Carib Scope

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  • Guyana begins planning for CARIFESTA 2027 with CARICOM talks

    Guyana begins planning for CARIFESTA 2027 with CARICOM talks

    Planning efforts for one of the Caribbean’s most anticipated cultural gatherings, CARIFESTA 2027, are officially underway, following a high-level planning meeting this week between representatives of the CARICOM Secretariat and government officials from Guyana, the event’s 2027 host nation.

    According to an official press statement issued by CARICOM, the meeting took place Monday at the CARICOM Secretariat headquarters, where Guyana’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles S. Ramson and junior minister Steven Jacobs convened with a CARICOM delegation led by Beverly Harry-Emmanuel, Adviser for Social Development at the intergovernmental organization.

    The core agenda of the gathering centered on laying the groundwork for the 16th iteration of the Caribbean Festival of Arts, more widely known by its shorthand name CARIFESTA. To frame the collaborative planning discussions, CARICOM’s Programme Manager for Culture Dr. Hilary Brown delivered a comprehensive presentation tracing the origins and transformation of the festival over its decades-long history, establishing a clear context for talks on the major operational components of the 2027 event.

    Attendees delved into a broad range of critical topics, from the diverse lineup of artistic and cultural programming that will anchor the festival, to the complex financial, administrative, logistical and marketing frameworks required to pull off the region’s largest cultural gathering. A key theme of the dialogue was exploring how the 2027 festival can further advance the expansion and long-term sustainability of the Caribbean creative economy, supporting creators and cultural industries across all member states.

    Guyana holds a unique place in CARIFESTA history, as the release highlighted: the South American nation hosted the very first edition of the regional festival back in 1972, and later welcomed participants and visitors for a second successful staging in 2008. The most recent edition of the event, CARIFESTA XV, was hosted by Barbados in 2025, drawing participants and cultural groups from across the Caribbean and beyond.

    Beyond festival logistics, the two sides also used the meeting to advance conversations around regional youth development initiatives. That portion of the gathering was opened by an overview from CARICOM’s Programme Manager for Youth Development Michele Small-Bartley, who laid out current priorities and collaborative opportunities for the Caribbean community to support young people across the region.

  • Choiseul grab local women’s cricket crown

    Choiseul grab local women’s cricket crown

    After half a decade without domestic women’s cricket action on the island, Saint Lucia’s top female cricketers returned to the pitch this July, culminating in a tense, exciting final held Sunday at the La Fargue Playing Field hosted by the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association (SLNCA). In an all-district clash between neighboring communities, home side Choiseul clinched the tournament title with a dominant seven-wicket victory over Laborie, powered by a career-defining all-round display from all-rounder Alyiah Alfred.

    The day got off to a promising start for Laborie, after captain Skyy Smith won the pre-match coin toss and elected to set a target by batting first. What looked like a solid strategic choice quickly unraveled, however, as Choiseul’s leading bowlers imposed relentless pressure on the Laborie batting line-up from the first over. Tight line-and-length bowling from Alfred, Choiseul captain Roylin Cooper and veteran Swayline Williams kept run rates low and created constant wicket threats, bundling Laborie out for just 99 runs inside 20 overs, at 99 all out in the 19.1st over.

    Alfred delivered the most devastating bowling performance of the match, finishing with four wickets for only 18 runs conceded across her four overs (24 legal deliveries). A remarkable 17 of those deliveries were dot balls, leaving Laborie batters unable to get any momentum against her spin. Cooper backed her up perfectly, taking two wickets for 19 runs across her four-over spell, while Williams turned in an equally impressive outing, claiming 2 wickets for just 8 runs in only two overs of tight bowling.

    Laborie’s innings was marked by small partnerships that failed to turn into a match-winning total. Manissa Paul fell for only five runs with the team score at 16, leaving Chewed Verneuil to join opener Makeva Anthony for a 35-run second-wicket stand that briefly steadied the innings. A run-out, followed by two quick wickets from Alfred, halted Laborie’s progress just as they looked to build a competitive total.

    Anthony later put on a 26-run partnership with Alisha Emmanuel to push Laborie’s total to 91 for 6, but the end came quickly after that. Cooper and Williams cleaned up the tail, taking the final four wickets for just eight runs to wrap up the Laborie innings before the full 20 overs were completed.

    Chasing a modest target of 100 runs for victory, Choiseul made light work of the chase with Alfred once again leading the charge from the top of the batting order. She guided the side to the required total in just 10.4 overs, finishing the match not out on a blistering 56 runs from only 33 deliveries, including four towering sixes and two clinical fours. Alicia Herman chipped in with 12 runs from 12 balls, while Britnee Norbal added an unbeaten 11 from 14 deliveries to help Choiseul reach 103 for 3 and secure the seven-wicket win.

    The four-team tournament, which kicked off in early July, marked a landmark moment for women’s cricket in Saint Lucia, bringing back domestic competitive women’s action after a five-year hiatus. Alongside finalists Choiseul and Laborie, South Castries and the SLNCA Development Team also took part in the historic competition, giving young emerging players a chance to compete at the domestic level and grow the women’s game on the island.

  • Supermarket Owner Detains Suspected Robbers Until Police Arrive

    Supermarket Owner Detains Suspected Robbers Until Police Arrive

    An attempted robbery at a local supermarket took an unexpected turn on Wednesday, when the store’s owner stepped in to hold the suspects until law enforcement arrived at the scene.

    The incident unfolded at Sammy’s Supermarket, located on Lower All Saints Road, when multiple individuals entered the premises with the alleged intent of robbing the business. Rather than retreating to safety, the proprietor made the bold decision to confront the group, successfully blocking their escape route before securing them at the back of the store.

    First responders from the local police department were dispatched to the location after receiving an alert about the ongoing incident. Upon their arrival, officers took the detained individuals into official custody, removing them from the supermarket property to begin processing.

    As of the latest updates, the local police department has not published any official formal details surrounding the attempted robbery. Key pieces of information that remain unreleased include whether the suspects were armed with any weapons during the incident, as well as whether any goods or money were taken from the store before the owner intervened.

    Authorities confirmed that the full investigation into the event is still active and progressing, with additional updates expected as more facts are gathered and verified.

  • Hopeful Hearts Foundation Appointed National Leader for Good Deeds Day, a Global Movement, in Antigua and Barbuda

    Hopeful Hearts Foundation Appointed National Leader for Good Deeds Day, a Global Movement, in Antigua and Barbuda

    In an announcement from St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, the local non-profit Hopeful Hearts Foundation (HHF) has confirmed it has been selected as the official National Leader for Good Deeds Day across the island nation. This appointment brings Antigua and Barbuda into a sprawling global initiative focused on cultivating a culture of compassion, voluntary service, and active civic participation across borders.

    Good Deeds Day is not a new effort: it operates as an annual global movement that unites participants in over 115 countries spanning six continents. Each year, millions of people turn out to take part in volunteer projects, give back to marginalized groups, and reinforce local community bonds through intentional, purpose-driven acts of service. The movement crosses sectoral lines, bringing together government agencies, educational institutions, private businesses, non-profits, faith-based organizations, and individual volunteers all aligned behind a single unifying goal: to drive tangible, positive improvement to communities worldwide through collective small and large acts of goodness.

    Across the Caribbean region, the Good Deeds Day network has been steadily growing under the guidance of Diane Felicien, based in Saint Lucia and serving as the movement’s Caribbean Regional Leader. Currently, 13 Caribbean nations and territories are formal members of the network, including Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Aruba. Additional regional nations have already signaled their interest in joining the expanding network in coming years.

    In its new role as national lead, Hopeful Hearts Foundation will oversee all coordination of Antigua and Barbuda’s participation in Good Deeds Day. The organization will partner with national government ministries, primary and secondary schools, private sector businesses, local community groups, faith-based institutions, and independent volunteers to embed a nationwide culture of kindness, civic responsibility, and community service that extends beyond the annual event.

    HHF will spearhead a diverse lineup of initiatives tied to Good Deeds Day, all centered on boosting volunteer participation and deepening community engagement. The programming also aligns with the broader “Pásalo Pa’lante – Billions Acts of Kindness and Pay It Forward” movement, which encourages people to pass kindness forward to create ripple effects of positive change. Planned activities for Antigua and Barbuda include local environmental conservation projects, neighborhood community clean-up campaigns, outreach programs for underserved schools, youth leadership development workshops, volunteer recognition events, national days of collective service, public kindness awareness campaigns, and cross-sector collaborative service projects designed to leave lasting, meaningful benefits for communities across the country.

    Kristine Louisa, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hopeful Hearts Foundation, shared her reaction to the appointment in a statement: “We are honoured to be entrusted with leading Good Deeds Day in Antigua and Barbuda. This appointment presents an incredible opportunity to unite our nation through kindness and volunteerism. We invite every citizen, organization, business, and institution to become part of this global movement and demonstrate that together we can create positive change in our communities.”

    Looking ahead, Hopeful Hearts Foundation says it is eager to collaborate with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, the national private sector, civil society organizations, schools, and grassroots volunteers to turn Good Deeds Day into a widely celebrated national moment of service. The organization also aims to position Antigua and Barbuda as a regional benchmark for volunteerism and proactive community engagement across the Caribbean.

    This April, Antigua and Barbuda will join millions of volunteers across the globe in proving a core tenet of the Good Deeds Day movement: that every single act of kindness carries the power to transform individual lives, strengthen community connections, and inspire long-term, systemic positive change.

  • Kurt Menal Appointed CEO of VC Bird International Airport

    Kurt Menal Appointed CEO of VC Bird International Airport

    VC Bird International Airport, the primary air gateway serving Antigua and Barbuda, has announced a key leadership change with the appointment of Kurt Menal as its new chief executive officer. The announcement, which was made public by the airport’s governing board earlier this week, marks a new chapter for the facility as it looks to advance ongoing expansion and modernization initiatives.

  • Two Young Voices, Big Mission: “Every Mind Matters”

    Two Young Voices, Big Mission: “Every Mind Matters”

    Two teenage students from Saint Catherine Academy in Belize, 13-year-old Arianna Grant and 14-year-old Jahmia Lodge, are challenging common misconceptions that young people lack the ability to drive meaningful community change with their new grassroots mental health initiative, ‘Every Mind Matters’.

    The project serves a dual purpose: to expand public conversation around mental health across the country and shine a spotlight on the Lake I Welcome Resource Center, a critical local support institution that serves countless residents of the Lake Independence division. The pair’s work was sparked by a chance encounter when Grant walked past the center and observed the community members accessing its services, an experience that opened her eyes to the gap in public awareness for both the center and unaddressed mental health needs locally.

    “I’d passed by the center many times before, but I’d never really stopped to learn what it does,” Grant explained in an interview. “When I saw the people relying on its support, I knew we had to do something. So many people struggle with mental health challenges, but we still don’t talk about it openly enough.” For Lodge, the initiative grew from a deeply held belief that compassion and open dialogue can change how communities approach mental wellness. “Mental health deserves to be recognized and acknowledged,” she said. “You never know what someone is carrying with them unless we create space to talk about it — and by then, it’s often too late for those who are struggling.”

    Next Wednesday, the teens will host a community paint-and-sip gathering at the Lake I Welcome Resource Center, where they will distribute handmade clay bracelets, pre-collected food supplies, and hygiene products to center guests. The initiative has already received backing from local business RF&G Insurance Ltd., which is sponsoring the event.

    Beyond the upcoming community gathering, Grant and Lodge are calling on members of the public to support their cause by donating non-perishable food items, hygiene products, and essential household supplies, all of which will go directly to guests of the resource center. More than just collecting donations, however, the pair have a larger goal: to dismantle the harmful social stigma that still surrounds mental illness in Belize, and encourage all Belizeans to regularly check in with friends, family, and neighbors who may be struggling.

    As Grant puts it: “It could be anybody you know. That’s why every mind matters.” Community members who wish to donate or get involved with the initiative can contact the organizers via call or text at 610-4446 or 615-8131.

  • Hakrinbank verkoopt 18% belang in DSB via openbare inschrijving

    Hakrinbank verkoopt 18% belang in DSB via openbare inschrijving

    Suriname-based financial institution Hakrinbank has announced plans to sell nearly 18 percent of its existing stake in De Surinaamsche Bank (DSB) via a public digital offering, opening a new opportunity for both domestic and international investors to acquire shares in one of the country’s established banking players. The offering, which includes 6,775,859 currently held DSB shares corresponding to 17.96% of DSB’s issued and fully paid share capital, will run for three weeks starting August 10 through August 31, with no new shares being issued by DSB as part of this transaction. All shares included in the offering are currently owned outright by Hakrinbank, marking a strategic portfolio adjustment rather than a capital raising move for DSB itself.

    In a statement accompanying the offering announcement, Hakrinbank explained that the decision to divest the stake comes as part of a regular strategic review of its entire investment portfolio. The bank emphasized that the divestment is intended to allow Hakrinbank to reallocate resources and focus more intently on its own core business priorities and long-term strategic objectives. Importantly, the institution stressed that the sale does not reflect any negative judgment on DSB’s current financial standing, operational performance, or future growth prospects.

    The public offering is open to both individual private investors and institutional corporate investors from Suriname and across the globe, so long as all participants meet the published offering terms and comply with relevant local legal and regulatory requirements. Unlike traditional fixed-price offerings, Hakrinbank has opted for an open bidding structure, with no set minimum or maximum price per share. When the offering opens on August 10, the current trading price of DSB shares on the Suriname Stock Exchange will only be listed as a reference point, and investors are free to submit bids either above or below this benchmark price.

    Once the offering window closes at 4:00 PM local time on August 31, all submitted bids will be evaluated in accordance with the pre-published eligibility and allocation rules. Shares will be allocated starting from the highest qualifying bids received. In the event that total investor demand exceeds the number of shares available in the offering, Hakrinbank will implement either a proportional allocation system or another weighted distribution model to fairly distribute shares. The bank also noted that submitting a bid does not guarantee an allocation of shares to any participant.

    The digital subscription portal for the offering will go live on August 10, the same day the offering opens. From that date forward, all relevant offering documents including the official subscription form, full terms and conditions, and additional background information will be available to interested investors via Hakrinbank’s official website and its authorized communication channels.

  • Marileidy Paulino wins 400m gold despite heavy rain

    Marileidy Paulino wins 400m gold despite heavy rain

    Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — Dominican sprinting legend and reigning Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino has cemented her status as one of the region’s greatest athletes, securing another milestone win at the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games hosted in her home country.

    Competing in the women’s 400-meter sprint at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, Paulino defied challenging racing conditions to claim the top spot on the podium. A steady heavy rain soaked the track throughout the race, and thousands of local spectators packed the stadium stands, staying through the poor weather to cheer on their hometown star. When Paulino crossed the finish line, her time of 48.94 seconds secured the gold medal — and shattered her own previous regional games record.

    Paulino first set the Central American and Caribbean Games 400-meter benchmark at the 2023 San Salvador edition, where she clocked a 49.95 second run. Her latest performance cut a full 1.01 seconds off that existing record. This victory also marks Paulino’s second gold medal at the 2026 Santo Domingo Games, and a successful title defense of her regional 400-meter championship.

    Rounding out the podium, Cuban sprinter Roxana Gómez took home the silver medal with a final time of 49.99 seconds, while Shafiqua Maloney of St. Vincent and the Grenadines claimed bronze after finishing in 51.77 seconds.

    Even with the slippery track and wet conditions creating an added hurdle for competitors, Paulino turned in a commanding, dominant performance from start to finish. The historic run sent the packed home crowd into celebration, as fans got to watch one of the Dominican Republic’s most decorated athletes add another iconic achievement to her already illustrious career right on home soil.

  • Dominican Republic regains relay gold medal after disqualification is overturned

    Dominican Republic regains relay gold medal after disqualification is overturned

    Santo Domingo, host of the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games, has seen a major shakeup in the athletics medal standings after competition authorities upheld an appeal from the Dominican Republic, overturning an earlier disqualification of the country’s 4×100-meter mixed relay team and officially restoring their gold medal win.

    The Dominican foursome — made up of sprinters Mayobanex de Óleo, Fiordaliza Cofil, José González and Liranyi Alonso — originally crossed the finish line in first place at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, clocking a winning time of 40.89 seconds. But just minutes after the race concluded, event officials made the sudden call to disqualify the team over unproven claims of an illegal baton exchange. Following that initial ruling, Jamaica was hastily elevated to gold position, with Cuba moved to second and Puerto Rico to third.

    Refusing to accept the outcome that stripped their athletes of a hard-earned victory, the Dominican national delegation launched an immediate formal challenge to the disqualification. The delegation called for a full, thorough review of both the official race footage and the original findings made by event judges to verify whether any rule violation had actually occurred.

    After completing a comprehensive technical review of all available evidence, competition authorities overturned the initial disqualification and formally reinstated the Dominican Republic team as the rightful gold medal winners. In the adjusted official standings, Jamaica (41.06 seconds) was reclassified to take the silver medal, while Cuba (41.18 seconds) claimed the bronze. Puerto Rico slipped to fourth place, and Mexico remains the only team disqualified from the final race.

    This corrected ruling pushes the Dominican Republic’s total gold medal count at the 2026 Games up to 24, adding a long-awaited home-soil title to the host nation’s impressive tournament performance.

  • Abinader launches National Forum for Full Development under Meta RD 2036

    Abinader launches National Forum for Full Development under Meta RD 2036

    SANTO DOMINGO — Top Dominican government leaders have kicked off a landmark collaborative planning effort designed to guide the country toward full economic and social development over the next 13 years. President Luis Abinader and Vice President Raquel Peña headlined the opening of the first National Forum for Full Development, a public engagement initiative tied directly to the administration’s ambitious national development blueprint, Meta RD 2036.

    The overarching strategy sets out a clear, bold goal: to transform the Dominican Republic into a high-income, fully developed nation by 2036 through a shared national effort. In remarks delivered during the forum’s closing ceremony, President Abinader outlined the core vision of the initiative: to deliver broad-based collective prosperity across the country by expanding access to improved public services, high-quality education, formal sector employment, and enhanced citizen security, while opening new economic and social opportunities for every Dominican.

    Abinader explained that Meta RD 2036 is built around eight foundational pillars: sustainable development, social inclusion, technological and systemic innovation, consistent economic growth, strengthened public institutions, boosted national productivity, expanded knowledge generation, and strategic investment in national human capital. Unlike top-down development plans crafted solely in government offices, the forum was designed as a cross-sector consultation process, bringing together representatives from universities, civil society organizations, private industry, and community groups to share actionable proposals before the government finalizes its strategic priorities.

    In a push to emphasize the initiative’s commitment to genuine public participation, Abinader stressed that the forum is far more than a symbolic gesture. All input and recommendations collected through the consultation process will be directly integrated into the strategy’s official priorities, future public policies, and national development plans. “We do not want a symbolic consultation, but participation reflected in priorities, decisions and public policy instruments,” Abinader told attendees.

    The president further noted that meaningful long-term national reform requires both broad cross-sector consensus and urgent, immediate action. National progress, he argued, cannot be delivered by the government alone; it must grow out of coordinated joint effort from the public sector, private industry, academic institutions, and Dominican civil society as a whole.

    Meta RD 2036 sets out a series of measurable, ambitious targets to achieve by the 2036 deadline. Among the most notable goals are doubling the country’s real gross domestic product, eradicating extreme poverty nationwide, generating 1.7 million new formal jobs, tripling the national average salary, and securing international investment-grade credit status to position the Dominican Republic as one of the most competitive economies in Latin America.

    To implement the strategy across all key sectors of the national economy, the initiative has established 14 dedicated working committees. These panels focus on strategic industries ranging from agriculture, commerce, construction, and energy to finance, manufacturing, technology, transportation, tourism, free trade zones, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), ensuring that every critical part of the Dominican economy is represented in long-term planning.