A former retail employee has been handed a court-ordered restitution sentence after confessing to siphoning thousands of dollars from her employer via unauthorized debit card use for personal online shopping. Jamila Edwards, who previously worked as a clerk at the outlet Super Power, entered a guilty plea to fraud charges earlier this week, with the High Court ordering her to repay a total of $6,000 to cover the misspent funds and associated administrative costs. Under the terms of the court ruling, Edwards must make an initial payment of $3,000 immediately, followed by consistent monthly installments of $500 until the full outstanding balance is cleared. Court documents and testimony laid out the full timeline of the fraudulent activity, which unfolded throughout 2023 when Edwards was entrusted with a key task by her employer: helping acquire and set up a new ECAB debit card for the business. Instead of completing the task as directed, Edwards secretly recorded the card’s details and used them to process a series of unauthorized transactions on the popular online fast fashion platform Shein, all for her personal gain. The illegal activity was only accidentally uncovered when Edwards’ employer traveled to Miami for a trip and attempted to use the card for legitimate business expenses, only to find it could not be processed. Alarmed by the failed transaction, the employer launched an immediate internal review of the account, which revealed a pattern of unapproved purchases dating from September 12 to October 20 that added up to a total of $5,797.53. Once the fraudulent activity was confirmed, the employer filed an official report with local law enforcement, triggering a full criminal investigation that ultimately led to Edwards’ arrest, conviction, and the subsequent High Court sentencing handed down this week.
分类： society
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Girl Sexually Assaulted by Shop Owner
Authorities in Belize have launched a formal criminal investigation into allegations of prolonged sexual assault against a 9-year-old girl, with a local male shop owner already taken into custody as the primary suspect. The disturbing case came to light earlier this week, when police first received the report of abuse on Monday, April 27, 2026, and moved quickly to open an official probe.
The young victim, who disclosed the abuse while accompanied by her supportive parents during police questioning, told investigators that the inappropriate, harmful conduct began more than a year ago, when she was just 8 years old. According to her account, the incidents repeatedly took place during her routine visits to the local shop run by the accused man. The most recent and explicitly reported assault occurred on Sunday, April 26, 2026, when the shop owner allegedly touched the child in a sexual, inappropriate manner that left her experiencing physical pain.
As of the latest update, the investigation remains active and ongoing, with law enforcement working to gather evidence and build a full case against the detained suspect. The case has raised quiet concerns in the small rural village where the incident occurred, highlighting the ongoing issue of child vulnerability in local community spaces and the importance of prompt law enforcement response to reports of child abuse.
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Man Raped in Belmopan
Authorities in Belmopan have opened an investigation into a reported sexual assault that left a 27-year-old local man as the alleged victim, with the incident unfolding in the city’s Las Flores neighborhood. The case dates back to an early morning incident in 2026, first reported to law enforcement on Tuesday, April 29.
Per initial statements collected by responding officers, the complainant told investigators he had been attending a local gathering before leaving the event in the early hours between 1:00 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. in the company of an acquaintance. The pair made a quick stop to buy alcoholic beverages before beginning their return trip, when the encounter took a violent turn.
The 27-year-old alleges that the suspect launched an unprovoked attack against him, overpowering him, forcing him to the ground, and dragging his body to a secluded spot behind a nearby adjacent building. It was at this isolated location that the sexual assault is reported to have occurred. As of the latest update, no arrests have been announced, and police have not released additional details about the suspect’s identity or any potential motives for the attack.
Law enforcement officials have confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing as investigators work to collect forensic evidence, interview additional witnesses, and build a case against the accused. Community leaders in the Las Flores area have called for increased nighttime patrols in the wake of the incident, urging residents to remain vigilant when traveling alone after dark.
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Veteran educator supports tightening of grooming policy
A major educational foundation in Barbados has thrown its full weight behind the full implementation of the Ministry of Education Transformation’s National Grooming Policy, which entered into full force at the start of the 2024 Trinity academic term, bringing an end to the previous grace period for compliance.
Dr. Patricia Saul, a trustee of the Matthew D Farley Memorial Foundation and former principal of Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, laid out the foundation’s backing in an official written statement, framing the policy as a long-overdue response to growing public and educational concerns over declining student conduct across the island’s school system.
“I am in full support of the Ministry of Education Transformation’s new National Grooming Policy which came into effect from the beginning of this Trinity term, with the aim of reinforcing standards of appearance, discipline and conduct in schools across the island,” Saul affirmed.
Saul connected the new national policy to the enduring legacy of the late educator Matthew D. Farley, a former school leader whose uncompromising stance on student discipline once sparked widespread public backlash. Decades ago, while serving as principal of Graydon Sealy Secondary School, Farley drew fierce condemnation after suspending more than 200 students for violating the institution’s dress code. Critics at the time labeled Farley a heavy-handed dictator, dismissing his focus on grooming and uniform standards as a trivial distraction from core educational priorities. But Farley defended his actions, arguing that strict codes of conduct were foundational to preparing young people to become responsible, productive members of society.
Today’s national policy aligns directly with Farley’s core principles, establishing clear, gender-specific expectations for students across key areas including hairstyles, uniform fit and appearance, jewellery, personal grooming, and a full ban on visible tattoos. Notably, the 2023 policy, introduced under the Mia Mottley administration, was crafted to strike a balance between respect for student self-expression – particularly for natural cultural hairstyles – and reasonable limits on grooming trends deemed disruptive to classroom learning. Beyond the ban on visible tattoos, the policy prohibits students from wearing makeup, artificial eyelashes, long acrylic nails, sagging trousers, and overly tight or short skirts, requiring all students to adhere to clearly defined appearance standards.
Saul emphasized that she welcomes the widespread alignment on the policy among key national education stakeholders, noting that both the Barbados Union of Teachers and Chief Education Officer Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw have publicly endorsed the new rules. “It was refreshing to see the Barbados Union of Teachers and the chief education officer, Dr Ramona Archer Bradshaw singing from the same hymn sheet,” she said.
However, she also sounded a cautionary note, stressing that the grooming rules cannot be viewed as a standalone solution to broader social challenges. Instead, she framed the policy as one critical component of a larger national effort to reverse what she described as a widespread decline in discipline across Barbadian society. “The Grooming Policy must be seen within the wider framework of attempts to pull a society back from an abyss of indiscipline and ruin,” Saul stated.
She praised the ministry’s decision to grant school administrators clear authority to enforce the policy and apply appropriate sanctions when students fail to comply, arguing that this mandate demonstrates a genuine, firm commitment to restoring order and accountability within the national education system. At the same time, she issued a direct call to parents to stand behind school leaders’ enforcement efforts, pushing back against common excuses for noncompliance.
“Parents need to be supportive of the school’s efforts to enforce these standards of discipline which can ultimately lead to self discipline and national pride,” Saul said. Addressing arguments that student noncompliance is often rooted in family poverty, she pushed back against that narrative, noting that many low-income households still prioritize spending on popular branded clothing, high-end cell phones and other non-essential goods.
Saul called the government’s policy a constructive, meaningful step toward setting Barbados’ youth on a more positive long-term trajectory, and celebrated the initiative in honor of Farley’s legacy. “The new National Grooming Policy is a good attempt by the Ministry of Education Transformation to put our youth on a more positive trajectory. In honour of the late Matthew D Farley, I applaud this initiative,” she added.
Saul’s public comments come one month after Minister of Educational Transformation Chad Blackman announced that all schools would adopt a zero-tolerance approach to grooming policy breaches, requiring principals to enforce the rules without exception starting in Term 3 and extending through all future academic years. She also echoed recent remarks by Dr. Archer-Bradshaw, who has linked consistent uniform and grooming standards to strong institutional identity and the development of personal responsibility among students, noting that “being neat and tidy and well groomed in accordance with the established standards sends a powerful message.”
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Police promise heightened security for Soufriere Jazz following stadium shooting
A fatal shooting at a Saint Lucian sports venue has triggered urgent security overhauls for the upcoming high-profile Soufriere Jazz Festival, with law enforcement confirming heightened patrols and three suspects already in custody following the violence that left one man dead and another critically injured.
The shooting unfolded on Monday at Soufriere Mini Stadium, where pre-event setup work was already underway for the jazz gathering scheduled to open on May 2. The victim identified as 38-year-old Clayus Joseph, also known locally as ‘Gramoxone’ from Fond Benier, Soufriere, lost his life in the attack, while a second victim remains hospitalized in critical condition.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Soufriere Police Station Inspector Kimroy Rene moved quickly to reassure anxious local residents and expected festival attendees that authorities are moving decisively to resolve the case and secure the upcoming event. “We recognize that recent violent acts have generated significant unease among both Soufriere residents and people planning to attend our festival,” Inspector Rene stated in an official public statement. “Our team is following every viable investigative lead, and we have already launched targeted operations to address this spike in criminal activity.”
To date, three individuals have been taken into police custody in connection with the shooting. Rene emphasized that investigations remain active, with investigators committed to holding all responsible parties fully accountable under the law. “We are leveraging every resource at our disposal to ensure that the perpetrators of this crime face justice,” he added.
Beyond the ongoing investigation, Rene confirmed that senior police leadership has approved a major upgrade to security arrangements for the much-anticipated Soufriere Jazz event, a staple cultural attraction that draws large crowds of local and international visitors each year. “We have held in-depth consultations with the Office of the Commissioner of Police and our Divisional Officer, who have formally committed to deploying a significantly expanded police presence throughout the duration of the festival,” he explained. “Soufriere Jazz has long been a beloved, exciting event that thousands of patrons look forward to each year. We want the public to rest assured that we are taking every possible step to keep attendees and community members safe.”
The fatal shooting at the public sports facility also drew sharp condemnation from Dr. Uralise Delaire, Permanent Secretary of the country’s Department of Youth Development and Sports, who called the brazen attack deeply disturbing. “It is with profound sadness and deep concern that we respond to this senseless attack at our sports stadium, an incident that has shaken the entire community,” Dr. Delaire said in her official statement.
She emphasized that public sporting and recreational facilities are intended to serve as inclusive, safe gathering spaces for all members of the community, not settings for violence and fear. “The Department of Youth Development and Sports unreservedly condemns this act of violence committed in a space that has always functioned as a sanctuary for young people, families, athletes and local residents,” she noted. “Our sporting venues are meant to be places of discipline, mentorship, recreation, hope and positive change—they should never become scenes of criminality and fear.”
Dr. Delaire added that the attack directly undermines the core values that organized sports and community recreation work to promote: respect, peace, unity and human dignity. “It is particularly distressing that this violence occurred in a space dedicated entirely to nurturing young people and strengthening the bonds of our local community,” she said.
Extending the department’s full support to everyone affected by the incident, she stated: “On behalf of the Department, I extend our heartfelt sympathy and solidarity to the injured victim, and we wish him a full and rapid recovery. We also stand with all venue workers and community members who have been unsettled by this shocking act of violence.”
Reaffirming the government’s uncompromising zero-tolerance policy toward violence in public spaces, Dr. Delaire made clear: “There is no place for violence in our sporting venues, our communities, or our nation.” She closed by calling for greater collective responsibility and cross-sector collaboration between citizens, law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders to protect shared public facilities. “We will continue working closely with all relevant authorities to ensure that our sporting venues remain secure and welcoming spaces for all,” she said.
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San Antonio, Santa Cruz Gets Emergency Response Teams
Two flood-prone communities in Belize’s Orange Walk District are stepping up their local disaster preparedness with the launch of the country’s newest Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), based in San Antonio and Santa Cruz on Albion Island. The long-planned initiative, launched April 29, 2026, fills a critical gap for the region, which has endured repeated damaging flood events that have disrupted daily life and put residents at risk.
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From protest to productivity
For nearly 70 years, the Grenada Trades Union Council (GTUC) has stood as one of the most influential and effective labor umbrella organizations across the Caribbean. Founded on March 13, 1955 in the coastal town of Gouyave, St. John, and officially registered just three weeks later on April 4 that same year, the GTUC today operates out of the Grenada Public Workers’ Union building along Port Highway.
Over its decades of service, the body has built a strong legacy of community and worker advocacy, most notably through its rotational approach to annual May Day observances that brings major celebrations to every parish across the country in sequence. This model does not only center worker voices it also provides a measurable economic boost to both rural and urban local communities. Every May Day, union presidents take to the stage to lay out pressing labor concerns, while workers parade through streets carrying placards ranging from subtle to unapologetically bold that highlight gaps and injustices in the modern labor market. As Grenada’s largest employer, the national government gets a formal opportunity to respond to these concerns and defend its labor policies through the Ministry of Labour, before the day concludes with community networking celebrations that blend militant advocacy with genuine worker camaraderie.
The GTUC’s commitment to inclusive community impact is set to reach a new milestone in 2026, when full May Day celebrations will be hosted for the first time on Carriacou, Grenada’s sister island. This decision is more than a logistical adjustment it is a strategic, community-focused move that will deliver much-needed economic momentum and morale support to Carriacou, which is still working to recover from the devastating damage caused by Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. This kind of community-centered initiative is not an isolated case: the GTUC and Grenada’s wider labor movement have a long track record of stepping in to support vulnerable citizens, including major donations to residents displaced by the 2024 Chantimelle wildfire.
Even with these notable achievements, writes author Brian Grimes a former trade union leader and current public servant the time has come to ask a critical question: can traditional trade unionism alone carry Grenada’s labor movement forward into the future? Grimes argues that the GTUC, currently led by Comrade André Lewis, is already one of the strongest labor bodies in the Caribbean, with a proven record of delivering tangible gains for workers: consistent wage hikes to offset inflation in organized workplaces, successful legal and grassroots advocacy including high-profile victories on pension reform that reshaped national politics, and years of pushing for the minimum wage amendments that have lifted low-income workers out of poverty. But even with this success, continuous improvement requires constructive self-reflection, and the labor movement must now confront a changing world of work to stay relevant.
Grimes stresses that core union services including wage negotiation, workplace safety advocacy, member credit unions, and group health insurance must be preserved and expanded where possible. But modern trade unionism must also expand its mandate to position itself as an active partner in national development, rather than only an advocate for worker rights. This is especially urgent as the digital economy reshapes traditional employer-employee relationships: the rise of remote work, gig work platforms, digital entrepreneurship, and automation has left a growing share of workers outside the protective framework of traditional union organizing. To adapt, unions must rethink their organizing models, service offerings, and core mission to serve a new generation of workers who may never work in a conventional office or factory setting. This means advocating for fair labor standards for gig workers, expanding access to digital literacy training, and equipping workers with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven labor market. Failing to innovate, Grimes warns, will risk gradual erosion of union relevance as the world of work changes.
A core part of this evolution, he argues, is an open, non-partisan conversation about productivity. While unions emerged from the fight against exploitative capital practices a fight that Sir Eric Gairy, Grenada’s most iconic trade union leader, led during the 1951 Sky Red social revolution to reduce systemic inequality the movement must now adapt to become an even more effective agent of national change. Unions must bring their perspective to the table with government and employers to design fair performance metrics that drive mutual benefit and overall national growth. Grimes argues that while employers must commit to paying living wages, unions must also prioritize productivity among their members to grow the overall economic pie that can be shared equitably. Asking for wage increases from struggling contracting businesses, he notes, is unsustainable, and this uncomfortable conversation is necessary to drive real systemic change. Drawing a comparison to high-growth economies like Singapore and South Korea, Grimes notes that even with Grenada’s smaller scale, the core principle holds: sustainable national growth requires a shared commitment to productivity, discipline, and collective national purpose. A coordinated “Big Push” that brings together unions, government, and employers is the only way to build long-term sustainable development.
Grimes draws on his own decades of experience in the labor movement, from ordinary member of the Grenada Public Workers’ Union to youth representative, public relations officer, and eventually union president, to highlight a proven model for this evolution. He notes that union leaders who prioritized member human resource development through training consistently delivered stronger outcomes for workers, pointing to Sister Madonna Harford who led the GPWU from 2003 to 2013 and the GTUC from 2005 to 2015 as a key example. During her tenure, Harford organized dozens of development workshops focused on financial literacy, continuing education, youth development, and worker self-care. Today, Grimes argues this model must be expanded to address growing national skills gaps gaps that include not just technical hard skills like construction or information technology, but soft skills like punctuality, customer service, integrity, and collaboration. Doubling down on member training, Grimes argues, will deliver benefits for every stakeholder: more skilled and motivated workers increase productivity and business profits, which in turn creates a stronger negotiating base for unions to push for further wage gains.
Grimes concludes that the reforms he outlines do not need to be revolutionary to be effective, but if adopted across Grenada’s trade union movement, they could deliver a transformative paradigm shift for both labor and national development. The question facing Grenada’s unions today is no longer whether evolution is necessary it is whether the movement is ready to lead that change.
*This opinion piece is from contributor Brian Grimes. NOW Grenada does not take responsibility for contributor statements and opinions.*
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Veteran broadcaster Daniel Thompson has died
KINGSTON, Jamaica — After nearly 30 years as a defining voice of Jamaican public radio, Daniel Thompson, one of Radio Jamaica’s longest-serving and most beloved broadcasters, has passed away. The official confirmation of his death came from the station itself this past Thursday. According to local reports, Thompson suffered a sudden heart attack that led to his passing.
Over his 28-year career with Radio Jamaica, Thompson built a legacy that touched every corner of the station’s programming schedule. He worked every time slot from early morning drive time to late-night talk segments, crafting memorable content that resonated with decades of listeners across the island. Beyond filling roles across the full broadcast lineup, Thompson launched his own standalone show, and most recently became a core contributor to the station’s popular audience-driven call-in program Hotline, where he facilitated engaging conversations between callers and community stakeholders.
He also earned widespread popularity for his collaborative work on the iconic “X and Y” feature, which he co-hosted for years alongside longtime partner Emily Shields, a segment that remains a fan favorite among long-time Radio Jamaica listeners. Beyond his work in talk radio and interactive programming, Thompson carved out a reputation as a measured, trusted newsreader, delivering breaking stories and daily current affairs coverage with a calm authority that made him a go-to source of information for Jamaican audiences.
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Dr Marjorie Fullerton resumes role as principal at Merl Grove High School
After four years of protracted legal wrangling, Dr. Marjorie Fullerton has officially stepped back into her position as principal of Jamaica’s Merl Grove High School, carrying out a Supreme Court order for her reinstatement issued earlier this March. The veteran educator arrived at the St. Andrew-based campus as early as 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, but chose to decline all interview requests from reporters on her first day back.
Accompanying Fullerton on her return was Doran Dixon, a two-time past president and current assistant general secretary of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA). In comments to media, Dixon shared that Fullerton is deeply pleased to resume her substantive role, and is already laser-focused on advancing her work in education and contributing to Jamaica’s national development.
“Dr. Fullerton is happy to be back in her substantive role as principal and she looks forward to continuing to do what she would have been doing before the situation was disrupted — contributing to national development and making sure that the nation’s children receive as good an education as possible,” Dixon explained.
Dixon emphasized that while the four-year process has been long and arduous, the final ruling delivers long-awaited justice to Fullerton. As a teachers’ union, the JTA has consistently prioritized upholding due process and fair outcomes for educators, he noted, adding that the union is deeply satisfied that Fullerton has been formally vindicated.
“As a union, the Jamaica Teachers’ Association is always wanting to ensure that justice is done and in this case, justice has been done and we are happy that she was vindicated. We look forward to her continuing to be a good educator,” Dixon said. “We respect the court. We respect the process and we are always convinced of the court’s ability to make a balanced, fair judgment. So we’re always happy when teachers are vindicated.”
The dispute that led to Fullerton’s removal stretches back to 2021, when she was first suspended from her post on September 10 that year. A disciplinary hearing followed, after which the school’s personnel committee drafted a report claiming the charges against Fullerton had been proven. In 2022, acting on the committee’s recommendation, the school board voted to terminate her employment.
Fullerton immediately challenged the dismissal in court, launching the multi-year legal fight that concluded with the Supreme Court’s March 2025 ruling ordering her immediate reinstatement. The ruling represents a major reversal for the school board, Jamaica’s Ministry of Education, and the Associated Gospel Assemblies (AGA) Church — the owner of Merl Grove High. All three entities had publicly supported Fullerton’s dismissal, which stemmed from internal clashes with staff over her leadership approach.
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Man shot and killed in Mount Pleasant ambush
A shocking act of gun violence has shaken the close-knit Mount Pleasant neighborhood, after a middle-aged man was killed in an ambush attack directly outside his residence on Monday evening. Local law enforcement confirmed that the victim, believed to be in his 40s, was gunned down by unidentified attackers who waited for him to leave his property.
Emergency radio dispatches brought police cruisers to the Hamilton Road location within minutes of the first 911 calls placed shortly after 7 p.m. When first responding officers reached the scene, they discovered the victim unresponsive on the ground, with clear visible wounds from multiple gunshots. Emergency medical teams pronounced the man dead at the scene not long after their arrival.
Early investigative findings paint a clear picture of the pre-planned attack: as the victim stepped out of his home, a small Japanese-made vehicle carrying the gunmen pulled up alongside the curb. The attackers immediately opened fire on the target before fleeing the area, leaving the man fatally wounded. No suspects have been named or arrested as of the latest update.
Chief Superintendent Sheria King, the lead law enforcement official on the case, told reporters that investigators have not yet confirmed whether the victim had prior ties or interactions with police. She confirmed that the active investigation remains ongoing, with detectives working to trace the vehicle, identify the gunmen, and uncover a potential motive for the killing.
The violence drew a prominent local political figure to the scene: Shanendon Cartwright, Deputy Leader of the Free National Movement and the party’s candidate for the St James constituency, arrived to speak with investigators and extend his sympathy to the victim’s grieving family. Cartwright, who has personal ties to the community and the victim, noted that the killing had deeply affected the entire area.
“I grew up out here in Mount Pleasant. I knew the family personally and the person who was killed tonight, I knew him personally,” Cartwright told assembled reporters at the scene. “This really hit home tonight. This does not happen in a small community like Mount Pleasant village so this is something that has really touched the heart of every community and it is felt by every home here in Mount Pleasant.”
According to ongoing murder tracking maintained by the Tribune, this fatal shooting marks the 22nd homicide recorded in the country so far this year, bringing the national violence toll to a new milestone that will likely reignite conversations about public safety and gun control in the region.