Carib Scope

分类： environment

  • Flash-flood warning now in effect

    Flash-flood warning now in effect

    Barbados’s national weather agency has escalated its flood alert level, turning an initial flash flood watch into a full active warning Monday morning as a slow-moving tropical wave drenches the island with persistent moderate to heavy rainfall. The Barbados Meteorological Services (BMS) announced the upgraded warning at 8:30 a.m. local time, a little more than two hours after first placing the country on flash flood watch as the storm system began moving into the area.

    Meteorologists explain that the tropical wave is moving through an atmospheric environment that supports continued rainfall, with total accumulations projected to reach between two and three inches across the island by the time the system passes. This level of rainfall in a short period has put the island at high risk of disruptive and potentially dangerous flooding, especially in regions that sit at lower elevations that are naturally prone to collecting runoff.

    The BMS has outlined a range of hazardous impacts that residents and visitors should prepare for over the coming hours. Water running off from higher ground increases the risk of soil erosion and landslides on steep or already damaged slopes, while standing water is expected to accumulate on public roadways and agricultural fields. Flooding is particularly likely at the base of hills and along low-lying coastal roads, with some routes expected to become fully impassable, leading to widespread travel disruptions and traffic delays. Fast-flowing floodwater also poses a threat as it can pick up and carry large debris and objects downstream, creating hidden hazards for anyone caught in flood zones.

    In addition to the upgraded flash flood warning, Barbados remains under a severe thunderstorm watch that was issued at 7:50 a.m. the same day, also tied to the incoming tropical wave. Intense downpours will bring the risk of frequent cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, which the BMS warns could damage critical electrical infrastructure, leading to unplanned power outages across parts of the island.

    Both the active flash flood warning and severe thunderstorm watch are scheduled to remain in place until noon local time the same day, though the BMS notes that alerts could be lifted earlier if weather conditions improve more quickly than forecast. The agency has urged all members of the public to stay tuned to official weather channels and emergency management updates for the latest information as the tropical wave continues to impact the island.

  • Flash-flood watch in effect for Barbados

    Flash-flood watch in effect for Barbados

    Barbados remains on high alert for flash flooding Thursday, after national meteorological officials issued a watch that will stay in effect through midday, as an approaching tropical wave dumps steady moderate to heavy rain across the Caribbean island. The Barbados Meteorological Services (BMS), which first put the watch in place at 6 a.m. local time, noted that unstable atmospheric conditions from the tropical wave have already brought measurable rainfall to the island, with as much as one inch of precipitation recorded overnight ahead of the system’s full arrival. Forecasters project that an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain could fall across Barbados before the system moves past, bringing not just persistent downpours but also the risk of scattered thunderstorms through the morning. The primary hazard associated with the heavy rain, officials say, is flash flooding in low-lying and poor drainage zones, where standing water can accumulate quickly. Expected impacts extend beyond flooded neighborhoods: standing water on major roads and agricultural fields is already beginning to disrupt daily movement, with local officials warning residents to prepare for extended commuting delays and occasional unplanned traffic diversions in hard-hit areas. Beyond transportation disruptions, the BMS warned that rising water levels in small ponds, streams and other natural water bodies are likely, along with increased risk of soil erosion on sloped terrain and unwanted flooding of private residential and commercial properties. Officials noted that the watch could be lifted earlier than the scheduled noon expiration if weather conditions improve rapidly, but they also emphasized that the alert could be upgraded to a more urgent flash-flood warning if rainfall rates exceed current projections and more dangerous flooding develops. Residents across the island are advised to monitor local weather updates closely, avoid flooded low-lying areas, and heed any instructions from local emergency management officials through the duration of the alert.

  • Belize Partners With The Nature Conservancy to Protect Its Rivers

    Belize Partners With The Nature Conservancy to Protect Its Rivers

    As climate and human activity continue to put growing strain on critical freshwater ecosystems across Central America, the government of Belize has formalized a new collaborative partnership with global conservation leader The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to protect and restore the country’s vulnerable rivers and freshwater networks. The signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), announced August 16, 2026, establishes a structured long-term framework for joint action across multiple core conservation priorities.

    Under the terms of the agreement, the two partners will work together on integrated watershed planning, systematic ecological monitoring, standardized data collection, public outreach campaigns to build community awareness, and coordinated engagement with all stakeholders that rely on Belize’s freshwater resources. All initiatives under the partnership are aligned with the shared goal of advancing more sustainable management practices for Belize’s valuable freshwater supplies.

    With more than decades of on-the-ground experience partnering with national governments and local communities around the world on freshwater management and watershed restoration projects, TNC brings a wealth of global expertise to this collaboration. Organization representatives note that the partnership will allow Belize to leverage this international experience to advance its own national conservation priorities for freshwater ecosystems.

    Hannah St Luce-Martinez, TNC’s Country Program Director for Belize, emphasized the interconnected nature of healthy freshwater systems in explaining the urgency of the work. “Water doesn’t recognise institutional boundaries. What happens upstream can affect communities downstream and ultimately our coastal and marine ecosystems,” she said. “Protecting freshwater requires cooperation across agencies, sectors and communities.”

    The MOU comes at a critical moment for Belize, as its rivers and surrounding watersheds face intensifying threats from extreme weather events including more frequent severe flooding and extended drought, driven in part by rising global temperatures, alongside growing pollution from human activity. By combining the Belizean government’s local leadership and on-the-ground jurisdiction with TNC’s decades of global conservation experience, both sides say they are committed to delivering long-lasting, measurable outcomes that benefit both natural ecosystems and the local communities that depend on healthy freshwater systems for their livelihoods and well-being.

  • WEATHER UPDATE (6:00 AM, 16 August) Small craft advisory in effect – a high pressure system is the dominant feature

    WEATHER UPDATE (6:00 AM, 16 August) Small craft advisory in effect – a high pressure system is the dominant feature

    A familiar pattern of stable atmospheric conditions is set to return to the island chain on Wednesday, as a strong high-pressure system rebuilds across the region. Forecasters project that the day will start with intermittent cloud cover and scattered light showers, but atmospheric moisture will steadily decrease through the afternoon, bringing drier, more stable conditions by evening.

    Alongside the shifting weather, air quality is expected to remain generally acceptable despite a thin plume of Saharan dust moving northward through the island chain. While the dust concentration is not projected to reach hazardous levels for most of the population, healthcare officials are urging people with pre-existing respiratory conditions, heightened sensitivity to fine particulate matter, and elderly residents to take basic precautions: limiting extended outdoor exertion and keeping windows closed during peak dust passage to avoid irritation.

    Marine conditions across the region are calming after recent rough weather, though hazards remain for small vessels and beachgoers. Over the next 24 hours, sea conditions are forecast to stay moderate, with maximum wave heights reaching 5 feet along the sheltered western coasts and building to 8 feet along the more exposed eastern shorelines. Overnight Tuesday, the National Weather Service downgraded the previous Small Craft Warning to a less severe Small Craft Advisory at 6:00 a.m. local time, but officials still urge operators of small recreational and commercial vessels to continue checking updated forecasts for changing conditions. For swimmers and beachgoers, authorities have issued a strong recommendation to avoid entering the water entirely, especially along the eastern coast, where dangerous rip currents and large breaking waves create a high risk of drowning or injury.

    Looking ahead to next week, forecasters are monitoring a developing tropical disturbance in the central Tropical Atlantic. Current model projections show this tropical wave is on track to reach the southern section of the Lesser Antilles island chain by Monday, bringing increased chances of heavy rain, gusty winds, and elevated sea swells to the region. Meteorologists are continuing to track the system’s progress and will issue updates on any strengthening or changes to its projected path.

  • WEATHER UPDATE (12:00 PM, 15 August): Flash Flood Watch no longer in effect; Tropical wave continues to affect Dominica

    WEATHER UPDATE (12:00 PM, 15 August): Flash Flood Watch no longer in effect; Tropical wave continues to affect Dominica

    Dominica is currently facing sustained hazardous weather conditions driven by an active tropical wave, which is set to continue impacting the island nation through tonight. Meteorological forecasts predict the system will bring a range of dangerous conditions, including powerful gusty winds, choppy, dangerous seas, scattered periods of heavy rain, and intense thunderstorm activity across the island.

    While local authorities have opted to end the previously issued Flash Flood Watch, officials have stressed that risks to public safety remain elevated. Communities situated in zones prone to flash flooding, landslides, and falling rock debris are still urged to stay on high alert and take all necessary precautions to protect life and property. Residents are also reminded to secure any unsecured lightweight items around their properties, which could be lifted and turned into dangerous projectiles by the strong winds.

    Maritime and coastal risks remain particularly acute over the coming hours. Forecasters project wave heights will reach up to 8 feet along Dominica’s western coastline, while the eastern coast can expect even more dangerous swells approaching 12 feet. In response to these dangerous sea and wind conditions, a Small Craft Warning remains in effect until 6:00 a.m. local time Sunday. All small vessel operators have been strongly advised to stay anchored in safe harbor until conditions improve.

    Off the island, public safety officials are also urging coastal residents and visitors to avoid all beach activity, particularly near areas with large breaking waves that can pull people into the ocean unexpectedly. Anyone traveling along coastal roadways must maintain constant vigilance for sudden flooding or debris washed onto roads.

    In a separate update, the U.S. National Hurricane Centre is tracking a second tropical wave located in the central tropical Atlantic. Currently, forecasters assign only a low probability that this second system will strengthen into a named tropical cyclone over the next seven days. Even so, authorities across the Lesser Antilles archipelago—including Dominica—are urging all residents and mariners to keep up to date with the latest official forecasts from the Dominica Meteorological Service as the system develops.

  • Matta kiest voor zoete bataat nu cassaveteelt onder druk staat

    Matta kiest voor zoete bataat nu cassaveteelt onder druk staat

    Against the backdrop of a growing threat from devastating crop disease, the indigenous community of Matta is embracing agricultural diversification to shore up its long-term food security and strengthen the resilience of local farming systems. For generations, cassava has stood as one of the village’s most critical staple crops, feeding hundreds of households and forming the backbone of local food production. But the rapid spread of Cassava Witches’ Broom Disease, a pathogen that cripples cassava yields and devastates entire harvests, has pushed community leaders and agricultural authorities to pursue a new, more sustainable approach: integrating sweet potato cultivation into existing farming systems.

    The initiative is led by the Directorate of Agricultural Research, Marketing and Processing under Suriname’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV), in partnership with regional agricultural authorities covering the Para district and Matta rayon. To equip local farmers with the skills needed to adopt this new model, government experts delivered a hands-on practical training program focused on modern sweet potato growing techniques tailored to the region’s climate and soil conditions.

    At the core of the strategy is intercropping, the practice of growing sweet potato alongside cassava in the same fields. Agricultural experts leading the training explain that this diversified planting system delivers two key benefits: it reduces overall disease pressure from Cassava Witches’ Broom Disease, lowering the risk of total crop failure, and creates a more balanced farming ecosystem that is far less vulnerable to widespread pest and disease outbreaks than single-crop monocultures.

    Trainers emphasized that integrated, diversified cropping systems do more than just combat existing disease threats. By combining complementary crops that support one another’s growth, smallholder farmers build greater long-term agricultural resilience, equipping them to absorb unexpected shocks ranging from disease outbreaks to shifting weather patterns linked to climate change. This approach also directly strengthens community food security by expanding the range of staple crops produced locally, reducing reliance on a single at-risk crop.

    The training program forms a core component of the LVV/IDB Open Field Project, a broader initiative funded in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank that aims to boost productivity of open-field staple crops including sweet potato, cassava, and other key produce. Beyond yield improvements, the project also works to help local farmers meet international and national standards for food safety and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), opening up potential new market opportunities for small-scale producers while ensuring the food reaching local households meets strict safety requirements.

    For the Matta community, the project represents more than just a response to an immediate crop crisis. It is a long-term investment in building a more sustainable, resilient local agricultural model that centers knowledge sharing, cross-sector collaboration, and community-led development. By equipping local farmers with practical skills and ongoing technical support, project organizers are working to embed sweet potato as a permanent, valuable component of a diverse, robust farming system that can support the community for generations.

  • Kalinago families receive tools and training to strengthen food security and resilience

    Kalinago families receive tools and training to strengthen food security and resilience

    Thirty-six households in Dominica’s Kalinago Territory are advancing toward improved food security, economic self-reliance, and climate adaptation, thanks to a targeted community resilience initiative backed by international and local partners. The Strengthening Community Resilience in the Kalinago Territory (SCR-K) Project, led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with full funding from the Government of India, has delivered critical agricultural resources and climate-smart training to local families, in partnership with the Government of Dominica, the Kalinago Council and local community stakeholders. IsraAID Dominica coordinated the on-the-ground delivery of supplies and training sessions as part of its collaboration with UNDP on the project’s community-focused components.

    A formal handover ceremony held August 13 at Salybia Primary School marked the distribution of a comprehensive package of inputs to participating families. Each household received a diverse selection of vegetable seedlings—including tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, cucumbers, sweet peppers, celery, and parsley—alongside a range of long-term fruit and perennial plants, such as avocado, soursop, cinnamon, nutmeg, cherry, citrus, and apricot. In addition to planting stock, recipients gained access to essential farming tools, protective tarpaulins, and purpose-built water storage equipment to support the establishment and expansion of backyard gardens. Additional batches of supplies are scheduled for delivery to participating households in the coming weeks.

    The resource distribution followed a series of hands-on climate-smart agriculture training workshops, designed to equip participants with actionable knowledge for adapting to the growing impacts of climate change on local food systems. Training modules covered evidence-based practices including sustainable soil management, organic composting, low-impact farming techniques, and optimized harvesting methods to maximize output while preserving ecosystem health.

    By combining short-yield vegetable crops with long-maturing fruit trees, the initiative is structured to help households diversify their production streams, creating both immediate access to fresh produce and long-term, sustained food supplies. This diversified model also strengthens households’ ability to withstand climate-related shocks such as extreme weather events, crop failures, and supply chain disruptions that have become increasingly common in small island developing states like Dominica.

    For Joan Gabriel, a local Kalinago farmer and program participant, the initiative delivers both practical support and much-needed encouragement to expand home food production and supplementary income generation. “I want to thank UNDP, the Government of India and the Government of Dominica for this support. As Kalinago people, we have land, and we should make good use of what we are receiving today. We should not let these resources go to waste,” Gabriel shared. “I enjoy backyard gardening and already grow cucumbers, cabbages and seasoning peppers, and I keep poultry as well. I even have eggs for sale. I am proud of the help we are receiving today, and I encourage everyone to make the most of it.”

    Sawana Fabien, UNDP Project Analyst, emphasized the far-reaching impact of this seemingly small-scale intervention. “Backyard gardening may seem like a simple intervention, but at the household level it can be transformative,” Fabien explained. “For women-led and vulnerable households in particular, it means greater access to nutritious food, an opportunity to reduce household expenses and generate supplementary income, and a practical way of strengthening the well-being of their families. They are building the knowledge and skills to produce food more sustainably and to better withstand and recover from climate shocks.”

    Fabien reiterated the collaborative nature of the project’s success: “With the generous support of the Government of India, and in partnership with the Government of Dominica and the Kalinago Council, UNDP is translating these investments into practical action at the community level. We are pleased to have IsraAID supporting the delivery of this backyard gardening component, helping ensure that we reach households and contribute to stronger food security, livelihoods and resilience across the Kalinago Territory.”

    Overall, the SCR-K project’s approach pairs tangible resources with skills training and ongoing community support, with the long-term goal of empowering local families to sustain independent food production for years to come. By integrating perennial crops and climate-smart practices, the initiative not only addresses immediate food access gaps but also promotes sustainable land stewardship, laying the groundwork for a more food-secure and climate-resilient future for the entire Kalinago Territory.

  • DWA Moves to Strengthen Watersports Industry Ahead of the 2026/2027 Season

    DWA Moves to Strengthen Watersports Industry Ahead of the 2026/2027 Season

    On August 11, 2026, leaders and stakeholders of Dominica’s watersports sector gathered for a critical strategy meeting convened by the Dominica Watersports Association (DWA) to map out a path forward for the industry ahead of the upcoming 2026/2027 operating season and long-term development. The gathering centered on tackling the most pressing structural challenges facing local watersports businesses, while balancing the island nation’s core commitments to marine conservation.

    Top of the meeting’s agenda was the widespread call for updated, more transparent regulatory frameworks that govern all watersports activities across Dominica’s coastal and marine areas. Attendees highlighted significant unaddressed gaps and ambiguities in current governance rules, most notably within the 2025 Sperm Whale Reserve Act, a landmark piece of legislation designed to protect one of the Caribbean’s most important sperm whale habitats. Beyond reserve management, participants also pushed for a standardized, streamlined, and fully documented licensing process for new watersports operators, arguing that a clear process would not only meet local economic development needs but also bring Dominica’s industry into alignment with globally accepted best practices for safety and sustainability.

    In his opening remarks to attendees, DWA President William Lawrence—who also serves as manager of the popular local operation Fort Young Dive—touted the association’s decades of on-the-ground experience and deep cross-industry network as valuable assets to drive meaningful change. Lawrence stressed that collaborative effort across all involved parties is non-negotiable: stronger alignment and ongoing partnership between government regulatory agencies, local industry stakeholders, and regional conservation and trade partners will be required to build more transparent, efficient operating processes that work for both established businesses and new entrants to the sector.

    A core priority for the association in the coming months will be expanding structured dialogue with regulators to resolve ambiguities around the implementation of the Sperm Whale Reserve management framework. While the DWA explicitly affirmed its full commitment to protecting Dominica’s unique and vulnerable marine ecosystem, association leaders note that watersports operators require clear, accessible guidance on regulatory boundaries, legal rights, operational responsibilities, and permitted activity protocols within the reserve boundaries to operate responsibly and avoid unintended violations.

    Beyond regulatory reform, the DWA has also outlined plans to upgrade cross-sector communication, activity monitoring, and compliance systems. These upgrades are designed to achieve two interconnected goals: upholding the island’s conservation commitments and ensuring the long-term economic and environmental sustainability of Dominica’s $100+ million watersports sector, which is a core driver of tourism and local employment.

    Shortly after the conclusion of the strategy meeting, DWA Secretary Shanese Daway—who represents IslandStyle Fishing, a leading local recreational fishing operation—confirmed that preliminary work on the association’s priority initiatives has already commenced. “The work has now begun,” Daway stated.

    Looking ahead, the DWA has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to strengthening cross-sector partnerships, closing existing regulatory gaps, and nurturing a professional, globally competitive, and environmentally responsible watersports sector that will benefit local communities and visitors for generations. The association’s core mission, summed up in its guiding slogan, remains: Preserve. Protect. Promote.

  • WEATHER UPDATE (6:00 AM, 15 August): Vigorous tropical wave continues to affect Dominica; Flash Flood Watch remains in effect

    WEATHER UPDATE (6:00 AM, 15 August): Vigorous tropical wave continues to affect Dominica; Flash Flood Watch remains in effect

    Dominica is facing ongoing severe weather impacts from an active tropical wave that will continue to affect the island nation through the overnight hours, with multiple weather warnings and safety advisories currently in place for local residents and mariners.

    Forecasters warn the system will bring hazardous conditions including strong gusty winds, churning rough seas, and scattered pockets of moderate to heavy rainfall paired with thunderstorms, with the most intense activity expected during Thursday morning. To account for elevated flood and landslide risks, a Flash Flood Watch will remain active across the country until midday Thursday.

    Emergency management officials have issued urgent guidance for residents to prioritize preparedness. Those living in low-lying or steep terrain areas that are historically vulnerable to flash flooding, landslides, and falling rock debris are instructed to stay constantly alert for changing conditions and enact all necessary precautionary measures. Additionally, residents have been told to secure any lightweight, loose outdoor items that could be lifted and turned into dangerous projectiles by the system’s strong gusts.

    Marine conditions are expected to remain particularly dangerous through the coming days. Forecasts call for rough to extremely rough seas across Dominica’s coastlines, with wave heights expected to peak Thursday morning at roughly 10 feet along the island’s west coast and surge as high as 13 feet along the more exposed east coast. A Small Craft Warning remains enforced for all small vessels due to high winds and treacherous sea conditions, and will stay in effect until 6:00 a.m. local time Sunday. Mariners have been strongly advised to stay anchored in safe port until conditions improve.

    Beyond marine workers, the general public has received clear guidance to avoid risky coastal activity. Officials warn people to stay far from beaches and zones where large breaking waves are crashing ashore, and anyone who lives near or travels along coastal roadways should maintain constant vigilance for unexpected rising water or debris.

    In a separate update from the U.S. National Hurricane Center, forecasters are actively tracking a second tropical wave located in the central tropical Atlantic. The system currently carries a medium probability of developing into a named cyclone over the next seven days as it moves westward across the basin. Residents of the Lesser Antilles archipelago, including Dominica, and regional mariners are instructed to continue monitoring official weather updates from the Dominica Meteorological Service for any changes to the system’s track and intensity.

  • Programme for Belize Grants Book Scholarships to 21 Students

    Programme for Belize Grants Book Scholarships to 21 Students

    For over 20 years, Programme for Belize (PfB) has centered its work on two interconnected goals: preserving the ecologically vital Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area, and lifting sustainable development outcomes for local communities that border the protected reserve. In 2026, the organization has extended its longstanding community investment into regional classrooms, launching its annual book scholarship initiative that is already delivering tangible support to 21 students across multiple secondary schools in northern Belize.

    At the annual Book Scholarship Award Ceremony held August 14, PfB Executive Director Edilberto Romero laid out the core logic guiding the scholarship program, which has evolved alongside shifting public education policy in Belize to meet the most pressing unmet needs of local students. “It’s been several years we have been providing high school scholarship grants to students from communities adjacent to the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management area,” Romero explained. “The idea is to give them an opportunity for them to develop a career away from the dependency on the natural resources and with the hope that we build good relationships with the communities and that they support us in the conservation and protection of Rio Bravo.”

    Romero detailed how the program has adapted since its launch to address changing circumstances. Initially, PfB covered tuition costs for high-achieving local students who could not afford enrollment fees. Without that financial support, many of these promising students would have dropped out of school to rely on extractive use of natural resources for income, eliminating their access to long-term professional opportunities. When the Belizean government began covering all public high school tuition a few years ago, PfB restructured its support to focus on book grants, as course materials remain prohibitively expensive for many low-income household.

    Looking ahead, Romero noted that the organization is already preparing to expand the program once again. School leaders have shared that many current students also cannot afford personal laptops, which have become a mandatory requirement for coursework in recent years. Exploring financial support for devices is now a key priority for future iterations of the initiative.

    Beyond expanding education access, the scholarship program has delivered measurable progress on PfB’s core conservation mission by strengthening trust between the organization and adjacent communities. Romero noted that the partnership has grown far more collaborative over the life of the program, as local residents have come to see the Rio Bravo reserve as an asset that delivers sustained benefits to their daily lives, rather than a restriction on their livelihoods.

    Those community benefits extend well beyond scholarships: the majority of PfB’s operational staff are hired from adjacent communities, and the organization’s sustainable activities including regulated timber harvesting and nature-based tourism inject more than $1 million annually into the local regional economy, according to Romero’s estimates.

    This report is a transcribed excerpt from an evening television newscast, with Kriol language statements standardized to conventional English spelling for published distribution.