Carib Scope

博客

  • …Drew: All member states were informed and invited

    …Drew: All member states were informed and invited

    A deepening diplomatic rift has emerged within the Caribbean Community (Caricom) after the bloc’s current chairman has pushed back against claims that Trinidad and Tobago was improperly excluded from a key decision-making meeting that approved the reappointment of Caricom Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett.

    Dr Terrance Drew, who serves as both Caricom chairman and Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevi, laid out a detailed timeline of events in an April 8 correspondence addressed to Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Drew’s account confirms that every member state received full, formal notice of the closed-heads retreat held on Nevis on February 26, a side gathering held during Caricom’s 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government hosted by St Kitts and Nevis between February 24 and 27.

    Drew clarified that all participating leaders received advance official correspondence laying out the retreat’s date, location and agenda, with additional follow-up communications circulated throughout the main conference week. The full event schedule, which split business into plenary sessions, caucus meetings and the restricted heads-only retreat, was shared with all delegations far in advance. Items on the retreat’s working agenda included updates on global geopolitical shifts and discussions over Caricom’s internal financing and governance — a policy area where Secretariat leadership matters, including Secretary-General reappointments, are routinely addressed.

    Per Drew’s account, Persad-Bissessar departed the host federation on the evening of February 25, a full 24 hours before the retreat was scheduled to begin. Out of a commitment to ensuring Trinidad and Tobago still had representation, Drew reached out to the country’s Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Sean Sobers to ask if he would step in to attend in the Prime Minister’s place. According to Drew, Sobers turned down the invitation, citing personal discomfort with the only available transit option to Nevis: a standard local water-taxi service. Drew wrote that Sobers explicitly stated he declined over fears of experiencing seasickness during the crossing.

    It was during that restricted retreat that heads of government reviewed and approved Barnett’s reappointment, a process conducted in full alignment with Article 24 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which grants the Conference of Heads of Government full authority over Secretary-General reappointments. Drew noted that Barnett recused herself from the room and was not present for any part of the discussion. Out of respect for absent leaders, heads agreed to delay the public announcement of the decision to give the chair time to notify non-attending leaders first. Drew added that he personally attempted to reach Persad-Bissessar via both email and phone ahead of any public statement, but received no response to his messages and was unable to connect with her directly.

    Drew closed the letter by extending an open offer to discuss the matter further, sharing his direct contact information with the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister.

    However, the explanation has done little to resolve the dispute. On the Thursday following Drew’s letter, Sobers publicly rejected the account, saying the chairman’s response to Trinidad and Tobago’s original concerns was inadequate. Persad-Bissessar ordered a formal reply be sent to Drew, with a new letter dated April 9 refuting the claim that Sobers cited water-taxi discomfort as a reason for non-attendance. The rebuttal letter also renewed Trinidad and Tobago’s demand for full answers over what the country says is its improper exclusion from the reappointment process.

  • A village in mourning

    A village in mourning

    A tight-knit Trinidadian community is grappling with unspeakable loss after seven-year-old Angelica Saydee Jogie lost her life in a jet ski collision during a family vacation in Tobago last Wednesday. In the days following the tragedy, relatives gathered at the Jogie family’s Barrackpore home to hold an overnight wake for the young girl, whose sudden death has sent ripples of shock and heartbreak across the entire neighborhood. For Angelica’s loved ones, the tragedy has permanently altered the fabric of their family life.

    When local newspaper the Trinidad Express visited the quiet residential community on the day after the accident, family members struggled to hold back tears as they shared memories of the bright, beloved child. Two relatives, who requested anonymity to grieve privately, spoke of the joy Angelica brought to every person she met, a warmth that makes her passing even harder to accept. One relative said, “This incident has already changed the life of our family forever. Every day from now on, we will carry this grief. Life will never be the same again.” Another added, “This hurt cuts so deep that words cannot capture the pain I feel. All I know is I would never wish this suffering on any other family.”

    Out of their pain, the family is calling for urgent changes to water safety regulations in Tobago’s recreational coastal areas. They say the current system of marking boundaries between swimmer zones and jet ski routes with just a rope is woefully inadequate, putting all beachgoers in unnecessary danger. “A rope is not enough to protect bathers from high-speed jet skis; that is just putting lives at risk,” one relative explained. “We are calling on authorities to either designate a separate, secured area for jet ski operations or ban them entirely from popular swimming beaches. We need action, so no other family has to go through what we are suffering right now.”

    Steven Paul, cousin of Angelica’s father Arnold Jogie, shared that Angelica’s parents were deeply attentive and protective parents, who never let their children out of their sight near water. “The day before the accident, I spoke to Arnold, and he told me he always stayed right beside his kids,” Paul recalled. “The children were never more than an arm’s length away from him, and they only ever entered the water when he was with them. Both parents are so careful with their children.” Paul, who still says he struggles to process the news, added that the entire village has rallied around the grieving family. “When I got the call about Angelica, I started shaking, physically and mentally. I’m still trembling just talking about it now. The whole village is in shock. Since the night the accident happened, we’ve been gathered here to support each other and honor this innocent little girl.”

    In the wake of the accident, Angelica’s father was hospitalized, and relatives say they are holding out hope he will be able to return home to the community soon to grieve with his loved ones. As the family makes arrangements to bring Angelica home for her final services, relatives say they are focusing on lifting each other up, preparing for what they know will be an emotionally devastating homecoming. For the Barrackpore community, the loss of the young girl has left a permanent void that will never be filled.

  • Simons bij rouwzitting Santokhi: Het leven roept ons tot bezinning, maar ook tot voortgaan

    Simons bij rouwzitting Santokhi: Het leven roept ons tot bezinning, maar ook tot voortgaan

    On a solemn Friday session of Suriname’s National Assembly, lawmakers and political leaders gathered for an extraordinary memorial sitting to honor the sudden passing of Chan Santokhi, a respected former national president and sitting member of the legislative body. Opening the tribute, current National Assembly President Jennifer Simons delivered a heartfelt address reflecting on Santokhi’s unexpected death and the legacy he left behind for the Surinamese community.

    Simons opened her remarks by acknowledging the rare and shocking nature of Santokhi’s passing: it is extremely uncommon for a sitting parliamentarian to die suddenly while still active in public service. The sudden loss, she noted, has forced people across the country to confront a harsh, unavoidable truth about the nature of life and mortality.

    In her reflection, Simons articulated what she described as two seemingly contradictory but equally true truths about human existence. On one hand, all human life is inherently temporary; on the other, the impact and contributions a person makes to their community can endure long after they are gone. These ideas have occupied Simons’ thoughts deeply in the days since Santokhi’s passing, she shared.

    The assembly president also shared personal reflections on her long working relationship with Santokhi, whom she collaborated with across multiple stages of their political careers. She first worked with him when he served as a government minister, and more recently as a fellow colleague in the National Assembly. Simons described their working dynamic as consistently professional, rooted in a shared commitment to advancing Suriname’s national interests, with no dramatic conflicts or extreme rifts even when their political views diverged.

    It was precisely that commitment to professional cooperation, Simons emphasized, that allowed the two to work together effectively within the legislative framework despite any political disagreements. She admitted that the sudden absence of someone who was an active, visible participant in national public life just days before remains difficult to process for many in the political community and across the country.

    Even amid the collective grief, Simons called on the Surinamese people and the National Assembly to demonstrate resilience in the face of loss. “Condolences and mourning are right and proper at this time, but we must move forward from this moment as a society,” she stated. “We will carry his memory with us as we continue our work.”

  • Zon, bewolking en verspreide buien

    Zon, bewolking en verspreide buien

    On April 11, the latest national weather forecast for the Netherlands confirms that the overall weather pattern will remain changeable through the day, with a repeating cycle of sunny intervals, cloud cover, and scattered rain showers across different regions of the country.

    The day will kick off across most locations with partly cloudy skies in the early morning hours, with a chance of isolated light rain showers, particularly concentrated in the coastal lowlands and inland regions. As the morning progresses, short stretches of sunshine will break through the cloud cover, though cloud coverage will gradually build across the country through this period.

    Heading into the afternoon, the probability of rain showers and thunderstorms will rise, most notably across inland areas and the southern parts of the Netherlands. Some local regions could see these storms bring heavier downpours and sudden gusts of wind. In contrast, coastal areas will generally experience shorter, less intense precipitation events.

    Winds across the country will be light to moderate, blowing from an easterly to northeasterly direction. Daytime high temperatures will settle between 30 and 32 degrees Celsius, while overnight low temperatures in the early morning will range from 23 to 25 degrees Celsius.

    Through the evening and overnight hours, skies will remain partly to mostly cloudy, with continued chances of scattered isolated showers, primarily across inland sections of the country.

  • Spanning en scepsis rond vredesbesprekingen VS-Iran terwijl geweld in Libanon voortduurt

    Spanning en scepsis rond vredesbesprekingen VS-Iran terwijl geweld in Libanon voortduurt

    On Friday, a high-level United States delegation headed by Vice President JD Vance touched down in Islamabad for long-awaited peace negotiations with Iran, but the diplomatic effort was immediately overshadowed by mutual accusations of ceasefire violations and rising violence in neighboring Lebanon that has cast deep uncertainty over prospects for a lasting regional peace deal.

    The US delegation, which also includes special envoy Steve Witkoff and former White House advisor Jared Kushner, arrived in the Pakistani capital under strict security lockdown measures. Pakistan has positioned itself as a neutral mediator for the talks, seeking to cement its role as a stabilizing force in a region that has been torn apart by months of open conflict.

    However, Iran has laid out strict preconditions that have already thrown the launch of formal negotiations into question. Senior Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, have made two non-negotiable demands before talks can proceed: any temporary ceasefire must explicitly extend to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon, and all Iranian assets frozen under international sanctions must be unblocked immediately.

    The US administration has already expressed open skepticism about the possibility of quickly reopening the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, which is controlled by Iran. A months-long Iranian blockade of the key waterway has already caused massive disruptions to global energy supplies. Ahead of the negotiations, former President Trump stated that the US is extending an “open hand” to Tehran, but warned that the delegation would not tolerate bad-faith negotiating tactics.

    While diplomats gather in Pakistan, deadly violence continues to escalate in Lebanon. Israeli airstrikes targeting positions in southern Lebanon and the capital Beirut have killed hundreds of people and forced mass civilian displacement across the country. In response, Hezbollah has launched sustained rocket attacks against northern Israeli cities, amplifying tensions in a country already grappling with a weak central government, deep sectarian divisions, and a collapsing national economy.

    Though Israel recently agreed to enter separate peace talks with Lebanese government representatives, regional analysts remain deeply pessimistic about any breakthrough, as the Lebanese government lacks meaningful leverage over Hezbollah. The militant group has refused to participate in direct negotiations, creating a major barrier to any permanent ceasefire agreement.

    The gap between core US and Iranian demands remains wide, creating a major obstacle to any successful diplomatic outcome. Iran’s key demands include a full end to economic sanctions that have gutted its national economy, formal international recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and a complete withdrawal of US military forces from the Middle East region. On the other side, the US is demanding that Iran end all uranium enrichment activities, abandon its ballistic missile arsenal, cut off all support to regional armed proxy groups, and release at least six detained American citizens, including journalist Reza Valizadeh.

    Leading regional analysts warn that the wide gap between the two sides’ positions means the risk of a full resumption of open conflict remains very high. Barbara Leaf, a former senior US diplomat focused on the Middle East, emphasized there is a “very large risk” that tensions will reignite, particularly given the already severe damage the conflict has inflicted on global energy markets and global inflation levels.

    The ongoing crisis has already triggered the largest disruption to global oil supplies in modern history, stoking widespread inflationary pressures, worsening global food insecurity, and pushing the global economy closer to the edge of recession. While the temporary ceasefire has reduced direct hostilities between major parties, Iran has maintained partial blockades on the Strait of Hormuz, restricting access for non-Iranian shipping and extending economic disruptions across global markets.

    The economic fallout of the crisis is already being felt in the United States. March inflation data released recently showed consumer prices rising by 0.9% month-over-month, the fastest single-month increase since the major inflation shock of mid-2022. This has amplified economic pressure on the Trump administration just months ahead of upcoming midterm elections.

  • Why is it raining so much in April in the Dominican Republic: climatic causes explained

    Why is it raining so much in April in the Dominican Republic: climatic causes explained

    The Dominican Republic is facing an extraordinary and alarming weather anomaly this April: far outside the country’s typical seasonal rainfall patterns, days of extreme, high-volume downpours have shattered historical averages, leaving residents and experts grappling with a shift that is already upending thousands of lives. Meteorologists with the nation’s leading weather agency have traced the abnormal precipitation directly to human-driven climate change, sounding a clear alarm about shifting seasonal patterns across the Caribbean.

    Cristopher Florian, a veteran meteorologist at the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet), told local outlet HOY that rising global ocean temperatures are the primary driver of this extreme weather. As seas warm, they evaporate at a faster rate, pumping far more water vapor into the atmosphere than historical baseline conditions. This extra moisture creates the ideal conditions for far more intense, concentrated bursts of rainfall that far exceed what is normally expected for this time of year.

    Florian noted that this deviation from historic patterns is not an isolated event: for the past three consecutive years, April rainfall totals in the Dominican Republic have consistently outpaced long-term averages, driven by persistent anomalies in large-scale atmospheric circulation. Under normal seasonal cycles, the country’s wet convective season does not begin until mid-to-late April, when typical seasonal rainfall ramps up. In recent years, however, this active rainy period has been starting earlier and bringing more intense precipitation than ever recorded – a clear marker of broader climate disruption, according to Florian.

    The scale of the recent downpours is unprecedented in modern records for the month. On April 8, a low-pressure trough swept across multiple regions of the country, dumping extreme rainfall across populated areas. In the Ensanche Julieta neighborhood of the National District, the storm dropped 314 millimeters of rain in just a matter of hours – a volume that would be extreme even in the heart of the wettest months of the year.

    The impacts of this extreme weather extend far beyond disrupted climate patterns, causing widespread harm to local communities. The Dominican Republic’s Emergency Operations Center (COE) released an updated damage assessment Thursday that paints a stark picture of the human cost: more than 1,000 residential properties have been damaged by floodwaters and associated hazards, with dozens completely leveled by flash flooding and mudslides. In total, officials confirmed 1,024 homes sustained damage, 23 of which were partially destroyed and 32 fully reduced to uninhabitable ruins. More than 5,100 residents have been displaced from their homes and relocated to government-designated emergency safe shelters across the hardest-hit regions.

  • Bee wil ambtenarenapparaat opschonen: Wie niet werkt, wordt geschrapt

    Bee wil ambtenarenapparaat opschonen: Wie niet werkt, wordt geschrapt

    In a major push to overhaul Suriname’s public sector bureaucracy, Interior Minister Marinus Bee has outlined a comprehensive reform agenda for the country’s civil service, centered on strict performance accountability, updated work model trials, and targeted restructuring to eliminate underperforming roles. The minister made the announcement during an official oath-taking ceremony held at Ballroom Prince on April 11, where more than 750 newly appointed civil servants affirmed their commitment to public service in front of top government officials.

    Bee emphasized that the transformation of the civil service corps remains the government’s top priority, with core goals centered on boosting operational efficiency, embedding innovation across public agencies, and raising overall service delivery standards. While the administration is still exploring the adoption of new flexible work arrangements—including adjusted working hours and rotational shift systems—immediate action is already underway to clean up outdated civil service rosters by removing non-functioning employees.

    “Civil service transformation will proceed without delay,” Bee stated firmly during the event. “Every person on the public payroll must contribute to their role. Those who fail to perform will be removed from service.” The minister explained that this streamlining step is critical to free up budget space that can be redirected to higher compensation for civil servants who consistently deliver strong results, rewarding performance and motivating the broader workforce.

    Among the flexible work proposals currently under consideration are adjustments to the standard 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. work schedule, shifting it to an 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. timetable, as well as a rotational shift system that would spread work across teams from Monday through Saturday. Bee clarified that these plans are still in the early conceptual phase, but they signal the clear direction the Surinamese government is moving to modernize the public sector work environment.

    During the ceremony, the minister also stressed that the civil servant oath of office is far more than a symbolic procedural formality. He framed it as a binding legal commitment that must carry tangible meaning in daily public service work. “You only truly become a civil servant once you have made this promise,” Bee said. “Starting today, all work will be held accountable to that promise.”

    Top government leadership used the gathering to reaffirm the administration’s unwavering commitment to seeing the entire reform process through to completion. The clear message from the Ministry of Interior is that the government expects active engagement, full transparency, and measurable results from all public servants, as the civil service overhauls continue moving forward on schedule.

  • Korpschef Melvin Pinas: focus op vertrouwen en modernisering

    Korpschef Melvin Pinas: focus op vertrouwen en modernisering

    On a formal ceremony held Friday at the Police Academy in Zorg en Hoop, Suriname, Melvin Pinas has been officially inaugurated as the new Korpschef, or chief, of the Korps Politie Suriname (Suriname Police Corps), marking the start of a new leadership era for the country’s primary law enforcement agency.

    Pinas, who has served as interim chief for eight months following the departure of former chief Bryan Isaacs, was promoted to the rank of Police Commissioner during the event. The official transfer of authority was completed when President Jennifer Simons oversaw the passing of the corps’ ceremonial flag from Isaacs to Pinas, formalizing the handover of command. Now the 51st person to hold the position of national police chief, Pinas faces high expectations from across government, law enforcement leadership and the Surinamese public.

    In his maiden address as chief, Pinas struck a measured, pragmatic tone, rejecting promises of quick fixes to the country’s public safety challenges. “I will not promise miracles, because building public safety is not a sprint – it is a process built on consistent, thoughtful, professional effort that brings together innovation, good governance and integrity,” he told attendees. “What I do promise is a clear direction, accountability, and a forward-looking approach to policing.”

    Pinas framed his appointment not just as a personal career milestone, but as a public calling. “This moment is not only a personal high point for me, but above all a vocation: a vocation to serve and lead an organization that stands guard every day over safety, order, peace and legal protection for all Surinamese,” he said.

    The core expectation shared by all senior stakeholders – including police union chair Revelino Eijk, Minister of Justice and Police Harish Monorath, and President Simons – is for Pinas to transform the Suriname Police Corps into an efficient, modern, and ethical security institution that rebuilds public trust through transparent, timely communication. All speakers emphasized that rebuilding trust, both within the police force and with the broader Surinamese community, remains one of the most pressing challenges facing the new leadership.

    Responding to these expectations, Pinas laid out a clear policy roadmap for his tenure. His priority areas include restoring institutional integrity and public trust, tackling widespread criminal activity, strengthening organizational and workforce capacity, advancing ongoing professionalization of the force, improving crisis response capabilities, expanding data-driven policing, cracking down on cybercrime and upgrading digital security, and deepening collaborative partnerships with other government agencies.

    The Suriname Police Union did note one reservation: it was not included in the consultation process for Pinas’ appointment. Despite this procedural concern, both the union and the national government have publicly pledged their full support to the new chief. All parties have underscored that cross-stakeholder collaboration is non-negotiable to achieve the ambitious policing and public safety goals laid out Friday.

  • Women’s Health: Contraceptive Access Caught in Policy Crossfire

    Women’s Health: Contraceptive Access Caught in Policy Crossfire

    In a development that has ignited fierce national debate across Belize, a new regulatory shift from the country’s Ministry of Health and Wellness has placed reproductive health and women’s access to basic medication at the center of public discourse. Implemented in early April 2026, the policy reclassifies a range of formerly over-the-counter medications, including common contraceptives, as prescription-only drugs. Government officials frame the change as a necessary public safety measure to curb improper medication use, but reproductive health advocates, opposition politicians, and even some senior government figures have pushed back hard against the new rule, warning it threatens to undo 40 years of hard-won progress in expanding reproductive autonomy.

    For the Belize Family Life Association (BFLA), the nation’s leading family planning organization, the new mandate evokes the challenges the group was founded to address back in 1985, when it launched to tackle sky-high rates of adolescent pregnancy. Forty years on, BFLA Executive Director Joan Burke warns the policy could push vulnerable women back into that same crisis, and potentially create even worse outcomes.

    “Easy access to contraception is core to women’s empowerment,” Burke explained in an interview with local outlet News Five. “It gives people, especially young women and girls, the ability to make their own choices and retain full autonomy over their own bodies.”

    Critics point to the unique demographic context of Belize, where more than half the population resides in rural areas with severely limited access to primary care physicians. Earth Lopez, the United Democratic Party’s Shadow Minister for Human Development and Gender Affairs, argues the policy fails to account for these on-the-ground realities, creating vastly different barriers for women across different socioeconomic and geographic groups.

    “All women deserve the right to choose, the freedom to make decisions about our own bodies,” Lopez said. “For a woman in Belize City with a standing annual doctor’s appointment and reliable transportation, this new policy is just an inconvenience. But for a rural woman, an unemployed woman, or a woman trapped in an abusive domestic relationship, this policy will completely block her from accessing contraception – a resource critical to her personal safety.”

    Remarkably, even Prime Minister John Briceño has broken with the Ministry of Health to express public concern over the one-size-fits-all approach, noting that Belize cannot blindly adopt policies designed for developed nations without adjusting to local needs. Briceño shared that his own wife raised immediate red flags about the rule when it was announced, and he has committed to convening talks with health officials to revise the framework.

    “I agree that contraception access needs to stay easy for women to avoid unwanted pregnancies,” Briceño said. “We need to sit down with the Ministry of Health to work through this and find a solution that meets our country’s needs.”

    Burke, however, warns that delaying adjustments to the policy will carry severe, life-altering consequences for women across the country. Beyond the inconvenience of a doctor’s visit, the new requirement adds significant unplanned costs: a doctor’s consultation to get a contraceptive prescription can cost up to $75, on top of the $10 cost of the contraception itself – a prohibitive expense for many low-income women.

    Burke outlined the grim outcomes she projects if the policy stands as written: “I expect to see a rise in adolescent and teenage pregnancy, a rise in maternal deaths, and a rise in deaths from unsafe, unregulated abortions. I’ve had sleepless nights since this announcement because I can see so many women and girls being harmed by this decision. Women in rural communities could lose access entirely.”

    As of April 10, the Ministry of Health has not confirmed whether it will consider exemptions for contraceptives or other chronic care medications that were previously available over the counter. The ministry has announced plans to hold a public press conference to clarify details of the new regulation, but calls for broad consultation and a full reconsideration of the policy continue to grow louder across the country.

  • From Stake Bank to Olo Caye; Big Promises, Big Plans

    From Stake Bank to Olo Caye; Big Promises, Big Plans

    For years, the abandoned Stake Bank development project left Belize’s tourism sector grappling with uncertainty about the coastal site’s future. Today, that uncertainty is giving way to optimism, as a revitalized, rebranded initiative called Olo Caye steps forward to reshape Belize’s position as a top Caribbean travel destination.

    Unlike the previous stalled effort, Olo Caye is built around a core promise of long-term, inclusive growth that centers local communities rather than external returns alone. The mixed-use development combines a purpose-built deep-water cruise port with a high-end luxury resort experience, a strategic design crafted to help Belize hold its own alongside competing Caribbean hotspots while opening new doors for local small businesses and workers.

    Leading the project is Piero Dibattista, a veteran tourism industry executive with a proven track record of transforming regional travel landscapes. Dibattista previously played a key role in turning Roatán, Honduras, from a little-known coastal spot into one of the Caribbean’s most popular cruise and leisure hubs. Project backers highlight that decades of on-the-ground experience as a guarantee that the Olo Caye team understands both the complexities of managing large-scale cruise operations and the non-negotiable need for strict environmental protection standards.

    According to project leaders, the mission of Olo Caye extends far beyond just increasing visitor numbers. The development’s core goal is to grow tourism responsibly, ensuring that local communities are direct beneficiaries of the sector’s expansion rather than bystanders. That forward-looking vision is already moving from planning to action: developers confirmed that preliminary work on a staging and operations hub along the George Price Highway is set to kick off within the coming weeks. That initial construction will clear the way for full island development, which is on track to be completed by 2028.

    The full buildout includes a range of purpose-built infrastructure: new cruise and ferry piers, open-air retail and dining spaces curated to showcase authentic Belizean art, food, and culture, dedicated affordable commercial space for local entrepreneurs, and modern facilities capable of hosting large international events. Beyond these physical assets, the project’s most transformative impact is expected to be on Belize’s workforce. Olo Caye is projected to create thousands of construction jobs during the build phase, followed by hundreds of stable permanent positions once the development opens. That scale makes it one of the most ambitious private tourism investments in Belize’s recent history.

    For supporters of the initiative, Olo Caye is more than just a new development—it is an opportunity to rewrite the story of the site and reimagine what sustainable, inclusive tourism can look like for Belize’s economy and its people.