Carib Scope

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  • De Nieuwe Leeuw presenteert voorstel voor wet bestuur en toezicht rechtspersonen

    De Nieuwe Leeuw presenteert voorstel voor wet bestuur en toezicht rechtspersonen

    On April 29, Suriname’s opposition political party De Nieuwe Leeuw (DNL) took a key step toward strengthening public sector governance by formally submitting a draft proposal for a new Law on Governance and Oversight of Legal Entities in Suriname to the country’s president, vice president, and the leadership and members of the National Assembly (DNA).

    DNL’s initiative grows from growing public and political concern over blurred role boundaries between governing bodies and oversight institutions in state-linked legal entities and public organizations. Party chairman Dharm Mungra explained that the bill is a response to repeated instances where supervisory boards and boards of commissioners have overstepped their mandates to interfere in day-to-day executive governance matters.

    According to Mungra, this overreach has created unnecessary institutional friction, triggered widespread conflicts of interest across public entities, and ultimately eroded the effectiveness of government governance across the country. To address these gaps, DNL argues that a clear, binding legal framework is urgently needed to codify the distinct roles and responsibilities of oversight bodies, eliminating the ambiguity that enables overreach and dysfunction.

    Party representatives emphasized that the submitted document is not a finalized piece of legislation, but rather an opening discussion draft designed to jumpstart national conversation on governance reform. The core focus of the proposal is exclusively targeted at regulating the functions of supervisory boards and boards of commissioners, with the party framing it as a substantive contribution to the national policy debate and a foundational starting point for further drafting work by the National Assembly.

    In a deliberate choice to keep the proposal focused, DNL has excluded a range of related secondary topics from the current draft. These omissions include rules governing executive management and boards of directors, penalties and enforcement mechanisms, transitional provisions, formal definitions of legal entities and their alignment with existing national legislation, rules for integrity commissions, exceptions for appointment term limits, and civil law consequences for conflicting interest violations.

    DNL affirmed that the next stages of legal structuring, refinement, and harmonization with Suriname’s existing legal code fall properly within the remit of the National Assembly, the country’s formal legislative body tasked with approving and enacting final law.

  • “Uniting Science and Community” in HIV Push

    “Uniting Science and Community” in HIV Push

    In a groundbreaking public health gathering for Central America, health leaders, scientific experts, policymakers and cross-sector community representatives gathered in Belize City on April 29, 2026 for a landmark symposium hosted by the International AIDS Society (IAS) Educational Fund, aimed at stepping up the country’s fight against HIV.

    Touted as the first event of its kind both in Belize and across the entire Central American region, the symposium carries the theme “Uniting science and community for an accelerated HIV response in Belize”, and was convened to address existing gaps in the country’s national HIV program. Dr. Joshua Canul, Assistant Deputy Director for HIV/TB & STIs at Belize’s Ministry of Health and Wellness, emphasized the historic significance of the convening, noting that while the national government currently covers approximately 80 percent of all funding for the country’s HIV response, progress has been held back by systemic delays that need urgent addressing.

    Unlike traditional public health gatherings that focus primarily on medical professionals, this symposium intentionally expanded participation beyond the health sector to include teachers, religious leaders, and representatives from a wide range of community organizations. This multi-stakeholder, community-centered approach is a core part of Belize’s strategy to reach the globally recognized 95-95-95 HIV treatment and prevention targets set by UNAIDS.

    Eva Burgos, Executive Director of GOJoven Belize, a leading local organization working on HIV response, highlighted that the IAS brings a wealth of cutting-edge, innovative approaches to HIV programming. She stressed that as a small nation working to curb its HIV epidemic, Belize must prioritize developing new, context-specific strategies to improve HIV prevention outcomes that meet the unique needs of its communities.

    According to event organizers, insights and agreements reached during the one-day symposium will directly inform ongoing national initiatives to close gaps in HIV treatment access, scale up effective prevention services, and keep Belize on track to meet its 2030 UNAIDS commitments to end AIDS as a public health threat.

  • White-clad gunman kills worker in Wildey daylight shooting

    White-clad gunman kills worker in Wildey daylight shooting

    A quiet residential community in Wildey, Barbados, is reeling from shock after a bold public shooting left a local worker dead on Wednesday morning. The attack, carried out by a single attacker disguised in a white hazmat suit, has shattered the normally peaceful atmosphere of the area, prompting law enforcement to issue an urgent appeal for members of the public to come forward with any information that could help solve the killing.

    The incident unfolded just after 10 a.m., when Barbados Police received an emergency call reporting the shooting, confirmed Acting Inspector Ryan Brathwaite, the force’s public affairs and communications head. According to the caller, the gunman – clad in the distinctive protective hazmat suit – had opened fire on the victim before fleeing the scene on Meadow Road, where the attack took place.

    First responder units rushed to the location within minutes of the report, and found the victim’s body lying on the roadside. Preliminary investigative work has revealed that the man killed was part of a work crew carrying out activities in the neighborhood when the assailant approached. Brathwaite detailed that the attacker fired multiple rounds at close range, causing critical wounds that proved fatal before a medical professional could arrive at the scene to provide care. As of Wednesday, the victim’s identity has not been released to the public pending next-of-kin notification.

    For long-term residents of Meadow Road, the brazen mid-morning attack is an unprecedented break from the area’s normally low-crime culture. Ian Gilkes, a resident who has lived in the neighborhood for years, told reporters he heard the rapid succession of gunfire that signaled the attack. “I hear pop, pop, pop,” Gilkes said, emphasizing that brutal violence of this kind has no place in the quiet community. “It don’t happen so [here].”

    Other local residents shared their lingering shock and growing concern over rising gun violence across Barbados. One elderly resident, still visibly shaken when speaking to journalists, recalled speaking to the victim just 24 hours before the killing. “The last thing I said was yesterday before he left to go to church,” the resident said, shaking his head at the escalating rate of gun-related crime across the island. Another anonymous resident, who was at home watching television when the shots rang out, described the sudden disruption of an ordinary day. “I was watching sports on TV when all of a sudden I heard a few shots, that’s all I could tell you,” the resident said, adding “I don’t feel good about these shootings.”

    While forensic investigators processed the crime scene to collect physical evidence, Brathwaite issued a public plea for community cooperation to address the violence, calling on Barbadians to return to foundational community and spiritual values. “We must continue to appeal to our fellow Barbadians, let’s be your brother’s keeper,” he said. “If you know something, if you have seen something, please say something. Let us make Barbados a safe place. It does not have to be this way.”

    Brathwaite stressed that communities cannot afford to surrender to fear in the wake of the tragedy. “We must not put up our hands and give up on this situation. We must continue to work together for the betterment of Barbados,” he said. Calling for a return to spiritual guidance as a path forward, the police spokesperson added: “Let us get back to the basics. Let us take our young children to church… Let God be our guiding light. This is the way for us to come back.”

    Authorities have released multiple contact points for anyone with information about the shooting or the gunman’s identity to come forward. Tipsters can reach Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-8477, contact the police emergency line at 211, or reach the investigating team directly at District ‘A’ Police Station via 430-7242.

  • Braves overcome Peace and Love in domino clash

    Braves overcome Peace and Love in domino clash

    After a weekend of high-stakes matches across the National Domino Association’s Four Hand League, one team stands alone at the top of the Premier Division with an unbroken winning streak: Carlton and A1 Braves. The top-of-the-table clash pitted the two last remaining unbeaten teams against each other, with Carlton and A1 Braves delivering a statement 38-point victory over Peace and Love to claim their spot as the league’s only undefeated club. Leading the charge for the winners, Sharon Sherry Lynch and Jonathan John Grandison notched an impressive 26 points, while teammates Charmaine and Hamilton “Hammy” Durant contributed a solid 20 points to lock in the 88-50 final score.

    The weekend’s action delivered a full slate of results across the Premier League, with every competing side putting points on the board in a series of decisive matches. Powerade Locked & Loaded secured a comfortable 20-point win against BNECL, finishing 73-53 ahead thanks to a 23-point performance from the pairing of Ruldoph Walkes and Darren Ellis. In another lopsided fixture, HIV Commission Hillside downed A and B Pest Control Vauxhall by an identical 36-point margin, 88-52, with Algernon Cox and Steve Alleyne combining for 18 points to lead their side to victory.

    Buzo Osteria Welchman Hall picked up a 12-point win over French Village Piranhas, closing out the match 71-59 led by Shurland and Vondel Bovell, who scored 21 points between them. RM Cleaners earned an 19-point victory over 37 Family KC Joint, finishing 80-61, while Massy Spring Cottage notched a matching 20-point winning margin against Speightstown with an 80-60 final score. Police secured a 76-58 win over De Clique, Trident Insurance Patriots defeated RL Seale QEH by a 22-point margin 80-58, and Eastbourne pulled off a 27-point win against Checker Hall, 84-57.

    Rounding out the Premier League results, B.U.T dominated Hindsbury to win 88-51, JD’s secured a 25-point victory over St Joseph 76-51, and Bathsheba earned a comfortable 25-point win against Newbury, closing out 79-54. Alongside the top-flight action, Division One also held its latest round of fixtures, with four teams walking away with wins: Spring Cottage, Police, Patriots, and Eastbourne repeated their Premier League counterparts’ winning form to claim victories in the lower division.

  • BFA Champions Cup kicks off

    BFA Champions Cup kicks off

    The much-anticipated Barbados Football Association Champions Cup is set to throw open its doors tomorrow, launching a high-stakes knockout tournament that will see reigning title holders Weymouth Wales begin their quest to defend their crown against a stacked field of competing teams across the country. The opening night of the competition features just one representative from the Premier League: Paradise, a squad based out of Dover, who will get their campaign underway against Elite in the first marquee matchup of the tournament.

    Four additional matches round out the opening slate of fixtures: Caribbean United will square off against Lodge Road, Eastern United will lock horns with Glebe, and Hothersal Turning will clash with Orange Hill. The only opening-round clash hosted at Market Hill in St. George will pit two Division Two sides against one another, Central League Spartans and Police, with kickoff scheduled for 9 p.m.

    This tournament marks a welcome return to the Champions Cup for Central League Spartans, a side that opted out of last year’s competition to prioritize securing promotion back to Division One. In an exclusive interview with Barbados TODAY, Spartans head coach Edwyn opened up about his squad’s preparation for the knockout clash, acknowledging the team has faced consistent headwinds throughout the current Division Two campaign. “We are not in the best form right now — we’ve had a pretty rough go of it this season,” Wood explained. “Across our six league matches so far, we’ve only notched one win, two draws and three losses, so we are far from peak performance at the moment.”

    Still, Wood stressed that the coaching staff has continued working closely with the playing group to rebuild their mental sharpness and turn their season around, heading into the cup competition. The Spartans will hold home-field advantage for their opening clash against the Weymouth-based Police squad, and Wood is counting on that familiar terrain to give his side a much-needed boost.

    “Home advantage is always a huge benefit, and I actually think our poor form so far this season has been heavily tied to our heavy schedule of away matches,” Wood noted. “Our home pitch is one of the few east-west oriented fields in the region, and we’ve built our style of play to take advantage of that unique layout. With so few home matches in our league schedule this season, that’s definitely contributed to our standing in the table. We’re hopeful that familiarity with the ground will carry us past Police on Thursday night.”

    Beyond the opening night fixtures, the remainder of the first-round schedule has already been locked in. Last season’s tournament runners-up, Kickstart Rush, will launch their 2024 campaign against Barbados Soccer Academy this coming Sunday. Reigning champions Weymouth Wales will not step onto the pitch until next Tuesday, when they get their title defense started against WRBSSC in what is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated first-round matches of the competition.

  • Community Comes Together After Massive Columbia Village Fire

    Community Comes Together After Massive Columbia Village Fire

    On a Thursday afternoon in late April 2026, a destructive wildfire tore through Columbia Village, a community in Belize’s Toledo District, leaving dozens of residents homeless and triggering an outpouring of cross-regional mutual aid that has united neighboring groups in support. The blaze ignited just after 2:35 p.m. inside the kitchen of a local church, before strong seasonal winds carried the flames rapidly across more than a quarter mile of the village, destroying more than a dozen residential and community structures in its path. No injuries were reported in the disaster, according to official police statements, but the fire left an indelible mark on the affected families, who lost nearly all their personal belongings and homes. Multiple emergency response groups mobilized quickly to contain the spread of the fire and launch early relief efforts: the Toledo Emergency Operations Center coordinated on-site containment, while local fire crews received backup from the Belize Defence Force, the national Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and personnel from the Ya’axché conservation organization, all of whom worked to bring the blaze under control. In the immediate aftermath of the fire, neighboring communities have stepped forward to offer critical support to displaced households. Leaders from Indian Creek, a nearby community, have organized a large-scale donation drive to collect essential supplies for the fire-impacted families. “It’s very sad; they lost everything. It’s so sad to see these families like that,” shared Domingo Choc, Chairman of the Indian Creek community, in an interview following the delivery of collected donations. Choc explained that both elected council members and ordinary residents of Indian Creek have joined the relief effort, helping clear fire-damaged properties and hand-delivering donations collected across the community to the families that need them most. “Indian Creek people are kind-hearted to give whatever they have. That’s why we are here right now to deliver the donations,” Choc said, adding that the rapid response was an intentional act of cross-community solidarity. “Whatever we got, that’s what we brought to hand over the donations that the council collected. We are helping them in any way we could assist them.” As cleanup efforts continue and displaced families begin the long process of rebuilding their lives, the coordinated response from local government agencies, emergency teams, and neighboring communities highlights how regional solidarity can soften the blow of sudden, devastating disasters.

  • Battle for 2wd honours set to spice up Rally Barbados

    Battle for 2wd honours set to spice up Rally Barbados

    The rising popularity of the FIA R5 category across Barbados has driven a sharp increase in four-wheel-drive entries for the 2026 edition of BCIC Rally Barbados, the island’s most prestigious motorsport competition. But for local motorsport enthusiasts, the fight for the two-wheel-drive (2WD) title remains one of the event’s most anticipated and fiercely contested attractions.

    The history of 2WD success at the rally tells a story of consistent local dominance: since Roger Skeete claimed the last overall rally victory in a 2WD Peugeot 306 S16 back in 1997, 11 different drivers have taken home 2WD class honors. Leading that pack of champion drivers is Barry Mayers, who has notched six 2WD wins between 2001 and 2018 — one more than his brother Roger, who is forced to sit out this year’s event after sustaining an ankle injury.

    Early signs from the 2026 BRC Shakedown Stages, held in March and the only competitive rally outing so far this year, point to an extraordinarily tight fight for the top spot. Mayers, who dominated all four afternoon stages in his rear-wheel-drive Ford Fiesta, put in a performance that cements his status as a title favorite. He ultimately finished second overall at the shakedown, just behind Rhett Watson in his BMW M3, with Nigel Reece rounding out the top three. Remarkably, less than four seconds separated the three frontrunners, hinting at the close competition fans can expect at the main event.

    Watson enters the 2026 rally riding high after securing a record-breaking fourth BRC 2WD Championship last year, even as he dropped from 14th to 60th place in the overall standings at the 2025 BCIC Rally Barbados. This year, new rule changes have added an extra layer of challenge to the competition: on-route servicing between each three-stage loop is now banned, with only adjustments that drivers and co-drivers can complete using on-board equipment permitted. The new regulation has put a greater premium on car reliability than ever before.

    An interesting new storyline enters the 2WD fold this year with Logan Watson, Rhett Watson’s brother, making the move back to 2WD competition after spending one season campaigning in the FIA R5 class. Following a year of reflection and preparation, during which he acquired a classic MkII Escort, Logan has already adapted smoothly to his return. He has posted competitive lap times matching those of Andrew Jones, the top 2WD finisher at the 2020 rally who has campaigned his own MkII Escort consistently for years.

    While the overall 2WD top five rarely consists exclusively of drivers from the SuperModified 2 (SM2) subcategory, SM2 remains the largest class in the 2WD division, with no shortage of title contenders. Beyond the Watsons, two BMW entries are expected to challenge for the top: Suleman Esuf’s 4-litre V8-powered 1M and Mark Kinch’s M3 Compact.

    Overseas victories in the 2WD class remain a rare occurrence: it has been more than 20 years since Martin Stockdale became the only non-local driver to claim 2WD top honors in his BMW M3, and international visitors have rarely cracked the 2WD top five since that win. This year, Irish driver Damian Toner was widely expected to challenge that trend, driving his MkII Escort, but a high-profile accident on the Circuit of Ireland earlier this month forced him to withdraw from the Barbados event.

    With Toner out, Ireland’s Declan ‘The Milkman’ Gallagher will now lead the overseas charge, piloting his legendary Starlet. Boasting a decorated resume that includes multiple Irish championship titles, dozens of overall rally wins and podium finishes, and nearly 40 class wins to his name, Gallagher has the experience and skill to pull off an upset. Gallagher is on-island to oversee the car’s outing; New York-based Irish driver Barry McKenna, who drove the Starlet at the 2025 BCIC Rally Barbados, returned for another run this year, though he did not get the opportunity to log any seat time at the recent King of the Hill event. McKenna still put in a solid performance in 2025, finishing top 2WD in the Sunday Cup after encountering mechanical issues on the opening Saturday of the event.

    Last year, attrition among top SM2 competitors allowed Gary Smith, who works with McKenna in New York, to climb to second in 2WD behind Roger Mayers, good for fifth overall in the 2WD standings. Smith is back to compete again this year, joined by former South-East Stages Champion Niall Fitzpatrick in his MkI Escort and first-time competitor Brian O’Neill, who brings a newly built MkII Escort to the event.

  • Grind on: Portvale resumes after latest disruption in troubled sugar crop

    Grind on: Portvale resumes after latest disruption in troubled sugar crop

    After yet another unplanned interruption that extended a string of crises through one of the most chaotic sugar harvests in recent Barbados history, grinding operations at Portvale Sugar Factory have officially restarted. The Barbados Energy and Sugar Company (BESCO), the entity currently managing milling operations under the island nation’s restructured sugar industry, confirmed the resumption in an official statement released to the public this Wednesday, noting that the pause was triggered by an unexpected mechanical malfunction that factory engineering teams have now fully resolved.

    “The Barbados Energy and Sugar Company is pleased to announce the resumption of grinding operations at the Portvale Sugar Factory following a brief pause due to a mechanical failure,” the statement read. “The temporary halt occurred after one of the mills experienced a malfunction, prompting immediate intervention by the factory’s engineering team.” According to BESCO, the specialized repair crew worked nonstop through the disruption to limit downtime for the entire harvest, with technicians putting in round-the-clock shifts to return the affected mill to full working capacity as fast as possible.

    This latest stoppage is far from an isolated incident for the 2026 crop harvest. Since the season got underway, production has been repeatedly knocked off schedule by a toxic combination of industrial unrest and recurring mechanical failures. The first major shutdown hit in mid-March, when workers represented by the Unity Workers Union (UWU) walked off the job for three full days to protest unresolved disputes over union recognition and substandard working conditions. While operations resumed after that strike, intermittent closures have continued, fueled by both lingering labor tensions between union leadership and BESCO management and persistent mechanical issues across aging milling infrastructure.

    Local cane farmers who supply the Portvale facility have already voiced growing frustration over the cascading impacts of repeated stoppages. Many producers have reported significant delays in getting their harvested cane accepted for processing, forcing costly disruptions to their own harvesting and logistics schedules as the standoff between labor and management drags on.

    In a separate but related development announced Wednesday, the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) confirmed that the Sugar Industry Staff Association (SISA) has finally secured official recognition as the exclusive bargaining unit for BESCO’s managerial staff. The milestone ends a years-long campaign for recognition that stretches back to the earliest stages of the country’s sugar industry restructuring process.

    CTUSAB General Secretary Dennis De Peiza clarified to reporters that SISA is not involved in the ongoing labor dispute disrupting Portvale operations, which is limited exclusively to the UWU and the Barbados Workers Union, the two labor bodies representing non-managerial workers at the facility. “I can assure you that SISA is not part of the ongoing dispute with the sugar industry body at Portvale, that’s a matter which directly relates to the Unity [Workers] Union and the Barbados Workers’ Union, which are the two bodies that have interests there,” De Peiza said. “I can say without any contradiction… SISA is a recognised body, and that issue does not in any way concern SISA at this time.”

    The current management structure for Barbados’ sugar industry dates back only to January 15, 2024, when two newly formed cooperatives – Agricultural Business Company Ltd (ABC) and BESCO – took over full responsibility for sugar cultivation, milling, and sales after the government transitioned operations away from the former state-owned Barbados Agricultural Management Company (BAMC).

    In closing its Wednesday statement, BESCO extended gratitude to all workers, farmers, and industry partners for their patience and flexibility through the repeated disruptions, and reaffirmed the company’s confidence that it will still meet all production targets for the 2026 harvest. “BESCO assures stakeholders and the public that, despite the short interruption, sugar production for the 2026 Crop has been progressing well,” the company said.

  • Five charged with dangerous driving, two convicted so far- police

    Five charged with dangerous driving, two convicted so far- police

    On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) announced that two of five motorists charged with dangerous driving following detection by the newly implemented Safe Road Intelligent System (SRIS) have been convicted and ordered to pay a combined total of GY$80,000 in fines.

    The two convicted offenders are Vivian Paul and Jamal Grant. Grant, who was operating a hired vehicle marked HD 4455, faced a single count of dangerous driving and received a GY$30,000 fine, with a default sentence of six weeks in prison if the penalty is not paid. Paul, the driver of private motor vehicle PVV 9064, was also charged with one count of dangerous driving, and was fined GY$50,000 for the offense.

    Three other accused motorists are still going through the legal process. Leslie Wood, driver of hired car HD 3551, is facing two counts of dangerous driving, and his court hearing has been adjourned until June 10, 2026. Mohamed Adouhedia, the registered owner of vehicle PAK 2919, faces one dangerous driving charge, while Allison James, the driver of the same vehicle, has been charged with three counts of the offense. James’ case has also been adjourned to the same June court date.

    Developed as a collaborative project between the GPF and Guyana’s National Data Management Authority (NDMA), the SRIS is designed to transform how traffic law enforcement is carried out across the country. Unlike traditional enforcement methods that rely on officer observations, the system uses AI-enabled cameras to capture high-definition video footage of dangerous driving violations. All captured footage is reviewed by specially trained law enforcement personnel before being submitted as evidence in magistrate court proceedings. Per Guyanese traffic law, dangerous driving is classified as a non-ticketable offense that requires formal prosecution rather than an on-the-spot fine.

    In an official statement released alongside the announcement, the GPF highlighted that the deployment of SRIS has already delivered measurable improvements to the force’s ability to crack down on reckless road behavior. “Since its introduction, the system has significantly strengthened the GPF’s ability to detect, document, and prosecute dangerous driving, with additional matters currently at various stages of review and preparation for court,” the statement read.

    Dangerous driving is defined as any operation of a motor vehicle that puts other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers, as well as public and private property at unreasonable risk of harm. It is widely recognized as one of the leading contributors to road fatalities and serious injuries in Guyana.

    The police force reiterated that it will maintain strict, consistent enforcement action against anyone found violating dangerous driving laws, supported by the new technology. As part of a public safety outreach accompanying the announcement, motorists across the country are being reminded to exercise caution behind the wheel, follow all posted traffic regulations, and prioritize the safety of everyone sharing the road network.

  • “These Guys Carry Minimal Cash”: Zeta Boss Questions Deadly Robbery

    “These Guys Carry Minimal Cash”: Zeta Boss Questions Deadly Robbery

    A brazen fatal robbery has shaken a local water delivery company in Belize’s Orange Walk District, after two on-duty drivers were ambushed in broad daylight, leaving one dead and another hospitalized. The violent attack unfolded around 4:30 p.m. Monday along Chan Pine Ridge Road, according to official police reports, and has left company leadership struggling to make sense of the senseless violence.

    The two victims, identified as Roberto Villafranco and Felipe Vasquez, were carrying out their regular delivery routes when assailants attacked them. Villafranco, 48, suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene of the attack. Vasquez, who was shot in the chest, managed to flee the ambush to a nearby gas station to call for emergency help, and he remains in medical care as of the latest update.

    Eliezer Escalante, head of the Zeta delivery company, told reporters he is still reeling from the incident, which marks the first violent attack on any of the firm’s employees in its operating history. The entire company workforce has been left shaken by the unexpected tragedy, he added. In a puzzling observation that has raised questions about the attackers’ motives, Escalante noted that the company’s delivery drivers carry almost no cash on their routes, making them an illogical target for a robbery.

    Escalante explained that the business delivers five-gallon water containers at a rate of just $3 per unit, and even on a full day of routes, drivers rarely carry more than enough cash from 60 completed deliveries – a sum that totals less than $200 overall. “These guys don’t carry any significant amount of money on them, so I can’t understand why anyone would target them for a deadly robbery,” Escalante said.

    As of the latest update on April 29, 2026, law enforcement officials have not made any arrests in connection with the attack, and active investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. Local media outlets will air an extended report on the incident at 6 p.m. local time for audiences seeking further updates.