Carib Scope

分类： society

  • Dramatic scenes in Mandeville fatal shooting

    Dramatic scenes in Mandeville fatal shooting

    MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A routine Friday evening in Mandeville devolved into chaos on Friday night, when a running gun battle between Jamaican police and two suspected gunmen ended with the suspects fatally shot, two illegal weapons seized, and local residents scrambling for safety across multiple neighborhoods.

    The violent encounter unfolded after officers initiated a pursuit of a white Toyota Axio that was linked to the suspects, starting near the southern edge of the town on Newleigh Road. The chase quickly spread through populated areas, putting ordinary bystanders and local business patrons directly in harm’s way.

    Eyewitnesses recount that the first burst of gunfire erupted around 8 p.m. at the Newleigh Texaco Service Station, catching both staff and customers off guard. One on-site witness, who was mid-way through pumping gas for a Chinese national with his family inside the vehicle, described the sudden chaos unfolding before his eyes: “I saw the white Axio driving in circles around the service station lot, with a black SUV hot on its tail. Suddenly, heavy gunfire broke out everywhere. The driver didn’t even stop to pay for his gas — he just sped off the pump immediately to get his family out of danger.”

    All employees and customers at the station immediately dropped what they were doing and ran for cover, as bullets flew through the lot. The high-speed chase then continued north along Manchester Road, with the shootout intensifying as the vehicles approached the Willowgate plaza, a popular local commercial hub. By the time the confrontation ended near the plaza, one innocent bystander had already been grazed by a stray bullet, according to initial police reports.

    Local residents who witnessed the final stretch of the battle described the scene as terrifying. “The volume of gunshots that went off was unbelievable — even the exterior walls of nearby buildings have bullet holes through them,” one local resident told reporters, asking to remain anonymous for safety reasons.

    Multiple other witnesses noted that the shootout occurred during the town’s busiest evening window, when streets and plazas were packed with locals out for the weekend. “I had just gotten into town when I heard what sounded like constant explosions,” another eyewitness recalled. “I immediately ran for the nearest shelter. It’s terrible that outside gunmen have come into Mandeville to bring this kind of violence.”

    Despite the chaos and fear the incident sparked across the community, many local residents have expressed gratitude for the police response. Multiple community members praised law enforcement for intercepting the suspects before they could escape, a outcome that many say has helped ease immediate public safety concerns.

    “We feel a huge relief knowing the alleged gunmen didn’t get away,” one long-time Mandeville resident said. “We have to give the police full credit for how they handled this dangerous situation.”

    Local authorities have not yet released additional details about the backgrounds of the two deceased suspects or the motivation for their initial confrontation with police, and say the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

  • Cop breaks leg in bike crash during escort of IShowSpeed

    Cop breaks leg in bike crash during escort of IShowSpeed

    On a busy Friday afternoon along Kingston’s bustling Spanish Town Road, a routine high-profile escort operation took a sudden turn for the worse, leaving a Jamaican law enforcement officer with a serious broken leg that requires ongoing medical care. The injured constable, a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Traffic Enforcement Division, was riding his official service motorcycle as part of a security detail accompanying American social media influencer IShowSpeed when the collision unfolded just after 2:15 p.m.

    According to initial investigative reports, the chain of events that led to the crash began when a blue Honda Fit passenger vehicle pulled ahead of the officer’s motorcycle, overtook the bike, and then came to an unexpected, abrupt stop directly in the officer’s path. Left with only fractions of a second to react, the constable slammed on his motorcycle’s brakes in a sharp emergency stop. The sudden braking caused the two-wheeler to slide off the paved roadway, throwing the officer from the vehicle.

    Passersby and fellow escort officers immediately rushed to the injured constable’s aid, rushing him to Kingston Public Hospital, the island’s main public trauma center, for urgent medical treatment. After receiving assessment and care for his fractured leg, the officer remains in the facility recovering as of the latest updates.

    The incident unfolded during IShowSpeed’s visit to the Jamaican capital, part of the social media star’s multi-stop Caribbean tour. Born Darren Watkins Jr., IShowSpeed has built a massive global following for his high-energy live content, and his sightseeing trip through Kingston’s Corporate Area was broadcast live to his audience, racking up more than 2.8 million views from viewers across the world.

  • Pizza Hut and reading a good combination

    Pizza Hut and reading a good combination

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — On a sunny Tuesday in Jamaica, two primary school campuses in the parish of St Catherine buzzed with unscripted energy, as Pizza Hut Jamaica partnered with local education communities to mark Read Across Jamaica Day with immersive, student-centered reading activities that turned ordinary lessons into memorable shared experiences.

    Held under the umbrella of Jamaica’s 2026 Child Month observance, this year’s Read Across Jamaica Day programming aligns with the national theme “Prioritise Our Children’s Mental Health: Safer Minds, Safer Future” — a framework that centers joyful, low-pressure social learning as a key pillar of youth wellbeing.

    Levene Sheriff, Marketing Officer for Pizza Hut Jamaica, joined a team of staff from the brand’s Braeton location to lead reading sessions for students across both lower and upper grade levels at Southborough Primary and Independence City Primary. Rather than sticking to traditional lecture-style reading, the team structured activities around open discussion, peer participation, and playful engagement to draw out every student’s interest.

    Young learners jumped at the chance to volunteer for read-aloud segments and respond to discussion prompts, with many taking home commemoratory giveaways including new storybooks, branded reusable water bottles, branded pencil cases and custom tote bags to encourage continued reading outside of the classroom.

    Standing in after a full day of activities, Sheriff reflected on the tangible impact of community-focused school engagement. “We can see how much students enjoy moments like these where they get to interact, express themselves, and simply have fun while learning,” she said. “Beyond encouraging reading, moments like these also allow students to connect and enjoy a break from their normal classroom routine.”

    Carlyle Thompson, Principal of Southborough Primary, praised the initiative and highlighted the far-reaching benefits of ongoing partnerships between local businesses and education institutions. Thompson noted that the student response to the visit was overwhelmingly positive, adding, “I could see that the students were excited and fully engaged. It was a meaningful experience for them beyond the regular classroom schedule. There should be more days like this within the school year where students can interact with positive role models and community partners.”

    Over at Independence City Primary, the energy remained high through the afternoon, where learners in grades 4, 5 and 6 took part in themed reading and discussion activities that kept classrooms lively and participatory from start to finish. Principal Anne Geddes-Spence echoed Thompson’s enthusiasm, saying, “We truly appreciate you all for taking the time out of your busy schedules to be here with us today. The students were very happy to have you, and we only wish you could have visited all the classes. It was a wonderful experience for them.”

    In addition to the interactive reading sessions, both campuses received Pizza Hut meal vouchers to support their upcoming Children’s Month celebration activities, while participating classroom teachers were given early gifts in honor of the upcoming Teacher’s Day observance.

    This St Catherine school visit is just one component of Pizza Hut Jamaica’s broader island-wide outreach for Child Month and Teacher’s Month 2026. Across five additional parishes — St James, St Ann, Manchester, and Clarendon — the brand is distributing gift bags filled with meal vouchers, personal care items, and essential school supplies to teachers and school administrators, to recognize and thank them for their relentless dedication to supporting Jamaica’s young people.

  • Mom of Three Shot Dead at Da Buzz Lounge

    Mom of Three Shot Dead at Da Buzz Lounge

    A shocking act of violence has left a community in Belize reeling after a 34-year-old mother of three was gunned down in a public lounge Thursday evening, in an attack that also wounded two other employees. Authorities confirmed that the incident unfolded at Da Buzz Lounge, located along the Phillip Goldson Highway in Ladyville, at a moment when the venue’s scheduled security guard had not yet arrived for his shift.

    Surveillance camera footage from the venue captured the full sequence of the attack, which began at approximately 6:30 p.m. The footage shows Salma Raquel Orellana Funez, the victim, at the venue’s bar when a male suspect entered the building. The suspect, described by witnesses as wearing a white shirt, black pants and a white bucket cap, approached Funez directly. The two exchanged a few brief words before the suspect drew a hidden firearm and opened fire on Funez, killing her almost instantly. According to official police reports, after shooting Funez, the gunman turned his weapon on two other female staff members working inside the lounge, firing multiple rounds in their direction before fleeing the scene.

    The two injured workers have been identified as 26-year-old waitress Shayanta Williams and 32-year-old bartender Cardova Neal. Both women were rushed to the local hospital for emergency treatment for their gunshot wounds. Police have since confirmed that as of the latest update, both remain hospitalized but are listed in stable condition, with their injuries not considered life-threatening.

    Funez was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) following the attack, but medical personnel were unable to save her. She was officially pronounced dead at 9:16 p.m. that same evening, leaving behind three young children.

    In a public statement released to social media and local news outlets on Friday morning, leadership at Da Buzz Lounge confirmed the critical security gap that preceded the attack: the contracted security officer assigned to the venue that day had not yet arrived for his shift when the gunman entered. The management also paid tribute to their fallen employee, describing Funez as far more than a staff member. “She was a cherished member of our Da Buzz family,” the statement read, adding that the entire team was reeling from the unexpected violence. “The events that unfolded were completely unexpected and have left all of us devastated and searching for understanding in the face of such heartbreaking violence,” the statement continued.

    In the wake of the tragedy, Da Buzz Lounge has announced it will remain closed for the rest of the weekend to allow staff to process the loss and cooperate with the ongoing investigation. As of the latest update, the suspect remains at large, with no arrests made in connection with the shooting. The case is currently being handled by Detective Constable Nestor Cardenas, who is leading the police investigation into the attack.

  • Farmer, 61, fined for marijuana

    Farmer, 61, fined for marijuana

    A 61-year-old small-scale farmer from Barrouallie has avoided jail time after pleading guilty to a marijuana possession charge in a St. Vincent court, receiving a steep fine instead of a custodial sentence. Andy Reece admitted to the charge of possession with intent to supply a controlled substance before Chief Magistrate Colin John at the Serious Offences Court this Thursday. The case traces back to April 21, when police at the Barrouallie Station received an anonymous tip about Reece’s illicit activity, prompting officers to secure a formal search warrant for his residence.

    When law enforcement officers arrived at the property, they were greeted by Doritha Solomon, who informed the team that Reece was not present at the time. After officers disclosed that they were conducting a search for illegal firearms, ammunition, and controlled drugs, Solomon granted the team permission to proceed with the search, noting that only she and her granddaughter were staying in the home at that point.

    During a search of Reece’s personal bedroom, conducted with Solomon present as a witness, officers first discovered a plastic bag holding suspected cannabis hidden inside a storage container. A further search of the space turned up additional amounts of the drug, stashed inside a tub and bucket tucked under the bed. When confronted with the illicit find, Solomon immediately denied any ownership of the drugs, leading officers to take her into custody on suspicion of drug possession and transport both her and the seized evidence to the Barrouallie Police Station. The total weight of the confiscated marijuana was recorded at 8,034 grammes, equal to roughly 17.7 pounds.

    Roughly an hour and 20 minutes after the search concluded, Reece voluntarily presented himself at the police station and claimed full responsibility for the seized cannabis. Police followed formal procedure, cautioning Reece before conducting an interview in the presence of Justice of the Peace Nash. In his official caution statement, Reece claimed the drugs were for his own personal use rather than for distribution to other buyers, saying: “The drug belongs to me. Me just get it to smoke, not to sell.”

    Grant Connell, Reece’s legal representative, presented several mitigating arguments to the court ahead of sentencing. Connell highlighted that this marked Reece’s first criminal conviction, emphasized that his client voluntarily came forward to take responsibility for the drugs, and entered a guilty plea at the earliest possible opportunity. The attorney also told the court that Reece had relied on illegal marijuana cultivation to support his family financially for the past 40 years, and formally requested that the court issue a non-custodial sentence rather than prison time.

    After weighing both the mitigating circumstances presented by the defense and the aggravating factors of the case, the court initially calculated a total fine of EC$3,320. When Connell informed the judge that Reece only had EC$3,000 available to pay immediately, Chief Magistrate John adjusted the fine to EC$3,000, ordering that the sum be paid right away. The sentence also includes a backup penalty of one year in prison if the fine is not paid. Beyond the fine, the magistrate ordered that the storage containers seized in the search be returned, and that the entire cache of marijuana be destroyed.

  • Rode Kruis benadrukt menselijkheid en hulpverlening op Wereld Rode Kruis-dag

    Rode Kruis benadrukt menselijkheid en hulpverlening op Wereld Rode Kruis-dag

    May 8 marks World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, an annual observance that honors millions of humanitarian workers and volunteers across the globe who dedicate themselves to supporting vulnerable communities, often operating in high-risk and challenging conditions. This year, the Suriname Red Cross used the international day to draw public attention to three core principles guiding its work: solidarity, human dignity, and the critical need to protect all humanitarian operations.

    The core mission of the Suriname Red Cross, like all Red Cross movement branches, centers on preventing and alleviating human suffering across all populations, regardless of an individual’s ethnic background, personal beliefs, or socioeconomic circumstances. In Suriname, the organization’s volunteers are first responders to a wide range of local crises, including flooding, traffic collisions, public health outbreaks, and other unexpected emergency events. Beyond direct emergency response, the Suriname Red Cross also invests in long-term community resilience, offering public training courses in first aid, disaster preparedness, and general health education to equip local residents to respond to crises before they escalate.

    A central tenet of the organization’s work is that all people affected by disasters or crises deserve to be treated with full respect and dignity, a principle the Red Cross reaffirmed on this year’s observance. Currently, the Suriname Red Cross is carrying out an active public health outreach operation, funded by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF), to raise awareness of mosquito-borne diseases. The operation was launched in response to recent outbreaks of chikungunya across the country.

    As part of this initiative, volunteers are visiting residential communities across three districts – Paramaribo, Commewijne, and Nickerie – to deliver targeted education on prevention of chikungunya, dengue, and Zika, three common mosquito-borne illnesses in the region. During these visits, volunteers share practical information with local residents on how to protect themselves from mosquito bites and reduce their overall risk of infection.

    This year’s World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day also included a moment of remembrance for all humanitarian workers who have lost their lives while carrying out relief work across the globe. The Suriname Red Cross noted that these losses underscore the urgent need to better protect aid workers and ensure full compliance with international humanitarian law by all parties to conflict and crisis. To close the observance, the organization issued a call to all Surinamese communities to reflect on the value of solidarity and collective support for vulnerable groups, stating, “At the end of the day, our work is about helping people, protecting lives, and upholding human dignity.”

  • LETTER: Antigua and Barbuda Cannot Sustain the One-House, One-Plot Dream Forever

    LETTER: Antigua and Barbuda Cannot Sustain the One-House, One-Plot Dream Forever

    For decades, political candidates across Antigua and Barbuda have ridden a popular campaign promise into office: pledges of more available land and more standalone housing to help working families achieve the long-held dream of property ownership. This pledge resonates deeply with populations that have long tied personal and financial security to owning a stretch of land and a detached home, but the small twin-island nation can no longer ignore the growing unsustainability of its current approach to residential development.

    Antigua and Barbuda’s total land supply is inherently finite, yet national development policy has clung stubbornly to a decades-old model: one plot of land, one single-family home per household. Across the islands, entire unspoiled communities are being split into thousands of tiny residential lots, paved road networks are cutting deeper into untouched natural terrain, and successive governments continue to open new swathes of land for private residential sale, acting as though crippling land scarcity remains a distant problem rather than a rapidly approaching crisis.

    This fragmented, low-density model may have made practical sense generations ago, when Antigua and Barbuda’s population was far smaller, land was abundant and affordable, and the pressures of rapid development were minimal. Today, that equation no longer adds up. Every new low-density subdivision requires major public investments in extended infrastructure: new roads, expanded power grids, longer water pipelines, upgraded drainage systems, new schools, and improved highway access to connect far-flung neighborhoods to urban centers. This kind of urban sprawl places unnecessary, long-term financial strain on taxpayers, while inflicting severe environmental harm on a small island nation already on the frontlines of climate change, facing heightened risks of flooding, chronic water scarcity, and coastal erosion.

    Most critically, this approach is fundamentally unsustainable for future generations. If current consumption patterns hold, what will be left of Antigua and Barbuda’s undeveloped land in 30 or 40 years? What becomes of the nation’s domestic agricultural sector when all prime farmland is converted to residential lots? How will young working people ever afford to buy property when the limited land supply is either exhausted or concentrated in the hands of a small number of private owners? These are questions the nation can no longer afford to put off answering, writes contributor Marcus Jeffers.

    To avoid this bleak future, Antigua and Barbuda must immediately begin pursuing intentional, well-planned higher-density housing solutions as a core part of national housing policy. The country’s future cannot rely on endless low-density subdivisions creeping further into rural and natural landscapes. Instead, sustainable housing policy must embrace a range of alternative options: multi-unit apartment buildings, attached townhouses, condominium complexes, and even thoughtfully designed high-rise residential developments in appropriate, well-located urban zones.

    For too long, cultural attitudes across many Caribbean societies have framed multi-unit apartment living as a less desirable, inferior alternative to owning a standalone single-family home on a private plot. But Jeffers points to a clear global precedent: densely populated, developed nations around the world have already adapted to limited land supplies by embracing vertical, high-density living as a pragmatic, practical solution.

    Well-designed higher-density housing delivers widespread benefits that align with both affordability and sustainability goals. It makes homeownership accessible to more low- and middle-income families while preserving large tracts of open, undeveloped land. Shared infrastructure for multi-unit developments is far more cost-efficient than building separate, extended networks for sprawling subdivisions, supporting cheaper utility costs for all residents. Public transit systems become far more feasible and cost-effective to operate when more people live in concentrated areas, and residents gain easier access to jobs, schools, and essential services without the need for long commutes from far-flung neighborhoods.

    This call for policy change is not an attack on the dream of homeownership, Jeffers emphasizes. It is a push for pragmatic, sustainable planning that preserves that dream for future generations rather than allowing it to be destroyed by short-term overconsumption. The dream of owning a home should not turn into a collective nightmare where the entire nation’s land supply is exhausted, putting property ownership out of reach for all coming generations.

    As a small island state, Antigua and Barbuda cannot sustainably apply the sprawling land-use models designed for much larger, land-rich nations indefinitely. Opening this conversation about shifting to higher-density development may be politically uncomfortable, and may challenge long-held cultural attitudes about property and housing. But it is a conversation that cannot wait, Jeffers argues. If the nation continues to consume land at its current pace without reforming how it develops residential housing, future Antiguans and Barbudans will inherit an island where the dream of land ownership is permanently out of reach.

  • Chef launches food business in tribute to late daughter

    Chef launches food business in tribute to late daughter

    For nearly 10 years, Shakira Drakes honed her culinary craft across some of Barbados’ most respected food and hospitality venues, working her way up from an entry-level salad station role to senior management. Now, this veteran chef is channeling a lifetime of experience and profound personal grief into a new venture that honors her greatest loss: on what would have been her late daughter’s 21st birthday, Drakes officially opened the doors to Kira’s Cuisine, her very own eatery located at St. James’ Husbands Heights Park.

    Reflecting on the bittersweet milestone at the launch event Thursday, Drakes shared that opening her business on this meaningful date was a deliberate choice, one designed to celebrate both her daughter’s memory and her own journey through grief. “I’m very proud to say that I started my business yesterday on my daughter’s birthday. She would have been 21,” Drakes said. “I wanted to do something really amazing to reflect my resilience, my humbleness and my art.”

    Drakes’ culinary career began at Barbados’ Open Kitchen, where she started in an entry-level role before working her way up to supervisor. Over the following years, she built her skills and reputation across a roster of iconic local establishments, including luxury resort Sandy Lane, popular waterfront venue Pier One, and Fusions Rooftop. Her most recent position as a restaurant manager gave her the confidence and expertise to strike out on her own, fulfilling a long-held personal goal. “I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I wanted to do this for myself and for my children,” she explained.

    The path to opening Kira’s Cuisine was not without its setbacks, Drakes acknowledged. She originally planned to operate from a mobile food trailer, but securing a permitted, suitable parking location proved far more challenging than she anticipated. For weeks, she persisted in searching for a spot, but repeated dead ends left her discouraged and ready to abandon the dream. “Every week we were still connected until one time it was like I gave up. I wanted to throw in the towel because it was very depressing,” she recalled.

    Drakes credits her network of supporters with pushing her to keep going, when she was ready to walk away. In particular, she highlighted the ongoing encouragement of Taahir Bulbulia and representatives from the Barbados Trust Fund Ltd, who worked alongside her to secure the Husbands Heights Park location. After months of searching, Bulbulia delivered the good news she had been waiting for: “He said: ‘Kira, I get a spot for you.’ From there it was nothing but up,” Drakes said.

    Today, Kira’s Cuisine serves a diverse, accessible menu of casual comfort food and signature dishes to the St. James community, ranging from chicken and fried fish platters to tacos, blackened fish entrees, subs, and fresh wraps. Drakes also emphasized that all menu items are certified halal, expanding accessible dining options for Muslim consumers in the area. The eatery operates 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and remains closed on Sundays.

  • Sergeant arrested for assaulting policewoman

    Sergeant arrested for assaulting policewoman

    A senior non-commissioned officer with the Guyana Police Force has been taken into custody following allegations of a violent assault against a female officer at the Anna Regina Police Station, law enforcement authorities confirmed. The reported incident unfolded in the early hours of Friday, May 8, 2026, at approximately 1:00 a.m. local time.

    In an official public statement released following the arrest, the Guyana Police Force outlined that preliminary investigations have confirmed the female officer was the target of the alleged assault inside the station compound. Alongside the assault, a second female member of the force was reportedly subjected to threats by the suspect, the statement added. As of Friday afternoon, authorities have not released any details regarding the underlying trigger for the alleged violence and intimidation.

    Once regional senior police command was notified of the incident, immediate action was taken to arrest the suspect sergeant, who remains in police custody as investigators continue to build their case. The alleged assault victim was promptly transported to a local medical facility for a full clinical evaluation by a licensed physician, and law enforcement officials confirmed that medical care has been provided as needed. Investigators have already begun collecting formal witness statements as part of the ongoing inquiry, with no further updates expected until initial probes are completed.

  • Two Dominican police officers successfully wrap leadership training in Barbados

    Two Dominican police officers successfully wrap leadership training in Barbados

    Two senior leaders of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) have marked a major professional milestone, wrapping up one of the law enforcement community’s most rigorous international leadership development programs and earning their Level 6 Gold certification in International Leadership and Management for 2026.

    Acting Superintendent Michael Sebastian and Inspector Murthy Jno. Jules completed the intensive training program, which ran from February 23 to April 2, 2026, at a host venue in Bridgetown, Barbados. The 6-week course was a collaborative initiative between the Regional Security System, the Caribbean’s leading regional security and capacity-building body, and Durham Constabulary, one of the United Kingdom’s most respected police forces. Aligned with the 2026 program’s core theme “Together Empowering Leaders: A Global Approach to Excellence,” the curriculum was built to address the evolving strategic challenges facing modern law enforcement.

    Unlike tactical or operational training programs, this gold-level course is tailored exclusively for senior law enforcement personnel serving in executive and strategic leadership roles. Eligible participants include senior superintendents, division commanders, and assistant commissioners from regional police forces, with a curriculum focused on boosting both personal leadership capabilities and long-term professional growth. Trainees graduated with the advanced strategic management skills required to lead large teams, complex departmental operations, and entire law enforcement organizations effectively across shifting security landscapes.

    Following the announcement of the two officers’ successful completion, the CDPF issued an official statement celebrating the pair’s achievement and reaffirming the force’s ongoing commitment to investing in continuous professional development and leadership advancement for its personnel. “The CDPF remains dedicated to nurturing the next generation of policing leaders as we continue striving for excellence in policing and national service to the people of Dominica,” the statement read.