Carib Scope

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  • BelCan Bridge Progress Forces Roadside Relocations

    BelCan Bridge Progress Forces Roadside Relocations

    A long-awaited infrastructure project is advancing in Belize, but its ripple effects are creating uncertainty for dozens of small business owners and transport operators whose livelihoods depend on their high-traffic roadside locations. The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing (MIDH) has moved forward with pre-construction preparations for the full replacement of the aging BelCan Bridge, a key crossing that serves daily commuter and commercial traffic across Haulover Creek. To avoid total gridlock in the city during the multi-year construction period, MIDH has planned the installation of a temporary bypass bridge, a solution that requires clearing a large stretch of public highway reserve for construction access and the new bridge route.

    Chief Engineer Evondale Moody explained in an interview with local outlet News Five that the government has already finalized a construction contract with Cisco Construction Limited for the full bridge replacement project. The temporary structure will stretch from the Phillip Goldson Highway, across Haulover Creek, to Evergreen Street adjacent to the Belize Water Services (BWS) compound, utilizing vacant government-owned land behind Save U Supermarket for the northern approach. Work on both the temporary bridge and site preparation for the permanent new bridge is scheduled to kick off simultaneously on May 4, requiring the immediate relocation of all unauthorized businesses and operators parked on the public road reserve between the highway and Central American Boulevard.

    “We need to hand the construction site over cleared to the contractor to keep the project on schedule,” Moody noted. “All taxi operators parked along the Phillip Goldson Highway reserve, as well as the car dealers operating on Central American Boulevard in front of Save U Supermarket, must vacate the area to make room for pre-construction layout work for the permanent bridge.”

    The order to relocate by May 4 has split local operators, with many expressing deep concern over the threat to their income. At least five independent car dealers currently display their inventory on the targeted stretch of land, and multiple operators told reporters they have no alternative location to park their vehicles, putting their ability to attract walk-in customers at severe risk. Roadside food vendors and taxi dispatch operators who rely on the high-visibility location for daily business have also raised alarms that the move could cut off their core customer base.

    Not all affected operators are pushing back against the order, however. Nelson Zayden, a car dealer who has operated at the site since 2017 and ran a business near the Hope Center for more than a decade before that, says he accepts the relocation as a necessary part of public development. “We got informal notice many months ago, and the official two-week deadline to move by May 4 is fine with me,” Zayden explained. “To be honest, we never had formal permission to be here anyway; the city council just let us set up. We’ll move, and we’ll adapt – we can shift more of our sales to online advertising to keep customers coming.”

    One local staple, Tony’s Barbeque, will be able to keep most of its current location, but will still need to make adjustments. The popular food stand has operated near the existing overpass for years, but its overhanging storage shed currently blocks the planned pedestrian pathway that will connect users of the temporary bridge to the overpass stairs. The shed will need to be removed to clear the footpath, Moody confirmed.

    The most consequential detail for many affected operators is that the relocation is expected to be permanent. Moody confirmed that once construction of the new permanent BelCan Bridge is completed in 2028, the area will not be open for the return of informal roadside businesses. MIDH has also confirmed it will provide financial compensation to two long-established small businesses that are required to permanently relocate as part of the project, though details of those compensation packages have not been released to the public. Reporting for News Five, Paul Lopez contributed to this report.

  • Concho motorcyclists Who are the motoconchistas: how they are organized and why they continue to be stigmatized in the Dominican Republic

    Concho motorcyclists Who are the motoconchistas: how they are organized and why they continue to be stigmatized in the Dominican Republic

    The tragic death of Deivy Carlos Abreu Quezada, a Santiago-based garbage collection truck driver on Sunday, April 19, has pulled a long-buried, contentious conversation back into the national spotlight: the pervasive question of motorcyclist and motorcycle taxi (locally known as motoconchista) behavior, and its ties to road violence and systemic traffic chaos across the Dominican Republic.

    For millions of Dominican citizens, motorcycle taxis have evolved from an informal transit option to an absolute daily necessity. Riders rely on the compact two-wheelers to cut through congested urban streets, cutting commute times and reaching destinations that larger public vehicles cannot access easily. But the fatal incident in Santiago has reframed public anger toward the sector, leading to widespread condemnation that has split opinions across transportation groups, unions, and everyday road users.

    Hoy Digital interviewed dozens of stakeholders from motorcyclist unions, public and private driver associations, and regular passengers to unpack competing perspectives on the role of motoconchistas on Dominican roads, and why the broader community has come to vilify the majority of workers in the sector.

    Óscar Almánzar, president of the National Federation of Motorcycle Taxi Drivers (Fenamoto), the country’s largest union for motoconchistas, outlined the strict vetting process his organization uses to regulate registered riders. All members are required to submit formal registrations with government-issued ID, contact information, and residential addresses, before undergoing a background screening. “Then, they have to bring a certificate of good conduct, they have to have a valid license, they have to have active insurance and all their paperwork up to date,” Almánzar explained. When conflicts arise between riders and passengers or other road users, incidents are reported directly to federation headquarters, where a formal investigation is launched to resolve the case through the local stop’s general secretary.

    In response to widespread public outrage sparked by Abreu Quezada’s death, Almánzar announced Fenamoto is re-evaluating its 26-year-old motto “One blow to one, one blow to all” that has long defined the group’s culture of solidarity. The slogan will be put to a vote at a national assembly of union leaders, with a proposed replacement already under discussion: “One person’s cause is everyone’s cause,” rebranded to signal the group’s commitment to unity without the implication of retaliatory violence that the original slogan has come to represent in public discourse. “It’s not a matter of violence, but of solidarity among us,” Almánzar clarified of the original motto.

    Other organized motoconchista leaders echoed the pushback against broad-brush condemnation of the entire sector. Manuel García, a member of the Los Prados Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Union in the National District, emphasized that registered, organized riders are simply everyday workers, not inherently violent actors. “We’re not all the same,” García said while waiting for passengers on Doctor Defilló Street, at the corner of John F. Kennedy. “Now, because of what happened in Santiago, they want to blame all the motorcyclists in the entire country,” he complained.

    This sentiment was echoed by an anonymous member of the Núñez de Cáceres Avenue Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Association (Asomonuca), who noted that long-serving organized riders have developed into transit professionals who prioritize safety and compliance. The source explained that members of his association strictly adhere to speed limits and traffic light regulations to avoid endangering themselves, their passengers, and other road users.

    Despite these assurances from organized labor groups, many private and public vehicle drivers say disorder rooted in reckless motorcycle behavior remains a daily hazard on Dominican roads. Venancio Urbino, a private car driver, described unregulated motorcycle operation as “a cancer” that plagues every trip. “Every time I see and hear them, I stay calm until they pass. If I hit them, I’m in trouble; if they hit me, I’m in trouble,” he said.

    Anthony Ariel, a public bus driver who operates the route from the Santo Domingo Zoo to Duarte Avenue, acknowledged that “not all of them are the same” but still described most motorcyclists as fundamentally reckless. Even passengers shared critical perspectives: Wellington Contreras, a regular motorcycle taxi passenger, argued that poor road behavior stems from a lack of systemic and rider education, placing partial blame on both the government and unions for failing to enforce stricter standards. “Although the government bears some of the blame, I believe it’s an issue of education. Unions also need to better regulate their members,” Contreras said.

    As Hoy’s reporting team canvassed the National District to collect public perspectives, a new crash illustrated the ongoing scope of the problem: a multiple collision involving four motorcyclists at the intersection of Núñez de Cáceres Avenue and Font Bernard in the San Gerónimo sector left multiple people injured, underscoring the immediate risk of unregulated road behavior.

    National statistics paint a grim long-term picture: data from the Dominican Republic’s National Statistics Office shows that between 2019 and 2023, the country recorded an average of 1,711 fatal traffic accidents per year, many of which are tied to motorcycle incidents.

    When asked for comment on the growing national outcry, the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (Intrant) clarified its regulatory role, noting that on-the-ground oversight, enforcement, and penalties for traffic violations fall under the jurisdiction of the General Directorate of Transit and Land Transportation Safety (Digesett).

    Intrant officials emphasized that the Dominican Republic already has a robust regulatory framework for motorcycle operation: Law 63-17 on Mobility, Land Transportation, and Transit mandates helmets, valid driver licenses, active insurance, and compliance with all traffic rules, while Intrant has established additional standards for approved helmets and legal motorcycle taxi stops. “Therefore, the main challenge is not the absence of rules, but their effective enforcement,” the agency said.

    As the national regulatory body, Intrant stated it continues to advance road safety initiatives including public education campaigns, driver training programs, and system reforms to reduce fatal incidents. The agency added that long-term improvement will require coordinated cross-institutional action, combining regulation, public education, and consistent enforcement to change risky driver behavior across all sectors.

  • FLASH : An arson destroys the Botanical Garden of Les Cayes

    FLASH : An arson destroys the Botanical Garden of Les Cayes

    On April 25, 2026, just one day after global communities marked World Earth Day to celebrate and protect planetary biodiversity, a deliberate act of arson has left one of Haiti’s most important ecological and scientific sites in ruins: the Les Cayes Botanical Garden, a conservation hub decades in the making.

    Founded in 2003, the botanical garden grew far beyond a public green space over its 23 years of operation. Teams of botanists, conservationists and local researchers spent more than two decades traversing Haiti to collect and cultivate a one-of-a-kind collection of the country’s native and endemic plant species, many of which cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. The site also doubled as a critical wildlife refuge, supporting fragile local ecosystems and serving as a living laboratory for ecological research focused on Haiti’s unique natural heritage. Today, that decades-long work is gone: large swathes of the garden have been reduced to ash, with entire stretches left completely charred and unrecognizable.

    In an official statement released shortly after the fire was discovered, Haiti’s Ministry of the Environment issued a harsh condemnation of the intentional vandalism, announcing an immediate temporary closure of the site to the public. The closure will allow law enforcement and conservation authorities to secure the area and conduct a full, detailed assessment of the full scope of damage. The garden has been placed under formal police protection, with additional operational support provided by Haiti’s National Agency for Protected Areas (ANAP).

    The Ministry expressed profound dismay over the attack, noting that the blaze did not only damage the natural environment—it destroyed a national collective asset of incalculable scientific, cultural and ecological value to the Haitian people. Authorities have called for calm and public responsibility as the investigation proceeds, confirming that all necessary steps have been taken to secure the site and suspend all public and research activities pending the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings into the arson.

    Initial assessments of the damage underscore the unprecedented scale of the loss. Investigations remain open to confirm the full details of the attack and identify those responsible, but early observations confirm the permanent disappearance of multiple rare plant species, the irreversible destruction of intact native ecosystems, and the total loss of more than 20 years of accumulated scientific research data tied to the garden’s work.

    Ecovert Haiti, a leading Haitian environmental conservation organization, has framed the tragedy as more than a singular ecological and scientific loss—it is a urgent wake-up call for the entire nation. The organization has issued a public appeal to Haitian citizens, domestic institutional stakeholders and international conservation partners to unite in defense of Haiti’s irreplaceable natural heritage. Ecovert Haiti emphasized that this devastating destruction must serve as a catalyst to launch a broad national movement committed to biodiversity protection and building a more sustainable future for all Haitians.

  • Belize Plans Ahead to Secure Village Water

    Belize Plans Ahead to Secure Village Water

    As small rural communities across Belize face steadily rising water demand driven by population growth, shifting economic activity, and a changing climate, the country has wrapped up the foundational planning phase for a major initiative to protect long-term access to clean, reliable drinking water for these populations.

    Led by the Belize Social Investment Fund (BSIF), the cross-partner project has completed all community and technical consultations for a first-of-its-kind targeted water demand study focused exclusively on 21 rural villages that have historically faced gaps in water infrastructure planning. The study moves far beyond basic current supply checks: it combines on-the-ground usage data collected in partnership with local stakeholders with long-term projections to ensure new infrastructure will meet community needs for decades to come.

    Unlike many infrastructure projects that size systems only for current population levels, this initiative built collaboration into every step of the process. BSIF worked hand-in-hand with the University of Belize, the Ministry of Rural Transformation, and local Village Water Boards to collect accurate, community-specific data. Village Water Boards, which manage local water systems on the ground, contributed critical local insight that shaped the scope and design of the plan, ensuring it addresses on-the-ground priorities rather than top-down assumptions.

    Rico Nurse, project coordinator at BSIF, explained that the study’s multi-factor projection model accounts for far more than just population growth. “The consultation allowed the University of Belize to determine current water consumption across these 21 villages, then apply projections that factor in population growth, expanding economic activity, and the impacts of climate change to estimate water demand 5, 7, and 10 years from now,” Nurse said. This data directly informs the sizing of water disinfection equipment that will be installed under the project, eliminating the common pitfall of underbuilding infrastructure that becomes obsolete within a few years of completion.

    “This gives us certainty for the public investment we’re making on the ground,” Nurse added. “We can be confident the equipment capacity will match the needs of these communities long into the future.”

    The finalized plan will roll out in phased implementation starting in the coming months, with full completion of infrastructure deployment targeted for mid-2027. The project represents a proactive approach to rural water security, addressing future challenges today to avoid service disruptions and unsafe drinking water shortages as Belize’s rural populations evolve.

  • Heated Land Dispute Draws Three Ministers to San Marcos

    Heated Land Dispute Draws Three Ministers to San Marcos

    On April 24, 2026, escalating tensions over a contested land parcel in southern Belize’s San Marcos Village prompted three high-ranking government officials to travel to the Toledo District to mediate between conflicting parties. The confrontation has pitted local Maya residents against a private landowner, with the community claiming the territory is held as communal land to which all villagers should retain legal access. According to local residents, the private landowner has recently expanded activities beyond agreed boundaries, encroaching on the land the community has long relied on for collective use.

    As public concern over the standoff grew, Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, led the government’s on-site intervention, accompanied by Oscar Requena, Area Representative for the district, and Oscar Mira, Minister of Home Affairs. The delegation’s primary priority was to hear unfiltered concerns directly from San Marcos residents and prevent the simmering disagreement from boiling over into open conflict.

    Following a closed-door talks with community representatives, Dr. Zabaneh outlined the government’s approach in an on-the-record interview. “We held a very candid and respectful discussion of the issues,” he explained. “We did both an in-depth look at the situation on the ground in San Marcos where the residents are claiming that a private land owner is impinging on areas that should be communal land or land that residents should have access to. Then we looked at the broader picture of the process ahead with the review panel and how we can move forward towards a resolution.”

    Zabaneh noted that community members spoke openly and passionately about their longstanding connection to the land and their concerns over the encroachment. Following the meeting with villagers, the ministerial delegation planned to hold a separate negotiating session with the private landowner, with the explicit goal of identifying common ground for compromise. The ultimate objective, Zabaneh stressed, is to de-escalate immediate tensions and work toward a permanent, mutually acceptable long-term resolution to the conflict. “We are trying at least, we don’t know how it will transpire. But we are giving it our best shot,” he added.

    The local landowners’ association, Toledo Private and Lease Landowners Limited, has pushed back against the community’s claims. In a statement ahead of the mediation, the group confirmed that the family holding the legal title to the disputed parcel has not taken any action to provoke tensions, asserting that the landowner is only carrying out restoration work on territory that had been cleared previously.

    This report is adapted from a transcript of an evening television newscast, originally published online.

  • Solar Power Brings New Hope for Water Security in Rural Belize

    Solar Power Brings New Hope for Water Security in Rural Belize

    Across the rural landscapes of Belize, access to consistent, clean water has long been a daily gamble for thousands of residents, exacerbated by worsening climate volatility that brings longer droughts and more unpredictable rainfall patterns. Now, a landmark $10 million international climate adaptation initiative is set to transform this reality for four vulnerable communities, bringing solar-powered innovation and holistic water management to the region.

    Approved in October 2025, the five-year Solar Ecosystem Adaptation for Water Security (SEAM) project targets four high-need communities: Boom Creek, Dolores, Otoxha, and Copper Bank. When fully implemented, the initiative will expand improved water access to more than 1,800 rural residents, offering a long-term solution to growing climate-related water insecurity that has threatened livelihoods and public health for years.

    Dr. Juana Garcia Saqui, project coordinator at Belize’s Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT), framed SEAM as a transformative milestone for the country’s climate resilience and rural development progress.

    “This isn’t just a one-off infrastructure project,” Dr. Garcia Saqui explained. “We’re tackling the core challenge of reliable safe water access amid climate change by integrating multiple solutions into one cohesive strategy: cutting-edge solar technology, large-scale ecosystem restoration, inclusive community governance, and support for sustainable livelihoods.”

    Half of the project’s $10 million budget comes from the Adaptation Fund, a global climate finance body that supports developing countries in building climate resilience. This marks the third time the Adaptation Fund has backed Belize’s national efforts to strengthen climate preparedness across vulnerable regions. PACT leads implementation of the initiative in partnership with Belize’s Ministry of Rural Transformation, which oversees on-the-ground execution.

    Carlos Pol, CEO of Belize’s Ministry of Economic Transformation, emphasized that the project goes far beyond installing new water infrastructure. The core of the project is the design and construction of hybrid solar-powered water systems that will deliver a consistent, sustainable water supply to all residents across the four target communities.

    In addition to new water infrastructure, SEAM includes targeted ecosystem rehabilitation work designed to protect long-term water resources. These efforts cover watershed restoration, large-scale reforestation, and agroforestry initiatives that not only safeguard water supplies but also support livelihoods, with a particular focus on lifting up women and other marginalized vulnerable groups in the target communities.

    “Through SEAM, these communities are no longer just coping with water scarcity,” Pol noted. “They’re building a future where water access is certain, where systems are resilient rather than fragile, and where all residents can count on this fundamental resource to thrive.”

    This report is a transcript of a televised evening news broadcast, with Kriol-language statements transcribed using a standardized spelling system for accessibility.

  • Ministry of Defense delivers equipment to the Army to strengthen operational capabilities

    Ministry of Defense delivers equipment to the Army to strengthen operational capabilities

    In a formal ceremony held at the Dominican Republic’s “August 16th” Military Camp, the nation’s Ministry of Defense has formally transferred a large shipment of upgraded military gear to the Dominican Republic Army, marking a key milestone in the government’s ongoing campaign to modernize and strengthen the country’s national defense institutions.

    The handover ceremony was led by Defense Minister Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre of the Dominican Republic Army, with the shipment officially accepted by Army Commanding General Major General Jorge Iván Camino Pérez. Senior defense officials including Deputy Defense Ministers, the Armed Forces Inspector General, and members of the Armed Forces General Staff and high military command were in attendance, signaling broad institutional backing for the armed forces’ modernization agenda.

    Per an official press statement from the defense ministry, the equipment delivery is executed in full alignment with directives issued by Dominican Republic President Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona, who serves as the supreme authority over the nation’s Armed Forces and National Police. The shipment forms a core component of the administration’s broader institutional strengthening and modernization drive for the country’s military.

    The new equipment will be distributed to seven key frontline units critical to national defense and internal security: the 1st Battalion “Juan Pablo Duarte”, 2nd Battalion “Francisco del Rosario Sánchez”, 3rd Battalion “Matías Ramón Mella” under the First Infantry Brigade, as well as the Army’s elite Commando Battalion.

    The full shipment includes a range of advanced firearms: IWI ARAD 5.56-caliber assault rifles, Negev 7.62-caliber machine guns designed for integration with patrol vehicles and transport platforms, precision rifles from Barrett and Daniel Defense, alongside more than 11,000 custom work uniforms manufactured domestically by the Dominican Military Industry, plus a range of additional operational supplies.

    This deployment of new equipment is rooted in the administration’s long-term strategic vision to build a more modern, efficient, and rapidly responsive Dominican Armed Forces. The upgrade is designed to boost the operational readiness of frontline troops and optimize their performance across a wide range of operational scenarios.

    Military officials note that the integration of these new weapons and systems represents a substantial leap forward in military technology for the Dominican Army, bringing improvements to operational reliability and adaptability that will directly enhance the effectiveness of military units as they carry out their core national defense and security missions.

  • Doing More: How One Dangriga School Is Setting the Standard

    Doing More: How One Dangriga School Is Setting the Standard

    Since 2023, Belize’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology (MOECST) has challenged primary and secondary institutions across the country through its MoRE (Ministry of Education Recognition) Campaign. The initiative pushes schools to extend learning beyond traditional classroom walls across five core pillars: digital learning, student health, inclusive education, community involvement, and creative skill-building. Participating schools document their outreach and extracurricular efforts, accumulate points based on the scope and impact of their work, and earn national recognition for going above and beyond standard academic requirements. Today, one small primary school in the Stann Creek District town of Dangriga has emerged as the campaign’s national leader, outscoring every other participating institution in the country to set a new benchmark for what community-centered education can achieve. That school is Epworth Methodist Primary School.

    Walk through the halls and outdoor spaces of Epworth Methodist, and it is immediately clear that learning here extends far beyond textbooks and standardized tests. The campus buzzes with purpose-driven activity, from cultural preservation groups to skill-building clubs that bring students, parents and local community members together as equal participants.

    One of the school’s most beloved student groups is the GAMAE club, which centers Garifuna cultural heritage through a integrated framework of Arts, Medicine, Agriculture and Education. Nine-year-old Evonay Lopez, who has been part of the group since 2025, says the club has let her develop artistic skills while connecting to her roots. “I’ve learned a lot of songs and a lot of dances,” she explained, echoing the sentiment shared by fellow member Nila Mckoy. “I love being in this group because I love talking Garifuna. I love singing and dancing, and I love the history of Garifuna,” Mckoy shared.

    Beyond cultural programming, Epworth’s roster of student-led clubs builds practical, marketable skills that students can carry into adulthood. The school’s crochet club walks students through turning raw yarn into finished handmade goods, with one young student sharing that she completed a beautiful scarf over just three days of focused work. The braiding club centers Black hair education and styling as a cultural and professional skill, with parents actively participating in workshops alongside their children. “You’ll notice that all of our hair is 4C hair. But these are just beautiful styles that they’re beginning to learn and this is an improvement because by the time they’re in their future, they already have talent and businesses that they can start,” explained parent Phrislee Palacio.

    The school’s chess club hones critical thinking and strategic problem-solving, while the recycling club turns everyday waste into useful products to teach environmental stewardship. Under the leadership of coordinator Charles Diaz, students transform discarded plastic water pouches into reusable tote bags, carrying cases, and even handcrafted hammocks. Parent and volunteer Renelyn Tulcey notes that the project delivers a clear, actionable lesson for students and the broader community: “Our world could definitely be a better place if we learn how to use recycled materials—or reuse them.” The school even maintains its own on-campus garden, where students grow fresh fruits and vegetables to learn agricultural skills and sustainable food practices.

    This expansive, community-integrated model of education is not a sudden shift for Epworth—it is the product of nearly a decade of intentional vision from principal Felecia Zuniga Palacio. Palacio emphasizes that high-quality education cannot be delivered by school staff alone; it requires active buy-in and participation from the entire community. “Why is it important that we do more? It takes more than just teachers and students and the principal to run a school. It takes the community and we want to share with our stakeholders who have that faith in us that we are doing more to ensure that our children have quality and sound education here at Epworth Methodist school,” Palacio said.

    The school’s innovative approach has not gone unnoticed by education leaders. Stann Creek District Education Manager David Cano confirms that Epworth has emerged as a trailblazer for the MoRE Campaign across the country. “Epworth is one of the schools in this district that is leading the adoption of the MoRE Program. I believe they have more submissions than others in the district and perhaps leading the country as well in primary schools,” Cano noted. Last year, Epworth secured the top spot nationally with a total of 285 MoRE Campaign points, becoming the first school in Dangriga to earn the program’s official recognition banner—an honor that included a personal visit from the Minister of Education.

    For Cano, the impact of Epworth’s work extends far beyond the walls of the school itself. The MoRE Campaign’s ultimate goal is to shape a new generation of well-rounded Belizean citizens, and Epworth’s model proves that goal is achievable through community collaboration. “We want to create a citizen of Belize that is involved, that is knowledgeable, that is creative, who can problem solve and works well,” Cano explained.

    Unlike many institutions that wait for external investment to expand student opportunities, Epworth Methodist Primary School has built its transformative model from within, leveraging local community resources and parent engagement to lift up its students. In doing so, it has set a national standard that every primary and secondary school across Belize can aspire to match. Primary and secondary schools across Belize can participate in the MoRE Campaign year-round by submitting their programming through the official MOECST website at moecst.gov.bz/more.

  • Mario Díaz proposes halting motorcycle imports

    Mario Díaz proposes halting motorcycle imports

    In Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, prominent union leader and legal professional Mario Díaz has doubled down on his demands for urgent nationwide action to address growing public safety threats tied to the country’s vehicle fleet. Speaking on long-unenforced provisions of national traffic legislation, Díaz has stressed that full, immediate implementation of mandatory technical vehicle inspections for all registered vehicles on Dominican roads is non-negotiable as a foundational first step.

    Beyond mandatory inspections, Díaz is pushing for two additional sweeping policy changes to tackle growing risks tied to two-wheeled vehicles: an indefinite ban on all new motorcycle imports into the country, and far stricter, more consistent oversight of the existing national motorcycle fleet. These enhanced controls, he argues, would ensure that every motorcycle on the road meets proper safety standards, holds valid registration, and remains subject to consistent regulatory oversight — gaps that he says have created widespread public risk.

    Díaz has explicitly linked the unregulated proliferation and indiscriminate use of motorcycles across the Dominican Republic to two pressing national crises: a steady rise in criminal activity and a persistently high rate of fatal and injurious traffic accidents. He emphasized that these unaddressed issues have caused irreversible harm to innocent lives and eroded public confidence in citizen safety across the country, calling the ongoing situation an unacceptable public scourge.

    To move toward meaningful reform, Díaz confirmed that the sector he represents stands ready to partner fully with national law enforcement agencies and the Dominican government to design and roll out effective, evidence-based solutions. Even as he offers collaboration, however, he has made clear that no comprehensive fix can succeed without starting with the core priorities he has outlined: full implementation of mandatory technical vehicle inspections and uniform, strict oversight of the entire national motorcycle fleet.

  • More than 54 000 receive first cost of living cash credit payments

    More than 54 000 receive first cost of living cash credit payments

    Barbados’ flagship cost of living support programme has successfully completed its first round of payments, delivering much-needed financial relief to more than 54,000 eligible residents across the island, the National Insurance and Social Security Service (NISSS) confirmed in an official announcement Friday evening. A total of $5.4 million has been disbursed to registered qualifying recipients, with payments processed and issued this Monday, according to NISSS Chief Executive Officer Kim Tudor.

    Designed to counter rising household expenses, the Cost of Living Cash Credit (COLCC) provides $100 in monthly assistance to qualifying low-income and senior residents for a full 12-month period. Funded through the national Consolidated Fund, the initiative is overseen by NISSS on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, with outreach efforts already underway to expand access to every eligible Barbadian, regardless of their location.

    Breaking down the first round distribution, Tudor explained that just under 30,000 beneficiaries received their funds via direct bank transfer, while more than 24,000 were sent physical cheques through the postal service. Eligible groups covered in this initial disbursement include existing NIS and public sector pensioners, individuals receiving special needs grants, and seniors aged 65 and older who do not currently receive any form of pension income. Separate payments for April were issued directly to general welfare recipients through the Social Empowerment Agency (SEA), Tudor added.

    In a statement highlighting the agency’s longstanding commitment to Barbadians, Tudor emphasized: “We said we would deliver and we did. Every eligible registered beneficiary received their $100 by direct bank deposit or cheque. This is NISSS doing what it has done for over fifty-eight years: honouring its commitment to the people of Barbados.”

    As of last Thursday, a further 1,189 people have completed new registrations for the programme, a surge that followed targeted community registration drives held at three accessible locations: the Speightstown Resource Centre on Queen’s Street in St Peter, SEA’s Six Roads office in St Philip, and the Southern Plaza location in Oistins, Christ Church. Tudor stressed that the government is committed to reaching eligible residents outside of the capital’s central corridor, noting: “The COLCC is for every eligible Barbadian — not just those who live near Bridgetown. We are taking registration to where people are, and we will continue to do so until every eligible person has been reached.”

    For added convenience, residents can also verify their eligibility and complete the registration process online through the official programme portal at colcc.nis.gov.bb. To complete registration, applicants must present a valid national government-issued photo ID. Those opting for direct deposit are also required to provide a recent bank statement head to confirm their account details.

    NISSS is currently urging two specific groups to prioritize registration: seniors aged 65 and older who are still waiting for their pension applications to be approved, and individuals who will turn 65 between the programme’s launch date of April 1 this year and March 31, 2027. “These groups are eligible to receive the COLCC from the month of their 65th birthday until March 2027,” Tudor confirmed.

    Per the programme’s scheduling rules, any new applications submitted after April 20 will not be processed until the next monthly payment cycle on May 20, with the first payment including all retroactive funds owed for April. The full programme runs for the entire current fiscal cycle, from April 1 2025 through March 31 2027, and is subject to renewal by government ministers after the initial term.