Carib Scope

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  • Larry and The Mento Boys to re-release ‘Jamaica Farewell’ album in summer

    Larry and The Mento Boys to re-release ‘Jamaica Farewell’ album in summer

    In the vibrant landscape of Jamaican popular music, a beloved early classic is making a comeback: Larry and The Mento Boys’ 2013 album *Jamaica Farewell*, a collection of iconic mento tracks, is set to be reissued this summer by Tad’s International Record. The project anchors itself to the original *Hill And Gully*, a foundational mento standard that has recently seen new popularity as the inspiration for the viral Hill And Gully riddim from acclaimed dancehall producer Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor, led by Masicka’s bold hit track Slip & Slide.

    The reissued *Jamaica Farewell* features 18 tracks, drawing heavily from the core mento songbook. Standouts include fan-favorite staples like the patriotic *Island In The Sun*, *Shame And Scandal*, *Big Bamboo*, and the album’s namesake *Hill And Gully*. Beyond traditional mento fare, the album also includes the band’s distinctive interpretations of three Bob Marley classics — *No Woman No Cry*, *Three Little Birds*, and *One Drop* — plus a cover of *Ma & Pa*, the track that first rose to fame through Trinidadian performer Lord Creator.

    Tad Dawkins, founder and leader of Tad’s International Record, shared the backstory of the re-release with Jamaica’s *Observer Online*. He explained he was first introduced to Larry and The Mento Boys by veteran broadcaster and performer Bob Clarke, who spent decades entertaining guests at tourist hotels across Jamaica’s St Ann and St Mary parishes, where he built a longstanding connection with the band.

    “There’s something timeless about mento that carries listeners back to simpler, earlier days, and the tracks on this album are genuinely great,” Dawkins said. “Even today, there remains a strong, dedicated market for authentic Jamaican mento music.”

    For many music scholars, mento holds the distinction of being Jamaica’s first commercially popular genre, laying the cultural and sonic groundwork for reggae and dancehall that would rise to global fame in later decades. The genre broke through to mainstream audiences across the 1940s and 1950s, driven by charismatic performers like Lord Flea, who earned enough international notoriety to appear on iconic U.S. variety programs including *The Perry Como Show*.

    Mento retained its place on Jamaican radio through the 1970s, even as roots-reggae dominated the national music scene, largely thanks to the work of legendary artist Stanley Beckford. Beckford scored multiple major hits with tracks like *Soldering* — which later received a high-profile cover from pop duo Hall and Oates — *Broom Weed*, and *Leave my Kiselo*, and he took home top honors at Jamaica’s Festival Song Competition on multiple occasions.

    In more recent decades, Portland-based group The Jolly Boys have led a renewed interest in traditional mento. Their 2010 album *Great Expectation* earned rave reviews from leading international outlets including *The New York Times*, and opened the door for the band to headline tour dates across the United States and United Kingdom, introducing the genre to a whole new generation of global listeners.

  • NFL star Diggs cleared of assaulting personal chef

    NFL star Diggs cleared of assaulting personal chef

    In a courtroom verdict that closed a high-profile legal case tied to a former National Football League star, former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been fully cleared of all assault charges brought by his live-in personal chef, Jamila Adams. The jury’s ruling came Tuesday at a courthouse in Massachusetts, where the 32-year-old athlete was found not guilty on two counts: a felony charge of strangulation and suffocation, and a lesser misdemeanor count of assault and battery. Diggs, dressed in a muted gray suit and formal tie, displayed a calm demeanor as the verdict was read aloud, responding with a quiet nod to the jury’s decision.

    The legal dispute traces back to December of last year, when Adams filed a police report alleging the assault grew out of an ongoing disagreement over compensation. According to official police documentation, Adams claimed Diggs struck her in the face before attempting to choke her by wrapping the crook of his elbow around her neck. She also confirmed during proceedings that the pair had previously shared a consensual sexual relationship. Diggs entered his initial not guilty plea in a February court appearance, which came just five days after he took the field with the Patriots in this year’s Super Bowl, thrusting the legal matter into the national spotlight.

    Throughout the trial, Diggs’s defense team rejected all allegations of misconduct outright, arguing that no assault ever occurred. They drew the jury’s attention to alleged financial demands that Adams’s legal representatives made just before the trial was set to begin, framing the accusations as an attempt to extract improper payment from the high-profile athlete. After two full days of witness testimony and legal argument, the jury retired for deliberations that lasted roughly 90 minutes before returning the unanimous not guilty verdict, as reported by local Massachusetts media outlets.

    Diggs, who was released by the New England Patriots earlier this year, is currently a free agent on the NFL market. Off the field, he has been the subject of celebrity gossip for his relationship with renowned rapper Cardi B. The pair welcomed their first child together in November 2023, though multiple entertainment outlets have confirmed the couple split shortly after the birth.

  • Rolling Stones announce release of new album ‘Foreign Tongues’

    Rolling Stones announce release of new album ‘Foreign Tongues’

    One of the most iconic acts in rock and roll history, Britain’s legendary Rolling Stones, has made a thrilling announcement for fans across the globe: their 25th full-length studio album *Foreign Tongues* will officially hit shelves and streaming platforms on July 10. The reveal, made public via the band’s online channels on Tuesday, came paired with the immediate release of the album’s lead single, “In The Stars,” giving listeners an early taste of the new project.

    This upcoming release marks the band’s second studio album in under three years, following 2021’s *Hackney Diamonds* — a record that marked an extraordinary comeback for the group, as it was their first new studio collection in 18 years. *Hackney Diamonds* went on to top album charts in more than 20 countries and earned widespread critical praise from music reviewers, building massive anticipation for whatever the band would create next.

    To kick off promotion for the new album, the band’s three surviving founding and core members gathered in New York for a public promotional event hosted by beloved comedian Conan O’Brien. Founding members Mick Jagger (lead vocals) and Keith Richards (guitar), both 82 years old, were joined by 78-year-old bassist and longtime member Ronnie Wood in conversation, where they shared behind-the-scenes insights into the recording process and even gave attendees a sneak preview of several unheard tracks from the upcoming record. Behind-the-scenes footage of the trio working together in the recording studio was also shared to the band’s official Instagram channel to accompany the announcement, giving fans an intimate look at the album’s creation.

    When discussing what keeps the veteran band creating new music decades after their rise to fame, Jagger emphasized that the joy of the craft remains undimmed. “We’re still having a lot of fun,” Jagger said, adding, “It’s a lot of fun, but also a lot of concentration.” During the on-stage conversation, O’Brien complimented Jagger on his still-powerful, distinctive vocals, noting that many performers see their vocal ability fade with age, while Jagger’s remains full of force and clarity. Jagger responded with a signature dry quip that drew laughter from the crowd: “Well, I was taking a lot more drugs in 1968.” He followed the joke with the simple secret behind his sustained vocal skill: “The secret is practice… it’s simple.”

    Andrew Watt, one of the lead producers on *Foreign Tongues*, told AFP that collaborating with the legendary band was a career-defining experience. “I had the time of my life. I’m the biggest fan in the world,” Watt said of working on the project. The new album will also feature high-profile guest appearances from two other iconic rock figures: former Beatles bassist and frontman Sir Paul McCartney, and The Cure’s legendary lead singer and guitarist Robert Smith.

    The official announcement puts an end to weeks of growing fan speculation that a new record was on the way. Last month, the band quietly released a limited-edition vinyl-only single under the alias “The Cockroaches” — a stage name the Stones have used for decades to play unannounced secret club shows. The one-off track “Rough And Twisted” was sold exclusively at select independent record stores, priced at exactly £10.07 ($13.64) in the UK — a detail that sharp-eyed fans quickly connected to a projected July 10 (10/07) release date, proving their speculation correct.

    Notably absent from the event was any announcement of a supporting world tour, a staple of the band’s activity for decades. Multiple media outlets have reported that while the band’s management did discuss the possibility of a tour, the idea was ultimately set aside out of concern for the health risks that strenuous global touring would pose for the band’s octogenarian core members.

  • Reparations to take centre stage at Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival with Repair

    Reparations to take centre stage at Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival with Repair

    This year’s highly anticipated Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival will introduce a fresh, thought-provoking addition to its cultural programming: a satirical musical production titled *Repair*, set to take the stage at Castries’ Anchorage Car Park on May 5. Slated as a core offering of the festival’s popular Art and the City initiative, the production weaves together original music, sharp humor, and intimate storytelling to push audiences toward a deeper examination of the lingering links between Saint Lucia’s colonial past, its current social and economic hurdles, and the transformative changes needed to build a more equitable future.Organized and sponsored by The Repair Campaign, a local advocacy group focused on advancing reparatory justice, *Repair* is designed to open the often complex conversation around reparations to a broad, general audience through approachable, engaging art. Sherween Gonzales, a community organizer based in Saint Lucia who works with The Repair Campaign, explains that the musical frames identity, collective community, and reparatory justice in a format that feels accessible rather than intimidating.

    “As an educator, I have long believed that the arts stand as one of the most powerful tools to connect with people across all backgrounds,” Gonzales shared in an interview ahead of the performance. “*Repair* draws audiences in through laughter, song, and relatable narrative, inviting quiet reflection while still asking hard, necessary questions about who we are as a nation, what inherited legacies we carry, and what tangible reparations could look like for the people of Saint Lucia.”

    The production features a cast of local Saint Lucian performers bringing the story to life, including Christelle Lee in the lead role of Ma Ayo, and Kolbe Devaux portraying the character Robert. Lee emphasizes that the musical’s core message centers on the unbroken connection between historical harm and modern daily life in Saint Lucia.

    “Every part of our lives today is woven through with the legacy of our history,” Lee explained. “The centuries of subjugation, torture, and trauma that our ancestors endured did not stay in the past — it has quietly shaped our collective mindset, influenced how we engage with the world around us, how we view and trust public systems, and even how we show up for one another as community members. That is precisely why this story matters. This play does not lecture; it invites you to reflect, to question, and to reconnect with a history that still lives inside all of us.”

    Devaux echoed that sentiment, noting that *Repair* intentionally reframes reparations from a distant, abstract political debate to a relatable, community-centered conversation rooted in Saint Lucian culture. For the cast and organizing team, the goal is to turn what is often seen as a niche policy topic into a personal, shared reflection.

    “The question of reparations grows more urgent for our nation every day, and we owe it to our people to seize every opportunity to educate and start conversations,” Devaux said. “For me, bringing this conversation to audiences through theater is the perfect combination of art and activism. It creates a new space to share important information with the public, taking a cultural art form that is often dismissed as just entertainment and reimagining it to create real, meaningful impact for every person who attends. That aligns completely with the core goals our team holds for every performance we do.”

    Admission to *Repair* is completely free for all attendees, making the conversation accessible to any member of the public who wishes to participate. The performance is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. at the Anchorage Car Park venue in central Castries.

  • Young Antiguan Artist Gets Global Spotlight After Giving IShowSpeed Hand-Drawn Portrait

    Young Antiguan Artist Gets Global Spotlight After Giving IShowSpeed Hand-Drawn Portrait

    A rising young creative from the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda has earned sudden global recognition after a spontaneous on-camera encounter with one of the internet’s biggest streaming personalities.

    During IShowSpeed’s high-profile visit to the twin-island country, 19-year-old Lemuel Richards seized the chance to share his handcrafted work with the streamer, presenting him with an intricately detailed, personally created portrait. The exchange unfolded live on IShowSpeed’s broadcast, which draws millions of viewers from across the globe, turning a small local interaction into a viral moment for the emerging artist.

    Footage of the meeting shows IShowSpeed reacting with genuine surprise and heartfelt gratitude, immediately holding the finished portrait up to his broadcast camera to give his worldwide audience an up-close look at Richards’ skill. Within minutes of the live stream going out, social media platforms flooded with praise for the young Antiguan creator, with viewers commending both the technical precision of his drawing and his boldness in approaching the global star to share his work.

    The unexpected breakthrough moment does more than just lift Richards’ personal career: it also puts a spotlight on the underrecognized creative talent among Antigua and Barbuda’s young generation, introducing a new community of artists to an enormous international audience that may not have previously engaged with local Caribbean creative work.

  • A WIN FOR MOM

    A WIN FOR MOM

    On a memorable Saturday evening in Port of Spain at the annual Bocas Lit Fest prize-giving ceremony, literary history was made as Guyanese-Canadian writer Tessa McWatt claimed the overall 2026 OCM Bocas Prize, becoming the first author from Guyana to take home the region’s most prestigious literary honor. In an intimate, emotionally charged acceptance speech delivered at the Old Fire Station venue on Abercromby Street, McWatt centered her landmark win on the woman at the heart of her award-winning memoir: her mother.

    Born in Guyana and now based in Canada while holding a creative writing professorship at the UK’s University of East Anglia, McWatt opened her remarks by expressing heartfelt gratitude for the chance to finally attend the festival in person. The 2020 iteration of the event saw McWatt unable to travel from London due to global COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, making this in-person acceptance a full-circle moment for the long-connected Caribbean writer. “For someone who left the Caribbean at a young age, this event and others like it keep me connected to my essence,” she told the packed audience.

    McWatt’s winning work, *The Snag: A Mother, a Forest, and Wild Grief*, is a deeply personal memoir that weaves together themes of familial loss, inherited memory, and natural renewal, with her mother serving as the book’s emotional anchor. “This honour is really for my mother, the central figure of this book — the proud Guyanese woman who bore me,” McWatt said. “She is my heart’s guide.”

    The author shared that even as her mother lives with declining cognitive health in a care home, a copy of the memoir now rests beside her bed, and McWatt visits regularly. Before traveling to Trinidad and Tobago for the ceremony, McWatt told her mother of the nomination, and received a characteristically vibrant response: “She said, ‘Oh, I’m coming—bring me.’” McWatt drew warm laughter and applause from the crowd as she recalled her mother’s lifelong love of Caribbean culture, noting that even into her seventies, she traveled annually to Trinidad’s Carnival, “jumping up in a band wearing very little.”

    Though her mother can no longer read due to her dementia, McWatt said her mother still recognizes herself in the memoir’s photographs, including one of her playing piano. *The Snag* confronts the grief and complexity of caring for a parent with dementia, while drawing parallels between the natural cycles of the forest—decay and regrowth—to process the experience. A well-established author with 11 published books spanning fiction, non-fiction, short stories, essays, and musical libretti, McWatt struck a humble tone, emphasizing that she never expected to claim the top prize. “I told her the book was nominated for a very important prize, but I wasn’t going to win because the writers I was up against were among the very best in the world,” she explained. “I told her I had already won, just being on the list among these incredible writers.” She closed her remarks by thanking her network of supporters, from family and friends to her literary agent and publishing teams across Canada and the UK. This is not McWatt’s first recognition from the OCM Bocas Prize: she took home the non-fiction category award in 2021 for *Shame on Me: An Anatomy of Race and Belonging*.

    Saturday’s ceremony also celebrated other standout contributors to Caribbean literature. Canisia Lubrin won the prize’s poetry category for *The World After Rain*, while Justin Haynes took home the fiction award for his debut novel *Ibis*. The 2026 Bocas Henry Swanzy Award for Distinguished Service to Caribbean Letters went to Guyanese-Canadian literary scholar and critic Frank Birbalsingh, marking a second Guyanese-Canadian honoree of the night.

    The 16th edition of the Bocas Lit Fest, one of the world’s premier celebrations of Caribbean literary work, concluded the following evening with a rousing grand finale: the National Poetry Slam held at the National Academy for the Performing Arts.

  • WATCH: Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister ‘Gassy Dread’ Performs hit song with Ishowspeed

    WATCH: Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister ‘Gassy Dread’ Performs hit song with Ishowspeed

    A surprising cross-sector collaboration between a Caribbean head of government and a global internet personality has taken social media by storm, drawing millions of views and sparking widespread discussion across online platforms. Gaston Browne, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda—who has picked up the playful nickname “Gassy Dread” among online communities—joined forces with popular American streamer and rapper iShowSpeed for an energetic live performance of a viral hit song.

    The unexpected duet, which was filmed and shared widely across Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, shows Browne leaning into the lighthearted moment, matching iShowSpeed’s high energy as the pair performed together. The Prime Minister’s willingness to step outside the bounds of formal political life and engage with modern internet culture has surprised many viewers, turning the clip into a viral sensation within hours of its first upload.

    iShowSpeed, 19, one of the most followed young content creators on the internet with over 200 million combined followers across his channels, has been touring across the Caribbean in recent weeks, connecting with fans and collaborating with local figures. His stop in Antigua and Barbuda turned into an unforgettable moment when Browne agreed to join him on stage for the performance, deviating from the typical schedule of official meetings that usually mark a leader’s public engagements.

    Reactions to the video have been split across social media. Many online users have praised the Prime Minister for his approachability and ability to connect with younger generations, noting that the casual collaboration helps humanize political leaders and bridge the gap between governance and popular youth culture. Others have raised questions about whether a sitting head of government should participate in this kind of informal entertainment content, arguing that it undermines the dignity of the office. Regardless of differing opinions, the video has already cemented its place as one of the most unexpected viral entertainment moments of the year, putting Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism and cultural profile in the global spotlight in an entirely unplanned way.

  • IshowSpeed feasts on Deer and Turtle meat in Barbuda for the first time

    IshowSpeed feasts on Deer and Turtle meat in Barbuda for the first time

    Popular young streaming personality IshowSpeed has shared a new culinary experience during his recent visit to the Caribbean island of Barbuda, marking the first time he has sampled both deer and turtle meat.

    The content creator, who has built a massive global following for his unfiltered, on-the-go vlogs and live streaming content, documented the entire meal for his audience. During the trip, local hosts arranged the traditional spread featuring the two wild meats, introducing Speed to the regional hunting and dining customs that are part of Barbuda’s local food culture.

    Footage from the stream shows the creator reacting honestly to the unfamiliar flavors, sharing his first impressions with viewers in his signature energetic style. The moment quickly circulated across social media platforms, with fans and commentators discussing the unique culinary experience and debating the cultural context of eating native game meats in the Caribbean.

    While turtle fishing is regulated in many parts of the world to protect vulnerable species, local authorities in Barbuda maintain sustainable, community-managed harvest programs that allow limited traditional consumption of turtle meat for residents and visitors. The trip itself marks one of many international excursions the streamer has taken this year to create diverse content for his millions of subscribers across YouTube and Twitch.

  • WATCH: “Unreal” — IShowSpeed Left Awestruck by Antigua’s Beauty During CalvinAir Helicopter Flight

    WATCH: “Unreal” — IShowSpeed Left Awestruck by Antigua’s Beauty During CalvinAir Helicopter Flight

    One of YouTube’s most high-profile content creators, IShowSpeed, has offered his global fanbase a front-row seat to the breathtaking natural beauty of the Caribbean island of Antigua, after a scenic helicopter flight with local operator CalvinAir left him completely lost for words. The 19-year-old streaming personality, famous for his unfiltered, energetic on-camera reactions, documented the entire aerial excursion in a viral clip that has already been viewed by millions of people across social media platforms.

    As the helicopter lifted off from the coast and climbed above the island, IShowSpeed pressed his face to the window to take in the sweeping views of Antigua’s iconic white-sand beaches, vivid turquoise waters, and lush green mountainous interior. Visibly shocked by the unrivaled scenery unfolding below him, the creator repeatedly described the landscape as “unreal,” his signature raw, enthusiastic reaction capturing how deeply the island’s beauty had impacted him.

    CalvinAir Helicopters, a well-regarded local tour provider that specializes in guided aerial excursions across Antigua and its surrounding neighbor Barbuda, offers visitors the rare chance to see the island’s 365 distinct beaches, hidden coves, and volcanic landmarks from a perspective that ground-based travel can never match. For IShowSpeed, who regularly draws hundreds of thousands of concurrent viewers to his streams focused on gaming, internet challenges, and lifestyle content, the trip marked a rare chance to showcase a lesser-known Caribbean travel destination to his predominantly young, global audience.

    The clip has quickly spread beyond the creator’s own fanbase, with tourism officials in Antigua already noting a noticeable uptick in social media interest in the island following the viral reaction. Many viewers who saw the clip commented that the creator’s genuine awe had put Antigua on their personal travel bucket lists, highlighting the growing power of major content creators to drive tourism attention to small island destinations.

  • FULL RESULTS: 2026 Labour Queen Pageant

    FULL RESULTS: 2026 Labour Queen Pageant

    The highly anticipated 2026 Labour Queen Pageant has concluded its annual competition, crowning a new champion and honoring a cohort of standout contestants across a range of competitive and special categories. Held to celebrate talent, leadership, and community connection among participants from regional constituencies, the pageant saw competitors from across the country vying for the prestigious title and substantial cash prizes.

    Ultimately, Queenela Williams representing St. Mary’s South emerged as the overall 2026 Labour Queen, capping off a dominant performance that earned her recognition across multiple competition segments. Following Williams in the final rankings were Tonya Phillips of St. John’s Rural South, who secured the 1st Runner-Up position, Maydoria Smith of St. John’s Rural West, who took 2nd Runner-Up, and Aliyah Andrew of St. John’s Rural East, who claimed 3rd Runner-Up.

    Beyond the overall final placements, the pageant distributed a series of special awards to recognize contestants’ unique strengths and contributions across different areas of competition. Williams continued her winning streak by taking home three additional honors: the Outstanding Progress award, Best Speech, and Most True to Theme, cementing her status as one of the most versatile competitors in this year’s event.

    Maydoria Smith, 2nd Runner-Up, also notched multiple wins in competitive categories, earning both Best Swimwear and Best Evening Wear for her standout showings in those segments. Jonelle Encarnacion, representing All Saints East & St. Luke, picked up two awards: the prestigious Leadership Award and Best Performing Talent, for her strong public presence and dynamic artistic performance.

    Other special award recipients included Jessica Tracy of St. John’s Rural North, who was named Miss Congeniality for her warm rapport with fellow contestants; Julissa Cato of St. John’s City West, who earned the Miss Photogenic title for her striking on-camera presence; Treveisha Adams of St. John’s Rural West, who received the Sisterhood Award for her commitment to lifting up her fellow competitors; and Mia Griffith, also of St. John’s City West, who took home the Best Interview award for her thoughtful, sharp responses to judges’ questions.

    In line with the pageant’s longstanding tradition of rewarding participants for their hard work and dedication, substantial cash prizes were awarded to the top four finalists. The overall winner, Queenela Williams, received a grand prize of $25,000, while 1st Runner-Up Tonya Phillips took home $15,000, 2nd Runner-Up Maydoria Smith earned $10,000, and 3rd Runner-Up Aliyah Andrew received $8,000.