Carib Scope

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  • Pierre defends crime strategy in St Lucia, amid public calls for death penalty in homicide incident

    Pierre defends crime strategy in St Lucia, amid public calls for death penalty in homicide incident

    Public anger over violent crime has forced St. Lucia’s top leadership to confront growing national frustration, with Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre standing by his administration’s multi-pronged approach to public safety while calling for reasoned, constructive discourse from citizens.

    Pierre laid out his government’s position during a pre-Cabinet press briefing held May 26, with official details of his address shared in a written statement from the Office of the Prime Minister. The discussion comes at a tense moment for the Caribbean nation: last week’s fatal shooting of Joy St. Omer, a young mother, sent shockwaves across the country, igniting fierce public debate and spurring online petitions pushing authorities to reinstate and enforce capital punishment as a response to rising violent crime.

    In his remarks, Pierre did not dismiss the public’s anger. He acknowledged that widespread frustration over persistent crime is shared across the political spectrum and among all caring residents of St. Lucia. “I’m very concerned. I continue to be concerned, and I’m sure all politicians, all well-meaning politicians, are concerned,” he said. However, he pushed back against rushed, emotion-driven takes on social media and talk shows, urging the public to embrace what he called “mature” engagement with the complex issue. “It’s complex. So let’s not believe we’ll get answers on the talk show,” he added.

    The prime minister emphasized that the government is prioritizing a long-term, integrated strategy that ties together four core pillars: aggressive law enforcement, targeted prevention programs, rehabilitation for at-risk populations, and sweeping institutional reform to fix gaps in the justice system. He pointed to a series of already launched initiatives already delivering results, including the Swift Justice Project and the Criminal Backlog Reduction Court, which opened in March 2026. Official data notes that the specialized backlog court has already cleared roughly 100 long-pending criminal cases in just a few months of operation.

    Additional ongoing efforts, per the prime minister’s office, include expanding virtual court hearings at the Bordelais Correctional Facility to reduce delays, completing refurbishment work on the Soufriere Courthouse, and developing St. Lucia’s first-ever National Crime Prevention Policy, which centers on youth intervention programs and community-based initiatives to curb violence before it occurs.

    Pierre also addressed common critiques of the government’s resourcing of law enforcement, acknowledging that the sector faces ongoing budget constraints. He came to the defense of the country’s Health and Security Levy, a dedicated funding mechanism that generated $40 million last fiscal year to support policing and national security operations. Moving forward, the administration continues to expand its public safety workforce: 80 new law enforcement officers are set to be recruited imminently, following recent hiring rounds for the national fire service and correctional facility staff. “It’s a holistic approach that we take, and we are going to continue,” Pierre said. “So we are going to continue doing it, but it’s challenging.”

  • Gov’t rolls out tax cuts to keep food prices in check

    Gov’t rolls out tax cuts to keep food prices in check

    Six months to the day after his New Democratic Party won national office, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Godwin Friday of St. Vincent and the Grenadines announced a sweeping set of targeted policy interventions on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, designed to curb runaway food price inflation driven by spiking global fuel and shipping costs.

    Delivering a nationally televised address from Kingstown’s Administrative Complex, flanked by cabinet members and senior public officials, Friday framed the relief package as a balanced response to immediate household financial strain and long-term economic resilience, noting that soaring global commodity costs have hammered this small island developing state, which relies almost entirely on imported energy and most core food supplies.

    “While we work to fix the broader economic challenges we inherited, everyday families are already feeling the squeeze of rising costs,” Friday stated. “Responsible leadership requires balancing fiscal stability with protecting the social programs that matter most to our people. That is why we are taking decisive action to cut household living costs and ease the burden on working Vincentians.”

    Breaking down the drivers of local food price hikes, Friday highlighted that global benchmark Brent crude prices surged 68% between January and May 2026, climbing from roughly $64.50 per barrel to over $108. For a nation dependent on imported fuel, these price increases pass directly through to transport, refrigeration, and agricultural production costs — and ultimately to grocery shelves.

    Among the most impactful immediate measures is a temporary 90-day elimination of the customs service charge on all liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), widely used for cooking across households and small food businesses. Friday noted that international LPG prices have jumped 27% since January 2026, rising from $0.70 per gallon to more than $0.90. Without intervention, these increases would push up local 20-pound cylinder prices for households to above the current EC$40.30, and 100-pound commercial tank costs beyond the current EC$192.40, raising prices for prepared food across the country. Over the 90-day period, the government will absorb roughly EC$504,368 in foregone revenue to keep cooking costs stable. “Cooking gas is not a luxury — it is a necessity for every family’s dinner table,” Friday emphasized. “This revenue is better left in household pockets to help them weather this crisis, and we will keep monitoring global markets to protect Vincentian families.”

    To address another key driver of imported food inflation — skyrocketing shipping costs — Friday announced structural reforms to the country’s import tax system. Earlier this year, a standard 20-foot shipping container of essential goods from the U.S. to Kingstown cost between $2,200 and $3,000; rates now run as high as $4,800. Under the previous tax regime, import duties were calculated based on both the value of goods and total shipping costs, including carrier surcharges, meaning tax amounts rose automatically every time shipping rates increased, with the full cost passed to consumers. The new policy will remove all shipper surcharges (including fuel and congestion fees) from taxable import value, and fix the benchmark freight rate used for tax calculations at January 2026 levels. “This reform will cut the landing cost of imported goods, block imported inflation from passing fully to consumers, and stop the constant ratcheting up of food prices every time global logistics costs spike,” Friday explained.

    For long-term food security, the administration is rolling out targeted support for domestic agricultural producers to cut reliance on volatile imported food supplies. Local farmers will receive subsidized seed and a 50% discount on fertilizer to boost domestic output of staple foods. Friday added that the government is also closely tracking construction input costs, particularly cement, and stands ready to implement a full VAT waiver if prices cross a critical threshold to protect ongoing housing projects and construction jobs.

    To guarantee that the fiscal concessions actually reach consumers rather than just boosting business profits, Friday announced that the National Cost of Living Task Force will conduct weekly price monitoring across retail and food service sectors. “Relief must reach the people who need it, not just pad corporate margins,” he said.

    The prime minister acknowledged the heavy fiscal constraints his administration inherited from the previous government, including a 2025 debt-to-GDP ratio of 113% and a central government overdraft more than double the legal limit, exceeding $200 million. Despite these challenges, Friday argued that prioritizing short-term foregone revenue to protect household food budgets was the only responsible choice, framing the full package as a “fiscally responsible shield against extraordinary global pressures.”

    “My government knows that many Vincentians are anxious about what comes next,” Friday said in closing. “But we are not powerless against global challenges, and you will not face this crisis alone. Together, we will move from pressure to progress, from uncertainty to stability, and from emergency relief to long-term resilience.”

  • Vacancies: Real Value Supermarket IGA

    Vacancies: Real Value Supermarket IGA

    A local grocery operation at Grenada’s Spiceland Mall, Real Value Supermarket (IGA), has launched an open recruitment drive for multiple senior and mid-level management roles to expand and strengthen its operational leadership team.

    The available positions cover four key roles across the retailer’s core business divisions: Food & Beverage Manager, Grocery Manager, Food & Beverage Supervisor, and Front End Supervisor. These roles are critical to maintaining the supermarket’s daily operations, service quality, and team management across its food, grocery, and customer-facing departments.

    To be considered for these openings, candidates are required to hold proven practical work experience in relevant retail or hospitality management roles. The hiring committee also highlights three core competencies that successful applicants must possess: strong leadership capabilities to guide frontline teams, excellent customer service skills to meet the high expectations of local shoppers, and the proven ability to coordinate cross-team work and oversee end-to-end daily store operations.

    Interested candidates have two convenient channels to submit their applications: they can send their updated professional resume via email to [email protected], or drop off a printed copy of their application directly at the supermarket’s in-store customer service desk. The retailer frames its recruitment around a simple, customer-centric mission: building a collaborative team dedicated to delivering quality food and shopping experiences for the local community.

    As a note for publication on the NOW Grenada platform, the outlet clarifies that it assumes no responsibility for the opinions, statements, and third-party content included in this contributor-provided recruitment notice. Users who encounter any abusive or inappropriate content related to this posting are invited to submit a report via the platform’s designated reporting channel.

  • PM announces measures to keep fuel prices down

    PM announces measures to keep fuel prices down

    Six months to the day after the New Democratic Party won office in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), Prime Minister Godwin Friday announced a targeted 90-day relief package in a national address from Kingstown on Wednesday, cutting import-related taxes and fees on fuel to cap retail gasoline and diesel prices amid a crippling global energy cost surge.

    Friday framed the intervention as a necessary response to what he called a “difficult global reality”, where skyrocketing crude oil prices and elevated global shipping costs have created a crisis for small, fuel-dependent developing nations like SVG. Between January and May this year alone, the price of Brent crude jumped 68%, climbing from roughly US$64.50 per barrel to more than US$108 per barrel. As a small island nation that relies 100% on imported fuel, SVG would feel these price hikes immediately and directly, he emphasized.

    Without proactive government action, Friday warned, SVG’s retail fuel prices would have surged to among the highest in the Eastern Caribbean, with ripple effects across every corner of the national economy. Based on current global market conditions, passing full import cost increases directly to consumers would have pushed gasoline prices up by an estimated EC$5.60 per gallon — a more than 42% jump from the current rate of EC$13.22. That would have taken gasoline to nearly EC$18.82 per gallon. Diesel would have climbed from EC$12.56 per gallon to roughly EC$17.71, while low sulphur diesel would have risen from EC$12.93 per gallon to almost EC$17.85, he projected.

    Such dramatic increases would not only harm private motorists, Friday explained. The cost shock would quickly filter through to higher public transport fares, elevated grocery prices, steeper electricity bills, increased operating costs for farmers and businesses, and ultimately a crippling spike in the cost of living for every household across the country.

    Declaring that his government “refuses to sit back and allow that to happen”, Friday outlined two key policy changes to cap retail pump prices for three months: a cut to fuel excise tax, and a 50% reduction in the customs service charge applied to imported petroleum products.

    Under the intervention, prices will be held at fixed capped rates: EC$16.92 per gallon for regular gasoline, EC$16.26 per gallon for standard diesel, and EC$16.40 per gallon for low sulphur diesel. The prime minister clarified that the policy works by having the SVG government absorb a portion of global price increases through forgone public revenue, transferring direct savings to consumers. The state will cover roughly EC$1.90 per gallon of gasoline and EC$1.45 per gallon of diesel that would otherwise be passed to consumers, he said.

    The relief package is specifically designed to protect three core groups: ordinary motorists, public transport operators, and fuel-reliant local businesses and producers. For average household vehicle owners, the intervention prevents a sudden massive monthly jump in fuel expenses, putting meaningful savings back into family budgets to cover basic needs like groceries. For minibus operators, taxi drivers, farmers, and fishers — whose core operating costs are directly tied to fuel prices — the policy keeps operating expenses far lower than global market conditions would otherwise force, helping to prevent widespread price increases across food and transport services. Friday added that by capping fuel costs, the government is also slowing the pace of broader inflation across the SVG economy, delaying the need for producers and service providers to pass higher costs to consumers. He noted that with the new capped prices, SVG will remain among the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) countries with the lowest fuel prices, rather than becoming one of the most expensive.

    In opening his address, the prime minister acknowledged the difficult fiscal trade-offs the government is making to implement this relief package. His administration inherited a challenging economic situation when it took office six months prior, including a national debt-to-GDP ratio of 113% and a government overdraft exceeding EC$200 million — more than double the legal limit. Despite these significant fiscal constraints, Friday argued that responsible governance requires prioritizing household and business stability, framing the fuel relief package as a core part of his administration’s “people-first governance model”.

    He described the intervention as “a fiscally responsible shield against extraordinary global pressures”, noting that the government is willing to accept short-term revenue losses to prevent a far more damaging economic shock for consumers. Friday also linked the fuel relief measures to a broader government push to curb rising living costs across key sectors of the SVG economy, announcing additional upcoming plans to stabilize electricity and food prices for residents.

  • OP-ED: A proactive and urgent regional strategy to address the threat of El Niño

    OP-ED: A proactive and urgent regional strategy to address the threat of El Niño

    Latin America and the Caribbean, a region that underpins global food security, is facing an unprecedented dual threat that puts agricultural output, rural livelihoods, and regional social stability at grave risk: the extreme El Niño event forecast for 2026, paired with the ongoing global fertilizer shortage. What makes this confluence of crises particularly dangerous is that each challenge alone is enough to upend regional farming, but together, they threaten to create a catastrophic perfect storm that will impact millions of agricultural producers and undermine food access across dozens of nations. Meteorological forecasts have placed the probability of a strong El Niño developing this year at exceptionally high levels, and the phenomenon is expected to bring wildly uneven impacts across the region: catastrophic flooding and torrential rainfall in some zones, and prolonged, crippling drought and water scarcity in others. What keeps climate and agriculture experts up at night is the deep uncertainty around just how intense this extreme event could ultimately be. For the Southern Cone, particularly parts of Argentina and Brazil, the El Niño event may bring a silver lining: increased rainfall that could help replenish parched soils and support a rebound in major crop yields. But the outlook is far grimmer for Central America, the Caribbean, and large swathes of northern South America. Across these vulnerable areas, the risks are stark: massive crop yield declines and outright harvest failures, reduced livestock output, broken supply chains that disrupt agricultural markets, and sharp, sudden spikes in staple food prices. These impacts are not abstract hypothetical risks—they are patterns that have played out repeatedly in recent El Niño events, and the economic costs to producers and consumers already run into hundreds of millions of dollars. Beyond immediate production losses, the crisis tends to ripple outward into long-term hardship for rural communities: overburdened producer debt, outmigration from struggling rural areas, and widespread nutritional decline as households are forced to cut back on quality food. For small and medium-sized producers, who make up the backbone of regional food production, this overlapping uncertainty creates impossible planning choices. When climate patterns are unpredictable, it becomes nearly impossible to decide which crops to plant, how much capital to invest, or what level of fertilizer to apply. Add skyrocketing fertilizer prices and persistent supply shortages to the equation, and many producers have no choice but to cut fertilizer application rates, reduce the total area they plant, or shift to less nutrient-demanding, lower-yield crops—all changes that immediately drag down total production and output. Unlike past decades, however, today’s science and technology give the region the unique ability to anticipate the arrival and potential impacts of climate events like El Niño and its counterpart La Niña. In this day and age, it is no longer acceptable for governments and regional bodies to take a reactive approach, waiting to act until drought has already parched fields, floods have destroyed homes and crops, and food prices have spiraled out of control. The only way to meaningfully reduce harm is to act ahead of the event. That is why regional agricultural leaders are calling for an urgent shift to a coordinated, proactive regional resilience strategy. It is critical that the region convene a broad hemispheric dialogue focused on building agri-food resilience, bringing all key stakeholders to the table: national governments, multilateral international organizations, producer associations, the global financial sector, academic institutions, and private industry. The shared goal of this collaboration must be to build robust anticipation capacity that protects both agricultural production and rural livelihoods across the region. In this effort, international technical cooperation bodies have a uniquely important role to play: they already have established frameworks for political and technical coordination, deep working relationships with national governments, producers, private companies, and international financial institutions, putting them in the perfect position to negotiate regional cooperation agreements, coordinate proactive preparedness measures, and organize emergency aid and solidarity responses if a crisis does unfold. A number of concrete public-private collaboration mechanisms can be advanced immediately. These include cross-regional climate and agricultural coordination platforms, pre-negotiated agreements with fertilizer producers and logistics firms to guarantee steady fertilizer access for the most vulnerable areas, innovative climate-focused financial tools developed in partnership with public and private banks, widespread expansion of accessible climate index insurance for small producers, and joint technology adaptation programs designed to bring modern tools to small and medium-sized farming operations. Private sector participation is non-negotiable for these strategies to become viable and scalable across the region. Fertilizer manufacturers, large agribusiness operators, financial institutions, technology firms, and agricultural export chains all hold core responsibilities and critical resources that make them essential partners in building shared agricultural resilience. Another top regional priority must be strengthening early warning systems and turning raw climate data into actionable decision-making tools that reach producers directly. Latin America and the Caribbean already generate an enormous volume of high-value meteorological and agricultural data, but too often this information fails to reach the producers who need it most in a timely, usable format. Beyond early warning, the coordinated strategy should prioritize widespread adoption of drought-resistant crop varieties and efficient water management infrastructure, paired with updated agronomic management practices that leverage cutting-edge technologies such as GPS mapping, agricultural drones, and soil moisture sensors to boost productivity and resilience. Importantly, leaders frame this dual crisis not just as a threat, but as a unique opportunity to build a new, more resilient agri-food governance system rooted in cross-regional cooperation, technological innovation, and proactive forward planning. As a region, Latin America and the Caribbean produce food for billions of people across the globe, feeding their own populations and meeting critical demand in global markets. Protecting this vital productive capacity is not just a domestic economic priority for the region—it is a strategic priority for global development, rural stability, and global food security. This commentary comes from Muhammad Ibrahim, Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).

  • SMC meet CCCS for U16 basketball glory

    SMC meet CCCS for U16 basketball glory

    The stage is set for an exciting all-local finale in the Secondary Schools Under-16 Boys’ Basketball Tournament, with two top contenders, St Mary’s College (SMC) and Castries Comprehensive Secondary School (CCSS), set to battle for the championship trophy this Thursday.

    Both teams earned their spots in the title game after dominating their semi-final matchups held earlier this week. SMC, the two-time defending champions gunning for an unprecedented third consecutive title, delivered a lopsided 40-12 win over Entrepot Secondary School (ESS) to lock in their finals berth. In the other semi-final, CCSS upset last year’s runner-up Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School (LHCSS) with a confident 38-25 victory, booking their first championship appearance in recent years.

    The SMC vs ESS semi-final got off to a sluggish start, with both teams struggling to find their offensive rhythm early. But SMC quickly pulled away in the later quarters, outscoring ESS by a wide margin to seal the blowout win. SMC’s star forward Daelan Magloire bounced back from a underwhelming performance in his previous outing to lead all scorers, putting up an impressive 18 points alongside five rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots. Guard Ernel “EJ” Mason continued his consistent tournament run, chipping in 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the defending champs. Big men Zaieef Mann and Jaydin Monrose dominated the glass, each grabbing eight rebounds to anchor SMC’s strong interior defense and rebounding advantage.

    For a outmatched ESS, forward Yanis Mathurin led the team with four points, while guard Kobe Francis notched three points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in the losing effort. Center Judea Gregg was a bright spot on the interior, pulling down nine rebounds and adding two points for Entrepot Secondary.

    In the second semi-final, CCSS – who finished third in last year’s tournament – proved their growth and dominated the game against the higher-ranked LHCSS. Leading the way for CCSS was David Chandler, who put together a monstrous all-around performance: 18 points, 12 rebounds, five steals and three blocks, anchoring every phase of the game for his side. Hanniah Martial added six points to the final score, while forward Kinnai St Croix notched six rebounds and five steals, and guard Leshon Francis matched St Croix’s steal total with five of his own to shut down LHCSS’s offensive opportunities.

    The annual Secondary Schools Under-16 Boys’ Basketball Tournament is hosted this year by Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Education, Youth Development, Sports and Digital Transformation. All eyes will turn to the Beausejour Gymnasium this Thursday, May 28, when two undefeated red-badged teams face off for the coveted national under-16 crown. SMC will look to extend their historic three-year win streak, while CCSS will aim to pull off an upset and claim their first title in the tournament’s recent history.

  • Perez: Protect Caye Caulker’s Charm

    Perez: Protect Caye Caulker’s Charm

    In a decisive move to preserve the unique character of Belize’s most beloved coastal communities, the national government announced a six-month moratorium last Thursday on new development approvals and construction for large-scale projects across four high-priority locations.

    The temporary ban applies to any structure that exceeds 45 feet in height or spans more than three floors, and the scope of the restrictions extends beyond just vertical construction. Andre Perez, the area representative for Belize Rural South, confirmed that the policy also includes a freeze on new dock development, part of a wider government effort to curb unchecked overgrowth along the country’s vulnerable coastlines.

    Among the four covered communities, Perez highlighted Caye Caulker as a location of particular concern. The small island is renowned globally for its laid-back, quaint atmosphere that draws millions of eco-tourists and casual visitors each year, and local officials have grown increasingly alarmed at the pace of unregulated large-scale development creeping into the area. “Caye Caulker is very special in terms of the quaintness we want to maintain,” Perez explained in a public address on the policy. “We don’t want to make overdevelopment take over that place and have high-rise buildings overtaking and then we compromise the charm of the town.”

    The moratorium, which was formally approved by the Belizean Cabinet, covers four coastal areas: Caye Caulker Village, Hopkins Village, the Placencia Peninsula, and Sittee River Village. While the restrictions are temporary, they are set to remain in effect while government agencies carry out two key processes: broad public consultations with local residents and stakeholders, and in-depth technical assessments to evaluate the long-term environmental, infrastructural and cultural impacts of high-density and vertical development across these coastal zones.

    Perez added that the temporary pause is just the first step in a broader overhaul of coastal development planning across Belize’s popular island regions. Officials are already drafting similar protective regulations for nearby San Pedro, another top tourist destination that has faced rapid growth in recent decades. “By extension, right now we’re working in the San Pedro plan as well to say enough is enough,” Perez said.

  • GOB Working to Retain Cuban Medical Personnel Amid US Pressure

    GOB Working to Retain Cuban Medical Personnel Amid US Pressure

    Facing mounting pressure from the United States that threatens the future of Cuba’s long-running medical cooperation program in Belize, Prime Minister John Briceño has outlined a two-pronged strategy to shore up the country’s healthcare system, confirming the government is both pursuing alternative recruitment channels and negotiating to keep willing Cuban medical staff in the country.

    In an interview with the local morning program *Open Your Eyes*, Briceño confirmed that Belize’s Ministry of Health has already launched global recruitment drives to prepare for any potential workforce gap that could open if Cuban personnel are forced to leave. The ministry is actively sourcing qualified nurses and physicians from a range of Latin American and Asian nations, including the Philippines, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, to backfill any sudden vacancies across the country’s public health facilities.

    Briceño emphasized that his administration remains committed to retaining Cuban medical workers who have expressed a desire to continue their service in Belize, and is currently working to craft a revised working arrangement that would satisfy Washington’s demands. The United States has drawn widespread criticism for labeling Cuba’s state-organized international medical missions as a form of human trafficking, a characterization that Belize has implicitly pushed back against through its longstanding implementation of direct payment policies.

    Notably, Briceño clarified that Belize has directly compensated individual Cuban medical personnel since the program’s inception, rather than routing payments through the Cuban government, a structure that aligns with US demands for proof that medical workers participate voluntarily. The government’s current goal is to formalize this arrangement in a way that meets US requirements, allowing willing Cuban staff to stay on.

    “We’re working to craft a framework that convinces the Americans that every medical worker here is present of their own free will,” Briceño stated, adding that he remains optimistic about reaching a workable compromise. “I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to work through this issue. I’ve always been a very optimistic person.”

    The standoff highlights the tricky diplomatic balancing act small Caribbean nations like Belize must navigate, as they seek to maintain beneficial bilateral cooperation agreements while avoiding punitive measures from the United States over its long-running sanctions and political pressure campaign against Cuba.

  • IN PICTURES & VIDEO: Fibreglass-reinforced plastic fishing boats for fishermen at Layou

    IN PICTURES & VIDEO: Fibreglass-reinforced plastic fishing boats for fishermen at Layou

    A long-awaited development for small-scale fishing communities in Layou is coming to fruition this afternoon, with a formal handover ceremony scheduled to deliver modern fibreglass-reinforced plastic fishing boats to local beneficiary fishermen at the Layou Fish Landing Site, kicking off at 3 p.m.

    For generations, many fishermen operating out of Layou have relied on aging, less durable vessels that struggle with rough coastal conditions and require frequent, costly repairs. The introduction of fibreglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) boats marks a significant upgrade over traditional wooden craft, offering superior corrosion resistance, longer service lifespans, lighter hull designs that improve fuel efficiency, and better structural stability on open water.

    The initiative, which targets local fishing households that depend on the industry for their primary livelihood, is designed to boost the productivity and safety of small-scale fishermen working in the region. Local community leaders and fisheries development stakeholders are expected to be in attendance at the handover, marking a key milestone in efforts to support the sustainability of Layou’s coastal fishing sector.

  • Marie-Claire Giraud Releases New Single “Honey Honey Baby”

    Marie-Claire Giraud Releases New Single “Honey Honey Baby”

    Acclaimed cross-genre vocalist Marie-Claire Giraud, a Dominican-American artist with a decades-long career spanning multiple performance platforms, has officially unveiled her highly anticipated new solo track “Honey Honey Baby”, which made its global debut on May 29, 2026.

    Crafted with a bold, genre-blending vision, the new single pulls core inspiration from the catchy, harmony-driven sound of 1960s girl-group pop, while weaving in unexpected, sophisticated layers of classical composition, improvisational jazz, and modern contemporary music to create a one-of-a-kind listening experience. The track also features a guest appearance from legendary rock guitarist Vernon Reid, the founding frontman and lead guitarist of iconic rock outfit Living Colour, who jumped at the chance to collaborate with the versatile vocalist.

    In his comments on the partnership, Reid celebrated Giraud’s rare ability to move seamlessly between disparate musical worlds, saying: “Marie-Claire is a vocalist completely at home in the divergent realms of classical, jazz, and pop music. I’m fortunate to contribute to her updated paean to 60’s ‘girl-group’ Pop.”

    This single release is not an isolated project: it serves as the first preview of a larger, full-length upcoming body of work currently in development. The upcoming collection will also include a collaborative track co-written by Giraud and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Harbison, a testament to the artist’s longstanding commitment to breaking down barriers between formal classical composition and accessible popular music.

    Giraud is no newcomer to the global stage, with an extensive performance resume that includes stops at some of the world’s most prestigious venues. She has graced the stage of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall twice, delivered sold-out sets at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater, and performed seven times at the United Nations General Assembly Hall. For years, she has been a fan-favorite jazz soloist at two of New York City’s most iconic jazz venues: Birdland Jazz Club and Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Most recently, she drew industry and audience attention for a well-received album listening event held at Manhattan’s Perelman Performing Arts Center ahead of the single’s launch.

    Her work has already earned widespread critical acclaim, with accolades including the Intercontinental Music Award for Best Original Jazz Song for her track “Chasin’ Rainbows”, and a Silver Award from the Amadeus International Classical Music Competition. Beyond her regular New York City stages, she has performed at a wide range of high-profile institutions and spaces, including the French Consulate in New York, Spotify’s global headquarters, the Barclays Center, and iconic cabaret space 54 Below.

    Beyond its musical innovation, “Honey Honey Baby” carries deeply personal meaning for Giraud, rooted in her transformative journey through the COVID-19 pandemic. The artist shared that during global lockdowns, she began therapeutic work to process long-held childhood trauma, a process that sparked profound personal and artistic growth that reshaped her approach to her work and her voice.

    Giraud’s journey back to her current sound was also marked by significant vocal challenges. Early in her career, she was classified as a contralto, but later developed dysphonia, a vocal condition characterized by persistent hoarseness that threatened her ability to perform. Working closely with acclaimed vocal instructors Anthony Manoli and David L. Jones, Giraud underwent years of rehabilitative work that allowed her to reclaim her soprano range, a breakthrough that forms the emotional core of her new release.

    Reflecting on the years of struggle and growth that led to “Honey Honey Baby”, Giraud said in a statement: “I have come through the fire and triumphed over insurmountable odds. This song is proof of that, it’s pure joy, and it’s time the world heard it.”

    As she kicks off the rollout for her new single and continues work on her upcoming full-length project, Marie-Claire Giraud continues to build her reputation as one of the most versatile and boundary-pushing vocal artists working today, expanding her reach across classical, jazz, pop, and rock circles alike.