Carib Scope

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  • Wanted man now in police custody

    Wanted man now in police custody

    Barbados law enforcement authorities have confirmed the apprehension of Jacobi Nathaniel Bynoe, a high-profile fugitive who voluntarily surrendered to police custody on Sunday. The individual, alternatively identified through the aliases ‘Abubakar’ and ‘Indian’, had been evading capture since late 2025 concerning multiple serious criminal investigations.

    The Barbados Police Service officially activated a public wanted bulletin for Bynoe on November 9, 2025, initiating an extensive multi-agency investigation. Following months of collaborative efforts between law enforcement and civilian networks, the subject ultimately elected to turn himself in at an undisclosed police facility.

    Police Commissioner Ernest Weaver confirmed that Bynoe is currently cooperating fully with investigative proceedings. “The suspect is providing valuable assistance to our ongoing criminal investigations,” stated Commissioner Weaver during a press briefing. “His decision to surrender represents a significant breakthrough in multiple pending cases.”

    The law enforcement agency extended formal gratitude to both media outlets and community members for their sustained vigilance and information sharing throughout the investigation. This case highlights the effectiveness of public-police collaboration in resolving high-profile criminal matters within the Caribbean community.

    Legal analysts suggest the surrender could indicate potential plea negotiations, though authorities have declined to comment on specific legal strategies. Bynoe remains in custody awaiting formal charging procedures while investigations continue.

  • ‘Swing, gallows’: MP calls for hangings’ return after St Lucy slaying

    ‘Swing, gallows’: MP calls for hangings’ return after St Lucy slaying

    A Barbados parliamentarian has issued a forceful demand to reinstate executions following a deadly mass shooting that claimed the life of a young man in his constituency. St. Lucy MP Peter Phillips made the emotional appeal hours after the island recorded its 13th homicide this year, declaring that capital punishment must be implemented to address escalating gun violence.

    The tragedy unfolded on Sunday evening around 10:50 pm in Fryers Well, Checker Hall, when assailants in a dark-colored vehicle sprayed bullets at a karaoke gathering. Thirty-one-year-old Romario Archer was fatally wounded and pronounced dead at Sandy Crest Medical Centre, while nine other victims received treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital for gunshot injuries.

    Phillips, who visited the grieving Archer family, described the killing as deeply personal due to his long-standing relationship with the family. The MP asserted without hesitation: “I support capital punishment, and I say this without any kind of hesitation. I believe we have to begin to hang a couple of people for doing these foolish things.”

    While Barbados legally retains hanging as punishment for murder, no executions have occurred since 1984. The Caribbean Court of Justice ruled in 2018 that death sentences cannot be automatic, requiring individual judicial consideration for each case. This legal framework has effectively created a de facto moratorium on executions, though the penalty remains technically available.

    Phillips argued that the absence of functional capital punishment has emboldened criminals: “People believe they can do whatever they wish because they can go up Dodds and sit down and relax and eat four square meals a day.”

    Despite his strong stance on punishment, the MP simultaneously pleaded for calm, directly addressing residents: “Let there be no retaliation where this is concerned. Put down the guns. Put away the guns. The Lord will take care of this. We must not take matters into our own hands.”

    He characterized Archer as “a good, decent guy who always stayed out of trouble,” noting his cheerful nature and strong work ethic. The killing represents the second tragedy for the Archer family, who lost another relative to similar gun violence in March 2022.

    The debate over capital punishment in Barbados reflects broader regional discussions. While public opinion traditionally supports retaining the death penalty, particularly during crime surges, empirical evidence regarding its deterrent effect remains inconclusive. United Nations studies and criminological research indicate that certainty of detection and swift justice serve as more effective crime deterrents than the theoretical threat of execution.

  • Cadet Week 2026 commemorates 25 years in latest chapter of Dominica Cadet Corps

    Cadet Week 2026 commemorates 25 years in latest chapter of Dominica Cadet Corps

    The Dominica Cadet Corps (DCC) has launched an extensive week-long celebration commemorating its 25th anniversary since revitalization, showcasing its profound impact on youth development and national service. Running from March 22-28, 2026, the organization’s silver jubilee events demonstrate its enduring commitment to shaping young leaders through paramilitary training and community engagement.

    Established over 116 years ago and reactivated in 2001, the voluntary organization has evolved into a cornerstone of youth development in the Commonwealth of Dominica. The DCC provides comprehensive training in discipline, leadership, and civic responsibility, creating transformative opportunities for young citizens seeking personal and professional growth.

    The anniversary festivities commenced with a solemn church service at the Roman Catholic Church on March 22, followed by an impressive Cadet Day Parade at Saint Mary’s Academy Grounds reviewed by Her Excellency President Sylvanie Burton. The week’s agenda incorporates multifaceted activities including educational outreach programs across Central District and North East Division schools, media engagements through radio programming on Q95 and Kairi FM, and strategic meetings with national leadership.

    Highlight events include courtesy calls to President Burton and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit alongside Youth Minister Gretta Roberts on March 25-26, emphasizing the program’s governmental recognition. The celebration features Cadet Uniform Day on March 26, followed by a public parade through Roseau on March 27 accompanied by an exhibition and barbecue at Police Headquarters. The anniversary week concludes on March 28 with community-oriented activities including a car wash and bake sale, reinforcing the Corps’ commitment to public service and community integration.

    This milestone celebration not only honors the DCC’s quarter-century of achievement but also strategically positions the organization for continued growth in developing disciplined, socially-conscious future leaders for Dominican society.

  • Popular figure Munt-I chopped to death in Bagga

    Popular figure Munt-I chopped to death in Bagga

    St. Vincent and the Grenadines has recorded its eighth homicide of 2026 following a violent chopping incident in the Central Leeward town of Barrouallie. The victim, known locally as ‘Munt-I,’ succumbed to severe chop wounds while en route to medical facilities on Monday.

    Social media platforms circulated graphic footage showing the man with critical injuries, which multiple sources confirmed to local news outlet iWitness News preceded his death. Preliminary investigations suggest the attack stemmed from an alleged monetary theft that occurred on Sunday. Law enforcement authorities have subsequently taken one suspect into custody.

    The deceased, previously a recognizable figure on the streets of Kingstown, had relocated to Barrouallie several years ago. His move followed allegations of stealing crack cocaine in the capital city. Munt-I had gained minor social media notoriety for his musical performances, particularly his soca compositions and percussive vocal techniques.

    This lethal incident follows closely after Friday night’s shooting death of 66-year-old shopkeeper Winston Williams, locally known as Zeke, in the Diamond area. With eight recorded homicides in early 2026, the nation demonstrates an increased violent crime rate compared to the same period in 2025, which had documented five killings. The country concluded 2025 with a total of 40 homicides.

  • Judge Refuses to Stop Christmas Eve Murder Trial, Orders Defendant to Answer Charges

    Judge Refuses to Stop Christmas Eve Murder Trial, Orders Defendant to Answer Charges

    In a significant judicial ruling on March 20, 2026, Belize High Court Justice Pilgrim denied a defense motion to dismiss murder charges against Shaquile Perera, ensuring the controversial Christmas Eve homicide case will proceed to full trial. The defendant stands accused of the fatal shooting of Darnell Puerto and the attempted murder of Jehvon Ramclam during a December 24, 2023 incident at a Belize City residence.

    The defense team, led by attorney Joanne Zuniga-Stuart, mounted a multifaceted challenge to the prosecution’s case. They highlighted apparent inconsistencies in Ramclam’s testimony regarding his initial observation of the shooter, potential witness bias stemming from Ramclam’s prior acquaintance with Perera through a previous incident involving his brother, and alleged contradictions between the witness account and available medical and ballistic evidence concerning the shooter’s positioning.

    Justice Pilgrim’s ruling emphasized that Ramclam’s identification—made at close range under adequate lighting conditions during a 25-30 second encounter with someone he previously knew—constituted legally sufficient evidence to support a potential conviction if deemed credible by the court. The judge determined that questions regarding witness reliability properly belong to the ultimate fact-finding process of the full trial rather than a preliminary dismissal motion.

    Adding to the defense’s challenges, the court noted the repeated unresponsiveness of Brandon Bowen, Perera’s named alibi witness, to police requests for an official statement. With the dismissal motion denied, Perera must now decide whether to testify in his own defense during the mandatory judge-alone trial proceeding, where Justice Pilgrim will render the final verdict. Crown prosecutor Kirk Brown leads the prosecution’s case against Perera.

  • FAO hosts workshop as part of multi-pronged support for Grenada’s USD 2.6 million soursop industry

    FAO hosts workshop as part of multi-pronged support for Grenada’s USD 2.6 million soursop industry

    Grenada has solidified its status as the world’s sole authorized exporter of fresh, non-irradiated soursop to the United States, creating a unique agricultural niche with profound economic implications. This privileged market position, however, demands rigorous sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) protocols to maintain compliance and ensure continued access. Recognizing this critical need, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with Grenada’s Ministry of Agriculture, Lands & Forestry and the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), has launched a comprehensive initiative to bolster the entire soursop value chain.

    The cornerstone of this effort was a specialized three-day capacity-building workshop held from February 9-11, 2026, at Grenada’s National Stadium. Organized through a partnership between the FAO, the national ministry, and the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA), the event convened 31 technical officers and stakeholders. The cohort, comprising 18 women and 13 men from various technical units including extension services, pest management, and forestry, alongside representatives from the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), engaged in intensive training on advanced surveillance techniques, early warning systems, and coordinated response strategies for plant health risks.

    Beyond the workshop, the multi-faceted project encompasses several strategic components. These include the development of a nationwide surveillance and emergency response program, enhancements to institutional capabilities in pest detection and certification, and the piloting of traceability systems tailored for export markets. Furthermore, the initiative will establish two farmer-owned demonstration plots in the parishes of Saint Andrew and Saint Patrick. These sites will serve as practical training hubs to promote Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), directly aiming to increase on-farm productivity and long-term sustainability.

    Anne Desrochers, FAO’s Production and Plant Protection Specialist, underscored the initiative’s significance, stating, ‘Grenada’s exclusive access to the United States market for fresh soursop presents a significant and timely opportunity to strengthen the livelihoods of farmers and uplift rural communities.’ Participant feedback highlighted the value of the workshop’s blended approach, which combined theoretical knowledge with practical exercises to foster collaborative problem-solving. The session concluded with the formulation of concrete action plans designed to overcome implementation barriers and establish robust collaboration mechanisms, thereby future-proofing this vital industry against emerging biosecurity challenges.

  • Panton Says Families Can No Longer Survive on $100 a Week

    Panton Says Families Can No Longer Survive on $100 a Week

    In a forceful commencement to the national budget debate on March 23, 2026, Opposition Leader Tracy Panton delivered a scathing critique of the current administration’s fiscal policies. Central to her argument was the substantial burden of government-imposed fuel taxes, which she asserted now claim nearly fifty percent of every dollar Belizeans expend at gasoline stations, funneling significant sums directly into state revenues.

    Panton articulated a comprehensive portrayal of a nation grappling with relentless inflationary pressures. She detailed escalating costs across essential sectors, including utilities such as water and electricity, alongside rising expenses for groceries, housing rentals, and business operational fees. This multifaceted economic strain, she contended, has created an untenable situation for the average citizen.

    The Opposition Leader underscored the severity of the crisis with a stark economic assessment: a family of four can no longer sustain itself on a weekly income of one hundred dollars. This statement highlighted the dramatic erosion of purchasing power and the growing disparity between household earnings and the fundamental cost of subsistence.

    Further scrutinizing the Prime Minister’s recent budget address, Panton accused the government of neglecting the primary concerns of ordinary Belizeans. She emphasized the absence of any declaration regarding enhanced purchasing power for citizens in the government’s fiscal plan. While acknowledging the current tax exemption on butane, Panton issued a cautionary prediction that this reprieve is temporary. She foreshadowed imminent price hikes, attributing this anticipated move to what she described as the Prime Minister’s ‘insatiable appetite’ for increased government revenue.

  • One Detained After Teen Fatally Shot in Orange Walk

    One Detained After Teen Fatally Shot in Orange Walk

    Orange Walk, Belize – A tragic shooting incident in Guinea Grass Village has resulted in the death of 18-year-old Noe Batun, prompting an ongoing police investigation that has led to one detention with another suspect remaining at large.

    The fatal event occurred late Sunday evening following an altercation at a local bar establishment. According to Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, the incident began when a dispute erupted inside the premises, leading to one individual being escorted out. However, the situation escalated dramatically when the removed patron returned accompanied by another person.

    Police reports indicate that the returning individual allegedly discharged a firearm into the bar, striking Batun. The young victim sustained critical injuries and succumbed while en route to the Northern Regional Hospital despite emergency medical efforts.

    Law enforcement authorities have confirmed the detention of one male suspect while continuing their search for the second individual believed to be involved in the shooting. The investigation remains active as police work to reconstruct the precise sequence of events leading to this violent outcome.

    Meanwhile, the community has expressed profound grief over the untimely death. Family members have turned to social media to memorialize the teenager, with one relative posting: ‘Cousin, you left us too soon, we will miss you,’ capturing the collective mourning of those who knew Batun.

  • RGPF responds to structural fire at L’anse aux Épines

    RGPF responds to structural fire at L’anse aux Épines

    Emergency crews from the Royal Grenada Police Force Fire Department are engaged in intensive firefighting operations at a storage facility belonging to Quality Services Limited. The incident has prompted urgent public safety warnings for multiple communities across St. George due to hazardous conditions.

    Authorities have issued critical advisories for motorists and pedestrians navigating the L’Anse aux Épines area, emphasizing extreme caution requirements stemming from intense thermal radiation and potentially toxic smoke emissions from the burning facility. Emergency services have explicitly discouraged public congregation near the incident site.

    The smoke plume has raised significant health concerns for residents in adjacent communities including Mt. Hartman, Grand Anse Valley, and Woburn. Medical officials particularly warn vulnerable populations with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic breathing difficulties. Health authorities strongly recommend utilizing protective face masks or respirators where available to mitigate exposure to harmful airborne particulates.

    As containment efforts continue, residents in affected zones are advised to implement protective measures including minimizing outdoor activities and maintaining closed windows and doors to reduce indoor air contamination. The RGPF Fire Department maintains continuous on-site monitoring and emergency response coordination as the situation evolves.

  • ‘He Was My Everything’: Families Mourn Two Young Friends Killed In Motorcycle Accident

    ‘He Was My Everything’: Families Mourn Two Young Friends Killed In Motorcycle Accident

    A devastating traffic collision near Belmopan has plunged two families into profound grief following the deaths of two teenage friends on Saturday afternoon. The victims, identified as 17-year-old Axel Cho and 15-year-old Jonathan Milian, lost their lives in a catastrophic incident along the George Price Highway at approximately 5:00 pm near mile 43.

    According to police reports, the tragedy unfolded when the motorcycle operated by Cho entered the highway and collided with an oncoming tandem truck traveling toward Belmopan. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith provided details of the incident: “Preliminary investigations indicate that the truck driver attempted evasive maneuvers to avoid direct impact. However, the rear section of the attached bowser made contact with the motorcycle, resulting in fatal consequences for both riders.”

    The two adolescents had maintained a close friendship since their first year at Belmopan Comprehensive High School and were simply enjoying a day together when the accident occurred.

    Matilda Cho, mother of Axel, expressed unimaginable sorrow in her statements to news media. “He represented my oldest child and my entire world,” she emotionally recounted. “Having become a mother at a young age, Axel fundamentally shaped the person I am today.” She characterized her son as consistently obedient, radiantly joyful, and universally beloved within their community. The traumatic experience of identifying her son’s body at the hospital, she noted, represented an unbearable circumstance no parent should ever face.

    Both families have expressed significant frustration regarding the limited information provided by authorities. Jonathan’s aunt described her nephew as an exceptionally bright young man with clearly defined aspirations, including his passion for horses and ambitions to eventually construct a home for his mother and sisters. She voiced concerns about the investigation’s transparency: “We remain completely unaware of the actual sequence of events. My attempts to obtain information from police officials have been consistently met with avoidance and deflection.”

    Law enforcement authorities have initiated standard procedures by serving a notice of intended prosecution to the truck driver and obtaining biological samples for analysis. Investigators have additionally emphasized that any individual who knowingly provided the motorcycle to the underage teenagers committed a criminal offense, with identifying this person becoming a critical component of the ongoing investigation.