Carib Scope

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  • Ramadan begint in Gaza temidden van puinhopen van verwoeste moskeeën

    Ramadan begint in Gaza temidden van puinhopen van verwoeste moskeeën

    As the holy month of Ramadan commenced in Gaza on Wednesday, Palestinian worshippers turned to the shattered remnants of destroyed mosques and improvised prayer spaces constructed from tarpaulins and wood, demonstrating remarkable spiritual resilience amid widespread devastation.

    The landscape of Gaza City reveals the profound scale of destruction, with the dome of the obliterated Al Hassaina mosque now resting atop mounds of rubble. What was once a courtyard filled with worshippers has transformed into a living space where displaced families now sleep, cook, and hang laundry between broken columns and debris.

    Sami Al Hissi, a 61-year-old mosque volunteer, expressed profound grief while standing amidst the ruins: “I cannot bear to look at this destruction. We once prayed here comfortably, surrounded by friends and loved ones. Now there are no loved ones, no friends, and no mosque remaining.”

    The current reality represents both spiritual and societal devastation for Gaza’s residents. According to figures from the Hamas-run government’s media office, 835 mosques have been completely destroyed and 180 partially damaged during the conflict that began after Hamas’s cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which Israeli authorities say killed 1,200 people. Additionally, 40 of Gaza’s 60 cemeteries have reportedly been destroyed.

    Israel maintains that its military operations target Hamas infrastructure and accuses Palestinian armed groups of using civilian areas, including mosques, for military purposes—an allegation Hamas denies. Palestinian health authorities report approximately 72,000 Palestinian casualties since the conflict began.

    Despite catastrophic damage and severe shortages of construction materials, community efforts have created 430 makeshift prayer spaces using repurposed plastic greenhouse covers, wood, and tent materials, according to Amir Abu Al-Amrain, director of Gaza City’s religious affairs ministry.

    Khitam Jabr, a displaced resident now sheltering in a mosque, articulated the collective disappointment: “We had hoped to celebrate Ramadan in a different atmosphere. With most mosques destroyed, we now pray in tents that have become shelters for the displaced.”

    The commencement of Ramadan in Gaza underscores both the depth of religious faith persisting through conflict and destruction, and the community’s extraordinary resilience despite overwhelming hardship. The situation highlights the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and sustainable solutions to alleviate Palestinian suffering in the region.

  • US $40M Climate Financing Expected for Indigenous Communities

    US $40M Climate Financing Expected for Indigenous Communities

    In a landmark initiative for climate justice, indigenous communities in southern Belize are set to receive approximately $40 million in financing through the Green Climate Fund. The funding aims to bolster climate resilience efforts among Maya populations facing escalating environmental challenges.

    The Julian Cho Society, spearheading the project titled “Maya LED Pathways for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Economies,” has initiated consultations with villages throughout the Toledo District. This comprehensive program is designed to assist local farmers in adapting to unpredictable weather patterns while simultaneously strengthening agricultural practices and supporting community-based enterprises.

    Pablo Mes, Executive Director of the initiative, emphasized the critical role of indigenous stewardship in global climate mitigation. “Indigenous peoples manage twenty-five percent of the world’s landmass, with substantial portions remaining forested—making their territories vital for carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation,” Mes stated.

    The funding recognition comes at a crucial juncture, as Mes highlighted systemic barriers that often prevent climate financing from reaching frontline communities. After extensive consultations with over sixty educators and community leaders, organizers identified mismatches between funding requirements and local needs. This program specifically addresses those disparities by crafting context-appropriate solutions aligned with Maya traditions and knowledge systems.

    While the Belizean government has formally endorsed the initiative, final approval from the Green Climate Fund remains pending. Once secured, the project will enter full proposal development with anticipated implementation beginning in 2027. This represents one of the most significant direct investments in indigenous-led climate adaptation strategies in Central America to date.

  • Over 600 arrests across Africa break up cybercrime network — Interpol

    Over 600 arrests across Africa break up cybercrime network — Interpol

    LYON, France — A sweeping international law enforcement operation has successfully dismantled a sophisticated cybercrime syndicate responsible for extorting millions of dollars from victims across Africa. Coordinated by Interpol, the eight-week crackdown culminated in the arrest of 651 individuals across 16 African nations, dealing a significant blow to organized digital fraud on the continent.

    The operation, conducted throughout December and January, targeted a network that employed a diverse array of online scams. Criminal tactics included sophisticated high-yield investment frauds, mobile money transfer deception, and predatory loan applications designed to steal personal and financial information. Preliminary investigations indicate the syndicate illicitly obtained more than $45 million, affecting hundreds—and potentially thousands—of victims, with the majority located within Africa.

    In addition to the arrests, authorities executed coordinated raids resulting in the seizure of 2,341 electronic devices, including computers and mobile phones. Interpol also confirmed the disruption of critical digital infrastructure, with 1,442 malicious IP addresses, domains, and servers used to perpetrate the scams being permanently shut down.

    Neal Jetton, Head of Interpol’s Cybercrime Directorate, emphasized the profound impact of such crimes, stating, “These organized cybercriminal syndicates inflict devastating financial and psychological harm on individuals, businesses, and entire communities with their false promises.” He further urged victims to seek assistance, adding, “I encourage all victims of cybercrime to reach out to law enforcement for help.”

    The multinational effort demonstrates a strengthened collaborative approach to combating cybercrime in Africa. Participating countries in the operation included Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

  • Nieuw Koffiekamp dringt bij krutu aan op eigen werkgebied binnen ZiJin-concessie

    Nieuw Koffiekamp dringt bij krutu aan op eigen werkgebied binnen ZiJin-concessie

    The Surinamese Ministry of Regional Development has engaged in crucial talks with the New Koffiekamp community regarding ongoing tensions with Chinese mining corporation ZiJin. During a traditional krutu meeting held Tuesday at the Obed Van der Kamp Krutu Hoso, Minister Miquilla Huur listened to residents’ concerns about the persistent conflict over gold mining activities in the region.

    Community representatives articulated their proposal for a clearly demarcated work area where local miners could operate legally and under regulated conditions. This formalized zone would require participant registration and identification badges, creating a system that would prevent unauthorized individuals from entering ZiJin’s concession area through the village—a solution residents believe would benefit both the government and the mining company.

    The discussions revealed severe unemployment within the village, compelling unemployed residents, including so-called ‘oekemmangs’ (informal miners), to enter the mining area to collect and process gold-bearing stones for survival.

    Beyond economic concerns, residents expressed serious environmental apprehensions. With the gold mine located less than three hundred meters from the village, dynamite explosions from mining operations have reportedly caused structural damage to homes, creating visible cracks in residential buildings.

    Fabian Afoemang, Chairman of the Gold Sector Organization Committee of New Koffiekamp, highlighted the severely limited communication between the community and ZiJin, exacerbating tensions as villagers feel constant pressure due to their location within the company’s concession boundaries.

    The Ministry of Regional Development has committed to discussing the raised concerns with relevant authorities and stakeholders, aiming to develop a sustainable and balanced solution. The meeting was attended by Minister Huur, RO Director Mavrick Boejoekoe, Brokopondo District Commissioner Gregory van der Kamp, and traditional authorities of New Koffiekamp.

  • PM Pierre: ‘Do not overstay in people’s countries’

    PM Pierre: ‘Do not overstay in people’s countries’

    Saint Lucian Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has delivered a forceful admonition to citizens traveling internationally, emphasizing that compliance with visa conditions constitutes both a personal responsibility and a matter of national interest. Speaking at a pre-cabinet press briefing on February 16, the Prime Minister framed international travel as a privilege rather than a right, urging strict adherence to authorized stay durations.

    Pierre articulated grave concerns regarding the broader implications of visa violations, stating that exceeding granted timeframes—even by a single day—could yield unforeseen negative consequences. “When we overstay our visas and do things—go to other people’s countries and don’t follow the laws—it affects everybody,” Pierre emphasized during his address. He repeatedly cautioned travelers to depart host nations when their permitted time expires, regardless of personal circumstances or attractions.

    The Prime Minister’s warnings highlight how individual actions can collectively impact Saint Lucia’s international standing and the future mobility of its citizens. He specifically noted that visa infractions could damage the country’s reputation and potentially complicate travel arrangements for other Saint Lucians seeking to journey abroad.

    Coinciding with Pierre’s national address, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed similar sentiments during a joint press availability in Budapest with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Rubio unequivocally stated that visa grants are discretionary privileges rather than entitlements, revealing that the United States has revoked numerous visas over the past year. He specifically warned that tourists, students, and journalists engaging in activities contrary to U.S. national security interests would face visa revocation, reinforcing the stringent enforcement of immigration regulations.

  • US kills 11 in 3 strikes on alleged drug-running boats

    US kills 11 in 3 strikes on alleged drug-running boats

    In a targeted counter-narcotics operation, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) executed precision airstrikes against three vessels allegedly operated by designated terrorist organizations engaged in narcotics trafficking. The military action, authorized by SOUTHCOM commander General Francis L. Donovan, resulted in eleven fatalities among suspected narco-terrorists operating the vessels.

    According to official statements released Tuesday, the coordinated strikes occurred during the night of February 16th through Joint Task Force Southern Spear operations. Intelligence surveillance confirmed the vessels were actively transiting established drug trafficking corridors before being engaged with lethal kinetic force.

    The tactical breakdown reveals four casualties occurred aboard the first vessel in the Eastern Pacific, followed by four additional fatalities on a second vessel in the same region. A third strike in the Caribbean waters eliminated three more individuals. No U.S. military personnel sustained injuries during the operations.

    This recent engagement marks the seventh such intervention against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in 2024, continuing a pattern of intensified counter-narcotics efforts. Historical data indicates these latest strikes bring the total to at least 41 operations against narcotics trafficking networks, resulting in 144 casualties across Caribbean and Eastern Pacific regions since the program’s inception.

    SOUTHCOM, which oversees U.S. military operations throughout Central America, South America, and the Caribbean basin, maintains that these missions are critical to disrupting transnational criminal organizations whose activities directly threaten national security interests. The command’s strategy focuses on intercepting maritime drug transportation routes that fuel terrorist activities and contribute to the U.S. opioid crisis.

  • They reaffirm that Cuba is not a producer, warehouse, or transit territory for drugs

    They reaffirm that Cuba is not a producer, warehouse, or transit territory for drugs

    In a definitive demonstration of its uncompromising stance against narcotics, Cuban authorities unveiled substantial achievements from their 2025 counter-narcotics operations, intercepting 1,941 kilograms of illicit substances primarily through maritime interdictions. The comprehensive review was presented during a high-level press briefing on Tuesday, featuring key officials from the nation’s security apparatus.

    Justice Minister Rosabel Gamón Verde articulated Cuba’s strategic positioning, emphasizing that while the island nation faces geographical vulnerabilities within Caribbean trafficking corridors, it maintains neither production facilities nor transit infrastructure for international drug operations. The minister underscored the government’s unwavering political commitment to treating drug trafficking as a paramount national security concern, employing a multifaceted strategy that integrates prevention initiatives, regulatory controls, and direct law enforcement engagement.

    Following constitutional reforms in 2019, Cuba has systematically strengthened its legal framework, enhancing criminal penalties and administrative sanctions to reflect its zero-tolerance doctrine. The National Drug Commission, now expanded to include thirteen governmental agencies with recent additions from Agriculture, Culture, Tourism, and Labor ministries, has intensified preventive operations across educational institutions, workplaces, and community networks.

    Colonel Juan Carlos Poey Guerra, commanding officer of the Ministry of Interior’s Specialized Anti-Drug Agency, revealed that 53 separate maritime dumping incidents accounted for the majority of seizures, with traffickers jettisoning narcotics to evade international pursuit. These operations yielded substantial quantities of marijuana, cocaine, and hashish that subsequently washed ashore. Domestically, authorities confiscated approximately 76 kilograms of drugs destined for local consumption, noting concerning proliferation of synthetic compounds including 46 identified cannabinoid variants.

    The aerial trafficking dimension witnessed significant enforcement successes, with 31 attempted operations neutralized during 2025 resulting in 27 kilograms of intercepted narcotics—primarily cocaine and methamphetamine originating from eleven nations, with the United States identified as the predominant source. Cumulative efforts across 2024-2025 thwarted 75 aerial smuggling attempts, preventing over 100 kilograms from reaching destinations.

    First Colonel Ivey Daniel Carvallo Pérez, representing the Border Guard Troops Directorate, highlighted the formidable surveillance challenges posed by Cuba’s extensive 5,700-kilometer coastline and complex maritime geography. The nation maintains persistent monitoring through integrated naval, ground, and aerial assets, coordinating efforts across military, customs, and interior ministries with substantial civilian participation.

    International cooperation remains a cornerstone of Cuba’s anti-trafficking architecture, with ongoing intelligence exchanges through 37 international contact points and bilateral partnerships with regional neighbors including Jamaica, Mexico, and the United States. Officials noted these efforts persist despite severe economic constraints and resource limitations imposed by external sanctions.

    Colonel Poey Guerra reaffirmed Cuba’s conditional openness to enhanced collaboration with United States authorities, predicated on mutual respect and non-interference in sovereign affairs. While current exchanges remain limited to operational communications between coast guard entities, Cuban officials emphasized their role as a strategic “maritime barrier” protecting neighboring nations from drug flows, asserting that national security priorities remain guided by domestic institutions and popular will rather than external agendas.

  • WATCH: Shock and Uncertainty in St. Lucia After Deadly U.S. Strike in Caribbean Waters

    WATCH: Shock and Uncertainty in St. Lucia After Deadly U.S. Strike in Caribbean Waters

    A deadly maritime incident in the Eastern Caribbean has triggered diplomatic concerns and regional security alerts following a U.S. military operation that reportedly resulted in multiple fatalities. The explosion occurred approximately several miles offshore from Canouan Island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines territory at approximately 2:00 PM local time, with eyewitness fishermen reporting both visual and auditory confirmation of the detonation.

    Emerging reports from St. Lucia suggest potential tragic misinterpretation, as three St. Lucian nationals who had departed earlier this week for fishing operations remain unaccounted for. While photographic evidence published by the St. Vincent Times depicts the charred remnants of a vessel with its bow section partially submerged, no human remains were visibly documented at the scene.

    St. Lucian Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has initiated formal inquiries through diplomatic and security channels, confirming the loss of lives while emphasizing the absence of official identification regarding the victims. “I can confirm that people lost their lives,” Pierre stated during his weekly pre-Cabinet briefing, “But I received no official notification on anything else. The issue is being investigated by the powers responsible for investigations.”

    The incident has raised substantive questions regarding maritime jurisdiction, operational protocols, and the legal justification for lethal force in international waters. According to U.S. officials, this event represents one of at least 36 vessels targeted in Caribbean and Eastern Pacific operations since September, resulting in over 120 fatalities as part of counter-narcotics initiatives aimed at disrupting drug trafficking routes to the United States.

    Prime Pierre has urged public restraint against speculation, emphasizing that “in matters affecting national security and regional stability, speculation has no place. Our approach is disciplined, fact-based, and guided by the singular priority of protecting the people and interests of St. Lucia.” The government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has maintained official silence regarding the incident as bilateral investigations continue.

  • Trash Piles Up in Cuba Amid Trump’s Fuel Blockade

    Trash Piles Up in Cuba Amid Trump’s Fuel Blockade

    Cuba’s capital city of Havana is confronting a severe public health emergency as mounting garbage accumulation transforms urban landscapes into makeshift waste disposal sites. This environmental crisis stems directly from a critical shortage of operational sanitation infrastructure, with only 44 of the city’s 106 garbage trucks currently functioning according to Al Jazeera’s reporting.

    Residents report deteriorating conditions across metropolitan areas, with some neighborhoods experiencing more than ten days without municipal waste collection services. “The situation has become unbearable—refuse is accumulating throughout the city without any resolution in sight,” stated Havana resident Jose Ramon Cruz in comments to Reuters.

    The root cause traces to Washington’s intensified economic measures, including significant reductions in Venezuelan oil imports and newly implemented sanctions targeting nations that supply fuel to Cuba. These policies have created cascading effects throughout Cuba’s essential services sector.

    President Donald Trump characterized Cuba as a “failed nation” earlier this week while maintaining diplomatic pressure on Cuban leadership to engage in negotiations. Despite limited humanitarian assistance from Mexico and Spain, the Caribbean nation faces compounding economic and political challenges that extend far beyond the immediate waste management crisis.

    The accumulating refuse presents multifaceted risks including environmental contamination, public health vulnerabilities, and potential vector-borne disease transmission, creating a complex emergency situation with no immediate resolution apparent.

  • Belize and Taiwan Sign US $1.8M+ Disaster Preparedness Agreement

    Belize and Taiwan Sign US $1.8M+ Disaster Preparedness Agreement

    In a significant move to bolster Central American disaster preparedness, Belize has entered into a comprehensive partnership with Taiwan through a landmark agreement exceeding US$1.8 million. The collaborative initiative, formally designated as the Belize Multi-Hazard Risk Management Capacity Building Project, aims to substantially enhance the nation’s resilience against hurricanes, wildfires, and various natural disasters.

    The official launch ceremony occurred on Monday at the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management’s Green Complex Building in Belmopan. This multi-year project, extending through 2029, represents a strategic international cooperation effort primarily financed by Taiwan with complementary support from the Belizean government.

    Taiwan brings extensive expertise in disaster risk mitigation to this partnership, committing to provide specialized training programs, advanced technical support, and professional guidance to improve Belize’s emergency response capabilities. The initiative will focus on three critical areas: enhancing interdepartmental coordination mechanisms, modernizing early warning systems for meteorological threats, and implementing cutting-edge technology for wildfire monitoring and prevention.

    Discrepancies in the reported funding amount appear in official communications, with the Belize government documenting the project value at US$1,807,797 while Taiwan’s Embassy website references a slightly higher figure of US$1,927,797. This investment underscores the continuing diplomatic and cooperative relationship between the two nations amid evolving global climate challenges.