分类: society

  • Police probe fatal shooting in Christ Church

    Police probe fatal shooting in Christ Church

    A brazen daylight shooting in Christ Church has culminated in a homicide investigation after a man was fatally gunned down on Wednesday afternoon. The Barbados police force has launched a full-scale operation following the violent incident along Pegwell Boggs, which occurred at approximately 1:35 p.m.

    Preliminary reports from the Oistins Station indicate the attack was premeditated and targeted. According to official accounts, a group of individuals had congregated in the area when a vehicle abruptly approached the location. An armed assailant emerged from the automobile and unleashed a volley of gunshots toward the assembled group before making a swift escape in the waiting vehicle.

    The victim, struck by multiple rounds, managed to flee a short distance before collapsing outside a private residence. Emergency medical services were promptly dispatched to the scene; however, a attending physician confirmed the man succumbed to his injuries shortly after the assault. The scene has been cordoned off for forensic analysis as detectives work to reconstruct the sequence of events.

    Law enforcement authorities have issued a public appeal for information, urging potential witnesses to come forward with any details that might aid the investigation. The police have emphasized the absolute confidentiality of all tip submissions, directing information to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, the Police Emergency hotline at 211, or the Oistins Police Station at 418-2612/2608. This shooting marks another episode in the region’s ongoing struggle with gun violence, raising concerns about public safety in residential communities.

  • GOB Takes Early Action Ahead of Sargassum Season

    GOB Takes Early Action Ahead of Sargassum Season

    The Government of Belize has initiated proactive measures to address the escalating sargassum threat across the Caribbean region through its specialized National Sargassum Task Force (STF). This coordinated national response comes as satellite monitoring indicates increased sargassum activity heading toward Belizean coastal waters for the 2026 season.

    Co-led by the Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations and the Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation, the STF has identified five priority zones for intervention: San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Seine Bight, Hopkins, and Placencia. The comprehensive preparedness strategy involves both technological and infrastructural enhancements to mitigate the environmental and economic impact of the seaweed influx.

    Strategic acquisitions include specialized shoreline maintenance equipment such as a Barber Beach Rake and replacement components for existing machinery in Placencia. Concurrently, infrastructure assessments are progressing in San Pedro and Caye Caulker to evaluate disposal site suitability and logistical requirements.

    The task force is employing the sophisticated Sargassum Monitoring (SAMTool) platform, which utilizes satellite detection and drift prediction technology to forecast landfall patterns. This advanced monitoring system enables authorities to anticipate accumulation hotspots and optimize cleanup coordination.

    Additional resources deployed include a purpose-built workboat designed for sargassum removal in shallow marine environments and a continuous collection floating unit for near-shore operations. Current operations remain in limited pilot phases, with full-scale deployment across all five locations scheduled progressively as equipment and support systems become operational.

  • Police Chief summarizes recent crime reduction statistics

    Police Chief summarizes recent crime reduction statistics

    Dominica’s law enforcement authorities have announced a substantial decline in criminal activity across the nation for the year 2025. Police Chief Lincoln Corbette presented the annual crime statistics during a press conference, revealing an impressive 11 percent overall reduction in reported crimes compared to the previous year.

    Chief Corbette provided a detailed breakdown of the crime categories showing the most notable improvements. The data indicated a dramatic 27 percent decrease in indecent assault cases, while burglaries fell by 5 percent. Theft incidents plummeted by 45 percent, and cases of taking conveyance without owner’s consent dropped by 26 percent. Violent crime also saw significant reduction with grievous bodily harm decreasing by 25 percent. Sexual offenses showed substantial improvement with unlawful sexual intercourse down 22 percent and incest reports eliminated entirely with no cases recorded in 2025.

    The Police Chief emphasized the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force’s commitment to maintaining this positive trajectory through continued operational reviews and strategic implementations. Corbette highlighted the integration of advanced technologies to enhance officer capabilities and announced recruitment plans to bolster police ranks. The force is actively seeking applicants aged 18-30 to fill existing vacancies.

    To further support crime prevention efforts, authorities encouraged public participation through the Crime Stoppers Hotline (1-800-TIPS or 1-800-8477). Chief Corbette assured complete anonymity for tipsters, explaining that the service is managed externally from Canada, ensuring caller privacy with no identifying information shared with Dominican authorities.

  • BL&P issues safety warning over election paraphernalia

    BL&P issues safety warning over election paraphernalia

    The Barbados Light & Power Company (BL&P) has issued a formal safety advisory directed at political candidates and their supporters, explicitly prohibiting the attachment of campaign materials to utility poles throughout the election period. The utility provider emphasized that this common practice creates severe and potentially life-threatening hazards.

    In a detailed statement released across its official social media platforms, BL&P outlined the multifaceted dangers posed by affixing posters, signs, nails, staples, or tacks to electrical infrastructure. The company warned that these foreign objects present critical safety risks to its trained linemen, potentially puncturing their essential protective gear and increasing the likelihood of dangerous falls from height. Even seemingly minor items left behind can result in severe occupational injuries.

    Furthermore, the utility company highlighted the broader public safety implications. Obscuring pole identification numbers with campaign materials can significantly delay emergency response times during power outages or electrical incidents. More gravely, the act of installing these materials exposes non-qualified personnel to potentially fatal electrical hazards, including electrocution.

    BL&P also noted that these unauthorized attachments interfere with essential routine maintenance and repair operations, ultimately compromising the reliability and safety of the national electrical grid for all citizens. The advisory serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of maintaining clear electrical infrastructure during heightened political activity.

  • Three-day Urban Search and Rescue Training Underway at Crabbes

    Three-day Urban Search and Rescue Training Underway at Crabbes

    A critical three-day intensive training program for Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) personnel is currently in progress at the Crabbes training facility. This rigorous exercise is designed to simulate high-stakes disaster scenarios, equipping first responders with the advanced skills necessary for locating, extracting, and providing life-saving medical aid to victims trapped in collapsed structures.

    The training curriculum encompasses a comprehensive range of technical disciplines, including shoring and stabilization of unstable wreckage, strategic breaching of concrete and rebar, and the delicate art of tunneling through debris. Participants are also drilled in the deployment of sophisticated electronic search equipment, such as seismic listening devices and fiber-optic scopes, to detect signs of life. The program emphasizes a multi-agency, collaborative response, mirroring the complex coordination required in real-world catastrophes like earthquakes, major industrial accidents, or terrorist attacks.

    Held at the strategically chosen Crabbes site, which offers varied and challenging terrain, the exercise serves as a vital component of regional disaster preparedness. The initiative underscores a continuous commitment to enhancing operational readiness, ensuring that elite rescue teams remain at peak proficiency to mitigate loss of life and suffering when communities are faced with unimaginable crises.

  • Police Information System Restored

    Police Information System Restored

    BELIZE CITY – The Belize Police Department has successfully restored full operational capacity to its critical Crime Information Management System (CIMS), concluding a nearly two-month period of significantly limited functionality. The technical disruption originated from administrative delays in processing an outstanding annual software maintenance fee.

    Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Enterprise, provided official confirmation to News 5 regarding the system’s complete restoration. Bennett clarified that the technical complications emerged specifically after the belated settlement of a $186,000 Belize Dollar (approximately $93,000 USD) mandatory annual fee for software licensing and support services.

    “Technicians are currently engaged in comprehensive efforts to return the system to full 100% operational status,” Bennett stated during his briefing. He emphasized that despite the severe technical limitations experienced over recent weeks, core police operations remained uncompromised throughout the duration of the system impairment.

    The CEO provided crucial context regarding operational adaptations during the outage: “Throughout this period of reduced system capacity, the Belize Police Department maintained access to critical information databases. The primary impact was operational efficiency rather than functional paralysis, with data retrieval processes requiring substantially more time and intermediary steps.”

    Bennett further explained that the technical constraints necessitated a modified workflow where individual police stations lost direct access privileges, requiring them to submit data requests through central IT personnel who served as intermediaries for database queries. This procedural workaround, while functional, considerably slowed routine information retrieval processes for frontline officers across the nation.

    The restoration of CIMS to full functionality marks a significant return to normalcy for Belize’s law enforcement operations, eliminating the previously necessary bureaucratic layers that hampered efficient data access during the technical disruption.

  • Military Training Exercise, Lance aux Epines, St George

    Military Training Exercise, Lance aux Epines, St George

    The Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) has issued a public advisory regarding an upcoming military training operation scheduled for Thursday, January 22nd, 2026. The designated exercise will take place in the Lance aux Epines area within the St. George parish, with activities running from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM local time.

    Authorities have specifically addressed residents of the affected neighborhood, noting that they may witness personnel in military attire and equipment deployments throughout the day. The police commissioner’s office emphasized that these activities are part of a pre-planned training scenario and should not cause public concern or alarm.

    The notification serves as both an awareness campaign and reassurance effort from national security forces. Such exercises are routinely conducted to maintain operational readiness and training standards among Grenada’s defense and security personnel. The RGPF has established protocols for public communication regarding security exercises to maintain transparency and prevent unnecessary panic.

    This announcement follows standard procedure for military-civilian coordination in Grenada, where security forces regularly conduct training while minimizing disruption to civilian activities. The Lance aux Epines area was selected based on operational requirements and security considerations standard for such exercises.

  • Ministry urges respect for road signs after fresh concrete driven into

    Ministry urges respect for road signs after fresh concrete driven into

    Authorities have issued an urgent public appeal following repeated incidents of trespassing at active construction sites across the nation. Current infrastructure work, including the Jennings Extension Road project leading toward Hermitage Bay, is experiencing significant disruptions due to public non-compliance with safety measures. Despite clearly visible signage and physical barriers, individuals have been bypassing designated detours, leaving behind bicycle tracks, footprints, and vehicle tire impressions in freshly poured concrete. This reckless behavior not only compromises structural integrity but also poses serious safety hazards and causes costly delays. Officials emphasize that alternative routes have been strategically established to ensure both public safety and construction efficiency. The ongoing projects represent critical investments in national infrastructure, and community cooperation is deemed essential for their successful and timely completion. While appreciation is extended to the majority of citizens for their continued patience, this reminder serves as a critical plea for universal adherence to established safety protocols.

  • Santa Ana Women Turn Tradition into Enterprise

    Santa Ana Women Turn Tradition into Enterprise

    In a significant cultural recognition event, the National Institute of Culture and History alongside the Institute of Creative Arts has honored the Santa Ana Cultural Sewing and Embroidery Group from Corozal District. The collective, predominantly comprising senior women artisans, has successfully converted traditional textile craftsmanship into a viable commercial venture.

    The recognition ceremony coincided with the inauguration of a special exhibition displaying the group’s intricate handmade creations. These artisans recently completed an intensive training program focused on enhancing production efficiency, refining product quality, and preparing their traditional embroidery for commercial distribution in broader markets.

    Gilvano Swasey, the exhibition curator, emphasized the profound significance of the women’s artistic endeavors, noting: “What distinguishes this art form is its fundamental purpose beyond mere decoration. This represents the art of survival—manifested through culinary traditions, wearable textiles, and oral storytelling practices.”

    Swasey further highlighted the substantial challenges faced by women pursuing creative professions, particularly in rural communities. “Visiting their workspace provides genuine appreciation for both their artistry and cultural preservation efforts, especially when understanding the obstacles these female artists consistently overcome,” he explained.

    The curator humorously acknowledged the personal sacrifices involved, joking about potential domestic tensions: “I teased the ladies that their husbands must frequently dine on Chinese takeout due to their late working hours.”

    The ongoing exhibition offers visitors unique insight into how traditional cultural practices can successfully integrate with contemporary entrepreneurial ambition, creating sustainable economic opportunities while preserving heritage.

  • Literacy and training key to positive change in inmates, says superintendent

    Literacy and training key to positive change in inmates, says superintendent

    The Dominica State Prison has launched comprehensive rehabilitation initiatives focused on education, vocational training, and agricultural development to prepare inmates for successful societal reintegration. Under the leadership of Superintendent Jeffrey Edmond, the facility is implementing multiple programs designed to equip incarcerated individuals with practical skills and academic qualifications.

    Fourteen inmates are currently enrolled in Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) courses covering Social Studies and English, with examinations scheduled for June. This academic program operates in collaboration with the adult education department and aims to enhance literacy while fostering personal development among participants.

    The prison has expanded its vocational offerings through partnerships with various governmental agencies. A building maintenance module conducted with the Youth Division has benefited nine inmates, while thirty-two inmates and two officers completed a candle and soap-making workshop that authorities plan to continue.

    A significant agricultural initiative has been established through cooperation with the Portsmouth Agricultural Station. This farm rehabilitation program provides inmates with tools, equipment, and seedlings to learn sustainable farming practices. The project has already yielded increased production of dasheen, plantain, and vegetables, which supplement prison meals and will eventually support local charitable institutions including the Grotto Home for the Homeless and the Dominica Infirmary.

    Superintendent Edmond emphasized that these programs represent the prison’s commitment to transformative rehabilitation rather than mere incarceration. The institution aims to provide inmates with tangible skills and educational foundations that will enable positive life changes post-release.

    Edmond issued a compelling appeal to the public, urging employers and community members to support formerly incarcerated individuals seeking employment opportunities. He stressed that societal development requires embracing rehabilitated citizens rather than perpetuating stigma based on past incarceration.