Carib Scope

分类： society

  • ‘Joy to the West’ initiative brings smiles to Westmoreland residents

    ‘Joy to the West’ initiative brings smiles to Westmoreland residents

    WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — A comprehensive holiday relief initiative transformed Christmas for vulnerable residents in Westmoreland, one of the regions most severely affected by Hurricane Melissa’s October 2025 devastation. Spearheaded by A-List Marketing & Entertainment Group, the “Joy to the West” program delivered essential supplies and seasonal cheer through a multi-stop community engagement strategy.

    The initiative represented phase two of the company’s ongoing hurricane recovery efforts, strategically blending disaster support with Christmas festivities. The program provided critical items including toys, educational materials, clothing, hygiene products, and refreshments to those facing continued hardship following the late October storm.

    Corporate representatives executed a carefully orchestrated route across the parish, targeting specifically identified vulnerable groups. Their first destination was the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation’s Westmoreland branch, where they distributed baby supplies, sanitary products, water, and operational materials. In a gesture recognizing staff dedication, each employee received footwear as a Christmas gift.

    The outreach continued at Llandilo School of Special Education, where students and educators received tailored support through educational supplies, toys, and hygiene items. This segment highlighted the program’s commitment to inclusive assistance for children with special needs and their support systems.

    The initiative culminated at Cooke Street Sports Complex, which transformed into a vibrant community celebration space. Families experienced a festive atmosphere complete with bounce house entertainment, gift distributions, and comprehensive supply provisions—creating memorable moments of joy and collective healing.

    Founder and Managing Director Nickeria Smickle emphasized the program’s dual purpose of providing material support while restoring dignity and hope. “Westmoreland was deeply impacted by Hurricane Melissa, and we felt a responsibility not just to give, but to show up with love, dignity and joy,” Smickle stated, noting the initiative serves as a reminder that communities aren’t forgotten during challenging times.

    The company has committed to sustaining private sector support for Jamaica’s recovery, demonstrating corporate social responsibility through empathetic, presence-based action that addresses both immediate needs and long-term community resilience.

  • Ministry: Toll increase will not affect maxi taxis immediately

    Ministry: Toll increase will not affect maxi taxis immediately

    The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has clarified that the recently implemented toll rate increases will not immediately impact maxi taxi operators across Trinidad and Tobago. This temporary exemption stems from the fact that approximately 1,000 operators completed their vehicle renewals in October 2025, securing their operational status for the entire 2026 period. Consequently, the adjusted toll rates will only become effective for these public transport providers during their next renewal cycle in October 2027.

    The policy clarification follows a productive December 30 meeting between Transport Minister Eli Zakour, ministry officials, and leadership of the Route 2 Maxi Taxi Association, including president Brenton Knights. The discussions focused on addressing various challenges within the public transportation sector while maintaining service affordability.

    Association president Knights confirmed the cordial nature of the discussions, explicitly stating that no fare increases are currently planned. ‘We are maintaining a watchful position regarding the evolving economic climate,’ Knights told Newsday. ‘With several financial factors emerging throughout the coming year, we believe in making informed decisions based on actual economic impacts rather than speculation.’

    Knights emphasized the shared economic realities facing both operators and passengers: ‘Our drivers are equally affected by rising living costs, educational expenses, and regulatory fines. We navigate the same economic pressures as all citizens while providing essential transportation services.’

    The ministry’s statement specifically addressed circulating misinformation, confirming the association’s position that no fare increase decision has been made. Officials reiterated that the toll adjustment—which increases daily rates from $3 to $6 after decades without change—provides no justification for fare increases, especially given the delayed implementation for maxi taxis.

    The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to collaborative work with transport associations and stakeholders to maintain a stable, fair, and efficient public transportation system that balances operator sustainability with public affordability.

  • A Funfest like no other

    A Funfest like no other

    In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation last October, a community event in Jamaica has provided profound emotional relief for affected families. Patricia McPherson, whose St. Elizabeth home was damaged by the hurricane, found unexpected therapy at the New Year’s Day Funfest held at Hope Gardens.

    McPherson, currently residing with relatives in Hope Pastures, attended with her children Kylie and Kyle. She described the experience as therapeutic—the first genuine happiness her family had experienced since the natural disaster. ‘This is the first time since the hurricane that they seem so happy,’ McPherson told the Jamaica Observer, noting how completely her children became immersed in the attractions.

    The festival represented a massive coordinated effort toward community healing. Event organizers transformed Hope Gardens into an entertainment paradise featuring bounce-a-bouts, zip lines, water slides, gaming stations, and dedicated fun zones. A vibrant food court offered diverse Jamaican cuisine including jerked meals, curried goat, stewed pork, and traditional pastries.

    On the main stage, host Ryan ‘Debonaire’ Dixon orchestrated an engaging program including sponsor give-aways, dance and singing competitions, mascot performances, and an acrobatic contortionist. Gospel artist Kevin Downswell electrified the audience with inspirational performances of ‘Goodbye World’ and ‘Stronger’ that transformed the crowd into a spontaneous choir.

    Shanelle Bailey, Funfest’s social media and entertainment coordinator, explained the intentional design behind the event: ‘In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa we knew it was important to create more than just an event—we wanted to create a moment of relief, joy, and renewal for families.’ She noted the overwhelming community response demonstrated the deep need for such healing experiences.

    The festival successfully created an atmosphere where families could temporarily forget their struggles and reconnect through shared joy. For many attendees, including first-time participants like young Gabrielle and her mother Sandra, the event represented a hopeful beginning to the new year—a symbolic fresh start after months of recovery challenges.

  • JYC’s Christmas Joy delivers hope

    JYC’s Christmas Joy delivers hope

    In a poignant fusion of artistic excellence and social consciousness, the Jamaica Youth Chorale (JYC) reimagined its annual Christmas Joy concert as a powerful vehicle for communal healing. The December 21st performance at The University of the West Indies’ Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts transcended traditional holiday programming by dedicating a substantial segment to addressing the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

    The production, structured in two distinct acts, masterfully balanced international Christmas classics with culturally significant local compositions. The evening commenced with Donald McCullough’s dynamic ‘Angels We Have Heard on High,’ immediately establishing the ensemble’s technical prowess. Act One maintained this celebratory atmosphere through Handel’s iconic ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ and Ivo Antognini’s technically demanding ‘The Trinity Service – Magnificat,’ which prompted Director Greg Simms to humorously caution latecomers about the piece’s complexity.

    The emotional pivot occurred dramatically in Act Two as the chorale’s senior ensemble, Kingston 17, transformed the stage into a sanctuary of reflection. Dressed in symbolic white attire contrasting with their earlier formal black, the seventeen performers created a solemn atmosphere with dimmed lighting and spoken word reflections. This specially curated segment featured profoundly moving arrangements including Dr. Kathy Brown’s adaptations of ‘Endless Night/Shadowland’ from The Lion King and ‘Hold on to Your Dreams,’ alongside Nathan Carter’s ‘If I Can Help Somebody’ and Mark Hayes’ ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone,’ which elicited visible emotional responses from attendees.

    Beyond the musical performance, JYC converted artistic expression into tangible support through a toy drive that collected over 50 gifts for children affected by the hurricane. These donations were formally presented to the UWI Mona Guild External Affairs Committee on December 22nd. Additionally, the evening’s proceeds benefited The Caring For Miracles Foundation, supporting their work with preterm infant care in Jamaica.

    The concert ultimately concluded on a hopeful note with Simms’ vibrant arrangement of ‘Silent Night,’ symbolizing the resilience of communities facing adversity. As the chorale looks toward 2026, this performance stands as a testament to art’s capacity to foster healing and unity during challenging times.

  • Artist Dave Cooper – Teaching local culture through ‘fetecraft’

    Artist Dave Cooper – Teaching local culture through ‘fetecraft’

    Visual arts educator Dave Cooper has launched an innovative cultural education program addressing a concerning disconnect in Trinidad’s youth understanding of their Carnival heritage. After nearly twenty years of teaching, Cooper noticed students could identify contemporary Carnival elements but lacked fundamental knowledge about its origins, cultural significance, and how its components interconnect.

    The Wireman Initiative represents a multifaceted approach to cultural preservation, combining wire-bending artistry, recycled materials, music technology, and historical education. During 90-minute immersive sessions, participants construct miniature ‘wireman’ figures that transform into functional steelpan players when completed.

    Each class begins with an educational component featuring a 15-minute lecture and video presentation on Trinidad Carnival’s origins, drawing from Cooper’s master’s degree research in Carnival Studies at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. The curriculum emphasizes historical creativity, highlighting how ancestors utilized available materials like wire and fibers when commercial resources were scarce.

    The program’s technological innovation emerges through QR codes embedded in each wire sculpture. When scanned, these codes activate Cooper’s original composition ‘Adidas: All Day I Dream About Soca,’ specifically produced for the initiative to avoid intellectual property complications while seamlessly integrating music into the educational experience.

    Beyond technical skills, the initiative teaches the anatomy of steel orchestras by having participants create different pan types—tenor, double tenor, double second, double guitar, and triple cello—each producing appropriate melodies that collectively function as a miniature orchestra.

    Cooper views this project as addressing a critical gap in formal education systems, noting the absence of Carnival studies at secondary school levels despite Carnival’s status as a multi-billion dollar global industry exclusively featuring Trinidad-style celebrations. He is developing a secondary-school curriculum called ‘fetecraft’ focused on Trinidad-style fête décor and authoring ‘Carnival Arts Practices for Secondary Schools.’

    The initiative also aims to counterbalance what Cooper perceives as excessive hypersexuality in modern Carnival, seeking to refocus attention on cultural foundations rather than commercial exploitation. He believes educational foundation will protect Trinidad’s cultural distinctiveness from evolving into other Carnival styles like Brazil’s.

    Scheduled to operate as cultural field trips with three daily sessions four days weekly at Port of Spain’s Carnival Museum, the program has garnered support from the Port of Spain City Corporation and Bermudez as sponsor, with hopes for additional ministerial and corporate backing.

    The project represents a personal full-circle moment for Cooper, whose childhood fascination with Carnival began with creating wire figures at age six using his patented ‘Cooper’s Twist’ technique. His professional journey encompasses visual arts education, industrial design training in Brazil, and extensive experience designing Carnival events worldwide through his company Hybrid Theory.

    Cooper intends to pursue doctoral studies based on his fetecraft concept, aspiring to become an authority on cultural education within Carnival studies while inspiring youth to channel their creativity toward positive cultural development.

  • Valencia woman shot dead

    Valencia woman shot dead

    A fatal ambush in Valencia has claimed the life of 52-year-old Nancy Almarales, who was shot dead while traveling in a private hire vehicle during the early hours of January 4. The incident occurred as Almarales was returning to her Clarence Trace residence to retrieve an item.

    According to eyewitness accounts and preliminary police reports, unidentified gunmen opened fire on the vehicle, unleashing a barrage of bullets that struck both occupants. Despite the sustained attack, the driver demonstrated remarkable presence of mind by maneuvering the damaged vehicle to the nearby Valencia Police Post, where he ultimately collided with the station’s perimeter wall.

    Law enforcement personnel responding to the crash discovered both individuals with critical injuries. The driver managed to relay details of the ambush to officers before losing consciousness. Emergency medical services transported him to a medical facility where he remains under treatment, currently listed in stable condition. Tragically, Almarales succumbed to her injuries at the scene despite attempts to save her.

    Family members revealed to news outlets that Almarales had been pursuing entry into the quarrying industry, reportedly forming a business partnership with a prominent attorney from the Sangre Grande region. Relatives disclosed they had previously expressed concerns about her involvement in this sector, citing specific death threats she allegedly received from rival quarry operators in December.

    This tragedy marks the latest chapter in a series of violent incidents affecting Almarales’ family. Her common-law husband, Sherwin Coxall, was fatally shot on June 11, 2024, in St Albans Village, Valencia. The pattern of violence continued with the murder of her brother-in-law, Devon Coxall, who was killed at his Williams Trace Extension residence on May 31, 2025. Local authorities are investigating potential connections between these incidents and the recent attack.

  • WATCH: New Year’s Day blaze at business establishment leaves operators, staff in limbo

    WATCH: New Year’s Day blaze at business establishment leaves operators, staff in limbo

    A catastrophic fire that erupted in the early hours of New Year’s Day has completely destroyed a longstanding catering bar and grill on Spanish Town Road in St. Andrew, Jamaica, leaving more than 15 employees without livelihoods. The blaze, which ignited shortly after midnight, consumed the premises of Paradise Catering and Dobby’s Hideaway Bar and Grill, resulting in extensive damage to warehouses and the near-total loss of operational equipment. Miraculously, no staff injuries were reported.

    Managing Director Chef Ricardo Esson, surveying the charred remnants of his establishment, expressed profound distress over the impact on his workforce. Characterizing his team as family, Esson revealed that the financial devastation would force him to implement a reduced work schedule once operations resume, potentially placing staff on a week-on, week-off rotation. The timing compounds the tragedy, with Esson highlighting the particular hardship faced by newly hired employees suddenly deprived of income.

    The property owner, 80-year-old Vincent Myers, described the incident as the destruction of his life savings, having operated his business at the location for over three decades. Myers emphasized the necessity of strategic rebuilding with proper materials rather than temporary structures, though he remains optimistic about customer retention with adequate support.

    Whitfield Town Division Councillor Eugene Kelly underscored the broader community impact, noting that approximately 20 employees supported hundreds of family members across multiple generations. Kelly advocated for establishing governmental emergency funds specifically for small businesses, which he identified as economic lifelines for inner-city communities. He emphasized that many such enterprises lack sufficient insurance coverage for catastrophic events, necessitating systemic support mechanisms for recovery and rebuilding.

  • Former PNM MP Eddie Hart dies

    Former PNM MP Eddie Hart dies

    The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is mourning the loss of Edward “Eddie” Hart, former Member of Parliament for Tunapuna and distinguished public servant, who passed away recently. The People’s National Movement (PNM) confirmed his death in an official statement dated December 4, expressing profound sorrow at the departure of what they characterized as a lifelong champion of community development and youth empowerment.

    Hart’s political career spanned approximately 16 years, during which he secured electoral victory in the Tunapuna constituency on four separate occasions. His parliamentary service included representation in the 4th, 5th, 7th, and 8th Republican Parliaments, where he held multiple ministerial positions. His portfolio encompassed significant responsibilities as parliamentary secretary and minister of state across various ministries including Health, Sport and Youth Affairs, Community Development, Culture, Gender Affairs, and Tourism.

    Beyond his legislative accomplishments, Hart established an enduring legacy through grassroots initiatives. He founded both the Hart Connection and the Eddie Hart Football League, organizations that provided critical support structures and developmental opportunities for young residents of Tunapuna for over forty years. These institutions became cornerstones of community engagement and youth sports development.

    Hart’s exemplary service received formal recognition through prestigious honors, including the PNM’s Dr. Eric Williams Medal of Honour in 2019 and an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Trinidad and Tobago in 2020.

    PNM General Secretary Foster Cummings extended official condolences to Hart’s family, friends, and constituents, emphasizing that his legacy would continue to inspire future generations. The tribute was echoed by former Prime Minister Stuart Young, SC, who honored Hart as both a “PNM stalwart and patriot” whose life’s work remained consistently dedicated to national betterment, with particular focus on the development of his beloved Tunapuna community.

  • Firearm and ammunition charges laid against 18-year-old

    Firearm and ammunition charges laid against 18-year-old

    An 18-year-old Barbadian national is set to face judicial proceedings this Saturday following his arrest on serious weapons-related charges. Dion Davidson Leacock, residing at No. 21 Dover Crescent in the Cave Hill area of St. Michael, was taken into custody by the Barbados Police Service’s Major Crime Unit after investigators uncovered evidence linking him to illegal firearm possession.

    The specific charges filed against Leacock include unlawful possession of a firearm and seven rounds of ammunition. According to police reports, these alleged violations occurred on December 27, 2025, though investigative details remain undisclosed as the case moves through the judicial system.

    Leacock’s case will be heard at the District ‘A’ Criminal Court, where prosecutors will present evidence gathered by the Major Crime Unit. The timing of the court appearance suggests authorities are treating the matter with urgency, reflecting the Barbados government’s ongoing campaign against illegal weapons circulation.

    The case emerges against the backdrop of Caribbean-wide efforts to combat gun violence, particularly involving young adults. Legal experts note that firearm-related charges typically carry severe penalties under Barbadian law, with minimum sentencing guidelines for certain weapon offenses.

    This prosecution represents the latest development in the Barbados Police Service’s targeted operations against illegal weapons trafficking, which has seen increased priority following regional security initiatives. The outcome of Saturday’s hearing could set important precedents for how similar cases are handled throughout the Eastern Caribbean jurisdiction.

  • A Legacy of Hope: The Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre Concludes the Jubilee Year

    A Legacy of Hope: The Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre Concludes the Jubilee Year

    The Catholic Diocese of St. John’s-Basseterre formally concluded its Jubilee Year 2025 celebrations on December 28, coinciding with the Feast of the Holy Family observance. The spiritually significant event marked the culmination of a year-long period dedicated to reflection and religious renewal across the island communities.

    Throughout 2025, the diocese actively participated in the global Catholic Church’s “Pilgrims of Hope” initiative, emphasizing both physical and spiritual reconciliation through open doors. Community activities included organized pilgrimages, extended Eucharistic Adoration sessions, and widespread engagement with the Sacrament of Penance.

    Bishop Robert Llanos presided over the closing ceremonies, addressing clergy members, religious figures, and lay congregants. In his homily, the Bishop emphasized that although the formal Jubilee period has concluded and its Holy Doors have been ceremonially closed, the essential mission of maintaining hope continues unchanged. He specifically challenged families to model their relationships after the Holy Trinity’s example and demonstrate divine sacrificial love in their daily interactions.

    Bishop Llanos further articulated the need to combat spiritual indifference by carrying the jubilee’s transformative spirit into secular environments including workplaces and homes. He identified the Feast of the Holy Family as particularly symbolic for this transition, urging domestic units to become centers of hope and service amid growing secularization trends.

    The Bishop’s closing remarks emphasized converting received blessings into tangible charitable actions as the diocese enters 2026. While the structured celebrations have ended, the enduring legacy of the Jubilee Year continues to inspire the community’s faith journey. The “Pilgrims of Hope” vocation remains active, encouraging believers to maintain strong spiritual foundations while engaging in proactive service. The spiritual benefits garnered throughout the year are expected to positively influence the diocese for years to come, reinforcing communal bonds among parishioners.