, and achieve excellence both on and off the pitch. Ahead of the 2026 tournament’s opening matches, Ariza extended its warmest wishes to every participating team, encouraging all athletes to compete with enthusiasm, integrity, and national pride throughout the duration of the competition. This report is published via NOW Grenada, which notes it does not take responsibility for opinions or statements shared by contributing authors. Individuals can report abusive content through designated platform channels.