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  • LETTER: Urgent Appeal for Relief from Roadworks Dust in Bottom Village, All Saints

    LETTER: Urgent Appeal for Relief from Roadworks Dust in Bottom Village, All Saints

    For 15 years, Amber Thomas has built a quiet life raising her three young children in Bottom Village, a community also called Montrulla in All Saints, Antigua. But what was meant to be a long-awaited infrastructure upgrade has turned into a daily public health crisis that is pushing her family to breaking point.

    Work crews from the Ministry of Public Works have spent recent weeks pouring concrete for a major road upgrade stretching from Buckleys toward All Saints Road, close to the local area known as Smokey. The project has now advanced to its final stretch near Thomas’ home, but multiple sections of the thoroughfare remain incomplete: work crews graded down the road surface but have not laid the finishing concrete, leaving construction steel exposed above the ground in several areas.

    The unfinished work has generated massive clouds of fine dust that have blanketed the surrounding neighborhood. The dust settles on Thomas’ home, coats her family vehicles, and fills the air her children breathe every day. For Thomas, this is not just an inconvenience—it is an immediate threat to her two youngest children, ages two and four, who both live with chronic asthma.

    Prior to the road works, Thomas says her children only experienced severe asthma flare-ups during annual outbreaks of transboundary Saharan dust, a seasonal challenge common across the Caribbean. Today, the constant dust from the unfinished road has triggered frequent wheezing that forces the children to use their rescue inhalers far more often than medically recommended.

    Beyond the public health risk, Thomas also flags a growing road safety hazard: vehicles passing over the exposed construction steel frequently suffer damage to their undercarriages, creating risks of mechanical failure or accidents for local drivers.

    In an open appeal addressed to Public Works Minister Maria Bird-Browne, Prime Minister Gaston Browne and the Director of Public Works, Thomas is calling for urgent action to resolve the crisis. She emphasized that local residents welcome the long-term road improvement project, which will deliver lasting benefits to the community once complete. But in its current unfinished state, the construction site is placing unbearable strain on local households, particularly families with young children and pre-existing health conditions.

    Thomas is calling on authorities to prioritize accelerating the final concrete pouring works to complete the project as quickly as possible. In the interim, she is demanding immediate dust mitigation measures to reduce air pollution for affected residents, as well as targeted support for households already impacted by the ongoing poor conditions. She closed her appeal by warning that her family can no longer tolerate the unsafe conditions, and pleaded for swift intervention to protect her children’s health.

  • Guatemalan President Denies Flight Over Belizean Airspace

    Guatemalan President Denies Flight Over Belizean Airspace

    A fresh diplomatic dispute has erupted between neighboring Central American nations Guatemala and Belize, after independent flight tracking data purportedly recorded an unauthorized Guatemalan military aircraft operating in Belizean airspace last week. At the center of the controversy is Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo, who has issued a categorical denial that any such incursion took place, even as Belizean officials have raised formal objections over the alleged violation of national sovereignty.

    The incident first came to public attention after regional outlet News 5 tracked a single-engine Guatemalan Air Force plane, identified by its callsign FAG706 and registration number 706, a Pilatus PC-12 NG model. According to flight data from both News 5 and major global flight tracking platforms FlightAware and Flightradar24, the aircraft departed Guatemala City at 6:01 p.m. on the Thursday prior to Arévalo’s announcement, conducted multiple low passes near the Lighthouse Reef Atoll off Belize’s coast, and had its transponder signal lost near the popular tourist destination Caye Caulker at 8:06 p.m. the same evening. Belizean Prime Minister Briceño later told the United Nations General Assembly that the aircraft intentionally disabled its transponder while operating over Belizean territory.

    Shortly after the flight tracking data was published, Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official statement confirming it had received preliminary reports of the unauthorized aircraft presence. The ministry warned that any incursion into Belizean airspace constitutes a clear violation of the country’s national sovereignty, and that any such act would be met with an appropriate official response. Guatemala’s Ministry of National Defence released a general statement the same day affirming that the country’s armed forces always operate in full compliance with international and domestic law, but stopped short of directly addressing the specific flight in question.

    Speaking publicly for the first time on the controversy following the matter being raised at the UN General Assembly, Arévalo told reporters that the claim of an unauthorized flight was unfounded. He noted that Guatemalan officials were caught off guard when the accusation was brought forward at the UN, prompting the country to exercise its formal right of reply under United Nations procedural rules. The president cast doubt on the origin of the flight tracking claims, suggesting the report may have originated from a teenage hobbyist using a public flight-tracking application.

    To resolve the dispute transparently, Arévalo announced that his government has made the specific aircraft identified in flight tracking reports available for independent inspection by the Organization of American States (OAS). OAS observers will be granted full access to the plane’s logged flight records, which Arévalo says will definitively prove the aircraft never entered Belizean airspace and confirm its actual flight route.

    Arévalo also referenced the permanent OAS liaison office that operates in the border adjacency zone between Guatemala and Belize, a body established specifically to facilitate open communication between the two governments and monitor developments along their shared border. He noted that the office releases regular public reports on border activity, and that the vast majority of incidents in the area are minor and resolved through existing diplomatic channels. Closing his remarks, Arévalo reiterated once again that the reported incursion “did not take place”, and said his government awaits the outcome of the OAS verification to formally confirm this position.

  • New APUA Board Sworn In at Government House

    New APUA Board Sworn In at Government House

    At a formal ceremony held at Government House, Antigua’s Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams has officially inaugurated the newly appointed Board of Directors for the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA), a key government body overseeing the island nation’s core public infrastructure services.

    The newly assembled leadership team brings together seasoned local figures to steer the authority forward: Luther Lee has taken up the post of Board Chairman, with Purcell Bird stepping into the role of Deputy Chairman. Rounding out the voting board members are Senator Shaquan O’Neil, Elisabeth Fane, Tesfa Francis, and Kelvin Benjamin. To provide strategic guidance and institutional memory, former leader Sir McLean Emmanuel will remain attached to the board as a dedicated consultant, while Joy Dublin will serve as the body’s Corporate Secretary, handling all formal administrative and governance functions.

    In his remarks following the swearing-in, Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams laid out clear expectations for the incoming leadership. He emphasized that as APUA progresses through critical upgrade projects for its three core service areas – potable water distribution, electrical power generation and transmission, and national telecommunications networks – the board must prioritize unwavering integrity, transparent accountability to the public, and evidence-based, prudent decision-making to deliver reliable, affordable services for all Antiguan residents.

  • PHOTO: Kiwanis Club Donates Essential Kits for 12 Newborns

    PHOTO: Kiwanis Club Donates Essential Kits for 12 Newborns

    In a meaningful act of community support that highlights the power of local volunteer organizations, the Kiwanis Club of Antigua has delivered much-needed essential baby care kits to support 12 newborns at the island nation’s public health facility. The handover ceremony, held as a short but heartfelt gathering, saw top leadership and members of the service club formally present the donations to senior hospital administrative and clinical leadership.

    Leading the Kiwanis Club delegation was club president Kevin Morgan, who was joined on-site by fellow club member Alethea Byers and a cohort of other active Kiwanis volunteers. Receiving the donation on behalf of the hospital were three senior leaders: Dr. Shivon Belle Jarvis, the facility’s Medical Director; Anne Marie Brown Isaac, Maternity Department Manager; and Dr. Sequoyah Survia-Thomas, the hospital’s Social Services Manager.

    This contribution comes as many small island communities continue to face gaps in accessible maternal and newborn care supplies, with local service organizations stepping in to fill unmet needs for vulnerable new families. For decades, Kiwanis International chapters across the Caribbean have prioritized children’s health and early childhood support, aligning this donation with the global service network’s core mission of improving the lives of children in local communities. Hospital leaders have confirmed the kits will be distributed directly to families of the 12 newborns in the coming days, ensuring the donations reach the households that need them most.

  • Broaster’s Attorney Says Evidence Against Mira Is Factual

    Broaster’s Attorney Says Evidence Against Mira Is Factual

    A high-stakes corruption complaint in Belize has moved to a critical new phase, with all evidence and testimony now formally submitted to the country’s Integrity Commission for review. The case centers on Edward Broaster, the United Democratic Party (UDP) caretaker for Belize Rural Central, who has leveled corruption allegations against government minister Oscar Mira. On Monday, Broaster appeared before the Integrity Commission tribunal to formally defend the documentation supporting his claims against Mira.

    Jacqueline Willoughby, Broaster’s legal representative, has publicly affirmed that the evidence put forward by her client is rooted in fact and fully verifiable through official government records. Now that Broaster and his legal team have fulfilled all procedural requirements to advance the complaint, the ball is firmly in the Integrity Commission’s court. The key unanswered question, Willoughby says, is whether the commission will move forward with a probe that is prompt, comprehensive, and free from political bias.

    In comments to reporters following Monday’s tribunal hearing, Willoughby outlined the next steps for the process. “We appeared before the tribunal yesterday, and we have officially submitted all of our evidence,” she explained. “Under the Integrity Commission’s operating procedures, if the evidence on hand is deemed sufficient, the commission will launch a formal investigation. Similar to a public commission of inquiry, once that probe is complete, the full case file will be passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for potential action. Right now, we have done everything required of us. We are simply waiting to see what the commission does next.”

    Willoughby also clarified the purpose of Broaster’s appearance at Monday’s tribunal, breaking down the legal process for public understanding. “This is a formal tribunal, so the complainant is required to give testimony under the relevant legislation. Under Section 34 of the Integrity Commission Act, once a complaint is filed, the complainant must submit supporting documentation and then appear before the tribunal to defend that evidence, and answer any questions put forward by the commission. That is exactly what we have done.”

    The attorney emphasized that the entire nation of Belize will be watching the commission’s next moves closely. “I am hopeful that we will see a resolution in a timely manner. Whether this case is taken seriously or not is a matter that all Belizeans have a stake in, and no Belizean should allow this process to be sidelined or dismissed out of hand,” Willoughby said. She closed by reaffirming her full confidence that the evidence submitted by Broaster will stand up to scrutiny.

  • Regering pakt verkeersknelpunten aan met rotondes en eenrichtingsverkeer

    Regering pakt verkeersknelpunten aan met rotondes en eenrichtingsverkeer

    Suriname’s government has announced a comprehensive two-year plan to address persistent traffic congestion and upgrade critical national transportation infrastructure, with work scheduled to roll out across 2027 and 2028. President Jennifer Simons outlined the full scope of the initiative during her annual address to the nation, detailing that congestion bottlenecks will first be targeted through a series of targeted adjustments including strategically placed new roundabouts, reconfigured one-way traffic systems, and the rerouting of heavy freight traffic away from central urban districts.

  • Joint CAB, UWI scholarship launched for banking professionals

    Joint CAB, UWI scholarship launched for banking professionals

    A groundbreaking educational partnership between the Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB) and The University of the West Indies (UWI) has opened new career advancement doors for banking workers across the Caribbean, with the launch of a targeted scholarship programme that covers university degree costs for eligible sector employees.

    The 2026 CAB–UWI Scholarship Programme is specifically designed to support qualifying staff at CAB member institutions who are pursuing a part-time Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Finance. According to a joint official statement released by the two organizations, the three-year academic programme will be delivered on a part-time basis, with the next cohort of students set to begin their studies in January 2027.

    The core mission of this initiative is to empower Caribbean banking and financial services employees to deepen their professional expertise, upgrade their formal qualifications, and accelerate long-term career growth within the regional industry. To be considered for the award, applicants must currently hold a position at a CAB member institution and submit a complete online application package that includes several required supporting documents: a filled-out official CAB Scholarship Application Form, a professional letter of recommendation from their current employer, a signed employer agreement accepting responsibility for reimbursing scholarship funds if programme conditions are not met, and an up-to-date curriculum vitae.

    Disbursement of scholarship funds will be handled directly between CAB and UWI, with payments issued on a semester-by-semester basis. Continued financial support each semester is not guaranteed: it is contingent on both the recipient maintaining satisfactory academic progress and remaining employed at a CAB member institution. To secure funding for an upcoming semester, scholars must present an official academic transcript or completion certificate proving they passed all courses from the previous semester, and their employer must provide written confirmation of their ongoing employment before the new semester begins.

    Additional ongoing requirements for scholarship recipients include maintaining continuous part-time enrollment throughout the full duration of the degree programme, and holding a minimum semester grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. Recipients are also required to take part in CAB’s two-year Future Leaders Programme, which includes responsibilities such as contributing to industry-focused research projects and delivering presentations at the annual CAB Conference.

    All awards are bound by CAB’s formal terms and conditions, and each recipient’s eligibility is reviewed at the end of every semester. Funding will be immediately withdrawn if a scholar leaves their position at a CAB member institution before completing the degree. Furthermore, after graduating from the programme, recipients are contractually required to remain employed at a CAB member institution for a period equal to the total length of time they received scholarship support.

    CAB has actively called on all its member organizations to proactively identify high-potential employees and support their applications to the programme. The initiative forms part of the regional banking body’s broader strategy to cultivate a skilled, diverse next generation of leadership for the Caribbean’s banking and financial services sector. Prospective applicants can access the application portal online, and additional details about the programme are available directly from the CAB Secretariat.

  • Windies’ triple-century heroics eclipsed by Indian masterclass in Guwahati

    Windies’ triple-century heroics eclipsed by Indian masterclass in Guwahati

    On a tense, record-breaking day of ODI cricket in Guwahati on September 30, India clinched an unassailable 2-0 series lead over the West Indies, pulling off a historic chase even after the visitors produced one of the most stunning batting displays in their ODI history. Heading into the second fixture, the West Indies, already trailing after a loss in the opening match, knew they faced a must-win scenario to keep the three-match series alive. What followed was a batting masterclass that rewrote multiple sections of the West Indies record books, even if it ultimately could not deliver a victory.

    Staring off the innings aggressively, opening batsman John Campbell set the tone for the day with a blistering 101 runs off just 68 deliveries. His knock was packed with milestones: it marked the fifth-fastest century in West Indies ODI history, the fastest hundred ever posted by a West Indian batsman against India, and also secured the record for the fastest half-century by a West Indian against the Men in Blue. Following Campbell’s breakthrough innings, middle-order batters Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo kept the run rate ticking steadily through the middle overs, even as the pace of scoring slowed slightly in line with typical ODI match dynamics. Both batsmen went on to reach triple-figure scores, making the West Indies the first team in ODI history to record three individual centuries in a single single innings.

    Hope’s 104 runs off 94 balls carried extra significance, as the knock pushed his career total of ODI centuries to 20, surpassing West Indian cricketing legend Brian Lara’s previous tally of 19. Hope now sits second on the all-time list of West Indian ODI century-makers, trailing only Chris Gayle, who holds the current record with 25 hundreds. For Jangoo, the Trinidad-based left-hander, his knock of 114 runs off 77 deliveries – the highest score of the West Indies innings – extended a consistent run of good form, following a half-century in the first ODI. By the end of their 50 overs, the West Indies had posted a mammoth total of 405, the highest team score in their ODI history to that point.

    Facing one of the largest run chases in ODI cricket against an in-form Indian side, the home team’s openers got off to a flying start in the powerplay overs and never looked back on their pursuit of the target. Captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Shubman Gill shared a 255-run opening partnership, with both batters hitting centuries. Sharma brought up his 101 runs, and in doing so crossed the 12,000 career run milestone in ODI cricket, becoming one of a handful of batters to reach that mark. But it was Gill who stole the show with an unprecedented innings: the ICC’s top-ranked ODI batter smashed the fastest double century in ODI history, reaching the 200-run mark off just 117 deliveries. He finished the innings unbeaten on 222 not out, the highest individual score ever posted by a captain in ODI cricket.

    India chased down the 406-run target in just 44 overs, completing the second-highest run chase in ODI history and securing the series victory with one match still remaining. Following the defeat, West Indies captain Shai Hope acknowledged the strong performance of his batting unit while pointing to a key area for improvement. “Lot of positives I can take from it, to be honest. Mainly from the batting side. As a batting group we have been consistently putting up competitive totals,” Hope said. “But when you come up against some of the best batters, you can’t let them have a start like that. Have to give credit where it’s due, but if I had to be really critical, we had to be a little tighter with the ball.”

    The three-match ODI series will conclude on Saturday, October 3, when the West Indies will look to secure a consolation win to end their tour on a high note.

  • Dominican-founded Caring for Miracles Foundation marks five years of neonatal care support at UHWI NICU

    Dominican-founded Caring for Miracles Foundation marks five years of neonatal care support at UHWI NICU

    Five years after its founding by two Dominican-born doctors, the Caring for Miracles Foundation continues to transform outcomes for premature and critically ill newborns across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), expanding access to life-saving care that many families in these regions have long been denied.

    The foundation grew out of a lifelong friendship between Dr. Jillian Lewis, the organization’s founder, and Dr. Marilyn Giorgi, its vice chair. Both women are 1989 graduates of Dominica’s Convent High School, and they launched the foundation alongside a dedicated team of medical colleagues united by a shared, simple mission: to guarantee every infant the chance to survive and thrive, no matter what country they are born into.

    Today, the foundation’s flagship partnership is with the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in Jamaica, its very first institutional collaborator. Since starting on-site programming in September 2021, the organization has made measurable improvements to local neonatal care through a multi-pronged approach: it has donated critical, life-sustaining medical equipment, provided ongoing specialized training for local healthcare teams, developed community-focused public health initiatives, and offered emotional and practical support to families navigating the critical illness or loss of a newborn. The foundation also prioritizes recognizing the extraordinary work of neonatal care providers who practice under resource-limited, challenging conditions.

    Working in close strategic collaboration with UHWI NICU leadership, the foundation recently rolled out its signature Golden Hour Quality Improvement Program, developed alongside obstetric and neonatal care teams. The initiative targets the first 60 minutes of a preterm infant’s life — a period that is the greatest determinant of long-term survival — and evidence from early implementation shows it has already improved survival rates for infants born before eight months of gestation.

    Beyond its core quality improvement work, the foundation offers a range of targeted support services, including specialized breastfeeding assistance, resources for teen parents, and emergency relief for NICUs damaged by natural disasters. Right now, one of Giorgi’s top priorities is building out a specialized bereavement program that will deliver compassionate, trauma-informed care to families who experience the loss of an infant.

    Looking ahead, the foundation has outlined an ambitious regional expansion plan, with expanding care to their home country of Dominica ranked high on the organizational agenda.

    In a statement shared ahead of the five-year milestone, the organization noted, “We are very excited about this initiative and are aware of the potential impact on the trajectory of the lives of our precious gifts; our newborn infants. We are also aware that significant financial support is essential to the success of this initiative and are therefore very appreciative of the support of this work thus far. We are certainly open to partnership with any aligned organizations to ensure the success of this necessary initiative.”

    To sustain current programming and fuel the planned expansion, a long-time supporter has launched a public fundraising campaign on the GoFundMe platform. Giorgi is encouraging members of the public to consider contributing, emphasizing that even small donations make a tangible difference for vulnerable infants and their families.

    “Every donation, regardless of size, helps bring hope, healing, and opportunity to vulnerable babies and their families,” Giorgi said. The Caring for Miracles Foundation fundraising page is currently live on GoFundMe for anyone interested in supporting the organization’s work.

  • Tropic Air to End Flights to Punta Gorda

    Tropic Air to End Flights to Punta Gorda

    After more than two decades of connecting southern Belize’s Toledo District to the rest of the country, regional carrier Tropic Air has announced it will permanently end all scheduled passenger flights to Punta Gorda starting November 1, 2026. The move will eliminate Toledo’s only regularly scheduled air link, leaving businesses, residents and industry leaders scrambling to find solutions to the impending connectivity gap.

    In an official statement released September 30, Tropic Air confirmed that its on-the-ground Punta Gorda team was notified of the decision in person the previous day. Company leaders framed the exit as a painful but unavoidable business choice, noting that the route had dragged on the airline’s finances for years. “This was not an easy decision,” the statement read. “Tropic has proudly served Punta Gorda for many years, including an extended period as the only airline providing scheduled service to the community. We continued operating despite considerable and sustained financial losses.”

    The airline added that shifting economic conditions, spiking operational costs, and growing regulatory requirements have made absorbing ongoing route losses fiscally irresponsible for the company. With no path to profitability on the horizon, leadership moved forward with the shutdown plan.

    The announcement has immediately mobilized local industry and political leaders, who are calling on national government officials and key stakeholders to intervene to reverse the decision or create an alternative solution. The Belize Tourism Industry Association’s (BTIA) Toledo Chapter has called an emergency meeting scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday at the Punta Gorda Welcome Center to coordinate a collective response.

    In a pre-meeting letter shared with the Toledo Chamber of Commerce, BTIA Toledo stressed that the impact of Tropic Air’s exit extends far beyond the tourism sector, which will undoubtedly suffer from reduced access for international and domestic visitors. Instead, the group framed the loss of air service as a critical threat to the entire Toledo District’s economic connectivity.

    A wide range of local sectors depend on the scheduled air link to move people, time-sensitive cargo, and essential goods, BTIA Toledo noted. These include financial institutions such as local banks, insurance providers, medical laboratories that need to transport test samples, agricultural suppliers and producers, and non-governmental organizations delivering critical services to the district. “BTIA Toledo will not stand silent on this matter,” the association emphasized.

    Local political leaders have echoed the urgent concern, with Wil Maheia, leader of the People’s National Party and a Punta Gorda resident, describing the news as devastating to the community. Maheia pointed to a recently implemented aviation security fee as a key contributing factor to the airline’s decision to exit the route.

    In early August, the national Cabinet approved a BZ$10 security fee for all passengers departing from municipal airports like Punta Gorda. Government officials justified the new charge at the time, saying revenue would fund upgrades to security screening infrastructure and other necessary airport improvements. Maheia argues that the added fee, combined with already high global fuel prices, pushed the route into unsustainability.

    The opposition leader is calling on the Belizean government to extend the same duty-free fuel benefits that sugarcane farmers in northern Belize receive to airlines operating in Toledo, a change he says would cut operational costs enough to keep scheduled air service alive. Calling the loss of the only air link “a big blow to the Toledo District,” Maheia pushed for immediate policy action to address the crisis before the service ends next week.