Carib Scope

分类： society

  • Two Men Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of Cannabis

    Two Men Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of Cannabis

    In a decisive move underscoring the nation’s drug enforcement stance, the Antiguan judicial system has handed down significant financial penalties to two individuals convicted on cannabis possession charges. The rulings were delivered on Wednesday at the All Saints Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel.

    The first case involved Terrance Roberts, a 48-year-old resident of Federation Road. Roberts, who had previously entered a guilty plea, was found in possession of 267.8 grams of cannabis. The court imposed a substantial fine of $5,000 Eastern Caribbean Dollars, mandating full payment within a one-year period. Failure to comply with this financial penalty will result in a one-year custodial sentence at His Majesty’s Prison.

    In a separate and concurrent hearing, 32-year-old Roshawn Elliott from Potters Village faced sentencing after similarly pleading guilty. Elliott’s charges stemmed from the possession of a larger quantity—1.1 pounds (approximately 499 grams) of cannabis. Reflecting the greater amount seized, the court levied a more severe fine of $15,000 EC Dollars, also payable within a twelve-month timeframe. Defaulting on this payment will lead to an eighteen-month incarceration period.

    These consecutive sentencing procedures highlight the ongoing enforcement of cannabis legislation within Antigua and Barbuda, demonstrating the judiciary’s consistent application of penalties proportionate to the severity of the offense. The outcomes serve as a contemporary benchmark for drug-related convictions in the nation’s legal landscape.

  • OPINION: Caribbean Faces Rising Unemployment and Economic Uncertainty Amid Calls for Reform

    OPINION: Caribbean Faces Rising Unemployment and Economic Uncertainty Amid Calls for Reform

    The abolition of Caribbean slavery inaugurated a persistent struggle with employment, a complex issue often reduced to simplistic minimum wage debates and sterile statistics that obscure profound human suffering. The transition from plantation economies through post-colonial patriarchy to inadequate worker protection frameworks has left a fundamental question unresolved: what future awaits the region’s workforce?

    Global experiments offer little clarity. Finland’s Universal Basic Income trial provided unconditional payments to unemployed participants with inconclusive results, while India’s longstanding minimum hours protection for agricultural workers faces potential reform. The Cayman Islands recently implemented a hybrid approach emphasizing financial oversight and bureaucratic self-deception, even as the territory’s reputation suffers from yacht seizures and Ponzi scheme associations. Their entire financial sector now faces existential threat from proposed global corporate tax reforms targeting offshore havens.

    The heart of the unemployment crisis lies with disenfranchised youth who statistically drive regional criminal activity. Compounding this, efficiency gains, artificial intelligence, fiscal policies, and social spending demands are eliminating traditional lifetime employment for older workers—though not yet approaching Argentina’s pension crisis severity.

    Caribbean economies remain dangerously dependent on tourism, limited mineral resources, tax haven status, and remittances—a precarious foundation prompting some islands to explore military assistance economies akin to the Philippines. More alarmingly, formerly independent nations are increasingly functioning as U.S. detention facilities, trading sovereignty for economic survival.

    Remittance-dependent economies face additional pressure from American tax policies, while outsourcing sectors confront U.S. government opposition. Regional leadership promises 2026 solutions through economic diversification and sovereign wealth funds, but without substantive action, the future holds only intensified hardship and empty political rhetoric. The responsibility for meaningful change now rests entirely with Caribbean governance structures.

  • Dr Thomson Fontaine urges youth not to ‘waste their lives’ on violence

    Dr Thomson Fontaine urges youth not to ‘waste their lives’ on violence

    In a compelling address on state-owned radio DBS, United Workers Party (UWP) leader Dr. Thomson Fontaine issued a urgent plea to Dominica’s youth population, emphasizing the critical need for peaceful conflict resolution amidst escalating violent crimes on the island nation.

    The political leader directed his message specifically toward young males, urging them to reconsider their life choices amid what he described as unnecessary levels of violence. ‘I would like to make a very strong appeal to our young people, in particular to our young men, not to waste their lives away,’ Fontaine stated during his radio appearance. ‘This level of violence that we are seeing is really not called for.’

    Fontaine’s intervention comes against a troubling backdrop of criminal statistics, with Dominica recording over 20 homicides throughout 2025—a concerning figure for the Caribbean nation—accompanied by a dramatic increase in firearm-related violence.

    The opposition leader proposed concrete alternatives to violence, suggesting that youth should ‘bring in their illegal weapons’ and instead engage in dialogue to address conflicts. He emphasized the broader societal impact of violent crimes, noting that ‘too many families are impacted, too many people are impacted beyond just the people who are involved in the violence.’

    Fontaine advocated for a transformative approach to the new year, calling for greater patience and compassion among community members. ‘Let this new year be a part of something different where we can approach our issues and our differences and our problems in a different manner,’ he urged, adding that differences ‘can be done in a peaceful and amicable manner.’

    The UWP leader’s message aligns with growing concerns across Dominica regarding youth violence and illegal weapon proliferation, positioning community dialogue as essential to reversing the island’s troubling crime trends.

  • Police investigating fatal boating accident in Soufrière

    Police investigating fatal boating accident in Soufrière

    Authorities in Saint Lucia have launched a comprehensive investigation into a tragic maritime incident that resulted in the death of a local resident. The Marine Intelligence and Investigations Unit of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is leading the probe into Wednesday’s fatal accident occurring in the coastal waters near Anse Mamin, Soufrière.

    According to initial investigative findings, the victim was engaged in snorkeling activities when he suffered catastrophic injuries after being struck by an unidentified watercraft. Following the collision, bystanders arranged private transportation to transfer the injured man to Soufrière Hospital for emergency medical treatment.

    Despite medical intervention, the victim succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival. Official confirmation of death was recorded by a medical examiner at precisely 12 p.m. on the day of the incident.

    The deceased has been formally identified as 31-year-old Sheram Lionel, a resident of Trois Piton in the Castries region. Police officials have confirmed that their investigation remains active and ongoing, with authorities examining all aspects of the circumstances surrounding this tragic waterfront accident.

  • ABWU Condemns Government’s “Sporadic and Fragmented” Payment Offers to Former LIAT 1974 Workers

    ABWU Condemns Government’s “Sporadic and Fragmented” Payment Offers to Former LIAT 1974 Workers

    The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) has issued a forceful response to Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s announcement of additional funds for former LIAT 1974 Ltd. employees, characterizing the government’s approach as fundamentally inadequate and unjust.

    While acknowledging that financial assistance provides temporary relief, the union maintains an uncompromising position that displaced aviation workers must receive their full severance entitlements. The ABWU emphasizes that severance constitutes an earned right resulting from years of dedicated service, not a charitable donation or discretionary gesture.

    The labor organization has condemned the administration’s persistent refusal to acknowledge workers’ legitimate claims to severance payments, describing the government’s posture as both cruel and unjust. This stance has reportedly inflicted extended hardship on hundreds of former employees and their dependent families.

    The union characterizes the government’s intermittent payment offers as insufficient measures that highlight official apathy toward affected workers. The ABWU suggests that a credible demonstration of good faith would involve honoring severance for those with smaller outstanding balances while establishing a transparent framework for addressing larger payments as resources permit.

    Contradicting Prime Minister Browne’s claims of maintained dialogue, the union reveals that the administration has systematically excluded legally appointed worker representatives from substantive discussions for five consecutive years. This exclusionary approach appears particularly inconsistent with the government’s professed ‘pro-labour philosophy.’

    The ABWU concludes by demanding the replacement of what it terms ‘domineering approaches’ with constructive dialogue aimed at achieving a fair and humane resolution that acknowledges workers’ dignity and rightful claims.

  • Javian en oma Edith begraven na familiedrama in Commewijne

    Javian en oma Edith begraven na familiedrama in Commewijne

    Under a cloud of profound grief, Suriname laid to rest seven-year-old Javian Schattevoo and his 80-year-old grandmother Edith Brammerloo on Wednesday. The funeral service was marked by raw emotional outpouring as heart-wrenching cries of anguish echoed through the ceremony. In a poignant tribute to the young victim’s favorite toy, Javian’s casket was crafted in the distinctive shape of an airplane.

    Singing pallbearers carried the coffins from the service while trumpet music accompanied the ceremonial procession to the gravesites at René’s Hof cemetery, where mourners participated in traditional dancing carries as part of the burial rituals.

    The victims represent two of the ten lives lost in December’s horrific family massacre in Commewijne district. The perpetrator, Dennis Aroma, took nine lives including four of his own children before ending his own life within 24 hours of the atrocity.

    Aroma’s four children were buried on New Year’s Eve, while the assailant himself was laid to rest on Tuesday. Two survivors of the attack continue to recover from their injuries.

    In response to the tragedy, the Psychiatric Center Suriname (PCS) has deployed around-the-clock psychosocial support teams to assist grieving family members and affected community residents. Justice and Police Minister Harish Monorath attended Wednesday’s funeral to express official condolences and solidarity with the devastated families.

    The mourning process in Commewijne continues with Friday’s scheduled burial of married couple Oron, two additional victims of the massacre. The community remains deeply traumatized by a tragedy that has left permanent scars on this close-knit Surinamese district.

  • JCE launches first phase of national ID

    JCE launches first phase of national ID

    Santo Domingo has initiated a landmark national identity modernization program as the Central Electoral Board (JCE) commenced the first phase of its comprehensive identity and electoral card renewal process on Monday. This pioneering effort centers on the collection of biometric data, signaling a technological leap in the country’s identification systems.

    The ceremonial launch featured Digna Mercedes, a distinguished JCE employee honored for her 52 years of service, becoming the first individual to undergo biometric data capture. This initial phase, running through January 23rd, is exclusively available to JCE personnel while deliberately excluding Plenary members from participation. The advanced laser-engraved identification cards are projected for delivery within a two-to-three month timeframe following data collection.

    President Luis Abinader is scheduled to receive the inaugural new-generation identity card during a special ceremony at JCE headquarters on January 26th. The limited rollout will expand throughout February and March to encompass employees of non-profit institutions alongside strategically selected groups including senators, deputies, judges, political party representatives, academics, athletes, business leaders, and civil society members—totaling approximately 4,000 identification documents.

    The comprehensive renewal initiative will transition to its second phase in April, marking the commencement of public accessibility. Citizens will be processed according to birth months in a systematically organized national rollout extending through March 2027, ensuring orderly implementation across the Dominican Republic.

  • Police report decrease in major firearm-related crimes

    Police report decrease in major firearm-related crimes

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force has announced plans to intensify crime-reduction initiatives throughout 2026, building upon a year of remarkable progress in combating serious offenses across the twin-island Federation.

    Commissioner of Police James Sutton revealed during a January 7 press conference that preliminary data for 2025 demonstrates substantial decreases in multiple major crime categories, though certain offenses showed concerning upward trends. The most dramatic improvement appeared in firearm-related homicides, which plummeted from 25 cases in 2024 to just four in 2025 – representing an unprecedented 84 percent reduction.

    The comprehensive statistical review indicates robberies decreased by 29 percent, sexual assaults dropped by 51 percent, and larcenies fell by 7 percent. However, non-fatal shootings remained unchanged from the previous year, while offenses involving other bodily harm increased by 11 percent. Malicious damage incidents rose by 20 percent, and firearm and ammunition possession violations surged by 37 percent.

    Commissioner Sutton attributed the positive trends to “sustained enforcement efforts, intelligence-led operations, firearm interdictions, and increased cooperation from sections of the public.” He emphasized the direct correlation between firearm reduction and decreased violence, stating: “Fewer guns on our streets mean fewer gun victims. That relationship is neither theoretical nor accidental.”

    The police force’s strategic framework for 2026 encompasses five core approaches: enhanced community policing with deeper neighborhood integration; technology-driven crime detection utilizing advanced data and intelligence systems; targeted enforcement against illegal firearms and repeat violent offenders; a transition toward proactive crime prevention; and expanded youth engagement initiatives focusing on early intervention and diversion programs.

    Sutton stressed that law enforcement effectiveness remains dependent on broader societal support, noting: “Preventing crime and violence requires the cooperation and involvement of society in its entirety. Education, family structures, mental health support, youth development and community responsibility all play critical roles.”

    The Commissioner acknowledged recent tragedy during the Sugarmass 54 festivities, where 18-year-old Kaden Hanley was fatally stabbed during Last Lap activities, alongside several other injuries from altercations involving bladed weapons. Sutton described this incident as staining “an otherwise safe period” and serving as “a stark reminder that progress can be reversed by individual choices made in moments of anger or impulse.”

    He expressed concern about an emerging pattern of escalating interpersonal aggression, observing that disputes are increasingly being resolved through violence rather than restraint. As the Federation moves forward, the police force remains committed to “building a safer, more disciplined and socially responsible Federation” through strengthened community partnerships and continued progress in crime prevention.

  • Column: Regelmatig wandelen

    Column: Regelmatig wandelen

    Thousands of Surinamese citizens from all age groups undertook an extraordinary predawn pilgrimage across the Wijdenboschbridge on January 8th, transforming the infrastructure project into the nation’s largest participatory fitness event. The annual walking tradition saw participants converging on Commewijne as early as 5:00 AM, with all attendees required to commence their journey by 7:00 AM, demonstrating remarkable dedication to this increasingly popular wellness ritual.

    This massive turnout reveals a substantial public demand for accessible physical activities that current offerings fail to satisfy. While the bridge walk has successfully mobilized citizens who might otherwise remain sedentary, its current format as a standalone annual event represents a missed opportunity for broader public health advancement.

    Organizational stakeholders, particularly the national athletics association, could leverage this demonstrated enthusiasm to develop structured movement initiatives. Practical constraints understandably prevent frequent bridge closures, but alternative approaches could replicate the event’s success through decentralized community-based programs.

    A proposed framework suggests regular neighborhood walking events organized at the ressort level, complemented by quarterly district-wide gatherings. Such structured programming would provide ongoing mental health benefits through stress reduction while simultaneously addressing Suriname’s growing obesity concerns.

    The consistent thousands-strong participation indicates deep-seated public appetite for organized physical activity. Rather than relying solely on government coordination, neighborhood associations and non-governmental organizations could spearhead these initiatives, potentially transforming a singular annual phenomenon into sustained movement supporting national physical and mental wellbeing.

  • IAD launches national program to regularize occupied state lands

    IAD launches national program to regularize occupied state lands

    SANTO DOMINGO – The Dominican Agrarian Institute (IAD) has unveiled a comprehensive national initiative to address longstanding issues of irregular land occupation across the country. Under the leadership of interim director general Darío Castillo Lugo, the institution announced the National Program for the Regularization of IAD Land Occupations, designed to bring legal clarity to thousands of undocumented land holdings.

    This ambitious program represents a cornerstone of the IAD’s institutional transformation efforts, operating within the legal framework of the Agrarian Reform Law. The initiative seeks to establish enhanced legal security for land tenure, create transparent management protocols for state-owned land assets, and foster systematic territorial development that aligns with sustainable practices.

    Prospective participants have been granted an extensive application window stretching from January 12, 2026, through April 17, 2026. All submissions must be processed exclusively through the dedicated digital portal at regularizacion.iad.gob.do. The application requirements are comprehensive, mandating the presentation of documented evidence of land occupancy, detailed records of agricultural or livestock operations, financial documentation, proof of property enhancements, and authorization for technical surveys to facilitate thorough evaluation.

    The IAD has issued a clear warning regarding post-deadline consequences: properties that remain outside the regularization process will face legal reclamation procedures in strict accordance with prevailing legislation. Importantly, the program specifically excludes agrarian reform beneficiaries holding provisional titles, who will instead be serviced through the separately announced National Program for Definitive Titling of Agrarian Reform Landowners revealed in December 2025.