Carib Scope

标签： Dominica

多米尼克

  • DABA to launch Women’s Basketball League with November 3×3 tournament

    DABA to launch Women’s Basketball League with November 3×3 tournament

    The Dominica Amateur Basketball Association (DABA) is preparing to open an exciting new chapter in the country’s sports landscape with the official launch of its long-awaited Women’s Basketball League. The milestone occasion will kick off with a special 3×3 basketball showcase branded as “Ladies Night,” scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 7, 2026, starting at 7:00 PM at the Massacre Indoor Sports Complex.

    According to an official press release from DABA, the launch event marks a key turning point in the association’s ongoing work to expand access to basketball opportunities for women and girls across the island nation. The November 7 gathering will formally signal the start of DABA’s revitalized national women’s basketball program, which is designed to create more structured pathways for female athletes to grow in the sport.

    The organization’s broader development strategy places an unprecedented focus on delivering consistent, structured opportunities for women to train, compete, and advance their basketball careers. A core goal of the new Women’s Basketball League is to create a clear progression route for young talent: starting from grassroots and school-level basketball, players can move up to club and national competitions, with the ultimate prize being selection to the national women’s team.

    The fast-paced 3×3 format has been chosen to headline the launch event, which will put the speed, tactical skill, teamwork, and competitive spirit of Dominica’s female basketball players on full display for attending fans. But DABA has emphasized that the evening will be far more than just a basketball competition.

    The association is actively encouraging basketball fans of all ages, families, aspiring young athletes, former players, and members of the general public to attend the event to cheer on the participating women. In addition to the on-court action, the launch night will feature live music and other entertainment to make it a celebratory community occasion.

    Beyond creating more playing opportunities, DABA hopes this new initiative will also inspire more women and girls to get involved in off-court roles within the sport, including coaching, refereeing, and sports administration. As the Women’s Basketball League continues to develop after its launch, DABA is also reaching out to local businesses and community partners to offer support. Partnerships will help secure the resources and infrastructure needed to build a sustainable, long-term women’s basketball program that can grow and thrive for years to come.

    As DABA embarks on this new chapter for women’s basketball in Dominica, the organization is calling on the entire public to turn out in November and show their support for female athletes across the country.

  • Dominica receives security paper after certificate delays

    Dominica receives security paper after certificate delays

    After weeks of constrained operations caused by limited stock of specialized security paper, Dominica’s Civil Registry has announced it is returning to full, normal operations for processing and issuing birth, marriage and death certificates, following the delivery of a long-awaited new shipment of the required printing material.

    At an official press briefing hosted by the Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs, Acting Registrar General Nuraiyah Sebastian clarified the situation that had slowed services in recent weeks. She confirmed that while inventory had been tight, the agency never completely exhausted its supply of the specialized security paper. Throughout the period of constrained stock, the registry continued to issue certificates, but implemented a priority system that focused exclusively on emergency and time-sensitive requests, meaning routine and pre-submitted non-urgent applications could not be fulfilled within the agency’s standard processing timelines.

    Now that new stock has arrived, all applicants who have been waiting for their completed certificates can visit the Civil Registry offices to collect their documents, and the agency is once again accepting new routine applications at its normal capacity, Sebastian said.

    National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore provided additional details on the shipment and long-term planning to avoid future service disruptions. He confirmed that the latest delivery brought 9,000 additional sheets of security paper to the registry, and the government has already placed a follow-up order for 100,000 more sheets to build up a robust reserve. To prevent repeated delays, officials have arranged for scheduled, recurring deliveries of the material moving forward.

    Blackmoore also explained the root cause of the recent supply shortage. The shortage emerged after the government implemented a temporary waiver of application fees for certificate requests during a national identity confirmation process. This fee waiver led many members of the public to request multiple copies of their vital documents, creating far higher demand than officials had initially projected.

    Between the start of April and August 24 alone, the Civil Registry issued 8,282 birth certificates, Blackmoore reported. Full issuance data for September has not yet been compiled.

    This specialized security paper is used for all three types of vital event certificates issued by the registry: birth, marriage and death certificates. Government officials note that the secure, anti-counterfeiting stock is a critical tool to lower the risk of document duplication and identity fraud, protecting residents from fraudulent use of their personal identifying information.

  • Dominica farmer Dywany St. John receives CARICOM Farmer of the Year 2026 award in Jamaica

    Dominica farmer Dywany St. John receives CARICOM Farmer of the Year 2026 award in Jamaica

    Dominica’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy has issued an official statement celebrating a landmark regional win for one of the nation’s homegrown agricultural leaders: Dywany St. John of the Wesley community, who has been selected as the 2026 CARICOM Minister of Agriculture Farmer of the Year. The prestigious accolade was first revealed to the public earlier this September, with the formal presentation taking place Sunday, September 27 during the opening proceedings of the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture, hosted this year in Trelawny, Jamaica. This regional distinction is far more than a personal honor: it stands as a formal recognition of St. John’s decades of sustained work and impactful contributions to Caribbean agriculture, marking a watershed achievement for both the farmer himself and Dominica’s entire agricultural sector. In its official announcement, the ministry emphasized that the award is a testament to St. John’s unwavering commitment and relentless dedication to the farming profession. Beyond highlighting individual excellence, the recognition also draws much-needed attention to the critical role that small-scale and local farmers play across the Caribbean: bolstering national and regional food security, and driving the transition toward more sustainable agricultural practices that benefit both communities and ecosystems. St. John’s win also shines a well-deserved spotlight on his home community of Wesley, underscoring how local farming expertise and grassroots effort shape the broader regional agricultural landscape. The ministry did not stop at honoring St. John alone, also extending formal commendations to the team that has supported his work: Dominica’s Division of Agriculture and the Northeast Extension Team, made up of agricultural professionals Egbert Nelson, Adina James, and Braun Phillip. Ministry officials closed their statement by reiterating their congratulations to St. John for earning this high-profile regional honor, and shared their excitement to see him continue contributing to the ongoing growth and development of Dominica’s agricultural sector in the years ahead.

  • Shermel Timothy makes history as Dominica’s first woman candidate chess master

    Shermel Timothy makes history as Dominica’s first woman candidate chess master

    The small Caribbean nation of Dominica has etched a new milestone into its emerging athletic history, after homegrown chess player Shermel Timothy claimed the coveted Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. This groundbreaking win marks the first time any Dominican player has earned this international title, cementing Timothy’s place as a trailblazer for the country’s growing chess community.

    To secure the accolade, Timothy delivered a standout performance across 10 rounds of competitive play at the prestigious global tournament, finishing with a strong total score of 5.5 points, enough to meet the qualification requirements for the FIDE WCM title.

    Officials from the Dominica Chess Federation have publicly celebrated Timothy’s historic achievement, praising the years of relentless dedication, consistent hard work and unwavering persistence that allowed her to reach this international standard. In a statement following the announcement of her title, the federation emphasized that Timothy’s success is a direct reflection of the benefits that come with sustained commitment to elite chess competition.

    Beyond marking a personal victory for Timothy, the milestone is widely viewed as a turning point for the development of chess across Dominica. Federation leaders expect her breakthrough on the global stage will encourage a new generation of young Dominican chess enthusiasts to pursue the sport, hone their skills, and aim for competitive success at the highest international levels.

  • Four probationary police officers dismissed from police force

    Four probationary police officers dismissed from police force

    At an official press conference hosted by the Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs, Dominica’s top law enforcement leader has confirmed that four probationary members of the national police force have been terminated from their positions amid an ongoing internal investigation.

    Police Chief Lincoln Corbette, the head of the island nation’s police service, outlined key details of the dismissals while withholding sensitive information that has not been made public. Among the four fired officers, one has not faced any formal criminal charges, Corbette explained. Even so, the officer’s on-the-job behavior and inappropriate language triggered substantial concerns among department leadership that rose to a level severe enough to justify removal while the individual was still serving in their probationary status. Chief Corbette declined to disclose the officer’s name, nor did he release a full accounting of the specific allegations leveled against the terminated employee.

    Corbette went on to clarify the standard operating procedures for newly recruited law enforcement officers in Dominica. All new hires are required to complete a two-year probationary term before gaining permanent status, and this trial period can be extended at the department’s discretion if needed. Throughout this probationary window, any officer found to be lacking in personal character or unfit for the demands of police service can be dismissed through the department’s formal disciplinary process. Before a final termination decision is made, the officer must receive formal notice of the concerns raised about their conduct and be given a fair opportunity to respond to those claims.

    In this specific case, the police chief confirmed that all four affected officers were given adequate time to prepare and submit their responses to the allegations. For one of the four officers, leadership granted an extended deadline to allow more time for their response.

    A fifth officer connected to the underlying investigation has already completed their probationary period, and is currently going through a separate review process, according to Corbette. Any criminal proceedings involving this officer will take priority over internal disciplinary action, but administrative disciplinary measures can still be pursued in line with established institutional protocols once the criminal process moves forward.

    Chief Corbette did not share a full public breakdown of the investigation that led to the dismissals, and he declined to name which of the officers involved are currently facing criminal charges. His remarks, however, made a clear distinction between two separate processes: termination from the police force and criminal prosecution, emphasizing that these outcomes are decided independently of one another.

  • UWI Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles named NYU Distinguished Scholar

    UWI Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles named NYU Distinguished Scholar

    Leading Caribbean academic leader Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, who currently serves as Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), has earned a new high-profile international appointment: he will hold the title of Distinguished Scholar at New York University (NYU) for the 2026–2027 academic year.

    During his tenure in this distinguished role, Beckles will be hosted by NYU’s Centre for the Study of Africa and the African Diaspora, an institution globally recognized for its cutting-edge research on African and diaspora studies, which is currently headed by prominent scholar Professor Michael Gomez.

    In an official statement released by UWI following the announcement of the appointment, Beckles expressed his enthusiasm for the new opportunity, framing it as a rare chance to reestablish his academic connection to NYU while collaborating directly with leading researchers focused on advancing the study of African history.

    “This appointment is a deeply valued recognition of scholarly fellowship, particularly because this centre has built its global reputation on exceptional, groundbreaking research,” Beckles explained in his remarks. He recalled that his last academic affiliation with NYU dates back to 1994, when he worked as a visiting scholar at the university’s Centre for Latin American and Caribbean Studies — a position he was succeeded in by the iconic Barbadian poet and scholar Professor Kamau Brathwaite. “Returning to NYU after 32 years, this time working alongside some of the world’s leading scholars of African history, will be an incredibly special experience,” he added.

    As a key public engagement component of his distinguished scholar appointment, Beckles will deliver a high-profile public lecture on 13 October 2026, tackling an under-explored critical topic in global economic and slavery studies: the underrecognized economic contributions of enslaved Black women to the transatlantic slavery system.

    The lecture, carrying the formal title “The Economics of Wealth Creation: Why Enslaved Black Women Were the Financial Core of the Slavery Business Model”, is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. local time at Hemmerdinger Hall, located in NYU’s Silver Centre in downtown Manhattan.

    This latest appointment is only one entry in a long line of international academic honours that Beckles has accumulated over his decades-long career. In 2022, he was named Honorary International Historian of the Year by the Association of American Historians, and he has previously held the prestigious title of Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor-at-Large at Cornell University, another top U.S. research institution.

    UWI’s official statement emphasized that this new recognition not only spotlights Beckles’ decades of impactful scholarship and his far-reaching academic leadership on the global stage, but also strengthens the institution’s ongoing commitment to expanding cross-border academic collaboration and open scholarly dialogue between global research communities.

  • ILO study calls for better tourism jobs and support for small businesses in Dominica

    ILO study calls for better tourism jobs and support for small businesses in Dominica

    A new landmark study from the International Labour Organization (ILO) has shone a spotlight on systemic challenges facing the tourism industry across the Eastern Caribbean, including the sector in Dominica, calling for targeted policy action to formalize small businesses and uplift working standards across the region.

    Titled *Informality in the tourism sector in the Eastern Caribbean*, the research analyzes tourism ecosystems across five island nations: Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada and Saint Lucia. The ILO’s core argument frames coordinated progress on three interconnected goals — boosting productivity, expanding access to decent work, and cutting informal economic activity — as the only sustainable path forward for the region’s most economically critical industry.

    Across the five study countries, tourism contributes an average of 39% of total gross domestic product and accounts for more than 11% of all employment, underscoring just how deeply the sector’s health shapes regional livelihoods. These figures represent regional averages, not standalone data for Dominica specifically.

    The study outlines a web of overlapping barriers that plague both informal tourism workers and small business operators across the region. Limited access to affordable financing, widespread skills mismatches, gaps in social safety net coverage, and weak enforcement of existing labor regulations all create persistent headwinds for informal operators. Compounding these challenges, seasonal fluctuations in tourist demand and growing exposure to climate-related shocks make it even harder for small businesses to invest in long-term growth and maintain formal, regulated operations.

    For Dominica specifically, the research finds that one-size-fits-all policy solutions will not deliver meaningful change. Different types of tourism enterprises require tailored support: a small, family-run operator that earns only enough to cover basic operational costs needs vastly different assistance than a growing business seeking to scale up its offerings and customer base. The ILO notes that incremental, practical policy adjustments can make the process of formalization far more accessible for small operators, while also delivering tangible improvements to working conditions across the sector.

    The study puts forward a series of actionable recommendations for regional governments and stakeholders. Key proposals include expanding access to affordable financing and targeted skills training for micro, small and medium-sized tourism enterprises, extending social protection coverage to informal tourism workers, strengthening enforcement of labor regulations, and deepening tripartite cooperation between national governments, employer associations, and worker organizations.

    “The challenge is not simply to reduce informality, but to transform tourism into a genuine platform for decent work, productive development and social inclusion,” said Ana Virginia Moreira Gomes, ILO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, in outlining the study’s core mission.

    Notably, the research does not launch a new dedicated program for Dominica. Moving forward, the ILO has committed to collaborating with national governments, employer groups, and worker organizations to translate the study’s evidence-based recommendations into concrete policy and practice across the region.

  • Dominica loses 2-0 to Puerto Rico in Nations League

    Dominica loses 2-0 to Puerto Rico in Nations League

    In the latest round of CONCACAF Nations League group stage action held on September 27, Dominica’s senior men’s national football team, nicknamed the Bouyon Boyz, suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Puerto Rico. Though the final result did not go their way, a marked second-half turnaround under new tactical direction has given the side and its coaching staff reason for cautious optimism heading into their next fixture.

    Per an official team press release, head coach Kurt Herd opened his post-match analysis by acknowledging that his side failed to execute their pre-match game plan in the opening 45 minutes of the contest. Poor on-field decision-making and a failure to adapt early allowed Puerto Rico to seize control of the match tempo, turning Dominica’s unforced errors into two first-half goals that would ultimately decide the tie.

    “We didn’t start the game as we wanted to,” Herd told reporters in his assessment. “The structure and the framework we set up, we didn’t follow through on it in the first half. We failed to problem-solve in the moment, and that created the problems that put us behind.”

    Dominica’s first-half struggles were not limited to defensive disorganization. The side failed to generate consistent attacking threat, creating few high-quality scoring opportunities and spending the vast majority of the opening 45 minutes pinned back in their own half as Puerto Rico dominated possession. “We didn’t create enough chances, we weren’t dangerous enough going forward,” Herd explained. “We had to defend a lot in the first half, and that was very, very tough.”

    At halftime, Herd implemented key tactical adjustments to shift his side’s approach, and the team responded immediately. After the break, Dominica claimed a much larger share of possession, adopted a more proactive attacking stance, and pushed higher up the pitch in an attempt to claw back into the match. The improved performance yielded several clear goal-scoring chances, but Dominica was unable to find the back of the net to cut into Puerto Rico’s lead. Defensively, the adjusted structure also paid dividends: Dominica’s backline held firm for the entire second half, preventing Puerto Rico from extending its advantage.

    Despite the disappointing loss, Herd emphasized that the team would remain committed to its attacking, possession-based style of play even when facing higher-ranked opponents, rejecting any calls to shift to a more defensive, conservative approach. “We believe in the way we play, and we’re not going to abandon that just because we’re up against a strong side,” the coach implied in his remarks.

    Looking ahead, Dominica is set to face another tough test against Guyana later this week, with the match set to be hosted in Puerto Rico as the Nations League group stage continues. Herd confirmed that the technical staff is already evaluating potential tactical tweaks and possible changes to the starting lineup, but any adjustments will depend on a full assessment of player fitness and match condition before the game.

    The CONCACAF Nations League group stage has already seen three matches completed in Dominica’s group: a 0-0 draw between Dominica and Cayman Islands on September 24, a 1-0 win for Guyana over Puerto Rico the same day, and a 2-0 victory for Guyana against Cayman Islands on September 27, alongside Dominica’s 2-0 defeat to Puerto Rico.

  • Project INSPIRE to strengthen inclusive education in St. Maarten

    Project INSPIRE to strengthen inclusive education in St. Maarten

    A groundbreaking regional effort to transform K-12 education into a more accessible and welcoming space for all learners is set to kick off this week on the island of St. Maarten, bringing targeted support to students with special educational needs (SEN) and critical professional development to local educators. Organized by the educational services organization Education, Consulting, Academic Advising and Mentoring (ECAAM) in collaboration with St. Maarten’s SKOS Catholic Education Foundation, Project INSPIRE operates as a two-year pilot program crafted to address longstanding gaps in inclusive education practice across the region.

    The core mission of the initiative centers on upholding a simple but transformative principle: every student, regardless of their learning profile, deserves equal access to classroom participation, opportunities for academic growth, and a strong sense of belonging within their school community. To turn this principle into action, Project INSPIRE focuses on four key pillars of improvement: enhanced instructional techniques, more equitable student assessment frameworks, targeted learner support systems, and cross-regional knowledge sharing to scale successful practices.

    A week of official activities, including the formal launch and foundational teacher training, will run from September 28 to October 2, 2026, with the main launch ceremony scheduled for September 30 at the SKOS Training Center in Philipsburg. The public event will run from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM local time, and organizers have made arrangements to include remote stakeholders from across the Caribbean and beyond: the launch will be livestreamed to a global audience via three media outlets, Richie Ferrol Media Services, EmoNews, and Dominica News Online.

    Throughout the training program, participating educators will engage in a hands-on curriculum designed to build practical, actionable skills for inclusive teaching. The coursework covers a range of critical topics, from adapted instructional methods and personalized lesson planning to trauma-informed inclusive classroom management and targeted intervention strategies for students with a wide spectrum of learning needs. Educators will also complete immersive learning experiences including peer school visits, in-classroom observation opportunities, and collaborative professional development workshops led by regional SEN experts.

    Organizers emphasize that the ultimate goal of the training is to equip teachers with the tools to identify individual student needs early and adapt their instructional approaches to meet those needs, creating classroom environments where every learner can participate actively and thrive academically. Framed as a collective regional commitment to educational equity, Project INSPIRE aims to build long-term teacher capacity and establish a model for inclusive education that can be replicated across other island nations and regional education systems.

  • Grand Bay health team promotes wellness through fun and fitness activities

    Grand Bay health team promotes wellness through fun and fitness activities

    As part of the 2026 iteration of Caribbean Wellness Month, local health educators in Grand Bay have moved traditional health education out of static classroom settings and into an active, community-focused space, hosting a special Fun and Fitness Day on September 24 for students from two local primary schools: Grand Bay Primary and Bellevue Chopin Primary.

    Organized by the island’s Grand Bay health team in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services, the interactive event was designed to turn abstract health lessons into tangible, enjoyable experience, giving young learners a hands-on way to explore the core principles of healthy living. Unlike traditional lectures that rely on textbooks and presentations, this initiative centered on engagement, framing wellness as something fun rather than a chore.

    The Fun and Fitness Day capped off a full week of foundational wellness education for participating students. Over the preceding seven days, students joined guided presentations and group discussions that introduced key concepts around physical health, nutrition, and long-term wellness. The event then turned those classroom lessons into action, with competitive races, group games, and a range of age-appropriate physical activities that got students moving, collaborating, and having fun while reinforcing what they had learned.

    Beyond getting children active, the event aimed to debunk the common misconception that maintaining good health requires boring or restrictive routines. By building all activities around play and friendly competition, organizers demonstrated that regular physical activity can be a joyful part of daily life, rather than a burden.

    The event also saw active participation from both school teachers and members of the Grand Bay Health Team themselves. By joining in the activities alongside students, adult participants reinforced a core takeaway: prioritizing physical activity and adopting healthy lifestyles delivers benefits for people of all ages and all ability levels, not just children and young people.

    the 2026 Caribbean Wellness Month initiative centers on a three-part mission: to engage, empower, and elevate young people by encouraging them to make intentional healthy choices from an early age. This event aligns perfectly with that overarching goal: through collaborative play, team-based challenges, and shared activity, students were invited to interact with wellness concepts in a low-pressure, enjoyable environment. The ultimate long-term aim of the work is to empower children to build sustainable healthy habits that carry into adolescence and adulthood, by normalizing active living early in life.
    “This approach is designed to elevate the profile of everyday wellness,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services explained, noting that by framing physical activity as a fun, accessible pastime, organizers hope to inspire children to make regular movement a standard part of their daily routines long after the conclusion of Caribbean Wellness Month. All event photos are provided courtesy of the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services.