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Falcons Edge Kingsmen by Two Wickets in Final-Ball CPL Thriller

The 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) kicked off with a heart-stopping opener that had cricket fans on the edge of their seats, as the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons pulled off a dramatic two-wicket victory over competition debutants Jamaica Kingsmen, clinching the win on the very final delivery of the match while chasing a 168-run target.

The day’s story began when Falcons captain won the toss and opted to field first, a strategic call that would pay dividends by the end of the contest. From the first over, Jamaica got off to a blistering start: opener Reeza Hendricks hammered 42 runs off just 25 deliveries, and incoming captain Rovman Powell carried the momentum forward to finish as the innings’ top scorer with 47. The Falcons’ bowling attack, however, flipped the script in the middle overs, tightening their lines and lengths to choke Jamaica’s run flow and break critical partnerships.

Antiguan pace spearhead Alzarri Joseph was the standout performer with the ball, claiming three key wickets that devastated Jamaica’s middle order and derailed their batting momentum. Fast bowler Jayden Seales and spinner Usama Mir backed him up with tight, economical spells that kept the Kingsmen’s run rate in check. Late-order contributions from Hassan Khan and Keemo Paul pushed Jamaica to a competitive final total of 167 for 7, setting a challenging target that would test the Falcons’ batting depth.

In the chase, first-time CPL batsman Tajinder Singh anchored the Falcons’ innings with a sensational composed half-century, scoring 62 runs off just 37 deliveries. He built a match-defining third-wicket partnership with Tim Robinson, who chipped in with 40 runs to put the Falcons firmly in control of the contest. With fewer than 20 runs still needed in the closing overs and multiple wickets in hand, Antigua and Barbuda looked set to cruise to a straightforward victory.

But the debutant Kingsmen refused to fold. Bowlers Keemo Paul, Andre Russell and Hunain Shah turned the tide with a stunning late fightback, picking up key wickets and applying relentless pressure that dragged the contest all the way to the final delivery of the match. Entering the last ball, the Falcons still needed two runs to secure the win. All-rounder Shamar Springer stepped up to the pressure, squeezing the ball into the outfield and allowing his side to scramble the winning runs, finishing the innings on 168 for 8.

For his match-winning three-wicket haul, Alzarri Joseph was named Player of the Match. The result hands the Falcons their first three points of the 2024 CPL season and gives them a momentum-boosting winning start to their campaign, while the Jamaica Kingsmen are left to reflect on a near-perfect debut that fell just one run short of a fairy tale opening win.

8 8 月, 2026
Paul wants modern, climate-resilient health centre for Salisbury

During this week’s parliamentary debate on the 2026/2027 National Budget, opposition leader and Salisbury Member of Parliament Jesma Paul-Victor has delivered a forceful call for the national government to advance a full modernization and expansion project for the Salisbury Health Centre, arguing that local residents have long waited for access to healthcare infrastructure that meets contemporary service standards.

Paul-Victor opened her remarks by extending public praise to the entire team of healthcare professionals at the existing facility, including attending physicians, nursing staff, community health aides and all supporting administrative workers, noting that their on-the-ground commitment has kept critical services running for the Salisbury community despite the building’s growing limitations. However, she emphasized that the physical infrastructure of the current health centre has failed to evolve alongside rising public health needs and modern care standards, leaving residents underserved.

In outlining her vision for the upgraded facility, Paul-Victor proposed the construction of a new, fully accessible, climate-resilient campus that expands the scope of primary healthcare services available locally to Salisbury residents. She argued that the redeveloped centre should be reoriented as a comprehensive community wellness hub, shifting focus beyond acute treatment to prioritize proactive public health outcomes: preventive care, early disease detection, community-focused health education, and long-term management of chronic conditions, which are growing burdens across the country.

Specific improvements laid out by the opposition leader include the addition of upgraded consultation and examination rooms, expanded maternal and child health service wings, climate-controlled pharmaceutical storage facilities, and built-in accessibility features designed to accommodate senior citizens and residents living with disabilities. Paul-Victor also pushed to integrate confidential counselling programming and permanent community mental health services into the centre’s core offerings, closing a critical gap in local mental health support.

Pointing to the growing systemic and household strain caused by widespread chronic illnesses including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and obesity, Paul-Victor further called for expanded routine disease screening services, personalized nutritional counselling, and community-wide wellness programs to be hosted at the upgraded centre. To address the growing risk of extreme weather events linked to climate change, she added that the redeveloped facility must include critical resilience infrastructure: backup power generation, expanded clean water storage, emergency communication systems, and sufficient stockpiles of medical supplies to ensure the centre can remain fully operational in the aftermath of natural disasters.

8 8 月, 2026
“Mr Bertie” Dies at 109

On the morning of August 8, 2026, Belize marked the passing of one of its most enduring and beloved residents: Gilbert Winston Ellis, universally known to the community as “Mr Bertie”, who died at the age of 109, just over one month shy of his 110th birthday. His death came after several weeks of ongoing health complications, closing out a life that spanned more than a century of change across the Central American nation.\n\nIn his final days, Mr Bertie received care at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, Belize’s main public medical facility. Before his passing, clinical teams discharged him so he could spend his last hours surrounded by loved ones at home, a wish granted by both medical staff and his family.\n\nJust 11 months prior, on September 24, 2025, the entire nation joined Mr Bertie to celebrate his 109th birthday, a milestone that drew widespread attention across Belize for his remarkable longevity and gentle wisdom. When asked to share his life advice for fellow Belizeans during the celebrations, he offered a simple but profound message: “Be good… very good.”\n\nMr Bertie’s legacy extends far beyond his record-breaking lifespan. His family grew across five generations, with 19 biological children and hundreds of descendants that make up a sprawling, close-knit Belizean family. He drew strength from this large network in his later years, and was surrounded by members of his family when he passed.\n\nAs the longest-living person in Belize’s recorded history, Mr Bertie’s life represented a living link to generations of Belizean history that have shaped the modern nation. His passing brings an extraordinary chapter of Belizean life to a close, leaving behind a legacy of quiet wisdom and intergenerational connection that will be remembered across the country.

8 8 月, 2026
Who Would Want to Hack BCCAR? Investigation Underway

In a developing cybersecurity incident affecting Belize’s corporate registration infrastructure, the Belize Companies and Corporate Affairs Registry (BCCAR) has pulled its public-facing Online Business Registry System (OBRS) offline after security teams uncovered unauthorized access to stored documents during a scheduled routine maintenance check.

The breach was first detected on Tuesday, August 4, as maintenance teams were conducting standard system updates and security scans. According to an official public statement released by BCCAR this Friday, the unauthorized access was restricted solely to application documents made available through the system’s public information services, with no deeper incursion detected as of the latest update. BCCAR confirmed that while a subset of the accessed documents may hold sensitive, non-public information that could have been viewed or downloaded by unknown actors, the agency acted swiftly to take the full system offline to block any further unauthorized access to the platform.

Preliminary findings from the ongoing investigation have yielded reassuring updates on the overall integrity of BCCAR’s core infrastructure. Investigators have not found any evidence that the underlying OBRS platform, the agency’s central core registry database, core hosting servers, or privileged administrative access accounts were compromised in the incident. Furthermore, there is no indication that any official corporate registry records stored in the system have been amended, deleted, or altered by the unauthorized actors. A key point of relief for users is that no credit card information was put at risk, as the OBRS is not designed to store payment card data on its servers.

In immediate response to the breach, all accounts flagged as suspicious have been permanently disabled to prevent further malicious activity. BCCAR has also brought on external independent cybersecurity specialists to lead the formal investigation, and to conduct a full independent security validation of the entire system before it is brought back online for public use. The agency has announced a tentative timeline for restoring OBRS service, with full access expected to resume as early as Monday.

While the investigation continues, BCCAR has issued an official advisory to all businesses and regular OBRS users urging heightened vigilance against potential follow-up phishing and scam attempts. Users have been warned to monitor all incoming communications closely for suspicious emails, phone calls, or text messages that reference BCCAR, OBRS, or any information previously submitted through the online registry. The agency specifically reminded users to never share passwords, sensitive financial details, or official identity documents in response to unsolicited contact, even if the communication appears to originate from the registry itself.

8 8 月, 2026
PMC extends women’s registration

Organizers of Barbados’ Prime Minister’s Cup have announced an extension to the registration deadline for the tournament’s brand-new women’s division, as they work to reach their goal of fielding 12 competitive teams for the historic first edition of the competition. Omari Eastmond, chair of the Prime Minister’s Cup Organising Committee, confirmed the new cutoff for registration is August 9, giving interested teams and athletes additional time to sign up for the groundbreaking event.

The introduction of a women’s division marks a major milestone for the Prime Minister’s Cup, which has run for three years without an official women’s bracket. A core part of the initiative’s mission is advancing gender equity in sports, starting with equal prize purses for male and female competitors: the women’s champions will take home the same $100,000 top prize that has long been awarded to the men’s winning team. This equal pay commitment came directly from Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who rejected the original proposal of a reduced $50,000 purse for women when the new division was first announced last month.

“When they came to me and said that the Prime Minister’s Cup for men would get $100 000 and the women would receive $50 000 because they are less teams, I told them this Prime Minister will not practise gender discrimination,” Mottley stated during the tournament’s launch event. She also issued a public call to female athletes across the country, urging them to rise to the occasion and help the tournament hit its 12-team participation goal.

Eastmond echoed that call, emphasizing the far-reaching benefits of expanding opportunities for women in football beyond the pitch. “Women’s football empowers female athletes, both on and off the field. Young female players consistently report greater confidence and motivation compared to non-players,” he explained. “However, I think the biggest advantage of women’s football is breaking the stereotype that it is a male-oriented and male-dominated sport.”

Athletes interested in joining the new division can complete their registration via the official Prime Minister’s Cup Instagram page, where a direct registration link is posted in the account’s bio.

8 8 月, 2026
Brittons Hill teen reported missing

Law enforcement authorities in Barbados are turning to the general public for help in their search for a missing teenage girl from St Michael. 14-year-old Aaliyah Patricia Phillips, who resides on Villa Road in Brittons Hill, was last reported leaving her family home between midnight and 7 a.m. local time on August 5, 2026.

Investigators have released a detailed physical description of Phillips to help community members identify her. She stands around five feet tall, has a medium body frame, and a dark brown skin tone. At the time she disappeared, Phillips was wearing long, straight braided hair extensions pulled into a single ponytail. She also wears eyeglasses with brown frames; notably, one of the frame’s arms is broken and currently held together with adhesive tape. Phillips speaks with a distinct, soft Bajan accent.

Police have stressed that any piece of information, no matter how small it may seem, could prove critical to locating the teen safely. Community members who have any knowledge of Phillips’ current whereabouts are urged to reach out to law enforcement through multiple dedicated contact channels. These include the Hastings/Worthings Police Station at the phone numbers 430-7608 or 430-7614, the national police emergency hotline at 211, Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 1-800-TIPS (8477), or any local police station across the country.

8 8 月, 2026
Paul-Victor gives government high marks for overall capital spending-but flags weak ministries

In a sharp, nuanced assessment of Dominica’s 2025-2026 national budget delivered during parliamentary debate this week, Opposition Leader Jesma Paul-Victor has extended rare public praise to the ruling administration for hitting an almost 98 percent overall implementation rate for the national Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP), while simultaneously calling out deep, problematic disparities in capital budget execution across individual government ministries.

Paul-Victor broke down the official fiscal figures for the debate, noting that the total approved PSIP allocation for the 2025-2026 fiscal cycle came out to roughly 661.66 million Eastern Caribbean dollars. When all revised spending was tallied, actual expenditure landed at approximately 650.24 million Eastern Caribbean dollars, pushing the aggregate implementation rate to 98.3 percent. This strong headline figure, she acknowledged, gives the sitting Cabinet legitimate ground to claim it has delivered on its overarching capital investment commitments to the public.

But the opposition leader emphasized that this impressive aggregate number masks stark unevenness in performance across government departments. While some ministries have executed their capital budgets effectively, she explained, others have spent far less than their approved funding, and two departments actually exceeded their allocated budgets entirely.

These wide gaps, Paul-Victor argued, raise serious red flags around core government functions including long-term project planning, scheduling, public procurement processes, expenditure forecasting, and overall budget discipline. She pushed back against the narrative that high overall spending alone equals strong government performance, noting that meaningful accountability requires consistent, reliable execution across every single ministry.

Digging into the specific underperforming portfolios, Paul-Victor called out particularly low execution rates in four key departments. The Ministry of Tourism, a sector that forms the backbone of Dominica’s national economy, only hit a 35.3 percent execution rate, a result she labeled deeply alarming. The Ministry of Finance clocked in at just 26.2 percent, leaving roughly 10.5 million Eastern Caribbean dollars in planned capital spending unused. The Ministry of Education recorded a 21.7 percent rate, meaning less than one-quarter of all approved capital investment was delivered over the fiscal year. The National Security portfolio posted the lowest performance of all departments named, at just 17.3 percent – leaving more than 82 percent of its allocated investment unimplemented.

Across all government agencies, these variations make clear that systemic improvements are needed in project planning, procurement, financial forecasting, and inter-departmental coordination, Paul-Victor insisted.

Not all ministries received criticism, however. The opposition leader singled out two agencies for strong performance: the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Agriculture. The Prime Minister’s own portfolio hit a 104.3 percent execution rate, which Paul-Victor called an exceptional implementation track record. Expenditure ran 15.3 million Eastern Caribbean dollars over the approved allocation, she noted, a result of major flagship projects moving ahead of schedule and on pace. The Ministry of Agriculture posted a 95.1 percent execution rate, earning praise for its strong financial planning. Paul-Victor noted that the very small gap between its approved allocation and actual spending points to realistic forecasting and effective, consistent project management. The Labour and Public Service Reform portfolio also posted a solid 84.2 percent execution rate, she added.

In closing her assessment, Paul-Victor reiterated that while the current administration can claim a strong overall result for the Public Sector Investment Programme, the wide gap between top and bottom performing ministries cannot be ignored, and requires targeted reform to fix systemic weaknesses in public financial management.

8 8 月, 2026
Sea cadets head to Hong Kong for international exchange

A delegation of 14 people from the Barbados Sea Cadets Corps, including 11 young cadets, one commissioned officer, and two support staff, has departed from Grantley Adams International Airport for Hong Kong to take part in a 10-day international camp hosted by the International Sea Cadet Association. This gathering will bring together youth maritime training groups from across Asia, Africa, and other global regions, offering a unique platform for joint skill training and cross-cultural connection.

In a pre-departure briefing to local media, Coast Guard Lieutenant Jerome Belle, the contingent’s lead, outlined the dual mission of the trip: to complete collaborative maritime training exercises with participating cadet teams from South Korea, South Africa, and host Hong Kong, and to serve as cultural ambassadors for the Caribbean island nation. “Over the 10-day program, our cadets will not only build their seamanship skills alongside international peers, but also take part in dedicated cultural exchange activities,” Belle explained. “They will get to experience the distinctive local cuisine of Hong Kong, while also sharing the flavors, long history, and vibrant traditions of Barbados with young people from around the world.”

As part of the International Sea Cadet Association’s annual global exchange initiative, the camp is designed to foster cross-border friendship and broaden young people’s global perspectives, giving participants the rare chance to connect with peers outside their home region and learn about daily life in other nations. For the cadets, the trip marks an exciting milestone filled with anticipation.

Petty Officer Khalil Barrow shared his excitement ahead of the flight, noting that cultural exchange and new connections top his list of anticipated experiences. “I’m most looking forward to meeting new people from not just Hong Kong, but all the other countries joining the camp,” Barrow said. “We’re going to take part in open forums and collaborative activities, where we can share our own perspectives and learn from theirs too. It’s not just about training—it’s about building lasting friendships and helping other people understand what makes Barbados special.”

For Leading Seaman Kris-Elle Agard Jasper, the trip offers a chance to step outside her culinary comfort zone. A self-described picky eater who usually sticks to familiar local foods, Jasper said she is ready to embrace the culinary side of the adventure. “My mom kept telling me that when you go to a new country, you have to try new things,” she said with a smile. “I’m actually looking forward to exploring all the different cuisines I’ll get to try over these 10 days, even if it’s a little outside my usual.”

The Barbados delegation is scheduled to wrap up their participation in the camp and return home on August 17, bringing back new skills, global connections, and cross-cultural insights to share with their local Sea Cadets community.

8 8 月, 2026
Chevrier upgrades to silver in CAC Games sailing

The 25th Central American and Caribbean Games, hosted in the Dominican Republic, saw Saint Lucia open its medal count on Friday, as two-time Olympian Luc Chevrier claimed a silver medal in the men’s ILCA 7 Laser Radial sailing competition.

Competing at the Punta Salinas race course, the 27-year-old Saint Lucian athlete improved on his 2023 bronze medal performance, but his final result left room for what could have been, after he entered the final day of racing in a strong position to challenge for gold.

Racing conditions were ideal for the single-handed dinghy event, with consistent 20-knot strong winds creating a fast, competitive playing field. After multiple days of preliminary racing, the 18-athlete fleet was cut down to just five contenders for the final two decisive medal rounds, held on tight, fast-paced courses.

Chevrier got off to a blistering start in the first of the two final races, taking the checkered flag first. The win marked his sixth victory across 11 races held over seven days of competition, pushing him to a total of 19 net points. Just one point behind leader Pedro Luis Fernandez Gamboa of Puerto Rico, who placed second in the penultimate race, Chevrier only needed to finish ahead of the Puerto Rican in the final race to claim the top spot on the podium.

However, Fernandez Gamboa held his ground under pressure in the final race, once again taking second place to finish with a total of 20 net points. Chevrier crossed the line in third, pushing his final total to 22 net points and securing silver. Bermuda’s Sebastian Kempe won the final race and claimed the bronze medal with 25 net points.

Beyond bringing Saint Lucia its first medal of this year’s Games, Chevrier’s silver medal win also earned him an automatic qualification spot in the 2027 Pan Am Games sailing regatta, scheduled to take place in Lima, Peru. There, he will get another chance to secure a spot at the 2028 Olympic Games, continuing his long-running pursuit of elite sailing success.

8 8 月, 2026
Griffith pitches Hall of Fame, holiday to honour Sir Garry

Following the recent passing of cricket icon and Barbados National Hero Sir Garfield Sobers, the island nation’s Minister of Sport Charles Griffith has put forward a series of ambitious proposals to honor his unparalleled legacy and ensure his impact on global sport and Barbadian culture endures for future generations. Griffith outlined these plans during a parliamentary sitting Friday, as lawmakers gathered to reflect on Sobers’ extraordinary life and career.

At the top of the minister’s proposals is the establishment of a National Sports Hall of Fame, designed to celebrate the achievements of Barbados’ most accomplished athletes. Griffith argued the time has come for the country to build this dedicated cultural and historical attraction, telling parliament that both local residents and international tourists would benefit from the immersive, interactive experience the facility would offer. The Hall of Fame would feature cutting-edge exhibits including QR code technology that lets visitors instantly access detailed biographies, career highlights, and archival content on Sir Garfield and other celebrated Barbadian sporting heroes. “Visitors who come to this island should be able to go into that Hall of Fame and scan a QR code and be able to get all of the information in relation to Sir Garfield, all of the information in relation to our sporting heroes on island,” Griffith said.

Griffith also proposed declaring July 28, Sir Garfield’s birthday, a national public holiday. Widely recognized as the greatest all-rounder in the history of cricket, Sobers’ contributions to the sport and Barbadian national identity deserve ongoing recognition for young people, the minister argued. By creating an official national holiday, Griffith explained that every generation of children would have the opportunity to learn the story of Sobers’ achievements, answering the simple question “What is this holiday about?” with a lesson on the legacy of one of the country’s most beloved figures.

A third proposal calls for the issuance of a limited-edition commemorative stamp bearing Sir Garfield’s likeness. Beyond serving as a permanent tribute to the National Hero, Griffith noted that proceeds from stamp sales would create a sustainable funding stream to support emerging young Barbadian athletes. The revenue would go toward covering costs for equipment, training access, and competitive opportunities for promising sportspeople who lack the resources to develop their talents.

Sobers’ death last month triggered an outpouring of tributes from across Barbados, the Caribbean, and the global cricket community. Griffith hailed Sobers as the undisputed “GOAT” – greatest of all time – noting that the cricketing icon embodied every core value of athletic excellence: consistent top-tier performance, inspirational leadership, remarkable resilience, adaptability, outstanding sportsmanship, and a decades-long career at the peak of the sport. “There’s a template that he left on this rock in relation to sportsmen and how they should traverse that journey in sports,” Griffith said.

The minister shared a personal anecdote from his early days in office, recalling that one of his first official duties was visiting Sobers at his private residence to ask for his blessing in reviving the cricket tournament named in the legend’s honor. Though Griffith admitted he was initially intimidated by a large guard dog at the property entrance, what left a lasting impression was Sobers’ quiet humility, even after a lifetime of global acclaim. “I was struck by the fact of how humble this man was,” he said.

Griffith also highlighted Sobers’ longstanding commitment to mentoring emerging cricketers, which included shaping the career of West Indies batting legend Brian Lara. Unlike many elite athletes who hoard knowledge and opportunity, the minister noted, Sobers dedicated time to lifting up the next generation. “He was prepared to share that knowledge to better some of our cricketers who also reached the international level, and I think that that is the hallmark of a man who understood that he was able to climb the ladder and wasn’t going to kick it down,” Griffith said.

In addition to outlining the new honors for Sobers, Griffith updated parliament on the Barbadian government’s ongoing investment in national sports infrastructure. To date, more than $50 million has been allocated to upgrading sporting facilities across the island. Key initiatives include the ongoing Herman Griffith Primary Schools Cricket Competition, island-wide talent identification programs, and the development of a new Sports Council complex at Blenheim, which will be outfitted with modern practice pitches, bowling machines, and video analysis technology to nurture the next generation of elite Barbadian cricketers.

Drawing inspiration from Sir Garfield’s life and career, Griffith closed by emphasizing the enduring lesson Sobers leaves for young Barbadians across all sports: “I want our youngsters on the island who are involved, not only in cricket, but other areas of sports to see what is possible in relation to dedication, what is possible if you believe in yourself [and] what can happen at the end of the day.”

8 8 月, 2026