Carib Scope

分类： world

  • ‘At least 200’ feared dead in DR Congo landslide — gov’t

    ‘At least 200’ feared dead in DR Congo landslide — gov’t

    A catastrophic landslide at a militia-controlled mining operation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in what government officials fear could be at least 200 fatalities. The disaster struck the coltan-rich Rubaya mine in North Kivu province, an area under the control of the M23 rebel group since its April 2024 capture with alleged Rwandan support.

    The communications ministry expressed profound dismay in an official statement, confirming that massive earth movements had buried artisanal miners working under perilous conditions. According to multiple accounts, the initial collapse occurred Wednesday afternoon, followed by a second substantial landslide on Thursday morning.

    Eraston Bahati Musanga, the M23-appointed provincial governor who visited the site, corroborated the death toll estimate, noting that recovery efforts had yielded numerous bodies from the debris. The remote location and compromised communication infrastructure have severely hampered verification efforts, with information trickling in via motorcycle couriers across the region.

    The Rubaya mine represents a crucial node in global electronics supply chains, producing 15-30% of the world’s coltan—a vital mineral component in mobile phones and laptops. Thousands of informal miners typically work the pits with minimal equipment, facing extreme safety risks daily.

    Humanitarian sources report that injured survivors are receiving treatment at severely under-resourced local health centers. The tragedy occurs against a backdrop of three decades of persistent violence in eastern DRC, where mineral wealth has fueled prolonged conflict.

    The Congolese government has accused Rwanda of using the M23 militia to systematically plunder national resources, noting that between 112-125 tons of coltan are extracted monthly and exclusively routed to Rwanda. UN experts estimate the rebel group generates approximately $800,000 monthly through a taxation system imposed on mineral production and sales.

    Kinshasa has called upon the international community to recognize the scale of both the human tragedy and what it describes as organized looting enabled by armed occupation, despite an official ban on mining activities in Rubaya effective February 2025.

  • Former CDB president Dr Warren Smith has died

    Former CDB president Dr Warren Smith has died

    The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) announced the passing of its fifth President, Dr. Warren Smith, on Friday, triggering an outpouring of tributes from the institution’s leadership and staff. Dr. Smith, a distinguished Jamaican economist, led the regional financial institution from May 2011 to April 2021 through a transformative decade marked by significant global and regional challenges.

    During his ten-year tenure, Dr. Smith navigated the institution through what the bank described as a period of profound global shocks, including two major international crises that substantially impacted Caribbean nations. Under his strategic guidance, CDB strengthened its position as a trusted development partner, successfully mobilizing resources to foster sustainable growth, build regional resilience, and drive socioeconomic transformation across Borrowing Member Countries.

    Dr. Smith’s leadership placed particular emphasis on climate resilience, disaster risk management, and pioneering development financing mechanisms. He championed the design of innovative financial instruments specifically tailored to help Caribbean states respond to and recover from natural disasters and external economic shocks.

    In recognition of his exceptional service to regional development, Dr. Smith received several honors, including Jamaica’s prestigious Order of Distinction (Commander Class), conferred during the nation’s 54th anniversary of Independence celebrations.

    Current CDB President Daniel Best remembered Dr. Smith as both a mentor and guide who “devoted his life’s work to the proposition that Caribbean people deserve strong, modern institutions that are fully on their side.” Best noted that Dr. Smith demanded excellence from his colleagues based on his profound belief in their collective responsibility to serve the Caribbean with integrity, rigor, and purpose.

    The CDB community described Dr. Smith as a thoughtful and principled leader whose decisions were consistently guided by an unwavering commitment to the people of the Caribbean. His legacy endures through the institution he helped strengthen, the professionals he mentored, and the development trajectory he helped establish for the region.

  • 3.7 Magnitude Earthquake Recorded North-Northeast of Antigua

    3.7 Magnitude Earthquake Recorded North-Northeast of Antigua

    A minor seismic event registering a preliminary magnitude of 3.7 struck the northeastern Caribbean region in the early hours of Friday, January 31st. According to automated monitoring systems operated by the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre, the tremor occurred at 4:46 a.m. local time (08:46 UTC) with an estimated focal depth of 12 kilometers.

    The epicenter was precisely geolocated at coordinates 17.58 degrees north latitude and 61.73 degrees west longitude, placing it approximately 53 kilometers north-northeast of St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. The seismic activity was also detected 102 kilometers northeast of Brades, Montserrat, and approximately 115 kilometers east-northeast of Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

    Initial assessments from regional monitoring authorities indicate no immediate reports of structural damage, injuries, or significant impact on local communities. The Seismic Research Centre emphasized that preliminary magnitude and location data are automatically generated by sophisticated computer algorithms and remain subject to potential revision following comprehensive scientific analysis by their expert seismologists. Such minor tremors are considered common occurrences within the seismically active Caribbean region, where tectonic plate interactions frequently generate detectable but typically harmless seismic activity.

  • Magnitude 3.7 Earthquake Recorded Near Antigua Early Saturday Morning

    Magnitude 3.7 Earthquake Recorded Near Antigua Early Saturday Morning

    A minor seismic event measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale occurred in proximity to the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda during the early hours of Saturday morning. The earthquake’s epicenter was located near the islands, though precise geographical coordinates remain unspecified in initial reports.

    The tremor, while measurable by seismic instruments, appears to have caused minimal disruption to the twin-island nation. Early indications suggest no significant structural damage or injuries resulting from the geological activity. Earthquakes of this magnitude typically produce noticeable shaking of indoor items and rattling noises but rarely cause substantial damage to well-constructed buildings.

    The Eastern Caribbean region, where Antigua and Barbuda are situated, experiences frequent seismic activity due to its position along the boundary of the Caribbean and North American tectonic plates. This geological setting makes minor tremors a relatively common occurrence throughout the region.

    Local authorities and disaster preparedness agencies routinely monitor such seismic events, though no tsunami warnings were issued following this particular incident. Residents reported feeling mild vibrations but otherwise described the event as passing without major concern.

    The timing of the earthquake—during early morning hours—likely contributed to the limited public reaction, as many residents were asleep when the tremor occurred. Seismologists continue to monitor the region for potential aftershocks, though none have been reported thus far.

  • FLASH : Nearly 6,000 dead and 3,000 injured by 2025 due to insecurity

    FLASH : Nearly 6,000 dead and 3,000 injured by 2025 due to insecurity

    A stark United Nations assessment has revealed Haiti’s escalating humanitarian catastrophe, with nearly 6,000 fatalities and over 2,700 injuries documented throughout 2025. The comprehensive report from the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) details a devastating fourth quarter alone, recording 1,523 killings and 806 injuries between October and December.

    The analysis indicates that criminal gangs maintained persistent control over portions of Port-au-Prince throughout 2025, though law enforcement operations successfully prevented further territorial expansion. These armed groups continued systematic human rights violations including targeted assassinations, widespread kidnappings, extortion networks, property destruction, and child trafficking for criminal exploitation.

    Beyond the capital, rural regions including Artibonite and Centre departments faced indiscriminate assaults as gangs attempted to consolidate power. Agricultural communities suffered particularly severe targeting, with attacks on farmers and their livelihoods triggering mass displacement, economic collapse, and intensified humanitarian needs.

    The report identifies a complex security landscape where approximately 6% of casualties resulted from actions by self-defense groups and participants in the ‘Bwa Kalé’ movement targeting alleged gang collaborators.

    Notably, over 62% of recorded casualties occurred during law enforcement operations, some conducted with support from a private military company employing drone technology and helicopter strikes. This foreign security contractor significantly expanded its operational reach beyond Port-au-Prince and Kenscoff into new territories including Cabaret and Pétion-ville. Airstrikes resulted in at least 32 civilian casualties, including two young girls.

    The UN document further highlights ongoing allegations of summary executions involving police personnel, while noting three officers killed and five wounded during the quarter, alongside one injury within the FRG forces.

  • Have you made plans yet? This is what the weather will be like this weekend

    Have you made plans yet? This is what the weather will be like this weekend

    Meteorological authorities in the Dominican Republic have issued warnings about a significant temperature drop expected to commence this Sunday, with unusually cold conditions predicted to persist for nearly a week across most territories. According to meteorological analyst Jean Suriel, who made the announcement on Friday, this weather phenomenon results from the combined impact of two approaching cold fronts and an extensive polar air mass currently moving toward the Caribbean region.

    The cooling pattern represents indirect effects of winter storms that have recently affected the United States. Suriel indicated that the polar air mass would begin influencing Dominican territory by Saturday night, with the most dramatic temperature decreases anticipated in mountainous regions and the Cibao area. Forecast models suggest possible frost conditions and sub-zero temperatures in elevated zones including Valle Nuevo, Valle del Tetero, Valle de Bao, and Valle de Lilís.

    Current weather patterns show a trough system affecting the nation alongside cold front number 23 positioned north of the Caribbean. Meteorological models indicate potential moderate to heavy rainfall developing this afternoon across northern, northeastern, northwestern, and eastern regions, including the Central Mountain Range.

    While precipitation is expected to diminish Friday as the initial trough moves away, isolated showers may still occur. Saturday forecasts predict partly cloudy conditions with moderate rainfall developing during late afternoon hours in southern and southeastern areas.

    The weather system will intensify Sunday with the approach of cold front number 24 and a new trough system, potentially increasing shower activity throughout morning, afternoon, and evening hours. Meteorological authorities have highlighted concerns about urban flooding potential due to expected significant rainfall accumulation.

  • Enhanced CARICOM integration pivotal for steering through fragmented global trade landscape, says CARICOM Assistant SG

    Enhanced CARICOM integration pivotal for steering through fragmented global trade landscape, says CARICOM Assistant SG

    A senior Caribbean Community (CARICOM) official has declared that strengthening regional integration represents a vital strategic countermeasure against an increasingly volatile and fragmented global trading system. Ambassador Wayne McCook, Assistant Secretary-General for the CARICOM Single Market and Trade, articulated this position during a panel discussion at the World Trade Centre in Georgetown, Guyana, on January 28.

    Addressing the theme “Prospects for International Trade in 2026,” Amb. McCook framed regional cohesion as essential for building resilience. He pointed to recent crises, including the devastating Hurricane Melissa, as emblematic of the dual challenges confronting member states: climate-related existential threats and profound economic vulnerabilities. These domestic pressures are compounded by dramatic shifts in international trade, which the ambassador attributed significantly to an intensified “America First” policy framework that has disrupted Caribbean exports and supply chains through unprecedented tariff measures.

    Characterizing 2025 as a period of exceptional turbulence, McCook cited alarming global trends: an 11% contraction in foreign direct investment in 2024 (marking a second consecutive annual decline) and global trade growth slowing to below 1% in 2025, according to UNCTAD data. Despite this adverse international environment, CARICOM has demonstrated remarkable economic resilience, with community exports surging by 32% between 2023 and 2024 to approximately US$34.7 billion, including an 86% increase in exports to the United States.

    The ambassador highlighted recent initiatives toward complete free movement of people by Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines as tangible progress toward integration. Looking forward, he proposed a comprehensive 2026 strategy centered on bolstering intra-regional commerce, maintaining international partnerships while diversifying beyond traditional allies, and deepening economic integration. Key to this approach is implementing the CARICOM Industrial Policy and Strategy (CIPS) and the 25×25+5 food security initiative designed to reduce import dependency and promote regional agricultural self-sufficiency.

    “Fundamentally,” McCook concluded, “CARICOM integration should be seen as a strategic response to a shifting global order.”

  • ‘Ghost ship’ runs aground off Sam Lord’s Castle

    ‘Ghost ship’ runs aground off Sam Lord’s Castle

    A derelict cargo vessel, adrift for months as a maritime ghost in the South Atlantic, has finally grounded on a coral reef near Sam Lord’s Castle, Barbados, prompting an extensive inter-agency operation to mitigate environmental risks and secure the ship.

    The MV Christina Debora, abandoned by its crew last year following critical engine failure, was discovered lodged approximately one nautical mile offshore after a local fisherman alerted authorities. Deputy Director of Barbados’ Department of Emergency Management (DEM), Major Robert Harewood, confirmed that initial investigations traced the ship’s origins through digital research, revealing its prolonged unmanned drift across international waters.

    Emergency protocols were immediately activated upon discovery, mobilizing a coordinated response from the Barbados Coast Guard, Barbados Defence Force (BDF), Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU), Environmental Protection Department (EPD), Ministry of Health, and Barbados National Energy Company Limited (BNECL). Initial concerns regarding potential oil leaks were dispelled after aerial drone surveillance conducted by the BDF provided critical visual intelligence showing no evidence of hydrocarbon contamination.

    Diver teams from the Coast Guard and CZMU have conducted preliminary assessments of the hull’s integrity to determine viable extraction methods. While the vessel’s internal condition remains unknown due to its prolonged abandonment, health authorities have cleared personnel for boarding operations when necessary.

    The current operational priority involves carefully refloating the vessel from the reef structure and towage to a designated secure location, with final destination discussions ongoing between maritime authorities. Environmental safeguards including absorbent booms and dispersion systems will be deployed during movement operations as precautionary measures against potential leakage.

    Major Harewood explicitly ruled out permitting further drift, acknowledging potential threats to Barbados and neighboring territories. International maritime legal frameworks are being consulted regarding the unusual circumstances of the vessel’s arrival in Barbados’ territorial waters.

  • Deeper CARICOM integration key to navigating fractured global trade order – CARICOM ASG

    Deeper CARICOM integration key to navigating fractured global trade order – CARICOM ASG

    A high-ranking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) diplomat has articulated a compelling vision for enhanced regional integration as a critical defensive mechanism against the escalating fragmentation and unpredictability of international commerce. Ambassador Wayne McCook, Assistant Secretary-General for the CARICOM Single Market and Trade, delivered this strategic assessment during a panel discussion at the World Trade Centre in Georgetown, Guyana, on Wednesday, January 28th.

    Ambassador McCook framed the Caribbean’s current position within the context of recent profound challenges. He specifically referenced the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa as a stark embodiment of the dual threats confronting member states: the existential danger of climate change and persistent economic vulnerabilities. Simultaneously, he detailed how dramatic transformations in global trade, significantly propelled by an intensified ‘America First’ policy posture, have adversely affected regional exports and disrupted value and supply chains through a series of unprecedented tariff impositions.

    Characterizing the international trade environment of 2025 as ‘truly tumultuous,’ McCook emphasized the resilience and collective ‘oneness’ of CARICOM as indispensable assets for navigating these turbulent conditions. He issued a stark warning that the ongoing erosion of established multilateral trade norms has transitioned from a theoretical risk to a concrete reality, already exerting negative pressure on global investment flows, supply chain stability, and economic growth prospects worldwide.

    Citing data from UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), he noted an 11% contraction in global foreign direct investment during 2024, representing a second straight year of decline, with further weakening anticipated in 2026. Furthermore, global trade expansion has slowed dramatically, registering below 1% in 2025, amid heightened uncertainty and geopolitical competition that is forcibly reshaping international supply networks.

    In contrast to these daunting global headwinds, CARICOM’s trade metrics have demonstrated notable resilience. The community witnessed a substantial 32% surge in exports, reaching US$34.7 billion between 2023 and 2024, with exports to the United States skyrocketing by 86%. Nevertheless, McCook acknowledged that recent performance data indicates these positive effects have been unevenly distributed across member states.

    The Assistant Secretary-General highlighted recent proactive measures—such as the move toward full free movement of people implemented by Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines—as tangible evidence of progress toward a more deeply unified community.

    ‘Fundamentally, CARICOM integration should be perceived as a strategic countermeasure to a rapidly evolving global architecture,’ McCook asserted.

    Looking ahead to international trade prospects in 2026, he advocated for a multi-faceted strategy. This approach prioritizes fortifying intra-regional commerce, reinforcing existing international relationships while actively diversifying global partnerships beyond traditional allies, and accelerating economic integration. Cornerstones of this strategy include the CARICOM Industrial Policy and Strategy (CIPS) and the ambitious 25×25+5 food security initiative, which aims to curtail reliance on imported foodstuffs and significantly boost regional agricultural production.

  • Ernstige vorst bedreigt Oekraïense wintergewassen

    Ernstige vorst bedreigt Oekraïense wintergewassen

    Ukrainian agricultural experts and emergency services are issuing urgent warnings as an unprecedented cold front approaches, threatening to devastate the nation’s vital winter wheat crops. Meteorologists predict temperatures will plummet to -30°C (-22°F) across most regions starting February 1st, with the severe cold expected to persist until at least February 4th.

    The impending deep freeze poses what agricultural analytics firm Barva Invest describes as an “extremely dangerous” scenario for winter crops throughout central, northeastern, and eastern Ukraine. Only southern regions are expected to be spared the worst of the cold, though they face their own challenges due to insufficient snow cover.

    Winter wheat represents approximately 95% of Ukraine’s total wheat production, typically sown in autumn and harvested the following summer. These crops yield significantly more than spring varieties but are particularly vulnerable to extreme temperature drops without adequate snow insulation.

    The current crisis compounds existing agricultural challenges. Earlier in January, temperatures already dropped to -20°C, followed by a brief thaw that saw temperatures rise above freezing this week. This pattern of freeze-thaw-freeze creates additional stress on crops beyond what sustained cold would cause.

    Agricultural analysts note that the combination of persistent severe frost and inadequate snow protection could lead to substantial winterkill damage. The situation is especially critical in areas near conflict zones, where farming operations already face significant disruptions. Ukraine’s emergency services continue to monitor the situation through official Telegram channels, advising farmers to implement whatever protective measures remain possible.