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  • Police Hunt Gunman Who Killed Jahrule Gibson

    Police Hunt Gunman Who Killed Jahrule Gibson

    A widespread manhunt is ongoing in Belize’s Belize District after a late-night shooting left 28-year-old Jahrule Gibson dead while he cycled through the quiet community of Sand Hill Village Friday evening. Local law enforcement officials have released detailed accounts of the attack, which unfolded along the village’s Salt Creek Road at approximately 10:33 pm on October 2, 2026.

    According to official police briefing, Gibson had departed his family home roughly 30 minutes before the shooting, traveling toward a local neighborhood shop alongside an acquaintance who was moving through the area on horseback. As he made his way along the rural roadway, an unidentified suspect ambushed him, opening fire multiple times at close range before fleeing the scene.

    First responding officers received an emergency call about the shooting just 20 minutes after the incident occurred, arriving at the location at 10:53 pm to find Gibson’s lifeless body lying beside the road, with a single clear gunshot wound confirmed by first responders. Forensic investigators processing the crime scene recovered 13 spent 9mm shell casings from the area surrounding the shooting, evidence that is now being processed to build a case against the perpetrator.

    Witnesses who saw the attack have given police a clear description of the suspect: he is described as a man of slim build, who was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark long pants at the time of the shooting. Immediately after firing on Gibson, witnesses confirm the gunman fled to a waiting silver sport utility vehicle, which he used to escape the area before law enforcement arrived.

    Gibson’s family, friends and community members have been reeling from the violent loss, sharing tributes and messages of grief across local social media platforms. One close family member posted a public message honoring Gibson’s memory, writing, “Rest easy knowing that we will be ok we love you!… you are fine and we will too i know your angry!” As of Monday, no suspects have been taken into custody, and police are asking any members of the public with information about the shooting or the gunman’s identity to contact the Belize District police department immediately to assist with the investigation.

  • “People Will Take Some Convincing”: Deputy PM on March 2027 Elections

    “People Will Take Some Convincing”: Deputy PM on March 2027 Elections

    Ahead of the March 2027 municipal elections in Belize, Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde has issued a stark warning to members and supporters of the ruling People’s United Party (PUP): confidence in the party’s electoral prospects is no substitute for intentional, hard-won voter support.

    Hyde delivered the caution during the PUP’s National Party Council meeting held Saturday in Belize City, an event that marked the official unveiling of the party’s full slate of mayoral and municipal council candidates for the upcoming contests.

    While the PUP has set an ambitious goal of securing victory in all nine of Belize’s municipalities, Hyde emphasized that complacency remains one of the party’s biggest threats heading into the election cycle. He pushed back against the narrative that strong candidate rosters and a history of lopsided wins automatically translate to another victory at the polls.

    Over the past seven years, the PUP has claimed decisive electoral wins in 2018, 2021, 2024, and 2025, a streak that has led many within the party to assume a similar outcome in 2027. But Hyde argued that the current political landscape has shifted dramatically from previous cycles. “It will still take some serious hard work,” Hyde told attendees. “There are some different vibes right now and we have to be real with people.”

    Hyde called on party representatives to ramp up their outreach efforts beyond what the party has done in past elections, urging door-to-door campaigning and intentional, one-on-one conversations with every eligible voter. “We need to do more than ever, work harder than ever, be better than ever, to convince the people more than ever… because people will take some convincing,” he said.

    He also warned against underestimating the opposition, noting that even if the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) is not performing at its peak, the PUP cannot assume victory will be handed to it. “Do not take it for granted that because the UDP is less than their best, that we are just going to coast to a win,” Hyde said. “We have to work hard.”

    The UDP launched its official election campaign last week, framing key voter concerns as a national crisis under the slogan “911, It’s a National Emergency.” The opposition party has centered its early messaging on three core issues: rising cost of living, growing crime rates, and inadequate municipal service delivery across the country’s municipalities.

    Despite the warning from his deputy, PUP Party Leader and incumbent Prime Minister John Briceño has maintained an optimistic outlook, publicly predicting another electoral win for the party in March 2027.

  • Robert Corbin “irreplaceable” says PNCR

    Robert Corbin “irreplaceable” says PNCR

    Guyana’s political landscape is mourning the loss of one of its most influential figures, Robert Herman Orlando Corbin, the long-serving former leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), who passed away on Sunday at a Georgetown city hospital at the age of 79.

    In an official statement released following his death, the PNCR remembered Corbin as a shrewd, dedicated strategist whose contributions to the party and national politics leave an irreplaceable void. “Comrade Corbin’s death is an irreplaceable loss to the PNCR and he will surely be missed,” the party wrote, noting that Corbin had remained an active advisor to the party throughout his period of declining health.

    Over a decades-long political career, Corbin held multiple senior roles across Guyana’s government and opposition, serving stints as Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and ultimately Leader of the Opposition. Beyond his government posts, he also served for years as PNCR General Secretary, and was a former national chairman of the Young Socialist Movement (YSM), the party’s youth wing. The PNCR highlighted Corbin’s enduring loyalty, discipline, and relentless work ethic, noting that even as he built a successful professional career as a practicing lawyer, he never stepped back from his commitments to the party he served for so long.

    Corbin’s most enduring political legacy is widely recognized as his early and enthusiastic advocacy for coalition politics. The party credited him with being the driving force that guided the PNCR into collaborative opposition alliances, laying the groundwork for the formation of the APNU+AFC Coalition that went on to win the 2015 Guyanese general election. Alongside the late Rupert Roopnaraine, former co-leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Corbin is counted as one of the original founding architects of the APNU coalition.

    The PNCR closed its tribute by extending its deepest condolences to Corbin’s surviving family: his wife Carol, his children, and all his extended relatives, colleagues, and friends, offering prayers for comfort and strength for all those mourning his passing.

  • Meet the PUP’s Mayoral and Council Candidates for March 2027

    Meet the PUP’s Mayoral and Council Candidates for March 2027

    As Belize prepares for its March 2027 municipal elections, the ruling People’s United Party (PUP) has officially launched its full roster of mayoral and city council candidates, marking a major milestone in the country’s upcoming electoral cycle. The unveiling took place on Saturday, October 4, 2026, during the PUP’s National Party Council gathering held in Belize City, an event that doubled as a celebration of the party’s 76 years of political activity in the nation.

    Across all nine of Belize’s municipalities, the PUP has put forward complete candidate slates, mixing first-time contenders with experienced incumbents seeking re-election. In the key race for Belize City mayor, Elude Miller was formally introduced to party members and supporters as the nominee to replace outgoing sitting Mayor Bernard Wagner. Miller will appear on the ballot alongside a 10-person council slate including Kaya Cattouse, Simon Noralez, Sherwin Garcia, Edmund Kwan, Dorian Usher, Darwin Leslie, Stephanne Hamilton, Kirkland Smith, Brendan Bouloy and Kristian Alpuche. Addressing the crowd, Miller emphasized that while internal debate is natural, collective unity around the party’s mission of public service remains the group’s top priority. “We may not always agree on everything, but we must always stand together under the same banner focused on serving our people and sticking to our winning ways,” Miller stated.

    Incumbent mayors lead the PUP ticket in several other municipalities, bringing established track records to their re-election campaigns. In Belmopan, Pablo Cawich is seeking another term leading the capital’s municipal government, running alongside his full sitting council: Christopher Enriquez, Florita Botes, Lawrence Tush, Sanie Cal, Radin Santos and Coretta Banner. Cawich struck a confident tone in his remarks, asserting that the PUP continues to hold the confidence of Belizean voters. “People are talking about a new era, I want everyone to know that this is still the PUP era,” Cawich said.

    In Orange Walk Town, Ladrick Sheppard is leading the PUP ticket for the third consecutive election cycle, with a council team including Doreth Pascasio, Alondra De La Fuente, Joesi Cantun-Castillo, Allen Yu, Cadir Escalante and Fernando Sanchez. Corozal Town will see Rigo Vellos run for a fourth term, calling his council slate – made up of Marleni Tapia, Beldemar Pech, Miguel Montalvo, Otoniel Riveroll, Rodolfo Narvaez and Hugo Gonzalez – “the undefeated team.” On the island of San Pedro, Wally Nuñez returns as the PUP’s mayoral nominee, joined by candidates Adaly Ayuso, Marina Kay, Johnnia Duarte, Gilberto “Gil” Nunez, Steve Bowen, and Faith Edgar, who holds the title of Miss World Belize.

    For the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, Aaron Mai leads a council of Edel Espat, Eliu Yacab, Joe Awe, Nasim Lisbey, Nadime Habet and Mathew Preston. In Benque Viejo del Carmen, Jorge Rosales heads the ticket with running mates Edgar Cocom, Ricky Cunil, Jorge Iglesias, Jorge Martinez, Ali Morales and Pio Vacha. Dangriga’s PUP slate is led by Robert Mariano, who issued a bold challenge to the opposition, promising his team of Sharone Ramirez, Hilberto “Hil” Bernardez, Jerris Valentine, Tina Castillo, Morlin Bull and Howard Melendrez would “put a beating on the United Democratic Party.” Rounding out the national slate, Maclovio Ack leads the PUP ticket in Punta Gorda, with council candidates Indira Coleman, Anthony Fuentes, Gloria Avila, Roberto Vairez, Olivia Sho and Kerlin Moreira.

    PUP Leader and Belize Prime Minister John Briceño addressed gathered supporters, reinforcing the party’s message of unity as the campaign period officially gets underway. Briceño acknowledged that internal policy and ideological differences occasionally emerge within the party, but argued that shared commitment to public service keeps the PUP cohesive. “In March 2027, guess what, we are going to win again for the People’s United Party,” Briceño said. “I can tell you that we have been working together, and yes, from time to time we may have different ideas and views, but that does not mean that we are not united, because we are the PUP.”

    The PUP has set an ambitious goal of securing victory in all nine municipalities in next year’s election. The party’s announcement comes one week after the main opposition United Democratic Party revealed its own slate of nine mayoral candidates, setting the stage for a competitive electoral contest across the country.

  • Voluntary recall of specific batches of Grace Tropical Rhythms Fruit Punch

    Voluntary recall of specific batches of Grace Tropical Rhythms Fruit Punch

    Food manufacturer GraceKennedy Foods (GK Foods) has launched a voluntary recall for two specific batches of its 1-litre Grace Tropical Rhythms Fruit Punch, distributed across Barbados and multiple other international markets.

    The recall only targets products marked with two distinct best-before codes printed on the top of the packaging: BB JUL 21 27 L6 and BB JUL 22 27 L6. Company officials emphasize that the action is restricted exclusively to these two batches in the affected distribution regions, and no other sizes, batches, or flavor variations of the Grace Tropical Rhythms line are included, nor are any products sold in non-identified markets impacted.

    In an official public statement released by the company, GK Foods clarified that preliminary investigations and internal assessments have categorized the issue as a product quality deviation, not a threat to consumer food safety. To date, the company has not received any reports of illness, allergic reactions, or other adverse health events linked to consumption of the affected batches, and food safety experts do not expect negative health outcomes from using the product.

    Andrea Coy, Chief Executive Officer of GraceKennedy Foods, emphasized that protecting product quality and upholding consumer trust are core priorities for the brand. “Even though this is ultimately a quality concern rather than a safety hazard, we made the decision to move forward with a voluntary recall out of an abundance of caution,” Coy explained. “This step ensures every product available to our customers continues to meet the rigorous quality standards they have come to expect from Grace.”

    Coy added that the company has coordinated closely with wholesale distributors and retail partners across all affected markets to accelerate the removal of the recalled products from store shelves. She also extended a formal apology to consumers and business customers for the disruption caused by the recall process.

    GK Foods is advising all consumers in affected regions who have purchased the 1-litre Fruit Punch with the targeted best-before codes to avoid consuming the product. Customers can return the unconsumed product to their original point of purchase to receive a full refund or a replacement product of equal value.

  • King: Help girls become their best selves

    King: Help girls become their best selves

    As Guide Month officially gets underway, the top leader of the Girl Guides association has laid out a clear, people-centered vision for empowering young girls: meet every girl where she stands, and meet her unique needs to help her grow into the best version of herself.

    Chief Commissioner Jenifer King shared this message during an opening church service Sunday at James Street Methodist Church, marking the official start of the annual celebration. In her remarks, King emphasized that no two girls enter the Girl Guides movement from the same starting line, and a one-size-fits-all approach to development has no place in the organization.

    “Some girls walk through our doors already brimming with confidence, hungry to step into leadership roles, while others arrive quiet, still searching for their voice, or navigating unseen personal challenges,” King explained. “Our responsibility is not to expect every girl to start from the same place. Our responsibility is to meet her where she is, walk alongside her, and help her take the next step.”

    King framed personal growth not as changing who a girl is to fit a predefined mold, but as helping each individual unlock her own unique potential. Growth can take many different forms, she noted: for some, it means finding the courage to speak up in a group setting; for others, it means mastering a new skill, stepping outside their comfort zone to try something they have never attempted before, or even learning from a mistake and having the resilience to try again. For many girls, King said, growth ultimately means discovering leadership strengths within themselves that they never knew they had. And at its core, growth is often about having someone outside yourself believe in your capabilities until you are able to believe in yourself, she added.

    The Chief Commissioner also challenged adult guiders across the organization to reframe their approach, prioritizing individualized support that responds to each girl’s specific needs rather than pushing all members toward a single standard of progress. Going forward, King said, the Girl Guides association must remain committed to upholding its core guiding values while continuing to cultivate safe, inclusive spaces where every girl feels seen, valued, and empowered to grow on her own terms.

    “Our goal is not simply to prepare girls for the future; it is to empower them to help shape that future,” King stressed. She also encouraged girls across the movement to actively reflect on their own growth journeys, identifying specific areas where they want to build themselves up – whether that is greater confidence, more courage, stronger relationships, deeper faith, or more effective leadership skills.

    As Guide Month gets underway, King expressed her hope that the celebration will serve as a catalyst for positive change across the entire community: for participating girls, for volunteer guiders, and for the association as a whole. She said she expects the month to be a period of new discovery, renewed courage, growing confidence, and expanded opportunity for everyone involved in the Girl Guides movement.

  • Saint Lucia’s Geothermal push gains steam

    Saint Lucia’s Geothermal push gains steam

    The Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia is pressing forward with a major geothermal energy exploration initiative, with field work underway across three rural communities as officials work to assess whether the country can tap underground heat reserves to generate domestic power.

    Speaking at his inaugural pre-Cabinet press conference after taking office as Physical Development and Public Utilities Minister, Keithson Charles confirmed that exploration activities are currently active in the Saltibus, Fond St Jacques and Belle Plaine regions, calling the World Bank-funded project significantly progressed. Currently, the initiative remains in the early exploratory phase, with the core goal of verifying whether the island’s subsurface geothermal resources have sufficient magnitude and accessibility to support scalable electricity production.

    To date, a full project implementation team has been assembled, and multiple rounds of community engagement have been completed with local residents and agricultural workers whose land falls within the exploration footprint. Charles noted that some site preparation work has required temporary and permanent relocation of local households, with exactly two families displaced to make way for survey activities. Under the project’s regulatory framework, replacement housing is already under construction for the affected households, and Charles emphasized that the government is adhering to strict guidelines to protect impacted communities, rather than pushing forward with development at the expense of local residents.

    Looking ahead, the next phase of the project will focus on core civil infrastructure upgrades, including the construction and expansion of access roads and the preparation of well pad sites that will host heavy drilling rigs once exploration advances. The competitive bidding process for civil construction and drilling contracts is already in its final stages, according to Charles, with winning contractors expected to be selected soon to move the project into the critical drilling phase. Once drilling is completed, officials will gain clear, on-the-ground data on the actual size and quality of Saint Lucia’s geothermal reserves, allowing for a final decision on whether to move to commercial energy production.

    Beyond the technical work of resource assessment, the long-term strategic goal of the geothermal project is to reduce Saint Lucia’s heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels, which has left the island’s electricity market vulnerable to wild swings in global oil prices. “We watch the constant volatility in fuel prices, which shift constantly, and we have been left exposed as victims of that volatility,” Charles explained. If the island is able to successfully develop geothermal energy, it would deliver major long-term stability to domestic electricity costs, he argued.

    “If we can harness a viable high-quality geothermal resource, we will be able to stabilize electricity costs for years to come,” Charles said, adding that while stabilized rates do not guarantee that power will be cheaper than current rates, it will deliver much-needed predictability for both households and businesses that plan their annual budgets around energy expenses. The geothermal project is just one plank of the government’s broader national strategy to transition to domestic renewable energy, Charles noted, adding that officials are also pursuing development of solar and wind energy to further cut the country’s dependence on imported fuel.

  • BAMP celebrates five decades with first Doctors’ Week

    BAMP celebrates five decades with first Doctors’ Week

    Five decades after its founding, the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) is marking a major milestone with the launch of its inaugural Doctors’ Week, an event designed to honor the work and sacrifices of physicians across the island’s entire healthcare system at a time of rapid transformation in the medical field.

    BAMP president Dr. Lynda Williams laid out the vision for the new celebration during opening remarks held at James Street Methodist Church on Sunday, emphasizing that the week-long observance fills a long-standing gap in recognizing the unique burden physicians carry. Beyond public recognition, Williams noted, the event also serves as a moment for the association to give back to the local community that has supported the professional growth of its members for half a century.

    In her address, Williams highlighted the sweeping shifts reshaping medical practice in the 21st century. From innovative educational pathways and the emergence of new medical schools to the growing integration of artificial intelligence into clinical care, the field looks far different today than it did when BAMP was founded. She also pointed to a widespread public trend that creates new challenges for practicing physicians: millions of patients now turn to search engines like Google to self-diagnose and research health conditions, often underestimating just how complex and nuanced the actual practice of medicine really is.

    Beyond industry shifts, Williams centered her remarks on the daily balancing act that defines every physician’s life. She reminded attendees that even casual caregivers – people who look after a single aging parent, aunt, or uncle – already understand how draining the work of prioritizing another person’s daily needs can be. For doctors, that level of responsibility is multiplied exponentially, as they juggle the constant demands of caring for dozens of patients with their own personal and family obligations.

    During the event, Williams formally presented a donation to Dr. Tanya Sargeant-Belle, a BAMP council member who leads the free medical clinic operating out of James Street Methodist Church, putting the association’s community-focused mission into action.

    Williams stressed that the celebration is intentionally inclusive, designed to recognize physicians working in every corner of Barbados’ health ecosystem, not just those in major hospital settings. The work of general practitioners, polyclinic staff, physicians serving in prisons, nursing homes, psychiatric facilities, and geriatric care centers all deserve recognition for their consistent, often uncelebrated service to the community, she added.

  • Minister Fernandez Encourages Job Seekers to Build Careers in Tourism

    Minister Fernandez Encourages Job Seekers to Build Careers in Tourism

    Against the backdrop of global efforts to recognize the contributions of tourism workers, Antigua and Barbuda has launched a targeted tourism industry job fair that bridges the gap between local job seekers and growing businesses in the hospitality and travel sector. Held throughout September, the annual month of observance for World Tourism Day (celebrated globally on September 27), the event created a unique in-person space for both sides of the labor market to connect directly, answering open questions that traditional remote hiring processes often leave unaddressed.

    During the fair, job seekers were able to hold one-on-one conversations with hiring managers to dive deep into key details: from the specific qualifications employers look for in new hires, to what entry-level candidates can expect from early roles, to the long-term career growth pathways available within Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism ecosystem. For many attendees considering entry into the sector, the event demystified common misconceptions that tourism jobs are only temporary or seasonal, a narrative industry leaders are actively working to change.

    Speaking with attendees throughout the day, Minister of Tourism (or senior industry official) Fernandez emphasized that tourism is fundamentally a people-powered industry, urging participants to view the sector as a viable space for long-term professional development. “Every interaction a visitor has, and every memorable experience they take home from Antigua and Barbuda, is shaped in some way by the people who work across this industry,” Fernandez shared with fair participants. “The quality of our workforce is what sets our destination apart from competitors across the Caribbean, and that strength cannot be taken for granted.”

    For participating tourism businesses, the fair filled a critical gap in ongoing workforce recruitment and development efforts that have picked up steam in the wake of global travel’s post-pandemic recovery. Many local hospitality, tour, and accommodation providers have struggled to rebuild and expand their teams after widespread labor disruptions in the 2020s, making direct in-person hiring events an effective tool to connect with engaged, motivated candidates.

    As Antigua and Barbuda continues its strategic push to expand and diversify its tourism offerings—adding new ecotourism experiences, luxury accommodation, and cultural attractions to draw a broader range of visitors year-round—Fernandez highlighted that sustained investment in people must remain a top policy and industry priority. The job fair, aligned with World Tourism Day’s focus on empowering tourism workers, serves as a cornerstone of that ongoing commitment to building a resilient, skilled, and supported local tourism workforce for years to come.

  • Former PNCR Leader Robert Corbin dies

    Former PNCR Leader Robert Corbin dies

    Veteran Guyanese political figure Robert Corbin, a former leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and one-time Opposition Leader of Guyana, has passed away at the age of 78, his family confirmed on Sunday.

    Charles Corbin, the late politician’s brother, verified that Robert Corbin died at a public hospital in Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana. Born Robert Herman Orlando Corbin, and widely known to his colleagues by the nickname “Brezhnev”, Corbin built a decades-long career in Guyanese politics that shaped the country’s modern opposition landscape.

    Corbin first entered political organizing in the 1970s, when he joined the PNCR’s youth wing. His rapid rise through the party ranks saw him earn a seat on the party’s Central Executive Committee before eventually taking on the role of PNCR General Secretary. In 2002, he stepped into the top leadership position of the PNCR, succeeding the late former Guyanese President Desmond Hoyte, and held the post until 2012.

    Between 1985 and 1992, Corbin served as Deputy Prime Minister of Guyana during the final PNC-led administration before the party’s defeat in the country’s first open, free and fair national election held in nearly three decades. After leaving government, Corbin remained a central figure in the country’s opposition movement. Both the PNCR and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) have long recognized Corbin and late WPA co-leader Dr Rupert Roopnaraine as the key architects behind the formation of A Partnership for National Unity, a major opposition coalition in Guyanese politics.

    Outside of his political career, Corbin was a practicing attorney-at-law. He is survived by his wife Carol, a retired senior officer who served at both the CARICOM Secretariat and Guyana’s Public Utilities Commission, and their five children.