Carib Scope

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  • Bradshaw pays tribute to late Chief Fisheries Officer Dr Shelly-Ann Cox

    Bradshaw pays tribute to late Chief Fisheries Officer Dr Shelly-Ann Cox

    Barbados is mourning the unexpected passing of one of its most respected public sector leaders, Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox, the nation’s Chief Fisheries Officer, who died on Saturday at the age of 37. Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw, who also holds the cabinet portfolios for Environment, National Beautification and Fisheries, has released an official statement honoring Cox’s extraordinary legacy of service to the country’s fisheries sector.

    In her tribute, Bradshaw remembered Cox as an uniquely committed public servant whose steady leadership anchored the division through some of its most turbulent periods. One defining example of Cox’s leadership, Bradshaw recalled, came during the national response to Hurricane Beryl in 2024, when the fisheries sector faced widespread disruption and uncertainty.

    “I watched her move through a difficult and uncertain moment with a steadiness that drew the respect of everyone around her,” Bradshaw said. “I can still see her standing among the fishermen, a small figure in the middle of a great deal of noise, and yet it was her voice that settled the room and gave the guidance that was needed. From that day I understood the confidence which the fisheries sector placed in her, and in the months that followed I came to understand why.”

    Bradshaw emphasized that Cox’s impact rippled across every corner of Barbados’ fishing industry, spanning high-level policy development, grassroots stakeholder engagement, and inclusive workforce building. Her deep, comprehensive knowledge of the sector shaped the long-term vision and strategic planning for the modernization of Barbados’ fisheries, earning her widespread respect from every corner of the industry: from small-scale artisanal fisherfolk working on the beaches and seafood vendors to industry association leaders and her own office colleagues.

    Bradshaw noted that Cox possessed a rare, empathetic approach to leadership that allowed her to balance competing needs across the sector, while always centering the concerns of the people who depended on fishing for their livelihoods. Beyond core industry operations, Cox prioritized two critical goals: building a long-term environmentally sustainable fisheries sector and opening new opportunities for young Barbadians to join and grow in the industry.

    Her relentless work ethic also set her apart, Bradshaw added. Cox was always available to colleagues and stakeholders regardless of the hour, often responding to calls and drafting emails long after standard work hours had ended. Even in death, Bradshaw noted, Cox’s contributions will leave a lasting mark: the foundational work she put in place over her career will continue to guide the future growth and development of Barbados’ fisheries sector for years to come.

    In closing her statement, Bradshaw extended sincere condolences to Cox’s family, friends, colleagues, and the many fisherfolk and industry partners whose lives she touched, as the nation grieves the loss of a dedicated, transformative public servant.

  • Miners trapped in collapsed mining pit

    Miners trapped in collapsed mining pit

    Rescue and recovery operations were ongoing Sunday for two miners trapped following a partial collapse at an unregulated small-scale gold mining pit in central Guyana, local law enforcement confirmed. The incident unfolded at approximately 3:23 p.m. local time on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the St. Elizabeth Backdam mining concession in Potaro, Region 8, according to official statements from the Guyana Police Force.

    Preliminary investigative findings show that the two trapped miners were working alongside a group of other crew members in a 60-foot-deep excavation pit when sudden structural failures of the pit’s eastern and western walls triggered a collapse. All other crew members were able to evacuate the pit before the debris fully settled, but 32-year-old Franky Hussain and 38-year-old Neunes Neunes Da Silva became trapped beneath tons of fallen earth and rock. The collapse also buried a heavy excavator machine operating at the site. Hussain is a resident of Guyana’s North West District, Region 1, while Da Silva is a Brazilian national who works as an independent small-scale gold miner—commonly referred to locally as a pork-knocker—operating in the region.

    As of Sunday afternoon, the immediate rescue and recovery work is being led by the mine’s owner and on-site mining crew, per the police statement. Law enforcement officers and technical representatives from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the government body responsible for regulating the country’s large and small-scale mining sectors, have already been deployed to the site to conduct a full investigation into the cause of the collapse and coordinate with rescue teams. Updates on the operation’s progress are expected as efforts continue to reach the trapped miners.

  • PM Browne asks Sir David To Be New UWI FIC Chairman

    PM Browne asks Sir David To Be New UWI FIC Chairman

    The search for a new leader to helm the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus Council has narrowed to two prominent candidates following the recent passing of founding chairman Sir Aziz Hadeed, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed. Business magnate David Harrison has confirmed he will give serious thought to taking up the vacant chairman role, with former finance minister Dr. Errol Cort positioned as a backup candidate should Harrison decline the post.

    Browne made the first public announcement of the announcement of the candidate search during his weekly radio broadcast on Saturday, noting that conversations with Harrison took place recently as government and university leadership work to fill the role left open by Hadeed’s death earlier this month. “In fact, he just said to me he will consider serving as our chairman of the UWI Five Islands,” Browne told listeners.

    To date, no final appointment has been finalized, the prime minister clarified. If Harrison opts not to accept the position, Browne says he will reach out to Cort to gauge his interest in taking on the leadership role. “If he doesn’t take it, I’m likely to call upon Dr. Errol Cort, possibly to serve as the chairman. I don’t know if he’s available, but I’ll have to touch base with him,” Browne said, adding that Harrison has not yet formally committed, but has demonstrated open willingness to evaluate the opportunity.

    These remarks mark the first public confirmation of potential candidates to succeed Hadeed, a respected community leader whose tenure as campus council chairman was widely lauded for steering the young institution through an era of unprecedented expansion. A well-known local businessman, philanthropist, and education advocate, Hadeed was tapped as the campus’s inaugural council chairman when the campus was established in 2019, and earned reappointment to the role earlier this year in 2024. Under his leadership, student enrollment surged, the campus expanded its range of academic programs, and secured critical funding for large-scale infrastructure upgrades.

    Since opening its doors in 2019, the UWI Five Islands Campus has emerged as one of the Antiguan government’s signature education projects. Official government data shows enrollment has skyrocketed from fewer than 350 students in the campus’s early days to close to 2,000 enrolled students today.

    Browne’s disclosure about the chairman search came alongside an update on a separate project: a new sports and recreational complex being developed near the Sir Novelle Richards Academy, a project that has received major financial backing from Harrison. Browne noted this would be the second large-scale community project Harrison has supported; the businessman previously contributed millions of dollars to develop the Harrison Centre, and has already donated funds toward this new athletic facility.

    The prime minister publicly commended Harrison’s long-standing contributions to national development, and extended gratitude to Ambassador Karen-Mae Hill for fostering the partnership that made the new facility donation possible. “I want to thank Sir David. I also want to thank Karen-Mae Hill. She’s the one who has anchored that relationship and was instrumental in getting him to fund this facility,” Browne said.

    As of now, no official timeline has been released for when the new chairman will be appointed. Whoever is selected will take charge of guiding the campus through its next phase of strategic growth, which government officials say will include a major development initiative backed by hundreds of millions of dollars in new planned investment.

  • “Surface cracks”, rust on new Demerara River Bridge no cause for concern- Public Works Minister

    “Surface cracks”, rust on new Demerara River Bridge no cause for concern- Public Works Minister

    Eight months after its grand opening, Guyana’s US$260 million Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge has drawn public attention over reports of visible fine cracks on pedestrian walkways and minor corrosion on metal components. But top infrastructure officials are moving quickly to reassure the public that the critical cross-river link poses no safety risks to users. Public Works Minister Juan Edghill addressed public concerns in an interview with Demerara Waves Online News on Sunday, breaking down the engineering context behind the observed defects following official inspections of the 2.6-kilometer cable-stayed bridge.

    Edghill explained that the fine cracks spotted on pedestrian walkways and sleeper beams are an expected byproduct of normal bridge operations, not a sign of structural failure. The main bridge structure expands and contracts naturally in response to daily and seasonal temperature shifts, as well as the constant weight of passing vehicle traffic. This minor deformation is transferred to the bridge’s non-load-bearing auxiliary components, resulting in the surface cracks that have been observed. To put this in perspective, Edghill compared these auxiliary elements to a residential home’s exterior wall finishes or entrance steps—components that serve functional and aesthetic purposes but do not support the overall structural load of the entire building.

    The minister added that construction teams followed all engineering standards when building the bridge, including installing contraction joints aligned with strict specifications set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) to manage cracking. Even with these proper precautions in place, he noted, it is a well-documented reality in civil engineering that fine surface cracks cannot be fully eliminated, due to the inherent shrinkage properties of concrete materials used in construction.

    Beyond cracking, Edghill also addressed separate public concerns about minor corrosion spotted on the bridge’s inspection vehicle track and a small number of bolts. For the track corrosion, he explained that the factory-applied anti-corrosion coating was accidentally removed during routine operation of the inspection vehicle. Once the bare metal surface was exposed to moisture in the air, light surface rust formed. Edghill emphasized that this superficial rust is comparable to the thin rust layer that forms on automotive brake rotors, and does not weaken the track’s structural strength at all. To prevent further corrosion, the bridge’s maintenance team will add regular touch-up coating applications to their routine upkeep schedule.

    As for the rust observed on some bolts, Edghill noted this developed from minor coating damage sustained during the installation process, when bolts were threaded into place. The original contractor will complete targeted rust removal and reapply anti-corrosion treatment for these affected bolts, and the government has committed to conducting formal bi-annual inspections of the bridge’s components to catch and address any future issues early. Edghill reiterated that neither form of corrosion poses any threat to the bridge’s overall structural safety, and ongoing preventative maintenance will keep the crossing in good working order for decades.

    The four-lane east-west crossing, constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation, was officially opened to traffic on October 5, 2025, and has since served as a critical infrastructure connection for the region, cutting travel times and boosting economic connectivity between communities on either side of the Demerara River.

  • Chief Fisheries Officer Dr Shelly-Ann Cox passes away

    Chief Fisheries Officer Dr Shelly-Ann Cox passes away

    The small Caribbean nation of Barbados is reeling from unexpected tragedy this week after the sudden death of one of its most promising young public sector leaders, Chief Fisheries Officer Dr Shelly-Ann Cox. The 36-year-old trailblazer collapsed mid-speech while presenting an award at a public fishing industry gathering held in Weston, a coastal community in the parish of St James. Witnesses and first responders immediately initiated life-saving efforts at the scene in a desperate attempt to revive her, before rushing her to a nearby hospital. Sadly, medical professionals were unable to save her, and she was officially pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

    Dr Cox made history when she stepped into the role of Chief Fisheries Officer in January 2023. Aged only 35 at the time of her appointment, she made two landmark marks on the region’s fisheries sector: she was the youngest person ever to hold the top post, and only the second woman to serve as a chief fisheries officer across the entire Caribbean. Over the 12 months she led the division, Dr Cox earned widespread respect across the industry for her rare combination of hands-on practical knowledge and innovative academic insight. She brought a full 10 years of frontline experience in fisheries management to the role, alongside specialized expertise in interdisciplinary climate research that she applied to address pressing challenges facing Barbados’ coastal fishing communities.

    Beyond her policy and leadership work, Dr Cox was deeply committed to public education and community outreach. On the very same day of her death, she had already spent hours interacting with young girls from the St Stephen’s Brownie Troop, welcoming the group for a guided tour of the Fisheries Division’s facilities and engaging them in learning about the island’s marine resources. Colleagues and community members have highlighted this full day of service as a reflection of her lifelong dedication to lifting up others and nurturing public understanding of the ocean. Dr Cox is survived by her seven-year-old son, Shae, who is now at the center of an outpouring of support from across the country.

  • UPDATE: 15-Year-Old Deshawn James Has Been Located

    UPDATE: 15-Year-Old Deshawn James Has Been Located

    A days-long search for missing 15-year-old Deshawn James has concluded on a hopeful note, after the teenager was confirmed to be found safe and unharmed. The successful outcome brings relief to both Deshawn’s family and the community that rallied to support the search effort. Just days prior, local law enforcement and Deshawn’s relatives issued a public call for assistance, after the teen was reported missing. At the time of the initial appeal, authorities did not disclose key details including the date and location of Deshawn’s last sighting, but urged community members to come forward with any information that could help locate him. Family members pushed for widespread sharing of the missing person notice, asking the public to remain vigilant as search operations got underway, and provided two dedicated contact numbers — 724-4415 and 781-1054 — for tips. Following the announcement that Deshawn had been found, family members moved quickly to confirm the good news and express their thanks. Relatives extended gratitude to every person who shared the missing person alert, reached out to the family with updates, and contributed time and effort to the search. As of the latest update, no additional details surrounding Deshawn’s disappearance or his recovery have been released to the public.

  • Hopeful Hearts Foundation Hosts Successful Food and Clothing Drive

    Hopeful Hearts Foundation Hosts Successful Food and Clothing Drive

    A collaborative community assistance initiative led by the Hopeful Hearts Foundation in partnership with the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross has concluded with resounding success, bringing critical relief to hundreds of struggling families across the twin-island nation.

    The food and clothing drive united a diverse cross-section of local society, drawing generous contributions of non-perishable food, gently used clothing, and other life essentials from individual residents, local commercial enterprises, non-profit groups, and community leaders. Every donation went directly to support community members facing financial hardship, with hundreds of households walking away with the supplies they desperately needed. The outcome of the effort offers a powerful reminder of how collective action and shared compassion can address pressing local needs.

    Organizers have publicly highlighted the key contributions of major supporters that made the drive’s success possible, including national retail chain Chase, regional supplier Anjo Wholesale, the youth-led service organization Rotaract Club of Antigua, and Senator Lamin Newton, alongside dozens of individual donors who gave clothing and essential goods. Without their timely, generous support, organizers note, the initiative would not have been able to reach as many families in need as it ultimately did.

    After all planned distributions were completed, all leftover supplies were transferred to the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross to support the organization’s ongoing work with vulnerable populations across the country. A portion of the remaining donations has also been set aside for future community outreach programs organized by the Hopeful Hearts Foundation, ensuring the generosity of initial donors will continue to create impact long after the conclusion of this drive.

    Kristine Louisa, a representative of the Hopeful Hearts Foundation, shared her perspective on the initiative’s success: “We are deeply grateful to every donor, every volunteer, and every supporter who turned this drive from a plan into tangible help for hundreds of families. Together, we keep proving that even the smallest acts of kindness can add up to life-changing difference for people who need it most.”

    Looking ahead, the Hopeful Hearts Foundation reaffirmed its long-term commitment to serving communities across Antigua and Barbuda. The organization plans to continue building sustainable community programs, expanding local outreach, and forging collaborative partnerships that create meaningful, lasting improvement for vulnerable populations across the islands.

  • Government to Rebuild Keeling Point Pier

    Government to Rebuild Keeling Point Pier

    Antigua and Barbuda is advancing a critical infrastructure upgrade for one of its most important fishing hubs, with plans to completely replace the decades-old deteriorating pier at Keeling Point with a modern reinforced concrete structure. The project announcement came shortly after a site inspection led by Minister of State Randy Baltimore and Michael Joseph, Member of Parliament for St. John’s Rural West. During the visit, the two elected officials held talks with Conrad Simon, Coordinator of the country’s Fisheries Division, as well as representatives from the local fishing community to align on project goals and community needs.

    Government technical experts have confirmed that incremental repairs carried out on the existing pier over the past several years have failed to resolve ongoing structural issues, and are no longer adequate to support the daily operations of local fishermen. After assessing multiple possible solutions, officials concluded that full reconstruction represents the most cost-effective and durable long-term strategy for the site.

    The planned overhaul includes far more than a simple touch-up: all existing wooden support piles will be swapped out for sturdy concrete piles, and the pier will get a new reinforced concrete deck engineered to resist the corrosive effects of saltwater and withstand extreme tropical weather events common to the region. In a departure from the current layout, the new pier will adopt a T-shaped design instead of the existing L-shaped configuration, a change that will create additional working space for offloading catches and significantly improve vessel access for fishing boats of varying sizes.

    Beyond infrastructure plans, the site visit also addressed urgent public safety concerns that emerged after a recent shark attack that injured a local fisherman. Minister Baltimore shared an update on the victim’s condition, confirming that the fisherman is currently recovering from his injuries. He also issued a reminder for all mariners and people using the coastal area to maintain heightened awareness of shark activity, noting that government agencies are continuing to monitor increased reports of shark sightings in the region.

    Simon, the Fisheries Division coordinator, expressed strong support for the planned redevelopment, noting that the project is part of a wider national push to upgrade critical fisheries infrastructure across the country and lift working conditions for thousands of people who depend on the fishing industry for their livelihoods.

  • Brazen Daylight Shooting in Downtown Belize City

    Brazen Daylight Shooting in Downtown Belize City

    On the morning of June 13, 2026, a bold daylight shooting shattered the routine of downtown Belize City, leaving local resident Kiffer McKenzie injured and the local community in shock. The incident unfolded just after 10 a.m. at the intersection of Albert and Orange Streets, where gunfire suddenly erupted in the busy city center.

    After being struck by gunshots, McKenzie, who was behind the wheel of a vehicle, lost control shortly after leaving the intersection. His car traveled a short distance before colliding with a parked vehicle directly in front of the Belize Bank Business Centre, a prominent commercial location in the area.

    First responding police officers quickly arrived at the crash site to secure the area. They immediately extracted McKenzie from his damaged vehicle and rushed him by emergency transport to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, the country’s main public medical facility. As of initial reports following the shooting, no updated information has been released regarding McKenzie’s current medical condition, leaving loved ones and community members waiting anxiously for updates.

    News of the shooting has drawn an outpouring of reaction from across Belize’s law enforcement and community development circles. Douglas Hyde, National Youth Program Coordinator for the Belize Police Department, shared his personal connection to McKenzie in a heartfelt social media post that quickly spread across local platforms.

    Hyde expressed deep shock and sorrow over the attack, revealing that he had only just recently put forward McKenzie’s name for a key new position. “This is really sad, sad,” Hyde wrote. “I just called your name to the Director of the Major Crimes Unit (LIU) for us to bring Kiffer McKenzie on as a Program Coordinator in LIU’s new restructuring.”

    Hyde went on to describe McKenzie as a passionate community advocate who was deeply committed to expanding recreational opportunities for young people in Majestic Alley and nearby neighborhoods. He recalled that McKenzie was consistently proactive in pushing for more youth sports programming, and always made a point to connect with him to advance that work. “You are one of the guys who highly respected me and anywhere you saw me you would hail ‘Mr. Doug we need to do more sports,’” Hyde added.

    The daytime shooting in a busy central commercial district has reignited local discussions about public safety in Belize City, where violent crime has remained a persistent community concern. As police launch an investigation into the attack, no suspects have been named publicly, and no motive has been confirmed as of this update.

  • Jael Joseph searches for 14 year old girl who confided to her that she wanted to end her own life

    Jael Joseph searches for 14 year old girl who confided to her that she wanted to end her own life

    A distressing public appeal has captured the attention of social media users across Dominica, after prominent local media entrepreneur Jael Joseph shared an urgent plea for an anonymous 14-year-old girl who contacted her to say she planned to end her own life. The incident was first revealed by Joseph during a live broadcast on Facebook on Tuesday, where she recounted the unsettling interaction that has deeply impacted her in the days since.

    During the broadcast, Joseph spoke through tears as she detailed the conversation the teenager initiated with her via Facebook Messenger. The 14-year-old told Joseph she intended to take her life, and asked Joseph to pass that information along to her mother, but refused to share her full name or any identifying details that would allow for immediate intervention. To protect the girl’s privacy where possible, Joseph has intentionally chosen not to release certain limited details she received during the exchange.

    Joseph told local news outlet DNO that she has been unable to sleep since the conversation, as the gravity of the situation has weighed heavily on her. She added that the interaction hits particularly close to home: her own son is the same age as the anonymous teen, a connection that has deepened her concern for the girl’s safety.

    Since sharing the story, Joseph has launched both public and private efforts to track down the teenager, urging her to reach out again to get the help she needs. She has offered to connect the girl with a trusted psychiatrist who can provide specialized mental health care, and emphasized that her public appeal is not a bid for media attention. Instead, Joseph said she would prefer to have never been involved in the situation at all, and that her only goal is to confirm the 14-year-old is unharmed and safe.

    To widen the search, Joseph has temporarily adjusted her social media privacy settings to keep an open line for any updates related to the teen. In the days since her public post, Joseph has been flooded with messages and calls from community members offering help. While she expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support, she asked the public to focus their outreach on sharing actionable information that could help locate the teen, to avoid overwhelming her communications.

    As of the time this report was published, Joseph has not received any new communication from the 14-year-old. In response to the incident, this story also shares a public resource directory of child-friendly mental health services available across Dominica, hosted by Healthy Caribbean, accessible at https://www.healthycaribbean.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Dominica-Directory.pdf. Mental health advocates urge anyone who is struggling with suicidal thoughts or knows someone in crisis to reach out to a qualified professional immediately for support.