Carib Scope

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  • Politie bezorgd over drugs, alcohol en geweld onder jongeren

    Politie bezorgd over drugs, alcohol en geweld onder jongeren

    Suriname’s national police force has issued an urgent warning over a sharp rise in harmful and dangerous behavior among the country’s young people, with issues ranging from substance abuse to violent viral social media trends increasingly demanding law enforcement attention.

    Speaking at a press briefing with senior police leadership on Wednesday, Commissioner Ishita Hunte, head of the Suriname Police Service’s (KPS) Serious Crime Combat Division (BZC), stressed that the growing youth problem requires urgent collective attention from across society.

    One particularly alarming trend Hunte highlighted is the viral “Guess Who Slapped Me Challenge,” a harmful social media trend that forces a blindfolded young person to be hit by other participants, then guess which person delivered the blow. The dangerous stunt has already led to multiple incidents requiring police intervention, according to Hunte.

    With the summer holiday period in full swing, Hunte issued a direct warning to parents: children have far more unstructured free time while many working parents are unable to provide constant supervision, making it critical for caregivers to stay informed about what activities their children are engaging in, both online and offline.

    Beyond viral dangerous challenges, KPS has documented clear upward trends in underage alcohol and drug consumption across the country. Local schools have repeatedly reached out to police to request educational outreach addressing pervasive bullying, grooming, and other harmful interpersonal behaviors among students. During routine bag checks at school campuses, officers have also recovered a growing number of dangerous weapons and prohibited items in recent months.

    To counter these developments, the Suriname Police Service has ramped up community outreach and educational initiatives designed to help young people understand the serious short- and long-term risks of substance abuse and behaviors that cross legal and social boundaries.

    However, senior police leadership emphasized that the root of the youth crisis cannot be addressed by law enforcement and judicial authorities alone. Problematic and criminal behavior among young people often stems from deeper, unaddressed societal issues that require coordinated intervention from multiple sectors.

    Police officials stressed at the briefing that a connected, whole-of-society “chain approach” that brings in other public institutions, community organizations, schools, and families is essential to turning the tide. “We cannot solve this crisis with only police and judicial action,” leadership reiterated during the event.

  • Ministry of Health urges vigilance amid increase in dengue cases

    Ministry of Health urges vigilance amid increase in dengue cases

    Public health officials in Grenada are sounding an alarm over a sudden, significant uptick in dengue fever cases, with new data showing a nearly four-fold jump in infections over a single week. According to the country’s Ministry of Health, the upward trend in transmissions became evident during the 2026 epidemiological monitoring period, with 23 new confirmed and suspected cases recorded between August 16 and August 22, 2026 — corresponding to Epidemiological Week 33. This marks a sharp increase from the six cases reported in the prior week.

    Demographic breakdowns of the new infections show that working-age adults make up the majority of affected people. The 25 to 44-year age group accounted for 15 of the 23 new cases, while people between 15 and 24 years old recorded five additional infections. Most of the recent cases presented for care at two major Grenadian healthcare facilities: 11 cases were treated at the General Hospital, and six more were reported at Princess Royal Hospital, with four of all reported cases receiving formal laboratory confirmation.

    Health authorities emphasize that this unexpected surge signals a growing, unaddressed risk of dengue transmission across the island nation. Dengue, a potentially serious viral illness, is spread exclusively through bites from infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, a species that commonly breeds in small pools of stagnant water found around residential properties and community spaces.

    In direct response to the rising case counts, the Ministry of Health has announced it is expanding integrated mosquito vector management operations across high-risk areas. Senior health officials say they are maintaining continuous vigilance, updating real-time monitoring of transmission trends to adjust public health interventions as needed.

    “ This week’s increase serves as a clear reminder that the risk of dengue infection remains present in our communities, ” a ministry spokesperson stated. “ Every individual and household has a critical role to play in prevention by cutting off mosquito breeding sites and taking personal steps to avoid bites. ”

    Following the case surge, the ministry has issued a formal set of public guidelines for all Grenadian residents to reduce their risk of infection. Officials are urging households to drain all standing water from common breeding spots including unused containers, discarded tires, and clogged drains; securely cover all residential water storage tanks and dispose of solid waste properly; use registered mosquito repellents and opt for long-sleeved garments when spending time outdoors; and seek immediate medical attention if they develop common dengue symptoms including high fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, or skin rashes.

    Alongside the dengue update, the Ministry of Health also released its full weekly epidemiological report covering other common communicable illnesses across the country. Respiratory infections remained the most widespread illness, with 90 new cases recorded in the week. Gastroenteritis also saw a concerning rise, particularly among adult populations, with 70 new cases reported. Other less common conditions detected during the monitoring week included eight cases of food poisoning, four cases of conjunctivitis, and single isolated cases of tuberculosis, pneumonia, and chickenpox.

    This public health update was released by the Ministry of Health, with content disclaimer information provided by the publishing outlet NOW Grenada.

  • Final week for EPIC’s Caribbean Photography Contest

    Final week for EPIC’s Caribbean Photography Contest

    Regional photographers across the Caribbean basin have just days left to submit their work to the second annual Seas & Scenes: Love the Caribbean Photo Contest, a community-focused initiative hosted by non-profit environmental group Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) in collaboration with Caribbean Compass magazine. The entry deadline closes at the end of August 31, 2026, giving shutterbugs just a short window to finalize their submissions.

  • Saint Lucia posts six-year CSEC high, but more than half fail Maths

    Saint Lucia posts six-year CSEC high, but more than half fail Maths

    On Thursday, Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Education officially released 2026 results for two key regional secondary education assessments — the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) — revealing a mixed picture of educational progress that balances historic gains against ongoing systemic challenges.

    For the CSEC, the standardized exam taken by secondary school students across the Caribbean region, Saint Lucia posted its strongest overall performance in six years. The nation logged 12,218 total subject entries this year, with an overall pass rate of 78.93% — a full 6.75 percentage points above the 72.18% regional average, marking a clear step forward for the island nation’s secondary education sector.

    Multiple subject areas delivered standout results that underscore strengths in vocational, technical and humanities education. Every single candidate who sat Agricultural Science (Double Award), Industrial Technology (Mechanical), Physical Education and Sport, and Religious Education earned a passing grade. An additional eight subjects — Food, Nutrition and Health; Theatre Arts; Industrial Technology (Electrical); Technical Drawing; Biology; Industrial Technology (Building); Agricultural Science (Single Award); and Additional Mathematics — all posted pass rates between 90% and 99%, highlighting consistent strong performance in these specialized fields.

    Despite these broad gains, the results are not uniformly positive. Performance declined in 14 individual subject areas, with Music, Caribbean History and Additional Mathematics recording the steepest drops in pass rates from 2025. Most notably, Mathematics remains the most persistent and pressing obstacle for Saint Lucian CSEC candidates. Even with a 4.66 percentage point improvement in pass rates year-over-year, only 46.81% of test-takers earned a passing grade in 2026 — meaning more than half of all candidates failed the core subject. The Ministry of Education has formally identified Mathematics as “the single largest concern” in this year’s results, noting the subject accounted for more failing grades than any other assessment in 2026.

    Results for the CAPE, the advanced secondary credential for students pursuing post-secondary education, painted a far more positive picture overall. A total of 351 candidates across just two institutions — Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) and Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School Campus B (VFCSS) — sat CAPE exams this year, and Saint Lucia notched an overall national pass rate of 96.82%. Between the two participating schools, VFCSS maintained a slight edge over SALCC with a 97.34% pass rate, though that figure represents a small dip from VFCSS’s 98.89% pass rate in 2025. By contrast, SALCC improved on its 2025 performance, lifting its pass rate from 94.77% to 96.34% this year.

    A notable shift also occurred in gender-based performance at the CAPE level. Last year, male candidates outperformed their female peers, but that dynamic flipped in 2026: female candidates posted an overall pass rate of 97%, surpassing the 95% pass rate recorded by male candidates.

    When aggregated, the 2026 results confirm that Saint Lucia has made measurable progress in secondary education over the past half-decade, with the nation now outperforming the Caribbean regional average in the vast majority of tested subjects. Education officials will now turn their attention to addressing the persistent underperformance in Mathematics, while building on the strong results recorded in technical, vocational and advanced placement programs across the country.

  • USA pauses immigrant visa processing worldwide

    USA pauses immigrant visa processing worldwide

    A temporary hold on worldwide immigrant visa processing from the U.S. State Department is reshaping application timelines for prospective permanent migrants, including those from Caribbean nations like Grenada, just weeks after a federal judge struck down a controversial Trump-administration policy that barred immigrant visa issuance for citizens of 75 countries.

    The State Department confirmed it rolled out a global training program for consular staff in early August, focused on updated protocols for the so-called “public charge” assessment that determines whether visa applicants are likely to rely on public assistance after entering the U.S. To free up staff time for mandatory training, routine immigrant visa interview appointments have been rescheduled across all U.S. embassies and consulates, with the pause expected to last through mid-September. Temporary non-immigrant visas, such as those for tourism or business travel, remain unaffected by this adjustment.

    U.S. immigration law already requires consular officers to weigh multiple factors when evaluating public charge status, including an applicant’s age, health, family composition, financial assets, education, and professional skills. The Associated Press, quoting an anonymous State Department official not authorized to speak on the record, confirmed that all applicants with pre-scheduled interviews have already received notifications of their rescheduled dates.

    This administrative shift comes on the heels of a major court ruling handed down on August 21. U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas, of the Southern District of New York, vacated the Trump administration’s 2020s policy that suspended immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries, among them Grenada. In her ruling, Judge Vargas found the policy exceeded the statutory authority granted to the Secretary of State and violated existing U.S. immigration law, noting it wrongfully required consular officers to reject otherwise qualified applicants solely based on their country of origin.

    The overturned policy was part of a broader push by the first Trump administration to tighten U.S. immigration rules and expand entry screening. Several of the administration’s geographically targeted entry restrictions faced legal challenges, with the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately upholding one prominent travel restriction order in the 2018 *Trump v. Hawaii* ruling.

    For prospective immigrant visa applicants in Grenada and other Caribbean nations, the immediate impact is limited to delayed interview timelines during the training period. The current global training pause is not a new nationality-based ban, unlike the policy recently struck down by the court, and applies uniformly to all immigrant visa applicants regardless of their country of origin.

  • Winair slashes Dominica airfares by 65% for World Creole Music Festival

    Winair slashes Dominica airfares by 65% for World Creole Music Festival

    Ahead of one of the Caribbean’s most anticipated annual cultural celebrations, regional carrier Winair has launched an exclusive limited-time airfare discount scheme to boost visitor turnout for the 2026 World Creole Music Festival, the island’s flagship cultural event set to take place this October.

    Through the new promotion, travelers booking eligible flights to Dominica can unlock a 65 percent discount on their base fares by entering the special promo code WM65YRS at checkout. The reduced fares apply to all travel completed between August 28 and October 31, 2026, aligning with the festival dates and allowing visitors to extend their stay on the island before or after the event. All interested travelers must finalize their bookings by August 27, 2026 to lock in the discount, and standard conditions apply: all relevant taxes and surcharges must be paid separately, and the offer is subject to Winair’s standard passenger terms and fare conditions.

    This year’s edition of the World Creole Music Festival, branded “The Festival That Never Sleeps”, will run as a three-day immersive experience from October 23 to 25 at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium located in Roseau, Dominica’s capital. The festival is a cornerstone event of the island’s annual national Creole Heritage Month, which celebrates the deep shared cultural roots of Creole communities across the globe.

    True to its reputation as a hub for Creole and African diasporic music, the 2026 lineup brings together a diverse roster of performers from four major regions: the broader Caribbean, the French Antilles, continental Africa, and North America. Attendees can expect a dynamic cross-genre musical program spanning beloved regional styles including cadence-lypso, kompa, zouk, bouyon, soukous, reggae, soca, dancehall, and the popular South African amapiano genre. Headlining the star-studded lineup is Grammy Award-winning American R&B singer and songwriter Ne-Yo, one of the most recognizable pop and R&B acts of the 21st century.

  • Public servant asked to pay for house they ‘did not qualify’ to receive — Minister

    Public servant asked to pay for house they ‘did not qualify’ to receive — Minister

    A parliamentary session in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday has sparked debate over housing programme eligibility and political accountability, after Housing Minister Andrew John revealed that his ministry has ordered a public servant to reimburse the government for a home allocated to the individual under the previous Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration. John made the announcement while responding to a question from opposition Senator Carlos James, who had requested data on housing projects completed under the National Housing Rehabilitation and Construction Programme during the second quarter of 2026.

    John did not release additional identifying details about the public servant, the total construction cost of the property, the specific amount the individual has been ordered to pay, nor confirmation of whether payment has already been processed. Despite this lack of detail, the minister used the case to push back against opposition claims that the current government is selling off subsidized homes originally earmarked for survivors of Hurricane Beryl, low-income households, and other vulnerable Vincentian communities.

    “We have so far asked one person to pay for a house that was given to [them],” John told the parliamentary body. “The reason why we have asked that person to pay for that house — well, there are reasons.”

    Outlining the explicit criteria the current administration uses to approve subsidized or state-backed housing, John confirmed that the recipient does not meet the government’s eligibility requirements. “One, that person was not affected by Beryl. Secondly, the person [is] not poor [or] indigent — is a public servant who can pay,” he explained.

    The minister argued that no individual who avoided hurricane impact and has the financial means to cover housing costs should receive a free house and land through political connections or arbitrary decisions by past governments. Speaking directly to opposition lawmakers, he emphasized that the previous administration’s practice of granting free public housing to politically connected individuals will not continue under the current government.

    “If your government thought it was okay to give them a house and give them land without making a contribution to it, that does not happen under our government,” John said. He added that the administration’s policy requires financially capable applicants to contribute to their housing costs, while ensuring all public assistance is directed fairly to people with proven need.

    “When they come and think that they are entitled because of their relationship with whomever or whatever party, we are saying to you, you, as all of us would have done during our time, will be paying for a house if you want a house, as long as you are working and you have not been affected by Beryl,” John added.

    The revelation came during a broader parliamentary discussion covering the National Housing Rehabilitation and Construction Programme’s overall management, assistance eligibility rules, and the speed of repair and construction work. John also released official project data for the second quarter of 2026, noting that the ministry completed or assigned 88 housing-related projects between April 1 and June 30. This total breaks down to 52 roof repairs or replacements, 12 new home builds, five bathroom additions, three bedroom additions, six general repair projects, six electrical upgrades, and four plumbing repairs.

    In addition to the public servant case, John levelled criticism at the outgoing ULP administration, accusing it of leaving behind millions in unpaid obligations to contractors and building suppliers. He said these outstanding debts have limited the current government’s capacity to scale up housing delivery, noting that the ministry is currently working to settle past bills while also meeting ongoing public demand for home repairs and new construction.

    John reaffirmed that the current government’s core goal is to achieve “fair and equitable distribution” of all housing resources, with priority given to genuine need over political party affiliation. As of Thursday’s session, the opposition had not issued a formal response to John’s account of the public servant case.

  • Belize’s Youth Are Being Handed the Mic to Fight Big Tobacco

    Belize’s Youth Are Being Handed the Mic to Fight Big Tobacco

    Across Central America, Belize has emerged as the site of a groundbreaking public health effort that flips the script on traditional tobacco control advocacy. Partnering together, the Belize Cancer Society and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids have unveiled a new project that places young Belizeans at the center of the fight against big tobacco, with the core goal of stopping youth nicotine use before it becomes a lifelong habit.

    Named “Youth Leading Change for a Tobacco-Free Belize”, the initiative unites high school and college students with local community organizers to tackle tobacco use at its root. Unlike top-down public health campaigns, this model empowers the demographic most at risk of tobacco industry targeting to design and lead advocacy efforts across the country.

    Patricia Sosa, associate vice president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, explained that the effort aligns with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, a landmark global public health treaty that has been ratified by 183 nations around the world. One of the coalition’s top local policy priorities is the adoption of a comprehensive ban on smoking in all indoor public spaces. Sosa emphasized that the proposal does not seek to outlaw tobacco products entirely or ban personal use in private residences; rather, it aims to reduce involuntary exposure to dangerous secondhand smoke for all Belizeans.

    The intentional focus on youth leadership comes as public health experts document a deliberate shift in tobacco industry strategy. As the number of long-term older adult smokers declines globally, major tobacco companies have redirected their marketing efforts to recruit a new generation of young users, particularly through newer nicotine products such as e-cigarettes and vapes. Sosa noted that public health data confirms a stark trend: any person who begins smoking regularly before the age of 18 is far more likely to develop a lifelong nicotine addiction.

    Compounding this risk, Sosa added, is the industry’s exploitation of digital platforms to reach young audiences. Tobacco and vape companies now use social media algorithms, micro-influencers, and hyper-targeted ad campaigns to connect with teens and young adults, flying under the radar of many traditional regulatory frameworks. This is precisely why young people must have a leading voice in anti-tobacco work, Sosa argued: external advocates cannot fully understand the tactics tobacco companies use to persuade youth unless they listen directly to the communities being targeted.

    Kim Simplis Barrow, president of the Belize Cancer Society, added that the youth-centered initiative fits seamlessly into the organization’s core mission of cancer prevention. As the global public health community has repeatedly confirmed, tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of cancer worldwide. “Tobacco is one of the main causes of cancer in the world, so this aligns squarely with the work that we do,” Simplis Barrow said.

    Right now, the campaign’s long-term priorities and strategies are still being shaped by the young participants leading the movement. Through ongoing strategic planning workshops, young contributors are outlining what a tobacco-free Belize should look like, and what steps the advocacy movement should take to get there. “We have a number of young people in the room who will be guiding this campaign,” Simplis Barrow explained. “It’s youth engagement, for them to give us the direction in which they want to see a smoke-free Belize.”

  • IMA Grenada celebrates students at back-to-school trivia prizegiving

    IMA Grenada celebrates students at back-to-school trivia prizegiving

    The Investment Migration Agency (IMA) of Grenada has recently concluded its third annual Back-to-School Trivia competition, culminating in a celebratory prizegiving ceremony that recognized eight standout student participants spanning from primary school to higher education. This community-focused initiative, which operated throughout the summer months of July and August, was crafted to combine engagement, learning, and practical support for local families gearing up for the new academic term.

    Unlike typical summer leisure activities, the trivia competition challenged participants to test their knowledge across four key domains: Grenada’s local history, national cultural heritage, ongoing national development projects, and the strategic public-facing programs run by IMA Grenada. From its launch, the initiative has been anchored in the agency’s long-standing commitment to advancing youth development, strengthening educational outcomes, and driving positive impact across Grenadian communities.

    This year’s awardees walked away with tangible, practical rewards to support their academic journeys. Each of the eight winners received a EC$500 gift voucher that can be redeemed at local retailers for essential back-to-school supplies, covering everything from notebooks and writing tools to textbooks and uniforms. One exceptional participant also took home the competition’s grand prize: a brand-new Samsung tablet, a tool designed to enhance remote research, facilitate digital assignment completion, and extend learning opportunities beyond the traditional classroom walls.

    Karline Purcell, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of IMA Grenada, highlighted the core mission behind the annual initiative in her remarks at the ceremony. “The concept behind this project is simple but carries deep meaning,” Purcell explained. “We wanted to give students a productive, engaging activity to fill their summer break that was both educational and rewarding. By encouraging young people to dive into research, practice critical thinking, and deepen their understanding of Grenada’s unique history, culture and ongoing development, we are helping foster lifelong curiosity, build personal confidence, and nurture a strong sense of national awareness.”

    Purcell also emphasized that the gift voucher prizes address a very real financial burden many local families face ahead of each school year. “By providing these vouchers, we are able to offer support that is both timely and directly useful to households across the country,” she added.

    The Back-to-School Trivia initiative aligns with IMA Grenada’s core organizational belief: that strategic investment in the country’s young generation is equivalent to investing in a stronger, more prosperous future for Grenada as a whole. Following the ceremony, agency representatives extended warm congratulations to all eight award winners, and offered sincere gratitude to parents, guardians, and every participating student who took part in this year’s competition.

    Disclaimer: This content was contributed by IMA Grenada, and NOW Grenada does not take responsibility for the opinions, statements, or media shared by third-party contributors. Users may report any content that violates community guidelines through the official reporting channel on the platform.

  • Belize’s Sugar Exports Take a Hit as Domestic Exports Fall 37% in July

    Belize’s Sugar Exports Take a Hit as Domestic Exports Fall 37% in July

    New data released by the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) on August 27, 2026, confirms a sharp downturn in the Central American nation’s domestic export sector, with overall shipments dropping 37.2% year-over-year in July to land at $38.5 million, down from $61.3 million in July 2025. The slump is overwhelmingly driven by a catastrophic decline in sugar exports, Belize’s flagship agricultural commodity, which has pulled down overall trade performance even as a handful of niche categories and a small number of trading partners buck the negative trend.

    According to the SIB’s breakdown, sugar export earnings fell by $18.8 million compared to July 2025, sliding from $35.8 million to just $17.0 million, as total exported volumes dropped by more than 50%. The downturn extended beyond sugar to other key agricultural exports: citrus export revenues fell by $2.4 million amid weakening global demand for orange concentrate, while molasses earnings almost entirely vanished, plummeting from $2.0 million last July to less than $0.1 million this year. Marine product exports also contracted by $1.3 million, driven by lower lobster tail shipments and a complete halt to shrimp exports that were recorded in the same month a year prior.

    Not all export segments recorded losses, however. Banana export inched up slightly to hit $6.3 million in July, while improved global market prices pushed animal feed revenues up to $0.7 million. The most substantial growth came from formal cattle exports, which jumped $1.6 million year-over-year to reach $2.4 million.

    When broken down by trading partner, the slump hit Belize’s traditional export markets hardest. Earnings from shipments to the United Kingdom collapsed by $18.0 million, falling to just $3.2 million, a decline almost entirely attributed to reduced sugar sales to the European nation. Revenue from exports to the United States also dropped $4.4 million, linked to weaker sugar shipments and a complete lack of molasses exports in July. Earnings from CARICOM trading partners fell $2.1 million amid lower sales of orange concentrate. Mexico was the only major trading partner to record growth, with Belizean export earnings to the country more than doubling to $2.9 million, driven by increased sales of cattle and crude soybean oil.

    On the import side, Belize’s total import value for July came in at $261.3 million, a modest 1.9% decline from $266.3 million in July 2025. The small overall drop was led by a $16.3 million reduction in imports entering Belize’s Commercial Free Zone, caused by lower purchases of cigarettes, athletic footwear, and apparel. There was also a $10.5 million decline in imports of food and live animals, tied to reduced purchases of wheat, instant noodles, and coffee.

    Two key import categories moved against the downward trend: fuel imports rose $11.2 million to $44.8 million, driven by higher global diesel prices and increased domestic purchases of propane and butane. Imports of machinery and transport equipment also climbed $9.0 million, led by incoming shipments of power generators, four-cylinder passenger vehicles, and a heavy-duty all-terrain mobile crane.

    Looking at the cumulative trade data for the first seven months of 2026, the broader trade imbalance remains pronounced. Total merchandise imports hit $1.912 billion over the period, a 15.7% increase year-over-year, with a $104.0 million surge in fuel imports driven by elevated global prices accounting for much of the growth. By contrast, total merchandise exports for the seven-month period totaled just $205.2 million, an 18.6% year-over-year decline. Sugar alone accounts for much of this cumulative drop, with earnings falling by $26.8 million as total export volumes for the year to date have dropped nearly 30%.

    Alongside the trade data, the SIB also noted an unexpected bright spot: recent consumer sentiment surveys show that Belizean citizens are reporting improving outlooks on the national economy despite the ongoing export slump.