BY: ANTONIO DEY | HGP NIGHTLY NEWS|
Caribbean: Experts Warn of Severe Climate Extremes as El Niño Develops
ST. KITTS & NEVIS — Regional climate scientists are urging Caribbean nations to prepare for a “double-threat” season of extreme heat and erratic weather. At the latest CariCOF (Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum), meteorologists revealed that a transition to El Niño conditions is expected by June 2026, coinciding with the start of the Atlantic hurricane season.
- Early Heat Season: Experts predict a “Caribbean Heat Season” beginning as early as April, with heatwaves expected to match the intensity of record-breaking 2024 levels.
- Flash Flood Potential: While El Niño often reduces total hurricane numbers, it increases the risk of extreme rainfall events. CariCOF warns of a high potential for flash floods and cascading hazards through June, especially in mountainous regions and the Guianas.
- Water & Wildfires: Intense dry spells in the early months are likely to increase wildfire potential before the onset of the wet season transition.
Trinidad & Tobago: Former Top Cop Blasts State of Emergency as “Flawed Strategy”
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD — Former Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams has delivered a stinging critique of the government’s reliance on a State of Emergency (SoE) to combat the nation’s crime surge. Williams, who led the TTPS from 2012–2018, argued that an SoE is a “temporary intervention,” not a sustainable crime-fighting strategy.
- The Fear Factor: Williams noted that criminals are currently emboldened, stating that a person can travel from Toco to Diego Martin without “feeling any different” due to a lack of visible, proactive policing under the current SoE.
- Curfew Controversy: The former commissioner argued that an SoE without a mandatory curfew is ineffective, as it fails to restrict the movement of the 3,000 serious criminals he believes are active in the country—far exceeding the government’s estimate of 500.
- Police Reform: He urged Commissioner Guevarro to shift the TTPS focus toward “meaningful and deliberate” investigative initiatives rather than relying on the broad powers of emergency legislation.
International: Iran Seizes Ships in Hormuz After Trump Extends Ceasefire
THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ — Tensions in the world’s most critical oil chokepoint reached a “red line” on Wednesday. Despite U.S. President Donald Trump announcing an indefinite extension of a ceasefire with Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized two major container ships, the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas.
- The Seizures: The IRGC claimed the vessels violated maritime regulations and “tampered with navigation systems.” The ships were reportedly intercepted and escorted to the Iranian coast just hours after the U.S. ceasefire announcement.
- The Blockade: While Trump halted active air strikes, he maintained a strict U.S. Navy blockade of Iranian trade. In response, Iranian officials have refused to attend peace talks in Islamabad, stating that a ceasefire is meaningless if the “economic blockade” remains in place.
- Maritime Alert: The British UKMTO reported that three additional vessels came under fire on Wednesday, signaling that the Strait of Hormuz remains largely impassable for international shipping.
