Released by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, the 2025 Global Organised Crime Index has delivered new insights into the distribution of organised criminal activity across the Caribbean, with Antigua and Barbuda emerging as one of the bloc’s lowest-risk jurisdictions. The index ranks nations on a 10-point scale, where lower numerical scores signal weaker infiltration of organised crime networks and illicit activity. Antigua and Barbuda earned a criminality score of 3.03, landing it among the eight CARICOM member states that fall below the Caribbean regional average of 4.27. This performance puts the dual-island nation in a similar risk bracket to regional neighbors Barbados, which scored 2.90, and St. Kitts and Nevis, which notched a 3.10. By contrast, the index marks several Caribbean states as far higher-risk hotspots for organised crime: Jamaica recorded a 5.93, Guyana came in at 5.78, and Haiti topped the bloc with a 6.53, holding the unenviable title of the Caribbean nation with the highest documented criminality level. The 2025 assessment measures the prevalence and societal impact of a range of organised criminal operations, from cross-border drug trafficking to a spectrum of other illicit markets operating across the region. Even with Antigua and Barbuda’s relatively strong standing, the broader Caribbean region continues to face persistent systemic threats tied to global drug smuggling. Geographically positioned along key trafficking routes moving cocaine from producer nations to consumer markets in North America and Europe, the Caribbean ranks as the world’s third-largest transit zone for the illicit drug trade. The index’s final conclusions make clear that while Antigua and Barbuda cannot insulate itself entirely from the organised crime pressures impacting the wider Caribbean, its domestic level of criminal activity remains moderate compared to most of its regional peers.
作者： admin
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Antiguan consumer finds strange substance in their juice container
A consumer in Antigua has sparked widespread public discussion about food safety standards after discovering an unknown, mold-like growth inside a sealed packaged Pinehill apple juice product, casting new scrutiny on the brand’s quality control and supply chain distribution processes.
The consumer first shared their discovery on a local customer service discussion forum, detailing that the strange substance was found settled at the bottom of a 1-litre juice carton. The product, which had not been opened prior to the discovery, carries a printed expiration date of August 1, 2026, meaning it is still well within the manufacturer’s designated safe consumption window. It also bears the batch code EY 22:41:21, which would allow the producer to trace the specific production run if an investigation is launched. A photo accompanying the forum post, linked for public viewing by the original news outlet, confirms the presence of the dark fuzzy material inside the sealed container.
As of the latest update, no linked cases of illness or adverse health reactions have been connected to this specific batch of Pinehill apple juice, easing immediate public health fears but leaving broader safety concerns unaddressed. Critically, the consumer has made multiple attempts to contact Pinehill’s manufacturer to report the issue and request an explanation, but the company has not issued any formal statement or official response to the complaint to date. The incident has prompted local consumers to question how food manufacturers operating in Antigua monitor product safety during production, packaging, and distribution, with many calling for greater transparency and faster response times to consumer safety complaints.
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Jordan challenges PNCR to unveil programme for Guyana’s 60th Independence anniversary
In the lead-up to Guyana’s milestone 60th anniversary of independence from British rule, a former senior leader of the country’s main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has publicly criticized his own party for failing to finalize a commemorative event schedule months after the 2025 calendar turned over.
Winston Jordan, who served as finance minister in the previous PNCR-led coalition government, made the remarks during an interview with local outlet KAMSTV on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Jordan stressed that the PNCR had a unique obligation to organize early celebrations, given that the party’s founding leader, Forbes Burnham, was the head of government who formally guided Guyana to full sovereignty when it gained independence on May 26, 1966. By his count, the party should have had a full program of activities ready to go no later than December 31, 2025, with just weeks remaining before the major anniversary as of his statement.
“What are you waiting for, PNC? With only a couple of weeks left, you still haven’t even unveiled a full schedule of activities,” Jordan said. “Even if you are facing financial constraints, you should at the very least ensure that our Founder-Leader, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, is not written out of this anniversary celebration. We all know that the ruling People’s Progressive Civic (PPPC) will not mention his name if they can avoid it this 60th year.”
Jordan, who has been an outspoken public critic of both the current PPPC government and PNCR opposition leadership, questioned whether the party was passively waiting for the ruling administration to honor Burnham during the national commemorations, rather than taking initiative on its own.
“The moment of independence is a core part of this party’s legacy,” Jordan noted. He also recalled a unifying moment from 1966: while Cheddi Jagan — the iconic leader of the PPP and another towering figure in Guyana’s independence movement — did not join Burnham at the final London independence negotiations, he embraced Burnham on stage at Georgetown’s National Park on the eve of independence, laying a foundation of national unity that ought to be remembered.
Jordan added that low-cost, simple commemorative events are fully within the party’s reach, even with limited funding.
To contextualize this political debate: while Jagan is widely recognized as the earliest and most vocal advocate for Guyana’s separation from British colonial rule, historians widely document that the United Kingdom, pressured by the United States, altered Guyana’s electoral system ahead of the 1964 vote. The change from a first-past-the-post system, under which Jagan’s PPP had won previous elections, to proportional representation was explicitly designed to remove Jagan from power. U.S. officials pushed for the shift over concerns that Jagan’s communist leanings would lead an independent Guyana to align with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The new electoral system allowed the PNCR to form a coalition government with the United Force party, and the PNCR retained power through elections widely regarded as fraudulent until free democratic elections were restored in 1992, following the end of the Cold War.
As the ruling PPPC has not moved to center Burnham in official 60th anniversary planning, a new opposition party has stepped forward to launch its own months-long national commemoration. Earlier this week, We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) — a new opposition bloc that won 16 parliamentary seats in the 2025 general and regional elections — rolled out a six-week national campaign themed “Rooted in Identity – Rising in Destiny.”
In an official statement, WIN outlined that the initiative is designed to restore meaning, dignity, and national pride to the 60th independence observance by inviting all Guyanese citizens to engage with the country’s anti-colonial history, assess its current development trajectory, and collectively build a shared vision for the future. “Guyana’s independence is more than a date on the calendar; it is the culmination of sacrifice, resilience, and the enduring spirit of a people determined to define their own destiny,” the party said. “This initiative goes beyond superficial celebration to deliver a national program that fosters deeper public awareness, cross-community unity, and broad citizen participation across every region of the country.”
WIN’s campaign includes a range of accessible activities spanning oral history storytelling projects, civic education and national reflection sessions, public dialogues on national identity and the responsibilities of citizenship, cultural festivals showcasing the diversity of Guyanese traditions and creative work, and community service and development projects designed to mobilize citizen action across all sectors of society. The campaign will culminate during Independence Week with a series of official national observances and a large-scale cross-disciplinary production titled *The Dawn of a Nation: Guyana 60*, which will weave together theater, live music, cultural performance, and national reflection to trace Guyana’s journey from colonial struggle to sovereign statehood. “This landmark initiative will reignite a spirit of unity, purpose, and pride that will carry us forward as one people, one nation, with one shared destiny,” WIN added.
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Matthew Expands Transport Support for Patients Amid Clinic Disruptions
Residents of St John’s Rural South in Antigua are now receiving complimentary temporary transportation to reach their relocated medical appointments, after major renovation work at a key local clinic upended routine access to care. Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) candidate and sitting Education Minister Daryll Matthew made the announcement during a recent interview on ABS Television’s popular public affairs segment “Know Your Candidates”.
The disruption stems from ongoing structural repairs to the Browns Avenue Clinic, the primary primary care provider for most residents of the constituency, Matthew explained. All clinical services previously offered at the Browns Avenue location have been temporarily moved to the Harberton Hospital campus, creating unanticipated logistical hurdles for local patients who face added travel burdens to reach their care.
“For the majority of St John’s Rural South residents, Browns Avenue Clinic is their go-to for routine care,” Matthew noted in the interview. “Now that services have shifted to Harberton Hospital, the new travel requirement has proven to be a notable inconvenience for many community members.”
To mitigate this disruption, local representatives rolled out an ad-hoc transportation program that connects eligible patients with rides to and from their medical appointments at the new temporary location. “We have moved quickly to set up this transportation support for any resident that needs help getting to and from their clinical services while repairs are ongoing,” Matthew said.
As of the interview, Matthew did not share specific details on the program’s operating frequency, formal fixed schedule, or eligibility enrollment process, but confirmed the initiative is targeted exclusively at St John’s Rural South residents impacted by the clinic’s service relocation.
The transportation announcement came during a wider conversation about long-term improvements to healthcare access across the constituency, where Matthew also shared details of early-stage planning for a major expanded healthcare facility. He confirmed that government stakeholders have held preliminary discussions to retrofit an existing, underutilized community building into a fully modern, expanded polyclinic that would serve multiple surrounding communities.
If completed, the new facility would cover residents across Ottos, the Browns Avenue district, and all nearby neighboring neighborhoods, filling a longstanding gap in local primary care access. However, Matthew was quick to emphasize that the project remains in early planning stages, with no formal construction timeline set to date.
Two key factors are delaying progress on the polyclinic upgrade: the government’s ongoing commitment to completing renovation projects at other clinics across the country, and persistent systemic staffing shortages that limit how many new facilities can be operationalized.
“Every new clinic or expanded facility that we open requires additional clinical staff: more nurses, more doctors, and more support personnel to keep it running,” Matthew explained. “Right now, we are facing a national shortage of nurses, so we have to balance our expansion goals against the human resources we actually have available.”
For the foreseeable future, Matthew confirmed that the government’s top priority remains ensuring uninterrupted access to essential care for St John’s Rural South residents while the Browns Avenue Clinic repairs are completed. The temporary transportation program will remain in place as a stopgap measure to reduce patient burden through the duration of the renovation work.
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Plans Advance for Tindale Park With Business Hubs and Community Centre
A transformative community development project aimed at building a multi-purpose hub at Tindale Park is moving steadily forward, with land acquisition talks entering their final phase, according to Daryll Matthew, Antigua’s Education Minister and candidate for the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP). Matthew made the announcement during a recent appearance on ABS Television’s candidate-focused public affairs programme “Know Your Candidates”.
At the core of the land acquisition process is a planned property swap with a local private family for the 1.5-acre parcel sitting at the upper end of Tindale Road. After months of back-and-forth negotiations, Matthew confirmed that discussions have reached an advanced, final stage that will soon allow the government to take ownership of the plot.
Once the land is secured, the site will be redeveloped into an integrated community hub designed to meet a range of local needs. The centerpiece of the project is a two-story mixed-use building that will serve dual purposes for residents and cultural groups. The upper level will be operated as a public community center, available for neighborhood gatherings, after-school youth programs, and a wide range of community-led events. The lower level will be converted into a renovated, purpose-built bandhouse for the local Pandemonium Steel Orchestra, giving the beloved cultural group a permanent, improved home.
Beyond the central building, the development plan allocates dedicated space to support local micro-entrepreneurs. A cluster of small, individual units will be built to form a small business hub, with capacity for roughly 10 to 12 small operators. Matthew noted that the spaces are designed to accommodate common neighborhood small businesses including barbershops, local bakeries, and other independent trades, creating new economic opportunities for residents.
The project also includes public recreational amenities that are already partially secured. A fenced public playground and open green park space will be added to the site, with all equipment for the playground already sourced through community donations.
Unlike many government-led development projects, this initiative will not rely on direct public financing. Instead, it will be funded through a blended model of private sector donations and community contribution. Matthew explained that he has already held discussions with potential private donors, who have committed to contributing materials such as steel, while local community members will volunteer labor and organize public fundraisers to cover remaining costs.
For Matthew, the Tindale Park project is a key part of a broader push to address development challenges in the densely populated constituency he represents. For years, a severe shortage of available government-owned land has limited the ability to carry out public projects that improve local quality of life, making this community-led initiative a critical step forward. Matthew emphasized that the project is a binding campaign promise should he win re-election, stressing that he would never make a commitment that is not grounded in realistic, achievable plans.
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Matthew to Open Radio Range Playground This Week After Community Upgrade
A long-awaited upgrade to public recreational space in Antigua’s Radio Range neighborhood is finally complete, with the renovated community playground and park scheduled to open to residents within days, senior government official Daryl Matthew has announced. Matthew, who serves as the country’s Education Minister and is a candidate for the Antigua Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP), shared the update during a recent appearance on ABS Television’s public affairs segment “Know Your Candidates”.
According to Matthew, an official opening ceremony for the revamped facility will be held as early as the same day or the following day of the interview, marking the end of years of disrepair that left the space unusable for local residents. “This park had fallen into a really bad state over the past five to six years,” Matthew explained in the interview, confirming that the site now boasts entirely new infrastructure to serve the community.
The renovation project has introduced a range of new amenities tailored to users of all ages, including purpose-built outdoor fitness equipment alongside classic playground staples like new swings and seesaws. Matthew noted that installation of the final pieces of playground hardware was completed on the day of his announcement, clearing the way for the site’s official opening.
Local families, young people and broader community groups are set to be the primary beneficiaries of the upgraded space, which will now provide a safe, accessible area for outdoor recreation and community gatherings. For Matthew, the Radio Range project is far more than a single playground upgrade—it is a reflection of a broader commitment to lifting quality of life across the entire St John’s Rural South constituency. He confirmed that parallel recreational and infrastructure upgrade projects are already underway in other neighborhoods throughout the constituency, as part of ongoing government-led community development initiatives focused on improving living conditions for all local residents.
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Nederland kampt met grootste veiligheidsdreiging sinds WOII
In a stark annual assessment released Thursday, the Netherlands’ leading intelligence and security service, the Algemene Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdienst (AIVD), has sounded the alarm that the country is facing the most severe combination of national security threats it has encountered since the end of World War II. Officials identify major foreign and domestic actors driving this unprecedented risk landscape, as shifting global power dynamics erode decades of relative stability that underpinned Dutch peace and prosperity.
“In the 80 years since our agency was founded, we have never observed a threat environment like the one we face today: our national security is under sustained pressure from multiple directions simultaneously,” AIVD Director Simone Rmit stated during the official launch of the 2025 annual threat report. She emphasized that after generations of predictable, stable global order that allowed the Netherlands to grow and thrive, the international system has now become fundamentally volatile and unpredictable.
As a founding member of both NATO and the European Union, the Netherlands faces particularly acute external threats from two major powers: Russia and China, the report confirmed. According to AIVD analysis, Russia has grown increasingly aggressive toward Western nations, conducting regular disruptive cyberattacks and building capacity for a long-term confrontation with the NATO alliance. The assessment concludes that a direct military clash between Russia and Western powers can no longer be ruled out as an impossible outcome.
Russia has repeatedly rejected claims of planned aggression against NATO member states, countering that the “collective West” itself threatens Russian national security through its extensive financial and military backing of Ukraine amid the ongoing war.
On the Chinese front, the AIVD accuses Beijing of continuing “illicit” efforts to acquire cutting-edge Western technologies to reshape the global order in line with its own strategic and economic interests. The service notes that China has long been categorized as the top threat to Dutch economic security, and that risk has grown even more pronounced over the course of 2025. China has consistently denied engaging in any illegal technology acquisition activities and maintains it poses no threat to Western nations.
Beyond external risks, the report also highlights growing domestic security concerns. Both jihadist extremist groups and far-right extremist movements are listed as the primary internal threats to the country, with the AIVD noting that both ideologies are gaining alarming levels of traction among young Dutch people, a trend that officials describe as deeply troubling.
The AIVD’s high-profile warning underscores just how complex and multifaceted modern security challenges have become for the Netherlands, at a time when the global order is far less stable and predictable than it has been at any point in the past eight decades.
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WATCH: Pringle says he wants the diaspora to vote in future general elections in Antigua and Barbuda
In a passionate address to party supporters at a recent campaign rally, Jamale Pringle, head of Antigua and Barbuda’s United Progressive Party (UPP), has laid out a key electoral reform pledge that would remove longstanding barriers to political participation for the country’s large diaspora community. If his party secures victory in upcoming elections, Pringle says one of the earliest legislative priorities of a UPP administration will be cutting the mandatory in-country residency requirement for voter registration from more than four weeks to just 14 days.
Pringle argues that the current framework creates an unnecessary, unfair hurdle for Antiguans and Barbudans who have built lives outside the country’s borders. Many diaspora members cannot afford to take more than a month off work or uproot their lives solely to meet the registration threshold, effectively locking them out of exercising their democratic right to vote in national elections. He emphasized that this exclusion runs counter to the contributions overseas nationals make to Antigua and Barbuda’s economy and social fabric, noting that many retain deep ties to their home country and continue to invest in its long-term growth.
To underscore his point about the arbitrary nature of the current 30+ day rule, Pringle drew a comparison to the country’s popular citizenship-by-investment program, which processes approval for new citizens in just five business days. “If they can give citizenship by investment five days, we can give our people in the diaspora less for them to be able to vote in Antigua and Barbuda,” he told the gathered crowd.
Beyond cutting the registration waiting period, Pringle also pledged that a UPP government would end what he frames as systemic discrimination against overseas citizens. “There will be no discrimination, no more punishment of our own people who continue to love their country and support our economy,” he said. The policy proposal positions expanding diaspora voting access as a core justice issue for the UPP ahead of upcoming electoral contests, aiming to court support from both domestic voters sympathetic to the reform and diaspora communities who have long advocated for change to the country’s voting rules.
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PHOTOS: Dwayne George highlights Bolans road works as upgrades continue in housing project
In the community of Bolans, long-overdue infrastructure improvements have gotten underway for the residential neighborhood located behind the local Radio Lighthouse facility, local political representative Dwayne George has confirmed.
As the project enters its active construction phase, initial site work has already been completed: the entire network of roads across the housing development has been graded, laying a foundational base for the more comprehensive upgrades that are currently in progress. George emphasized that the full scope of the work is designed to bring local roadways up to a much higher safety and quality standard, aligning with the long-term needs of the people who call this neighborhood home.
This infrastructure investment is not an isolated project, George explained, but rather a tangible component of a broader public promise to raise quality of life and address unmet needs across all communities in the region. For George, the ongoing upgrades serve as a clear example of what effective political representation actually delivers: concrete improvements to daily life, rather than empty political talk. “This is what representation looks like,” he stated, framing the work as proof of progress for his constituents.
For years, poor road conditions in the housing scheme have been a top complaint among local residents, creating persistent barriers to safe travel and consistent access to the neighborhood. Once completed, the upgrades are expected to significantly improve both overall access and mobility for all residents, eliminating the unsafe, uneven road surfaces that have created inconvenience and risk for so long.
At this stage, project officials have not released a formal timeline for when the upgrades will be finished, but construction activity is continuing steadily across the site.
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Benjamin Promises More Support for Elderly, Including Daycare and Recreation
As Antigua and Barbuda prepares for its upcoming general election on April 30, Dr. Philmore Benjamin, the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) candidate for the St Mary’s North constituency, has laid out a bold multi-part plan to transform elder care across the region, positioning improvements to senior support services as one of his top policy priorities if elected.
Drawing from decades of experience as a medical practitioner, Benjamin argues that the current system of elder care focuses too heavily on treating acute illness, and fails to address the full spectrum of needs that seniors have to thrive. In his view, holistic care must center on preserving dignity, encouraging social connection, and nurturing both physical and mental wellness, rather than just managing health conditions.
At the core of his proposal is the introduction of purpose-built adult day care facilities, spaces designed specifically to give older adults a dedicated community hub to gather, connect with peers, and engage in group activities. Benjamin explains that regular social interaction in these age-friendly spaces helps seniors maintain sharper cognitive function, reducing the risk of isolation that often contributes to mental health decline among older populations.
Beyond social spaces, Benjamin is pushing for expanded accessible recreational programming tailored to seniors’ varying ability levels. He notes that even low-impact, non-competitive physical activities can deliver meaningful improvements to seniors’ quality of life, and structured recreational opportunities deliver dual benefits by boosting both physical fitness and social connection. “There’s no real limit for you to be doing something recreational,” Benjamin emphasized, noting that consistent gentle activity can keep seniors engaged and active longer.
The candidate’s plan also addresses key structural barriers to senior participation: transportation and public space accessibility. He has pledged to upgrade infrastructure and transit services to ensure that seniors with limited mobility can easily access community programs and public spaces, allowing them to remain active participants in local life rather than being pushed to the margins of community activity. For Benjamin, this inclusion is a core goal of the reforms: these initiatives are designed to help seniors “feel a part of the livelihood” of the constituency, rather than being sidelined as they age.
Elder care reform is just one plank of Benjamin’s broader campaign platform, which also includes pledges for systemic healthcare reform across Antigua and Barbuda, expanded youth development programs, targeted infrastructure upgrades across St Mary’s North, and strengthened community-focused constituent representation. With voting day just weeks away, the candidate has made clear that improving outcomes for the country’s aging population is a personal as well as political priority, noting “I have a passion to improve elderly care in this country.”