In an inspiring display of youth-led environmental action, students at Orange Walk Technical High School in Belize have turned a creative sustainability idea into tangible change, transforming hundreds of discarded plastic bottles into sturdy, usable benches for their school campus.
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Motorists Advised of Overnight Closure Along All Saints Road Route
Commuters and local residents in Antigua and Barbuda are being put on official notice of upcoming major infrastructure upgrades along a key stretch of All Saints Road, with traffic modifications set to take effect next month. The Ministry of Works has confirmed that the intensive construction work will be concentrated between the Buckley Line Roundabout and Herberts Junction, taking place overnight from 7:00 pm on Thursday, June 4, 2026 through to 7:00 am the following day.
To accommodate the work and keep traffic moving safely, a structured detour plan has been rolled out for both inbound and outbound travel. Regardless of whether drivers are heading into town or out of the urban center, they will be directed to turn left immediately after passing Herberts Junction, where posted route markers will guide them back to the main All Saints Road alignment. Trained flag persons will be stationed at key points along the detour to manage traffic flow and answer driver questions on-site.
Authorities have highlighted that specific segments of the detour route will operate as temporary one-way zones, with clear markings on an official distributed map and physical signage posted along the route to prevent confusion for commuters traveling in either direction. Local residents who live within the immediate work zone will retain full access to their properties throughout the overnight construction period, and all nearby commercial establishments will remain open for business as usual during the work.
This overnight construction is part of the broader government-led All Saints Road Project, a major infrastructure initiative aimed at improving the long-term safety and capacity of this critical transportation corridor. With heavy construction equipment operating in close proximity to the detour route, officials are urging all motorists to adhere strictly to posted signs and flag person instructions to avoid accidents. The Ministry of Works has asked all road users and local stakeholders to plan their trips in advance, accounting for potential minor delays during the construction window. Anyone seeking additional information or clarification can contact the Project Implementation Management Unit directly at 562-9173.
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Behandeling in DNA over vordering pg tegen 3 voormalige ministers
On June 4, Suriname’s National Assembly (DNA) convened a public plenary session to process three formal requests from the country’s Prosecutor General (PG) seeking approval to launch criminal proceedings against three former senior cabinet ministers. The high-stakes gathering comes as the body faces a tight legal deadline to rule on the requests, with a 90-day window for a decision set to expire on June 9.
After a lengthy round of debate and an extended recess, assembly members reached a key procedural agreement: the three requests will each be considered individually in open session. This marked a resolution of an earlier deadlock over whether the committee review of the requests, which has now been completed, would be held behind closed doors. Following the resumption of the suspended procedural meeting, lawmakers confirmed that all three motions would be debated and voted on publicly.
The first request up for consideration targets Riad Nurmohamed, former Minister of Public Works in the outgoing Santokhi administration. Next, the assembly will take up the request against Gillmore Hoefdraad, who served as Minister of Finance during the Bouterse administration. The final motion on the agenda concerns Bronto Somohardjo, another former Santokhi-era minister who held the portfolio of Internal Affairs; Somohardjo is already the subject of an investigation into suspected unlawful activities committed during his time in office.
All three requests follow the formal legal process laid out in Suriname’s Act on the Prosecution of Political Office Holders. Under the country’s law, the National Assembly must grant explicit approval to the Prosecutor General’s request before any criminal prosecution can proceed against sitting or former cabinet members. The PG submitted the requests to the legislature months earlier, and the 90-day statutory deadline for the assembly’s decision mandates that a vote be held before the end of this week.
The proceeding has drawn intense public and political attention, as it involves high-profile former officials from two consecutive opposing administrations in Suriname. The outcome of the assembly’s votes will directly shape the future legal path for the three ex-ministers: any approval will clear the way for formal criminal investigation and prosecution, while rejection would bring the process to a halt. Updates on the progression of the public session are being tracked in real time via an associated live blog.
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Police identify man killed in Chapman Lane shooting
A deadly shooting that rocked the quiet community of Chapman Lane, St Michael on Wednesday night has claimed the life of 45-year-old Delon Covell Asgill, law enforcement officials have confirmed.
Residents of the area reported sounds of gunfire rang out shortly before 9 p.m., when an unidentified gunman approached a group of men who had gathered near a local shop along 3rd Avenue, Chapman Lane, and opened fire without warning. Asgill, who resided at Lot 447, 16th Avenue, West Terrace, St James, was struck by gunfire and killed at the scene.
Three other men who were in the group sustained non-fatal injuries in the unprovoked attack. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene and transported all three injured individuals to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention. As of the latest update, no further details on their conditions have been released by authorities.
The Royal Police Force has since launched a full criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the mass shooting, working to piece together what led to the attack and identify the perpetrator. To advance their probe, investigators are issuing a public appeal for any members of the public who may have witnessed the incident, or hold any information that could help solve the case, to come forward.
Tipsters can reach out through multiple official channels: the anonymous Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1800-8477, the 24/7 Police Emergency line at 211, or the Criminal Investigations Department directly at either 430-7189 or 430-7190. Investigators have made a formal guarantee that any information shared with authorities will be kept strictly confidential, to encourage members of the public to speak up without fear of reprisal.
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$290,000 Grant Given for Businesses Affected by Sargassum
Coastal communities across Belize are grappling with a worsening crisis of proliferating sargassum seaweed washing up on their popular shorelines, prompting the national government to roll out new targeted interventions: a six-figure grant for affected private businesses and specialized new machinery to ramp up cleanup operations.
Announced in an official statement from the country’s National Sargassum Task Force, the multi-pronged response comes as invasive sargassum accumulates at persistent high levels across several of Belize’s most tourism-reliant coastal zones. Co-chaired by the Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation and the Ministry of Tourism, the task force has prioritized response efforts for the hardest-hit regions, which include key tourist destinations: Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Hopkins, Seine Bight, and Placencia.
To boost the efficiency of on-ground cleanup, the task force has acquired purpose-built new equipment, specifically a Barber Beach Rake and a New Holland tractor. These heavy-duty tools are scheduled to be deployed first in Placencia, a popular coastal community that has struggled with ongoing, large-scale sargassum buildup on its beaches.
Placencia Village Chairman Warren Garbutt recognized the coordinated response while acknowledging the long-term complexity of the sargassum issue. “We do realise there is no one fixed solution to this problem and stand ready to work together to find effective and efficient ways to improve the quality of our beaches and visitors’ experience,” Garbutt said.
Beyond expanded cleanup infrastructure, the government is delivering direct economic support to businesses that have suffered financial losses from the seaweed invasion. The Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future has approved a BZ$290,000 grant that will be distributed to impacted private sector businesses throughout June. The Belize Tourism Board is also contributing to local response efforts, providing municipalities with dedicated funding for cleanup operations and running field trials of new sargassum removal technology across affected coastal areas.
The ongoing intervention reflects the Belizean government’s continued commitment to addressing the sargassum crisis, which threatens both the country’s critical tourism sector and the ecological health of its coastal marine ecosystems, which are core to the nation’s blue economy strategy.
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Dominica launches US$26 million climate resilience initiative for vulnerable communities
Against a backdrop of rising global climate uncertainty and growing storm-related risks across small island developing states, the Government of Dominica has teamed up with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) to launch an ambitious $26 million initiative targeting climate adaptation and inclusive sustainable growth for at-risk local populations.
Named the Dominica Community Resilience Enhancement Project (DOMCREP), the five-year undertaking draws most of its financing from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), with complementary contributions from the Dominican government. It marks a major milestone in Dominica’s long-standing national pledge to become the world’s first fully climate-resilient nation, a goal set years ago as the island grapples with intensifying hurricanes, coastal flooding and erratic weather patterns that threaten livelihoods and national development.
Officially announced this Wednesday via an official statement from the CCCCC, the project will center on four core priority areas: shoring up national food security, upgrading disaster preparedness frameworks, expanding early warning system coverage, and building community-level skills and resource access to address accelerating climate impacts. Eight communities across Dominica, all ranked at extremely high risk of climate disasters including hurricanes, flash flooding and storm surge, have been selected as direct beneficiaries: Bagatelle, Campbell, Colihaut, Coulibistrie, Good Hope, Petite Soufriere, Pichelin, and San Sauveur.
Speaking at the project’s launch ceremony, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit emphasized that the initiative is designed to deliver direct, tangible benefits to grassroots residents. He noted the investment totals roughly EC$70 million, all of which will flow directly to participating communities, with more than half of the total budget earmarked for agriculture, agro-processing, and expanding economic access specifically for women. “It is important for us in the communities to prepare ourselves for these investments,” Skerrit stated.
A large share of the funding will be dedicated to scaling climate-smart agriculture across the target communities, where smallholder farming forms a core part of local livelihoods. Participating farmers will receive access to upgraded climate-resilient technologies, training in sustainable low-emission production methods, and support to adapt to shifting growing conditions. The end goal of this focus is to boost crop yields, cut climate-related production losses, and strengthen the country’s overall food security, reducing dependence on costly imported food supplies.
Beyond agricultural support, DOMCREP will also finance critical upgrades to national disaster management infrastructure, including the retrofitting and construction of emergency shelters and associated response facilities. The upgrades are designed to ensure these critical hubs can withstand severe weather events, offering more reliable protection for residents when disasters strike.
Dr. Colin Young, Executive Director of the CCCCC, framed the project as a far-reaching investment in shared social and economic prosperity, rather than just environmental adaptation. “When we invest in a farmer’s ability to adapt, we invest in a family’s food security and a community’s economic future,” he explained.
In addition to infrastructure and agricultural improvements, the project will upgrade Dominica’s national multi-hazard early warning systems, boosting the country’s ability to detect and respond to a wide range of impending climate threats. Extensive skills training programs and public education campaigns will also be rolled out to increase community climate awareness and build long-term local capacity to address evolving climate challenges.
A defining feature of DOMCREP is its intentional focus on inclusive development. Women, young people, and other marginalized vulnerable groups are positioned as core participants and beneficiaries of the initiative, which aims to create sustainable, long-term economic opportunities while strengthening overall community resilience.
Dr. Young stressed that the success of the project will not be measured by spending or completed construction alone, but by the measurable improvement it brings to the daily lives of participating residents. “Ultimately, the success of this project will be measured not by budgets or outputs, but by the difference it makes in people’s lives,” he said. “By investing in women and youth, we are investing in the longterm resilience, prosperity, and sustainability of communities across this country. As the CARICOM institution with responsibility for coordinating the region’s response to climate change, the CCCCC remains committed to supporting Dominica and our Member States in accessing climate finance and transforming those investments into meaningful results for people and communities.”
The CCCCC, an intergovernmental body established by CARICOM Heads of Government to coordinate regional climate action, serves multiple key roles across the Caribbean: it acts as a leading implementing partner for international climate finance, maintains a regional repository of climate data and research, and provides policy guidance and technical support to all CARICOM member states as they work to address climate change.
Over the five-year implementation period, DOMCREP is expected to deliver lasting progress toward Dominica’s national climate resilience agenda, while advancing the country’s commitments to broader global sustainable development goals.
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DNA vergadert openbaar over vorderingen pg tegen drie voormalige ministers
After hours of procedural delays, extended adjournments and last-minute negotiations, Suriname’s National Assembly (DNA) has formally approved holding a public plenary session to debate the Prosecutor General’s motions against three former senior political office holders, bringing a days-long parliamentary standoff to a temporary resolution. The green light for the public hearing came only after the parliamentary committee tasked with reviewing the motions finally tabled its final report, a step that was thrown into doubt earlier the same day.
When the assembly convened for an internal procedural meeting on Wednesday, committee chair Rabin Parmessar initially told lawmakers he could not deliver the committee’s final report. The announcement triggered immediate heated debate across the chamber, with multiple assembly members stressing that the full National Assembly holds the ultimate authority to decide whether to proceed with a public hearing. Following closed-door consultations and a lengthy adjournment, the committee ultimately submitted its report, clearing the way for the assembly to vote to advance the debate to an open public session.
The Prosecutor General’s motions relate to three former cabinet members: Riad Nurmohamed, ex-Minister of Public Works, Gillmore Hoefdraad, former Minister of Finance, and Bronto Somohardjo, ex-Minister of Home Affairs. The assembly is required to vote on requests connected to a potential impeachment and formal indictment of the three former officials, a process that carries significant weight for Suriname’s ongoing efforts to address alleged past official misconduct.
Procedural tensions emerged even before the internal meeting got underway, centered on the requirement to establish a quorum to validate proceedings. Initially, the parliamentary factions of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Pertjajah Luhur (PL) declined to sign the attendance register, a move that put the meeting’s validity at risk. It was only after it was confirmed that a sufficient quorum had already been reached through the attendance of lawmakers from the VHP, NPS, ABOP, BEP and A20 parties that the NDP faction agreed to add their signatures to the register.
The entire process is playing out against a strict legal deadline that binds the National Assembly to reach a final decision no later than June 9, leaving lawmakers just days to complete their debate and vote on the next steps for the three former ministers.
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DOMLEC announces Island-Wide power outage
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LETTER: Who Cares About the Future Sustainability of Caribbean Resorts?
The Caribbean region has long stood as one of the world’s most coveted tourism destinations, drawing millions of visitors annually to its sun-drenched coastlines, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant cultural heritage. At the heart of this $30 billion annual industry sit hundreds of large and small resorts, which form the backbone of local economies across dozens of island nations. Yet, as the climate crisis accelerates and global travel patterns evolve, a critical question is gaining increasing urgency: who is taking meaningful action to safeguard the long-term sustainability of these vital economic assets?
This question, first raised in an open letter from Caribbean tourism industry insiders and environmental advocates, shines a light on a growing gap between stated sustainability commitments and on-the-ground action. Many resort operators have rolled out green marketing initiatives in recent years, from reducing single-use plastics to offering carbon-neutral vacation packages. But critics argue these efforts often amount to little more than surface-level changes, failing to address the core systemic threats that put the entire region’s tourism future at risk.
The most pressing threat is climate change itself. Caribbean islands are on the frontlines of rising sea levels, more intense tropical storm systems, and coastal erosion that is already eating away at valuable beachfront property. A 2023 study from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that up to 30% of the Caribbean’s coastal tourism infrastructure could be submerged or rendered uninhabitable by 2050 if current emission rates continue. Despite this stark warning, many resort developers are still pushing forward with new construction projects in low-lying coastal zones, with minimal investment in adaptive infrastructure like sea walls, elevated foundations, or natural mangrove barriers that can buffer against storm damage.
Beyond climate risks, the region also faces ongoing challenges around resource management. Water scarcity is an increasingly urgent issue on many arid islands, yet large resorts often consume up to 10 times more water per guest than local residents, with little investment in recycling or conservation infrastructure. Similarly, many resorts still struggle with proper waste management, sending thousands of tons of solid waste annually to already overcrowded local landfills, while failing to invest in circular economy practices that could reduce waste generation.
Local communities, who rely on tourism for more than 50% of GDP in many Caribbean nations, are also calling for greater social sustainability. Many large resort operations are owned by foreign companies, meaning a significant portion of tourism revenue leaves the region rather than circulating through local economies. Critics also point to ongoing issues with inadequate wages for resort workers, limited access to affordable housing for local staff, and the exclusion of small local businesses from resort supply chains.
So far, responsibility for driving sustainability change has fallen between multiple stakeholders. National governments across the region have often prioritized short-term tourism revenue growth over long-term regulation, citing the need to attract foreign investment and create jobs. International hotel brands have framed their incremental sustainability steps as sufficient, arguing that larger systemic changes would raise costs and make their properties less competitive. Meanwhile, consumers often say they care about sustainability when booking travel, but few are willing to pay the premium that more transformative sustainable practices require.
The authors of the open letter argue that this fragmented approach is no longer viable. They are calling for a coordinated regional pact that brings together governments, hotel brands, local communities, and multilateral development banks to drive transformative change. Key proposals include mandatory climate risk assessments for all new resort projects, tax incentives for resorts that invest in renewable energy and water conservation, and requirements that resorts source a minimum percentage of their goods and services from local suppliers. They are also calling for billions in climate adaptation funding from wealthy nations, which have contributed the most to global emissions but have done little to help frontline regions like the Caribbean adapt to existing impacts.
Industry leaders who support the initiative note that investing in sustainability is not just an environmental imperative—it is also a business necessity. A growing number of travelers are prioritizing sustainable destinations, and resorts that can demonstrate genuine sustainability are already seeing higher occupancy rates and can charge premium prices. Furthermore, investing in adaptive infrastructure now can prevent billions of dollars in damage from future storms and sea level rise, protecting jobs and economic stability for generations to come.
As the Caribbean enters its peak 2024 tourism season, the conversation around resort sustainability is only expected to grow. The question that started as a single open letter has now sparked a regional debate about the future of the Caribbean’s most important industry: whether stakeholders will continue to prioritize short-term profits, or come together to build a resilient, equitable, and sustainable tourism model that can benefit both visitors and local communities for decades to come.
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THE KWAK: Women feel attacked by higher male suicide rates, ask for more attention to female issues
In a provocative satirical piece published by Dominican outlet THE Kwak, a tongue-in-cheek commentary on gendered discourse around suicide has sparked conversation while ultimately underscoring the universal need for accessible mental healthcare. The article opens with a playful skewering of the polarizing rhetoric that often plagues discussions of public health disparities, leaning into absurdity to call out competitive framing of mental health suffering between genders. The satire opens by leaning into a caricature of gender activists, framing an absurd hypothetical where women push back against the public focus on male suicide — noting that global data has long recorded male suicide death rates three times higher than female rates globally, while women report more non-fatal suicide attempts. TikTok-based feminist commentators are parodied as arguing that female mental health struggles deserve greater attention, with one non-feminist Dominican woman given a satirical, over-the-top quote: “Bon dye! You already take so much from us and now you want to take your own lives too? When will your discrimination against us end?” The piece then turns its mockery to men’s rights groups, quipping that journalists found nothing of value to include from standard men’s rights takes even after the group submitted an unsolicited statement, before leaning into a farcical reveal from a splinter Red Pill faction calling itself “Bros Are Better In Every Situation” (BABIES). In the article’s most absurd narrative beat, BABES claims to have built a time machine powered by “noticing” and the “collective female ego” to alter historical records and inflate male suicide rates just to undermine women’s issues, ending with their tongue-in-cheek line: “It’s not a competition and we’re still winning.” At the close of the satirical piece, the publication steps back to clarify its intent and ground the conversation in a serious, evidence-based message: mental health is never a competition between genders. The article notes that people of all genders face unmet mental health needs, with many living with suicidal ideation that goes unrecognized by loved ones and broader society. Systemic barriers including persistent stigma, dismissive attitudes toward mental distress, systemic marginalization, and widespread misinformation all contribute to underreporting of struggles and gaps in access to life-saving care. To turn this conversation into actionable support, the piece closes with a link to an updated, child-friendly directory of mental health resources available to all residents of Dominica hosted by Healthy Caribbean. A full disclaimer at the end of the piece confirms that THE Kwak’s content is intentionally satirical, designed to poke gentle fun at divisive cultural discourse while raising awareness of ongoing, serious public health challenges. The views expressed in the piece are also noted as solely those of the author, and do not represent the official stances of Duravision Inc., Dominica News Online, or any of its affiliated brands.