Barbados’ Ministry of Transport and Works is moving forward with a long-awaited infrastructure project to widen the heavily traveled Ronald Mapp Highway (Highway 2A) into a four-lane dual carriageway, part of a national initiative to cut chronic traffic congestion across the island, Transport and Works Minister Kirk Humphrey has confirmed. The 12-kilometer arterial route, which has become the island’s second-busiest northern corridor over the past 40 years, runs parallel to the coastal Highway One, stretching from the D’Arcy Scott Roundabout in Warrens, St. Michael in the south to Mile-and-a-Quarter in St. Peter, with segments also cutting through St. Thomas and St. James. Currently, only the section from Warrens to the Redman’s Village/Bagatelle junction already operates as a four-lane road, leaving the vast majority of the highway as a congested two-lane thoroughfare. Making the announcement on the sidelines of his St. Michael South constituency branch’s annual general meeting on Sunday, Humphrey explained that the expansion project required a full redesign of the highway’s seven existing underpass bridges, as original engineering plans for earlier bridge upgrades did not account for the planned road widening. “Highway 2A has seven bridges running underneath it. To be able to widen that road, you obviously have to do the bridge work,” Humphrey said. “The ministry had already engaged on four of the bridges to be able to do some work, but they hadn’t accommodated for the expansion. We’re now in the process of reviewing and redesigning the bridge drawings for all seven bridges.” While the government awaits revised engineering schematics for all seven structures, paving work continues on the existing highway alignment toward Lancaster in St. James, and Minister Humphrey noted that the full expansion is on track to break ground imminently once design work wraps up. “It’s our intention to go for four lanes on that highway and to start our work as soon as possible,” he said. “Between the designing of the bridges and the design for the road, because people must understand that you have to design the road, you don’t just build a road, so that work should start very soon as well.” Beyond the Highway 2A expansion, Humphrey outlined the progress of dozens of road improvement projects launched across the island since he assumed office in February, highlighting that upgrades in Thorpes Cottage and Newbury, St. George have already been fully completed. In St. Lucy, the island’s largest-ever water infrastructure upgrade, which has laid 20 kilometers of new water pipes at a multi-million-dollar cost, required a follow-up road rehabilitation program after construction disturbed existing road surfaces. “St. Lucy has seen the most development in terms of water infrastructure in the history of our Barbados,” Humphrey said. “We’ve done about 20 kilometres of new pipe at millions of dollars in St. Lucy, but the unfortunate thing is that once you lay pipe, you’re disturbing the road, so we have to go back and do a number of those roads as well. But we’ve already started that.” The ministry has also launched a new phase of its island-wide pothole repair program, contracting two private local firms – INFRA and C O Williams – to handle pothole patching and road reinstatement work across the country. INFRA is currently focusing on pothole repairs in the southern parishes, while C O Williams is leading work in the north, with most repair sites already active. Addressing another long-standing public complaint, Humphrey said the ministry has also launched a dedicated project to bring raised and sunken manholes across the island level with road surfaces, eliminating a persistent source of vehicle damage and driver inconvenience. To help the ministry prioritize repairs, Humphrey encouraged Barbadian residents to report potholes and other road hazards through the newly launched Pearly mobile app, as well as through social media and direct communication channels. “Use the Pearly app or any other source to be able to just let us know where the areas of concern are, and I’ve been trying to respond to people when they message me,” he said. “I try to send somebody to do the work, when they call me, when I see on Instagram, I try to respond, but we also have to be strategic, you know, you can’t just be ad hoc, so we have a strategic pothole plan in place.” Humphrey also acknowledged a gap in public communication around infrastructure projects, committing the ministry to improve transparency around project timelines and delays moving forward. “What I have to do is just communicate to the public a little bit better about where we’re going, when there are delays, why there are delays, and so on, so that the public is not caught off guard,” he said.
作者： admin
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Jones Returns to Senate, Raises Concern Over Fatal Accidents Bill
After a formal reappointment process that placed him back in the upper legislative chamber, Senator Fabian Jones of the Barbuda People’s Movement officially resumed his Senate duties on Monday. The path to his return opened when the Barbuda Council formally recommended his appointment to Governor General Sir Rodney Williams, clearing the way for him to take the oath of allegiance and retake his seat. The swearing-in ceremony took place immediately after the weekly sitting gaveled open, with Senate President Alincia Williams-Grant extending an official welcome to Jones as he reclaimed his position among the body’s membership.
Jones’ comeback fills the last remaining vacancy in the Senate, bringing the chamber back to its full authorized roster of members. The vacancy was one of several created by a recent wave of appointments that saw both ruling and opposition factions elevate a new cohort of younger lawmakers to the body, reshaping its membership composition before Jones’ return completed the process.
In his first floor remarks since reclaiming his seat, Jones weighed in on the debate over the proposed Fatal Accidents Bill 2026, drawing immediate attention to a critical structural flaw he identified between two core provisions of the legislation. He explained that Clause 2 of the bill expands the statutory definition of a “dependent” to cover any individual who has cohabitated with a deceased person in a shared household for a minimum of three years in a spousal-like relationship. Despite this explicit inclusion in the bill’s interpretation section, Jones pointed out that the same group of cohabitating partners is entirely omitted from Clause 4, the provision that lays out the full list of individuals eligible to file claims for bereavement damages following a fatal incident.
Jones emphasized that this discrepancy creates an unjust gap in the legislation, calling on his fellow legislators to revise the bill to align its provisions. He stressed that any person classified as a dependent under the bill’s own definition should be guaranteed the right to seek compensation for bereavement in eligible cases, rather than being excluded from benefits they are formally recognized to qualify for.
Following the conclusion of the clause-by-clause debate and committee stage review, the Fatal Accidents Bill 2026 moved to a final vote. The government’s original version of the legislation defeated all opposition-proposed amendments, and ultimately secured approval by a clear majority of voting senators, moving the bill forward in the legislative process despite the inconsistencies flagged by Jones.
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West Indies back fearless approach ahead of Australia semi-final
The stage is set for a high-stakes ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final showdown on Tuesday, as winless-in-tournament-to-date Australia take on a resurgent West Indies at London’s iconic Oval, with a spot in the tournament final on the line. The two sides enter the knockout clash with vastly different form leading into the match: Australia has stormed through the group stage without dropping a single match, while West Indies have endured a late slump, dropping their final two group games after kicking off their campaign with three straight wins. Speaking ahead of the do-or-die encounter, West Indies captain Hayley Matthews stressed that a collective top performance from the entire squad will be required to topple the tournament favourites.
“You can’t beat a side as strong as Australia with just one player stepping up,” Matthews noted. “We need all our top contributors to rise to the occasion and deliver their best cricket tomorrow.”
Head-to-head history heavily favours Australia, with the Caribbean side claiming victory just twice in T20I matches between the two nations. Remarkably, Matthews was named Player of the Match in both of those historic wins. The West Indies skipper boasts a staggering personal record against the Aussies, holding an average of 101.75 across her last six innings against Australia. Her most iconic performance against Australia came in the 2016 T20 World Cup final, where a match-winning 66-run innings from Matthews secured West Indies’ first and only world title to date, earning her another Player of the Match award. This semi-final marks the sixth time West Indies have advanced to the final four of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, proving their consistent pedigree in the global tournament.
Matthews argued that the team’s underdog status going into the semi-final is actually an advantage, freeing her side from pressure to play the kind of fearless cricket that has become their trademark. “We’re proud of how we’ve competed throughout this tournament so far, even if we haven’t hit our full peak yet,” she added. “That fact actually gives us a lot of confidence—we know we still have room to lift our level, and that’s what we’ll need to do tomorrow.”
Australia’s camp, meanwhile, remains confident of progressing to yet another world cup final but has refused to underestimate the challenge posed by West Indies, with veteran all-rounder Ellyse Perry warning against complacency. “West Indies have some incredibly talented, dangerous players with a huge amount of big-tournament experience,” Perry told reporters ahead of the match. “This is going to be a really tough test for us. We’ve had a quick turnaround between matches and we’re playing at a new venue, so we’re really looking forward to getting out there and competing.”
Australian captain Ash Gardner echoed Perry’s caution, highlighting the multiple match-winning threats in the West Indies line-up beyond Matthews. “They have so much experience, led brilliantly by Hayley, who can turn a game on its head in just a few overs,” Gardner said. “But you also look at someone like Deandra Dottin—she’s a threat in every single phase of the game, batting, bowling and fielding. She’s an incredible player. I’ve had the privilege of playing alongside her in franchise leagues, and seeing her approach up close, she’s just so fearless. That makes her really dangerous, because she can turn the momentum of a match in an instant.”
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De hamer en de lat
A year after taking up the gavel as Speaker of the National Assembly of Suriname, Ashwin Adhin has delivered a comprehensive public assessment of his first term in office, outlining progress on legislative work, institutional modernization and preparations for the country’s upcoming oil and gas revenue era, while acknowledging ongoing challenges that remain to be addressed.
When Adhin assumed the speakership one year ago, his core pledge was to raise governance standards by enforcing strict adherence to the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure. Disrupting long-standing informal conventions that had muddied parliamentary order rather than supporting it, he notes, has been an uphill battle to rebuild basic discipline in the chamber.
Against the backdrop of Suriname’s impending arrival as an oil and gas producer, with first commercial production slated for 2028, Adhin argues that the central question facing the nation is not the size of its hydrocarbon reserves, but whether state institutions are strong enough to convert this new wealth into broad shared prosperity rather than waste and mismanagement. To lay the groundwork for responsible resource governance, he advocated for two key initiatives at the October 2025 Local Content Conference: a National Productivity and Diversification Plan, and a Parliamentary Forum for Economic Transition. This permanent multi-stakeholder platform brings together lawmakers, government officials, business leaders and academic experts to draft upcoming legislation on oil, gas, energy management and local content requirements.
Adhin emphasizes that local content cannot remain an empty buzzword: it must be translated into measurable mandatory requirements that embed local investors and businesses in the value chain ahead of 2028 first oil. In line with this agenda, the Assembly is awaiting the government’s October 2026 submission of the 2027-2031 Development Plan, paired with the 2027 national budget. As the body tasked with executive oversight and budget scrutiny, Adhin notes, parliament is the first line of defense against public resource waste.
In his first 12 months in office, the Assembly held more than 40 plenary public sessions and over 130 committee meetings. Six pieces of legislation have been finalized and enacted, including the 2025 national state budget, amendments to the State Debt Plan Act, the Labor Advisory Council Act, the Customs Act, the Suriname Fire Department Act, and the Funeral Services Act. The 2026 national budget is currently in its final stages of approval.
Meanwhile, heavier foundational legislation is working its way through committee processes. Key bills include the new Accounting Act, judicial branch modernization legislation, the Working Conditions Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and the Act establishing the Center for Innovation and Productivity. Public committee hearings have also been launched, with the first held in the high-profile case of three former public officials facing criminal indictment.
Beyond lawmaking, the National Assembly has stepped up its oversight function, Adhin says, demonstrating its authority in holding the executive to account. Work to enforce transparency around the state health insurance fund and other pressing public issues is advancing steadily.
In addition to legislative and oversight work, the speaker’s office has invested in strengthening the Assembly as an institution. A multi-year parliamentary program has been launched to drive organizational and institutional modernization of the body. Proposals are also on the table to fund additional parking capacity near the parliamentary complex, designed to reduce vehicle congestion in the city center and improve downtown livability.
A major ongoing digital transformation project is also underway: the digitization of all Surinamese legislation dating back to 1900. This work is not just for archival purposes; it will serve as the foundation for an artificial intelligence tool that will give faster, more open access to legal resources for the entire legal profession – from judges and prosecutors to lawyers, notaries, bailiffs and law students. A permanent standing committee on national security has also been established to strengthen the country’s security governance.
Parliament has also expanded its international engagement over the past year, coinciding with Suriname’s golden jubilee of independence. The Assembly hosted high-profile foreign visitors including the Dutch King and Queen, and the Asantehene of the Ashanti Kingdom. Lawmakers held bilateral talks with counterparts from the Dutch House of Representatives, India, the United States, Cuba, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Parliamentary delegations also participated in major international forums including the Inter-Parliamentary Union, strengthening Suriname’s parliamentary diplomacy over the past term.
Adhin takes a pragmatic approach to unfinished work, openly naming areas that still require improvement. A revised Rules of Procedure, designed to raise parliamentary order and debate standards, is still in preparation and has not been finalized. Quorum discipline, a longstanding chronic challenge for many parliaments, has shown improvement but still does not meet required standards.
To address these gaps, the Assembly will now start publicly tracking performance metrics to make its work measurable: quorum attendance rates, the share of scheduled sessions that actually proceed, the number of enacted laws, and progress on institutional transformation projects.
Political differences between the governing coalition and opposition are a normal and expected part of a functional democracy, Adhin notes. Meaningful progress is possible when all members prioritize national and community interest over partisan advantage. This frames the real test of the coming second year: progress will not be measured by how often the speaker’s gavel falls, but by how many completed laws leave the chamber, and whether promised reforms move beyond good intentions to tangible action.
When revising legislation, Adhin favors comprehensive, integrated reforms over incremental minimal changes. He has committed to three measurable core goals for the coming term: a fully updated Rules of Procedure by the end of the current sitting, a regular public half-yearly progress report to allow public scrutiny of parliamentary work, and finalization of legislation that directly impacts citizens, starting with bills supporting economic transition.
Adhin’s assessment of the first year is balanced: the National Assembly has maintained a busy legislative schedule and delivered tangible results in lawmaking and regulation. At the same time, organizational transformation is still ongoing, and the full impact of these changes now needs to be made clear and demonstrable to the Surinamese public.
This commentary was delivered by Michael Ashwin Adhin, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Suriname, on 29 June.
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Paradise fight back to beat Wales in Champions Cup final
In a dramatic title decider at the Wildey Technical Centre on Sunday, Paradise FC produced a stunning late comeback to overturn a one-goal deficit and secure a 2-1 victory over defending champions Weymouth Wales, lifting the Barbados Football Association Champions Cup in a memorable final. It was a performance that embodied the grit and fighting spirit head coach Mario Harte has instilled in his squad throughout a grueling, up-and-down season, he told reporters in the immediate aftermath of the triumph as his players celebrated their hard-won silverware.
The opening 45 minutes of the clash was defined by tight, cagey play from both sides, with neither outfit willing to cede ground to their opponent. It was not until first-half stoppage time that the deadlock was broken: a chaotic goalmouth scramble saw Mario Williams get the decisive final touch to put Weymouth Wales ahead heading into the halftime break. For most of the second half, the defending champions held onto their lead, and it appeared the fixture would end with Weymouth Wales retaining their title. That all changed in the 77th minute, when Jaron Oughterson found the back of the net to draw Paradise level. Just five minutes after the equalizer, Shamari Harewood curled a precision strike into the goal to score what would become the tournament-winning goal, sealing the 2-1 result for his side.
For Harte, the knockout title run holds extra meaning, acting as validation for his squad after a turbulent regular league campaign. Paradise spent the vast majority of that season topping the overall points table, only to slip from a projected second-place finish all the way to fifth on the final matchday. The underwhelming end to the league season left the side hungry to prove their quality in the Champions Cup knockout stage, a goal they achieved with Sunday’s final win.
“I always felt that we had a good start to the season, then we fell off, but anyone that was following Paradise from the time I was here would see that there was improvement. We finished third in this competition last year and now this year we won,” Harte said of the squad’s progress over the past 12 months.
Reflecting on the second-half comeback, the head coach emphasized his side never lost their composure even when trailing at the break. “The half time talk was very calm because honestly I believe in the guys. We put in the work so it is only a matter of desire and how much you want it. The simple things make a big difference, and the things that worked for us tonight were obviously our wingers and us pressing. Our attackers did a magnificent job,” the elated coach added.
Sunday’s title marks a career milestone for Harte, who just completed his second season as a head coach and his first campaign leading a side in the Premier League. He admitted that the disappointing end to the regular league season left him questioning his own performance, but he pushed through the self-doubt to lead his side to the title. “For me personally it is a real boost because coming out of the Premier League I honestly felt a little dejected and I was questioning myself. I started to reassess and doubt but then I snapped out of it and continued to knuckle down and it brought fruit,” Harte explained.
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LIAT Passengers Left Stranded for Hours as Communication Breaks Down
On Monday, hundreds of passengers flying with Caribbean regional carrier LIAT Air endured major travel disruptions on routes departing from St Kitts, bound for destinations including Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Lucia, leaving them stranded for hours and prompting widespread criticism of the airline’s customer service failures.
Travelers told reporters that they received almost no updates about the delays even after making repeated inquiries to airline staff, with many stuck in airport terminals for more than five hours without guidance. Beyond the lack of information, multiple passengers also condemned LIAT Air for failing to offer even basic complimentary meals, water or other refreshments to stranded travelers during the extended wait.
One traveler, who was booked on a 9 a.m. scheduled departure, said the flight had not even begun boarding by the early afternoon, with no timeline provided for when service would resume. Another passenger heading to Saint Lucia explained that the airline never made a single public announcement about the delay, forcing all passengers to actively track down information on their own instead of receiving proactive updates.
For many travelers, the sudden disruption upended long-planned schedules and ruined what had been a positive trip: many visitors had traveled to St Kitts for the annual St Kitts Music Festival, and the delay forced them to miss upcoming work commitments back home. In one extreme case, a passenger was left stranded overnight in Antigua following an eight-hour delay, who described the airline’s communication as completely “non-existent.”
Unconfirmed local media reports have speculated that the widespread delays could be tied to unresolved documentation issues that prevented the airline from refueling its aircraft at the St Kitts airport, though these claims have not been independently verified by third-party outlets or local aviation authorities. As of press time, LIAT 20, the current operating entity of the regional carrier, has not issued any public statement addressing the flood of passenger complaints, nor has it released an official explanation for the day-long operational disruptions.
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Ashma McDougall says joining DLP was the ‘only choice’ as she addresses supporters
The race for the vacant Roseau North Constituency parliamentary seat in Dominica has officially taken shape, with candidate Ashma McDougall publicly standing behind her choice to run under the banner of the ruling Dominica Labour Party (DLP). The position opened up after former sitting MP Miriam Blanchard stepped down, triggering a by-election that has drawn two formal nominees from the island’s major political blocs.
A multi-disciplinary professional with a background in economics, entrepreneurship, and education, McDougall was officially ratified as the DLP’s candidate ahead of the vote. At her official campaign launch held Saturday at Lindo Park, she addressed a crowd of supporters with a fiery, unapologetic speech reaffirming both her loyalty to the party and her conviction that her decision to run with the DLP was the only correct path forward.
“I made my choice, unapologetically,” McDougall emphasized to attendees. She explained that her decision came after months of deliberate reflection on where she could deliver the greatest tangible benefit to Roseau North residents and Dominicans as a whole. For McDougall, running as a DLP candidate represented the clearest and most effective avenue to continue the public service work she has built her career around.
“I choose the Labour Party because I know that this is where I can best serve the people of Roseau North and Dominica by extension,” she said. “This is where I can translate a lifetime of service to the people of Roseau North. This is where I can make the greatest difference for the people I seek to serve. And this is where I can create opportunities. I can solve problems and I can improve the lives of people of the Roseau North constituency.”
McDougall rooted her affiliation in the DLP’s proven track record of centering public investment and inclusive national development over her tenure. She highlighted the ruling administration’s key policy achievements across housing, education, and core infrastructure projects, noting that these investments have already lifted the quality of life for working families across the island.
“Which party has consistently demonstrated that it believes in investing in people? And which party has built homes that has given families security? And which party has invested in education, opening doors of opportunities so that today homes can celebrate having a university graduate among them? And which party has invested in roads, in bridges, and infrastructure which connect our communities and strengthen our economy?” she asked rhetorically.
In McDougall’s assessment, these accomplishments prove the DLP’s longstanding commitment to putting people first, expanding access to opportunity, and driving sustained national progress. After reviewing that record, she said, she had no doubt that the DLP was the only party aligned with her values of public service.
“And when I examined that record, I knew that if I truly wanted to serve, there was no other place I could be,” she added.
Looking ahead to the by-election and her potential tenure as MP, McDougall laid out a clear policy vision focused on advancing opportunity for all residents of Roseau North. Her priorities include expanding economic and educational pathways for young people, boosting targeted support for local small businesses, and strengthening household financial security across the constituency.
She described her vision for Roseau North as: “A future that is built on opportunities for our young people, a future that is built on safer and cleaner communities we are proud to call home, a future that will be built on prosperity where small businesses thrive, jobs are created and local talent is given opportunity to succeed. A future that is built on stronger families, where every family has the security of a home and the dignity of land ownership. And a future built on dignity, comfort and opportunity.”
McDougall stressed that this ambitious agenda is fully achievable for the constituency, and called on local residents to play an active role in shaping Roseau North’s next chapter. “And my friends, that future is not beyond our reach,” she emphasized. “Roseau North, as we ready ourselves to write the next chapter, I will be calling on your experience, on your skills and community knowledge, and I hope that you answer that call.”
On the opposition side, the United Workers Party has already named its nominee for the seat: Daniel “Danny” Lugay, a former representative for Roseau North who will contest the by-election against McDougall. With both major parties now having formalized their candidates, campaigning across the constituency is expected to ramp up in the coming weeks ahead of the vote.
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RM Cleaners win knockout domino title
Barbados’ top dominoes talent gathered at the James Bryan Complex in Market Hill on June 25 for the highly anticipated national Three-hand Knockout tournament, where RM Cleaners pulled off a memorable victory to claim the championship crown. After all rounds of competitive play were completed, RM Cleaners finished atop the leaderboard with a total score of 76 points, outperforming a field of skilled local teams to secure the top honor. Finishing just behind the champions was BiMPay Central Bank, which racked up 69 points to earn the second-place position, while the Police team claimed the third spot on the podium with a total of 67 points. The winning team’s success was anchored by standout performances from duo Michael “Nat” Norville and Wayne Taylor, both of whom delivered consistent play to net 15 points apiece for RM Cleaners. When the tournament reached its final, high-stakes round, the Cleaners stepped up their game, ramping up defensive and offensive pressure at critical moments to lock in the winning margin. This championship win marks a major milestone for RM Cleaners in Barbados’ domestic dominoes circuit, cementing their status as one of the nation’s top competitive teams this season.
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Police Officer Comes Under Gunfire
A shocking ambush attack targeting an off-duty Belizean police officer has launched a full criminal investigation in the Cayo District, law enforcement officials confirmed this week. The incident unfolded Saturday night along a remote stretch of road in the Young Gal area, located just outside Teakettle Village, when the officer identified as Eric Usher, a member of the department’s Special Patrol Unit, was traveling alone through the sparsely populated region.
According to official accounts from the National Crimes Investigation Branch, two unidentified suspects emerged from thick vegetation lining the roadway as Usher passed, with one assailant immediately opening fire on the officer’s moving vehicle. Reacting quickly to the sudden attack, Usher sped away from the ambush site to safety, only discovering after escaping that multiple rounds had struck his vehicle, leaving several clear bullet holes across the car’s body.
ACP Hilberto Romero, head of the National Crimes Investigation Branch, shared details of the ongoing probe with reporters, noting that investigators are leaving no stone unturned in their effort to identify and apprehend the attackers. At present, the investigation team is conducting a thorough review of all available evidence from the scene, and plans to carry out formal ballistics testing to corroborate the officer’s account and trace potential links to the weapons used in the attack.
Key investigative details have also emerged that complicate the early stages of the case. Usher was off duty at the time of the shooting, and was in possession of his personally licensed firearm; that weapon has now been seized by investigators for forensic testing to rule out any alternative accounts of the gunfire. Compounding the challenge for investigators, the Young Gal area where the attack occurred is described as a dark, isolated stretch of road with no public or private surveillance cameras in place, eliminating the possibility of capturing footage of the suspects or their vehicle prior to the ambush.
As of Tuesday, no suspects have been named in connection with the attack, and investigators have not released any information about potential motives for the shooting. Romero confirmed that the investigation remains active and ongoing, with updates to be released as additional evidence is processed.
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U.S. Expands Military Relief Mission in Venezuela as More Aircraft, Troops Arrive
As international disaster response operations gain momentum in the wake of Venezuela’s catastrophic earthquake, the United States has significantly expanded its military-supported humanitarian aid mission, deploying extra aircraft, military personnel and purpose-built disaster response equipment to affected regions.
In an official statement released Monday, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced that six U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster cargo planes are slated to land in Venezuela carrying a U.S. Marine Corps Combat Logistics Company deployed from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. The arriving Marine unit is bringing critical heavy engineering machinery, portable water purification systems, and a range of additional resources to bolster ongoing relief work. The operation aligns with a direct request from the Venezuelan government and is being coordinated through the U.S. Department of State.
The expansion of the U.S. humanitarian mission does not end with this deployment: additional U.S. Air Force C-17 and C-130 Hercules airlift craft continue moving response personnel and emergency supplies into the country on an ongoing basis.
A roughly 100-member Contingency Response Element, paired with a specialized U.S. military Airfield Assessment Team, is already on the ground working alongside Venezuelan government officials, local aviation management teams, and U.S. civilian agencies to upgrade operational capacity at airports serving the earthquake zone. These upgrades are designed to speed the flow of incoming relief flights, cutting down on delays for life-saving supplies and personnel.
U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft maintain a steady shuttle route between a dedicated logistics hub in Curaçao and hard-hit regions of Venezuela, ferrying emergency responders, stockpiled supplies and heavy equipment to where they are needed most. The aircraft also conduct internal flights across Venezuela to support scattered relief operations across remote areas.
SOUTHCOM has also confirmed that the key Port of La Guaira, which suffered damage in the quake, has resumed full commercial and relief operations. This reopening has allowed the USS Fort Lauderdale to offload desperately needed humanitarian supplies and response equipment directly at the Venezuelan port, eliminating the need for complex multi-stage transshipment.
U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters are carrying out dual missions: they complete systematic aerial damage surveys of quake-ravaged communities, while also transporting U.S. State Department staff tasked with coordinating the overall U.S. relief effort.
Meanwhile, U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters and flight crews from Joint Task Force-Bravo, stationed at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras, are providing on-the-ground airlift support for moving large cargo and personnel. Additional aircraft and crews are scheduled to arrive in the region within the next 48 hours to reinforce these operations.
Even the U.S. Space Force is contributing to the response effort, providing high-resolution satellite imagery of damaged communities and critical infrastructure that helps emergency response planners map out priority areas for immediate life-saving assistance.
SOUTHCOM notes that planning for further rounds of military support is still ongoing, carried out in close coordination with the U.S. State Department, Venezuelan government authorities, and international partner organizations involved in the disaster response. Additional deployments will be made public once they are finalized and confirmed.