Carib Scope

分类： society

  • Lovell Says All Saints West Career Fair Opened Doors for Young People

    Lovell Says All Saints West Career Fair Opened Doors for Young People

    A community-focused career fair hosted by the United Progressive Party’s All Saints West constituency branch has emerged as a pivotal platform connecting young job seekers and students with seasoned industry experts, creating meaningful opportunities to explore diverse professional pathways. Harold Lovell, the party’s caretaker for the constituency, shared insights into the event’s far-reaching impact on local young people, emphasizing that the gathering went far beyond a traditional information session to deliver hands-on learning and valuable professional networking.

    The fair drew a diverse cross-section of attendees: high school and tertiary students, first-time job seekers, local educators, and representatives from a wide range of growing industries. Sessions and presentations covered a broad spectrum of in-demand fields, spanning corporate accounting, skilled manual trades, sustainable agriculture, value-added agro-processing, and creative culinary arts. This varied lineup ensured attendees from all backgrounds and interests could find pathways aligned with their skills and goals.

    One of the event’s standout sessions came from local entrepreneur Miles Codrington, who led an interactive, practical demonstration of heavy-duty industrial equipment. Drawing from his decades of experience building his local business, Codrington opened attendees’ eyes to a critical gap in the regional labor market: a rapidly growing shortage of qualified heavy-duty equipment operators and certified mechanics. He urged young attendees to overlook outdated assumptions about blue-collar work, framing skilled trades as both a reliable pathway to stable full-time employment and a viable foundation for launching their own independent businesses down the line.

    Lovell praised all participating professionals and partner organizations for the time and expertise they invested in the event, noting that their involvement created a supportive, encouraging environment designed to boost young people’s confidence and expand their vision of what their futures could hold. “Your presence reminded our youth that they are seen, supported, and capable of achieving greatness,” Lovell said of the participating contributors.

    He also extended appreciation to the young attendees themselves, highlighting their curiosity, active engagement, thoughtful questions, and clear eagerness to learn that made the event a success. “You are the reason we continue this work, and we are proud of every step you take toward your dreams,” Lovell added, underscoring the constituency branch’s commitment to continuing similar youth-focused workforce development initiatives in the future.

  • Temporary road closure: Park Lane, St George’s on 22 July 2026

    Temporary road closure: Park Lane, St George’s on 22 July 2026

    The Traffic Division of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) has issued a formal public advisory alerting all local residents, and drivers in particular, to an upcoming full closure of Park Lane in downtown St George’s. The closure is set to take place on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, running from 9:00 a.m. through to 12:00 p.m. local time, to accommodate critical concrete pouring work along the roadway.

    To minimize disruption to daily travel and keep local traffic flowing safely during the construction window, RGPF has implemented a formal temporary traffic diversion plan that all road users must follow during the closure period. Under the new route arrangement, any vehicle traveling along Green Street will not be permitted to continue toward the closed Park Lane segment. Instead, all motorists on Green Street will be required to make a right turn into Bain’s Alley, before exiting the diversion route onto H A Blaize Street.

    In its advisory, the Royal Grenada Police Force extended a public apology for any unavoidable inconvenience that the road closure and temporary route changes may cause to local commuters, businesses, and visitors. Law enforcement officials also noted that they are expecting full cooperation and compliance with the new traffic rules from all road users during the three-hour construction window to ensure the work is completed on schedule and without unnecessary traffic disruption.

    This advisory was officially released through the Office of the Commissioner of Police, for distribution to the general public ahead of the scheduled work. NOW Grenada, the outlet publishing the advisory, notes that it holds no responsibility for the content, opinions, or statements included in third-party contributor submissions, and provides a reporting channel for users to flag any abusive content shared on its platform.

  • Tekort aan buurtmanagers; evaluatie programma in uitvoering

    Tekort aan buurtmanagers; evaluatie programma in uitvoering

    On July 21, Suriname’s Minister of Justice and Police Harish Monorath revealed a severe staffing gap in the country’s neighborhood policing initiative during a sitting of the National Assembly. Currently, the Suriname Police Corps only has 43 active neighborhood managers in service, while the immediate operational demand stands at 60 full-time positions. This shortfall has forced leadership to reassign several existing neighborhood managers to other departments within the force, leaving critical community policing roles understaffed.

    Monorath’s comments came in response to a question from A30 parliament member Steven Reyme, who raised concerns about declining accessibility and effectiveness of neighborhood policing services, particularly for senior residents. Reyme shared that he recently held an extended conversation with an elderly citizen who complained about reduced communication between local residents and assigned neighborhood managers. He noted that in previous years, neighborhood managers were far more visible in communities and maintained consistent, regular contact with local residents, a standard that has slipped in recent times.
    Reyme emphasized the urgent need to revitalize communication between community policing staff and local residents, especially for older adults who spend most daytime hours alone at home. These vulnerable residents need clear, reliable points of contact to turn to when safety or quality-of-life issues arise in their neighborhoods, he argued.
    Monorath openly acknowledged the scope of the staffing challenge, confirming that out of the 60 required neighborhood manager positions, only 43 are currently filled. Limited personnel budgets and overall resource constraints have driven the reassignment of existing neighborhood managers to other police departments, creating gaps in community outreach. Accessibility to neighborhood managers has also become a persistent challenge as a result of these constraints.
    In response to the gap, the entire neighborhood manager program is now undergoing a full re-evaluation to identify structural solutions. Beyond the review, Monorath has issued a directive to frontline basic policing units to increase their visible presence in residential neighborhoods and strengthen community engagement, even amid limitations in vehicle access and other operational resources. The minister specifically ordered that extra attention be prioritized for vulnerable groups including senior citizens and young people.
    While Monorath reaffirmed the Suriname Police Force’s ongoing commitment to improving its relationship with local communities, he stressed that sustainable improvement will require sufficient staffing capacity and financial resources to support expanded community policing efforts.

  • Veteran Firefighter John Jno Baptiste Dies

    Veteran Firefighter John Jno Baptiste Dies

    The Caribbean community of Antigua and Barbuda is mourning the loss of John Jno Baptiste, a decorated veteran firefighter and former corporal whose decades of service left an indelible mark on both his department and the public he served. His passing, announced this week by the Antigua and Barbuda Fire Department, has triggered a widespread wave of sympathy from serving colleagues, retired peers, close friends, and ordinary citizens touched by his decades of public commitment.

    In an official statement confirming the death, the fire department characterized the news as devastatingly heartbreaking, a sentiment echoed by hundreds of people who have shared personal tributes across local social media platforms and community gathering spaces. Those who knew Jno Baptiste universally remembered him as a soft-spoken, deeply humble man whose quiet patriotism for his Dominican homeland shaped every aspect of his life and career.

    Across his decades with the Fire Brigade, Jno Baptiste earned a reputation for unwavering dedication to his role, prioritizing the safety of the communities he served above all else. Beyond his day-to-day duties, many who knew him highlighted his enthusiastic participation in annual national Independence celebrations. Year after year, he was a familiar presence at these events, where he wore his country’s official colors with visible pride and bore the Dominican national flag as a tangible symbol of his love for his homeland.

    As of the latest updates, formal messages of condolence have been formally delivered to Jno Baptiste’s immediate family, close friends, and fellow firefighters across the service. Officials have not yet released any further details surrounding the circumstances of his death, and no additional information is expected to be shared until his family has had time to grieve privately. The fire department has also announced that plans for a public memorial to honor Jno Baptiste’s decades of service are currently in development.

  • After deadly boat collision, SLASPA eyes stronger maritime safety measures

    After deadly boat collision, SLASPA eyes stronger maritime safety measures

    A deadly boat collision off Saint Lucia’s western coast has left the nation in mourning, as official investigations continue into the tragedy and search operations persist for missing victims. In the wake of the incident that shook the country’s maritime community and general public, the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) has outlined its formal response, committing to systemic safety improvements once police conclude their probe.

    The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has taken the lead in piecing together the circumstances of the collision, with SLASPA’s Department of Maritime Affairs already on hand to support the investigation. As the country’s designated maritime regulator, SLASPA is contributing all required regulatory documentation and technical expertise to help investigators build a clear picture of what led to the fatal crash, and has pledged full ongoing cooperation with law enforcement throughout the inquiry.

    In an official public statement released after the incident, SLASPA first extended its deepest condolences to all those impacted by the tragedy. “This heartbreaking incident has deeply saddened the maritime community and the nation as a whole,” the statement read. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives, as well as those who sustained injuries or were otherwise affected by this tragedy. We wish the injured a full and speedy recovery, and we send our heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved, hoping they find comfort and strength in the support of their loved ones and the wider community.”

    Looking ahead, SLASPA has confirmed that once the police investigation wraps up and its final findings and recommendations are released, the authority will launch a comprehensive review of the report. Based on that review, any additional safety measures identified as necessary will be implemented to strengthen protection for waterway users across Saint Lucia.

    SLASPA also reaffirmed its longstanding core mandate as the country’s maritime regulator, noting that it maintains a commitment to keeping Saint Lucia’s waters safe and responsibly managed through a combination of robust regulation, proactive oversight, collaborative engagement with cross-sector stakeholders, and targeted public awareness campaigns. For now, however, authorities remain focused on completing the investigation and continuing search efforts for victims still reported missing following the weekend collision.

  • Increased number of MV Barima survivors stemmed from verification- Edghill

    Increased number of MV Barima survivors stemmed from verification- Edghill

    A multi-agency recovery effort is underway off the coast of Guyana following the tragic sinking of the 87-year-old passenger vessel MV Barima, which went down in rough waters roughly 10 miles off the Essequibo Coast just before midnight last Saturday. As of 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, official updates confirm 41 bodies have been recovered, while the total number of confirmed survivors has been adjusted to 77 following a comprehensive verification process.

    Public Works Minister Juan Edghill explained the overnight increase in the recorded rescued count from 67 to 77 stemmed from cross-checks with family members of those affected. The initial count of 67 reflected survivors who were brought to a Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard outpost following the disaster, while an additional 10 people had returned to their homes directly after being brought ashore by local fisherfolk that participated in early rescue operations. “We are accounting for them. Remember a lot of people are showing up from different places,” Edghill told local outlet Demerara Waves Online News, noting that systematic household checks were necessary to accurately confirm who had survived the incident. Government officials estimate 179 people, including 18 crew members, were on board the aging vessel when it capsized.

    In a major development in search operations, the Guyanese government announced Tuesday that the wreckage of the MV Barima has been located through a collaborative effort between government authorities, ExxonMobil Guyana, and VESHI Sealand Surveys. A survey vessel named GILLIGAN ISLAND carried out multi-beam sonar surveys to pinpoint the sunken ship’s location, according to the Office of the Prime Minister, which released an official photograph of the survey operation.

    Addressing the ongoing recovery effort, Prime Minister Mark Phillips acknowledged the heartbreaking expectation that more bodies will eventually resurface as the search continues, noting this outcome was anticipated and planned for by search and rescue experts from the launch of the operation. Phillips also issued a sharp rebuke of individuals exploiting the national tragedy for personal and political gain, calling such behavior “reprehensible”.

    He particularly condemned the spread of graphic, uncensored images of deceased victims on social media and digital platforms, emphasizing that these actions are deeply insensitive to grieving families, compound their pain, and rob the victims of the basic dignity they deserve in death. “This was a time for compassion, respect, and responsible conduct—not self-promotion,” Phillips said. “Let the professionals continue their work, and let the families mourn their loved ones with the privacy and dignity they are owed.”

  • Assemblee dringt aan op hardere aanpak na toename verkeersdoden

    Assemblee dringt aan op hardere aanpak na toename verkeersdoden

    On July 21, members of Suriname’s National Assembly issued a urgent call for the national government to ramp up traffic law enforcement, driven by a steady upward trend in traffic-related deaths that has disproportionately claimed the lives of young people across the country.

    Lawmakers across party lines are pushing for sweeping changes: increased daily visible police presence on roads, more frequent speed limit checks, and harsher punitive action against unlicensed drivers and repeat traffic offenders. Krishna Mathoera, a VHP party legislator leading the push, emphasized that most road crashes stem from reckless road user behavior rather than vehicle technical faults, noting that these incidents leave widespread damage, long-term trauma and inconsolable grief in their wake. “The only effective way to change dangerous driving habits is through consistent enforcement and intervention,” Mathoera stated, calling for expanded traffic police units, more intensive patrols, and a higher number of official citations for violations.

    Mathoera pointed to a troubling mismatch in official data from the Public Prosecution Service: while traffic fatalities continue to climb, the total number of citations for traffic offenses has actually fallen. She argued that the government must implement daily, sustained checks until deadly crash rates are reduced to manageable levels. Her concerns have been echoed by other Assembly members, including Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk of the ABOP party. Brunswijk drew attention to a recent fatal pedestrian crash in Moengo as a tragic example of the ongoing crisis, noting that reckless excessive speeding is particularly rampant within built-up residential and urban areas.

    The parliamentary debate also centered on assigning clear accountability for traffic enforcement. Brunswijk argued that responsibility cannot fall exclusively on the Minister of Justice and Police, noting that police leadership, from the corps commander down to regional commanders, share an obligation to deploy personnel and organize regular checks. Jerrel Pawiroredjo, leader of the NPS parliamentary faction, clarified that criticism is targeted at policy failures, not individual officials. “We are not attacking the person, we are challenging the policy,” he said, while adding that the minister bears ultimate political accountability for the performance of the ministry and national police corps.

    In response to the calls for action, Minister of Justice and Police Harish Monorath reported that the national traffic enforcement team inspected 328 vehicles in the first two weeks of July, with regular patrols also carried out by general duty police units. But Mathoera rejected these figures as woefully insufficient, calculating that this averages out to just 50 vehicle checks per day nationwide – a number she said could be matched in a single hour at one busy intersection near the National Assembly building itself. “These are not results we can accept,” she said, stressing that the public needs to see and feel a constant visible police presence on roads.

    Minister Monorath acknowledged that more action is needed, pointing out that officers issue daily fines and seize unregistered or unlicensed vehicles, but framed traffic safety as a shared responsibility between the government and broader society. He noted that poor street lighting, damaged road surfaces, insufficient speed bumps, and low public awareness of traffic rules all contribute to unsafe road conditions.

    Parliamentarians also put forward proposals to expand public traffic education, including reinstating mandatory structured traffic lessons in primary schools and running recurring public awareness campaigns on radio and other media. The idea of using unmarked police vehicles and motorcycles to catch reckless drivers was also raised. Monorath confirmed that police already run educational programs in schools, but these will be expanded after the national budget is approved, freeing up additional resources for intensified traffic education.

    In closing, lawmakers emphasized that improving road safety cannot be achieved with statistical tweaks alone. They called for a holistic approach combining consistent visible police patrols, upgraded road infrastructure, expanded public education, and strict, consistent penalties for dangerous driving behavior to reverse the rising tide of preventable road deaths.

  • 41 bodies from MV Barima tragedy recovered

    41 bodies from MV Barima tragedy recovered

    As of Tuesday afternoon, July 21, 2026, Guyanese authorities have issued an updated official statement on the tragic sinking of the passenger vessel MV Barima, confirming that recovery teams have pulled 41 bodies from the crash site and successfully rescued 77 people since the disaster unfolded Saturday night.

    The incident occurred shortly after 11 PM on Saturday, roughly 10 miles off Guyana’s Essequibo Coast. The MV Barima, an 87-year-old vessel, sank while carrying an estimated 179 people on board, including 18 crew members. In the three days since the sinking, multi-agency search and rescue efforts have continued non-stop around the wreckage zone, with 16 vessels currently deployed to support operations.

    To increase the chance of locating any remaining missing people, officials have ordered a 400-square-mile expansion of the official search area, which now stretches as far north as Waini Point. As of 1 PM Tuesday, 14 additional bodies had been recovered on the day alone, with the first retrieval of Tuesday’s operations occurring at 10:15 AM, according to data from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC).

    French and local dive teams are continuing underwater searches directly at the wreck site to locate additional victims and any remaining debris. Work is already underway to identify recovered remains, with family members currently assisting with identification processes at Suddie Hospital. Authorities have issued a formal directive to all stakeholders involved in the recovery effort: any remains recovered during search operations must be transferred immediately to the custody of the Guyana Police Force at its designated facility at the Charity River Dam to streamline identification and next-of-kin notification processes.

  • Firefighters Respond to Blaze Near Airport Road

    Firefighters Respond to Blaze Near Airport Road

    Emergency response teams are currently working around the clock to bring an unsanctioned blaze under control along Mahico Drive, a residential thoroughfare situated just steps from the heavily traveled Airport Road. The incident was first brought to public attention when witnesses spotted dense plumes of dark smoke billowing from the affected area, prompting immediate calls to local fire dispatch.

    Multiple emergency crews were dispatched to the scene within minutes of the initial report, and first responders have remained on site to coordinate containment efforts as of the latest update. Investigators have not yet pinpointed the origin or cause of the fire, and municipal officials have declined to share concrete details about the total area impacted by the blaze.

    In a reassuring preliminary statement, authorities confirmed that there have been no immediate reports of civilian or first responder injuries linked to the fire. Additionally, no damage has been recorded to adjacent homes, commercial buildings, or infrastructure near the site of the blaze. As the situation remains fluid and response operations continue, officials are working to gather more details about the incident and will issue formal updates to the public as new information is confirmed.

  • Juan Novelo Acquitted in Girlfriend’s 2023 Killing

    Juan Novelo Acquitted in Girlfriend’s 2023 Killing

    Three years after a high-profile domestic homicide shook the small island community of Caye Caulker, Belize, Juan Carlos Novelo has been cleared of all murder charges and released from custody in a bombshell court verdict delivered July 21, 2026.

    Presiding High Court Justice Candace Nanton announced the not-guilty finding at 2:39 p.m. local time, after directing Novelo to stand for the verdict. The judge declined to lay out detailed legal reasoning for the ruling in open court, confirming that a full written judgment explaining the acquittal will be published at a later date. Novelo had remained in custody since his initial arraignment on the single murder charge in November 2023, just weeks after Leslie Margarita Verde’s death.

    Verde, a 40-year-old mother of two young daughters, was discovered unresponsive behind the front door of the home she shared with Novelo in Caye Caulker’s Bahia neighborhood in the early hours of November 4, 2023. First responders rushed her to the local Caye Caulker Health Clinic, but she was pronounced dead dead dead within minutes of arrival.

    Early investigations revealed key irregularities that led law enforcement to suspect foul play. The crime scene had reportedly been altered to stage Verde’s death as a suicide by hanging from an interior room beam. But lead investigating officer Sergeant Manuel Mai testified that the purported hanging site showed no signs of disturbance, remaining undisturbed and covered in a layer of undisturbed dust that ruled out any recent interaction. This observation quickly led investigators to reclassify the death as a homicide.

    A subsequent post-mortem examination confirmed that Verde died from asphyxia caused by neck compression. The autopsy report documented extensive injuries to the front and sides of her neck, including severe soft tissue bruising and internal bleeding. Forensic examiners concluded the injuries were consistent with force applied by another person, ruling out both self-infliction and accidental causes, officially classifying the death as a homicide.

    During the weeks-long trial, prosecutors for the Crown presented circumstantial evidence linking Novelo to the crime. That included surveillance footage showing Novelo arriving at the shared home after Verde returned via bicycle on the night before her body was found, with multiple entries and exits from the property in the hours before her death was reported. Verde’s then 13-year-old daughter also testified that she woke in a groggy, half-asleep state to see Novelo shaking her mother’s unresponsive body, though she noted the body was later found in a different location than where she had observed it that night.

    Crucially, no witness testified to directly seeing Novelo inflict the fatal injuries, a gap the defense argued was insurmountable for the prosecution’s case. Defense attorney Leeroy Banner told the court his client maintained his full innocence from the start, noting that Verde was still alive when Novelo left the family home on the morning after her return. Banner argued that Verde’s family had unfairly presumed Novelo’s guilt solely based on his romantic relationship with the victim, and that the prosecution’s evidence failed to meet the legal standard of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

    Speaking to reporters outside the Belize City courthouse immediately after the verdict was read, Novelo expressed relief and repeated his claims of innocence. “It feels good, because I never killed my common-law wife,” he told assembled media, adding that he hoped Verde’s family would one day accept that he was not responsible for her death.