Carib Scope

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  • Politic : Presentation of the «National Pact for Stability and the Organization of Elections» (video)

    Politic : Presentation of the «National Pact for Stability and the Organization of Elections» (video)

    In a landmark ceremony at the Villa d’Accueil on February 23, 2026, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé presided over the formal unveiling of the “National Pact for Stability and the Organization of Elections.” The event marked a significant convergence of national stakeholders, including government officials, diplomatic representatives, political party leaders, economic sector delegates, and civil society advocates, all demonstrating unified commitment to institutional stabilization and constitutional restoration.

    The Pact represents a strategic milestone in Haiti’s transitional journey, embodying collective political determination to establish conditions for credible, inclusive, and transparent elections while reinforcing institutional stability and national security. Prime Minister Fils-Aimé praised signatories for choosing dialogue and historical responsibility over partisan interests, emphasizing that “the destiny of an entire nation rests on the decisions and commitments made by its children to serve it.”

    The agreement culminates from intensive consultations and consensus-building efforts, with the Prime Minister highlighting that the true victory lies in “the victory for democracy and the entire nation.” He noted that signatories had demonstrated to the world Haiti’s capacity to “pour the concrete of stability” for the nation.

    This collective commitment establishes a framework for a coordinated and planned transition, granting the government authority to strengthen public security, consolidate institutions, ensure electoral transparency, engage youth actively, and stimulate economic recovery. The Pact provides the Prime Minister and his administration with comprehensive powers without fixed term limits, including constitutional modification authority and power-sharing mechanisms.

    The document (available in French as a 4-page PDF) outlines provisions for implementing these transitional measures, representing Haiti’s most substantial effort to address prolonged political instability through nationally endorsed mechanisms.

  • Tourism : Training on the new «digital card» for embarkation and disembarkation (video)

    Tourism : Training on the new «digital card» for embarkation and disembarkation (video)

    Haiti’s immigration authorities have initiated a comprehensive training program to implement IKAT, a revolutionary digital border management system designed to transform entry and exit procedures across the country. The Directorate of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) recently conducted an intensive two-day workshop in Cap-Haitien, bringing together inspectors and agents from multiple government agencies including Customs Administration, Public Health, and Tourism ministries.

    This training represents the first phase of a national rollout following the December 31, 2025 decree that established the digital embarkation/disembarkation card system. The IKAT platform aims to fundamentally modernize Haiti’s border management through advanced digital infrastructure that centralizes migration data and streamlines traveler processing.

    Key operational benefits of the new system include enhanced traveler assistance capabilities, strengthened migration flow control through digitized information networks, and improved pre-arrival and post-departure monitoring mechanisms. The system will generate reliable statistics and establish a consolidated database critical for tracking foreign nationals who exceed the permitted 90-day stay limit.

    The training methodology emphasized practical application, with 80% of sessions dedicated to hands-on exercises, simulations, and role-playing scenarios. Participants engaged in eight workshop sessions to master IKAT’s functionalities and understand its operational advantages. Additionally, a specialized Passenger Assistance Agents unit has been established and trained in “Assistance Techniques and Psycho-Communication” to support travelers during implementation.

    All travelers entering or leaving Haiti must now complete the digital form through the official portal 72 hours before their journey, regardless of transportation mode. The system provides online form completion and modification capabilities through dedicated government portals.

  • Instability in Cuba and Venezuela redirects tourism to Dominican Republic and Mexico

    Instability in Cuba and Venezuela redirects tourism to Dominican Republic and Mexico

    Recent geopolitical turbulence in Cuba and Venezuela has triggered a significant reconfiguration of Caribbean tourism flows, with travelers increasingly favoring destinations perceived as more secure and stable. Industry reports confirm that the Dominican Republic and Mexico’s Riviera Maya are emerging as primary beneficiaries of this regional shift.

    According to Carlos Garrido, President of the Spanish Confederation of Travel Agencies (CEAV), both nations are functioning as ‘refuge’ destinations, absorbing redirected tourist demand while experiencing consequent price increases. Toni Chaves, President of the Riviera Maya Hotel Association, acknowledged that uncertainty in other Caribbean markets may have contributed to robust demand in the Mexican Caribbean, though he characterized this influence as marginal within broader structural tourism transformations.

    Chaves elaborated that the ongoing industry transformation preferentially advantages destinations demonstrating superior air connectivity, operational reliability, enhanced safety perceptions, substantial hotel capacity, competitive pricing, and strategic backing from tour operators in source markets—all areas where the Riviera Maya maintains strong competitiveness.

    The Dominican Republic’s tourism sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, having recorded 11.6 million visitors in the previous year. This historic achievement represents a remarkable 37.8% increase compared to 2022, solidifying its status as one of the Caribbean’s premier tourism destinations.

    Conversely, Cuba’s tourism industry continues its precipitous decline, concluding the year with merely 1.8 million international visitors—its lowest arrival figures since 2002. This represents a dramatic fall from its 2018 peak of 4.7 million visitors. The sector’s collapse has been accelerated by U.S. sanctions implemented during the Trump administration, compounded by Cuba’s severe economic and energy crises and diminished air connectivity.

    At January’s FITUR tourism fair, Cuban Tourism Minister Juan Carlos García attributed the sector’s challenges primarily to the U.S. economic embargo. Executives from Meliá Hotels International confirmed that growing instability has further deteriorated an already challenging situation, acknowledging the redirection of bookings from Cuba toward Mexican and Dominican properties. The hotel group has consequently reduced room availability in Cuba this month, aligning operations with current occupancy levels and supply constraints.

    Venezuela is simultaneously navigating what industry leaders describe as an exceptionally complex period. The Federal Aviation Administration’s November advisory urging extreme caution when flying over Venezuela and the southern Caribbean prompted multiple international airlines to suspend or reduce operations. According to César Gutiérrez, President of the Spanish Federation of Territorial Associations of Travel Agencies (Fetave), the tourism slowdown stems less from diminished tourist interest and more from operational challenges and compromised air connectivity, further reinforcing the regional pivot toward more stable destinations.

  • Storm victims living in tents had been evicted — Peters

    Storm victims living in tents had been evicted — Peters

    A stark housing crisis has emerged in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 18 months after Hurricane Beryl’s devastation, with opposition Senator Keisal Peters revealing that numerous residents across the islands continue to inhabit temporary tents due to profound property shortages. The situation is particularly acute on Union Island, where displaced populations have occupied public infrastructure, including a community hard court now colloquially dubbed ‘Tent City.’

    This occupation has had tangible community repercussions, notably preventing the Union Island Secondary School from participating in the local netball championship due to the lost facility access. The parliamentary representative for the Southern Grenadines, Minister Terrence Ollivierre, confirmed the ongoing crisis, stating he had to implore tent residents to find alternative housing to restore community access to the court.

    The political discourse surrounding the delayed recovery has intensified. Minister Ollivierre directly challenged the previous Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration’s claims that a significant portion of damaged homes had been repaired or reconstructed. He cited figures from Deputy Prime Minister St. Clair Leacock indicating that many individuals remain in paid accommodations on the mainland, suggesting resettlement efforts are far from complete.

    In response, Senator Peters, who served as Minister of National Mobilisation in the former government, provided critical context. She explained that a resettlement subcommittee was established post-Beryl and uncovered a distressing trend: many affected individuals on Union Island were originally mainland migrants who moved for work. Peters alleged that numerous landlords seized the hurricane as an opportunity for ‘divine intervention,’ evicting tenants en masse and leaving them with no property to return to, thereby exacerbating the homelessness crisis.

  • Energy authorities confirm full restoration of national power system

    Energy authorities confirm full restoration of national power system

    SANTO DOMINGO – Authorities in the Dominican Republic have successfully restored and stabilized the country’s National Interconnected Electric System (SENI) following a significant nationwide power disruption that occurred earlier on Monday. The system reached full operational status at 11:53 p.m. that evening after an intensive recovery operation.

    Energy and Mines Minister Joel Santos confirmed that technical teams immediately launched a comprehensive investigation into the root causes of the widespread outage once system stability was achieved. The ministry has pledged to publicly disclose its findings through official channels upon completion of the forensic analysis.

    The restoration process was executed under stringent technical protocols to ensure frequency stability, maintain precise balance between power generation and consumption demand, and facilitate the gradual synchronization of electrical circuits nationwide. Minister Santos maintained continuous oversight from the Control Center throughout Monday, directing coordinated efforts with senior officials from key energy sector institutions.

    Critical coordination occurred between the Dominican Electricity Transmission Company (ETED), the Superintendency of Electricity, the National Energy Commission (CNE), and the Unified Council of Electricity Distribution Companies (CUED). Authorities emphasized that their collaborative, real-time supervision was instrumental in achieving an orderly and secure restoration process, preventing potentially damaging unsynchronized reconnections and protecting critical infrastructure.

    Minister Santos reiterated the government’s commitment to technical responsibility and transparency, stating: ‘Our paramount objective remained the safe restoration of service with technical responsibility and transparency to the public,’ thereby reaffirming the sector’s dedication to ensuring the reliability and stability of the national grid.

  • Brittons Hill hand Paradise first loss

    Brittons Hill hand Paradise first loss

    The landscape of the Barbados Football Association Premier League underwent a dramatic transformation this Sunday following a series of pivotal matches at the Wildey Technical Centre. The headline event saw Brittons Hill United deliver a stunning 3-2 victory to previously unbeaten league leaders Paradise, a result that catapults Kickstart Rush into the unique position of being the competition’s only undefeated side.

    The evening’s marquee clash between Paradise and Brittons Hill erupted into immediate action. Barbados international Sheran Hoyte continued his scintillating scoring form, netting his fifth goal in three matches to give Paradise a third-minute lead. The advantage was short-lived, however, as Vincentian striker Steven Pierre atoned for an earlier miss by capitalizing on a defensive error to equalize. After a period of intense end-to-end action, Brittons Hill seized control in the second half. Tshane Lorde’s powerful header in the 63rd minute put them ahead before a clinically taken 74th-minute penalty extended their lead to 3-1. A late consolation goal from Paradise’s Jaron Oughterson in added time proved insufficient to alter the outcome.

    An ecstatic Brittons Hill coach Richard Forde hailed the performance as one of the finest in his tenure, attributing the victory to disciplined organization and rigorous training sessions. ‘This was one out of the top drawer. It was a magnificent game that we played tonight,’ Forde stated, emphasizing the strategic groundwork laid in preparation.

    In the night’s final fixture, Kickstart Rush maintained their unbeaten status but were forced to share points in a tense 0-0 stalemate with arch-rivals Weymouth Wales. Both sides squandered critical opportunities, with Wales seeing a second-half shot cleared off the line and multiple chances go astray in the final quarter. While disappointed not to secure all three points, Kickstart coach Renaldo Gilkes acknowledged the quality of the reigning champions and highlighted the positive of remaining unbeaten.

    The day’s action commenced with UWI Blackbirds securing a narrow 1-0 win over Bagatelle through a Jadon McCollin goal, marking their third consecutive victory and signaling a potential resurgence after a slow start to their campaign.

    These results precipitate a significant reshuffling of the league table. Paradise retains top position with 16 points, but Kickstart Rush now sits just one point behind in second. Ellerton holds third with 13 points, while Brittons Hill’s triumph pushes them into fourth, overtaking defending champions Wales who drop to fifth.

  • Security : Kidnapping foiled, 8 dead including 2 police officers

    Security : Kidnapping foiled, 8 dead including 2 police officers

    In a dramatic pre-dawn operation on February 23, 2026, Haitian National Police (PNH) successfully intercepted a planned kidnapping in the Delmas 48 district of Port-au-Prince, resulting in eight fatalities including two police officers. The violent confrontation unfolded across multiple neighborhoods as specialized police units engaged armed kidnappers traveling in two SUVs.

    According to official reports, the criminal group was preparing to blockade their target’s vehicle using their SUVs when police intervention disrupted their operation. The suspects abandoned their initial plan and fled through the metropolitan area. Two assailants were fatally wounded during pursuit in Delmas 31, while the remaining four were cornered by law enforcement reinforcements in Delmas 17 after deploying multiple specialized units.

    The subsequent firefight resulted in the neutralization of all six kidnappers, including identified individuals Dumorin Job and Kenny, alias ‘Kalash,’ who sustained fatal injuries during exchanges of gunfire with police.

    Security forces confiscated three vehicles from the operation – a Nissan Patrol, Toyota RAV4, and Canter truck – along with eight firearms comprising four assault rifles, four pistols, and substantial ammunition. Authorities also recovered the intended victim’s Toyota Prado, which had been specifically targeted by the kidnapping group.

    The tactical victory came at significant cost to the PNH, with two officers killed in action – one from the elite SWAT Team and another from the Intervention Brigade (BI). Three additional officers sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment.

    The Haitian National Police reaffirmed its determination to combat kidnapping networks that continue to paralyze socio-economic activities in the capital. In an official statement, the PNH emphasized its ongoing commitment to nationwide operations aimed at restoring public order and ensuring citizen security.

  • International flights in loss of safety buffer distance over Guyana’s air space

    International flights in loss of safety buffer distance over Guyana’s air space

    The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has suspended two air traffic controllers and initiated a formal investigation following a significant aviation incident earlier this month. Two international flights violated mandatory separation protocols while traversing Guyanese airspace, creating a potentially hazardous situation.

    According to Aviation Minister Deodat Indar, the incident occurred when the mandated 10-mile safety buffer between aircraft was compromised, shrinking to approximately five miles. The event was logged around 1 AM on February 16, 2026, and involved United Airlines Flight UAL860, traveling from São Paulo, Brazil to Washington D.C. at 34,000 feet, and Turpial Airlines Flight VTU9905, en route from Guyana to Venezuela while climbing to 36,000 feet. Data from open-source aircraft tracking services confirmed the proximity alert.

    Minister Indar emphasized that despite the breach, neither aircraft declared an emergency nor was there any risk of collision. Modern commercial aircraft of this type typically cruise at speeds between 8-9 miles per minute, making precise separation critical. The minister expressed particular concern about publicizing the event, noting that Guyana’s aviation authorities had recently earned significant praise for their management standards. The suspended controllers have been removed from active duty pending the investigation’s outcome, which aims to determine the root cause of the procedural failure.

  • FTC alerted to SurePay’s new 30-cent over-the-counter payment fee

    FTC alerted to SurePay’s new 30-cent over-the-counter payment fee

    A proposed convenience fee by bill payment processor SurePay (Barbados) has ignited a significant consumer rights debate, drawing scrutiny from the nation’s fair trade regulator. Effective March 16, the company plans to implement a VAT-inclusive 30-cent charge on all over-the-counter cash and cheque bill payments, a move it attributes to escalating operational costs associated with handling physical currency and processing cheques.

    The Barbados Consumer Empowerment Network (BCEN) has formally petitioned the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) to conduct a comprehensive review of the fee’s fairness, necessity, and proportionality. BCEN Executive Chair Maureen Holder articulated deep concerns that the seemingly nominal charge would disproportionately impact vulnerable demographics, including seniors, low-income households, and individuals with limited digital access. Holder emphasized that for these groups, counter services are not a premium convenience but an essential utility, and layering additional fees exacerbates existing financial strains from rising living costs.

    In response to inquiries, FTC Chief Executive Officer Brian Reece confirmed the agency’s awareness of the emerging situation but declined to comment on any potential regulatory action. Reece stated the commission must first be guided by thoroughly grounded facts and legal principles before making any determination on the merits of the case.

    The controversy highlights a broader tension between national digitalization efforts and financial inclusivity. BCEN argues that penalizing in-person transactions creates a discriminatory two-tier system, effectively charging a premium for essential services to those who are least able to transition to digital platforms. This, they contend, runs counter to national goals of financial inclusion and consumer protection. The central demand from consumer advocates is for absolute transparency: a clear justification for the fee’s necessity, evidence that alternative cost-saving measures were explored, and safeguards against the gradual accumulation of small charges that incrementally increase the cost of living.

  • Medals, personal best times for Vincy swimmers in Barbados meet

    Medals, personal best times for Vincy swimmers in Barbados meet

    A contingent of four elite swimmers from St. Vincent’s Black Sands Swim Squad made waves at the recently concluded Barbados National Long Course Swimming Championships, delivering a series of commanding performances that yielded an impressive collection of medals and numerous personal achievements.

    Leading the team’s remarkable success was Kione Deshong in the Boys 13–14 division, who emerged as a standout performer. Deshong dominated the competition, securing a total of six medals: two gold, three silver, and one bronze. His exceptional showing was further highlighted by achieving personal best times in four of his events, demonstrating significant technical progress and competitive prowess.

    In the highly competitive Boys 15–17 age category, Matthew Ballah delivered a masterclass in consistent excellence. Ballah’s powerful performances earned him two gold medals and two bronze medals, complemented by two personal best times. His achievements underscore his development as a formidable competitor in regional swimming circles.

    Teammate Seth Byron, also competing in the Boys 15–17 group, made valuable contributions to the team’s overall medal count. Byron captured two bronze medals while achieving one personal best time, showing notable improvement and competitive spirit throughout the championship meet.

    Completing the team’s successful campaign was Zariel Nelson, who added another bronze medal to the squad’s collective achievement while also recording one personal best time, rounding out an exceptionally successful competition for the Vincentian delegation.

    The athletes now turn their attention to the upcoming SAC Invitational Swim Meet, scheduled to take place at Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre in Ratho Mill from February 26th to March 1st. Organizers are encouraging families and supporters to attend the event and provide enthusiastic support as these talented swimmers continue their competitive season.