Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • Jahciba Shoy Granted Bail Pending Crown Appeal

    Jahciba Shoy Granted Bail Pending Crown Appeal

    In a development that has advanced a high-profile murder case in the Caribbean legal system, Jahciba Shoy has walked free on bail this week, days after a High Court judge threw out the murder charge against him — but prosecutors have already moved to challenge that ruling, leaving the final outcome of the case uncertain.

    Shoy’s release was finalized on Tuesday, when High Court justices granted his bail application with a $10,000 surety requirement, structured to allow two independent guarantors to back the bond without an upfront cash deposit. The temporary release comes after a weeks-long period of continued custody that followed the initial dismissal of the charge: last week, the trial judge sided with the defense’s argument that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence to support a conviction, but prosecutors immediately filed an official notice of appeal, which kept Shoy in detention while his bail request was processed.

    The core of the defense’s case, presented by lead defense attorney Wendel Alexander, was a no-case submission that argued the entire prosecution case rested on nothing more than unfounded suspicion and unproven conjecture. Alexander maintained that no evidence presented by the prosecution met the legal standard required to sustain a murder conviction, and the trial judge agreed. In the official ruling, the judge found that the Crown, the prosecuting body in the case, had failed to establish a prima facie case that Shoy needed to answer in court, justifying the full dismissal of the murder charge.

    Shoy was initially charged in connection with a fatal shooting that shook the local community in May 2023. The incident took place at the Pick ’n Mix Mart located on DeSouza Road, during an armed robbery that left 25-year-old Roudi Shmaly, a Syrian national residing in the area, dead.

    Now, the legal process will move to the Court of Appeal, where justices will review the High Court’s ruling to determine whether the dismissal of the murder charge was legally sound. The appellate court will ultimately decide whether to uphold the original dismissal or order new trial proceedings against Shoy.

  • ULP candidate completes PhD months after election defeat

    ULP candidate completes PhD months after election defeat

    Eight months after falling short in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ (SVG) 2025 general election, a Unity Labour Party (ULP) candidate has achieved a major academic milestone, earning a doctorate from a top Taiwanese university through a long-running scholarship program.

    Darron Rodan John, 35, a Biabou-based figure who ran as the ULP’s South Windward constituency candidate in the November 2025 vote, successfully completed his Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration with a specialized focus on information management. The confirmation was shared in an official social media post by the Embassy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines based in Taiwan.

    According to the embassy’s announcement, John passed his dissertation defense on Wednesday earlier this month. His research work, titled “Determinants of Digital Banking Services Adoption among College Students in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,” centers on high-priority themes for small developing economies: digital transformation, adoption of modern information systems, digital banking, electronic records governance, e-governance, and the role of technological innovation in driving inclusive growth for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

    John’s educational journey in Taiwan stretches back nearly a decade, beginning in 2017 when he received a full scholarship from Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He started his studies by completing Mandarin language training in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, before relocating to Hualien, a scenic city on Taiwan’s eastern coast. There, he completed his undergraduate degree and Master of Science at National Dong Hwa University, before advancing to the PhD program at the same institution.

    In comments shared by the embassy, John reflected on the transformative impact of his time in Taiwan, noting: “Over the years, Taiwan has played an invaluable role in my academic, professional, and personal growth, shaping me into the person and scholar I am today.” John, who centered his 2025 election campaign in part on highlighting the bilateral relationship between SVG and Taiwan, called his PhD one of the most significant achievements of his academic career.

    “This achievement is the culmination of years of dedication, perseverance, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to academic excellence and lifelong learning,” he said. “Above all, I give all praise, honour, and glory to God, whose grace, wisdom, strength, and perfect timing sustained me throughout this journey. What began as a dream many years ago has become a reality through His unfailing faithfulness.”

    John’s graduation ceremony was held in early June, and he expressed particular gratitude that his sister and niece were able to travel to Taiwan to join the celebration. “Their presence made this achievement even more meaningful, and I will always cherish those memories,” he added.

    Beyond his personal circle, John extended appreciation to multiple stakeholders: the government and people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the government and people of Taiwan, the leadership and faculty of National Dong Hwa University, his academic advisors, mentors, and all supporters who offered guidance and encouragement throughout his studies.

    “This achievement is not only a personal milestone but also a reflection of the enduring educational and diplomatic partnership between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Taiwan,” John emphasized. Looking ahead, he plans to leverage his specialized expertise to advance research, drive digital transformation, and support sustainable development across SVG, the broader Caribbean region, and other Small Island Developing States.

    Recapping the 2025 general election results, John lost his bid to hold the South Central Windward seat for the ULP, a constituency the party has controlled since 1994. Voters ultimately elected Andrew John, a retired first-time candidate from the opposition New Democratic Party, to the seat. Following the election, Darron John returned to Taiwan to finalize work on his doctorate, bringing his nearly 10-year educational journey in the country to a successful close.

  • Judy Latchman’s 2025 appointment as Chief Magistrate announced

    Judy Latchman’s 2025 appointment as Chief Magistrate announced

    In an unusual development that has raised unaddressed questions, Guyana’s Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has finally made public an appointment to the country’s top magistracy post that was finalized more than a year and a half ago. The commission quietly named Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman as Guyana’s new Chief Magistrate on January 7, 2025, but the official announcement of the appointment only came on July 14, 2026, via a late-night update posted to the Supreme Court of Judicature’s official Facebook page. Per the commission’s statement, Latchman’s appointment has been retroactively effective from the original nomination date in January 2025. Notably, no official explanation has been provided for the 18-month gap between the appointment decision and its public disclosure.

    Latchman brings over two decades of legal and judicial experience to the role, with a well-documented professional trajectory rooted in Guyana’s legal system. She earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Guyana in 2002, followed by a Legal Education Certificate from the Trinidad-based Hugh Wooding Law School in 2004. Later that same year, in October 2004, she was formally admitted to the Bar of Guyana, marking the official start of her legal career.

    Her first professional role was as a State Counsel in the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions, a position she took up immediately after admission to the bar. She rose through the ranks quickly, earning a promotion to Senior State Counsel in that same department by 2008. In 2009, Latchman made the transition to the magistracy, building a reputation for consistent judicial service over the next eight years that led to her elevation to Principal Magistrate in 2017, the role she held before her 2025 appointment to Chief Magistrate.

    Beyond her active judicial duties, Latchman maintains prominent professional ties within commonwealth judicial circles. She is a fellow of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute, and holds membership in both the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association and the Judicial Education Institute of Guyana.

    Alongside the long-delayed announcement of Latchman’s appointment, the JSC also revealed that six new judicial officers have been appointed to the rank of magistrate. The new appointees are Ocelisa Marks, Nikkisha Logan, Jimelle Joseph, Shareefah Parks, Taneisha Saygon and Caressa Henry. All six are scheduled to take their oaths of office before Guyana’s Prime Minister Mark Phillips on July 15, 2026, the day following the public announcement of the appointments.

  • Another Azruddin Mohamed associate wanted for “Paper Shorts” murder

    Another Azruddin Mohamed associate wanted for “Paper Shorts” murder

    Guyanese authorities have issued a murder warrant for Satrohan “Depo” Rajkumar, a former associate of the country’s Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, in connection with the 2021 fatal shooting of gold miner Ricardo “Paper Shorts” Fagundes, law enforcement officials confirmed Wednesday. The killing took place outside Georgetown’s popular Palm Court venue on Main Street in March 2021, and a renewed investigation into the high-profile case has now unearthed new developments that have sent shockwaves through Guyana’s political landscape.

    Three other associates connected to Mohamed’s now-defunct motor racing venture Team Mohameds – Udoh Kanu, used car dealer Amarnauth Ramsook, and security officer Mark Richmond – have each been granted bail set at 1 million Guyanese dollars as the probe continues. Investigators have confirmed that the getaway vehicle used by the attackers was later discovered burned out along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, and the registered owner of the car has since passed away.

    Mohamed, whose We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party secured 13 seats in last September’s general and regional elections to cement his position as Guyana’s Opposition Leader, has launched fierce public pushback against the renewed investigation, claiming the probe is a politically motivated plot to tarnish his name. The allegations come after Mohamed publicly exposed a large-scale agricultural development owned by sitting President Irfaan Ali along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

    “The People’s Progressive Party has never faced a determined, vocal Opposition Leader in recent history. That is why they have waged a relentless campaign to bring me down ever since I entered mainstream politics,” Mohamed wrote in a post on his official Facebook page linked to Team Mohameds.

    The opposition leader also claimed that two of his former innocent employees were detained for six days as part of what he called a deliberate manipulation of Guyana’s judicial system and a blatant violation of the men’s constitutionally protected rights. Already wanted by United States authorities on allegations of unrelated financial crimes, Mohamed further claimed that the deceased getaway car owner, Shemroy Stewart, was a known contracted killer for Shaheed “Roger” Khan – a drug kingpin who was convicted and imprisoned in the U.S. years ago on cocaine trafficking charges. Mohamed has denied ever having any personal or professional connection to Stewart. He also alleged that senior police officials have approached multiple inmates in Guyanese prisons offering incentives to issue false statements that would directly tie him to Fagundes’ murder.

    For his part, Khan broke his silence on the case Monday, stating that Fagundes – whom Khan described as his “son” – was killed in an attack that was actually meant for him. Khan repeated longstanding claims that he previously helped prevent the collapse of the former Bharrat Jagdeo administration, and accused police of intentionally dragging their feet in the initial response to the 2021 shooting, a claim he first made publicly weeks after the killing.

  • AI data centres petition tops 17,000 signatures

    AI data centres petition tops 17,000 signatures

    Public pushback against the Trinidad and Tobago government’s plan to build large-scale artificial intelligence data centres is growing rapidly, with a citizen-led petition demanding a suspension of the project collecting more than 17,000 signatures in just days. The grassroots campaign, launched on change.org, has highlighted deep-seated concerns over the strain the hyperscale facilities could place on the country’s already overstretched water and electricity infrastructure, as well as risks to local ecosystems and public health.

  • PM: $2m approved for parade

    PM: $2m approved for parade

    Social media speculation that Trinidad and Tobago would cancel its annual Independence Day military parade for the second year in a row has been officially debunked by top government officials, who confirm the iconic national celebration will go forward as scheduled with $2 million in funding already approved.

    The unrest began after a leaked Cabinet Minute from the June 11, 2026, cabinet meeting began circulating widely across digital platforms. Cabinet Minute No. 1434 stated that the Defence Minister had been granted permission to withdraw a original proposal for the ceremonial military parade and route march marking the nation’s 64th year of independence. The out-of-context wording quickly sparked rumors that the 2026 event would be scrapped, following the 2025 parade’s cancellation last year, when the government cited ongoing national security operations under a declared state of emergency.

    Opposition leader Marvin Ganzales, chairman of the People’s National Movement, was quick to press the government for clarity, accusing the administration of failing to communicate its plans openly. Ganzales argued that the withdrawal of the proposal raised legitimate concerns that the country would lose its central Independence Day event for a second consecutive year, calling for an immediate public explanation to resolve growing public uncertainty.

    Within hours, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar stepped forward to dismiss the speculation, explaining that the leaked minute had been widely misunderstood. “The proposal is not withdrawn. Two million dollars has already been approved. An earlier note was withdrawn and replaced by an updated note. The parade is not cancelled,” the Prime Minister told local outlet the Express, confirming the event’s schedule remains unchanged.

    Defence Minister Wayne Sturge followed with an official statement doubling down on the confirmation, labeling the cancellation rumors as intentionally misleading. “At a time when the nation should be focused on unity, patriotism, and national pride, it is regrettable that some individuals continue to promote incomplete information and unsubstantiated conclusions for public consumption, with the clear intention of causing disharmony and confusion,” Sturge said. He urged the public to only trust official updates from authorized government channels and to practice caution when encountering unvetted claims shared on social media.

    As one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most cherished national traditions, the Independence Day parade has long served as a cornerstone of national identity. Held annually on August 31, the event brings together uniformed groups from across the country: the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, Police Service, Fire Service, Prison Service, Cadet Force, and other public safety organizations, which perform ceremonial drills, official inspections, and a public route march watched by thousands of gathered spectators. The celebration marks the nation’s formal independence from the United Kingdom, attained on August 31, 1962, and is widely viewed as a public symbol of national pride, collective discipline, and public service to the country.

  • Ali, Chris Must List, Richards attorneys write to CoP

    Ali, Chris Must List, Richards attorneys write to CoP

    A high-stakes request for an independent criminal investigation into Trinidad and Tobago’s statutory national intelligence framework has been formally submitted to the country’s Police Service, driven by growing public concerns over repeated violations of two key national security laws. The demand comes from three legal practitioners — Criston J Williams, Blaine Sobrian and Aaron Lewis — of the Port-of-Spain-based Quantum Legal firm, who represent three clients facing separate national security-related actions: detained citizens Earl Richards, Rajaee Ali, and Canadian vlogger Christopher Hughes, who is also known publicly as Chris Must List.

  • Guyana in talks with Belize, St Kitts & Nevis for e-ID card travel – Guyana Times

    Guyana in talks with Belize, St Kitts & Nevis for e-ID card travel – Guyana Times

    In a major push to deepen regional integration across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Guyana has entered formal discussions with Belize and St. Kitts and Nevis to extend its successful electronic identification (e-ID) card travel initiative beyond its existing passport-free travel agreement with Barbados, senior government officials have confirmed.

    Zulfikar Ally, Guyana’s Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, revealed the new negotiations in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times this week, noting that exploratory talks are also underway with multiple other CARICOM member states interested in joining the cross-border travel framework. The development comes less than six weeks after Guyana and Barbados launched their joint e-ID travel program on July 1, which allows eligible citizens of both nations to cross borders seamlessly without requiring traditional paper passports.

    The bilateral initiative was first announced in May 2026, framed by both governments as a landmark step toward breaking down travel barriers and strengthening people-to-people connections across the Caribbean. Speaking at a ceremony marking the first passport-free trip between the two countries earlier this year, Ally made clear that the Barbados partnership was only the first phase of a broader regional ambition. “We’re not gonna stop here. This card will also be used for travel throughout the Caribbean,” he stated at the time.

    Ally reaffirmed this goal in a social media video posted to his ministry’s official channels over the weekend, following his attendance at the 51st Regular Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government Conference in Saint Lucia. He noted that the regional summit generated significant interest from other member states, with multiple nations indicating they want to integrate their own digital identification systems with Guyana’s platform to enable reciprocal e-ID travel.

    As of mid-July 2026, more than 31,000 Guyanese residents have already completed registration for the national e-ID card. Currently, registrations are processed at five permanent Government Service Centres spread across Guyana’s most populous regions: Cotton Field in Region Two, Leonora in Region Three, Fort Wellington in Region Five, Port Mourant in Region Six, and the Region Four Main Office in Georgetown’s Campbellville neighborhood. To expand access, the government is fast-tracking the opening of new centres in Bartica, Kamarang, Linden, and Lethem, which Ally expects to begin operations within the next few weeks. Officials are also developing standalone registration stations across the country, and are exploring a plan to allow e-ID registration at the same time citizens apply for traditional passports to streamline the process.

    Ally urged residents who have not yet registered to take advantage of the existing facilities to obtain their cards ahead of further regional expansion. “I hope to see those of you who have not gone yet to get your e-ID cards that you go out very soon to utilise the centres to get them done,” he said in the Saturday video.

    The government has set a national target of 200,000 total e-ID enrolments by the end of 2026, according to Data Protection Commissioner Aneal Giddings, who spoke to the Department of Public Information in May. Beyond cross-border travel, the digital ID system is designed to streamline access to both government and private sector services, allowing citizens and eligible residents to complete transactions and access information securely using a single, standardized identity document.

    Applicants for the e-ID are required to submit proof of Guyanese citizenship, a photo ID, and proof of address, with acceptable supporting documents including birth certificates, existing national IDs, driver’s licences, utility bills, and Tax Identification Number certificates. Giddings emphasized that the new digital card is not designed to replace existing forms of identification such as passports, driver’s licences, or Guyana Elections Commission ID cards at this stage of the program.

    In addition to facilitating travel and public services, the e-ID program also includes a regulatory component for foreign residents. Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo explained in 2025 that the card will be mandatory for all non-citizen residents, enabling the government to track and identify foreign nationals living in the country. Under the upcoming rules, foreign residents without a valid e-ID will be barred from opening bank accounts and securing formal employment, as employers will be required to verify possession of the document. “At any given moment, we will know of all of the people who are in our country who are not Guyanese and wherever they’re from. We will have their biometrics too so when we put in the 3,000-4,000 security cameras around the country, we will be able to tell you exactly where they are,” Jagdeo said at the time.

    The e-ID initiative traces its origins back to 2023, when the Guyanese government signed a $35.4 million contract with Germany-based identity solutions provider Veridos Identity Solutions to design and deploy the national digital identification system.

  • Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs advances Diversionary Caution System as a Major Justice Sector Reform

    Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs advances Diversionary Caution System as a Major Justice Sector Reform

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts and Nevis — July 15, 2026 — The nation’s Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, in partnership with the UNDP PACE Justice Project and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), is hosting a four-day capacity-building training for the new Diversionary Caution System, a landmark initiative to reshape the country’s criminal justice sector through more proportional, restorative practice. The training, which runs from July 13 to 16 at a venue in Royal St Kitts, is split into two targeted phases to equip key stakeholders with the knowledge to roll out the reform.

    The first phase, concluded on July 14, brought together roughly 60 frontline police officers to learn the legal parameters and operational protocols of the new framework. The ongoing second phase, which concludes July 16, gathers an additional 50 stakeholders representing a cross-section of justice and support institutions, including the national judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the private legal profession, court administration, His Majesty’s Prison, public social service agencies, contracted rehabilitation providers and other relevant government bodies.

    At its core, the Diversionary Caution System establishes a legally structured, regulated alternative to traditional prosecution for eligible, low-level offenders. Rather than automatically pursuing court processing for minor offences, the system directs qualifying cases toward timely, proportionate accountability through a range of tailored interventions. These can include victim reparation, financial compensation, formal apologies, therapeutic counselling, targeted rehabilitation programming, restorative justice practices, educational courses, social support services and other evidence-based interventions approved under the framework.

    The initiative prioritizes restorative justice and rehabilitation over punitive processing for eligible cases. Its core goals extend beyond responding to the offence itself: it aims to address the harm caused to victims and communities, support lasting behavioural change, cut rates of recidivism, and help eligible offenders successfully reintegrate into their families and local communities. Critically, the system retains formal prosecution for serious offences, repeated offending, violent crimes, exploitation cases, and any matter that requires full court intervention, ensuring public safety remains a central priority.

    A diversionary caution can only be granted if strict legal criteria are met. These requirements include sufficient evidence to support a prosecution, a voluntary admission of responsibility by the offender, informed consent to participate in the diversion process, and a formal assessment confirming diversion serves the public interest. The framework also mandates meaningful victim engagement, standardized official record-keeping, regular monitoring of compliance with intervention conditions, clear consequences for breach of terms, and ongoing institutional oversight to ensure consistent, accountable application across all cases.

    Opening the initial police training session, Attorney General Garth Wilkin emphasized that the reform is not intended to excuse criminal behaviour. Instead, he explained, the system is designed to ensure the justice system delivers the right response for each individual case. Wilkin reiterated that diversion must operate within a transparent legal framework, anchored in evidence, voluntary consent, victim input, proper documentation, ongoing oversight, and clear consequences for noncompliance. He added that successful national rollout will require disciplined practice and coordinated collaboration across all relevant institutions, from law enforcement and prosecution services to judicial bodies, social service providers and government ministries.

    Deputy Commissioner of Police Cromwell Henry echoed Wilkin’s remarks in his opening address to participating officers. “The Diversionary Caution System represents a modern approach to policing and justice,” Henry stated. “For the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, this initiative reinforces our commitment to fair, proportionate, and evidence based policing.” He also stressed that it is critical all law enforcement officers fully understand the legal requirements and operational responsibilities tied to the new framework to ensure consistent implementation.

    To support practical implementation, the reform will be backed by a national Directory of Programmes and Service Providers. This centralized resource will help authorized officers and justice institutions quickly identify vetted, appropriate services to match the intervention conditions attached to a diversionary caution, including counselling, rehabilitation, restorative justice programming, education, social support, and employment readiness training. The directory ensures intervention conditions are not just procedural formalities, but are connected to real-world services that address the underlying drivers of offending, support accountability, and enable effective monitoring of compliance.

    The Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs has credited the UNDP PACE Justice Project with playing an instrumental role in advancing the reform from policy development to operational readiness. The project has provided financial, programmatic, and institutional support to help the ministry build out the framework and prepare for national launch. UNODC, meanwhile, has served as a key technical partner, leading the design and delivery of the four-day training program. UNODC worked closely with local officials to adapt training content to align with St. Kitts and Nevis’ unique legal, institutional and operational context, and provided hands-on guidance and support to both police officers and senior justice sector stakeholders.

    The combined support from UNDP and UNODC has ensured the reform is not only enshrined in national legislation, but also backed by the institutional expertise, operational guidance, and cross-sector partnerships required for effective, sustained implementation. The Diversionary Caution System forms a core part of the St. Kitts and Nevis government’s broader agenda to modernize justice administration, strengthen the rule of law, expand access to justice, reduce unnecessary case backlogs and pressure on the court system, and build a criminal justice system that is firm, fair, proportionate, restorative, and trusted by the public. The ministry extended gratitude to all national, regional, and international partners that have contributed to advancing the reform.

  • Four Financial Services Bills Receive First Reading in the Nevis Island Assembly

    Four Financial Services Bills Receive First Reading in the Nevis Island Assembly

    CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – July 14, 2026 marks a key milestone for regulatory modernization in Nevis’ growing financial services sector, as four targeted amendment bills to upgrade the island’s core financial legislation passed their first reading during a weekly sitting of the Nevis Island Assembly. The legislative package was formally introduced by Honourable Mark Brantley, who serves dual roles as both Premier of Nevis and Minister of Finance within the Nevis Island Administration (NIA).

    The four bills put forward by Brantley cover every major segment of Nevis’ corporate and international financial ecosystem: the Companies Ordinance (Amendment) Bill 2026, the Nevis Business Corporation Ordinance (Amendment) Bill 2026, the Nevis Limited Liability Company Ordinance (Amendment) Bill 2026, and the Nevis International Banking (Amendment) Bill 2026. All four proposals completed the required first reading step immediately after their introduction to the chamber.

    Following the completion of the first reading process, the Nevis Island Assembly adjourned sine die, meaning no fixed date for the next sitting has been scheduled at this time. This procedural move paves the way for further stakeholder consultation, committee review, and amendment ahead of the second reading and final vote that will determine whether the reforms become law.

    The proposed amendments are widely framed as a strategic effort to strengthen Nevis’ overall financial services regulatory framework. Updates to corporate, limited liability company, and international banking rules are expected to bring the island’s regulatory standards in line with evolving international best practices, boost transparency, and reinforce Nevis’ competitiveness as a global offshore financial center. This press release was originally issued by the NIA and published in full by SKNVibes.com, which notes it does not edit original submissions for spelling or grammar, and the views contained do not necessarily represent those of the outlet, its sponsors, or advertising partners.