Carib Scope

分类： society

  • Jet ski operator released in fatal accident case

    Jet ski operator released in fatal accident case

    A fatal jet ski collision that claimed the life of a 7-year-old vacationer on Tobago’s Pigeon Point has sparked urgent calls for sweeping industry regulation, after the detained operator linked to the tragedy was released from custody as police investigators work to wrap up their case.

    Assistant Commissioner of Police (Tobago) Rishi Singh confirmed this week that the 32-year-old operator, a resident of Canaan Feeder Road, Tobago, was released last Saturday, with ongoing inquiries into the April 8 incident still proceeding. When reached for comment by local news outlet the Express, the operator declined to speak publicly on the case.

    The victim, Angelica Saydee Jogie, a primary school student from San Fernando’s TML Primary School, was enjoying a family beach trip when the tragedy unfolded. Angelica was in a marked, roped-off swimming zone shortly before 5 p.m. when an out-of-control jet ski breached the safety barrier and crashed into her, her father, and her uncle. The young girl was rushed to Scarborough General Hospital, but medical staff were unable to save her, and she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

    In the wake of the incident, fellow jet ski operators across Tobago have rallied around the released man, publicly affirming his reputation as an experienced and safety-focused industry professional, while joining public calls for urgent government action to formalize and enforce rules for the jet ski sector.

    Angelica’s mother, Salisha Jogie, has demanded full accountability for her daughter’s death, and is calling for a complete ban on jet ski operations along Tobago’s popular public beaches. Her demand has been echoed by Reginald Mac Lean, head of the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association, who branded unregulated personal watercraft “ticking time bombs” that put beachgoers at constant risk.

    Angelica’s funeral was held last Saturday in Barrackpore, just five days ahead of what would have been her eighth birthday. During the service, Jogie recounted the horrifying final moments of the family’s vacation, before the collision cut short her daughter’s life.

    Police authorities confirmed this week that investigative work is in its final stages, with legal documentation currently being prepared to submit to Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard. Once reviewed, the DPP will determine whether criminal charges will be filed against the operator in connection with Angelica’s death. Senior Superintendent of Police Rodhil Kirk noted that the investigation is nearing completion.

  • Over 100 guns may have been stolen; waiting on assessment’

    Over 100 guns may have been stolen; waiting on assessment’

    A violent brazen attack on a Trinidad and Tobago police station has left one law enforcement officer dead and triggered a major investigation into a massive firearms heist, with authorities warning the number of stolen weapons could be far higher than initial recoveries suggest.

    On Sunday, attackers stormed the San Fernando Municipal Police Station, located at King’s Wharf along Lady Hailes Avenue, where they killed Acting Corporal Anuska Eversley in a brutal assault that included beating, stabbing, and strangling. The raiders targeted the station’s secure armoury, making off with a yet undetermined number of firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

    So far, law enforcement teams have recovered 38 stolen firearms following the robbery. But senior police officials confirmed this week that the recovered cache may represent less than half of the total weapons taken during the breach. An official audit is currently underway to pin down the exact number of missing weapons and ammunition, with early estimates putting the total stolen firearms at more than 100, alongside roughly 4,000 rounds of loose ammunition.

    Assistant Commissioner of Police Surrendra Sagramsingh explained in a media interview that the San Fernando station plays an unusual, critical role in regional weapons storage: it hosts one of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS)’s most secure storage bunkers, and holds firearms not only for its own officers but also for multiple other regional police stations that borrow or store weapons there. This layered storage setup has complicated efforts to count the missing stock quickly.

    “I can confirm that the figure of around 102 stolen weapons is plausible, it could be that number or even a little higher, but we have to complete our audit to be certain,” Sagramsingh said. “We’re cross-referencing all official records, because we have weapons that are permanently assigned to this station, and others that are on loan from or to other units. This station is one of our key hubs for surplus weapons storage to support operations across the region, so we have to trace every weapon that was held here, including those that were lent out to other departments recently, to get an accurate count.”

    TTPS Commissioner Allister Guevarro confirmed Thursday that the full scope of the theft is still being mapped, and announced that the service is already rolling out urgent systemic reforms in response to the devastating security breach. “Immediate reforms are being introduced to strengthen firearm storage protocols across all our facilities and ensure strict adherence to all relevant policies and standing orders moving forward,” Guevarro stated, adding that the service is prioritizing closing gaps that allowed the attack to happen.

  • Police officer caught on video beating woman

    Police officer caught on video beating woman

    A viral 23-second video that has spread rapidly across social media platforms has triggered an official police probe into allegations that a serving Trinidad and Tobago Police Service corporal assaulted a woman at her private residence in Tobago West. According to senior law enforcement officials, the recording first came into police possession last Saturday, immediately prompting the opening of a formal investigation into the disturbing incident.

    The footage, which has shocked local communities after being shared widely online, captures the uniformed officer repeatedly striking the woman. Visual evidence shows the victim attempting to protect herself from the blows, which land across her head and face, including a clear slap caught on camera. Both parties left the location of the altercation after the incident, which is confirmed to have taken place on April 12 at the woman’s home in the Tobago West district.

    Assistant Commissioner of Police Rishi Singh, in an official interview with local outlet the Express, confirmed that investigators are moving forward with the case, but clarified that progress in the probe is partially contingent on cooperation from the victim. “A final resolution to this incident is not solely within the control of the police,” Singh explained. “The victim must first formally submit a statement to investigators to move the process forward. We have also informed her that she can access specialized support from the TTPS’ dedicated Victims and Support unit if she needs assistance.”

    The Express also reached out to Ishmael Pitt, the head of the Police Social and Welfare Association, the representative body for police officers in the region, for comment on the allegations. Pitt confirmed that he had reviewed the viral footage firsthand, and openly acknowledged that the video documents an apparent assault against the woman.

    Pitt made clear that the police union supports full compliance with local laws and a transparent, impartial investigation into the incident. “There are clear legal frameworks in place to address this kind of conduct, and we as an organization abide by all existing laws and service rules,” Pitt stated. “We stand fully behind any official investigation and whatever outcome it reaches. This matter must be handled exclusively through the proper legal channels, there is no place for extrajudicial action here.”

    Pitt further emphasized that violent assault of this nature will not be tolerated within the ranks of the police service. “There are established rules and binding laws that govern the conduct of all officers, and I have full confidence that the investigation will be carried out thoroughly,” he added. “Any person found responsible for misconduct must be held accountable for their actions. This kind of behavior cannot be condoned under any circumstances.”

  • Beaten, stabbed and strangled

    Beaten, stabbed and strangled

    In an official press briefing held at the Edward Street Police Administration Building in Port of Spain on Tuesday, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Commissioner Allister Guevarro released key updated findings from the autopsy of slain municipal police Corporal Anuska Eversley, confirming the cause of her death and outlining the ongoing investigation into the shocking station killing and arms heist.

    Guevarro confirmed that the full autopsy, completed earlier that day, determined Eversley died by strangulation, with additional evidence of both blunt force trauma from a beating and sharp force injuries from stabbing found on her body. The initial public speculation that Eversley had suffered a gunshot wound has been fully ruled out by forensic pathologists, he added, with no trace of bullet wounds found during the post-mortem examination.

    Eversley’s body was discovered at the San Fernando Municipal Police Station in the early hours of last Sunday, at approximately 4:40 a.m. Guevarro described the brutal killing and the subsequent theft of firearms and ammunition from the station as an unprecedented event that has sent shockwaves across the nation, and emphasized the TTPS views the arms theft as an issue of the highest concern.

    As of the press briefing, six men between the ages of 16 and 33 remain in police custody as persons of interest. Three other detainees—two women and one man—who were taken into custody shortly after the incident were released as investigators continue to piece together the timeline of events. Guevarro noted that further adjustments to the list of detainees are expected as the probe advances.

    When asked to confirm the total number of stolen weapons and ammunition, Guevarro declined to give an official final figure, as a full audit of the station’s armory is still ongoing. He told reporters he expects the audit to wrap up within 48 hours. Prior unofficial statements to local media outlet *Express* had put the number of stolen firearms at more than 60, with an estimated 4,000 rounds of ammunition taken. So far, Guevarro confirmed, 38 weapons have been recovered by investigators: one MPX submachine gun, one shotgun, one revolver, and 35 pistols. Investigators have also retrieved 929 rounds of ammunition, including 900 9mm rounds, 10 .38 caliber rounds, and 10 shotgun shells.

    Investigators are currently working to confirm how many people were involved in the incident. Guevarro stated that evidence so far points to three people being present at the station the night of the killing, including Eversley herself. Teams are reviewing closed-circuit camera footage to determine whether a fourth suspect was present at the scene. Interviews with Eversley’s colleagues at the municipal police station are also ongoing, as investigators probe for any potential accomplices and assess how the attack was able to be carried out inside the facility.

    In the wake of the killing and theft, the TTPS is rolling out sweeping systemic reforms across the country’s entire municipal police network. Guevarro explained that the new measures are designed to close critical security gaps that allowed the incident to occur, with immediate reforms focused on strengthening protocols for firearm storage and mandating strict compliance with existing department policies and standing orders.

    Guevarro reiterated a key point for public clarity: the incident is not being classified as a targeted attack against law enforcement. He stressed that this type of violent, fatal attack inside a police station coupled with a mass arms theft is completely unprecedented in Trinidad’s history.

  • Government eliminates over 14,000 seized illegal weapons

    Government eliminates over 14,000 seized illegal weapons

    In a major step to curb the proliferation of unregulated weapons and shore up community safety across the Dominican Republic, government authorities oversaw the destruction of 14,699 confiscated illicit arms on Tuesday at the industrial facilities of local metal processing firm Metaldom. The coordinated operation, led by the nation’s Ministry of the Interior and Police, marked the culmination of four months of sustained proactive enforcement actions targeting illegal weapons circulation. The destroyed cache included 2,268 firearms ranging from pistols and revolvers to rifles and shotguns, alongside 12,431 bladed weapons such as knives and machetes. Leading the official ceremony was Minister Faride Raful, who was joined by senior representatives from the Attorney General’s Office, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Dominican National Police to underscore the cross-agency commitment to reducing violent crime. In addition to robust public sector coordination, the initiative leverages a successful public-private partnership forged under a 2020 cooperation agreement. Under the terms of that deal, Metaldom processes the destroyed weapons into usable scrap metal at no financial cost to the Dominican government. Officials emphasized that this targeted destruction effort is not an isolated action, but a core component of a far-reaching national strategy outlined in government resolution. The strategy seeks to systematically manage and eliminate weapons that have been confiscated during law enforcement operations or voluntarily surrendered by citizens, while fostering a long-term culture of peace across the country. Speaking at the event, participating authorities highlighted that reducing the number of illegal weapons in circulation directly cuts rates of gang violence, violent street crime, and domestic harm, making communities safer for all residents. The cross-sector collaboration between government agencies and the private sector demonstrates a holistic approach to addressing public safety challenges in the Dominican Republic.

  • The more things change…

    The more things change…

    For more than three decades, the small Caribbean island of Union Island has grappled with a persistent, unresolved crisis that has eroded local food security, strained livelihoods, and outlasted multiple changes in political administration. The crisis began in the early 1990s, when local farmers fed up with stray animals destroying their crops took collective action to restore order to their agricultural systems. Under the direction of Stanford Coy, the local Environmental Action Committee implemented community-led rules to manage livestock: farmers built secure fencing, cleared designated pastures, constructed purpose-built coops and pens for poultry, prepared tethers for grazing animals, and restored traditional smallholder farming across the island’s hillsides. Soon, traditional staple crops including corn, pigeon peas, cassava, okra, pumpkins, peanuts and potatoes were growing across cleared plots, and the community was on track to rebuild robust food security that could withstand droughts through stored surplus harvests. That progress was derailed abruptly when Union Island Police arrested a local farmer for killing a stray donkey that had destroyed his entire crop. In the decades that followed, the stray animal problem returned and worsened, with unconfined livestock trampling crops, feeding on ornamental and fruit trees, overgrazing public and private land, and pushing independent smallholder farmers into cycles of poverty and food insecurity. Successive governments have failed to deliver a permanent solution. In the late 1990s, the then-ruling New Democratic Party (NDP) brought in Israeli agricultural consultants with expertise in arid land farming to advise on the issue, but their core recommendation — that unconfined stray animals must be removed from the island — was completely ignored. Frustrated by the lack of progress, voters in Union Island, long a stronghold of the NDP, voted for political change in the 2001 general elections, bringing the Unity Labour Party (ULP) to power. Over nearly 25 years of ULP rule, however, the situation did not improve — it declined. Voters again backed change in the 2025 general election, returning the NDP to office. More than 100 days into the new administration, though, local residents are still waiting for a clear policy mandate requiring animal owners to take responsibility for confining their livestock. The harmful impacts of unaddressed stray animals cut across nearly every sector of Union Island’s economy and community: Financially, cultivated crop plots deliver higher and more consistent returns than unmanaged grazing. For public safety, stray animals steal water and crops and regularly cause dangerous road accidents. For the island’s critical tourism sector, unconfined animals prevent the landscaping and beautification projects needed to attract visitors. Economically, exporting stray animals would resolve surplus issues while delivering trade benefits. For public health, livestock that forage in garbage dumps and overturned waste bins are unfit for human consumption. For family livelihoods, small plots of cultivated land can feed an entire family far more effectively than unmanaged grazing on the same limited space. For the agriculture sector, properly tethered and managed livestock deliver consistent, valuable outputs including milk, meat, and fertilizer, generating greater income for owners. For fisheries, overgrazing causes widespread soil erosion, which washes excess sediment into surrounding coastal waters, damaging critical fish nursery habitats that sustain the local fishing industry. For cultural traditions, core community events including Maroon and Harvest festivals lose all meaning without successful local crop harvests to celebrate. For food and nutrition education, small crop plots can deliver a balanced diet for local families in a matter of months, compared to the years and acres required to raise premium livestock for protein. In late March 2026, the Union Island Environmental Alliance, led by Katrina Coy, convened a community meeting to address the ongoing crisis. Attendees included Senior Agricultural Officer Karomo Browne, non-resident Agricultural Extension Officer Allan Williams, three local animal farmers, and a broad cross-section of Union Island residents. Notably, no police representatives attended the gathering. The group agreed to send formal notices to all identifiable animal owners, and to publish the appeals in local newspapers and other media outlets to reach all relevant parties. Still, the outlook remains uncertain. It has become clear that many owners of unconfined stray animals have no intention of restraining their livestock, and many lack the interest or capacity to care for the animals properly. As the new growing season gets underway, the stray animal population continues to multiply, their hooves still trampling growing crops across the island — and after 30 years of political change, little has actually changed for the residents of Union Island.

  • Ministry of Education Mourns Educator Sherilyn Martin

    Ministry of Education Mourns Educator Sherilyn Martin

    The education community across the nation is in mourning this week after the death of renowned educator Sherilyn Martin, who served as Head of Business at Clare Hall Secondary School. Martin passed away following an extended battle with illness, and the Ministry of Education has released an official tribute honoring her decades of service and far-reaching impact.

    In the heartfelt statement, the Ministry of Education shared its deepest sorrow over Martin’s passing, aligning with the Clare Hall Secondary School community as they grieve the loss of one of their most respected leaders. The ministry described Martin as an extraordinary educator through and through, noting that her influence stretched far beyond the walls of her classroom, touching the lives of hundreds of students and colleagues over her career.

    According to the tribute, Martin built a reputation as an accomplished instructor, a deeply dedicated professional, and an inspirational leader to everyone around her. The ministry emphasized that Martin poured her whole self into her work, committing wholeheartedly to advancing quality education and nurturing the success and personal growth of every student who walked through her door.

    Beyond her professional contributions, Martin is being remembered for the extraordinary kindness of her character. The statement highlighted that she carried a rare, genuine warmth that made every person she interacted with feel seen, respected, and truly valued. Conducting herself with consistent grace and quiet humility, she earned the profound admiration of her fellow staff members, the lasting affection of her students, and universal respect from everyone who had the opportunity to work alongside her.

    Ministry officials stressed that Martin’s death leaves a massive gap across three communities: her immediate family, the Clare Hall Secondary School campus, and the national education sector as a whole. Even as the ministry acknowledged the depth of the loss, it noted that her powerful legacy will live on in the countless young lives she shaped, the peers she encouraged and lifted up, and the unwavering standard of excellence she modeled throughout her career.

    Closing out the tribute, the Ministry of Education extended its sincere condolences to Martin’s family and the entire school community. The statement offered prayers for strength and comfort for all those mourning her passing, concluding with a final blessing: “May the soul of Mrs. Sherilyn Martin rest in eternal peace, and may her memory continue to be a source of blessing, inspiration, and strength to all whose lives she so profoundly touched.”

  • Police roll out strategy to tackle recent spike in violence

    Police roll out strategy to tackle recent spike in violence

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – In the wake of a string of fatal shooting incidents that have claimed three lives across the island over the past fortnight, law enforcement leadership has rolled out a multi-pronged, cross-agency strategy to reverse the alarming spike in violent crime and restore public safety.

  • Deadly Highway Collision Claims Three Lives Near August Pine Ridge

    Deadly Highway Collision Claims Three Lives Near August Pine Ridge

    A devastating Sunday night head-on collision has left three people dead and a tight-knit northern Belize community grappling with unthinkable grief, after a pickup truck carrying a group of local residents crashed into a sugar cane-hauling semi-truck just outside August Pine Ridge Village in the Orange Walk District.

    The fatal crash occurred when the red Ford F-150 pickup, traveling in the opposite direction of the 18-wheeler Freightliner truck that was pulling two wooden trailers full of harvested sugar cane, collided directly with the left front section of one of the trailers. The force of the impact was catastrophic: more than half of the pickup’s driver-side roof was sheared off, the vehicle careened out of control, and three of its occupants were killed instantly. Broken debris from the sugar cane truck still lines the side of the highway, a visible marker of the collision’s violent force.

    Authorities have officially identified the three victims as 35-year-old Byron Magaña, his partner 32-year-old Sherlin Henriquez, and 29-year-old Selvin Cortez, all local residents from nearby San Felipe and August Pine Ridge. Surviving the crash were Cortez’s wife and the couple’s two young children, who sustained non-fatal but serious injuries and remain hospitalized for treatment. Out of concern for the woman’s severe head trauma, law enforcement initially delayed informing her of her husband’s death.

    All three deceased worked together as drivers at Tillett’s Bus Service, and were close friends who often took weekend trips together. Polo Magaña, Byron Magaña’s father, told local outlet News Five that the group had headed to Corozal for their weekend outing, as they had done many times before. The grieving father said he still cannot process the sudden loss of his son and his partner, who had lived on his family property for the past year. “I cant believe it, I can’t believe that is happening to me. My good young son, very, very good,” he said. “I will really miss them. He and his wife. His wife was a very good person too.”

    For 17-year-old Christopher Cruz, the loss of his uncle Selvin Cortez has left an especially painful void. Cruz told News Five that he was getting ready for bed when family arrived to tell him about the crash, and he never expected the outcome to be fatal. When he reached the crash site, he broke down at the sight of the destroyed pickup. Cruz recalled that just recently, when he asked his uncle for help buying a motorcycle to launch his own welding business, Cortez agreed immediately without hesitation. “He was a good person. Whenever I wanted a favor he was always there for me,” Cruz said. “He helped me buy my bike. When I asked him he said, yes. He never said, no.”

    Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith, staff officer for the district, shared preliminary details of the ongoing investigation, confirming the sequence of events that led to the tragedy. As authorities continue to piece together the full circumstances of the collision, three local families are now left to mourn lives cut far too short, while the surviving mother and her two young children begin what is expected to be a long physical and emotional recovery. The sudden tragedy has sent shockwaves through the small community, where nearly everyone connected to the victims is sharing in the pain of the loss.

    This report is adapted from on-the-ground coverage by Paul Lopez for News Five.

  • 53 deelnemers in Nickerie getraind voor werk in toerisme en dienstverlening

    53 deelnemers in Nickerie getraind voor werk in toerisme en dienstverlening

    Fifty-three job seekers in Suriname’s western district of Nickerie have successfully completed a fully government-subsidized professional training program to qualify as Customer Experience Officers, marking a key milestone in the country’s workforce development initiative aimed at boosting local employment.

    The five-day, practice-focused training was delivered by the Suriname Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre Foundation (SHTTC), and forms part of the national Leri Fu Feni Wroko initiative. This falls under the broader Training for Employment program, run by the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Labor of Suriname with financial and logistical backing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The curriculum centered on building high-demand core professional competencies, including customer-centric thinking, interpersonal communication, service delivery excellence, and professional workplace etiquette—skills that translate across multiple growing sectors of Suriname’s economy.

    At the recent certificate awarding ceremony, Deputy Minister Raj Jadnanansing emphasized that earning the professional certification is not the final outcome of the program, but rather the foundational starting point for participants’ new professional careers. All graduates will continue to receive personalized support and guidance as they pursue open roles in the local labor market. Jadnanansing noted that the government’s targeted investment in these skills training programs directly responds to the need to strengthen Suriname’s overall workforce, with a particular focus on expanding opportunities for young people in Nickerie.

    He also highlighted the growing range of employment opportunities opening up in the district, particularly in the expanding tourism sector. Western Suriname is projected to see strong economic growth in coming years, driven in large part by ongoing development in the region’s burgeoning oil and gas sector, which will create ripple effects across hospitality, customer service, and supporting industries.

    Representatives from all partner organizations, including the IDB, SHTTC, and the Nickerie district administration, echoed the deputy minister’s remarks, reinforcing the critical role of upskilling programs in reducing local unemployment and driving inclusive economic growth. They encouraged graduates to remain proactive in continuing their professional development and engaging with placement support services to secure sustainable employment.

    Looking ahead, the Surinamese government has confirmed that additional rounds of this fully subsidized professional training will be organized in Nickerie in the future, aligned with local labor market demand and the needs of job seekers in the district.