标签： Dominica

A disciplinary proceeding against Dr. Griffin Benjamin, Director of Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital, commenced on Thursday amid serious allegations concerning his professional conduct. The hearing, which follows a formal complaint received by the Ministry of Health, seeks to determine whether Dr. Benjamin breached regulations during his tenure.

Dr. Benjamin, a Dominican national, was placed on administrative leave with full salary pending investigation. Legal representatives, including Attorney Radford Hill and his daughter, are defending the psychiatrist throughout the proceedings.

The case centers on the August 2025 admission and treatment of an American student from the American University of Antigua who was ordered to undergo a 14-day mandatory hold at Clarevue after exhibiting mental health challenges. The patient was discharged after 12 days.

Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph confirmed the matter has entered legal jurisdiction, preventing the ministry from disclosing findings from its internal investigation. “The Ministry of Health takes seriously the conduct of all health care individuals,” Joseph stated, emphasizing the need to respect the ongoing legal process.

According to documents obtained by Antigua.News, Dr. Benjamin received stringent restrictions during his leave, including prohibitions on performing official duties, accessing government health facilities or records, and traveling outside Antigua and Barbuda without written authorization.

Central to the allegations is the administration of a long-acting injectable antipsychotic medication not listed on the government formulary and allegedly procured outside official channels. Reports indicate patients were charged $150 for the drug through unofficial mechanisms. However, sources familiar with regional medical practices note that the medication has been routinely used throughout Antigua and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), appearing on multiple regional formularies—raising questions about procurement protocols and institutional oversight.

The Ministry maintains that these measures are precautionary and do not imply wrongdoing, characterizing the process as strictly fact-finding.

Environmental campaigner Jerry Brisbane has leveled serious accusations against Dominican authorities, claiming systematic suppression of protests against alleged clandestine mining operations in the Deaux Branches region. In a revealing interview with Matt Peltier, Brisbane detailed what he describes as a coordinated campaign to silence environmental advocates through police intimidation and destruction of protest materials.

The controversy centers on disputed quarrying activities that Brisbane maintains serve as camouflage for illegal copper extraction. According to the activist, the pattern of interference began when police initially responded to protest sign installations but took no action. Subsequently, upon returning to their protest site approximately one hour later, Brisbane’s team witnessed three individuals—including an Asian woman documented filming through a vehicle window—methodically removing their signage.

Brisbane reported this surveillance and interference pattern repeated each time activists attempted to replace approximately six damaged signs. Most alarmingly, he claims to possess footage showing officers from Wesley Police Station subsequently arriving with a van and ladder to complete the removal operation themselves—actions he characterizes as environmentally destructive since signs were allegedly discarded into nearby rivers.

The activist questioned both the jurisdictional appropriateness of Wesley police operating outside their constituency and the prioritization of sign removal over addressing environmental crimes. He highlighted the irony of police having ‘idle time’ for such operations after 6 PM while allegedly ignoring substantial environmental violations.

Brisbane emphasized his movement opposes not development itself but environmentally destructive practices driven by hidden agendas. He warned unchecked extraction could cause catastrophic, irreversible damage to the region’s ecosystem.

Despite acknowledging intimidation attempts, Brisbane reaffirmed his commitment to exposing these issues, framing his activism as patriotic defense of Dominica’s natural heritage. He expressed particular concern about public distraction during Carnival celebrations, noting ironically that ‘while Dominicans are sewo-ing, their rights have been stolen.’

The activist concluded with a defiant statement regarding potential arrest, declaring it would be ‘the greatest honor’ to be detained for defending his country’s environment against illegal destruction.

As the world celebrates World Radio Day on February 13, 2026, the enduring medium finds itself at a critical crossroads between traditional broadcasting and artificial intelligence integration. This international observance, originally proclaimed by UNESCO in 2011 and formally adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2012, honors radio’s century-long legacy as a unifying force across borders and generations.

The 2026 theme, “Radio and Artificial Intelligence: AI is a tool, not a voice,” addresses the growing presence of AI in broadcasting while reaffirming radio’s fundamental human elements. While acknowledging AI’s potential to enhance content production, archiving, translation, and accessibility, the theme emphasizes that technology should serve as a support system rather than replace the human voice, editorial judgment, and credibility that define radio broadcasting.

Historical context reveals radio’s resilience: World Radio Day commemorates the establishment of United Nations Radio in 1946, created post-World War II as a symbol of global communication and cooperation. Despite technological evolution, radio maintains its status as a trusted, accessible, and reliable medium worldwide.

The Caribbean region specifically honors the legacy of pioneering broadcaster Alma Mock Yen, who recently passed away. As a trainer of countless radio journalists through the Radio Education Unit and Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) at the University of the West Indies, her influence continues through the voices she mentored and the strengthened Caribbean broadcasting landscape.

The observance calls for ethical AI implementation that preserves radio’s core values of trust, authenticity, and community connection. It stresses that creativity, empathy, and moral responsibility remain uniquely human attributes that technology should enhance rather than replace. This approach ensures humans maintain accountability for editorial decisions rather than deferring responsibility to algorithms.

As celebrations unfold globally, World Radio Day 2026 serves as both a tribute to radio’s historical significance and a forward-looking framework for responsible innovation in the digital age.

The Commonwealth of Dominica has unveiled detailed regulatory measures for the upcoming Carnival 2026 celebrations, emphasizing the importance of responsible participation while preserving cultural traditions. Scheduled for February 16-17, 2026, the festivities will operate within strictly defined hours to ensure public safety and orderly conduct.

Official carnival operations will commence at 4:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16th, continuing until 11:00 p.m., with Tuesday’s celebrations running from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Authorities have mandated that all participants maintain decent attire and orderly behavior throughout the designated periods.

Specific regulations address traditional carnival costumes, particularly rope and sensay outfits. Individuals wearing these costumes must complete registration with the Dominica Festival Commission by February 9th, 2026, and display their registration number visibly at all times during events. The government has explicitly stated that unregistered costume wearers will not be considered decently clothed.

Mask-wearing permissions will be limited to daytime hours between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during carnival days. An exception exists for Jouvert celebrations, where participants may use paint and coloring matter exclusively during the early morning hours of February 16th from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.

Prohibited items include weapons, lighted torches, fireworks, glass bottled drinks along carnival routes, and military-style uniforms. Noise restrictions prohibit loud music or instruments outside carnival hours and within 25 meters of critical facilities including police headquarters, fire stations, hospitals, and designated noise abatement zones.

Law enforcement personnel and Special Constables retain authority to arrest without warrant, detain offenders for up to 48 hours, and maintain order by recording details of disorderly individuals. Violators face substantial penalties including fines up to $1,000 or imprisonment for six months.

The Dominican government concludes with an appeal for collective responsibility, encouraging citizens to celebrate within legal boundaries while honoring the cultural significance of carnival traditions.