A recent community-led bulk waste cleanup initiative in the All Saints East & St Luke constituency has emerged as a dual success, delivering tangible environmental improvements while creating meaningful space for civic engagement between local leaders and residents. Lamin Newton, a candidate running for the All Saints East & St Luke constituency seat, emphasized that the event went far beyond simply tidying public and residential spaces: it opened the door for honest, solution-focused conversations between political representatives and the people they aim to serve. Newton underscored that two priorities go hand in hand for the local initiative: keeping neighborhoods clean and well-maintained, and building deeper, trust-based connections between candidates and their constituents. Organizers of the cleanup confirmed that the effort is just one part of a broader series of activities designed to strengthen the constituency as a whole. By centering community participation, the project highlighted that both environmental stewardship and active civic involvement rely on collaboration between local leadership and everyday residents. What began as a straightforward waste removal effort has grown into a model for how local civic events can double as opportunities to bridge gaps between community members and political stakeholders, proving that small-scale local initiatives can deliver multiple layers of value for the regions they serve.
分类： society
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APUA Announces Ongoing Pipeline Installation Works to Improve Water Supply
Residents and businesses in the Law Pasture region are currently seeing critical infrastructure upgrades unfold, as the APUA Water Business Unit carries out installation work for a new 4-inch HDPE DR11 water distribution pipeline.
This targeted project was developed to address long-standing concerns around water access and service reliability in the area. By expanding the local distribution network with modern, durable piping, the utility aims to both boost overall water volume and deliver more consistent pressure to end customers across Law Pasture.
While the construction work progresses, the APUA Water Business Unit has issued a public advisory that some local customers may encounter temporary interruptions to their water service. These disruptions are a necessary side effect of the installation process as crews connect the new pipeline to the existing network.
The utility team noted that it is working as efficiently as possible to complete the upgrade project, with the ultimate goal of raising the quality of water services for the entire community. APUA thanked affected customers in advance for their cooperation and patience during this period of temporary inconvenience.
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PM’S CALL
Each year, Earth Day arrives as a critical moment of reflection, pushing global communities to confront the gap between environmental awareness and meaningful action. This year’s designated theme, *Our Power, Our Planet*, serves as a clarion call to center collective responsibility, intentional decision-making, and tangible movement in the fight against planetary decline. In a public marking timed for the annual observatory, Prime Minister Mia Mottley delivered a targeted address, highlighting the urgent need to treat the escalating climate crisis with the gravity it warrants.
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Municipal cop charged with Eversley’s murder
In the wake of a high-profile, shocking killing that has roiled Trinidad and Tobago’s law enforcement community, Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, SC, has formally authorized criminal charges against a serving municipal police officer connected to the death of acting corporal Anuska Eversley. Late Tuesday, Gaspard issued charging instructions for 28-year-old Jivon Cooper, a resident of Cedar Hill, Claxton Bay, who faces four separate counts: murder, robbery with violence, firearms trafficking, and illegal possession of ammunition. The charges stem from a violent incident that unfolded last Sunday at the San Fernando Municipal Police Station.
The investigation, which has moved at a rapid pace, was launched after Eversley’s colleagues arrived for duty early Sunday morning and discovered blood seeping out of her on-site quarters. Just after 4:40 a.m., they found the 36-year-old’s lifeless body resting on a mattress inside the station, and her remains were later moved from the facility to King’s Wharf along Lady Hailes Avenue. Following the discovery of Eversley’s death, homicide investigators launched an immediate probe, with Gaspard formalizing charging instructions after closing consultations with senior leads from Homicide Region III, including Superintendent Persad and acting Assistant Superintendent Mahara.
Beyond the murder of Eversley, the incident exposed a massive security breach at the municipal police facility: investigators confirmed that a large cache of weapons and ammunition was stolen from the station’s secure strongroom. Initial reports peg the stolen stock at more than 100 firearms and 4,000 rounds of ammunition, though law enforcement has already made significant recoveries: to date, officers have seized 43 illegally held firearms and 929 rounds of ammunition connected to the case. In addition to Cooper, nine other suspects remain in police custody pending further investigation, while two people who were detained earlier in the probe have since been released from custody. ACP Surrendra Sagramsingh, the head of the Trinidad and Tobago Municipal Police Service, has also been placed on administrative leave as the investigation into the security breach continues.
Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro has publicly confirmed the pending charges against Cooper, issuing a strongly worded statement emphasizing that no member of law enforcement is exempt from the rule of law. Guevarro commended the investigative team for its swift, detail-oriented work, noting that the rapid progress reflects the professional standards the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) upholds across all ranks. “Their decisive action brings us closer to justice for the family and colleagues of Acting Corporal of Police Eversley and for a nation traumatised by this deeply troubling act of betrayal,” Guevarro said in the official TTPS release. “The lure of greed and quick money can never justify the betrayal of public trust.”
Guevarro framed Eversley’s killing inside a police station as an unprecedented “shocking moment to the nation”, highlighting the breach of public trust that accompanied the crime. The commissioner confirmed that the ongoing investigation is being jointly coordinated by Deputy Commissioner of Police Natasha George, Assistant Commissioner of Police Richard Smith, and Senior Superintendent of Police Sean Dhillpaul of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations Region Three, with on-the-ground supervision handled by Supt Persad and the HBI Region Three team. Investigators expect Cooper to make his first court appearance as early as Friday, or early next week at the latest.
In his statement, Guevarro also reiterated that all officers, regardless of their posting—whether municipal, transit, estate, special reserve, or regular police—are bound by their oath of office to uphold public safety and integrity. “For those who choose corruption and criminality, we will leave no stone unturned to remove you from among the officers who risk their lives daily to protect our citizens and place you instead among those who enjoy State-provided accommodation with reinforced burglar-proofing and 24-hour security,” he said, adding that the TTPS remains fully committed to preserving the integrity of the national police force.
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‘Some stolen police guns sold for $10,000 each’
Nearly a week after a deadly attack on the San Fernando Municipal Police Station left an acting officer dead and over 100 firearms stolen, investigators tracking the missing weapons have received verified intelligence showing that several stolen Glock pistols have already been sold to criminal networks for as much as $10,000 per unit.
Multiple law enforcement sources familiar with the ongoing probe have confirmed to local media that a Central Trinidad-based businessman, now considered a key person of interest, has fled to avoid arrest. Authorities allege the businessman organized the offloading of multiple stolen firearms and rounds of ammunition to two separate criminal kingpins in the last two days – one based in San Fernando, and another operating out of the Enterprise community.
The getaway vehicle used to move the stolen weaponry out of the Claxton Bay region was identified as a Kia sedan registered to the fugitive businessman, which remains unaccounted for as of investigators’ latest update.
Despite the setback of the missing suspect and vehicle, the investigation has recorded small wins: several persons already detained in connection with the heist have begun cooperating with authorities, providing new details that could help law enforcement recover the remaining missing stockpile.
Investigators add the businessman has long been linked to organized criminal groups, and they are confident he was directly involved in smuggling the stolen weapons out of the police station’s secure armory.
So far, authorities have recovered 43 of the stolen firearms. Twenty-two of those were found buried in a shallow pit at the Forres Park landfill, while the second cache of 21 guns and additional ammunition was seized during a routine highway stop near the Claxton Bay flyover on Tuesday. The stop led to the arrest of three men and the seizure of their vehicle, a white Kia K2700.
A breakdown of the recovered weapons shows the first search yielded 10 Glock pistols, 10 M&P pistols, one Browning pistol, one Smith & Wesson pistol, and 612 rounds of 9mm ammunition. The second seizure added 14 more Glock pistols, a Benelli shotgun, one Sig MPX submachine gun, and an additional 288 rounds of 9mm ammunition to the recovered stock.
Initial estimates immediately after the attack put the number of stolen firearms at 62, taken from the station’s secure strongroom. However, Assistant Commissioner of Police Surrendra Sagramsingh, head of the Trinidad and Tobago Municipal Police Service, later issued a correction updating the total number of missing weapons to more than 100, meaning the majority of the stolen firearms remain unaccounted for.
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Dominican Republic reduces secondary school dropout rate to 5.7%
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – The country’s Ministry of Education has announced encouraging progress in secondary education retention, with the national dropout rate falling from 6.3% during the 2020–2021 academic year to 5.7% in the 2024–2025 school cycle. Education authorities attribute this gradual improvement to a suite of coordinated student retention policies and expanded systemic support designed to keep learners enrolled through the full academic year.
Officials confirm the downward trend in dropouts directly stems from targeted interventions that address the root causes of early school leaving, all aligned with a national education strategic roadmap focused on bolstering continuous enrollment and academic progress. Education Minister Luis Miguel De Camps emphasized that strengthening student retention remains a non-negotiable core pillar of the current administration’s education policy. The ministry has centered its efforts on three key priorities: expanding access to secondary education, lifting overall learning quality, and expanding wrap-around support for learners at every stage of their academic careers.
Beyond the falling dropout rate, the ministry also highlighted a concurrent improvement in secondary school promotion rates, signaling that more learners are advancing to the next grade without unnecessary delays or interruptions to their education. This overall trend, according to education officials, points to growing internal efficiency within the country’s secondary education system and the creation of more stable, accessible learning pathways for diverse groups of students.
To sustain these gains and expand retention efforts, the Dominican government has scaled up access to technical-professional education and arts education programs, building clear connections between secondary schooling and future employment opportunities for graduates. Additional targeted initiatives include the “Secondary Advances” program, which centers on improving both quality and equity across all secondary education institutions, and the national “I Choose to Learn” public awareness campaign, which encourages out-of-school young people and adults to re-enroll and complete their secondary studies.
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URGENT : 3 departments on Alert threatened by heavy rain
On April 23, 2026, Haitian disaster management authorities issued an urgent weather alert, placing three northern departments of the country on heightened standby amid ongoing forecasts of heavy rain and thunderstorms. The National System for Risk and Disaster Management (SNGRD), working in coordination with the General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGDPC), has maintained a Yellow alert level for the North, Northeast, and Northwest departments, responding to persistent threats of flash floods and landslides across the far northern region of Haiti.
Meteorological projections released on the same date confirm that unstable weather conditions will continue through the forecast period, bringing sustained downpours that raise the likelihood of sudden, life-threatening flooding and earth movement in vulnerable northern zones. Low-lying coastal areas, communities adjacent to ravines, and regions with a documented history of flood damage are identified as the highest-risk locations, prompting officials to roll out clear, actionable guidance for local residents to reduce potential harm.
Civil protection authorities have issued specific safety instructions for populations residing in at-risk zones. First, households located near coastlines, ravines, or flood-prone terrain are advised to pre-arrange emergency shelter with relatives or friends located outside of high-risk areas to avoid being trapped by sudden flood surges. Second, officials have issued a strict warning against attempting to cross flooded waterways or roadways under any circumstances, regardless of whether travel is on foot, horseback, or by motor vehicle, as hidden debris, fast-moving currents, and weakened roadbeds create extreme, often fatal hazards. Third, residents are reminded to secure critical personal documents and valuable belongings by storing these items in elevated, water-tight locations to prevent irreversible damage.
The alert remains in effect as meteorologists continue monitoring weather patterns, with authorities prepared to upgrade the warning level or issue additional guidance if conditions worsen across northern Haiti.
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Consumer Raises Concern After Finding Foreign Substance in Apple Juice
A consumer has ignited widespread discussion about packaged food safety after uncovering an unidentifiable foreign contaminant in a container of Pinehill brand apple juice, leaving the public questioning existing quality control and distribution monitoring standards for retail food products.
The affected buyer first shared their experience in a regional consumer service online forum, detailing that the unusual substance was settled at the base of a 1-litre sealed carton of the product. According to the information provided by the consumer, the affected juice has a printed expiry date of August 1, 2026, and carries a batch identification code of EY 22:41:21, meaning it is still far from its intended shelf life expiration.
Visual materials attached to the original forum post clearly show a thick, abnormally discolored solid mass resting inside the already opened juice carton, confirming the consumer’s account of the unexpected contamination. As of the time this report is being published, neither the manufacturing company behind the Pinehill brand nor any of its authorized local distributors have issued an official statement addressing the complaint, nor have they released any preliminary investigation findings related to the incident.
Industry experts note that food safety incidents involving contamination in pre-packaged beverages can stem from a range of sources. Common causes include unsanitary processing conditions during production, improper temperature or storage handling throughout the distribution chain, or unforeseen premature spoilage that does not align with the printed expiry date. When a formal complaint is lodged with authorities, such cases are routinely taken up for full investigation by local public health agencies or consumer protection departments, which are tasked with determining the root cause and holding responsible parties accountable.
For consumers who encounter similar situations where they suspect a purchased food or beverage product is contaminated, public health officials routinely issue guidance recommending that individuals immediately preserve the original product packaging, retain all identifying batch and expiration information, and file a formal report with local health or consumer standards agencies to launch an official inquiry.
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TDC Home and Building Depot (St. Kitts) Supports Healing and Well-being Through Community Mural Project
A new community art initiative launched through a collaboration between TDC Home and Building Depot of St. Kitts and the Basseterre Leo Club is bringing warmth, color, and emotional comfort to young patients and their families at the Joseph N France General Hospital, in an effort to boost healing outcomes through creative placemaking.
The project centers on the blank, sterile corridor walls that connect the hospital’s maternity and pediatric wards. Rather than leaving the space plain and uninviting, volunteer artists from the Leo Club have covered the surfaces with vibrant murals featuring beloved pop culture cartoon characters that resonate deeply with children. Among the playful designs are Dora the Explorer from the hit Nickelodeon series, the whole fan-favorite cast of Bluey, Paw Patrol’s heroic Chase, and the iconic Looney Tunes character Tweety Bird. The goal of the transformation goes far beyond aesthetics: project organizers designed the space to feel welcoming and calming, intentionally crafting an environment that supports mental wellness and the emotional healing process for young patients and their loved ones navigating stressful medical experiences.
To bring the volunteer group’s creative vision to fruition, TDC Home and Building Depot, a leading local retail provider of home construction and renovation supplies, covered all costs for the paint and necessary painting materials. This mural project is just the latest in the company’s decades-long commitment to community investment, which has long focused on upgrading shared public spaces and lifting overall quality of life for residents across St. Kitts.
Leaders of the Basseterre Leo Club, a youth-led service organization, shared sincere gratitude for the corporate partner’s support. They noted that TDC’s donation removed the largest barrier to the project, allowing young local volunteers to create tangible, lasting positive change within the island’s primary healthcare system.
Beyond the immediate impact on the hospital community, the successful collaboration showcases how intentional partnerships between established local businesses and youth service groups can amplify public good. Both organizations share a core mission to cultivate compassionate, supportive environments for children accessing medical care, a commitment that the project has brought to life in a visible, accessible way. TDC Home and Building Depot has reaffirmed its ongoing dedication to supporting community programs that foster creativity, collective empathy, and local pride, with plans to continue pursuing similar partnerships in the future.
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Young Technician, Jamir Cambranes, Found Dead Off Boom/Hattieville Road
A promising young life in Belize City has been cut short by an apparent senseless killing, leaving family, colleagues, and local community reeling from shock and grief as law enforcement works to unravel the circumstances of the crime.
Nineteen-year-old Jamir Cambranes, a technician at local firm Mars Distributors, left his Euphrates Avenue home on a bicycle between 7 and 8 p.m. on Tuesday to meet two acquaintances who were traveling in a silver Chevy Equinox. In an uncharacteristic move, he shared his real-time phone location with his girlfriend before the meeting. When three hours passed with no response to repeated calls and text messages, and his location appeared stationary, his girlfriend alerted Cambranes’ older brother.
The brother immediately rode out to the location marked by the phone’s GPS, ultimately making a grim discovery: Jamir Cambranes’ lifeless body dumped in bushes off the Boom/Hattieville Road. The finding was reported to police just before 2 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22, marking the start of an official homicide investigation.
“The entire family is completely stumped. This was a young, productive kid, and whoever took him and did this are nothing less than animals,” Alfonso Noble, Cambranes’ uncle, told reporters. He added that the family’s devastating loss is compounded by a disturbing trend playing out across the community: “It’s become the norm now that we’re just grateful to find our loved ones’ bodies. Just last week, another mother said the same thing after her son was killed. This young man did nothing to deserve this.”
Police confirmed that the silver Chevy Equinox linked to the meeting has been seized as evidence, and investigators are processing the vehicle for forensic clues. In a press briefing, Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith clarified that this vehicle is a separate automobile from the silver Equinox previously sought in connection with the high-profile disappearance of Deborah “Bree” Arthurs, dismissing public speculation connecting the two cases.
“Our investigation was launched at 1:56 a.m. Wednesday, after Ladyville Crimes Investigation Branch officers received word of the body found along the Boom/Hattieville Road,” Smith explained. “We have confirmed Cambranes left his home before 8 p.m. to meet two people he knew, and the search launched by his family after he failed to respond to calls is what ultimately led to the discovery of his body.”
Cambranes had been connected to Mars Distributors for nearly six years, starting work at the shop as a young teen before becoming a full official employee once he came of age. His supervisor, John Marsden, said the entire staff is struggling to cope with the sudden loss of a young man they considered family, not just a coworker.
“Jamir was like a little brother to all of us. Yesterday we saw him, today we’ll never see him walk through that door again. It’s been incredibly hard for everyone to process what happened,” Marsden said. He also described Cambranes as an alert, cautious young man who would never have agreed to go anywhere with people he did not trust: “He knew his surroundings, he could read when something was off. Whoever he went with last night was definitely someone he knew.”
As of Wednesday evening, police remained in a manhunt for the two Belize City-based suspects believed to be responsible for Cambranes’ killing. The family has publicly demanded urgent answers, calling for a swift conclusion to the investigation to deliver justice for the slain 19-year-old.