Carib Scope

标签： Dominica

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  • CARICOM election observation mission arrives in Antigua and Barbuda

    CARICOM election observation mission arrives in Antigua and Barbuda

    In response to an official invitation extended by Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat has formally confirmed the deployment of a nine-member CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM) to monitor the twin-island nation’s upcoming 2026 General Elections, scheduled to take place on April 30.

    Headed by Maxine McClean, a sitting member of Barbados’ Electoral and Boundaries Commission, the mission draws seasoned electoral experts from across the Caribbean bloc to ensure impartial, comprehensive oversight. Herman St. Helen, Chief Elections Officer of Saint Lucia, serves as Deputy Chief of Mission. The remaining core observer team includes senior electoral and governance officials from five other CARICOM member states: Ambassador Felix Gregoire, Chairman of Dominica’s Public Service Commission; Rohan Porter, Acting Assistant Director of Elections for Field Operations in Jamaica; Stephanie Bram, a member of Suriname’s Electoral Bureau; and Karla Dayton Edwards, Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago’s Election and Boundaries Commission. Three CARICOM Secretariat staff from the Foreign and Community Relations portfolio — Programme Manager Brian Bellevue, Project Officer Amos Lindor, and Administrative Assistant Denise Morgan — provide administrative and logistics support to the mission.

    The advance core contingent of the mission touched down in Antigua and Barbuda on April 23, and has already begun laying the groundwork for its observation work by scheduling consultations with a broad spectrum of national stakeholders. These planned meetings include representatives from the Antigua and Barbuda government, opposition parties, the national Electoral Commission, and the Supervisor of Elections. Beyond official political and electoral bodies, the mission will also hold discussions with civil society groups representing marginalized and key community segments, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, the local business community, religious organizations, labor unions, and independent media outlets.

    On election day, April 30, observers will deploy to polling sites across the country to monitor every stage of the electoral process, from the opening of polling stations and the casting of ballots, through the closure of voting sites, the counting of ballots, and the official compilation of poll statements. To produce a rigorous, evidence-based assessment, the team will gather both quantitative data to verify election results and qualitative observations to evaluate the conduct of electoral officials, the behavior of political actors, and the overall inclusivity and fairness of the pre-election and election-day environment.

    Following the close of polls, the mission will first release a Preliminary Statement outlining its immediate findings and initial assessment of the electoral process. A full, comprehensive final report will be compiled at a later date, submitted to CARICOM Secretary-General, shared with Antigua and Barbuda’s government, opposition leader, and national Electoral Commission, and ultimately published publicly on the official CARICOM website. The full mission is scheduled to conclude its work and depart Antigua and Barbuda on May 3, 2026.

    In the mission’s official arrival statement, released on April 25 and signed by Chief of Mission McClean, the team expressed sincere gratitude for the warm welcome and cooperation it has received since entering the country. Mission members reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the strengthening of democratic governance in Antigua and Barbuda through independent, transparent observation.

    Founded in 1973 via the Treaty of Chaguaramas, CARICOM is a 15-member regional bloc with six associate members, representing roughly 16 million Caribbean residents. Revised in 2001 to establish a regional single market and economy, the organization centers its work on four core pillars: economic integration, coordinated foreign policy, human and social development, and cross-border security cooperation, with the overarching goal of building an integrated, inclusive, and globally competitive regional community that guarantees human rights, social justice, and shared prosperity for all citizens.

  • CRICKET: The Quiet Hunger of Akeem Auguste

    CRICKET: The Quiet Hunger of Akeem Auguste

    ST JOHN’S, Antigua – For Akeem Auguiste, the story of his relationship with cricket begins on a sun-warmed pitch when he was just four years old. Standing at the crease for the first time, with his own father rolling in deliveries, the young Saint Lucian had no idea that this casual introduction would grow into a lifelong passion that would shape every part of his growth. By the time he turned 12, his deep love for the sport was already paired with an unshakeable hunger to compete at the highest level he could reach. But it was a painful early rejection that would forge the relentless work ethic that defines him today.

    When Auguiste was left off the roster for the Windward Islands Under 15 cricket side, the disappointment of that exclusion hit harder than any delivery he had ever faced. Rather than letting the snub break his confidence, the young cricketer turned that heartache into fuel. In a recent reflection on his early journey, Auguiste opened up about how that moment changed his entire approach to the game.

    “I didn’t get selected and from then on, I never wanted to get that feeling again of being left out of a team,” he said. “I started to train a little harder and be more intentional with the things I was working on.”

    That fateful decision to double down on his training set Auguiste on a path toward competitive cricket at the regional level, with Cricket West Indies highlighting his journey as an example of how early setbacks can build the resilience needed to succeed in elite sport. What began as a father-son game on a local pitch has grown into a promising career, all rooted in one 12-year-old’s promise to himself that he would never again know the sting of being passed over.

  • DOMLEC: Unplanned service interruption affecting customers across the island

    DOMLEC: Unplanned service interruption affecting customers across the island

    Dominica Electricity Services (DOMLEC), the main power provider for the Caribbean island of Dominica, has confirmed that an unexpected, unplanned service disruption is currently impacting electricity customers across the entire nation. The company made the announcement in an official public statement published to its official Facebook page over the weekend.

    In the full statement, DOMLEC representatives confirmed that utility teams are already aware of the widespread outage and have launched an urgent investigation to pinpoint the root cause of the interruption. “Crews are working around the clock to safely restore full power service to all affected communities as quickly as possible,” the statement read, adding that the company recognizes the major disruption this blackout causes for residential and commercial customers alike. DOMLEC also noted that it will issue additional public updates as new details about the outage and restoration progress emerge.

    However, the announcement has sparked significant backlash from local residents who took to social media to share their experiences. Many commenters on DOMLEC’s post voiced ongoing dissatisfaction with the island’s power infrastructure, claiming that unannounced, unplanned outages have become a regular occurrence in multiple communities across Dominica. Multiple users shared that repeated outages have disrupted daily routines, business operations, and critical services, leaving many residents frustrated with the lack of consistent, reliable power service.

    As of the latest update, DOMLEC has not yet released a revised timeline for full power restoration, nor has it identified the specific cause of the current island-wide outage.

  • Caribbean Fisheries Forum hosts 24th regular session ahead of ministerial meeting

    Caribbean Fisheries Forum hosts 24th regular session ahead of ministerial meeting

    Leaders of fisheries management agencies from 17 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member jurisdictions have gathered this week for the 24th Regular Meeting of the Caribbean Fisheries Forum, a key regional body that delivers expert technical guidance to the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM). The two-day gathering kicked off on Thursday, April 23, with opening deliberations centered on the CRFM’s upcoming Seventh Biennial Work Plan, covering the 2026–2027 period. This strategic document lays out a comprehensive framework to drive inclusive, sustainable growth of fisheries and aquaculture sectors across the entire Caribbean region. On the meeting’s second and final day, agenda items are focused on assessing evolving regional and global industry shifts, as well as analyzing current status and emerging trends in Caribbean fisheries and aquaculture.

    In opening remarks, Dr. Marc Williams, Executive Director of the CRFM, underlined that cross-border collaboration is non-negotiable for Caribbean fisheries management, given that most commercial fish stocks span multiple national jurisdictions. Williams explained that the forum fills a critical regional need by creating a centralized platform for member states to share standardized fisheries data, coordinate collective responses to shared threats, and align policy frameworks that balance marine resource protection with the economic stability of fishing-dependent communities. Key challenges being addressed through this cooperative framework include illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the accelerating impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems, widespread habitat degradation, and chronic overexploitation of vulnerable fish populations. He added that the forum also works to strengthen cross-stakeholder partnerships between national governments, local fisherfolk associations, academic research institutions, and environmental non-governmental organizations, with goals of harmonizing national management plans, boosting regulatory enforcement capacity, and securing international donor funding for collaborative regional projects.

    On the first day of the meeting, members held leadership elections to select new officers for the forum. Mr. Ian Horsford, Chief Fisheries Officer of Antigua and Barbuda, secured election to the position of Forum Chair. He succeeds outgoing Chair Mr. Remone Johnson of the Turks and Caicos Islands, who completed his term ahead of the 2024 gathering. In his first remarks following the election, Horsford reaffirmed the CRFM’s central role in advancing multilateral cooperation to build a more sustainable Caribbean fisheries sector and grow the region’s blue economy.

    Across the two-day meeting, participating delegates are focusing discussion on a range of priority topics tied to long-term sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. Key themes under deliberation include climate change adaptation strategies for fishing communities, the adoption of innovative new technologies to improve management and production, and the integration of renewable energy solutions into regional seafood supply chains. Delegates are also exchanging approaches to strengthening the fight against IUU fishing and transnational fisheries-related crime, as well as advancing gender mainstreaming initiatives to ensure more inclusive participation of women in the fisheries sector.

    A core part of the forum’s mandate at this meeting is delivering technical guidance for two new regulatory protocols being rolled out under the CARICOM Common Fisheries Policy: one focused on establishing standardized regional marine spatial planning, and a second covering full traceability for aquatic food products moving across regional borders. Delegates are also reviewing alignment of regional policies with major global agreements, including the World Trade Organization Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement signed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the new International Legally Binding Instrument on plastic pollution.

    This week’s Caribbean Fisheries Forum meeting serves as a technical preparatory gathering ahead of the 20th Regular Meeting of the CRFM Ministerial Council, an upcoming high-level summit that will bring together cabinet-level fisheries ministers from all CRFM member states to set strategic political direction for the regional body.

  • DFP condolence statement on the passing of DASPA CEO, Ian Pinard

    DFP condolence statement on the passing of DASPA CEO, Ian Pinard

    The Dominican political landscape is this week grappling with the sudden loss of one of its most notable public figures, Ian Pinard, whose career spanned senior political roles and critical infrastructure leadership. The Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) has officially joined the entire nation in mourning his passing, releasing a public statement confirming the news of his death.

    Pinard wore many hats across his decades of public service to Dominica. At the time of his death, he served as Chief Executive Officer of the Dominica Air and Sea Port Authority, the government body that oversees the island nation’s critical transportation and trade hubs. Prior to this senior infrastructure leadership role, Pinard built a long legacy in electoral politics, holding a seat as a government minister and serving as the parliamentary representative for the Soufriere Constituency.

    His unexpected death has sent ripples of shock across the country, with members of the public, political colleagues, and constituents expressing surprise at the news of his passing. In its official statement, the DFP extended its deepest and most sincere condolences to Pinard’s immediate family, extended relatives, close friends, colleagues, and all staff at the Dominica Air and Sea Port Authority. The party also made a special point of acknowledging the loss to the residents and community of the Soufriere Constituency, which Pinard represented for years.

    Closing its statement, the Dominica Freedom Party offered a final tribute, wishing Pinard’s soul eternal rest.

  • Nine artisans complete CL.AU.DI.A. Project in Dominica

    Nine artisans complete CL.AU.DI.A. Project in Dominica

    On Saturday, February 7, 2026, a celebratory Certificate Award Ceremony and Mini-Fair unfolded at Prevo Cinemall in Roseau, Dominica, marking the successful completion of the groundbreaking Cultura Digital Antilliana (CL.AU.DI.A.) project. Nine emerging young artisans walked away with official recognition for completing the program, closing out a three-year cross-continental initiative that aimed to transform digital cultural training across the Caribbean region.

    Funded through the European Union’s Erasmus+ program, CL.AU.DI.A. launched in 2023 as a collaborative effort between a multinational consortium of cultural institutions and educational bodies spanning the Caribbean and Europe. Partner organizations brought diverse regional expertise to the table: Italy’s ARCS – ARCI Culture Solidali APS, D’Antilles et D’Ailleurs from Martinique, multiple Cuban entities including Asociación Hermanos Saíz, the National Center for Cultural Advancement, and the University of Information Sciences, Haiti’s École Supérieure d’Infotronique, and the Dominica-based Dominica Arts and Crafts Producers Association (DACPA), who led local implementation in Dominica.

    The core on-the-ground phases of the program rolled out in Dominica between July 2024 and December 2025. DACPA kicked off local activities with a specialized Training of Trainers course, delivered remotely via widely accessible digital tools including WhatsApp and Google Meet. Following the trainer upskilling phase, the organization opened applications for a pilot trainee program, ultimately selecting nine young local artisans to participate in the full training curriculum.

    DACPA President Vanessa Winston shared that the program overcame significant early logistical hurdles, including widespread transportation barriers and conflicting scheduling conflicts for participating artisans. To address these challenges, the entire program was adapted to a fully virtual format, eliminating access barriers and ensuring that all nine selected participants were able to complete the full course of training. A core feature of the program was its one-on-one mentorship model, which paired each trainee with an experienced dedicated trainer to provide ongoing personalized support throughout their learning journey.

    The program wrapped up with a capstone international gathering in Cuba, where DACPA representatives and trainees traveled to join the final project conference and public exhibition. The Cuban event also included a historic ceremonial signing of the CL.AU.DI.A. Network agreement, a formal pact that locks in long-term regional cooperation to expand access to digital culture training across the Caribbean. Saturday’s ceremony in Roseau amplified this milestone, celebrating not just the individual success of the nine newly certified artisans, but the broader impact of a project that has built lasting cross-border partnerships and unlocked new economic and creative opportunities for digital cultural creators across the region.

  • DAPD offers sign language course

    DAPD offers sign language course

    The Dominica Association of Persons With Disabilities (DAPD) is opening access to a comprehensive six-week sign language training program starting in May 2026, designed to break down longstanding communication barriers between the general public and community members who rely on sign language as their primary mode of communication. The training program is structured to serve a wide cross-section of Dominican society, with targeted outreach to professionals whose daily work brings them into regular contact with the public: frontline service providers, medical and healthcare staff, primary and secondary school educators, tourism and hospitality employees, and workers across public and private sector organizations. Members of the general public who are interested in learning the skill are also invited to register for the course.

    Judy Sango, president of DAPD, explained that the core mission of the initiative extends far beyond just teaching basic signs. The program is rooted in a broader goal of advancing full social and economic inclusion for non-verbal Dominicans and people with hearing impairments. By equipping more people across the island with foundational sign language skills, the association aims to foster more respectful, independent, and empowering interactions for community members who use sign language daily.

    Sango emphasized that the training will deliver mutual benefits for both course participants and sign language users. For example, business owners and hospitality workers who complete the program are likely to draw more customers from the sign language community, who will actively seek out establishments where they can receive equal, respectful communication without barriers, rather than going to businesses that lack this accessibility. “I believe upon completion of the course it will benefit both participants and those who use sign language as a daily means of communication,” Sango noted.

    In a call to action for Dominican residents, Sango encouraged all interested people to sign up, framing the course as a critical step toward building a more equitable society that leaves no one behind. The program is scheduled to run from May 7 to July 23, 2026, with classes held from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM at DAPD’s headquarters in Goodwill. The total registration fee for the full six-week course is $250 Eastern Caribbean dollar, and interested applicants can contact the DAPD office directly at 440 0842 to secure a spot or request additional information about the curriculum.

  • NCCU partners with DDA for 15th Jazz N’ Creole celebration

    NCCU partners with DDA for 15th Jazz N’ Creole celebration

    Dominica’s premier cultural calendar is gearing up for a landmark celebration, as the National Cooperative Credit Union (NCCU) has formalized a sponsorship partnership with the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) to back the 15th annual Jazz N’ Creole festival. Scheduled for Sunday, May 3 at the historic Fort Shirley, this year’s edition will center on the curated theme “Afro Elegance”, bringing a unique blend of musical artistry and cultural heritage to attendees.

  • Ace Academix to host free Online Creative Writing Workshop for grade 6 Students

    Ace Academix to host free Online Creative Writing Workshop for grade 6 Students

    Dominica-based leading Caribbean education provider Ace Academix is gearing up to launch its third annual 100% free online creative writing workshop, launched in partnership with the Creative Writing Institute of Trinidad and Tobago, ahead of the island’s 2026 Grade 6 National Assessment. Scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 26, 2026, the initiative is open to all Grade 6 students across Dominica, with a specific focus on learners preparing for the high-stakes national examination set to be held in May 2026.

    Now in its third consecutive year, this skills-building program has carved out an important role in Dominican education since its debut in 2024, designed to address a longstanding gap in exam preparation: consistent, high-quality support for writing skills, which are consistently ranked as one of the most challenging components of the Grade 6 National Assessment. Over its first two iterations, the workshop has helped hundreds of learners cultivate the capacity to write effectively, articulately, and confidently under timed exam conditions, laying the groundwork for stronger assessment outcomes.

    Founded in August 2020, Ace Academix has built a reputation as a impact-driven leader in the region’s education space over the past six years, working to expand access to targeted learning resources that help Dominican students reach their full academic potential. A core part of the institution’s strategy to elevate learning outcomes has been building cross-regional and local collaborative partnerships, which allow it to bring diverse expertise and innovative instructional approaches to local students. This year’s partnership with the Trinidad and Tobago-based Creative Writing Institute brings together top writing instruction talent from across the Caribbean to deliver a dynamic, practical learning experience tailored to exam candidates’ specific needs.

    The workshop curriculum is built around four key areas of focus that directly address common student struggles. Participants will gain hands-on practice and guided instruction across four core writing genres tested on the national assessment: narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive writing. They will also learn easy-to-remember practical acronyms and structured strategies to organize their writing coherently under pressure, build techniques to boost both creativity and clarity in their written work, and master test-taking strategies specifically designed to improve writing performance during timed exams.

    Jemima Mills, Chief Executive Officer of Ace Academix, emphasized the core mission behind the ongoing initiative in a statement announcing the workshop. “Writing is a skill that many students struggle with, especially in high-pressure exam settings,” Mills explained. “Through this workshop, we are equipping students with practical tools, proven strategies, and the confidence they need to approach their upcoming exams successfully. Our continued cross-Caribbean collaboration allows us to deliver a richer, more effective learning experience that meets the unique needs of our students.”

    As a community-focused initiative, the entire workshop is offered completely free of charge to all participating students and families, removing financial barriers to access for learners gearing up for their national assessment. Organizers have noted that capacity for the online event is limited due to the small-group targeted instruction model, so interested participants are encouraged to register as early as possible to secure a spot. Registration can be completed via the official form at https://forms.gle/1y8G9uMamBb5bmK96, and any questions can be directed to the Ace Academix team via phone or WhatsApp at (767) 225-1128 or by email at info@aceacademix.dm.

  • Dominican Musician urges return of music education

    Dominican Musician urges return of music education

    Renowned Dominican musician Cornell “Fingers” Phillip has amplified ongoing calls for comprehensive education reform in Dominica, urging authorities to bring formal music education back into the nation’s primary and secondary school curricula. Speaking on the popular local Creole Heartbeat Program, the veteran musician emphasized that music carries far more weight than a simple leisure activity—it serves as both a critical creative outlet and a foundational pillar of healthy societal development.”There is no question that we need to reinsert music into our official school curriculum,” Phillip stated during the interview. “Music shapes our moods, influences how we connect with one another, and is an inseparable part of how we raise and strengthen our communities.” He added that formal music training is deeply intertwined with Dominica’s unique cultural heritage, making it a necessary component of official in-school learning rather than an optional after-school activity.

    Phillip’s advocacy aligns closely with a sweeping education reform vision put forward by Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who has made overhauling the country’s outdated education system a top policy priority. Back in May 2025, Skerrit drew widespread attention when he publicly denounced Dominica’s existing curriculum as outdated and damaging to student growth. During a press conference held on May 26 that year, the Prime Minister criticized the status quo for forcing primary school students to juggle as many as 13 separate subjects, calling the overloaded structure “ridiculous.”

    To address these flaws, Skerrit has proposed a restructured, streamlined curriculum that centers on core academic subjects including English, Mathematics, Social Studies, History, and Social Science, while integrating hands-on practical skills ranging from agriculture and carpentry to art and civics. The Prime Minister argued that the current system fails to cultivate key soft skills that students need to thrive, noting: “We’re not building a culture of collaboration. We’re not building a culture of cooperation. We’re not building students with analytical skills and critical thinking and comprehension.” He stressed that a successful education system must accommodate the diverse talents and varied learning styles of all students, rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all model.

    Skerrit has repeatedly highlighted the value of extracurricular activities like music and sports as core tools for fostering teamwork, communication, and creative problem-solving. He has issued a stark warning that delayed reform could put an entire generation of Dominican youth at risk, leaving them trapped in what he termed “depressing situations” within underperforming schools. The Prime Minister added that modern education must also adapt to shifting global realities, including rapid technological advancement and the growing impact of artificial intelligence, to ensure students graduate prepared for the demands of the 21st century workforce.