Carib Scope

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  • Archaeologists discover 13 human skeletons at Pueblo Viejo in search for cacique Enriquillo

    Archaeologists discover 13 human skeletons at Pueblo Viejo in search for cacique Enriquillo

    A significant archaeological breakthrough has emerged from the Dominican Republic, where researchers have unearthed 13 complete human skeletons at the Pueblo Viejo archaeological site. The discovery forms part of the scientific initiative “Following the Remains of cacique Enriquillo,” which builds upon over a decade of multidisciplinary investigation combining historical documentation and archaeological fieldwork.

    Under the technical coordination of Dominican archaeologist Kathleen Martínez, the project has implemented rigorous international standards previously absent at Pueblo Viejo. The excavation process involved technically complex stratigraphic recording and comprehensive documentation of ruins, significantly advancing the scientific understanding of the site.

    While definitive conclusions remain premature, the research team has initiated sophisticated analysis protocols. Spanish forensic specialist Víctor Barrera Alarcón is leading anthropological examinations to determine sex, age, and physical characteristics of the unearthed individuals. The investigation will employ ancient mitochondrial DNA analysis through laboratories in the Dominican Republic and potentially Costa Rica to establish lineage and ancestry patterns. Carbon-14 dating methodologies may supplement stratigraphic findings where necessary.

    The project represents a collaborative effort supported by the Macarrulla Foundation and the General Directorate of Strategic and Special Projects of the Presidency (PROPEEP), highlighting its national scientific importance. Beyond the specific objective of locating remains associated with cacique Enriquillo, the initiative aims to preserve and enhance the entire Pueblo Viejo archaeological site while facilitating knowledge transfer to Dominican professionals through internationally recognized methodologies.

    Local community engagement has been instrumental in the project’s advancement, with academic results expected to contribute to both domestic and international scholarly discourse regarding the region’s historical and cultural heritage.

  • Economy : All the details on the digitized Professional Identity Card (CIP)

    Economy : All the details on the digitized Professional Identity Card (CIP)

    In a significant move to formalize its predominantly informal economy, Haiti has launched a digitized Professional Identity Card (CIP) system through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This initiative, supported by the Inter-American Development Bank, represents a pragmatic approach to addressing administrative challenges that have long hampered economic development.

    The digital CIP platform (guichet.mci.ht/cip) specifically targets individual entrepreneurs and sole proprietorships—the backbone of Haiti’s economy where over 80% of employment remains informal according to UNDP 2021 data. These micro-entrepreneurs, who regularly buy, sell, and provide services, now have a streamlined process for obtaining professional certification.

    The application process involves five key steps: creating an online account, uploading required documents (including national ID and tax number), digital payment via mobile money services MonCash or NatCash, online tracking with QR code verification, and final physical card collection from ministry offices.

    While currently excluding corporate entities, the system delivers tangible benefits including reduced processing times, decreased physical travel to government offices, enhanced payment traceability, and improved accessibility for unbanked entrepreneurs. These advantages are particularly valuable in a context where mobility constraints and administrative delays have traditionally discouraged formalization.

    However, the reform faces structural challenges including limited scope for complex business structures, underdeveloped data protection frameworks, restricted payment options, and need for better integration with other registration systems. The initiative also highlights the important distinction between the CIP (economic formalization tool) and Haiti’s National Identification Card (civil and political identity document).

    This digital transformation represents a gradual but meaningful step toward bringing Haiti’s significant informal sector—estimated to constitute over 50% of GDP—into the formal economy while adapting to local realities and constraints.

  • Football : Know all about the 2026 CONCACAF U-20 Championship

    Football : Know all about the 2026 CONCACAF U-20 Championship

    The road to the 2026 CONCACAF U-20 Championship officially commences with an intensive qualifying tournament that will determine which nations advance to the main event. Thirty-two member associations ranked 7th through 41st within the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football will compete for six coveted spots in the championship tournament.

    The qualification matches are scheduled to unfold across three host nations—Costa Rica, Curaçao, and Nicaragua—from February 23 through March 4, 2026. The competitive format will see the winner of each group secure automatic qualification to join the six pre-seeded nations: United States, Mexico, Honduras, Panama, Cuba, and Guatemala.

    Haiti’s U-20 national team, known as the Grenadiers, has been placed in Group D alongside Curaçao, Guyana, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Anguilla. All of Haiti’s group stage matches will be held at the Rinaldo Jean Francisca Stadium in Willemstad, Curaçao. Their campaign begins on February 26 against Anguilla, followed by fixtures against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (February 28), Guyana (March 2), and concludes with a decisive match against group hosts Curaçao on March 4.

    The culminating 12-team CONCACAF U-20 Championship is scheduled for summer 2026, running from July 25 to August 9. This tournament carries significant stakes as it will serve as the qualifying pathway to both the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. The championship format will feature three groups of four teams, with the top two from each group plus two best third-place finishers advancing to knockout rounds.

    CONCACAF has announced that further details regarding the host country for the final championship and the official draw will be disclosed at a later date.

  • President: Laat het Jaar van het Vuurpaard ons inspireren tot krachtig leiderschap

    President: Laat het Jaar van het Vuurpaard ons inspireren tot krachtig leiderschap

    Surinamese President Jennifer Simons delivered an inspirational address during the Chinese New Year celebrations, emphasizing how the symbolic attributes of the Fire Horse should guide national development efforts. Speaking at the Chung Fa Foei Kon socio-cultural center, where she was accompanied by Vice President Gregory Rusland, President Simons articulated how the Fire Horse’s characteristics of strength, courage, perseverance, and progressiveness could inspire Suriname’s continued nation-building.

    The presidential attendance marked a significant honor for the Chinese community, as noted by association chairman Liu Jianming, who interpreted their presence as demonstrating the high value placed on Chinese-Surinamese relations and underscoring the profound friendship between both peoples.

    Chinese Ambassador Lin Ji highlighted the historical contributions of Chinese Surinamese, noting their 170-year legacy of fundamental contributions to socioeconomic progress and nation-building. Ambassador Ji emphasized that Chinese Surinamese have become ‘integral and indispensable’ to society while looking forward to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Suriname and China on May 28th this year.

    Rudie Chin Jen Sem, vice-chairman of Chung Fa Foei Kon, expressed the community’s high expectations for the Fire Horse year and their commitment to realizing these aspirations. He simultaneously called for governmental vigor in addressing security and economic challenges.

    President Simons drew powerful parallels between the Fire Horse’s symbolism and Suriname’s national journey: ‘A horse doesn’t stand still—it moves, pulls, and carries. Even in difficult circumstances. So too is Suriname: a country that despite challenges continues striving for development, justice, and prosperity.’

    The president concluded with a rallying cry for collective effort: ‘Let the Year of the Fire Horse inspire us to face the future with courage, to work harder, share more fairly, and coexist with greater confidence. Let us harness the fire’s energy and the horse’s strength to fortify our economy, provide perspective for youth, and create a more just society.’

  • WATCH: Shock and Uncertainty in St. Lucia After Deadly U.S. Strike in Caribbean Waters

    WATCH: Shock and Uncertainty in St. Lucia After Deadly U.S. Strike in Caribbean Waters

    A deadly maritime incident in the Eastern Caribbean has triggered diplomatic concerns and regional security alerts following a U.S. military operation that reportedly resulted in multiple fatalities. The explosion occurred approximately several miles offshore from Canouan Island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines territory at approximately 2:00 PM local time, with eyewitness fishermen reporting both visual and auditory confirmation of the detonation.

    Emerging reports from St. Lucia suggest potential tragic misinterpretation, as three St. Lucian nationals who had departed earlier this week for fishing operations remain unaccounted for. While photographic evidence published by the St. Vincent Times depicts the charred remnants of a vessel with its bow section partially submerged, no human remains were visibly documented at the scene.

    St. Lucian Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has initiated formal inquiries through diplomatic and security channels, confirming the loss of lives while emphasizing the absence of official identification regarding the victims. “I can confirm that people lost their lives,” Pierre stated during his weekly pre-Cabinet briefing, “But I received no official notification on anything else. The issue is being investigated by the powers responsible for investigations.”

    The incident has raised substantive questions regarding maritime jurisdiction, operational protocols, and the legal justification for lethal force in international waters. According to U.S. officials, this event represents one of at least 36 vessels targeted in Caribbean and Eastern Pacific operations since September, resulting in over 120 fatalities as part of counter-narcotics initiatives aimed at disrupting drug trafficking routes to the United States.

    Prime Pierre has urged public restraint against speculation, emphasizing that “in matters affecting national security and regional stability, speculation has no place. Our approach is disciplined, fact-based, and guided by the singular priority of protecting the people and interests of St. Lucia.” The government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has maintained official silence regarding the incident as bilateral investigations continue.

  • Disabled voters ‘dismayed’ by barriers at polls

    Disabled voters ‘dismayed’ by barriers at polls

    The Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD) has declared last week’s general election a missed opportunity for electoral accessibility, revealing that systemic voting barriers for disabled citizens remain fundamentally unaddressed despite repeated government assurances. According to BCD Operations Manager Roseanna Tudor, while no formal complaints were registered, the election perpetuated longstanding structural deficiencies that particularly disadvantage visually impaired voters and individuals with mobility challenges.

    The core issue, Tudor explained, revolves around the violation of ballot secrecy. Visually impaired voters must currently rely on companions to mark their ballots, fundamentally compromising their democratic right to a confidential vote. This arrangement creates a trust dilemma that may deter participation among those who cannot verify their vote was cast as intended.

    Tudor emphasized that accessibility solutions cannot be implemented reactively but must be integrated during initial election planning stages. The council has subsequently presented a comprehensive proposal to the Human Rights Commissioner containing four critical recommendations: establishing a formal post-election accessibility review involving disability stakeholders; creating clear accessibility guidelines with measurable standards for polling stations; implementing early consultation protocols with disability organizations before elections; and developing a national mechanism to systematically collect data on disabled voters’ experiences.

    Notably, the BCD questioned why early voting facilities currently available to essential services workers aren’t extended to disabled citizens, suggesting this would alleviate election day congestion and accessibility challenges. Tudor stressed the importance of centralized national data collection to properly assess participation barriers rather than relying on fragmented private surveys.

    The council expressed appreciation for former minister Kirk Humphrey’s collaborative approach to disability policy development while affirming their commitment to working with new minister Adrian Forde to translate policy advancements into tangible improvements. Additionally, the BCD urged parliamentarians to ensure year-round accessibility of constituency offices, having previously distributed guidance documents on interacting with persons with various disabilities.

  • Natural gas development offshore Guyana depends on “pace” of govt’s systems, rules- ExxonMobil

    Natural gas development offshore Guyana depends on “pace” of govt’s systems, rules- ExxonMobil

    ExxonMobil has articulated that the timeline for developing Guyana’s substantial offshore natural gas reserves is contingent upon the efficiency of the nation’s regulatory frameworks and bureaucratic processes. Dan Ammann, President of ExxonMobil Upstream Company and Vice President of ExxonMobil Corporation, delivered this message as a keynote at the 2026 Guyana Energy Conference.

    Ammann emphasized that the successful model employed for Guyana’s rapid oil development—characterized by transparent roles, shared standards, and disciplined execution—must be replicated and intensified for the more complex gas sector. He outlined that gas development necessitates an integrated value chain, including specialized infrastructure for processing, compression, pipelines, and power systems, which requires synchronization across upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors.

    The energy giant’s commitment is to move in ‘lockstep’ with the government. Ammann stated that ExxonMobil’s investment and project advancement are directly tied to the pace of governmental permitting, environmental reviews, market framework establishment, and final investment decisions. The readiness of the entire system, not just one company, dictates the development speed.

    As a specific example, Ammann highlighted the planned $6.8 billion Hammerhead project. Designed to produce up to 95 billion cubic feet of gas daily, it is conceived as an integrated project from inception, with a pipeline to shore. The gas allocation strategy is flexible: a portion will power the operational FPSO vessel, while the remainder will fuel the national gas-to-energy project, support future domestic industry, or be re-injected to optimize oil recovery, thereby maximizing overall resource value.

    Concurrently, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali announced progress on a separate, collaborative venture. He revealed that discussions with neighboring Suriname are ‘on target’ for a joint development of cross-border gas resources. This partnership aims to amalgamate gas supplies to transform a potential medium-scale project into a larger-scale initiative, enhancing economic benefits for both nations and the wider region. President Ali noted that investors are poised, awaiting these critical bilateral decisions.

  • Man shot dead in daylight attack at Chapman Lane

    Man shot dead in daylight attack at Chapman Lane

    A shocking daylight homicide unfolded near St Mary’s Primary School on Tuesday afternoon, marking a brazen act of violence that has rattled the inner-city community of St Michael, Barbados. According to official reports from the Barbados Police Service, law enforcement units were dispatched to Chapman Lane following emergency calls reporting gunfire at approximately 1:42 p.m.

    Acting Public Affairs and Communications Officer Inspector Ryan Brathwaite disclosed that police operators received initial alerts about the shooting, prompting an immediate multi-unit response. Subsequent communications directed officers to 3rd Avenue, Chapman Lane, where witnesses reported discovering a motionless body.

    Preliminary investigative findings indicate the victim was seated in a local gathering spot known as ‘the canal’ when two assailants approached him from both sides. The perpetrators opened fire with multiple rounds, causing the victim to flee before collapsing fatally on 3rd Avenue. Despite urgent medical response, a attending physician confirmed the victim’s death at the scene.

    Inspector Brathwaite has issued a public appeal for information regarding the shooting, emphasizing that ‘no information is too small’ for investigative purposes. Authorities have directed potential witnesses to contact Crime Stoppers Barbados at 1-800-8477, Police Emergency at 211, or the Criminal Investigations Department directly.

    The incident has provoked profound community distress, particularly given its proximity to school grounds during afternoon hours. A longtime resident who knew the victim described him as non-confrontational and expressed deep sorrow over the tragic nature of his death. ‘Any person that dies that way is very bad, especially for the family and friends,’ she stated, noting the widespread emotional impact on neighborhood residents and children.

  • CARICOM urged to aid Cuba amid deepening crisis

    CARICOM urged to aid Cuba amid deepening crisis

    Cuba’s escalating humanitarian crisis, characterized by severe fuel shortages, prolonged electricity blackouts, and critical shortages of food and medical supplies, has prompted a senior Caribbean diplomat to call for urgent regional action against the longstanding US embargo. Ambassador David Comissiong, Cuba’s envoy to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), has issued a compelling appeal for collective response ahead of next week’s CARICOM summit in St Kitts and Nevis.

    The current crisis has intensified following recent US measures strengthening enforcement of the 64-year embargo, including an executive order imposing punitive tariffs on nations supplying oil to Cuba. These restrictions have exacerbated existing economic challenges including rampant inflation, limited foreign exchange reserves, and persistent pandemic-related disruptions.

    Social media has circulated disturbing images of extensive queues for basic necessities, shuttered essential services, and darkened neighborhoods across the island. International organizations including the United Nations have expressed grave concern about the mounting hardship, particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as elderly citizens and children.

    In his published letter to Barbados TODAY, Ambassador Comissiong highlighted emotional testimony from a Cuban woman describing the human toll: elderly patients dying prematurely due to blocked medication access, newborn infants endangered by non-functional incubators resulting from fuel shortages, and what she termed ‘terrorism through hunger.’

    The ambassador grounded his appeal in historical context, recalling how four CARICOM founding members—Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago—established diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1972 despite external pressure. This established what he described as a ‘special relationship’ evidenced by Cuba’s longstanding support in medicine, education, sports, arts, agriculture, and disaster response throughout the region.

    Dr. Ronnie Yearwood, international law lecturer at the University of the West Indies, analyzed the situation as part of broader geopolitical patterns, drawing parallels with US policy toward Venezuela. He warned that the combination of hyperinflation, fuel shortages, and electricity deficits indicates an escalating crisis potentially aimed at regime change. Dr. Yearwood criticized what he characterized as insufficient regional response while emphasizing CARICOM’s collective economic leverage as a significant trading partner with the United States.

    The diplomatic appeal calls for concrete contributions of food supplies, medical resources, and renewable energy equipment to alleviate Cuba’s critical situation, framing the response as both a humanitarian imperative and a test of regional sovereignty.

  • CARICOM leaders to tackle CSME, reparations, Haiti in Basseterre

    CARICOM leaders to tackle CSME, reparations, Haiti in Basseterre

    Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders are gathering in Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis for the bloc’s historic 50th regular summit, marking a pivotal moment for regional diplomacy. The high-level assembly will confront an ambitious agenda featuring critical discussions on economic integration, regional security challenges, and strategic international partnerships.

    The summit’s provisional agenda, released by the CARICOM Secretariat, highlights several transformative initiatives. Delegates will deliberate on expanding the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) by incorporating aviation personnel into the list of skilled professionals granted free movement rights. Proposed amendments to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas will also be examined, particularly concerning rules of origin that determine duty-free eligibility for regional products.

    International diplomacy takes center stage with scheduled high-profile engagements. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Dr. George Elombi, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), will participate in strategic dialogues. The recently established CARICOM-Afreximbank office in Barbados signals deepening economic cooperation between the regions.

    Regional security concerns will be addressed behind closed doors, with particular focus on Haiti’s escalating crisis and transnational crime. The meeting will receive crucial updates from the High-Level Representative on Law and Criminal Justice while analyzing geopolitical shifts in international relations.

    Border disputes feature prominently on the agenda, including Belize’s ongoing tensions with Guatemala and Honduras, plus Guyana’s territorial confrontation with Venezuela. The summit will also consider Bermuda’s application for associate membership status within the bloc.

    Additional key discussions encompass CARICOM’s budgetary allocations and governance structures, progress on indigenizing the University of the West Indies, and implementation updates regarding freedom of movement between Barbados and three member states. The agenda further addresses regional transportation, industrial policy development, WTO trade negotiations, climate finance mechanisms, and food security initiatives through enhanced agri-food systems.

    The summit will finalize CARICOM’s participation in forthcoming international gatherings, including joint summits with Cuba, the Tenth Summit of the Americas, and the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled for November in Antigua and Barbuda.