A deadly late-night ambush on a Trinidad and Tobago roadway has left a nation grappling with unspeakable sorrow, after gunmen pulled over a car carrying five people returning from a casual day trip, killing four including a 9-year-old elementary school student with a bright artistic future. The violent attack unfolded Sunday evening along Lady Young Road in Morvant, cutting short the lives of 34-year-old Asim Armstrong, his 9-year-old great-niece J’Layna Armstrong, 27-year-old Obataiye Latiff, and 24-year-old Chelsea Edwards. The fifth passenger, 23-year-old Cornelius Short, escaped with his life and remains hospitalized in stable condition following the attack. For Tee Bruce, a Belmont resident and mother to Armstrong and honorary grandmother to J’Layna, the violence has shattered her world completely, leaving her unable to process the sudden loss of two of her closest family members. In an emotional interview with local media on Monday, Bruce described her heart as “mashed up” by the killings, saying she is stuck in a constant state of numb grief that leaves her weeping nonstop. “Numb is the word to say. I have no more feelings. I cry every minute,” Bruce shared. For Bruce, who raised three sons, J’Layna filled the place of the daughter she never had, and the bond between Armstrong and the young girl was unbreakable—so close, Bruce said, they were like “ring on finger.” The morning of the trip, Bruce had packed J’Layna’s clothes for the group’s outing to Harry’s Water Park in Tabaquite, and watched the child walk out the door to meet her uncle, with no idea it would be the last time she saw her alive. “Everybody was good. Everything was okay,” she recalled. Now, she says her days are marked by crippling emotional ups and downs, and J’Layna’s biological father is faring even worse in the wake of the tragedy. Though Bruce says she draws some comfort from the outpouring of support from friends and extended family, the loss has left an irreparable hole in her life. Just weeks earlier, the community had mourned the death of 7-year-old Angelica Saydee Jogie, who died in a jet ski accident off the coast of Tobago. Bruce said she had grieved deeply for that little girl, never imagining she would soon be facing her own devastating loss of a child. Remembering J’Layna, Bruce described the 9-year-old as a confident, outspoken, loving and incredibly intelligent young girl who was already showing signs of being a future star. “She will get on very bad, if you don’t pronounce her name properly,” Bruce said, laughing through her tears as she recalled J’Layna’s fiery personality. J’Layna loved the performing arts and drama, and had been training under veteran Trinidadian actress, producer and drama coach Penelope Spencer, who recognized her natural talent and potential from the start. Walking through J’Layna’s bedroom on Monday morning, Bruce found herself staring at the young girl’s landscape paintings, a quiet reminder of all the potential that was cut short. J’Layna’s mother, Bruce added, was a dedicated hardworking parent who doted on her daughter—even making special trips to J’Layna’s school to deliver sushi for her birthday, and bringing flowers to cheer her on after every school walkathon. J’Layna’s stepfather was also a loving, steady presence in her life, Bruce said, and the whole family had welcomed him fully. For Asim Armstrong, J’Layna was “his eyeball”—the person he loved most in the world, Bruce said. What makes their shared death even more tragic, she added, is that Armstrong had already fought and won a brutal battle with aggressive cancer. Diagnosed at age 20, Armstrong endured years of harsh treatment that forced him to give up his beloved hobby of playing football, and he had only just pulled through a major health crisis around the 2023 Christmas holiday. Armstrong would have turned 35 on May 31, and the family had been planning a celebratory trip to Saint Lucia to mark the occasion. Despite the unthinkable loss, Bruce says the family holds no anger toward the attackers, and is just focused on supporting one another through this dark time. Instead of a traditional wake, the family will host a night of prayer to honor Armstrong and J’Layna before their funeral. Local political leaders and community members have also expressed profound shock and sorrow over the attack, which has sent waves of grief across the entire country. Keith Scotland, Member of Parliament for Port of Spain South, called the killings far more than an ordinary tragedy, saying the violence has shifted the entire national mood. “What has occurred there is more than a tragedy. It’s something that has changed the mood of the nation. It’s unfathomable what has transpired,” Scotland said in a telephone interview Monday. Scotland extended his deepest condolences to the entire family, noting that even though he never met J’Layna, all accounts paint her as a good child on a promising path. Scotland added that this ambush is just the latest in a string of violent tragedies that the small nation is struggling to process, coming just after the killing of Corporal Eversley in San Fernando and the discovery of 56 buried bodies at a cemetery in Cumuto. “It’s a lot for the country to process. It’s sad,” he said. For residents of Morvant, the news of the ambush, and the killing of an innocent 9-year-old, has left the entire community reeling. On Monday morning, as residents prepared for their workday, many described feeling overwhelming shock and sadness at the news. One local woman asked, “Who would want to hurt a child?” Another male resident said he personally knew one of the murdered men and the young girl, calling the killing simply senseless and sad. “We have to keep praying. Day in, day out. We have to cover ourselves,” one Morvant woman said of the ongoing wave of violence that has shaken the community.
分类： society
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Mirador Sur Sensory Park opens to expand accessible public spaces
In a landmark step toward building more inclusive urban public spaces in the Dominican Republic, Banco Popular Dominicano has partnered with the National District City Hall to inaugurate the Mirador Sur Sensory Park, a purpose-built recreational area focused on breaking accessibility barriers and fostering cross-community social connection in Santo Domingo.
The core of the new development is a 340-square-meter sensory playground, which received a RD$5 million investment from Banco Popular. Unlike traditional play spaces, the area is outfitted with specialized equipment crafted to stimulate all five senses and encourage comfortable interaction among visitors of all physical and cognitive abilities. This initiative is not an isolated community project: it is integrated directly into the national bank’s long-term corporate sustainability strategy, which aligns with the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Banking and centers on delivering measurable, tangible social benefits across the country.
Beyond the sensory playground itself, an additional RD$10 million was earmarked for comprehensive upgrades to the broader surrounding grounds of Mirador Sur Park. The cross-cutting improvements include the installation of 90 new energy-efficient lamps to boost nighttime safety, complete renovations to the existing calisthenics and skate areas, construction of new public restrooms, placement of additional waste receptacles throughout the space, and an upgraded security network powered by high-resolution IP monitoring cameras.
Christopher Paniagua, speaking on behalf of Banco Popular, emphasized that the collaborative project embodies the financial institution’s longstanding commitment to advancing sustainable development and elevating quality of life for local communities. For her part, National District Mayor Carolina Mejía praised the park’s role in advancing social inclusion, noting that it creates a welcoming, secure environment tailored specifically to meet the diverse play and recreational needs of children with disabilities and different ability levels.
Organizers and city leaders hope the new Mirador Sur Sensory Park will serve as a replicable national model for how urban public spaces can center accessibility, inclusive recreation, and sustainable development simultaneously, setting a new standard for community projects across the Dominican Republic.
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Strike Averted! Government Greenlights Tiered Bus Fares
In a last-minute breakthrough that defuses a week-long standoff that threatened to paralyze intercity public transit across Belize, the national Cabinet has formally approved a new tiered bus fare system, persuading the Belize Bus Association (BBA) to call off a planned strike that would have disrupted travel for thousands of daily commuters.
The agreement comes after weeks of mounting pressure from bus operators, who have long argued that outdated fixed fare rates left them unable to cover rising operating costs. Following urgent formal requests from the BBA, Cabinet stepped in to broker a solution that balances the financial needs of service providers with the economic realities of ordinary commuters, avoiding sudden, across-the-board price hikes that would have strained household budgets.
Transport Minister Dr. Louis Zabaneh explained that the final policy was shaped by detailed negotiations that weighed both operating expenses for bus companies and the potential financial impact of fare increases on the traveling public. Rejecting a proposed flat rate increase that would have burdened all riders equally, policymakers settled on a three-tiered structure designed to deliver transparency and fairness for both drivers and passengers.
Under the new framework, three service levels will carry distinct per-mile rates: standard regular bus service will be priced at $0.18 per mile, express service will cost $0.20 per mile, and a newly created premium service will be set at $0.22 per mile. The premium tier will come with strict service standards to justify the slightly higher cost: operators offering premium service must use buses no older than seven years, provide spacious bucket seating, on-board Wi-Fi, and operate nonstop routes between major municipalities and high-density population centers.
Despite the formal approval of the new fare structure, the changes will not go into effect immediately. Minister Zabaneh noted that transport officials still need several additional days to finalize the detailed pricing for individual routes, round all final fares to the nearest $0.25 for customer convenience, and confirm that every existing stop along intercity highway routes is properly accounted for in the new pricing model.
The new fares will apply exclusively to intercity highway routes operated by BBA and National Bus Company (NBC) members, including service for large communities located along these intercity corridors. Zabaneh added that government teams are working closely with BBA leadership and the NBC to ensure all route details are incorporated correctly before the new system launches.
For the BBA, the approval marks the end of a nearly two-decade long campaign to update the country’s fare structure and create a more equitable operating environment for independent and association bus operators. With the strike now called off, stakeholders and commuters alike are turning their attention to the rollout of the new system, waiting to see how the tiered model will function in daily practice across Belize’s transit network.
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Viral Domestic Violence Case Crumbles as Cop Walks Free
A high-profile domestic violence case that sparked widespread public outrage after graphic footage circulated online has concluded with all charges against a serving police officer being dismissed, leaving community tensions simmering over the outcome.
Thirty-nine-year-old Constable Phillip Garbutt, assigned to the local Traffic Support Unit, walked out of the magistrate’s court a free man on Monday morning, just hours after proceedings got underway. Garbutt had faced two separate criminal charges: one count of wounding against his 38-year-old common-law wife Deidra Jacobs, a caregiver by profession, and a second count of causing bodily harm to Jacobs’ 8-year-old son. Both charges were formally struck from the court record shortly after 10 a.m.
The case collapsed entirely when Jacobs took the witness stand and informed the magistrate she no longer wished to pursue legal action. Speaking in regional Kriol, Jacobs stated directly, “I nuh wah no further court action.” Prosecutors launched an immediate inquiry into the possibility of outside influence, pressing Jacobs repeatedly on whether she had faced threats, coercion, or improper incentives to drop the proceedings. On each occasion, Jacobs denied any form of pressure.
With the primary complainant unwilling to move forward with the prosecution, legal representatives had no choice but to present no evidence against Garbutt. The magistrate accordingly granted an order dismissing all charges. Garbutt, who appeared in court unrepresented by legal counsel, was immediately released and cleared to leave the courthouse.
The case first captured national public attention in February, when raw smartphone footage filmed inside the couple’s Watermelon Street residence was uploaded to social media and quickly went viral. The footage, captured in the immediate aftermath of a February 17 domestic dispute, triggered such widespread public outcry that Garbutt was taken into police custody shortly after the video spread.
Official police allegations outline that during the argument, Garbutt physically assaulted Jacobs by choking and punching her. When her 8-year-old son attempted to step in to protect his mother, Garbutt slapped the child, according to police reports. Subsequent medical examinations classified Jacobs’ injuries as wounding and the child’s injuries as harm, meeting the legal threshold for the charges laid.
Despite the viral circulation of the incident footage and significant public backlash against the officer over the allegations, the criminal prosecution is now formally closed. What remains unresolved is whether the Jamaica Constabulary Force (or local law enforcement) will launch an internal disciplinary review into Garbutt’s conduct, with no official confirmation of pending administrative action as of Monday’s court ruling.
This report is adapted from a televised evening news transcript, with regional Kriol dialogue preserved per standard regional transcription practices.
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Laatste Rotterdamse 4 Leeuwenspeld uitgereikt aan Ram Ramlal
After more than three decades of honoring community-minded changemakers in Rotterdam, the final presentation of the iconic Rotterdam 4 Leeuwenspeld (4 Lions Pin) took place on Tuesday evening, bringing a longstanding local tradition to a dignified close. Organized by the Rotterdam-based community group Satya Dharma, the ceremony presented the last 4 Lions Pin to Ram Ramlal, a community leader recognized for decades of dedicated service to local and cross-cultural communities.
Initiator Ramon Ramsodit, who co-founded the 4 Lions Pin award in 1993 alongside Oesha Bhikhie and Ram Rambartsingh, emphasized that the honor is far more than a symbolic gesture. He opened his remarks by celebrating Ramlal as “a great son of Suriname and his birth district of Nickerie,” underscoring the widespread public respect Ramlal has earned for his decades of contributions to public life.
The 4 Lions Pin draws its name from the four lions that appear on Rotterdam’s official coat of arms, a imagery chosen to represent the core values of the award: strength, courage, and social solidarity. For 31 years, the award has recognized individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to community development, cultural preservation, and social connection across Rotterdam, building a legacy of elevating grassroots leaders that have shaped the region’s social fabric.
Wednesday’s ceremony carried unique emotional weight, marking not only the recognition of a well-respected leader but also the end of an era. For many attendees, the event served as an opportunity to reflect on the hundreds of changemakers honored over the past three decades, and the impact the award has had in strengthening community bonds across the city.
Koemar Khargi, chair of Satya Dharma, noted that the final ceremony was about more than just recognition: it was a moment of gratitude, collective memory, and intergenerational transmission of core cultural values. The 31-year tradition closed on a high note with the selection of Ramlal, a choice that organizers say aligned perfectly with the award’s original mission.
Rather than ending the practice of honoring community leaders entirely, Satya Dharma has replaced the 4 Lions Pin with a new award: the SuRo Pin, short for the Suriname-Rotterdam Pin. The updated award retains the core mission of recognizing outstanding service to society, but narrows its focus to contributions that advance cultural exchange, knowledge development, community building, and stronger ties between Suriname and the Netherlands — with a particular focus on the Surinamese diaspora community in Rotterdam. Through the new SuRo Pin, Satya Dharma will carry forward the original 4 Lions Pin’s legacy of celebration and recognition, reoriented to prioritize the cross-border connection that has long been a core part of the organization’s work.
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Jordan: Another side to elderly abandonment
As Caribbean nation Barbados moves rapidly toward becoming a super-aged society, a senior government official has publicly highlighted the crippling financial burden of long-term elderly care that is pushing some desperate families to leave their elderly relatives at public hospitals after discharge. St. Peter Member of Parliament and Minister of Labour, Social Security and the Third Sector Colin Jordan shared these insights during parliamentary debate on the proposed Older Persons (Care and Protection) Bill, drawing on both direct conversations with struggling caregivers and his own personal experience caring for his late mother.
Jordan told the House of Assembly that over the past four months, he has gained a new on-the-ground understanding of the harsh economic realities many Barbadian households face when caring for aging relatives. He cited one firsthand account from a family member who admitted to abandoning their elderly mother at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) following her medical discharge, after being caught in an impossible financial trap. If the family member stopped working to provide full-time care at home, they would lose their only source of income to cover living costs. If they stayed at their job, their salary was still too low to afford a professional in-home caregiver to take on the responsibility.
The minister was careful to emphasize that his comments are not intended to justify or normalize the abandonment of elderly people at medical facilities. Instead, he said, it is long past time for policymakers and the public to acknowledge the steep financial barrier that stands between many well-meaning families and the care their older relatives need.
Jordan drew on his own family’s experience to underscore the severity of the cost crisis, noting that he and his family were able to provide 24-hour in-home care for his mother until her passing only because he had the financial means and his mother received a sufficient pension. Without those advantages, he said, they would have been unable to deliver the level of care they wanted to give her. 24-hour professional care, he explained, comes with a prohibitively high price tag for most ordinary working households.
“For those who want to take care of their elderly parents or other relatives, there is a significant cost, and that is one that we have to come to grips with and continue to find avenues where we can provide the care that our older people need, that they deserve, that they have earned through their work and their contribution to our society,” Jordan told the chamber.
The minister also reminded fellow legislators that Barbados is on the cusp of being classified as a super-aged country, a demographic shift that makes systemic reform of elderly care infrastructure and financing an urgent priority. In an aging society, the question of how to deliver accessible, affordable high-quality care for older people becomes one of the most critical policy and social challenges a nation faces, he added. Beyond legislative changes, Jordan said the country needs a broader national conversation about the value of older Barbadians and individual and collective responsibility for caring for the aging population.
The proposed Older Persons (Care and Protection) Bill, which is currently under review by the House of Assembly, aims to update legal and institutional frameworks to better protect and care for Barbados’ growing elderly population.
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Thunder Bay mass shooting: Anglicans call for end to gunplay
A shocking act of brutal gun violence has rocked the coastal community of Lower Carlton, St James, leaving three men dead, one person injured, and an entire nation grappling with grief and renewed calls for action to end the country’s escalating wave of gun crime. In the wake of Sunday night’s fatal attack – which unfolded when armed attackers stepped out of a vehicle and opened fire on a crowd gathered at Thunder Bay Beach Bar – the Anglican Church has added its powerful voice to demands for an end to persistent gun violence plaguing the island.
In an official public statement released Tuesday, Bishop Michael Maxwell, head of the local Anglican Church, shared his profound sorrow over the senseless attack, extending heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims who are now navigating the pain of their unexpected loss. “On behalf of the entire Anglican Church, I extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families who are grieving as a result of this ruthless act of violence,” Maxwell stated.
The bishop made clear that the church is deeply troubled by the growing string of gun-related criminal incidents that have shaken communities across the country. “We are profoundly distressed by the continuing gun violence that wounds our society and diminishes the sense of safety, dignity, and respect for life that ought to characterise our communities,” he added. His remarks come as the entire nation continues to process the shock of the St James shooting, an attack that has left three families bereaved, survivors injured, and many local residents living in heightened fear of further violence.
In his address, Bishop Maxwell directed a urgent, compassionate appeal to the island’s young and middle-aged people, many of whom he says may feel pushed toward illegal activity as a way to cope with increasingly difficult economic and social circumstances. “We once again appeal, especially to our young and middle-aged persons who may feel that violence or illegal activity is the only means of survival in these increasingly difficult times,” he said. “We urge them to allow us to work alongside them in identifying and building more lifegiving alternatives – pathways that enable all of us to live peacefully on our island.”
The Anglican Church, Maxwell emphasized, remains fully committed to expanding practical, on-the-ground initiatives designed to support young people whose lives have been shaped by challenging hardship. “Through mentorship, sports, music, and other developmental programmes, we seek to equip them with the values, skills, and support necessary to make life affirming choices and to access opportunities for meaningful employment,” he explained.
Moving forward, the church plans to ramp up these efforts over the coming year, working in close partnership with local community organizations to create sustainable, viable pathways for personal growth. The goal, Maxwell said, is to give young people the tools they need to build dignified, purpose-driven lives without feeling forced to turn to illegal activity to make ends meet. Beyond programmatic work, the bishop confirmed that the church will continue to hold all those affected by gun violence, and the entire nation, in prayer as the country works through this period of deep trouble. “Our church will also continue to hold in prayer all those who have been affected, and our nation as a whole, as we journey through these deeply troubling times,” he said.
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Prophetess killed during attack by mentally ill man
A violent fatal attack in the quiet community of Diamond, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), has thrown a long-simmering public health and safety crisis into the national spotlight. On Tuesday afternoon, 60-year-old Roseclair Williams—a well-known prophetess affiliated with the Victory Kingdom Covenant Ministries Int’l based in Diamond—was killed in her own yard. Her body was discovered shortly after 1 p.m., bearing clear signs of multiple stab wounds, launching an immediate police investigation.
Authorities reviewing closed-circuit security footage from the surrounding area confirmed the suspect attacked Williams while she tended to plants in her private garden. Law enforcement has since identified the accused as Branson Prince, a local man with a documented history of mental illness, who has been taken into custody. Prince is currently receiving mandatory health assessments at a local medical facility, as authorities work to process the case through the SVG judicial system.
This killing marks the 14th homicide recorded in SVG since the start of the year. What makes this case particularly resonant is its timing: it came on the same day that Chief Magistrate Colin John delivered a landmark ruling rejecting a mental competency report prepared for another high-profile accused person with mental illness. The judge ruled the document inadmissible because it had been prepared by a non-qualified clinician.
The question of mental health assessment competency in SVG emerged into public view on Thursday, when defense attorney Grant Connell challenged the professional qualifications of three clinicians from the country’s Mental Health Rehabilitation Centre (MHC), located in Glen. Connell is providing pro bono legal representation for Kesroy Williams, a Belair resident with a diagnosed schizophrenic condition who faces a second set of firearms charges in 18 months. Kesroy Williams is accused of illegally possessing a modified .32-caliber firearm and three matching rounds of ammunition during a February 6 search of his home.
In court this week, the three MHC clinicians—Dr. Alisa Alvis, Dr. Micheal Stowe, and Dr. Franklyn Joseph—confirmed publicly that none hold credentials as qualified psychiatrists. Alvis further clarified that while she holds a PhD in psychology, she is not a licensed clinical physician authorized to prescribe psychiatric medication. Connell also told the court that all competency reports issued by the MHC shared nearly identical language, even when prepared for patients with drastically different mental health profiles, raising serious questions about the credibility of the country’s current assessment system.
This is not the first time Kesroy Williams has faced legal consequences for illegal weapons possession. In December 2024, he pleaded guilty to possessing a .38-caliber pistol and three rounds of ammunition, and was sentenced to prison. That guilty plea was only accepted by the court after the MHC issued a report confirming he was mentally fit to enter a plea. During that 2024 proceeding, court documents revealed Kesroy Williams told arresting officers he owned two firearms: “one for a wedding” and “one for a funeral,” and only agreed to surrender one weapon after officers promised to return it to him following the case. When he was sentenced, he even asked the court to confirm the gun would be returned to him once his sentence was completed.
Following this week’s inadmissible ruling, Chief Magistrate John ordered that Kesroy Williams be transferred back to the MHC for a new assessment conducted by a qualified psychiatrist, with a full report due to the court ahead of his next hearing scheduled for May 30. Beyond the immediate case, the proceeding has pulled back the curtain on a decades-long gap in SVG’s mental health system: the country has gone more than 10 years without a full-time, practicing psychiatrist on staff, leaving a critical gap in mental healthcare and judicial competency assessments across the country.
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CIBC Caribbean boosts prize money as it searches for Unsung Heroes
For the second consecutive year, CIBC Caribbean has launched a regional search to shine a spotlight on unrecognized community changemakers across its 10-country service area, announcing a significant increase in prize rewards for this cycle’s top contenders.
The Unsung Heroes programme, a flagship community outreach initiative of the bank’s charitable arm the CIBC Caribbean ComTrust Foundation, was first revived in 2025 after a decade-long pause. In its relaunch year, the campaign drew 39 nominations from individuals working across a wide spectrum of community service sectors.
Mark St Hill, Chief Executive Officer of CIBC Caribbean and Chair of the CIBC Caribbean ComTrust Foundation, highlighted that the 2025 relaunch exceeded all expectations, generating widespread positive engagement across the region. “Last year’s return of the Unsung Heroes Programme was a resounding success, and we are anticipating an even more meaningful, far-reaching campaign this year as we seek out and honor the people who quietly lift up their local communities every day,” St Hill shared in an official statement.
He went on to reflect on the 2025 cohort of honorees, noting that beyond the top three regional winners – 2025 Regional Unsung Hero Lucinda Mini Smith of the British Virgin Islands, first runner-up Venetta Zakers of St Kitts and Nevis, and second runner-up Joshuanette Francis of Antigua and Barbuda – the programme elevated the work of dozens of national unsung heroes active in causes ranging from environmental conservation, mentorship for at-risk youth and support for vulnerable women, to food access for unhoused populations and care for elderly and marginalized community members.
St Hill emphasized that the contributions of quiet community advocates cannot be quantified, but the bank sought to provide tangible recognition of their impact by boosting prize allocations for 2026. The 2026 Regional Unsung Hero will receive a $10,000 USD reward – double the top prize from last year’s cycle. First runner-up prize money has jumped from $3,000 USD to $7,000 USD, while the second runner-up award has increased from $1,500 USD to $5,000 USD.
Eligibility for the 2026 campaign is open to any person aged 10 years or older who has made a sustained positive impact in their community and has not previously received major public recognition or rewards for their work. Nominations can be submitted in two categories: outstanding long-term community service, and extraordinary acts of heroism, bravery, or exceptional kindness carried out within the 12 months leading up to the 2026 campaign launch.
The nomination window will run from April 1 through July 31, 2026. Local national winners will be selected from the nominee pool and announced in August, with all national honorees automatically advancing to consideration for the regional awards. Regional winners will be revealed by the end of August 2026. In September, the top three regional recipients and each of their guests will travel to Barbados for a dedicated awards ceremony to celebrate their work and present their prizes. Additionally, a $1,000 USD special prize will be awarded to the person who nominates the 2026 Regional Unsung Hero. Full details about the programme and nomination instructions are available on CIBC Caribbean’s official website at CIBCCaribbean.com.
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CIBC Caribbean boosts prize money as it searches for Unsung Heroes
CIBC Caribbean is launching its second annual search for quiet, unrecognized community changemakers across its 10-nation regional footprint, announcing a major increase in prize rewards for this year’s top honorees.
First revived in 2025 after a decade-long pause, the bank’s flagship community outreach initiative, the CIBC Caribbean Unsung Heroes programme, drew 39 nominations across a wide range of community service sectors in its debut relaunch year. Mark St Hill, Chief Executive Officer of CIBC Caribbean and Chair of the CIBC Caribbean ComTrust Foundation — the bank’s charitable arm that sponsors the programme — shared that the 2025 relaunch exceeded all expectations, and organizers are preparing for an even more impactful campaign in 2026 focused on lifting up people who work tirelessly without fanfare to improve local communities.
St Hill highlighted the breadth of impact recognized in the programme’s first relaunch year: 2025 Regional Unsung Hero Lucinda Mini Smith from the British Virgin Islands, first runner-up Venetta Zakers from St Kitts and Nevis, and second runner-up Joshuanette Francis from Antigua and Barbuda were joined by dozens of national honorees working across critical causes. These included environmental conservation, support for at-risk youth and marginalized women, food access for unhoused populations, and care for elderly and vulnerable community members.
St Hill emphasized that the contributions of these quiet advocates cannot be quantified, but the bank sought to deliver meaningful, tangible recognition for their work, leading to the decision to boost prize purses for 2026 regional winners. The 2026 Regional Unsung Hero will take home $10,000 USD — double the top prize awarded in 2025. First runner-up will receive $7,000 USD, up from $3,000 USD last year, while second runner-up will get $5,000 USD, a major jump from 2025’s $1,500 USD award. A $1,000 USD bonus prize will also go to the person who nominates the 2026 Regional Unsung Hero.
The 2026 campaign is open to any person aged 10 or older who has driven positive change in their community but has not received widespread public recognition or major formal awards. Nominations can be submitted in two categories: sustained outstanding community service, and an extraordinary act of heroism, bravery, or exceptional kindness completed within the 12 months leading up to the 2026 campaign launch.
The nomination window opens in April 2026 and closes at the end of July 2026. Local national winners will be selected and announced in August, with these national honorees advancing to the regional awards competition. Regional top winners will be named by the end of August 2026. In September, the three top regional honorees and each of their guests will travel to Barbados for a dedicated awards ceremony to present their prizes. Full details on the programme and the nomination process are available on CIBC Caribbean’s official website.