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  • Dominica targets Marine Tourism growth with planned Portsmouth Marina development

    Dominica targets Marine Tourism growth with planned Portsmouth Marina development

    As the global yachting and luxury travel sector continues its post-pandemic expansion, the Caribbean island nation of Dominica is positioning itself to capture a larger share of the international marine tourism market through two landmark infrastructure projects designed to diversify its economy and strengthen its burgeoning blue economy.

    In a recent address to the country’s Parliament, President Sylvanie Burton outlined plans for a state-of-the-art marina in the northern coastal town of Portsmouth, framing the project as a cornerstone of the government’s strategy to expand tourism offerings and unlock widespread economic opportunity across the island.

    Burton explained that the modern marina facility is tailored to meet the needs of the fast-growing global yacht tourism segment, a market that has already shown rising interest in Dominica’s unspoiled coastal and marine ecosystems. Official data points to consistent growth in yacht arrivals to the island in recent years, a trend Burton says confirms the untapped potential of this high-value tourism niche.

    Beyond attracting wealthy international visitors, the development is expected to generate tangible, long-term benefits for local communities. New job opportunities will be created both during the construction phase and through ongoing marina operations, while local small businesses — from restaurants and crafts retailers to tour operators — will gain access to a new stream of high-spending customers. Economic gains are projected to ripple outward from Portsmouth to surrounding coastal communities, lifting livelihoods across the region.

    The Portsmouth marina will also complement Dominica’s existing world-renowned nature tourism offerings, including its top-tier diving sites and popular guided whale watching excursions, integrating the new development into the island’s unique brand of eco-conscious adventure travel.

    Crucially, the project is aligned with a broader national planning framework that balances economic growth with environmental stewardship. Burton emphasized that all development work will prioritize protecting Dominica’s pristine natural landscapes and marine ecosystems — the very natural assets that set the island apart from competing Caribbean tourism destinations. This approach ensures the country can remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global tourism market while safeguarding the environmental resources that will sustain its economy for generations.

    Alongside the Portsmouth marina, Burton highlighted the Roseau Valley Cable Car project as a second transformational tourism investment for the island. Once completed, the cable car system will grant visitors reliable, scenic access to the iconic Boiling Lake, a popular natural attraction that is currently difficult to reach for many travelers. When finished, the infrastructure will claim the title of the world’s longest detachable monocable cable car system, a distinction that is expected to draw adventure and nature tourists from across the globe.

    Together, the two major developments reflect the government of Dominica’s overarching national vision, one centered on driving innovation, expanding inclusive economic opportunity, building long-term climate and economic resilience, and improving quality of life for all Dominican citizens, Burton noted.

  • Coach Corbin urges consistency despite RF Prime victory

    Coach Corbin urges consistency despite RF Prime victory

    In a recent matchup of the Barbados Football Association’s Kotex Women’s League at the Wildey Technical Centre, RF Prime claimed a solid 2-0 victory over Technique, but head coach Kirk Corbin is not letting his side get complacent. He is pushing the squad to lock in consistent performance as the season progresses.

    The two goals that sealed RF Prime’s win came on either side of halftime, with Kerisha Catlyn breaking the scoreless deadlock just one minute before the break in the 44th minute, and junior talent Jamilah Neblett-Phillips extending the lead just two minutes into the second half.

    While Corbin acknowledged he is satisfied with the three points, he emphasized that head-to-head fixtures between RF Prime and Technique have historically been tightly fought contests. The two squads have delivered very close results over the years, with players on both sides falling into a similar age bracket that leaves the teams closely matched physically. According to Corbin, matches between the two sides ultimately come down to mental preparation and the ability to capitalize on critical match moments, factors that ultimately separate the two competitors when they face off.

    Corbin also took time to highlight the contributions of his two goalscorers, noting that both are foundational pieces of his RF Prime squad. He described Catlyn as one of the team’s young veterans: currently in her early twenties, she already boasts extensive experience with the national team, and the squad consistently looks to her to deliver game-changing moments. Her goal against Technique marks another milestone in her recovery from a recent injury, as she works her way back to full match fitness and form. For Neblett-Phillips, Corbin pointed out that the young junior national team player, who is currently entering her third year of secondary education, has now notched two goals for the current Kotex League season – a statistic that he says reflects the strength of the development work happening at RF Prime’s academy.

    Looking back at the first half of the current season, Corbin admitted that his preparation and squad rotation have been disrupted by persistent injury issues and frequent player unavailability. Academic commitments have also kept several players off the pitch, with many squad members wrapping up final exams and graduation ceremonies in recent weeks. Corbin is optimistic that the upcoming school vacation period will let the squad regroup, saying that the priority over the coming weeks is to get all players back together, support injured athletes through full recovery, and build momentum for a strong second half of the campaign.

    Beyond the ongoing Kotex Women’s League, Corbin has expressed enthusiastic support for a major new addition to Barbados’ women’s football calendar: the inaugural Prime Minister’s Cup, set to kick off its first season in the final quarter of the year, with a $100,000 grand prize awarded to the tournament champions. Corbin says female players across the country will welcome both the additional competitive opportunities and the significant cash reward on offer, noting that local female footballers have long voiced frustration over a lack of consistent playing time. With back-to-back tournaments now scheduled through the year, Corbin argues that teams have no excuse not to deliver a high-quality competitive product that will draw spectators to matches. For the first edition of the Prime Minister’s Cup, Corbin says the primary goal is to test the new tournament structure, identify areas for improvement, and build a framework for future iterations. Ultimately, Corbin says, women’s football in Barbados needs to evolve into a consistent, compelling product that makes audiences willing to invest their time and money in the sport long-term.

    League action will return to the BFA Technical Centre this coming Saturday, with two upcoming fixtures on the schedule: RF Prime will face off against Whitehall, while Technique will take on Mavericks.

  • Simons kondigt bescherming woongebieden en strengere aanpak illegale activiteiten aan

    Simons kondigt bescherming woongebieden en strengere aanpak illegale activiteiten aan

    Suriname’s President Jennifer Simons announced a series of ambitious new environmental and land protection measures during a government press conference on Monday, framing the defense of indigenous territorial rights and critical ecosystems as one of her administration’s top policy priorities. The core of the new policy push is a draft state decree designed to block the sudden granting of land and mineral rights within and around the traditional residential and livelihood territories of the country’s indigenous and tribal communities, a longstanding grievance for marginalized groups across the nation.

  • Criminals Target Two Businesses in Belize City

    Criminals Target Two Businesses in Belize City

    On the afternoon of August 5, 2026, Belize City was shaken by two back-to-back criminal incidents targeting local commercial establishments, leaving law enforcement racing to piece together details and identify the perpetrators.

    The first reported incident was a late-night commercial burglary at a business owned by local resident Louis Thompson. Surveillance camera footage obtained and shared by local outlet Belize Local Deals clearly captured four male suspects breaking into the store’s premises. After gaining unauthorized access, the group stole multiple electronic devices and a range of other retail merchandise before successfully fleeing the scene, according to Thompson’s official account to authorities.

    Just hours after this break-in was reported, a second, more violent criminal attempt unfolded at Mahogany Supermarket, located on Mahogany Street in the heart of Belize City. The supermarket is a locally owned establishment, operated by veteran Belizean businessman Wallace Usher. Initial investigative accounts confirm that a lone suspect entered the premises with the intention of carrying out an armed robbery. During the confrontation that followed, the suspect was fired upon by parties at the scene before managing to escape. As of the latest update, law enforcement officials have not been able to confirm whether the suspect sustained any injuries during the incident.

    Local police have officially opened full investigations into both criminal events, and have confirmed that additional details will be released to the public once further evidence is gathered and processed. In a public appeal, law enforcement is urging any member of the community who may have witnessed either incident, or holds any information that could help identify or locate the suspects, to reach out to their nearest local police station immediately to assist with the ongoing probes.

  • Last-second basket unseats SVG in 4th Emancipation tourney in Taiwan

    Last-second basket unseats SVG in 4th Emancipation tourney in Taiwan

    On a sunny Sunday in Taipei, Taiwan, the 4th Annual Emancipation Basketball Tournament delivered a dramatic finish that left sports fans talking. A last-second go-ahead score from Team Belize secured a nail-biting 26-24 victory over Team SVG, the representative side from the Embassy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the local Vincentian community, pushing Belize to the top of the podium and relegating the defending champions to second place.

    Organized collectively by Caribbean diplomatic missions based in Taiwan, the annual tournament brings together basketball teams from Taiwan’s Caribbean diplomatic allies to mark Emancipation Day, blending athletic competition with cultural camaraderie. The 2026 iteration followed a familiar pattern of past results: SVG had claimed the championship at the inaugural tournament and again in the 2025 edition, while Belize took home the top trophy in 2024, setting the stage for a highly anticipated rematch in this year’s final.

    To reach the title decider against Belize, Team SVG navigated a tough four-match preliminary schedule. The side opened with solid wins, beating St. Lucia 48-28 and St. Kitts and Nevis 34-25, before a 27-point all-draw result in their third match forced them to share game points with Haiti. The 8-player SVG roster, which included Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ambassador to Taiwan H.E. Kenton Chance, was captained by Craiglee Sam, a Taiwan-based former national athlete and local coach, with sponsorship support from the Latin America and Caribbean Trade Office (LACTO) under Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    In post-tournament comments, Sam highlighted that the team overcame significant barriers even to reach the final. Pre-tournament coordination was complicated by overlapping summer travel schedules that left the squad with no opportunity to practice together as a full group. Compounding the challenge, the small 8-player roster meant limited substitution rotations, forcing most players to log nearly full minutes across four hard-fought matches. “There were moments of miscommunication, and with only nine players, we didn’t have much opportunity to rotate. That meant most of us were playing almost the entire game across four matches, so fatigue definitely became a factor,” Sam explained.

    Despite the narrow loss, Sam emphasized that the team walked away proud of its performance. “Of course, everyone wants to win the championship, but I think we proved that with determination, teamwork, and heart, you can achieve a lot. Most importantly, we represented St. Vincent and the Grenadines with pride, both on and off the court.” He reserved special praise for the team’s only female player, Juanna “Smiley” Holder, who played every minute of all four matches for the second consecutive year, meeting the tournament requirement that each side keep one female player on the court at all times. “Her commitment and toughness deserve a lot of credit,” Sam said.

    For Ambassador Chance, the tournament marked a particularly meaningful moment: he stepped onto a competitive basketball court for the first time in more than 10 years. “On the court, I considered myself just another player,” he said. “It felt good to be back on the court after more than a decade.” Chance had not expected to make the playing roster, but was happy to fill in as a substitute for Sam and other teammates, focusing mostly on defensive play. He thanked LACTO for its support of the team’s participation, and noted that the growing turnout for the tournament reflects the expanding, tight-knit Vincentian community in Taiwan.

    “The Vincentian community in Taiwan has always done a lot together in Taiwan, even before we had an embassy here or the number of nationals that we have today,” Chance said. “I am happy to see that that sense of community continues, and I am intentional in my efforts to reach out to every member of the Vincentian community in Taiwan to strengthen the community and advance the interests of our country.”

    Beyond the competition itself, the event delivered far more than just a title. It drew crowds of supporters from participating Caribbean nations and local Taiwanese residents alike, creating a shared space for connection through sport. Beyond athletic competition, Sam also highlighted the unique role of this tournament in public diplomacy: his basketball connections in Taiwan have allowed him to secure university basketball scholarships for multiple Vincentian students, three of whom were members of this year’s SVG roster.

    For their first-place finish, Belize took home the top prize of NT$15,000 (approximately US$465) and a tournament trophy, while SVG’s second-place effort earned NT$10,000 (around US$310). Every competing player across all teams received a commemorative medal for their participation.

  • More than 1,100 hypertension cases diagnosed in Dominica over five years

    More than 1,100 hypertension cases diagnosed in Dominica over five years

    In a stark address to the Dominican Parliament this week, President Sylvanie Burton has issued an urgent warning about the growing public health crisis driven by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the small island nation, releasing official surveillance data that underscores the severity of the issue.

    Between 2020 and 2025, Dominican health systems recorded more than 1,100 new diagnoses of hypertension, alongside over 600 new cases of diabetes and close to 600 new cancer cases, according to data President Burton cited during her budget address Tuesday. For a nation of Dominica’s modest population size, the president emphasized, these statistics are deeply alarming.

    President Burton clarified that the burden of NCDs extends far beyond these case numbers: conditions including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and obesity have cemented their place as the leading causes of both illness and premature death across the country, affecting far too many Dominican households and communities.

    Against this backdrop, the president called for NCD prevention to be elevated to a top national priority. She encouraged all Dominican citizens to adopt sustainable healthier habits, centered on improved nutritional choices, consistent regular exercise, routine preventative health screenings, intentional stress reduction, and greater investment in mental well-being.

    Crucially, President Burton stressed that addressing the country’s NCD epidemic cannot fall exclusively to public health authorities and government medical institutions. Instead, a collective cross-sector effort is required, with key roles for families, educational institutions, workplaces, faith-based organizations, local communities and every individual citizen.

    The president also framed public health as a core component of national development, pushing back against the common narrative that progress is measured only by large-scale infrastructure projects or rapid economic expansion. As Dominica continues to invest in major public works including new road networks, expanded renewable energy infrastructure and upgraded tourism facilities, President Burton argued that equal investment must be directed toward building a healthier, more resilient population.

    “Good health is not just a personal benefit – it is a national strategic advantage,” President Burton told Parliament. A healthy population is far more productive, more innovative, and better positioned to contribute to long-term inclusive national growth, she added. Ultimately, the true measure of Dominica’s success as a developing nation must include the well-being, vitality and quality of life of all its people.

  • Mexican TikTok Influencer Shot Dead During Live Stream

    Mexican TikTok Influencer Shot Dead During Live Stream

    On a Tuesday afternoon in late summer 2026, a shocking act of violence unfolded in broad daylight on the streets of Culiacán, Sinaloa, where prominent Mexican TikTok creator César Gastélum was shot and killed while broadcasting live to his more than 600,000 online followers. The attack took place outside a local fast-food restaurant, according to initial official statements, when two unidentified suspects wearing helmets pulled up on a motorcycle and approached the influencer before opening fire.

    In the immediate aftermath of the killing, Mexican law enforcement agencies launched a large-scale security operation across the region to track down the perpetrators. Investigators from the country’s Federal Security Cabinet have not ruled out a link between the attack and Gastélum’s social media content, confirming that some of his public posts made reference to a competing faction within one of Mexico’s largest criminal organizations. Authorities are currently combing through nearby surveillance camera footage and collecting physical evidence from the crime scene to build a case against those responsible, with the primary goal of identifying and arresting all parties involved in the killing.

    Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly addressed the incident on Wednesday, calling for a full and transparent investigation that uncovers not only the individuals who directly carried out the shooting but any parties who may have ordered the attack. This high-profile killing is the latest in a wave of brutal violence that has plagued Sinaloa since 2024, when long-simmering tensions between rival factions of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel erupted into open conflict over territorial and operational control.

    Gastélum’s death also marks the second high-profile killing of a Mexican social media influencer during a public livestream in just over a year. In May 2025, beauty content creator Valeria Márquez was fatally shot while broadcasting from a hair salon in Zapopan, Jalisco, a case that remains open as investigators continue to search for suspects and motives. The back-to-back attacks have reignited public conversation about the risks facing online creators in regions grappling with drug-related organized crime violence, and put new pressure on Mexican federal and local authorities to crack down on targeted killings linked to criminal groups.

  • Dominican-French citizen pleads guilty in U.S. firearms smuggling case

    Dominican-French citizen pleads guilty in U.S. firearms smuggling case

    A cross-border illicit arms trafficking ring that smuggled American firearms and components out of the United States to the Caribbean nation of Dominica has resulted in a guilty plea from its alleged ringleader, according to official statements from U.S. law enforcement and prosecution agencies.

    Dimitri Beix, a 28-year-old dual Dominican-French citizen who resides permanently in Dominica, entered his guilty plea this Wednesday in the U.S. Federal District Court in Hartford, Connecticut. The charge against Beix is one count of conspiracy to violate the U.S. Export Control Reform Act, a federal law governing the lawful export of controlled goods including military and firearms-related technology.

    U.S. law enforcement investigators have laid out a nearly four-year scheme that they say Beix organized and directed between January 2021 and September 2024. Per official court filings and statements, Beix built a coordinated network to source firearms, their components, and ammunition from sellers across the United States, then arrange for illegal shipment to Dominica without the mandatory export licenses required by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

    Court documents detail the operational structure of the network: Beix coordinated with suppliers, buyers, and intermediate shippers based in Connecticut and multiple other U.S. states, providing curated lists of specific firearm parts for suppliers to purchase through online platforms including eBay and mainstream retail outlets. Investigators add that Beix directly used his own personal eBay accounts to acquire more than 100 individual firearm components, which were first shipped to U.S.-based contacts before being re-packaged and forwarded on to his contacts in Dominica.

    The first major break in the case came in February 2023, when Dominican customs authorities intercepted three inbound parcels addressed directly to Beix. Inside the packages, officials discovered six completed handguns, along with a cache of critical components including Glock pistol slides, trigger and sight assemblies, multiple magazines for rifles and pistols, receiver parts for AM15 rifles, a complete suppressor construction kit, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and dozens of additional unspecified firearms parts.

    The charge Beix pleaded guilty to carries a severe statutory penalty: a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled at a later date per federal court procedure. Beix has been in continuous custody since his November 27, 2024 arrest in Sint Maarten, which was executed at the formal request of U.S. law enforcement authorities. He was extradited from Caribbean jurisdiction to the United States to face prosecution in February 2026.

    The multi-year investigation was a joint transnational effort involving multiple U.S. federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division. HSI Caribbean, the Dominica Customs and Excise Division, and the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force all provided critical local support for the investigation.

    Prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Sean P. Mahard, alongside Trial Attorney Yifei Zheng of the U.S. Justice Department’s National Security Division. The U.S. Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and law enforcement authorities in Sint Maarten also provided key coordination support for Beix’s arrest and extradition process.

    Officials noted that this prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, a multi-agency anti-crime effort established under Executive Order 14159. The task force’s core mandate is targeting transnational criminal organizations, cracking down on illicit cross-border firearms trafficking, disrupting human smuggling networks, and prosecuting other international organized crime activities.

    This is not the first time Beix has faced firearms-related charges in his home country of Dominica. On March 16, 2021, he entered a not guilty plea to four criminal counts brought by Dominican police and customs authorities, after being arrested for illegal possession of 100 live rounds of ammunition at Dominica’s Canefield Airport. Bail was denied by Dominican courts in that prior case.

  • BCCI: PUC Review Is Just a Formality Now

    BCCI: PUC Review Is Just a Formality Now

    Nearly 24 hours after the board vote that cleared a key procedural hurdle for the proposed BTL-Speednet merger, all eyes have turned to Belize’s independent telecommunications regulator, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the only body left with the legal authority to greenlight or block the transaction. The PUC’s core mandate in this review is to assess whether the merger will deliver tangible benefits to Belizean consumers, or if it will harm market competition and drive up costs for end users.

    While the PUC has publicly reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out a full, transparent review aligned with all existing national laws, regulations, and established regulatory protocols, the head of Belize’s leading business advocacy group says the final outcome is already all but settled.

    Giacomo Sanchez, president of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), told reporters this week that he views the PUC’s upcoming review as little more than a procedural formality. Speaking shortly after the merger passed its board vote, Sanchez acknowledged that no formal determination can be made until the PUC releases its official findings, noting that the regulator has not yet signaled what its final position will be. Even so, he argued that the board’s approval sends an unambiguous signal that the deal will move forward regardless of any regulatory concerns.

    “In my view, this transaction is a foregone conclusion,” Sanchez said. “Yesterday’s vote made it clear to the public and all stakeholders that this deal will go through one way or another. For the PUC, it’s just a question of when they will announce their approval.”

    Sanchez doubled down on his assessment, adding that from BTL’s perspective, the merger is already effectively completed, with no realistic path for the process to be reversed or derailed at this stage. When pressed by a reporter on the PUC’s legal obligation to formally approve the deal before it can be finalized, Sanchez did not mince words about what he expects to happen next, suggesting that procedural workarounds could be used to avoid any meaningful regulatory pushback.

    “The honest truth is that there may be some legal maneuvering to circumvent that requirement,” Sanchez said. “That is just the reality of how these processes play out, and I can absolutely see that happening here.”

    In contrast to Sanchez’s predictions, the PUC has issued a short, formal statement emphasizing its commitment to upholding regulatory standards in its review of the merger. The commission confirmed that it will handle all matters related to the proposed transaction in strict accordance with applicable national laws, regulations, and established procedural guidelines.

  • Government to end ‘tax on tax’ at Dominica’s ports from October 1

    Government to end ‘tax on tax’ at Dominica’s ports from October 1

    The Commonwealth of Dominica is set to roll out a landmark customs reform this October that will scrap the long-standing practice of compound taxation on imported goods, a policy shift expected to cut cross-border shipping costs and ease financial pressure on both local businesses and consumers.

    Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre unveiled the change during his official national budget address on Tuesday, confirming that starting October 1, 2026, both Excise Tax and Value-Added Tax (VAT) for all incoming imports will be calculated exclusively on a shipment’s Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) value.

    Under the current tax regime, the base value used to calculate import taxes already includes pre-existing levies and administrative fees, creating a cascading effect where one tax is applied on top of another. This compounding structure has pushed up the total tax burden for importers for years. “At present, Excise Tax and VAT on imported goods are calculated not only on the cost, insurance and freight value…but also on other charges and taxes. That is tax compounding,” McIntyre explained in his address.

    The government anticipates this policy adjustment will deliver three core benefits: a reduction in overall import costs, simplified tax calculation procedures for customs authorities and importers alike, and a more attractive operating climate for local and international businesses operating in Dominica. McIntyre explicitly acknowledged that the government has received sustained feedback from Dominican residents and business groups about excessive costs and bureaucratic delays associated with clearing goods through the island nation’s ports. “An efficient clearance system should facilitate commerce, not frustrate it,” he emphasized.

    The finance minister also highlighted that long-standing customs inefficiencies do not stay at the border—they ultimately get passed down to end consumers. Importers routinely roll avoidable administrative overhead, storage fees and delay-related costs into their final retail prices, meaning ordinary households absorb the burden of outdated tax practices. “Every unnecessary delay, duplicated document and avoidable storage or administrative cost is eventually reflected in the price paid by a consumer,” McIntyre said.

    To ensure the reform delivers its intended benefits to the public, the Dominican government has issued a clear warning to local businesses: it expects the full savings generated by the tax change to be passed on to consumers, rather than being absorbed into expanded corporate profit margins. “Where concessions or reductions are granted, they should be reflected in lower costs rather than absorbed into larger profit margins,” McIntyre stated.

    This upcoming customs reform forms a core plank of the government’s broader national strategy to cut the overall cost of doing business in Dominica and deliver tangible cost-of-living relief to local households.