Carib Scope

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  • Stay in School Project van start met steun van Republic Bank

    Stay in School Project van start met steun van Republic Bank

    A new youth empowerment initiative merging education, athletic participation and personal growth has officially kicked off in Suriname, launched through a collaborative partnership between the Stichting ReGT-STREVEN foundation and Republic Bank Suriname. Titled the Stay in School Project 2025–2026, the program is built around a core mission to encourage young Surinamese students to combine their academic pursuits with structured sports engagement, build life-long personal discipline, and invest in holistic personal development.

    The official opening ceremony was held on Saturday at the Mgr. Aloysius Zichem Sportcentrum, located on Prins Hendrikstraat in Suriname. Beyond connecting academics and athletics, the initiative is designed to achieve three key goals: boost regular sports participation among secondary and primary school student populations, strengthen collaborative networks between educational institutions across the country, and embed core positive values including mutual respect, self-discipline, and good sportsmanship among participating youth. The project will run through August 2 this year, concluding with a grand final competition that will cap off the months of programming.

    Representatives from Republic Bank, the key corporate partner backing the initiative, noted that the program delivers far-reaching benefits beyond just athletic competition. Beyond nurturing emerging sports and academic talent, the bank emphasized that the project actively helps young people build greater self-confidence and grow their commitment to positive civic engagement in their local communities. During the opening ceremony, bank representatives reiterated the organization’s belief in the critical role of targeted community programs that support young people’s growth through positive, constructive pathways.

    Following the formal launch proceedings, the first round of competitive matches got underway to mark the start of the project. In the baseball opening round, Mgr. Wulfinghschool faced off against Scholengemeenschap Sanatan Dharm, with Sanatan Dharm claiming victory in the opening matchup. The opening day of competition wrapped up with a football matchup between Scholengemeenschap Kwatta and Schakelinstituut Middelbaar Onderwijs, with Schakelinstituut taking the win in its opening game.

    Through its support of the Stay in School Project, Republic Bank reaffirmed its long-term commitment to advancing youth development, accessible quality education, and community building across Suriname. The initiative is a core part of the bank’s broader corporate social responsibility program, which carries the motto “The Power to Make A Difference.”

  • Prosecutors recommend jail term for Guyana-born former US public schools superintendent

    Prosecutors recommend jail term for Guyana-born former US public schools superintendent

    DES MOINES, Iowa — As former Des Moines Public School Superintendent Ian Roberts, a Guyana-born immigrant, prepares for his federal sentencing this Friday, federal prosecutors have formally submitted a court memorandum calling for a 37-month, or three-year, prison term, the maximum within the recommended guideline range for his two convictions.

    Roberts’ legal troubles began in September 2025, just a few weeks after the 2025-2026 academic year got underway, when federal immigration agents took him into custody. He later entered a guilty plea to two federal charges: making a false statement in connection with his employment, and unlawful possession of a firearm by an undocumented immigrant. As part of his plea deal, prosecutors agreed to drop any additional potential charges and extend a measure of leniency in their sentencing recommendation, even as the two charges on the record carry a combined maximum statutory sentence of 20 years behind bars.

    In the sentencing memorandum filed last week with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, prosecutors argued that the former top school administrator deserves a top-of-guideline 37-month sentence, rooted in the nature of his offenses: Roberts falsely claimed U.S. citizenship to secure his job, and was found to illegally possess four firearms.

    U.S. sentencing guidelines set a recommended range of 30 to 37 months for Roberts, after accounting for two key factors: he has no prior felony criminal record, and he was found in possession of four illegal firearms rather than a smaller number. Prosecutors are pushing for the full 37-month term specifically because Roberts engaged in more than 15 years of unauthorized, deceptive employment in the district’s top leadership role.

    Court documents confirm that after Roberts completes his prison sentence, he will be turned over to immigration authorities and deported from the United States.

  • Health, empowerment focus for St Joseph celebrations

    Health, empowerment focus for St Joseph celebrations

    Preparations for 2026’s national Independence celebrations in Barbados’ St Joseph Parish are now moving from planning to active implementation, with event organizers centering this year’s programming around three core pillars: public health outreach, community care, and resident empowerment across the parish.

    On Sunday, members of the St Joseph Parish Independence Committee launched their campaign with an inaugural community walkthrough in the neighborhood of Dark Hole, where they connected directly with local residents to introduce the full slate of initiatives planned for the year ahead. This opening outreach effort aligns with the committee’s 2026 theme: “Rekindling our spirit and reclaiming our pride in Saint Joseph,” which frames the year’s activities as an opportunity to rebuild connections between organizers and parish residents that may have frayed in recent years.

    Parish attendant Anjela Holloway shared details of the walkthrough in an interview with Barbados TODAY, explaining that the team intentionally selected Dark Hole as their first stop to prioritize residents who had long felt overlooked by community initiatives. “Today we went to the area that we knew as Dark Hole to visit the residents in the area to sensitise them about the community independence celebrations that are happening this year and what the parish Independence Committee for St Joseph will be doing for 2026,” Holloway said. “We wanted to meet with our Josephines to feel how they are feeling about their parish and what we can do to help this year in 2026.”

    Holloway noted that many Dark Hole residents approached the committee’s visit with initial caution, a reaction rooted in a history of being overlooked by local organizing efforts. But as conversations unfolded, that hesitation gave way to enthusiasm and engagement. “At first they were a little hesitant because you see people come in and you don’t know what they’re coming for, but when we started to talk to them and interact, they were very interactive, very happy to see us,” Holloway described. “They felt like they would have been forgotten and to see that we chose Dark Hole as our first place, they were very excited.”

    One of the flagship new initiatives launching as part of this year’s celebrations is the Soothing Soul program, developed to expand elderly care and mental emotional support for senior residents across the parish. Holloway explained that the program will train local volunteers to provide holistic care for older community members, addressing both physical health needs and the less visible need for social connection. “We’ll be teaching persons how to care for our elderly population,” she said. “Not only health-wise, but even if it’s just to sit and talk to them, listen to them, because everybody needs a listening ear.”

    Beyond care-focused programming, the committee has also planned a multi-part empowerment series designed to build resident skills around financial literacy and long-term personal development, creating lasting resources that extend far beyond the Independence celebration period.

    During the Dark Hole walkthrough, residents also took the opportunity to raise long-standing local concerns, including poor road conditions and ongoing water access issues that disproportionately impact the neighborhood. While the Independence Committee does not have the authority to directly resolve these infrastructure issues, Holloway confirmed that all resident concerns will be formally documented and relayed to the appropriate government agencies for review.

    One of the highest-profile public events on the 2026 St Joseph celebration calendar is the Sugar Experience, an all-white garden party scheduled to take place on June 27 at the historic Andrews Sugar Factory. Tying into the parish’s deep agricultural and cultural heritage, the event will feature a menu of sugar cane-infused cocktails and all-inclusive food offerings, designed to celebrate St Joseph’s history while bringing the community together for a celebratory gathering.

  • Former Bridgetown Port chairman Larry Tatem dies

    Former Bridgetown Port chairman Larry Tatem dies

    Barbados is honoring the life and legacy of Larry Tatem, a pioneering local businessman and former chairman of the Bridgetown Port, who passed away on Monday morning. His death was officially confirmed by Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who delivered a heartfelt tribute highlighting Tatem’s far-reaching, understated contributions to the nation’s development.

    Widely recognized as a foundational figure in Barbados’ hospitality supply sector, Tatem founded Hotel Food Supplies Ltd., an enterprise that operates under the umbrella of Lach Ltd. What began as a small-scale venture with a modest warehouse in Paradise, just six employees, and a vision for reliable service, nearly 40 years ago grew into one of the country’s leading food import operations. Headquartered today at the Warrens Industrial Park, the company supplies a vast network of hotels, restaurants, and major institutional clients across the island, setting industry-wide standards for quality and consistency that have shaped Barbados’ tourism and hospitality ecosystem.

    Prime Minister Mottley described Tatem as one of Barbados’ unsung “quiet builders” — leaders who prioritize national progress and steady growth over public recognition and fanfare. She noted that while many Barbadians may never have recognized Tatem’s face, the impact of his decades of work permeates nearly every corner of the island’s food service and tourism sectors. “That kind of growth does not happen by accident,” Mottley said in her official statement. “It comes from knowing your business, respecting your customers, treating your word as your bond and doing the work day after day, without fanfare.”

    Beyond his success in the private sector, Tatem dedicated 15 years of public service to leading one of Barbados’ most critical economic infrastructure assets: the Bridgetown Port. He served as chairman of the port from 1994 through 2008, an era that saw major expansion, infrastructure modernization, and international recognition for the facility. Mirroring his approach to private enterprise, Tatem led the port through this transformative period with the same quiet diligence and focused effectiveness that defined his entire career, Mottley emphasized.

    Outside of work, Tatem was a proud alumnus of Christ Church Foundation School and held a deep passion for cricket, connections that rooted him in his local community. On behalf of the entire government and people of Barbados, Prime Minister Mottley extended sincere condolences to Tatem’s family, friends, professional colleagues, and the entire staff of Hotel Food Supplies Ltd. She closed her tribute with a final blessing: “May his soul rest in peace and rise in glory.”

  • Public Demands Answers Over Higher BEL Bills

    Public Demands Answers Over Higher BEL Bills

    As Belize grapples with a sustained cost-of-living crisis that has sent grocery and fuel prices soaring to new highs, residents are now facing another crippling financial burden: sharply inflated electricity bills from Belize Electricity Limited (BEL). With the latest round of billing arriving in mailboxes and online accounts, thousands of customers across the country have taken to social media to share shocking reports of their monthly charges doubling, and in some extreme cases, tripling from their typical levels.

    The widespread public backlash prompted local outlet News 5 to reach out to BEL for additional clarification, following a brief initial statement the utility provider released last Friday. In that initial public comment, BEL attributed the higher bills to seasonal temperature trends, arguing that warmer summer months force air conditioning and other cooling systems to run far more frequently to keep indoor spaces comfortable, directly driving up total household energy consumption. The company also advised customers to adjust their energy use during peak midday heat hours to keep their costs manageable.

    But for frustrated consumers, this seasonal explanation has fallen completely flat, failing to ease growing anxiety over the unexplained price jumps. Many residents say their daily energy usage habits have not changed at all from previous years, leaving them confused by the sudden and dramatic increase in charges. One customer who spoke out about the issue called on BEL to launch immediate reassessments of customer meters, saying they reject the company’s official explanation for the doubled bill. Another resident noted that their household is empty for more than 12 hours a day as all members work outside the home, yet their bill still spiked dramatically – a trend they called nonsensical that has gone unaddressed by company officials. Additional customers have also reported frequent, short-notice power outages over recent weeks that have damaged home appliances, adding another layer of frustration with the utility provider.

    The sudden spike in bills comes just four months after BEL implemented a base rate increase in January, raising prices to $0.4427 per kilowatt-hour to offset nearly $108 million in rising energy supply costs. That rate hike already put extra financial strain on household budgets, and the unexplained further increase has pushed public frustration to a breaking point.

    As of Tuesday, BEL has confirmed that it is still reviewing the large volume of customer complaints and concerns, with a more detailed formal response planned for release in the coming days.

  • Is the SOE Enough to Stop Violence in Belize City?

    Is the SOE Enough to Stop Violence in Belize City?

    Less than three weeks after Belize City authorities declared a State of Emergency (SOE) to curb a surge in violent crime, two separate shooting incidents in under 24 hours have reignited public debate over whether the controversial security measure is delivering on its promises.

    The most recent attack unfolded early on the morning of May 25, 2026, along Freetown Road. Initial reports confirm one person was urgently transferred to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for emergency care, with law enforcement officials set to release official details on the victim’s condition and case progress later that afternoon.

    This shooting came just hours after a targeted attack late Friday night on Jane Usher Boulevard, where two armed suspects ambushed 38-year-old Alonzo Myers in the front yard of his home. Surveillance camera footage captured by a nearby resident shows the sequence of the attack: Myers had just stepped into his yard shortly before 11 p.m. when the first gunman rushed to the property gate and opened fire. The footage shows Myers falling to the ground in an attempt to avoid the volley of bullets, before a second suspect is spotted looking over the gate to confirm the attack. Both suspects then fled the area on foot before police arrived. Investigators have since taken possession of the footage to process it as key evidence in the case.

    Tragically, this string of violence is not an isolated pattern in the neighborhood. Just 10 days before the Friday night attack, 19-year-old Lamar Garnett was shot and killed outside his home in the same district, marking one of the high-profile homicides that prompted the SOE declaration in the first place.

    The State of Emergency was officially enacted on May 8, after a rapid succession of violent incidents left the city reeling and put intense pressure on local law enforcement to intervene. Under the extraordinary security measure, members of the Belize Police Department and Belize Defence Force (BDF) have been granted expanded law enforcement powers, including the ability to conduct searches without a warrant and detain suspected individuals for up to 30 days without formal charges. The measure was framed as a temporary crackdown to disrupt local criminal gangs and gun trafficking networks responsible for most of the city’s violent crime.

    But now, with two confirmed shooting incidents occurring while the SOE is already in effect, community members and policymakers are increasingly questioning whether the heavy-handed security approach is actually reducing violence, or if more targeted, long-term interventions are needed to address the root causes of Belize City’s persistent gun crime.

  • Police visit SDA school for World Boys Day

    Police visit SDA school for World Boys Day

    To mark the annual celebration of World Boys Day, two officers from the St. Joseph District of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) – Sergeant Gachette and Constable Jules – recently paid a special visit to Western District Seventh-day Adventist School. The on-campus engagement centered on connecting with students, with targeted attention to the school’s population of young boys, according to an official release published by the CDPF.

    During their interaction with students, the law enforcement officers delivered talks centered on core life values that lay the foundation for healthy adulthood. Key topics included the critical role of personal discipline, respect for rules and authority, consistent positive conduct, and the long-term impact of intentional, constructive choices made during youth. Beyond sharing guidance, the officers also offered encouragement to the boys in attendance, urging them to stay focused on their educational and personal goals, maintain mutual respect for peers and community members, and work toward growing into accountable, contributing citizens of Dominica.

    In its official statement, the CDPF reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to building stronger, more trusting bonds between police and local communities. This school visit forms part of a broader portfolio of proactive community policing projects, mentorship opportunities, and youth outreach schemes designed to leave a constructive, lasting mark on the lives of Dominica’s younger generation. “Together, we can help shape a brighter future for our youth,” the statement emphasized.

    Observed globally every year on May 16, the International Day of the Boy Child – often referred to as World Boys Day – was created to shine a spotlight on the unique challenges boys face around the world, while elevating conversations around their health and overall well-being. The annual observance also serves to recognize the meaningful, often underrepresented contributions boys make to their families, local communities, and societies at large. Events like the CDPF’s school visit align with the day’s core mission by investing in boys’ development and creating spaces for open, supportive engagement with trusted community leaders.

  • ‘Thanks and respect’

    ‘Thanks and respect’

    Seven months after Category 5 Hurricane Melissa tore through central Jamaica, leaving a trail of destroyed homes and damaged infrastructure, an 82-year-old stroke survivor in Mile Gully, Manchester is waking up in a fully renovated home just in time for the start of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The transformation of Joslyn Chronicle’s flood-ruined New Pond dwelling, completed as part of a Jamaican Labour Day community service project, has brought new hope to the elderly resident who narrowly survived the catastrophic storm last October.

    Chronicle, who has survived four separate strokes and lives alone with daily support from nearby neighbours, recounted the harrowing hours he spent trapped in his home as Melissa’s relentless rainfall flooded his property. Storm surges and rushing water carried heavy stones into the structure, rising so quickly that he could not even climb off his bed to escape. “God kept me,” he recalled. “The water came straight in onto the verandah, around to the back door, and into the bathroom. I couldn’t step down. It only ran out before I had to come out.” With four strokes already behind him, even his doctor has expressed shock at his survival, making the safe new home all the more meaningful for the elderly resident.

    Leading the all-volunteer renovation team was Rohan Kennedy, Deputy Mayor of Mandeville and People’s National Party Councillor for the Mile Gully Division, who had personally promised Chronicle that his home would be restored. The scope of the project addressed all the damage inflicted by the storm: workers completely rebuilt the water-damaged roof and ceiling, replaced rotten, warped doors and windows, and applied a fresh coat of paint to the entire structure.

    An emotional Chronicle expressed profound gratitude for the team’s work, saying “I give thanks and respect to them, all down to the ground that they walk on. Mr Kennedy promised that he would see to the building, and he has seen to it. He fulfilled his promise.”

    Kennedy explained that Chronicle is just one of dozens of Manchester residents still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall on October 28, 2025. The elderly man’s home was so severely compromised that neighbours had to evacuate him and host him for several days immediately after the storm. To further protect the renovated home from future flooding, Kennedy announced additional planned infrastructure upgrades for the property around Chronicle’s house: workers will widen the existing drainage channel to improve water flow and construct a new retaining wall to prevent erosion and runoff from reaching the structure.

    With less than a week remaining before the official start of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season, local authorities are pushing ahead with full preparation measures across Manchester, Kennedy confirmed. Emergency storm shelters are in an advanced state of readiness, with ongoing repairs nearly complete to ensure they can accommodate residents if a major storm threatens. While officials are hopeful the 2026 season will see below-normal storm activity, preparations are being made to withstand the worst-case scenario.

    Kennedy highlighted that the New Pond community, made up primarily of working farmers, has shown extraordinary resilience in the wake of last year’s disaster. The trauma of Hurricane Melissa has pushed residents into high gear for pre-season preparation, with neighbourhood-wide mutual aid becoming a core part of the community’s approach. “This is a tight-knit community where people volunteer and work together to help each other,” Kennedy noted, adding that just one week before the Chronicle home project, his team completed another renovation, replacing damaged zinc roofing and rebuilding ceilings for another storm-affected resident.

    Island-wide and parish-level preparation efforts are currently focused on mitigating flood risk across Manchester’s most vulnerable areas. “Presently, we are cleaning drains, because we know that we have a lot of flood-prone areas in the parish, so the emphasis now in terms of preparation is drain cleaning,” Kennedy said. The New Pond access road, which also sustained heavy damage during Hurricane Melissa, is scheduled for immenent repairs: as a municipal road, it has already been added to the priority repair list and work will begin in the near future.

    Kennedy specifically praised the high level of community participation in the Labour Day rebuild project, noting that dozens of young people from New Pond and surrounding neighbouring communities turned out willingly to contribute to the work. “You see a lot of young people here who came out willingly to help. The energy is high and the participation is good, so I am very pleased about that,” he said. Photographs from the event show Kennedy fitting the new front door to Chronicle’s home, with youth volunteers Kayla Powell and Noel Brown applying fresh paint to the property’s exterior.

  • Four teenagers drown in England since Sunday amid heatwave — authorities

    Four teenagers drown in England since Sunday amid heatwave — authorities

    LONDON, Aug — As an unseasonably intense heatwave bakes much of the United Kingdom, four young lives have been lost to drowning in inland lakes and reservoirs across England in just 48 hours, law enforcement and local government officials have confirmed.

    The string of tragedies began on Sunday, when a male teenager died in a water incident in Lincolnshire, a county in the country’s northeast, according to local police. A day later, a second fatality was recorded in central England, where a female teenager lost her life in Warwickshire, local council officials confirmed.

    Two more deaths followed in quick succession in northern England’s Yorkshire region. On Monday, one teenage boy drowned in a local reservoir, police reported. By early Tuesday, emergency crews had recovered the body of a second teenage boy from a country park lake, bringing the total death toll to four over the period starting Sunday.

    The deaths come as the UK faces soaring temperatures that have driven thousands of people to seek relief in unofficial, unpatrolled inland water spots, which carry far higher safety risks than regulated public swimming facilities. Local safety officials have repeatedly warned the public of hidden dangers including cold water shock, uneven underwater terrain and strong hidden currents that can catch even experienced swimmers off guard during heatwaves.

  • Police hunt for ‘Chucky’ intensifies after second brother killed in August Town

    Police hunt for ‘Chucky’ intensifies after second brother killed in August Town

    After four years without a reported murder in the close-knit community of August Town, located in St Andrew, Jamaica, a shocking wave of violence has shattered the area’s hard-won peace. Over the course of one week, two brothers were killed in targeted attacks that local law enforcement says were ordered by a notorious wanted gang leader. Police have identified the suspected mastermind as Oshane Morris, who is known locally by the alias Chucky and has appeared on the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s most-wanted list for nearly a year.

    The second and most recent of the two killings took place in the pre-dawn darkness of last Saturday. When emergency responders and police arrived at the scene following reports of an structure fire on August Town Road, they made a grim discovery: the victim’s body, which bore multiple apparent gunshot wounds to the head, had been partially burned in the blaze set at the property. Authorities have not yet publicly released the identity of the Saturday victim, but have confirmed that both slain men are relatives of popular Jamaican reggae singer Etana.

    Shortly after the second killing, Etana took to her social media channels to sound the alarm about the targeted violence against her family. “My relatives are under attack in August Town. They have taken a second person this morning. He is mentally ill and they have burned my aunt’s shop to the ground,” the artist wrote in her public post, bringing international attention to the unrest in the community.

    In an interview with the Jamaica Observer on Monday, Superintendent Mark Harris, head of the St Andrew Central Police Division which has jurisdiction over August Town, confirmed that law enforcement has launched an intensive manhunt for Morris, and that officers remained deployed in the area as they worked to track down the suspect and restore public calm. “As we speak, I am in the area,” Harris stated.

    Harris explained that the two killings stem from a brewing gang conflict that erupted earlier this year in African Gardens, a small neighborhood within August Town. “The community has had two murders because we have a small section of August Town known as African Gardens, where a gang conflict emerged since the start of the year, leading to two brothers being killed. It is said that they were ordered to be killed by a wanted man who is a gang leader in the area named Chucky,” he explained.

    Despite a sustained heavy security presence in the community, including an active Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO) designation that grants expanded authorities to security forces, the perpetrators were still able to carry out the early morning attacks. “We have a lot of resources in the area and a zone of special operations is also in the area, but these men manage to do these things at nights. One of the brothers was killed at 4:00 am. In that incident, they lit the house and when the fellow ran out they shot him,” Harris detailed.

    Local residents have expressed shock at the end of August Town’s four-year period without homicide, and police are urging community members to come forward with any information that could help lead to Morris’ capture, while reassuring the public that every available resource is being deployed to prevent further violence.