Carib Scope

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  • UNICEF calls for improved menstrual health conditions in Dominican schools

    UNICEF calls for improved menstrual health conditions in Dominican schools

    In the Dominican Republic, a concerning new data analysis from UNICEF has brought widespread systemic gaps in menstrual health management into sharp focus. Drawing on official survey data collected through the 2019 Enhogar-MICS initiative, the United Nations children’s agency found that more than one in five Dominican women are forced to halt their regular daily routines when they are menstruating, a statistic that underscores deep, persistent barriers to accessing dignified care for this basic biological need.

    As the global community marked Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, UNICEF issued a pressing call for expanded, targeted interventions to ensure all girls and adolescent women across the country can manage their menstruation with dignity. The organization outlined that overlapping challenges—from restricted access to affordable, reliable hygiene products and inadequate sanitation infrastructure to a lack of evidence-based health education and supportive social environments—are actively undermining women and girls’ fundamental rights to health, equal access to education, and full participation in public and community life.

    Carlos Carrera, UNICEF’s top representative in the Dominican Republic, stressed that equitable access to comprehensive menstrual health support is a non-negotiable foundation for advancing gender equality across the Latin American and Caribbean region. Carrera added that barriers to care have tangible, harmful consequences: a significant number of girls across the region skip school entirely during their menstrual periods, creating long-term gaps in educational attainment that entrench gender inequality. The report also shines a spotlight on the compounded challenges faced by adolescents living with menstruation-related health conditions such as endometriosis, which often amplifies pain and functional limitations that further restrict school attendance and engagement in daily activities.

    To address these gaps, UNICEF has laid out a clear set of recommendations for national and local stakeholders, singling out the Dominican Ministry of Education as a key actor in driving change. The agency calls for urgent investments to upgrade school infrastructure, including expanding access to clean drinking water and individual, private toilet facilities for students, alongside ensuring free or low-cost menstrual hygiene products are readily available on school campuses. It also urges the integration of comprehensive, age-appropriate sexual education that covers menstrual health into national school curricula.

    Beyond infrastructure and curriculum changes, UNICEF is pushing for targeted training to equip teachers to support students navigating menstrual health challenges, the development of robust gender-centered national public policies, widespread community outreach campaigns to reduce harmful stigma, and accessible psychological support for those navigating painful or disabling menstrual health conditions. A key, often overlooked component of the agency’s proposal is a call to actively engage boys and young men in open conversations about menstruation, an approach designed to break down social stigma, build broader community empathy, and foster a more inclusive, supportive environment for all.

  • Jamaica secures US$200m in hurricane insurance coverage through World Bank catastrophe bond

    Jamaica secures US$200m in hurricane insurance coverage through World Bank catastrophe bond

    KINGSTON, Jamaica – In a major step to strengthen the Caribbean nation’s disaster preparedness infrastructure, the World Bank announced Tuesday the successful launch of a new catastrophe bond that delivers $200 million in hurricane insurance protection to the Jamaican government.

    Structured and issued through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the new three-year instrument replaces an earlier $150 million catastrophe bond that was completely drawn down in 2025. The full payout came after Hurricane Melissa made landfall on the island in October that year, causing widespread destruction across coastal and inland communities.

    Jamaica’s Ministry of Finance released a statement Wednesday confirming that the 2026 bond issuance drew far stronger interest from the global investment community than the country’s prior offering in 2024. The new deal counted participation from 25 international investors, a marked increase from the 15 investors that took part in the 2024 issuance.

    As part of the IBRD’s long-running “capital at risk” notes program, this type of catastrophe bond offers a structured mechanism for developing nations to shift the financial burden of natural disaster damage from public balance sheets to global capital markets. Under the terms of the framework, the World Bank issues the bond on Jamaica’s behalf and executes a formal risk transfer agreement with the government to lock in the coverage.

    Payouts will be automatically triggered if a named tropical cyclone meets predefined geographic and intensity thresholds written into the bond contract. This streamlined trigger structure eliminates lengthy claims negotiations, ensuring funds are disbursed quickly to support emergency response and early recovery efforts in the aftermath of a major storm.

    The new catastrophe bond is a core component of Jamaica’s broader multi-layered disaster risk financing strategy. The national strategy is built around three key goals: boosting the country’s overall financial resilience to climate-driven extreme weather events, enabling rapid mobilization of resources for disaster response, and cutting long-term fiscal pressure that comes with unplanned disaster recovery spending.

    Fayval Williams, Jamaica’s Minister of Finance and the Public Service, praised the successful placement of the bond and extended gratitude to the international partners that supported the transaction. “Jamaica is incredibly grateful to the World Bank for its market guidance and placement of the catastrophe bond across a wide cross-section of global investors,” Williams said. “Additionally, Jamaica says ‘thank you’ to the Monetary Authority of Singapore, who will be supporting the transaction financially.”

    The bond is set to reach maturity on May 23, 2030, providing Jamaica with nearly four years of continuous hurricane coverage as the country adapts to growing climate risk in the Caribbean region.

  • WATCH: KSAMC continues Cleaner Kingston initiative

    WATCH: KSAMC continues Cleaner Kingston initiative

    In the heart of Kingston, Jamaica, a targeted urban revitalization effort is underway to transform the city’s congested downtown core. The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has ramped up ongoing cleanup work under its flagship Cleaner Kingston initiative, tackling accumulated waste, unauthorized street obstructions, and a specific issue that has hindered local law enforcement: makeshift tarps blocking the view of police surveillance cameras.

    During a recent on-site cleanup activity on New Chapel Lane, KSAMC City Engineer Xavier Chevannes explained that the operation was launched in response to formal concerns raised by the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Local police reported that the unregulated tarps, often set up by street vendors to shade their wares, were significantly obscuring camera lines of sight across downtown districts, undermining the effectiveness of the city’s public safety monitoring infrastructure and slowing police enforcement of local ordinances.

    Beyond removing existing debris and obstructions, Chevannes outlined a coordinated long-term strategy developed in partnership with local police to sustain the gains of the cleanup. The plan is designed to achieve three core goals: keeping targeted public areas clear of unauthorized obstructions, restoring unimpeded vehicle and pedestrian movement along downtown roadways, and establishing formal, designated vending zones that allow street vendors to operate legally without blocking public infrastructure.

    To prevent the reaccumulation of waste and unauthorized obstructions after initial cleanup work is completed, the KSAMC has put in place formal terms of reference for its internal enforcement department. The department will conduct regular, scheduled follow-up patrols and enforcement operations to maintain the cleanliness and accessibility of treated areas.

    Chevannes added that early engagement with the local vending community has been far more positive than initially anticipated. Many vendors have expressed their own desire for a cleaner, more accessible downtown environment that draws more customers, and to date, the community has fully cooperated with cleanup teams and welcomed the municipal government’s intervention.

    As of the latest update, three major downtown thoroughfares – Beckford Street, Heywood Street, and New Chapel Lane – have already been fully washed and cleared as part of the initiative. The ongoing cleanup drive is scheduled to continue every weekend, with additional downtown streets slated for treatment in the coming weeks as the project expands across the city center.

  • Gonzalo Castillo announces reinstatement of U.S. visa

    Gonzalo Castillo announces reinstatement of U.S. visa

    In a public announcement shared via social media on Tuesday, Gonzalo Castillo, a one-time presidential contender from the Dominican Liberation Party, revealed that U.S. authorities have restored his 10-year non-immigrant visa, a move he has openly praised.

    Castillo took to the platform X, formerly Twitter, to extend his gratitude to the U.S. government, current U.S. President Donald Trump, and Leah Francis Campos, the U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, for facilitating the decision. According to Castillo, the reinstatement of his travel document embodies the core principles of freedom, due process, and respect for fundamental rights that the United States is globally recognized for upholding. He particularly noted the significance of this ruling coming as the U.S. marks the 250th anniversary of its founding.

    The visa had been revoked by U.S. authorities years earlier, following the launch of Operation Calamar, a high-profile Dominican corruption investigation. In this sprawling case, Dominican public prosecutors have leveled allegations against a group of former government officials, claiming they diverted billions of Dominican pesos through fraudulent and irregular payments for land expropriation projects. Prosecutors also allege that illegal bribes from the scheme were used to improperly fund political campaigns during the 2020 Dominican presidential election, in which Castillo ran as the Dominican Liberation Party’s candidate.

  • Shenseea scores 5th entry on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart with Daddy Yankee collaboration

    Shenseea scores 5th entry on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart with Daddy Yankee collaboration

    Jamaican dancehall and pop artist Shenseea has added another career milestone to her growing list of industry achievements, securing her fifth appearance on Billboard’s competitive Rhythmic Airplay chart. The new chart entry comes from her high-profile collaborative single *Echo (FIFA World Cup 2026)*, recorded alongside Puerto Rican reggaeton legend Daddy Yankee.

    For the tracking week ending May 30, the track made its first appearance on the chart at the 36th position, marking a solid opening for the globally focused release. Dropped on all major streaming and digital platforms on April 28, *Echo (FIFA World Cup 2026)* holds the distinction of being the third single pulled from the official compilation album for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a collection that showcases a diverse lineup of international music artists from across multiple genres.

    Shenseea’s history on the Rhythmic Airplay chart stretches back to 2022, when she landed her first spot on the ranking with the track *R U That*, a collaboration with Atlanta rap star 21 Savage. That debut track climbed as high as the 28th position during its chart run. Two years after her first entry, the artist notched her third chart appearance with *Work Me Out*, which featured Afrobeats icon Wizkid and peaked at the 33rd spot.

    In 2024, Shenseea earned her biggest success on the chart to date, scoring a number one hit with the remix of *Shake it to the Max (Fly)*, a collaborative project with fellow Caribbean artists Moliy, Skillibeng, and producer Silent Addy. Just a few months after that chart-topping win, she picked up her fourth Rhythmic Airplay entry with *Sugar Sweet*, a star-studded collaboration with pop icon Mariah Carey and R&B artist Kehlani that reached a peak position of 31st.

  • Holness appoints Antony Anderson to lead NaRRA

    Holness appoints Antony Anderson to lead NaRRA

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a formal announcement from a special post-cabinet press briefing held Monday, Prime Minister Andrew Holness confirmed that current Jamaican Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Major General Antony Anderson, will take the helm as the first chief executive officer of the newly launched National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA), with his term set to begin June 1. The appointment lands at a pivotal juncture for Jamaica, as the national government ramps up implementation of its post-Hurricane Melissa recovery and rebuilding program, while committing to upholding strict standards of accountability, transparent governance, and fiscal responsibility.

    Created to centralize coordination and advance Jamaica’s national agenda for reconstruction and long-term disaster resilience, NaRRA carries a broad mandate to accelerate the delivery of large-scale infrastructure, social, and economic recovery projects across every major sector of the country. Holness emphasized that Anderson’s career background aligns perfectly with the demands of the role at this critical moment, noting that the veteran leader brings a proven track record of discipline, unwavering integrity, and large-scale operational command that Jamaica’s rebuilding effort requires.

    “Jamaica is entering a period of reconstruction that must be defined by speed, but also by transparency, proper planning and accountability,” Holness stated. “His experience leading national institutions, responding to crises and strengthening disaster risk management systems makes him well-suited to drive this mandate. NaRRA’s mission is to build stronger, safer and more resilient communities.”

    The prime minister reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring every public dollar allocated to reconstruction directly advances Jamaica’s long-term development, national productivity, and sustained economic expansion. Anderson’s professional credentials span decades of leadership in public administration, national security, disaster response, institutional governance, and crisis management. Most recently, he chaired Jamaica’s post-Hurricane Beryl Disaster Risk Management Review Committee, a panel tasked with assessing gaps in the country’s hurricane response, distilling key lessons, and developing actionable recommendations to strengthen national disaster preparedness and resilience frameworks.

    In remarks following the announcement, Anderson framed the post-Hurricane Melissa recovery effort as a transformative opportunity for Jamaica, noting that the storm and accompanying financial resourcing have created space for national development on an unprecedented scale and at an accelerated pace. Even with the urgent need to get projects off the ground, he stressed, the work must be guided by deliberate planning, open contracting processes, clear approval workflows, and structured, time-bound execution that upholds public trust.

    Anderson argued that cross-sector infrastructure programs must be integrated strategically to maximize the impact of every public investment, with the core goal of building a foundation for improved public service delivery, higher productivity, and broad-based economic growth. Beyond short-term rebuilding, he emphasized that NaRRA’s work will have long-lasting implications for Jamaica’s national development trajectory.

    “Jamaica stands at a defining moment. The establishment of NaRRD (National Reconstruction & Resilience Department) as the precursor to NaRRA following Hurricane Melissa represents more than a reconstruction initiative; it is an opportunity to embed resilience, climate adaptation, fiscal discipline, and institutional integrity into the nation’s long-term development architecture,” Anderson said.

    Drawing on his experience leading large national institutions through crisis conditions and his recent work reviewing disaster risk systems after Hurricane Beryl, Anderson confirmed he is prepared to deliver the strategic leadership, operational oversight, and fiduciary accountability required to execute NaRRA’s mandate at scale. Holness echoed that confidence, noting that Anderson’s leadership will be central to balancing urgent progress with the strict discipline needed to protect public funds, coordinate cross-agency major projects, and deliver lasting, nationwide benefits.

    Moving forward, NaRRA will play a central coordinating role in integrating a wide range of recovery projects — including new and upgraded infrastructure, affordable housing, public facilities, critical utilities, roads, bridges, and community resilience programs — into a unified national strategy. The authority will also advance the government’s broader core objective: ensuring that post-Hurricane Melissa reconstruction does not just repair damaged infrastructure, but strengthens Jamaica’s long-term capacity for inclusive growth, reliable public service delivery, improved productivity, and climate resilience that protects communities for decades to come.

  • The Bahamas issues travel ban amid Ebola outbreak

    The Bahamas issues travel ban amid Ebola outbreak

    The Caribbean nation of The Bahamas has become the latest country to implement travel restrictions targeting three African nations grappling with a regional Ebola outbreak, barring all incoming travelers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.

    The temporary entry prohibition was announced publicly in an official press statement released by the country’s Davis administration this week, confirming that the policy was drafted in direct response to formal guidance issued by The Bahamas’ Ministry of Health and Wellness. The restrictive measure went into effect immediately upon announcement, with an initial 30-day validity period that will be reassessed by public health officials at the end of that window to determine whether extension or adjustment is needed.

    In the official statement, the administration emphasized that the ban was enacted as a proactive precautionary public health step, rooted in the government’s core obligation to safeguard the health of domestic residents, visiting tourists, and the broader national community. “The Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue to monitor developments of the African outbreak closely and will provide updated guidance to the government as shifting circumstances demand,” the statement noted. It added that the country’s Department of Immigration, working in tandem with national border control agencies and public health institutions, will roll out mandatory entry screening protocols at all of The Bahamas’ ports of entry to enforce the ban.

    Alongside the new entry ban, The Bahamas’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a formal travel advisory urging all Bahamian citizens to cancel all non-essential travel to the three restricted countries. The advisory also urges Bahamians to exercise heightened caution when planning travel to eight additional African nations: Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, and Zambia, all of which neighbor current outbreak zones.

    The government’s policy update comes as multiple regions across Central Africa are fighting a growing Ebola outbreak that has already resulted in hundreds of confirmed infections and deaths. The announcement also follows closely on the heels of a recent public health scare at one of the country’s major international airports, which unfolded after two foreign travelers arrived in The Bahamas on a British Airways flight originating from London’s Heathrow Airport this past Friday.

    The two passengers, one a citizen of the United Kingdom and the other a French national, had completed a three-week stay in the Democratic Republic of Congo before traveling onward to Ethiopia, and eventually to New Providence, The Bahamas’ most populous island. During routine entry health screening at Lynden Pindling International Airport, both men were found to have low-grade fevers, prompting health officials to immediately isolate them on-site before transferring them to the Princess Margaret Hospital for further monitoring and testing.

    As of the latest official update from Health Minister Dr. Michael Darville, the two individuals remain in isolation and are reported to be in stable, good condition. No additional Ebola-specific symptoms have been detected in either patient to date. “All required diagnostic testing is currently underway, and we will issue a public statement to media outlets as soon as the process is complete,” Darville said.

    Ebola is a rare, frequently severe and often fatal infectious disease caused by a group of viruses in the Orthoebolavirus genus. Early symptoms of infection typically include fever, intense headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, sore throat, and general weakness. In severe cases that progress, the disease advances to cause vomiting, diarrhea, and severe abdominal pain. To date, the Bahamas has not recorded any confirmed domestically detected cases of Ebola.

  • Hibbert returns to action at JBL Jump Fest in Slovakia

    Hibbert returns to action at JBL Jump Fest in Slovakia

    One of track and field’s most exciting young prospects, double World Under-20 record holder Jaydon Hibbert, will step back into competitive action this Wednesday, taking on the men’s triple jump at the innovative JBL Jump Fest hosted in the Slovakian city of Košice.

    This event marks a break from traditional athletics formats: rather than being held inside a closed stadium, the competition will unfold right on Košice’s city streets, on a custom-built jump facility designed specifically for the meet. Hibbert will not be short on elite competition, headlined by his fellow Jamaican compatriot Jordan Scott, who currently holds the world’s leading mark in the event this season.

    Hibbert’s return has been highly anticipated by fans, as the young jumper has not appeared in any official competition since his fourth-place finish at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. That performance in Paris came with notable context: then 19-year-old Hibbert entered the final round of jumps just three centimeters outside of medal position, but was forced to sit out his final attempt after suffering an injury. He also fouled on both his fourth and fifth jumps, derailing his shot at an Olympic medal.

    Beyond the off-track competition context, Hibbert remains in the headlines following a high-profile eligibility dispute earlier this year: he was one of four Jamaican athletes who saw their applications to transfer national allegiance to Turkey rejected outright by global governing body World Athletics, leaving his long-term competitive future unclear for months.

    For his part, Scott enters Wednesday’s competition in red-hot form. The silver medalist from this year’s World Athletics Indoor Championships not long ago set a new personal best and world-leading mark of 17.66 meters at a recent meet in Puerto Rico, putting him as the favorite to beat heading into the street event. He will not be the only other elite contender in the field, either: Cuba’s Lazaro Martinez, who currently ranks sixth globally with a 17.14m season best, will join American jumper Russell Martinez and Cuban competitor Cristian Napoles in the start list.

    The meet also features a competitive women’s long jump field, led by two more Jamaican athletes: World Athletics Indoor Championships finalist Nia Robinson and Ackelia Smith. Smith comes into the contest fresh off a strong runner-up finish at a German meet this past Sunday, where she hit a new 2024 season best of 6.81 meters. For Robinson, Wednesday’s competition will carry extra weight: it marks her first outdoor competition of the entire 2024 season.

  • Caribbean Week opens in New York on June 1

    Caribbean Week opens in New York on June 1

    Leading tourism and political leaders from across the Caribbean are preparing to gather in New York City for the 2024 iteration of Caribbean Week, a major annual industry event set to kick off on June 1, hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). The high-profile delegation bringing together top officials from multiple Caribbean jurisdictions includes Albert Bryan Jr., the elected Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, Dr. Natalio Wheatley, Premier of the British Virgin Islands, and Ian Gooding-Edghill, Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport, who also serves as the current chairman of the CTO.

    The Barbados-headquartered regional tourism body confirmed that this year’s event marks the return of Caribbean Week to New York, with the timing intentionally aligned to overlap with the start of Caribbean American Heritage Month. Designed to showcase the breadth and diversity of Caribbean tourism offerings to global audiences, the 2024 gathering has been framed around the unifying theme “One Caribbean: Infinite Experiences”.

    In a statement ahead of the event, CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper emphasized the outsize importance of New York’s Caribbean Week as a foundational platform for the regional tourism sector. “Caribbean Week in New York is a critical platform for collaboration, strategy development and celebration of our region’s tourism industry,” Regis-Prosper said. “We are delighted to welcome Governor Bryan, Premier Wheatley, Minister Gooding-Edghill and senior tourism leaders from across the Caribbean as we highlight the strength, resilience and infinite potential of our destinations.”

    Ahead of the week’s full schedule of events, organizers have confirmed key speaking roles for the attending leaders. Governor Bryan, who currently serves as the ninth elected governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, will deliver the official opening address at the event’s opening ceremony. CTO chairman Gooding-Edghill is tapped to give the gathering’s keynote address, while Premier Wheatley will take part in a featured breakout session titled “Around the Caribbean in 60 Minutes”.

    Beyond the opening remarks and keynote addresses, the full Caribbean Week agenda is packed with targeted strategic discussions focused on the most pressing issues and future opportunities for Caribbean tourism. Topics on the agenda include tourism sector leadership, next-generation destination marketing strategies, expanding and improving airlift connectivity to regional destinations, advancing more inclusive tourism practices, building long-term sustainability across the sector, and fostering innovation to power the next generation of Caribbean tourism growth.

  • Attorney loses appeal over $862k missing funds

    Attorney loses appeal over $862k missing funds

    A senior Bahamian attorney has lost his final bid to reverse a disbarment order after the Court of Appeal of the Bahamas recently upheld a disciplinary ruling that removed him from the national roll of legal practitioners over the misappropriation of hundreds of thousands of dollars in client funds.

    The case dates back to a property purchase transaction, when Craig Butler, a senior member of the Bahamas Bar, was entrusted with $862,287.43 on behalf of local food enterprise AML Foods Limited. When the misappropriation came to light, AML Foods pursued both civil and disciplinary action, securing a civil judgment against Butler for the full sum that remains unsatisfied to this day, more than eight years after the funds were first misappropriated.

    In July 2024, the Disciplinary Tribunal of the Bahamas Bar Council heard the disciplinary complaint against Butler, who formally admitted to the misconduct before the body but contested the severity of the proposed punishment. After deliberation, the tribunal ordered Butler’s disbarment, weighing multiple key factors including the gravity of his violation of professional standards, the critical need to safeguard client assets, the requirement for a strong deterrent to prevent similar misconduct across the legal profession, and the significant harm caused to AML Foods and its stakeholders.

    In its original ruling, the tribunal emphasized that the core of the attorney-client relationship is built on unwavering trust, especially when handling client finances. “It is understood that the client’s monies are sacrosanct and should not be used by the Attorney for any purpose other than what they were provided for,” the ruling stated, adding that no personal hardship, regardless of how urgent, justifies a legal practitioner diverting client funds for their own use. The tribunal also noted that Butler’s senior standing at the bar made his violation even more unacceptable, and that a severe penalty was necessary to send a clear warning to other legal professionals.

    Butler launched an appeal against the disbarment order, arguing among other claims that the penalty was excessively harsh. He contended that no finding of dishonesty had been recorded against him, and that the tribunal failed to properly account for mitigating factors including his reported health issues, strained financial position, and stated efforts to repay the misappropriated sum. He also claimed the tribunal had acted inconsistently compared to other disciplinary cases against attorneys, and raised procedural complaints over the handling of his case. Representing himself during the appeal, Butler also sought to introduce new evidence including property valuation documents and additional medical records to support his claims.

    However, the Court of Appeal rejected every one of Butler’s arguments, finding no legal basis to overturn the tribunal’s original ruling. The court clarified that disbarment is not restricted exclusively to cases proven to involve dishonesty, referencing past precedent that supports removing practitioners whose conduct falls far short of the integrity and trustworthiness required by the legal profession. Justices also confirmed that the tribunal did properly consider all mitigating factors Butler cited, noting that the complete lack of restitution to AML Foods over more than eight years heavily weighed against a more lenient penalty. The court added that Butler’s claims of health issues were only briefly mentioned before the tribunal and supported by no concrete evidence.

    The appellate court refused to admit Butler’s new evidence, ruling that almost all of the material could and should have been presented to the original tribunal during the disciplinary hearing. The court also addressed repeated delays that plagued the appeal process, caused by procedural errors on Butler’s part tied to the filing of appeal records and legal submissions, noting that he had already been granted multiple extensions and opportunities to correct these issues. Justices dismissed Butler’s claims of inconsistent treatment compared to other disciplinary cases, finding that the examples he provided were either unverifiable or involved materially different facts. All additional claims of procedural unfairness and allegations against the Bar Council’s legal representative were dismissed as “wholly unmeritorious”.

    In its final ruling, the Court of Appeal confirmed that the disciplinary tribunal acted fairly throughout the process and correctly exercised its statutory authority under the Bahamas’ Legal Profession Act. Butler has been ordered to pay the full legal costs of the appeal process.