Carib Scope

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  • Homicide Investigation Launched in Steve Lewis Case

    Homicide Investigation Launched in Steve Lewis Case

    In a tragic development that has shaken a small community in southern Belize, what began as a missing person inquiry has officially transitioned into a full homicide investigation, after the remains of 24-year-old delivery driver Steve Lewis were recovered last Friday.

    Lewis, a resident of Dangriga Town, was last seen alive on the morning of April 13, when he left his home to complete an unusual delivery request. When he failed to return to his residence that evening, his common-law wife filed an official missing person report with the Dangriga Police Station on April 14. For three days, local authorities searched for the young driver, until a grim discovery led investigators to a remote feeder road running off the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway, close to the community of Silk Grass Village. Just after 8:30 a.m. on April 17, responding officers located Lewis’ decomposed body at the site.

    In an official statement, Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, staff officer for the department, confirmed that law enforcement is actively searching for a male suspect connected to the killing. While a formal autopsy has yet to be finalized, Smith told reporters that investigators believe Lewis died from a gunshot wound, pointing to an expended bullet casing recovered from the scene of the discovery. “It usually is [conducted] when the body is in an advanced state of decomposition,” Smith explained, noting the standard procedural timeline for cases with remains in this condition.

    For Lewis’ family, the loss has left overwhelming grief and unanswered questions. In an interview with local outlet News Five, his mother Suceli Lewis shared details about her son’s final work request that has raised red flags for the family. She explained that the customer who booked the delivery specifically asked Lewis to bring a full-face helmet for the trip, an unusual request that stood out from his regular delivery runs. Taking the charter job to Silk Grass Village, Lewis set out on his delivery bike and never returned.

    Described by his mother as a quiet, hardworking young man who avoided conflict and focused on providing for his partner, Lewis rarely socialized outside of work and immediate family gatherings. Even when his mother invited him to attend community events at the local park, he preferred to stay home, she said. “He was a sweet and humble young man. Sweet, he does not like problem. He does not even have friend,” Suceli Lewis told reporters in an emotional phone interview. “Sir, honestly no retaliation. I will leave it up to God. All I wanted was a closure for my baby and I done get my closure. No retaliation. I will leave it to God. I believe in my God. I have faith in him.”

    Local law enforcement continues to piece together the timeline of Lewis’ final hours to identify a motive and locate the person responsible for his death. News Five, the original outlet that broke the story, has confirmed it will continue publishing updates as the investigation progresses. This report is a transcript of a televised evening news broadcast, with Kriol language statements transcribed using a standardized spelling system for accessibility.

  • Two Teen Lives Lost, Jaheil and Alwin, Investigation Continues

    Two Teen Lives Lost, Jaheil and Alwin, Investigation Continues

    The tight-knit Port Loyola community in Belize remains in a state of stunned grief following the violent deaths of two local teenagers, as law enforcement ramps up an ongoing investigation to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the killings.

    Nineteen-year-old Jaheil Westby and 17-year-old Alwin Marin were killed in an incident that has left neighbors and family members searching for closure and answers more than a week after their bodies were discovered. Local law enforcement has confirmed that investigators are working methodically through available evidence, starting with a wide review of surveillance camera footage from businesses and public spaces near the area where the incident unfolded, while also collecting witness statements from community members to build a clear timeline of events.

    In an official statement to local media, Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith, a staff officer with the department, outlined the current status of the investigation. “From the initial discovery of Mr. Westby’s body, officers have been working nonstop on this case,” Smith explained. “We’ve already reviewed a large batch of surveillance footage that was readily available, but that material has not yielded any substantial leads that can move the case forward right now.”

    Smith added that investigative supervisors have now ordered the retrieval of additional surveillance recordings from other nearby locations, which will be reviewed in the coming days to see if they contain critical evidence. To date, investigators have already recorded formal statements from dozens of community members, and early interviews have pointed to a potential motive: a longstanding dispute between the two deceased teens and other young people who live in the Port Loyola area.

    “Right now, the investigation remains very active,” Smith emphasized. “As soon as we make meaningful progress or have confirmed results to share, we will update the media and the public promptly.”

    The double killing has left the usually quiet neighborhood shaken, with residents calling for quick action from police to bring clarity to the case and end the cycle of youth conflict that has been linked to the incident. Law enforcement has reiterated its commitment to solving the crime, and local media will continue to follow new developments as they become available.

  • Gonsalves urges media to speak out against plans to amend Constitution

    Gonsalves urges media to speak out against plans to amend Constitution

    KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent — A post-election political firestorm has erupted in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), as former long-ruling Prime Minister and current Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves is sounding the alarm over a controversial proposal from the newly elected government led by Prime Minister Godwin Friday, urging local media to speak out against what he frames as an attack on the country’s core democratic institutions.

    Gonsalves, whose Unity Labour Party (ULP) lost the November 27 general elections after holding power for 20 consecutive years, laid out his case in a formal letter sent to media editors across the country, centering his criticism on the government’s plan to amend the SVG Constitution retroactively while two election challenges against Friday and Foreign Affairs Minister Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble are already winding through the judicial system.

    The election petitions were filed by defeated ULP candidates, who argue that Friday and Bramble are ineligible to hold their parliamentary seats because they hold Canadian citizenship, a question that hinges on the judiciary’s interpretation of Section 26 of the existing Constitution. That clause bars candidates who have voluntarily sworn allegiance to a foreign power from holding office. Gonsalves, a trained attorney, noted that after the government initially dismissed the legal challenges as “frivolous”, it has now taken the unprecedented step of introducing a retroactive constitutional change that would directly alter the legal landscape mid-litigation, potentially swinging the outcome of the cases in the government’s favor.

    Gonsalves emphasized that the foundational democratic principles SVG has long cherished are on the line: the supremacy of the national constitution, the rule of law, and the separation of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. He pointed out that the government’s maneuver is unprecedented not just in SVG, but across global and Caribbean democratic contexts. While dual citizenship eligibility challenges are common around the world, he said there is no recorded example of a sitting government amending its constitution specifically to sidestep an active court challenge to its own top officials.

    The proposed amendment, Gonsalves argued, is being rushed through with just one week’s public notice, no meaningful consultation with either the opposition or the general public, and no formal explanation from either the Prime Minister or the Attorney General. Beyond its opacity, he said the amendment directly undermines the core role of the judiciary, which holds the exclusive constitutional authority to interpret constitutional law. A retroactive change tailored to an ongoing case, he contended, does not merely update the law—it effectively interferes with the administration of justice by predetermining the outcome of a matter properly before the courts.

    The government has already pushed back against Gonsalves’ claims. Government legislator and attorney Jemalie John told a local radio program last week that the proposed constitutional changes are not intended to impact the two pending election petitions, and rejected the ULP’s accusation that the New Democratic Party (NDP) government sprung the plan on the public without warning. John clarified that public discussion of the proposal was inevitable after official parliamentary notice was published, per the country’s standing rules.

    For Gonsalves, however, the risks stretch far beyond this specific dispute. He argued that the amendment violates long-held legal principles, including the ban on retroactive laws that alter existing rights and the accepted boundaries of parliamentary power to amend the constitution. He added that election petitions are a unique cornerstone of electoral accountability, designed to enforce the law as it existed at the time voters cast their ballots. Changing that framework after the fact erodes legal certainty and public trust in the entire electoral process, he said.

    “No responsible democracy should permit the Constitution to be amended in a manner that appears designed to shield individuals from judicial scrutiny in an ongoing case,” Gonsalves wrote. “Constitutional power, however broad, is not without limits. It must be exercised consistently with the fundamental structure and values of the Constitution itself — values which include democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers.”

    In his appeal to the media, Gonsalves stressed that his call is not a partisan maneuver, but a defense of foundational national principles. He urged the press, which has long played a central role in protecting SVG’s democratic traditions, to use its platform to speak out and pressure the government to abandon the amendment, allowing the courts to rule on the pending petitions based on the law in place when the general election was held.

    Gonsalves warned that allowing the government’s move to go unchallenged would set a dangerous precedent for future administrations of any political stripe. “If actions of this nature go unchallenged, they risk establishing a precedent by which any government, present or future, may endlessly revise our Constitution — without public consultation — for personal gain or protection. That would have lasting adverse consequences for our democracy,” he said.

    The legal challenge is already moving forward: a case management hearing was held on March 5, with the next proceeding scheduled for May 19, and a full three-day trial set to begin on July 28 this year.

  • Police Step Up Search for Missing Dangriga Man, Lidahni Martinez

    Police Step Up Search for Missing Dangriga Man, Lidahni Martinez

    Authorities in southern Belize are accelerating efforts to locate a 23-year-old Dangriga man who has been missing for more than a month, with investigators now turning to public assistance to identify two persons of interest who could shed new light on the case.

    Lidahni Martinez was last seen on March 27, 2026, when he left his shared home in a sport utility vehicle and never returned. His common-law wife waited nearly two weeks before filing an official missing person report with local police on April 7, 2026, triggering the start of a formal probe into his unexplained disappearance.

    Speaking to local outlet News Five, Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith, a staff officer with the Belize Police Department, confirmed that investigators have already collected dozens of witness statements from family, friends, and acquaintances connected to Martinez. Smith added that authorities have now narrowed their focus to locating two individuals who investigators believe hold critical information that can help move the stalled investigation forward.

    When pressed by reporters to confirm whether Martinez’s disappearance is linked to the ongoing probe into the separate disappearance of Deborah Arthurs, Smith declined to comment on any potential connections between the two cases, citing the active and ongoing nature of the investigation. Smith confirmed that police have not yet ruled out any connections, but have also not reached any definitive conclusions about ties between the two missing person cases at this stage of the inquiry.

    This report is adapted from a televised evening news broadcast transcript published online by local Belizean media, with unaltered official statements preserved for accuracy.

  • Belizean Woman Convicted of U.S. Naturalization Fraud

    Belizean Woman Convicted of U.S. Naturalization Fraud

    A landmark federal immigration fraud case concluded on April 20, 2026, when a jury in Orlando, Florida, found 46-year-old Belizean national Ana Zahia Gonzalez guilty of intentionally defrauding U.S. authorities to obtain citizenship. U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe confirmed the verdict in an official announcement, noting that Gonzalez now faces a maximum penalty of 10 years of incarceration in federal prison, plus the potential revocation of her U.S. citizenship through a denaturalization process.

    Gonzalez’s legal troubles first began in November 2025, when a federal grand jury returned an indictment against her on charges of naturalization fraud. Court testimony presented during her trial laid out the full timeline of her decade-long scheme to obtain U.S. citizenship. According to evidence, Gonzalez first entered the United States in 2006 on a temporary visitor visa, but chose to remain in the country long after her authorized stay expired, violating the terms of her entry.

    In 2011, five years after her overstay, Gonzalez entered into a marriage with a U.S. citizen. Critically, her new spouse had no knowledge that Gonzalez was still legally married to a man residing in her home country of Belize. When Gonzalez applied for U.S. naturalization in 2016, she submitted a falsified divorce decree purportedly issued by Belizean authorities, making the false claim that her first marriage had been properly and legally dissolved.

    Federal prosecutors confirmed that this fraudulent misrepresentation was a core factor that allowed Gonzalez’s naturalization application to be approved at the time. The case was handled through a joint effort, with investigators from Homeland Security Investigations uncovering the fraud, and prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida leading the prosecution against Gonzalez.

    Gonzalez is scheduled to appear for her formal sentencing hearing on July 13, 2026, where the presiding judge will determine her final penalty and rule on the request to revoke her U.S. citizenship.

  • Prime Minister of Haiti met with the President of the WB

    Prime Minister of Haiti met with the President of the WB

    Top-level diplomatic discussions between Haiti’s leadership and the World Bank have opened a new chapter in international engagement over Haiti’s ongoing crisis, with the Caribbean nation’s prime minister laying out a clear three-pillar strategy for stabilizing the country and kickstarting economic revival. The high-stakes meeting took place on April 20, 2026, in Washington D.C., bringing together Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé and World Bank Group President Ajay Banga to align on shared priorities for security and long-term recovery. Fils-Aimé was joined by a senior delegation comprising Haitian Foreign Minister Raina Forbin, Special Advisor Guerly Leriche, Haitian Ambassador to the United States Lionel Délatour, and leading economist Ludmilla Buteau Allien.

    During the closed-door talks, attendees centered the conversation on Haiti’s fragile national context: while the Haitian National Police has made incremental security gains by retaking control of key strategic locations from armed groups, widespread gang violence continues to destabilize communities and derail economic progress, leaving the overall situation deeply concerning. Fils-Aimé argued that addressing the multifaceted crisis requires an integrated, holistic framework rather than piecemeal interventions, anchored in three core priorities: restoring consistent national security, strengthening institutional rule of law, and expanding inclusive economic opportunities for all Haitians.

    In remarks following the discussion, the prime minister emphasized that security alone cannot resolve Haiti’s challenges. While foundational to any recovery, progress on public safety must be paired with tangible, on-the-ground actions that deliver tangible hope and improved prospects for the general population, he said. As Haiti prepares for upcoming national elections, Fils-Aimé stressed that creating immediate, high-impact employment – particularly for the country’s large youth population – is an urgent priority that cannot wait for long-term institutional reforms. He pushed for fast, results-driven intervention through large-scale labor-intensive public employment programs, which are designed to deliver visible, immediate benefits to struggling communities. “Every job created is a direct response to violence and exclusion,” Fils-Aimé emphasized.

    Talks also touched on the need to move beyond outdated, conventional development models that have failed to deliver sustained progress in Haiti. Attendees agreed that future international interventions should prioritize measurable community impact, full financial transparency, and inclusive wealth creation that lifts marginalized populations rather than concentrating gains. The meeting marks a key step in advancing dialogue between Haiti’s transitional government and major international financial institutions, as the country works to chart a path out of years of political instability and gang-fueled violence.

  • New Patrol Vehicles Strengthen Traffic Enforcement

    New Patrol Vehicles Strengthen Traffic Enforcement

    BELMOPAN, BELIZE – April 20, 2026 – Amid growing public concern over rising traffic fatalities across Belize, the Ministry of Transport has expanded its road enforcement fleet with two new Nissan pickup patrol vehicles, marking a key step in the government’s broader push to improve road safety and crack down on high-risk driving.

    The official handover ceremony for the vehicles took place on Monday morning at the Ministry of Transport’s main compound in Belmopan, with top ministry leadership in attendance. Following the handover, the two new units will be deployed to the districts of Orange Walk in northern Belize and Punta Gorda in the south, filling critical gaps in traffic monitoring coverage across the country’s northern and southern highway networks.

    Speaking at the event, Minister of Transport Dr. Louis Zabaneh emphasized that the new vehicles are part of a sustained government effort to upgrade operational equipment for traffic enforcement officers. “It is with pleasure that I hand over these keys to our deputy chief transport officer as a continued effort we are making to upgrade our equipment across the country and giving our wardens the necessary equipment for them to conduct their work on a day to day basis as we serve our people on our highways,” Dr. Zabaneh said. “Hopefully with this equipment we will be able to get even higher compliance for our traffic laws.”

    The deployment comes as Belize has recorded a steady uptick in deadly road collisions in recent months, prompting increased public scrutiny of the Ministry of Transport’s traffic safety oversight. Department leadership expects that more visible, frequent patrols enabled by the additional vehicles will help curb dangerous driving behaviors — including speeding, reckless overtaking, and drunk driving — that contribute to fatal crashes.

    Peter Williams, Deputy Chief Transport Officer, thanked ministry leadership for following through on commitments to improve working conditions for frontline enforcement staff. “From the onset you guys assured us as the staff at the department that you will come and make a significant difference. We are here today as testimony to your commitment to the department and we are extremely grateful for what you have done for us,” Williams said. “As you have said minister, I am sure our officers will make use of this tool to improve on road safety in Belize.”

    Chester Williams, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Transport, added that he is confident officers receiving the vehicles will maintain them properly to extend their operational lifespan. “I am sure that the officers who are going to be utilizing them from both Punta Gorda and Orange Walk are going to make good use of these vehicles and maintain them in an acceptable standard so that they can last for as long as they should,” he noted.

    This infrastructure upgrade is part of a broader national initiative to strengthen traffic enforcement capacity across all regions of Belize, with the ultimate goal of reversing the recent upward trend in road accident deaths and making public highways safer for all road users.

  • NEBL Condemns Chaos in Defenders‑Rebels Game

    NEBL Condemns Chaos in Defenders‑Rebels Game

    Intense sports rivalries have long produced some of the most memorable moments in global basketball, from the Lakers-Celtics dynasty clashes to the El Clasico of European soccer, but one of Belize’s most storied competitive grudge matches descended into chaotic violence earlier this week, prompting official condemnation from the nation’s top basketball governing body. On Friday, the Belize City Defenders faced off against the Orange Walk Running Rebels at the Orange Walk Sporting Complex, in a matchup widely billed as the most anticipated game of the 2026 National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) season. What was supposed to be a tightly contested showdown between two top-ranked teams instead erupted into a full benches-clearing brawl that has left the league facing reputational damage, with a full disciplinary review now underway.

    The chaos unfolded after a controversial sequence: Defenders player Ajang Aguek attempted a chase-down block on Rebels opponent Kenneth Perkins, and the confrontation escalated after Perkins celebrated the play in what Aguek’s teammates deemed an unsportsmanlike manner. Bobby Williams of the Defenders was the first to intervene, shoving Perkins to the ground, and the altercation quickly spilled beyond the court as every available player from both squads rushed into the fray. Multiple punches were thrown before officials could regain control, and in the aftermath, referees ejected a total of 13 players: six from the Defenders and seven from the Rebels.

    NEBL Commissioner Leeroy Banner has issued a harsh rebuke of the incident, stating that the players’ behavior fell far below the league’s mandatory standards for discipline and professional conduct. The league has launched a complete formal review of the brawl, with officials explicitly warning that strict disciplinary action will be announced imminently. The NEBL has also issued a public apology to fans, corporate sponsors, and league stakeholders, and has committed to repairing the damage caused by the incident both on and off the court.

    In interviews with News Five reporter Shane Williams, ownership representatives from both teams acknowledged that the rivalry between the Defenders and Rebels stretches back for years, and that both squads entered Friday’s game framing it as a must-win contest to prove their status as the league’s top team. John Marsden, owner of the Belize City Defenders, told reporters he had expected the game to be a season-defining thriller, but expressed deep disappointment over how the matchup ended. “Both teams jockeying, both teams wanting to prove that we are the top dogs in the league. I expected that to be the game of the season, right? Unfortunately that happened,” Marsden said.

    Troy Gabb, owner of the host Orange Walk Running Rebels, noted that similar on-court brawls have occurred at the highest levels of global basketball – most infamously the 2004 “Malice at the Palace” brawl in the NBA, as well as incidents in the EuroLeague – but emphasized that such chaos is not the standard for the NEBL. “Unfortunately it happened and on Friday night at one of our home game[s], and I just wanted to tell the general public that, this is not the norm for our NEBL league,” Gabb said.

    Both franchise leaders have confirmed that they have already launched internal investigations and team discussions to address the incident, even before the league issues its official disciplinary ruling. Gabb stated that team officials began addressing the issue with players over the weekend, with the goal of ensuring a similar outburst never occurs again in the league. Marsden added that the Defenders planned to hold a formal team meeting the day following the brawl to outline the organization’s stance on on-court conduct, and the team is already prepared for the suspensions that the league is expected to hand down. “We do understand emotions play a role in basketball, but we should not let it go to that point. We pride ourselves in allowing the fans to know that it will not happen again,” Marsden said.

    As the NEBL wraps up its official review, fans and league stakeholders across Belize are awaiting the announcement of player suspensions and financial penalties, with widespread hope that the league can quickly move past the incident and refocus on competitive play. This report was compiled from a televised broadcast transcript by News Five’s Shane Williams.

  • Heated Rivalries and Classic Warriors Cross Country Finish

    Heated Rivalries and Classic Warriors Cross Country Finish

    Sports fans across Belize were treated to a packed week of competitive action spanning basketball, endurance cycling and soccer, as rival teams battled for wins and bragging rights across the country.

    First up was the highly anticipated rematch between the Running Rebels and the revamped Belize City Defenders in Orange Walk, hosted on this week’s Sports Monday with host Shane Williams. The Defenders took the court hungry for redemption after a lopsided 17-point loss on opening night, but found themselves trailing early in the contest. A physical on-court brawl disrupted the flow of play, forcing both teams to finish with depleted rosters: the Defenders played the remainder of the game with six available players, while the Rebels finished with five. When the final buzzer sounded, the Running Rebels held on to claim a 71-62 victory. In a statistical oddity, the two players at the center of the brawl—Ajang Aguek of the Defenders and Kenneth Perkins Jr. of the Rebels—finished as the game’s top scorers, each pouring in 20 points.

    Across other basketball matchups held over the weekend, the Cayo Western Ballaz pulled off a major upset in San Ignacio, knocking off the league’s top-ranked San Pedro Tigersharks by a 15-point margin, 93-78. Star players Mark Gordon and Clency “Coope” Lopez led the charge for the Ballaz, putting on an offensive clinic with 35 and 28 points respectively. Further north in Corozal, the Spartans notched their first win of the 2026 season, besting the Belmopan Trojans 82-72. Terrence Johnson Jr. anchored the Spartans’ balanced scoring attack, notching 17 points as one of five Spartans players to hit double figures on the day. For the Trojans, Bryan Hudson led all scorers with 26 points in the losing effort. Following the weekend’s games, the updated league standings show an incredibly tight race at the top: three teams hold identical 5-2 records, turning the competition increasingly intense as the season progresses.

    The weekend’s biggest headline event came in the form of the annual Weekend Warriors Cross Country Cycling Classic, a grueling 70-mile race that kicked off Sunday morning in Santa Elena, Cayo, and finished at San Cas Plaza in Belize City. A total of 84 riders lined up at the starting line on Loma Luz Boulevard, before tackling the route along the George Price Highway, across the Chetumal Street Bridge, and onto the Philip Goldson Highway, a route that tested both rider endurance and raw speed. When the race reached its final stretch, three riders broke away to contest the finish: Brandon Cattouse of the Running Rebels, Henry Moreira of Bundles of Joy, and Kenroy Gladden of SPD. Moreira dug deep in the final sprint, using a strategic move to block Cattouse’s path and edge out the competitor to claim first place in a total time of 3 hours, 13 minutes and 57 seconds. Gladden crossed the line to take third.

    In a post-race interview, Moreira explained his game-winning strategy: “I knew Brandon is a good sprinter. I knew if I wanted to win this race, I had to prepare for a long sprint. I hung back in the last position through the final stretch to watch what everyone else was doing, then launched my sprint early. When Brandon came up on my left, I managed to block that side, forcing him to switch to the right. I just put in one extra push, and even though he caught up to my crank, I held on to take the win.”

    Of the 81 riders who officially started the open category race—including three women—only 53 managed to complete the demanding route. In the B Category division, Liam Stuart of M&M Engineering crossed the line first, followed by Kenny Gladden of Team Loans 2 Go in second and Roque Matus, also of M&M Engineering, in third. In the Female Category, Kedisha Francis was the only rider to successfully complete the course, earning her the category win. The annual event once again showcased the depth of endurance cycling talent across Belize, with tightly contested finishes and competitive performances across every division.

    In soccer action, Reggae Boyz FC and Kelly Street FC delivered a tense, action-packed showdown under the lights in front of a packed, energized crowd, in what was billed as the match of the week. Reggae Boyz got on the board first, when Jaheem Thomas found the back of the net in the 37th minute, taking a 1-0 lead into the break. Kelly Street answered quickly in the second half, with Winfield Fisher equalizing in the 50th minute after capitalizing on a defensive mistake to pull his side level. With the score tied at 1-1, both teams pushed hard for a late game-winning goal, but solid defending from both sides and missed opportunities—including a disallowed offside goal on one end—kept the deadlocked intact through the final whistle.

    To close out the week of sports, Belize’s Lady Jaguars earned a historic 2-0 victory over Suriname in CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifiers. Mikhaila Bowden put Belize on the board from the penalty spot in the 70th minute, before Alisha Terry doubled the lead six minutes later with a well-placed shot that sailed just over the reach of Suriname’s goalkeeper, securing the shutout win for the side.

    That wraps up the week of top-tier sports action across Belize. Host Shane Williams closed out the broadcast with a reminder to fans: “Friendly competition unites, and balling is life, so keep balling Belize!”

  • Tariff battle looms over $350m green hydrogen plant

    Tariff battle looms over $350m green hydrogen plant

    In an exclusive revelation by Barbados TODAY, a landmark $350 million 24/7 hybrid renewable energy project is set to reshape Barbados’ energy landscape, bringing with it a groundbreaking opportunity for local ownership and long-term price stability, even as it sets straight common misconceptions about immediate consumer cost savings.

    The project is being advanced by Renewstable (Barbados) Inc. (RSB), a special-purpose independent power producer created specifically to deliver clean, consistent energy to the Barbados Light and Power Company (BLPC), the island’s national grid operator. Currently, RSB holds a 49% stake split between France-based HDF Energy, while Caribbean energy firm Rubis Caribbean Holdings Inc. owns 51% of the venture. Critically, the development will reserve a minimum of 30% equity for domestic Barbadian entities, with ongoing discussions already underway with key local institutions including the national credit union movement and the National Insurance Scheme. Once construction begins, targeted for between the end of 2024 and early 2025, the facility will operate under a 25-year fixed power purchase agreement with BLPC to supply continuous energy to the island’s grid.

    At the center of the regulatory process right now is a tariff approval application before the Fair Trading Commission (FTC), the island’s utility regulator, which will set the rate BLPC pays for RSB’s energy. In a recent ruling on a confidentiality request from RSB, the FTC rejected most of the developer’s bid to keep application details private during the public consultation period, a decision RSB has already moved to comply with. Aidan Rogers, the project’s strategic advisor and former president of the Barbados Renewable Energy Association (BREA), confirmed the company has released all non-confidential information to the FTC and all participating intervenors as of the previous Wednesday, with only a small subset of genuinely sensitive information kept restricted to the regulator. The FTC has committed to releasing its final tariff ruling by June 2025.

    Rogers addressed widespread public confusion around what the project will mean for residential and commercial electricity consumers, pushing back on the common assumption that renewable energy automatically translates to immediately lower monthly bills. “There is this misconception that renewables automatically translate into cheaper costs. They don’t necessarily. What they do is that they allow you not to see volatile spikes in your light bill up and down,” Rogers explained. He emphasized that the core consumer benefit is long-term price certainty, not an immediate 5 to 10% drop in monthly bills. When the project was first conceived five years ago, it was designed to meet roughly 6% of Barbados’ total energy demand, but recent growth in the island’s tourism sector, driven by a wave of new hotel developments, has pushed overall energy demand higher. As a result, Rogers noted the project’s actual share of total supply is now more likely to land between 3% and 4%, meaning the immediate direct impact on consumer bills will be nearly negligible.

    Far beyond immediate cost changes, Rogers framed the project as a critical milestone in Barbados’ ongoing energy transition toward a cleaner, more locally anchored energy system. The facility will include 120 megawatts of battery storage, allowing it to deliver consistent power around the clock unlike intermittent renewable sources that depend on weather conditions. Unlike fossil fuel-based power generation, which is tied to volatile global oil prices affected by geopolitical shocks such as the ongoing Iran crisis, the project’s tariff will be fixed for its entire 25-year operational life, eliminating exposure to global energy market swings. When the country pays for imported fossil fuels, all profits flow to overseas suppliers, but the 30% local ownership structure means economic benefits from the project will remain within Barbados, supporting domestic institutions that provide benefits to local residents through pension schemes and cooperative financial systems.

    As the regulatory process moves forward, intervenors have been granted additional time to submit new comments on the tariff application following the release of previously redacted information. Rogers stressed that time is critical for the project, as the development team is working to preserve low-cost concessional financing secured from the Green Climate Fund in 2023. The team is pushing for a timely decision from the FTC in May to stay on track for construction, with the regulator’s formal deadline set for early June. Rogers added that this is the first large-scale independent renewable energy project to go through the island’s tariff application process outside of existing feed-in tariff or competitive bidding programs, meaning the regulatory ruling will set important precedent for future clean energy developments in Barbados, enriching the island’s regulatory framework for years to come.