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  • Alphonse Jr claims cycling gold in Martinique

    Alphonse Jr claims cycling gold in Martinique

    Emerging cycling sensation Denver Alphonse Jr., Saint Lucia’s premier junior cyclist, achieved a remarkable career milestone by clinching victory in the Under-23 division at the prestigious Challenge des Présidents Clubs in Martinique. The 18-year-old prodigy, who previously earned the 2025 Junior Cyclist of the Year honor, demonstrated exceptional prowess in the demanding 132-kilometer race held on February 8th.

    Competing under the banner of ASC Karaïbes Culture Sports, Alphonse navigated the challenging seven-lap circuit along the Rivière Salée-Old Medecin road-Sainte-Luce route, ultimately securing 21st position overall while dominating his age category against three other contenders. The event attracted 50 registered participants who battled through the grueling course.

    Alphonse completed the race with a time of 3:33:35, finishing 12 minutes and 14 seconds behind overall champion Edwin Nubul. In post-race reflections, the young athlete described the favorable racing conditions, noting initial peloton speeds of 31-32 kilometers per hour that facilitated strategic positioning. “My coach Alex Noreskal advised me to maintain position within the peloton alongside other U23 riders to secure category victory rather than contesting the senior podium,” Alphonse revealed to St Lucia Times.

    The triumph marks only Alphonse’s second competitive appearance this year following an intensive four-month training period. Expressing satisfaction with his performance, the cyclist has resumed training under local coaches Chester Forde and Leo Serieux as he prepares for his next challenge—the Grand Prix Milleco.Shop in Martinique during Saint Lucia’s Independence weekend on February 21-22.

    Organized by Club Neutre Martinique under the jurisdiction of the Fédération Française de Cyclisme, the Club Presidents’ Challenge represents the inaugural event in a series of competitive races scheduled for the season.

  • COMMENTARY: AI as a tool can elevate the human to become a hero

    COMMENTARY: AI as a tool can elevate the human to become a hero

    The technological revolution continues its relentless march forward, with artificial intelligence emerging as the defining force reshaping modern workplaces. Drawing a powerful parallel to the musical synthesizer’s transformative impact, AI is fundamentally altering how knowledge work is performed and valued. Where the synthesizer enabled a single musician to command the sonic power of an entire orchestra, AI now empowers individual professionals with capabilities previously requiring entire teams.

    This technological evolution represents a fundamental shift from labor-intensive execution to leverage-intensive strategy. Modern AI systems enable a single strategic thinker to perform comprehensive research, generate detailed drafts, conduct sophisticated analysis, create designs, perform quality assurance, and manage complex scheduling—functions that traditionally demanded multiple specialists. The individual transforms from task executor to creative director, orchestrating multiple AI instruments with precision and vision.

    This transformation carries significant organizational implications. AI functions as both compressor and amplifier, collapsing traditional team structures while expanding individual impact. What previously required six hours of human labor can now be accomplished in six minutes, effectively giving two AI-augmented professionals the operational firepower of a twenty-person team. This compression reshapes organizational hierarchies and work models, creating new paradigms of efficiency and productivity.

    The transition demands proactive institutional response. Organizations must prioritize AI literacy programs and develop hybrid talent strategies that emphasize reskilling rather than replacement. Forward-thinking institutions that embrace this transformation will gain substantial competitive advantages through enhanced efficiency and productivity. Those that delay risk facing widening skills gaps, escalating operational costs, and strategic vulnerability in increasingly dynamic markets.

    AI’s true significance extends beyond technological advancement—it represents the next frontier of human potential. Rather than replacing human talent, AI amplifies it; instead of eliminating teams, it elevates individuals to operate at team-scale. As we transition from an age of human limitation to an era of human leverage, the organizations and individuals who master this new paradigm will define the future of work.

  • Caribbean Climate Centre Wins UK–Belize Award

    Caribbean Climate Centre Wins UK–Belize Award

    In a significant recognition of environmental stewardship, the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) has been distinguished with two prestigious accolades at the UK-Belize Climate & Nature Legacy Awards 2026. The organization secured victories in both the Policy & Governance Impact category and the Innovation in Climate Action & Diplomacy category.

    The awards ceremony, orchestrated under the thematic banner “Celebrating Legacy, Shaping Tomorrow,” was designed to honor entities that demonstrate tangible, real-world effectiveness in combating climate change, safeguarding natural environments, and cultivating robust international alliances for a sustainable future.

    The practical implications of the Centre’s initiatives resonate profoundly throughout the Caribbean region. Its efforts in fortifying coastal defenses directly translate to enhanced protection for residential areas against the escalating fury of tropical storms. Furthermore, its role in fostering deeper regional collaboration creates a unified front, ensuring that vulnerable communities receive consolidated support when confronting climate-induced disasters.

    Dr. Colin Young, the Centre’s Executive Director, emphasized that the accolades underscore the critical importance of global partnerships. He extended gratitude to the United Kingdom for its financial backing of adaptation programs specifically tailored for small island developing states. Dr. Young highlighted the timely nature of this recognition, arriving amidst a global political landscape that has seen a deceleration in proactive climate initiatives.

    In a forward-looking statement, Dr. Young affirmed, “Our resolve remains steadfast to continue our collaborative endeavors with policymakers and stakeholders across the Caribbean. Our mission is to deploy adaptive solutions with urgency, addressing the rapidly accelerating challenges posed by climate change in our region.”

  • ‘Belize’s Plastic Ban is Not Working’

    ‘Belize’s Plastic Ban is Not Working’

    Despite implementing one of the region’s most ambitious environmental policies, Belize continues to struggle with plastic pollution five years after enacting its single-use plastics ban. The 2025 TrashBlitz Belize Report reveals a stark disconnect between legislative intent and on-the-ground reality, with plastic items constituting nearly 70% of all waste documented across the nation.

    The comprehensive study, conducted through standardized audits at 17 sites spanning all six districts, recorded 14,208 individual pieces of trash. The data presents a troubling picture of persistent plastic consumption, with food and beverage packaging emerging as the predominant contaminant. Crystal Water bottles ranked as the most frequently encountered item, followed by various branded beverage containers. Plastic bags, caps, wrappers, and pouches additionally featured prominently in the waste catalog.

    This environmental assessment comes seven years after Belize’s initial 2018 prohibition on single-use plastics and Styrofoam products, which was subsequently strengthened through updated regulations in 2022. Nevertheless, non-compliant items continue to circulate widely, with plastic consumption rates outpacing the capacity of national waste management infrastructure.

    Shanda Sainsbury, Senior Field Representative at Oceana Belize, characterized the TrashBlitz initiative as fundamentally “a call to action rather than a cleanup exercise.” Emphasizing the program’s educational mission, Sainsbury noted, “Through this initiative and collaborating with Sea of Life, it has shown me how we can all be powerful stewards of our environment, creating positive change for our communities and future generations.”

    The report advocates for implementing systemic solutions including refillable water systems in institutions and commercial establishments, a comprehensive ban on plastic bags, and establishing national monitoring protocols for microplastic pollution. These measures are deemed particularly critical for a nation whose economy and ecological heritage are built upon pristine reefs, river systems, and tourism.

    Spearheaded by Sea of Life through its citizen science program, the TrashBlitz initiative engaged over 650 participants including schools, non-governmental organizations, and community groups between January and March 2025, creating a standardized framework for tracking litter and measuring the effectiveness of environmental policies.

  • SLTA assures safety following US Embassy advisory on Ladera Resort

    SLTA assures safety following US Embassy advisory on Ladera Resort

    The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) has issued a formal reassurance regarding visitor safety at Ladera Resort, directly countering a recent security advisory from the US Embassy in Bridgetown. The diplomatic alert, published February 4th, had recommended US government personnel avoid the property due to potential security risks.

    The embassy’s warning specifically cited concerns that ‘crime may pose a serious risk to guest safety’ and questioned the resort’s emergency response capabilities. The advisory noted the hotel’s location on Saint Lucia’s southern terminus, just outside the picturesque port town of Soufrière.

    In its detailed response released Tuesday, the SLTA contextualized the embassy’s concerns within a limited series of robberies that occurred during a specific period in late 2025. These incidents were confined to the island’s southwestern region and have since been comprehensively addressed through coordinated security enhancements.

    According to the tourism authority, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force treated these criminal activities with utmost priority, conducting thorough investigations that resulted in multiple arrests and criminal charges. Beginning December 2025, the SLTA convened urgent stakeholder meetings that led to implemented security reinforcements throughout the affected area.

    The authority emphasized that since these corrective measures were enacted, no further disruptions to visitor experiences have been recorded. Tourism operations continue uninterrupted across the island nation. The SLTA reaffirmed Saint Lucia’s commitment to maintaining its status as a secure and hospitable destination, where the welfare of both residents and visitors remains the highest priority.

    Ongoing collaboration between tourism officials, national authorities, and industry partners ensures that robust safety protocols remain actively enforced, allowing all visitors to enjoy the island’s offerings with complete confidence and peace of mind.

  • UK Court rules Mehul Choksi’s claim of kidnapping from Antigua to Dominica, not substantiated

    UK Court rules Mehul Choksi’s claim of kidnapping from Antigua to Dominica, not substantiated

    In a significant legal development, a United Kingdom court has delivered a substantial setback to fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi, rejecting his allegations of abduction by Indian operatives while imposing a hefty financial requirement for his ongoing lawsuit.

    Justice Mansfield presiding over the case found Choksi’s claims of being forcibly taken from Antigua in 2021 notably lacking in substantive evidence. The court determined that the diamantaire, who obtained Antiguan and Barbudan citizenship through the nation’s investment program, failed to provide concrete proof supporting his assertion that Indian agents orchestrated his kidnapping.

    The judicial assessment highlighted critical evidentiary shortcomings in Choksi’s narrative. Notably, the court observed that the allegations relied predominantly on circumstantial elements without independent witness corroboration. “Unsurprisingly, there is no witness evidence as to the kidnapping and assault of the Claimant, other than that of the Claimant himself,” Justice Mansfield noted in the ruling.

    While acknowledging that circumstantial evidence can occasionally prove compelling in conspiracy litigation, the court maintained that at this preliminary stage, without comprehensive evidentiary examination, the strength of such claims remained difficult to properly evaluate.

    Choksi’s legal representation, led by London-based attorney Mr. Fitzgerald KC, vigorously argued that requiring security for costs would constitute an injustice given the alleged conspiracy involving abduction, torture, and forced rendition to India. These arguments ultimately failed to persuade the judicial authority.

    The current proceedings stem from a May 2024 lawsuit filed by Choksi against multiple parties including the Government of India, four non-resident Indians, and a Hungarian national. The suit alleges physical assault and psychological harassment following his purported abduction from Antigua and Barbuda and subsequent transportation by vessel to Dominica.

    Evidentiary materials presented by Choksi’s team included an Antiguan police report compiled by Inspector Adonis Henry in June 2021 and a witness statement from private investigator Oliver Laurence, retained by Choksi’s family. The court however noted that both documents heavily depended on secondary accounts and reviewed documentation rather than firsthand testimonial evidence.

    The ruling further referenced prior European judicial decisions, noting that both the Antwerp Court and the Court of Cassation had previously reached similar conclusions regarding the lack of evidence supporting claims of Indian government involvement in Choksi’s alleged abduction.

    With the security for costs order now established, Choksi faces a considerable financial obstacle as litigation continues in the UK judicial system. Separate legal proceedings filed by Choksi against the Antiguan government regarding alleged investigative collusion remain pending resolution.

  • OP-ED: A primer into 21 st Century Caribbean geopolitics – The importance of Guyana

    OP-ED: A primer into 21 st Century Caribbean geopolitics – The importance of Guyana

    The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), comprising 15 member states across insular Caribbean territories and mainland regions of Central and South America, faces complex geopolitical challenges stemming from its numerous territorial boundaries. The region contends with 10 land borders and 37 maritime boundaries, many of which remain disputed—including tensions between Guyana and Venezuela, Belize and Guatemala, and Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.

    Geopolitically, CARICOM exists in the shadow of global powers, positioned proximate to the United States to the north, Brazil to the south, and Cuba in the central Caribbean. Member states grapple with post-colonial legacies, environmental vulnerabilities, resource distribution inequalities, and persistent border complications that challenge regional cohesion.

    Guyana emerges as a critical actor in this landscape, serving as the only English-speaking nation in South America and functioning as a strategic bridge between Caribbean and South American integration initiatives. Since Exxon Mobil’s landmark oil discovery in 2015, Guyana has experienced transformative economic growth, positioning itself as a potential future BRICS member candidate due to its growing regional influence and commitment to multilateralism.

    The nation’s agricultural capacity—producing staples of the West Indian diet including rice, sweet potatoes, and various fruits and vegetables—offers significant opportunities for enhancing regional food security. Additionally, its cross-border connectivity with Brazil through the Lethem-Bon Fim corridor provides CARICOM members access to broader South American markets.

    Despite operating in an increasingly volatile global environment where power dynamics often override multilateral cooperation, Guyana represents Caribbean resilience and potential. As noted by Dr. Kai-Ann Skeete, Trade Policy Research Fellow at the Shridath Ramphal Centre, the country exemplifies how Caribbean nations can maintain cultural identity while pursuing deeper regional integration and economic transformation, even amid the uncertainties inherent in geopolitical change.

  • Nah Claims Key Evidence in Triple-Murder Case Doesn’t Belong to Him

    Nah Claims Key Evidence in Triple-Murder Case Doesn’t Belong to Him

    In a significant development within a high-profile triple-homicide case, defendant Elmer Nah presented a comprehensive 27-minute statement from the dock vehemently denying all allegations against him. The 40-year-old accused directly challenged the prosecution’s physical evidence during proceedings presided over by Justice Nigel Pilgrim, who had previously dismissed a no-case submission requiring Nah to formally address all three murder charges.

    Nah’s defense centered on discrediting key evidentiary elements that the court had earlier ruled admissible. These included forensic items allegedly recovered from his vehicle—specifically a pair of boots and a headlamp purportedly worn during the crimes—alongside the witness testimony of the deceased Vivian Ramnarace.

    The defendant provided detailed counterarguments regarding the disputed footwear evidence, asserting that the boots presented in court differed substantially from his own. Nah clarified that his actual boots featured distinctive black and orange coloring, contrary to the all-black evidentiary pair submitted by prosecutors.

    Further contesting visual evidence, Nah highlighted anatomical discrepancies between himself and the shooter captured on surveillance footage. He emphasized that the visible gunman lacked any right-hand tattoo, whereas he himself bears a prominent tattoo acquired seventeen years prior to the incident. Nah maintained that enhanced video analysis could potentially identify the true perpetrator and urged the state to ensure judicial fairness through factual evidence rather than speculative conclusions.

    The defense strategy notably relied exclusively on Nah’s dock statement without calling additional alibi witnesses. Judicial proceedings have now been adjourned until March 13, 2026, when both parties will reconvene for oral arguments preceding the judge’s final deliberations.

  • LVV waarschuwt telers Commewijne en Marowijne voor cassaveziekte

    LVV waarschuwt telers Commewijne en Marowijne voor cassaveziekte

    The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (LVV) in Suriname has escalated its educational outreach across eastern regions to combat the further spread of Cassava Witches’ Broom Disease. Specially trained agricultural advisors are now deployed to provide timely guidance to farmers on managing this devastating crop infection.

    This aggressive plant disease causes severe growth abnormalities in cassava plants, resulting in stunted development and significantly reduced yields. Infected specimens exhibit distinct deformities across leaves, stems, and root systems. Given cassava’s critical role as a staple food source, LVV officials have identified the pathogen as a dual threat to both national food security and agricultural livelihoods.

    The comprehensive awareness campaign currently focuses on regions including Commewijne and Marowijne, where field technicians educate cultivators on symptom identification and contamination containment strategies. The program incorporates analysis of the disease’s sector-wide impact while integrating practical insights from farming communities.

    Current containment protocols emphasize regular plantation monitoring and strict prevention of plant material transportation from infected zones. Upon confirmation of infection, authorities recommend immediate burning of affected cassava stems to prevent pathogen transmission.

    Farmers and concerned citizens can access additional information and support through regional LVV offices across Suriname.

  • Dr. Linroy Christian Elected Vice-Chair of Global Plastics Treaty Talks

    Dr. Linroy Christian Elected Vice-Chair of Global Plastics Treaty Talks

    The United Nations Mission of Antigua and Barbuda has announced the election of Dr. Linroy Christian as Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee’s fifth session (INC-5.3), marking a significant development in global environmental diplomacy. This appointment comes at a critical juncture in international efforts to establish a comprehensive, legally binding framework addressing plastic pollution worldwide.

    The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee bears the responsibility of formulating an international instrument capable of mitigating plastic contamination across terrestrial and marine ecosystems. For Small Island Developing States such as Antigua and Barbuda, the plastic pollution crisis represents an existential threat that disproportionately affects their environmental security, economic stability, and community resilience.

    Plastic pollution continues to endanger marine biodiversity, compromise ocean health, undermine sustainable livelihoods, and weaken the adaptive capacity of vulnerable coastal populations. The escalating crisis demands immediate, coordinated multinational action to develop effective regulatory mechanisms.

    Dr. Christian’s election recognizes his extensive advocacy and diplomatic leadership in addressing this pressing environmental challenge. The Antiguan delegation expressed confidence in his ability to support Chair Ambassador Julio Cordano in steering negotiations toward substantive, ambitious outcomes during this decisive phase of treaty development.

    The recent diplomatic transition also saw First Secretary Asha Challenger concluding her bureau representation after being elected Vice President in 2023. While relinquishing her bureau and rapporteur positions, Challenger maintains active involvement in the negotiation process, ensuring continuity of Antigua and Barbuda’s diplomatic engagement.

    With both officials demonstrating exceptional commitment to environmental governance, Antigua and Barbuda reinforces its strategic positioning within global conservation efforts. The nation continues to advocate vigorously for robust international cooperation to protect marine ecosystems and ensure environmental sustainability for future generations.