Carib Scope

分类： society

  • Govt partners with UNFPA to strengthen GBV protections ahead of disasters

    Govt partners with UNFPA to strengthen GBV protections ahead of disasters

    When natural disasters and humanitarian crises strike, the heightened danger of gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls is often pushed to the margins of emergency response — a gap that the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is working to close through a new pre-crisis preparedness initiative in partnership with the Barbados government.

    Kicking off Monday at UN House in Hastings, a two-day multi-stakeholder workshop brought together representatives from government agencies, UN bodies, and community organizations to strengthen cross-sector coordination and build robust protection frameworks for vulnerable groups ahead of future disasters. The event is led by UNFPA in collaboration with Barbados’ Bureau of Gender Affairs, centered on a core premise: emergency protection systems cannot be built from scratch when a crisis is already unfolding.

    Jenny Karlsen, Deputy Director of UNFPA’s Subregional Office for the Caribbean, told local outlet Barbados TODAY that pre-disaster coordination is critical to preventing GBV response from being deprioritized amid competing emergency needs. “When a disaster hits, immediate priorities like securing clean water and food understandably take the spotlight, but the reality is that risks of gender-based violence spike dramatically in these chaotic, disrupted settings,” Karlsen explained. “Without pre-existing systems in place, protection needs for women and girls are too often overlooked when they are most at risk.”

    Over the course of the workshop, participants are mapping coordinated service delivery across government ministries and non-governmental sectors, exploring strategies to center youth input in solution-building, and addressing often-overlooked specific needs of women and girls. One key topic of discussion is integrating menstrual hygiene management into disaster preparedness: the group is working to establish protocols for pre-positioning and distributing sanitary hygiene products to vulnerable communities, a basic need that regularly goes unmet in emergency response.

    A major systemic barrier the workshop aims to address is the global and local gap in disaggregated data on disaster-related GBV. Currently, underreporting and weak reporting mechanisms mean experts lack an accurate picture of how many women and girls are affected during crises. Many survivors avoid coming forward to report abuse due to stigma, unsafe conditions, and lack of accessible reporting pathways — challenges that are amplified in the aftermath of disasters. UNFPA’s initiative prioritizes expanding data collection and reforming existing reporting frameworks to make it safer and easier for survivors to seek support.

    The gathering also turned attention to an emerging, rapidly growing threat: virtual and online gender-based violence. Karlsen noted that global data shows a steady rise in online abuse against women and girls, and the impacts of this form of violence during disasters are still not fully understood. As part of its global work to address this gap, UNFPA has already rolled out capacity-building workshops to analyze emerging evidence on online GBV, but much remains to be learned about its specific dynamics during crises.

    Last year, UNFPA’s Caribbean subregion released research examining online violence against women in public life, which confirmed the trend of rising digital abuse across the region. “Online GBV affects every woman and girl, from young people growing up in a digital world to women in public leadership,” Karlsen said. “Addressing this evolving challenge requires coordinated action across legislation, policy, and public awareness. It is an emerging threat that we can no longer afford to ignore as we build more inclusive, effective disaster preparedness systems.”

  • Detective allegedly shot miner during cutlass attack

    Detective allegedly shot miner during cutlass attack

    In an incident that has sparked official scrutiny in Guyana, a serving detective sergeant with the Guyana Police Force has been taken into close custody following a shooting that left a local gold miner injured on Sunday afternoon, law enforcement officials confirmed in a public statement released Monday. The update, first published by Demerara Waves Online News on April 13, 2026, details a sudden confrontation that unfolded just after 5 p.m. local time at Chanta Creek, located along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

    According to official police accounts, the off-duty detective was visiting the popular creek-side location with members of his family when a verbal misunderstanding escalated into physical conflict. Multiple men involved in the dispute attacked the officer, with at least one assailant wielding a cutlass — a large, sharp machete-style blade common in the region. Facing the ongoing assault, the detective drew his service-issued 9mm pistol and fired a single round toward the group.

    The bullet struck a 37-year-old gold miner who resides in the nearby Yarrowkabra Creek community, hitting him in the right leg. Emergency response efforts began immediately after the confrontation: the injured miner was located by his relatives, who coordinated with arriving police officers to transport him quickly to Mackenzie Hospital for urgent medical care. As of the latest official update, the miner remains admitted for treatment and is listed in stable condition, with no immediate threat to his life.

    In line with standard police protocol for on and off-duty officer-involved shootings, the detective has been placed under close arrest pending a full, transparent investigation into the circumstances of the confrontation. Authorities have not yet released additional details about whether any other charges will be filed, or when the investigation is expected to be concluded. The incident comes as Guyana continues to grapple with public scrutiny of police use of force, alongside ongoing industry activity in the country’s artisanal gold mining sector.

  • Nalatenschap van Claudetta Toney: klein van gestalte, groot in daden

    Nalatenschap van Claudetta Toney: klein van gestalte, groot in daden

    Suriname’s beloved public advocate Claudetta Nita Toney, who passed away at 88, was cremated on Sunday, with hundreds of mourners filling the service to celebrate her decades of tireless work advancing cultural preservation, community development, and institutional reform across the South American nation.

    Described by loved ones and colleagues as small in stature but giant in impact, Toney leaves behind a legacy defined by fearlessness, relentless drive, and a rare balance of sharp business acumen and deep social commitment. Attendees gave a standing ovation to honor the late leader, remembered as a dignified figure who commanded respect through the consistent respect she extended to every person she met.

    Speakers at the funeral highlighted Toney’s far-reaching, often underreported influence across multiple sectors of Surinamese society. When proposed government cost hikes threatened to put mining rights holders out of business, Toney stepped forward immediately to advocate on the association’s behalf, rallying support and pushing back against harmful policy changes. She also dedicated years of work to mending strained relationships between natural resource concession holders and local Indigenous and community populations, working to build mutually beneficial partnerships that protected both economic opportunity and local livelihoods.

    A core pillar of Toney’s life’s work centered on lifting up marginalized community members. She firmly rejected the idea that success was reserved for a small privileged elite, arguing instead that every person deserved access to opportunity – and often only needed a small helping hand to reach their potential. To turn that belief into action, she created skills training programs for local residents, and helped countless people secure critical official documentation that opened doors to education, employment, and formal participation in public life.

    Another central focus of Toney’s advocacy was preserving, elevating, and formalizing Afro-Surinamese culture and traditional knowledge. She did not only push for cultural conservation – she argued for rigorous academic study and intentional development of these traditions to ensure they would thrive for future generations. Most notably, Toney organized traditional healers across Suriname into a unified collective, and her decades-long campaign for formal legal recognition and protection of traditional medicine resulted in the drafting of three landmark pieces of draft legislation.

    Toney often emphasized that Suriname’s own indigenous natural resources contained all the raw materials needed to build a robust, innovative traditional medicine sector. She frequently reminded her community: “Don’t discard your traditional knowledge – the Western world uses those same natural ingredients to make the pills you buy at the pharmacy.”

    To further embed traditional medicine in scientific practice, Toney championed the upcoming launch of the Claudetta Toney University of Suriname for Chemistry, Engineering & Research, set to open its doors in September. The institution will combine rigorous scientific research with the study of traditional healing practices to give evidence-based backing to traditional medicine, while also dedicating specialized research capacity to Suriname’s mining, oil, and gas sectors.

    Kortencia Sumter-Griffith, Toney’s close associate and long-time right hand, summarized her lifelong impact in a tribute at the service. “She was an incredibly important catalyst for both the economic advancement and cultural consciousness of people of African descent in Suriname,” Sumter-Griffith said. “Socially committed, culturally aware, business-minded, extraordinarily wise and loving, her presence radiated both warmth and authority. Her legacy is one of strength, compassion, perseverance, and courage.”

    Toney would have celebrated her 89th birthday in May.

  • Woman charged with murder of 7-year old daughter

    Woman charged with murder of 7-year old daughter

    On Monday, April 13, 2026, a 26-year-old domestic worker from Guyana was formally arraigned on a murder charge in connection with the alleged death of her 7-year-old daughter, law enforcement authorities confirmed. Sarah Elizabeth Shivpersaud, a resident of Fyrish Village on the Corentyne in Berbice, made her first court appearance at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court, where the indictment against her was read by presiding Magistrate Michelle Mathias.

    Under standard judicial procedure for indictable offences, Shivpersaud was not required to enter a formal plea during the hearing. Following the presentation of the charge, the magistrate ordered that the defendant be remanded into state custody, and adjourned all further proceedings in the case to May 12, 2026, when the matter will resume for additional legal processing.

    The charge stems from an incident that unfolded at Shivpersaud’s home, where responding police officers first discovered the unresponsive body of 7-year-old Isabella Dabidyal, a student at the local Cropper Primary School. Alongside the deceased child, officers found the defendant’s 21-month-old son in a semi-conscious state, and observed self-inflicted knife wounds on the back of Shivpersaud’s heels.

    All three individuals were immediately transported to a nearby medical facility for urgent care. The toddler received treatment for his condition and was subsequently released to care, while Shivpersaud was admitted for observation and treatment of her injuries before being discharged into police custody to face legal action.

    According to official statements from investigators, the defendant told authorities she had been driven to desperation after being abandoned by her husband, leaving her and her two children without financial resources or access to food. The tragic case has drawn attention to widespread challenges of economic insecurity and unaddressed mental health support for vulnerable households in rural Guyanese communities, as the judicial process moves forward toward a full resolution of the murder charge.

  • There’s a fuel shortage but supplies are coming tonight- Pres Ali

    There’s a fuel shortage but supplies are coming tonight- Pres Ali

    Guyanese President Irfaan Ali has publicly confirmed a temporary national fuel shortage on Monday, 13 April 2026, attributing the disruption to an unexpected logistics incident affecting major fuel importer SOL. The issue emerged after one of SOL’s cargo vessel anchorages sustained damage, forcing the fuel-laden ship to turn back from port, cutting off planned incoming supply to the South American nation.

    The announcement comes as photos circulated online showing lengthy queues of motorists waiting to refuel at RUBIS gas station on Vlissengen Road, highlighting the immediate public impact of the supply crunch. Following an emergency meeting with all major fuel suppliers operating in Guyana, President Ali shared updates on the government’s response via his official Facebook page.

    “I met with fuel importers today to address the current fuel shortages. I’ve been assured that shipments are expected as early as tonight, with additional supplies already being sourced to meet national demand,” the President wrote.

    In subsequent comments to Demerara Waves Online News, President Ali clarified that fuel supplies for Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the country’s primary public electricity provider, would remain fully unaffected by the supply disruption, easing fears of widespread power outages across the nation.

    According to President Ali’s briefing, state-owned fuel operator Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL) currently holds adequate stock to meet demand, while competitor RUBIS has confirmed it is positioned to supply as much fuel as the country requires, with new shipments already en route. He added that RUBIS is already moving to boost its on-ground distribution to ease short-term tightness.

    To proactively prevent further supply issues, President Ali announced he has issued an order directing GUYOIL to utilize 100% of its available storage capacity to build up reserve stocks. He emphasized that the national administration is maintaining close, continuous monitoring of the fuel supply situation to ensure market stability and consistent flow of product to consumers, noting that officials will follow through to verify that all supplier commitments for incoming shipments are met.

    “RUBIS and GUYOIL said that they don’t foresee a challenge and they have orders in line and some of it will arrive as early as tonight (Monday) night. Well, we are monitoring it to ensure that the assurances given are followed through with,” the President stated.

  • Traffic Officer Charged with Aggravated Assault

    Traffic Officer Charged with Aggravated Assault

    In an early morning incident that has shocked local law enforcement circles, a 33-year-old serving traffic officer with Belize’s transport department has been taken into custody and formally charged with aggravated assault following a violent confrontation outside a popular Belize City nightclub. The event unfolded in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday on New Town Barracks, where the encounter between the off-duty officer and a local resident quickly escalated into a firearms threat.

    According to official police reports, the complainant, 33-year-old Rodney Card, had just exited the nightclub and was making his way to his privately owned vehicle parked in an adjacent parking lot when he spotted two women engaged in a physical altercation. Stepping in to prevent the fight from growing more serious, Card attempted to calm the two parties and de-escalate the tension. It was at this point that Ignatius Peyrefitte, the 33-year-old traffic officer, approached Card and ordered him to stay out of the dispute.

    Witnesses and official statements confirm that Peyrefitte then drew a loaded pistol from his waistband and cocked the weapon directly toward Card, a move that put Card in immediate fear for his life. Luckily for all parties involved, uniformed police officers were already patrolling the nearby area and responded to the disturbance within seconds. The responding officers quickly intervened to defuse the situation, disarmed Peyrefitte, and took him into custody without further incident.

    Following standard processing procedures at the local police precinct, Peyrefitte was formally arrested and slapped with a single count of aggravated assault. As of the publication of this report on April 13, 2026, no additional information has been released regarding a potential court date, whether Peyrefitte has retained legal representation, or if he has been suspended from his official position with the Belize transport department pending the outcome of the case. Local community leaders have already called for a full internal review of the incident to determine if any departmental policy violations occurred, underscoring growing concerns about off-duty conduct among public safety officials in Belize City.

  • LETTER: It’s Time We Kiss “Town” Goodbye

    LETTER: It’s Time We Kiss “Town” Goodbye

    Decades after serving as the functional capital of Antigua, St. John’s has fallen into a state of such severe disrepair that local observers argue it can no longer meet the basic standards expected of a national capital. What was once a thriving urban center has decayed into a maze of accessibility barriers, outdated infrastructure, and unaddressed maintenance failures that harm both long-term residents and visiting tourists alike.

    For pedestrians, navigating downtown St. John’s has become a grueling, obstacle-filled experience rather than a routine task. Outside the limited, upgraded area of Heritage Quay, continuous, even sidewalks are almost impossible to find. Crumbling pavement, inconsistent step heights, and unmarked hazards force pedestrians to constantly weave and adjust their path to avoid injury. This is far more than an inconvenience: it creates a fundamentally exclusionary environment for people with mobility impairments.

    The scope of this accessibility failure was laid bare in a recent firsthand observation: a visitor attempting to navigate the streets with a loved one in a wheelchair faced constant, insurmountable barriers. Onlookers described the scene as painful to watch, noting that any visitor experiencing these barriers would likely abandon their exploration of the city and return immediately to their cruise ship, cutting off potential revenue for local businesses. The incident makes clear that meaningful accessibility for disabled people is simply non-existent in St. John’s today.

    Mobility issues are not the only pressing problem. Persistent, unpleasant odors permeate multiple neighborhoods throughout the city, traced back to open drainage systems and aging, overcapacity trash receptacles. What were once functional, practical infrastructure solutions for a smaller city have long been outdated by growing population and tourism volumes, leaving them to become public nuisance that requires urgent replacement.

    The broader built environment of St. John’s tells the same story of neglect. Commercial and residential buildings show clear signs of structural deterioration, while many retail storefronts make little to no effort to create welcoming, appealing spaces for customers. Basic merchandising planning that draws in foot traffic is often an afterthought, if it is considered at all, further eroding the city’s ability to support local commerce.

    Parking management adds another layer of frustration for anyone trying to visit or do business in the capital. Informal parking space claiming, enforced by traffic cones from business owners, local organizations, and individual operators including car wash services, has locked out the general public from most convenient spots. This unregulated system sends a clear message: visitor convenience is not a priority for stakeholders in the city. For potential customers considering a trip into the capital to shop or support local businesses, this barrier alone is often enough to discourage them from coming at all.

    Even when municipal repairs are initiated, they often leave the city in worse shape for months. When the Antigua Public Utilities Authority completes road excavation work for utility upgrades, the excavated sections are regularly left unrepaired for extended periods of time, leaving roads partially or fully impassable. Community members argue these delays are entirely unreasonable and avoidable with proper project planning.

    At its core, the crisis facing St. John’s boils down to a simple, unavoidable truth: no city can maintain itself without consistent investment, strategic planning, and regular reinvestment in infrastructure. Just as ongoing care is required to maintain any valuable asset, St. John’s has been starved of the consistent attention it needs to function, and the visible decline across the city makes that neglect impossible to ignore.

    This critique is not an attack on St. John’s rich historic identity. Supporters of change emphasize that acknowledging the capital’s current collapse is not about dismissing the city’s past, but about being honest about its future. The current state of St. John’s is not sustainable, and continuing to pretend otherwise does a profound disservice to residents who rely on capital services, business owners who depend on visitor traffic, and tourists who come to the island expecting a functional, welcoming capital.

    For proponents of dramatic change, the conclusion is unavoidable: St. John’s has deteriorated past the point of cost-effective rehabilitation. To give residents, businesses, and visitors the functional, comfortable urban environment they need, core commercial and government activity must be relocated to a new, properly planned urban center.

  • Antigua Racing Cup – A Dazzling New Chapter in Caribbean Racing

    Antigua Racing Cup – A Dazzling New Chapter in Caribbean Racing

  • ‘We Are Exercising That Right for You’: MOHW Defends Contraceptive Enforcement Policy

    ‘We Are Exercising That Right for You’: MOHW Defends Contraceptive Enforcement Policy

    A public controversy over contraceptive access has erupted in Belize after the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) moved to enforce a long-dormant prescription requirement for birth control products, spurring widespread confusion and pushback from communities across the country, particularly in underserved rural regions.

    During a public press briefing held on the morning of April 13, 2026, Dr. Melissa Diaz Musa, Director of Public Health and Wellness, pushed back against growing criticism, framing the policy as a measure that protects rather than infringes on women’s reproductive rights. She emphasized that the government has not implemented any new laws or regulatory changes related to contraceptive access – the prescription requirement is already outlined in existing national drug policy, and the recent enforcement action has only reignited long-unapplied rules.

    Dr. Musa addressed widespread misinformation that spread across social media over the past week, where many critics framed the new enforcement as a direct attack on women’s bodily autonomy. “I am uncertain where the many views on social media over the last week regarding women’s rights have surfaced from, and why there is a perception that asking for a prescription equates to the violation of a woman’s right,” she stated.

    In her defense of the policy, Dr. Musa argued that mandatory pre-purchase consultations with doctors or nurses actually strengthen reproductive autonomy by ensuring women make fully informed decisions about their birth control. “The request for a prescription for contraceptives after having a proper doctor’s or nurse’s consultation ensures that your rights have been fully exercised as you have determined the safest, the most effective, and the best birth control method for you,” she explained. “You are now an informed and consenting woman. We are exercising that right for you.”

    She did, however, acknowledge critical missteps in the rollout of the enforcement: public outreach and education fell far short of what was needed to help communities understand the change, and distinguish between over-the-counter and prescription-only medications. Dr. Musa admitted that MOHW failed to pair its discussions with retail pharmacy operators and the Belize Pharmacy Association with a large-scale public health sensitization campaign that could have prevented much of the current confusion.

    She also noted that the updated national drug list actually expands access to a range of other medications, and that contraceptives remain widely accessible through multiple existing channels, including free public healthcare services, repeat prescription programs, and rural health clinics.

    Despite the ministry’s reassurances, critics of the enforcement warn that the on-the-ground reality for many women will create new, unnecessary barriers to reproductive care. For people living in remote rural regions of Belize, obtaining a prescription requires additional time, costly travel to urban or central clinics, and often out-of-pocket fees for medical appointments that did not exist when contraceptives were available over the counter, leading to delayed or denied access for low-income and geographically isolated women.

  • Winning OlympiX ways at Campari Xodus Carnival

    Winning OlympiX ways at Campari Xodus Carnival

    A lively community parade has rolled through urban streets, bringing crowds of onlookers out to cheer on a colorful procession of participants. Among the standout groups taking part were performers from the Xodus troupe, whose elaborately costumed members drew cheers and applause from spectators lining the route. Organizers had spent weeks preparing for the event, ensuring all participants and floats were fully ready to hit the road and deliver a memorable experience for attendees. The procession moved slowly and steadily through the city, winding its way past popular landmarks and residential neighborhoods in a long, snaking line that stretched for blocks. Spectators were encouraged to follow along behind the truck leading the parade route, joining in the festive atmosphere as the event made its way through the city. The parade has become a beloved annual tradition for the local community, drawing participants and visitors from across the region each year to celebrate local culture and bring neighbors together.