Carib Scope

作者： admin

  • Antigua Racing Cup Gets Earlier Dates Under Caribbean Sailing Association’s New Five-Year Calendar

    Antigua Racing Cup Gets Earlier Dates Under Caribbean Sailing Association’s New Five-Year Calendar

    In a major announcement made from St. John’s, Antigua, the Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) has revealed sweeping changes to the region’s elite competitive sailing schedule, alongside the launch of an ambitious new championship award to celebrate the sport’s top performers. The updated five-year racing calendar will consolidate all of the Caribbean’s most prestigious sailing events into a tightly packed four-month core season, a restructuring designed to elevate competitive opportunities while retaining the region’s signature laid-back, adventurous sailing culture.

    The new condensed circuit is tailored to meet the needs of both professional sailing teams and high-level amateur Corinthian competitors, offering a clear, uninterrupted window for athletes to mount full competitive campaigns across the region. At the same time, the restructuring preserves the flexibility that draws recreational sailors to the Caribbean, allowing casual participants to continue crafting their own unique sailing experiences in the region’s iconic waters.

    “This updated calendar brings much-needed clarity and forward momentum to our sport,” shared Bastien Poutier, President of the CSA, in a statement following the announcement. “By concentrating all our marquee events into a single four-month window, we are able to create a true, cohesive circuit for serious competitive sailors — all without losing the adventurous spirit that has always defined Caribbean racing.”

    ### A Refined, Streamlined Competitive Schedule
    The overhauled season retains the region’s most beloved events while adjusting dates and formats to create a more cohesive circuit. The iconic St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, widely recognized as the Caribbean’s largest sailing gathering, will remain the anchor event of the new season. The Antigua Racing Cup has been shifted to an earlier date on the calendar to fit the new timeline, while the popular St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR) is set to return April 8–11 with a fully refreshed format.

    STIR’s updated structure will integrate the popular Three Sheets Distance Race & Rally directly into its schedule, and add an all-new wing foiling class to complement existing CSA open fleets and one-design racing fleets, expanding opportunities for a new generation of sailing athletes.

    ### A New Prestigious Award Culminates in a High-Stakes Finale
    To complement the calendar restructuring, the CSA has launched a prestigious new annual championship that recognizes the top overall performing team across the Caribbean’s six major regattas. Eligible events for the new trophy include the RORC Nelson Series, RORC Caribbean 600, St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, Antigua Racing Cup, and BVI Spring Regatta.

    The inaugural winner of the CSA Majors Trophy will be crowned at the BVI Spring Regatta, which will serve as the high-stakes grand finale that closes out the core four-month season. The new award joins two existing circuit-wide honors — the Budget Marine Windies Multihull Trophy and the Travellers Trophy — all of which recognize consistent excellence from boats that compete and win across multiple stops on the Caribbean circuit.

  • Eden Lodge man remanded after roommate stabbing

    Eden Lodge man remanded after roommate stabbing

    A routine disagreement over household cleanliness between two roommates in Barbados has escalated into a violent stabbing incident, leaving one man injured and his 23-year-old attacker remanded to Dodds Prison as the court prepares for sentencing.

    Rechaun Daniko Cumberbatch, a general labourer residing at 4th Avenue, Austin Drive, Eden Lodge, St Michael, appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick, where he formally pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawfully and maliciously wounding his roommate Kemal Howard during an altercation on August 10.

    Court prosecutor Sergeant Victoria Leacock outlined the sequence of events that led to the violence. The two men shared a rental property, where each kept a private bedroom while using common living areas together. Tensions began when Howard reported to their shared landlord that Cumberbatch was leaving communal spaces messy and unkempt. The landlord then brought the complaint directly to Cumberbatch, setting off the confrontation.

    When Cumberbatch returned to the property after being notified of the complaint, he immediately engaged Howard in a heated verbal dispute at the home’s entrance. Both men armed themselves ahead of the clash: Cumberbatch grabbed a knife, while Howard picked up a wrench. The initial confrontation was de-escalated before any physical harm occurred, but the peace broke down moments later as Howard began walking away from the property toward the nearby roadway.

    In an unprovoked surprise attack, Cumberbatch grabbed Howard from behind in a chokehold and stabbed him four times – three times in the neck and once in the head. Bystanders who witnessed the attack immediately rushed to Howard’s aid, calling emergency services and securing the scene before he was transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for urgent medical care.

    Shortly after the incident, Cumberbatch turned himself in to local law enforcement and confessed to his involvement in the stabbing. During his court appearance, Cumberbatch attempted to justify his actions by claiming self-defense. He told the court that Howard had rushed at him while wielding the wrench, and that he had only acted to protect himself. Cumberbatch claimed Howard was actually the one carrying the knife, and that he sustained a hand cut while struggling to disarm Howard.

    Chief Magistrate Frederick pushed back on Cumberbatch’s claims, emphasizing the severity of the violence. “You almost killed him. You know that, right? You are lucky that he didn’t die,” Frederick said. “This is a matter of tremendous violence on your part.”

    The magistrate noted that offenses involving this level of violence typically result in an immediate custodial sentence. However, since Cumberbatch has no prior criminal convictions, court rules require a pre-sentencing report to be completed before a final sentence can be handed down. Due to the seriousness of the crime and the high risk of further conflict, Frederick ordered Cumberbatch to be held on remand until his next court date. Cumberbatch is scheduled to appear back at the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on September 14 for sentencing.

  • Coastal resilience project to start later this year

    Coastal resilience project to start later this year

    Barbados is moving forward with a landmark $105.8 million initiative to reverse worsening coastal erosion across the island, with construction set to break ground before the end of 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment Santia Bradshaw has confirmed. The Climate Resilient and Sustainable Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme, the largest coastal protection investment in the country’s recent history, comes in response to accelerating land loss along the island’s shorelines, a crisis amplified by the severe damage inflicted by Hurricane Beryl in 2024.

    Funding for the multi-phase project is overwhelmingly supported by the Inter-American Development Bank, which is providing $100 million in concessionary financing, with the remaining $5.8 million coming from the Barbadian government as domestic counterpart funding. Bradshaw outlined the phased rollout of infrastructure and restoration work in a public announcement made during the closing ceremony of the 2026 Environmental Summer Internship Programme at the Savannah Hotel in Hastings, Christ Church.

    The first phase of construction will target three high-priority erosion hotspots: Clinketts in the parish of St Lucy, Sand Street in St Peter, and the stretch of coastline running from Mullins to St Peter’s Bay. Work will then shift to Oistins Bay for the second phase, before the third and final initial phase covers the densely developed coastal corridor from Rockley Beach to St Lawrence Gap, a popular tourism and residential area. While Bradshaw noted that the island’s east coast is also facing severe erosion driven by constant, powerful Atlantic Ocean wave action, she did not unveil specific planned interventions for that region as part of the current programme.

    Beyond physical construction, Bradshaw framed the initiative as a foundational investment in Barbados’ long-term social and economic stability, rather than a purely environmental project. The programme combines a suite of nature-friendly and engineered solutions to address erosion, including beach nourishment to restore lost sand, the construction of stabilizing coastal structures such as groins, revetments and breakwaters, and targeted upgrades to drainage systems in high-risk areas. These interventions are designed not only to halt erosion but also to protect coastal communities, critical road infrastructure, private and public properties, enhance public access to beaches, and reduce the hazard risks associated with future storm events.

    In closing remarks to the cohort of environmental interns, Bradshaw emphasized that collective action across all segments of Barbadian society is required to tackle growing climate-driven environmental challenges. She encouraged the young participants to embrace environmental stewardship, noting that they represent the next generation of environmental leaders that the country will rely on to safeguard its future. “Protecting our coastline is not simply about protecting beaches…it is about protecting people, protecting homes, livelihoods, our economy, and the future resilience of Barbados,” Bradshaw told the group.

  • Tupac Murder Trial Begins: Witness Recalls “All Hell Broke Loose” as Shots Rang Out

    Tupac Murder Trial Begins: Witness Recalls “All Hell Broke Loose” as Shots Rang Out

    It has been almost 30 years since iconic rapper Tupac Shakur was killed in a 1996 drive-by shooting, and the long-awaited murder trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis finally got underway this week in a Las Vegas courtroom. The 63-year-old defendant faces a single charge of murder with a deadly weapon, and he has formally entered a plea of not guilty to the accusation.

    Prosecutors have laid out their case arguing that Davis did not fire the fatal shots himself, but served as the mastermind who organized the fatal attack as the leader of the group involved in the killing. According to the prosecution’s opening address to the jury, on the night of the shooting, Davis and his companions—including his nephew Orlando Anderson—were traveling through Las Vegas in a white Cadillac when they spotted Shakur and Suge Knight, the head of Death Row Records, near the Strip. The group made a sudden U-turn to intercept the pair, prosecutors claim, with Davis, seated in the front passenger seat, handing a firearm over to the backseat, after which Anderson opened fire directly into the vehicle carrying Shakur and Knight.

    The prosecution says the shooting was an act of retaliation for a public altercation earlier that same evening, following a Mike Tyson boxing match, where Shakur and members of his security entourage assaulted Anderson. The entire confrontation was captured on venue security footage. Prosecutors also noted that Davis openly discussed his anger over the assault in his 2019 memoir, and previously admitted his role in organizing the killing during a conversation with a federal task force probing the 1997 murder of fellow rap star Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G. That conversation was secretly recorded, and Davis had also spoken publicly about his involvement in the killing back in 2017.

    Davis’ legal team has launched a forceful counterattack in its opening statement, urging jurors to approach the prosecution’s narrative with significant skepticism. Defense attorney Michael Sanft argued that the entire case is built on a decades-long investigation rife with procedural errors, including missing original police reports, mishandled physical evidence, and untrustworthy witnesses who have prior criminal records and stand to gain financially from their testimony against Davis.

    Since the trial began, prosecutors have begun calling their first witnesses to the stand. A retired Las Vegas police officer testified that he had pulled over Shakur and Knight’s vehicle earlier that night because of a missing rear license plate, and later accompanied Shakur in the ambulance after the shooting, recalling the moment he asked the rapper who had attacked him.

    Another witness, Ingrid Stokes, who was driving in the immediate area when the shooting broke out, recounted the sudden chaos that unfolded as gunfire erupted all around her vehicle. “All hell broke loose,” Stokes told the court, describing the fear and confusion of the night.

    As the trial continues to progress, additional witnesses are scheduled to testify over the coming days, with both sides expected to lay out all evidence before the jury delivers a verdict in one of the most high-profile unsolved murders in modern entertainment history.

  • CFU Challenge 2026 (U-14) : Haiti crushes French Guiana [5-2]

    CFU Challenge 2026 (U-14) : Haiti crushes French Guiana [5-2]

    The 2026 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U-14 Boys Challenge got underway on August 17, 2026 at the Cap Cana Sports City complex in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Haiti’s young national squad, nicknamed the Grenadiers, made an unforgettable opening statement with a dominant 5-2 victory over French Guiana’s Yana Dòkò side.

    Leading the charge for Haiti was attacking standout Jodley Sheeck Delmas, who delivered a once-in-a-tournament performance by finding the back of the net four times, powering his side to an opening win that puts Haiti atop Group B in the provisional standings heading into the second round of group matches.

    The first breakthrough for Haiti came just 10 minutes into the fixture, when winger Wensley Dumorne whipped in a precise cross that forward Jerry Petit-Homme guided under the opposing crossbar to put Haiti up 1-0. Sixteen minutes later, Petit-Homme turned from goalscorer to provider, playing a pinpoint free kick into the path of Delmas, who volleyed home to double Haiti’s lead to 2-0.

    French Guiana responded in the 37th minute, when Railey Jean Marie converted a penalty to cut the deficit to 2-1, but Delmas quickly restored Haiti’s two-goal advantage five minutes before halftime, curling a spectacular free kick into the net from a tight, difficult angle to make the score 3-1.

    Just before the break, Haiti was awarded a second penalty, but Ronelson Pelé Janvier’s strike was turned away by French Guiana goalkeeper Dos Anjos. Delmas did not let the missed chance dampen his momentum, however: just one minute into the second half, he controlled a short corner, cut inside a covering defender, and fired a powerful shot past the keeper to complete his hat trick and push Haiti’s lead to 4-1.

    French Guiana pulled another goal back in the 64th minute, when Railey Berg Jean Louis pounced on a loose ball in the 18-yard box to make the score 4-2. But Delmas put the result beyond all doubt four minutes later, unleashing a blistering long-range strike from outside the penalty area that found the top corner, closing out his four-goal haul and sealing the 5-2 final score for Haiti.

    Haiti’s starting lineup for the opening fixture featured 10 players from domestic Haitian clubs, with one addition based in the United States: starting goalkeeper Benoît Athan Pierre of NEFC (USA), Marc-Evens Lubin of Ideal FC, Kendy Dolbrun of Flamengo FC, Eddyson Paul-Jean of EFAT, Cedric Claremond of Les Rouleurs FC, Marvens Fenelon of La Reserve, Woodney Charleston of SLGA, Wensley Dumorne of MERCURE, Delmas of EXAFOOT, Janvier of Les Rouleurs FC, and Petit-Homme of FC Toro.

    Following the opening win, Haiti sits alone at the top of Group B’s provisional standings with three points from one match, holding a +3 goal difference after scoring five and conceding two. Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago each sit on one point after drawing their opening fixture 1-1, while French Guiana sits at the bottom of the group with zero points and a -3 goal difference after their opening defeat.

    The young Grenadiers will look to build on their strong opening when they face their next Group B opponent, Trinidad and Tobago’s Young Warriors, on Tuesday, August 18 at 12:00 PM local and Haitian time, at the same Cap Cana Sports City venue. Haiti will wrap up their group stage campaign against Puerto Rico on August 19. All matches from the 2026 CFU Challenge are broadcast live for free on the CFU’s official YouTube channel.

  • While GST-Free Lasted One Day, Belizeans Crossed the Border by the Thousands

    While GST-Free Lasted One Day, Belizeans Crossed the Border by the Thousands

    As Belize launched its first annual one-day GST-free shopping event for back-to-school supplies this August, border data reveals a surprising trend: thousands of local residents opted to cross the western border into Guatemala to take advantage of cheaper retail options south of the boundary.

    The mass cross-border shopping excursion unfolded over the weekend of August 15 and 16, coinciding with Belize’s inaugural tax-free promotion. Lawrence Thompson, Director of Border Management and Immigration, confirmed that the western checkpoint at Melchor de Mencos saw a dramatic surge in passenger travel, with a total of 4,900 passenger movements recorded across the two days. Of that total, roughly 1,760 travelers listed shopping excursions as their primary purpose of travel, accounting for 35% of all traffic at the western border that weekend – a share far higher than typical non-essential travel volumes.

    In contrast to the western border’s shopping rush, the northern Corozal border checkpoint saw no comparable spike in excursion-focused travel. Thompson noted that while 5,800 total passenger movements passed through Corozal over the same weekend, with higher volumes recorded on Saturday the 15th, nearly all travel fit normal patterns, with no visible uptick in cross-border shopping trips. He added that during peak back-to-school season in August and the year-end Christmas shopping period, combined passenger traffic across both border checkpoints regularly exceeds 10,000 total movements, making the western surge this year an notable deviation from baseline trends.

    Meanwhile, Belize Tax Services reported that the domestic GST-free event ran without major disruptions or complaints. Deputy Director Vilma Broaster stated that the agency received only a handful of feedback submissions, most centered on claims that local retailers had raised base prices on eligible goods ahead of the tax exemption. Broaster clarified that the tax agency does not have regulatory authority over base retail pricing, and confirmed that no reports were filed of consumers still being charged GST on officially tax-exempt school supplies. She also noted that the tax break only applies to purchases from businesses that are formally registered for GST in Belize.

    For consumers who missed the first tax-free shopping day, a second and final GST-free Saturday is scheduled for August 29. This event will extend tax exemptions to both back-to-school supplies and laptop computers, with specific rules already published for eligible electronics purchases.

  • Merian-goudmijn: US$ 127 miljoen aan belastingen en royalty’s in 2025

    Merian-goudmijn: US$ 127 miljoen aan belastingen en royalty’s in 2025

    Newmont Suriname has announced that the total economic contribution of its Merian gold mine to the Surinamese economy reached approximately $634 million in 2025, marking a 17% increase compared to 2024 figures. The company released the updated data on Monday, clarifying that the total contribution does not solely consist of revenue directed to the Surinamese government, with more than half of the sum allocated to local and external supply chain partners.

    Breaking down the $634 million total, the largest single line item is $345 million in payments to suppliers and contracted service providers, followed by $78 million in employee salaries. Combined income and payroll taxes paid by the operation amount to $79 million, with an additional $48 million in royalties directed to the state, bringing total government tax and royalty revenue to $127 million. Newmont has not yet provided a separate breakdown of how much of the $79 million tax figure is attributable to corporate income tax versus payroll withholding.

    As a 25% co-owner of the Merian mine, alongside Newmont’s 75% controlling stake, the state-owned energy firm Staatsolie received $84 million in net profit share for 2025. This dividend payment is separate from taxes and royalties paid to the government, bringing the total of state-linked earnings from the project to $211 million, though not all of this sum enters the national government’s general treasury.

    According to Newmont’s disclosure, 75% of the total economic value generated by Merian mining operations remained within Suriname’s domestic economy in 2025. A total of 308 Surinamese suppliers and contractors were part of the mine’s supply chain last year, though the company did not specify what share of the $345 million in supply chain payments went to these domestic businesses. The mine directly employs approximately 1,277 workers, and Newmont says it continues to invest in upskilling and professional development for its local workforce.

    The release of Merian’s 2025 economic data comes as the Surinamese government undertakes a broad regulatory overhaul of the country’s gold mining sector. President Jennifer Simons has ordered a temporary pause on issuing new gold mining concessions and processing existing concession extension requests, as the administration works to build a clearer picture of current sector conditions and strengthen regulatory oversight and transparency across the industry.

    Beyond maximizing economic returns, the regulatory review is centered on protecting residential and traditional territories of Indigenous and Tribal communities, safeguarding ecologically sensitive natural areas, and mitigating the environmental harm caused by unregulated gold extraction. In response to these policy priorities, Newmont says its Merian operations adhere to the principle of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) when engaging with Indigenous and Tribal communities, with a commitment to open dialogue, full transparency, and inclusive participation in local decision-making processes.

    Newmont has also outlined a dedicated strategy to support formalization of Suriname’s artisanal and small-scale mining sector, focused on delivering technical assistance, building local regulatory capacity, developing alternative livelihood options for small-scale miners, and reducing mercury use in artisanal extraction. The company says it is exploring pathways to bring more unregulated small-scale operations into formal compliance with existing national mining laws.

    Currently, the Merian gold mine is projected to remain in operation until 2040, with Newmont reporting that it is actively exploring additional reserve expansion opportunities that could extend the mine’s operational lifespan beyond the current timeline.

  • Tweede deel Domineestraat moet nog worden aangepakt; oplevering in november

    Tweede deel Domineestraat moet nog worden aangepakt; oplevering in november

    A major infrastructure upgrade project on Domineestraat, one of the busiest and most important thoroughfares in downtown Paramaribo, Suriname, has hit a key milestone: the first phase of reconstruction has been completed, and the street has been reopened to vehicle and pedestrian traffic as of Sunday, though the full project remains far from finished. Contracted by the Surinamese Ministry of Public Works and Spatial Planning (OWRO), local construction firm Tjongalanga N.V. is leading the rehabilitation work, which targets decades-old aging infrastructure in the high-traffic downtown corridor.

    Company director Dave van der Lee explained that preparatory work for the project kicked off in late May, with close coordination between the construction team, local utility providers, and nearby business owners to minimize disruption to daily operations in the area. The completed first section stretches between Neumanpad and Steenbakkerijstraat, where crews have already installed new PVC sewage pipes along both sides of the roadway, replacing outdated original infrastructure that ran through the center of the street. All household connections and street drainage gullies have been reconnected to the new system, which routes wastewater through pipes under Jodenbreestraat to the pumping station at the end of the road before discharging it into the Suriname River.

    After utility companies finished their underground upgrades, excavation work on the roadway itself began on August 3. Crews removed the original 60 to 70-year-old asphalt layer, as well as the existing 50-year-old sewage network that was in severe disrepair. Inspection of the existing ground base revealed it had degraded to an unsafe condition, requiring crews to excavate the full roadway to a depth of one meter before rebuilding the foundation from scratch: the new base consists of 80 centimeters of clinker sand and 20 centimeters of base course, topped with an initial six-centimeter layer of fresh asphalt.

    Even with the street now open to traffic, construction work continues on the first segment. Temporary road markings, including crosswalks, lane sorting boxes, and a center dividing line, will be installed within the next two weeks, with all work on this component required to be finished before September 3. Local utility providers still have final tasks to wrap up as well: the Suriname Water Company (SWM) is completing remaining connection work, while Energiebedrijven Suriname (EBS) is responsible for upgrading the street’s public lighting network. Once these utility tasks are done, crews will rebuild sidewalks and reconfigure existing parking bays along the first segment.

    The second, unstarted phase of the project covers the stretch from Steenbakkerijstraat to Zwartenhovenbrugstreet, which will begin once all remaining work on the first segment is wrapped up. According to van der Lee, the full project is still on track to be completed and handed over to the government in mid-November.

    OWRO Minister Stephen Tsang emphasized that the rehabilitation project delivers more than just improved road infrastructure. The overhaul is also designed to enhance the overall appearance of the downtown core and support the local tourism sector. “When completed, this street will bring a beautiful new aesthetic to the heart of our city,” Tsang stated.

  • Moore concerned over unfinished Charles Rowe Bridge works

    Moore concerned over unfinished Charles Rowe Bridge works

    As a tropical storm system barreled toward Barbados triggering an urgent flash flood watch for the island, a sitting lawmaker is sounding the alarm over critical flood mitigation works that remain incomplete nearly 12 months after a deadly flooding disaster killed residents at Charles Rowe Bridge. Toni Moore, the Member of Parliament for St George North constituency, delivered the stark warning at a weekend party meeting Sunday, emphasizing that the island’s peak hurricane season puts local communities at unnecessary risk due to the stalled infrastructure project.

    Moore told attendees gathered at the Valley Resource Centre that in the wake of last year’s tragic flooding event at the site, government promised a sweeping series of drainage upgrades to reduce future flood risk. But as of mid-hurricane season, that critical work has not moved forward at the pace residents expected, leaving the community vulnerable to heavy storm downpours. “We are right in the heart of hurricane season, and the outstanding drainage works are our biggest source of anxiety right now,” Moore said. “All we can do is pray that we avoid a severe storm that would bring devastating fallout to this area, because the protections we were promised still aren’t in place. We hope that by next hurricane season, we won’t still be facing this same fear.”

    Beyond the unfinished flood works, Moore addressed ongoing delays to another high-priority infrastructure project in her constituency: the long-awaited upgrade to Sweet Vale Road. Originally slated to break ground in March of this year, the project has been pushed back indefinitely after coordination with local utility companies forced a full redesign of a planned roundabout, a feature first approved years ago under former MP Gline Clarke.

    Moore explained that after early consultations with utility providers, engineers discovered the original roundabout layout conflicted with existing underground utility lines, making the initial design unworkable. Subsequent back-and-forth discussions between Ministry of Transport and Works engineering teams and the contracted construction firm uncovered additional unforeseen technical issues that required even more design adjustments. Rather than rushing construction to meet an arbitrary deadline and risk having to excavate the completed road to fix damaged utility lines later – a move that would create far more disruption for local residents – Moore said the decision was made to restart the design process from scratch.

    “I know this delay is frustrating for everyone who has been waiting for this road upgrade, but cutting corners now would only create bigger problems down the line,” she said. “If we rushed and hit a water main after paving, we’d have to dig up the entire road just a few years down the line, and that would cause even more anger and disruption. After waiting this long, it’s far more important to get it right the first time: to make sure utility lines are properly laid, sidewalks are built to last, and streetlights are installed correctly the first time around.” Moore added that she could not yet give a firm completion date for the project, as design work is still ongoing.

    To offset frustration over the Sweet Vale Road delays, Moore highlighted the early completion of upgrades to Taitt Hill – a project that was not included in the original annual infrastructure schedule for the constituency, but was prioritized after residents pushed for repairs. Moore stressed that constituent feedback does not fall on deaf ears, even when technical challenges slow down planned projects.

    “Residents’ concerns are not being ignored, but sometimes unforeseen technical issues have to be worked through thoroughly to make sure we deliver infrastructure that serves this community for decades to come,” she said.

  • Bowen and Bowen Awards Scholarships to 16 Employees’ Children

    Bowen and Bowen Awards Scholarships to 16 Employees’ Children

    It was an ordinary afternoon at home for 16-year-old Kyra Santos, until a surprise phone call from her mother — who works at Belize’s Bowen and Bowen company — completely reshaped her long-term educational plans. Within moments of hearing the announcement that she had been selected for one of the firm’s annual education scholarships, Santos broke into tears of joy and excitement, overwhelmed by the opportunity that had just opened up for her.

    Santos is among 16 children of current Bowen and Bowen employees to receive the company’s scholarship awards this year, marking the latest cohort in a programme that has now poured more than $1 million into accessible education across Belize over the past 12 years. The initiative covers all core educational costs for recipients, including full tuition, textbook fees, and institutional charges, for students pursuing pathways through secondary school, tertiary university education, and vocational training programmes.

    For Michael Bowen, Chief Executive Officer of Bowen and Bowen, the milestone of crossing $1 million in total investment is less important than the core mission that drives the programme. “We are all interconnected members of one community, whether we work inside the walls of Bowen and Bowen or call the entire nation of Belize home,” Bowen explained in comments announcing this year’s recipients. “We all have a responsibility to lift each other up, and most importantly, to invest in the future of Belize. Education is the single most powerful tool we can use to do that. It gives young people the chance to learn, to think critically, and to ask the questions that move our country forward. Ultimately, it creates choice: choice of career, choice of where you build your life and work, and autonomy over your future overall.”

    To qualify for the competitive scholarship awards, candidates must first be a child of a current company employee and demonstrate strong academic potential to succeed in their chosen field. But the application process also requires active commitment from the entire student’s family, who must submit materials proving their ongoing investment in their child’s educational journey. Unlike many one-time grant programmes that simply provide financial support and end involvement, Bowen and Bowen pairs each scholarship recipient with a dedicated mentor through the company’s human resources team, who offer ongoing guidance and support throughout the recipient’s studies.

    This is a developing story, and full coverage of the 2026 scholarship recipients will air during News 5 Live’s 6 p.m. broadcast this evening.