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  • Julius Espat Clashes with UDP Over Flood-damaged Highway

    Julius Espat Clashes with UDP Over Flood-damaged Highway

    What was once a debate over the structural resilience of a flood-battered Belizean highway has erupted into a sharp public political clash, with ruling party infrastructure minister Julius Espat hitting back at opposition claims that the government misrepresented cost savings on the 2023 Coastal Plain Highway project.

    After heavy floodwaters damaged multiple stretches of the Coastal Plain Highway earlier this year, the United Democratic Party (UDP) ramped up criticism of the government’s handling of the project, arguing the highway’s compromised condition proves the ruling party’s reported cost savings were either misleading or misallocated – questioning why a newly opened route suffered such severe damage from seasonal flooding.

    But in a recent public address carried on local television, Espat pushed back firmly against the opposition’s claims, labeling the criticism a cynical political distortion of facts. “That is politics. You twist the truth to suit your needs,” Espat said, pushing back on the UDP’s claim that the government originally advertised $28 million in total project savings on the highway. “At no time did we say we saved twenty-eight million dollars on the Coastal Highway, at no time.”

    Breaking down the project’s budget structure for the public, Espat explained that the savings in question came from unspent contingency funds set aside during construction. All major infrastructure contracts include layered budget allocations: core construction costs, administrative overhead, social impact mitigation, warranty reserves, and a contingency buffer reserved to address unforeseen issues that arise during building work. These contingency funds are held in partnership with international financial institutions (IFIs) that fund many of Belize’s large infrastructure projects, and require formal approval to reallocate if they go unused.

    Espat confirmed that during the Coastal Plain Highway’s construction, no unexpected complications emerged that required drawing on the contingency reserve. Rather than leaving the funds idle, the ministry successfully requested approval from IFIs to reallocate the unused contingency to upgrade two critical secondary access routes: paving the Manatee entrance road and the connection to Mollins River. That reallocation, he said, is the full extent of the “savings” the government referenced in prior briefings in 2023 and 2024, not broad, across-the-board cuts to the main highway project that would have compromised structural integrity.

    The Coastal Plain Highway, a key transport link connecting multiple communities along Belize’s coast, was officially opened to public use in 2023. The flood damage that sparked the current dispute occurred in recent months, reigniting long-running political tensions over infrastructure investment and government budget transparency in the country. This report is adapted from a transcribed broadcast of local evening news programming.

  • Undercover Inspections Hit Shops Amid Price Gouging Complaints

    Undercover Inspections Hit Shops Amid Price Gouging Complaints

    As soaring living costs push more consumers to struggle with skyrocketing checkout prices, national regulators in Belize have announced a major shift in enforcement strategy to crack down on widespread price gouging. Amid a steady surge in consumer complaints about unfair pricing on essential goods, the Supplies Control Unit (SCU) is rolling out an aggressive, proactive overhaul of its monitoring operations: expanding its workforce, opening new regional offices across the country, and replacing its old complaint-only model with routine surprise undercover inspections designed to catch pricing violations in real time.

    Speaking on the new approach, SCU Controller Lennox Nicholson explained that the shift follows a critical policy change from several years prior that vastly expanded the unit’s regulatory authority. Under the agency’s previous structure, regulators were only empowered to oversee a narrow subset of consumer goods, leaving most potential price gouging cases unaddressed. Even when members of the public reported suspicious pricing, the SCU was often forced to inform complainants that the product in question fell outside its jurisdiction, leaving unfair practices unchallenged.

    “That all changed when the list of regulated goods was expanded,” Nicholson noted. “Now we have broader authority, greater responsibility, and the ability to intervene across a far wider range of essential products that consumers rely on every day.” While the agency is working to encourage the public to resume reporting suspicious pricing activity, it has proactively integrated random surprise inspections into its regular schedule, maintaining a consistent visible and undercover presence in retail spaces across the country. Unlike the old system that only responded to complaints, the SCU now conducts checks even when no public reports have been filed, making market fairness an ongoing priority rather than a reactive measure.

    The agency’s geographic expansion has also drastically improved its ability to enforce rules consistently. Previously, all personnel were based in the capital city of Belmopan, requiring long travel times to reach northern districts like Orange Walk and Corozal and delaying inspections. Now, with local staff based in regional offices, regulators can respond quickly and check retail locations far more frequently.

    When selecting which establishments to inspect, the SCU prioritizes two key groups to maximize public protection: high-traffic retailers that serve large volumes of consumers, and smaller, less visible businesses where the risk of non-compliance with pricing rules is typically higher. The new enforcement push comes as growing numbers of Belizean consumers report feeling financial strain from ongoing cost of living increases, making fair pricing for essential goods a top public priority.

    This report is adapted from a transcribed transcript of an evening television newscast from Belize.

  • Belize’s 2026 Sugar Cane Crop Closes Earlier than Expected

    Belize’s 2026 Sugar Cane Crop Closes Earlier than Expected

    Belize’s $120 million sugar cane industry has announced an early close to its 2026 growing season, cutting the harvest short by several weeks to address a cascade of interconnected challenges that have derailed production targets for the year. The official end of harvesting operations is scheduled for June 21, more than two months ahead of the typical season close, after farmers and mill operators agreed that remaining unharvested cane could not be profitably or practically collected given current constraints.

    For small and large-scale sugar cane producers across the country, this decision brings a mix of relief and lingering anxiety. The 2026 season has been one of the most difficult in recent memory, marked by soaring input costs, unpredictable weather patterns, widespread pest infestations, labor shortages, and unexpected processing disruptions at the country’s sugar mills. Industry stakeholders convened a crisis meeting earlier this week to evaluate the remaining cane in the fields and weigh the costs of continuing harvest against potential returns, ultimately reaching a unanimous decision to wrap operations early.

    Vladimir Puck, Chairman of the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association (CSCPA), explained that labor shortages have emerged as the most persistent and crippling barrier to production, a challenge the industry has faced for nearly three years running. “The biggest issue we’re grappling with right now is a lack of available cane cutters,” Puck shared in an interview. “Even without other problems, that single issue would hold us back. On top of that, the mill also experienced unexpected mechanical breakdowns during the season, which further slowed processing and created backlogs that we can’t make up at this point.”

    Olivia Carballo-Avilez, Cane Farmer Relations Manager for Belize Sugar Industries (BSI), outlined the gap between initial projections and final production numbers. When the season launched in January, stakeholders forecast total cane deliveries of just under 1 million tons. As of the week of the early close announcement, total deliveries hit roughly 815,000 tons, falling far short of the target. Recent heavy rainfall has turned field conditions muddy and impassable for harvesting crews, with only 20,000 to 25,000 additional tons deemed accessible even with extended operations. These poor field conditions have also disrupted factory processing schedules, creating additional pressure to end the season early. “We sat down together as stakeholders and made the collective decision to close the crop based on the realities we’re facing on the ground,” Carballo-Avilez noted.

    The 2026 season was launched with high hopes and major public investment: at the opening ceremony in January, Prime Minister John Briceño announced a $120 million industry-wide revitalization plan, including $3 million earmarked directly to support smallholder farmers. Briceño emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening the sugar sector, which is a cornerstone of Belize’s rural economy, by placing the Ministry of Sugar directly under his oversight and launching a coordinated plan to address longstanding industry issues alongside producer associations and BSI.

    Not all outcomes from the 2026 season are negative. Farmers report that overall cane quality has improved thanks to technical support from the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI), resulting in higher sugar output per ton of harvested cane that partially offsets lower total production volumes. Even so, industry leaders warn that urgent intervention is needed to avoid a repeat of poor production results in the 2027 season.

    Alfredo Ortega, Vice Chairman of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA), explained that growing pest infestations are already threatening next year’s crop, and many small-scale producers cannot afford the cost of pest control treatments on their own. “Right now, we’re seeing rising infestation rates across multiple cane fields,” Ortega explained. “If we don’t address this immediately, we’ll see a sharp drop in cane quality for the next crop. The current payments farmers receive don’t cover the cost of spraying for pests, so we’re waiting on the government, SIRDI and CRESAP to roll out a support program to provide these resources to producers.”

    Puck added that mealybug infestations have hit cane fields particularly hard this year, and the problem has not improved despite ongoing efforts to manage it. Shifting weather patterns and widespread yellowing cane have further compounded pest pressures, creating a growing set of threats that the industry has yet to bring under control. While farmers remain cautiously optimistic that targeted support will help them turn around production for the 2027 season, widespread uncertainty remains about the sector’s near-term trajectory. This report was compiled by Britney Gordon for News Five.

  • Belize Talks El Niño, Hurricanes, and Sargassum

    Belize Talks El Niño, Hurricanes, and Sargassum

    As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane and Atlantic warm season gets underway, climate threats have emerged as an urgent priority for Belize, prompting national stakeholders to gather for coordinated preparedness action. On June 18, 2026, the country held its annual National Climate Outlook Forum, bringing together farmers, disaster management officials, public health representatives and other key groups to align on the three interconnected climate hazards set to test the nation over the coming months: a moderate-to-strong El Niño event, above-average hurricane risk, and a far worse than average sargassum influx.

    Leading the forum was Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon, who explained that the meeting served far more purpose than simply sharing seasonal forecasts. Instead, the event was designed to bring all sectors up to speed on expected conditions, assess the potential impact of climate hazards on each industry, and collect stakeholder feedback to improve the national meteorological service’s future support for local communities.

    “While many outside experts are referring to this event as a ‘super El Niño’, our service anticipates a moderate to strong event that is already confirmed to be developing,” Gordon noted in his address to attendees. “The primary expected impact for Belize is an extended dry spell and widespread rainfall scarcity through the season, but that does not rule out extreme short-period heavy downpours like the severe storms we saw across the country just last week.”

    On the hurricane front, official seasonal projections point to lower-than-average total cyclone activity across the Atlantic basin this year. But Gordon emphasized that even one landfalling hurricane can cause catastrophic damage to Belize’s coastal communities and infrastructure, stressing that preparedness remains non-negotiable regardless of overall basin activity.

    Compounding the two well-documented climate threats is an already severe sargassum season, with national officials warning that unusually warm surface waters in the Atlantic will continue driving massive algal blooms to Belize’s coasts well past August. Weekly monitoring alerts are already tracking major coastal impacts from the invasive sargassum, which harms tourism, disrupts fishing, degrades coastal ecosystems, and creates public health risks for coastal communities.

    Gordon added that continuous stakeholder engagement is a core part of the meteorological service’s ongoing work to upgrade its climate services. “We have rolled out multiple new initiatives and projects to improve the support we deliver to the public and sector leaders, but we can only do that effectively if we check in regularly to make sure we are meeting their needs,” he said. “This forum is how we get on the same page, address gaps, and make sure the whole country is ready to respond when hazards hit.”

  • Hundreds of Police Officers Honored for Bravery and Dedication

    Hundreds of Police Officers Honored for Bravery and Dedication

    On a sweltering June afternoon in 2026, hundreds of police officers from every corner of Belize assembled in crisp ceremonial formation at the Police Training Academy’s Parade Square, gathered not for a routine deployment or emergency response, but for a long-overdue moment of national recognition. The special ceremony was organized to celebrate the discipline, dedication, and extraordinary public service that have kept Belizean communities safe for years, shining a well-deserved spotlight on officers who have gone above and beyond the standard requirements of their roles.

    Local journalist Paul Lopez of News Five attended the event and filed this on-the-ground report. Braving blistering mid-afternoon heat, the uniformed officers stood shoulder to shoulder at attention, their ranks filled with personnel who have spent decades committed to protecting Belize and its people. Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Commissioner of Police ACP Bart Jones opened by framing the event as anything but a typical workday for the force. “Today is not an ordinary day. It is one of recognition, gratitude and pride,” Jones said. “It is a day when we as an institution pause to recognize the men and women who have given years of faithful service, discipline and courageous service to the people of Belize and this cannot be overstated.”

    Police Commissioner Dr. Richard Rosado expanded on that sentiment, noting that the awards and medals being handed out were only a symbol of a far more important value: the quiet sacrifice and unwavering commitment that defines outstanding policing. “Today, we gather not merely to present medals and awards, but to celebrate something far greater, the enduring service, the spirit of sacrifice and the commitment that define the very best of policing,” Rosado explained. “In the life of a police officer there are countless moments that pass unnoticed by the public eye, moments when courage is chosen over comfort, moments when duty is placed over public convenience, moments when men and women answer a call, step into uncertainty and stand between order and disorder.”

    The ceremony recognized a range of achievements across the force. Many officers were honored for decades of continuous long service, with some marking more than 20 years in uniform and a handful reaching the exceptional milestone of 30 years of public service. Other awards went to officers with spotless, discipline-free records, while special commendations were reserved for those who had demonstrated extraordinary bravery or effort beyond their assigned duties. In addition to service awards, more than a dozen sitting sergeants received promotions to the rank of inspector, with senior leadership officially pinning their new badges during the event.

    Oscar Mira, Belize’s Minister of Home Affairs, addressed the gathered officers, emphasizing the critical role the police force plays in the country’s ongoing growth and stability. “Men and women from every district, town and city, have dedicated themselves to supporting our national development, protecting communities, safeguarding trade, supporting industries and promoting safe environments that allow our nation to prosper,” Mira said. “Throughout the development of Belize, the Belize Police Department has remained an essential pillar of governance and national stability. Today I simply say thank you for your service.” Mira added that alongside recognizing milestones of long service and good conduct, it was critical to honor officers who had distinguished themselves through exceptional performance that went beyond the call of duty.

    As the ceremony drew to a close, the full contingent of officers marched off the parade square to enthusiastic applause from the hundreds of family members, friends, and fellow law enforcement colleagues who had gathered to watch the event. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez. This report is a transcript of an evening television broadcast prepared by the outlet’s news team.

  • Coast Guard Salutes Dads in Uniform with Special Appreciation Luncheon

    Coast Guard Salutes Dads in Uniform with Special Appreciation Luncheon

    On June 18, ahead of Father’s Day, the Belize Coast Guard paused its critical maritime security operations to recognize a less talked about role that more than 100 of its service members fill every day: fatherhood.

    Held at the service’s headquarters, the first-of-its-kind Father’s Day Appreciation Luncheon brought together uniformed fathers from across ranks to step away from patrol schedules, operational duties and the constant demand of their national security mandate, to celebrate their dual commitment to country and family.

    For Belize’s coast guards, duty does not follow a standard 9-to-5 workweek. Tasked with protecting the nation’s territorial waters, countering smuggling, and conducting search and rescue operations, personnel spend weeks at sea away from home, missing countless milestones that most parents take for granted. Belize Coast Guard Commandant Rear Admiral Gregory Soberanis, himself a father in service, spelled out the unique sacrifice these men make.

    “The sacrifice that we make as military personnel is significant. The time spent away from home, away from your family, there are key moments that you miss at times where the regular citizen can enjoy an eight to five job more or less. That’s not our timeframe. We are always on the go because of the mandate that we have. So you find that many of our or all of our fathers really spend a lot of time away from home. And so it’s those moments, those family moments, whether it’s a graduation whether it’s a birthday or a family gathering, we can’t always be there,” Soberanis said.

    Yet even with these unpredictable, demanding schedules, the majority of father-service members maintain active, loving roles in their children’s lives, a commitment organizers said has long gone unrecognized publicly. The luncheon was designed as a small but meaningful gesture to shine a light on that double dedication: to protecting Belize’s borders, and nurturing their own families back on shore.

    For Rigoberto Rivas, a Chief Petty Officer with 25 years of service in the Belize Coast Guard and a father of five, the recognition felt like a long-overdue honor. “To be recognized as a father is a great pleasure for me because it’s a big responsibility. And apart from that, it’s a pleasure, to be a father. I am pleasure to be a father of five and a husband, [to] a lovely wife. And apart from that, like I said, as a leader as well, it’s a pleasure for me to be here standing after twenty-five years of service. To my wife back home and my lovely kids, I love you all,” Rivas shared in a heartfelt address to attendees.

    The afternoon was filled with casual fellowship: attendees shared stories from their careers and family lives, enjoyed friendly competitions, and exchanged words of encouragement for one another. Beyond honoring the fathers in uniform, the event also shone a light on the quiet work of the families who support service members through long deployments and missed holidays.

    Soberanis emphasized that the commitment these fathers make extends far beyond their own homes, directly strengthening the coast guard’s ability to keep Belize safe. “Fathers today, we honor them, we highlight their commitment to duty. We highlight their selfless service, and we also highlight what they bring to the table when it comes to the execution of operations for the safety, security, and naval defense for the country of Belize,” he said.

    This report was compiled by Shane Williams for Belize’s News Five, from a transcript of the outlet’s original evening television broadcast.

  • Tourism posts strong growth in 2025, driven by higher occupancy, revenue

    Tourism posts strong growth in 2025, driven by higher occupancy, revenue

    Barbados’ tourism sector closed out 2025 with robust, broad-based growth, fueled by swelling international visitor demand, climbing hospitality pricing, and targeted industry investment that reinforced the sector’s position as the island nation’s primary economic engine, according to the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA).

    In his annual general meeting address, BHTA CEO Senator Ryan Forde highlighted the industry’s remarkable resilience in the face of ongoing global economic volatility, noting that tourism has anchored 19 consecutive quarters of national economic expansion. A deep dive into 2025 performance metrics reveals consistent gains across all key industry indicators: hotel occupancy climbed from 63.8% in 2024 to 65.2% last year, while the average daily room rate (ADR) jumped 13.7% from $631.81 to $718.19. This combination of higher occupancy and stronger pricing pushed revenue per available room (RevPAR) – a critical benchmark for hospitality performance – up nearly 16% year-over-year, from $40.79 to $487.17.

    Targeted efforts to boost visitation during the traditional low summer shoulder season also delivered tangible results. Average occupancy between May and October hit 55.2%, a 2.9% improvement over 2024, with only September recording occupancy below the 50% threshold. “Tourism is built on the full visitor experience, not any single offering,” Forde said. “We will continue to lead the nation’s growth as we balance an unprecedented wave of new developments, property refurbishments, and experience upgrades, all while navigating ongoing global geopolitical tensions.”

    Beyond core performance gains, the BHTA rolled out several transformative industry initiatives in 2025. The flagship project is the new Bajan Harvest Hub, developed with funding from a competitive regional grant awarded through Compete Caribbean. Led by BHTA’s Greg Alleyne, the hub operates as a coordinated, climate-resilient, demand-driven supply network that connects local farmers and packing facilities directly to hospitality buyers via structured planning and digital tools, fundamentally strengthening linkages between the agriculture and tourism sectors.

    The association also completed a full rebranding and expansion of the BHTA Tourism Fund, a program first launched in the early 2000s. Under the leadership of project lead Sade Deane, the overhaul expanded the fund’s eligibility to cover all BHTA membership categories, resolving longstanding issues around brand alignment and low participation. In community outreach, the association launched the Adopt-A-School Futsal Tournament, spearheaded by Tessalee Moore and Rianna Taylor. The event brought industry stakeholders together in the slow period following the annual Crop Over festival, raising more than $30,000 to fund critical school supplies and infrastructure including water tanks, projectors, fans, and football nets.

    Membership growth also reflected the BHTA’s expanding influence, with 39 new organizations joining the association in 2025. Forde projected further membership expansion in 2026, driven by the upcoming opening of three major new hospitality properties: Hotel Indigo, Royalton Vessence Barbados, and the Blue Monkey Hotel and Beach Club. He credited the association’s aggressive advocacy work for both strong retention and new recruitment, noting that efforts have already secured partial policy wins in the national government budget. The budget reallocated oversight of the car rental industry to the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, enabling the sector to access specialized support, while standalone restaurants secured enhanced concessional assistance to improve their global competitiveness. “I say partial because we are still working through the operational details of these changes with the Ministry of Finance,” Forde explained. “We are hopeful that the minister and his team can finalize the guidelines and launch implementation early this quarter.”

    Over the past year, the BHTA also prioritized aggressive international destination marketing, sending delegations to nine major global trade shows across the United Kingdom, the U.S., Canada, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. A high-level delegation including Forde, representatives from Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), and private sector operators attended the TEAMS Sports Tourism Conference in Ohio, where the team secured promising leads for destination-based sporting events across volleyball, wrestling, futsal, and cheerleading. Forde confirmed that Barbados has already won the bid to host the 2027 World Bridge tournament in September 2025, an event expected to draw between 2,500 and 4,000 international attendees.

    At the World Travel Market in London, U.K. travel operators reaffirmed Barbados’ position as a top destination in its market segment, praising the hundreds of millions of dollars in ongoing investment in property renovations and new hotel developments. In a major regional win, a joint bid by the BHTA, BTMI, and Barbados’ Ministry of Tourism secured hosting rights for the 2026 Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), CSHAE, and Taste of the Caribbean in November 2026, as well as Marketplace 45 in May 2027.

    The BHTA also saw explosive growth in its digital and public outreach in 2025: total social media impressions hit 3,749,067, a 210.1% year-over-year increase, while total follower count across Facebook, Instagram, and the newly launched professional LinkedIn page grew 30% to more than 14,000.

    Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, Forde acknowledged that headwinds including rising oil prices, airline industry volatility, and geopolitical tensions have introduced some uncertainty for both consumer and business spending. But he emphasized that the sector’s collective approach positions it to continue growing. “External pressures build year after year, but the resilience of the Barbados economy is rooted in the strength of our people,” Forde said. “An individualistic ‘I’ or ‘me’ mindset cannot survive tough times in a dynamic industry like tourism. Instead, we rely on a collective ‘we’ and ‘us’ mindset, as we face challenges and seize opportunities together… The Decade of Change continues.”

  • Derde helft WK 2026: Canada dominant in 6-0 zege op Qatar

    Derde helft WK 2026: Canada dominant in 6-0 zege op Qatar

    In a dominant Group Stage display on Canadian soil in Vancouver, the Canadian men’s national soccer team delivered a stunning 6-0 blowout defeat to Qatar, cementing its place at the top of Group B and pushing Qatar to the brink of tournament elimination. Entering the match with one point from its opening fixture, Canada grabbed control of the contest from the first whistle, applying relentless high pressure that left Qatar’s defense scrambling for answers from the opening minutes.

    The first dangerous chance came in the 6th minute, when Richie Laryea won possession in a dangerous attacking area, setting up a corner that nearly broke the deadlock two minutes later. Jonathan David connected with a sharp volley at the far post, but Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada pulled off a spectacular reflex save to keep the match level. It was only a temporary reprieve for Qatar, as Canada broke through in the 17th minute. Alistair Johnston pulled the ball back from the byline with a perfectly weighted cross into the penalty area, David fired a low strike that Abunada could only parry, and striker Cyle Larin slotted the loose rebound into the open net to put Canada ahead and spark wild celebrations in the Vancouver stadium.

    Canada’s momentum only grew from there. Just three minutes after opening the scoring, Jonathan David doubled the lead with a brilliant volley into the bottom corner, after a Tajon Buchanan strike deflected off a Qatar defender right into his path. Visibly shaken by the rapid start, Qatar’s discipline collapsed in the 32nd minute, when defender Homam Al Amin clipped Buchanan to the ground just outside the penalty area. After a video assistant referee (VAR) review, Al Amin was shown a red card, reducing Qatar to 10 men just a third of the way through the match.

    Even down a player, Qatar fought to limit the damage, clearing multiple Canadian chances off the goal line – including a last-second clearance to deny Buchanan’s headed effort. But the Canadians found a third goal just before halftime. Larin powered a header that forced another world-class save from Abunada, and David was first to the rebound, tapping it in from close range to send Canada into halftime with a comfortable 3-0 advantage.

    The downhill spiral for Qatar continued early in the second half. When Assim Omer Madibo delivered a hard tackle that left Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone injured, VAR review handed Madibo a second red card for Qatar, dropping the side to just nine players and marking the fifth red card issued across the tournament to that point. With a two-man numerical advantage, Canada controlled possession completely, and Qatar’s fatigued defense continued to crack.

    In the 64th minute, Nathan Saliba extended Canada’s lead to 4-0 with a perfectly struck free kick that curled off the post and into the back of the net. The match became a nightmare for Qatar in the 75th minute, when an attempted clearance by under-pressure defender Mohammad Al Mannai deflected off substitute Jacob Shaffelburg and bounced into his own net, pushing the scoreline to 5-0.

    Deep into stoppage time, Jonathan David capped off a historic performance by completing his hat trick. He controlled a loose ball from Saliba’s attempt, turned quickly past a defender, and coolly slid the ball past Abunada to lock in the 6-0 final score. Canada came close to adding a seventh goal moments later, but a cross just eluded a jumping Larin and was cleared away. In the final seconds, Qatar played the ball back to Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, who was met with cheers from the home crowd.

    With the win, Canada moves to four points from two group matches, putting the side firmly on track to advance to the next round of the tournament. For Qatar, the heavy defeat and two red cards leave the side in a precarious position, requiring an improbable result in its final group fixture to have any chance of qualification.

  • Tourism growth continues with strong arrivals, industry transition

    Tourism growth continues with strong arrivals, industry transition

    Barbados’ tourism sector has cemented its robust post-pandemic rebound, with record-breaking visitor numbers and soaring hotel revenue outperforming many competing Caribbean destinations. However, this positive momentum is tempered by growing industry tensions, as outgoing and incoming leadership of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) warn of exploitative practices from major global online travel platforms that threaten the long-term profitability of local accommodation providers.

    Newly released industry data confirms that 2025 closed with 727,310 long-stay visitors and 817,950 cruise passenger arrivals, marking a steady climb back to pre-pandemic visitation levels. This upward trend has carried into the first quarter of 2026, with the island already logging 214,944 stayover guests and 473,960 cruise visitors through March. Global hotel industry analytics firm STR reports that while occupancy rates saw a small year-over-year dip between January and March 2026, average daily room rates (ADR) jumped 16.4%, pushing revenue per available room (RevPAR) up 12.5% overall. The strong results prove the island’s ability to command premium pricing in a crowded luxury travel market.

    The performance announcement coincided with the final address of outgoing BHTA chairman Javon Griffith, who will step down from the role on July 1 after 22 years working in Barbados’ hospitality industry. In his closing remarks, Griffith emphasized that tourism is far more than an economic driver for the island nation: it is a core reflection of Barbadian identity, he argued, showcasing local warmth, creativity, and resilience to global visitors. He credited the strong visitor numbers and revenue gains to the collective work of every BHTA member, noting that Barbados has positioned itself to compete on quality rather than cutthroat pricing – a strategy that is clearly paying off.

    Supporting this growth trajectory is an expanded airlift schedule for the upcoming 2026/27 winter travel season, which runs from October 2026 through April 2027. Across 20 partner airlines, Barbados will offer more than 1.1 million total seats across 8,264 incoming flights. The United Kingdom remains the largest long-haul source market, accounting for 32.3% of total capacity (358,732 seats) led by major carriers British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. The U.S. will contribute 192,402 seats, while Canada adds 110,316 seats, boosted by a new Air Canada route out of Halifax. Regionally, the Caribbean holds the largest overall share of seat capacity at 34.6% (383,608 seats), with interCaribbean Airways and Caribbean Airlines strengthening intra-regional connectivity. Emerging source markets are also gaining traction: Germany’s Condor has allocated 31,000 seats for the season, and Copa Airlines has expanded its Panama-Barbados corridor by 31.2% to tap into growing Latin American visitor demand.

    This expanded air access has paired with a wave of private sector reinvestment and new hotel development across the island. The Royalton Vessence Barbados, constructed on the site of the old Discovery Bay Hotel, opened a full month ahead of schedule and has already emerged as a major success story for the sector. Multiple other properties are advancing renovation and reopening plans: Turtle Beach Resort welcomed guests starting June 1, Tamarind Resort is scheduled to resume operations on August 1, and large-scale transformation projects are ongoing at Pendry Barbados, Hyatt Ziva Barbados, and Beaches Barbados. The entire Marriott Barbados Collection is on track to fully reopen by the end of summer 2026, adding 605 fully renovated rooms and suites to the island’s accommodation stock.

    Despite the overwhelmingly positive outlook, BHTA leadership is sounding the alarm over growing challenges from online travel distribution, specifically targeting global booking giant Booking.com. The association accuses the platform of leveraging its dominant market position to impose unsustainable commission rates and lopsided commercial terms on local hotels, with penalties including reduced visibility and lower search ranking for properties that refuse to comply. To push back against these practices, the BHTA has rolled out a four-part strategic response: it is urging all member properties to carefully audit any new contractual terms from the platform, accelerating investment in direct booking technology to reduce reliance on third-party intermediaries, building a unified regional coalition with other Caribbean tourism destinations including Grenada, and engaging the Barbadian government to review whether the platform’s practices violate local fair competition regulations.

    Griffith stressed that the BHTA’s stance is non-negotiable: “We will not stand by while the commercial foundations of this industry are quietly eroded by any single platform, however large, however globally indispensable it may appear. Commission structures must not become the mechanism by which a global technology company quietly extracts the profitability from the very businesses it purports to support.”

    In addition to the platform dispute, the BHTA is calling on Barbados’ Ministry of Finance and Barbados Revenue Authority to release immediate clear guidance on duty-free concession processes for local car rental operators, which are expecting new replacement vehicle fleets to arrive later this month.

    As Griffith prepares to hand over the leadership role – a position he held as the youngest chairman in BHTA history – he reflected on his decades in the industry, calling his tenure as BHTA chairman the greatest professional honor of his career. He passed the role to Kelly-Ann Payne, multi-property human resources director for the Marriott Barbados Collection, with a message of confidence: “The torch now passes to new leadership. And I pass it with immense pride, with complete confidence and with the absolute, unshakeable certainty that the greatest chapter in Barbados tourism has not yet been written. It is still ahead of us.”

  • Belize Launches Inclusive Education Coach Training

    Belize Launches Inclusive Education Coach Training

    Against a global backdrop of advancing equitable education for all learners, the Central American nation of Belize has introduced an ambitious nationwide program designed to embed inclusive education principles into its education system and bolster targeted support for students with special education needs and disabilities (SEND).

    The project is led by Belize’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology (MoECST), with strategic partnership and funding support from two major international education bodies: the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). Implemented under the umbrella of the IDB’s Skills for the Future Program, the initiative centers on upskilling educators through comprehensive training in inclusive teaching practices and the design of customized Individual Education Plans (IEPs) tailored to each student’s unique needs.

    The program’s foundational first phase kicked off with 55 participating teachers and Special Education Officers, who are working to earn professional certification as Special and Inclusive Education Coaches. This opening stage of training takes the form of a week-long intensive residential program, split between two of Belize’s leading education institutions: the University of Belize in the capital city of Belmopan, and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institute in Belize City.

    After the conclusion of in-person instructional sessions, participating trainees will continue their professional development journey through a structured blend of online coursework and one-on-one mentorship. This extended learning phase is designed to reinforce core competencies and ensure coaches are prepared to provide ongoing, hands-on support to schools across the country.

    Once fully trained, the new cohort of coaches will establish a interconnected national support network. Their core mandate will be to guide frontline classroom teachers, share evidence-based best practices for inclusive instruction, and drive the transformation of learning spaces into accessible, welcoming environments that accommodate the needs of all learners regardless of ability.

    Over the full lifecycle of the initiative, program leaders aim to deliver inclusive education training to more than 500 teachers across Belize. This scaled-up training is expected to build a more robust, sustainable foundation for equitable learning opportunities that are accessible to every student in the country.

    Government education officials note that the new initiative underscores Belize’s long-standing commitment to upholding the principle of inclusive education, and aligns the country’s national education strategy with widely accepted international development goals that affirm universal access to education as a fundamental human right. With financial and technical backing from the IDB’s Skills for the Future Program and GPE grant funding, Belize is actively expanding its national capacity to ensure that students with all types of diverse learning needs receive the targeted support they require to thrive academically and socially.