Caribbean RoundUp

Bahamas

Former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis is calling for action to restore public trust in the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) following allegations of corruption, which resulted in a senior officer being placed on leave.

Speaking in the House of Assembly during the recent debate on the National Crime Intelligence Agency Bill, Minnis demanded that the government establish a commission of inquiry, adding that an independent probe is essential to addressing the concerns of the Bahamian people.

“Bahamians remain deeply concerned that confidence in the police force has decreased to an all-time low due to a voice note scandal,” Minnis said.

“More than two months have passed since the allegations of bribery, corruption, and possible complicity in murders regarding the police force came to the attention of the public. Bahamians remain shocked and deeply anxious by the explosive allegations. To date, as far as the public is aware, no one has been charged with an offense related to the matter.”

The allegations have shaken public confidence in the RBPF and raised concerns about corruption at the highest levels of law enforcement. Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander responded by announcing that the RBPF’s Security and Intelligence Branch (SIB) was leading an investigation into the allegations, with support from investigators from the United States and the United Kingdom.

However, Minnis has argued that the current investigation is inadequate and lacks the transparency needed to restore public trust. “If this is the sole investigation, this scandal may worsen, and dence in the force may sink lower and lower,” Minnis warned.

He expressed doubts about the police force’s ability to investigate its own officers, particularly when allegations involve senior ranks.

Caribbean

The Barbados-based Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF) is warning Caribbean countries to prepare for “increased tropical cyclones and severe weather activity” over the next three months.

“It cannot be over-emphasized, particularly after the record-breaking category 5 hurricane Beryl, plenty of flooding, and nearly non-stop record-breaking heat, that 2024 is a year of climate extremes in the Caribbean.”

CarICOF said that a transition to La Niña may occur in the equatorial Pacific, while near-record-warm Tropical North Atlantic Ocean temperatures will likely continue.

La Niña is a climate pattern that describes the cooling of surface-ocean water along the tropical west coast of South America. Typically, La Nina events occur every three to five years or so but occasionally can occur over successive years.

“For the Caribbean Islands and Belize, such ocean conditions imply increased tropical cyclone and severe weather activity through December, resulting in a high potential for flooding, flash floods, cascading hazards, and associated impacts,” CariCOF said.

It said unusual oceanic heat further implies episodes of “oppressive humid heat could continue into early November,” particularly in the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, the Guianas, and the Windward Islands.

“The Guianas will transition from the hot and dry season into cooler and (much) wetter conditions from ber, except in the far southwest,” CariCOF added.

It said that as of Sept. 1, severe or short-term drought has developed in Trinidad, and worse drought conditions are being recorded in the interior parts of the Guianas. Short-term drought may be possible in Suriname.

“Long-term drought as at the end of November is evolving in southwest Belize, French Guiana, and Trinidad and might possibly develop or continue in coastal Guyana, the United States Virgin Islands, St. Vincent and Tobago,” CariCOF added.

Regarding the climate outlook for the period January to March 2025, CariCOF said night and day temperatures, as well as air humidity, will likely be considerably higher than usual in most areas.

Guyana

The Guyana government says it has spent an estimated GUY$47.8 billion (One Guyana dollar = US$0.004 cents) in the first six months of this year to pursue energy security for the country.

It added that the country is experiencing unprecedented growth due to the burgeoning oil sector and that GUY$100 billion had been set aside in the country’s first trillion-dollar national budget to achieve energy targets.

The government said the demand for energy has increased for both the domestic and manufacturing sectors. In a bid to address this increase in the short term, 28.9 megawatts (MW) of emergency power has since been installed at the Columbia substation.

It said Guyana is also receiving a supply of 36 MW of power from a power ship connected to the country’s central interconnected system.

“These interventions are expected to improve stability and reliability of electricity supply across the grid and address immediate generation shortfalls,” the government said, noting that work is continuing to construct the 300 MW Gas-to-Energy Project.

The authorities said that work has also advanced to improve solar power and mini hydropower generating capacity. In the first half of the year, a 0.65 MW solar farm in Mahdia was substantially completed and is expected to be commissioned in the year’s second half.

Additionally, work on three solar farms will advance later this year.

The Georgetown administration said that by 2030, it hopes 70 percent of Guyana’s energy mix will be supplied through less-emitting and renewable energy sources.

Haiti

Members of the Temporary Anti-Gang Unit (UTAG) have been deployed as law enforcement authorities track down the members of the Gran Grif gang blamed for the recent massacre in a small town in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country.

Initial reports indicate that more than 20 people, including children, were killed and 50 others wounded as Gran Grif gang members rampaged through Pont-Sondé in the central Artibonite region northwest of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

The attack took place a few kilometers from the city center of Saint-Marc, and according to Bertide Horace, the spokesperson for the Commission for Dialogue, Reconciliation and Awareness to Save the Artibonite, other neighboring localities were also attacked by the bandits.

The Vice-delegate of the district of Saint-Marc, Walter Montas, spoke of “about forty people killed, according to the data collected,” even as the authorities have not issued any official indicating the number of deaths due to the ongoing clashes.

Video footage shows groups of people fleeing the violence on motorbikes and foot.

Despite the presence of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, the criminal gangs, which have taken control of a vast majority of the capital, continue to instill fear in the country that has been without an elected government and head of state since President Jovenel Moise was assassinated on July 7, 2021, at his private residence.

The authorities have not said how many people were killed.

Jamaica

Justice (retd) Seymour Panton, chairman of Jamaica’s Integrity Commission (IC), has vowed that neither he nor the commission’s members and staff will be intimidated by a wave of threats and defamatory remarks aimed at undermining their work.

His remarks come amid growing online and political tensions following the tabling of an Integrity Commission report that scrutinized Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ financial affairs.

Panton’s response was triggered by a threatening social media post on Saturday targeting IC Director of Investigations Kevon Stephenson. The post read, “Yes! Nasty PNP bwoy yu must go down old germs,” a message that Panton described as an attempt to incite fear and deter the IC from carrying out its duties.

“This kind of rhetoric is clearly designed to intimidate, but we will not be moved,” Panton said in an interview on Saturday. He added that the matter has been reported to National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang. When asked for comment, Chang said that if a threat was made, it is the responsibility of the police to investigate, adding that he would be briefed after that.

Stephenson confirmed that he plans to make a formal report to the police.

In addition to online threats, Panton highlighted defamatory remarks by senior politicians targeting the IC commissioners.

He revealed that a lawmaker from a rural parish had circulated images of IC members alongside claims that the commission was working to “bring down the prime minister and his government. Panton said the issue was under legal consideration and expressed concern over the silence of other politicians in the face of these attacks.

St. Lucia

St. Lucia is reporting a significant increase in the number of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease cases in the country. Health authorities are emphasizing the importance of early intervention to limit transactions.

Medical Surveillance Officer Dr. Harini Vemula confirmed a “marked rise in the number of cases” and that the disease is a common viral illness primarily affecting infants and children under five, even though older children and adults can also contract the disease.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness, and Elderly Affairs said Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is a contagious illness caused by different viruses, noting that immunity develops to specific viruses, but other strains can reinfect individuals.

The symptoms of the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease include

fever,
sore throat,
irritability in infants,
painful mouth sores, and
a rash with blisters on the palms of hands and soles of feet.

Transmission occurs through close contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated surfaces.

“This illness is usually mild and self-limiting,” Dr. Vemula said, adding that it resolves within seven to 10 days.”

However, the authorities say the recent spike in cases warrants increased caution. To reduce the spread of the disease, the ministry is advising the public to practice good hygiene.

— Compiled by Devika Ragoonanan