Carib Scope

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  • More Than 200 Repeat Offenders Are on Antigua and Barbuda’s Streets

    More Than 200 Repeat Offenders Are on Antigua and Barbuda’s Streets

    Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has made a startling disclosure during parliamentary debate on a key gun policy bill, revealing that more than 200 repeat criminal offenders are currently at large across the country’s streets – a large share of whom are linked to armed robberies – and that their unchecked presence is stretching local law enforcement resources to breaking point.

    The revelation came as Browne defended his administration’s controversial Firearms (Amendment) Bill 2026, legislation crafted to dramatically increase prison sentences for individuals convicted of firearms-related offenses. The bill was tabled amid a growing wave of public anxiety over rising gun violence and serious transnational and local crime in the twin-island nation.

    Addressing skeptical Members of Parliament who have pushed back against the claim that harsher prison sentences reduce crime rates, Browne acknowledged the argument that stiff penalties do not always deter potential offenders from acting. However, he made the case that longer sentencing delivers an immediate, tangible public safety benefit by keeping high-risk repeat offenders out of communities for extended periods.

    “If you have them in jail for a longer period, it means that the police has less individuals to contend with, less criminals to contend with,” Browne told the parliamentary chamber. “In fact, what is happening now, the sheer volume of them now, they are overwhelming the police.”

    The prime minister has long been a vocal critic of what he describes as inadequately lenient sentencing for serious criminal offenses in Antigua and Barbuda, arguing that the country’s current public safety crisis demands immediate policy adjustments to curb repeat offending. At the core of his argument is a simple observation: many career criminals are released back into the community after relatively short sentences, only to resume illegal activity almost immediately.

    By extending custodial sentences for repeat offenders and firearms-related crimes, Browne says, the government will remove hundreds of known high-risk criminals from streets, easing the operational burden on overstretched police forces already struggling to stem rising robbery rates and violent crime. The debate over the bill comes as Antigua and Barbuda grapples with a regional trend of rising gun-related crime that has put pressure on Caribbean governments to adjust their criminal justice policies to address public safety concerns.

  • Dominica receives security paper after certificate delays

    Dominica receives security paper after certificate delays

    After weeks of constrained operations caused by limited stock of specialized security paper, Dominica’s Civil Registry has announced it is returning to full, normal operations for processing and issuing birth, marriage and death certificates, following the delivery of a long-awaited new shipment of the required printing material.

    At an official press briefing hosted by the Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs, Acting Registrar General Nuraiyah Sebastian clarified the situation that had slowed services in recent weeks. She confirmed that while inventory had been tight, the agency never completely exhausted its supply of the specialized security paper. Throughout the period of constrained stock, the registry continued to issue certificates, but implemented a priority system that focused exclusively on emergency and time-sensitive requests, meaning routine and pre-submitted non-urgent applications could not be fulfilled within the agency’s standard processing timelines.

    Now that new stock has arrived, all applicants who have been waiting for their completed certificates can visit the Civil Registry offices to collect their documents, and the agency is once again accepting new routine applications at its normal capacity, Sebastian said.

    National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore provided additional details on the shipment and long-term planning to avoid future service disruptions. He confirmed that the latest delivery brought 9,000 additional sheets of security paper to the registry, and the government has already placed a follow-up order for 100,000 more sheets to build up a robust reserve. To prevent repeated delays, officials have arranged for scheduled, recurring deliveries of the material moving forward.

    Blackmoore also explained the root cause of the recent supply shortage. The shortage emerged after the government implemented a temporary waiver of application fees for certificate requests during a national identity confirmation process. This fee waiver led many members of the public to request multiple copies of their vital documents, creating far higher demand than officials had initially projected.

    Between the start of April and August 24 alone, the Civil Registry issued 8,282 birth certificates, Blackmoore reported. Full issuance data for September has not yet been compiled.

    This specialized security paper is used for all three types of vital event certificates issued by the registry: birth, marriage and death certificates. Government officials note that the secure, anti-counterfeiting stock is a critical tool to lower the risk of document duplication and identity fraud, protecting residents from fraudulent use of their personal identifying information.

  • Assassination of J. Moïse : Trial begins. Haitian-American Pastor Emmanuel Sanon

    Assassination of J. Moïse : Trial begins. Haitian-American Pastor Emmanuel Sanon

    Five years after the high-profile assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse sent shockwaves across the Caribbean and global political landscape, the federal trial of the man accused of orchestrating the plot has officially gotten underway in South Florida. On Monday, September 28, 2026, proceedings opened at the U.S. Federal District Court for the Southern District of Florida, with Judge Jacqueline Becerra presiding over the case against 67-year-old Haitian-American pastor Christian Emmanuel Sanon.

    Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office level a serious conspiracy charge against Sanon, alleging he planned Moïse’s 2021 killing as part of a bid to seize the Haitian presidency and install himself as the country’s new leader. The charges against him include conspiracy to commit assassination and kidnapping against a foreign head of state; if convicted on these counts, Sanon faces a mandatory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

    Sanon’s detention stretches back to just days after Moïse’s assassination, when he was taken into custody by Haitian law enforcement. A search of his residence uncovered a cache of suspicious materials, including multiple crates of ammunition, 19 separate passports, and other unregulated items. After more than a year in Haitian custody, he was deported to the United States to face federal charges in early 2023. He is currently represented by lead defense counsel Zeljka Bozanic, with assistance from co-counsel Humberto Dominguez.

    Public records and local Haitian reporting outline Sanon’s background: born in southern Haiti, he completed medical studies in the Dominican Republic before relocating permanently to Florida. In the years leading up to Moïse’s assassination, he began circulating online videos positioning himself as a reformist political figure who could bring long-overdue change to Haiti’s unstable political landscape.

    The prosecution’s narrative argues that Sanon was the central organizer of the assassination plot, actively recruiting co-conspirators and laying the groundwork for his own assumption of the presidency after Moïse was removed from power. But Sanon has entered a formal not guilty plea to all charges, and his defense team has laid out a clear, targeted strategy to distance their client from the violent criminal act while acknowledging his long-stated political aspirations.

    In opening framing of the case, Bozanic has pushed back aggressively against the prosecution’s conspiracy claims. She does not dispute that Sanon harbored ambitions to win the Haitian presidency and advance widespread political reform in his home country, but she emphasizes that he pursued these goals through plans for a peaceful, legitimate political transition. According to the defense, Sanon’s only professional connection to the private security firm CTU centered on hiring the group to provide personal security for his political activities and support infrastructure development projects he planned to launch in Haiti. He had no advance knowledge of, or involvement in, any plan to kidnap or kill Moïse, Bozanic argues.

    The defense further contends that Sanon was actually manipulated and later pushed aside by more hardline conspirators and leaders of the security firm. Prosecutorial records themselves support this claim, Bozanic notes: by June 2021, just a month before the assassination, other plotters sidelined Sanon because they questioned his constitutional eligibility for the Haitian presidency and doubted he could attract enough popular support to stabilize the country after the coup. The conspirators then turned to another political figure, former judge Wendelle Coq Thélot, to front their planned post-assassination government.

    In sum, the defense’s core argument positions Sanon not as the mastermind of a presidential assassination, but as an idealistic would-be politician who was outmaneuvered, manipulated, and eventually discarded by a shadowy armed group with far more violent, criminal intentions.

    Jury selection was completed in the opening days of proceedings, with formal opening statements from both the prosecution and defense set to begin shortly. The trial is scheduled to hold daily sessions over the course of several weeks. A number of Sanon’s co-defendants, who have already either been convicted or entered guilty pleas in U.S. federal court, are expected to take the witness stand to testify against Sanon in exchange for potential sentence reductions. Legal observers expect the jury to deliver its verdict by the end of fall 2026, closing a years-long legal process stemming from one of the most high-profile political assassinations in recent Caribbean history.

  • Dominica farmer Dywany St. John receives CARICOM Farmer of the Year 2026 award in Jamaica

    Dominica farmer Dywany St. John receives CARICOM Farmer of the Year 2026 award in Jamaica

    Dominica’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy has issued an official statement celebrating a landmark regional win for one of the nation’s homegrown agricultural leaders: Dywany St. John of the Wesley community, who has been selected as the 2026 CARICOM Minister of Agriculture Farmer of the Year. The prestigious accolade was first revealed to the public earlier this September, with the formal presentation taking place Sunday, September 27 during the opening proceedings of the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture, hosted this year in Trelawny, Jamaica. This regional distinction is far more than a personal honor: it stands as a formal recognition of St. John’s decades of sustained work and impactful contributions to Caribbean agriculture, marking a watershed achievement for both the farmer himself and Dominica’s entire agricultural sector. In its official announcement, the ministry emphasized that the award is a testament to St. John’s unwavering commitment and relentless dedication to the farming profession. Beyond highlighting individual excellence, the recognition also draws much-needed attention to the critical role that small-scale and local farmers play across the Caribbean: bolstering national and regional food security, and driving the transition toward more sustainable agricultural practices that benefit both communities and ecosystems. St. John’s win also shines a well-deserved spotlight on his home community of Wesley, underscoring how local farming expertise and grassroots effort shape the broader regional agricultural landscape. The ministry did not stop at honoring St. John alone, also extending formal commendations to the team that has supported his work: Dominica’s Division of Agriculture and the Northeast Extension Team, made up of agricultural professionals Egbert Nelson, Adina James, and Braun Phillip. Ministry officials closed their statement by reiterating their congratulations to St. John for earning this high-profile regional honor, and shared their excitement to see him continue contributing to the ongoing growth and development of Dominica’s agricultural sector in the years ahead.

  • Piton Boyz thump Bermuda for first Nations League win under Latchoo

    Piton Boyz thump Bermuda for first Nations League win under Latchoo

    On a memorable Monday night at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia secured one of the most impressive victories in its recent Concacaf Nations League history, downing higher-ranked Bermuda 5-2 behind a blistering first-half hat-trick from rising young striker Kegan Caull. The historic result also delivered the first competitive win for newly appointed head coach Rajesh Latchoo, with nearly 1,000 passionate local fans in attendance to witness the milestone.

    Latchoo made three key tactical adjustments to his starting lineup following the team’s 2-0 away defeat to Barbados just three days prior, handing a first senior home start to winger Arkell Jude-Boyd, while Caull made his sixth appearance at the international level and forward Shaquan Nelson stepped into the squad for his eighth senior cap. These changes proved transformative for the Piton Boyz, turning early defensive fragility into an offensive showcase that will go down in the country’s football record books.

    Despite missing two key first-team players to red card suspensions carried over from their opening match defeat to Guadeloupe on Friday, Bermuda got off to a promising start. Ranked two places above Saint Lucia in the official Concacaf men’s global rankings, the visitor carved out multiple high-quality scoring chances in the final third in the opening quarter-hour, keeping Piton Boyz goalkeeper Vino Barcett fully tested in the early exchanges.

    That early momentum shifted irreversibly in the 15th minute, when Caull won a corner that was expertly delivered into the box by midfielder Kurt Frederick. The ball curled all the way through to the far post, where the 22-year-old striker found space to slot home his first ever senior international goal. Just three minutes later, Caull doubled his tally, tapping home a perfectly weighted through pass from playmaker Caniggia Elva. By the 35th minute, he had completed his historic hat-trick, putting the home side up 3-0 before the half-hour mark.

    Caull’s achievement is only the third time a Saint Lucian men’s senior player has notched three goals in a single international match. The last hat-trick for the national side came from Dominic Poleon against Sint Maarten in 2023, with the prior record held by Jamil Joseph, who scored three in a 2011 fixture.

    Bermuda managed to pull one back in first-half stoppage time, sending the sides into the halftime break with Saint Lucia holding a 3-1 lead and the home crowd roaring with excitement. The Piton Boyz extended their advantage early in the second half: forward Shevon Byron broke through the Bermuda defensive line to net the fourth in the 53rd minute, and Frederick added a fifth with a well-placed finish 15 minutes later, pushing the score to 5-1.

    This 5-1 scoreline matched Saint Lucia’s all-time largest winning margin in Concacaf Nations League play, a record previously set in a 5-1 victory over St Maarten. Bermuda managed to grab a late second goal two minutes after Frederick’s strike, closing the final score at 5-2.

    Beyond the thrill of victory, the result marks a historic milestone for Saint Lucia’s national program: it stands as the team’s second-largest winning margin in any major regional tournament, matching the 3-0 away win over Antigua & Barbuda, and it is now the largest Concacaf Nations League home win in team history, surpassing the previous 3-1 victory over Dominica.

    Following the result, Saint Lucia climbed to third place in their group standings, sitting just one point behind group co-leaders Barbados and Guadeloupe, who both hold four points after two opening matches. Latchoo and the Piton Boyz will now travel to Barbados next weekend for their next two group fixtures, where they are scheduled to face Guadeloupe as they continue their push for a top group finish.

  • Condolences on the passing of Slinger Francisco, the Mighty Sparrow

    Condolences on the passing of Slinger Francisco, the Mighty Sparrow

    The Caribbean cultural community is in mourning this week following the death of Slinger Francisco, the globally celebrated calypso icon better known by his stage name The Mighty Sparrow. The Grenada-born performer, who built his legendary career across the Caribbean and the world, leaves behind an unmatched legacy that reshaped calypso music and defined regional cultural identity for generations.

    In an official statement of condolence, Senator the Honourable Adrian Thomas, Grenada’s Minister for Tourism, the Creative Economy and Culture, joined the people of Grenada, Carriacou, Petite Martinique, and cultural communities across the Caribbean in honoring Sparrow’s life and work.

    Born in the rural coastal community of Grand Roy, St. John, Grenada, Sparrow spent the bulk of his career and made his permanent home in Trinidad and Tobago. Despite his relocation early in his career, his Grenadian origins have remained a point of enduring national pride for the island nation.

    More than just a musical performer, Sparrow was a multi-faceted artist: a gifted storyteller, incisive social commentator, and globally recognized cultural ambassador for the Caribbean. His songwriting drew directly from the lived experiences of Caribbean people, weaving together stories of struggle, triumph, everyday humor, and collective hope into every composition. Through his commanding vocal delivery, sharp one-of-a-kind wit, and masterful command of language, he elevated calypso from a popular musical genre to a dynamic platform for public education, political critique, social awareness, and communal celebration.

    Many of his best-known works – including the iconic tracks *Jean and Dinah*, *Dan Is the Man*, *Education*, and *Slave* – have long outgrown their status as popular music to become foundational pieces of Caribbean cultural heritage. These compositions preserve the voices, histories and collective memories of generations of Caribbean people, remaining culturally relevant decades after they were first recorded.

    For Grenada, Sparrow’s life and career carry particular symbolic weight. His trajectory from a humble rural upbringing on a small Caribbean island to international stardom that redefined regional culture is a testament to the extraordinary artistic talent nurtured in the Caribbean’s small island nations, and the outsized, lasting impact that artists from the region can leave on the global cultural landscape.

    Minister Thomas emphasized that Sparrow’s enduring legacy underscores the critical importance of three core priorities for Caribbean cultural policy: preserving the region’s unique musical heritage, investing in working local artists, and educating younger generations about the pioneering creators who laid the foundation for modern Caribbean culture.

    On behalf of Grenada’s Ministry of Tourism, Creative Economy and Culture, as well as the government and people of Grenada, Minister Thomas extended sincere condolences to Sparrow’s immediate family, close friends, fellow calypso artists, the government and people of Trinidad and Tobago, and the broader Caribbean cultural community.

    “May we all find comfort in the cherished memories of a son of the Caribbean whose life and artistry enriched our collective cultural heritage and whose contributions will continue to resonate across generations,” Thomas wrote in his statement. “The Mighty Sparrow may have sung his final song, but his voice will forever echo in the hearts of Caribbean people. His music, his message and his remarkable legacy will continue to inspire generations yet to come. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

    This statement was published via contributor platform to NOW Grenada, which notes that it does not take responsibility for the content or opinions shared by contributing authors.

  • Govt launches accessibility project at Parliament

    Govt launches accessibility project at Parliament

    Barbadian Minister of People Empowerment Adrian Forde unveiled a sweeping national accessibility campaign on Monday, kickstarting the effort with a pre-audited improvement project at the country’s Parliament Buildings. The initiative, crafted to expand disabled people’s access to public spaces and amplify their influence in lawmaking, is a joint effort between the government and the national Council for the Disabled, and will roll out to all federal government agencies after launching at the legislative complex.

    Forde made the announcement alongside the formal launch of a new life skills training program designed for autistic people. In his remarks, he explained that Parliament was the logical starting point for the “Access for All” project, which will have its official public launch in the coming weeks. As the heart of the country’s legislative process, the parliamentary complex must be accessible to the very communities that laws impact, he argued.

    “You cannot craft effective, inclusive policy for disabled people if they do not have a physical space to contribute and have their perspectives heard,” Forde said. Preparatory work for the parliamentary upgrade is already complete: an accessibility audit of the historic buildings has been finalized, and construction and adjustment work will move forward shortly before the project expands across government offices island-wide.

    The accessibility push forms a core part of the government’s broader agenda to build a fully inclusive Barbados, Forde added. Beyond the infrastructure upgrades, the administration has committed financial support to a number of other disability-focused initiatives, including funding for a custom transport bus for disabled residents.

    The minister also used the event to confront widespread misinformation and stigma surrounding autism, pushing back against harmful narratives that frame neurodivergence as a personal tragedy. “Autism is not a tragedy. The real tragedy is the ignorance that surrounds it,” Forde emphasized. He argued that autism should be framed as a different life experience, not an inherent limitation, noting that autistic people can thrive and excel across every sector of Barbadian society. “I will repeat that a hundred times over until all of Barbados recognizes that autistic people can succeed just like any other person here,” he said.

    Forde also confirmed that he has fulfilled a campaign promise made earlier in April to deliver a fully accessible recreational space for autistic people, where they can use swings, climbing equipment and park benches just like any other visitor. “That promise was straightforward: build a space where they can play and relax just like everyone else,” he noted.

    Closing his remarks, Forde emphasized that the government remains committed to centering equal consideration for disabled people across all policy decisions. He reminded the public that disability is a universal possibility that can impact anyone at any time, noting “It could be you today, me tomorrow. A single accident in a split second can change everything.” He called on all Barbadians to embrace greater empathy and support for disabled community members, arguing that when given equal access and opportunity, disabled people can become some of the nation’s greatest champions.

  • Shermel Timothy makes history as Dominica’s first woman candidate chess master

    Shermel Timothy makes history as Dominica’s first woman candidate chess master

    The small Caribbean nation of Dominica has etched a new milestone into its emerging athletic history, after homegrown chess player Shermel Timothy claimed the coveted Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. This groundbreaking win marks the first time any Dominican player has earned this international title, cementing Timothy’s place as a trailblazer for the country’s growing chess community.

    To secure the accolade, Timothy delivered a standout performance across 10 rounds of competitive play at the prestigious global tournament, finishing with a strong total score of 5.5 points, enough to meet the qualification requirements for the FIDE WCM title.

    Officials from the Dominica Chess Federation have publicly celebrated Timothy’s historic achievement, praising the years of relentless dedication, consistent hard work and unwavering persistence that allowed her to reach this international standard. In a statement following the announcement of her title, the federation emphasized that Timothy’s success is a direct reflection of the benefits that come with sustained commitment to elite chess competition.

    Beyond marking a personal victory for Timothy, the milestone is widely viewed as a turning point for the development of chess across Dominica. Federation leaders expect her breakthrough on the global stage will encourage a new generation of young Dominican chess enthusiasts to pursue the sport, hone their skills, and aim for competitive success at the highest international levels.

  • Two Antigua and Barbuda Players Sent Off for Pulling Anguilla Player’s Dreadlocks

    Two Antigua and Barbuda Players Sent Off for Pulling Anguilla Player’s Dreadlocks

    A Concacaf Nations League fixture hosted at Antigua and Barbuda’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium took an unexpected turn on Wednesday, when two home team players were ejected from the match for aggressive fouls targeting the extraordinarily long dreadlocks of Anguilla substitute forward Aedan Scipio.

    Ranked 210th in the latest FIFA global rankings — a slot that places them only above San Marino in the global pecking order — Anguilla entered the second half of the contest already trailing 5-0 against the hosts. To inject fresh energy into his side’s attack, head coach Daryl Phillips brought 36-year-old Scipio off the bench in the 69th minute to change the game’s dynamic.

    What followed was a pair of bizarre, unsportsmanlike incidents that have drawn widespread attention across international football circles. Just three minutes after Scipio entered the pitch, Antigua and Barbuda defender Keon Greene received an immediate straight red card for intentionally grabbing Scipio’s signature locks, which extend all the way down to the player’s ankles. To accommodate their extreme length during play, Scipio typically secures the dreadlocks wrapped against his torso with a elastic band, but that did not stop the foul.

    The sequence of hair-pulling did not end with Greene’s dismissal. In the final minutes of stoppage time added on to the second half, a second Antigua and Barbuda player, Shalon Knight, repeated the same aggressive act: grabbing Scipio’s dreadlocks from behind and yanking him hard enough to pull the Anguilla substitute to the turf. Referee Benjamin Whitty had no hesitation in showing Knight a straight red as well, leaving the host side down to just nine players for the final minutes of the match.

    The unusual nature of the dismissals has sparked discussion online about unsportsmanlike conduct and the unique challenges athletes with distinct physical features face in competitive football, with many fans and pundits condemning the two fouls as unnecessary and unsporting. As of the latest update, Concacaf has not announced any additional disciplinary action against the two players beyond their match-day dismissals.

  • Four probationary police officers dismissed from police force

    Four probationary police officers dismissed from police force

    At an official press conference hosted by the Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs, Dominica’s top law enforcement leader has confirmed that four probationary members of the national police force have been terminated from their positions amid an ongoing internal investigation.

    Police Chief Lincoln Corbette, the head of the island nation’s police service, outlined key details of the dismissals while withholding sensitive information that has not been made public. Among the four fired officers, one has not faced any formal criminal charges, Corbette explained. Even so, the officer’s on-the-job behavior and inappropriate language triggered substantial concerns among department leadership that rose to a level severe enough to justify removal while the individual was still serving in their probationary status. Chief Corbette declined to disclose the officer’s name, nor did he release a full accounting of the specific allegations leveled against the terminated employee.

    Corbette went on to clarify the standard operating procedures for newly recruited law enforcement officers in Dominica. All new hires are required to complete a two-year probationary term before gaining permanent status, and this trial period can be extended at the department’s discretion if needed. Throughout this probationary window, any officer found to be lacking in personal character or unfit for the demands of police service can be dismissed through the department’s formal disciplinary process. Before a final termination decision is made, the officer must receive formal notice of the concerns raised about their conduct and be given a fair opportunity to respond to those claims.

    In this specific case, the police chief confirmed that all four affected officers were given adequate time to prepare and submit their responses to the allegations. For one of the four officers, leadership granted an extended deadline to allow more time for their response.

    A fifth officer connected to the underlying investigation has already completed their probationary period, and is currently going through a separate review process, according to Corbette. Any criminal proceedings involving this officer will take priority over internal disciplinary action, but administrative disciplinary measures can still be pursued in line with established institutional protocols once the criminal process moves forward.

    Chief Corbette did not share a full public breakdown of the investigation that led to the dismissals, and he declined to name which of the officers involved are currently facing criminal charges. His remarks, however, made a clear distinction between two separate processes: termination from the police force and criminal prosecution, emphasizing that these outcomes are decided independently of one another.