Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • Vieux Fort South dominates top-of-the-table SPFL clash

    Vieux Fort South dominates top-of-the-table SPFL clash

    The Saint Lucia Semi-Professional Football League’s Tier 1 wrapped up a thrilling five-match weekend slate that reshaped the competition’s standings, with the league’s top two contenders holding their ground to pull away from title-chasing rivals, while defending champions suffered a damaging defeat and a relegation-threatened side pulled off an unexpected upset.

    Opening the weekend’s action on Friday evening, Vieux Fort North secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Mabouya Valley. Striking in both the first and second halves, Riquelme Elva notched a brace for Vieux Fort North in the 32nd and 69th minutes, putting his side in position for all three points. Torien Joseph responded with a late consolation goal for Mabouya Valley in the 74th minute, but it was not enough to reverse the result.

    Saturday’s fixtures brought high-stakes clashes that would define the title race, with current league leaders Vieux Fort South (VFS) taking the pitch first against two-time defending champions La Clery at the Soufriere Stadium. Missing several key players to national team call-ups, La Clery were left understrength for the encounter, and Vieux Fort South capitalized on the advantage to deliver a convincing 3-0 win. Saviola Elva broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, sending the table-toppers into halftime with a 1-0 lead. Shan Alfred doubled VFS’ advantage in the 75th minute, before Elva slammed home his second of the match deep into second-half stoppage time at 90+4 minutes. The commanding win, earned under head coach Jamil Joseph, widens the gap between Vieux Fort South and the defending champions at the top of the standings.

    In Saturday’s second headline fixture, second-placed Dennery kept pace with the league leaders, picking up a 4-2 win over recently promoted Anse La Raye, the reigning Tier 2 champions. Elijah Joseph got Dennery on the board first in the 11th minute, only for Javon Wilson to equalize for Anse La Raye 15 minutes later. Joseph restored Dennery’s lead just before halftime, notching his second of the game in the 45th minute. Substitute Shervius Oculi made an immediate impact after entering the match, scoring just four minutes after coming off the bench in the 70th minute, then adding a second in the 85th minute to stretch Dennery’s lead to two goals. Dahmani Berthier pulled one back for Anse La Raye in the 74th minute, but the side could not find an equalizer, leaving Dennery to hold on for the full three points.

    Sunday’s action brought one of the weekend’s biggest surprises, as relegation-battling Central Castries fought to a shock 2-2 draw against title-contending Canaries, dropping Canaries further off the pace set by the top two. The capital side, which entered the fixture mired in the bottom two relegation spots, got off to a blistering start, netting two goals in the opening 10 minutes: Messiah Pinel opened the scoring in the 8th minute, and Rasheed Eugene doubled the lead just two minutes later. Canaries responded quickly, pulling one back through Dhirv Jn Baptiste just four minutes after the second goal, and the two sides traded chances back and forth through the entire second half. Canaries finally found their equalizer in the 87th minute, when McCathur Louis found the back of the net to salvage a point for the title hopefuls.

    The weekend closed with a dramatic late fixture that saw Gros Islet secure an impressive 3-0 win over Soufriere, despite finishing the match down to nine men after two red cards. The first half remained goalless, but Gros Islet exploded into action after halftime, with Ridel Stanislaus scoring back-to-back goals in the 51st and 58th minutes. Jahlil Evans extended the lead from the penalty spot just two minutes later in the 60th minute. Immediately after Evans’ penalty, Aaron Richard was sent off after picking up a second yellow card, and Raphael Joseph joined him in the dressing room deep into stoppage time at 90+4 minutes, also dismissed for a second caution. Despite the two-man disadvantage, Gros Islet held on to keep a clean sheet and claim all three points.

    After 11 rounds of regular-season play, the updated standings reflect the weekend’s shake-up: Vieux Fort South remain atop the table with 21 points, while Dennery stays two points behind in second with 19. Canaries and defending champions La Clery are tied for third with 18 points, with Canaries holding a slight advantage on goal difference. Gros Islet’s win lifted the side into fifth place with 16 points, one point clear of both Soufriere and Vieux Fort North. At the bottom of the table, Anse La Raye and Central Castries sit in the relegation zone on 10 points, while Mabouya Valley’s poor campaign leaves the side rock bottom with just nine points and two wins so far this season.

  • The Navigator’s Table Brings Fire and Rum to Barbados Food and Rum Festival 2026

    The Navigator’s Table Brings Fire and Rum to Barbados Food and Rum Festival 2026

    Against the backdrop of Barbados’ 60th Independence anniversary celebration, the 2026 Barbados Food and Rum Festival, running from November 5 to 8, is set to welcome a standout new addition: two curated culinary experiences from Best Dressed Plate (BDP), hosted at the iconic Crane resort. Perched on a clifftop overlooking the soft pink sands of Crane Beach along the island’s southeast coast, The Crane is a natural fit for this weekend of heritage-focused food storytelling. With a history stretching back to 1887, it holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating hotel in the entire Caribbean, making it the perfect venue to honor the roots and evolution of regional Caribbean cuisine.

    BDP’s event lineup, headlined by its residency series The Navigator’s Table, adds two compelling new draws to an already stacked festival schedule, bringing together top culinary talent from across the global Caribbean diaspora to collaborate alongside local Barbadian chefs, with menus rooted in the fire, smoke, and rum that have defined the region’s food identity for centuries.

    The first experience, FLAME, an open-fire beach BBQ, will kick off on Friday, November 6. This is no ordinary backyard cookout: it draws direct inspiration from the Indigenous Taíno people, who first roasted meat over open flames on a raised wooden frame they called “barbacoa” centuries before the term barbecue entered common usage. Taíno communities spanned the Caribbean from what is now Puerto Rico (once called Borikén) to Jamaica, and food historians widely trace the island’s iconic Maroon jerk cooking tradition back to these early open-fire cooking techniques.

    To honor this ancestral heritage, FLAME will feature Puerto Rican whole-roast lechón, prepared by Puerto Rican Chef Manolo Lopez alongside The Crane’s own Executive Chef Vanessa Dugarte. Making his festival debut is Rasheed Philips, a Atlanta-based pitmaster and runner-up from Netflix’s hit series *The American Barbecue Showdown*. Rounding out the guest chef lineup is Chef Quei Slobert of Harlem’s legendary Charles Pan-Fried Chicken, bringing the beloved Caribbean-style fried chicken tradition to the Barbados coast. Tickets for FLAME are priced at US$100 per person, inclusive of all-rum cocktails sponsored by Bajan1966, and attendees are encouraged to come with hearty appetites ready for a smoky, flavor-packed meal.

    The weekend’s centerpiece event, The Navigator’s Table: Barbados Food & Rum Edition, will follow on Saturday, November 7 starting at 6:00 PM. This exclusive 8-course dinner places rum—Barbados’ most famous export—center stage, with rum featured in every dish and every pour, reimagined through the unique culinary perspectives of four acclaimed chefs. The lineup of participating chefs includes Renee Blackman, a returning veteran of the Barbados Food and Rum Festival marking her third year at the event; Nathaniel Mortley, better known by his cooking brand Natty Can Cook, who makes his festival debut fresh off a breakout year at his London restaurant 2210 by NattyCanCook, which earned 2025 honors including a spot on Condé Nast Traveller’s “One to Watch” list and a ranking among Time Out’s best new London restaurants; Lonie Murdock, who brings her creative take on Caribbean cuisine from Canada, fresh off celebrating the one-year anniversary of her Washington D.C. restaurant Isla, which has already hosted former U.S. President Barack Obama and other high-profile guests; and Omar Walters of local Barbadian favorite Omar’s Kitchen & Rum Bar, who rounds out the chef lineup. This 8-course tribute to Barbados rum is priced at US$175 per person, inclusive of rum cocktails sponsored by Bajan1966.

    Notably, three of the four chefs participating in Saturday’s dinner are also honorees of the Caribbean Culinary Impact Awards, an initiative BDP launched in 2024 to recognize chefs, restaurant owners, food entrepreneurs, and creators who are advancing Caribbean cuisine across the globe. Blackman received the 2024 Trailblazing Chef Award, Mortley was named 2025 Rising Star Chef for the UK, and Murdock took home 2025 honors for Best Restaurant and Trailblazing Chef in Canada. These awards align with the core mission of The Navigator’s Table: reconnecting the global Caribbean diaspora to the region’s culinary roots. To date, the residency series has brought 14 diaspora chefs to the Caribbean, making it one of the most high-profile chef residencies led by Black and Caribbean creatives in the region.

    “Every time we bring the diaspora home, the food tells the story before anybody says a word,” said Nneka Nurse, Founder and Chief Flavor Officer of Best Dressed Plate. “FLAME takes us back to the fire, to what the Taíno knew long before anybody called it barbecue. On Saturday, rum gets the seat of honor in every course. And our Culinary Impact Award honorees get to show everybody exactly why they won. Barbados is turning 60. We came to give people something to crave.”

    Beyond the November festival, BDP has already announced its final 2026 event for The Navigator’s Table: Holiday Tradishon, a four-day celebration of Caribbean holiday cuisine running from December 3 to 6. Rejecting the commercial focus of modern holiday seasons, the event centers the idea that the best holiday gift is the food shared around the table. Four chefs from across the region will bring their home islands’ traditional holiday menus to Barbados: James Beard Award 2026 semifinalist Chef Raúl Correa from Puerto Rico, owner of the farm-to-table open-fire restaurant BACOA Finca + Fogón that honors jíbaro culinary heritage; Chef Brigette Joseph, a 20-year veteran of sharing Trinidad and Tobago’s multicultural food traditions who will bring classics like parang, pastelles, and sorrel; Chef Alain Lemaire, a Haiti-born, Johnson & Wales-trained chef who led the first all-Haitian dinner at the James Beard House in 2018, who will feature the iconic Haitian Independence Day dish soup joumou; and local Barbadian Chef Damian Reid, owner of Baobab Kitchen known for hyper-local sourcing of Indigenous produce and bush teas, who will share Bajan holiday favorites including great cake and jug-jug.

    Founded in 2014 by Nurse, Best Dressed Plate is a Caribbean culinary and cultural strategy company that produces public food events, represents culinary talent through its BDP Talent Connect program, and partners with tourism boards and food brands to center local creators in telling authentic Caribbean food stories. Nurse also serves as Academy Chair for the Caribbean Region for World’s 50 Best Restaurants North America and as an IGCAT Global Expert for the Caribbean, cementing BDP’s role as a leading voice in global Caribbean culinary spaces.

  • Police emphasize immediate action under new Missing Person Alert System

    Police emphasize immediate action under new Missing Person Alert System

    The Commonwealth of Dominica has formally launched a standardized, nationwide Missing Person Alert System (MPAS) designed to transform how law enforcement handles cases of missing individuals, with senior police officials framing the new framework as a long-overdue upgrade to the island nation’s public safety infrastructure.

    Deputy Police Chief Jeoffrey James outlined the key features of the system during its official launch event on Monday, held at the headquarters of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF). He highlighted a recent high-stakes incident in the island’s northern region to illustrate the value of the new approach: a local missing person was found safe and unharmed, a outcome James credited to the rapid, coordinated response deployed by officers from the Portsmouth District, who tested elements of the emerging system ahead of its full rollout.

    James explained that a limited, internal-only version of the alert mechanism has been used by CDPF teams for some time, but the newly launched version expands the tool into a public-facing national network. Its core purpose is to speed up the distribution of critical information about missing people and tap into community support to locate vulnerable individuals faster than previous protocols allowed.

    Unlike inconsistent, ad-hoc response procedures used in the past, the MPAS establishes a clear, uniform workflow for all missing person reports. From the moment a report is filed, officers are required to immediately collect, verify, and disseminate relevant information across partner networks. The system also formalizes coordination between police, local media outlets, government agencies, community groups, and cross-border regional partners, while strengthening documentation, accountability, and oversight at every stage of an investigation.

    One of the most significant policy changes embedded in the new system addresses common harmful delays in past responses. James stressed that police are required to launch action the instant a missing person report is submitted, and members of the public do not need to wait a mandatory 24 or 48-hour waiting period that is common in many jurisdictions before contacting authorities. The MPAS also eliminates the practice of sorting cases into low, medium, or high urgency tiers before any police action is taken.

    Additional key reforms address biases that have slowed responses in vulnerable cases in the past. Officers are explicitly instructed not to assume that a missing child has simply run away from home, an assumption that has delayed critical searches in many regions. No response can be delayed while waiting for formal authorization to issue a public alert, complete internal notifications, run investigative background checks, or launch on-the-ground searches. James also emphasized that preserving potential evidence from the earliest moments of an investigation is a non-negotiable requirement under the new framework.

    To help organize and communicate cases clearly, the MPAS uses four color-coded classifications, which categorize the type of missing person case rather than ranking its urgency or priority for police response. A Pink Alert is issued for any missing person under the age of 18; Blue Alerts are reserved for missing serving members of the CDPF; Silver Alerts apply to elderly or vulnerable people, including those with physical, intellectual, developmental, or cognitive disabilities that impact their ability to care for or protect themselves. Any missing person who does not fall into the three preceding categories is covered by an Orange Alert.

    James closed by reiterating a core guarantee of the new system: regardless of which color classification is assigned to a case, every missing person report will receive an immediate, full response from CDPF officers to maximize the chances of a safe recovery.

  • PM Open to Cutting Ministers’ Allowances, Says They Total “a Little Over 200,000”

    PM Open to Cutting Ministers’ Allowances, Says They Total “a Little Over 200,000”

    In a televised appearance on the morning talk show *Open Your Eyes* on October 6, 2026, Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño stated he has no objection to reducing the monthly or annual allowances allocated to cabinet ministers, responding to growing public pressure for political leaders to demonstrate solidarity with households facing economic strain. When asked by program hosts whether the government would consider trimming ministerial benefits as a tangible gesture of shared sacrifice amid cost-of-living pressures, Briceño emphasized that all policy options remain under active review, saying “We’re prepared to take a look at everything.”

    Briceño contextualized the discussion by pointing to the government’s recent investment in public sector wages, noting the administration had just greenlit a pay increase for more than 16,000 public officers at a total cost of 112 million Belize dollars. On the topic of total ministerial allowances, the prime minister put the cumulative sum at just a little over $200,000, though he did not clarify whether the figure reflects an annual total or what specific expenditures the allowance pool covers. Even with the relatively small overall sum, Briceño confirmed he would not stand in the way of a cut if it would address public concerns. “If that would make a difference, I certainly would not be opposed to the idea,” he said.

    The prime minister acknowledged the validity of public expectations that elected leaders should lead by example when ordinary families are cutting household expenses, calling that expectation a “fair comment”. But he also outlined the unspoken financial burden many ministers carry, explaining that hundreds of constituents reach out to cabinet members every month seeking direct personal assistance, and in most cases, ministers cover those costs out of their own pockets.

    Briceño noted that his personal financial situation places him in a more comfortable position than many of his parliamentary colleagues. “I’m one of the fortunate ones that I don’t depend on my salary, so I can be able to do more,” he explained. “But some of our ministers, that’s all they have, and then people come knocking at their doors every day for assistance.”

    He recalled that a former minister from the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) had previously raised this same point, arguing that cabinet ministers effectively act as an ad-hoc social safety net for many Belizean constituents who prefer to approach elected leaders for help rather than access formal social services. Briceño agreed there is logic to that framing, but added that this ad-hoc system is not the long-term vision his administration holds for Belize. The government’s core goal, he emphasized, is to drive sustained economic growth that creates widespread formal employment, allowing all Belizeans to support themselves and reduce reliance on personal assistance from political leaders.

  • Russia Says “No Plague Cases” Found After Lab Worker’s Death

    Russia Says “No Plague Cases” Found After Lab Worker’s Death

    In October 2026, a public health incident emerged following the death of a 28-year-old laboratory employee at a leading Russian plague research facility that has drawn international attention from global health bodies. Daria Shipilova, a staff member at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute serving Siberia and the Far East, passed away after developing a sudden illness, triggering immediate precautionary public health action across the region.

    Russian public health regulatory agency Rospotrebnadzor has released preliminary findings from extensive diagnostic testing, confirming that no plague microorganisms connected to Shipilova’s research work were detected in her body. Over a 10-day monitoring period following the death, no other infectious disease cases have been recorded among personnel working at the research institute, authorities confirmed. To date, official investigations maintain that Shipilova’s cause of death remains pneumonia of unclear origin.

    As an immediate safety precaution, roughly 200 people who had come into contact with the researcher were placed into quarantine shortly after her death. Recent updates from news agency Reuters indicate that approximately 60% of those quarantined have now completed their monitoring periods and been cleared to return to normal activities.

    The World Health Organization, which has been closely tracking the incident since it was reported, confirmed that all of Shipilova’s identified close contacts have been located and placed under active health monitoring. As of the latest update, none of these monitored contacts have exhibited any symptoms consistent with plague infection. Russian health officials have also formally notified the WHO that no confirmed plague cases have been documented anywhere in the Irkutsk region in connection with the incident.

    After conducting an initial risk assessment, the WHO has categorized the overall risk of a plague outbreak among the general public as low. The agency says it will maintain ongoing communication and coordination with Russian public health authorities as the full investigation into Shipilova’s death continues. In response to the incident, neighboring countries have also implemented tightened border control measures as an additional precaution to prevent any potential spread of infection.

  • 3 in a row for Saint Lucia in CNL

    3 in a row for Saint Lucia in CNL

    In a tightly contested showdown at Barbados’ Wildey Astroturf, Saint Lucia’s senior men’s national football team extended their winning run to three consecutive matches in the Concacaf Nations League, notching a second straight victory over Guadeloupe with a 1-0 scoreline on Monday afternoon.

    The match’s turning point came early, courtesy of 22-year-old free-agent striker Kegan Caull, who emerged as Saint Lucia’s undisputed difference-maker. Just five minutes into the contest, Caull shook off his marking defender and slotted home the only goal of the game, a finish that propelled the side nicknamed the Piton Boyz to the top of Group B. Caull’s hot form did not start on Monday, either: he recorded two assists in Friday’s 3-0 rout of Guadeloupe, and had previously netted a hat-trick in a 5-2 home win over Bermuda earlier in the campaign.

    Piton Boyz head coach Rajesh Latchoo made two enforced changes to his starting lineup ahead of Monday’s match, withdrawing Shevon Byron — the 2025 Saint Lucia Junior Player of the Year who was substituted off early on Friday — and Melvin Doxilly, both of whom picked up minor injuries in the first encounter against Guadeloupe. Gregson President and Ajani Louis stepped into the starting XI as their replacements.

    Weather created a starkly different playing environment for the second matchup between the two sides. Three days after battling through sweltering heat, the teams took the pitch under heavy rain in Barbados. Guadeloupe controlled most of the possession throughout the 90 minutes, and outshot Saint Lucia 11 attempts to six. However, the Piton Boyz made their chances count: they put four of their six shots on target, while Guadeloupe failed to register a single on-target effort.

    Following the final whistle, Latchoo expressed pride in his squad’s resilience through a demanding fixture schedule. “We’re proud of the boys. They went out there, they played for the country,” he said. “We asked them to stick it out. This was a unique challenge for them, but it’s preparation for the Gold Cup and bigger tournaments, because playing the same team twice in a four-day turnaround is a good challenge, and it was good playing four games in that time period, managing their freshness. They’re being able to manage themselves to make sure that they give a great effort and a performance on the field.”

    Monday’s win pushed Saint Lucia up to nine points, putting them atop the Group B standings. Heading into the matchday, host Barbados had held the top spot with eight points, one point ahead of Saint Lucia’s six, and Barbados was scheduled to face winless Bermuda later on Monday. Ranked 28th among Concacaf national sides, Saint Lucia has already posted an impressive run of results this campaign: one win over 24th-ranked Bermuda and two victories over 15th-ranked Guadeloupe.

    The final group qualifying window is scheduled for the second week of November, set to take place in Bermuda. Saint Lucia will first rematch Bermuda, then close out their group stage campaign against Barbados. Latchoo has already bolstered his squad twice during the campaign: he added Arkell Jude-Boyd following an early home loss to Barbados, then called up Donavan Phillip for the two matches against Guadeloupe, and he could have even more selection options available for the decisive November fixtures, when the fight for the group title and a Gold Cup qualifying spot will still be open.

    Looking ahead to the next qualifying cycle, Latchoo outlined his side’s next steps. “Next is recover for the next cycle. So, we’re going into the cycle now; they go back to their clubs, we monitor them, we work with the local players, and we make sure the foreign players go back in one piece and healthy so that we can get them back for November,” he said. “And again, [the goal is] three points, three points, six points again.”

  • UWI Five Islands to Hold Graduation Ceremonies Oct. 10

    UWI Five Islands to Hold Graduation Ceremonies Oct. 10

    The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus, located in Antigua and Barbuda, is preparing to mark a key milestone for hundreds of its graduating students on Saturday, October 10, with two separate graduation ceremonies that will open the university’s annual cross-regional graduation season. Alongside celebrating the achievements of the newest cohort of graduates, the campus will bestow honorary doctorates on two accomplished individuals: Olympian and community leader Thea LaFond Gadson and veteran journalist Don Rojas.

    To ensure that friends, family members and supporters from across the globe can share in the celebration, both ceremonies will be streamed live via UWItv, enabling remote attendance for anyone unable to be present on campus. The first event, scheduled to kick off at 10 a.m. local Antigua and Barbuda time, will recognize graduates from the School of Business and Management. This session will feature a valedictory address from Kathalia Valentine, an outstanding graduate who earned her Bachelor of Science in Management Studies with a specialized concentration in Entrepreneurship. During this morning ceremony, LaFond Gadson will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of her contributions to her field and community.

    The afternoon celebration, commencing at 4 p.m. local time, will honor graduates from three academic divisions: the School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, the School of Humanities and Education, and the School of Science, Computing and Artificial Intelligence. Leading the valedictory remarks for this session will be Chemique Harris-Benjamin, who completed her Bachelor of Education in Mathematics Education with distinction. Rojas will be honored with an honorary Doctor of Letters degree during this afternoon gathering for his decades of impact in media and public discourse.

    This event at the Five Islands Campus serves as the starting point for a series of UWI graduation ceremonies that will take place across the Caribbean over the coming month. Next on the calendar is the Cave Hill Campus in Barbados, which will host its own graduation celebrations on October 17. Following that, the St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago will hold its ceremonies from October 22 to 24, and the Mona Campus in Jamaica will wrap its graduation from November 5 to 7 November. Closing out the 2024 graduation season is UWI’s Global Campus, which will host a fully virtual graduation ceremony on November 14 at 6 p.m. Eastern Caribbean time, accommodating its distributed student body across multiple time zones and regions.

  • Cricket West Indies And Superfan Launch New Official West Indies Cricket Fanwear Collection

    Cricket West Indies And Superfan Launch New Official West Indies Cricket Fanwear Collection

    West Indies cricket, a sport deeply woven into the cultural fabric of the Caribbean, is stepping into a new era of fan engagement through a fresh collaboration between Cricket West Indies (CWI) and homegrown lifestyle brand SUPERFAN. The partnership has unveiled the first-ever SUPERFAN x West Indies Cricket collection, a licensed line of fan merchandise that reimagines traditional cricket gear by merging the region’s rich cricketing heritage with bold, contemporary Caribbean design. Unlike conventional match-only apparel, the new collection is crafted to fit seamlessly into the daily lives of a new generation of Caribbean cricket supporters, designed for everyday wear, travel, celebration, and cultural representation off the pitch.

    Founded by Nicolette Leacock, a Trinidad and Tobago-based entrepreneur and designer who previously built the successful Caribbean Carnival and lifestyle brand MRCH, SUPERFAN grew out of a gap Leacock identified in Caribbean sports merchandise. After years of creating consumer-centric products tailored specifically for Caribbean audiences through MRCH, Leacock saw an opportunity to bring the same design-focused philosophy to the region’s beloved sports and fan culture.

    For Leacock, the project is deeply personal, rooted in a lifelong understanding of cricket’s unifying power across the Caribbean. “I grew up seeing what West Indies Cricket means to the Caribbean. It is one of the few things that can make us forget which island we are from for a moment and collectively identify as West Indian,” she explained. “I created SUPERFAN because I saw an opportunity to rethink what fanwear could look like for us. West Indies Cricket has an incredible visual history and cultural significance, and I wanted to create pieces that let fans carry that identity beyond a match, a tournament or the stadium.”

    The licensing partnership aligns with CWI’s broader strategic goal of building more accessible, inclusive connections between new audiences and West Indies cricket’s legacy, a mission echoed by CWI Chief Executive Officer Chris Dehring. Dehring pointed to the organization’s recent WI OUTSIDE! campaign for the 2026 International Home Series — which introduced free entry for children and Ladies FREE match days to expand access to the sport — as an example of this consumer-focused approach. “West Indies Cricket has always been bigger than the game itself, and we are committed to creating more accessible and diverse ways for people to connect with what the West Indies represents,” Dehring said. “This collaboration with SUPERFAN builds on this by creating fanwear that extends beyond traditional cricket merchandise and appeals to anyone who connects with Caribbean culture, style and the West Indies identity.”

    Drawing inspiration from decades of West Indies cricket’s iconic visual history and classic mid-century Caribbean sporting aesthetics, the debut collection reinterprets these influences through a modern, forward-thinking lens. The product range includes everything from casual apparel and headwear to accessories, all engineered to transition from stadium stands to street style, earning a permanent place in supporters’ everyday wardrobes rather than being stored away between matches.

    This partnership forms a key part of CWI’s broader push to reimagine fan engagement beyond the boundary of the cricket pitch. By weaving together sport, high fashion, cultural heritage, and regional identity, the SUPERFAN x West Indies Cricket collection aims to create a new channel for fans to connect with West Indian identity, resonating not just with die-hard long-time cricket supporters, but also with casual audiences and global fans who love Caribbean culture but may not engage with the sport regularly.

    The much-anticipated debut collection will launch to the public on October 4, 2026, bringing a new chapter of inclusive, culturally rooted fandom to West Indies cricket. Billed as “Made for the stadium & beyond,” the collection marks a bold step forward in how sports merchandise can celebrate and carry cultural identity into everyday life.

  • DSC secures four grants to strengthen campus development and learning

    DSC secures four grants to strengthen campus development and learning

    Dominica State College (DSC) has announced a major milestone in its pursuit of long-term institutional development, securing four distinct grants from regional and international funding bodies to advance upgrades across technology, infrastructure, policy development, skills training, and learning access. The awards mark a key step forward in the college’s broader strategy to diversify its revenue streams and reduce dependence on traditional public funding.

    The funding comes from four partner organizations: the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN), the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), Mercy Corps, and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), according to an official press release issued by the institution. Each grant is targeted to address a unique priority for the college, with shared goals of boosting institutional capacity and lifting educational experiences for both enrollees and faculty.

    The first confirmed project, backed by a $20,000 contribution from ARIN, will see the launch of the DSC Youth Internet Governance Lab hosted within the college’s existing Innovation Hub. This hands-on initiative will task students with addressing real-world connectivity challenges facing the DSC campus, while giving them opportunities to build actionable skills in technology development, academic research, and global internet policy governance.

    A second collaboration, between DSC and Mercy Corps with funding provided by the United States Government, is developing the Wood Innovation Studio as part of the regional Caribbean United programme. The studio is designed to bridge traditional Dominican woodworking craftsmanship with cutting-edge modern manufacturing technology, creating a dedicated practical space where students can explore sustainable carpentry, custom product design, and local fabrication using native wood resources. The project also integrates formal entrepreneurship training, with the core goal of equipping young learners with marketable job skills that open new employment and small business pathways in the local green economy.

    The college’s long-standing partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning is being extended through this latest grant, supporting ongoing work to update institutional academic policies and scale up online learning offerings. This investment is expected to strengthen DSC’s ability to deliver flexible, accessible education opportunities that fit the diverse needs of its student body, including working learners and those in rural communities.

    Finally, through the 11th funding cycle of the Basic Needs Trust Fund programme, DSC will receive support for a campus-wide infrastructure enhancement project. While the college’s press release did not disclose specific details of the construction or upgrade works planned, the investment will address critical physical infrastructure needs to support modern teaching and campus activities.

    College leadership emphasized that securing these four grants is part of a deliberate, long-term strategy to build a more financially sustainable and resilient institution, reducing overreliance on traditional funding streams. Success in winning the awards was credited to the targeted grant mobilization work led by Malisa Richards, operating under the supervision of Dr. Hermancia Eugene-Zamore through DSC’s Office of Academic Affairs.

    Moving forward, DSC confirmed it will continue to proactively pursue new partnerships with international development agencies and grant-making organizations to sustain investments in campus innovation, infrastructure, technology integration, and student-centered learning improvements.

  • Scouts appeal for more adult volunteers

    Scouts appeal for more adult volunteers

    Against a backdrop of waning volunteerism across the Caribbean island of Barbados, one of the nation’s most prominent youth development organizations is facing an unprecedented challenge: it is successfully attracting young people to its programs, but cannot find enough adult leaders to guide them. The Barbados Boy Scouts Association has publicly issued a call for up to 300 additional adult volunteers, with a particular focus on recruiting men to support older scout cohorts, according to the organization’s top leader.

    Chief Commissioner Trevor Jones outlined the group’s current predicament in an interview with local media outlet Barbados TODAY, explaining that after years of targeted outreach, the association achieved its goal of growing youth membership last year, and expects that upward trend to continue in 2024. The organization’s biggest barrier to expansion, however, has shifted from recruiting young participants to retaining and attracting adult leadership. Jones noted that the volunteer shortage is most acute in programs for older scouts, where male mentors are particularly needed to provide guidance for adolescent participants.

    Jones pointed to a broader cultural shift driving the leadership gap, explaining that the decline in volunteer spirit is not unique to scouting, but a widespread challenge across Barbados. “A lot of people tell us they are too busy to commit, and for many that is a genuine reality,” he said. “But beyond competing priorities, we’ve seen the overall culture of volunteerism decline. More people now expect compensation when they step forward to help, and this is fundamentally a volunteer role.” While the association is open to providing limited financial stipends to offset out-of-pocket costs for volunteers, Jones emphasized that individuals motivated primarily by pay are unlikely to bring the level of commitment that young people in the program need.

    Marsha-Ann Clarke, lead consultant for the association’s Learning Inclusiveness, Entrepreneurship and Environmental Protection (LIEEP) initiative, pushed back against the idea that volunteers need to make extensive, time-consuming commitments to contribute. Clarke noted that women already make up the majority of leadership for younger scout cohorts, including Beaver and Cub programs, but scouting rules require male leadership for older groups including standard Scouts and Venture Scouts. Even men who can only spare a few hours per month can make a meaningful difference, she argued.

    Clarke urged fathers of scout participants to move beyond waiting in the parking lot during activities and get directly involved. “You don’t need to commit to every weekend,” she said. “If you can give a few hours one Saturday a month, or even one Saturday every two months, that is more than enough. Men can help with simple, core tasks from organizing groups to assisting with hands-on projects.” Beyond logistical support, Clarke highlighted the long-term impact positive male role models can have on young participants: “Boys watch how men behave, how they interact with women and female leaders, and they learn so much just from having consistent, positive male presence in their scouting experience.”

    Dr. David Bynoe, national coordinator for the United Nations Development Programme’s Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme – which provides funding for some scouting activities – added his voice to the recruitment call, emphasizing scouting’s unique role in shaping the next generation of Barbadian leaders. “Scouting really moulds and develops young men, who will go on to become future leaders across this country,” Bynoe said. He also noted that conversations around gender equity must also address the specific challenges facing boys in Barbados, where many young men are falling behind socially and academically.

    Bynoe clarified that while the organization has a particular need for men, people of all genders are welcome to volunteer. “Even though it is the Boy Scouts, females are already the backbone of much of our work, especially behind the scenes in administration,” he said. “Whether you are male or female, we urge you to consider stepping forward to support this important work for Barbados’ young people.”