Carib Scope

分类： society

  • Murder, arson accused seeks legal aid

    Murder, arson accused seeks legal aid

    A 54-year-old man facing dual charges of murder and arson has formally requested legal aid representation from the court just moments before he was ordered to be remanded into Dodds Prison. Ricardo Okella Stanford, a resident of Bank Hall in St Michael, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick at the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court to answer to the two serious allegations brought against him.

    Prosecutors allege that on March 27, Stanford killed 51-year-old Shanell Smith, and deliberately set fire to a property owned by Mohammed Hans. The arson charge outlines that Stanford either intended to destroy or damage the building, or acted with reckless disregard for the risk of the structure being destroyed by fire.

    As Stanford had no legal representation to stand with him in court, he was not required to enter a plea on the two indictable offences. Addressing the court directly, Stanford made a simple but urgent appeal: “Sir, I am asking the court if I can get a legal aid lawyer please.”

    Magistrate Frederick granted the request and scheduled an adjournment of the proceedings until May 5. Responding to the accused’s appeal, the magistrate confirmed: “Of course. You can avail yourself of a legal aid lawyer. They will provide you with the forms and you can fill them out.”

    After the ruling, Stanford thanked the magistrate before court officers led him away from the dock to begin his remand at Dodds Prison. The case will reconvene in early May once the legal aid application process is completed and representation is secured.

  • LVV streeft naar 70% zelfvoorziening in pluimveesector

    LVV streeft naar 70% zelfvoorziening in pluimveesector

    A cohort of 28 new and established small-scale farmers in the eastern Suriname city of Moengo has wrapped up a five-day intensive poultry farming training program, launched by the Directorate of Livestock under the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV), as part of a nationwide push to strengthen the domestic poultry sector across all administrative districts. The initiative is rooted in a clear national policy goal: to raise the share of locally produced poultry products on Suriname’s domestic market from the current 35% to at least 70%, cutting reliance on imported goods and strengthening national food security. Unlike many generic agricultural training programs, this course integrates both classroom theoretical learning and hands-on practical training, covering a full spectrum of critical topics that address common gaps for small producers. These include the design and construction of appropriate poultry housing, optimized nutritional strategies for different flocks, routine flock care, basic poultry anatomy, prevention and control of common poultry diseases, and essential business record-keeping to help farmers track costs and profits. LVV officials confirmed that this type of community-focused training is a core component of a national agricultural development program that will be rolled out across all districts and administrative ressort across the country. Trainees who completed the program reported high satisfaction, saying they leave the course motivated to put their newly acquired skills into practice on their own farms, and many expressed enthusiasm to encourage other aspiring farmers in their communities to enter the poultry sector. The LVV has emphasized that poultry farming represents an unusually accessible entry point for small entrepreneurs in Suriname, as it can be launched with a relatively low amount of starting capital and requires manageable levels of ongoing labor input. The sector, ministry officials note, offers viable growth opportunities for both small-scale subsistence producers and entrepreneurs looking to scale up their operations over time. Beyond boosting local supply, the expansion of domestic poultry production also directly contributes to two key national priorities: strengthening Suriname’s overall food security, and creating new, sustainable income streams for rural and community-based producers across the country. At the end of the five-day program, all participating farmers received official completion certificates to mark their participation. The program is one of several ongoing agricultural development initiatives the LVV has implemented to revitalize local food production and support smallholder farmers across the nation.

  • Heavy rains flood streets across Greater Santo Domingo and disrupt traffic

    Heavy rains flood streets across Greater Santo Domingo and disrupt traffic

    Early Wednesday brought intense, persistent downpours to the Dominican Republic’s capital region, triggering widespread severe flooding that has upended daily routines for residents across Greater Santo Domingo and the National District. The deluge left major arterial roads submerged, snarled traffic across the urban area, and inundated dozens of residential properties in multiple low-lying communities.

    Three of the region’s busiest transportation corridors—John F. Kennedy Avenue, Duarte Highway, and Núñez de Cáceres Avenue—faced some of the worst flooding. Deep standing water on these key routes brought vehicular movement to a near standstill for hours, with many motorists forced to abandon their vehicles as water levels rose rapidly. In the Los Ríos neighborhood, local residents confirmed that the densely populated “La 800” district was among the most heavily impacted areas, with floodwaters pushing into ground-floor homes and rendering entire neighborhood streets completely impassable to both vehicles and pedestrians.

    Meteorological authorities have linked the extreme rainfall to a low-pressure trough that has spawned highly unstable atmospheric conditions across the majority of the Dominican Republic. With forecasts calling for additional rainfall over the coming hours, public safety officials have issued urgent guidance for residents across the affected region. Authorities are urging the public to stay updated on official weather bulletins, strictly avoid attempting to cross flooded roadways or dry ravines that can quickly become deadly rushing water channels, and implement all necessary emergency precautions to protect people and property ahead of continuing precipitation.

  • Emotional candlelight vigil honors Jet Set victims at ground zero

    Emotional candlelight vigil honors Jet Set victims at ground zero

    On a somber Tuesday evening, hundreds of grieving family members and loved ones assembled in Santo Domingo to hold a moving candlelight vigil, paying tribute to the 236 lives lost in the devastating collapse of the Jet Set nightclub. This deadly disaster, which occurred on April 8, 2025, remains at the center of an active judicial investigation, with Dominican prosecutors currently pushing to bring the venue’s co-owners, siblings Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, to trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter.

    During the heartfelt ceremony, attendees honored each victim individually as their full names were read aloud one by one. Multiple grieving relatives took the stage to share personal testimonies, celebrating the lives and legacies of those who were killed in the sudden structural failure. The timing of the vigil held deep symbolic meaning, coinciding with the official announcement from the Public Prosecutor’s Office that it had formally filed a request for trial proceedings against the Espaillat siblings.

    Prosecutors’ case against the pair centers on allegations of severe negligence in the long-term management and maintenance of the entertainment venue. According to official court documents, the Espaillat siblings carried out a series of unapproved structural modifications to the building over multiple years, never notifying local regulatory authorities of the changes or scheduling mandatory safety inspections. Prosecutors further allege that the owners ignored multiple repeated public warnings about the steadily deteriorating condition of the building’s roof, choosing to overlook clear, life-threatening safety hazards in a deliberate effort to cut operational costs and conserve financial resources.

    A preliminary judicial hearing to review the evidence against the defendants began earlier this week, and is scheduled to resume on April 20. This hearing will ultimately determine whether the volume and credibility of evidence collected by prosecutors meets the legal threshold required to move the high-profile case to a full public trial.

  • Family Says Dangriga Man Kidnapped, Ransom Calls Linked to Mexican Number

    Family Says Dangriga Man Kidnapped, Ransom Calls Linked to Mexican Number

    In the coastal community of Dangriga District, Belize, a family is living a nightmare as they hold out hope for the safe return of 39-year-old Jericho Humes, a father of three who has been missing for days amid mounting evidence of an abduction. Humes was last spotted by his relatives on a Wednesday morning, when he told the family he was heading out to his regular job. What followed has left the tight-knit family reeling in fear and uncertainty.

    Days after Humes’ disappearance, concerned relatives went to check on his home, where they made a series of disturbing discoveries. The residence had been ransacked: windows were smashed, a entry door was jimmied open, clothing was strewn haphazardly across the floors, and a pot of rice Humes had begun cooking before he vanished was left sitting out, spoiling completely. Most alarming of all was a partially burnt cap belonging to Humes, found inside the property, suggesting a deliberate attempt to destroy or conceal evidence.

    Clarissa Torres, Humes’ niece, spoke exclusively to local outlet News Five in an emotional phone interview, her voice cracking repeatedly as she described the family’s ordeal. Mid-conversation, Torres had to step away twice to take incoming calls from the individuals she says are holding her uncle hostage, returning each time visibly shaken by the conversation.

    Torres confirmed that the unidentified kidnappers have demanded a $10,000 ransom for Humes’ safe release. All communication has come from a phone number registered to a Mexican area code, and all demands have been delivered in Spanish. The captors have refused to let the family speak directly to Humes, but have sent coercive proof of his captivity: a photograph showing a knife held to Humes’ neck, and a later video call from a man whose identity was completely hidden by a white face mask and baseball cap.

    “They told us if we don’t pay the money, they will kill him. And if we contact the police, they’ll kill him immediately,” Torres said through tears, describing the threats the family has received. When relatives attempted to negotiate the terms of the ransom drop, the kidnappers insisted the full sum be sent as quickly as possible via Western Union money transfer.

    With no way to raise the full five-figure sum on their own, a family member is preparing to launch a public crowdfunding campaign on Facebook to appeal to the community for help. “I don’t even know where to start. I don’t know what to do next, it’s just nonstop stress. I can’t even eat, I can’t think straight,” Torres said, her voice raw with worry. “Right now, all we care about is getting him home safe. He’s a father to three little kids who need him back.”

    As of April 7, 2026, Belizean law enforcement officials have not yet released an official statement confirming an active investigation into the reported kidnapping, and the family has not yet reached out to police out of fear for Humes’ life.

  • 10 Days Missing: Search Intensifies for “Bree” Arthurs

    10 Days Missing: Search Intensifies for “Bree” Arthurs

    Ten days after 28-year-old Deborah ‘Bree’ Arthurs vanished without a trace in Belize City, desperate family members and civilian volunteers have returned to the field to expand their search effort, marking the second coordinated organized search for the missing call center worker and single mother.

    Arthurs was last seen publicly on Friday, March 27, near La Popular Bakery in central Belize City, where witnesses reported she entered a silver-colored Chevy Equinox. No contact from her has been recorded or received by her loved ones since that sighting.

    Over the first 10 days of the disappearance, search teams have combed through multiple regions across the country, including the Hattieville area, the Coastal Road corridor, and Old Well Road in Ladyville. As the days pass without answers, anxiety and urgency among Arthurs’ inner circle have grown, even as the family holds onto cautious optimism.

    In a public statement released online this week, a relative of the missing woman shared the heavy toll the uncertainty has placed on the entire family. ‘This ordeal has taken a significant toll on our family, yet we remain hopeful,’ the statement read. The family has doubled down on their appeal for public assistance, raising the reward for information leading to Arthurs’ location to 10,000 Belize dollars.

    ‘Lead us to her physical being, alive or unalive… Help us bring her home; she has a kid whom she loves dearly. We just need closure,’ the relative added, emphasizing that the reward will be issued for any actionable details that help the family resolve the disappearance.

    Local law enforcement and official authorities have not released any new updates on the case during their most recent press briefing, leaving the family and public without new official information about the investigation into Arthurs’ disappearance.

  • Medical Association Responds To Allegations in Letter

    Medical Association Responds To Allegations in Letter

    In an official public statement addressing circulating misinformation and unsubstantiated claims reported in regional media, the 2026–2028 Executive Board of the Medical Association of Antigua and Barbuda (MAAB) has moved to set the record straight, reframing the national conversation around collective support for fire-impacted medical professionals and community healthcare continuity.

    The organization’s top priority right now, leaders emphasize, is supporting local physician colleagues and their practices upended by a recent destructive blaze. The tragedy has displaced committed healthcare providers and disrupted access to care for vulnerable patients across the community, making cross-profession solidarity far more critical than internal infighting. ‘This is a moment that demands we stand together to help colleagues rebuild their livelihoods and ensure no gap in care leaves local residents without the medical support they need,’ the statement reads.

    Turning to recent public allegations of widespread internal dissatisfaction among MAAB members, the current Executive issued a clear formal clarification: as of March 2026, no physician has submitted documented complaints or official verbal grievances regarding the issues cited in recent media reports. The association has held weekly open meetings paired with mandatory Continuing Medical Education (CME) sessions since the start of the term, and all practicing physicians in the country are welcome to attend and raise concerns through these established forums. While the Executive affirms its full commitment to protecting freedom of speech for all members, it notes that public narratives must align with the actual state of internal association operations.

    To guide constructive engagement, the board reminded all members that MAAB maintains formal, accessible channels for submitting grievances, and leadership remains committed to full transparency and member advocacy—though it can only resolve concerns brought forward directly through proper processes. Any physician with concerns is encouraged to reach out through these official pathways to have their needs addressed.

    In a demonstration of the association’s ongoing work to build cohesion, the Executive highlighted a successful series of International Doctors’ Day events hosted across March 2026, aligned with the 2026 organizational theme of ‘Unity’. The lineup, which included a community Sunset Social, inter-profession Church Service, and friendly Sports Day, was intentionally designed to foster connection between rank-and-file physicians and the Executive Board. The events created open, low-pressure spaces for networking and collaborative conversation about the future of the local medical profession, with ample opportunity for members to share feedback directly with leadership.

    The statement also emphasized the Executive’s ongoing behind-the-scenes work to advance the interests of the entire local medical fraternity. While the board acknowledges that constructive criticism is a healthy part of any democratic professional organization, it urged members to avoid personal ad hominem attacks that erode the association’s collective bargaining power and damage its public standing. Leaders called on colleagues to refocus attention on systemic challenges impacting medical practice across Antigua and Barbuda, rather than engaging in divisive personal conflict.

    Closing out the statement, the board emphasized that meaningful progress for the local medical community depends on active, collaborative participation from all practicing physicians. The organization encouraged all local doctors to formalize their membership by paying annual dues, noting that lasting change requires more than just public commentary—it requires active contribution from the entire profession. ‘Instead of leaving all the work to volunteer leaders who have dedicated their time to governing and protecting this association, we invite every physician to be part of the change they want to see,’ the statement concludes.

    The official release was signed and submitted by the full 2026–2028 MAAB Executive Team.

  • Gun Bust on Holy Saturday in Caye Caulker

    Gun Bust on Holy Saturday in Caye Caulker

    On April 7, 2026, a 25-year-old Belize City resident has been slapped with illegal firearms charges following a law enforcement operation that recovered a loaded 9-millimeter pistol on Holy Saturday in the popular island community of Caye Caulker.

    The incident unfolded shortly after 10:30 p.m. local time, when uniformed police officers were dispatched to a disturbance call at the intersection of Avenida Mangle and Estrella Street. Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement personnel noticed a man later identified as Herman Ciego attempting to flee the area. Officers immediately initiated a foot pursuit and took Ciego into custody within minutes.

    A systematic search of the terrain Ciego covered during his escape turned up a hidden loaded handgun, which police confirmed contained 10 live rounds of ammunition. In a statement following the arrest, Assistant Superintendent of Police Smith outlined the details of the ongoing investigation, noting that security video evidence has already been collected to support the charges laid against the suspect. Smith added that the collected footage captures Ciego engaging in behavior that directly corroborates the grounds for his detention and charges.

    Ciego now faces two formal offenses: unlawful possession of a firearm and unauthorized possession of ammunition, both charges stemming from Belize’s strict firearms control legislation. The arrest comes amid ongoing community safety efforts in Caye Caulker, a destination that draws thousands of tourists annually to its Caribbean beaches and laid-back island culture. Law enforcement officials have emphasized that they will continue prioritizing the removal of illegal weapons from community spaces to protect both residents and visitors.

  • Two Charged For Drugs and Firearms in Hattieville

    Two Charged For Drugs and Firearms in Hattieville

    Law enforcement authorities in Belize have filed joint criminal charges against two local men following a court-authorized search of their Hattieville Village residence that uncovered a sizable cache of illicit drugs and unregistered firearms, district police confirmed this week.

    The accused, identified as 21-year-old Tajah Robateau and 25-year-old Kevan Joshua Franklyn, both residents of the village, were taken into formal custody after the search operation carried out on April 1 this year. Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, the department’s official spokesperson, outlined the details of the raid in a public briefing.

    “These charges come after our team executed a legally obtained search warrant at the property, which led to the recovery of seven separately wrapped parcels of suspected cannabis, with a combined total weight of 739 grams — equal to approximately 1.6 pounds,” Smith explained.

    Beyond the cannabis seizure, investigators also found an unregistered Glock 9-millimeter handgun already loaded with a 13-round ammunition magazine. Two additional extended-capacity magazines were also seized during the search, holding 13 and 17 live 9-millimeter rounds respectively.

    Smith noted that the packaging method used for the suspected cannabis points to a likelihood the drugs were being prepared for street-level distribution rather than personal use, making the seizure a significant win for local anti-narcotics efforts. As of April 7, both men remain in custody awaiting their first court appearance to answer the combined drug and weapons charges.

  • ‘Where’s My Refund?’: Lions Club Raffle Drama Continues

    ‘Where’s My Refund?’: Lions Club Raffle Drama Continues

    On April 7, 2026, what was supposed to be a day of resolution for hundreds of ticket holders of the canceled Sub Umbra Floreo Lions Club 2026 Toyota Hilux raffle turned into yet another episode of frustration in Belize City. Hundreds of people who had purchased tickets to the ill-fated fundraiser traveled to the Belize City Civic Centre on Tuesday morning, lured by a public notice posted to the Lions Club’s official Facebook page on March 31. The flier clearly stated that all 500 ticket holders could claim full refunds between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the venue’s on-site ticket booth. But when attendees arrived for the scheduled payout, they were met with an empty, unmanned booth and no explanation for the absence of club representatives.

    Local outlet News Five, which has spent weeks covering the unraveling of the failed fundraising raffle, had reporters on the ground as ticket holders trickled in, each holding their unused entries and hoping to recoup their money, only to leave confused. Among the frustrated attendees was Carl Duncan, who made the trip from the nearby community of Ladyville to claim his refund. Despite the inconvenience and unmet expectation, Duncan said he was still trying to hold out hope that the organization would honor its promise.

    “It is a big letdown,” Duncan told reporters on site. “People put their trust in this organization. I traveled a long way to get here from Ladyville, and gas prices are sky high right now. We’ve always known this to be a reputable group, we placed our trust in them, and I just hope they don’t end up letting us down.”

    It was not until shortly before noon that the Lions Club issued a brief update via its social media channels, attributing the delay to unspecified bank holdups. The post said refunds would be distributed later than the originally advertised timeline. Club representatives finally arrived at the Civic Centre booth after 2 p.m. to begin processing the delayed reimbursements. Full updates and further details on the ongoing situation are set to air during News Five Live’s 6 p.m. broadcast on the same day.