Carib Scope

分类： environment

  • Dominican Government declares environmental terrorism a matter of high national interest

    Dominican Government declares environmental terrorism a matter of high national interest

    Santo Domingo – The Dominican government has formally elevated the campaign against environmental destruction to a matter of supreme national importance and long-term strategic priority via Decree 615-26, rolling out a sweeping set of enhanced measures to crack down on deliberate attacks on the country’s national parks and other irreplaceable natural assets.

    During an official ceremony unveiling the new policy at the National Palace, President Luis Abinader issued a clear warning that any individual involved in the destruction or systematic degradation of the nation’s protected natural areas will face far stricter enforcement and aggressive criminal prosecution – a standard that applies equally to Dominican citizens and foreign nationals.

    Addressing longstanding gaps in the protection of the country’s ecological heritage, Abinader noted that for generations, Dominican national parks have operated without adequate legal backing or state enforcement to safeguard them from exploitation. When his administration took office, he explained, a review uncovered a startling gap: many of the country’s designated protected areas were not even formally registered as state-owned property under Dominican law. To remedy this vulnerability, a nationwide land titling initiative is currently underway to formalize state ownership of all protected natural zones.

    The president also drew a direct connection between recent large-scale wildfire events, including blazes that swept through Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, and illegal activities that erode fragile ecosystems. Beyond damaging biodiversity, these intentional acts put critical public resources – including drinking water supplies and the foundation of the country’s food security – at severe risk, he added.

    To address weaknesses in outdated legal frameworks that previously allowed environmental offenders to avoid meaningful punishment, the new decree mandates that authorities apply existing statutes under the nation’s updated Penal Code with far greater rigor. Under the enhanced rules, the most severe offenses against protected national parklands can carry prison sentences ranging from 20 to 30 years, among the harshest penalties for environmental crime in the region.

    The executive order also assigns formal responsibilities to multiple government agencies: the Dominican Armed Forces, General Directorate of Migration, and national intelligence bodies are all directed to ramp up coordinated efforts to prevent, investigate, and prosecute all parties involved in environmental destruction – including third parties that finance, incite, or facilitate these illegal acts.

    The decree explicitly prioritizes the prevention, early detection, and thorough investigation of acts classified as environmental terrorism, and extends special enhanced protection to a broad range of critical ecological infrastructure: protected wilderness areas, major watersheds, dams, water reservoirs, coastal mangrove forests, inland wetlands, and the source rivers that supply most of the country’s drinking water.

    It further requires the National Anti-Terrorist Committee, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Environment, National Police, and General Directorate of Migration to collaborate on developing a unified National Policy for Prevention and Combat, specifically focused on the growing threat of intentionally set forest fires and targeted attacks on water and energy infrastructure.

    Under the new rules, any documented attack on the Dominican Republic’s environmental heritage must be immediately referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for fast-track criminal prosecution, eliminating procedural delays that previously slowed enforcement. To expand public participation in crackdown, the decree also creates dedicated digital technological platforms and confidential anonymous reporting systems, enabling ordinary citizens to share tips about environmental crime with authorities while protecting the identity and safety of people who cooperate in good faith.

  • COPRE adjusts dam operations amid projected rainfall deficit through November

    COPRE adjusts dam operations amid projected rainfall deficit through November

    In Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, water management authorities are rolling out targeted operational adjustments for the nation’s key dam network, responding to updated meteorological forecasts that predict a significant rainfall deficit across the September-to-November period. The Committee for the Operation of Dams and Reservoirs (COPRE), in a weekly coordination session held at the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI) alongside the Water Observatory, formalized a modified operation framework running from September 2 to 9 that prioritizes water access for public aqueduct systems and agricultural irrigation, aligned with current storage volumes and evolving climate conditions.

    Emmanuel Álvarez, a lead meteorologist with the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), confirmed that all leading climate modeling systems align on the projection of below-average precipitation for the upcoming three-month window. He added that the already emerging rainfall deficit worsened dramatically between May and July, pushing the country into established meteorological drought conditions. This prolonged dry trend is closely linked to the ongoing strong El Niño event, which historically triggers reduced rainfall and suppressed tropical cyclone activity across the Caribbean region.

    Under the newly approved operational plan, each major dam system has been assigned specific flow allocations tailored to priority needs. The interconnected Tavera-Bao-López Angostura network will continue operations centered on meeting irrigation and municipal water demands: Tavera will focus exclusively on agricultural water needs, Angostura will maintain a steady outflow of 19 cubic meters per second, and Bao will deliver 4.43 cubic meters per second to public aqueduct systems.

    For the Monción dam, operations are set at 12 cubic meters per second for irrigation and 3.43 cubic meters per second for the Northwest Regional Aqueduct. Hatillo dam will hold a steady 25 cubic meters per second outflow for agricultural use, while Rincón dam will operate under strict rationing, delivering just 2.10 cubic meters per second to aqueducts. Rincón’s associated hydroelectric power plant will remain fully shut down through September 6, following the conclusion of the region’s second rice planting cycle.

    In the southeastern Jigüey-Aguacate-Valdesia-Las Barías dam complex, all connected hydroelectric facilities will stay offline as a precaution related to high humidity conditions, though Valdesia dam will maintain an 8.3 cubic meters per second discharge to support regional aqueducts. At Sabana Yegua, the local hydroelectric plant will also remain idle due to excessive humidity, while Sabaneta dam will operate at 10 cubic meters per second for 18 hours daily, with the remaining six hours reserved to deliver 2 cubic meters per second to the San Juan municipal aqueduct.

    Rafael Salazar, administrator of the Dominican Hydroelectric Generation Company (EGEHID), emphasized that all dam operational adjustments follow standardized, evidence-based protocols, which integrate the latest weather forecasts, measured storage levels and recorded inflow rates for each facility.

    As of the latest update, authorities noted that Monción dam still holds favorable storage volumes despite very low incoming water flows, and Hatillo, Valdesia and Sabana Yegua all currently maintain adequate reserve levels. At Sabaneta, officials have already implemented restrictions to limit cultivation of water-intensive crops in the dam’s service area, in a bid to conserve available reserves.

    COPRE has also called for strengthened cross-stakeholder coordination between agricultural producers, the Ministry of Agriculture and INDRHI to refine water allocation processes and encourage responsible water use as the drought persists. Moving forward, the committee will maintain continuous, real-time monitoring of hydrometeorological conditions and reservoir performance, allowing for quick operational adjustments to address emerging scenarios and protect water access for the country’s highest-priority needs.

  • Dominican Republic and Israel strengthen cooperation on water and irrigation technology

    Dominican Republic and Israel strengthen cooperation on water and irrigation technology

    Against a global backdrop of growing drought risk and rising demand for food production, the Dominican Republic and Israel have launched a new collaborative effort focused on upgrading water management and agricultural irrigation practices, centered on cutting-edge technology, efficiency gains, and long-term sustainable stewardship of critical water resources.

    Last week, the meeting was held at the headquarters of the Dominican Republic’s National Irrigation Technology Executive Directorate (TNR), which hosted Israel’s newly inaugurated ambassador to the nation, Oren Bar-El, and his accompanying delegation. During the discussion, Dominican officials laid out the country’s ongoing work to modernize outdated irrigation networks and boost overall agricultural output across the nation.

    TNR Director Claudio Caamaño Vélez led the presentation of his institution’s current transformation projects, highlighting key initiatives designed to cut unnecessary water waste and bring aging irrigation infrastructure up to modern standards. The cross-institutional gathering drew representatives from multiple Dominican agencies and industry groups, including the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI), the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, the national Water Cabinet, the Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD), and the National Dairy Council (Conaleche).

    Emilia Kuschnir, a seasoned water resources specialist on the Israeli delegation, shared decades of Israeli expertise and innovative technologies focused on more ecologically sustainable agricultural water management during the event. In a dedicated training session for TNR technical staff, Kuschnir underlined that boosting water efficiency is the foundational step to making Dominican agriculture both more environmentally sustainable and globally competitive.

    She pushed back against the common assumption that expanding water access requires only building large new infrastructure projects, explaining that significant gains can be unlocked by cutting waste in existing irrigation systems. Citing latest data, Kuschnir noted that the agricultural sector accounts for roughly 82 percent of total water consumption across the Dominican Republic. More efficient management, she explained, would not only reserve additional water supplies for other high-priority national needs but also build the country’s resilience to frequent drought periods that have disrupted agricultural production in recent years.

    Kuschnir pinpointed three leading causes of preventable water waste: unaddressed leaks in irrigation canals, inefficient water application methods, and poorly scheduled irrigation planning that does not align with crop needs. She emphasized that all irrigation planning decisions must integrate on-the-ground factors including current weather conditions, local soil texture and drainage, and the specific growth stage of cultivated crops to minimize unnecessary use.

    Among the modern solutions highlighted, Kuschnir pointed to the proven success of drip irrigation systems, which can achieve efficiency rates above 90 percent by delivering water directly to the root zone of plants, rather than wasting supplies through evaporation or runoff over open ground. She also clarified that full modernization does not require a complete replacement of existing irrigation infrastructure. Relatively low-cost adjustments including improved long-term planning, precision land leveling, upgraded system maintenance protocols, and targeted training for smallholder producers can deliver major efficiency gains without massive capital investment.

    The bilateral meeting wrapped up with a joint commitment from both parties to continue cross-border knowledge exchange and scale up adoption of advanced technological solutions that strengthen national water conservation efforts, while supporting the growth of a more productive and environmentally sustainable agricultural sector for the Dominican Republic.

  • AOSIS: 1.5°C Climate Goal Is Non-Negotiable Despite Risk of Overshoot

    AOSIS: 1.5°C Climate Goal Is Non-Negotiable Despite Risk of Overshoot

    The 1.5°C global warming limit is far more than a flexible policy target that nations can abandon or negotiate away – it is a binding commitment enshrined in the Paris Agreement, rooted in the urgent need to shield communities and ecosystems from the worst ravages of climate change. This obligation has further been cemented by the International Court of Justice, which formally recognized that all states hold legal responsibilities to protect the global climate system for current and future generations.

    For generations, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have stood at the frontline of climate impacts, ringing the alarm bell about the catastrophic consequences of uncurbed greenhouse gas emissions. Today, cutting-edge climate science is validating and amplifying those early warnings. Human activity has already pushed the planet far beyond its natural equilibrium, and continued delay in cutting emissions amounts to a reckless game of chance that puts global communities, economic systems, and entire ecosystems at existential risk.

    Every extra tenth of a degree of warming beyond the 1.5°C threshold amplifies the likelihood of irreversible, devastating outcomes. These range from catastrophic sea-level rise that renders low-lying island nations uninhabitable, to widespread glacial and ice sheet collapse, mass forest die-off, the total degradation of tropical coral reef systems, and growing threats to global food and water security. For SIDS, these risks are not abstract projections far in the future – they are unfolding crises that are already disrupting lives and threatening national sovereignty.

    Critically, a recent UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report warning of growing near-term risks should not be misread as a signal to abandon the 1.5°C target. Instead, it must act as a jarring wake-up call to ramp up climate ambition and action with far greater urgency than we have seen to date.

    Crucially, the trajectory of global warming is not yet locked in. The landmark UNFCCC Global Stocktake has already mapped out clear, actionable pathways to close the existing emissions gap and keep the 1.5°C goal within reach. Leading climate science confirms that even if temperatures temporarily overshoot the 1.5°C mark, the length and severity of that overshoot can still be limited with bold immediate action. As such, governments must shift their focus beyond debating whether a temporary overshoot will occur, and instead prioritize every possible measure to minimize the overshoot and return global temperatures to below 1.5°C as quickly as possible.

    To support this goal, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) emphasizes that the next Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment report must be finalized in time to inform the next Global Stocktake. World leaders require the most up-to-date, robust scientific evidence to guide the high-stakes decisions that will shape the course of global warming for decades to come.

    AOSIS is sending a clear, uncompromising message to all nations: it is imperative that we uphold the commitments made under both the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. This means accelerating the global transition away from fossil fuels, and deploying every available climate solution to cut greenhouse gas emissions rapidly. Technological innovation must go hand in hand with deep, systemic decarbonization across all global economies. If governments move now with the highest level of ambition, it is still possible to reverse current warming trajectories and stabilize the global climate as close to the 1.5°C threshold as possible.

    Every fraction of a degree matters, for SIDS and for every nation on Earth. As the world grapples with growing climate uncertainty, scaled-up, accessible, and sufficient financing for adaptation, climate resilience, and addressing loss and damage is non-negotiable for vulnerable nations on the frontline.

    In sum, the UNEP report should not be interpreted as a final death sentence for the 1.5°C target. It must be understood for what it is: a stark warning of what stands to be lost if we fail to act. This is a defining call to action for global leaders. Governments must immediately enact ambitious policies that limit the magnitude and duration of any potential temperature overshoot, and keep the pathway back to 1.5°C well within reach. The 1.5°C threshold must remain the guiding North Star for global climate action, and talk of temporary overshoot must never become an excuse for continued inaction.

  • Warme en overwegend droge dag verwacht; El Niño versterkt

    Warme en overwegend droge dag verwacht; El Niño versterkt

    As Suriname continues to grapple with an extended dry spell, new weather forecasts point to another stretch of unseasonably warm, largely rain-free conditions for the country in the coming days. Meteorological projections put maximum daily temperatures between 33 and 34 degrees Celsius, while overnight lows will hover between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius. Global weather models predict a mix of abundant sunshine and scattered cloud cover, with only moderate wind speeds expected across the region. This warm, arid pattern aligns with the extended dry period the nation has been experiencing this season.

    Beyond immediate local forecasts, climate researchers confirm that the current El Niño event is strengthening at a rapid pace, with major climate institutions warning it will remain strong through the end of 2026 and persist into early 2027. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has officially issued an El Niño Advisory, following consistent data showing the climate pattern has gained intensity in recent weeks. The International Research Institute for Climate and Society also notes the event is on track to become an exceptionally strong El Niño.

    Ocean temperature data underscores this rapid strengthening: in the key Niño 3.4 monitoring region of the central Pacific, the temperature anomaly rose steadily through July, reaching a weekly average anomaly of +2.7 degrees Celsius by mid-August. Nearly all climate models surveyed agree the event will hold its strength for the remainder of this year and extend into the first quarter of 2027.

    This strengthening trend carries notable implications for northern South America, including Suriname. Historically, El Niño events correlate with significant shifts in rainfall patterns across tropical regions of the globe. NOAA confirms that reduced precipitation across northern South America is one of the most well-documented potential impacts of a strong El Niño. However, climate scientists emphasize that the El Niño pattern does not allow for precise predictions of daily or even monthly rainfall totals for specific locations like Suriname, only broad shifts in overall precipitation trends.

  • Mealybugs Put Sugar Production Under Pressure

    Mealybugs Put Sugar Production Under Pressure

    Scheduled for publication on September 1, 2026, this report reveals that a rapidly spreading tiny insect pest has emerged as a critical threat to Belize’s iconic sugar industry, compounding preexisting challenges that have already pushed the sector to a breaking point.

    Mealybugs, a tiny sap-sucking pest, have been expanding their reach across sugarcane fields in northern Belize, sapping nutrients from growing cane stalks, weakening plant health and accelerating an already steady decline in annual harvest yields. To draw public attention to the escalating crisis and highlight ongoing containment efforts, industry stakeholders led media tours through affected farmlands this week, giving journalists a first-hand look at the damage inflicted across the region. Compounding the pest-related stress, widespread labor shortages across the agricultural sector have added further strain, with industry officials issuing urgent warnings that rapid coordinated action is required to avert catastrophic financial and production losses that could reshape Belize’s agricultural economy for years to come.

    Olivia Carballo-Avilez, Cane Farmer Relations Manager at Belize Sugar Industries (BSI), broke down the scope of the production gap the industry is already grappling with before the mealybug outbreak worsened. BSI’s main processing mill is engineered to process up to 1.25 million tons of sugarcane annually, translating to a finished sugar output of between 123,000 and 125,000 tons per growing cycle. But this year, the total harvest delivered to the mill has fallen to just 823,000 long tons of cane. That sharp decline follows a 10 to 20 percent production loss recorded in 2025, which was caused by an outbreak of fusarium, another widespread crop pathogen.

    Carballo-Avilez explained that the mealybug outbreak itself is linked to shifting climate patterns across the Central American region, noting that higher average temperatures and more extreme fluctuations between temperature and moisture levels have created ideal growing conditions for the pest. What makes the threat even more serious is that the infestation is not confined to Belize; sugar producers across the entire Central American isthmus, including major growing regions in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala, are all currently fighting the spread of what industry leaders now classify as an economically critical invasive pest. Before recent years, mealybugs were not considered a major threat to regional sugar production, making their sudden spread all the more alarming for producers.

    Beyond the immediate damage to crop yields, the production shortfall creates cascading financial pressures for both mill operators and independent cane farmers. Processing mills carry substantial fixed operating costs that do not change based on the volume of cane processed: whether the facility runs at full capacity of 1.25 million tons or reduces operations to process just 700,000 tons, these fixed costs remain the same. This dynamic pushes per-unit operating costs sharply higher when harvest volumes drop, creating significant financial stress for the mill. For farmers, the impact is equally severe: lower total cane and sugar output means reduced revenue, at the same time that cost increases are passed down the supply chain.

    *This report is adapted from a transcript of an evening television news broadcast, with original Kriol language text transcribed using a standardized spelling system.*

  • Moves to make circle hooks mandatory for longline fishing fleet

    Moves to make circle hooks mandatory for longline fishing fleet

    Barbados is set to become a regional leader in sustainable fisheries management with a groundbreaking new regulation that will require all horizontal longline vessels operating in its territorial waters to swap traditional J-hooks for specially designed circle hooks. The policy, rooted in years of locally conducted scientific trials, marks a step beyond basic international compliance, aiming to both boost target fish catches and drastically improve survival rates for vulnerable non-target species released back into the ocean. The regulation was formally announced alongside the launch of a national public outreach campaign, “Transformative Change: Fish Smart, Hook Right”, hosted by the Barbados Fisheries Division on Friday, which seeks to prepare local fisherfolk, seafood vendors, and the general public for the industry-wide transition.

    Unlike J-hooks, circle hooks feature a distinct circular shape, with their point bent perpendicularly back toward the shank. This simple design alteration drives a major improvement in conservation outcomes: multiple studies, including the local trials completed by Barbados’ fisheries team, confirm that circle hooks are far more likely to hook fish in the mouth rather than the gut or internal organs. This difference dramatically cuts down on injury and mortality for non-target species, including endangered sea turtles, sharks, and other protected marine life that are commonly caught accidentally as bycatch and released by longline vessels.

    The transition to circle hooks is not a new global requirement: as a contracting party to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), Barbados has been obligated since 2022 to adopt measures such as circle hook or finfish bait use to reduce sea turtle bycatch. But acting Chief Fisheries Officer Dr. Christopher Parker emphasized that the country’s approach sets a new precedent for the Caribbean region, going far beyond the basic commitments required by ICCAT. No other member state of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) or the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism has combined locally generated, evidence-based trial data, a structured financial support scheme for fisherfolk, and formal binding domestic legislation to implement the change all at once. If successful, Dr. Parker noted, Barbados will establish a replicable model for other small island developing states across the region to follow, outpacing even the relatively basic requirements already implemented in the United States.

    The policy itself defies the common framing of conservation as a trade-off with fishing productivity, Dr. Parker explained. Instead, it delivers on three core goals: better catch rates for target species, higher survival for released non-target species, and a more sustainable future for Barbados’ fishing industry as a whole. The regulatory change followed years of collaborative research between the Fisheries Division and the REBYC-III CLME+ project, a regional initiative focused on reducing bycatch in Caribbean fisheries. Nia Browne, project coordinator for the REBYC-III CLME+ team in Barbados, shared that the team ran two separate field trials on local longline vessels to test two common circle hook models: C16 and C18.

    Both circle hook variants outperformed traditional J-hooks on key metrics, but the C16 configuration stood out for its impact on target species catches. When controlling for fishing time and location, trials found that C16 circle hooks delivered a statistically significant increase in catches of yellowfin tuna, Barbados’ primary target tuna species for longline fishing. Beyond higher yields, the trials confirmed the conservation benefits of the design: 90% of hooked ETP (endangered, threatened, and protected) species were hooked in the corner of the mouth, compared to just 30% for J-hooks, making safe release far more likely and drastically boosting post-release survival rates.

    To address widespread concerns among local fisherfolk about the higher upfront cost of circle hooks, the Fisheries Division has rolled out a targeted support scheme. A box of circle hooks currently retails for roughly US$200, compared to US$120 for an equivalent box of J-hooks, a price difference that creates a barrier for many small-scale fishing operations. To offset this, the division has partnered with REBYC-III CLME+ to launch a gear-exchange program that allows fisherfolk to trade in their old J-hooks for discounted circle hooks. The team has also negotiated discounted bulk rates with local fishing gear suppliers to bring down costs further for participants.

    “I am asking you to be part of this change not because the government demands it, but because the evidence of the gear trials shows it is good for your catch, good for the ocean, and good for the next generation of Barbadians,” Dr. Parker told attendees at the campaign launch.

    The launch event also included contributions from legal and conservation stakeholders: Makayla Williams, legal consultant for the Fisheries Division, walked attendees through the binding legislative framework under the Sustainable Fisheries Development and Management Act that formalizes the mandate, while Nikola Simpson of regional conservation group Sustainable Caribbean outlined the broader implications of the policy for regional ocean health. The event closed with cultural tributes and campaign materials: a custom campaign jingle performed by singer Reniece Bonnett, an educational skit outlining the hook transition, and a saxophone tribute by Darren Watson to the late former Chief Fisheries Officer Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox, who championed sustainable fisheries reform in Barbados before her passing.

  • Caribbean energy leaders to convene in the Bahamas to strengthen regional collaboration and drive solutions for the Caribbean’s energy transition

    Caribbean energy leaders to convene in the Bahamas to strengthen regional collaboration and drive solutions for the Caribbean’s energy transition

    The Caribbean’s foremost gathering dedicated to advancing clean and resilient energy systems is set to convene in Nassau next year, as organizers prepare for the 2026 CARILEC Resilient/Renewable Energy Community (CAREC) Conference & Exhibition.

    Scheduled to run from October 18 to 22 at the iconic British Colonial Nassau, this year’s event is hosted by the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) in partnership with two local Bahamian energy leaders: Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) and Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC). Around 200 key stakeholders spanning utility executives, energy industry experts, government policymakers, regulatory bodies, international development partners and innovative solution providers will gather under the central theme “Empowering Progress: Strategic Policy and Planning for the Energy Transition”.

    Across the five-day event, attendees will dive into the most urgent energy challenges facing small island developing states across the Caribbean. Core discussion topics will cover critical priorities for the region: scaling up renewable energy integration into existing grids, expanding battery energy storage capacity, upgrading aging grid infrastructure to boost reliability, advancing geothermal energy development, optimizing remaining conventional generation assets, strengthening energy systems against climate-driven extreme weather, testing emerging clean energy technologies, and updating outdated policy and regulatory frameworks that slow transition progress.

    Dr. Cletus Bertin, Executive Director of CARILEC, emphasized the non-negotiable role of cross-regional collaboration in moving the Caribbean’s energy goals forward. “The Caribbean cannot advance its energy transition in silos,” Bertin explained. “CARILEC’s core mission is to unite our regional energy community to exchange on-the-ground lessons, deepen collaborative partnerships, and co-develop practical, actionable solutions to the barriers that continue to hold back progress. Holding CAREC 2026 in The Bahamas creates a unique space to merge regional technical expertise with local implementation experiences, so we can collectively advance solutions that speed up the transition across every island in our region.”

    For The Bahamas, which has already committed to a bold national target of 30% renewable energy generation by 2030, hosting the conference marks a key milestone in the country’s transition journey. BPL Chief Executive Officer Toni B. Pratt shared the country’s excitement to welcome regional peers. “As our energy sector continues to make tangible progress toward our 2030 renewable goal, we are thrilled to open our doors to colleagues from across the Caribbean for this critical gathering,” Pratt said. “CAREC 2026 gives us a valuable platform to share our own best practices, exchange lessons from on-the-ground projects, highlight the progress we have made across our island chain as we roll out our national renewable energy roadmap. We are eager to strengthen collaboration across the region and showcase The Bahamas’ work as we all work toward a more sustainable, reliable energy future.”

    Nikita Mullings, Chief Operating Officer of GBPC, echoed that sentiment, noting Grand Bahama island’s own progress in clean energy adoption. “Grand Bahama Power Company is proud to stand as a co-host for CAREC 2026 and welcome energy leaders and stakeholders from across the Caribbean to our home,” Mullings said. “Grand Bahama has already made meaningful advances in integrating renewable energy, creating new opportunities to add cleaner generation while making our grid more reliable and resilient to climate shocks. CAREC is the perfect platform to share these on-the-ground experiences, exchange proven best practices, and explore actionable solutions to shared challenges from renewable integration to energy storage to grid modernization. We look forward to working alongside BPL, CARILEC and the wider energy community to strengthen regional partnerships and deliver a more sustainable energy future for all of the Caribbean.”

    A highlight of the 2026 conference will be a dedicated industry exhibition, where companies will display cutting-edge renewable energy technologies, climate-resilient grid solutions, and emerging innovations tailored to the unique energy needs of Caribbean island nations. Organizers have issued a special call for Bahamian domestic companies and solution providers to book exhibition space, giving them a unique opportunity to connect with regional buyers and partners and showcase their local expertise to the broader Caribbean energy community.

    To encourage local participation, organizers have introduced a special discounted registration rate of $1,000 USD for attendees based in The Bahamas. A limited number of sponsorship and exhibition booth opportunities are still available for organizations looking to engage with attendees. For full registration details and updated information on the conference program, interested parties can visit CARILEC’s official website at carilec.org or reach out to the CARILEC Events Team directly at events@carilec.org.

    As the Caribbean faces growing threats from climate change and rising global energy costs, accelerating the transition to domestic renewable energy has become a top regional priority. CAREC 2026 aims to deliver more than just discussion: organizers are focused on creating a space for actionable collaboration, knowledge sharing, and long-term partnership building that will translate into tangible progress across the region in the years ahead.

  • Nevis delegation inspects rig prior to mobilization for geothermal drilling

    Nevis delegation inspects rig prior to mobilization for geothermal drilling

    In a key milestone for the Caribbean nation’s transition to renewable energy, a technical delegation from Nevis has completed a final technical inspection of the Tyr drilling rig, operated by Iceland Drilling, ahead of the equipment’s shipment to Nevis for a major geothermal energy development project. Dated 31 August 2026, the inspection mission marks a critical step forward for the 30-megawatt geothermal initiative that aims to transform the energy landscape of St. Kitts and Nevis.

    Led by the Nevis Island Administration and executed by Nevis Electricity Company Limited (NEVLEC), the project secured international backing months ago when Iceland Drilling was awarded the turnkey contract for geothermal drilling services at the Hamilton site on Nevis. The contract covers the development of six geothermal wells, which will be drilled using the 272-tonne Drillmec HH-300 Tyr rig, the same unit inspected by the Nevis delegation in Iceland. Preparation for the drilling operation is already underway: Icelandic engineering firm COWI will lead civil works to ready the drilling pad, with on-site oversite provided by Iceland Drilling. Drilling operations are on schedule to launch in the second half of 2026.

    The inspection delegation was headed by newly appointed NEVLEC General Manager Nelson Stapleton, and included Project Coordinator Naftalie Erra plus a team of technical specialists from Scotia Drilling Consultants, a UK-based industry leader. During the visit, the NEVLEC team held in-depth working sessions with Icelandic drilling, engineering, and geothermal experts to familiarize themselves with the rig’s specifications, operational requirements, and logistics needs for deployment on the island.

    In comments following the inspection, Stapleton emphasized the dual goals of the pre-mobilization mission. “As we move closer to drilling, it is important that NEVLEC has direct oversight of the rig’s readiness and a clear understanding of what will be required once the equipment is mobilized to Nevis,” he said. He added that capacity building was a core priority: “Equally important is building the capacity of our team so that the knowledge and experience gained during this stage remains within NEVLEC and can support the project throughout drilling and the subsequent development of the geothermal resource.”

    Backed by the Federal Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and key financial partners including the Caribbean Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and Green Climate Fund, the 30-MW project is designed to deliver clean baseload power to both St. Kitts and Nevis. The initiative follows the successful recent launch of commercial operations at a 10-MW geothermal plant in neighboring Dominica, a model that St. Kitts and Nevis aims to replicate to reduce its reliance on expensive, polluting imported fossil fuels. Beyond meeting domestic energy needs, government officials have confirmed that ongoing discussions are underway with neighboring Antigua and Barbuda to explore a potential cross-border power supply agreement that would extend the benefits of Nevis’ geothermal resource across the Eastern Caribbean.

  • Farmers and residents of Grand Bay invited to lethal yellowing disease meeting

    Farmers and residents of Grand Bay invited to lethal yellowing disease meeting

    In response to a confirmed outbreak of the highly destructive Lethal Yellowing Disease (LYD) that threatens the island nation’s coconut palm populations, Dominica’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy is organizing a community awareness meeting for farmers and residents in Grand Bay and neighboring areas. The public sensitization session, set to take place at the Grandbay Youth Center at 5:00 PM on Monday, August 31, 2026, aims to equip local agricultural stakeholders and community members with critical knowledge about the lethal pathogen and its growing threat to palm species across the country.

    The LYD outbreak was officially confirmed by Dominican agricultural authorities in March 2026, after weeks of extensive field surveys across the North East Agricultural District, followed by rigorous laboratory testing of plant samples collected in the Woodford Hill region. Unlike many mild plant pathogens, Lethal Yellowing Disease is a devastating condition that targets both commercially valuable coconut palms and popular ornamental palm species. Transmitted by the sap-feeding plant hopper *Myndus crudus*, the disease triggers rapid, irreversible decline in infected trees, which typically die within just three to six months after the first symptoms appear.

    Organizers are urging all local farmers and residents to attend the upcoming meeting, where attendees will learn how to identify early signs of LYD infection, and what coordinated response measures can be implemented to slow the spread of the disease across local communities. The public health and agricultural initiative has received substantial financial and logistical support from a broad coalition of regional and international partners, including the French Development Agency (AFD), the French Global Environment Facility, German development cooperation through KfW, the Caribbean Community regional bloc, and the local Dominica National Conservation Trust (DNCT).

    Members of the public seeking additional details about the meeting location, registration, or general information about Lethal Yellowing Disease can contact event organizers at the phone numbers 266-3802 or 266-3271.