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  • Retailers feel import-cost pressure

    Retailers feel import-cost pressure

    As families across Barbados gear up for the upcoming academic year, Bridgetown’s retail sector is facing mounting financial pressure that is forcing business owners to pass higher costs on to consumers, local outlet Barbados TODAY has confirmed. With the new school year set to kick off in just two weeks, charitable organizations have already recorded a sharp spike in requests for financial support to cover the cost of essential back-to-school supplies, a trend that underscores the growing strain on household budgets across the island.

    Two local retail owners have opened up about the ongoing challenges of balancing competitive pricing with crippling import costs that have climbed steadily over the past half-decade. Tamasia Yearwood, who operates 28 Deluxe and 28 Fabway, and Keann Walters, head of Jireh Styles and Fashion, both explained that rising freight, customs clearance, and day-to-day operational expenses have left them with little choice but to adjust product prices to stay afloat.

    Yearwood noted that import costs have risen gradually over the past five years, with total expenses fluctuating based on a range of factors including the origin of goods, the selected shipping provider, and the time of year. Beyond freight charges, she pointed to dramatic increases in customs brokerage and clearance fees across Barbados that have added thousands of dollars in annual overhead for small retailers.

    “Shipping and customs clearance in Barbados have gone up tremendously across the board. Every service provider has raised their rates, and while we try to absorb as much of that increase as we can to keep prices affordable for shoppers, there comes a point when we have to pass some of that cost on,” Yearwood explained. She added that commercial rent in central Bridgetown remains notoriously high, and most leases do not cover utility costs, leaving business owners to cover thousands in extra expenses each month that must be factored into product pricing.

    Yearwood also highlighted the trade-offs retailers face between cost and delivery speed. While sea freight is far more affordable than expedited shipping options, it can take up to two months for orders to arrive. During peak shopping seasons like back-to-school, businesses often have no choice but to pay a premium for faster shipping to keep shelves stocked, adding even more to total import costs.

    Walters, who sources wholesale inventory from suppliers in Los Angeles, New York, and China, echoed these concerns, pointing to global oil price volatility as a core driver of rising supply chain costs that impact every stakeholder from manufacturers to end consumers.

    “Once oil prices go up, every part of the supply chain feels that increase. Freight goes up, wholesale suppliers raise their prices, and by the time the product reaches us as small wholesale buyers, that cost increase has been passed all the way down the line,” Walters explained. She noted that while wholesale sticker prices can appear low, the total cost of getting goods into Barbados and ready for sale often pushes the final cost far higher than consumers expect. For example, a pair of tights purchased wholesale for $3 can end up retailing for $25 once all associated costs are factored in.

    These additional overhead costs go far beyond freight and wholesale purchase prices, Walters explained. Local retailers are also responsible for covering customs duties, brokerage fees, commercial rent, staff wages, National Insurance contributions, bank processing fees, and utility bills, all of which have increased in recent years.

    Walters also pushed back on common consumer comparisons between local retail prices and cheaper online listings, pointing out that most online shoppers do not purchase goods in bulk and are not responsible for the full suite of commercial import fees that local retailers pay. “Consumers see a $4.99 item online and wonder why we charge so much more, but they don’t account for the fact that we import in bulk, pay thousands in fees before the product even reaches our store, and cover all the ongoing costs of running a physical retail business,” she said. “We can be out thousands of dollars before we even sell a single item, and we have to recoup that cost through sales.”

    Another growing challenge for local brick-and-mortar retailers is the rising popularity of personal online import shopping, Walters added. Current Barbados tax policy sets an effective total duty and VAT rate of over 100% for commercial clothing imports, which is far higher than rates in neighboring Caribbean countries. As more consumers learn to import their own goods directly from overseas suppliers, local retailers have lost a significant share of sales, even as peak seasons like back-to-school and Christmas continue to deliver strong demand for in-person shopping.

    Yearwood also raised concerns about inconsistent and costly clearance processes for goods imported through the island’s airports, echoing complaints from dozens of other Bridgetown retailers interviewed by Barbados TODAY. Multiple business owners reported that import costs in Barbados are significantly higher than in other regional economies, creating an uneven playing field for local small businesses.

    A comparison of regional tariff policies confirms these reports. According to Barbados’ official Electronic Trade System, clothing falls under tariff chapters 61 and 62, with a standard 17.5% VAT added on top of applicable customs duties. By comparison, Trinidad and Tobago charges a 20% customs duty on new clothing with a 12.5% VAT, The Bahamas applies a 20% duty and 7.5% VAT to standard taxable clothing imports, and Jamaica’s combined charges for most clothing remain lower than Barbados’ total effective rate.

  • Do Politicians Truly Understand the Cost-of-Living Struggle?

    Do Politicians Truly Understand the Cost-of-Living Struggle?

    As steep hikes in the prices of fuel, electricity and core household goods stretch ordinary families’ budgets across Belize to breaking point, a growing debate has erupted over whether the nation’s top political leaders and senior public officials can truly grasp the severity of the financial crunch hitting average citizens.

    Glenfield Dennison, a Union Senator, has publicly argued that many high-ranking officials who receive taxpayer-funded fuel allowances and official vehicles are completely disconnected from the day-to-day transportation costs that weigh heavily on ordinary working people.

    Dennison emphasized that for many officials, transportation costs are never a personal out-of-pocket expense, a privilege that removes them from the reality faced by most Belizeans. “Anybody who has their gas paid for, who gets a government vehicle, a vehicle from a statutory body, or a car provided by the utility company they serve as a director for — any of these people who never have to buy their own fuel can’t relate to what is happening on the streets right now,” Dennison stated. “I feel like once you can’t relate to buying your own gas, you can’t relate to the average Belizean, straight like that.”

    The affordability crisis extends far beyond fuel prices, with electricity costs also pushing household expenses higher. Ella Waight, president of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB), noted that her organization has already submitted a detailed set of 12 policy recommendations to Prime Minister John Briceño’s government, targeted at easing the burden of rising living costs for workers, including measures to address sky-high fuel prices.

    Weeks after submitting the proposals, however, Waight confirmed that the union has not received any official response from the administration. “We did not even get an acknowledgement that we can sit down and discuss these issues, these recommendations, nothing from government,” Waight said.

    Waight stressed that the NTUCB seeks open, collaborative dialogue rather than adversarial confrontation with the government, arguing that organized labor representatives must have a seat at the table when crafting solutions to the country’s ongoing economic challenges. “We want to promote social dialogue,” she said. “So, we made a list. We sent in a list with some proposals, nothing, no response.”

    Even with this disconnect on everyday costs, Waight pointed out one shared experience that cuts across class and political lines: widespread power outages that disrupt daily life for all Belizeans. “When the electricity goes off, the prime minister and Minister Musa and Minister Usher say, ‘shux, it’s hot in here. The AC come off,’ just like all of us, our fans come off,” she illustrated.

    Both Dennison and Waight have called for urgent, targeted action from the government to address the mounting financial pressures facing ordinary Belizean households. While Dennison’s criticism centers on the elite’s disconnect from everyday living costs, Waight has reiterated the union’s call for the government to open formal talks with labor leaders and review the concrete policy proposals the NTUCB has put forward to ease the cost-of-living crisis.

  • Noorwegen rouwt om overlijden koning Harald V, zoon Haakon VIII volgt hem op

    Noorwegen rouwt om overlijden koning Harald V, zoon Haakon VIII volgt hem op

    Oslo, August 28 – King Harald V of Norway, Europe’s longest-serving and oldest reigning monarch, has passed away at the age of 89 following a weeks-long battle with a rare blood disorder. His only son, Crown Prince Haakon, has automatically succeeded to the throne as King Haakon VIII, marking the start of a new era for the Nordic nation’s centuries-old monarchy.

    The Norwegian Royal Palace confirmed in an official statement released Friday that King Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital at 6:35 a.m. local time on August 28. The monarch had been admitted to the medical facility on August 17 after being diagnosed with hemolytic anemia, a rare condition characterized by the abnormally rapid breakdown of red blood cells that causes persistent fatigue and breathing difficulties. Thousands of Norwegians gathered at Oslo’s Palace Square in the hours before the official announcement to lay flowers and pay their respects to the late king.

    Born in Norway in 1937, King Harald ascended to the throne in January 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav V. He made history as the first Norwegian monarch born on Norwegian soil in more than 600 years, going on to rule the country for over 35 years. His reign coincided with Norway’s oil-fueled economic boom, which transformed the small Nordic nation into one of the world’s wealthiest countries with one of the highest standards of living globally.

    Widely adored by the Norwegian public, King Harald cemented his place in the nation’s heart after the 2011 terror attacks carried out by Anders Behring Breivik, which left 77 people dead. In a nationally televised address in the aftermath of the violence, he delivered a stirring, memorable speech affirming that “our belief in freedom is stronger than fear”, a message that unified a grieving nation and remains one of the most iconic moments of his reign.

    In his final years, King Harald battled multiple chronic health conditions and received a pacemaker to regulate his heart rhythm. Despite his declining health, he repeatedly rejected calls to abdicate the throne, citing the lifelong oath of service he had sworn before the Norwegian parliament.

    The passing of King Harald comes at a particularly challenging juncture for the Norwegian monarchy. Earlier this year, public documents revealed that Crown Princess Mette-Marit, wife of the new King Haakon VIII, had exchanged correspondence with disgraced American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein years after his initial conviction. More recently, in June, Mette-Marit’s 29-year-old son Marius Borg Høiby, stepson to King Haakon VIII, was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted on two counts of rape and 32 additional charges including domestic violence.

    The new monarch now faces the pressing task of rebuilding public trust in the institution of the monarchy while guiding Norway through a period of shifting social and political challenges in the wake of his father’s death.

  • Newton burial ground set for November opening

    Newton burial ground set for November opening

    As Barbados prepares to mark its 60th anniversary of independence this November, one of the country’s most significant sites of historical memory is on track to open to the public, the island’s Minister of Pan African Affairs and Heritage Trevor Prescod has confirmed. The Newton Slave Burial Ground, the final resting place for an estimated 600 enslaved African people held at Barbados’ Newton Plantation, will launch its new memorial site in parallel with national independence celebrations, honoring the lives and legacy of those who died in chattel slavery.

    In a recent update on construction progress, Prescod stressed that the core burial ground itself will remain entirely undisturbed, a deliberate choice to respect the dignity of the people interred there. All current development work is focused on upgrading peripheral features and adding visitor-focused infrastructure to the site. “The burial ground is the battleground, and there’s nothing much we can do about the battleground, but we just replace a number of features on the periphery of the burial ground itself, and we normally try to keep it well groomed,” Prescod explained.

    At the heart of the new development is a distinctive egg-shaped dome structure that will house an interpretation center, designed to share the history of the burial ground and the people buried there with visitors. Most structural elements of the dome are already in place, including 12 imported support pillars, which were sourced from overseas after suitable materials could not be obtained locally in Barbados or neighboring countries. Prescod noted that the pillars carry intentional symbolic weight: each one stands as a representation of the enslaved people laid to rest on the plantation land. While contractors are still completing final fine-tuning work on the structure, Prescod said they have given formal assurances the project will meet its November completion deadline.

    Beyond the central memorial dome, the site upgrade includes a range of new accessible features for visitors. A large, winding pedestrian boardwalk that loops from the entrance to the southern edge of the property is mostly complete, with Prescod confirming the pathway will be ready in time for the opening. The southern end of the site will also host an indigenous herbal garden reflecting Caribbean plant heritage and a naturally formed pond, while plans for a small outdoor gathering area are being adjusted to accommodate required land regrading work.

    Modern geospatial survey technology deployed during the pre-construction phase has already yielded new insights into the scope of the historic site. Surveys confirmed the burial ground’s footprint extends further west than initial 20th century surveys recorded, and there is a high likelihood of additional unrecorded burials in that expanded area. The technology also identified a distinct section of the site holding a large concentration of historical artifacts. Despite these promising discoveries, Prescod confirmed that no large-scale archaeological excavation will take place ahead of the November opening, with future study deferred to a later date to prioritize the timely launch of the memorial.

    As the project enters its final weeks, the project architect continues to conduct regular site inspections, and remaining finishing work including removal of temporary construction roofing is underway, putting the long-planned memorial on track to open as a centerpiece of Barbados’ 60th independence commemorations.

  • Barbados urged to revive spouge legacy

    Barbados urged to revive spouge legacy

    On the 89th anniversary of legendary musician Jackie Opel’s birth, a new tribute initiative launched in Bridgetown has reignited calls for a nationwide renewal of spouge, the iconic Barbadian music genre Opel pioneered half a century ago. Speaking at the official opening of *This One’s For Jackie* held at the Jackie Opel Amphitheatre, Barbados’ Heritage Minister Trevor Prescod has pushed for the country’s citizens to reclaim and rebuild this one-of-a-kind musical style, while expressing deep regret that the genre has not seen sustained development over the past 50 years. Prescod framed Opel as a revolutionary cultural figure who forged a distinct sense of national pride and identity for all Barbadians. As the minister explained, Opel’s greatest innovation was a masterful fusion of reggae and soca rhythms that produced a completely original sound, which quickly became woven into the cultural fabric of Barbadian society. “It is troubling that the music of that type – the only type that Barbados has produced in the 20th century – could not continue to be developed by our musicians,” Prescod noted. Drawing from personal memories of Opel’s career, Prescod recalled the musician’s electrifying stage charisma, which regularly outperformed even high-profile international acts. One standout memory he shared was a 1960s performance at the Globe Theatre alongside iconic American soul singer Percy Sledge, where crowd energy ran so high that audience members rushed from the back of the venue to the stage just to touch Opel. “He gave Bajans a sense of pride… that we were equally as capable as any black man anywhere in the world,” Prescod said. Beyond his national impact, Prescod highlighted Opel’s far-reaching influence across the Caribbean music scene. In the 1960s, Opel resided in Jamaica, where he collaborated with foundational reggae pioneers including Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and the iconic ska collective the Skatalites. Drawing from his own early career experience working in inventory management at West Indies Records Limited (WIRL), the region’s prominent record-pressing plant, Prescod also shared personal recollections of Opel’s final weeks before his sudden death in 1970. Opel’s life was cut short by a fatal car crash on Bridgetown’s Bay Street, when he was mid-way through recording a new collection of tracks. “There are so many things that happened around that man’s life that I can only see him as extraordinary,” Prescod added. The tribute event was organized and hosted by the Barbados Postal Service, which spearheaded the initiative to reactivate the underused Jackie Opel Amphitheatre located on the grounds of the General Post Office. Paula Harper-Grant, the service’s marketing officer and emcee for the launch, shared that the project grew out of her own realization that she had once completely forgotten the public amphitheatre even existed. That moment of awareness led her to question whether the broader public had forgotten both the venue and the cultural trailblazer it was named for. Harper-Grant emphasized that Opel was not required to push the boundaries of Caribbean music or create a entirely new sound for his home country, but chose to do so out of his passion for cultural innovation. “We believe that Jackie deserves to be remembered, and we believe this space deserves to live,” Harper-Grant said. “We want another generation of Barbadians to walk into this amphitheatre, see that name, and ask who Jackie Opel was—and we want to be able to tell them.” The launch event featured a full program of live spoken word pieces and musical performances celebrating Opel’s legacy, with supporting partnerships from the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Financial Literacy Bureau and the Barbados Department of Archives.

  • PUP’s Sunday Showdown: Miller or Pollard?

    PUP’s Sunday Showdown: Miller or Pollard?

    A high-stakes internal contest is set to unfold this Sunday in Belize City, as the People’s United Party (PUP) holds its city convention to select its official mayoral candidate for next year’s municipal elections. The nomination race has narrowed to two local political figures: incumbent Deputy Mayor Eluide Miller and three-term city councillor Allan Pollard, each bringing distinct career trajectories and campaign platforms to the vote.

    In total, 787 registered PUP delegates will cast their ballots to decide the mayoral nominee, alongside voting for 10 councillor positions from a field of 19 competing candidates. The contest comes as the party finalizes its full municipal slate ahead of the general municipal vote scheduled for March 2027.

    For Pollard, a veteran local politician who previously served as deputy mayor, his campaign is rooted in his longstanding ties to Belize City and deep community roots, particularly in the South Side neighborhood. “A lot of people are familiar with my journey,” Pollard shared in the lead-up to the convention, referencing the full arc of his political career that has included challenges, setbacks, and measurable progress for his constituents. He argues that his consistent accessibility and ongoing on-the-ground involvement in community initiatives give him a clear edge in the race. “I’m from the city. I’m from South Side Belize City. I’m always engaged in the community,” he noted, adding that his campaign has focused on strengthening relationships built over years of public service and turning out delegate support on voting day.

    Miller, meanwhile, is framing his candidacy around his unique, rapid trajectory through the ranks of Belize City governance, which has given him a ground-up understanding of the city council’s operations. His political career began as an intern at City Hall back in 2019; he moved into a full-time staff role before winning election as a councillor in 2024, and stepping into the deputy mayor post shortly after. “I think my journey through the city council is a quite unique one,” Miller said, describing his career as a story of “constant growth and elevation.” That step-by-step progression, he argues, has given him intimate insight into the opportunities and institutional challenges that exist at every level of city government, preparing him to lead as mayor.

    As both candidates make their final outreach to delegates in the final days before the vote, the PUP national Secretariat has finalized preparations to oversee a smooth, transparent convention. A specialized election team, led by presiding officer John Bernard Wade and supported by senior party officials with extensive experience managing internal party conventions, has traveled from Belmopan to administer the vote and oversee counting.

    Notably, both candidates have emphasized that the competitive nomination race will not create lasting divisions within the PUP, with both pledging full unity ahead of the general municipal election next March. Pollard has already committed to fully supporting whoever emerges as the party’s nominee, while Miller stressed that the contest should remain rooted in policy and politics, not personal animosity. “Absolutely nothing in politics should be personal,” Miller said. “And so whoever it is that comes out of the convention, I will work along with them. I will work side by side with them to ensure that the PUP slate is successful come March of next year.”

    Local media outlet News Five has announced it will provide on-the-ground coverage of Sunday’s convention, with real-time updates posted to its social media platforms for followers following the race.

  • Darrel Bradley for UDP Leader…?

    Darrel Bradley for UDP Leader…?

    Nearly 11 years after his narrow electoral defeat, former Belize City mayor and long-time United Democratic Party (UDP) figure Darrel Bradley has opened the door to a potential political comeback – but only on the condition that his party commits to substantive, meaningful structural and policy reform.

    Bradley last appeared on a general election ballot in 2015, when he lost the Caribbean Shores constituency seat to People’s United Party incumbent Kareem Musa by a razor-thin margin of just 56 votes. Since that defeat, he has stepped back from active electoral politics, but in a recent statement, he confirmed that leadership ambitions remain and a return to the public political arena is not off the table.

    “I do have a desire to return to politics, and that could happen sooner rather than later,” Bradley said. “But I want to be clear: the change this country needs does not rise or fall on one individual. This is a responsibility I take very seriously, and any comeback I make will be part of a broader collective movement, not a solo return to the spotlight.”

    Bradley emphasized that meaningful national progress in Belize requires a coordinated team of leaders united by principled governance and a commitment to moving the country forward. “Change has to come from a cadre of people dedicated to high ideals, not just one person stepping back into politics,” he explained. “I am ready to take on the responsibility of leadership if that movement comes together, but that movement must include many other people working shoulder-to-shoulder to build a renewed, reformed Belize.”

    A core demand Bradley has laid out for the UDP is a shift away from protest and criticism alone toward the development of a concrete, actionable policy platform. For years, he noted, the party has focused on public demonstrations and calling out government shortcomings, but it has not prioritized articulating clear policy solutions that would drive change once in office.

    “We have spent a lot of time talking about protests and highlighting the problems facing our country, which is important, but now we need to double down on outlining exactly what concrete policies we will advance to deliver change,” Bradley said. “This is not some untested, complex concept – countries around the world grapple with these same challenges, and there are proven frameworks we can draw from.”

    He pointed to two key reform areas where Belize already has the legal foundation in place, but lacks meaningful enforcement: campaign finance regulation and whistleblower protection. Belize is already a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), and model legislation for both policy areas already exists within the country’s legal framework, Bradley argued. The critical gap, he says, is strengthening enforcement mechanisms and holding all public officials – including party leaders – accountable for upholding these rules.

    Bradley’s comments come as the UDP navigates internal conversations about party renewal ahead of upcoming electoral cycles, with many grassroots members pushing for greater transparency and policy clarity to rebuild voter trust ahead of the next general election.

  • Residents renew call for Six Men’s, Shermans repairs

    Residents renew call for Six Men’s, Shermans repairs

    Residents of two coastal Barbadian communities, Six Men’s and Shermans in St. Peter, are once again raising urgent pleas to local authorities for long-delayed infrastructure repairs and hurricane recovery work, warning that unresolved hazards from crumbling roads to unaddressed coastal erosion have upended daily life for months.

  • Postal Service to revive Jackie Opel Amphitheatre

    Postal Service to revive Jackie Opel Amphitheatre

    Decades of silence will soon end at the long-underutilised Jackie Opel Amphitheatre located within the General Post Office complex in Cheapside, Barbados. Postmaster General Joann Busby has announced a bold strategic plan to breathe new life into the forgotten public space, transforming it into a permanent hub for cultural expression, youth artistic performance, and community heritage celebration. The announcement was timed to coincide with what would have been the 89th birthday of Jackie Opel, the groundbreaking Barbadian musician who invented the iconic spouge genre, who died prematurely 56 years ago at just 32 years old.

    “For far too long, this amphitheatre has stood largely empty and quiet,” Busby shared in her address marking the occasion. “Countless pedestrians pass it by without a second glance; some long-term residents have forgotten it exists, while many younger Barbadians never knew it was here at all. But public spaces like this were never meant to be static monuments locked away in history. They are meant to be living, breathing places where culture grows, meaningful community conversations take root, new artists are discovered, and Barbadians come together to share and write our national story.”

    Under the new operational framework outlined by Busby, the amphitheatre will host a regular, year-round lineup of events tailored to creators of all ages and backgrounds. Emerging musicians will use the stage to debut new work, spoken word poets will share their original perspectives, school students will get their first taste of public performance, and local families will gather to experience authentic, homegrown Barbadian art. The Barbados Postal Service, which manages the site, has taken the lead on the revitalisation project, a move Busby said aligns with the institution’s broader public service mission.

    Busby praised her team for their forward-thinking vision that turned an overlooked, underused asset into an opportunity to reconnect the nation to its cultural heritage. “Many people walked past this amphitheatre and only saw an empty, forgotten space, but the Barbados Postal Service saw a chance to properly honour one of our greatest national icons,” she explained. “Today, thanks to that vision, this space is already coming alive again with the sound of music, voices, laughter, and shared purpose. Preserving our national culture is not a responsibility that falls only to historians or museum curators. Culture belongs to every single Barbadian, and every public institution has a part to play in protecting and nurturing it.”

    For Busby, the project is far more than a simple infrastructure upgrade. It is an investment in Barbados’ collective national identity and intergenerational legacy. She emphasized that artists are just as foundational to a nation’s strength as politicians, educators, medical professionals, and business leaders. “Art shapes how a country sees itself. Artists hold onto our stories, capture our struggles, celebrate our wins, and give voice to our collective hopes, and that is exactly what Jackie Opel did when he created spouge,” she noted.

    Opel’s revolutionary approach to music saw him blend diverse existing genres – including calypso, ska, gospel, and rhythm and blues – to create something completely new, a unique sound that Barbadians could claim as their own. Though his life was cut short, his impact has endured: decades after his death, Opel is still taught in Barbadian schools, and contemporary musicians continue to draw inspiration from his innovative work. Busby used his legacy to challenge all Barbadians to think about the impact they can leave on their communities, noting that legacy building is not reserved for famous icons – it is open to everyone from parents and teachers to the postal workers who deliver mail across the island every day.

    Busby made a formal commitment on behalf of the Barbados Postal Service that the amphitheatre will not be allowed to fall back into disuse in the future. The department’s long-term strategic plan calls for close partnerships with the national Division of Culture, local educators, artistic collectives, and grassroots community organisations to build a consistent public events calendar. “Jackie Opel answered the question of legacy through his creative work, and each of us has to answer that question through the lives we choose to live,” Busby said in closing. “Barbados does not grow stronger by accident. It grows stronger when every citizen chooses to teach, to create, to mentor, and to serve. History is written by all of us, each contributing a line, a paragraph, or a chapter. As we reawaken this remarkable space, may we all leave inspired not just to celebrate a great legend, but to build a lasting legacy of our own.”

  • Police Provide Update on 77-Year-Old Killed Crossing Highway

    Police Provide Update on 77-Year-Old Killed Crossing Highway

    A fatal traffic collision has claimed the life of a 77-year-old Belize City resident, prompting law enforcement to issue urgent public safety reminders after confirming the stretch of highway where the crash occurred has seen similar recent incidents.

    Retiree Erlene Gillett died Thursday after being struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross the Philip Goldson Highway within Belize City limits, according to an official update from Belize police released as an ongoing investigation gets underway.

    Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith confirmed details of the incident in a press briefing, noting that Gillett was hit by a Dodge Caravan driven by an adult male. As part of standard protocol for the investigation, the vehicle has been seized for forensic examination, and law enforcement has collected a urine sample from the driver to test for potential impairment. “What the investigation has shown so far is that Gillett was struck by the Dodge Caravan, which was being driven by the stated male person, as she was attempting to cross the highway. The motor vehicle has since been impounded as part of the ongoing investigation, and urine samples have been obtained from the driver,” Smith stated in her official comments.

    In a revealing detail that underscores growing safety concerns for the area, Smith confirmed this is not the first recent fatal or injurious incident involving a pedestrian hit on that section of the highway. “If memory serves well, I believe this is the second of such incidents in recent times when a pedestrian was struck seeking to cross the highway,” she added.

    With two incidents now recorded in a short timeframe, Smith is pushing all road users to prioritize safety, reminding both pedestrians and drivers of their shared responsibility to prevent collisions. She emphasized that even when pedestrians cross outside of officially marked zones, drivers carry an obligation to remain attentive, particularly since the highway segment falls within Belize City’s municipal boundaries, where pedestrian activity is expected.

    “There is an onus on drivers. It is still within city limits, and though the area was not a designated crossing area, persons travelling onboard motor vehicles have a duty to pay attention and be on the alert as they are operating these motor vehicles,” Smith said, urging pedestrians to only use marked crossing locations whenever possible to reduce their risk of harm.

    As of August 28, 2026, the investigation remains open, with police yet to release further details on potential charges or the results of toxicology testing for the driver.