Carib Scope

分类： society

  • Police burn 5,000 cannabis trees

    Police burn 5,000 cannabis trees

    Law enforcement agencies in Trinidad have completed a major eradication operation against illegal cannabis cultivation, destroying roughly 5,000 mature cannabis plants with an estimated street value of $5 million in the Moruga region earlier this week. The coordinated crackdown, launched under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner of Police Tewarie from the Criminal Investigations Branch, brought together multiple specialized units to target the unlicensed growing site hidden in remote terrain.

    Officers from three divisions – the elite Jungle Operations Team, the Southern Division Task Force, and local Moruga Police Station personnel – penetrated the dense La Lune forest to reach the plantation on Tuesday. To help locate the illicit growing plots that were intentionally tucked away in isolated woodland, the operation received critical support from the Police Aerial Unit, which deployed surveillance drones to map the area and spot the hidden fields from above.

    The aerial surveillance proved pivotal: it allowed teams to pinpoint two separate cannabis growing areas that spanned a combined total of roughly one and a half acres of forest land. Once located, officers confirmed that all 5,000 plants found on the site were fully grown and ready for distribution to the illegal drug market. Rather than removing the plants one by one, law enforcement carried out controlled burns to destroy the entire crop on site.

    Beyond the cannabis plants themselves, officers also disposed of a range of infrastructure used to sustain the illegal operation. This included multiple water containers that cultivators had set up to irrigate the plants, as well as assorted cultivation tools and equipment. As of the conclusion of the exercise, no suspects had been apprehended at the site, and police have not announced any updates on ongoing investigations to identify the operators of the plantation.

  • Ali declares 3 days of mourning

    Ali declares 3 days of mourning

    A devastating maritime disaster has shaken the South American nation of Guyana, after the passenger vessel MV Barima capsized on an inter-regional voyage, leaving at least 41 people dead and triggering an ongoing multinational search for remaining missing passengers. In response to the profound national loss, President Dr Irfaan Ali has officially proclaimed three days of national mourning to honor the victims and stand with grieving communities across the country.

    The tragedy unfolded on Saturday, when the MV Barima, carrying an estimated 179 passengers and crew, was traveling from the capital city of Georgetown to the remote village of Port Kaituma in Guyana’s Barima-Waini Administrative Region. Initial investigations suggest a large wave may have struck the vessel, causing it to capsize in open waters.

    As of a 1 p.m. update issued by the Government of Guyana on July 21, recovery teams had pulled 41 bodies from the disaster site, while 77 people who survived the capsizing have been rescued. Fourteen of the recovered bodies were retrieved on July 21 alone, with the first recovery of the day logged at 10:15 a.m.

    In the days following the incident, search and recovery operations have been significantly scaled up. A total of 16 vessels are currently deployed in the area around the sunken wreckage, and authorities have expanded the search perimeter by an additional 400 square miles, stretching search operations as far as Waini Point to increase the likelihood of locating any remaining missing people. French and local divers are also conducting sustained underwater search operations at the wreck site, while neighboring Trinidad and Tobago has committed critical support to the effort, deploying air and naval assets alongside a 27-person crew that includes seven specialized divers.

    On land, family members have been gathered at Suddie Hospital to begin the painful process of identifying recovered remains. Authorities have issued strict protocols for handling recovered bodies, requiring all remains found during operations to be transferred immediately to the custody of the Guyana Police Force at a dedicated facility at Charity River Dam to streamline identification and next-of-kin notification.

    Issued under the President’s hand and the official Seal of Guyana on July 21, the proclamation declares July 22, 23, and 24 of 2026 as three days of national mourning. The declaration notes that the massive loss of life has left the entire country in “profound and widespread sorrow and immeasurable grief.”

    President Ali explained that the mourning period is designed to honor the memory of those who died, express national solidarity with bereaved families, provide comfort to surviving victims, and highlight the collective compassion that unites Guyanese people through crisis. “At this time of deep national sadness, as we pause to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives, to stand with their families, to offer comfort to survivors, and to demonstrate our collective compassion and solidarity,” the proclamation reads.

    Throughout the three-day mourning period, national flags will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings, public institutions, and other official sites across the country as a mark of respect. July 22 has additionally been designated as a National Day of Prayer, with a large national gathering for prayer, reflection, and solidarity scheduled at the Kingston Seawall in Georgetown. Religious leaders, victim relatives, survivors, community representatives, and citizens from across Guyana are expected to attend the event.

    Regional remembrance events have also been organized across the affected regions. A Night of Reflection and Prayer will be held in Port Kaituma, the destination of the ill-fated voyage, on July 23, inviting residents of Port Kaituma and surrounding communities to gather to remember the lost and support one another. A second regional Night of Reflection and Prayer will take place in Mabaruma on July 24 for residents of the wider North-West District.

    President Ali has called on all Guyanese people, regardless of religious or cultural background, to come together as a unified nation in the wake of the disaster. He has encouraged churches, mosques, temples, all other houses of worship, and civic organizations across the country to host candlelight gatherings during the mourning period, framing these events as symbols of shared remembrance and national unity, and urging communities to begin vigils and moments of prayer as early as July 21 evening.

  • Revitalizing family livestock farming in Haiti in the face of food insecurity

    Revitalizing family livestock farming in Haiti in the face of food insecurity

    Haiti continues to grapple with a persistent national food insecurity crisis, and a new multi-stakeholder agriculture initiative is stepping in to rebuild one of the country’s most under-supported food production sectors: family livestock farming. Known as the Resilient Agriculture for Food Security Project (PARSA), the 30-month initiative is led by Haiti’s Ministry of Agriculture, with core funding provided by the World Bank. Its specialized livestock production incentive sub-component is delivered with technical expertise from a partnership between the Inter-American Institute for Agricultural Cooperation (IICA) and local Haitian non-governmental organization Giradel-Haiti.

    The project targets 32 communes across four of Haiti’s departments: Central, Grande Anse, Nippes, and South. A full breakdown of participating communes includes Maïssade, Thomassique, Hinche, Cerca la Source, Cerca Cavajal, and Thomonde in the Central Department; Roseaux, Jérémie, Marfranc, Beaumont, Moron, Corail, and Pestel in Grand’Anse Department; Petit Trou de Nippes, Baradères, Miragroane, Fonds des Nègres, L’Azile, and Arnaud in Nippes Department; and Saint-Louis-du-Sud, Cavaillon, Aquin, Chantal, Arniquet, Saint-Jean-du-Sud, Les Anglais, Les Chardonnières, Tiburon, Maniche, Camp-Perrin, Torbeck, and Les Cayes in the South Department.

    To deliver long-lasting impact, the project has built a localized expert team including one sector specialist per target department, four department-level coordinators, and 32 community-based facilitators. This on-the-ground structure focuses on strengthening local capacity, ensuring that interventions remain resilient and self-sustaining once initial project activities wrap up.

    By the end of 2026, the initiative will reach 16,636 small-scale livestock farming households across four priority production sectors: beekeeping, aquaculture, poultry farming (focused on laying hens and guinea fowl in Haiti’s Central region), and small ruminant farming (goats and sheep). Notably, 55% of all identified beneficiaries are women, a demographic disproportionately impacted by Haiti’s food and economic insecurity. Each household will receive a customized technical support package tailored to the specific needs of their operation.

    Rachelle Pierre Louis, Technical Cooperation Coordinator for IICA-Haiti, emphasized that the project’s scope goes far beyond one-time material support. “Our goal is not only to provide animals and equipment, but above all to offer concrete technical support to vulnerable livestock farmers in the affected areas to rebuild their livestock activities and strengthen their resilience to shocks by adopting resilient farming practices,” she explained. The initiative combines initial capital recapitalization for beneficiary households with ongoing guidance to embed long-term sustainability into every activity.

    A core pillar of the project is integrating innovative, climate-adapted practices to modernize small-scale livestock farming and boost long-term productivity. Key innovations include artificial insemination to improve the genetic stock of small ruminants, nutrient-dense lick blocks to support animal health during frequent drought periods, vermiculture to produce low-cost organic protein for poultry feed, and shared apiculture reference centers that give small-scale beekeepers access to expensive equipment needed to produce high-value hive products such as propolis, royal jelly, and raw honey. For aquaculture producers, the project is testing the integration of compost into fish feed to cut input costs. Cross-departmental internship opportunities will also help spread successful practices across regions.

    Emmanuel Calixte, Executive Director of GIRADEL Haiti, noted that livestock farming has long been sidelined in Haitian agricultural development policy, despite its outsized role for rural households. “The project helps to promote livestock farming, often neglected in favor of other production sectors, even though it constitutes an important source of income, savings, and a means of improving food security,” he said. Calixte added that hands-on training from project extension workers builds the technical skills producers need to navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities to grow their operations.

    Early beneficiary testimonials highlight the transformative impact of the project on rural household livelihoods. Fleury Marducia, a participant in Asile commune’s Changeux section, explained that the layer chickens provided through the initiative have already generated steady income. “The chickens the project gave me allowed me to produce enough eggs. I was able to sell them so far for 7,500 gourdes. With this money, I bought a pig. Today, the pig is growing well, and I cherish it,” she said.

    Caristil Angelo, a beneficiary from Moron commune’s Source-Chaude section, received three female goats and one male goat through the project, and credits the provided training for his early success. “Thanks to the training, I know how to care for them, feed them, and monitor their health. My animals are healthy and represent a real asset for my family,” he noted.

    Another Moron commune beneficiary, Mirlène Jean Pierre, echoed that sentiment, saying her four goats have already put her household on a path to improved food security. “The females will soon give me kids, which will double my capital. It’s invaluable help for me and my family. I thank the project for this support,” she said.

    All beneficiaries are scheduled to receive their full technical packages by October 2026. Prior to distribution, participants complete practical training modules focused on four core skills: developing low-cost animal feed from local resources, preventing common livestock diseases, managing small farms both technically and financially, and effective marketing techniques for farm products.

  • Owner’s Son Wounded During Pawn Shop Hold-Up

    Owner’s Son Wounded During Pawn Shop Hold-Up

    On July 21, 2026, local law enforcement launched an investigation into a brazen attempted armed robbery that unfolded just before noon at Handy Side Loans and Pawn Shop on Handyside Street. According to early accounts shared with local outlet News Five, two gunmen stormed the small secondhand lending business with the intent to rob it, and during the chaotic encounter, the son of the shop’s owner was struck by gunfire.

    Emergency responders transported the injured victim to a local medical facility for treatment. Early medical updates confirm that while the man was wounded, his injuries are not considered life-threatening, a small relief for both the victim’s family and the local community.

    In the hours immediately following the incident, visible evidence of the attack remained at the scene: dark blood stains were still noticeable on the concrete sidewalk directly outside the storefront, marking where the violence unfolded. As of Monday afternoon, police have not released any additional details about the incident, including descriptions of the suspects, possible motives for the robbery, or whether any suspects have been taken into custody.

    News Five has committed to continuing its coverage of this developing story, and will provide the public with updated information as soon as it is made available by law enforcement officials.

  • Family Defends Christopher Witzel After Sudden Death

    Family Defends Christopher Witzel After Sudden Death

    In the wake of the unexpected passing of 27-year-old Christopher Witzel on Monday night, his family has stepped forward publicly to push back against unconfirmed reports tying him to a fatal shooting that shook the Orange Walk District earlier this month.

    Speaking amid their ongoing grief, Witzel’s relatives have firmly refuted claims that he was in police custody or under investigation for the July 12 shooting incident when he died. They confirmed that Witzel was admitted to Belize’s largest public medical facility, Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, after suffering from intense, unrelenting pain, and he ultimately succumbed to organ failure affecting his kidneys and liver. As of this update, law enforcement officials have not issued an official, confirmed cause of death, and a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Witzel’s passing remains active.

    Witzel’s mother, Sonia Fuentes, took to social media to issue a public appeal, asking the community and media to grant her family space to mourn. She acknowledged that her son had made mistakes in his past, but urged the public to allow him to be remembered in peace rather than through unsubstantiated connections to the recent shooting.

    Public records confirm Witzel had a long-standing history of interactions with Belizean law enforcement dating back several years. In 2018, he was arrested and hit with a series of serious charges, including three counts of attempted murder, following a gang-linked shooting in Belize City that left three people injured – among them a woman and an underage minor. More recently, in 2024, Witzel was taken into custody during a declared State of Emergency, facing charges for assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and multiple other offenses. He was also detained at one point for questioning during an investigation into a separate unrelated shooting incident.

    For their part, authorities have not released any additional details about the July 12 Orange Walk shooting, including the names of two suspects who were taken into custody following the incident. The dual investigations into both the shooting and Witzel’s death remain ongoing, with no new updates expected from officials in the immediate term.

  • Gas Station Needs Your Help After Armed Robbery in Orange Walk

    Gas Station Needs Your Help After Armed Robbery in Orange Walk

    On a Saturday night in Orange Walk, a violent armed robbery at the locally operated Gas Plus Service Station has left staff traumatized and pushed the business to turn to the community for assistance, law enforcement officials confirmed this week.

    Authorities have released details of the incident, drawing from surveillance footage captured on the station’s security system. The recording shows two male suspects arriving at the location on a single motorcycle, before approaching on-duty workers near a fuel pump. Once at the scene, the pair threatened the staff with a firearm, holding them against their will as they demanded the workers turn over all personal and on-site cash. After forcing employees to empty their pockets, the suspects fled the premises with roughly $600 in stolen funds.

    In the wake of the attack, Gas Plus issued a public statement addressing the incident, standing firmly behind its team of workers. The company emphasized that its employees are dedicated, hardworking people who show up daily to earn a living to support their households and provide an essential service to Orange Walk residents. The statement also condemned the actions of the robbers, noting that the pair knowingly put the lives of innocent, unsuspecting people at risk solely to obtain a small amount of quick cash. Many employees have reported lingering anxiety following the confrontation, with multiple workers saying they feel shaken by the violent encounter.

    Local law enforcement has launched an active investigation into the robbery and is calling on members of the public to come forward with any information that could help identify and apprehend the two suspects. Anyone with details about the incident, including recognizing the suspects or their motorcycle from the surveillance footage, is urged to contact the Orange Walk Police Station directly. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the regional Crime Stoppers tipline, allowing community members to assist the investigation without revealing their identity.

    This report is adapted from a broadcast evening newscast, with all translated Kriol language content preserved using a standardized spelling system per original transcription protocols.

  • Tony’s Barbeque Faces BelCan Relocation Deadline

    Tony’s Barbeque Faces BelCan Relocation Deadline

    For over three decades, Tony’s Barbeque has been more than just a food business—it has been a beloved landmark embedded in the BelCan Bridge landscape of Belize City, drawing generations of locals and visitors to its signature grilled offerings. Now, the decades-old community staple faces an uncertain future, as government infrastructure agencies move forward with a major bridge replacement and surrounding area redesign that requires the eatery and other nearby businesses to relocate.

    The Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing (MIDH), in partnership with the Belize City Council, has issued a mandatory 30-day vacate notice for all vendors and car dealers operating on the land targeted for pre-construction preparation. While some local operators have already moved to new approved locations, Tony’s Barbeque has launched a public appeal for community support as its August 15 relocation deadline rapidly approaches. In a statement, the family-owned business emphasized that it does not oppose the infrastructure upgrade project, but is calling for greater recognition and protection of longstanding local small businesses throughout the development process.

    Details of the relocation order were first outlined publicly back in May 2026, during an interview with MIDH Chief Engineer Evondale Moody, obtained by local outlet News Five. Moody confirmed that the agency had formally contacted Belize City’s mayor to coordinate the relocation of multiple site occupants, including Tony’s Barbeque, vendors near the nearby taxi stand behind SaveU, and a small shed structure operated by BWS on the bridge’s southern end.

    “I have written to the mayor of Belize City with respect to those relocation, with respect to the vendor near the taxi stand, which is just behind SaveU, with respect to Tony’s Barbecue, and also with respect to the shed that is over by BWS just across on the south side of the bridge. So I have written to the mayor with respect to those, and he has committed to ensuring that he works with these vendors to get them relocated as soon as possible,” Moody explained in the May interview. “We have given them a timeline of approximately thirty days for that to be done. And so the mayor has written back to me in good faith indicating that he’s working on that, and that will be done in a timely manner. So I have the full support of the mayor on these issues because I believe those three businesses were basically given permission by the local authority for them to be there. So I just took it on behalf of the ministry to kindly request his assistance for those individuals to be relocated.”

    When pressed for clarity on the specific requirement for Tony’s Barbeque, Moody confirmed the order is for a full removal from the current site. The parcel of land that the eatery currently occupies will be repurposed as part of the new access carriageway leading to the replacement BelCan Bridge, a core component of the government’s infrastructure upgrade project. This transcript is adapted from an original evening television newscast published online in July 2026.

  • Guyana: Drie dagen nationale rouw na MV Barima tragedie

    Guyana: Drie dagen nationale rouw na MV Barima tragedie

    A devastating maritime disaster has left the South American nation of Guyana in mourning, after the passenger and cargo vessel MV Barima capsized mid-voyage, leaving dozens dead and triggering a full national investigation into the incident. On Tuesday, local officials confirmed a rising death toll from the accident that occurred Saturday evening, and announced a series of national commemorative events to honor the lives lost.

    The government of Guyana has officially declared a three-day period of national mourning, running from July 22 through July 24, 2026, to remember all victims of the capsizing. Throughout the mourning period, national flags will fly at half-mast across all government buildings and designated public sites across the country. July 22 has also been designated a National Day of Prayer, with an official memorial service scheduled to take place at the Kingston Seawall in the capital city of Georgetown. On July 23, a community evening of reflection and prayer will be held in Port Kaituma, with a similar gathering to follow the next day in Mabaruma. Religious bodies, civil society organizations and ordinary citizens have all been encouraged to organize independent candlelight vigils and prayer gatherings to honor the victims during this period.

    As of 1 p.m. local time Tuesday, 41 bodies have been recovered from the sunken wreck, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill announced via a Facebook post. A total of 77 people have been rescued alive from the incident, the minister confirmed. Search teams retrieved 14 bodies between 10:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Tuesday alone, adding to the 27 bodies that had been recovered by the end of Monday. The adjusted count of survivors came after a careful cross-verification process across multiple data sources, which was carried out to eliminate duplicate counts and produce an accurate final tally of people pulled alive from the disaster.

    French and local dive teams are continuing search and recovery operations at the wreck site, while family members are currently working to identify recovered remains at Suddie Hospital. Minister Edghill emphasized that all recovered bodies must be transferred immediately to Guyana Police Force personnel stationed at the Charity River Dam facility, to streamline the identification process.

    The MV Barima departed the capital’s Port Georgetown Saturday afternoon, bound for Port Kaituma in Guyana’s Region One, but capsized several hours later that same evening. The tragedy has sent shockwaves across the small nation, sparking widespread scrutiny of safety protocols for domestic maritime travel.

    Initial passenger manifests listed 116 passengers and 17 crew members on board the vessel. However, official investigations have already found discrepancies in these records: only 35 of the first 67 rescued people were listed on the original passenger manifest, meaning a large share of survivors were never officially registered for the voyage. Officials have also called into question the vessel’s cargo records, which listed 268 tons of cargo on board—close to the vessel’s maximum 284-ton capacity, but still subject to verification for misreporting.

    In a major development in the investigation, the vessel’s captain and chief engineer have been taken into custody after testing positive for narcotics. The Guyanese government has launched a full, sweeping investigation to determine the full root causes of the capsizing. President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has given a public assurance to the Guyanese people that the investigation will be full, transparent and thorough. He added that the government’s top priorities remain continuing life-saving search operations, providing support to victims and their families, and accounting for all people still listed as missing following the disaster.

  • 53 bodies so far recovered from MV Barima tragedy

    53 bodies so far recovered from MV Barima tragedy

    Three days after the passenger-cargo vessel MV Barima sank off Guyana’s coast on a Saturday night, recovery efforts have yielded 53 bodies as of Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Mark Phillips has confirmed in an official update. Of the 53 remains recovered, 26 have been formally and positively identified to help notify next of kin.

    Tuesday alone marked a grim milestone for the operation, with 22 bodies pulled from the waters surrounding the sinking site, Phillips told reporters. A joint team of French military personnel and local Guyanese divers already completed a preliminary survey of the sunken wreckage resting on the seafloor on Tuesday, locating one additional body that crews were unable to retrieve during the initial dive. According to Phillips, recovery teams are bracing for more discoveries as they continue accessing the wreck. “There’s a likelihood that they may encounter more bodies there,” he said in a statement to media.

    To step up the intensive search and retrieval operations at the wreck site, additional international assets are scheduled to arrive on Wednesday. Detachments from the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and the Brazilian Navy will join the ongoing effort, bringing extra diving capacity and technical resources to speed up recovery work.

    Maritime Administration Director-General Stephen Thomas has released initial details addressing early speculation about the vessel’s operating status before the sinking. The MV Barima is officially rated to carry 126 tonnes of cargo alongside up to 394 passengers, though Thomas noted that the actual number of people and volume of goods on board can shift from voyage to voyage, depending on the specific trip’s configuration. Early assessments based on the vessel’s load line markings, a key industry indicator of safe loading, confirm the ship was not overloaded at the time of its sinking, Thomas added.

    The update, published on 21 July 2026 by Denis Chabrol, comes as Guyana’s authorities work to coordinate a multi-national response to one of the country’s deadliest recent maritime incidents.

  • Teen Testifies Neighbour Raped Her After Entering Home

    Teen Testifies Neighbour Raped Her After Entering Home

    A high-profile sexual assault trial has centered on growing scrutiny of a teenage complainant’s conflicting statements to law enforcement, as the defense team questions why a full allegation of rape was not included in her first account of the 2023 incident. Now 15, the teen told the High Court she was just 14 years old when her neighbor forced his way into her home while she was there alone and violently assaulted her in February of last year. But under cross-examination, she has conceded that her initial report to police only described an incomplete encounter: she claimed the accused touched her before leaving the property when he discovered she was menstruating, with no mention of rape at that time.

    Lead defense attorney Sherfield Bowen has put forward a key theory to explain the gap in the complainant’s original statement: Bowen argued the teen omitted the full rape allegation because she was desperate to hide that a male friend from her school had visited her home that day, a meeting that violated her household’s rules. The court has heard that the visit between the complainant and her school friend included acts of masturbation, a detail the defense claims the teen sought to keep from her family. Bowen further pushed the teen on whether she altered her account later to shift attention away from the forbidden visit and onto her neighbor.

    The teenager has firmly rejected the defense’s narrative. She told the court she did not change her statement to cover up the school friend’s visit, and she also denied being in any romantic or sexual relationship with the boy. Instead, she explained that she only came forward with the full rape allegation after two key developments: she learned she would be required to undergo a formal medical examination as part of the investigation, and she had the chance to speak privately with her grandmother, a family member she said she trusts completely.

    Multiple family members have taken the stand to testify about the days following the alleged incident. The complainant’s aunt told the court that the defendant contacted her niece after the allegation became known, and directly accused the teen of attempting to fabricate the assault to frame him. The aunt added that the neighbor denied all wrongdoing, and later sent voice messages asking her to go with him to the local police station to sort out the claim. The complainant’s step-aunt also testified, confirming that she found the teen visibly distraught in the days after the incident, and chose to accompany her to both the police station to make her statement and a local clinic for a medical check-up. The step-aunt also corroborated the defense’s claim that the teen’s first official statement to police did not include any mention of rape.

    The 40-year-old defendant, whose identity is protected by court reporting restrictions, has entered a full plea of not guilty to all charges against him. The trial is ongoing, with further witness testimony and legal arguments expected in the coming days.