Carib Scope

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  • Caribbean Women in Leadership Launches Third Cohort of Fempenure Fund Program to Support Women Entrepreneurs

    Caribbean Women in Leadership Launches Third Cohort of Fempenure Fund Program to Support Women Entrepreneurs

    The Caribbean Institute for Women in Leadership (CIWiL) has officially launched the third iteration of its landmark Fempenure Fund Program, a targeted initiative created to uplift women entrepreneurs across Antigua and Barbuda. This new cohort is delivered through a strategic multi-stakeholder partnership that brings together the Prime Minister’s Entrepreneurial Development Programme (EDP), the Inland Revenue Department, and the Intellectual Property & Commerce office, demonstrating aligned dedication to advancing women-led economic activity.

    Organizers of the program emphasize that this cross-agency collaboration is more than a logistical arrangement—it reflects a shared national commitment to nurturing women’s enterprise and driving inclusive, sustainable economic growth across the twin-island nation. Unlike generic business support schemes, the Fempenure Fund Program is tailored to meet the unique needs of women entrepreneurs at every stage of their professional journey, whether they are launching a brand-new startup or scaling an already established small business. Participants will gain access to specialized industry knowledge, critical business resources, and ongoing mentorship and guidance, all designed to help them build resilient, profitable enterprises that can withstand market fluctuations.

    For CIWiL, the launch of this third cohort marks a key milestone in the organization’s long-standing core mission: empowering women through leadership development and entrepreneurial opportunity. The institution notes that when women business owners are given the tools to succeed, the positive impact ripples far beyond individual company balance sheets. Strong, stable women-led businesses generate lasting benefits for household incomes, local community development, and the overall national economy.

    “At CIWiL, we believe that when women succeed, families prosper, communities thrive, and nations grow stronger,” a representative from the organization stated in a press briefing following the launch. The program is being rolled out under the unifying theme “Empowering Women. Strengthening Businesses. Transforming Communities.” which encapsulates its broad, long-term objectives. CIWiL is actively encouraging both aspiring new entrepreneurs and established women business owners across Antigua and Barbuda to take advantage of this opportunity, framing the program as a clear pathway to grow their enterprises, advance their professional goals, and contribute to national economic progress.

  • Authorities to ensure reproductive health care continuity during emergencies

    Authorities to ensure reproductive health care continuity during emergencies

    Against a backdrop of rising global instability and growing regional uncertainty, Barbados has launched a landmark collaborative initiative to safeguard critical sexual and reproductive health services for vulnerable populations when disasters or humanitarian crises strike. Led jointly by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Barbados’ Ministry of Health and Wellness, the effort kicked off this week with a two-day Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) Readiness Assessment and Action Planning Workshop, held at United Nations House in Hastings, bringing together public health leaders, emergency response teams and representatives from cross-sector key agencies.

    Barbados’ Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kenneth George used the opening address to warn against overconfidence, noting that while the island nation has not faced a large-scale humanitarian disaster in recent years, this track record is no excuse for complacency. “Disasters can strike anywhere, even here in Barbados,” George emphasized. “Our recent period without major crises does not justify inaction – if anything, it demands increased vigilance and proactive preparedness.”

    Pointing to mounting global disruptions and ongoing regional challenges, including the protracted humanitarian situation in Venezuela, George stressed that emergencies can escalate rapidly with little warning. While food, clean water and emergency shelter are universally recognized as immediate post-disaster priorities, he argued that sexual and reproductive health care is too often sidelined despite its life-saving importance.

    “Consider a pregnant woman going into labor mid-disaster, or a young girl seeking protection from gender-based violence in an overcrowded emergency shelter,” George said. “Sexual and reproductive health is not a luxury during a crisis. It is a life-saving priority and a fundamental human right.”

    Global health data underscores the stakes of this work. The World Health Organization estimates that two-thirds of all preventable maternal deaths and 45 percent of newborn deaths occur in regions impacted by conflict or natural disasters. Dr. George explained that UNFPA research has repeatedly shown that timely, prioritized reproductive health services in crises reduce preventable mortality, cut disability rates, lower the risk of unintended pregnancies, and improve support for survivors of gender-based violence. Without coordinated, cross-agency preparedness, he added, years of hard-won progress in improving maternal and child health outcomes can be lost in an instant. That makes the current workshop a critical step to protect those gains.

    De-Jane Gibbons, UNFPA Liaison Officer for Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), echoed that sentiment, noting that emergencies inherently amplify the risk of sexual violence and unintended pregnancies, making advance preparedness non-negotiable. “It is our shared collective responsibility to ensure that childbirth does not become a life-threatening experience simply because of crisis conditions or a shortage of essential supplies,” she said.

    The workshop is structured to deliver actionable, country-specific outcomes. On its first day, participants conducted a comprehensive review of Barbados’ current response capacity, existing service delivery frameworks, and inter-agency coordination mechanisms, with a focus on identifying unaddressed gaps and weaknesses. On the second day, attendees will turn those assessment findings into a concrete national action plan, using scenario-based response exercises to test existing national capabilities and map out exactly what resources will be needed to fill gaps.

    Gibbons emphasized that long-term success will depend on sustained cross-sector collaboration, noting that key stakeholders including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, national polyclinics, the Bureau of Gender Affairs, the Department of Emergency Management, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and other regional partners will all need to work in lockstep to ensure that vulnerable populations can access uninterrupted essential care, even when crisis hits.

  • Jamara Patterson advances to 400m Semifinals at Commonwealth Games

    Jamara Patterson advances to 400m Semifinals at Commonwealth Games

    Glasgow, Scotland – Rising 400-meter sprint star Jamara Patterson has kicked off her 2026 Commonwealth Games campaign with a solid opening-round performance, locking in her place in the event’s semifinal stage and earning a surprise visit from her formative coach along the way.

    Competing in the first preliminary heat of the women’s 400m at Scotstoun Stadium on July 28, Patterson crossed the finish line in 52.79 seconds to claim third place. She finished just fractions of a second behind Great Britain’s top pair – Charlotte Henrich, who took the heat win in 52.13 seconds, and Laviai Nielsen, who clocked 52.76s for second – a result good enough to earn Patterson an automatic spot in the next round.

    The young Grenadian comes into the Glasgow Games fresh off a career breakthrough earlier this year, when she set a blistering new personal best of 50.98 seconds. That mark cemented her position as the second-fastest 400m woman in Grenada’s recorded history, and Patterson has entered the Commonwealth Games with clear, ambitious goals: shave time off her personal best, push through to the final, and prove her potential on one of athletics’ biggest global stages.

    What made the opening round even more memorable for Patterson was the unexpected presence of Ronald Charles, her high school coach from St Joseph’s Convent and a lead mentor with Grenada’s Finishline Sports Club. Charles, who has supported Patterson since her early athletic development, kept his trip to Glasgow a secret, turning his appearance into a warm surprise for the sprinter, who has competed and studied on the U.S. collegiate circuit since 2023.

    After watching Patterson’s opening heat, Charles shared that the young athlete remains calm, focused, and grounded despite the pressure of competing at a major international championship for Grenada. For the coach himself, sharing the Commonwealth Games stage with his former trainee marks a major milestone in his decades-long coaching career, which includes previously leading Grenada’s Paralympic delegation to the Para Pan American Games.

    “It is a surreal experience being at a global event like this,” Charles reflected. “It’s a major learning experience for me that builds directly on my coaching background.”

    Patterson is set to return to the track for the 400m semifinals on July 30, with the race scheduled to kick off at 7:45 a.m. Grenada local time. She will now turn her focus to earning one of the coveted spots in the event’s final round, as she chases her first major international medal and a new personal best.

  • Cuba’s National Rebellion Day observed in Dominica with calls for continued solidarity

    Cuba’s National Rebellion Day observed in Dominica with calls for continued solidarity

    On a significant diplomatic occasion at its headquarters in Dominica, the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba hosted a formal ceremony to celebrate the country’s National Rebellion Day, drawing attendees from two key bilateral organizations: the Dominica Guild of Cuban Graduates and the Dominica-Cuba Friendship Association.

    Beyond its commemorative purpose, the gathering served as a platform to celebrate the decades-long collaborative bond between Havana and Roseau, while shining a spotlight on the critical contributions the two participating organizations have made over the years to nurturing people-to-people ties and advancing official cooperation between the two Caribbean nations.

    In his keynote address to attendees, Cuban Ambassador to Dominica Miguel Fraga opened a discussion on the pressing contemporary challenges that Cuba navigates, according to an official press statement released by the embassy following the event. Fraga centered much of his remarks on the far-reaching harm caused by the longstanding, recently intensified economic, commercial and financial blockade enforced by the United States. He placed specific focus on the crippling impacts of the oil embargo component of the restrictions, detailing the widespread daily hardships the policy has imposed on ordinary Cuban citizens.

    Fraga also directed sharp criticism at what he framed as the growing aggression and hostile policy threats against Cuba advanced by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, underscoring how these actions have exacerbated existing pressures on the island nation. Despite these challenges, the ambassador emphasized that Cuba retains widespread backing across the global community. He pointed to the most recent annual United Nations vote on the blockade as clear evidence of this support, noting that an overwhelming majority of UN member states once again voted in favor of a resolution calling for an immediate end to the U.S. embargo. Fraga noted that this lopsided outcome underscores the growing international isolation of Washington’s policy toward Cuba on the global stage.

    As part of the day’s commemorative activities, the ceremony included a special honor for Dr. Damien Dublin, who was recognized by the Dominica Guild of Cuban Graduates for his unwavering, longstanding commitment to deepening bilateral friendship and cooperation between Cuba and Dominica, as well as his consistent public support for the Cuban Revolution.

    Following the address and award presentation, representatives from all participating organizations issued a collective reaffirmation of their solidarity with Cuba. They pledged to continue standing with the Cuban people in defense of the country’s sovereign right to self-determination, in the face of ongoing U.S. sanctions and other unilateral coercive measures.

    The event drew to a close with attendees reflecting on the deep, durable roots of the Cuban-Dominica relationship, which has been built across decades of shared cooperation, mutual respect for national sovereignty and reciprocal support. All attendees united in a public commitment to continuing work to expand and strengthen the bilateral partnership in the years ahead.

  • Tuach advances to shortboard semis at CAC Games

    Tuach advances to shortboard semis at CAC Games

    Elite athletes representing Barbados have delivered a mix of standout and solid performances across multiple sporting disciplines at the ongoing Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games hosted in the Dominican Republic, with one top surfer punching her ticket to the next stage of competition.

    Chelsea Tuach, Barbados’ leading female professional surfer, secured a second-place finish in her preliminary heat, a result that earned her a coveted spot in the men’s shortboard semifinal scheduled to take place Tuesday. Following her successful qualifying run, Tuach is set to face off against Venezuela’s top surfer Rosanny Alvarez in the knockout round for a spot in the final.

    In the men’s shortboard surfing competition, Barbadian contender Jacob Burke wrapped up his tournament run with a respectable fifth-place finish, wrapping up the country’s surfing contingent results for the Games.

    Beyond the waves, Barbados picked up a thrilling win in men’s Group A hockey action, overpowering Guatemala 4-2 in a competitive matchup. The Caribbean side’s victory was fueled by a brace from forward Kanye Wharton, with additional strikes from Ahijah Springer and Khodi Gibson sealing the three points for Barbados.

    In men’s individual golf play, after three full rounds of competition, Barbadian golfer Xzavier Wiggins holds down 13th position in the tight 14-player field, with more play set to come to determine the final medal standings.

    One of the most dramatic comebacks of the day for Barbados came in the Men’s Rugby Sevens draw, where the side overturned a 0-5 halftime deficit against Costa Rica to rally for a dominant 24-5 final win. Forward John Simon led the team’s second-half charge, finishing the match with five total points to anchor the comeback victory.

  • OECS appoints Aisha Maina as strategic advisor to strengthen Africa-Caribbean cooperation

    OECS appoints Aisha Maina as strategic advisor to strengthen Africa-Caribbean cooperation

    The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission has made a key strategic appointment to deepen cross-regional ties, announcing that Aisha Maina, current Chief Executive Officer of Pan-African advisory firm Aquarian Consult Limited, will take up the newly created role of Strategic Advisor for Africa-Caribbean Cooperation. Official OECS press materials confirm the appointment officially went into effect on July 1, 2026, and is designed to accelerate the bloc’s ongoing work to build stronger, mutually beneficial partnerships between Eastern Caribbean nations and African countries across trade, investment, and a range of shared priority sectors.

    Maina brings a diverse and extensive professional background to the new position, with deep expertise spanning governance frameworks, international trade, energy development, agribusiness, the creative economy, and socially impactful investment, per OECS assessments. Over her tenure leading Aquarian Consult Limited, she has overseen the delivery of dozens of high-impact regional and international development initiatives, while building deep, collaborative relationships with public sector institutions and private sector leaders across every major region of Africa. These cross-sector connections and proven leadership track record position her uniquely to drive forward cooperation between the two regions, OECS officials note.

    In welcoming Maina to the OECS team, OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules emphasized the strategic importance of the appointment. “We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Aisha Maina to the OECS Commission,” Jules said. “Her proven track record of delivery, transformational leadership at Aquarian Consult, and expansive, forward-thinking vision for equitable South-South collaboration make her the ideal person to lead our strategic engagement with African nations. This appointment is a clear reflection of our unwavering commitment to building a more resilient, globally connected, and economically prosperous community for all OECS member states.”

    In her new advisory capacity, Maina will report directly to the Office of the Director General, collaborating closely with OECS leadership to co-design policies and strategic frameworks that unlock new economic opportunities for businesses and communities on both sides of the Atlantic, while strengthening institutional collaboration between the two regions.

    Reacting to her appointment, Maina highlighted the deep historical, cultural, and social ties that have long bound African and Caribbean peoples together, and expressed measured optimism about the untapped potential of the expanded partnership. “It is a deep privilege to serve the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States in this capacity,” Maina said. “The historical, cultural, and economic synergy between Africa and the Caribbean represents an immense, largely untapped frontier of opportunity for shared growth. I look forward to working closely with Director General Dr. Didacus Jules and the entire OECS Commission team to translate our shared vision into transformative trade partnerships, inclusive sustainable growth, and lasting people-to-people connections for both our regions, strengthening what we see as a critical Transatlantic Bridge between the Global South.”

    OECS leadership has framed the appointment as a deliberate, incremental step forward in the bloc’s broader commitment to advancing equitable South-South cooperation, and building deeper economic and cultural people-to-people ties between African nations and the 11 Eastern Caribbean member states that make up the OECS bloc.

  • PM: Tourism success depends on people as much as place

    PM: Tourism success depends on people as much as place

    On a sunny Monday in Paynes Bay, St. James, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley took the stage to open the brand-new Blue Monkey Hotel and Beach Club, using the occasion to lay out her vision for the future of the island nation’s most critical economic pillar: tourism. In her address, Mottley emphasized that a robust, future-proof visitor economy does not depend solely on scenic coastlines or luxury accommodation — it relies on consistent, high-quality service and the seamless integration of business and leisure experiences that keep travelers coming back.

  • MV Barima captain, others charged with murder of ferry passengers, crew

    MV Barima captain, others charged with murder of ferry passengers, crew

    Ten days after one of Guyana’s deadliest maritime disasters in recent history, three senior officials connected to the sunken ferry MV Barima have been formally charged with murder over the deaths of dozens of passengers and crew members, Guyanese police confirmed in an official announcement Tuesday.

    The three accused individuals, all employed by Guyana’s Transport and Harbour Department, include 40-year-old vessel captain Kevin Price, a resident of Melanie Damishana on the East Coast Demerara; 42-year-old chief mate Rondell Dwayne Roberts, who lives in Grove Public Road on the East Bank Demerara; and 33-year-old Delon Granderson, the department’s Goods Superintendent from Fellowship on the West Coast Demerara.

    Authorities confirmed the murder charges — filed under common law — were approved after the Guyana Police Force received formal legal guidance from the nation’s Director of Public Prosecutions. The charges are directly tied to the fatal sinking that unfolded July 18, when the MV Barima capsized in Atlantic waters off Guyana’s Essequibo Coast during a routine voyage.

    All three suspects made their initial court appearance Tuesday morning before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where the murder charges were formally read aloud. Under Guyanese judicial procedure, the accused were not required to enter a plea at this initial hearing, and all three were immediately remanded to state custody. The case has been transferred to the Charity Magistrate’s Court, with the next adjourned hearing scheduled for August 3, 2026.

    Revelations in the weeks following the sinking have already raised serious public questions about operational negligence on the vessel. Public Works Minister Juan Edghill confirmed shortly after the disaster that both the captain and a senior crew member tested positive for marijuana in toxicology screenings conducted within hours of the vessel going down.

    As of Monday, the official death toll and casualty count stands at 73 confirmed fatalities, with 76 people rescued alive from the Atlantic. Prime Minister Mark Phillips shared the updated figures during an address to Guyana’s National Assembly Monday, noting that at least 30 of the 179 total passengers and crew on board remain unaccounted for 10 days after the tragedy.

    The case has already sparked widespread public debate over maritime safety regulations and government oversight of ferry operations in Guyana, with calls for broader investigations into systemic gaps that may have contributed to the disaster.

  • St George man admits firearm, ammunition offences

    St George man admits firearm, ammunition offences

    A resident of St. George has entered a guilty plea to two separate weapons-related offenses, and his case will now move to the sentencing phase with submissions scheduled for early September. Sheldon Romaine Bostic, who lives at Exchange Gap in Valley Land, officially confessed to the charges during a hearing before Justice Anthony Blackman at the Supreme Court’s No. 3A courtroom.

    The charges against Bostic center on two violations of local firearms legislation: unlawful possession of a .32 caliber semi-automatic pistol without a valid license, and possession of three rounds of ammunition without the required legal permit. Court records confirm both offenses were alleged to have taken place on April 26, 2024.

    Moving forward, the case is adjourned until September 9, when the court will hear formal sentencing submissions from both legal teams representing the defendant and the state. Kristin Vanderpool is serving as Bostic’s defense counsel, while Acting Senior State Counsel Treann Knight is leading the prosecution for the state.

  • LIVE: Disasters And You with the Office of Disaster Management

    LIVE: Disasters And You with the Office of Disaster Management

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