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  • 22-year-old motorcyclist dies in St James collision

    22-year-old motorcyclist dies in St James collision

    A devastating road accident has claimed another life on Barbados’ road network, marking the island’s latest traffic fatality. The fatal incident unfolded just after midday on Sunday at the intersection of the Ronald Mapp Highway and Westmoreland, located in the parish of St James.

    The victim of the collision was identified by local law enforcement as 22-year-old Kahlil Nash, a resident of Cave Hill in St Lucy. Emergency response teams were dispatched to the crash site immediately after reports of the collision, which involved two vehicles: a motorcycle operated by Nash and a private motorcar. The crash was first logged by emergency services at 12:33 p.m.

    Despite rapid first responder intervention, Nash succumbed to his injuries at the location of the incident. Authorities have confirmed that the case remains open, with active investigations ongoing to determine the full sequence of events, contributing factors, and any potential liability surrounding the collision.

  • CARICOM Group Raises Alarm Over Election Prep

    CARICOM Group Raises Alarm Over Election Prep

    As Haiti prepares to hold its first national election in more than a decade, a senior observer mission from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has sounded an urgent alarm over unresolved systemic and security challenges that threaten the credibility of the upcoming poll. The CARICOM Eminent Persons Group, which conducted an on-the-ground assessment of election preparations across Haiti between September 2 and 9, 2026, held wide-ranging consultations with key national stakeholders, including major political parties, civil society organizations, private sector leaders, and commanders of the country’s newly formed Gang Suppression Force. The vote is currently scheduled to hold its first round on December 13, 2026, marking a pivotal step toward ending Haiti’s years-long period of transitional, unelected governance.

  • Antigua and Dominica Record No US Tourist Visa Issuances in Early 2026 Data

    Antigua and Dominica Record No US Tourist Visa Issuances in Early 2026 Data

    Newly released official visa statistics have revealed stark variations in the number of U.S. B1/B2 temporary visitor visas issued across Caribbean and nearby South American nations during the first two months of 2026. Two Eastern Caribbean island nations — Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica — stand out with a recorded total of zero visas issued in this period, an outlier that has drawn attention amid otherwise uneven distribution across the region.

    At the opposite end of the spectrum, Trinidad and Tobago logged the highest volume of approvals, with 4,431 B1/B2 visas issued to its applicants. Neighboring Guyana followed with a total of 2,777 issued visas, while Barbados ranked third with 865 issuances recorded over the two-month window.

    For most other Eastern Caribbean territories, the number of issued visas fell far below the counts seen in larger regional economies. St. Kitts and Nevis recorded 238 approved visas, with St. Lucia close behind at 192. Grenada followed with 164 issuances, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines rounded out the regional count with 144.

    For context, the B1/B2 combined visa is the most common U.S. travel document for temporary entry, allowing eligible holders to travel to the United States for business purposes, leisure tourism, or a mix of both activities during their stay.

    Experts and immigration analysts caution against jumping to conclusions about the zero-issuance figures for Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, noting that the raw data does not inherently mean all visa applicants from the two countries were rejected outright. Multiple administrative factors can impact how issuance statistics are compiled: classification conventions for pending or transferred applications can shift reported numbers, and many applicants choose to submit their applications at processing centers outside their home country, which can reallocate counts to other jurisdictions. Further official clarification is required to pinpoint the exact cause of the zero recorded figures and what they indicate for travel trends between the two nations and the U.S.

  • DSC’s ongoing industrial action follows years of unresolved grievances, staff say

    DSC’s ongoing industrial action follows years of unresolved grievances, staff say

    What was initially framed by some observers as a sudden wage dispute at Dominica State College (DSC) is far more than an isolated conflict: it is the end point of a years-long standoff between the institution’s faculty and staff, and its governing leadership over unmet commitments and festering systemic problems. Industrial action at the Caribbean public tertiary institution launched on September 8, 2026, after a series of broken promises and stalled negotiations left employees with no other path to push for resolution, according to statements from DSC staff confirmed by independent journalists at Dominica News Online.

    The list of long-unresolved grievances stretches back far beyond 2026, and predates even a previous 2021 industrial action that delivered only partial progress. DSC employees say that since the devastating passage of Hurricane Maria, critical infrastructure across the campus has remained damaged, with large sections of the institution still waiting for comprehensive repairs years after the storm. Compounding infrastructure woes are repeated gaps in core administrative leadership: for extended periods, both the Bursar and Human Resources Manager positions sat vacant, leaving critical institutional functions understaffed. Staff also highlight a years-long freeze on formal lecturer appointments and the complete absence of regular, scheduled salary reviews.

    These cumulative issues first pushed DSC faculty and staff to take industrial action in May 2021. That protest delivered incremental, limited gains: the two long-vacant senior administrative roles were eventually filled, and partial repairs were completed on damaged campus facilities. But core problems were left unaddressed: major high-traffic and academic spaces including the college’s Vocational Section and Main Lecture Theatre still require major structural and functional repairs that have never been funded or scheduled.

    Parallel to the stalled infrastructure work, efforts to revise outdated compensation and employment classification frameworks have dragged on for years without final implementation. A collaborative salary framework, developed jointly by faculty, staff, college management, and the Board of Governors, was ultimately rejected and never put into practice. A subsequent employment reclassification process, revised after staff raised concerns about the initial draft, won full approval from the Board of Governors. Instead of moving to roll out the approved framework, the process was paused to allow for an external consultant to conduct a full operational assessment of the college. Despite full cooperation from DSC employees throughout the assessment process, the final consultant’s report has never been released to staff, leaving the process in limbo.

    By June 2026, frustrated employees issued a formal warning: if all outstanding matters were not resolved before the end of the summer term, new industrial action would follow. In response to that warning, representatives from the DSC Board of Governors, the Office of the Prime Minister of Dominica, and the employee union reportedly held a series of talks, where they struck an agreement to implement binding resolution steps over the summer break. Staff agreed to pause any protest action to allow the negotiated process to move forward, holding out hope for a meaningful end to the dispute. When the summer ended, however, no substantive progress had been made, and all outstanding grievances remained untouched.

    DSC faculty and staff emphasize that the current industrial action is not a spontaneous action triggered by a single wage disagreement, but the predictable outcome of more than five years of unaddressed complaints, delayed commitments, and failed negotiations. Today, three core issues remain unresolved: the Board-approved employment and salary reclassification model is still not implemented, the consultant’s operational assessment report has not been released, and widespread infrastructure damage from Hurricane Maria continues to disrupt academic operations across the campus.

    In their current demands, striking employees are calling for a transparent, time-bound resolution roadmap that clearly outlines specific next steps, assigns formal responsibility for each action to the relevant parties, and sets firm binding deadlines for addressing all outstanding issues related to salaries, employment classification, staffing, and campus infrastructure repairs.

  • EBS introduceert dagelijkse planning voor loadshedding

    EBS introduceert dagelijkse planning voor loadshedding

    Suriname’s national power utility De Energie Bedrijven Suriname (EBS) has rolled out a new structured system to manage rolling power cuts, giving consumers the ability to check daily if their electricity connection is scheduled for shutdown during periods of generation deficit. The update comes after weeks of unplanned load shedding that disrupted communities across the country, replacing ad-hoc outages with a pre-planned, transparent framework that uses a custom-built digital portal for consumer access.

    To use the service, customers simply enter their meter number or connection ID on the portal to see if their address appears on the updated list of potential outages. EBS updates the schedule twice daily: an initial version is released for morning and afternoon hours, followed by a revised schedule for evening outages posted later in the day. Utility officials have advised customers to check the portal two times per day to stay informed of any changes to their potential outage status.

    Importantly, inclusion on the schedule does not guarantee a power cut. EBS emphasized that the daily list serves only as an indicative planning tool, and shutdowns will only be implemented if load shedding is deemed necessary to maintain overall stability of the national grid.

    The new scheduling system was introduced in response to ongoing power supply challenges that began in late August. On August 25, EBS announced that electricity consumption during the current dry season had grown far faster than initial projections, leaving available generation units under extreme strain with no reserve capacity to meet unexpected demand spikes. At that time, the utility warned that rolling outages lasting a minimum of three hours per rotation would be implemented across the EPAR network, which covers most of Suriname’s coastal region and supplies power to the vast majority of the country’s households, businesses, and public institutions.

    Over the past weeks, persistent power deficits and rotating outages have sparked widespread public debate over Suriname’s current generation capacity and the large-scale investments needed to strengthen the country’s power infrastructure long-term. Energy sector analysts and advocates have also called for greater public transparency around the root causes of the shortages and the utility’s long-term mitigation plans.

    Compounding the current supply crunch is a temporary capacity reduction at the Brokopondo hydropower plant, one of the country’s largest generation sources. Ongoing maintenance work on the facility’s turbines has cut available output, with EBS currently able to draw a maximum of just 130 megawatts from the plant, down from the full 160 megawatts generated when all six turbines are operational. To partially offset the lost hydropower output, EBS has increased thermal power generation from the Tout Lui Faut facility.

    With the launch of the new digital portal and daily scheduling system, EBS aims to bring much-needed predictability to households and businesses navigating potential outages, allowing them to plan work, personal activities, and critical operations around potential disruptions. The utility has also stressed that voluntary energy conservation by consumers can reduce overall demand enough to eliminate the need for scheduled shutdowns, urging the public to cut non-essential electricity use during the current supply crunch. Consumers can access the load shedding portal at any time to check their daily outage status using their connection or meter information.

  • Bittersweet Brilliance: Descarte helps eliminate Saint Lucia Kings

    Bittersweet Brilliance: Descarte helps eliminate Saint Lucia Kings

    In a dramatic twist of Caribbean Premier League (CPL) fate that carried deep personal meaning for a homegrown talent, a former reserve player delivered the knockout blow to his former side on Saturday night at Bridgetown’s iconic Kensington Oval. All-rounder Shadrack Descarte’s determined, match-saving 56 runs off 42 balls guided the Barbados Tridents to a critical victory over the Jamaica Kingsmen, ending the Saint Lucia Kings’ lingering playoff hopes in the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League.

    Heading into the round-robin clash, the math was unforgiving for the Saint Lucia Kings. To cling to their postseason aspirations, the side needed the Tridents to suffer a heavy defeat at the hands of the Kingsmen. When Tridents captain Chris Green won the toss and elected to field first, his bowlers delivered a dominant performance, restricting Jamaica to a manageable total of just 150 runs. But the Tridents’ batting chase got off to a disastrous start, with wickets tumbling at regular intervals and the side on the brink of a total collapse that would have kept the Saint Lucia Kings’ campaign alive.

    With the middle and lower order at the crease and the match hanging in the balance, Descarte stepped up to steady the innings. The Mon Repos, Saint Lucia native had spent the entire 2025 CPL sidelined with the Saint Lucia Kings, stuck on the bench and only getting occasional game time as a substitute or 12th man. Even after switching to the Tridents for the 2026 tournament, Descarte had seen very limited playing time until the side returned to their home ground in Barbados for this critical late-stage clash. His knock not only turned the tide of the match but also marked a long-awaited redemption for the underrated all-rounder, who had spent months waiting for a chance to prove his worth at the top level of the Caribbean T20 competition.

    While Descarte’s defining innings won widespread acclaim, it was left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie who claimed Man of the Match honours, thanks to his exceptional bowling figures of 2 wickets for just 7 runs and a quick 17-run cameo that sealed the win for the Tridents. Even so, Descarte earned high praise from his leadership, with Tridents captain Green highlighting his transformative impact on the side in the tournament’s back end.

    “He’s been brilliant across every department since he got his opportunity, with ball, bat and in the field,” Green told reporters post-match. “This was a career-best CPL score for him, and he’s shown just how versatile he can be. He’d always batted down the order earlier in his career, but we decided to move him up the batting line, and he grabbed that chance with both hands. In short-form tournament cricket, you need players to step up when it matters most, and right now we’re seeing different players rise to the occasion every game – that’s exactly what you need going into the knockout stage.”

    The praise for Descarte extended beyond the cricket pitch, too. Jeremiah Norbert, Parliamentary Representative for Micoud North in Descarte’s home country of Saint Lucia, issued a public statement commending the all-rounder, calling his match-winning knock “classy, patient and impactful.”

    The result brings a bittersweet end to the Saint Lucia Kings’ 2026 CPL run, as they exit the tournament at the hands of one of their own forgotten talents. For Descarte and the Barbados Tridents, the victory sets up a rematch with the Jamaica Kingsmen in this year’s CPL Eliminator on Wednesday, where the side will look to continue their knockout stage push and build on Descarte’s breakthrough performance.

  • No-Case Submission Rejected in $372,000 Cannabis Case

    No-Case Submission Rejected in $372,000 Cannabis Case

    A key procedural hurdle has been cleared for a high-stakes drug trafficking case in the Eastern Caribbean, after a chief magistrate threw out a no-case submission brought on behalf of a local defendant. Nadeem Brandon Doumith, a resident of Crosbies, will now proceed to a full trial before the High Court to answer to five separate drug-related charges connected to one of the most high-profile narcotics seizures in the region this year.

    The legal challenge to proceed to trial was led by Doumith’s defense attorney, Wendel Alexander, who argued that prosecution evidence was too weak to warrant moving the case to a higher court for a full hearing. However, Chief Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel rejected that defense argument outright, upholding the prosecution’s position that there is sufficient evidence to go forward with a full jury trial.

    The case originates from a targeted law enforcement operation carried out on May 9, 2025 at the Deep Water Harbour, a major commercial port facility in the region. During the operation, authorities reportedly seized 62 pounds of cannabis with an estimated street value of EC$372,000 (Eastern Caribbean dollars). Doumith was not the only individual charged in connection with the seizure: he was originally listed as a co-defendant alongside Francis Young, a Jamaican businessman. In a notable development earlier this year, all charges against Young were formally withdrawn back in June, following direct instructions from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

    Now that the no-case submission has been dismissed, Doumith will face the full scope of charges brought against him, which include conspiracy to traffic illegal narcotics, possession of cannabis, illegal importation of controlled substances, and multiple supply-related offences. The move to the High Court paves the way for a full examination of the evidence against the defendant, marking a major milestone in the ongoing legal process following the high-value port seizure.

  • Babonneau top Group A in SLNCA Super 50 cricket

    Babonneau top Group A in SLNCA Super 50 cricket

    The second weekend of action at the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association (SLNC) Super 50 Men’s tournament delivered high-scoring drama and standout bowling performances, as the race for playoff qualification began to crystallize across the three competing groups. Across Saturday and Sunday, six matches unfolded across three host venues, with six individual half-centuries and two five-wicket hauls highlighting the weekend’s on-field action.

    In Group A, Babonneau – the current holders of the Prime Minister’s T20 Cup – completed a clean sweep of their opening two matches to cement their place at the top of the group table. The team kicked off the weekend with a dominant 78-run victory over Dennery at Mindoo Phillip Park, before closing out an eight-wicket win against Choiseul just a day later at La Fargue Playing Field.

    Against Dennery, Shervon Joseph anchored Babonneau’s innings with a solid 66 runs, while Qwaine Henry chipped in with an even 50 to lift the side to a commanding total of 269 for 7 off their allotted overs. Dennery mounted a spirited response in the chase, with Kernan Henry hitting an unbeaten 63, but the side was ultimately bowled out for 191, falling well short of the required target.

    Babonneau carried that momentum into their Sunday clash, where left-arm seamer Yunieski Gustave turned in a match-winning bowling performance to tear through Choiseul’s batting line-up. Gustave claimed stunning figures of 5 wickets for just 26 runs, restricting Choiseul to a low total of 128 all out. A steady 34 from Caleb Thomas and an unbeaten 31 from captain Qwaine Henry steered Babonneau to an untroubled victory in just 17.1 overs, with eight wickets in hand.

    The two losses leave Choiseul rooted at the bottom of Group A with an 0-2 record, their hopes of progressing to the next stage hanging by a thread. Following the weekend’s results, Babonneau sits alone at the top of the group as the only unbeaten side on 2 points, followed by Micoud with a 1-1 record, Dennery at 0-1, and Choiseul at the foot of the table on 0-2.

    Across in Group B, South Castries secured their first win of the campaign with a crushing 10-wicket defeat of Vieux Fort at La Fargue Playing Field. Vieux Fort, who were asked to bat first after losing the toss, were bowled out for just 70 runs in 15.4 overs, with former Windward Islands youth spinner Simeon Gerson leading the attack with 3 wickets for 14 runs. Daniel Jn Baptise and Kenrick James chipped in with two wickets each to wrap up the early innings collapse. Opener Ephron Charles hit an aggressive unbeaten 53 to guide South Castries to the required target of 71 in just 20 legal deliveries, finishing the game without losing a single wicket.

    The following day, South Castries were on track for another strong result against Soufriere at Mindoo Phillip Park before unseasonable rain cut the match short. Kervel Prosper’s 4 wickets for 27 runs helped Soufriere bowl South Castries out for 164, but Aaron Joseph responded with 4 wickets for 31 runs to leave Soufriere reeling at 81 for 9 in the 24th over when persistent rain forced an early abandonment, with the match declared a no-result.

    After two rounds of group play, Gros Islet remains firmly positioned at the top of the Group B standings with two wins from two matches, holding a comfortable lead over the chasing pack. South Castries and Soufriere are both tied on 1-1 records, with one no-result each, while Vieux Fort remains stuck at the bottom of the table after suffering their second consecutive loss, holding an 0-2 record.

    Group C also saw significant shifts in the standings at Wenn Playing Field, as two new sides picked up their first wins of the tournament. Mon Repos kicked off their 2026 campaign with a commanding eight-wicket win over Desruisseaux. Shawnil Edward took 3 wickets for 16 runs and Garvin Serieux claimed 3 for 15 to bowl Desruisseaux out for 115, despite a valiant half-century (53) from Sulei Charlemagne. Cody Lesmond hit an unbeaten 37 to guide Mon Repos across the finish line in just 9.3 overs, with eight wickets to spare.

    On Sunday, Central Castries made a winning tournament debut, defeating Mabouya Valley by a crushing 107 runs. Jamaal James hit 49 and Theo Edward added 43 to lift Central Castries to a total of 240 all out, despite a five-wicket haul from Chad Polius (5 for 62). Mabouya Valley responded with a fighting 68 from Quintus Abbot, but Tyler Sookwa’s 3 wickets for 17 runs helped bowl the side out for just 133 in 25.2 overs, securing the lopsided win for Central Castries.

    With one round of group matches remaining, Central Castries and Mon Repos share the top spot in Group C after picking up opening round wins, both holding 1-0 records. Mabouya Valley dropped to 1-1 after suffering their first defeat, while Desruisseaux remains winless at the bottom of the group after two straight losses, holding an 0-2 record.

    The preliminary group stage of the tournament is set to conclude next weekend, with a full slate of decisive matches that will finalize the playoff qualifiers. The final round fixtures include Central Castries facing Desruisseaux at Mindoo Phillip Park, Vieux Fort taking on Gros Islet at Francis Baba Lastic Grounds, Micoud clashing with Dennery, Mabouya Valley meeting Mon Repos both at Wenn Playing Field, and Dennery going up against Choiseul at La Fargue Playing Field.

  • Prices of fuel, cooking gas go up

    Prices of fuel, cooking gas go up

    Residents of Saint Lucia woke up to a modest but noticeable increase in fuel and cooking gas prices on Monday, September 14, 2026, after the national government formalized adjustments tied to shifting global crude oil costs. The new price schedule, which will remain in place through October 4, 2026, adds 50 Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$) cents per imperial gallon to gasoline and diesel prices, and raises Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) — commonly used for cooking across the island — by an average of EC$2 across all cylinder sizes.

    Per the updated rates released by the Office of the Prime Minister, both gasoline and diesel now retail at EC$17.25 per imperial gallon, equal to EC$3.79 per liter, up from the previous rate of EC$16.75 per imperial gallon (EC$3.68 per liter). For LPG consumers, the cost of a standard 20-pound cooking cylinder has risen from EC$34 to EC$36, while 22-pound cylinders now cost EC$40, up from EC$38. A 100-pound bulk cylinder saw a larger increase, jumping from EC$288.50 to EC$314.88, and bulk LPG now retails at EC$3.02 per pound, up from EC$2.76. Notably, the retail price of kerosene will hold steady at its current rate of EC$10.41 per imperial gallon (EC$2.29 per liter) through the three-week adjustment period.

    Government officials explained that the price changes are driven by the country’s market-based pass-through pricing framework, which aligns domestic retail rates with recent trends in global oil markets. Between the reference period of August 17 and September 6, 2026, the benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil price rose 6.7% to average US$86.08 per barrel, a shift that necessitated the domestic adjustment.

    Despite the increase, the government stressed it will continue absorbing a large share of global price volatility through targeted subsidies to protect consumers from steeper jumps. Subsidies will remain in place for diesel, kerosene, and all LPG products during this adjustment cycle, softening the impact of global market instability on household budgets.

    Prime Minister Philip J Pierre had foreshadowed the coming changes during a press briefing last week, noting that domestic fuel prices had held steady since 2025 even as international oil costs trended upward. “The time is coming when Government has to review fuel at the pumps,” Pierre told reporters, adding that global energy markets remain “unpredictable.” The prime minister emphasized that prolonged full absorption of global price increases has put unsustainable pressure on public finances, limiting the government’s ability to fund other critical public services for Saint Lucians. “It is causing a drain on the treasury, it is causing a drain on what we can make available to the people of Saint Lucia,” Pierre explained.

  • Adult Education Division hosts annual book fair to promote reading

    Adult Education Division hosts annual book fair to promote reading

    To honor International Literacy Day, marked annually on September 8, the Adult Education Division capped off a week of community-focused literacy outreach with its much-anticipated annual book fair, hosted at the division’s Kennedy Avenue office on Friday, September 11. The event opened its doors to readers of all ages, drawing dozens of local book enthusiasts to browse the curated collection of donated and sourced titles.

    Carol White, head of the Adult Education Division, outlined the full scope of the division’s Literacy Day programming this year, explaining that department staff kicked off the week by visiting local primary and secondary schools across the region. During these school visits, team members led interactive reading activities, read aloud to young students, and hosted engaging literacy-focused games to spark a lifelong love of reading among children. Following these on-site community events, the annual book fair has become a longstanding tradition to close out the celebratory week.

    White confirmed that this year’s gathering exceeded expectations, with strong community turnout and widespread support for the division’s literacy mission. Attendees left with hand-picked titles matching their personal interests, from childhood picture books to adult literary fiction.

    The hundreds of books on display were sourced through a broad community partnership, with donations coming from multiple stakeholders including the local public library, individual city residents, and members of the national diaspora living overseas. Organizers structured the fair into clearly marked sections tailored to different audiences: dedicated zones for children, teens, and adult readers, alongside a separate section for educational resource materials. The diverse inventory spanned every genre, including storybooks, picture books, graphic novels, literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, religious texts, cookbooks, thriller novels, and a wide range of additional children’s reading materials.

    Central to the division’s ongoing work, White emphasized, is a consistent push to highlight the transformative power of literacy for individuals and entire families. Beyond building knowledge and practical life skills, White noted that regular reading acts as a tool for personal growth, helping readers build confidence and self-esteem. In an era dominated by digital scrolling and screen time, White also framed reading as an accessible form of low-stress relaxation. “Instead of defaulting to television, phones or tablets after a long day, picking up a book from a beloved author offers a calm, fulfilling way to unwind,” she explained.

    To keep the literacy initiative growing in coming years, White issued a public call for continued community support, encouraging local residents to donate gently used books to the division. These donations will allow more community members to access free reading materials and experience the personal and community benefits of a strong reading culture.