Carib Scope

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  • OAS Says Belize–Guatemala Incursions are Manageable

    OAS Says Belize–Guatemala Incursions are Manageable

    The Organization of American States (OAS) has indicated that while border incidents between Belize and Guatemala are expected to persist, enhanced diplomatic mechanisms are now effectively managing these tensions. During a high-level meeting convened by the OAS Office on January 22, 2026, officials detailed strengthened verification protocols and direct dialogue channels that have transformed the conflict management approach.

    Antonia Urrejola, Secretary General Representative of the OAS, provided context for the ongoing situation: ‘The Adjacency Zone exists for a specific reason—it contains communities from both nations, making incidents inevitable. What matters is the commitment both countries demonstrate in resolving these issues through diplomatic engagement.’

    Urrejola emphasized the critical role of the OAS verification mechanism, noting that office personnel now promptly investigate each reported incident. This systematic documentation process has significantly improved the effectiveness of conflict resolution compared to previous years.

    When questioned about enforcement consequences for violations, Sebastian Kralijevich, OAS Secretary of Democracy, highlighted the confidence-building nature of their work: ‘The primary outcome of our office’s efforts is enhanced trust between both parties. Through meetings like today’s, we’re reducing incidents and fostering a more collaborative environment.’

    The OAS assessment suggests that while complete elimination of border incidents remains unlikely, the current framework has created measurable progress in stabilizing the historically tense border region through practical diplomacy and verified accountability.

  • US Federal authorities aware of American woman missing in Guyana

    US Federal authorities aware of American woman missing in Guyana

    US federal authorities have become actively involved in the search for Mary A. Jones, a 69-year-old American citizen who disappeared during a trip to Guyana and failed to return home as scheduled. The case has drawn significant attention from both American and Guyanese authorities, with international cooperation underway to locate the missing New Jersey resident.

    According to official reports from Gloucester Township Police, Jones was last contacted by family members on October 3, 2025, and was formally reported missing on October 28, 2025. Investigation findings confirm she traveled internationally to Guyana and was expected to return during the week of January 12, 2026, but never arrived back in the United States.

    The situation has prompted high-level diplomatic inquiries, though Guyanese officials have maintained cautious responses regarding potential formal assistance requests. Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd stated he was unaware of any official US request for help through his ministry. Meanwhile, Deputy Police Commissioner Wendell Blanhum, head of Guyana’s Criminal Investigations Department, declined to comment on whether the US had sought assistance, citing confidentiality protocols in international law enforcement communications.

    Authorities have launched a public appeal for information regarding Jones’s whereabouts. The Gloucester Township Police Department is urging anyone with knowledge of her location to contact emergency services at 911, their direct line at 856-228-4500, or submit tips anonymously through their online portal at https://gtpolice.com/tips.

  • Personeelstekort luchtverkeersleiding verstoort regionaal vliegschema

    Personeelstekort luchtverkeersleiding verstoort regionaal vliegschema

    Surinam Airways was compelled to reroute one of its international flights due to an unexpected staffing crisis within Brazilian air traffic control operations. Flight PY9914, originating from Belém, Brazil, was abruptly diverted to Georgetown, Guyana, just moments before its scheduled landing in Suriname on Wednesday, January 21st.

    The aircraft safely touched down at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (JAPI) in Georgetown, with all passengers reported to be secure and unharmed. This disruption subsequently impacted the airline’s connecting service to Miami, designated as PY421/422, which has been restructured to operate through Georgetown under a modified timetable.

    Surinam Airways has implemented comprehensive communication protocols to ensure both travelers and travel agencies remain continuously informed regarding any further schedule alterations or potential disruptions. The airline’s management has expressed optimism that the air traffic control staffing situation in Brazil will be promptly resolved, allowing for a return to standard operations. The carrier emphasizes that passenger safety remains its paramount priority throughout this unforeseen operational challenge.

  • More linemen arrive to help restore electricity in Westmoreland and St Elizabeth

    More linemen arrive to help restore electricity in Westmoreland and St Elizabeth

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — A powerful demonstration of regional cooperation is accelerating Jamaica’s recovery from Hurricane Melissa’s devastation, as a new wave of Caribbean linemen arrives to support critical power restoration efforts. This second contingent, part of a coordinated mutual assistance agreement, signals the intensifying final phase of Jamaica Public Service Company’s (JPS) massive reconstruction operation.

    The regional response, orchestrated through the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), has mobilized expertise from across the archipelago. Fresh crews from Barbados, Belize, Grand Bahama, Nevis, St Lucia, and the US Virgin Islands have joined earlier teams from 17 Caribbean nations, creating one of the most comprehensive disaster response collaborations in recent regional history.

    JPS officials confirmed that the collective effort now encompasses technical personnel from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Curaçao. With over 100 regional linemen deployed alongside North American contractors, the partnership represents an unprecedented multinational response to the Category 5 hurricane that struck on October 28, 2025.

    The utility company acknowledged that the current ‘last mile’ restoration phase presents exceptional challenges. Difficult terrain and geographically dispersed communities in deep rural areas require high-intensity efforts for minimal customer gains. Despite these obstacles, JPS maintains its commitment to restoring service safely and efficiently, with regional partners providing both personnel and specialized equipment—including bucket trucks from Trinidad and Tobago, the Cayman Islands, and Grand Bahama—to supplement local resources.

    In an official statement, JPS highlighted that this extraordinary regional support underscores the strength of Caribbean cooperation and the enduring spirit of solidarity that defines the region’s approach to disaster management and recovery.

  • FAO helps farmers assess investment opportunities and preparedness of protected agriculture farms in Antigua and Barbuda

    FAO helps farmers assess investment opportunities and preparedness of protected agriculture farms in Antigua and Barbuda

    A groundbreaking agricultural development mission has concluded in Antigua and Barbuda, marking a significant step toward modernizing the nation’s farming sector. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in collaboration with Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries, and the Blue Economy, has successfully completed a comprehensive week-long program designed to transform local protected agriculture operations into financially viable investment opportunities.

    The initiative brought together 15 pioneering farmers alongside more than 20 government officials and private sector representatives. Under the guidance of FAO Agribusiness Finance Specialist Dr. Omardath Maharaj, the program focused on enhancing the economic sustainability of various farming systems including greenhouse, hydroponic, and shade house operations through targeted training sessions, thorough farm assessments, and extensive field interviews.

    This project represents a strategic expansion of previous agricultural development efforts in the region, building upon initiatives addressing water security, nature-based farming solutions, and the Water-Energy-Food Nexus sub-project under the Mexico-CARICOM-FAO Partnership established two years prior to promote climate resilience throughout the Caribbean.

    A cornerstone of the mission was the specialized workshop ‘From Data to Dollars: Building a Profitable & Resilient Farm Business,’ conducted on December 1, 2025, at the Agricultural Extension Division in St. John’s. The session attracted approximately 19 participants including extension officers, agricultural entrepreneurs, and protected agriculture farmers, providing them with essential skills to connect farm records and production costs with investment-ready business planning.

    Market analysis conducted during the mission revealed substantial demand from major buyers including supermarkets and hotels for high-value crops such as tomatoes, lettuce, and bell peppers. These findings were validated through comprehensive farm surveys and stakeholder consultations with key entities including the Antigua and Barbuda Agricultural Development Corporation and Epicurean Fine Foods & Pharmacy.

    Ms. Kathleen Forde of Seasonz Hydroponics Farm, one of the participating farmers, described the training as ‘timely and informative,’ expressing optimism that the acquired knowledge would significantly enhance both her farm operations and the nation’s overall agricultural productivity.

    Mr. Ika Fergus, Acting Chief Extension Officer and FAO National Correspondent, emphasized the mission’s alignment with ministerial objectives, noting that the developed business models provide farmers with clear financial justifications and planning tools necessary for commercialization and investment attraction, particularly in climate-resilient protected systems.

    The project’s next phase, scheduled for completion by February 2026, will involve detailed analysis of collected data to develop five customized business cases. These cases will directly support farmers in securing financing while assisting the Ministry in attracting investments toward building a more sustainable, resilient, and profitable agricultural sector focused on import substitution and improved national livelihoods.

  • 198 arrests in cross-border illegal gold mining operation in Guyana, other South American countries- INTERPOL

    198 arrests in cross-border illegal gold mining operation in Guyana, other South American countries- INTERPOL

    In a landmark multinational law enforcement operation, police and prosecutors from Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname have conducted their first coordinated transnational strike against illegal gold mining networks. The operation, dubbed ‘Guyana Shield’ and executed in December 2025, resulted in 198 arrests and significant seizures of contraband across the region.

    Coordinated through INTERPOL with support from the European Union’s EL PACCTO 2.0 program and the Dutch Police’s High Impact Environmental Crime team, the operation deployed over 24,500 checks on vehicles and individuals across remote border areas. Among the most significant apprehensions were three men detained in Guyana on suspicion of gold smuggling and money laundering. The suspects, allegedly connected to a major organized crime group with possible ties to a prominent Guyanese gold exporting firm, were intercepted carrying unprocessed gold and USD 590,000 in cash.

    The operation yielded substantial environmental enforcement breakthroughs, particularly with the seizure of mercury cylinders valued at over USD 60,000 in Guyana and Suriname. The toxic substance, commonly used in illegal mining operations to separate gold from other metals, was discovered concealed within solar panels during transport by bus. Mercury contamination represents a severe ecological and public health threat in the environmentally fragile region.

    Innovative ‘mirror operations’ saw officers from neighboring countries conducting simultaneous checks on opposite banks of border rivers Oyapock and Maroni. These coordinated efforts targeted small riverside stores known to supply mining equipment and facilitate gold smuggling operations. Inspections resulted in the confiscation of counterfeit medicines, alcohol, and cigarettes worth over USD 40,000, marking the first transnational police deployment of its kind in the area.

    Additional seizures included mining equipment such as pumps and gold-trapping mats, firearms, communications devices, and the interception of a bus carrying undocumented migrants. Several minors aboard were suspected victims of child labor or sexual exploitation networks.

    INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza highlighted the global context: ‘The surge in international gold prices in recent years has made illegal gold mining the fastest-growing revenue stream for organized crime groups, including in Latin America. At INTERPOL, we are committed to working with our partners to disrupt those networks and prevent more damage to this remote and environmentally fragile region.’

  • Interpol treft illegale goudsector in Guyanaschild

    Interpol treft illegale goudsector in Guyanaschild

    In a landmark multinational operation, security and justice authorities from Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname have delivered a devastating blow to illegal gold mining operations throughout the ecologically sensitive Guyana Shield region. Conducted in December 2025, Operation Guyana Shield resulted in the apprehension of nearly 200 suspects and the seizure of substantial quantities of gold, cash, mercury, and mining equipment.

    The extensive crackdown involved over 24,500 individual and vehicle inspections across remote border territories. In Guyana alone, three individuals were arrested on suspicion of gold smuggling and money laundering after being found in possession of unprocessed gold and approximately $590,000 in US currency. Investigations suggest these suspects belong to an organized criminal network with potential connections to a prominent Guyanese gold exporter.

    INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza highlighted the direct correlation between soaring global gold prices and the proliferation of illegal mining activities. “Illegal gold mining has emerged as one of the fastest-growing revenue streams for organized crime in Latin America,” Urquiza warned. “These operations inflict irreparable damage upon an ecologically vulnerable region while simultaneously undermining the rule of law.”

    A significant achievement of the operation was the interception of mercury cylinders valued at over $60,000 in Guyana and Suriname. The highly toxic substance, commonly used in illegal gold processing, was discovered concealed within solar panels and transported via bus. Mirror operations conducted simultaneously along the Oyapock and Marowijne border rivers enabled coordinated inspections on both sides of these waterways.

    Authorities additionally confiscated counterfeit medications, alcohol, and cigarettes worth approximately $40,000 from stores supplying miners and suspected of involvement in gold and contraband smuggling. The operation also netted mining apparatus including pumps and gold mats, firearms, communication equipment, and intercepted a bus carrying undocumented migrants—including minors potentially vulnerable to child labor or sexual exploitation.

    Supported by the European cooperation program EL PAcCTO 2.0, INTERPOL, and the Dutch Police’s High Impact Environmental Crime team, participating agencies have hailed the operation as a breakthrough in regional collaboration against illegal mining and associated criminal enterprises.

  • The human rights record of Saint Kitts and Nevis to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

    The human rights record of Saint Kitts and Nevis to be examined by Universal Periodic Review

    The United Nations Human Rights Council will conduct its fourth comprehensive assessment of Saint Kitts and Nevis’s human rights record through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. Scheduled for January 27, 2026, from 09:00 to 12:30 GMT+1 in Geneva, the examination will be publicly webcast from the Palais des Nations Assembly Hall.

    This review places the Caribbean nation among 13 states undergoing evaluation during the January 19-30, 2026 session. The previous assessments occurred in January 2011, November 2015, and January 2021, establishing a consistent pattern of international human rights monitoring.

    The UPR Working Group, comprising all 47 Human Rights Council member states, will evaluate Saint Kitts and Nevis based on three primary documentation sources: the national report submitted by the government, independent assessments from UN human rights experts and treaty bodies, and supplementary information from civil society organizations and national human rights institutions.

    Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs Mr. Garth Wilkin will lead the Saint Kitts and Nevis delegation. The review process will be facilitated by a troika of rapporteurs representing Bolivia, Ghana, and Iceland, ensuring multilateral oversight.

    The UPR mechanism represents a peer-driven evaluation system encompassing all 193 UN Member States. During this fourth assessment cycle, Saint Kitts and Nevis is expected to demonstrate implementation progress on previous recommendations while highlighting recent human rights developments. The Working Group will formally adopt its recommendations on January 30, 2026, providing the reviewed nation opportunity to respond to proposed measures.

    This transparent process allows global observation through live webcast and provides documentation accessibility via the UPR Extranet, maintaining the integrity and openness characteristic of international human rights monitoring.

  • St. Kitts-Nevis joins OAS in solemn reflection on anniversary of Haiti earthquake

    St. Kitts-Nevis joins OAS in solemn reflection on anniversary of Haiti earthquake

    WASHINGTON, DC – Sixteen years after the catastrophic magnitude 7.0 earthquake that ravaged Haiti, member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) convened for a solemn commemoration of the tragic event that continues to resonate throughout the Western Hemisphere. The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis joined fellow OAS members in honoring the memory of the victims and celebrating Haitian resilience during a special session of the Permanent Council on Wednesday, January 21st.

    Ambassador Jacinth Henry-Martin, representing St. Kitts and Nevis, delivered a poignant address acknowledging the profound human, social, and economic devastation caused by the January 12, 2010 disaster. The earthquake resulted in hundreds of thousands of fatalities, displaced millions of citizens, and triggered significant migration patterns that continue to affect Caribbean nations and the United States.

    In her remarks, Ambassador Henry-Martin paid tribute not only to those who perished but also to the extraordinary fortitude demonstrated by the Haitian people. ‘From a nation of historical overcomers emerged, from the rubble and sorrow, valiant women and men who, despite unimaginable hardships, have continued to rebuild their communities,’ she stated, emphasizing the ‘extraordinary courage and resilience’ that has characterized Haiti’s response to the tragedy.

    The ambassador contextualized Haiti’s ongoing struggles within its remarkable historical legacy, noting the country’s pioneering role as the first Black Republic and the first nation in the Americas to achieve independence. She highlighted how Haiti’s 1804 revolution inspired liberation movements throughout the region and affirmed universal principles of liberty and self-determination.

    Ambassador Henry-Martin reaffirmed the collective responsibility of OAS member states to support Haiti’s recovery and development, stating: ‘It is therefore our collective responsibility to ensure that Haiti is not defined by this or any other disaster, nor by ensuing crises, but by its enduring contributions and its future promise.’

    She recalled the extensive solidarity demonstrated by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) partners and the international community following the earthquake, characterizing this support as ‘not merely an act of charity, but equal as an expression of shared history, shared humanity, and shared destiny within the Americas.’

    The ambassador concluded by calling for sustained international cooperation, respect for Haitian ownership of its development path, and renewed commitment to peace, institution-building, and inclusive growth throughout the nation.

  • FLASH : More than 8,100 Haitians killed in 11 months (2025)

    FLASH : More than 8,100 Haitians killed in 11 months (2025)

    A stark United Nations assessment has revealed Haiti descended into unprecedented violence throughout 2025, with armed gangs inflicting a devastating human toll and bringing the nation to a critical juncture. According to the latest report from the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), presented to the Security Council on January 15, 2026, more than 8,100 Haitians were killed between January and November 2025 due to armed violence, a figure believed to be a significant undercount given limited access to gang-controlled territories.

    The crisis has evolved beyond the capital, Port-au-Prince, with gang networks expanding their influence into strategic regions including Arcahaie, Mirebalais, Lascahobas, and the Artibonite department. This geographical spread has effectively paralyzed vital commercial and humanitarian routes, severely undermining state authority. Armed groups systematically targeted individuals suspected of collaborating with or resisting police forces, employing sexual violence primarily against women and girls as a punitive weapon of war.

    In response, the Haitian National Police (PNH), supported by the Haitian Armed Forces and the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), intensified counter-operations. These efforts succeeded in reopening several major national roads, though the overall security situation remains critically fragile. Despite a marginal 6.2% decrease in violence within the capital in the final quarter, violence exploded in provincial areas, nearly doubling in certain rural regions. The Artibonite and Center departments reported 1,916 deaths in 2025, a sharp increase from the 1,050 recorded during the same period in 2024.

    Beyond killings, gangs sustained campaigns of kidnapping for ransom, extortion, and systematic property destruction. These actions have severely hindered public access to essential services, including healthcare and education, while exacerbating severe food insecurity and economic hardship. The report also highlights a disturbing rise in child trafficking, with gangs coercing minors into various roles, including participation in violent attacks.

    The coordinated assaults, often executed with weapons of war on multiple fronts, signify a grave and deteriorating security situation that demands urgent international attention and a reinforced response to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe.