Carib Scope

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  • Bajan youth trail regional peers in green economy awareness

    Bajan youth trail regional peers in green economy awareness

    Barbados has emerged as a regional leader in prioritizing climate resilience and advancing climate-friendly investments across government and community levels, but a new UNICEF-commissioned study has uncovered a critical gap: the island’s young people trail their peers across the Eastern Caribbean in awareness of green and circular economy opportunities. The research, which examined youth engagement across four island nations — Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, and St. Lucia — was officially released on World Environment Day during a public presentation focused on youth perspectives on climate action. Titled “Young People’s Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Climate Change and Green and Circular Economies in the Eastern Caribbean”, the project was designed to create an evidence base for building more inclusive climate programs that center young people’s needs and input.

    Lead researcher Professor Dwayne Devonish explained that while Barbados’ significant investments in climate resilience have gained international recognition, there is a clear disconnect between these top-level efforts and youth understanding of how young people can participate in related sectors. Contrary to common assumptions, this gap is not rooted in a lack of interest among Barbadian youth, but rather in how information about green and circular economy opportunities is communicated. “Many young people we spoke to acknowledged that the government is moving forward with climate-ready investments, but they consistently reported that the information provided is not framed in accessible language for their age group,” Devonish noted in remarks to reporters following the findings’ presentation at UN House in Bridgetown.

    Focus group discussions conducted as part of the study revealed clear demands from Barbadian youth: they want more accessible information about green career pathways, paid internships, and skills training programs in sustainable sectors. Within the national education system, many respondents called for updated curricula that explicitly break down what green and circular economy activities entail, and map out clear routes for young people to enter these fields through education, work experience, and professional development. “What young people are asking for is for these investments to be made tangible for them,” Devonish said. “They want opportunities they can actually access, explained in terms they can actually understand.”

    The study also offered a useful point of comparison: Dominica, which outperformed Barbados on metrics of youth awareness and engagement, owes its stronger results to two key factors. Beyond the fact that Dominica has faced more frequent and severe climate-fueled natural disasters that put climate issues at the forefront of public life, the Dominica government has also pursued more consistent, aggressive outreach and programming to embed climate action across all levels of society. “Frequent exposure to disasters naturally makes climate issues more personal for young people, but it is also the government’s consistent response that has driven higher engagement,” Devonish explained. Too often in Barbados, he noted, large-scale climate investments and technical projects are led exclusively by senior experts and specialists, with no structured plan to pass knowledge and opportunities down to younger generations. That missing link between national investment and youth participation has resulted in lower buy-in, even among young people who care deeply about climate action.

    UNICEF’s social and behaviour change specialist Dr. Lisa McClean-Trotman said the organization will now support Eastern Caribbean governments to develop new social and behaviour change strategies in response to the study’s findings. These strategies will need to go beyond simple awareness-raising, she emphasized, to address the structural barriers that prevent young people from participating in climate action and green economy sectors. “The findings for Barbados were somewhat unexpected, but they do not mean that Barbadian youth are disengaged or uninterested in climate issues,” McClean-Trotman stressed. She pointed out that much of the gap may stem from terminology: young people may understand concepts like recycling or sustainable job creation, but do not recognize the academic jargon of “green economy” or “circular economy” that officials and experts often use.

    “Barbados has done strong work to build public awareness of climate change overall, but we need to adjust how we frame these messages for younger audiences,” she said. “We have to pivot to use language that resonates with young people, terms and examples that they can relate to and connect with their own lives.”

  • Afstudeeronderzoek levert HACCP-plan op voor veilige verwerking van bevroren sopropo

    Afstudeeronderzoek levert HACCP-plan op voor veilige verwerking van bevroren sopropo

    On June 5, a graduate of Anton de Kom University of Suriname marked a key milestone for the country’s agricultural processing sector, completing her bachelor’s degree with a research project that delivers tangible, science-backed improvements to local food safety. Sieromenie Parta, a student in the Agricultural Production bachelor program focused on agroprocessing at the university’s Faculty of Technological Sciences, successfully defended her final thesis this Thursday, which centered on building a custom Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) framework for Surinamese food processor Chimady N.V.’s frozen cut sopropo, also known as bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) production line.

    The project was developed in direct response to a clear industry gap: while food safety depends entirely on proactive risk management across every stage of production, Chimady N.V. lacked a systematic, research-based approach to identifying and mitigating hazards specific to its frozen bitter melon operations. Without this structured framework, the company faced ongoing risks of inconsistent product quality, compromised safety, and limited ability to meet regional and international market standards.

    To address this need, Parta mapped and analyzed the entirety of Chimady N.V.’s frozen cut sopropo production process, taking a holistic approach that assessed every factor capable of impacting final product safety. After completing a full hazard analysis across all production stages, she identified all Critical Control Points (CCPs) – points in the process where hazards can be prevented, eliminated, or reduced to safe levels. For each identified CCP, Parta developed detailed, actionable protocols including critical safety limits, routine monitoring procedures, corrective actions for out-of-specification production, verification processes, and required documentation standards. All these components were integrated into a full HACCP plan tailored specifically to Chimady N.V.’s unique operating conditions and product line.

    In her analysis of the plan’s impact, Parta noted that the new framework provides a structured system for managing food safety risks across every step of production. By catching and addressing potential hazards early in the process, the HACCP plan makes it far easier for Chimady N.V. to consistently deliver a safe, high-quality final product. Beyond core safety improvements, the plan also supports more consistent application of control measures, more accurate production record-keeping, and greater overall reliability of the company’s entire production workflow.

    The research delivers both academic and practical value for Chimady N.V., laying a foundational framework to further strengthen food safety practices, quality assurance, and sustainable growth of the company’s production activities. Importantly, the relevance of Parta’s work extends far beyond a single Surinamese processor. As global demand for safe, high-quality processed food continues to rise, robust food safety systems have become a critical factor in determining the global competitiveness of Suriname’s agricultural processing sector. Widespread adoption of HACCP principles like the one developed in this study can boost overall national food safety, increase consumer confidence in Surinamese food products, and open greater access to regional and international export markets.

    Parta’s research also aligns closely with the core goals of Climate Smart Agriculture, an approach focused on building sustainable food production systems that are more resilient to the impacts of climate change, including extreme rainfall, drought, and rising average temperatures. By systematically identifying and controlling food safety hazards, the HACCP system helps reduce food waste, while ensuring the quality and safety of end products are maintained even as changing climate conditions introduce new production challenges.

    A strong, sustainable agricultural processing sector delivers broad economic benefits for Suriname, driving overall economic growth, increasing export volumes, creating new local jobs, and adding greater value to domestically grown agricultural commodities. Against this backdrop, Parta’s project also makes an important contribution to the ongoing professionalization of the entire Surinamese agricultural processing sector.

    The research was conducted and evaluated under the supervision of an expert panel of academic and industry professionals, including MSc Rewish Somai (faculty and practical assessor), MSc Mayuri Jaggan (sub-assessor), Dr. Lydia Ori (professor and chair of the assessment committee), and MSc Nareen Gajadin (external assessor).

  • British man fined $15 000 for rifle seized at Vieux Fort port

    British man fined $15 000 for rifle seized at Vieux Fort port

    In a high-profile enforcement action targeting cross-border criminal activity in Saint Lucia, a British national who resides in Laborie has been ordered to pay $15,000 in fines after entering guilty pleas to two firearm-related charges. The penalties stem from the seizure of an undeclared rifle at the Vieux Fort Seaport, uncovered during a coordinated multi-agency crackdown.

    The operation, carried out last Wednesday, brought together three specialized law enforcement units: the Gangs, Narcotics and Firearms Unit (South) of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), the service’s K-9 Unit, and the Customs and Excise Preventative Unit. According to official statements from the RSLPF, the joint inspection was part of a broader, stepped-up campaign to disrupt organized criminal activity across the island. Law enforcement teams focused their searches on high-priority locations, including courier company facilities and cargo storage sheds throughout the Vieux Fort district.

    During a systematic search of the seaport’s Shed 2, officers located a rifle hidden inside an incoming cargo shipment. The consignee listed for the package was David Charles Mulvany, who was present at the facility during the search. Following the discovery, Mulvany was taken into police custody and charged with two violations under Saint Lucia’s firearms laws: possession of a firearm without a valid license, and illegal importation of a firearm without the required authorization.

    On the day of his court appearance before the Second District Court, Mulvany pleaded guilty to both charges. In sentencing, the judge imposed a $10,000 fine for the unlicensed possession charge, plus an additional $5,000 fine for the unlawful importation count, bringing the total penalty to $15,000. The court ruled that the full sum must be paid immediately, with a strict fallback provision: if Mulvany fails to satisfy the fine, he will face a five-year prison sentence in lieu of payment.

    The case underscores the Saint Lucian government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening border security and cracking down on illegal weapons trafficking, a priority that has driven increased joint operations between police and customs agencies across the island’s ports of entry.

  • Global sounds, Lucian roots: Ricky T and Beenie Man ignite the season with ‘Bend It’

    Global sounds, Lucian roots: Ricky T and Beenie Man ignite the season with ‘Bend It’

    One of Saint Lucia’s most decorated soca legends, Ricky T, has officially ignited the 2026 Lucian Carnival season with a high-profile cross-regional collaboration that is already taking Caribbean music circles by storm. The nine-time Power Soca Monarch and nine-time Road March champion has teamed up with iconic Jamaican dancehall star Beenie Man for the new single *Bend It*, the lead track off the highly anticipated Stratosphere Muzic Wining Plan riddim. Just weeks after its initial release, the track is already gaining widespread traction across regional and international music platforms.

    While the pairing of a top Saint Lucian soca artist and a global dancehall pioneer may have caught some fans off guard, the partnership is far from a last-minute novelty. It grew organically out of a long-standing professional relationship between Beenie Man and Ricky T’s longtime label, Trinidad-based Stratosphere Muzic. Looking back on the collaborative process, Ricky T noted that the pairing was years in the making, aligning with his long-held belief that creative opportunities unfold at the right time. After the artist and his manager Curty laid down the original track, they immediately recognized it had the perfect foundation to welcome the self-proclaimed King of the Dancehall, inviting him to add his one-of-a-kind vocal style to the production.

    The collab achieves two key goals: it launches the 2026 Lucian Carnival season with explosive, unmissable energy and carves out a permanent historic milestone in Saint Lucia’s growing music archives. Ricky T explained that his team had already locked in a clear creative direction for *Bend It* before Beenie Man joined the project, which let the dancehall icon seamlessly weave his signature swagger into the mix without disrupting the track’s core identity.

    “It never felt forced or like anybody was trying to change the sound completely. It felt more like two Caribbean sounds meeting in one space and creating something authentic,” Ricky T shared in a statement on the collaboration. “Beenie Man respected the Lucian Soca style, while still bringing his dancehall presence people know him for.”

    It is not just the star power that sets this release apart. The entire Wining Plan riddim was intentionally crafted to serve as a sonic bridge between regional Caribbean traditions and global mainstream audiences. The production balances a modern, international sound with deeply rooted Caribbean musical heritage, creating a track that feels both familiar to local Carnival-goers and accessible to listeners across the world.

    For Ricky T, *Bend It* stands out from his other work because of its one-of-a-kind energy from the very first recording session. “It has that raw Carnival feeling, but also a crossover that can work anywhere in the world,” he said. “The collaboration itself equals growth for Saint Lucian music and where we’re heading creatively.”

    The track also marks a key evolution in Ricky T’s decades-long career, showcasing his artistic versatility while retaining the distinct Lucian soca sound that has earned him legions of loyal fans across the globe. The artist has long prioritized creative growth without abandoning his cultural roots, and this new single delivers on that vision. “I’m always trying to evolve without losing the Lucian identity in the music,” he explained. “This song allows me to step into a bigger international space while still sounding authentic to who Ricky T is.”

    With the official start of the 2026 Lucian Carnival season scheduled for July 1, Ricky T hints that this year’s celebrations will be extra special, with a string of unannounced surprises planned for attendees. The artist says his preparation for this season has gone far beyond what he has done in years past, and his goals extend beyond delivering a standout on-stage performance. He is focused on creating lasting, immersive memories that will stick with Carnival-goers long after the final parade truck leaves the route.

    “This season is about elevation and showing different sides of Ricky T while still delivering the energy the fans love,” he said.

    A widely celebrated global cultural ambassador for Saint Lucia, Ricky T was previously awarded the country’s Gold Medal of Merit in recognition of his decades of transformative contributions to the island’s music industry and cultural sector. He is optimistic that Caribbean music as a whole is entering an unprecedented new era of global recognition, and his core mission remains unchanged: to lift Saint Lucia’s profile on the world stage while creating pathways for emerging local talent to build their own careers.

    “I want Ricky T to be recognised globally while staying rooted in where I come from,” he added.

  • West Indies must improve approach against Sri Lanka spin

    West Indies must improve approach against Sri Lanka spin

    As cricket fans prepare for a make-or-break second One-Day International between West Indies and Sri Lanka at Kingston’s iconic Sabina Park this Saturday, head coach Daren Sammy has pinpointed a critical area of improvement his side must deliver: a more assured, aggressive approach against Sri Lanka’s spin attack.

    The series currently hangs in Sri Lanka’s favor, with the visitors holding a 1-0 advantage after a commanding 41-run win in the opening fixture on Wednesday. That result marked a historic milestone for Sri Lanka, as it was their first ever ODI victory over West Indies on the Sabina Park ground.

    For the home side, the run-up to this weekend’s match carries added pressure. While West Indies have posted strong ODI results on home soil over the past 18 months, the team has now dropped five consecutive matches in the 50-over format. With the qualification cutoff for the 2025 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup rapidly approaching, this prolonged slump has emerged as a key point of concern for Sammy and the team’s coaching staff.

    In pre-match comments to reporters, Sammy emphasized that adapting to Sri Lanka’s spin bowlers is non-negotiable for a win on Saturday. “I think we definitely have to play their spin much better; you know, their spinners went probably for 68 runs off 20 overs. It’s something that we have to be better at in the next game. We’ve spoken about it and it’s about getting the confidence to have all the skills they’ve been working on to implement it in the game,” Sammy explained.

    Despite the recent string of losses and the series deficit, Sammy remains optimistic that his side can turn the tide over the remaining two fixtures. He urged his players to lean on past home series comebacks to find momentum, pointing to positive takeaways from the opening match despite the final result.

    “I think we’ve been in positions like this before over some of the series we’ve won at home and come back stronger,” he said. “We had two new openers in John [Campbell] and Justin [Greaves] and the way they approached the game, that controlled aggression, was good. Captain Shai Hope continues to lead the batting. I thought the new ball spell was really good, Matthew [Forde] and Jayden [Seales] continue to ask questions. But like I said earlier, tomorrow is a new day.”

    With the pitch conditions set to play a key role in the match outcome, Sammy confirmed the coaching staff is considering potential squad changes to optimize the team’s balance for the surface. He noted that the second match pitch appears to be in better condition than the opening game’s wicket, which featured several bare patches that increased spin variation.

    “The first game there were some bare patches where the ball spun, but looking at the surface today, it looks much better and harder and I expect it to be firmer, so then I don’t expect it to spin that much. We have our 12 and will make a final call when we see the pitch tomorrow,” Sammy added.

    Saturday’s match will also carry personal significance for West Indies captain Shai Hope, who is set to cap off a stellar ODI career by playing his 150th match in the format. Sammy heaped praise on Hope’s leadership and consistent performance over the past four years, calling him one of the greatest ODI batsmen in West Indies history.

    “You know, I see him as one of our greatest ODI batsmen with his record and his consistency, but for me just having been here working with him and seeing him work, there’s no surprise to me the numbers he puts out there,” Sammy said. “He pays a lot of attention to details with his preparation and he works really hard to be consistent and averages 50 plus in ODI cricket. So congrats to you Shai on this milestone and hopefully you and the rest of the team could make it a victorious one.”

  • New DV Bill, Budget Unclear

    New DV Bill, Budget Unclear

    As debate unfolds in Belize’s National Assembly over a transformative new Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Bill designed to replace the nation’s decades-old existing Domestic Violence Act, unresolved questions about budget availability and implementation preparedness are casting uncertainty over the proposed legislation’s path forward.

    The draft legislation, which lawmakers have framed as a critical step forward in safeguarding vulnerable populations, aims to expand legal protections for survivors of domestic abuse. A key new provision would authorize senior Justices of the Peace to issue immediate interim protection orders, enabling faster intervention for at-risk victims. Yet according to Minister of State Dolores Balderamos Garcia, mandatory training for the justices who would take on this new responsibility is still in progress.

    In comments to the legislature, Balderamos Garcia acknowledged public impatience with the delayed rollout: “We do hope this can be rolled out very soon. The training is still taking place, and in the eyes of many people, it may be taking a bit longer than many would like to see.”

    Training delays are not the only point of contention. Lee Mark Chang, the Area Representative for Mesopotamia, has challenged the ruling government over the bill’s financing amid recent sweeping government budget adjustments. Chang pointed to a recently enacted $55 million cut to the national budget, questioning where the resources to fully implement the new framework will come from.

    Local data underscores the urgent need for robust domestic violence protections in Belize. Statistics from the Belize Crime Observatory show that between 70% and 80% of all domestic violence victims in the country are women, with young adults representing one of the most at-risk groups for abuse.

    A full breakdown of the debate, including exclusive comments from Prime Minister John Briceño on the government’s plan for the bill, is set to air during the primetime broadcast of News 5 Live at 6 p.m. local time this evening.

  • Barbadian Tourism Leader Petra Roach Inducted into Inaugural CTO Hall of Fame at Caribbean Week New York

    Barbadian Tourism Leader Petra Roach Inducted into Inaugural CTO Hall of Fame at Caribbean Week New York

    Amid the annual industry gathering of Caribbean Week New York, held at the InterContinental New York Times Square in June 2026, a landmark moment unfolded for Caribbean tourism: the first-ever induction ceremony for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) Hall of Fame, launched this year to honor trailblazing women who have reshaped the region’s travel sector. Among the small, elite group of inaugural inductees is Petra Roach, a seasoned Barbadian tourism executive with more than two and a half decades of experience shaping regional travel growth.

    The new CTO Hall of Fame was created specifically to spotlight women whose visionary leadership, innovative approaches, and long-standing contributions have advanced Caribbean tourism and driven broader socioeconomic progress across the island nations. Roach shares the inaugural honor with five other industry standouts: Karolin Troubetzkoy, executive director of Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain; Rosa Harris, Director of Tourism for the Cayman Islands; Valérie Damaseau, Commissioner of Tourism & Culture for Saint-Martin; Marsha Henderson, Minister of Tourism for St. Kitts & Nevis; and Beverly Nicholson-Doty, CEO of Figment Design. Each inductee has left an indelible mark on the sector through consistent commitment to industry excellence.

    In her remarks following the induction, Roach emphasized that the recognition is not solely a personal achievement, but a reflection of the community that has supported her throughout her career. “This recognition is deeply meaningful because it reflects the many mentors, colleagues, partners, and teams who have been part of my journey,” Roach said. “Tourism has the power to transform economies and improve lives, and I am grateful to have contributed to the growth and success of our region.”

    Roach’s reputation as one of the Caribbean’s most respected tourism leaders has been built across a series of high-impact leadership roles. As former CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority, she steered the destination to a period of unprecedented, record-breaking growth and elevated its global profile, drawing increased international visitor arrivals and industry acclaim. Before that, she held multiple senior leadership positions across Barbados’ domestic tourism sector, including Vice President for the United Kingdom market, Head of Global Markets, and Interim CEO of the Barbados Tourism Authority.

    This latest honor adds to a growing list of recognitions of Roach’s impact: in 2024, she made history as the first recipient of CTO’s Director of Tourism of the Year award, a milestone that further cemented her reputation as a leader defined by strategic vision, creative problem-solving, and tangible, measurable results for the regions she has served.

    Today, Roach holds the position of Director of Sales and Marketing at Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle Resort & Spa, where she continues to bring her expertise to one of the island’s flagship hospitality properties. Beyond her day-to-day role, she remains a vocal advocate for advancing industry standards, nurturing the next generation of tourism leaders, and strengthening cross-regional collaboration to elevate Caribbean tourism as a whole. The CTO Hall of Fame induction cements her legacy as a foundational figure in the modern development of the region’s most vital economic sector.

  • Which Administration Added the Most to Belize’s Debt?

    Which Administration Added the Most to Belize’s Debt?

    A routine debate over a $23 million development loan has ignited a fiery partisan confrontation in Belize’s House of Representatives, pitting Prime Minister John Briceño’s governing administration directly against opposition leader Tracy Panton and her bloc over competing claims of fiscal responsibility.

    The conflict began when opposition lawmakers challenged the Briceño government’s borrowing strategy, leveling accusations that the current administration was accelerating the accumulation of national debt and pushing the small Central American nation toward greater fiscal instability. Briceño rejected the criticism outright, pushing back with economic data that he argued flipped the narrative entirely, placing blame for decades of stagnation and debt growth squarely on the previous United Democratic Party (UDP) administration.

    In a scathing rebuke delivered from the House floor, Briceño pointed to per capita GDP trends between 2008 and 2020, a period when the UDP held national power. He noted that when the UDP took office from the People’s United Party (PUP) in 2008, national GDP per capita stood at $11,332. By the time the PUP returned to power in 2020, that figure had dropped to $10,418, representing an 8% economic contraction over 13 years. During that same period, Briceño highlighted, the UDP administration spent more than $13 billion in public funds. “You would have expected a high school kid could do better than that,” the prime minister quipped.

    Briceño also mocked the opposition’s attempts to pin the UDP’s economic underperformance on the global COVID-19 pandemic, pointing out that the public health crisis only emerged in the final year of the UDP’s 13-year tenure. “Yes, we had COVID under the UDP. That is why nothing happened. Thirteen years of COVID,” he said sarcastically, calling out over a decade of what he labeled as excuses for poor governance.

    Despite the heated exchange, the $23 million loan motion ultimately secured enough support to pass in the House on Thursday. The funds allocated through the borrowing will not go toward general operational costs, but rather to the construction and rehabilitation of early childhood education facilities across every district of Belize. The project is a core component of the Briceño administration’s broader policy agenda, which prioritizes expanding access to pre-primary education and creating new employment opportunities for women across the country.

    Beyond the partisan back-and-forth, official fiscal data shows that the current government has made significant progress in stabilizing Belize’s debt profile since taking office in 2020. The country’s debt-to-GDP ratio has fallen sharply from 120% in 2020 to 68% as of 2026, marking one of the most dramatic debt reductions in Belize’s modern history.

  • Zeemoney shuts shop after Central Bank suspension order

    Zeemoney shuts shop after Central Bank suspension order

    A Barbados-based fintech firm that facilitated cross-border money transfers for both local residents and international users has permanently closed its doors on the island, in the wake of regulatory enforcement action from the Central Bank of Barbados.

    Zeemoney (Barbados) Limited, which operated four retail locations across the country, first saw its activities halted in early May, when the central financial regulator suspended its operating license for a 30-day period running from May 5 to June 4. The regulator, which oversees all licensed financial service providers in Barbados, confirmed that its supervisory division had raised significant red flags across four key areas of the fintech’s operations: its overall financial health, corporate governance structures, adherence to local regulatory requirements, and long-term operational continuity.

    The enforcement order issued by the bank banned the company, which is led by Ghanaian fintech entrepreneur Andrew Takyi-Appiah, from offering any form of money or value transmission services. Takyi-Appiah, who previously held roles at global giants including PwC and Nestlé, founded Zeepay in 2015, which has grown into one of Africa’s largest cross-border mobile money and remittance platforms. The Barbadian Zeemoney venture marked part of Zeepay’s broader regional expansion push into the Caribbean market.

    Prior to its closure, Zeemoney Barbados offered a full suite of digital financial services, covering international remittances, mobile money transfers, digital wallet solutions, general payment processing, and final settlement of transfers into local bank accounts, debit cards, and personal mobile wallets.

    When the regulator first announced the license suspension, it noted that the action came after a comprehensive supervisory review that uncovered ongoing issues that had substantially worsened its concerns around the fintech’s financial standing, governance, ability to continue operating, and regulatory compliance. Under the terms of the suspension, Zeemoney was ordered to fix all confirmed deficiencies within the 30-day timeline, per Section 50 (1)(a) of Barbados’ financial regulatory legislation. The bank warned at the time that failure to address the issues would trigger additional supervisory action.

    Contrary to expectations that the firm would work to resolve its compliance issues, however, the company announced via its official website on Friday that it had formally requested approval from the Central Bank of Barbados to voluntarily wind down all of its operations in the jurisdiction. In its statement, the fintech pledged to collaborate fully with the regulator to ensure an orderly wind-down process, and confirmed that customers would receive formal guidance on accessing their remaining funds in the near future.

    At the time of closure, Zeemoney was headquartered at the Dome Mall in the Warrens business district, with additional branch locations in Speightstown (St Peter), Hastings (Christ Church), and the Sheraton Mall Annex, also located in Christ Church.

  • BFA chief hails competitive season across divisions

    BFA chief hails competitive season across divisions

    As the 2026 domestic football calendar in Barbados nears its final stretch, the head of the island’s governing body has delivered a largely positive assessment of the year’s campaign, pointing to strong competition, growing regional recognition, and expanding participation from international players as key highlights.

    Randy Harris, president of the Barbados Football Association (BFA), told local outlet Barbados TODAY that the season has mostly exceeded or met the organization’s expectations, even as one lopsided result sparked internal review. The top-flight Premier League campaign has already wrapped up, with Weymouth Wales securing an unprecedented fifth consecutive league title. The lower-tier Divisions One and Two and the knockout-style Champions Cup are still ongoing, with key matches scheduled to move to the BFA’s Wildey Technical Center in the coming weeks.

    Harris noted that the Premier League got off to a highly competitive start, with tight fights at both the top and bottom of the table for most of the campaign. The only notable blemish on the season, he said, was a 23-0 blowout that stemmed from one club fielding an incomplete roster. That outcome does nothing to advance the development of the sport in Barbados, Harris explained, adding that the BFA will launch an inquiry into the incident by sending an official letter to the club to clarify what led to the incomplete squad.

    Beyond that single incident, Harris voiced full confidence in the strength of the island’s domestic competitions, particularly calling out Division One, the country’s second-tier league, for its consistently high intensity. “It is a fight every week,” Harris said of the division. “They play on community open grounds, and you get really strong local support for the teams. Right now, it’s still anyone’s guess who will take the title – that’s how competitive it is.”

    The BFA will not pause ongoing domestic matches while the 2026 FIFA World Cup is being held in the region, Harris confirmed. Following the conclusion of the current competitions, the BFA will move straight into its annual calendar of flagship events, starting with the island’s popular Crop Over festival, then the Prime Minister’s Cup – widely considered the top domestic showcase for Barbadian football. “We’re pushing full steam ahead to wrap this season out properly,” Harris said.

    One of the biggest wins for the Premier League this year, Harris added, is its growing positive reputation across the Caribbean. That growing profile has come largely thanks to the league’s broadcast partnership with FIFA+, which makes matches available to stream internationally, bringing Barbadian football to a much wider regional audience. This season, the top flight has already featured a number of players from other Caribbean nations, including St Vincent and the Grenadines attacker Kirtney Franklyn, who claimed the league’s Golden Boot award. Coaches and club executives across the league expect the number of incoming international players to rise next season, and Harris shares that expectation.

    Harris recounted that one visiting player from St Vincent and the Grenadines he spoke with praised the competitive quality of the Barbadian league and said he enjoyed the experience of competing alongside local players. Harris noted that the Barbadian season’s schedule works in the league’s favor when attracting regional talent: it runs outside the traditional window of most other Caribbean leagues, giving out-of-contract or active players from neighboring countries an opportunity to compete while their home seasons are off.

    “Our schedule lets footballers from other countries come play here on this beautiful island, get competitive minutes, and experience a different league,” Harris said. “I expect that word will keep spreading, and more talent will come our way in the coming seasons.”

    Harris, who also serves as a FIFA Council member and Concacaf vice-president, is set to depart Barbados on Tuesday for the 2026 World Cup finals, with plans to return to the island on July 20. He said he is looking forward to the tournament, which is being hosted for the first time across multiple North American countries in the Concacaf region. “I’m excited to watch the best players in the world compete at the best tournament in the world,” he said. “It’s going to be a really special joyous occasion for everyone lucky enough to be there for it in the region.”