Carib Scope

博客

  • Kriol Council: ‘Our Ancestors Were Not Caricatures’

    Kriol Council: ‘Our Ancestors Were Not Caricatures’

    In a public statement released on October 12, 2026, Belize’s National Kriol Council (NKC) has launched a formal objection to the recently published book *A History of Belize in Thirteen Chapters* by author Assad Shoman, calling out what the organization describes as harmful, exaggerated racial imagery on the text’s front cover. The council is demanding a full explanation from both Shoman and the book’s publishing house over the problematic design choice.

    According to the NKC, the cover’s depiction of over-exaggerated Black figures directly echoes the degrading racial caricatures that were historically weaponized to mock, dehumanize, and erode the inherent dignity of people of African descent across the globe. The organization emphasized that this type of representation has no place in modern scholarly or public discourse, particularly in a work that purports to document the full history of Belize.

    The council was careful to draw a clear distinction between the book’s cover imagery and national symbols, noting that it fully recognizes the historical importance of Belize’s Coat of Arms and its central role in the development of the nation’s shared identity. Even so, the group stated that it “unequivocally condemns the disrespectful portrayal of our ancestors,” and rejects any artistic or historical representation that reduces the humanity of Black and Kriol people, distorts their lived experiences, or perpetuates long-standing harmful racial stereotypes.

    “Our ancestors were not caricatures,” the NKC statement read. “They were people whose labour, resilience, resistance, knowledge, and cultural contributions helped shape Belize.” This framing, the council argues, is central to addressing the ongoing erasure of Kriol people from national historical narratives.

    The NKC reaffirmed its commitment to opposing the deliberate erasure of Kriol history, as well as any effort to diminish, redefine, or outright exclude Kriol people from the broader story of Belize’s development. The organization pointed out that historical erasure is not limited to offensive imagery or misleading publications: it also takes the form of omitting key Kriol contributions to national development, misrepresenting Kriol cultural identity, and failing to give proper credit to the individuals and communities that have worked for generations to preserve Kriol traditions.

    Crucially, the council stressed that no publication, academic institution, or individual is immune from public scrutiny when questions of cultural respect and historical accuracy are raised. “Respect for scholarship does not require silence in the face of concerns about the dignity and legacy of our ancestors,” the statement noted.

    To address the controversy, the NKC has formally called on Shoman and his publisher to respond directly to the community’s concerns, provide a transparent explanation for why the cover image was selected and presented in its current form, and re-evaluate whether the existing design upholds the basic dignity of the people it depicts. As of the statement’s release, local outlet News 5 has confirmed that it reached out to Shoman to request his comment on the controversy, with no response published as of yet.

  • Police issue Pink Alert for missing 14-year-old Kenan Peters

    Police issue Pink Alert for missing 14-year-old Kenan Peters

    Law enforcement officials in the Commonwealth of Dominica have activated a public emergency notification to locate a missing teenage boy, issuing a formal Pink Alert under the country’s missing person response framework. The missing individual is 14-year-old Kenan Peters, a resident of the Eggleston district, whose disappearance was first reported to authorities by Brenderlyn Xavier, who also resides in Eggleston.

    Per official details released by the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force, the teen was last spotted by his older sister, Joan Ettienne, at the Tarish Pit location around 9:00 a.m. local time on Saturday, October 10, 2026. Investigators have released a limited physical description to assist public recognition: Peters is reported to have brown skin, and he was wearing a plain black shirt and black formal school trousers when he was last seen. As of the publication of the alert, police have not shared confirmed information about the minor’s height to add to the public description.

    Under Dominica’s structured Missing Person Alert System, the Pink Alert designation is reserved exclusively for cases involving missing children and other at-risk vulnerable groups, designed to accelerate public outreach and mobilize community support to locate missing minors quickly. The police force is now issuing a formal appeal to members of the public across the country to come forward with any information, no matter how small, that could help law enforcement determine Peters’ current location and confirm his safety.

    Anyone with relevant details related to Peters’ disappearance or potential whereabouts is encouraged to contact the dedicated police toll-free tip line at 1-800-4357 (HELP) immediately. All tips can be provided anonymously if requested, and authorities note that even minor observations could prove critical to resolving this case quickly.

  • Missing Person: Orange Alert- Steve Alphonse

    Missing Person: Orange Alert- Steve Alphonse

    The content shared in this submission only includes a set of social media sharing options (Share, Tweet, Pin) and a link to an image hosted on the Dominican News Online website. No full descriptive text, core reporting details, or contextual information about the news story the image is attached to is provided in the original request. Without the complete body of the news report that accompanies this image, it is impossible to conduct a full analysis, confirm the topic of the story, or reconstruct the original narrative as required. This incomplete input prevents any meaningful processing of specific news content, as all key details about the event, stakeholders, and core claims are absent from the provided material.

  • Shallow defends white-ball focus, regional cricket reductions

    Shallow defends white-ball focus, regional cricket reductions

    In a recent two-part interview released October 8 on the *Super Over Podcast* alongside hosts Nikhil Uttamchandani and Carlos Brathwaite, Cricket West Indies (CWI) President Dr. Kishore Shallow has publicly explained the reasoning behind the organization’s recent financial cuts to regional cricket tournaments.

    The comments come on the heels of CWI’s decision to restructure the 2026 regional first-class season, scheduled to run from April 12 to May 17, into a compact three-match series-based format, a move that represents a significant scaling back of the traditional red-ball competition.

    During the wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Shallow centered his argument on shifting global consumer demand for cricket, particularly the explosive growth of T20 and other white-ball formats compared to the longer traditional red-ball cricket. While he acknowledged that he and many long-time cricket purists still personally prefer the red-ball game, he emphasized that CWI’s investment strategy must align with current market appetite.

    “If you are in a market then you have to look at what your consumers want. If you see that the appetite is greater for white ball, it is irresponsible for you to continue investing the majority of your resources in the product that the consumers don’t want,” he argued.

    Dr. Shallow also outlined a major shift in CWI’s approach to player development, moving away from the rigid stance of previous administrations that required players to compete across all formats if they wanted to represent the West Indies. He described the old approach as “hostile,” and instead supports a “different strokes for different folks” framework that allows players to specialize in specific formats to maximize their opportunities.

    Drawing a parallel to professional careers outside of sport, he noted: “We don’t tell our children not to specialise as a doctor and not to specialise in law. So why are we trying to force players into playing everything?”

    This player-centric approach was a core factor in the recruitment of Daren Sammy to CWI’s leadership, Dr. Shallow explained, noting that Sammy’s deep understanding of both international cricket and the global franchise T20 model allows him to build trust with players by guaranteeing them flexibility to participate in both West Indies cricket and lucrative franchise leagues. Dr. Shallow stated that this collaborative strategy has already delivered positive results.

    The CWI president also addressed the recent surprise retirement of former West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran from international cricket, who stepped away at 29, the peak of his professional career. Dr. Shallow noted that while he had hoped Pooran would remain committed to the West Indies team, the decision did not come as a surprise. He stressed that Pooran’s retirement is part of a broader trend, noting “he wasn’t the first, [and] he’s not going to be the last,” and acknowledged that professional cricketers have short careers and must prioritize maximizing their earning potential to set themselves up for secure post-playing retirements.

  • Missing Person: Pink Alert- Kenan Peters

    Missing Person: Pink Alert- Kenan Peters

    The United Nations has issued a stark new warning that the world is drastically off track to meet its critical climate goals, with the 1.5°C warming threshold set for 2030 likely being passed a full decade earlier than previously projected if countries do not urgently ramp up their greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments. The latest UN Emissions Gap Report, released ahead of the upcoming COP28 climate summit in Dubai, finds that current national climate pledges put the planet on track for 2.5°C to 2.9°C of warming by the end of the century — far above the 1.5°C target agreed under the Paris Agreement that scientists say is needed to avoid the worst irreversible climate impacts.

    According to the report, global greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut by 43% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels to keep 1.5°C within reach. Instead, current policies are projected to increase global emissions by almost 10% over the rest of the decade. The gap between what countries have promised to cut and what is actually required has barely narrowed over the past year, leaving the world in what the UN Secretary-General António Guterres called a “climate timeout.”

    “Climate change is here, it is terrifying, and it is speeding up faster than many scientists predicted,” Guterres said in a foreword to the report. “Even if we temporarily breach the 1.5°C threshold, we need to show that we can bring temperatures back down by rapidly cutting emissions this decade. Every fraction of a degree matters, every year matters, every decision matters.”

    The report also highlights that current finance commitments from developed nations to support developing countries with their climate transitions fall far short of what is needed. The $100 billion per year target promised by 2020 has still not been met, while estimates suggest developing economies will require more than $1 trillion per year by 2030 to fund both adaptation and mitigation efforts. In addition to funding gaps, the report calls for a dramatic phase-out of fossil fuels, a rapid scale-up of renewable energy deployment, and stronger policy frameworks to drive decarbonization across all major economies.

    As world leaders prepare to gather for COP28 in late November, the report serves as a critical wake-up call. The UN climate chief Simon Stiello noted that the summit must deliver tangible progress on three key fronts: scaling up mitigation ambition, doubling adaptation finance, and moving forward on the new loss and damage fund agreed at last year’s COP27. “This report is not just a warning—it is a roadmap. We have the tools and knowledge to close the emissions gap, but we lack the political will and collective urgency to act,” Stiello said. “The window to keep 1.5°C alive is closing, but it is still open if we act now.”

  • Malaka Parker says criminals have politicians on speed dial in Antigua and Barbuda

    Malaka Parker says criminals have politicians on speed dial in Antigua and Barbuda

    During parliamentary debate over the 2026 Firearms Amendment Bill, opposition Senator Malaka Parker has delivered a searing critique of both the government’s approach to curbing gun crime and the corrosive influence of political connections that she says allow convicted criminals to escape legal consequences. Parker, who brings personal trauma to the debate, opened her remarks by revealing that her own brother was killed by a stray bullet years ago in Gray’s Farm, a tragedy that left 10 children fatherless. The man convicted of her brother’s murder was sentenced to 16 years behind bars, but was released earlier this year. Parker claims that the offender, who should have been deported immediately following his release, was granted an unlawful extension to arrange his personal affairs solely because of his ties to a high-ranking sitting politician.

  • Some students showed ‘a lack of empathy’ after schoolmate’s fatal stabbing

    Some students showed ‘a lack of empathy’ after schoolmate’s fatal stabbing

    The fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old secondary school student in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has forced two senior government ministers to sound the alarm over a growing youth violence crisis, amplified by shocking reports of apathy among some peers following the teen’s death.

    Tafari Browne, a Form 3 student at West St. George Secondary School (WSGSS), succumbed to his multiple stab wounds at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) on Monday. The 17-year-old was discovered injured in Arnos Vale three days prior, and had been treated in the hospital’s intensive care unit until his passing. As of Monday, law enforcement officials had not released any public statement regarding the investigation into the incident.

    Speaking during an interview on NICE Radio’s *New Times* programme on the same day of Browne’s death, Education Minister Philip Jackson opened up about the deep distress the case has sparked across the education sector, revealing that the reports of indifference among some WSGSS students have shaken his understanding of the scope of the nation’s youth violence problem.

    While many students at the school have openly grieved the loss of their classmate, Jackson said the chief education officer informed him that school and ministry officials had documented a “very heartbreaking case of a lack of empathy” from a subset of students. “That really shook me up. I have to admit it to the entire nation. She said that the lack of empathy in the passing of a fellow student was very heartbreaking for them,” Jackson shared.

    The minister confirmed he had already reached out to Browne’s grandmother, who is caring for the teen, and was arranging to contact Browne’s mother, who currently resides in England. He extended formal condolences to the Browne family, the teen’s friends, classmates, and the entire WSGSS student body and staff. In response to the tragedy, ministry officials and trained counsellors have already been deployed to WSGSS to provide emotional support to the school community.

    Jackson framed youth violence as a systemic national challenge that extends far beyond surface-level interventions, noting that Browne’s death has forced him to question whether adult leaders truly grasp the pressures and experiences shaping today’s young people. “This one really make me aware that the problem is much, much deeper than any of us probably imagine,” he said.

    Calling for a coordinated, cross-sector response to the crisis, Jackson urged collaboration between civil society groups, faith-based organisations, government agencies, schools and local communities. He emphasized that meaningful change will require intentional, sustained effort, noting that adults must prioritise building stronger connections with young people to instil a renewed sense of hope. He also called for the creation of more safe, welcoming spaces where young people can share their thoughts and feelings openly, and pushed for expanded values education in schools focused on empathy, conflict resolution, teamwork and community engagement. “Wherever we are, let’s try to keep the peace, advance and promote peace, and be open to our young people,” Jackson said.

    The call for urgent national action was echoed by Kaschaka Cupid, Minister of Youth and Member of Parliament for West St. George, who also serves as Minister of Sports, Culture and the Creative Industries. In a Facebook statement released on Monday, Cupid described Browne’s death as “a heartbreaking tragedy”, warning that the nation cannot afford to normalise deadly violence against young people.

    “As Minister of Youth, I am deeply saddened by the loss of another young life to violence. We cannot allow these acts to become normalised in our society. We must take a firm stance as a nation,” Cupid said, extending his deepest condolences to Browne’s family, friends and loved ones. He stressed that collective action is non-negotiable: “Government, families, schools, communities, and young people must work together to confront violence, promote peaceful conflict resolution, and protect our youth. This is a national responsibility, and the time to act is now. We must unite to build a safer Saint Vincent and the Grenadines where our young people can live and thrive without fear.”

    Cupid first addressed the case on Saturday, shortly after Browne was hospitalised, sharing that as both a father and a government minister, he was deeply disturbed by the violent attack. “As a father, I cannot imagine the pain and anguish his loved ones are experiencing. Violence of this nature is unacceptable, and it is not something I can condone or remain silent about,” he said at the time.

    Cupid noted that crime and violence have been a top priority concern for him since he took office in November, arguing that the entire community must come together to address the root causes of violence. “As a Ministry, our responsibility extends beyond providing opportunities for young people. We must continue to encourage positive decision-making, promote conflict resolution, and help our youth understand that disagreements must never end in tragedy,” he said. “We must learn to handle our differences differently. Walking away from conflict, communicating respectfully, and seeking help are signs of strength, not weakness. Parents, schools, communities, law enforcement, and the Government all have a role to play in addressing this growing concern.”

    Reaffirming his commitment to change, Cupid emphasized that the nation’s young people have a fundamental right to grow and reach their potential without living in fear of violence. “We cannot allow violence to become normalised in our society,” he said, adding that he remains dedicated to collaborating with all stakeholders to empower young people and build safer, more supportive communities across the country.

  • LIVE: Novena in Honour of Our Lady of Fatima night 9

    LIVE: Novena in Honour of Our Lady of Fatima night 9

    No complete original news text was provided for in-depth analysis and rewriting. This entry is a placeholder that will be updated with a fully reworked, original news article once the full source content is shared.

  • Vertrekkende Indiase ambassadeur blikt terug op voedselhulp, defensie- en ontwikkelingsprojecten

    Vertrekkende Indiase ambassadeur blikt terug op voedselhulp, defensie- en ontwikkelingsprojecten

    On October 12, outgoing Indian Ambassador to Suriname Subhash Prasad Gupta held a formal farewell meeting with Suriname’s President Jennifer Simons, where he reviewed key cooperative achievements during his tenure and outlined new pathways for deepening bilateral partnership between the two nations.

    Gupta, who assumed his post as India’s top diplomat in Suriname in August 2024, called his tenure in the South American nation a deeply rewarding and welcoming experience during the meeting held at the President’s Cabinet. “It was a very pleasant and enriching experience. I have always felt here as if I was at home,” he told Simons.

    Over the course of his mission, multiple collaborative initiatives have been delivered successfully, Gupta confirmed. These include targeted food aid shipments to Suriname, the handover of military equipment and uniforms for Suriname’s defense forces, and large-scale development projects implemented in remote communities including Kwamalasamutu and Pusugurunu. Four small-scale “quick impact” development projects were also rolled out to address immediate local needs, and preliminary discussions are already underway to launch additional new collaborative projects in the coming years.

    Looking ahead to the future of India-Suriname relations, Gupta pointed to untapped potential for expanding cooperation in four high-priority areas: agriculture, agro-industry, advanced technology, and digital transformation. He noted that Suriname can draw meaningful benefits from India’s accumulated expertise and practical experience in agricultural processing and modern digital applications, adding that India already stands ready to provide specialized training in cutting-edge technologies for Surinamese professionals.

    Gupta also emphasized the deep historical and cultural bonds that form the foundation of the bilateral relationship, crediting the large Indian diaspora community in Suriname for its irreplaceable role in sustaining and strengthening people-to-people ties. “The Indian diaspora forms a living bridge between India and Suriname. This is one of the most important pillars of our relationship, and that bond will only grow stronger over time,” he said.

    In closing, the outgoing ambassador expressed his hope that the Surinamese government and civil society will continue to support existing bilateral cooperation frameworks. He added that he firmly expects relations between India and Suriname to deepen further in the coming years, delivering long-term, shared prosperity for the people of both nations.

  • Latest Audit Report shows SVG was ‘broke’ under ULP — Leacock

    Latest Audit Report shows SVG was ‘broke’ under ULP — Leacock

    Acting Prime Minister St. Clair Leacock is standing firm behind his controversial assessment that St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is currently facing a state of financial breakdown, backing up his claim with fresh data from the 2023 national audit report that pinpoints long-standing fiscal challenges inherited from the previous administration.\n\nIn an interview aired Monday on the *New Times* program hosted by NICE Radio, Leacock emphasized that his frank description of the country’s finances was not a political stunt designed to shift blame, but a necessary first step toward addressing the crisis. \”I stand by my statement,\” he told listeners. \”In order for you to fix a problem, you have to acknowledge that you have a problem.\” Leacock first made the “broke” claim during a Friday appearance on another NICE Radio show, *Keepin’ It Real*.\n\nWhen the New Democratic Party (NDP) administration took power in November, top national financial officials warned the new leadership that the economy was already on the edge of collapse, Leacock recalled. Senior financial leaders including the director general of finance and planning, the director of planning, and the budget officer all delivered the same stark assessment: the incoming government inherited an economy at a precipice, with effectively no operating capital left and massive existing debt obligations. \”meaning that the economy, if we weren’t careful, we’ll break our neck in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. We didn’t have any money,\” he recounted.\n\nLeacock’s remarks have drawn public pushback from critics who dispute the current government’s bleak economic assessment, prompting the acting prime minister to draw a clear line between the fiscal position inherited by the NDP and the administration’s own policy choices. He called efforts to hold the current government responsible for the country’s fiscal woes \”politically dishonest.\”\n\nTo substantiate his argument, Leacock turned to official figures from the 2023 Audit Director’s report, which lays out the rapid growth of debt servicing costs that are eating up an ever-larger share of public revenue. The report records total public debt servicing costs at $303.6 million for 2023, a $62 million increase — equal to a 25.7% jump — from the prior financial year. This marks the fastest annual growth in debt costs in the last five years, the report confirms. The audit also explicitly notes that \”these indicators suggest a growing share of government resources is being absorbed by debt obligations\” and that \”cash flow challenges persisted throughout the financial year.\”\n\nLeacock broke down the meaning of these audit findings for ordinary citizens, explaining that persistent cash flow shortfalls mean government spending obligations consistently outpaced incoming revenue across 2023. \”That in 2023, you consistently find yourself in a situation where the amount of money you have to pay out is greater than the amount of money that was coming in,\” he said. \”So in 2023, the government was not receiving enough money on the recurrent side of the budget to pay its debt, to pay for its expenditure.\”\n\nHe connected this crisis to a 2023 comment made by former prime minister Ralph Gonsalves, who admitted that a $477.9 million increase in SVG’s debt to Taiwan within seven months had put \”a hook in the gill\” of any administration that sought to break diplomatic ties with Taipei. Leacock noted Gonsalves’ comment was a candid acknowledgment of the crippling financial bind the previous government left for its successor.\n\nLeacock also highlighted a major shortfall in 2023 capital revenue, which serves as further evidence of the pre-existing fiscal gap. Official projections predicted $223 million in capital receipts, but only $93 million was actually collected. Of that total, $121.5 million came from domestic bond transactions — essentially new borrowing that will have to be repaid in future years, Leacock clarified.\n\nThe acting prime minister warned that continuous unrestricted borrowing is not a sustainable path forward for SVG, using a everyday analogy to illustrate the risk of deepening the crisis without a clear repayment plan. While he acknowledged that governments need to borrow at times, he stressed that endless accumulation of debt will only worsen the country’s long-term financial struggles.\n\nTo address the crisis, the NDP administration has implemented targeted spending controls to stabilize public finances, and is prioritizing attracting private sector investment as an alternative to endless government borrowing. The government is also working to boost output in key productive sectors including agriculture, tourism, and fisheries, Leacock said, combining external expert advice with a locally tailored policy approach.\n\nLeacock announced that he will lay out a more detailed breakdown of the audit figures during upcoming parliamentary estimates and budget debates, committing to base all discussions on the official audit report rather than unsubstantiated political claims from either side of the aisle. \”Not what Friday says, Leacock says, or Nature says, but what the Director of Audit report says,\” he stated, referencing Prime Minister Godwin Friday and Infrastructure Minister Nigel \”Nature\” Stephenson.