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  • Jolly Harbour redevelopment plans reveal a fresh new look

    Jolly Harbour redevelopment plans reveal a fresh new look

    One of the most anticipated coastal regeneration projects has stepped into the spotlight recently, as developers have pulled back the curtain on updated, ambitious redesign plans for Jolly Harbour. This iconic waterfront location, long a popular destination for both local residents and international tourists, is set to undergo a comprehensive transformation that will reshape its public spaces, commercial offerings, and recreational infrastructure.

    The newly revealed design concepts mark a noticeable shift from earlier proposals, prioritizing sustainable development and enhanced community access while preserving the harbour’s unique coastal charm. Planned upgrades include expanded marina facilities to accommodate more leisure and commercial vessels, new pedestrian-friendly promenades lined with local retailers and casual dining spots, and upgraded green public spaces that blend seamlessly with the natural coastal landscape. Developers also noted that the updated plans incorporate feedback gathered from months of public consultations with local residents, business owners, and environmental groups, addressing previous concerns over overdevelopment and ecological disruption.

    Industry observers note that the redevelopment is expected to inject new life into the local economy, creating hundreds of construction jobs in the short term and supporting long-term growth in tourism, hospitality, and small business sectors. Project leaders have not yet announced a formal groundbreaking date, but confirm that pre-construction environmental assessments are already underway, with work expected to commence once final regulatory approvals are secured. The updated plans have already generated significant interest from regional investors and hospitality operators looking to partner on the new commercial components of the project.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Patients to Receive Prosthetic Limbs in Trinidad Under New Agreement

    Antigua and Barbuda Patients to Receive Prosthetic Limbs in Trinidad Under New Agreement

    Residents of Antigua and Barbuda living with limb differences have gained a new pathway to critical care, following the signing of a bilateral healthcare agreement that will send eligible patients to Trinidad and Tobago for life-changing prosthetic services. The partnership, finalized between Antigua and Barbuda’s Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre and the Trinidad and Tobago National Prosthetic Centre, was officially announced this week by Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant during a post-Cabinet media briefing held on Thursday.

    Merchant confirmed that the collaborative arrangement is now fully active, clearing the way for patients to travel to the neighboring twin-island nation to complete the full process of prosthetic assessment and custom fitting. The agreement addresses a longstanding gap in local healthcare, as specialized prosthetic care has not been consistently accessible to patients within Antigua and Barbuda’s domestic healthcare system. The announcement came as part of a formal report to the national Cabinet, delivered by the country’s Minister of Health before details were shared with the public.

    While the new partnership marks a significant step forward in expanding care access for patients in need, key details of the program remain undisclosed as of the briefing. Merchant declined to share information on when the first group of patients will travel for treatment, what criteria will be used to determine patient eligibility, and whether the Antigua and Barbuda government will assume costs for travel, accommodation, and prosthetic treatment for participating patients. Healthcare advocates have welcomed the agreement as a critical improvement to local care options, though many are calling for the rapid release of additional program details to help patients plan for care.

  • “Lizarraga Must Go”: UDP Stands with Trade Unions

    “Lizarraga Must Go”: UDP Stands with Trade Unions

    A growing political storm has erupted in Belize around the leadership of state-linked telecoms provider Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), as opposition party the United Democratic Party (UDP) has joined forces with the nation’s trade unions to demand the immediate resignation of BTL Chairman Markhelm Lizarraga. The standoff centers on a scrapped acquisition deal for communications firm SpeedNet, and has escalated into a broader debate over public governance, accountability for state-owned assets, and transparency in public spending.

    In an official statement released to the media, the UDP emphasized that any entity holding public assets must be held fully accountable to the Belizean public, a principle the party says Lizarraga violated when the BTL board formally approved the SpeedNet acquisition. Even though the national Cabinet later voted to reject the proposed deal, the UDP argues this does not nullify the board’s original approval of the transaction or absolve the chairman of his responsibility for the failed process.

    The opposition has doubled down on calls for full public transparency, demanding the complete disclosure of all costs incurred during the botched acquisition attempt, including expenses for legal services, external advisory support, business valuation, and mandatory due diligence checks. The UDP framed the controversy as a fundamental test of good governance in Belize, reiterating that Lizarraga’s departure from the chairmanship is non-negotiable.

    Union Senator Glenfield Dennison, who represents trade union interests in the legislature, added that the no-confidence vote in Lizarraga stretches back far longer than the SpeedNet deal. He pointed to an earlier, multi-million-dollar cable infrastructure proposal that also raised red flags for unions over the chairman’s decision-making.

    The final call on whether to replace Lizarraga ultimately rests with Prime Minister John Briceño, who has publicly defended the BTL board and rejected the opposition and unions’ demands. Briceño argued that board members did not act improperly, noting that the body only initiated further due diligence on the SpeedNet purchase rather than making a final binding decision to complete the acquisition. The prime minister made clear he does not share the unions’ negative assessment of Lizarraga’s leadership, and gave no signal that his government would concede to the calls for resignation.

  • BIG launches Caribbean-Wide search for next red carpet media correspondent

    BIG launches Caribbean-Wide search for next red carpet media correspondent

    ROSEAU, Dominica – August 20, 2026 – When a formative career opportunity opens doors that change the trajectory of a professional’s journey, few choose to lock that door behind them. For Jael Joseph, a Dominican multimedia producer and established media personality who earned her own breakout spot at the Caribbean Music Awards three years ago, the call to lift up the next generation of regional storytellers could not be ignored.

    Through her production company Black Island Girl Multimedia, Joseph has launched the Black Island Girl Caribbean Media Correspondent Video Contest, a region-wide search that will grant one aspiring media professional an all-expenses-paid spot on the red carpet of the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards, set to take place September 19 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The contest winner will receive covered round-trip flights and accommodations for the event, where they will serve as the official red carpet correspondent for Black Island Girl Multimedia, interviewing A-list Caribbean musicians, entertainers and industry icons.

    For Joseph, the initiative is far more than a promotional giveaway—it is a full-circle gesture rooted in the gratitude she feels for the opportunities the awards have given her. “Three years ago, the Caribbean Music Awards gave me my first big break, inviting me to host on its main stage, and I got to return last year to lead red carpet interviews with some of the region’s biggest stars,” Joseph explained in an announcement of the contest. “Those opportunities gave me the visibility, connections and on-the-ground experience that shaped who I am as a Caribbean media professional today. Now it’s my turn to pass that opportunity forward. There is so much untapped, incredible talent across our islands—people who know our culture inside out, have magnetic personalities, and can tell our stories authentically. I want to give one emerging voice the chance to step into the spotlight, represent their home island and our whole region, and experience this moment for themselves. Sometimes all it takes to launch a career is one chance.”

    Unlike traditional media talent searches that rely on resumes and pre-taped auditions, this contest is designed to highlight contestants’ creativity, cultural fluency and ability to connect with audiences. The competition is open to all aspiring and emerging media professionals—including content creators, journalists, podcasters, and aspiring hosts—who currently reside in any Caribbean nation. To enter, candidates must produce a 60 to 90-second video that answers two core prompts: why they are the ideal representative of Black Island Girl for the red carpet, and how Caribbean music genres shape the daily cultural identity of people across the region.

    Once completed, entries must be posted to a public Instagram account with tags for three official accounts: @caribmusicawards, @blackislandgirl2, and @jaeljoseph. Entrants are also required to follow all three accounts to be eligible. The contest structure builds on community engagement, encouraging candidates to rally support from their home islands, local communities, and online networks. The winner will be selected based on total audience engagement, including likes, shares, comments, and overall votes from the public—a design that Joseph says does double duty: it builds regional pride and encourages a broader public conversation about the central role music plays in Caribbean identity.

    “Whether it’s Bouyon, Soca, Dancehall, Reggae, Calypso, Dennery Segment, Zouk, Kompa, or any of the other countless vibrant sounds that come from our region, our music is the story of who we are as a people,” Joseph said. “I can’t wait to see how the next generation of Caribbean communicators tells that story.”

    Black Island Girl Multimedia is partnering with regional tourism boards, cultural institutions, local media outlets, universities, youth organizations, entertainment platforms, and diaspora influencers to spread the word about the contest across every corner of the Caribbean. From Dominica and Jamaica to Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Guyana, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, The Bahamas, Belize and beyond, the search for the next breakout Caribbean media voice is officially underway.

    The contest will close for entries on September 5, 2026, with the winner scheduled to be announced publicly three days later on September 8. The selected correspondent will then travel to Trinidad and Tobago ahead of the 2026 Caribbean Music Awards to take their place on the red carpet on September 19. The mission behind the contest is simple: to lift up an underrepresented regional talent, and give them the platform to be seen and heard on one of the Caribbean’s biggest entertainment stages.

  • “They Robbed the Entire Community”: Destruction at El Pozito Archaeological Site Shocks Guinea Grass

    “They Robbed the Entire Community”: Destruction at El Pozito Archaeological Site Shocks Guinea Grass

    In a devastating blow to cultural heritage and local economic development in northern Belize, the ancient Maya archaeological site of El Pozito, located on the outskirts of Guinea Grass Village in the Orange Walk District, has been extensively destroyed, leaving residents reeling and authorities scrambling to identify the perpetrators.

    The scale of the damage was first uncovered earlier this week by a local inspection team led by Mr. Ramos, according to Guinea Grass Village Chairman Benito Uk. In an interview, Uk noted that the site sits amid active agricultural lands, with surrounding plots held by local sugarcane farmers and an adjacent parcel recently purchased by a Mennonite farming operation, leaving open multiple lines of investigation for law enforcement.

    What makes the destruction particularly heart-wrenching for the community is its timing: just one month before the damage was discovered, village leaders held a productive planning meeting with archaeological stakeholders to advance a joint preservation and development project for El Pozito. The gathering included Dr. Keith Epicch from the College of East Texas and a technical team from Belize’s Institute of Archaeology, who had outlined a roadmap for community-led development that would put Guinea Grass in control of tourism benefits from the site.

    For the largely agriculture-dependent community of Guinea Grass, El Pozito was never merely a collection of ancient ruins. Local leaders looked to the nearby Lamanai Maya reserve, a well-established heritage tourism destination, as a blueprint for transforming the site into a sustainable source of opportunity. Edilberto Romero, Executive Director of Programme for Belize, which manages the Lamanai reserve, explained that the model has already delivered tangible gains to neighboring communities. Beyond direct employment for local residents in tourism and sustainable timber operations, the reserve funds annual scholarship programs and injects more than $1 million annually into the local regional economy – a outcome residents hoped to replicate at El Pozito.

    The Northern Maya Association of Belize quickly issued an official statement condemning the destructive act on Thursday, framing the loss as one that impacts all Belizeans. The association emphasized that El Pozito is far more than a collection of archaeological structures: it serves as an unbroken living connection to the Maya ancestors who once inhabited the region, an open-air classroom for Belizean students to learn about their national history, and an irreplaceable part of the country’s shared cultural inheritance.

    Uk stressed that the damage is not just an attack on cultural heritage, but a robbery that has stripped an entire community of its future potential. With law enforcement now leading the criminal investigation to identify those responsible, Uk has issued a public call for local residents with any information about the incident to come forward to help hold perpetrators accountable and bring a measure of justice to the village.

  • Saint Lucia finish third in regional U14 Challenge division

    Saint Lucia finish third in regional U14 Challenge division

    The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Boys Under-14 Challenge Series wrapped up its Group D Tier II group stage on Wednesday at Cap Cana Sports City in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with Suriname delivering a dominant 7-1 defeat over a gritty Saint Lucia side to book their place in the tournament’s semifinal round.

    The young Suriname squad jumped out to an insurmountable lead before halftime, netting five unanswered goals to put the match out of Saint Lucia’s reach early. Alexander Alberga, Suriname’s breakout star of the fixture, opened the scoring in the 20th minute, powering past two Saint Lucian defenders to slot home the opening goal. Just two minutes later, a misjudged weak header from Saint Lucia’s backline put Alberga in on goal again, and he made no mistake to double his side’s lead.

    Suriname kept the pressure high, extending their advantage to 3-0 in the 25th minute when Cillquinhio Plet scored directly from a corner kick, curling the ball into the net past a stranded Saint Lucian goalkeeper. Alberga completed his first-half hat trick in the 28th minute, latching onto a precision through ball from the midfield to beat the keeper once more. A minute later, the Suriname striker turned provider, playing a through pass to Valentinho Amaisi who finished with a low shot into the bottom corner of the net, sending the teams into halftime with Suriname up 5-0.

    Saint Lucia’s goalkeeper put in a series of impressive saves to stem the Suriname attack early in the second half, but two quick mistakes handed Suriname two more goals within the opening 11 minutes of the half. The first came in the 50th minute, when the keeper’s attempted clearance rebounded off Amaisi and bounced into the empty net. Just 60 seconds later, the referee called a controversial penalty against the Saint Lucia goalkeeper, and Vaughn Zeegelaar converted the spot kick to push Suriname’s lead to 7-0.

    Saint Lucia earned a moment of celebration in the 58th minute, when Jaden Antoine of New Generation FC headed home a corner kick to notch his side’s only goal of the match. The result marked Saint Lucia’s second group stage loss of the tournament, with their only three points coming from a victory over the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) earlier in group play.

    Final group stage standings put Suriname at the top of Group D on goal difference, after finishing the round with one win over USVI by a 10-0 score and a 1-1 draw with Grenada. Grenada, who recorded a 9-0 win over USVI and a 3-2 victory over Saint Lucia, claimed the second place spot in the group. Saint Lucia finished third in the four-team group, while USVI ended the round at the bottom of the table with zero points from three matches.

    Suriname’s first-place finish advances the side to the Tier II semifinal round, scheduled to kick off on Friday. The winning sides from the semifinals will go on to compete in the Tier II championship match this Sunday.

  • Israel Advances E1 Settlement Plan, Drawing International Condemnation

    Israel Advances E1 Settlement Plan, Drawing International Condemnation

    On August 20, 2026, the Israeli government took a major step forward on a decades-delayed settlement project that has drawn widespread international condemnation, with critics warning it could permanently fragment the occupied West Bank and destroy any remaining prospects for an independent Palestinian state.

    Israel’s Housing Ministry has launched a bidding process for over 1,200 new residential units in the E1 corridor, a strategically sensitive strip of land adjacent to East Jerusalem. If completed, the development would link existing Jewish settlements spanning from East Jerusalem deep into the West Bank, physically splitting the Palestinian territory into disconnected northern and southern blocs. This geographic division would render the creation of a geographically contiguous Palestinian state unfeasible, while also severing East Jerusalem — the Palestinians’ designated future capital — from the rest of their claimed territory.

    Notably, the bidding deadline is set for one week ahead of Israel’s national elections scheduled for October. Settlement monitoring group Peace Now has characterized the timing as a calculated last-minute initiative by the outgoing incumbent government, pushed through before it leaves office following the vote.

    For roughly 20 years, successive Israeli governments froze construction in E1 under sustained international pressure. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s current administration has dramatically ramped up the pace of settlement approvals across the West Bank, even as Western powers have imposed punitive measures on individuals linked to the radical settler movement. Back in May, Canada, Australia, and Germany formally warned private companies against participating in any E1 development projects. This week, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom reiterated that warning, pointing to a recent surge in settler violence against Palestinian civilians and growing economic restrictions that have crippled Palestinian livelihoods.

    Israel granted final regulatory approval for the E1 project last year. At the time, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made clear the project’s explicit goal, stating that a Palestinian state would be eliminated through on-the-ground action rather than empty political rhetoric.

    Reaction to the latest advancement has been swift and fierce. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband labeled the move unacceptable and indicated that the British government is considering imposing new sanctions in response. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar pushed back against the criticism, arguing that Britain has no legitimate authority to comment on where Jewish citizens can settle in their historical homeland.

    The vast majority of the international community, including the United Nations, views all Israeli settlements built in the West Bank after the 1967 Six-Day War as illegal under international law, even as many unauthorised informal outposts have gradually received official Israeli state approval over time. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, described the bidding announcement as a dangerous escalation that threatens regional stability. Egypt also issued a formal condemnation, saying the move is an intentional effort to cement illegal territorial expansion and eliminate any viable path to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

    In a separate development compounding regional tensions, Israel has continued its military strike campaign in Lebanon despite a public request from former U.S. President Donald Trump to halt the offensive.

  • St Lucia Times wins two awards, special mention in CBU Media Awards debut

    St Lucia Times wins two awards, special mention in CBU Media Awards debut

    In a remarkable debut performance on the regional media stage, St Lucia Times has left an indelible mark at the 37th Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) Media Awards, walking away with two major awards and one special distinction in its first ever entry into the prestigious competition.

    The annual event, which celebrates outstanding journalism across print, digital, and broadcast platforms across the Caribbean, held its award ceremony live Wednesday from the Atlantic Suites at Georgetown, Guyana’s Hyatt Regency, where top creative and journalistic work from across the region was formally recognized.

    For St Lucia Times, photographer McAllister Hunt led the charge, taking home both the Best Sports Photograph and Best News Photograph honors. Meanwhile, the outlet’s original production *Behind the Culture: Behind the Stage* earned a Special Mention in the competitive Caribbean Arts & Culture award category.

    Organizers of the competition specifically highlighted St Lucia Times as one of the most impressive first-time entrants in this year’s iteration of the awards. In an official statement, the CBU noted that a large group of debut competitors delivered standout work that wowed judges this cycle, and counted St Lucia Times among the new entrants that made the most significant impact. Notably, the outlet was also the only media organization based in St. Lucia to secure any awards at this year’s event.
    Hermina Elcock, CEO and Publisher of St Lucia Times, accepted the honors on the outlet’s behalf, and emphasized that the recognition held extra weight coming in the organization’s first competition appearance. “To enter a competition of this caliber for the first time and depart with two awards and a special mention is an extraordinary accomplishment for our entire team,” Elcock shared in her remarks. “This honor validates the quality, creativity, and dedication that our team pours into every piece of work we produce day in and day out. I am incredibly proud of McAllister Hunt, whose exceptional photography earned both awards, and every team member that contributed to *Behind the Culture*. This achievement is proof of what our collective can deliver, and we are eager to build on this momentum going forward.”

    This year’s awards program recognized a total of 92 winners across 56 distinct categories, spanning all major media formats including print, digital, radio, and television. The competition drew hundreds of entries from 13 different countries and territories across the English-, French-, and Spanish-speaking Caribbean, making it one of the most diverse regional media competitions in the Caribbean calendar.

  • 10 Years Behind Bars for this Pastor Convicted of Rape

    10 Years Behind Bars for this Pastor Convicted of Rape

    In a high-profile criminal case centered on abuse of religious authority, a prominent former Christian leader in southern Belize has received a decade-long prison sentence after being convicted of multiple sexual offenses against a member of his own congregation.

    Victor Hernandez, a pastor based in Punta Gorda with ties to the Toledo Faith Outreach Christian Center and a former head of the National Evangelical Association of Belize (NEAB), was handed down the 10-year sentence by High Court Justice Antoinette Moore on Monday, August 18, 2026.

    The court proceedings confirmed that the convicted pastor carried out two rapes against the female victim at both his personal residence and private business. The third offense, a separate sexual assault, occurred on the grounds of his church — and the attack unfolded while the victim’s teenage daughter was in the same space, amplifying the severity of the violation.

    Hernandez first entered a plea in the case back in 2024, when he was formally arraigned on the criminal counts. Immediately following that court appearance, the NEAB moved to remove him from his position as the association’s president, cutting ties with the disgraced religious leader as the case moved through the judicial system.

    Under Belize’s formal sentencing guidelines, the three combined charges would have carried a total cumulative sentence of 22 years behind bars. However, Justice Moore issued a ruling that all three sentences would run concurrently, resulting in the reduced total 10-year prison term.

    In explaining her sentencing decision, the justice noted the aggravating factor of Hernandez’s deliberate abuse of the religious trust that his congregation and the victim had placed in him — a breach of the core responsibility that comes with serving as a spiritual leader. At the same time, she also accepted several mitigating circumstances: Hernandez had no prior criminal record before this case, he is of advanced age, and he lives with multiple chronic health conditions, including a previous stroke, chronic high blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes. These factors collectively led to the concurrent sentencing decision that brought the total prison term down to 10 years.

    The case has drawn widespread attention across Belize due to Hernandez’s former standing as a leader of the country’s largest evangelical association, sparking conversations about accountability for religious figures who abuse positions of power to harm vulnerable community members.

  • Kings suffer third CPL season defeat

    Kings suffer third CPL season defeat

    In a Caribbean Premier League clash played out on Wednesday at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, the Saint Lucia Kings extended their disappointing home run, falling to a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of the in-form Guyana Amazon Warriors. The contest drew a lively, packed crowd, with supporters from both sides filling the stands to cheer on their teams, adding a vibrant energy to a day marked by two rain delays and a lopsided final result. One of the most anticipated storylines of the match revolved around spinner Khary Pierre, who made his first appearance back against his former franchise after switching teams.

    Saint Lucia won the right to bowl first after the Amazon Warriors won the pre-match toss, an early turn of fortune that they turned into a solid opening stand. When the first rain shower interrupted play during the mandatory powerplay, the Kings had posted 51 runs for the loss of just two wickets, putting them on track for a competitive total. However, the momentum shifted sharply after the restart, as tight, economical bowling from the Warriors’ attack choked run-scoring through the middle overs. By the 10-over halfway mark of the Kings’ innings, the host side sat at 76 runs for four wickets, with far too few overs producing big scoring opportunities. They were unable to break the stranglehold in the death overs, finishing their 20 overs with a below-par total of 151 runs all out.

    The Warriors’ fielding performance was one of the standout features of the match, with every one of the seven wickets the side took falling to catches. South African all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius led the bowling attack with a stellar performance, claiming three key wickets for just 29 runs off his four overs.

    Chasing 152 for victory, the visitors got off to a blistering start, putting on a 79-run opening partnership to lay a solid foundation for the chase before a second rain interruption paused play. When the match resumed, the match-winning pair of Quentin Sampson, who finished not out on 13 runs, and Shimron Hetmyer, who remained undefeated on 25, steered the Warriors across the finish line with relative ease, despite some late tight bowling from the Kings’ bowlers. Unlike their clinical opponents, the host Kings dropped multiple catching chances that would have turned the tide of the chase, leaving them unable to defend their modest total.

    With this win, the Guyana Amazon Warriors have jumped to the top spot in the Caribbean Premier League points table. For the Saint Lucia Kings, nicknamed the Boys in Blue, this defeat marks their third consecutive loss on their home ground this season. The side will get one final chance to end their home campaign on a positive note, when they face the Jamaica Kingsmen at the same venue this coming Friday.