Carib Scope

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  • Alcide repping Athletes Commission at Glasgow 2026

    Alcide repping Athletes Commission at Glasgow 2026

    As the 2026 Commonwealth Games get underway in Glasgow, a familiar face has returned to the multi-sport spectacular — but this time, Makeba Alcide is not stepping onto the field of play to compete. The decorated former athlete from Saint Lucia is serving the games in an entirely new capacity: as a voting member of the Commonwealth Sports Athlete Advisory Commission (AAC), and one of the official flagbearers for the body during Thursday’s opening ceremony held at the OVO Hydro.

    Alcide’s connection to elite Commonwealth sport runs deep. Crowned Saint Lucia’s 2013 Sportswoman of the Year, she is a three-sport athlete who has represented her home nation at the highest levels in athletics, netball, and rugby. A graduate of the University of Arkansas, she rose to global prominence as a world-class combined events competitor, and still holds multiple national records in track and field from her competitive career. She previously competed in the heptathlon at the 2014 Commonwealth Games — an event that was also hosted in Glasgow, bringing her career full circle 12 years later.

    Since retiring from elite competition, Alcide has pivoted seamlessly into sports leadership and advocacy. After building experience as a coach, she was elected as the Caribbean regional delegate to the AAC in 2024. She currently holds the position of vice-president at the Saint Lucia Athletics Association (SLAA), and previously served as chairperson of the Saint Lucia Athletes’ Commission. In 2022, she further honed her leadership skills by completing the World Athletics Pilot Mentorship Course, graduating with top honors and earning certification as an official World Athletics mentor.

    In her role on the AAC, Alcide’s core mission is to elevate the voices and protect the interests of athletes across the Caribbean region. She contributes to key discussions and policy shaping across a range of critical issues for the Commonwealth Sport Movement, including athlete welfare, safe sport frameworks, greater inclusion in sport, maintaining competitive integrity, and expanding athlete representation in governance.

    A statement released by the SLAA praised Alcide’s new appointment, noting that her selection as an AAC flagbearer is a well-deserved recognition of her exceptional leadership, longstanding dedication to athlete advocacy, and unwavering commitment to growing and improving sport across the entire Commonwealth.

    For the 2026 Glasgow Games, the official Saint Lucia delegation is made up of a small three-member team of competing athletes. Khailan Vitalis is set to contest the men’s 110m hurdles on the first Monday of competition, while Michael Joseph and Marvric Pamphile will compete in the men’s 400m heats the following day. Helena Renee, the team’s leader, served as flagbearer for the official Saint Lucia delegation as the only team representative present for Thursday’s opening ceremony.

  • President to announce “independent” commission of inquiry into MV Barima ferry tragedy

    President to announce “independent” commission of inquiry into MV Barima ferry tragedy

    One week after the catastrophic sinking of the MV Barima ferry that killed an estimated 100 people, Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali has announced plans to unveil a five-member independent commission of inquiry this Sunday.

    The announcement, delivered in a national address Saturday by President Ali, does not address key demands that have been raised by opposition and civil society groups in the wake of the tragedy. Notably, the President made no mention of including parliamentary opposition representatives in the appointment process, rejecting a prior recommendation from the Guyana Human Rights Association that would have seen both the President and Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed each appoint three members to form a six-member panel. Ali also declined to respond to repeated calls from the opposition and civil society organizations for the resignation of two senior cabinet members: Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill and Deodat Indar, the minister in charge of Guyana’s Maritime Administration.

    Despite the lack of action on those demands, President Ali emphasized that the incoming inquiry panel will be made up of highly respected specialists with deep domain expertise across critical areas relevant to the disaster. These include legal practice, marine engineering, maritime safety protocol, and large-scale disaster investigation. He confirmed that members have undergone rigorous vetting, selected specifically for their demonstrated independence, proven technical capabilities, and established track records in their fields.

    Under the terms laid out by the President, the commission will have full autonomy to set its own procedural rules and working schedule. Its core mandate is to conduct a comprehensive, unbiased investigation into every aspect of the July 2026 tragedy. This includes probing the full sequence of events that led to the vessel capsizing and sinking, evaluating the effectiveness of emergency response efforts after the incident, and examining all connected contributing factors.

    The inquiry will be required to pinpoint any systemic or individual shortcomings that contributed to the disaster, outline clear accountability measures where failures are confirmed, and propose targeted regulatory and operational reforms to boost the overall safety and reliability of Guyana’s entire maritime transportation network.

    President Ali outlined the wide scope of the commission’s review, which will cover all potential causes of the sinking: vessel loading practices, passenger boarding protocols, on-board conditions pre-departure, the MV Barima’s seaworthiness, its full maintenance history, compliance with national maritime laws and international safety standards, the conduct and qualifications of the vessel’s master and crew, passenger management protocols, the adequacy of life-saving equipment and arrangements, and the potential impact of weather and sea conditions on the voyage.

    In addition to investigating the sinking itself, the commission will also conduct a full review of all search, rescue, and recovery operations launched after the incident. It will assess whether the response from all involved government agencies and stakeholder groups was adequate, well-coordinated, and effective. Most critically, the panel will have the authority to formally determine if negligence, professional misconduct, dereliction of duty, or broader institutional failures caused or contributed to the disaster, and to recommend any legislative, regulatory, institutional, or operational changes needed to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring in the future.

  • Derde helft WK 2026: Dank u, Thank you, Gracias

    Derde helft WK 2026: Dank u, Thank you, Gracias

    The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the largest edition of the tournament in history, has drawn to a thrilling close after six weeks of nonstop action, with Spain claiming the championship title following a dramatic final against Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19. In a post-tournament message, the Starnieuws Team extended sincere gratitude to football fans for their unwavering support and enthusiastic engagement throughout the competition.

    “Your passion and involvement turned our coverage and special segments like ‘Third Half WC 2026’ into a massive success,” the team noted. “Your positive feedback pushed us to deliver in-depth analysis, unexpected storytelling, and unique perspectives through every matchday. Together, we experienced every high and low of this groundbreaking tournament, which expanded to 48 participating nations, hosted 104 matches, and produced a remarkable total of 308 goals across the entire competition.”

    Far more than just a sporting spectacle, the 2026 World Cup stood as a global celebration of football’s unifying power and diversity. The standout team performances, iconic last-minute moments, and shared emotions across fans worldwide have cemented this tournament as one of the most memorable in the sport’s history. Now, as fans adjust to the post-World Cup lull, a full calendar of top-tier football action is already on the horizon to fill the gap.

    The first major tournament kicking off immediately after the World Cup is the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), set to launch just one week after the World Cup final. Host nation Morocco will open the tournament against Kenya, with the Moroccan women’s side aiming to match the success of their men’s counterparts, who reached the World Cup quarterfinals and claimed the 2025 AFCON title amid minor controversy. Nigeria enters the tournament as defending champions, while Ghana, Zambia, and Malawi are all counted among the pre-tournament favorites.

    Club football action across Europe’s top leagues will resume in just a few weeks, headlined by the 2026 UEFA Super Cup, which pits 2025-26 Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) against Europa League champion Aston Villa. The showdown will take place on August 12 at Stadion Salzburg in Austria. Aston Villa, led by manager Unai Emery, is chasing another European trophy, while PSG looks to defend the Super Cup title it claimed in 2025.

    The English Premier League, one of the most-watched club competitions on the planet, will kick off its new season on August 21. Defending champion Arsenal will open its title defense at home against Coventry City, with a stack of high-profile matches scheduled for opening weekend: Hull City faces Manchester United on August 22, Manchester City takes on Bournemouth on August 23, Newcastle United hosts Liverpool on August 23, and Fulham clashes with Chelsea on August 24.

    Spain’s top-flight La Liga gets an earlier start, launching its season on August 15 with a match between Alaves and Getafe. Giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, both stacked with elite talent, are gearing up for another title fight. Real Madrid, led by superstars Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Thibaut Courtois, enters the season as a top title contender, while Barcelona’s squad counts three 2026 World Cup winners from Spain: Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and Ferran Torres. Barcelona kicks off its campaign on August 23 away to Elche.

    Italy’s Serie A, despite the men’s national side failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, will open its new season on August 22. Key opening-weekend matches include Inter Milan vs Monza, Genoa vs Napoli, Frosinone vs Juventus, Atalanta vs Sassuolo, Torino vs AC Milan, and AS Roma vs Fiorentina.

    Europe’s most prestigious club competition, the UEFA Champions League, will kick off its group stage in the second week of September, with the final scheduled for May 2027. The group stage draw will take place on August 27 in Nyon, Switzerland. Of the 36 total spots in the expanded competition, 29 teams have already secured their place, with the remaining seven spots to be decided via qualifying play-offs.

    Beyond club action, international teams have already shifted focus to qualifying for the next cycle of global tournaments. For the 2030 World Cup, UEFA has introduced a new two-tier qualifying system: the 36 highest-ranked European nations will compete in League A, while 19 lower-ranked sides compete in League B. Teams will play six matches in the opening phase, with promotion, relegation, and play-offs determining which nations qualify for the final tournament. The UEFA Nations League, which doubles as a qualifying pathway for both the 2030 World Cup and Euro 2028, kicks off on September 24 with a match between Portugal and Wales, with 2026 World Cup standouts Spain and England set to face off on September 26.

    African qualifying for the 2030 World Cup is scheduled to begin in September 2027 and run through 2029, coming off the 2026 tournament’s record number of participating African nations. Morocco, which will co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal and Spain, has already earned an automatic qualifying spot, leaving the rest of the continent’s nations to compete for nine direct qualifying spots plus one additional play-off spot. Asian qualifying for 2030 is expected to launch in late 2027, with matches likely kicking off in October or November, though the official full schedule has not yet been released.

    With a packed lineup of women’s tournaments, club competitions, and international qualifying matches already scheduled, football fans will have no shortage of top-tier action to look forward to in the months following the 2026 World Cup.

  • Just How Big Is Belize’s Diaspora and Why Does it Matter?

    Just How Big Is Belize’s Diaspora and Why Does it Matter?

    BELIZE CITY, BELIZE – July 25, 2026 – The third annual Belize Diaspora Summit has sparked fresh national conversation over the scale, economic influence, and political rights of Belize’s global community of overseas citizens and descendants, with government officials and community organizers pushing for sweeping reforms to integrate diaspora voices into domestic governance.

    Speaking at the three-day summit, Kareem Musa, Belize’s Minister of Immigration, shared the government’s official estimate that the total Belizean diaspora surpasses 300,000 people – a population equal to nearly 75 percent of the country’s current domestic resident population. Of that total diaspora population, Musa confirmed that approximately 81 percent resides in the United States, making North America the overwhelming center of Belize’s overseas community.

    This figure stands in stark contrast to a 2024 academic study conducted by the Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development, which recorded only roughly 52,900 Belize-born people living abroad as of 2020. Musa clarified that the discrepancy between the two counts stems from differing definitional frameworks: the government’s broader measurement includes multi-generational descendants of Belizean migrants born outside the country, while the 2024 study counted only individuals born in Belize who later relocated abroad. Regardless of the gap in raw numbers, Musa emphasized that both data sources confirm the diaspora is a large, globally dispersed demographic that carries major strategic importance for Belize’s future.

    The summit’s organizers used the event to table a formal policy paper calling on the Belizean government to adopt a dedicated National Diaspora Policy, a framework that would enshrine formal institutional representation for overseas Belizeans and expand their ability to participate in national decision-making processes. Aria Lightfoot, lead organizer of the summit, explained that the proposed policy goes far beyond expanding voting access, seeking permanent structural representation for the diaspora in Belize’s political system. One leading proposal under discussion would reserve a dedicated seat in Belize’s Senate for the diaspora community, mirroring the non-elected reserved seats currently allocated to non-governmental organizations, business groups, and religious institutions including the Catholic Church.

    Musa has thrown his full support behind expanding political access for diaspora Belizeans, including a long-stalled push to revise the country’s voting eligibility rules. Pushing back against critics who argue that overseas Belizeans should not have a direct say in domestic elections because they do not reside in the country full-time, Musa reaffirmed his commitment to changing existing regulations. “I don’t agree with that,” Musa stated, noting that he has publicly advocated for amending national law to eliminate the three-year residency requirement for voter registration, clearing a path for diaspora Belizeans to register and cast ballots in national general elections and local city council contests. This is not a new policy priority for Musa: he first introduced a bill to amend the Representation of the People Act to extend voting rights to the diaspora back in 2018.

  • Here’s Why UB’s School of Medicine is “Seeking its Own Accreditation”

    Here’s Why UB’s School of Medicine is “Seeking its Own Accreditation”

    In a dual accreditation strategy that marks a key milestone for Belize’s only public higher education institution, the University of Belize’s School of Medicine is moving forward with a standalone accreditation process, separate from the university’s ongoing campus-wide institutional accreditation review.

    University President Dr. Vincent Palacio confirmed the split approach in comments made to stakeholders this Thursday, noting that the medical program has formally initiated accreditation through the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP), the leading regional regulatory body tasked with evaluating and certifying medical and health professions education programs across the Caribbean.

    “We couldn’t move forward with this application any earlier than we have now,” Palacio explained. “CAAM-HP requires programs to demonstrate a full cycle of student enrollment, progression, and graduation before a submission can be reviewed. We are currently right on schedule with our planned timeline, and securing this specialized accreditation is an absolutely critical step for the future of our medical program.”

    Internal planning documents posted to the School of Medicine’s official public website show that preparatory work for the accreditation process first launched back in August 2023, with teams of faculty and administrators working to align the program’s curriculum, clinical training requirements, and faculty standards with CAAM-HP’s rigorous benchmarks. The most recent update on the public timeline confirms that all required documentation for Provisional Accreditation was submitted to the regional authority in September 2025, putting the review process on track for a site visit and final decision in the coming months.

    While the medical school pursues its specialized accreditation, the broader University of Belize is simultaneously advancing its own separate institutional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), one of the most widely recognized regional higher education accrediting bodies in the Americas. Palacio shared that the university’s leadership team spent four years completing the extensive preparatory work required for the SACSCOC application, which was officially submitted to the body earlier this month.

    The dual process is structured to meet two distinct sets of quality standards: the SACSCOC review evaluates the overall institutional governance, academic support systems, financial stability, and general education standards across all of the university’s programs, while the CAAM-HP accreditation enforces strict, specialized requirements unique to undergraduate and graduate medical education, ensuring that graduates meet international standards for clinical practice and residency placement. For the University of Belize’s medical program, successful accreditation will open up new opportunities for graduates to pursue residency and licensing opportunities across North America and the Caribbean, boosting the program’s international reputation and graduate employability.

  • Piton Boyz learn Nations League fate

    Piton Boyz learn Nations League fate

    Despite a lingering vacancy in the head coaching role, Saint Lucia’s senior men’s national football team, nicknamed the Piton Boyz, has locked in its competitive path for the next two years, with the full fixture map confirmed for the 2026-27 iteration of the Concacaf Nations League (CNL).

    The fifth edition of Concacaf’s flagship regional national team competition will unfold across four international match windows, kicking off in the September-October 2026 FIFA fixture period, continuing with additional group-stage matches in November 2026, and concluding with knockout rounds in March 2027. On July 23, the official group draw ceremony took place in Miami, Florida, where Saint Lucia, competing in CNL’s League B this cycle, learned the identity of its three Group B opponents: Barbados, Bermuda, and Guadeloupe.

    Saint Lucia will play a total of six group-stage matches between September and November 2026, per the official fixture layout published by Concacaf. All of the Piton Boyz’ September fixtures will be hosted in Bermuda, before the team returns to its home ground for October matches. The group phase will wrap up in November with two away matches hosted in Guadeloupe.

    Currently ranked 166th in the official FIFA Coca-Cola Men’s World Rankings, Saint Lucia will open its 2026-27 CNL campaign against a familiar opponent, Barbados, on September 25. Ranked 179th globally, Barbados—nicknamed the Bajan Tridents—holds the lowest position in the four-team group. Recent form data shows that dating back to the middle of 2024, Barbados has claimed only five wins from its last 15 international matches, alongside three draws. The two sides last faced off in June 2025 during the second round of 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, where Saint Lucia secured a narrow 2-1 victory over the Tridents.

    Four days after their opening match, on September 28, Saint Lucia will face off against Bermuda’s Gombey Warriors. Ranked 167th in FIFA rankings—just one spot below Saint Lucia—the two nations have not met since 1990, when Bermuda earned a 2-0 win in that lone prior encounter.

    Analysts widely view Saint Lucia’s back-to-back October matches against Guadeloupe, scheduled for October 2 and 5, as the toughest tests of the group stage. Though Guadeloupe is not a FIFA member and therefore holds no official global ranking, the side was the highest-seeded team entering the draw, marking it as the group’s favorite to top the table. This upcoming series will mark the second time the two sides have clashed in CNL competition: during the 2023-24 CNL cycle, Saint Lucia claimed a 2-1 home win over Guadeloupe, but fell 0-2 in the away reverse fixture.

    The head coaching position that led Saint Lucia to recent success remains unfilled, as the Saint Lucia Football Association confirmed its split with former manager Stern John just over two weeks before the Miami draw. During his tenure, John guided the Piton Boyz to a second-place group finish in the 2024-25 CNL cycle, including a notable upset win over higher-ranked Curaçao, and led the side to qualify for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup preliminary round.

    For this 2026-27 cycle, the incentives for topping Group B are clear: the first-place team will secure automatic qualification to the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup, which will be hosted in the United States. They will also earn promotion to League A for the subsequent CNL cycle and advance to the League B semifinals scheduled for March 2027.

  • Antiguan Chef Nadine Anthony Joins International Judging Panel for Caribbean Baking Awards

    Antiguan Chef Nadine Anthony Joins International Judging Panel for Caribbean Baking Awards

    One of the Caribbean’s most anticipated culinary competitions is getting underway today, as the judging phase of the annual Caribbean Baking Awards officially kicks off. This year’s contest has raised the bar for excellence, assembling a diverse, world-class panel of judges that blends top regional culinary talent with a high-profile celebrity judge from the United States, bringing unmatched expertise and global standards to the evaluation process.

    The panel features leading baking and culinary professionals from across the Caribbean region: celebrated Chef Nadine Anthony represents Antigua and Barbuda, acclaimed Chef Dominic Dart brings expertise from his Trinidad and Tobago-Guyana roots, and distinguished Chef Kareem Brooks joins from Sint Maarten. Rounding out the elite judging team is celebrity Chef Lincoln Alexander, hailing from the United States, whose addition underscores the competition’s commitment to upholding rigorous, international-level evaluation standards for all participating bakers.

    For Chef Nadine Anthony, the opportunity to serve alongside such a distinguished group of industry leaders is a meaningful career milestone. “I am deeply honored to collaborate with some of the best culinary minds in the business, including celebrity Chef Lincoln Alexander,” she shared. “I look forward to growing my own craft and refining my professional approach as I evaluate the incredible baking artistry presented by this year’s competitors.”

    Shanda Webster-Glasgow, founder and CEO of the Caribbean Baking Awards, emphasized what the ongoing development of the competition means for the regional culinary scene. She noted that the consistent support the event has received from the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda makes clear the nation’s unwavering commitment to advancing culinary excellence across the region. That support, she added, has also helped solidify Antigua and Barbuda’s growing influence in the Caribbean’s fast-expanding baking industry, creating new opportunities for bakers across all Caribbean nations to showcase their skills on a global stage.

  • Colombian Passport Among Items Seized as Police Recover Illegal Firearm, Three Arrested

    Colombian Passport Among Items Seized as Police Recover Illegal Firearm, Three Arrested

    St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda – July 25, 2026 – The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has escalated its proactive, coordinated crime reduction initiatives across both islands of the nation, launching a multi-unit sweep designed to disrupt ongoing criminal networks, remove illegal weapons from communities, and bolster overall public safety for residents and visitors alike.

    Over a 48-hour period starting July 23, specialized units from across the force – including the Criminal Investigations Department Task Force, the Gang and Guns Suppression Unit (GAGSU), the K-9 detection unit, and the Forensic Evidence Recovery Unit (FERU) – collaborated to execute a series of targeted interventions. These operations spanned multiple residential and public communities, encompassing court-authorized search warrants, roving mobile patrols, fixed vehicle checkpoints, and intelligence-driven tactical exercises tailored to local crime patterns.

    One of the most significant seizures came during a targeted operation in the community of Collins, where law enforcement officers recovered an unregistered firearm alongside multiple rounds of matching ammunition. Investigators also seized additional evidence tied to the ongoing case: a Colombian passport and a mobile cellular device. Two people were taken into custody following the operation, and both face charges related to illegal possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

    Authorities carried out additional court-ordered search warrants at three other locations: East Bus Station, Cashew Hill, and Golden Grove. These operations yielded one additional arrest and a separate haul of evidence connected to active ongoing investigations, the police force confirmed.

    In a formal statement released via the Royal Police Force’s Office of Strategic Communications, the department’s senior administration emphasized that the current surge in operational activity is not a temporary measure tied to the upcoming Carnival festivities. “These heightened patrols, intelligence-led operations, stop-and-search exercises, and search warrant executions will continue long after the Carnival season concludes,” the statement noted, framing the expanded efforts as a core component of the force’s long-term national strategy to reduce violent crime, dismantle criminal organizations, and embed sustainable public safety across Antigua and Barbuda.

    The police force is calling on all members of the public to partner in these crime-fighting efforts, urging residents to remain alert to unusual activity in their communities and to report any suspicious behavior to law enforcement immediately to help prevent crimes before they occur.

  • Mitur: Recovering the Russian market is a priority for Dominican tourism

    Mitur: Recovering the Russian market is a priority for Dominican tourism

    The Dominican Republic’s tourism sector has made reclaiming its pre-pandemic, pre-conflict Russian tourist market a top strategic priority, according to the nation’s Minister of Tourism David Collado. In comments reported by local outlet Acento, Collado outlined the significant barriers that have blocked the resumption of full travel ties between the Caribbean nation and Russia, the most pressing of which are overflight restrictions imposed by the United States and Europe. These restrictions have derailed plans to launch direct air routes between the two countries, eliminating the most efficient travel option for Russian visitors.

    In the period after direct connections were halted, indirect travel via Cuban airspace offered a limited workaround for Russian tour operators and travelers. Collado confirmed, however, that shifting circumstances in Cuba have now made this indirect route unviable, leaving the Dominican Republic without a reliable pathway to welcome large volumes of Russian tourists. Despite these challenges, the minister noted that Russian travel industry players have remained engaged, with consistent communication reaching Dominican authorities from operators eager to restart packaged travel to the country’s popular beach and resort destinations.

    Collado also highlighted a small win for the nation’s international tourism recovery, confirming that commercial air operations between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela have officially resumed. Even with this progress, he emphasized that restoring access to the Russian market remains a non-negotiable priority for the sector. Prior to the suspension of air links, the Dominican Republic welcomed roughly 500,000 Russian tourists annually, making Russia one of the largest source markets for the country’s tourism-dependent economy.

    The sharp drop in Russian visitor numbers stems from a convergence of multiple overlapping factors beyond just airspace restrictions. The ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine has reshaped global travel regulations for Russian operators and travelers. Additionally, long-haul flight operations face sustained economic and logistical headwinds, Russian airlines face broad international sanctions that limit their operations, and shifting economic conditions in both Russia and the Dominican Republic have added further complexity to restarting the market. With Russia located more than 11,000 kilometers from the Caribbean nation, developing a workable travel solution will require creative navigation of ongoing geopolitical and economic barriers.

  • Fire at Puerto Plata hotel under control; tourism returns to normal

    Fire at Puerto Plata hotel under control; tourism returns to normal

    In the Dominican Republic’s Puerto Plata province, a blaze that broke out at the Senator Hotels & Resorts complex has been fully extinguished, brought under control by the swift, coordinated action of multiple local emergency and public safety agencies. This update was shared by Atahualpa Paulino, regional director for the northern zone of the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Tourism (Mitur).

    Paulino clarified key details to ease public and tourist concern: the section of the complex impacted by the fire was an unoccupied, shuttered hotel building that had no guests staying on-site at the time of the incident. As a result, there have been zero reported fatalities or injuries linked to the blaze. Critically, the fire did not spread to the complex’s two operating properties — Senator Bachata and Senator Puerto Plata — both of which remain open and continue welcoming guests as usual, with all regular services uninterrupted.

    In his official remarks, Paulino extended public gratitude to every agency and group that contributed to the emergency response. The full roster of participants includes the Maimón and Puerto Plata Fire Departments, Dominican Civil Defense, Tourist Police (Politur), the National Police, the Dominican Republic Air Force (FARD), the National Emergency and Security System 9-1-1, Ambar Rescue, Maimón municipal district mayor Divison Sánchez, and on-site staff from Senator Hotels & Resorts. Paulino emphasized that the rapid cross-agency coordination was the key factor that allowed response teams to get the fire under control quickly, limiting risk to people and preventing the blaze from spreading to adjacent active tourist facilities.

    In a formal statement, Paulino reaffirmed that both the Maimón municipal district and the broader Puerto Plata province remain safe, fully functional tourist destinations. All tourism and hospitality operations across the region are continuing as normal, while designated investigative authorities launch a formal probe into the cause of the fire and conduct a full assessment of the material damage sustained by the closed property.