Carib Scope

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  • JMMB TT raises $.5m for Jamaica’s disaster relief

    JMMB TT raises $.5m for Jamaica’s disaster relief

    JMMB Trinidad and Tobago has successfully mobilized substantial financial support for Jamaican communities ravaged by Hurricane Melissa through its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative. The financial institution’s Disaster Relief Fund, branded as “One Love,” has accumulated more than TT$540,000 (approximately US$80,000) through a collaborative effort involving the JMMB Group, employee contributions, and public donations from Trinidad and Tobago citizens.

    The comprehensive fundraising initiative will channel all proceeds to The Joan Duncan Foundation, the philanthropic division of JMMB Group based in Jamaica. These resources will be strategically deployed to address critical recovery needs including residential repairs, reconstruction of community centers, and restoration of essential infrastructure severely compromised by the catastrophic hurricane.

    Chantal Pereira, Country Marketing and Communications Manager at JMMB Trinidad and Tobago, emphasized the organization’s philosophical approach: “At JMMB, we fundamentally believe in community solidarity and collective support during crises. This contribution demonstrates our dual commitment to both financial empowerment and the holistic wellbeing of Caribbean communities we serve.”

    The Joan Duncan Foundation brings established expertise in educational development, community programming, and disaster response coordination. This partnership ensures targeted allocation of resources to areas of greatest need, delivering both practical assistance and renewed hope to numerous affected families throughout Jamaica.

    Hurricane Melissa, recorded as the first Category 5 hurricane to make direct landfall in Jamaica, occurred between October 21 and November 4. The storm ranks among the most intense Atlantic hurricanes in recorded history, causing widespread devastation across multiple Caribbean nations, with Jamaica and Cuba experiencing particularly severe impacts.

  • All our eggs in one basket

    All our eggs in one basket

    A prominent Caribbean voice has raised serious concerns about the unsubstantiated nature of U.S. narco-terrorism charges against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, suggesting they may serve as pretext for resource-driven regime change. In a compelling editorial analysis, the author notes that according to U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency data, 95% of narcotics reaching the United States transit via the Pacific seaboard from Colombia, Ecuador, and Honduras—not Venezuela.

    The timing of Washington’s recent release of convicted Honduran narco-trafficker and former president Juan Hernández—imprisoned for smuggling 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S.—further undermines the credibility of charges against Caracas, according to the analysis. These developments coincide with concerning military maneuvers, including the installation of advanced U.S. radar systems in Tobago and the interception of Venezuelan oil tankers.

    The editorial warns that Trinidad and Tobago’s alignment with American foreign policy risks damaging regional relationships throughout Caricom while offering questionable benefits. Should regime change efforts in Venezuela ultimately fail, the nation could find itself diplomatically isolated from neighboring states.

    The analysis further cautions about potential collateral damage from escalating tensions, including the possibility of Venezuelan forces targeting the Tobago radar installation if conflict erupts over intercepted tankers. While Trinidad’s energy sector remains under substantial U.S. influence, the population could nonetheless face unintended consequences from any military confrontation between Caracas and Washington.

    The author concludes that maintaining neutrality would have been the prudent course, acknowledging the considerable pressure facing the Prime Minister from both American officials and domestic political elements who have historically supported regime change in Venezuela.

  • Women playing more dominant role in human trafficking

    Women playing more dominant role in human trafficking

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — A disturbing shift in the criminal landscape of human trafficking is emerging, with women increasingly occupying dominant roles within trafficking syndicates. This revelation comes from Diahann Gordon Harrison, Jamaica’s Children’s Advocate and National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, who delivered her findings during the 22nd Annual George Liele Lecture at Kingston’s Mamby Park Baptist Church.

    While men remain the primary perpetrators identified in trafficking cases, Gordon Harrison highlighted a significant trend: women are now actively participating as traffickers and key operatives within criminal organizations. These female offenders are leveraging their perceived nurturing qualities to facilitate recruitment, orientation of new victims, and operational management—effectively weaponizing empathy for criminal profit.

    Globally, statistics from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) substantiate this pattern, showing approximately 40% of convicted human traffickers are women—a substantially higher female participation rate than in other organized crime categories. Their involvement spans ownership structures, victim recruitment, housing supervision, monetary collection, and document forgery operations.

    This criminal evolution occurs despite women and girls remaining the majority of victims, particularly in sexual exploitation schemes. Traffickers strategically deploy women as recruiters capitalizing on their perceived trustworthiness to lure vulnerable targets.

    Gordon Harrison emphasized that human trafficking represents both a severe criminal enterprise—generating an estimated $150 billion annually as the world’s fastest-growing organized crime—and a profound human rights violation. The practice systematically dehumanizes victims, stripping them of individuality, dignity, and personal autonomy.

    Jamaica has implemented robust countermeasures including strengthened legal frameworks punishing perpetrators, victim protection protocols, and public education initiatives targeting schools and vulnerable communities. These efforts have yielded 17 convictions to date, with growing public vigilance leading to increased reporting of suspected cases to authorities.

    The Children’s Advocate concluded that while cultural change requires sustained effort, each prevented trafficking case represents a critical victory: “If you save even one potential victim, that is one less.”

  • Missing fire officer found dead

    Missing fire officer found dead

    The Trinidad and Tobago fire service community is mourning the tragic loss of Fire Officer Bruce Lezama, whose body was discovered on December 30 along the Arima Old Road. The 47-year-old ambulance driver had been missing since Christmas Day, December 25, with concerns escalating when he failed to report for duty at the Northern Division headquarters on Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, two days later.

    The search for Lezama intensified after concerned relatives visited his Andy Estate residence off Bypass Road in Arima on December 28. They discovered his front gate and main entrance door both unsecured and open, with no indication of his whereabouts. Repeated attempts to contact him via mobile phone proved unsuccessful, adding to growing apprehensions about his safety.

    In a coordinated overnight search operation, fellow fire service personnel located Lezama’s body at the three-mile mark along Arima Old Road in the early hours of December 30. The discovery ended days of uncertainty and dashed hopes for his safe return among family members and colleagues.

    Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding Lezama’s disappearance and death. The incident has sent shockwaves through the emergency services community, where Lezama was known as a dedicated ambulance driver serving the Northern Division. Colleagues have expressed profound grief over the loss of their comrade, while police continue to examine evidence to determine the events leading to this tragic outcome.

  • Agostini Ltd’s group controller tenders resignation

    Agostini Ltd’s group controller tenders resignation

    In a significant corporate development, Trinidad and Tobago conglomerate Agostini Limited has announced the departure of Group Controller Trudy N Ramdath, effective January 5. The resignation was formally disclosed through a material change notice published by the TT Stock Exchange on December 30.

    The company’s board of directors confirmed Ramdath’s exit in compliance with Section 64(1)(b) of the Trinidad and Tobago Securities Act, 2021. The announcement, signed by Company Secretary Nadia James-Reyes Tineo and dated December 29, provided no explanation for the senior executive’s decision to step down.

    Ramdath originally assumed the group controller position on May 29, 2023, bringing with her substantial financial expertise gained over 17 years as chief financial officer at a prominent local enterprise. Her professional credentials include membership in both the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Chartered Governance Institute.

    Agostini Limited operates as a regional conglomerate with extensive interests across three core sectors: pharmaceutical and healthcare, consumer products, and energy and industrial services. The company maintains operations in ten regional markets while exporting to over 20 additional countries, supported by a workforce exceeding 3,500 employees.

    The company’s leadership structure includes Christian Mouttet as chairman, Francois Mouttet as executive director, and Barry A Davis as chief executive officer. The board further comprises non-executive directors Reyaz W Ahamad, Wayne A Frederick, Caroline Toni Sirju-Ramnarine, Nicholas Sinanan, and Jorge Sequeira, alongside independent directors Lisa M Mackenzie, Joanna Banks, and T Nicholas Gomez.

  • High price of fiscal incompetence

    High price of fiscal incompetence

    The Trinidad and Tobago administration under Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has unveiled a controversial fiscal strategy that critics are labeling as governance through punitive taxation rather than effective policy solutions. Effective January 1, 2026, the government will implement severe increases in traffic penalties—a move the Prime Minister justifies by citing public “lawlessness” and alleged “sub-par intelligence levels” among citizens.

    This policy reversal marks a stark departure from the administration’s previous stance. While in opposition, Persad-Bissessar vehemently criticized the former government’s demerit system as creating “hardship,” subsequently dismantling the mechanism upon taking office. The return of traffic chaos has now prompted a response that doubles fines rather than addressing infrastructure or transportation system deficiencies.

    Transport Minister Eli Zakour defends the measures as necessary for road safety, though conspicuously absent is any comprehensive mass transit plan or modernization initiative. Concurrently, Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo has enacted Legal Notices 472 and 473, dramatically increasing customs fees through what the government terms “modernization” efforts.

    The most significant impact falls upon public transport operators, with maxi taxi tolls for the Priority Bus Route doubling to $600 quarterly without prior consultation. Route Two president Brenton Knights confirms that this unilateral decision signals the end of the “honeymoon phase” between transporters and the administration.

    These revenue-generation measures unfold against a troubling economic backdrop: Consolidated Energy Ltd has been downgraded to CCC+ junk-bond status, a $224 million debt maturity approaches, and natural gas supplies show only marginal improvements. Rather than addressing these fundamental economic challenges, the government has chosen to implement widespread fee increases that will inevitably raise consumer prices across all sectors.

    The Prime Minister’s Christmas message emphasizing “compassion” and “service” stands in stark contrast to policies that critics argue demonstrate creative bankruptcy in governance. The administration appears to be taxing citizens into compliance rather than governing them through effective leadership and strategic economic planning.

  • Dequity Capital Management calls off IPO after failing to meet minimum subscription

    Dequity Capital Management calls off IPO after failing to meet minimum subscription

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a significant development for Jamaica’s financial sector, Dequity Capital Management Limited has formally withdrawn its proposed initial public offering due to insufficient investor participation. VM Wealth Management Limited, the lead brokerage firm overseeing the transaction, confirmed the termination in an official communiqué released Friday.

    The public offering, which concluded its subscription period on December 18th, failed to secure the minimum investment threshold mandated by the company’s prospectus. This shortfall in investor commitment has compelled the organization to abandon its listing ambitions entirely.

    All subscription funds will be fully reimbursed to applicants through their original payment channels by January 6, 2026, though without accrued interest. As stipulated in the offering documentation, a non-refundable processing fee of J$172.50 per application will be deducted from each refund.

    VM Wealth Management characterized the decision as a measured strategy that prioritizes investor protection and responsible capital management. “This cautious approach to fundraising demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding investor interests,” the firm stated.

    This unsuccessful offering highlights the persistent challenges facing Jamaican enterprises seeking to raise capital through domestic equity markets. Despite this setback, VM Wealth Management expressed gratitude toward interested investors and reaffirmed its dedication to fostering the development of Jamaica’s capital markets ecosystem.

    The brokerage firm has established dedicated channels to address investor inquiries regarding the refund process, encouraging affected parties to contact their offices directly for assistance.

  • Grenada denies ‘unusual disease outbreak’

    Grenada denies ‘unusual disease outbreak’

    ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada – The Grenadian Ministry of Health has issued an official statement refuting viral social media claims about an unusual disease outbreak circulating within the country. Health authorities have categorically stated that these online assertions are inconsistent with data collected through the nation’s established epidemiological surveillance systems.

    The Ministry confirmed it is actively monitoring public health trends through routine surveillance but has found no evidence supporting claims of abnormal disease activity. Instead, current data indicates patterns consistent with expected seasonal variations.

    Surveillance reports confirm a predictable increase in respiratory illnesses, which aligns with annual flu season trends. This seasonal uptick has been further amplified by heightened population movement during peak tourism seasons and recent Christmas holiday gatherings.

    Health officials provided specific epidemiological context: During Week 42 (concluding October 18, 2024), Grenada experienced an expected spike in Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease cases, primarily affecting children across multiple school communities. Meanwhile, COVID-19 positivity rates remain consistently low, indicating minimal community transmission of the virus.

    The Ministry also addressed reports of flu-like symptoms within the tourism sector, confirming these cases reflect broader seasonal respiratory trends rather than unusual outbreaks. No evidence of COVID-19 clusters has been identified. Monitoring has also detected gastroenteritis activity at intervention threshold levels, representing an increase that remains within anticipated seasonal parameters.

    The statement emphasized that all public health data undergoes rigorous collection, analysis, and interpretation by qualified professionals before release. The Ministry reiterated its commitment to transparency and evidence-based public health action, encouraging citizens to rely exclusively on official communications for accurate information and to continue practicing recommended preventive health measures.

  • Falmouth double murder victims identified

    Falmouth double murder victims identified

    Authorities in Trelawny have officially identified the two victims of a fatal afternoon shooting that occurred on Monday in Falmouth. The deceased are Horace Hylton and Jovorn Francis, both 32-year-old residents of the Galloway District in Bethel Town, Westmoreland.

    The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s communication arm, the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN), reported that the incident unfolded at approximately 3:20 p.m. Local residents first alerted the police after hearing a series of loud explosive sounds, later confirmed as gunfire, emanating from the Wellington Street area.

    Upon responding to the distress calls, law enforcement officers discovered a stationary grey Toyota motor car at the scene. Inside the vehicle, they found both Hylton and Francis with critical gunshot wounds. Emergency medical services were summoned, and the victims were transported to a nearby medical facility. Despite medical intervention, both men were subsequently pronounced dead by attending physicians.

    The Trelawny Police Division has formally opened a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the double homicide. Detectives are currently pursuing several lines of inquiry, including potential motives and persons of interest connected to the violent attack. The investigation remains active as officers continue to gather forensic evidence and witness testimonies from the Falmouth community.

  • Man killed on Christmas Eve after buying gifts for kids

    Man killed on Christmas Eve after buying gifts for kids

    A young father’s festive celebrations turned to tragedy on Christmas Eve when 25-year-old mechanic Christopher Mott was fatally shot in Nassau, Bahamas, shortly after purchasing gifts for his children. The incident has sent shockwaves through his community and workplace while elevating the nation’s homicide count to 83 for the year.

    According to police reports, Mott was discovered deceased inside a red Nissan Cube near the intersection of Graham Drive and Lime Street shortly after 7 PM on Wednesday. The vehicle contained multiple gunshot wounds, indicating a violent assault that ended the young mechanic’s life.

    Carson Strachan, Mott’s colleague, friend, and neighbor, provided poignant insights into the victim’s character. He described Mott as a devoted father to his two daughters, including a recently born infant, who consistently expressed affection for his children. “He genuinely adored his kids,” Strachan recalled. “He would proudly speak about them daily. Just recently, he told me, ‘Carson, I’ve already purchased all their presents and gifts. Everybody’s straight.’”

    Strachan disclosed having a disagreement with Mott earlier on the day of the shooting but emphasized the matter had been fully resolved beforehand. He revealed experiencing sudden illness symptoms—including runny nose, watery eyes, headaches, and drowsiness—hours before the incident, prompting him to return home without further interaction with Mott. The devastating news reached him shortly thereafter through a telephone call.

    The atmosphere at the Beaches and Park Authority, where Mott worked as a mechanic, turned somber as employees returned to work after the holiday weekend. Strachan characterized the workplace environment as heavy and subdued, with colleagues processing their grief individually rather than through collective conversation.

    Beyond his familial devotion, Mott was remembered as outspoken, hardworking, and passionately connected to maritime activities. He frequently discussed aspirations of acquiring multiple boats and an additional jet ski, envisioning a future centered around his aquatic interests.

    Law enforcement authorities have not yet publicly identified potential suspects or determined a motive for the shooting. The investigation remains ongoing as police seek answers regarding this tragic Christmas Eve homicide.