Carib Scope

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  • 45 jaar inzet voor schoon en groen Suriname gevierd

    45 jaar inzet voor schoon en groen Suriname gevierd

    On May 2, Suriname’s Directorate of Public Green Space and Waste Management gathered to celebrate 45 years of advancing public environmental services, holding a solemn commemoration that centered gratitude for staff contributions and reaffirmed the agency’s core mission: building a cleaner, greener, and more livable nation for all Surinamese. The event also brought together leadership from national government, district authorities, and labor representatives to discuss plans for deeper collaboration and enhanced public service delivery moving forward.

    Hugo Blanker, president of the ABPM workers’ union, opened remarks by noting that the directorate’s work is visible to Surinamese communities every single day. He emphasized that the agency has remained fully operational through decades of challenge solely thanks to the consistent dedication of its frontline and administrative staff. Looking ahead, Blanker stressed that all stakeholders share a collective responsibility to partner with the national ministry to drive sustained growth and improvement for the directorate.

    Ruchsana Ilahibaks, District Commissioner for Central Paramaribo, congratulated the agency on reaching this major professional milestone, highlighting four and a half decades of unwavering commitment to keeping Suriname clean and well-maintained. She underscored that this critical work must continue for the benefit of future generations, and that progress depends on close, ongoing collaboration between the directorate and local communities. Ilahibaks also expressed gratitude for the directorate’s ongoing support for district initiatives, and confirmed that a new district commissariat will soon be established on the directorate’s premises to streamline local coordination.

    A commemorative thanksgiving service was also held as part of the 45th anniversary celebrations. Interim Director Anwar Moenne extended formal recognition to all current and former staff who have committed their careers to keeping Suriname clean and livable over the past 45 years. Moenne reported that even during periods when routine maintenance faced severe resource pressures, the directorate has reversed declines, rebuilt operational capacity, and made its work increasingly visible and impactful across Surinamese society. He also highlighted growing community engagement with the directorate’s initiatives, noting that staff draw significant motivation from the direct support the agency receives from the national ministry.

    Minister Stephen Tsang also attended the ceremony, sharing words of praise for the directorate and saying he was honored to take part in the special occasion. Tsang framed the directorate’s work as a core pillar of Suriname’s broader national development strategy, pointing out that a clean, well-maintained natural and built environment is a critical asset to grow the country’s tourism sector. He tied the agency’s mission to the national Krin Kondre clean country initiative, a program launched by the President of Suriname to advance national environmental improvement. The minister confirmed that collaboration between the national directorate and district commissioners will be intensified in coming months, allowing environmental and waste management work to be carried out more effectively across every region of the country.

    Overall, the 45th anniversary commemoration centered two core themes: formal recognition of the tireless work of the directorate’s staff, and shared commitment to continuing to strengthen the agency in pursuit of its longstanding goal: maintaining a clean, green, and livable Suriname for all current and future residents.

  • Joint patrols to return

    Joint patrols to return

    A wave of frightening violent home invasions has triggered an immediate expansion of police operations across the Longdenville region and its surrounding communities, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander has confirmed to the Senate. Over just a 48-hour window between Wednesday and Friday, local authorities received at least three formal reports of home invasions in the Longdenville community, alongside two additional matching incidents in nearby Cunupia. One documented attack, which unfolded on Raghunanan Road, left a 44-year-old Longdenville resident traumatized after three masked, armed invaders held her captive for 45 minutes, repeatedly issuing death threats during the ordeal.

    During a recent sitting of the Senate, Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi pressed Alexander to outline what urgent interventions the government would roll out to address rising insecurity and support residents impacted by the traumatic attacks. In his response, Alexander confirmed that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has launched a coordinated community-centered strategy to rebuild public trust and restore a sense of safety to the area as quickly as possible.

    “Given the severity of the recent home invasions and traumatic incidents in Longdenville, it is critical that law enforcement continue working hand-in-hand with local residents to rebuild trust and confidence in the shortest timeframe possible,” Alexander told the upper legislative chamber. He also revealed that he had held a closed-door meeting with Longdenville residents earlier the same day, though he declined to share sensitive details of the private discussions to protect those in attendance.

    Minister Alexander also noted that Longdenville was previously shortlisted for designation under a Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO), a special security framework that enables expanded law enforcement powers. The ZOSO legislation ultimately failed to pass the Senate back in January, blocking the designation from going into effect at that time.

    Despite the legislative setback, Alexander confirmed that TTPS has already ramped up operational capacity across Longdenville and adjacent high-risk areas including Enterprise. The expanded security measures include a sharp increase in standard foot patrols, mobile vehicle patrols, and intelligence-driven targeted patrols. The government has also instructed the national Gang Unit to increase its activity in the region, and is preparing to reactivate joint patrol units made up of both police and military personnel to deter criminal activity.

    “These steps are designed to help Longdenville residents regain that sense of safety and security that has been disrupted by criminal elements,” Alexander said, adding that all law enforcement personnel have been explicitly directed to operate within the bounds of the law while protecting local communities. According to the minister, most local residents have expressed clear support for the government’s new security measures, with one resident telling him that locals would back any intervention that delivers tangible improvements to public safety.

    Alexander also highlighted that some residents have acknowledged existing gaps in personal and property security across the community, including the common practice of leaving homes and lots unsecured — a choice that creates easy opportunities for criminal actors to target properties. In response to these gaps, TTPS officers have been instructed to host community outreach sessions to educate residents on evidence-based safety practices and provide support to help households shore up their personal security.

  • Vincentian Karen Hinds takes the TEDx stage

    Vincentian Karen Hinds takes the TEDx stage

    On March 8, 2026, International Women’s Day, Vincentian-born global leadership strategist Karen Hinds stepped onto the TEDx stage to pose a question that most people shy away from exploring: “Who actually knows the real you?” This deeply personal talk, rooted in decades of lived experience rather than abstract academic lecture, invites audiences to peel back the layers of social roles, professional achievements, and other people’s expectations to confront the parts of themselves they often hide from the world.

    Hinds, who advises C-suite executives across the globe, drew her core insight from a turning point in her own life. At one stage, she had ticked every box of external success: she built a respected career, was widely valued by her colleagues and community, and had reached milestones many only aspire to. Yet despite this widespread acclaim, she realized a quiet truth: no one knew the full, unfiltered version of herself. She had spent years curating a public identity as a strong, dependable, high-achieving leader, tucking vulnerable or unpolished parts of who she was out of public view.

    The global COVID-19 pandemic brought an unexpected opportunity for reflection when Hinds relocated to a new area, where she had no pre-existing social ties, no established reputation, and no unspoken expectations from the people around her. This blank slate gave her the space to examine a question that most high-performing professionals rarely pause to ask: what parts of myself have I sacrificed to reach success?

    Hinds’ core message resonates with audiences across every region and industry. Countless people navigate daily life surrounded by friends, family, and colleagues, yet still carry the quiet uncertainty that no one truly sees the whole them. Crucially, Hinds emphasizes this disconnection is not a personal failure. Instead, it is a direct product of the unspoken rules we are taught about how to achieve success: rules that pressure people to hide vulnerable or non-conforming parts of themselves to fit in and get ahead. “You can be surrounded by people and still be completely unknown. And at some point, that catches up with you,” she told the TEDx audience.

    For the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Hinds’ TEDx appearance is more than a compelling talk – it is a source of national pride. Though Hinds built her global consulting practice based in the United States, she has never cut ties with her home country. Early in her career, she contributed commentary and features to The Searchlight newspaper, and later founded the Karen Hinds Phenomenal Woman’s Conference, a recurring gathering that creates a safe, supportive space for women in the region to connect, reflect on their journeys, and grow personally and professionally.

    Today, Hinds is a published author of five books, with a sixth forthcoming work titled *The 5 Commitments to Leading Without Losing You™* scheduled for release later this year. She is also the founder of The RENEW Experience™, a specialized leadership and wellness platform built exclusively for women. Her global work centers on helping leaders navigate high-stakes work environments, improve leadership behavior, and sustain peak performance under intense pressure – all while staying true to their core identity.

    Far from a discussion of career accolades or hierarchical power, Hinds’ 2026 TEDx talk centers on a universal, deeply human theme: it takes real courage to let others know the full you, and retaining that authenticity is non-negotiable for long-term fulfillment. This core message runs through every pillar of her work, from one-on-one executive coaching to global women’s initiatives, as she helps people around the world succeed without losing themselves along the way.

  • Staatsoliebond waarschuwt voor druk op arbeiderspositie; roept op tot waakzaamheid

    Staatsoliebond waarschuwt voor druk op arbeiderspositie; roept op tot waakzaamheid

    On the observance of International Labour Day, the Staatsolie Werknemers Organisatie Suriname (SWOS), the trade union representing workers at Suriname’s state oil company, has issued a stark warning over mounting pressures facing the country’s working population. In a statement released on May 1, SWOS president Roy Caupain outlined the multiple cascading challenges currently confronting Suriname’s labor force: soaring consumer prices, eroding purchasing power, and deepening economic uncertainty, all while critical national infrastructure and strategic assets face increasing strain. For the union, May 1 is far more than a public holiday—it serves as an annual moment of reflection, collective awareness, and renewed commitment to advocating for worker rights, rather than merely a ceremonial occasion. Caupain emphasized that global geopolitical friction, most notably ongoing armed conflicts in the Middle East, has sent ripple effects through the global economy that are being felt directly in Suriname, adding further financial strain to working-class households across the country. The union stressed that the current economic crisis gripping the nation was not created by workers, and it is fundamentally unfair that ordinary laborers should once again be forced to bear the brunt of austerity measures and economic adjustment. SWOS also warned that continued economic deterioration risks opening the door to rising corruption, growing criminal activity, and widespread loss of livelihood security for millions of working Surinamese. Beyond global economic headwinds, the organization raised sharp concerns about internal developments eroding worker representation within Suriname. According to SWOS, the institutional role of trade unions in national decision-making is being systematically weakened, with elected worker representatives increasingly excluded from key governmental advisory councils and policy-making commissions. This exclusion, the union argues, has created a critical gap: decision-makers lose on-the-ground insights into workplace conditions, public support for policies erodes, and essential oversight of state activities is diminished. SWOS also highlighted two additional unaddressed policy challenges that threaten long-term national and worker interests: the uncontrolled influx of foreign labor into the country, and the absence of a clear, cohesive national strategy to manage future revenue streams from key strategic sectors, including oil and gas development and carbon credit sales. Without robust, forward-thinking planning and regulatory frameworks in place, the union warns, the country’s vast natural resource wealth could fail to benefit the broader Surinamese population, slipping away to outside interests rather than driving inclusive growth. Closing its statement, the trade union called on all Surinamese workers to remain organized, maintain collective unity, and stand together to fight for economic and social justice. “We are the driving force of this country. For today, for tomorrow, for 2028 and beyond,” the union said.

  • The «Madan Sara» women drive 85% of the informal economy in Haiti (Video)

    The «Madan Sara» women drive 85% of the informal economy in Haiti (Video)

    Against the backdrop of persistent instability and systemic marginalization in Haiti, a group of extraordinary female entrepreneurs known as Madan Sara hold a quiet but transformative power: they sustain 85 percent of the Caribbean nation’s entire informal economy, the backbone of daily livelihoods for millions of Haitians. It was this staggering statistic, paired with the ongoing exclusion of these women from key policy and decision-making spaces, that pushed community leader Jocelyne Jean Louis to launch Rasanbleman Madan Sara (RAMSA) in 2018.

    From its founding, Jean Louis has anchored RAMSA in a core, unwavering principle: the Madan Sara do not need to be treated as passive aid beneficiaries. They are core stakeholders in Haiti’s economy, and they deserve a formal seat at every table where rules, regulations, and development plans for the sector are shaped.

    Over the past year, the organization faced its most daunting test to date: widespread insecurity across Haiti directly disrupted the livelihoods of more than 13,000 Madan Sara, many of whom work as street vendors, small-scale traders, and cross-border transporters, jobs that require constant movement and safe public spaces to operate. Rather than retreat or scale back their advocacy in the face of danger, RAMSA doubled down. Leaders organized community mutual aid networks to support impacted members, negotiated with local authorities and non-state actors to secure safe operating corridors for vendors, and delivered on every commitment they made to the women who rely on the organization.

    In a recent candid interview with local Haitian media outlet Wi Ayiti Kapab, Jean Louis spoke with characteristic clarity and urgency about the priorities of her organization and its members. She outlined the unmet obligations the Haitian state owes to the Madan Sara, who keep food affordable, maintain supply chains, and keep household economies afloat despite decades of political and economic crisis, yet rarely receive public support or legal protections for their work. She also laid out clear expectations for the next generation of elected leaders in Haiti, emphasizing that any pathway to national recovery must center the contributions and needs of the women who keep the country’s economy running. The reporting for this story comes from HaitiLibre, a long-running independent news source covering Haitian current affairs.

  • Dominica police officers commended for elite commando training ahievements

    Dominica police officers commended for elite commando training ahievements

    The Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) has publicly honored two of its officers, Constables Ordel Robin and Lyndon Maximea, for their successful participation in Commando Course 1/26, one of the most physically and mentally demanding elite law enforcement training programs in the region. Designed to push candidates to their absolute limits, the course is built to evaluate and strengthen core traits critical for high-stakes operations: mental resilience, physical endurance, strict discipline, and coordinated teamwork.

    Over the course of several weeks, both constables endured a grueling curriculum of intense physical conditioning and tactical skill-building, covering a wide range of operational scenarios. Training modules included long-distance endurance runs, heavy load carries over difficult terrain, tactical marksmanship practice, close-quarters room clearing drills, land navigation via map reading, amphibious marine operations, organized beach landing exercises, and wilderness survival training. A dedicated, location-specific phase of the program was carried out entirely on Dominica’s soil to tailor training to local operational conditions.

    Among the two officers, Constable Lyndon Maximea earned special distinction for completing the course’s most punishing challenge: a 30-mile loaded march that tests even the fittest candidates. For successfully crossing the finish line, Maximea was awarded the highly respected Commando Badge, a mark of elite achievement in law enforcement training. In its official statement, the CDPF called Maximea’s performance a “remarkable achievement and testament to resilience and determination”, noting that it reflects the high standards the force demands of its personnel.

    Constable Ordel Robin also received widespread praise for his unwavering perseverance through the course. While he completed 27.5 miles of the final 30-mile march, falling just short of the full distance required for the badge, the CDPF highlighted that his performance demonstrated the courage, self-discipline, and unyielding fighting spirit that the force seeks in all commando candidates. The force emphasized that Robin’s effort was no less a demonstration of the core values the training program seeks to cultivate.

    Across every phase of the Commando Course, the CDPF confirmed that both officers consistently embodied the foundational values of the force: collaborative teamwork, self-assurance, strict discipline, and unwavering professionalism. Their participation in the elite program, the force noted, is a direct reflection of the CDPF’s long-standing commitment to maintaining the highest levels of operational readiness and institutional excellence across all ranks. Closing its statement, the CDPF extended formal congratulations to both officers, saying “Congratulations to both officers for representing the Force with pride.”

  • FOLS vraagt meer waardering voor onderwijsgevenden

    FOLS vraagt meer waardering voor onderwijsgevenden

    On May 1, Suriname joins global Labour Day observances to honor the dedication, resilience and unwavering commitment of all working people who keep the nation’s social and economic systems running. This year, the Federation of Organizations of Teachers in Suriname (FOLS) has chosen the national observance to amplify the voices of the country’s education workforce, calling attention to the relentless daily efforts educators put forth to build Suriname’s future.

    Day after day, teachers across Suriname show up to classrooms to nurture the nation’s youth, the cornerstone of the country’s long-term development. Even amid persistent challenges — from strained institutional resources to widespread economic pressure that has raised the cost of living for all households — educators have continued to prioritize their students’ growth. But FOLS, led by chair Bernice Barron, warns that sheer hard work and persistence are no longer enough for teachers to bear their growing daily burdens.

    Barron’s organization emphasizes that it is long past time for Suriname’s educators to receive the tangible, meaningful recognition they deserve. A warm ceremonial greeting on Labour Day, the federation argues, means little when teachers struggle to cover monthly household bills and teach in outdated, inadequate classroom facilities that do not support student learning.

    FOLS has laid out three core pillars that constitute real appreciation for the teaching profession. First, it demands fair compensation and benefits: a living wage and secondary employment terms that align with the heavy responsibility and societal importance of teaching. Second, it calls for improved working environments, including safe, supportive learning spaces at every education level, from primary school through higher education. Third, the federation is pushing for clear long-term career security, so teachers can focus entirely on their core mission of educating students without constant financial and professional anxiety.

    Crucially, FOLS stresses that this campaign is not a request for special favor, but a demand for what teachers are legally and ethically owed. The organization is calling on national and local authorities to implement permanent, structural improvements to the education system’s employment provisions, so that Suriname’s educators can continue to carry out their vital work with dignity.

  • Man dies after being struck by car in Mandeville

    Man dies after being struck by car in Mandeville

    MANDEVILLE, JAMAICA – A 55-year-old local man has died after being hit by a passing car on a busy Manchester parish road, in what local law enforcement is calling the latest in a disturbing string of pedestrian fatalities recorded since the start of the year.

    The victim has been formally identified as Valentine Gentles, a 55-year-old resident of the area. According to official reports from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the tragic incident unfolded shortly before 7 p.m. on Friday evening, as Gentles was traversing Grove Road in central Mandeville. For reasons still under preliminary review, the pedestrian stepped directly into the travel path of an oncoming Toyota Premio sedan.

    The collision left Gentles with critical, life-threatening trauma. Emergency responders rushed the injured man to a nearby local hospital for urgent care, but medical professionals were unable to save him, and he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

    In the wake of this latest death, the Manchester Parish Police branch has issued an urgent public appeal for road safety, highlighting an alarming upward trend in fatal traffic accidents involving pedestrians that has held the parish since February. With multiple lives already lost in similar incidents this year, authorities are stressing that both people traveling on foot and motor vehicle operators bear responsibility for reducing preventable deaths on the parish’s roads. Police are urging all road users to remain extra vigilant, obey traffic safety rules, and avoid distracted behavior that can lead to catastrophic collisions.

  • Couple killed in south Manchester home invasion

    Couple killed in south Manchester home invasion

    MANCHESTER, JAMAICA – A quiet, early Saturday morning in the rural Farm district of south Manchester was shattered by violence, when four masked, heavily armed gunmen forced their way into a local home and killed a married couple who operated a nearby bar. The victims have been publicly identified by family members as 42-year-old Kaydene Isaacs and 47-year-old Rohan Bernard, who was widely known to locals by his nickname “Rocky”.

    According to initial findings from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the incident unfolded shortly after 2:00 a.m. The assailants, armed with one rifle and multiple semi-automatic handguns, first cut through and breached an external security grille to gain entry to the residential property. Upon entering, they immediately confronted a woman who was in another section of the home with her two young children, demanding that she hand over all cash and high-value valuables she had in the house.

    After robbing the woman, the gunmen moved toward the back bedroom of the property, where Isaacs and Bernard had been sleeping. Trapped and with no route to escape, the couple quickly barricaded the bedroom door to block the attackers from entering. The gunmen then ordered the confronted woman and her two children to leave the property immediately before turning their full attention to the barricaded bedroom.

    Minutes later, neighbors who had woken to the commotion reported hearing multiple loud gunshots ring out from inside the home. When police arrived at the scene minutes after receiving emergency calls, they forced entry into the bedroom and found Isaacs and Bernard with multiple critical gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the scene, with no chance for emergency medical intervention.

    For several hours following the shooting, local detectives and crime scene investigators worked to collect ballistic evidence and document the attack, as dozens of shocked onlookers – including heartbroken relatives and friends of the couple – gathered outside the property’s perimeter. Once the forensic processing was complete, the victims’ bodies were transported to the nearby parish morgue for official autopsy examinations to determine exact cause of death.

    Kady-Ann Smith, cousin of Kaydene Isaacs, spoke to reporters outside the crime scene, remembering the pair as quiet, hardworking community members who kept to themselves and focused on running their small bar business. “She [Isaacs] was a calm person… She was always working. Bernard would just go to the bar and come straight home after. These were people who just worked hard and lived their lives, they never bothered anyone,” Smith said. As of press time, Jamaica Constabulary Force detectives have not announced any arrests in connection with the double homicide, and are appealing to anyone with information about the attack or the identities of the gunmen to contact local police anonymously.

  • Education Ministry targets mental health for Child Month 2026

    Education Ministry targets mental health for Child Month 2026

    KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MOESYI) has officially launched the 2026 edition of Child Month, placing youth mental wellness and holistic development at the center of this year’s national campaign.

    Framed around the theme “Prioritise Our Children’s Mental Health: Strong Minds, Safer Future,” the month-long initiative is designed to foster emotional resilience, boost self-awareness among young people, and cultivate safe, supportive spaces for children across every region of the island nation.

    The official launch kicked off last Friday at MOESYI’s Kingston headquarters with a “Prayer and Praise: Child Month Blast-off” event, which drew education stakeholders, community leaders, and student representatives. Attendees gathered to affirm a shared, cross-sector commitment to advancing children’s overall well-being, according to an official statement from the ministry.

    Over the course of May, MOESYI and its partner agencies will roll out a full slate of programming tailored to engage children, caregivers, educators, and community partners. The schedule includes interactive skill-building workshops, public recognition programs celebrating young people’s achievements, and targeted community outreach efforts. Beyond raising awareness, the activities are structured to uplift children’s rights, reinforce support systems, and nurture healthy mental, emotional, and social growth.

    Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, Jamaica’s Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, issued a public call for nationwide participation in the campaign. “Jamaica’s future depends on how we invest in our children today. This year, we are prioritising mental health because strong minds build safer communities. I urge all Jamaicans to help create environments where children feel supported and empowered,” Dixon said during the launch.

    To expand the reach of child protection and wellness efforts, the ministry is also advancing inclusive policies and deepening cross-sector partnerships with public health agencies, education institutions, and local community organizations. Dr Kasan Troupe, Permanent Secretary at MOESYI, reaffirmed the government’s long-term commitment to whole-child development in her remarks.

    “We are committed to holistic child development – supporting both achievement and well-being – so every child can grow, succeed and reach their full potential,” Troupe said.

    MOESYI is encouraging all schools, household caregivers, and community groups to take active part in Child Month activities, emphasizing that coordinated collective action is the foundation for nurturing a generation of resilient, confident, and capable young Jamaicans.