Carib Scope

分类： society

  • Guyana: Dodental MV Barima stijgt naar 103

    Guyana: Dodental MV Barima stijgt naar 103

    Three full days of coordinated search, rescue and recovery operations involving Guyana’s coast guard, private boat operators and local fishermen have pushed the confirmed death toll from the capsizing of the MV Barima ferry to 103, with 77 people rescued alive from the disaster, according to official updates from the government.

    The latest fatality count follows the recovery of 22 additional bodies recovered on the third day of response to the maritime tragedy, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill announced during a press briefing confirming the updated casualty and rescue figures.

    The deadly incident has triggered fierce public and political backlash, with widespread demands for Minister Edghill’s resignation from his cabinet post. Opposition political groups including WIN, APNU, FGM and VPAC have accused the national government of systemic failures and leadership negligence, arguing that ministerial accountability must extend beyond the low-level staff directly involved in the MV Barima’s operations. Calls for resignation have also been extended to Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar and MARAD Director Stephen Thomas. In a preliminary administrative move ahead of a full formal investigation, the government placed the entire management team responsible for cargo loading and safety oversight of the MV Barima on administrative leave on Monday.

    Responding to the opposition’s demands during a press conference, Prime Minister Mark Phillips asserted that any decisions on ministerial removals fall exclusively under the authority of the presidency. He dismissed the criticism as “noise”, emphasizing that the national priority must remain focused on ongoing search, rescue and recovery efforts. Phillips also noted that the government has already collaborated with opposition parties on response operations, and called for calm and stability across the country.

    After the coordinates of the sunken wreck were confirmed, search and recovery operations have been significantly expanded. Currently, 16 vessels from both government and private sectors are deployed across a search area expanded to 2,100 square kilometers, extending all the way to the Waini Point region, in a bid to increase the chances of locating any remaining survivors.

    French and local divers are currently conducting underwater operations around the wreck site. While one body has been identified inside the capsized vessel, challenging conditions have so far prevented recovery teams from retrieving it. Additional divers, including specialist salvage experts from Trinidad and Brazil, are expected to arrive imminently to speed up recovery work.

    All search and recovery activities are coordinated and supported by the Guyana Coast Guard and other relevant state agencies. Authorities have confirmed that all recovered remains are immediately transferred to police at a dedicated staging facility at the Charity River Dam, to support identification efforts. To support bereaved family members, special flights are being operated to transport people from remote inland communities to hospital facilities to formally identify deceased loved ones, with the process supported by Minister of Health Frank Anthony and his team. As of the latest update, 44 recovered bodies have been formally identified, and 23 of those have already been released to their families for burial.

    Opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed has issued scathing criticism of the government’s handling of the ferry sector and the disaster response, pointing to inconsistent passenger manifests, documented overloading of the vessel, and longstanding negligence within the responsible ministry. He has repeated calls for Minister Edghill’s immediate resignation, describing the MV Barima tragedy as one of the worst national disasters Guyana has faced since the 1978 Jonestown mass killing.

    Mohamed also claimed that required maintenance for the aging ferry was repeatedly delayed despite allocated budget for the work, and that internal disputes over service contracts had compromised safety oversight. The MV Barima was 90 years old at the time of its capsizing, and should have been decommissioned years ago due to safety concerns, according to the opposition leader.

    In response to the tragedy, President Irfaan Ali has declared three days of national mourning, and has pledged to launch a full, transparent investigation into every aspect of the disaster. The president affirmed that the government’s top priorities remain saving any remaining lives, supporting impacted families and communities, and delivering full, clear answers to relatives of those lost in the incident.

  • Captain dies after rescue

    Captain dies after rescue

    An eight-day nightmare of being lost adrift in the open Atlantic ended in mixed tragedy and relief for the crew of the missing Trinidadian fishing vessel St Vincent VII, after the captain of the vessel died just hours after he and his five crewmates were pulled to safety by a passing commercial ship. The Ministry of Defence of Trinidad and Tobago confirmed the devastating turn of events in an official statement released Wednesday, just hours after a morning announcement that all six crew members had been found alive.

    The ordeal for the St Vincent VII’s crew began on July 6, when the vessel, carrying six yellowfin tuna fishermen employed by local operator Renita Enterprises Ltd, departed the Chaguaramas marine yard for a fishing expedition. On July 13, the vessel caught fire roughly 30 nautical miles off the maritime border of Suriname and French Guiana, disabling its power systems and cutting off all communication with shore. For more than a week, the vessel drifted aimlessly with the Atlantic’s trade winds and currents, leaving families in the dark and sparking a widespread regional search effort.

    The dramatic rescue unfolded at approximately 9 p.m. on Tuesday, when the Maritime Operations Command Centre received an unexpected report from the crew of the MV Marvel Kite, a cargo ship bound for the United States. While traveling west around 349 nautical miles east of Galeota, the Marvel Kite’s crew spotted the listing, disabled St Vincent VII in open water. After approaching the distressed vessel, they confirmed that all six missing fishermen were on board, alive. Early reports from the rescue team described the men as being in reasonably good health, a update that brought immediate waves of relief to anxious relatives who had spent more than a week pleading for help to locate the vessel.

    That hope quickly turned to grief, however, when 66-year-old captain Anthony Murray, a Trinidadian national, began experiencing severe respiratory distress just hours after being taken aboard the MV Marvel Kite. According to the Ministry’s statement, Murray initially showed no signs of pain or discomfort, but his breathing gradually became shallower, and he was pronounced lifeless before the rescue vessel could reach its planned rendezvous with the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard’s CG25 vessel off the coast of St. Lucia.

    Following Murray’s passing, the decision was made to divert the MV Marvel Kite to St. Vincent, where local authorities will complete a formal death declaration, conduct a medical examination, and provide any required care for the five surviving crew members. Once cleared by medical teams, the remaining fishermen will be flown back to Trinidad by the Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard.

    The Ministry of Defence has issued a formal apology for two separate delays in communicating updates to the public and the crew’s families. Officials first apologized for withholding the announcement of Murray’s death until after his immediate family had been notified, a step the ministry said was taken out of respect for the Murray family. In a signed statement, Defence Minister Wayne Sturge also extended the government’s gratitude to the crew of the MV Marvel Kite for their life-saving intervention, and offered sincere condolences to Murray’s family following his “untimely and unfortunate passing.”

    But the apology has not quelled frustration from the families of the surviving crew, who say they have been kept in the dark for days despite promises of immediate updates. Amanda Suraj, wife of crew member Shannon “Joey” Mohammed, told local reporters that while she was overjoyed to hear her husband had survived, she had yet to receive direct official notification from authorities or speak to her husband by phone, even after the Ministry of Defence published its initial rescue announcement to the media.

    Speaking from her family home in Claxton Bay Wednesday, Suraj criticized officials for prioritizing media statements over notifying next of kin, saying the ongoing uncertainty remains deeply traumatizing for waiting relatives. “I believe our prayers were answered because they were rescued, but I still haven’t heard my husband’s voice,” she said. “It is disrespectful that the Ministry of Defence issued a media release about the rescue, yet no one has contacted the families or allowed the crew members to call us.”

    Suraj added that conflicting rumors about the crew’s location have only heightened anxiety: reports have placed the rescued men in St. Lucia, Barbados, and St. Vincent, with no official confirmation of their whereabouts. After eight days adrift on a disabled vessel following the fire, Suraj said her family has already endured enough sleepless nights. “We’re thankful they are alive, but we deserve to hear from them after all this uncertainty,” she said.

  • DEATH TOLL 65

    DEATH TOLL 65

    The tragic capsizing of the MV Barima off the coast of Guyana last weekend has seen its death toll climb to 65, official updates confirmed on Thursday, as multi-national rescue teams join ongoing efforts to refloat the 87-year-old vessel that sank en route from Georgetown to the remote inland village of Port Kaituma, located in Guyana’s Barima-Waini administrative region.

    Speaking at an official press briefing, Guyana Prime Minister Mark Phillips announced that five additional bodies had been recovered in 24 hours of search operations, bringing the total number of fatalities recovered since search and rescue work began to 65. Of the recovered remains, 44 have been formally identified by next of kin, and 23 of those identified have already been released to families to proceed with funeral arrangements, Phillips said.

    Regional government agencies, alongside the national Ministry of Health and Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, are working around the clock alongside bereaved relatives to streamline the process of releasing remains for funeral rites and burials, the prime minister confirmed. He added that the number of survivors who were rescued from the incident remains unchanged at 76.

    Phillips emphasized that the government’s top immediate priority remains twofold: supporting grieving families through this crisis and bringing the search and recovery operation to a complete conclusion. “Our focus right now is not on compensation,” he stated. “We are concentrated on recovering remaining victims, covering all costs for burials and funeral ceremonies, and delivering whatever immediate assistance families require to get through this tragedy.” He clarified that the emergency support being provided to families is not classified as compensation, but rather a core responsibility of the government during a national crisis. Once the recovery operation is wrapped up, the government plans to launch a formal public commission of inquiry into the disaster as quickly as possible, he said. Compensation claims will only be addressed after the commission completes its investigation and submits its findings and policy recommendations.

    In a boost to recovery efforts, specialized maritime assets and personnel from the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and the Brazilian Navy have now arrived at the incident site and joined the search, rescue and recovery mission. Phillips noted that these international teams will support deep diving operations and other technical recovery work that local teams are not fully equipped to carry out. In total, 19 vessels and three aircraft are currently deployed to the operation, with smaller craft from the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Coast Guard and Maritime Administration Department searching inland waterways for any remaining passengers who may have been swept away from the main wreck site.

    Technical teams are currently conducting detailed structural assessments of the capsized vessel to identify the safest and most efficient strategy to improve access for diving teams working at the site. The current recovery plan calls for repositioning the vessel before deploying large marine salvage airbags around the hull. These buoyancy devices will restore enough buoyancy to refloat the MV Barima, after which the vessel will be towed closer to shore to allow for more thorough search and recovery of any remaining remains.

    To honor the lives lost in the disaster, the Guyanese government has declared three days of national mourning, which began Thursday. During the mourning period, all national flags will be flown at half-mast across the country, and Thursday was also designated a national day of prayer. Phillips announced that the public is invited to gather at the Kingston seawall at 6 p.m. local time for a national service of collective prayer and reflection. Additional prayer and reflection services will be held tomorrow in both Port Kaituma, the vessel’s destination, and Mabaruma, the regional capital.

    “The government remains fully committed to seeing the recovery effort through, supporting affected families in every way we can, and keeping every available resource deployed until the operation is fully complete,” Phillips said.

    As investigations into the cause of the disaster progress, law enforcement authorities have announced that a third person has been taken into custody for questioning. The latest detainee is the senior superintendent who oversaw the loading of cargo and passengers onto the MV Barima before the vessel departed Georgetown. According to Phillips, the superintendent voluntarily attended a questioning session with the Criminal Investigations Department alongside his legal representative, and was subsequently detained for further interrogation. Earlier this week, the vessel’s captain and a senior crew member were arrested after both failed mandatory post-incident drugs tests.

    Phillips cautioned that it is too early to confirm whether formal charges will be filed against any of the three detainees, noting that investigators are following standard legal procedure. “Investigators will collect all statements, the Director of Public Prosecutions will complete their technical legal review and submit recommendations,” he explained. “If investigators need additional time to build their case, they will request a 72-hour extension, as is allowed by law. We must follow due process every step of the way, and the public can be assured that we are adhering to all established protocols for police investigations.”

    Official records for the voyage list 116 passengers and a 17-member crew, but authorities estimate that as many as 179 passengers and crew were actually on board the vessel when it capsized.

  • Leisure : Did you know ? #44

    Leisure : Did you know ? #44

    HaitiLibre, one of Haiti’s leading local news and information platforms, has launched a popular twice-weekly general knowledge quiz segment called “Did You Know?”, designed to help readers deepen their understanding of Haitian culture, history, and natural heritage. In the 44th installment of the series, published on July 23, 2026, the feature poses a question that many casual observers of Haitian life may not know the answer to: What is Haiti’s official national flower?

    The answer reveals the hibiscus, scientifically named *Hibiscus rosa-sinensis* and widely known locally by its Haitian Creole name “Choublack”, holds the honor of being the country’s national floral emblem. More than just a decorative plant, the hibiscus carries deep meaning for Haitian national identity, symbolizing both the striking natural beauty of the Caribbean island and the enduring vitality of its people.

    This hardy, colorful plant grows across every region of Haiti, thriving everywhere from small rural family gardens to compact urban courtyards. Its blooms display a vivid spectrum of warm hues, from brilliant crimson to soft orange-yellow, bringing bright pops of color to communities across the country. Beyond its visual appeal, the hibiscus plays an important role in traditional Haitian culture: its petals are commonly harvested for use in folk medicine, valued for their natural soothing properties, and often brewed into refreshing herbal infusions enjoyed by locals.

    As a national symbol, the hibiscus also stands as a quiet marker of the Haitian people’s well-documented resilience in the face of ongoing social and environmental challenges. Preserving the habitats where this native plant grows is critical to maintaining this important cultural symbol for future generations. Planting hibiscus also delivers tangible ecological benefits: the flowering plant attracts key pollinators including butterflies and hummingbirds, helping to support and strengthen the balance of Haiti’s local ecosystems.

    This fact was shared as part of the official answer key for the latest quiz segment hosted on HaitiLibre’s dedicated QuizHaitiLibre platform, which launched to public interest earlier this year. The platform has expanded rapidly since its debut, with a monthly update cycle that adds new content on a regular basis. On July 1, 2026, the platform added 31 new quiz games, pushing its total catalog of interactive content to 180 unique games covering a wide range of topics.

    Designed to be accessible to learners of all ages and backgrounds, QuizHaitiLibre’s games are completely free to access and do not require users to register for an account to play. Every game offers three tiered difficulty levels—easy, intermediate, and hard—to suit different knowledge bases, and the entire platform is available in both French and English to serve a diverse audience. Topics covered extend beyond Haitian culture and natural history to include global general knowledge, giving curious users the chance to explore a wide range of subjects and test their existing knowledge.

    HaitiLibre encourages users to explore the platform, share it with family and friends, and submit feedback through a dedicated form available at the end of each quiz. The platform’s team emphasizes that the core goal of the segment is to encourage lifelong learning: even if users do not know an answer when they start a quiz, the segment gives them the chance to discover new facts and expand their general knowledge to share with their communities.

  • Alex Noralez Stays Remains in Prison After Failed Stay Application

    Alex Noralez Stays Remains in Prison After Failed Stay Application

    A San Pedro educator convicted of sexual assault against underage students earlier this year will continue serving his prison sentence after a Belize court rejected his request to pause his sentence during the appeal process.

    Forty-seven-year-old Alex Jason Noralez, a resident of Barracuda Street in Boca del Rio, was handed an 18-month prison term in January following a guilty verdict on two out of three sexual offense charges brought against him. He was acquitted on the third count, and the judge ordered his two 18-month sentences to run concurrently, resulting in a total 18-month term of incarceration. Noralez has consistently maintained his innocence throughout the legal process, denying all allegations of wrongdoing.

    To secure release on bail while his appeal moved forward, Noralez filed an application for a stay of execution with the court as part of his initial appeal proceedings. That first request was denied on February 27, 2026, leaving Noralez in custody at Belize Central Prison where he has remained since his conviction.

    The appeal was scheduled for a hearing before Justice Candace Nanton on July 22, 2026, but the proceeding could not move forward as planned. Attorney Leeroy Banner appeared for Noralez, substituting for his original counsel Richard “Dickie” Bradley. Following the adjournment, the court set new deadlines for both legal teams to submit required court documents. Noralez’s legal team must file his formal grounds of appeal no later than August 14, 2026, and the respondent’s legal team has until August 28, 2026, to file their reply. The next hearing in the appeal has been rescheduled for September 25, 2026. Until that hearing, Noralez will remain in remand at Belize Central Prison.

  • A Second Chance for Buddy After Viral Abuse Video

    A Second Chance for Buddy After Viral Abuse Video

    It has been one of the most viral and distressing animal welfare stories to emerge from Belize in recent months: a graphic video showing a small dog named Buddy being brutally abused spread rapidly across social media, triggering a wave of public anger, heartbreak, and widespread demands for accountability for his attackers. Now, nearly two weeks after the footage first circulated online, Buddy has been pulled out of harm’s way and given a new chance at life in the care of a local animal rescuer.

    Jessica Schreiber, the foster caregiver who stepped forward to take Buddy in, recalled how the video first captured her attention in an interview. She saw the original Facebook post within hours of it going live, and the horrific details of the abuse – which included pouring gasoline into the dog’s eyes and beating him with a wooden stick – left her distraught and unable to sleep that night. “I could not stop thinking about how the dog felt, how much fear he must have been in,” Schreiber explained. By sunrise, she had made her decision: she would bring Buddy to her home, and talked the plan over with her husband before finalizing the arrangement.

    Weeks into his foster placement, Schreiber says Buddy is making steady, encouraging progress as he adjusts to a life of consistent kindness and care that he never received before. While the abuse left deep emotional scars – he still flinches at sudden loud noises, fast movements, and when doors open unexpectedly, and pulls back when people first reach to pet him – he has quickly begun to trust his new caregivers. “I can tell he feels safe now,” Schreiber shared. “In all the photos my daughter and I have taken of him, he smiles now – even his eyes look happy. He still has his whole wonderful personality, it just needed space to come back out as he learns to trust us.”

    Buddy received a full veterinary examination shortly after arriving at his foster home, and while he carries lasting physical reminders of his abuse, vets say his overall condition is stable enough for rehabilitation. Schreiber added that Buddy has already surprised his care team with how quickly he is adapting to kindness: he is not aggressive at all, and his willingness to accept care suggests he will heal far faster than initial predictions.

    In the wake of Buddy’s abuse, the viral attention surrounding his case has spurred local animal activists into action to push for long-term systemic change. Activists have launched a public online petition calling on Belize’s government to overhaul the country’s animal protection laws, calling for harsher criminal penalties for animal abusers and stricter enforcement of existing animal welfare regulations to prevent similar cases of abuse in the future.

    This report is adapted from a transcript of an evening television newscast; any comments originally delivered in Kriol were transcribed using a standardized spelling system for clarity.

  • State funeral organisers prepare for mass tribute to Sir Garry

    State funeral organisers prepare for mass tribute to Sir Garry

    Barbados is making final preparations to bid a formal, national farewell to one of its most beloved icons: cricket legend and National Hero The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers, whose state funeral is scheduled for next Wednesday. With widespread public enthusiasm already demonstrating deep respect for Sir Garry’s decades-long legacy, organizing officials have confirmed that planning is advancing on schedule to deliver a ceremony worthy of his contributions to the nation and global cricket.

    Senator Lisa Cummins, who chairs the official funeral organizing committee, shared updates on logistics after completing the committee’s first walkthrough of Kensington Oval, the iconic Bridgetown cricket ground that will host the funeral mass. Joining Cummins during the site visit was Chief of Staff Brigadier The Honourable Carlos Lovell, with media on hand to document the inspection. The committee has already completed a preliminary review of Coral Ridge Memorial Gardens, the final resting place where Sir Garry will be interred following the funeral service.

    Cummins emphasized that public interest in attending the tribute has been far stronger than anticipated, with an outpouring of enthusiasm from ordinary Barbadians eager to honor the life and career of the national hero. “There’s a large outpouring of interest from Barbadians who want to be able to come out and celebrate the life of Sir Garry Sobers, and we’re really excited by the outpouring that we have seen,” she told reporters.

    To accommodate the projected large crowds, organizers have put in place a free ticketing system to help estimate attendance and manage venue capacity. Complimentary tickets are available for pickup at multiple convenient locations across the island, including all post offices, Government Headquarters, and the reception area of the National Insurance Building. Tickets will also be distributed at sites where Sir Garry will lie in state and where public condolence books will be placed.

    Importantly, Cummins clarified that the ticketing system is purely for planning purposes, not to restrict access. “There is no cost for admission tickets into Kensington Oval. Barbadians are freely invited to just take a ticket and come on down,” she said, adding that “the absence of a ticket does not preclude you from being able to enter Kensington Oval on the day of the funeral ceremony.”

    In addition to the main funeral service, a network of condolence book locations is being set up across Barbados to give all residents the chance to leave written tributes for Sir Garry. Full details of these condolence sites, along with confirmed venues for the public lying-in-state, were scheduled to be released to the public later the same day of Cummins’ announcement. Organizers have urged residents to only follow official government communication channels for all updates, noting that further information on lying-in-state times, pre-funeral tribute events, and other logistical arrangements will be rolled out steadily over the coming days.

    The commemoration of Sir Garry’s life is not limited to Barbados. Cummins announced that Barbados’ diplomatic missions across the globe will host their own tribute events, giving members of the large Barbadian diaspora and cricket fans around the world an opportunity to participate in honoring the legend. For those unable to attend in-person events, a live stream of the main Kensington Oval funeral ceremony will be made available, with links to the stream posted on official platforms in the lead-up to the service.

    Historians and long-time Barbadian residents are already drawing parallels between this national farewell and the 1967 state funeral of Sir Frank Worrell, Sir Garry’s mentor and predecessor as captain of the West Indies cricket team. Worrell’s 1967 passing at the age of 42 marked the first state funeral held for a citizen of an independent Barbados. Following a service at St Michael’s Cathedral, Worrell was interred on a bluff at the University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill campus, a historic parallel that adds additional context to the unprecedented national mourning taking place this month.

  • Search Continues for Three Fishermen Missing Aboard Lady Madesha

    Search Continues for Three Fishermen Missing Aboard Lady Madesha

    Search operations led by the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) Coast Guard remain active this week, as authorities work to locate three local fishermen who have not been heard from since they set sail on a routine fishing expedition last week. The three missing men have been formally identified as Rowel Martin, Gregory Questelles and Cleofoster Jarvis, who departed Antigua and Barbuda aboard their small fishing vessel, the Lady Madesha.

    According to Acting Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Captain Vaughn Simon, official notification of the trio’s disappearance was not received by authorities until Monday, multiple days after the fishermen left their home port. The Lady Madesha and its crew were last observed leaving Port Wharf last Thursday, with no further confirmed sightings reported in the days since.

    To date, sweeping search efforts across nearby coastal waters have turned up no trace of the three fishermen or their vessel. Coast Guard teams have continued to patrol search zones, scanning waters for any debris, life signs, or sign of the missing boat to advance the investigation.

    As official efforts continue, both law enforcement and the family of one of the missing men have issued urgent appeals for public assistance to aid the search. The family of Rowel Martin, who is known locally by the nicknames “Money Man” and “Badda Bitch”, has stepped forward to share their own appeal, asking members of the public with any piece of information that could help locate the vessel or crew to come forward immediately.

    The family’s statement confirms only that Martin was last recorded at sea, with no additional details about the fishing vessel’s planned route or the exact time that communication with the crew was lost. In addition to asking anyone with insight to contact either the ABDF Coast Guard, local police, or members of the Martin family directly, the family has urged the public to share the missing person notice across local communities and social platforms. They also asked for continued prayers for the safe return of all three fishermen and for all teams involved in the ongoing search effort.

    Authorities have emphasized that even the smallest piece of information could prove critical to advancing the search, and ask that anyone with relevant details reach out to emergency response teams without delay.

  • Cop dead in suspected suicide amidst sex crime allegation

    Cop dead in suspected suicide amidst sex crime allegation

    A shocking tragedy has rocked the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF), after an active-duty tactical unit officer died by suicide on Wednesday morning just hours after he was accused of a serious sexual offense. Law enforcement officials have formally confirmed the death of 36-year-old Police Constable Kenrick Scott, badge number 1116, following the incident reported shortly before 11 a.m. local time.

    Scott was assigned to the force’s Special Services Unit (SSU), an elite tactical division where all officers are required to carry loaded service firearms during active duty. Multiple independent sources close to the investigation confirmed to local outlet iWitness News that the sexual assault allegation against Scott surfaced the night before his death. The alleged victim had reportedly threatened to file an official police report over the incident, though as of initial investigations, it remains unclear whether a formal complaint was ever registered with department officials.

    On the morning of his death, Scott had reported for duty at the SSU base located at the Old Montrose Police Station. The base was hosting a full rehearsal for the upcoming Saturday military funeral of PC Warith McBride, badge number 762, who died of natural causes caused by a pre-existing heart condition on May 31. Scott was also scheduled to relieve another officer mid-shift that day, which led to his being issued his standard issue service pistol for his duties.

    Witness accounts and investigation sources outline that in the middle of the funeral rehearsal, Scott slipped away to a densely vegetated, bushy area adjacent to the base. There, he placed a phone call to a close family member, during which he displayed his issued weapon and explicitly stated he intended to take his own life. Immediately after ending the distressing call, the relative contacted another on-duty police officer to raise the alarm, and the alert was quickly passed to command staff at the SSU base.

    Officers deployed to search the bushy area located Scott within minutes. He was already deceased from what investigators have described as an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Investigative sources told iWitness News that Scott leveraged his knowledge of the funeral rehearsal protocol to hide the sound of his fatal shot. During the ceremony rehearsal, the firing party was scheduled to fire blank rounds in a ceremonial salute; multiple sources confirmed Scott fired his lethal round in sync with the command to fire, masking the sound of the shot from other officers on site.

    In an official statement released Wednesday confirming Scott’s death, the RSVGPF declined to share additional details about the circumstances of the incident, noting that active investigations are still ongoing. “The circumstances surrounding Constable Scott’s death are currently under investigation. Further information will be provided once the relevant facts have been verified and the necessary investigative procedures have been completed,” the statement read.

    The department extended its formal sympathy to Scott’s loved ones in the wake of the tragedy: “The Commissioner of Police, the High Command, and the rank and file of the RSVGPF extend sincere condolences to Constable Scott’s family, friends, and colleagues during this deeply difficult time.”

    Officials also made a public appeal for restraint amid ongoing information gathering, asking the public and media to respect the privacy of Scott’s grieving family and avoid spreading unsubstantiated claims or speculation about the events leading up to his death. “The RSVGPF appeals to members of the public and the media to respect the privacy of Constable Scott’s family and to refrain from speculation or the circulation of unverified information concerning his death,” the statement added.

  • SWM waarschuwt: strengere maatregelen bij achterstallige waterrekeningen

    SWM waarschuwt: strengere maatregelen bij achterstallige waterrekeningen

    Suriname’s national water utility, De Surinaamse Waterleiding Maatschappij (SWM), has announced stricter enforcement measures targeting customers with overdue water bills, in a move designed to reduce widespread payment arrears and secure the long-term stability of the country’s drinking water supply. Announced on July 22, the updated policy includes two key changes: an expansion of operating hours for water service shutoffs, and a new protocol to cut off supply from roadside main lines for properties where water meters are inaccessible due to locked gates or other obstructions.
    Importantly, all additional costs incurred from these roadside shutoff operations will be passed directly to the non-compliant customer. SWM officials explained that the harsher measures are rooted in a critical need: consistent, on-time bill payments are fundamental to maintaining a reliable drinking water distribution network across the country and funding much-needed upgrades to aging water infrastructure.
    Under existing SWM terms of service, customers who have two outstanding unpaid water bills are already required to cover additional collection fees. If the outstanding balance is not cleared after these fees are added, the utility retains the right to terminate water service entirely. The new policy simply strengthens enforcement of these existing rules by removing barriers that previously allowed delinquent customers to avoid shutoffs.
    To help customers avoid service interruption and extra charges, SWM is actively reminding the public of the multiple convenient payment options available beyond in-person counter transactions. Customers can settle their bills via online or mobile banking, the digital payment platforms Uni5Pay+ and Mope, or set up automatic giro transfers through their personal bank accounts.
    Utility representatives emphasized that timely bill benefits all stakeholders. Beyond helping individual customers avoid service cuts and extra fees, consistent on-time payments guarantee the continuity of high-quality water services for all users and clear the way for planned future investments that will expand and improve Suriname’s drinking water network for decades to come.