Carib Scope

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  • The 10-Year Manhunt Is Over for Costa Rica’s Most Wanted

    The 10-Year Manhunt Is Over for Costa Rica’s Most Wanted

    After 10 years of relentless cross-border investigative work, Costa Rican law enforcement has brought a close to one of the country’s highest-profile manhunts, capturing top fugitive Alejandro Arias Monge — widely known by his criminal alias “Diablo” — during a major tactical operation in early July 24, 2026. The high-stakes raid unfolded before dawn on Friday at a remote rural farm located in Sarapiquí, a district of central Costa Rica’s Heredia Province.

    When tactical officers from the country’s Judicial Investigation Agency moved in to secure the property, they were met with immediate heavy gunfire from armed members of Arias Monge’s criminal network. A protracted exchange of fire between officers and the suspects continued for approximately 60 minutes before authorities gained full control of the site.

    The operation left five tactical unit members with injuries, four of whom were reported to be in stable condition as of the latest update from authorities. One injured officer, however, required transfer to a specialized medical facility for urgent care. During the confrontation, one additional suspect identified by the alias “Coco Guácimo” was killed in the crossfire.

    Beyond the capture of Arias Monge, law enforcement secured two more high-profile arrests: senior ranking members of his criminal organization, including Jonathan Pérez Méndez, who goes by the alias “Tan.” Investigative sources confirm Pérez Méndez had been positioned as the heir apparent to take over leadership of the network if Arias Monge was ever caught or killed.

    Authorities also confiscated a cache of dangerous weapons and surveillance equipment during the raid, including multiple AK-47-style assault rifles, a range of sidearms, and drone technology that investigators believe the criminal network used to track and monitor police movements ahead of potential operations.

    Arias Monge first vanished from authorities’ radar back in 2016, when he failed to appear for a court hearing following his release from pre-trial detention. In the decade he remained at large, investigators have tied him to a string of serious transnational crimes, including large-scale drug trafficking, coordinated money laundering operations, multiple connected homicides, and direct threats against active law enforcement officers. Officials note that all allegations against Arias Monge have not yet been adjudicated in a court of law.

    The decade-long search for the fugitive drew significant international backing, with the United States offering a reward of up to $500,000 for information leading to his capture through the U.S. State Department’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program. U.S. authorities had previously designated Arias Monge as the leader of a violent criminal syndicate that operated across multiple countries in Central America, making his capture a priority for regional security.

  • UWI Press publication honoring Caribbean historian wins international book award

    UWI Press publication honoring Caribbean historian wins international book award

    An edited academic volume honoring the life and groundbreaking career of one of the Caribbean’s most acclaimed historians, Bridget Brereton, has earned international acclaim, taking home a Silver Award in the Adult Nonfiction History category at the 28th annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.

    Published by The University of the West Indies (UWI) Press, the winning work, *History Matters: Reassembling the Fragments of a Contested Past – In Honour of Bridget Brereton*, was recognized by award judges for its exceptional contribution to global historical scholarship. The collection is curated by three UWI-based academics: Dr. Heather Cateau, Dr. Rita Pemberton, and Dr. Ronald Noel, who brought together leading voices in Caribbean studies to craft the tribute.

    As outlined by UWI, the volume is structured both to celebrate Brereton’s decades-long transformative impact on Caribbean historical research and to advance the field she helped build. It features a curated selection of peer-reviewed essays that probe multilayered dimensions of regional development, spanning economic systems, social movements, political evolution, and cultural identity formation across the Caribbean. UWI Press notes that the volume mirrors Brereton’s own core scholarly commitment: delivering nuanced, balanced narratives of the past that do not shy away from acknowledging historical complexity and contested memory.

    The 2025 Foreword INDIES award winners were unveiled earlier this month by Foreword Reviews, an industry-leading publication focused exclusively on reviewing books from independent publishing houses. The annual INDIES awards were created to spotlight exceptional works released each year by small independent presses, university publishers, and niche independent authors, filling a gap in recognition for non-mainstream literary and academic work.

    In responding to the award announcement, Christine Randle, Managing Director of UWI Press, emphasized that the honor carries unique weight because of its connection to Brereton’s legacy. “This honour carries special significance, as *History Matters* pays tribute to the remarkable life and legacy of Bridget Brereton, one of the Caribbean’s most distinguished historians,” Randle said. “We are delighted that the book has received international recognition from Foreword Reviews and extend heartfelt congratulations to the editors and contributors. This achievement highlights the global importance of Caribbean scholarship and reinforces the value of safeguarding and exploring our collective past.”

    Michelle Schingler, Editor-in-Chief of Foreword Reviews, noted that the 2025 judging process was one of the most challenging in the award’s history, as growth in independent publishing has led to a steady increase in both the number and thematic diversity of submissions. “Each year, as our number of entrants increases and diversifies, the task of narrowing each genre category to a select few finalists gets harder. But that also makes the judges’ ultimate selections all the more exciting. We so look forward to their final choices, and we are proud to celebrate this year’s exemplary slate of winners,” Schingler said.

  • RBC contributes $44K to Crop Over as festival fever hits City branch

    RBC contributes $44K to Crop Over as festival fever hits City branch

    One of Barbados’ leading financial institutions, RBC Royal Bank (Barbados), has announced a $44,000 donation to support the upcoming 2026 Crop Over Festival, marking an expansion of the bank’s long-running investment in the island nation’s cultural heritage. The funding commitment was officially unveiled Friday during a high-energy public activation held at the bank’s flagship Broad Street branch in downtown Bridgetown, where attendees including bank customers and employees got an early taste of the festival’s iconic lively atmosphere. The event featured live musical performances, traditional cultural displays, and the vibrant, infectious energy that has become synonymous with Crop Over, Barbados’ biggest and most beloved annual cultural celebration.

    Speaking on the sidelines of the activation, Shimon McIntosh, Managing Director of RBC Barbados, explained that the financial contribution comes as part of the bank’s role as an associate sponsor for the 2026 festival. McIntosh noted that the on-site event was designed to bring the excitement of Crop Over directly to the bank’s team and the public it serves, collaborating with the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) – the organization that stewards the festival – to host the immersive experience. “We have always prioritized supporting grassroots community initiatives across Barbados, but we made a deliberate choice to deepen our investment in local culture this year,” McIntosh shared during the event. “When you talk about leading cultural events in Barbados, Crop Over is instantly the first that comes to mind. Our own team has been eager to re-engage with major cultural happenings, specifically this iconic festival, so this partnership aligned perfectly with our goals.”

    The 2026 sponsorship marks the second year of the ongoing partnership between RBC Barbados and the NCF, after the two organizations first joined forces for the 2025 festival. For the 2026 season, RBC’s sponsorship will cover five core festival events: Party Monarch, Grand Kadooment, Bridgetown Market, Fusions, and Pic-O-De-Crop, integrating the bank into the fabric of the festival’s most popular activities.

    Andrea Wells, Chief Cultural Officer at the National Cultural Foundation, praised RBC’s continued backing of the festival, emphasizing that corporate collaborations like this one are foundational to Crop Over’s ongoing success. Wells pointed out that beyond being a premier entertainment event for locals and visitors alike, Crop Over plays an outsized role in driving Barbados’ national economy and creating critical opportunities for the island’s fast-growing creative workforce. “This partnership brings not just financial support, but meaningful endorsement of our largest national cultural celebration,” Wells said. “Crop Over does incredible work to boost our national economy, and it channels the creative energy of hundreds of local artists, craftspeople, and cultural workers across the island. When RBC invests in Crop Over, they are investing directly in Barbadian culture and the livelihoods of the people who keep our cultural traditions alive.”

  • ‘He Has Never Lived a Normal Life’: Rodwell Ferguson Speaks on Son’s Arrest

    ‘He Has Never Lived a Normal Life’: Rodwell Ferguson Speaks on Son’s Arrest

    In an emotional first public address Thursday, Stann Creek West Area Representative Rodwell Ferguson opened up about his son Stoney Ferguson’s recent arrest following a violent altercation with law enforcement in Placencia, revealing the decades of severe health challenges that have shaped his son’s daily life.

    Stoney Ferguson, 30-something, was taken into police custody on July 18, after authorities say he failed to comply with orders to stop at a routine police checkpoint in the popular coastal town. What began as a traffic stop quickly escalated, according to police reports, resulting in verbal abuse against officers, a short vehicle pursuit through Placencia, and significant damage to a police vehicle.

    While Rodwell Ferguson made clear that he in no way defends or condones his son’s alleged actions toward law enforcement, he pushed for the public to understand the context of lifelong health struggles that have left Stoney living with constant chronic pain and volatility. The lawmaker stressed that respect for police is a non-negotiable principle, noting officers were simply carrying out their official duties the night of the confrontation.

    “From the day he was born, he has never lived a normal life,” Ferguson told reporters. He explained that Stoney developed severe, life-threatening asthma in infancy, spending the majority of his early childhood years admitted to hospital rather than living at home with his family. The health struggles did not end there: eight years prior to the arrest, Stoney suffered a catastrophic accident after falling from a breadfruit tree, which left him with a broken back.

    Due to deeply held religious beliefs, Stoney refused the invasive back surgery that doctors recommended to repair the injury, opting instead to manage the condition through non-invasive pain management. The choice has left him living with unrelenting severe daily pain that often triggers intense irritability, his father explained.

    Despite these ongoing obstacles, Ferguson emphasized that his son has worked tirelessly to maintain full independence, supporting himself by selling fresh fruits and vegetables to local residents and visitors in Placencia.

    Ferguson acknowledged that his son will face the full legal consequences of his actions during the July 18 incident, but he is asking the public and the justice system to take his long-documented health challenges into consideration as the legal process moves forward.

  • Minister Michael Joseph Meets with Antigua and Barbuda Emergency Medical Services Staff

    Minister Michael Joseph Meets with Antigua and Barbuda Emergency Medical Services Staff

    In a move aligned with his promise to engage directly with every agency under his ministerial portfolio, Hon. Michael Joseph, Minister of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, held a face-to-face meeting this week with leadership and frontline staff of the Antigua and Barbuda Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

    The gathering drew a full roster of senior health officials, including Permanent Secretary Stacey Gregg-Paige, EMS Director Shawn Greenidge, Deputy Directors Vermalie Brodie and Brandon Browne, as well as a cross-section of the agency’s management team and frontline personnel. This in-person consultation marked a key step in the minister’s ongoing push to better understand on-the-ground challenges across all departments he oversees.

    A top priority on the meeting’s agenda was the long-debated issue of fair compensation for EMS workers. Leadership of the agency tabled a formal proposal calling for the creation of a structured, tiered salary framework that would adjust pay based on each worker’s professional credentials, cumulative years of service, and incremental career progression. The plan also aims to introduce stronger performance and training incentives for personnel who pursue advanced emergency medical credentials, including Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) certification and specialized paramedic qualifications. Minister Joseph made clear he is open to thoroughly reviewing the proposal to assess its feasibility and alignment with government priorities.

    Beyond compensation, the discussion centered on broader efforts to upgrade the nation’s emergency medical response system. Minister Joseph reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to collaborating with EMS leadership and staff to co-develop practical, actionable solutions that will improve staff well-being, boost the agency’s operational efficiency, and deliver a stronger, more reliable emergency care system for every citizen and resident of Antigua and Barbuda.

    Closing the meeting, the minister extended his sincere gratitude to all attendees for their open and honest input, and publicly recognized the irreplaceable work EMS personnel carry out every day. He emphasized that their rapid, life-saving responses to emergencies across both islands form a critical backbone of the nation’s public health infrastructure.

  • Amatmohamed vraagt duidelijkheid over importverbod bestrijdingsmiddelen

    Amatmohamed vraagt duidelijkheid over importverbod bestrijdingsmiddelen

    A ruling party lawmaker in Suriname has publicly pressed the national government to provide greater transparency around a newly released list of products barred from import into the country, pointing out that critical agricultural inputs are included on the restricted register. Natalie Amatmohamed, a member of the National Assembly for the VHP party, raised the issue during a Thursday parliamentary sitting, questioning whether potential harms to local farmers and national food output were adequately considered when the executive order creating the ban was drafted.

    Amatmohamed’s questions extend beyond basic clarity: she is demanding answers on whether the responsible ministry has made viable alternative products available to producers to replace the now-banned imports, whether a phased transition period has been put in place to allow farmers to adjust, and whether key agricultural industry groups and other stakeholders were consulted before the list was finalized.

    The parliamentarian emphasized that she does not oppose restrictions on chemicals proven to be harmful or dangerous to public health or the environment. Instead, she argues that any such regulatory measure must be communicated clearly to affected groups in a timely manner, with proper advance planning to avoid disrupting critical food production.

    This need for careful coordination is amplified by the growing impacts of climate change on Suriname’s agricultural sector, Amatmohamed noted. Shifting weather patterns have led to more frequent outbreaks of fungal diseases and other crop pathogens, leaving smallholder and commercial farmers alike reliant on targeted pest and disease control products to protect harvests.

    In closing, Amatmohamed called on the Suriname government to conduct a full re-evaluation of the potential impacts of the new import ban, and to center national food supply and long-term food security as core priorities during the review process.

  • BHTA targets $50K Adopt-A-School Futsal tournament expands to 24 teams

    BHTA targets $50K Adopt-A-School Futsal tournament expands to 24 teams

    A popular charity sporting initiative in Barbados is set to tip off in August with unprecedented participation and an ambitious fundraising goal, as the tourism and education sectors join forces to turn corporate passion for futsal into tangible support for the island nation’s schools.

    The Adopt-A-School Futsal Tournament, organized in a joint partnership between the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) and the Ministry of Education Transformation, has grown significantly since its debut last year. Organizers announced during a recent tournament update and team draw event held at Hotel Indigo in Christ Church that a record 24 corporate teams will compete this summer, up from the inaugural 16 teams in 2025. The event has set a new fundraising target of $50,000, more than doubling the $32,000 raised in the tournament’s first year.

    Tessalee Moore, BHTA’s Special Projects Manager, framed the expansion as clear proof that the private sector is increasingly eager to back educational development through sports-based initiatives. “This year, our aim is to raise $50 000,” Moore shared during the announcement. “The funds raised would allow the program to continue responding to the needs identified through our work with the Ministry of Education Transformation and expand the support we’re able to provide to our schools.”

    The initiative is rooted in the core belief that sport’s widespread popularity and unifying power can be leveraged to address critical gaps in local education and strengthen community bonds. From its launch, the tournament was built around the idea of aligning corporate engagement with meaningful public good: “The tournament was created around the simple idea that the power and popularity of sport could be used to support something equally important: the development of our schools and our young people. Through the Adopt-a-School programme, the BHTA works alongside the Ministry of Education Transformation to better understand the needs within our schools and to identify areas where support can make a meaningful difference,” Moore explained. The program’s overarching theme – “Supporting education, building community, promoting wellness” – continues to guide all of its operations and expansion.

    Looking back at the 2025 inaugural tournament, Moore highlighted that the event already delivered measurable, long-lasting benefits to Barbadian schools. The first iteration of the tournament raised $32,000, which funded critical infrastructure and resources across multiple institutions: $5,000 for classroom projectors, $3,000 for cooling fans, $16,000 for water tanks, and $6,000 for football nets. The football nets were later donated to the National Sports Council to support national primary school football tournaments.

    Moore noted that the jump from 16 to 24 participating teams checked a key personal and organizational goal set after the first tournament. “I’m happy to say challenge accepted and challenge conquered. We’re here today with 24 teams. That growth is something we’re incredibly proud of. It shows that the tournament is gaining momentum and that more companies are choosing to be a part of an initiative that brings together sport, corporate engagement and educational development.” Of the 24 competing teams this year, 20 are members of the BHTA, a showing Moore described as a clear demonstration of widespread member commitment to the initiative’s mission.

    The tournament will run across six match weekends at the Oasis, starting August 8 and concluding August 30. Defending 2025 champions Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC), represented by Barbados Conference Services Limited, will return to defend their title.

    BHTA Chief Executive Officer Senator Ryan Forde emphasized that the tournament was never designed to be just another recreational corporate sporting event. Beyond fundraising, the initiative is aligned with the BHTA’s core work supporting education and training for tourism sector workers, and is intended to deliver dual benefits for the industry and the broader community. “We wanted that we’re not just getting people to come and play a sport, but to educate them a little bit more on what the BHTA does,” Forde explained. “We deal with team members. We also deal with education and training, and because of that, we now are raising funds through the football initiative in order for us to give back to schools.” He added that the BHTA’s long-term goal is to establish the tournament as an annual, sustainable fundraising tradition that supports Barbadian schools year after year, while also boosting connection among tourism industry employees.

    Reverend Stephen Scott, Deputy Chief Education Officer, welcomed the ongoing cross-sector partnership, noting that public education efforts cannot reach their full potential without support from private industry and community groups. Scott shared that the proceeds from last year’s tournament already enabled meaningful upgrades across primary and secondary schools, touching everything from information technology infrastructure and recreational facilities to environmental projects, nutrition programs and athletic opportunities. “We are cognisant that we cannot accomplish it all on our own and thus we are very happy to partner with others like the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association to work together towards these goals as we strive to be the number one education system in the world,” Scott said. “Your provision of items… has certainly assisted us in achieving the two aforementioned goals of our education transformation.” He also reminded participants that the students benefiting from the program could one day become the next generation of Barbados tourism workforce.

    The Barbados Football Association has also thrown its support behind the initiative, with General Secretary Nicholas Branker reaffirming the organization’s commitment to using football as a tool for lasting social good. “The significance of this tournament extends well beyond the football court. Every team that participates, every sponsor that lends its support, every individual who contributes to this initiative is helping to create better learning environments and greater opportunities for the young people of Barbados,” Branker said. He added that football’s unique ability to break down sectoral barriers, build cross-community connections, encourage healthy lifestyles, and instill core values like teamwork, discipline, respect and resilience makes it the perfect vehicle for this kind of community initiative.

    For the defending champions from LESC, the opportunity to compete for a good cause has made the entire experience even more rewarding than the 2025 title win. Tahir Batson, representing LESC/Barbados Conference Services Limited, called last year’s inaugural tournament an unforgettable experience. “It was very exciting knowing that it’s the first. It was very competitive… but we made it through. We made it to the end… becoming the champions,” Batson recalled. With the field expanding to 24 teams this year, Batson acknowledged the team will need to step up their performance to retain the title: “so we have to play definitely harder than what we did last year in order to get the title again as champions.”

    Batson added that the team jumped at the chance to join the initiative from its launch, drawn by its mission to support local schools. “We were very excited when we first heard of it. We wanted desperately to be a part of it knowing what it would do in the end.” Lifting the inaugural trophy also provided a lasting boost to company morale, Batson said: “We were very happy, especially going back to work, wearing the medals around our necks… It was a good experience also, and it really boosts the company as a whole.”

  • Here’s Why Belize is Launching ‘Belize Moves’

    Here’s Why Belize is Launching ‘Belize Moves’

    On July 24, 2026, Belice formally kicked off a nationwide public health initiative named “Belize Moves”, framed not as a temporary government program but as a sustained national movement designed to shift population-wide habits toward healthier lifestyles. The launch ceremony was held at Sir George Brown Park in the capital city of Belmopan, building on the success of the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW)’s earlier “Love Your Heart” pilot project.

    The movement is structured around three core foundational pillars: increasing daily physical activity, improving national dietary habits, and expanding routine health monitoring to help people track key health metrics (colloquially referred to as “know your numbers”). Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard emphasized in his opening address that the initiative is a collective call to action, urging all segments of Belizean society to take intentional steps toward healthier decision-making, with the shared goal of building a stronger, more resilient nation.

    A core driving force behind the movement is the alarming public health data that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – including cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, various forms of cancer, and hypertension – are responsible for approximately 65% of all deaths across the country. Bernard stressed that these are not just abstract statistics; every number represents a beloved member of a community, a family member or friend whose life has been upended by an entirely preventable illness.

    To embed healthy habits into daily life, “Belize Moves” will expand its outreach beyond public health clinics into schools, workplaces, and neighborhood communities. Programming will include interactive community health fairs, organized group fitness activities, and ongoing wellness workshops tailored to different population groups. The national movement has secured formal support and partnership from multiple regional and international stakeholders, including the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), and all local municipal governments across Belize. Anmin C.Y. Chi, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Belize, noted that the partnership aligns with ongoing work to strengthen Belize’s system for preventing and controlling metabolic chronic diseases.

  • China-Funded Barbuda Housing Project Moves Toward Construction

    China-Funded Barbuda Housing Project Moves Toward Construction

    A critical affordable housing initiative in Barbuda, fully financed by a grant from the People’s Republic of China, is on the cusp of breaking ground, after the project team wrapped up the vast majority of required land surveying work, an official government update has confirmed.

    Maurice Merchant, Director General of Communications for Antigua and Barbuda, shared the latest progress on the Louis Hill housing development during a post-Cabinet media briefing held Thursday. He emphasized that the project is advancing at an accelerated clip, with preparatory work moving ahead of schedule in key areas.

    “They are moving forward at a fast pace,” Merchant told reporters. “I know that the surveys are being conducted; the majority have been conducted at the Louis Hill facility, and so it’s a matter of mobilization.”

    Beyond confirming the completion of most survey work, Merchant also confirmed that all funding for the project has been secured. The full construction grant pledged by China is already in place, removing the biggest potential barrier to launching on-site work. “The grant from the People’s Republic of China for the construction of these homes in Barbuda is already in place,” Merchant said. “It’s just a matter of mobilization and getting started.”

    The official announcement of the housing project’s progress came shortly after the Antigua and Barbuda Cabinet ratified the first batch of freehold land certificates for Barbuda residents. This move is part of the national government’s landmark EC$1-an-acre land distribution program, which aims to expand land access and property ownership for local people.

    At this stage, government officials have not released additional key details about the Louis Hill development, including an official construction kickoff date, the total number of residential units planned for the site, or a projected timeline for project completion.

  • CDB, Belize government advance education projects in Orange Walk District

    CDB, Belize government advance education projects in Orange Walk District

    Hundreds of primary and pre-primary students in Belize’s northern Orange Walk District will soon access upgraded, climate-resilient learning spaces, as two new school construction projects break ground and a major classroom rehabilitation reaches completion under the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)-supported Belize Education Sector Reform Programme II (BESRP II).

    The milestone was marked this week with dual groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Indian Church Primary School and a combined pre-primary and primary campus in Blackwater, Trial Farm Village, alongside an official handover event for the rehabilitated classroom block at Trial Farm Government School. At the handover, CDB Vice-President (Operations) Dr. Isaac Solomon and Belize’s Minister of State for Education, Culture, Science and Technology Honourable Ramon Cervantes formally passed the facility keys to a local educator, signaling the start of improved learning for students at the upgraded campus.

    These three projects are part of the broader BESRP II initiative, which will deliver 35 fully constructed and outfitted school infrastructure projects across Belize by its conclusion.

    The new Indian Church Primary School, built at a total cost of roughly US$1.3 million (equivalent to BZ$2.31 million), is designed to serve 96 students across four classrooms, with additional space for administrative offices, staff amenities, modern sanitation infrastructure, and supporting utility systems. The facility is built to meet modern building codes, with integrated hurricane-resistant design, dedicated water storage, improved drainage, and comprehensive fire safety protocols to protect students and staff.

    The completed rehabilitation of the Trial Farm Government School classroom block carried a price tag of approximately US$120,000 (BZ$0.24 million), while construction of the new Blackwater combined pre-primary and primary campus is now underway at a cost of US$1.51 million (BZ$3.02 million). Across the three projects, education officials project that hundreds of local students will gain access to safer, higher-quality learning environments, while expanded enrollment capacity will improve overall access to education across the district.

    Speaking at the milestone events, Dr. Solomon emphasized that the CDB’s investment extends far beyond constructing new physical infrastructure. “Our commitment goes beyond building infrastructure—we are supporting a stronger and more resilient education system that equips students with the knowledge and skills they need for the future, while contributing to broader social and economic development,” he said. “Indian Church Primary and the Belize Education Sector Programme as a whole, is pivotal in advancing educational excellence—an ambition that resonates deeply with my Bank’s refocused vision, anchored in the pillars of Innovate, Transform, and Thrive.”

    CDB officials note that the projects reflect the shared priority of the regional development bank and the Government of Belize to deliver modern, inclusive, climate-resilient educational infrastructure that meets local community needs, while strengthening Belize’s national human capital. The investments also align with CDB’s 10-year Strategic Plan 2026-2035, which targets expanded social resilience and increased access to quality education for young people across the Caribbean, as well as the bank’s new Rebirth Vision that prioritizes expanded investment in resilient infrastructure throughout the region.