Carib Scope

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  • Drainage works begin at Trents to ease flooding, support civic centre relocation

    Drainage works begin at Trents to ease flooding, support civic centre relocation

    Ongoing drainage construction at Trents Tenantry in St. James, Barbados, is advancing two key goals: cutting chronic flooding in the local area and prepping the plot marked for the controversial relocation of the Holetown Civic Centre, Barbados’ Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW) confirmed in an official statement Friday.

    The infrastructure project is being executed by local contractor Infra Construction Inc. on behalf of the government, as part of a broader redevelopment initiative along Barbados’ west coast. The core plan calls for moving the existing beachfront Holetown Civic Centre—currently home to a police post, magistrates’ court, public library, post office, and multiple other government services—to the Trents site, clearing the original waterfront plot for a $176 million hotel development awarded last year to the Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL).

    Since the plan was first unveiled, it has sparked intense public debate across multiple stakeholder groups. Local residents, small business owners, heritage preservation advocates, and conservation organizations have raised repeated red flags, warning that the hotel project risks eroding Holetown’s unique historic character, restricting public access to the popular beachfront area, and straining the region’s already overburdened existing infrastructure.

    Work on the Trents drainage site was briefly paused earlier this month after nearby Frederick Smith Secondary School raised complaints about excessive construction dust impacting campus operations. To address these concerns, MTW confirmed that project managers implemented new dust mitigation measures, including the installation of a perimeter containment fence, before work resumed on Tuesday. Officials later held a follow-up meeting with school leadership on Thursday, where no outstanding concerns were documented.

    A visit to the site by Barbados TODAY last month found that multiple sections of the property had already been cleared and excavated, with prominent warning signs posted along the adjacent roadside marking active construction. A newly excavated retention pond was already visible on the property, with crews actively installing underground drainage pipes and related flood-control infrastructure.

    Flooding has long been a persistent problem for residents and workers across Holetown and surrounding communities. Maria, a local worker who asked to withhold her last name, shared that even moderate heavy rain routinely leaves key civic buildings underwater at the existing Civic Centre site. “The post office is flooded. The police station is flooded. The water comes up when there is heavy rain,” she explained, adding that she also shares concerns about prolonged construction disrupting local traffic, spreading ongoing dust, and hurting business activity near both the Trents site and the original Holetown location.

    For many other nearby residents, their top frustration is not flooding or construction disruption, but a persistent lack of transparent public information about the final layout and scope of the new Civic Centre. Artneal Abby, an area Airbnb operator who lives close to the Trents site, told reporters that local residents are still left with dozens of unanswered questions months after the project was announced. “There is zero information,” Abby said. “There’s a big board there for quite a long time and it says if you want to see the plans, click on this link. When you go on that link, there aren’t any plans to see. We don’t know the size of the buildings, where the car park’s going, where the roads are going. There isn’t any information.” He added that neighbors just want clear details to understand how the development will impact adjacent properties and the broader community: “What I would like is a letter outlining exactly what they’re going to do and a picture of what it’s going to look like so we can see if there are going to be buildings directly behind us or whether it’s going to be a car park.”

    Still, the project has not faced universal opposition. Jaiye Maynard, a local Trents resident, said he supports the redevelopment and welcomes the planned relocation of the Holetown police station to the new site, arguing that a closer police presence will improve public safety for the surrounding neighborhood. “I’m happy for it,” Maynard said. “Having a police station here will bring a lot of safety to the area.”

  • Three Men Break Into Paradise View Home, Brutally Assault Elderly Resident

    Three Men Break Into Paradise View Home, Brutally Assault Elderly Resident

    A brutal midday home invasion in the Paradise View neighborhood of Antigua and Barbuda has left a senior citizen with severe injuries, reigniting long-simmering public anxiety over violent residential crime that shook the nation more than 10 years ago.

    According to initial law enforcement and witness accounts, three unidentified male suspects forced entry into the elderly resident’s property by breaking down the front entrance just after noon on Thursday, June 18. Immediately after gaining access, the intruders launched a savage assault on the homeowner, leaving him with critical injuries before fleeing the scene.

    Emergency responders were called to the location shortly after the attack, and the victim was rushed via ambulance to the country’s main public healthcare facility, Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre. As of the latest update, the man remains in hospital receiving care, and medical authorities have not yet released detailed information about the full scope of his injuries.

    The shocking incident has quickly spread through local communities, prompting renewed public discussion about the persistent threat of home invasions and their far-reaching harm beyond immediate physical damage. Local residents have voiced clear alarm over the attack, emphasizing that surviving such a violent violation of one’s home often leaves deep, long-lasting emotional and psychological trauma that persists for years even after physical wounds heal.

    Most notably, the assault has stoked widespread fears that the country could see a resurgence of the wave of violent home invasions that terrorized Antigua and Barbuda in the early 2010s. During that period, dozens of local residents were targeted in their own homes by armed criminal groups, leaving the community on edge for months.

    At present, officers from the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda are actively working the case, processing evidence and pursuing leads to identify and apprehend the three suspects. No arrests have been announced as of the latest update. Law enforcement officials are issuing a public appeal for any member of the community who may have information related to the invasion, suspicious activity in the Paradise View area around the time of the attack, or details about the suspects to reach out immediately to the Criminal Investigations Department or the anonymous Crime Stoppers hotline to assist the investigation.

  • COMMENTARY: We Should Die Twice

    COMMENTARY: We Should Die Twice

    Dr. Lester CN Simon offers a sharp, satirical reflection on the performative dishonesty that plagues modern funeral customs, arguing that every person deserves to die two deaths: the first to witness what people really say about them after their passing, and the second to be laid to rest for good.

    Can you picture slipping out of your coffin minutes into your own funeral, walking out of the church reeling from the things you just heard? There are the false eulogies, the theatrical weeping, the forced gnashing of teeth—even from the person whose poor oral hygiene you’d give anything to have their flood of fake tears wash clean. In the hours immediately after news of your death spreads, these same people who spent your life begrudging you, scheming against you, and torturing your peace stand up to declare how they hope your soul rests in peace. These are the same bad-hearted, greedy individuals who made your life miserable when you were alive. Most do not even bother to wonder what becomes of a soul after death, whether it lingers near the body for days before transitioning to its new ethereal form. It is clear they are simply glad you are gone. Their hollow condolences and generic cries of “rest in peace” ring completely false—Simon notes it is a blessing restless spirits (called jumbies in Caribbean folklore) cannot speak ill of the living, or there would be no end to the complaints.

    It is little wonder, Simon argues, that so many restless spirits wander the world today, secretly distracting drivers and passersby, hoping the hypocrites that spoke lies over their graves will soon join their ranks, and end up resting far away from them in a completely different graveyard. That said, he acknowledges there is almost always at least one honest person in attendance, for which we ought to give thanks. The best of these honest mourners are those who can tell the truth about the departed with wit and personality, painting an accurate picture of who the person really was, to the shock of many other guests.

    Simon illustrates the absurdity of these customs with a quick, humorous anecdote: a bald Rastaman who traveled to the American frontier, stepped into a saloon thirsty, and politely greeted the entire room by shouting “Jah!”—only to die before he could finish his greeting of “Jah Rastafari.” All that was left to say was the mandatory “may his soul rest in peace.”

    This long-standing cultural tradition of funeral behavior, Simon argues, is long overdue for close examination. In recent decades, the ritual has shifted from a somber dirge to a celebration of the departed’s life, which is the right direction—after all, funerals are for the living, not the dead. The departed cannot hear the kind words spoken over their casket, cannot smell the fancy bouquets, and certainly cannot see the fancy new clothes and expensive perfume people wear to show off at the service, or the body parts people expose that the deceased never even got to see when they were alive, despite all the empty promises made to see them. Simon quips that would-be attention-seekers might as well try to raise the dead at that point, echoing a line from the late calypsonian Lord Kitchener.

    This idea of dying twice is not just abstract: Simon points to the iconic Caribbean calypsonian The Mighty Sparrow, known as the Barb of the Caribbean, who was falsely announced dead multiple times before his actual passing. He even imagined Sparrow standing in a corner listening to his own false death announcement, watching his pre-funeral broadcast on television, which now streams across the world wide web as just another viral cascade of lies.

    Instead of the hollow performativity common at modern funerals, Simon lays out a better, more honest vision: services should center the music the departed actually loved and wanted to share with the people they left behind. He lists a range of iconic tracks from across jazz and classical genres, from John Coltrane’s *A Love Supreme* and Miles Davis’ *So What* to Ornette Coleman’s *Lonely Woman* and the Adagietto from Gustav Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, arguing that this personalization makes the service far more meaningful than generic speeches. After the congregation sings the traditional Nunc Dimittis, mourners should process out of the church to the sound of an iron band, and the departed should be laid to rest to the melodious notes of a steelpan band.

    Even with all these changes, Simon acknowledges that old habits die hard: after the burial, guests will pile into the repast, drink all the liquor and eat all the food paid for by the deceased’s hard-earned savings, and spend the whole time gossiping and spreading lies about the person who died. Occasionally, someone will pause and question the chaos, wondering out loud if this is really how we should honor a person’s life. They may even note that the deceased would be justified in rising from the dead three days after burial to see how guests are carrying on. At that point, when confronted with the absurdity of it all, there is only one thing left to say: Jesus.

  • Teachers raise funding concerns over proposed assessment changes

    Teachers raise funding concerns over proposed assessment changes

    As Barbados moves forward with plans to reshape primary education assessment ahead of a 2026 launch, the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) has sounded a critical alarm: the sweeping reform could place unmanageable new financial burdens on education institutions already grappling with critical resource shortages. The union’s leadership is pressing the Ministry of Education Transformation for clear answers on how the government will fund the ambitious transition.

    The proposed changes, currently the subject of ongoing public and stakeholder consultations, are designed to replace the country’s long-standing model of relying on a single high-stakes exit exam for primary school students transitioning to secondary education. Starting in September 2026, the new framework will spread assessment across the final two years of primary school (Class Three and Class Four), splitting grading evenly between continuous in-school assessment and a standardized external exam. Education officials argue the shift will give students more opportunities to showcase their diverse skills, moving beyond the narrow measurement of a single three-hour test to evaluate learners’ growth and abilities over time.

    While BUT President Rudy Lovell acknowledges that the reform’s core goals are well-intentioned and could ultimately deliver benefits to students if executed properly, he emphasizes that transformative change cannot survive on policy vision alone. In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Lovell laid out the stark realities facing most of Barbados’ primary schools: many already operate with severe resource constraints, forcing classroom teachers to routinely cover the cost of basic supplies, teaching aids and learning materials out of their own personal salaries.

    Under the new framework, project-based learning will play a central role in continuous assessment — a model that requires extra materials, upgraded technology, expanded research access, flexible learning spaces and infrastructure to support collaborative student work. Beyond material costs, Lovell notes that continuous assessment also places far greater demands on teachers, requiring additional lesson preparation, specialized professional development, extensive ongoing record-keeping, and consistent cross-school coordination to ensure grading fairness and consistency.

    Against this backdrop, Lovell says policymakers have failed to address the most pressing question: where will the funding come from to support implementation. He has called on the ministry to confirm whether schools will receive increased budget allocations to purchase the materials needed for project-based learning, and whether dedicated funding will be allocated to eliminate the out-of-pocket costs that teachers currently bear. He stresses that education transformation should never force educators to take on extra work without the tools and resources they need to succeed, nor should it put students from underfunded schools at a disadvantage simply because their institution lacks the capacity to roll out the new framework.

    “ If Barbados is serious about transforming education, then funding must be viewed as a central pillar of reform rather than an afterthought,” Lovell said. “ Policymakers must ensure that every school, regardless of size or location, has the resources necessary to deliver the new curriculum and assessment framework successfully.”

    Teachers across the country are also waiting for clear, timely clarity on how these additional demands will be addressed as the 2026 launch date approaches, Lovell added. “ As the nation considers these significant changes, teachers deserve clear answers regarding how the Ministry plans to address the increased demands on schools and ensure that adequate funding accompanies this new initiative,” he said.

    A spokesperson for the Ministry of Education Transformation told Barbados TODAY that the union’s concerns have been formally noted, and consultations with stakeholders remain ongoing through town halls and other community engagements. Once the consultation period concludes and all submitted feedback has been reviewed and analyzed, the ministry will issue a comprehensive public response to address raised concerns.

    The reform is on track to launch with the cohort of students entering Class Three in September 2026, who will become the first group of learners assessed under the new framework. The current Class Three cohort will remain the final group to complete the transition under the existing single-exam model.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Special Prosecutor in Elmer Nah’s Case Speaks to News 5

    EXCLUSIVE: Special Prosecutor in Elmer Nah’s Case Speaks to News 5

    Nearly three and a half years after one of Belmopan’s most brutal mass murders shocked the local community, former police corporal Elmer Nah has been sentenced to three concurrent life terms, with a mandatory 50-year lockup before he can apply for parole. The sentence handed down Friday by Justice Nigel Pilgrim means the convicted killer will not be eligible for release until he reaches at least 90 years of age. Nah was found guilty in May of gunning down three members of the Ramnarace family — Vivian, John, and David Ramnarace — inside their private Belmopan residence on New Year’s Eve 2022. He was also convicted of the attempted murder of a fourth family member, a violent attack that was witnessed by the victim’s five-year-old niece, who was present at the home during the killings.

    In an exclusive interview with News 5 following the sentencing, special prosecutor King’s Counsel Terrence Williams opened up about the emotional weight of the high-profile case, which came across his desk after more than 30 years of his legal career. “For me, although I’ve been in this work now for thirty-odd years, it was a very emotional experience yesterday to hear from her aunt how the young girl has had to cope with losing her mother and father. It is a sadness. I feel assured that she’ll have great family support going forward and will take some solace, some comfort – the family will; the family of the deceased and the injured will take some solace in the verdict,” Williams shared.

    The routine sentencing hearing took an unexpected, highly irregular turn just 10 minutes after proceedings began, when Nah raised his hand to request permission to address the court. Justice Pilgrim initially noted that Nah had already been given the opportunity to make a statement during the prior day’s mitigation hearing, but the convicted man pushed back, claiming his own defense attorney, Dr. Lynden Jones, had failed to properly advise him on the purpose and benefits of participating in the mitigation process. The judge ultimately granted the rare, last-minute request.

    In his unplanned statement to the court, Nah again asserted his innocence, offered generic condolences to the grieving Ramnarace family, and made the explosive claim that another disgraced former police officer was the person responsible for the 2022 killings. He closed his remarks by telling the court, “If I’m to be sentenced to 100 years, I know my conscience is clean.”

    Williams, the special prosecutor, called the outburst a highly unusual development in a criminal trial. “One thing about courthouse matters is that strange things always happen. And this utterance in court is very strange. We had a very long trial where any defence could have been advanced before the court during that trial. It’s a very strange thing,” he told News 5.

    As court bailiffs escorted Nah out of the courtroom following sentencing, a News 5 reporter asked him for comment on his experience with his legal representation. Nah did not mince words, calling his defense “bogus” and claiming his attorney had deliberately sabotaged his case.

    Legal analysts who have followed the case note that Nah’s criticism of his defense counsel’s performance creates a clear potential ground for a future appeal of his conviction and sentence. When asked about the possibility of an appeal, Williams confirmed that any decision to challenge the verdict rests solely with Nah, saying, “The question of appeal is up to him.”

  • Are Police Officers the Least Fit of the Three Security Forces?

    Are Police Officers the Least Fit of the Three Security Forces?

    In a public wrap-up event for its annual Police Week celebrations, the Belize Police Department brought hundreds of officers from every district across the nation together for a multi-sport wellness day on June 19, 2026, marking a concrete step to counter long-running public criticism that the force ranks as the least physically fit among Belize’s three national security branches.

    Organized to prioritize the holistic well-being of frontline law enforcement personnel, the day of activity featured a diverse lineup of competitions and recreational events, ranging from team sports including football, basketball, and volleyball, to endurance cycling, formal track-and-field contests, and even the popular tabletop game dominoes. The event, sponsored by leading local provider RF&G Insurance, was intentionally structured not as a high-stakes assessment, but as a much-needed break from the constant, high-pressure demands of everyday policing, according to senior government officials.

    Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, chief executive officer of Belize’s Home Affairs Ministry, told local outlet News 5 that the gathering was designed to give officers space to step away from their regular duties and connect with colleagues outside of operational work. “We found time today to set aside just to have fun,” Bennett noted, framing the sports day as a core component of the department’s broader cultural shift toward proactive wellness support.

    Bennett openly addressed the persistent public narrative that labels Belize’s police officers as the most out of shape among the country’s security forces, confirming that department leadership has already implemented systemic changes to correct this perception and improve overall force fitness. A key new measure is the recent graduation and national deployment of a specialized cohort of full-time physical training instructors, who are now assigned to local units and formations across the country. Their core mandate, Bennett explained, is to embed consistent, structured physical fitness routines and ongoing training programs into every unit’s regular schedule.

    Beyond structural changes to training, Bennett also acknowledged the unique systemic barriers that make consistent fitness and healthy living a challenge for frontline officers. Unlike traditional 9-to-5 occupations, policing requires long, irregular shift rotations that often disrupt regular meal schedules and access to consistent self-care. Officers on duty are frequently limited to whatever food is readily available during their shifts, rather than being able to adhere to structured, nutritious eating plans that support long-term health. “It’s definitely one of those jobs that does not adhere to the routine of time and meal hours,” Bennett explained.

    To address these overlapping challenges, the Belize Police Department is now building a holistic wellness framework that integrates more than just physical training, Bennett confirmed. The new approach explicitly includes targeted nutrition guidance and support to help officers make healthy choices while on shift, as well as expanded mental health resources to address the chronic psychological stress that comes with law enforcement work. Officials say the initiative represents a long-term investment in both officer performance and quality of life, rather than a quick response to public criticism.

  • “It is not an SOE”: Police, BDF Increase Presence in Belize City

    “It is not an SOE”: Police, BDF Increase Presence in Belize City

    In the wake of a string of violent criminal incidents that rocked Belize City last week, security forces have ramped up coordinated joint patrols and operations across targeted areas of the urban center, senior government officials confirmed this week. The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the stepped-up deployment in partnership with the Belize Defence Force (BDF), framing the move as a targeted response to climbing public safety tensions.

    Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of the Home Affairs Ministry, clarified to local outlet News 5 that the increased security presence does not amount to a declaration of a State of Emergency (SOE). Instead, the operation has been calibrated to fall just below the legal threshold of an SOE, a sweet spot that officials believe will deliver effective crime suppression without triggering the sweeping restrictions that come with a formal SOE.

    “Where if we employ the right forces in the right location and with the right missions, we will be able to address some of those crimes that are committed without having to go to SOE,” Bennett explained.

    Unlike a full SOE, which typically imposes broad movement controls and curfews, the enhanced operations focus exclusively on high-crime hotspots rather than a citywide lockdown. Bennett emphasized that no fundamental civil rights or freedom of movement will be restricted for city residents as part of the deployment. Local residents can expect to see a higher concentration of uniformed officers at mobile checkpoints and areas that have been flagged as persistent crime hotspots.

    In a nod to long-running debates over public safety strategy, Bennett acknowledged that the “hard approach” of increased visible law enforcement and military presence is only a short-term fix for Belize City’s crime challenges. He stressed that complementary work to address the deep-rooted socioeconomic drivers of violent crime must continue in parallel with the security crackdown.

    As of June 19, 2026, government officials have not announced a set end date for the enhanced security measures, leaving the duration of the deployment open-ended as authorities assess its impact on violence rates.

  • ‘Apply yourself,’ magistrate tells teen found with ammo

    ‘Apply yourself,’ magistrate tells teen found with ammo

    A young manual laborer from Richland Park, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has received a suspended prison sentence after police found a single 9mm bullet during a court-authorized search of his residence linked to a separate criminal allegation.

    Nineteen-year-old Dwayne Jackson appeared before Chief Magistrate Colin John at the Kingstown Serious Offences Court on Monday. During the arraignment, he entered a not guilty plea to a separate charge of using threatening language, which was alleged to have occurred on June 11 — just two days before the ammunition was uncovered in his home.

    Prosecutor Renrick Cato, an Inspector of Police, laid out the official facts of the case to the court. The investigation into the alleged threatening language prompted authorities to obtain and execute a search warrant for Jackson’s Richland Park property on June 13. When officers arrived, Jackson was home, agreed to the search without pushback, and stayed on site throughout the entire process.

    The single round of ammunition was located by PC 88 Richardson inside a blue floral-patterned vase that was placed on a wooden storage unit in Jackson’s living room. When shown the bullet, Jackson told officers he had picked it up off a public roadway quite some time earlier. Appearing in court without legal representation, Jackson elaborated that he found the ammunition the day after an outdoor street party (locally referred to as a “jiggy party”) where multiple gunshots had been fired.

    Jackson addressed the court directly to share details of his difficult personal circumstances. He explained that he dropped out of Emmanuel High School Mesopotamia when he was in Form 3, after a fight over a romantic relationship that left another person injured. He told the court he has no family or social support to help him improve his situation, adding that members of his community frequently mock him for living in poor, unsanitary conditions.

    Prosecutor Cato asked the magistrate to consider allowing Jackson a chance at community-based supervision rather than immediate custody. In his response to the defendant, Chief Magistrate John rejected the idea that Jackson’s difficult background excuses the illegal possession of ammunition. “You can’t blame your situation and say you grew up a certain way. Apply yourself,” the chief magistrate told the defendant. He emphasized that the opportunity for a second chance rests entirely in Jackson’s hands, urging him to seek stable employment to turn his life around.

    In handing down the sentence, the magistrate deactivated a previous pretrial bond that was in place for Jackson, sentencing him to six months of imprisonment that is suspended for a 12-month period. He also ordered that the seized 9mm ammunition be permanently confiscated by authorities. For the threatening language charge, the magistrate granted bail in the amount of EC$1,000, which Jackson was able to post via his own recognisance. The case for that charge was transferred to the Mesopotamia Magistrate’s Court, with the next hearing scheduled for June 26. In closing, the magistrate repeated his advice to Jackson: “Go and look for work. Don’t come back before me.”

  • Elmer Nah’s Reaction in Court as Sentence Is Read Out

    Elmer Nah’s Reaction in Court as Sentence Is Read Out

    More than three years after a brutal triple homicide shook the capital city of Belmopan on New Year’s Eve 2022, a high-profile legal process has finally reached its conclusion. On June 19, 2026, former police corporal Elmer Nah, already convicted of the murders of Jon, David and Vivian Ramnarace, received three concurrent life sentences from the Supreme Court of Belize. Presiding Justice Nigel Pilgrim ruled that Nah must serve a minimum of 50 years behind bars before he can apply for parole — a timeline that means the convicted killer will be 89 years old when he becomes eligible for his first release review.

    The sentencing hearing, held on Friday, concluded one of the most widely followed criminal trials in Belize’s recent history. The proceeding had been adjourned a day earlier to allow for additional arguments from both the prosecution and defense teams. Prosecutors pushed aggressively for the harshest possible penalty, outlining a series of severe aggravating factors that marked the nature of the crime. The three victims were all executed inside their own family home, the attack was carried out in front of Jon and Vivian’s young daughter Kate, and overwhelming evidence confirmed the killings were premeditated and planned in advance. For the defense, the only mitigating factors available were Nah’s decades of prior service as a law enforcement officer, his clean criminal record before the massacre, and the argument that Nah retained some capacity for rehabilitation. Justice Pilgrim made clear in his ruling that these limited mitigating considerations were completely outweighed by the brutality and severity of the aggravating circumstances.

    In an unanticipated turn of events during the hearing, Nah raised his hand to request permission to address the court, even though his opportunity to speak had already passed during the previous day’s mitigation arguments. Justice Pilgrim granted the request, allowing Nah to deliver a brief statement to the court and the Ramnarace family present. Nah offered formal condolences to the victims’ family, and reiterated his identity as a former police officer, saying he was trained “to protect and serve, not to destroy lives”. He then made an unsubstantiated last-minute claim that he had previously identified another active Belmopan police officer — who had previously been arrested on drug trafficking charges — as the “real perpetrator” of the massacre. The court did not recognize or accept this late assertion, which came after the guilty verdict had already been handed down.

    Courtroom observers from News 5, who were granted access to the trial proceedings, noted that Nah’s decision to speak at the sentencing stage was extremely unusual; convicted murderers rarely address the court directly after a guilty verdict has been reached. Throughout the entire duration of the trial, Nah maintained a mostly stoic, stone-faced demeanor, rarely showing any visible emotion. The only exceptions came when his name was referenced in connection with the details of the triple murder, at which points he repeatedly shook his head to signal his denial of the accusations — a gesture he continued even as the sentence was being read out.

    Victim impact statements from the Ramnarace family played a major role in shaping the court’s final sentencing decision. Kate Ramnarace, who was a direct witness to the murders of her father and mother, chose not to attend the sentencing hearing in person, but the lasting psychological trauma she has endured was laid out in detail in her statement. Vashti Belisle, Vivian Ramnarace’s sister, recounted the harrowing final moments of the victim’s life, sharing that Vivian’s last words to her surviving daughter were “I love you” before she succumbed to her injuries. Justice Pilgrim explicitly noted the irreversible harm done to Kate, who will live the rest of her life without the support and love of her immediate family, as a core factor in determining the sentence.

    As court officers escorted Nah out of the courtroom following the sentencing, he turned toward assembled press cameras and quoted a line from the Book of Proverbs 19:21: “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” When reporters from News 5 asked Nah for his opinion on his defense attorney, he offered a blunt, unfiltered response: “Bogus, he sabotaged my case.”

    Full unedited footage and additional exclusive details from the sentencing hearing will be broadcast during News 5 Live’s 6 p.m. prime time segment this evening.

  • Appeal for Help to Find Missing Teen from Otto’s New Town

    Appeal for Help to Find Missing Teen from Otto’s New Town

    Authorities and family members are conducting an urgent search operation for a 16-year-old teenager who disappeared from her hometown of Otto’s New Town, after she was reported missing by her loved ones.

    Brianna Lewis, the missing teen, was last spotted in public wearing a black cropped top and a pair of short denim jeans. For days, her relatives have attempted every possible avenue to reach her, but all attempts at contact have failed, leaving the family growing more anxious by the hour about her well-being and personal safety.

    In a desperate plea for community support, Brianna’s family has issued a public appeal for any information that could help lead to her safe return. They are urging every member of the public who may have spotted Brianna recently, or who holds any details about her current whereabouts, to step forward immediately with their tips.

    Local law enforcement has confirmed that they have opened an active investigation into Lewis’s disappearance. To date, however, police officials have declined to share additional details surrounding the conditions or timeline of her vanishing, leaving many questions unanswered for both the family and the local community.

    Authorities and the family have both outlined clear next steps for anyone who may have relevant information: any person with clues about Brianna’s location is asked to either contact their closest local law enforcement station directly, or reach out directly to members of Brianna Lewis’s family to share what they know.