Carib Scope

分类： society

  • Bad Roads Hit Cane Farmers Just Days Into New Crop

    Bad Roads Hit Cane Farmers Just Days Into New Crop

    BELIZE – A mere eleven days into the 2025 sugar harvest season, Belize’s cane farmers confront a debilitating recurrence of last year’s infrastructure crisis. Despite commencing with renewed optimism after a challenging previous season, agricultural operations have ground to a halt due to severely deteriorated road networks preventing crop transportation to processing facilities.

    Government officials attribute the infrastructural decay to weeks of torrential rainfall that impeded scheduled repair works across the nation. While meteorological conditions have recently improved, permitting initial rehabilitation efforts, the geographical inconsistency of these interventions has created critical operational disparities among farming communities.

    Salvador Martin, Chairman of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association, reveals Northern Belize growers face particularly severe logistical challenges. Farmers in his jurisdiction report daily losses exceeding thousands of dollars as they struggle to transport approximately eight tons of cane – a fraction of their typical 80-ton daily quota. The cumulative deficit has already surpassed 1,000 tons of undelivered produce since the season’s commencement on January 19.

    In an exclusive interview with News Five, Chairman Martin expressed profound disappointment regarding unfulfilled governmental commitments. “We have been disappointed because it’s almost ten days since crop started,” Martin stated. “I feel so ashamed with my people because I made the tour with the government and I assured them that it would happen.”

    While acknowledging the administration’s “good intentions,” Martin emphasized the impracticality of operating on promises alone. The chairman highlighted the emotional and economic toll on agricultural workers who face both financial losses and diminished credibility within their communities.

    The farming sector now urgently appeals for immediate governmental intervention to restore Northern Belize’s sugar roads, enabling timely crop delivery and mitigating further economic damage to this vital agricultural industry.

  • Passing Out Parade Marks Arrival of 150 New Soldiers

    Passing Out Parade Marks Arrival of 150 New Soldiers

    The Sir Colville Young Parade Square at Price Barracks in Ladyville served as the backdrop for a significant national event on January 30, 2026, as the Belize Defense Force formally integrated 150 new soldiers into its ranks. The traditional passing-out parade ceremony culminated seventeen weeks of intensive training that transformed civilians into disciplined military personnel.

    The newly graduated cohort, comprising 144 male and 6 female recruits, displayed their precision and regimented training through coordinated marching formations under the afternoon sun. The event drew emotional family members and distinguished dignitaries who witnessed the transformative journey of these young Belizeans.

    For attending parents, the ceremony represented both a proud achievement and an emotional transition as their children officially embraced the solemn responsibility of national defense. The rigorous training program has equipped the recruits with essential military skills and instilled the values of discipline and commitment required for service.

    The formal induction ceremony marks these 150 individuals as full members of Belize’s primary military organization, ready to contribute to national security and emergency response operations. This intake represents the latest reinforcement to the BDF’s operational capabilities, continuing the force’s tradition of developing skilled personnel through demanding training protocols.

  • Almost a month has passed since Brianna Genao disappeared, and the silence is deafening in Barrero, Puerto Plata.

    Almost a month has passed since Brianna Genao disappeared, and the silence is deafening in Barrero, Puerto Plata.

    A profound silence has descended upon the community of Barrero de Imbert in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, where the unsettling disappearance of young Brianna Genao nearly a month ago has irrevocably altered daily life. The once-vibrant village now exists in a state of suspended animation, gripped by collective fear and pervasive uncertainty.

    The focal point of the investigation remains the maternal grandmother’s residence, which continues to be encircled by military personnel under stringent security protocols. This cordon effectively restricts media access and inhibits normal neighborly interactions, creating an atmosphere where residents observe all activities with heightened suspicion and apprehension.

    Longtime inhabitants describe the current climate as unprecedented in recent memory. Anonymous community members revealed, ‘We haven’t experienced this level of fear in over four decades,’ reflecting concerns about potential reprisals that have silenced open discourse.

    Despite daily visits from authorities including Governor Claritza Rochtte, who personally surveyed the area, residents report no substantive breakthroughs or clear explanations regarding the investigation’s progress. The absence of international organizations at the scene has further compounded community anxieties about the thoroughness of the search efforts.

    Each passing day without resolution intensifies the anguish felt by Brianna’s family and neighbors alike, with their desperate calls for justice and the girl’s safe return echoing through the unnaturally quiet streets. The community remains trapped between fading hope and growing dread, their collective psyche marked by what has become a watershed moment in Barrero de Imbert’s history.

  • Sugar Farmers Struggle as Bad Roads Delay Crop

    Sugar Farmers Struggle as Bad Roads Delay Crop

    Northern Belize’s sugar industry is confronting a severe logistical crisis just eleven days into the 2025 harvest season, with farmers reporting massive financial losses due to impassable road networks preventing crop delivery to processing facilities.

    The agricultural emergency stems from weeks of torrential rainfall that government officials cite as the primary cause for delayed infrastructure repairs. However, cane growers contend that despite improved weather conditions, restoration efforts have failed to reach critical farming regions, leaving harvest transportation routes virtually unusable.

    Salvador Martin, Chairman of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association, revealed that his community alone faces a deficit exceeding one thousand tonnes of undelivered cane. “With eleven days elapsed since the harvest commencement, we’ve already fallen short by over a thousand tons,” Martin stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

    The association leader expressed profound frustration with governmental response, noting: “While I don’t doubt the government’s good intentions, survival cannot depend on promises alone. We require tangible solutions.” Martin described his embarrassment and sense of disrespect after having assured villagers that road repairs would be completed promptly.

    Financial impacts are escalating daily, with farmers losing thousands of dollars as transportation vehicles remain immobilized. The crisis has created stark disparities between regions, with some branches managing to initiate deliveries while others remain completely paralyzed by the infrastructure collapse.

  • CARICOM Saddened by passing of former LIAT Managing Director Dr Warren Smith

    CARICOM Saddened by passing of former LIAT Managing Director Dr Warren Smith

    The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has announced with profound sorrow the passing of Dr. William Warren Smith, CD, the esteemed former President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and a revered figure in regional economics. Recognized as a visionary development economist, Dr. Smith’s career was characterized by an unwavering dedication to the advancement of the Caribbean region.

    His distinguished service included transformative leadership roles at the helm of the Caribbean Development Bank and LIAT (1974) Ltd., in addition to holding several high-level governmental positions in his native Jamaica. Colleagues and contemporaries consistently highlighted the intellectual rigor, unwavering integrity, and profound commitment to social betterment that defined his professional ethos. Dr. Smith was widely regarded as a source of thoughtful counsel and a paradigm of principled governance, leaving an indelible mark on the institutions he served.

    In an official statement, CARICOM expressed its deep condolences, extending sympathies to Dr. Smith’s bereaved family, friends, and his former colleagues across the numerous organizations he uplifted with his expertise. His legacy is enshrined in the continued pursuit of economic resilience and improved quality of life for the people of the Caribbean, a mission he championed throughout his illustrious career.

  • OPINION: Caribbean Corporal Punishment

    OPINION: Caribbean Corporal Punishment

    A recent judicial caning in Indonesia, where a couple received 140 lashes for sex and alcohol offenses, has reignited global discourse on corporal punishment practices. This incident casts a revealing light on the Caribbean’s complex relationship with physical punishment, where such practices persist despite formal prohibitions.

    Historical records indicate that Caribbean nations under colonial rule frequently employed caning, particularly for sexual offenses, with incidence rates potentially reaching astronomical figures. The cultural persistence of these practices demonstrates the limitations of international efforts, including those by the European Union, to standardize global human rights approaches.

    Jamaican cinema provides perhaps the most visceral depiction of this practice through Perry Henzell’s classic film ‘The Harder They Come,’ which features a brutal tamarind switch caning scene that remains difficult to watch decades after its production. This artistic representation mirrors the lived experiences of many Caribbean residents who recall educational caning as creating not reform but rather sophisticated evasion techniques and lasting resentment toward authority figures.

    The psychological dimension of corporal punishment often proves as significant as the physical aspect, with the anticipation of pain and the humiliation of the experience creating lasting trauma. While girls historically faced fewer floggings, exceptions occurred, particularly in cases of ‘wilding’ where palms were typically targeted.

    Jamaica formally ceased prison whipping in 2012 under the order of the current Opposition Leader, though school corporal punishment remains widespread across age groups including very young children. Despite government discussions about implementing a total ban on child corporal punishment in 2024, concrete legislative action has yet to materialize, suggesting political considerations may be delaying progress.

    International attention focused on Jamaica in 2021 when Forbes highlighted a program addressing teacher violence against students. This spotlight represents an opportunity for meaningful reform and distance from what many consider an unsavory cultural heritage.

    The progressive stance of many South and Central American nations, which prohibit corporal punishment across domestic, educational, and penal institutions, stands in stark contrast to the Caribbean’s slower pace of reform. As the Indonesian case demonstrates, the continued practice of judicial corporal punishment anywhere maintains a global conversation about punishment, culture, and human rights that particularly resonates in regions with their own complex histories of physical discipline.

  • More than 360,000 vehicles still haven’t renewed their registration stickers; less than 24 hours remain before the deadline expires.

    More than 360,000 vehicles still haven’t renewed their registration stickers; less than 24 hours remain before the deadline expires.

    With the January 31, 2026 deadline rapidly approaching, Dominican Republic authorities report that approximately 17.4% of the nation’s vehicle fleet remains non-compliant with mandatory registration renewal requirements. According to the General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII), only 1,723,342 out of 2,086,756 eligible vehicles have obtained their 2025-2026 circulation tax stickers, leaving 363,414 vehicles operating without proper documentation.

    The tax administration agency has collected RD$2.887 billion through the renewal process thus far, with the majority of compliant vehicle owners (1,514,115) utilizing traditional banking and financial institutions for payment processing. Digital channels have shown significant adoption, with 167,496 renewals completed through the DGII’s online portal and mobile application, while 41,731 transactions were processed in-person at agency offices.

    The virtual renewal period officially concluded on January 18, 2026, though the standard compliance window remains open until month’s end. Beginning February 1, 2026, substantial financial penalties will be imposed on delinquent vehicle owners. Penalty structures include a RD$2,000 surcharge for current-year non-renewals, escalating to RD$2,100 for vehicles that failed to renew during the 2023-2024 period, and RD$3,100 for those with outstanding renewals from 2022-2023 or previous years.

    To complete the mandatory registration process, vehicle owners must present a legible, current copy of their vehicle registration documentation along with a valid identification card. The DGII anticipates collecting approximately RD$3.434 billion upon full compliance across the vehicle fleet.

  • Murder Case Against ‘Easy Glen’ Adjourned

    Murder Case Against ‘Easy Glen’ Adjourned

    The judicial proceedings against Goldburne Glenford Adolphus, colloquially known as ‘Easy Glen,’ encountered another postponement during today’s hearing at the Belize City Magistrate’s Court. The 55-year-old defendant, who remains without legal representation, faces charges for the alleged murder of school warden Shaniele Faber, a 42-year-old mother of four children.

    Court authorities confirmed the adjournment occurred after prosecutors disclosed the unavailability of the official case file, pushing subsequent proceedings to March 26, 2026. Adolphus has been detained since his initial arraignment on October 7, 2025, following police investigations that connected him to the crime through surveillance evidence and physical materials recovered from a neighboring residential unit.

    The victim’s partially decomposed remains were discovered on October 4, 2025, concealed within a blue refuse container near the intersection of Amandala Drive and Cemetery Road. The case has drawn significant public attention due to the brutal nature of the crime and the victim’s role as a community education worker.

    Legal observers note the repeated delays highlight systemic challenges within Belize’s criminal justice framework, particularly regarding evidence processing and representation for indigent defendants. The court has maintained Adolphus in custody pending further developments in the prosecution’s preparation.

  • Former BTL Workers Begin 6-Day Protest Over “Unpaid Severance”

    Former BTL Workers Begin 6-Day Protest Over “Unpaid Severance”

    BELIZE CITY – In a significant display of labor rights advocacy, former employees of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) have initiated a six-day protest campaign outside the company’s central headquarters. This action comes directly in response to the company’s failure to implement a groundbreaking Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) decision that legally affirmed workers’ entitlement to severance compensation regardless of pension status.

    The demonstration, organized by the Belize Communications Workers for Justice (BCWJ), represents the culmination of months of frustrated negotiations since the November judicial ruling. Approximately thirty retirees gathered on Tuesday, vocalizing their demands through chants of “Severance now, no tax” while highlighting the company’s apparent prioritization of corporate expansion over employee obligations.

    Emily Turner, former president of the Belize Communication Workers Union, stated that diplomatic avenues have been exhausted. “We have sent several letters… now the time for talking is finished,” Turner declared. “We demand a concrete timeline for disbursement to every eligible former employee.”

    The legal precedent was established through a case brought by ten former BTL employees, which has since empowered dozens of additional retirees to claim severance under the Belize Labour Act. Former union leader Michael Augustus contextualized the financial dispute, noting that individual claims ranging from $15,000 to $40,000 represent a minor expenditure compared to BTL’s proposed $80 million acquisition of telecommunications competitor Speednet.

    Protest organizers have obtained official authorization to demonstrate daily from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. over the six-day period, with participants vowing to maintain their presence until the company fulfills its court-mandated financial responsibilities to its former workforce.

  • Over Thirteen Pounds of Cannabis Seized at Airport Cargo Facility

    Over Thirteen Pounds of Cannabis Seized at Airport Cargo Facility

    In a significant blow to narcotics trafficking networks, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has intercepted a major drug shipment at the nation’s primary aerial gateway. During a meticulously coordinated joint operation at the V. C. Bird International Airport’s Custom Cargo Shed on January 30, 2026, authorities discovered and confiscated a substantial quantity of cannabis.

    The illicit substance, meticulously weighed post-seizure, totaled 13.2 pounds (approximately 6 kilograms). Law enforcement officials have estimated its potential street value at a staggering EC$79,200.00, highlighting the significant economic impact of this interception on criminal operations.

    This successful operation marks the single largest cannabis seizure recorded in the country for the year 2026 to date, signaling a heightened and effective vigilance by border security agencies. While specific details regarding the origin of the shipment or potential suspects remain undisclosed to protect the integrity of the investigation, authorities have confirmed that active and thorough investigations are ongoing.

    The Royal Police Force, in an official statement, reinforced its unwavering dedication to combating the illicit drug trade. The force emphasized its continued strategy of close collaboration with various law-enforcement partners to systematically disrupt importation channels and distribution networks of illegal substances. This operation stands as a testament to their strategic commitment to safeguarding the nation’s borders and ensuring public safety.