Carib Scope

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  • CNTT President warns employment growth is concentrated in informal work

    CNTT President warns employment growth is concentrated in informal work

    On the occasion of International Workers’ Day, the top leader of the Dominican Republic’s largest transport workers’ organization has drawn public attention to a worrying discrepancy behind the country’s nominal employment gains over the last two years. Juan Marte, president of the National Confederation of Transport Workers (CNTT), revealed that total employment across the nation has expanded by roughly 5 percent since 2022 – but the overwhelming majority of these new positions have been created in the unregulated informal sector, not in formal, protected work arrangements.

    Marte specifically highlighted unregulated motorcycle taxi services as one of the single biggest drivers of informal job growth in the country. A large portion of the Dominican Republic’s registered and unregistered motorcycles are now deployed for commercial passenger transport, he explained, absorbing tens of thousands of workers who cannot find formal employment opportunities. Beyond motorcycle taxis, Marte outlined that the entire domestic transport sector – including licensed taxis, urban public transit, intercity bus routes, freight logistics, and other passenger services – generates approximately 200,000 total jobs across both formal and informal segments of the economy.

    A key point of concern raised by Marte is the rapidly growing share of immigrant workers filling informal transport roles, especially in the motorcycle taxi segment. He added that this pattern of over-reliance on informal immigrant labor extends beyond the transport sector, noting that core Dominican industries including agriculture, construction, and commercial food production have increasingly turned to non-domestic workers to fill labor gaps left by the absence of formal, attractive working conditions for local citizens.

    In his remarks centered on International Workers’ Day, Marte launched sharp criticism of the Dominican government for failing to implement targeted policy measures to protect formal workers and expand the number of regulated formal employment opportunities. He argued that systemic gaps in state support and labor regulation have pushed thousands of low-income Dominican citizens into unstable, high-risk informal work that offers little to no social protection or labor rights. Marte’s public comments echo widespread concerns shared by labor analysts and advocacy groups across the Dominican Republic, where informal labor has long persisted as one of the most defining structural characteristics of the national workforce.

  • Severe weather keeps four provinces on red alert in Dominican Republic

    Severe weather keeps four provinces on red alert in Dominican Republic

    A slow-moving atmospheric trough continues to dump relentless heavy rainfall across large swathes of the Dominican Republic, triggering a cascade of natural hazards that have left thousands displaced and critical infrastructure damaged, the nation’s Emergency Operations Center (COE) has confirmed. As of the latest official update, a three-tiered alert system remains in place, with four northern provinces – Monte Cristi, Puerto Plata, Valverde and Santiago Rodríguez – placed under the highest-level red alert, 15 additional regions under yellow alert, and a further seven under precautionary green alert.

    The unrelenting downpour has spawned a range of hazards across both urban and rural communities. Flash flooding has inundated low-lying neighborhoods and farmland, multiple rivers and small streams have burst their banks, and saturated hillsides have given way to landslides in scattered settlements across the affected zones. Official damage assessments paint a grim picture of the disaster’s human toll: more than 5,000 local residents have been forced to evacuate their homes to emergency shelters, while over 1,000 residential properties have sustained impacts ranging from minor flood damage to total destruction. Dozens of homes have suffered major structural compromise, and four dwellings have been completely lost to the weather event.

    Transportation networks have been heavily hit, with damaged roads and bridges cutting off access to 42 isolated communities that are yet to regain connection to surrounding areas. The nation’s water distribution network has also taken significant damage: 22 regional aqueducts are currently out of operation, cutting running water service to more than 300,000 registered users across the country. In response to the unfolding crisis, emergency response teams have been deployed across the hardest-hit zones, with 15 residents rescued from floodwaters in Santiago Rodríguez alone as of the latest report.

    Authorities have issued urgent public advisories warning all residents to avoid attempting to cross flooded roadways or swollen rivers, even if crossings appear passable. Drivers have been urged to reduce speeds and exercise extreme caution, as ongoing rainfall continues to cut visibility on roads across the alert zones. Meteorologists with the COE have extended warnings for continued precipitation across much of the nation in the coming days, with officials warning that the risk of further flooding and landslides will remain elevated until the trough system moves out of the region.

  • Labour Week Message from the General Secretary, David Massiah

    Labour Week Message from the General Secretary, David Massiah

    As Antigua and Barbuda prepares to mark its annual celebration of workers, the Antigua & Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) has launched this year’s Labour Week around the central theme: “Strengthening our Commitment to Social Development and Equity”. As a progressive, worker-first organization, the union emphasizes that decades-old labor protections are no longer sufficient to address the shifting demands of the modern workforce.

    This year’s commemoration carries deep historical roots: 74 years ago, in May 1951, Antigua and Barbuda officially recognized Labour Day as a public holiday for the first time. Working conditions in that era bore little resemblance to today’s landscape, defined by grueling 48-hour workweeks, minimal legal protections, widespread exploitation, and little guarantee of basic dignity on the job.

    The tide began to shift 16 years later, when the ABWU was founded in 1967, ushering in a new era of worker empowerment. Organized collective action through the union accelerated the creation of the Antigua Labour Code, a piece of legislation still widely considered one of the most comprehensive and progressive labor frameworks in the Caribbean region. This legal structure enshrined core protections for working people and set a regional benchmark for fair employment practices. The subsequent establishment of the national Social Security Scheme further strengthened worker stability, delivering critical support for retirement, guaranteed paid sick leave, and maternity protections that serve as a lifeline for working families across the twin island nation.

    Many of the ABWU’s earliest gains are traced to the tireless advocacy of founding leader Bro. Malcolm Daniel, whose landmark negotiations secured the reduction of the standard workweek from 48 hours to 40. That win was far more than a change to scheduling: it was a victory for human dignity, work-life balance, and the fundamental right of workers to spend quality time with their families.

    Today, standing on the foundation built by generations of organizers, activists, and striking workers, the ABWU celebrates the significant progress that has transformed work in Antigua and Barbuda, cementing fundamental labor rights and raising quality of life for workers across both islands. But union leaders warn that the global world of work is changing at an unprecedented pace, bringing new challenges that demand renewed commitment. The rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping entire industries, the informal gig economy is expanding rapidly, and remote work has become a permanent fixture for many sectors. These shifts bring new opportunities for flexibility and growth, but also create widespread uncertainty for working people, leaving gaps in existing protections.

    Against this backdrop, the ABWU says the core question facing workers and policymakers is how to continue advancing social development and equity in this new era. The union’s answer is sustained solidarity: remaining united, adaptive to change, and vigilant in protecting worker interests. Leaders stress that no matter how the workforce evolves, every worker is entitled to dignity, protected rights, and new benefits that boost quality of life. Workplaces, they argue, must never prioritize profit over the well-being of workers, and all people deserve fair living wages, financial stability, and freedom from exploitation and systemic discrimination.

    This Labour Week, the ABWU is issuing two key calls: first, for all workers across Antigua and Barbuda to stand together in collective solidarity, and second, for the national government to begin developing a formal framework for mandatory disability insurance for workers. Currently, the union notes that existing workers’ compensation programs fall far short of supporting workers who sustain permanent disabilities on the job, failing to cover ongoing living costs and leaving working families in vulnerable financial positions. This gap remains a top priority concern for the ABWU.

    As the nation heads toward Labour Day, the union is calling on all workers to renew their collective commitment to building a more equitable future for working people. All residents are invited to join this year’s official Labour Day Rally and March, scheduled for Monday, May 4 at the ABWU Headquarters on Lower Newgate Street. The event will serve as a public demonstration of worker unity, honoring the hard-won gains of the past while reaffirming the movement’s commitment to fighting for a better future for all working people in Antigua and Barbuda.

  • Police make progress in recent homicide, one person charged

    Police make progress in recent homicide, one person charged

    Against a backdrop of growing concerns over spiking gun violence across the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, law enforcement authorities have announced a significant investigative breakthrough in one of the territory’s most recent homicide cases.

    On April 29, formal charges were filed against Ketwan Hamilton, a resident of the Lime Kiln Project neighborhood, in connection with a fatal public shooting that claimed the life of 22-year-old Shamari Baptiste just 10 days prior. The shooting unfolded at the Royal Kingdom Snackette, a local food establishment in Lime Kiln, between 1:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. on April 20, 2026.

    First responders arriving at the scene immediately found Baptiste unresponsive on the snackette’s floor. Investigators later confirmed the victim was a national of St. Vincent and the Grenadines who had been residing at Buckley’s Estate on St. Kitts. Preliminary accounts of the incident indicate Baptiste was simply waiting for his food order when an armed suspect approached him and opened fire, striking him in the neck. Baptiste was pronounced dead on site by responding emergency personnel.

    In an official update released to the public Thursday, April 30, police confirmed the full scope of charges against Hamilton, which extend far beyond the murder count. In addition to murder, Hamilton faces charges for illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, discharging a loaded weapon in a public space, and possession of a firearm with the explicit intent to endanger human life. All charges were formally processed at the Basseterre Police Station.

    This latest arrest marks a notable milestone in the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force’s ongoing crackdown on gun-related crime. With Hamilton’s arrest, police have now taken four individuals into custody linked to two separate recent shooting incidents on the island of St. Kitts, as authorities ramp up efforts to reverse the recent upward trend in violent firearm offenses across the federation.

  • Coull Graham named Employee of the Month at ABEMS for March 2026

    Coull Graham named Employee of the Month at ABEMS for March 2026

    In a recent internal recognition ceremony held at ABEMS, one employee has stood out among their peers for exceptional contributions to the company, earning the prestigious title of Employee of the Month for March 2026. That honoree is Coull Graham, whose consistent dedication, innovative problem-solving, and commitment to team success have not gone unnoticed by company leadership.

    The Employee of the Month award at ABEMS is designed to highlight individual employees who go above and beyond their core job responsibilities, demonstrate alignment with the company’s core values, and deliver measurable positive impact on daily operations and long-term team goals. Selection for the award follows a multi-stage review process, where department heads nominate candidates, and a cross-departmental committee evaluates nominees based on work performance, collaboration, and initiative.

    ABEMS leadership confirmed that Graham’s contributions over the month of March 2026 included leading a cross-functional project that streamlined internal reporting workflows, cutting processing time by 18% and reducing administrative burden for multiple teams across the organization. Colleagues also highlighted Graham’s willingness to mentor new team members, stepping in to support onboarding efforts during a period of rapid company growth. As part of the recognition, Graham will receive a cash bonus, additional paid time off, and a dedicated parking spot at the company’s headquarters for the month of April.

    In a brief statement following the announcement, Graham expressed gratitude for the recognition, crediting their team for the collaborative effort that made their achievements possible. “It’s an honor to be recognized by ABEMS and my colleagues,” Graham said. “None of the work I’ve done would have been possible without the support of my team, and I’m proud to contribute to the success of this company.”

    ABEMS leadership noted that Graham sets a strong example for all employees at the organization, and that the company remains committed to celebrating outstanding performance and fostering a culture of recognition and growth.

  • Launch of the PSARA Klere Chimen project in the Southern Department

    Launch of the PSARA Klere Chimen project in the Southern Department

    In a major step forward for social welfare investment in Haiti, government officials formally launched the Adaptive Social Protection for Increased Resilience (PSARA Klere Chimen) initiative on April 29, 2026, in Port-Salut, located in the country’s Southern Department. The launch ceremony was led by Marc-Elie Nelson, Haiti’s Minister of Social Affairs and Labor (MAST), through the ministry’s specialized Project Management Unit (PMU), marking the start of a two-year support program for thousands of at-risk families across the region.

    Minister Nelson outlined the core scope of the new project, explaining that coverage will extend across six communes in the Southern Department, reaching a total of 6,485 vulnerable households that will qualify for direct state support. The program’s primary goal is to help eligible families cover a portion of their ongoing food and nutritional needs, a critical intervention in a region that has long faced economic instability and food insecurity challenges.

    Unlike conditional aid programs that require recipients to meet specific requirements to receive support, PSARA Klere Chimen delivers assistance through monthly unconditional cash transfers disbursed in local Haitian Gourdes. Payment amounts are structured based on household vulnerability levels to meet varying needs: eligible households with a single vulnerability factor receive the equivalent of $40 USD per month, while households that meet two or more vulnerability criteria qualify for up to $80 USD per month. Common high-priority vulnerability factors include having a household member with a disability, a pregnant or breastfeeding woman, or a child under the age of five. All transfers will be distributed over a 24-month period, providing long-term, consistent support for participating families.

    The entire $1,862,400 USD initiative is made possible through financial backing from two global development partners: the World Bank and Swiss Cooperation. The partnership between Haitian government institutions and international funders aligns with the country’s long-term social protection strategy to expand support for its most vulnerable populations.

    During his remarks at the launch, Minister Nelson emphasized that the program is far more than a short-term assistance measure. He argued that strategic social protection acts not only as a lifeline for families in need but also as a transformative driver for broader community stability and public confidence. By addressing immediate economic hardships, the initiative lays the groundwork for more sustainable long-term development across the Southern Department.

    Lucny Cadet, coordinator of MAST’s Studies and Programming Unit (SPU), expanded on the program’s dual design, noting that it is structured to meet both urgent needs and long-term household stability goals. Cadet highlighted the critical role of the ministry’s newly updated digital Social Protection Information System (SIMAST), which improves the accuracy of beneficiary targeting, ensures full traceability of all program interventions, and strengthens coordination between the multiple government and non-government stakeholders involved in the project.

    From an administrative perspective, the SPU will oversee strategic coordination and overall program management, ensuring that all interventions remain consistent with Haiti’s national social protection framework, particularly the National Policy for Social Protection and Promotion. The unit will also lead efforts to strengthen the project’s monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, enabling ongoing adjustments to improve outcomes and ensure full accountability for program funds and impact.

  • GPL threatens legal action against Chinese construction company for GY$30 million blackout losses

    GPL threatens legal action against Chinese construction company for GY$30 million blackout losses

    On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, state-owned Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) announced it would pursue legal recourse against local subsidiary China Railway First Group (Guyana) Incorporated if the contractor fails to compensate GY$30.645 million for losses tied to a widespread four-hour power outage that disrupted tens of thousands of customers across Greater Georgetown earlier that week.

    The outage, which began at 8:50 a.m. on Sunday, April 26, was traced directly to unsafe construction work carried out by the firm on Dennis Street in the Sophia neighborhood of Greater Georgetown. According to GPL’s official investigation, heavy excavating machinery operated by the contractor came into unapproved contact with the L10 high-voltage transmission line that connects the new Georgetown and Sophia electrical substations. The accidental contact triggered a cascading failure that cut power to multiple communities for more than four hours.

    GPL confirmed that it has already delivered a formal demand letter to Ma Qiang, project manager of China Railway First Group (Guyana), giving the firm a 14-day window to remit the full claimed amount for damages and lost revenue. If the payment is not finalized within the deadline, GPL said it will initiate formal civil legal proceedings to recover the funds.

    In addition to the financial demand, the Guyana Police Force has already taken one person into custody in connection with the unsafe work that caused the outage. The incident also resulted in widespread disruption to daily life: local households, commercial operations, and critical public services all lost access to power for hours, leaving widespread inconvenience for residents and business owners across the affected area.

    GPL framed the incident as a serious violation of mandatory electrical infrastructure safety protocols. The utility emphasized that all construction work conducted near high-voltage lines and other critical electrical assets must follow strict clearance distance requirements, adhere to published national safety standards, and include pre-work coordination with GPL’s technical team.

    The company also warned that working too close to active electrical infrastructure poses an immediate lethal risk to workers and bystanders, capable of causing severe injury or death in addition to the widespread service disruption and critical infrastructure damage seen in this case. In a closing statement, GPL reiterated that all contractors and equipment operators operating in Guyana are required to follow all safety protocols when working near power lines, and any future violations will result in immediate, decisive action including financial recovery and legal action.

  • Taxpayers Step In as Bus Talks End in Compromise

    Taxpayers Step In as Bus Talks End in Compromise

    After three days of tense, high-stakes negotiations that left Belizean commuters staring down a potential full suspension of bus services, the government of Belize and the Belize Bus Association (BBA) have finalized a last-minute compromise that will keep public transit running across the country starting next week. The deal, announced late last week, combines a small, tiered increase in passenger fares with a temporary three-month diesel subsidy funded by general taxpayers, designed to ease the financial pressure on bus operators that pushed the industry to the brink of a work stoppage. Talks stretched into closed-door sessions after operators warned they could no longer absorb soaring global diesel costs without either raising fares dramatically or halting service, which would have left thousands of daily commuters without access to work, school, and essential services.

    In an interview following the signing of the agreement, Minister of Transport Dr. Louis Zabaneh laid out the details of the compromise that pulled both sides back from a deadlock. Under the terms of the deal, the government will calculate subsidy payments based on the actual daily mileage each authorized bus operator covers, providing $3 per gallon in fuel cost offsets to keep operator expenses manageable. The agreement also includes minor adjustments to inter-municipal and village route stops, work that had already been completed in advance of negotiations, speeding up the finalization of the deal. Starting Monday, May 4, passengers will see fare increases of 50 cents for short trips between nearby stops, and up to $1 for longer cross-country commutes. This temporary pricing structure will remain in place for three months, while government and industry leaders monitor shifting fuel markets. The subsidy will cover any additional fuel costs beyond what the modest fare hike offsets, preventing passengers from shouldering the full burden of current high fuel prices.

    BBA President Philip Jones emphasized that the compromise represents a balanced outcome that prioritizes commuter well-being amid ongoing industry financial strain. After days of informal protests and minor service disruptions that put public pressure on both sides to reach a deal, Jones noted that operators pushed aggressively to cap fare increases at $1 even as they faced unsustainable costs. “The ultimate goal for both the Department of Transport and bus operators across the country was to keep the burden on daily riders as small as possible,” Jones explained. “This deal ensures that commuters don’t have to absorb the full impact of volatile fuel prices right now, and the three-month window gives both sides time to assess the market and plan for long-term adjustments.”

    When pressed about the commitments both sides have made to improve public transit quality, in exchange for the taxpayer support and approved fare increase, both leaders outlined next steps for service upgrades. Dr. Zabaneh confirmed that the agreement reminds all operators of their existing obligations under their road service permits to maintain consistent, reliable service. He also noted that discussions were held about the government’s long-term plan to modernize Belize’s public transit sector, including a proposal for a voluntary public-private partnership National Bus Company that operators have opted not to join, with the government agreeing to support the current structure based on that choice. Further talks on village route service improvements are scheduled for mid-next month.

    Jones echoed that service improvement has been the association’s top priority throughout the negotiation process. The three-month subsidy is framed as a critical financial lifeline that will allow operators to invest in minor upgrades and stabilize routes without cutting service or raising prices beyond the agreed cap. “All operators across the country are on board to deliver higher quality, more consistent service for passengers as part of this deal,” Jones said.

    As the new fare structure and subsidy program are set to launch in the coming days, questions remain about whether the temporary compromise will deliver the relief both sides have promised. Commuters will immediately face higher out-of-pocket costs for travel, while taxpayers will cover the cost of the subsidy, but leaders on both sides say the deal avoids the far more disruptive outcome of a full service shutdown, and buys critical time to address long-term cost pressures in Belize’s public transit sector.

  • “Who’s Next?” Orange Walk Shaken by Back-to-Back Robbery Murders

    “Who’s Next?” Orange Walk Shaken by Back-to-Back Robbery Murders

    A quiet agricultural district in northern Belize is reeling from an unprecedented wave of violent crime this week, after two separate fatal robberies killed innocent residents within a 24-hour window, leaving tight-knit communities stunned and fearful of what may come next.

    The first deadly attack unfolded off Santa Martha Road, where local law enforcement discovered the body of 70-year-old lifelong resident Francisco Perfecto Garcia, known affectionately to neighbors as “Sac Sac”, not far from his family farm. Garcia suffered multiple fatal chop wounds during what investigators have classified as a botched robbery.

    Less than a day later, a second pre-planned attack claimed the life of a second local resident, this time targeting a pair of working delivery drivers. According to officials at Zeta Water, where 42-year-old victim Roberto Villafranco had worked for four years, the pair were lured to a remote location on Chan Pine Ridge Road by an unknown caller using a private phone number. The unlogged request for a water delivery was never processed through the company’s central system, because the call came through during the sales team’s lunch break when the work phone was left charging at the store.

    When the two drivers arrived at the requested location, a masked gunman flagged them down using an empty five-gallon water bottle as a ruse, before opening fire. Felipe Vasquez, Villafranco’s 42-year-old coworker, managed to escape with a non-fatal gunshot wound and is currently receiving treatment at a local medical facility. Villafranco was shot inside the company delivery truck and pronounced dead at the scene.

    What makes the attack even more senseless, Zeta Water officials say, is that delivery drivers carry almost no cash or valuables that would make them worthwhile targets for robbery. “Each five-gallon bottle sells for just three dollars, and the maximum a driver can collect on any route is $180 for a full 60-gallon load,” explained Eliezer Escalante, the company’s route supervisor. “That’s barely enough money to cover a week of groceries, yet a man lost his life over that. It doesn’t make any sense.”

    Escalante, who was the first company official to arrive at the scene after receiving a panicked alert from witnesses, described the moment he arrived as surreal. “I felt disbelief. I just stood there blank, I couldn’t find any words to process what I was seeing. Roberto had been with us for four years — he was a humble, hardworking man who loved his job. He talked about staying with us for years to come. This shouldn’t have happened to him,” Escalante said.

    For Orange Walk Town Mayor Ladrick Shepherd, the two killings hit particularly close to home. He had known Garcia for decades, from his early days working at the local BSI facility where Garcia was a senior colleague who offered guidance to the young new employee.

    “These are two good, humble people who didn’t do anything to deserve this,” Shepherd said in an interview. “This is like a dark cloud hanging over Orange Walk these past few days. This is not what our district is like. This kind of back-to-back violence never happens here.”

    As of Thursday evening, Belizean law enforcement had not announced any arrests in connection with either killing, and investigations are still ongoing. Shepherd has sought to reassure shaken residents that police are working around the clock to identify the perpetrators and prevent further violence.

    But for the two grieving families, no reassurance can bring back their loved ones. Adin Garcia, the elderly victim’s son, told reporters that the family had just gathered to celebrate his father’s 70th birthday on April 18, spending a quiet day together by the river that the Garcia family loves. His only regret now is that no one thought to take photos of that final happy gathering — memories that will have to live only in their minds forever. As the community mourns, many are left asking the same terrifying question: who could be next?

  • Caught on Camera: Murder Trial Ends in Instant Guilty Plea

    Caught on Camera: Murder Trial Ends in Instant Guilty Plea

    A dramatic turning point unfolded in a High Court murder trial this week, when 25-year-old James Lyson Cacho abruptly reversed his initial not guilty plea after prosecutors presented conclusive surveillance footage capturing the 2023 fatal attack. The killing of 23-year-old Jordan Waight occurred in broad daylight on Barbara Harris Street back in November 2023, and the graphic video evidence proved to be irrefutable for the defendant ahead of a full jury verdict.

    By the time prosecutors introduced the footage, they had already called two critical expert witnesses to the stand: a certified Scenes of Crime technician and a police department information technology specialist, who both authenticated the video’s authenticity and chain of custody. Immediately after the recording finished playing in the courtroom, Cacho formally changed his plea to guilty, cutting short the proceedings and eliminating the need for the Crown prosecution to call its remaining scheduled witnesses.

    Presiding Justice Candace Nanton formally accepted Cacho’s guilty plea and scheduled the sentencing hearing for June 15, 2026. Cacho is currently represented by defense attorney Ian Gray throughout the legal process. This report is adapted from a broadcast evening news transcript, with translated Kriol language segments formatted using a standardized spelling system for accessibility.