Carib Scope

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  • WIN, FGM slam govt’s plan to settle foreigners from US

    WIN, FGM slam govt’s plan to settle foreigners from US

    Guyana’s political landscape erupted in controversy as two major opposition parties vehemently condemned the government’s clandestine negotiations with the Trump administration regarding the settlement of third-country nationals from the United States.

    The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) and Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) issued separate statements on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, castigating President Irfaan Ali’s administration for engaging in talks about accepting deportees or refugees without parliamentary oversight or national consultation. Both parties characterized the negotiations as a fundamental breach of democratic principles and national sovereignty.

    FGM denounced the potential agreement as a ‘direct affront to the sovereignty of the Guyanese people,’ particularly given the absence of a functioning Parliament to provide legislative scrutiny. The party emphasized that any policy substantially altering Guyana’s demographic composition or imposing new social responsibilities must undergo rigorous parliamentary debate and national consultation.

    Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud confirmed on January 5 that ‘productive discussions’ were underway with the US to establish a ‘framework of understanding’ consistent with Guyana’s national priorities while supporting US objectives. This initiative forms part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to relocate unwanted migrants, with several Caribbean nations including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Belize having already signed similar agreements.

    The opposition parties raised multifaceted concerns spanning security, economic, and social dimensions. FGM challenged the government to disclose the agreement’s contents publicly, subject it to parliamentary debate, and conduct comprehensive security and economic impact assessments. Critical questions emerged regarding the verification systems for migrant backgrounds, administrative oversight mechanisms, and the potential strain on Guyana’s already stretched infrastructure.

    WIN explicitly rejected supporting any agreement until the government provides full disclosure, ensures parliamentary oversight, and presents a clear plan prioritizing Guyanese citizens’ well-being. The party highlighted the existing pressure from over 100,000 Venezuelan migrants on hospitals, schools, housing, and essential services, questioning how additional influxes would be managed.

    Both opposition groups demanded transparency regarding financial contributions from the US, long-term integration plans, housing arrangements, and the potential diversion of resources from Guyanese citizens already facing challenges in accessing land and affordable homes. The parties insisted that any demographic transformation affecting the nation’s future stability and security must not be decided through secretive negotiations without clear disclosure to the Guyanese people.

  • IAD launches national program to regularize occupied state lands

    IAD launches national program to regularize occupied state lands

    SANTO DOMINGO – The Dominican Agrarian Institute (IAD) has unveiled a comprehensive national initiative to address longstanding issues of irregular land occupation across the country. Under the leadership of interim director general Darío Castillo Lugo, the institution announced the National Program for the Regularization of IAD Land Occupations, designed to bring legal clarity to thousands of undocumented land holdings.

    This ambitious program represents a cornerstone of the IAD’s institutional transformation efforts, operating within the legal framework of the Agrarian Reform Law. The initiative seeks to establish enhanced legal security for land tenure, create transparent management protocols for state-owned land assets, and foster systematic territorial development that aligns with sustainable practices.

    Prospective participants have been granted an extensive application window stretching from January 12, 2026, through April 17, 2026. All submissions must be processed exclusively through the dedicated digital portal at regularizacion.iad.gob.do. The application requirements are comprehensive, mandating the presentation of documented evidence of land occupancy, detailed records of agricultural or livestock operations, financial documentation, proof of property enhancements, and authorization for technical surveys to facilitate thorough evaluation.

    The IAD has issued a clear warning regarding post-deadline consequences: properties that remain outside the regularization process will face legal reclamation procedures in strict accordance with prevailing legislation. Importantly, the program specifically excludes agrarian reform beneficiaries holding provisional titles, who will instead be serviced through the separately announced National Program for Definitive Titling of Agrarian Reform Landowners revealed in December 2025.

  • Army seizes 100,000 contraband cigarettes in Dajabón

    Army seizes 100,000 contraband cigarettes in Dajabón

    In a targeted intelligence operation, Dominican military forces have intercepted a massive shipment of contraband cigarettes near the nation’s northern border with Haiti. The successful mission resulted in the confiscation of 100,000 illicit cigarette units in Dajabón province, marking a significant blow to cross-border smuggling networks.

    The operation was initiated following intelligence reports indicating the movement of illegal merchandise into Dominican territory. Personnel from military intelligence services collaborated with members of the 10th Infantry Battalion to execute the strategic intervention. The operation focused on the Colonia Japonesa sector, specifically targeting the vicinity of a residence linked to an individual known by the alias ‘Buchín’.

    As military forces approached the location, multiple Haitian nationals were intercepted at the scene. The primary suspect, Buchín, managed to evade capture by fleeing upon detecting the military presence. The abandoned contraband consisted of 10 large boxes containing Capital-brand cigarettes, with each box holding 50 packages of 200 units, culminating in the substantial seizure of 100,000 cigarettes.

    The confiscated merchandise has been securely transported to the headquarters of the 10th Infantry Battalion, where it remains in military custody pending formal legal proceedings. Dominican Army officials emphasized their ongoing commitment to combating illicit activities along the border region through coordinated operations with various state institutions.

    The military command reiterated its strategic focus on protecting national sovereignty and maintaining legal order in border areas through continuous intelligence-driven operations against smuggling networks and other illegal cross-border activities.

  • Agriculture : World Bank, School Feeding Program Evaluation Mission

    Agriculture : World Bank, School Feeding Program Evaluation Mission

    A comprehensive evaluation mission conducted by the World Bank in collaboration with multiple international agencies has assessed the progress of Haiti’s innovative school feeding initiatives under the Resilient Agriculture for Food Security Project (PARSA). The December 2025 mission to Grand’Anse Department involved representatives from the World Bank, PARSA coordination team, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and World Food Programme (WFP) examining the implementation of various project components with particular emphasis on school nutrition programs.

    The assessment focused on operational functionality of school canteens and meal quality standards for students across the region. Since the 2023-2024 academic year, PARSA has significantly expanded its school feeding coverage, now benefiting over 125,000 students across Nippes, Sud, Grande Anse, and Centre Departments through two distinct implementation models.

    The primary model, serving 95% of beneficiary students, utilizes a decentralized local purchasing system where WFP partners with cooperating organizations to source supplies directly from agricultural producer organizations within the project’s intervention zone. This approach simultaneously addresses child nutrition while stimulating local agricultural economies.

    A particularly innovative pilot model in Chambellan and Moron communes grants substantial autonomy to canteen workers who receive fixed per-meal allocations and manage local market purchases and meal preparation independently. This stock-free approach requires daily market purchases by canteen workers who earn income based on dish pricing and actual preparation expenses rather than receiving direct compensation.

    The evaluation included site visits to Saint-Joseph National Congregational Girls’ School in Moron and Bon Berger College in Chambellan, enabling year-over-year progress assessment. Through the PARSA framework, WFP and Haiti’s Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR) are collaboratively strengthening the national school feeding system while bolstering local economic networks.

    During the 2024-2025 academic year, WFP’s comprehensive funding approach, including PARSA resources, provided daily school meals to approximately 600,000 children across 10 departments, with nearly 400,000 beneficiaries receiving meals sourced exclusively from local food systems.

  • Guyana can withstand oil price decline if US sells Venezuela’s crude

    Guyana can withstand oil price decline if US sells Venezuela’s crude

    Amidst global oil price fluctuations, Guyana’s burgeoning petroleum sector demonstrates resilience against potential market pressures from US marketing of Venezuelan crude. Business analyst Christopher Ram asserts that while increased Venezuelan oil supplies could drive prices down to the early $50s range—representing a 12-15% decline—Guyana’s simultaneous production scaling will counteract revenue impacts through volume increases.

    ExxonMobil’s current Stabroek Block operations yield approximately 900,000 barrels daily from Liza 1, Liza 2, and Payara developments. The consortium, including China National Overseas Oil Corporation and Chevron, anticipates reaching 1.7 million barrels per day by 2029 as additional projects (Uaru, Whiptail, Longtail, and Hammerhead) commence operations. Ram emphasizes that Venezuela’s heavy crude presents no direct competitive threat to Guyana’s premium light sweet oil due to fundamental quality differences.

    The market context reveals significant oversupply concerns, with Brent crude closing at $59.96 per barrel on January 7, 2026—well below Guyana’s projected $71.90 average for the previous year. Actual 2025 prices averaged $69.00 annually, declining from January’s $79 peak to December’s $63 low—the weakest monthly performance since early 2021.

    Meanwhile, civil society activists including Ram and Vanda Radzik staged symbolic protests near the US Embassy in Kingston, condemning the military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. The demonstration, constrained by police barriers, featured accusations of US oil-motivated interventionism and demands for evidence regarding narco-terrorism charges against Maduro. Radzik characterized the operation as undermining Caribbean peace initiatives and regional sovereignty.

    International relations expert Professor Mark Kirton warns that Venezuelan production resurgence could introduce competitive pressures within an already saturated market, potentially affecting Guyana’s revenue streams. However, energy analysts note that substantial investment in Venezuela’s deteriorated infrastructure remains prerequisite to significant output restoration, creating natural market buffers for Guyana’s continued development.

  • Antonio Taveras pushes asset recovery in SENASA corruption case

    Antonio Taveras pushes asset recovery in SENASA corruption case

    SANTO DOMINGO – In a significant move against public corruption, Senator Antonio Taveras has formally petitioned the Public Prosecutor’s Office to implement the Law of Extinction of Ownership regarding the high-profile SENASA (National Health Insurance) corruption case. Representing Santo Domingo province, the senator seeks expedited recovery of public funds allegedly embezzled from the national healthcare system.

    The senator’s legal submission emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the case, noting that stolen resources were specifically allocated for public health services, thereby disproportionately harming the nation’s most vulnerable citizens. While explicitly acknowledging the constitutional autonomy of prosecutors, Taveras maintained that asset recovery represents an urgent parallel process that can proceed independently of criminal prosecutions.

    Legal grounds for the petition cite multiple alleged violations including systematic fraud against the state, blatant embezzlement schemes, utilization of front men to conceal ownership, inexplicable asset accumulation by officials, and irregular financial operations. Taveras underscored that public outrage demands not merely criminal convictions but full restitution of diverted funds.

    The senator concluded that recovered assets must be channeled back into the national health infrastructure to restore critical services, including essential medicine access and medical treatments for Dominican citizens who suffered from the alleged corruption.

  • Inside the Collapse of American Northwest University

    Inside the Collapse of American Northwest University

    A promising medical education pathway has disintegrated into chaos as American Northwest University (ANU) in Belmopan, Belize, has abruptly ceased operations, leaving dozens of aspiring physicians in academic and financial limbo. The institution, which aggressively marketed itself as an accredited international medical school offering U.S. clinical rotations, now stands abandoned with its campus chained shut and devoid of staff or academic activities.

    The crisis deepened when Belize’s Ministry of Education confirmed that ANU’s operating charter expired in June 2024 and was never renewed. This revelation came amid emerging legal complications involving a senior figure associated with the institution. According to Becker’s ASC Review, an Illinois physician faces charges exceeding $1 million in alleged Medicaid and Medicare fraud, including permitting an unlicensed individual described as a medical student from a non-certified institution to treat patients during his absence from the country.

    Education Minister Francis Fonseca acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating: “We believe this matter will be resolved very quickly. The reality is that the university’s charter expired and was not renewed because they failed to meet the terms and conditions.” The ministry is now collaborating with the University of Belize, which recently established its own medical school, to facilitate potential student transfers.

    Despite these efforts, affected students report losing thousands of dollars in tuition and years of academic investment without refunds or formal notification. Compounding their distress, many fear speaking publicly after receiving legal threats from university representatives warning of defamation action. The institution’s director allegedly claimed to possess evidence of legitimacy despite operating without valid authorization for over eighteen months.

    The complete absence of transparency, coupled with the ministry’s delayed response, has created an environment of uncertainty and apprehension among international medical students whose career aspirations now hang in precarious balance as investigations continue.

  • Eight-Year-Old ‘Lucky to Walk Again’ After Being Struck by Motorcycle

    Eight-Year-Old ‘Lucky to Walk Again’ After Being Struck by Motorcycle

    A severe traffic incident involving an eight-year-old student has ignited urgent conversations about road safety measures near educational institutions. Karter Benedit, a second-grade pupil at Holy Family RC Primary School, sustained significant injuries when a motorcycle struck him in Hopkins Village this past Tuesday. The accident occurred shortly after school dismissal as Benedit was crossing the street alongside classmates.

    Emergency services transported the critically injured child to Southern Regional Hospital where medical personnel performed immediate surgical interventions. Benedit’s mother, Dydy Martinez, provided disturbing details regarding her son’s condition, noting visible muscle tissue exposure in his leg and multiple deep lacerations requiring approximately fifteen stitches across his back and head. Additionally, the young victim suffered substantial facial swelling and extensive abrasions.

    Medical professionals indicated the family should consider themselves extraordinarily fortunate, as the boy’s white tissue—likely referring to bone or deep connective tissue—remained intact despite the traumatic impact. Specialists emphasized that damage to this critical anatomical structure could have resulted in permanent mobility impairment.

    Law enforcement authorities have detained the motorcycle operator pending formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision. The victim’s family has publicly criticized the absence of adequate safety protocols near the school premises, specifically highlighting the lack of crossing guards and necessary traffic calming infrastructure like speed bumps. This incident has amplified existing concerns about vehicular compliance with school zone regulations and enforcement effectiveness.

  • Hotel says sewage plant meets standards amid residents’ concerns

    Hotel says sewage plant meets standards amid residents’ concerns

    Royalton Hotels and Resorts has publicly addressed mounting concerns regarding the construction of a new sewage treatment plant for its Royalton Vessence Barbados resort in Holetown. During a media briefing on Tuesday, company executives assured the public that the facility will adhere to Barbados’ rigorous environmental regulations, which they claim exceed regional standards.

    Executive Vice-President Daniel Diaz confirmed that construction along Highway 1 would conclude within approximately ten days if work proceeds expeditiously. The project involves implementing traffic management measures to facilitate the installation of new utility lines for the hotel development. Diaz emphasized that all construction strictly follows previously approved plans presented during a 2020 town hall meeting, with no subsequent modifications made to the original design.

    While acknowledging suggestions to relocate the treatment facility, Diaz defended its current placement as necessary for upgrading infrastructure in an area that has experienced limited development over the past twenty years. The executive detailed the advanced features of the planned facility, describing it as a state-of-the-art, enclosed system equipped with odor control and noise reduction technology.

    Dr. William Duguid, Senior Minister for Coordinating Infrastructural Projects, provided context regarding the West Coast’s wastewater management challenges. Unlike Bridgetown and the South Coast—which benefit from a central sewage treatment plant serving approximately 4,000 customers—the West Coast lacks a comprehensive sewer system. Dr. Duguid noted that several prominent properties along the coast, including Glitter Bay, Sandy Lane, Mullins, and St. Peter’s Bay, already operate individual treatment plants without incident.

    The timing of construction during peak tourist season raised additional concerns about potential disruptions to nearby hospitality businesses. Diaz acknowledged these challenges but explained that the scale of the resort development made the scheduling unavoidable. Royalton’s technical team has conducted assessments indicating that noise and dust impacts will remain minimal throughout the construction phase.

  • The difficulties and the much that remains to be done continue to be the guiding principles of the Revolution

    The difficulties and the much that remains to be done continue to be the guiding principles of the Revolution

    On the 67th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution’s triumphant entry into Havana, the nation reflects on Fidel Castro’s enduring legacy amidst contemporary geopolitical pressures. January 8, 1959, marked the historic moment when Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz led the Caravan of Liberty through the capital, greeted by millions of citizens celebrating what they perceived as their ultimate independence.

    This year’s commemoration coincides with the centenary of Castro’s birth, reviving his prophetic warnings about the difficulties inherent in revolutionary governance. His famous address—’Tyranny has been overthrown. The joy is immense. And yet, much remains to be done’—resonates profoundly in current circumstances, as Cuba faces renewed external pressures and internal challenges.

    The article draws parallels between historical and contemporary struggles, emphasizing how the United States has persistently attempted to undermine Cuba’s revolutionary project through various means. Recent developments in Venezuela, including alleged military aggression and the political targeting of President Nicolás Maduro, are presented as evidence of continued imperial ambitions in the region.

    Despite these challenges, the piece emphasizes Cuba’s resilience, attributing its endurance to the ideological foundation established by Castro and the revolutionary generation. The narrative portrays Cuba as maintaining its commitment to sovereignty and resistance against foreign domination, with Castro’s teachings continuing to guide the nation’s response to contemporary adversities.

    The commemoration serves as both a historical reflection and a call to action, invoking José Martí’s concept of ‘Our America’ while reaffirming Cuba’s revolutionary principles in the face of modern geopolitical realities.