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  • Quick response by hospital staff and fire officers contains QEH fire

    Quick response by hospital staff and fire officers contains QEH fire

    A potentially catastrophic fire at Barbados’ primary public healthcare institution was successfully contained through coordinated emergency response on Sunday morning. The incident at Queen Elizabeth Hospital triggered immediate evacuation protocols, though the swift action of both hospital staff and fire crews prevented serious damage or casualties.

    Emergency services received the alert at approximately 10:51 a.m., with firefighting units from Bridgetown Station and Bridgetown Port Station arriving within seven minutes. Upon arrival, they encountered a carefully managed evacuation scenario with patients, including children and newborns, already relocated to exterior areas under staff supervision.

    Fire Sub-Officer Henderson Nicholls reported that the blaze originated in Treatment Room One on the C floor, which was undergoing rehabilitation and not actively housing patients. Fire crews deployed two specialized teams to extinguish the flames and conduct smoke extraction operations from adjacent areas.

    Preliminary damage assessment revealed limited destruction confined to one air conditioning unit and a single cabinet, though significant soot contamination required extensive cleaning. While the exact cause remains under formal investigation, early indications suggest electrical malfunction as the probable origin.

    Hospital communications specialist Shane Sealy confirmed that smoke dissemination presented the primary challenge, traveling beyond the immediate fire zone to affect multiple floors. The institution’s contingency measures prioritized patient safety, resulting in the temporary relocation of individuals from six to seven treatment areas.

    Chief Executive Officer Neil Clarke commended hospital personnel for their immediate response, noting that staff had already extinguished the flames and moved patients to secure locations before fire service arrival. The hospital’s virtual incident command room activated within one minute of emergency notification, coordinating the successful management of the situation.

    By early afternoon, most patients had returned to thoroughly cleaned wards, with air quality verification ongoing in temporarily relocated sections. Visiting hours experienced minor adjustments to facilitate final cleanup operations, with full normalization expected by late afternoon.

  • Double Murder Under Investigation in Punta Gorda

    Double Murder Under Investigation in Punta Gorda

    Authorities in Punta Gorda are actively investigating a tragic double homicide that unfolded on Saturday evening, February 8, 2026, casting a shadow over the quiet community. The incident occurred at approximately 8:00 p.m. at a residential property located on Queen Street, where a social gathering was taking place at the home of 24-year-old Luis Barillas.

    Police reports indicate that a solitary assailant, described as having a slim physique and concealing his identity with a grey hoodie, approached the residence and initiated an unprovoked shooting. The gunfire resulted in the critical injury of both Barillas and 27-year-old Derick Arnold, each sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

    Emergency services rushed the two victims to the Punta Gorda Hospital; however, medical personnel were unable to save their lives. Both men were declared deceased shortly after their arrival at the medical facility.

    Preliminary investigative findings point to a potential drug transaction as the catalyst for the violence. Law enforcement officials suggest the suspected gunman may have visited the property with the initial intent to purchase illicit substances before the situation deteriorated into lethal confrontation.

    The investigation remains ongoing as police continue to pursue leads and seek the identity of the perpetrator. The community of Punta Gorda has been urged to come forward with any relevant information that could assist in apprehending the individual responsible for this brutal crime.

  • FCD Bridges Belize and Guatemala to Fight Fires at the Border

    FCD Bridges Belize and Guatemala to Fight Fires at the Border

    In a significant environmental achievement, Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) has received prestigious recognition for its groundbreaking cross-border fire management efforts between Belize and Guatemala. The UK-Belize Climate & Nature Legacy Awards recently honored the organization’s innovative project that has transformed regional fire prevention strategies.

    The award-winning initiative has successfully bridged international boundaries by establishing collaborative fire protocols, conducting comprehensive training programs for emergency response teams on both sides of the border, and laying the foundational framework for a joint Belize-Guatemala Forest Fire Taskforce. This bilateral cooperation addresses the critical reality that wildfires respect no political boundaries, posing continuous threats to agricultural lands, residential communities, and the ecologically vital Maya Forest ecosystem.

    This environmental partnership builds upon a 2014 intergovernmental agreement between Belize and Guatemala specifically designed for natural resource protection. FCD has since formalized three separate agreements with Guatemalan counterparts, expanding collaboration to encompass biodiversity preservation, river conservation, and sustainable community development programs.

    The international dimension of this effort includes substantial support from the British High Commission in Belize, which has consistently backed these cross-border conservation initiatives since 2015. This multinational approach demonstrates how environmental challenges can foster international cooperation and create meaningful diplomatic channels through shared ecological concerns.

  • COMMENTARY: We’ve only understood ovulation for 100 years

    COMMENTARY: We’ve only understood ovulation for 100 years

    A medical breakthrough that fundamentally altered the understanding of human reproduction emerged independently from two gynecologists in the 1920s, yet its application sparked a century of religious and ethical debate. The discovery that a woman’s fertile window occurs approximately 14 days before her next menstrual period was first identified by Japanese physician Kyusaku Ogino in 1923 and later by Austrian doctor Hermann Knaus in 1928.

    While Dr. Ogino’s research, published in Japanese, initially remained unknown in the West, his work and that of Dr. Knaus would eventually converge to form what became known internationally as the Rhythm Method. The two pioneers held strikingly different visions for their discovery: Ogino focused exclusively on addressing infertility to help couples conceive, while Knaus, a devout Catholic, saw potential for birth control through periodic abstinence.

    The method’s adoption by the Catholic Church created one of history’s most significant intersections of science and religion. In 1951, Pope Pius XII formally approved the technique as the only contraceptive approach morally acceptable to the Church hierarchy. This endorsement came despite Ogino’s own objections that his findings were too unreliable for contraceptive purposes.

    In practice, the method’s effectiveness proved highly dependent on regular menstrual cycles, minimal travel, and low-stress environments—conditions difficult to maintain consistently. This variability earned it colloquial labels such as ‘Catholic roulette’ and ‘Roman roulette’ among skeptics outside Catholic circles.

    The legacy continues through organizations like ASPIRE, a pro-motherhood advocacy group operating across six Caribbean nations including Dominica, which promotes research and dialogue on reproductive health justice, demonstrating how this nearly century-old discovery remains relevant in contemporary reproductive health discussions.

  • Nawasa: Network upgrade works

    Nawasa: Network upgrade works

    The National Water and Sewerage Authority (Nawasa) has announced the official commencement of its significant network enhancement project along the Mt Kumar to Tempe corridor in St George, scheduled for Monday, February 9, 2026. This long-anticipated infrastructure improvement will impact multiple communities including Snug Corner, La Mode, Hubbard’s, and the De Caul Service Centre.

    In coordination with the Royal Grenada Police Force and contracted partners, Nawasa has developed an extensive traffic management strategy to maintain safe transit for both vehicles and pedestrians throughout the construction period. The carefully designed plan emphasizes public safety protocols while ensuring uninterrupted access to essential services and minimizing interference during high-traffic hours.

    Construction-related traffic controls will be implemented following the morning rush hour to alleviate potential congestion. Adaptive management approaches will be employed based on roadway dimensions, topographic challenges, and construction requirements, utilizing both one-way traffic systems and stop-and-go operations as conditions dictate.

    Certified traffic wardens will be positioned at all active construction zones to facilitate orderly movement, with dynamic adjustments to traffic patterns based on real-time volume assessments and evolving safety considerations. Nawasa expresses appreciation for public understanding and cooperation during this essential water infrastructure modernization initiative.

  • High-speed chase nets 18 lbs cocaine, two suspects- CANU

    High-speed chase nets 18 lbs cocaine, two suspects- CANU

    In a dramatic Sunday operation, Guyana’s Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) apprehended two suspects and confiscated over 18 pounds of cocaine following an intense high-speed chase that resulted in multiple agency vehicle collisions.

    The pursuit initiated when CANU officers attempted to intercept a Volkswagen vehicle (PAL 4117) driven by Shaquille Gordon. Instead of complying, Gordon accelerated away from the scene, triggering a high-speed pursuit through city streets. During the chase, the fleeing suspect attempted evasive maneuvers that caused collisions involving several CANU enforcement vehicles.

    Critical evidence emerged when officers observed a brown cardboard box being hurled from the speeding Volkswagen along Sheriff Street. While some agents stopped to retrieve the discarded package, others continued the pursuit, ultimately intercepting the vehicle at the intersection of Rupert Craig Highway and Sheriff Street.

    Simultaneously, CANU officials detained Ravindranauth Persaud, driver of a minibus (license BAB 6337), though the agency has not disclosed the specific nature of his alleged involvement in the incident.

    At the scene, both suspects were presented with the recovered cardboard box. A thorough search conducted in their presence revealed seven brick-shaped parcels suspected to contain narcotics. The suspects were subsequently transported to CANU Headquarters where forensic testing confirmed the substance as cocaine with a total weight of approximately 8.226 kilograms (18.135 pounds).

    The successful interception represents a significant blow to narcotics trafficking operations in the region, demonstrating CANU’s continued vigilance against drug smuggling activities despite the risks involved in high-speed enforcement operations.

  • WATCH: Old Social Security Building Demolished in St. John’s

    WATCH: Old Social Security Building Demolished in St. John’s

    The St. John’s skyline underwent a dramatic transformation this week as the city’s former Social Security Administration building was reduced to rubble in a controlled demolition. The event, captured on video and widely circulated, marks the conclusion of a lengthy chapter in the city’s architectural and civic history.

    The imposing structure, which had stood for decades as a hub for federal services and administrative functions, had more recently fallen into a state of disuse and disrepair. Its demolition clears a strategically valuable parcel of land, fueling intense speculation about future redevelopment opportunities in the city’s core. Urban planners and local officials have indicated that the site’s prime location presents a significant chance to revitalize the area, potentially with a mix of residential, commercial, or new civic spaces designed to better serve the contemporary needs of the community.

    The demolition process itself was a carefully orchestrated operation, requiring meticulous planning to ensure public safety and minimize disruption to the surrounding infrastructure. The event attracted crowds of onlookers, a mix of longtime residents sharing nostalgic memories of conducting business there and curious spectators drawn to the spectacle of a large-scale implosion. For many, the building’s passing is bittersweet—a necessary step toward urban progress, yet also the loss of a familiar, though outdated, landmark. The clearing of the site is widely viewed as the first concrete step in a broader initiative to modernize sections of the city and stimulate economic development.

  • District Governor of Rotary District 7030 welcomed for visit to Dominica

    District Governor of Rotary District 7030 welcomed for visit to Dominica

    Rotary International’s District 7030 Governor, Soraya A.J. Warner-Gustave, has concluded a highly productive official visit to the Commonwealth of Dominica from January 28 to February 1, 2026. The extensive tour strengthened collaborative ties with local Rotary and Rotaract organizations while advancing numerous community development initiatives across the island nation.

    The visit commenced with strategic engagements at the Rotary Club of Portsmouth, where Governor Warner-Gustave inspected ongoing playground development projects at Temple SDA Primary School and Dublanc/Bioche Primary School. These initiatives form part of a broader strategy to combat childhood obesity through promoting physical activity and creating safe recreational spaces for youth development.

    A significant environmental conservation effort was demonstrated through a tree-planting exercise along the Indian River, aligning with Rotary’s global environmental objectives. The district governor also participated in strategic discussions with corporate sponsor Secret Bay to ensure sustainable support for the club’s community programs.

    A landmark moment of the visit featured the unveiling of Portsmouth Secondary School’s first Peace Pole, where Governor Warner-Gustave addressed students and faculty on the critical importance of peacebuilding and youth leadership in community harmony.

    The engagement extended to the Rotary Club of Dominica, where the district governor conducted separate meetings with the Rotaract Club of Roseau and Interact Clubs of Dominica State College and Dominica Grammar School. These interactions highlighted Rotary’s commitment to youth empowerment, with particular emphasis on developing leadership capabilities among young change-makers.

    At Dominica Community High School, the governor inspected the newly implemented Snack Benches Project, which provides designated seating areas to enhance student comfort and inclusivity during break periods.

    A particularly notable ceremony involved the formal handover of completed improvements at the Acute Psychiatric Unit, underscoring Rotary’s dedication to advancing mental healthcare infrastructure and services. The district governor commended the collaborative efforts that made this vital healthcare initiative possible.

    The official visit included a courtesy call with Her Excellency Sylvanie Burton, President of Dominica, reaffirming Rotary’s commitment to national development through humanitarian initiatives and potential future collaborations aligned with Rotary’s strategic focus areas.

    The visit concluded with a celebratory cocktail reception at Sunset Bay, where Rotarians from across generations gathered to strengthen fellowship bonds and reflect on the accomplishments achieved during the comprehensive tour. District Governor Warner-Gustave expressed profound gratitude for the hospitality extended and reaffirmed confidence in the ongoing efforts of Dominican Rotary clubs to create meaningful impact throughout the nation.

  • Portugal stemt in eerste presidentiële eindronde in 40 jaar; Japan start telling

    Portugal stemt in eerste presidentiële eindronde in 40 jaar; Japan start telling

    Portugal witnessed a historic presidential runoff election on Sunday, marking the country’s first such electoral showdown in four decades. Approximately 11 million eligible voters faced a decisive choice between socialist candidate Antonio Jose Seguro and right-wing nationalist Andre Ventura, leader of the Chega party.

    The electoral process unfolded against the backdrop of devastating storms that have battered Portugal with severe flooding, causing billions of euros in damage. Despite official requests for postponement due to the extreme weather conditions, authorities urged citizens to fulfill their democratic duty and cast their ballots. Results are anticipated later in the evening.

    While the Portuguese presidency is primarily ceremonial, political analysts are closely monitoring the performance of Ventura, whose rising influence represents a significant shift in the nation’s political landscape. His potential strong showing could signal growing support for nationalist policies in Portugal.

    Simultaneously, Japan concluded its parliamentary elections Sunday evening as polling stations closed and vote counting commenced. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female premier, is projected to secure a substantial victory according to exit polls and preliminary results.

    The election occurred during unusually heavy snowfall across many regions, potentially affecting voter turnout patterns. Takaichi’s conservative coalition appears poised to maintain a strong majority in the Lower House, enabling the continuation of her policy agenda featuring tax reductions and enhanced defense capabilities. Final results are expected overnight into Monday morning.

  • Linden businesswoman, driver arrested for guns-in-ganja seizure- police

    Linden businesswoman, driver arrested for guns-in-ganja seizure- police

    In a significant law enforcement operation in Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden, authorities have apprehended a 42-year-old local businesswoman and a 36-year-old driver from Bamia, Soesdyke-Linden Highway. The Guyana Police Force announced the arrests on Sunday, February 8, 2026, following the discovery of an illegal arsenal and substantial narcotics cache.

    The operation unfolded in the early hours of Sunday morning at approximately 1:30 AM when police, acting on intelligence, conducted a search of a motor lorry parked at the businesswoman’s residence. During their inspection, law enforcement officials uncovered 4.536 kilograms of marijuana concealed in a haversack behind the driver’s seat.

    Further investigation revealed an even more concerning discovery: three 9mm pistols and nine .32 caliber rounds of ammunition strategically hidden within the vehicle alongside the suspected cannabis. The weapons and ammunition were allegedly concealed in compartments designed to avoid detection.

    The simultaneous seizure of both firearms and narcotics suggests potential connections to broader criminal networks operating in the region. Police have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the intended destination and purpose of these illegal items, as well as possible connections to other criminal activities.

    Both suspects remain in custody as authorities continue their investigation into what appears to be a sophisticated operation involving multiple illegal commodities. The case highlights ongoing concerns about weapon and drug trafficking in the region and represents a significant achievement for local law enforcement efforts.