CIJN Caribbean Investigative Journalism Network

Dunbars agricultural station was bulldozed in January to make way for housing and commercial development. Photo credit: Elesha George 2024 Summary – Historically, Antigua and Barbuda had a thriving sugarcane industry. But it was based on slave labour and prompted violent revolts against British land holders. Today, its food system remains constrained by decades of underinvestment, stalled projects, extreme weather, and inadequate data.

The Barima River is integral to connecting the two countries, so important that both countries have established checkpoints on the river Bank. The forcible removal of Venezuela’s President Nicholas Maduro in January 2026 still remains fresh in the minds of hundreds of Guyanese who live along the border between Guyana and Venezuela.

Stretches of the Mighty Grynner Highway in Barbados are very dark at night despite the presence of many businesses and pedestrians. Photo by Reco Moore On a quiet night about 25 years ago, Ann stepped out of a work event in St Michael and into a darkness that would alter the rest of her life. The Barbados journalist, who asked to be identified by a pseudonym to protect her privacy, was robbed and raped at gunpoint while waiting for a ride in a poorly lit area.

Remnants of Sediment Trapping Units (STUs) at Weg naar Zee, showing how earlier nature-based efforts to capture mud and rebuild the coastline have deteriorated over time (Photo: Morena Leter) At the northwestern edge of Suriname’s capital, Paramaribo, the Atlantic Ocean relentlessly batters the shoreline. Here lies Weg naar Zee – literally “Road to the Sea” – long regarded as one of the country’s most vulnerable coastal zones.

Mature Scarlet Macaw in Quamwood nest looks up at FCD ranger. Photo Courtesy: Friends for Conservation and Development The Scarlet Macaw that thrives in the dense forests of Belize are among the most prized birds in the world. Their impossibly bright plumage of fiery reds, orange, blues and green give a visual hint of their raucous personalities. They thrive on interaction with humans and live for 75 years or more in captivity.

Cruise passengers wait anxiously to disembark. When the doors finally open, they scurry down the gangway into waiting taxis and buses, eager to see what Barbados has to offer. The most coveted destination is the beach, where the dreams of some vacationers come true as they experience “advertised” paradise.

As the sun rises each morning over the battered coasts and battered communities, the scars left by Hurricane Melissa are everywhere. For miles all that can be seen are toppled power lines, damaged homes, and families struggling to regain a sense of normalcy. Yet, across the most-affected regions, a story of remarkable resilience and determination is unfolding.

Since 2017, the Media Institute of the Caribbean has championed initiatives grounded in the principles of Media and Information Literacy, especially in the face of misinformation and disinformation. Committed to advocating for accurate information, we are supporting journalists, media workers, and the public following Hurricane Melissa. To help, we have set up a simple Google Drive folder with daily reports from various infrastructural and emergency sources.

Following Charran’s passing in June, another man, 29-year-old Jeremy Ramcharan from Penal took his life in July. Then, in August, 23-year-old, athlete and barber, Shaquille Josh Benjamin, died by suicide. The family and friends of each of these men said they struggled with depression.

When he was asked what was being done to address male suicide in Trinidad and Tobago, the Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh, said that recently the health ministry had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of the West Indies (UWI) and UNICEF to establish a mental health chatline dedicated only to adolescents and youth. For those in their 30s, and 60 years and over, the national suicidal hotline among other resources would be there to assist.