Carib Scope

博客

  • PTA president condemns shooting near school

    PTA president condemns shooting near school

    A Tuesday morning shooting in the Eden Lodge neighborhood of St. Michael, steps away from a local educational facility, has drawn fierce condemnation from the top leader of Barbados’ national parent-teacher association, who is sounding the alarm over the grave danger such violence poses to schoolchildren across the island.

    Nicole Brathwaite, president of the Barbados National Council of Parent Teacher Associations (BNCPTA), denounced the violent incident in blunt terms, labeling it far more than a random tragedy—calling it fundamentally unacceptable to allow gun violence to creep so close to spaces dedicated to children’s learning. By the time the shooting occurred, Brathwaite noted, hundreds of local parents had already dropped their kids off for classes at the nearby school, putting innocent young lives directly in harm’s way.

    “This is not just unfortunate, this is unacceptable,” Brathwaite stated in public comments following the incident, emphasizing that recurring acts of violence near educational institutions systematically erode the safe environment every child has a right to expect. No innocent student should have to navigate the threat of gun violence simply while attending classes, she added.

    In the wake of the shooting, as law enforcement worked to secure the area and reunite students with their families safely, Brathwaite urged Barbadian parents to stay calm and coordinate closely with guidance issued by the Barbados Police Service throughout the response process.

    Beyond the immediate response to this specific incident, the BNCPTA president issued a broader call to action for all Barbadian citizens: step up vigilance in local communities, and work collectively to push for systemic changes that will create safer neighborhoods for families and children. “Our children deserve nothing less,” Brathwaite said, cementing the parent-teacher body’s commitment to prioritizing student safety across the country.

  • Police probe shooting near Eden Lodge school

    Police probe shooting near Eden Lodge school

    Authorities in St Michael have opened a criminal investigation into a shooting that unfolded near a local educational facility on Sorrel Lane in Eden Lodge early Tuesday.

    According to preliminary law enforcement updates, the incident took place at approximately 8:25 a.m., when an unidentified man was going about his activities in the area. A single attacker approached the man before opening fire, discharging multiple rounds toward the target. Facing the sudden attack, the targeted man managed to escape the scene unconfirmed whether he sustained any injuries as of the latest update.

    To date, no additional details about the identity of the suspect, the potential motive for the attack, or the condition of the man who fled have been released by investigators. Law enforcement representatives confirmed that the case remains active, with officers working steadily to piece together the sequence of events and identify the person responsible.

    In a public appeal issued following the incident, police are urging any member of the public who was in the Sorrel Lane area around the time of the shooting, witnessed the confrontation or gunfire, or has any other information that could advance the investigation to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-8477, via the national police emergency line at 211, or directly to District ‘A’ Police Station through the phone numbers 430-7242 and 430-7246.

  • Wanted man now in custody as police investigations continue

    Wanted man now in custody as police investigations continue

    Just three days after Barbados law enforcement issued a public wanted notice for a suspect linked to serious criminal activity, the manhunt has come to a swift close. Derick David Rudolph Crawford, who was named in the Barbados Police Service’s (TBPS) ‘Wanted Man’ bulletin distributed to the public on Friday, January 6, is now in police custody, according to official updates from the service.

    TBPS confirmed that officers took Crawford into detention on Monday, and the individual is currently cooperating with the investigative team by answering questions related to the outstanding serious criminal matters that first prompted the wanted alert.

    In a statement following the arrest, law enforcement representatives extended formal gratitude to members of the local public and regional media outlets for their role in securing the suspect’s apprehension. The public’s sharing of the wanted bulletin and media coverage of the ongoing investigation played a key part in bringing the manhunt to a successful resolution, police noted.

  • Hinds remanded on gun, ammo charges

    Hinds remanded on gun, ammo charges

    A 35-year-old resident of Christ Church, Barbados, has been ordered into pre-trial detention at Dodds Prison following a court appearance on weapons and flight charges. Livardo Roghileo Hinds, whose address is listed as Durants, Lodge Road, made his first appearance before Magistrate Keitha Ellis at the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ Court this Monday.

    Hinds faces three separate charges stemming from two separate time periods. The two most serious offenses relate to illegal possession of a firearm and an unspecified quantity of ammunition, which authorities allege occurred on April 28. Additionally, the defendant is accused of absconding – failing to appear for required legal check-ins or court mandates – on two separate dates: February 2 and March 12 of this year.

    As the charges against Hinds are indictable offenses, meaning they are serious enough to warrant a trial by higher court, he was not required to enter a formal plea during this initial hearing. Following the brief proceedings, Magistrate Ellis ordered Hinds be held at Dodds Prison until his next scheduled appearance. The case has been adjourned until Friday, May 22, when Hinds will return to court for the next stage of the legal process.

  • Saint Lucian track athletes hit milestones in weekend action

    Saint Lucian track athletes hit milestones in weekend action

    A cohort of talented track and field athletes from Saint Lucia turned heads across multiple competitive meets held across the United States over the past weekend, delivering standout performances that included three new national records and one confirmed qualifying spot for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

    Leading the group of high achievers was University of Kansas sprinter Michael Joseph, who capped off his senior home schedule in dominant fashion at the Rock Chalk Classic hosted at Lawrence’s Rock Chalk Park on May 2. The event doubled as Kansas’ annual senior day celebration, and Joseph did not disappoint, taking top honors in both of his scheduled races. In the men’s 400-meter dash, he clocked an impressive 45.54 seconds – marking the third time this season he has run the distance under the 46.46-second qualifying threshold for the Commonwealth Games. His performance locked in his spot at the July tournament in Scotland. Joseph also anchored the University of Kansas 4×400-meter relay team to a winning finish, crossing the line in 3:06.09.

    Halfway across the state of Texas, graduate transfer Lauralyn Clifford of the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) delivered a career-best performance at the Texas A&M Alumni Muster held at College Station’s E.B. Cushing Stadium. Competing in the women’s hammer throw, Clifford saved her best effort for her final attempt of the competition, launching the implement 59.77 meters (196 feet 1 inch). The throw broke Acacia Astwood’s 2023 UTSA program record of 59.39 meters, and also set a new senior national record for Saint Lucia. It currently ranks as the second-best mark in the American Athletic Conference for the 2026 season.

    In the under-20 division, 18-year-old Naya Jules of Garden City Community College made history at the Region VI Championships in Arkansas City, Kansas, where she claimed the silver medal in the women’s heptathlon with a new Saint Lucian U20 national record total of 4477 points. The score also broke Garden City’s program record, and would have been enough to earn silver at the CARIFTA Games, the top regional youth track and field championship for the Caribbean. Across the seven-event competition, Jules notched a 9th-place 16.88-second finish in the 100-meter hurdles, a 2nd-place high jump of 1.54 meters (a personal best), a 1st-place shot put of 10.85 meters (another personal best), and a 7th-place 26.78-second 200-meter run on the first day of competition. On day two, she added an 8th-place long jump of 4.82 meters, a 1st-place javelin throw of 40.53 meters, and a 3rd-place 2:29.71 800-meter run to close out her record-setting performance. Jules also added another program record in the open javelin competition, throwing 41.88 meters to take bronze, and finished fifth in the pole vault with a 3.01-meter clearance.

    Meanwhile, at the Puma East Coast International Showcase in Baltimore, Maryland, Jamaica College’s Denzel Phillips, another U20 athlete from Saint Lucia, claimed gold in the men’s shot put and silver in the men’s discus. He improved his own national under-20 record in both events, throwing 17.21 meters (56 feet 5.5 inches) to win the shot put title, and extending his qualifying mark for the World Athletics Under-20 Championships to 58.39 meters (191 feet 7 inches) in the discus, finishing just behind Jamaican rival Joseph Salmon to take second.

    Beyond the headline-making record-breakers, several other Saint Lucian athletes posted solid results at weekend meets across the country. Khailan Vitalis won the men’s 110-meter hurdles at the Duke Twilight with a time of 13.90 seconds. Cagini Pilgrim placed fourth in both the men’s 100-meter (10.65 seconds) and 200-meter (21.38 seconds) events at the GLVC Championships, while Miguel Charlery notched 13th in the 100-meter (10.62 seconds) and 11th in the 200-meter (21.71 seconds) at the PSAC Championships. At the HBCUAC Championship, Ishmael Durand placed 26th in the 100-meter (11.54 seconds) and 19th in the 200-meter (23.12 seconds), while Shamael Durand finished fifth in shot put (10.84 meters), seventh in discus (29.33 meters), and 12th in javelin (29.50 meters). Asa Francis placed 10th in the men’s 800-meter at the Kehoe Twilight Meet with a 1:50.05 finish, and Rayshawn Harris clocked 2:02.19 for 33rd in the same event. On the women’s side, Naomi London took fourth in the 100-meter (11.45 seconds) and sixth in the 200-meter (23.03 seconds) at the Texas Invite. Carleen Lionel finished 22nd in the 100-meter at the Atlantic 10 Championships with 12.52 seconds, while Jola Felix posted 10th in the 100-meter (12.68 seconds) and 17th in the 200-meter (27.12 seconds) at the Heart of America Championships. Kereser Augustin placed eighth in the women’s 400-meter at the MIAA Outdoor Championships with 55.88 seconds. Jasmine Stiede notched fourth in the 800-meter (2:13.56) and sixth in the 1500-meter (4:35.50) at the Rock Chalk Classic, while Natalie Albert took third in the women’s hammer throw at the Memphis Tiger Invite with a 54.25-meter throw.

  • Young Track Stars Shine as Team Nevis Claims Victory at Inter-Island Primary Athletics Championships

    Young Track Stars Shine as Team Nevis Claims Victory at Inter-Island Primary Athletics Championships

    After a six-year pause that left young track and field enthusiasts across St. Kitts and Nevis waiting for top-level inter-island youth competition, the St. Kitts and Nevis Inter-Island Primary Athletics Championships made its triumphant return on May 3, 2026. Hosted at Nevis’ state-of-the-art Mondo Track at the Nevis Athletic Stadium by SKN Athletics and the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), the 2026 edition delivered three days of thrilling competition that ended with Team Nevis securing the overall championship title, with congratulations flooding in from across the federation for the young rising stars.

    Athletes from the primary school systems of both Nevis and St. Kitts, ranging in age groups from Under-9 to Under-13, took to the track to test their speed, endurance and competitive grit against the best young talent in the country. For many of the young competitors, this marked their first experience of a large-scale inter-island sporting event, bringing a electric energy to the stadium that was felt by athletes, coaches, and packed crowds of supporters.

    When the final race was run and all points were tallied, Team Nevis claimed victory with a dominant medal haul: 19 gold medals, 14 silver medals, and 10 bronze medals. Team St. Kitts turned in a standout performance of their own, finishing with 15 gold, 20 silver, and 16 bronze medals, showcasing the depth of young athletic talent across both islands.

    Several young athletes delivered career-defining performances to earn top individual honors. Roné Isles, a rising middle-distance star from Team Nevis, was named the meet’s Victrix Ludorum (top female athlete) after an unprecedented five gold medal finish. Isles took individual gold in the Girls Under-13 400m, Girls Under-13 800m, and Girls Open 1200m, before adding two more gold medals as a key member of the winning Girls Under-13 4x100m relay and Girls Open 4x400m relay teams. The Victor Ludorum title for top male athlete went to Calvert Gift of Team St. Kitts, who also turned in a series of impressive performances across his events.

    Hon. Senator Troy Liburd, NIA’s Minister of Education and Youth, was among the first public officials to congratulate the winning team, praising not just the final result but the values the competition fostered for young people across the country. “On Sunday we celebrated not just a victory, but the power of teamwork, perseverance, and national pride,” Liburd said in official remarks following the meet. “I extend heartfelt congratulations to Team Nevis on their outstanding victory at the St. Kitts and Nevis Inter-Island Primary Athletics Championship.”

    “This achievement is a testament to the dedication, discipline, and resilience of our student athletes, the unwavering commitment of their coaches, and the steadfast support of parents who continue to nurture excellence both on and off the field. Your collective effort has made the entire Federation proud. Well done, Team Nevis- your success inspires us all,” Liburd added.

    The minister also extended praise to Team St. Kitts for their strong competitive showing, noting that the mutual respect and good sportsmanship on display throughout the championship embodied the core values that the event was designed to promote. “The sportsmanship and athletic excellence displayed throughout the meet embodied the true spirit of unity and healthy competition that defines the games,” he said.

    The return of the inter-island primary championship after six years has been widely hailed as a critical milestone for developing youth athletics in St. Kitts and Nevis, giving promising young athletes a platform to showcase their skills and build experience ahead of future national and regional competitions. Organizers have confirmed that the event will return on an annual basis moving forward, continuing the tradition of fostering the next generation of track and field talent across the federation.

  • LIVE: Disasters and you – Learn more about hazards

    LIVE: Disasters and you – Learn more about hazards

    The input provided for this news processing task only includes social media sharing buttons, a link to an image hosted on an external server, and no actual substantive news text. Without the core journalistic content that details events, statements, data, or context, it is impossible to conduct a full analysis, fact-checking, or structured rewriting of a reported news story. The image link provided cannot be accessed or processed to extract relevant news content in this text-based workflow, leaving no information to reconstruct into a complete news article.

  • SPL 6 playoff picture set

    SPL 6 playoff picture set

    After a dramatic final weekend of group stage action, the four teams set to compete for the 2024 Saint Lucia Premier League (SPL) T20 title have officially been confirmed, with twists, standout individual performances, and unexpected eliminations shaping the final playoff lineup.

    The opening fixture of the weekend was derailed before it could deliver a result, as an island-wide power outage forced the abandonment of the clash between Choiseul Craft Masters and Mon Repos Pioneers. With neither side able to claim the two points on offer for a win, the draw left both teams trailing in the rankings, dashing their hopes of securing a higher seed heading into the knockout stage.

    On Saturday morning, the first of the Final Four spots was claimed by Soufriere Titans, who pulled off an upset against defending champions Gros Islet Knights to secure their place with a 12-run victory. The match at Soufriere hosted a lively, family-friendly atmosphere, with children enjoying face-painting activities in the stands before the competitive action unfolded.

    The Titans’ win was anchored by a blistering, unbeaten century from middle-order batsman Djourn Charles, who smashed 107 runs off just 54 deliveries, including 10 fours and 8 towering sixes. Charles’ explosive innings carried Soufriere to a total of 203 all out, with Gros Islet’s Tarrique Edward turning in the best bowling performance of the match, claiming three wickets for 36 runs.

    In their chase, the defending champions managed only 191 all out. While experienced batters Kimani Melius and Noelle Leo both got starts, notching 23 runs each, only Dillon Douglas was able to convert his chance, finishing with 64 runs. Tight, disciplined bowling from Kevin Sinclar (1-17 off four overs) and Shani Maximin (2-29 off three overs) kept the Knights’ chase in check, securing the win for the Titans and leaving them second in the final group stage standings.

    The second Saturday match brought another elimination twist, as Micoud Eagles defeated their local rivals Mon Repos Pioneers by 40 runs to book their playoff spot and knock Mon Repos out of title contention. Micoud posted a mammoth total of 257 batting first, powered by a phenomenal near-century from Dominic Auguste. Auguste fell just one run short of a hundred, bowled by Cody Lesmond after striking 10 sixes and six fours, with Samuel Charles adding a valuable 45 runs before also falling short of a personal milestone.

    Mon Repos got off to a strong start in their chase, with Sabinus Emmanuel notching 55 and Keon Gaston hitting a brilliant century of 118, but their efforts were not enough to overhaul the total; they finished at 217 all out. Ted Jones was the standout bowler for the Eagles, claiming three wickets for 34 runs to seal the win and leave Micoud third in the final rankings.

    Sunday opened with a do-or-die clash for Gros Islet Knights, who needed a win over undefeated group leaders City Blasters to keep their hopes of back-to-back titles alive. The tournament’s only unbeaten side proved too strong, however, securing a dominant eight-wicket victory to end the defending champions’ campaign.

    Batting first, Gros Islet collapsed to just 103 all out, with four of their top-order batters dismissed for zero. Only a 36-run knock from captain Kimani Melius pushed the side into triple figures. Amari Goodridge (4-18) and Jaden Elibox (4-20) tore through the Knights’ batting lineup, leaving the Blasters with a tiny target to chase.

    City Blasters made light work of the 104-run requirement, reaching the target in just 6.3 overs behind an unbeaten 63 from Stephen Naitrum, which included seven sixes and five fours. Tarrique Edward claimed the only two wickets for Gros Islet, finishing with 2-43 off two overs, but it was not enough to stop the group leaders.

    The final group stage match saw Choiseul Craft Masters secure the last remaining Final Four spot, needing a win over already-qualified Micoud Eagles to leapfrog the eliminated defending champions and claim their place. Choiseul’s bowling attack dominated the Eagles, bundling them out for just 134, with Bronte Bess claiming 3-18 and Dornan Edward taking 3-24 to lead the attack.

    Choiseul, nicknamed the Men in Orange, chased down the target in just 8.4 overs, with Jason Simon hitting 56 off 31 deliveries and Junior Henry smashing 50 off 20 deliveries to lead the side to a seven-wicket victory.

    With the group stage now complete, the knockout phase of the tournament is ready to get underway using the Page Playoff System, a four-match structure consisting of Qualifier 1, the Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the championship Final. The format gives the top two group stage teams a second chance to advance to the Final, while the third and fourth seeds face an immediate sudden-death elimination in the Eliminator.

  • Caribbean women lead the way in business and legacy building at Vision to Velocity 2026

    Caribbean women lead the way in business and legacy building at Vision to Velocity 2026

    Against the backdrop of annual Female Founders Month and Mother’s Month celebrations, the 2026 Vision to Velocity conference has emerged as a landmark gathering centered on amplifying the rising influence of Caribbean women entrepreneurs, who are reshaping industries and building lasting legacies across the region.

    Held to address persistent gaps in accessible, practical support for local business builders, the conference drew more than 100 established entrepreneurs, industry professionals and early-career emerging leaders from across the Caribbean. Unlike many conventional business events that lean heavily on abstract theory, the gathering was designed as a hands-on immersive experience, with deep dives into high-impact topics critical to small and growing ventures: strategic public relations, targeted marketing, intentional brand building, sustainable monetization and adaptive self-leadership. Throughout the multi-day event, women founders took center stage, sharing real-world insights into how they are advancing innovation and expanding economic opportunity across Caribbean markets.

    Organizers noted in an official press release that the conference was crafted specifically to respond to widespread challenges facing today’s Caribbean entrepreneurs: chronic professional burnout, persistent market uncertainty, and the spread of harmful misinformation about business scaling. Rather than offering generic advice, every session was built from the on-the-ground lived experiences of Caribbean business leaders who are currently growing and expanding their own ventures in the region, providing attendees with a grounded, supportive space to gain strategic clarity and actionable direction.

    Attendees left the conference with clear next steps, encouraged to re-evaluate their existing business strategies, boost their brand visibility in both local and global markets, and adopt more intentional approaches to leadership. Multiple participants reported leaving with a renewed sense of confidence and a refined, actionable roadmap to scale their operations beyond national borders into international markets.

    Shelly-Ann Aqui Solomon, founder of the Vision to Velocity conference, framed the event’s mission in terms of long-term impact rather than short-term gains. “This is about leadership and legacy,” she explained. “As Caribbean women, as mothers, as founders, we are shaping more than businesses; we are shaping the future. When we step into that fully, everything changes.”

    One of the most celebrated moments of the gathering was the formal recognition of graduating entrepreneurs from the Positioned to Propel Success Academy, the conference’s flagship development program. Over the course of the program, these participants completed structured skill-building training that equipped them with the core leadership and strategic tools needed to grow sustainable businesses.

    Beyond supporting established founders, the conference placed intentional focus on nurturing the next generation of Caribbean women leaders through its Next Generation Initiative. The program invited young women between the ages of 17 and 25 to participate in high-level business discussions, connect with experienced mentors, and gain first-hand experience in professional leadership environments. Aligned with the theme of Mother’s Month, the initiative highlighted the critical role of intergenerational guidance, intentional support, and intentional pathway-building to prepare future female leaders to thrive in the Caribbean business ecosystem.

    Organizers also extended public recognition to event sponsors, whose financial and in-kind support made it possible to expand access to the conference and advance the visibility and growth of entrepreneurs across the region.

    Closing out the official press release, organizers emphasized the transformative leadership of Caribbean women entrepreneurs: “Caribbean women are not waiting for opportunity, they are leading, building, and creating legacy for generations to come.”

  • Explosie bij vuurwerkfabriek in China kost 26 levens

    Explosie bij vuurwerkfabriek in China kost 26 levens

    On a Monday afternoon in early May, a devastating explosion ripped through a fireworks manufacturing facility in Liuyang, a city in China’s central Hunan Province known globally as the country’s fireworks capital, leaving at least 26 people dead and 61 others injured. The blast, which occurred around 16:40 local time at the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company, generated enough force to level nearby structures and send towering plumes of black smoke billowing kilometers into the sky above the region.

    Emergency response operations mobilized rapidly in the wake of the disaster. More than 1,500 first responders, including firefighters, medical personnel, rescue workers, and police officers were deployed to the site, supported by 18 drones and specialized search-and-rescue robots to locate trapped survivors and bring the emergency under control. Authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of all nearby residential and industrial areas after identifying an ongoing risk of secondary blasts from two unignited storage facilities holding tons of combustible black gunpowder.

    User-shared footage circulating on social media platforms captured thick plumes of smoke rising against the backdrop of the region’s characteristic green mountain slopes, while on-site reporters confirmed that the entire facility and surrounding adjacent plots had been reduced to rubble. The blast’s powerful shockwaves tore mature trees from the ground, leaving a heavy, acrid smell of gunpowder hanging over the disaster zone for hours after the initial explosion.

    This tragedy is not an isolated incident for China’s fireworks industry, which has a long-documented history of workplace safety failures. Just one year prior, a nearly identical explosion at another Hunan Province fireworks factory left nine people dead and dozens more injured. More recently, a fatal blast at a chemical plant in northeastern China also claimed multiple lives, drawing renewed public and regulatory attention to the systemic risks of unsafe hazardous materials storage across Chinese industrial sectors.

    As of Tuesday, local government authorities overseeing Liuyang (which falls under the administrative jurisdiction of Changsha) announced that search and recovery operations for missing victims had been largely completed. The factory’s general manager has been taken into police custody, while official investigations into the root cause of the explosion are ongoing. In an immediate precautionary move, all fireworks and pyrotechnic production facilities across Liuyang have been ordered to suspend all operations immediately to undergo mandatory safety inspections.

    Chen Bozhang, Changsha’s deputy Communist Party secretary and mayor, delivered an official statement on behalf of local authorities expressing profound condolences to the families of the deceased and injured. “We feel extraordinary grief and take full responsibility for this tragedy,” Chen stated.

    At the national level, Chinese President Xi Jinping has issued formal orders for a thorough and expedited investigation into the disaster, and has called for strict accountability for any parties found responsible for safety lapses that led to the explosion. The Chinese central government has assembled a special national investigation team, and Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing traveled directly to Liuyang to oversee on-site rescue, recovery, and subsequent investigation efforts. President Xi further emphasized that all industries handling hazardous materials must strengthen risk management and safety oversight, with the protection of human life and public property designated as the highest priority.

    For Liuyang’s local economy, the fireworks industry is far more than a traditional trade—it is the single largest economic pillar of the region. A 2025 industrial report found that Liuyang’s fireworks sector generated 50 billion yuan (approximately 7.1 billion U.S. dollars) in annual revenue, spread across 431 licensed production facilities. The city supplies more than 60 percent of China’s total domestic fireworks demand, and accounts for roughly 70 percent of all Chinese fireworks exports worldwide. Nationwide, China’s 2025 fireworks exports totaled 1.14 billion U.S. dollars, representing more than two-thirds of the entire global fireworks market.

    President Xi’s call for strengthened industrial safety controls comes shortly after he previously issued instructions for a nationwide upgrade to China’s disaster response and emergency management capacity. The latest order follows a deadly 2025 fire at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Hong Kong that claimed 168 lives, after which President Xi also issued formal instructions for improved public safety protocols.