Carib Scope

标签： Dominica

多米尼克

  • PM Skerrit joins PM-elect Phillip J. Pierre in St Lucia for swearing in ceremony

    PM Skerrit joins PM-elect Phillip J. Pierre in St Lucia for swearing in ceremony

    In a significant display of Caribbean diplomatic solidarity, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica arrived in Saint Lucia on Friday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre. The event marks Pierre’s formal assumption of office as the nation’s ninth individual and twelfth Prime Minister.

    The newly appointed leader publicly welcomed his counterpart through a Facebook post, describing Skerrit as his “dear friend and comrade.” Pierre emphasized that the Dominican leader’s presence symbolizes the profound friendship between their neighboring nations and reflects their mutual dedication to prioritizing citizen welfare throughout the Caribbean region.

    “Together, we continue to move forward, for the progress of our people,” Pierre declared, underscoring their shared governance philosophy. The ceremony represents more than a constitutional formality—it signifies the strengthening of inter-island partnerships within the Eastern Caribbean at a leadership level.

    The event was broadcast live, allowing citizens from both nations to witness this demonstration of regional cooperation. This political gesture occurs amid ongoing efforts to enhance collaborative initiatives across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), particularly in addressing shared challenges related to economic development, climate resilience, and social advancement.

    Such high-level attendance at ministerial inaugurations has become increasingly common among Caribbean leaders, reinforcing diplomatic bonds and creating opportunities for immediate bilateral discussions on pressing regional matters.

  • Allen Chastanet resigns as UWP leader after crushing election defeat

    Allen Chastanet resigns as UWP leader after crushing election defeat

    In a significant political development, United Workers Party (UWP) leader Allen Chastanet has officially resigned from his position following the party’s catastrophic performance in Saint Lucia’s December 1 General Election. The UWP suffered its most devastating electoral defeat in decades, securing only one parliamentary seat—Chastanet’s own constituency of Micoud South.

    The ruling Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) achieved a commanding victory by capturing 14 seats, while independent candidates claimed the remaining two positions. These independent representatives have subsequently pledged their allegiance to the governing coalition, effectively leaving the UWP as the sole opposition voice in parliament.

    Party Chairman Therold Prudent formally notified UWP members of Chastanet’s resignation during a strategic meeting on December 5. According to an official press release, Prudent confirmed receipt of Chastanet’s resignation letter, which will be formally presented to the National Executive during their mid-December meeting for official consideration.

    The party’s statement emphasized its ongoing commitment to “transparency, democratic processes, and the continued advancement of its mission in service to the people of Saint Lucia.”

    Political analysts have identified Chastanet’s leadership as a primary factor in the party’s poor electoral showing. This defeat represents the second consecutive landslide loss under his guidance, mirroring the substantial defeat experienced during the 2021 general elections.

    Chastanet’s departure triggers an imminent leadership contest within the UWP as the party attempts to rebuild its political infrastructure and redefine its role within Saint Lucia’s evolving political landscape. This transition occurs amid growing questions about the party’s future direction and electoral viability.

  • Guyana ,along with IICA, creates Situation Room to oversee country’s agricultural sector

    Guyana ,along with IICA, creates Situation Room to oversee country’s agricultural sector

    Guyana is advancing toward establishing a cutting-edge agricultural Situation Room in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), marking a significant leap in climate-resilient farming technology. This strategic initiative aims to revolutionize real-time data collection, predictive analytics, and rapid response mechanisms for extreme weather events threatening the nation’s food security.

    During a recent site inspection, Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha and technical teams from both the ministry and IICA assessed the project’s development progress. The facility represents a cornerstone in Guyana’s agricultural modernization agenda, leveraging its extensive fertile lands and tropical climate to potentially transform the nation into the Caribbean’s primary food basket—a region currently dependent on imported food supplies.

    IICA advocates that sustainable agricultural development requires substantial investments from public and private sectors, integration of scientific innovations, and comprehensive farmer training programs. The Situation Room will serve as a centralized hub aggregating critical data on weather patterns, crop yields, flood and drought risks, and pest outbreaks, enabling proactive threat management through smart monitoring tools and evidence-based decision making.

    Minister Mustapha emphasized IICA’s crucial role in supporting Guyana’s transition to technology-driven agriculture, noting that the new facility will significantly enhance the ministry’s capacity to safeguard food production and support farmers nationwide. Project officials reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating completion while ensuring infrastructure and technical systems meet international standards.

  • Chief Electoral Officer announces mobile voter confirmation for home-bound individuals

    Chief Electoral Officer announces mobile voter confirmation for home-bound individuals

    In a significant move to enhance electoral inclusivity, the national Electoral Office has unveiled a pioneering mobile confirmation service designed specifically for citizens unable to visit designated confirmation centers. This initiative directly addresses accessibility challenges faced by homebound individuals, including those constrained by illness, physical disabilities, or other mobility-limiting conditions.

    Chief Elections Officer Ms. Anthea Joseph has issued a public appeal, encouraging community members to identify and refer individuals requiring this specialized service. The Electoral Office has established protocols to coordinate and schedule mobile visits efficiently, ensuring no eligible voter is disenfranchised due to physical limitations.

    Prospective recipients of the mobile service must prepare two critical components for their scheduled appointment: a valid government-issued identification document (passport, social security card, or driver’s license) and readiness to have their photograph taken. This photographic requirement is mandatory for the production and issuance of official Voter ID cards.

    Ms. Joseph underscored the importance of possessing current identification and cooperating with the photographic process to facilitate a seamless and efficient confirmation experience. This service represents a substantial advancement in making fundamental democratic processes accessible to all citizen segments, particularly those traditionally facing participation barriers.

  • PRESS RELEASE: Abbigale Loncke-Watson, an entrepreneur who connects rural life, energy and local development in Guyana, is recognized by IICA as a Leader of Rurality of the Americas

    PRESS RELEASE: Abbigale Loncke-Watson, an entrepreneur who connects rural life, energy and local development in Guyana, is recognized by IICA as a Leader of Rurality of the Americas

    Abbigale Loncke-Watson embodies a transformative force in Caribbean entrepreneurship, seamlessly merging community development with business innovation. The Guyanese visionary, recently honored as a Leader of Rurality of the Americas by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), has dedicated her career to advancing economic independence for rural women while pioneering inclusive growth models.

    Her journey began in Guyana’s Essequibo region, where childhood experiences in agricultural communities instilled core values of solidarity, resourcefulness, and collective problem-solving. These formative years directly inspired her first entrepreneurial venture—a home-care agency created to address her grandfather’s healthcare needs that evolved into a platform for local women with nursing skills.

    This initial project catalyzed the 2017 establishment of WeLead Caribbean, an organization providing comprehensive training, network access, and economic autonomy programs for Guyanese women. Through tailored courses in business management, digital literacy, and marketing—accommodating family responsibilities with childcare and flexible scheduling—WeLead has empowered entrepreneurs across regions from Essequibo to Berbice. The pandemic prompted innovative adaptations, with social media becoming a vital tool for product promotion and direct sales when traditional channels collapsed.

    Concurrently, Loncke-Watson leads Loncke Group (including MBW Energy Support Services) and co-founded Sispro Inc., which recently secured two oil blocks in Guyana’s government bidding process. As a female CEO in the male-dominated energy sector, she champions gender inclusion through Women in Energy Guyana, advocating for rural communities’ participation in the country’s energy boom.

    Her leadership philosophy emphasizes intentional risk-taking and holistic development: ‘Energy wealth must translate into community well-being through local training, environmental respect, and job creation.’ Future initiatives include business-simulation programs, the Women Empowerment Conference, and cross-sector partnerships to expand opportunities in energy and technology—ensuring rural women actively shape Guyana’s economic transformation.

  • Regional Humanitarian Warehouse to aid disaster recovery launches in Guadeloupe

    Regional Humanitarian Warehouse to aid disaster recovery launches in Guadeloupe

    Caribbean nations, increasingly vulnerable to intensified and frequent severe weather events, have gained a powerful new asset in regional disaster management with the December 4, 2025 inauguration of the Regional Humanitarian Warehouse in Les Abeys, Guadeloupe. This strategic facility represents a transformative step in strengthening collective resilience across the archipelago.

    The inauguration ceremony gathered distinguished figures including Dr. Caroline Cross, President of the French Red Cross, alongside French officials and presidents of Caribbean Red Cross societies from Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis, signaling broad regional endorsement.

    Financed predominantly by the European Union, which contributed €2.4 million (covering 82% of total investment) through its Interreg Caribbean programme under the Ready Together Extension initiative, the warehouse underscores the EU’s sustained commitment to supporting Caribbean and outermost regions.

    Construction initiated in 2023 addresses a critical gap in disaster preparedness. The facility quadruples the French Red Cross’s storage capacity, enabling housing of up to 4,000 household kits. Beyond storage, it incorporates a crisis coordination center and modular training spaces designed to enhance operational readiness through simulated emergencies and skill development.

    Engineered to endure major hurricanes and seismic events, the warehouse integrates advanced sustainable technologies including bioclimatic architecture, photovoltaic energy generation, and rainwater harvesting systems. These eco-conscious features align with the European Green Deal while promoting climate-resilient infrastructure development.

    As a logistical nexus, the hub will facilitate rapid, efficient, and lower-emission distribution of humanitarian aid across Caribbean territories and EU outermost regions, significantly improving response times during crises. The project also aims to cultivate a new generation of disaster management professionals versed in sustainable practices.

    This initiative synergizes with broader EU frameworks including the Cohesion Policy, Strategy for the Outermost Regions, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, and climate adaptation priorities, forming a cohesive approach to building regional resilience against climate-related hazards.

  • Family of E.O. LeBlanc releases posthumous poetry collection

    Family of E.O. LeBlanc releases posthumous poetry collection

    The literary world welcomes a significant posthumous publication with the release of “Fragments of the Dawn and Other Poems” by Edward O. LeBlanc (1923–2004), the revered Dominican statesman who served as the nation’s first Premier. This carefully curated collection, spanning nearly three decades of creative output from 1947 to 1974, offers unprecedented insight into the private contemplations of a leader whose political career overshadowed his literary talents during his lifetime.

    Compiled by LeBlanc’s family, the anthology showcases thirty poems that explore universal themes of love, loss, ambition, and philosophical reflection, all deeply rooted in Dominica’s breathtaking natural landscape. Written predominantly in the Romantic English style characteristic of mid-century Caribbean writers, LeBlanc’s verse demonstrates remarkable emotional depth and technical grace that established his early reputation before his political ascendancy.

    The collection features two particularly notable works: “Fragments of the Dawn” and “Vade Mecum,” both of which received early recognition in “Important American Poets and Songwriters” (Valiant Press, 1948). These pieces, along with the moving elegy dedicated to his mother and the timeless guidance offered in “To the Ambitious Youth,” reveal the intellectual and emotional foundations that would later inform his governance.

    A distinctive feature of this publication is the inclusion of two poems written in Kwéyòl accompanied by side-by-side English translations, celebrating both LeBlanc’s cultural heritage and Dominica’s linguistic traditions. This bilingual approach underscores the collection’s significance as both literary work and cultural artifact.

    The publication has garnered praise from prominent Caribbean literary figures. Author Alick Lazare describes it as “an admirable collection… attests to the poetic genius, personal integrity, and deep and abiding humanity of the author.” Dr. Irving André, jurist and biographer, notes it reveals “why this extraordinary man is highly revered as the Father of Our Nation,” while St. Lucian poet John Robert Lee recognizes it as “a valuable literary artifact… whose roots have brought forth spreading expressions of today’s Dominica.”

    The production process itself represents a celebration of Dominican talent, with local experts including Giselle Laurent overseeing pre-press production, Aaron Hamilton creating original cover art depicting O’parc bay (significant to LeBlanc’s retirement), and Gregory “WochLa” Rabess ensuring linguistic accuracy in the Kwéyòl translations.

    Available through major retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Jay’s Ltd. Bookstore in Roseau, this collection finally shares with the world the poetic voice that shaped one of the Caribbean’s most respected leaders, offering readers emotional truth and beauty that continues to resonate across generations.

  • WEATHER (6:00 AM, December 05): Cloudiness, passing showers today

    WEATHER (6:00 AM, December 05): Cloudiness, passing showers today

    A dominant high-pressure system is delivering generally dry conditions across the region, though residents can anticipate intermittent cloud cover and isolated showers over the coming 24-hour period. Meteorological analysts indicate that patches of low-level clouds drifting westward will be responsible for these periodic increases in cloudiness and brief precipitation events.

    Concurrently, a slight uptick in Saharan Desert dust particulate concentration is being recorded and is forecast to persist. Health officials have issued guidance for individuals with respiratory conditions, such as asthma or allergies, to take necessary precautions, which may include limiting prolonged outdoor exposure.

    Breezy conditions are expected to continue throughout the forecast period. Mariners are advised to exercise heightened vigilance as sea conditions are projected to be moderate. Significant wave heights are anticipated to reach up to 5 feet along western coastal areas and a more substantial 8 feet on eastern shores. Consequently, a Small Craft Advisory remains active due to above-normal swell activity, urging all sea users, particularly those operating along eastern coastlines, to practice extreme caution.

  • Queen Sandy, spans 30 years of Calypso, drops new music

    Queen Sandy, spans 30 years of Calypso, drops new music

    Dominican calypso legend Sandra ‘Sandy’ Norde, revered as ‘Queen Sandy’ within Caribbean music circles, is staging a remarkable return to competitive calypso after establishing an unparalleled three-decade legacy. The pioneering artist, who shattered gender barriers in Dominica’s male-dominated calypso scene, prepares to launch her 2026 competition entry titled ‘Sue & Elleyne’ on December 5th, 2025.

    According to the Caribbean Agency for Political Advancement (CAPA), Norde’s groundbreaking journey began in 1995/96 as a harmony backup singer, shortly after her triumph as Miss Wob Dwiyèt in 1994 where she earned distinctions for best talent, traditional wear, and spectacular costume design. Her audacious entry into the competitive calypso arena during the 1997/98 season revolutionized the genre’s landscape, challenging entrenched gender norms within Dominica’s musical tradition.

    Norde’s artistic prowess quickly garnered critical acclaim, culminating in her achievement as third runner-up in the 2000 Dominica Calypso Monarch competition and securing the coveted championship title in the 2007 Calypso Monarch finals. The following year, she added the Mass Camp Monarch crown to her growing collection of accolades.

    Her discography features socially conscious anthems including ‘Respect Black Woman,’ ‘Take Back Control,’ and ‘Farmers Children,’ which established her as both a musical force and cultural commentator. These works solidified her reputation as a formidable performer and reigning matriarch within the calypso community.

    Norde’s impact transcends musical achievement, having played an instrumental role in the Dominica Calypso Association’s historic transition from the ‘Calypso King’ designation to the gender-neutral ‘Calypso Monarch’ title. This paradigm shift resulted in her recognition as the first female finalist to receive the official ‘Queen of Calypso’ designation, earning her the enduring royal moniker.

    The artist’s official YouTube channel will premiere the ‘Sue & Ellyene’ music video today at 12:30 PM AST, marking the commencement of her thirtieth anniversary season in the genre. Her registration with the Dominica Calypso Association for the 2026 competition season confirms her enduring commitment to the art form that she helped transform.

  • STATEMENT: Lennox Linton addresses comments by UWP Leader Dr Thomson Fontaine about party’s elections

    STATEMENT: Lennox Linton addresses comments by UWP Leader Dr Thomson Fontaine about party’s elections

    The United Workers Party (UWP) has issued an official response addressing controversial remarks made by Dr. Thomson Fontaine regarding the party’s constitutional requirement for annual leadership elections. Fontaine had characterized these elections as a “wash-your-foot-and-come” affair, a cultural expression suggesting a casual, unstructured process open to anyone without standards.

    The National Executive Committee clarified that this characterization fundamentally misrepresents the purpose and design of their electoral system. The party emphasized that annual elections serve as a deliberate democratic safeguard rather than an informal proceeding. These constitutional provisions ensure leadership accountability to membership, regular mandate renewal, transparency in authority exercise, and meaningful member participation in party direction.

    Contrary to Fontaine’s implication that the process lacks seriousness, the UWP maintains that their election framework strengthens the organization by requiring leaders to continually earn and reaffirm their positions rather than assuming entitlement through prolonged incumbency. The party’s constitution reflects core values of openness, accountability, discipline, and democracy established by its founders.

    The statement noted that Fontaine has agreed to public disclosure of this clarification, wanting to “let the country decide” on the matter. The UWP expressed confidence that their properly conducted annual elections represent a pillar of internal democracy that maintains unity, focus, and responsiveness to the citizens they serve.