Carib Scope

分类： society

  • National Youth Parliament Association Completes Election of Executive Committee and Youth Members of Parliament

    National Youth Parliament Association Completes Election of Executive Committee and Youth Members of Parliament

    The National Youth Parliament Association of Antigua and Barbuda (NYPAAB) has officially wrapped up its democratic electoral process, finalizing the full rosters of its governing Executive Committee and Youth Parliament body for the coming tenure.

    Earlier this cycle, voters had already confirmed selections for several key leadership posts: Ezekiel Francois will lead the organization as President, joined by Jordyn Roberts as Recruitment and Mobilization Officer, Lorianna Richards as Projects and Events Manager, and Janiyah Winston as Financial Secretary. At a recent gathering of association members, the remaining executive positions were filled through democratic voting. Rainer Santos Mercado secured the role of Vice President, while Romario Hughes was elected General Secretary. Lutrell John will take on duties as Public Relations Officer, and Esther Mckenzie will serve as External Affairs Officer. Jessica Zouetr will remain on the committee as Immediate-Past President to provide institutional continuity and guidance.

    Beyond the executive leadership team, NYPAAB also celebrated the successful election of Youth Members of Parliament, who will represent geographic constituencies across the twin-island nation. These young representatives are tasked with amplifying the voices of Antigua and Barbuda’s youth, advancing priorities that matter to younger generations, and gaining hands-on experience in governance through formal parliamentary debate, targeted policy advocacy, and broader civic engagement initiatives.

    The confirmed constituency representatives are Johanna Jacobs for St. Mary’s North, Cyniya Ireland for All Saints West, Celine Edwards for All Saints East and St. Lukes, Jawan Jackson for St. Philip’s North, Chrysean Jarvis for St Johns Rural South, Alton Alcendor for St. Johns Rural West, Daniel Taylor for St. Paul, and Leanna Browne for St. John’s City South. The association has noted that caretaker appointments for the remaining unrepresented constituencies will be announced at a later date.

    In a statement following the conclusion of voting, NYPAAB extended formal congratulations to all candidates who won positions in the election and expressed gratitude to every association member who participated in the democratic process. The organization says its upcoming term will center on four core goals: cultivating leadership skills among young people, expanding opportunities for civic participation, fostering open and constructive policy dialogue, and empowering the next generation of Antigua and Barbuda’s public and community leaders.

  • Local Business Makes Major Donation Towards RCA Smurf Village

    Local Business Makes Major Donation Towards RCA Smurf Village

    A major local business in Antigua has stepped forward to back one of the nation’s most anticipated annual community fundraisers, marking a meaningful continuation of a decades-long family legacy of public service. On Friday, Automotive Arts and Outdoor World Antigua formally presented a donation exceeding EC$10,000 to the Rotary Club of Antigua to support the 2026 edition of its flagship fundraising event, Colours, which will carry the playful theme “Welcome to Smurf Village.”

    What drew the business to this partnership was the event’s core mission: advancing community empowerment and creating new opportunities for young people across Antigua and Barbuda, a mission that aligns perfectly with the company’s values of local investment. Robert Shoul, owner of Automotive Arts and Outdoor World Antigua, emphasized his deep personal commitment to nurturing youth entrepreneurship during the short handover ceremony. He noted that when he learned this focus would anchor the Rotary Club’s 2026 event, he was eager to join as a lead sponsor. Shoul’s involvement also carries special personal weight: it carries forward his late father Stephen Shoul’s legacy of service, as the elder Shoul was a long-standing, dedicated member of the Rotary Club of Antigua for many years.

    As the Rotary Club of Antigua’s signature annual fundraiser, all net proceeds from Colours 2026 will directly fund the organization’s wide range of community-led projects across both Antigua and Barbuda, from public infrastructure upgrades to educational programs and social support initiatives. Marsha Kalloo, group manager at Automotive Arts and Outdoor World Antigua, shared that the company’s team is working to deliver an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experience for all event attendees. To align with the Smurf Village theme, the team is developing a custom glow-in-the-dark miniature golf zone that will feature dozens of prizes and unexpected surprises for guests of all ages, designed to elevate the overall event experience.

    Colours 2026: Welcome to Smurf Village is scheduled to kick off at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2026, hosted at Antigua’s popular Coolidge Cricket Ground venue. All-inclusive tickets, priced at EC$300 per person, are currently available for purchase at two retail locations: Automotive Arts on Old Parham Road, and Tropic Wear located in Heritage Quay. Attendees can look forward to a full lineup of live musical performances throughout the evening, including sets from Kaution Band, Claudette CP Peters and the Disturbance Band, a special guest appearance from Menace XL, and a headline performance by iconic local act The Original Burning Flames.

  • More Details on the Murder of Oscar Flota

    More Details on the Murder of Oscar Flota

    A brutal fatal assault has shaken the small island community of Caye Caulker, where a well-known local man identified as Oscar Flota, who went by the nickname Fox, was killed in a violent attack on Saturday night. The incident unfolded on the island’s northern side, where multiple eyewitnesses confirmed that Flota was struck repeatedly with a shovel by an attacker he was personally acquainted with.

    According to unconfirmed information obtained by local outlet News 5, the primary suspect is a squatter residing in the Caye Caulker area who already has documented connections to regional criminal activity. Local residents have long linked this individual to gang affiliation and illicit drug distribution operations.

    In the hours following the attack, multiple witnesses provided formal statements to law enforcement officers, who maintained a visible investigative presence across the northern district of the island through all of Sunday morning. While reports circulating in the community indicate that several people connected to the killing have been taken into police custody, official law enforcement representatives have not yet released any public confirmation of these detentions.

    Local residents told reporters that interpersonal and territorial tensions have been simmering in the area for months, with repeated reports of property disputes and violent threats filed with governing authorities over that period. News 5 has announced that it will continue providing updated coverage as new details about the investigation and legal proceedings emerge.

  • Caribbean fishing industry in mourning after death of Chief Fisheries Officer

    Caribbean fishing industry in mourning after death of Chief Fisheries Officer

    The Caribbean fishing community is reeling from sudden, devastating loss after the unexpected death of Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox, the groundbreaking Chief Fisheries Officer of Barbados who made history as both the youngest person and first woman to lead the nation’s fisheries sector. Industry representatives across local and regional levels have spoken out this week to express their shock and grief at her passing. The 46-year-old trailblazer collapsed on stage Saturday afternoon, just moments before she was set to present awards at a public event hosted at the Weston Fish Market. Emergency first aid was administered immediately by former military personnel who were in attendance at the gathering, who performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) right away, but Cox could not be revived and was pronounced dead shortly after. Long before she rose to lead the nation’s fisheries work, Cox was deeply rooted in the fishing community: as the daughter of a Barbadian fisherman, Moonesh Dharampaul, president of the 6,000-member Black Fin Fleet Co-op Society, described her as a true “daughter of the sea.” In an interview reflecting on her legacy, Dharampaul shared that the entire industry remains in a state of stunned disbelief just days after her death. “It was more than a job to her… she showed that passion every single day,” he said, adding that Cox fundamentally transformed the relationship between the fisheries sector and the Barbadian general public. On the morning of the day she died, Cox had personally led a community outreach event, guiding a tour of the Fisheries Division for a local group of Brownie Troop members from St. Stephen’s, before joining the Weston Fish Market event. Though Cox’s tenure leading the division was cut far too short, her time in office was defined by bold leadership through unprecedented challenge. She steered the Barbadian fishing industry through widespread devastation left by Hurricane Beryl, and she personally built critical partnerships with major global development bodies including the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Her work extended far beyond Barbados’ borders, leaving a lasting imprint on fisheries policy across the Caribbean and even as far south as Argentina. In response to her passing, the fishing industry has moved to restructure all planned events for the upcoming national Fisherman’s Month, turning the calendar of celebrations into a series of tributes honoring her life and work. Industry leaders are currently organizing a large public funeral and a candlelit vigil to be held at sea, where hundreds of fisherfolk are expected to gather to pay their respects. “We want to dedicate all the other events that have to happen for the Fisherman’s Month as a memorial to Dr. Cox and how she lived,” Dharampaul said, closing his tribute with a traditional fishing blessing: “We wish her calm seas and tight lines on her final journey.” The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Secretariat also released an official statement Sunday mourning Cox’s passing, noting that her technical expertise, steady leadership, and unwavering commitment to the sector earned her widespread respect and admiration from colleagues across the Caribbean and beyond. CRFM Executive Director Dr. Marc Williams emphasized that Cox’s contributions stretched far beyond Barbados’ coastline. “Through her active engagement in regional initiatives and collaboration with the CRFM and other partner organisations, she helped to shape policies and programmes that have strengthened fisheries governance, enhanced food and nutrition security, and supported the livelihoods of thousands of fisherfolk and fish workers across the Caribbean,” Williams said. He added that Cox’s voice was consistently a valued contributor to regional policy discussions, and her dedication to the sustainable development of the fisheries sector will leave a durable legacy that will benefit generations of fishing communities to come.

  • Masons Celebrate Father’s Day with Families at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral

    Masons Celebrate Father’s Day with Families at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral

    On Father’s Day, members of multiple Masonic Lodges based at the Clement E. M. Bird Masonic Centre gathered alongside their immediate family members, extended relatives and friends to take part in a special celebratory worship service at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral. This joint observance was far more than a simple commemorative gathering: it stood as a thoughtful, powerful reminder of the irreplaceable role that fathers and father figures hold within both family units and the broader community.
    Throughout the specially organized service, speakers and faith leaders centered their messages on three core pillars: enduring family values, intentional spiritual guidance, and the far-reaching positive impact that fathers cultivate through consistent leadership, unconditional love, and steady support. For the Freemasons in attendance, representing a range of local Lodges, the opportunity to participate in this cross-community celebration came with a deep sense of pride. The event allowed them to publicly reaffirm their longstanding commitment to the fundamental guiding principles of their fraternity: faith, family prioritization, and selfless service to others.
    A particularly striking element of the day was the presence of multiple generations of family members worshipping side by side. This intergenerational gathering underscored the event’s core message about the importance of nurturing resilient family bonds and cultivating a widespread culture of respect, personal responsibility, and compassionate care across the community. Attendees also reflected on the enduring role of the church as a foundational cornerstone of stable, connected family life. By creating intentional space for families to come together for shared worship and mutual connection, faith institutions like St. John’s Anglican Cathedral continue to strengthen local community fabric and embed values that build a more compassionate, cohesive society.
    After the formal worship service concluded, attendees and their families moved to a space for casual fellowship, where they shared light refreshments and reflected on the meaning of the day. Many took the opportunity to express sincere gratitude for the fathers, grandfathers, community mentors, and other father figures who shape lives and leave lasting positive impressions on people across all age groups. In closing, the leadership and members of all Lodges meeting at the Clement E. M. Bird Masonic Centre extended warm, heartfelt Father’s Day greetings to every father across the region, offering wishes for continued joy, health, and blessing as they guide and nurture their families through every stage of life.

  • Statement on the Passing of Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox, Chief Fisheries Officer of Barbados

    Statement on the Passing of Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox, Chief Fisheries Officer of Barbados

    The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Secretariat has announced the sudden passing of Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox, Barbados’ long-serving Chief Fisheries Officer, issuing an official statement of condolence on June 14, 2026 that has been met with an outpouring of grief across regional fisheries and coastal communities.

    In the statement released by CRFM Executive Director Dr. Marc Williams, the secretariat shared its profound sadness at the unexpected loss, extending heartfelt sympathy to Cox’s family, close friends, professional colleagues, and every member of Barbados’ fishing community as they navigate this period of profound loss.

    Across a decades-long, distinguished career, Dr. Cox dedicated herself to serving Barbados and the broader Caribbean region with consistent devotion, rigorous professionalism, and a deeply rooted passion for marine resource stewardship. In her role as Chief Fisheries Officer, she emerged as a transformative leader, driving major progress in four key areas: the adoption of science-based sustainable fisheries management practices, the building of greater economic and social resilience among small-scale fishing communities, the promotion of responsible long-term stewardship of the Caribbean’s valuable marine ecosystems, and the expansion of cross-border cooperation to address shared challenges facing the regional fisheries and aquaculture industries. Her sharp technical expertise, steady collaborative leadership, and unwavering commitment to equitable progress earned her widespread respect and admiration from peers across the Caribbean and in global fisheries circles.

    Cox’s influence extended far beyond the territorial waters of her home country. Through her active participation in regional policy initiatives and close, sustained collaboration with the CRFM and its network of partner institutions, she helped shape landmark policies and community-focused programs that have strengthened regional fisheries governance, improved food and nutrition security for millions of Caribbean residents, and secured more stable livelihoods for thousands of small-scale fisherfolk and fish processing workers across the region. Her insight and perspective were consistently prioritized in high-level regional discussions, and her lifelong work to advance the sustainable development of the fisheries sector has created an enduring legacy that will continue to deliver benefits for Caribbean communities for generations to come.

    “Our thoughts and prayers remain with Dr. Cox’s loved ones, her team at the Barbados Fisheries Division, and above all the fisherfolk and fishing communities of Barbados, who have lost a steadfast advocate and unwavering champion,” the statement read. “We encourage those mourning to find comfort in the remarkable impact she achieved during her lifetime, and in the countless lives she touched through her decades of selfless service.”

    The CRFM Secretariat said it joins the entire people of Barbados in mourning Cox’s passing and celebrating her life of service dedicated to advancing the Caribbean fisheries sector and improving the wellbeing of all Caribbean people. May her soul rest in eternal peace.

  • BL&P celebrates anniversary milestone

    BL&P celebrates anniversary milestone

    This week, Barbados’ only electricity provider, Barbados Light and Power Company (BL&P), is pausing to look back on 115 years of powering the island nation’s growth and development. To launch its week of milestone commemorations, BL&P employees gathered alongside congregants at Dalkeith Methodist Church on Sunday for a heartfelt thanksgiving service. The choice of location was far from arbitrary: Dalkeith Methodist holds a unique place in Barbados’ energy history as the first church on the island to be connected to electrical power.

    Speaking at the service under the anniversary theme ‘Blueprints of Excellence’, BL&P Human Resources Business Partner Sonia Haynes-Collymore explained that the theme was chosen to highlight shared values between the utility company and the historic church. Both institutions, she noted, are rooted in priorities including nurturing strong community bonds, prioritizing the welfare of individuals, centering collective well-being, and maintaining an unwavering commitment to outstanding service.

    Antoine Williams, a representative of Dalkeith Methodist Church, opened the service by welcoming the BL&P delegation and extending recognition for the company’s decades-long impact across Barbados. Williams emphasized that BL&P has long stood as a trusted social partner, contributing to progress in local communities and across the entire island for generations.

    The opening church service is just the first of a full slate of anniversary events planned for the week. Upcoming activities include an Employee Appreciation Day to honor the teams that have kept the company running over the decades, a ceremonial time capsule burial to preserve memories for future generations of BL&P staff, a company-wide football tournament to foster team camaraderie, and a formal awards gala. The awards ceremony will recognize long-serving employees and individuals who have made exceptional contributions to BL&P’s 115-year legacy of reliable service to Barbados.

  • Friend flees as ‘Sophia’ knife to death outside supermarket

    Friend flees as ‘Sophia’ knife to death outside supermarket

    A brutal mid-morning stabbing on a busy Trinidad and Tobago roadway has left a young Venezuelan migrant dead, with law enforcement investigators probing the killing as a targeted domestic-related attack. The incident unfolded on Saturday morning along Montrose Main Road in Chaguanas, where 28-year-old Mariannys Jiménez — who went by the nickname Sophia and resided on Sagan Street in Caroni’s Kelly Village — was attacked while en route to her dishwashing shift at Panda’s Restaurant.

    The chain of emergency response began shortly after the attack, when officers assigned to the Chaguanas Police Station received an incoming report at approximately 9:30 a.m. alerting them that a stabbed woman had been transported to the local Chaguanas Health Facility. By the time responding law enforcement officers arrived at the medical center, clinical staff shared that Jiménez had been admitted just six minutes earlier, at 9:20 a.m., suffering from multiple penetrating stab wounds across her body. Despite immediate life-saving interventions by medical teams, Jiménez was officially pronounced dead at 9:26 a.m., mere minutes after her arrival at the facility.

    Investigators have turned to a key witness — one of Jiménez’s close friends and co-workers — to piece together the timeline of the attack. The witness told police that Jiménez had stayed with her the previous night after reaching out to her for support, a detail that aligns with police’s domestic incident hypothesis. As the pair walked along Montrose Main Road toward their workplace at roughly 9:10 a.m., an unidentified man clad entirely in dark clothing and wearing a baseball cap stepped forward to confront Jiménez before launching his attack, stabbing her repeatedly in public view.

    In the chaos of the assault, the witness fled to a nearby grocery store to call for emergency assistance. By the time she returned to the scene, the attacker had already fled the area on foot, leaving Jiménez unconscious and bleeding heavily on the sidewalk. A good Samaritan motorist passing through the area stopped to rush the injured woman to the nearest health facility, but her wounds were too severe to survive. As of Saturday evening, investigators had not released any updates on the identity of the suspect or potential arrests connected to the killing, leaving the community on edge over the brazen public attack.

  • 20 bullets fired in killing of ‘Ling’

    20 bullets fired in killing of ‘Ling’

    In the pre-dawn darkness of Saturday, a fatal shooting left a 32-year-old Diego Martin resident dead at his own home, marking the latest violent incident to shake the quiet community. Authorities have identified the victim as Nigel Ferguson, who was also known to locals by the nickname “Ling” and resided at a property on Rathole, Upper Quarry Street.

    The first signs of trouble emerged at approximately 1:35 a.m., when nearby residents reported hearing loud, explosive-like bangs erupt from Ferguson’s home. Within minutes, two suspects clad entirely in dark clothing, both carrying loaded firearms, were spotted fleeing the residential property on foot. The pair ran down a long flight of outdoor steps that connects the hillside neighborhood to the main public roadway before disappearing from sight.

    After the gunmen left the scene, one concerned local resident approached Ferguson’s home to check on his wellbeing, where they made the grim discovery: the 32-year-old lay unresponsive in the entryway of his house, with no signs of life.

    Members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s Crime Scene Investigations unit were quickly dispatched to process the location and gather forensic evidence. Their search of the property turned up a total of 20 spent shell casings of varying sizes, a find that indicates multiple weapons were used in the attack. Among the recovered casings were seven 9mm rounds and 13 .40-calibre rounds.

    As of the latest update, law enforcement officials have not announced any suspects in connection with Ferguson’s killing, nor have they identified a clear motive for the deadly attack. Investigations remain active and ongoing as detectives work to track down the two attackers and piece together the sequence of events that led to the shooting.

  • Medical hubs bring relief to Sav, Salt Spring residents as hurricane recovery continues

    Medical hubs bring relief to Sav, Salt Spring residents as hurricane recovery continues

    In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s destructive passage through western Jamaica, local communities are still navigating the long and difficult road to recovery. To address unmet critical health needs and compounding recovery challenges for storm-impacted populations, cross-sector community partners have launched mobile medical hubs that have already delivered care to close to 200 residents in the hardest-hit regions.

    The outreach initiative is led by Project STAR, in formal collaboration with multiple local and international health and community stakeholders. Services have been deployed directly to two high-need locations: Salt Spring in the parish of St James, and Savanna-la-Mar in Westmoreland.

    Official data released by Project STAR confirms that more than 50 local residents accessed care at the Salt Spring hub, while the Savanna-la-Mar site served more than 140 people, pushing the total number of beneficiaries to just under 200. Saffrey Brown, director of Project STAR, explained that the medical hubs are a core component of the organization’s broader post-disaster recovery framework, focused on lifting up vulnerable groups still struggling with the hurricane’s aftermath. Both targeted communities suffered extensive damage from severe flooding and widespread storm-related disruptions to critical infrastructure, including local healthcare facilities.

    “Every resident who attended the hubs received a full suite of primary healthcare services, ranging from one-on-one medical consultations, blood pressure screenings, blood glucose testing, and body mass index evaluations to targeted public health education,” Brown outlined. “A trained team of licensed healthcare professionals was on-site to deliver care and arrange follow-up referrals for residents requiring additional specialized treatment.”

    At the Savanna-la-Mar site alone, 136 residents registered to receive services. Women made up the large majority of attendees, with 94 female and 42 male residents accessing care. While working-age adults between 20 and 59 years old made up the largest demographic served, the initiative also extended care to 25 senior citizens and 15 children aged 12 and under. Of all registered attendees in Savanna-la-Mar, 96 completed all four recommended core health assessments, and more than 110 residents received consultations with licensed physicians. The hub also offered voluntary confidential screening for HIV and syphilis, which 32 residents opted to complete. Complementary non-medical community education sessions were led by representatives from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the National Council on Drug Abuse, and the Restorative Justice Programme, covering topics ranging from public safety to substance abuse support.

    Felicia Kelly, chief financial officer and logistician for Integrative Clinics International (ICI), one of the partnering organizations, shared that the overwhelming unmet need created by Hurricane Melissa pushed her group to join the initiative in Westmoreland. With a team of 18 dedicated healthcare professionals, ICI led screenings for prevalent chronic conditions including hypertension and diabetes, in addition to providing general consultations and connecting residents to life-saving essential medications. “We brought our full range of resources to this community to make sure every resident can access the care and medication they need to stay healthy through this difficult recovery period,” Kelly noted.

    Beyond clinical healthcare services, the partnership also delivered critical humanitarian relief supplies to attendees, arranged through support from Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) Caribbean. The organization distributed care packages stocked with non-perishable food, personal hygiene products, and bedding, with priority distribution going to elderly and isolated residents.

    “Supporting public health and health-focused disaster recovery initiatives has been a core priority of GEM Caribbean’s Hurricane Melissa response strategy from day one,” explained Deika Morrison, executive director of GEM Caribbean. “We are grateful to Project STAR for the opportunity to collaborate on this vital work that meets so many immediate needs for our community.”

    Beneficiary residents have widely praised the outreach effort, describing it as a lifeline at a time when stable access to care remains out of reach for many. Krystal Taylor, a resident of New Market Oval in Savanna-la-Mar, shared her gratitude for the opportunity to access free clinical care and medication through the hub. “Getting free medications here today filled me with so much joy — this is real care for our community,” Taylor said. “It means the world, especially right now when so many of us are still working to get our lives back on track after the storm.”

    Brown emphasized that even as broader recovery efforts progress across western Jamaica, consistent access to affordable, basic healthcare remains one of the most pressing unmet needs for thousands of storm-affected residents. The community hub model was intentionally designed to remove common barriers to care, from transportation costs to long wait times at damaged facilities, while connecting local residents to ongoing care and support services. The initiative is part of a larger, long-term community recovery strategy that integrates healthcare access, psychosocial support, public education, and humanitarian aid to support residents as they rebuild their lives and communities in the months following the disaster.