Carib Scope

分类： society

  • Works Minister urges drivers to slow down

    Works Minister urges drivers to slow down

    A grim wave of fatal traffic collisions has swept across The Bahamas, leaving seven people dead over just four days ending Tuesday, prompting top transportation officials to issue urgent appeals for safer driving as grieving families cope with one of the deadliest stretches of road fatalities the nation has seen in recent years.

    The deadliest single incident unfolded early Sunday on Shirley Street in New Providence, near the intersection with Church Street. A vehicle carrying eight occupants veered off the road and slammed into a tree, killing four young women inside: 17-year-old Diamond Stubbs and 19-year-olds Betrica Brown, Stania Webb, and Evalena Johnson. Three male passengers and one additional female passenger were transported to local hospitals with injuries, and local reports confirm most of the group had been close friends since childhood.

    The tragedy quickly sparked public scrutiny over the long-reported poor condition of Shirley Street’s pavement, with many residents questioning whether unaddressed road deterioration contributed to the crash. During press briefings following the incident, Works Minister Clay Sweeting pushed back against attempts to link the fatality to delayed infrastructure work, confirming that Shirley Street had already been prioritized for repaving prior to the crash. Sweeting emphasized that the string of recent deadly incidents across multiple islands points to excessive speeding as the core systemic issue driving the rise in fatalities, not underinvestment in specific roads.

    “I don’t think it’s fair to any of us, to the grieving families, to try to frame this tragedy as a blame game right now,” Sweeting told reporters, pushing back on questions about the timeline for Shirley Street repairs. “Families are mourning the loss of their loved ones, and right now that is what matters most. This is not a moment to assign blame.”

    Sweeting added that deadly crashes have not been isolated to New Providence, noting fatal incidents have been recorded across Abaco, Grand Bahama, and Andros in recent days. “This is a national concern centered on driver behavior and the dangerous speeds many motorists are traveling at,” he said. “I am strongly urging all drivers to slow down. We cannot afford to have more families grieving unnecessary deaths.”

    The most recent fatality was recorded Tuesday morning, when a 23-year-old male driver died in a head-on two-vehicle collision on Coral Harbour Road near Odyssey Aviation. Assistant Superintendent Lakeisha Sawyer, who spoke to reporters at the crash site, told journalists that preliminary investigation indicates the victim’s vehicle spun out before the driver was ejected from the vehicle. Based on the severe damage to both vehicles, investigators have marked speed as a likely contributing factor.

    Police confirmed that officers from the Western Division were called to the collision just before 7 a.m. The 23-year-old, driving a blue Suzuki Swift, was traveling south when he collided with a northbound black 2016 Kia Sorento operated by a 53-year-old woman. Emergency medical personnel pronounced the Suzuki driver dead at the scene, while the Kia driver was transported to a hospital for treatment; as of press time, her condition has not been updated. This crash brings The Bahamas’ total traffic fatalities for the year to 36, per records kept by The Tribune.

    The four-day fatal spree began Saturday, when 26-year-old Nica Julien died after her Ford Focus overturned and crashed into a concrete utility pole on East Sunrise Highway in Grand Bahama. The following day brought the Shirley Street tragedy, and a Monday collision on Ernest Dean Highway in Spring City, Abaco, killed a 30-year-old man in a two-vehicle crash.

    Unverified CCTV footage circulating widely on social media purports to capture the moments leading up to the Sunday Shirley Street crash. The footage shows a dark-colored vehicle traveling at high speed down a nearly empty stretch of road before hitting the tree, snapping the trunk and causing it to fall. Moments after impact, a man is seen exiting the vehicle with his head slumped forward, stumbling away from the wreck before bystanders approach to check on the remaining passengers. Police have not yet confirmed the authenticity of the video as the official investigation remains ongoing.

    Addressing broader public frustration over widespread potholes and poor road conditions, particularly worsened by the recent rainy season, Sweeting outlined the Ministry of Works’ ongoing infrastructure efforts. He confirmed that over the past two years, the government has ramped up repaving work across New Providence, which has more than 1,000 miles of road in need of maintenance. The ministry has launched a public-private partnership with Baha Mar and contracted more than a dozen small local paving contractors to complete work across the island since January.

    Looking ahead, Sweeting announced a new pothole patching method that will roll out within six months, boosting daily pothole repairs from the current five to 10 per day to 100 per day, dramatically increasing maintenance capacity to address longstanding road quality issues.

    Sweeting and law enforcement officials have both joined in the renewed call for motorists to adhere to posted speed limits and prioritize road safety practices, as the nation enters a period of mourning for the seven recent victims.

  • Expectant father killed before meeting first son

    Expectant father killed before meeting first son

    In a senseless act of gun violence that has shattered a young family’s future, 22-year-old Ah’don Richardson was killed in a shooting just two days after he and his pregnant girlfriend learned they were expecting their first child, a son. Richardson, a skilled carpenter with big dreams of opening his own business and building a family home, never got the chance to meet the child he was already preparing to raise.

    Launise Guerrier, Richardson’s 25-year-old girlfriend who is 22 weeks into a high-risk pregnancy, shared that the couple left their gender scan overjoyed on Saturday. When she broke the news that they were having a boy, Guerrier said Richardson could barely contain his excitement. He immediately began talking about teaching his son how to protect himself, how to grow into a strong, capable man. For the first-time parents-to-be, the future was finally falling into place after years of friendship and months of building their relationship together, which turned romantic last year.

    That bright future was torn apart just 48 hours later. Shortly before 1 a.m. on Monday, emergency alerts picked up by ShotSpotter, a gunfire detection technology used by local law enforcement, alerted police to multiple shots fired on Constitution Drive, a residential side street just off Foster Street. When officers arrived at the scene, they found Richardson unresponsive in the driver’s seat of his silver Suzuki Swift, with multiple gunshot wounds across his body. First responders from local Emergency Medical Services confirmed he was dead at the scene.

    A second victim, a 20-year-old woman who was with Richardson that night, was also hit by gunfire, sustaining wounds to her upper right thigh and abdomen. Guerrier confirmed the injured woman is the girlfriend of Richardson’s sister, who the pair were visiting along with other relatives at the Constitution Drive residence. According to official police accounts, Richardson and the woman had just arrived at the home. The woman exited the car and entered the residence, and when she returned to the vehicle, suspects in a white Japanese-model vehicle pulled up, opened fire on the car, and immediately fled south along Foster Street. The injured woman is currently in stable condition at a local hospital, according to police updates.

    Guerrier, who was babysitting at their home when the call came from Richardson’s crying sister, said the shock of the news has been compounded by graphic content circulating online. She told reporters that she was forced to see a cell phone video shared on social media that showed first responders removing Richardson’s body from his vehicle, an image that has compounded her already crippling grief. She also pushed back against any assumptions that her partner was involved in criminal activity, emphasizing that he had no criminal record and never expressed concern for his safety. She described him as a kind, gentle, non-violent man who only cared about building a good life for their growing family.

    For Guerrier, the tragedy is compounded by the multiple losses she has already had to endure. She is still grieving the death of her daughter, and now she is left to raise her unborn son alone while staying strong for her other surviving children. She shared that the final conversation she had with Richardson ended in an argument, a detail that haunts her every day, as she never imagined it would be their last. Despite overwhelming pain and the uncertain road ahead, Guerrier said she has chosen to forgive the people who killed her partner, though she acknowledges healing will take a very long time. Her biggest fear, she said, is answering the inevitable questions her son will ask one day: where is my dad, and why will he never meet him.

  • Extreme heat pushes temperatures up to 40°C across Dominican Republic

    Extreme heat pushes temperatures up to 40°C across Dominican Republic

    The Dominican Republic is currently facing an unprecedented extreme heat event that has pushed thermometers across much of the nation into dangerous territory, according to official updates from the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet). Across multiple provinces, maximum daily temperatures have surged to between 35°C and 40°C, driven by a rare confluence of overlapping climate factors that are amplifying summer heat to unusual levels.

    Meteorologists at Indomet have identified four key contributors to this brutal heatwave: persistent hot east-southeast trade winds, a thick plume of Saharan dust drifting across the Atlantic, a stable high-pressure system parked over the ocean, and the ongoing warming influence of the El Niño climate pattern. These factors have combined to trap heat across the island nation, creating conditions far hotter than the average summer for this time of year.

    The most extreme conditions have been recorded in Sabaneta, a city located in the Santiago Rodríguez province, where the mercury hit a blistering 40°C — the highest mark registered nationwide so far. Neighboring regions have not escaped the swelter: Valverde, the province of Santiago, and Jimaní all recorded high temperatures of 38°C, while Barahona saw thermometers reach 36°C. In the country’s populous capital region, Greater Santo Domingo, forecasters project peak temperatures will reach 34°C.

    Even more concerning than raw air temperatures is the projected heat index — a measure that combines temperature and humidity to reflect how hot conditions actually feel to the human body. Indomet has issued a special warning that the heat index could climb as high as 46°C in both Sabaneta and Dajabón, even though forecast air temperatures in those areas top out at 39°C. Heat indexes at this level raise the risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke for people who spend extended time outdoors.

    Looking ahead through the rest of the warm season, the meteorological agency warns that above-average temperatures are likely to persist across the entire Caribbean basin through July, August, and September. In addition to the short-term climate drivers behind the current heatwave, Indomet notes that long-term climate change is reinforcing these extreme conditions, making intense summer heatwaves more frequent and more severe. The agency has issued a public appeal for all residents to take proactive precautions, including limiting prolonged exposure to direct sun, staying hydrated, and checking on vulnerable community members such as the elderly and unhoused populations, to avoid preventable heat-related health emergencies.

  • Fire breaks out at historic Restoration No. 11 Lodge in Puerto Plata

    Fire breaks out at historic Restoration No. 11 Lodge in Puerto Plata

    A sudden blaze has broken out at the iconic Restoration No. 11 Masonic Lodge headquarters in the coastal city of Puerto Plata, leaving cultural heritage stewards and local communities on edge as one of the Dominican Republic’s most cherished historic structures faces an uncertain future. As of the latest updates from local authorities, no casualties have been reported from the incident. However, investigators have not yet pinpointed the root cause of the fire, nor have they completed a full assessment to calculate how much damage the historic building has sustained.

    Tracing its origins back to September 25, 1867, the Restoration No. 11 Masonic Lodge is far more than a meeting space: it has been a quiet, central actor shaping the Dominican Republic’s political, social and cultural evolution for more than 150 years. One of the lodge’s most notable founding members was General Gregorio Luperón, a national hero of the Dominican Restoration War. Luperón served as the lodge’s First Orator during its early years, and would later go on to attain the highest rank within the global Freemasonry movement before his prominent role in the country’s public life.

    The century-old building that houses the lodge stands as a defining piece of Puerto Plata’s architectural and historical identity, with its design and legacy drawing both local pride and heritage tourism to the region. Cultural experts warn that any extensive structural damage to the building would be more than a physical loss: it would erase an irreplaceable piece of the province’s cultural legacy and leave a gap in the Dominican Republic’s collective national historical memory. Local heritage organizations are closely monitoring the investigation and recovery efforts as they wait for a full damage assessment to be released.

  • RCA donates $10,000 to UWI Five Islands Campus as part of yearly scholarship programme

    RCA donates $10,000 to UWI Five Islands Campus as part of yearly scholarship programme

    A long-running commitment to nurturing young talent in Antigua and Barbuda has taken concrete form, as the Rotary Club of Antigua (RCA) has formalized a new contribution to the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus (UWIFIC) through an EC$10,000 cheque donation. The gift, which forms part of the club’s ongoing scholarship programme and deepens its long-standing institutional partnership with the university, was presented during an intimate ceremony hosted at Rotary House.

    The donation was officially received by Adeola Matthew, manager of the Student Retention and Success Unit under UWIFIC’s Office of the Campus Registrar. Speaking on behalf of the service organization, RCA President Elisa Graham emphasized that access to quality education has remained a core strategic priority for Rotary globally, and specifically for the Antigua chapter, which views educational investment as foundational to Antigua and Barbuda’s long-term prosperity.

    Graham noted, “The Rotary Club of Antigua is proud to continue its partnership with the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus through this scholarship contribution. We believe that education is one of the most powerful tools for transforming lives and strengthening communities. This donation reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting students as they pursue their academic and professional aspirations.”

    The RCA president also extended public recognition to the all-volunteer scholarship committee, which spearheaded the initiative. Led by two past RCA presidents, Dr. Vanetta Rodgers and Dr. Errol Samuel, the committee also includes Rotarians Nabia Burton and Yasmine Ephraim. Graham credited the group’s consistent dedication and hard work for turning the annual scholarship commitment into a reality for students.

    In her response, Matthew expressed heartfelt gratitude for the club’s sustained investment in the campus’ student body. She highlighted that financial scholarship support does more than offset tuition costs—it directly improves student retention outcomes and raises overall graduation rates, opening pathways for economic mobility for young people across the country.

    “Partnerships like this demonstrate the power of community,” Matthew said. “The Club’s continued scholarship support has had a measurable impact on student success and retention, helping to ensure that more students can complete their studies and build brighter futures.”

    For the Rotary Club of Antigua, this donation is just one part of a decades-long legacy of local community impact. The organization has consistently prioritized educational projects, youth leadership development, and community infrastructure initiatives across Antigua and Barbuda, aligned with Rotary International’s global mission of service above self. Looking ahead, RCA says it plans to deepen its collaborative relationship with UWIFIC and continue investing in the development of Antigua and Barbuda’s next generation of leaders.

  • Fishing leaders press for urgent upgrades, fair pricing

    Fishing leaders press for urgent upgrades, fair pricing

    Two leading Barbadian fishing industry associations have issued an urgent plea to the national government for targeted interventions to fix crumbling infrastructure, update outdated equipment, and implement internal pricing reforms, as mounting challenges threaten the sustainability of the sector and drive up consumer costs for fresh seafood. The heads of both the Oistins Fisherfolk Association and the Paynes Bay Fisherfolk Association outlined overlapping and unique challenges facing their coastal communities during recent discussions with government officials, calling for swift action to protect livelihoods and make fish accessible to local consumers.

    Neil Cougar Bourne, president of the Oistins Fisherfolk Association, opened with a breakdown of the critical utility failures plaguing the iconic Berinda Cox Fish Market that have brought daily operations and vessel maintenance to a standstill. The jetty that serves as the hub for the market currently lacks access to consistent electricity and running water, forcing fishers to improvise solutions for even basic tasks like repairing damaged vessels. “Our challenge is clear: we need power restored to the jetty, we need upgraded utility lines run out to the docking area, and at minimum we need functional 220-volt plugs for work,” Bourne explained. “If a fishing vessel needs emergency repairs and a mechanic comes out, we can’t do the work without power right at the dock.”

    According to Bourne, the issue was raised directly during a recent meeting with a government minister, who has committed to conducting an on-site inspection of the facility to assess the full scope of repairs needed. Beyond restoring basic utilities, Bourne emphasized the urgent need for climate-resilient infrastructure upgrades, after severe tropical weather destroyed three on-site storage structures in recent years. To avoid repeated losses, he proposed constructing a collapsible diesel storage station that can be moved or disassembled ahead of major storm events, rather than rebuilding permanent structures that are vulnerable to damage.

    The Oistins market also faces a critical disruption to its cold supply chain from a broken commercial ice machine. While a smaller backup unit remains operational, it only produces enough ice to keep catches fresh on fishing vessels, leaving onshore vendors without the stock they need to preserve product for consumers. When addressing growing calls from some fishers to extend natural gas fuel lines directly to the jetty, Bourne urged careful consideration, warning that the plan carries unacceptable safety risks. He noted that natural gas is far more flammable than the diesel currently used, and the prevalence of smoking among many fishers creates a major hazard for explosions or fires at the docking area.

    Bourne also raised a longer-term challenge facing the entire industry: attracting and training younger generations of fishers, while avoiding overreliance on digital navigation tools. Reflecting on his own early career, when he mastered traditional open-sea navigation techniques before GPS became widespread, he warned that young fishers who depend entirely on technology put themselves at severe risk if their equipment fails far from shore.

    On the island’s West Coast, the Paynes Bay Fisherfolk Association is grappling with its own set of economic and infrastructural challenges, which association president Eulene Haynes says cannot be blamed solely on annual hurricane season disruptions to supply. Haynes pointed to a shrinking active fishing fleet, widespread ice shortages, and inflated retail prices that are pushing local consumers away from buying fresh seafood. “Barbadians are traditional fish eaters – we love our fish, and people want to buy it locally,” Haynes explained. “But the constant high prices keep turning people away, even when they want to purchase.”

    Haynes added that unregulated pricing practices among some vendors worsen the issue, with many failing to pass lower costs onto consumers when there is a surplus of fresh catch. “When we have a glut of fish and wholesale prices drop, some vendors keep their retail prices artificially high, so the savings never reach the consumer,” she said. Beyond pricing reform, Haynes is calling for government support to redevelop underused public space in Paynes Bay, specifically clearing out a long-abandoned bar on association land to repurpose it for community and commercial use.

    She noted that Paynes Bay holds important historical significance as the original hub of Barbados’ popular fish fry culture, decades before the Oistins market grew to national prominence. Haynes hopes that redeveloping the vacant space will allow the community to revive the vibrant nightly fish fry economy that once drew locals and tourists alike, boosting incomes for local fishers and vendors. “We started this tradition here – long before Oistins became the go-to spot, we had dozens of small huts and a thriving night scene,” Haynes said. “We want to reclaim this space, bring back our weekly night markets, and redevelop the area for the next generation.”

  • Hopeful Hearts Foundation and WISH Officially Launch Inspirational Mural at Parham Primary School

    Hopeful Hearts Foundation and WISH Officially Launch Inspirational Mural at Parham Primary School

    On June 26, 2026, a transformative new community art project came to fruition at Parham Primary School in Parham Town, Antigua and Barbuda, as two local youth-focused organizations joined school leaders to officially launch a motivational mural designed to uplift students and reimagine positive learning environments.

    Created in partnership between the Hopeful Hearts Foundation and community well-being initiative WISH, the three-day collaborative project brought together artists, educators and students to turn a blank wall into a permanent reminder of young people’s limitless potential. The mural, which bears Hopeful Hearts Foundation’s official motto “Dare to Dream Big”, was designed by Chaneil Imhoff, WISH’s founder and the 2026 winner of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Logo Competition. Imhoff’s design weaves together vivid colors and bold imagery to capture the spirit of ambition and possibility for every child who passes through the school’s gates.

    Far more than a decorative addition to the school campus, the mural was conceptualized to serve as a daily reminder that young people can dream beyond their immediate circumstances, trust in their own capabilities, and build purpose-driven futures. Unlike many external community projects, this initiative invited Parham Primary students to take an active role in the painting process, cultivating a sense of ownership, school pride and personal connection to the artwork’s core message.

    Reflecting on the experience, the Parham Primary School Student Council President shared enthusiastic excitement for the finished piece: “It was honestly very fun and exciting, even though we got a little bit messy. This whole thing looks very nice and I love how all of the colours look.”

    For Imhoff, the project held personal as well as community significance. “For me, it was an honour and a pleasure to not only collaborate with Hopeful Hearts Foundation, but to design the mural,” she explained. “We pulled inspiration from a range of sources and worked together to refine what we wanted this space to represent, but seeing it come to life at this scale was an amazing experience. It is even more meaningful because anyone who knows me knows that when something positive is happening, Parham Primary School will always be close to my heart. This is just the start of more work to come, not only in this community, but across every corner of Antigua and Barbuda.”

    Kristine Louisa, founder of the Hopeful Hearts Foundation, noted that the project aligned perfectly with her organization’s core mission. The youth-focused nonprofit, founded by National Youth Ambassador Kristine Louisa, runs community outreach, service projects and support programs to lift up young people across the country, with “Dare to Dream Big” embedded as its guiding ethos. “It means a lot that we were able to paint this amazing mural because if you have followed our journey, you will know that ‘Dare to Dream Big’ is Hopeful Hearts Foundation’s motto,” Louisa said. “It is a privilege to have our motto displayed here at Parham Primary School. We have supported the school in the past, including through the donation of school supplies, but this is an even bigger milestone for us. To know that our artwork is now a permanent part of the school environment, created in collaboration with WISH, is very special.”

    Parham Primary School principal Gayle Walter emphasized that the mural will do more than brighten the campus – it will act as a subtle, ongoing learning tool that shapes students’ mindsets. “This mural is more than a beautiful addition to our school,” Walter said. “It is a learning space, a source of inspiration, and a reminder that education does not only happen when a teacher is speaking and a child is listening. When children are surrounded by positive messages, they begin to absorb them. As they read, they ingest; as they ingest, it becomes part of their mindset, and that mindset influences their actions. We are grateful to the Hopeful Hearts Foundation and Madam Imhoff for helping us create something that will support the mental space of our children, improve the atmosphere of our school, and hopefully spill over into the wider community.”

    The project would not have been possible without the support of local sponsor Fast Lane Construction, which turned the two organizations’ shared vision into a tangible reality. Their backing has created a lasting legacy that will benefit generations of students, staff and local residents connected to Parham Primary School. Both Hopeful Hearts Foundation and WISH have announced plans to continue expanding this type of creative youth empowerment work, with future projects planned at Parham Primary and across communities throughout Antigua and Barbuda.

    WISH, founded by Imhoff, focuses on advancing mental health support, self-care advocacy and community healing across the region. Through creative public outreach, educational campaigns and local projects, the organization works to reduce stigma around mental health, build supportive community spaces and foster greater emotional well-being for all residents.

  • Elderly Woman Reports Being Raped by Intruder Inside Her Home

    Elderly Woman Reports Being Raped by Intruder Inside Her Home

    In a disturbing incident that unfolded in the early hours of last Wednesday, a 67-year-old woman has filed a formal report alleging she was raped by an unknown intruder who broke into her residential property. The attack took place at approximately 3:30 a.m., according to official accounts of the event shared with law enforcement.

    Prior to the intruder gaining entry, the victim had taken proactive measures to block him from entering her home by securing her front door with wire in a desperate bid to reinforce the lock. Despite her quick efforts to fend off the unwanted visitor, the suspect overpowered the barrier, forcing his way inside the property and snapping the door’s existing chain lock in the process.

    Once inside, the suspect carried out the sexual assault against the victim, according to her statement to police. The attacker reportedly threatened to slit the elderly woman’s throat if she attempted to scream out for help, leaving her in a state of terror during the incident. Following a physical struggle between the victim and the intruder, the suspect fled the residence before authorities arrived at the scene.

    The victim was able to provide law enforcement with a detailed description of her attacker following the incident. She described the suspect as a dark-skinned man with upright hair, noting that he was not wearing any face covering to conceal his identity. Critically, the victim told investigators she would be able to recognize the man if confronted again, a detail that could prove pivotal for the ongoing investigation.

    Responding officers from local law enforcement completed a full forensic and investigative processing of the crime scene shortly after being alerted to the attack. The case has since been transferred to the department’s specialized Gender Affairs Division, which handles cases of gender-based violence and sexual assault to ensure specialized oversight and investigation. As of the latest update, repeated attempts by media outlets to secure additional information or an update on the status of the investigation from police officials have not yielded any response.

  • Maxi driver shot dead outside Brazil home

    Maxi driver shot dead outside Brazil home

    A brazen early-morning ambush has left a well-regarded maxi-taxi driver dead outside his home in Brazil Village, leaving law enforcement with no clear leads as to what prompted the deadly attack.

    The victim, identified as 56-year-old Ronald Ramgoolie, was gunned down shortly after leaving his residence on Savannah Drive around 6:30 a.m. yesterday. According to initial police reports, Ramgoolie had stepped outside to inspect his 24-seater maxi-taxi, which he nicknamed “General,” when an unidentified attacker opened fire, hitting him multiple times before fleeing the scene on foot.

    Neighbors and family members who heard the gunfire rushed outside immediately, discovering Ramgoolie’s body lying on the roadway just meters from his vehicle. First responders from the San Raphael Police Station were the first law enforcement officials to arrive at the crime scene, with investigators from the Region Two Homicide Bureau and the regional Crime Scene Unit arriving shortly after to process evidence and conduct interviews with witnesses.

    As of press time, investigators have not been able to establish a potential motive for the killing. Multiple law enforcement sources confirmed that Ramgoolie had no documented connections to illegal activity, and no suspicious behavior linked to the driver had been reported to local police prior to the shooting.

    Brenton Knights, president of the Route Two Maxi-Taxi Association, paid tribute to Ramgoolie on Tuesday, describing him as a calm, dedicated professional with a strong drive to build a better life for his family. Knights recalled that when he first met Ramgoolie roughly five years ago, the driver was operating a smaller maxi-taxi, but through hard work and ambition, he had worked his way up to owning and operating the larger 24-seater vehicle.

    “Life is a precious thing and any loss of life will never be good, because it is not even our own to take,” Knights said in an interview. “So I find what happened to him was totally unacceptable regardless of what were the circumstances.” Knights added that Ramgoolie was a devoted family man who was well-liked by his peers and the community he served.

    The killing brings the national murder toll to 190 as of last night, matching the exact same death toll recorded on the same date last year.

  • Damaged pontoon caused Apple Syder vessel to sink, Coast Guard says

    Damaged pontoon caused Apple Syder vessel to sink, Coast Guard says

    Just one day after a commercial tour vessel sank in Caribbean waters off the coast of St. Kitts, local coast guard officials have pinpointed the structural failure that caused the incident, confirming all passengers and crew escaped unharmed thanks to a rapid joint rescue response.

    The maritime emergency unfolded shortly before 8:30 a.m. on Monday, when the captain of the M/V Apple Syder Experience issued an urgent distress call to St. Kitts and Nevis authorities. According to an official statement released Tuesday by the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF), which oversees the coast guard, the vessel had developed a critical crack in one of its supporting pontoons, allowing seawater to flood into the hull at an uncontrollable rate.

    At the time of the incident, the vessel was carrying 47 passengers and 4 crew members, putting 51 lives at risk as the boat began to settle lower in the water. Minutes after the distress call went out, a nearby commercial vessel, the M/V Makana, changed course to reach the scene and began launching evacuation efforts before coast guard assets arrived. The SKNDF Coast Guard deployed all available rescue personnel and specialized equipment immediately after receiving the alert, arriving on-site rapidly to support the ongoing evacuation.

    By the time the vessel slipped fully beneath the surface of the Caribbean, every person on board had already been safely evacuated with no critical injuries reported. Footage of the rescue operation and the sinking quickly spread across local and regional social media platforms within hours of the incident, drawing widespread public attention to the maritime emergency.

    Shortly after the evacuation was completed, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew traveled to Joseph N. France General Hospital, where all rescued passengers had been brought for mandatory routine medical checks, to meet with those affected. During his visit, the prime minister confirmed that a full headcount had been completed, and every individual who had been aboard the M/V Apple Syder Experience was accounted for and unharmed. Following the incident, the sunken vessel was recovered from the seabed and towed back to the safety of Port Zante for further inspection.

    The official statement from the coast Guard confirms that investigations into the cause of the pontoon crack are ongoing, with authorities set to review the vessel’s recent maintenance history and inspection records to determine if any safety violations or unaddressed maintenance issues contributed to the incident.