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  • Pic-O-De-Crop Finals moved to CARIFESTA House

    Pic-O-De-Crop Finals moved to CARIFESTA House

    Barbados’ signature annual cultural competition, the 2026 Courtesy Garage Pic-O-De-Crop Finals, has been forced to change venues just weeks ahead of its scheduled date, as the iconic Kensington Oval is tied up in large-scale preparations for a national state tribute. The National Cultural Foundation (NCF), the governing body behind the island’s flagship Crop Over festival, made the relocation announcement official on Wednesday, confirming that the beloved calypso competition will still kick off at 8 p.m. on July 31 as originally planned, only at the new CARIFESTA House location in Waterford, St. Michael.

    The venue shift was triggered by the scheduling of the State Service of Thanksgiving for The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers, one of Barbados’ most revered national heroes. The high-profile ceremonial event is set to take place at Kensington Oval on July 29, two days before the Pic-O-De-Crop Finals were slated to run. According to the NCF, preparing for a state occasion of Sir Garfield Sobers’ standing is a multi-day, complex process that goes far beyond the event itself. The work encompasses intricate ceremonial arrangements, strict protocol planning, layered security deployments, broadcast setups, extensive technical testing, and full operational coordination, as well as pre-event venue preparation and post-service restoration work.

    With only a 48-hour window between the state thanksgiving service and the calypso finals, the foundation explained there was not enough time to reconfigure and restore Kensington Oval to meet the strict quality standards required for both major events. After conducting a full review of all available alternative venues in the area, the NCF concluded that relocating the competition was the only responsible decision to keep the Finals on the official Crop Over festival calendar without compromising the experience.

    CARIFESTA House has already proven itself a capable host for major Crop Over 2026 events, the foundation noted, having successfully held the Republic Bank Pan Yard Lime, Fusions, and the Scotiabank Junior Monarch Finals earlier in the festival season. This track record made it the ideal alternative to host the headline Pic-O-De-Crop competition. Currently, production, technical, and operational teams are working around the clock to adapt the space for the finals, addressing every logistical detail from stage construction, professional lighting and sound systems, to audience flow planning, public safety protocols, accessibility accommodations, and press accreditation systems.

    The NCF recognized that this late venue change will require last-minute adjustments from a wide range of stakeholders, including competing finalists, competition tent managers, performing musicians, musical arrangers, event sponsors, food and merchandise vendors, media outlets, and ticket-holding patrons. While the foundation issued a formal apology for the inconvenience the last-minute shift may cause, it also thanked all parties for their patience and cooperation during what it called an exceptional national moment honoring one of the island’s most iconic figures.

    In its closing statement, the NCF emphasized that the relocation allows both major national events to be held with the full level of care and respect each occasion deserves, preserving the tribute to Sir Garfield Sobers while keeping the beloved Crop Over calypso tradition on schedule for festival-goers.

  • Tropical Storm Bertha makes landfall in Louisiana

    Tropical Storm Bertha makes landfall in Louisiana

    As Tropical Storm Bertha tracks westward across southern Louisiana, it is already bringing disruptive tropical storm-force wind gusts and hazardous conditions for coastal beachgoers, but a far more dangerous consequence of the storm is unfolding hundreds of miles to the east, where its abundant tropical moisture is set to drive extreme flood rainfall across parts of the U.S. Southeast and East Coast through the end of the week.

    According to official updates from the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Bertha made its official landfall at 3 p.m. Eastern Time in St. Bernard Parish, located in Louisiana’s southeastern region. Remarkably, the storm’s most intense wind gusts and heaviest downpours have remained offshore, with the system recording maximum sustained winds of 45 miles per hour at the moment its center moved onshore.

    Unlike many tropical systems that pose their greatest threat near their landfall zone, Bertha’s most impactful hazard is developing far from its Louisiana landing point. The storm’s trapped tropical moisture is interacting with a slow-moving cold front stretching across the U.S. East Coast, creating conditions primed for extreme heavy rainfall and widespread flooding through Thursday. The affected areas include southeast Virginia, multiple regions of the Carolinas, and northern Georgia.

    Meteorologists from CNN Weather explain that a stationary cold front is drawing Bertha’s moisture northward and eastward from the Gulf of Mexico coast into the Southeast, creating a continuous feed of water vapor that sustains the heavy rain systems. As for Bertha itself, forecasters predict the storm will gradually lose strength as it pushes westward toward coastal Texas, with its center expected to reach the region by Thursday evening. Even as it weakens, the remnant system will bring scattered rain and occasional gusty winds to coastal Texas, while continuing to feed tropical moisture into the flood-bearing storm systems lingering over the Southeast.

  • France Approves Social Media Ban for Children Under 15

    France Approves Social Media Ban for Children Under 15

    In a groundbreaking move that sets a first-of-its-kind precedent across the European continent, France has formally enacted a historic law that prohibits all children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms. The landmark legislation earned final approval from both of France’s national legislative bodies, the Senate and the National Assembly, on July 21, 2026, marking a pivotal turning point in global policy efforts to safeguard minors from potential harms linked to social media use.

    To enforce the new restriction, all social media users operating within France will be legally required to verify their age before gaining access to platform services. The policy will roll out in two carefully staged phases to give platforms time to adjust their systems. The first phase is set to launch this September, when under-15s will be barred from creating new social media accounts, and providers will be mandated to integrate age verification checks for all new registrations. By January 2027, the requirement will expand to cover every existing user account, meaning no social media profile in France can remain active without confirmation that the holder is at least 15 years old.

    French President Emmanuel Macron, who first pledged to introduce this protective measure during his tenure as part of a broader push to address growing public anxiety over social media’s impact on minors’ mental and emotional well-being, has publicly praised the legislative outcome. Supporters of the law frame it as a long-overdue defense of children’s development, arguing that unlimited exposure to social media during early adolescence contributes to rising rates of anxiety, body image issues, and poor sleep among young people.

    Despite the widespread public support for protecting minors, the new policy has not gone uncriticized. Skeptics and privacy advocates have raised a series of pressing concerns, chief among them the potential risks to personal data privacy that come with mandatory age verification systems. Critics also question how effective current age-checking technology actually is at preventing underage access, noting that tech-savvy young users often find workarounds to bypass verification tools. The debate over the law’s implementation and outcomes is expected to continue in the months leading up to the full 2027 rollout, as policymakers and observers across the globe watch closely to see how France’s unprecedented experiment unfolds.

  • Defensie verdubbelt uitkeringen voor veteranen bij herdenking binnenlands conflict

    Defensie verdubbelt uitkeringen voor veteranen bij herdenking binnenlands conflict

    On July 22, during an official memorial ceremony honoring the 72 Surinamese service members killed in the country’s 1986–1992 internal civil conflict, Defense Minister Uraiqit Ramsaran announced a landmark policy change: the resettlement allowance and disability pension for surviving veterans of the war will be doubled, marking a 100 percent increase to both monthly benefits.

    Ramsaran emphasized that the current administration has prioritized supporting veterans since taking office, who are organized under the Association of Surinamese Veterans and Ex-Servicemembers. In the first phase of the government’s support plan, officials focused on resolving long-standing delays in monthly benefit disbursements, ensuring veterans received the payments they were owed on time. The 100 percent benefit increase, the second phase of the plan, represents formal national recognition of the sacrifices and service of all surviving veterans.

    Beyond benefit adjustments, Ramsaran added that the Ministry of Defense is developing new long-term initiatives to keep former service members connected to the armed forces after they leave active duty, including ongoing wraparound support and post-service care.

    The annual memorial gathering brought together Defense Ministry leadership and representatives of the Surinamese National Army to honor the lives of the 72 troops who died during the conflict. Addressing attendees, Ramsaran noted that collective remembrance is not merely an act of reflection on the past, but a guide to building a more stable future. “A people that forgets its history risks repeating it,” he stated, adding that the fallen service members fulfilled their duties under extremely difficult, uncertain conditions, and extended his deepest gratitude to the families and next of kin of the deceased.

    Mitchell Labadie, Brigade Commander of the National Army, described the 1986–1992 internal conflict as a traumatic, complex chapter that left deep, lasting scars on Surinamese society. For the armed forces, he said, the yearly memorial is far more than a ceremonial event: it is an opportunity to reaffirm the core values that guide the nation’s military.

    Labadie stressed that the sacrifices of the fallen impose a permanent obligation on the National Army to uphold standards of professionalization, operational readiness, and ongoing strengthening of Suriname’s democratic constitutional order. The memorial should serve as a catalyst for national unity rather than division, he added. “Thirty-some years after the end of the conflict, it is our collective responsibility as a nation to learn from the past and commit to peace, justice, and mutual respect for all,” Labadie said.

  • Saint Lucia tops Expedia’s 2026 Island Hot List

    Saint Lucia tops Expedia’s 2026 Island Hot List

    American travel industry leader Expedia has unveiled its highly anticipated 2026 Island Hot List, ranking the most sought-after island destinations set to explode in popularity among global travelers next year. Claiming the number one position on the rankings is the Caribbean gem Saint Lucia, which outpaced nine other standout islands to secure the top title.

    Saint Lucia was explicitly honored by Expedia as the world’s top pick for romantic escapes, with the travel company highlighting that the island perfectly caters to couples in search of intimate, one-of-a-kind experiences, postcard-worthy natural landscapes, and secluded private retreats. Booking data included in Expedia’s analysis shows a 125% projected surge in travel interest to Saint Lucia for 2026, the largest growth spike recorded among all destinations on the list.

    Officials from the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) welcomed the recognition, noting that the ranking reinforces the island’s long-held reputation as a premier destination for more than just romantic trips. Beyond romance, Saint Lucia has established itself as a top location for adventure seekers, wellness travelers, and visitors craving immersive, authentic Caribbean cultural experiences.

    What makes Saint Lucia such a draw for travelers from across the globe? The island is home to the iconic Pitons, the UNESCO World Heritage Site-listed volcanic peaks that have become one of the Caribbean’s most recognizable landmarks. It also boasts a collection of world-class luxury resorts, pristine, uncrowded sandy beaches, a vibrant local cultural scene rooted in Caribbean tradition, and a wide range of activities for every type of traveler — from hiking and snorkeling to rum tastings and local festivals. This combination of natural beauty, amenities, and cultural authenticity continues to draw visitors seeking trips that stand out from standard beach getaways.

    Joining Saint Lucia on the 2026 Hot List are nine other trending islands, each recognized for their unique appeal. Portugal’s Porto Santo, located in the Madeira archipelago, takes second place with an 85% projected growth in travel interest, earning the title of best destination for wellness and relaxation. Praslin in the Seychelles ranks third with 80% projected growth, highlighted as the top pick for nature lovers. Greece’s Syros comes in fourth with 60% projected growth, celebrated for its standout cuisine and old-world charm. Norway’s Lofoten Islands round out the top five with 50% projected growth, named the best destination for Arctic adventures. Further down the list are Palawan in the Philippines (best for natural wonders, 40% growth), Culebra in Puerto Rico (best for water adventures, 35% growth), Florida’s Sanibel Island (best for family escapes, 25% growth), Vietnam’s Phu Quoc (best for affordable luxury, 25% growth), and Fiji (best for multi-generational trips, 15% growth).

    The full 2026 Island Hot List, including additional details about each destination and travel booking resources, is available to the public on Expedia’s official UK website.

  • MV Barima COI: Liars must be jailed, public servants must be protected from pressure- GHRA

    MV Barima COI: Liars must be jailed, public servants must be protected from pressure- GHRA

    In the wake of the devastating MV Barima ferry sinking that occurred off Guyana’s coast last Saturday, the confirmed death toll has climbed to 57 as of 1 p.m. local time on Wednesday, with 46 passengers and crew still unaccounted for, according to government updates. As recovery operations continue with international support, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) has laid out a series of strict, detailed recommendations to ensure any official Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the tragedy delivers transparent, impartial results — a demand rooted in longstanding political polarization that has eroded public trust in state-led investigations.

    Government officials confirmed that 76 of the 179 total people on board the capsized ferry have been rescued, and 44 of the 57 recovered bodies have already been positively identified by family members, with 18 released for funeral arrangements as of Wednesday. Currently, 19 local vessels and two aircraft are deployed for search, rescue and recovery work, with specialized support assets from the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and the Brazilian Navy en route to the incident site to expand operational capacity. Technical teams are currently carrying out detailed structural assessments of the capsized vessel to develop a safe, effective plan to right it, which will give on-site diving teams improved access to search for remaining missing victims.

    Against this backdrop of ongoing recovery efforts, the GHRA has published a formal statement calling for sweeping safeguards to guarantee the COI operates without political interference or intimidation of witnesses. The association’s core demand is that the inquiry must have the legal authority to prosecute and imprison any witness who lies, misleads investigators, withholds evidence, or conceals critical information. The GHRA argues that the threat of criminal consequences including jail time is a necessary deterrent to prevent bad-faith testimony from obstructing the investigation. Additionally, the group has called for formal protections to insulate lower-level public servants from coercion by senior officials when giving evidence, ensuring lower-ranking staff can testify truthfully without fear of retaliation.

    On the structural design of the six-member commission, the GHRA proposed an evenly split appointment process: three commissioners will be selected by Guyana’s sitting President, and the remaining three will be appointed by the Opposition Leader. The GHRA further recommended that the commission’s chair must be a prominent, independent jurist from either Guyana or the wider Caribbean region. A key proposed rule grants the independent chair, rather than the state agencies being investigated, full authority to rule on the admissibility of evidence and to evaluate any claims of national security invoked by official bodies to withhold information.

    To equalize standing for affected families, the GHRA is also calling on the state to fully fund independent legal representation for the families of victims, matching the level of legal support provided to the public agencies under scrutiny. The association emphasized that these guardrails are non-negotiable given Guyana’s current political context, where deep, aggressive polarization between major political parties has made good-faith policy dialogue nearly impossible, and left the public deeply distrustful of official assurances of an “independent” inquiry. Without these safeguards, the GHRA warned, the investigation will devolve into little more than political point-scoring, allowing government officials and state agencies to control the narrative around their own potential failings.

    Plans for an investigation are already moving forward: Prime Minister Mark Phillips has publicly committed to holding a full investigation, while Amanza Walton-Desir, leader of the Forward Guyana Movement, has echoed calls for both a mandatory maritime safety investigation aligned with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) standards and a separate COI — both to be led by independent foreign experts to avoid bias.

  • Xuvo, Andrew capture top Carnival prizes

    Xuvo, Andrew capture top Carnival prizes

    The 2026 Saint Lucia Carnival has wrapped its vibrant annual celebrations, with two standout competitors claiming the most prestigious crowns in the island nation’s iconic cultural festival. The Carnival Planning and Management Agency officially公布了 full competition results Wednesday, following two days of dynamic parades that saw ten top mas bands perform before a panel of expert judges on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.

    In the highly contested Band of the Year category, Xuvo Carnival secured the premier title with its immersive production themed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, ending the reign of previous champion Tribe of Twel by a narrow six-point margin. Xuvo earned a total score of 414 points, while Tribe of Twel, presenting their 2026 concept “Twel-26 – Gold”, followed close behind with 408 points to claim second place. Beyond the overall crown, Xuvo also took home the award for Best Designed Band, solidifying its reputation for exceptional creative execution this year.

    A diverse spread of honors went to multiple participating groups across the festival’s 11 competitive categories. Fuzion Mas emerged as a multi-award winner, taking home Section of the Year for their display “Genesis”, as well as the Mas on the Move title. Legends Carnival earned the coveted Spirit of Carnival award, while Tribe of Twel dominated individual competition categories: the band claimed the top five spots in Individual of the Year and also won Best Portrayal.

    In the traditional Ole Mas category, Julian “Bull” Calderon took the crown with his playful entry “At my age I have everything going for me”. For J’ouvert, the pre-dawn street party that kicks off Carnival celebrations, Back in Times J’ouvert claimed the J’ouvert Band of the Year title with their presentation “The Power of the Earth”.

    In the Road March, the award for the most popular song played during the parade, Andrew’s infectious Dennery segment anthem “Biscuit” stormed to the top spot, beating out runners-up Tallyboy & Sedale’s “Bum-Bum Whistle” and third-place finisher Ezra D’fun Machine’s “Salute” to claim the title.

    The annual Lucian Carnival draws thousands of visitors and participants each year, celebrating the island’s rich Creole cultural heritage through vibrant costuming, music, and street parades. This year’s competition delivered the close contest and dynamic creativity that has made the event a highlight of the Caribbean festival calendar.

  • St Lucia to launch inquiry into deadly Anse Cochon boat collision

    St Lucia to launch inquiry into deadly Anse Cochon boat collision

    Five days after a fatal collision between two vessels off Saint Lucia’s Anse Cochon coast killed at least two local nationals, the Caribbean island nation’s government has moved quickly to launch a formal Commission of Inquiry to unpack the full details of the tragedy.

    The July 18 incident sent shockwaves across the small country, prompting immediate action from Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre, who confirmed that the independent inquiry is tasked with uncovering a complete, accurate account of the events that led to the collision and developing actionable strategies to stop similar preventable deaths in the future.

    Under the country’s governance framework, the inquiry body will receive its formal appointment from the Governor General. To ensure rigorous, expert-led investigation, the commission will be led by a former senior judicial officer, and will draw on cross-sector expertise including maritime operations specialists, marine safety professionals and a seasoned police investigator.

    In an official statement published by the Prime Minister’s office, Pierre emphasized that the commission’s core end goal is to deliver evidence-based recommendations that will strengthen Saint Lucia’s maritime safety standards, reinforce regulatory oversight of commercial and recreational water activities, and cut the risk of future accidents across the country’s coastal and open waters.

    “The entire nation has been deeply shaken by this heartbreaking loss,” Pierre said in the release. “Our government bears a fundamental responsibility to the victims, their families, and all Saint Lucians to uncover every relevant fact, and to extract every possible lesson that can help us avoid repeating this pain.”

    Details of the commission’s official Terms of Reference, which will outline the scope of its investigation, powers and expected deliverables, will be disclosed to the public at a future date, according to the statement. Pierre closed by reaffirming the administration’s unwavering commitment to building safer waterways for all residents, visitors, and maritime workers who depend on Saint Lucia’s coastal waters.

  • Educator calls for full-time school counsellors

    Educator calls for full-time school counsellors

    As Barbados grapples with a steadily climbing national crime rate, its ripple effects are now reaching the island’s classrooms, pushing veteran St Philip educator Betty-Lyn Estwick to push for a critical policy shift: placing a full-time, permanent counselor in every school to support young people living with the trauma of family-connected crime. Estwick outlined her proposal during Monday’s St Philip Ideas Forum, hosted at Princess Margaret Secondary School, where she shared firsthand observations of children who witnessed family members commit violent offenses, only to go on to replicate that harmful behavior later in life.

    Estwick argued that part-time, visiting counselors, who only spend a few hours or one day a week on campus, are unable to provide the consistent, long-term support at-risk youth need. Instead, she called for dedicated, full-time staff who can monitor students showing early warning signs of falling into criminal patterns, and intervene early to steer them away from a life of violence. “If we look at the backgrounds of many people currently committing murder on the island, we see this pattern of intergenerational exposure to crime,” she noted. “Children of murder victims, abused youth, and vulnerable young people need consistent, ongoing follow-up and support that only a permanent on-site counselor can provide.”

    Estwick also drew sharp criticism to the Ministry of Education Transformation’s upcoming universal free breakfast program, set to launch in September. She argued the initiative is unnecessary to serve all students, claiming that existing community-led breakfast programs already identify needy children through on-the-ground knowledge from teachers. Instead of rolling out a new universal program, she suggested the government should allocate the funding to upgrading existing initiatives and improving overall school infrastructure to create better learning environments for both students and staff, calling the proposed universal program “a joke.”

    Responding to Estwick’s call for early intervention for at-risk youth, Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams confirmed that the government is already moving forward with a targeted diversion program, spearheaded by the Barbados Defence Force, designed to identify vulnerable youth before they enter the criminal justice system. New legislation to establish the residential program will be introduced imminently, Abrahams said, adding that the initiative will be developed in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Social Empowerment Agency. Unlike existing programs that only work with youth who have already broken the law, this new effort will focus on pre-emptive intervention for children showing early signs of heading down the wrong path.

    Education Transformation Minister Chad Blackman pushed back against Estwick’s criticism of the free breakfast program, defending its core purpose and goals. Blackman explained that while some students may not come from low-income backgrounds, many arrive at school early having not eaten any breakfast, often because their parents leave for work well before the school day begins. “We can build state-of-the-art schools, train every teacher to the highest standard, and roll out all the best education technology in the world, but if a child is hungry, they simply cannot learn,” Blackman said. Extensive research confirms that access to a nutritious morning meal improves academic outcomes, he added, making the program a fundamental investment in education transformation.

    St Philip North Member of Parliament Dr. Sonia Browne, who has run a community school breakfast program for years, backed the minister’s position. She noted that her own program found that many food-insecure students are not from underprivileged backgrounds – they just arrive at school too early for their parents to prepare breakfast, and any hungry child should be fed regardless of their family’s income. Her policy has always been that “if you’re hungry, you get fed,” she said.

    Blackman also clarified that the new program does not aim to replace existing community and philanthropic meal initiatives. Instead, the government is partnering with more than 40 churches and community organizations to coordinate delivery, and will meet with these groups within two days to finalize arrangements. The goal is to preserve the spirit of local philanthropy while creating a more coordinated, comprehensive system that reaches more hungry children, he added. The minister also rejected claims that funding for the breakfast program will divert resources from school infrastructure improvements, noting that the government is already advancing extensive modernization and refurbishment work across the island’s school network, much of which is between 50 and 200 years old. This work, carried out over the recent summer break after the secondary school entrance examination, includes upgrades to improve schools’ resilience to hurricanes and climate change impacts, alongside general modernization to create safe, functional learning spaces for students and teachers. Beyond infrastructure, the government is also investing in teacher training and new education technology, he added.

    The forum also included calls for greater investment in homegrown education technology from Teddy Leon, founder of local startup EduConnect. The real-time platform connects schools and parents, cutting down on administrative work for teachers while improving communication between families and school staff. Unlike foreign-developed education tools that are not adapted to Barbados’ unique context, Leon said, the island should prioritize building its own digital education infrastructure developed by local innovators who understand the country’s specific challenges. EduConnect, which has been piloted at multiple schools across Barbados, allows administrators to send messages to individual parents, entire classes, or all schools across the island with one click, delivering messages even to users without mobile data. Leon urged the government to build deeper, more intentional partnerships with local tech innovators to strengthen the island’s education ecosystem.

  • Belize’s First Aviation Camp of 25 Kids Takes Flight

    Belize’s First Aviation Camp of 25 Kids Takes Flight

    In a bustling hangar at Belize’s Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airport, 25 curious young minds stepped beyond the passenger cabin this week to dive into the multi-faceted world of aviation at Belize’s first ever STEM Aviation Camp. Running for five full days, the week-long immersive initiative is designed to introduce local teens to the wide range of rewarding careers aviation has to offer, connecting classroom-based STEM learning to hands-on, real-world industry experience.

    The trailblazing program is a collaborative effort between the cross-border non-profit STEMU Foundation, Saint Catherine Academy, Deep Blue Avionics, regional carrier Tropic Air, the Belize Defence Force (BDF) Air Wing, and the Belize Civil Aviation Authority, with sponsorship support from RF&G Insurance Ltd. Interest in the inaugural camp far outpaced organizers’ initial projections, with selected participants traveling daily from across the country — including Belize City, Belmopan, Orange Walk, and Corozal — to take part in the activities.

    Jamie Usher, Vice-Principal of Student Affairs at Saint Catherine Academy and President of the Belize Robotics Federation, framed the camp as a new approach to making STEM education tangible for young learners. “As an educator and a female leader in STEM-focused careers, we are thrilled to create this space where hands-on, real-life experiences tie together science, technology, engineering, and math, while also building critical teamwork and problem-solving skills,” Usher explained. “It turns abstract textbook concepts into something dynamic and alive that young people can see themselves working in one day.”

    The camp curriculum is structured to move students from foundational knowledge to on-site industry exploration. After the first two days spent covering core aviation theory, core industry vocabulary, and the standard international phonetic alphabet, participants moved to on-site visits, starting with the Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airport hangar. The week’s schedule also includes guided tours of the BDF Air Wing facilities and the Belize Civil Aviation Department headquarters at the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport, with planned time on the active flight line by the end of the week.

    To date, organizers have introduced students to at least eight distinct aviation career paths, ranging from aircraft engineering and maintenance to airport firefighting, flight operations, and ground support services. Jarrus Mitchell, founder of the STEMU Foundation — a Belize-U.S. non-profit launched in 2023 to expand equitable access to high-quality STEM education across Belize — said an aviation-focused camp was a natural expansion of the organization’s mission. “This is our first annual STEM aviation camp, and our core goal is to give kids hands-on exposure to the full range of careers available in aviation that many have never heard of,” Mitchell said. He added that the foundation’s long-term vision for Belize includes expanding access to vocational training and professional development across a range of high-demand sectors, including engineering, agriculture, healthcare, and information technology.

    For many of the young participants, the experience has already upended long-held assumptions about who can work in aviation and what careers the industry offers. After meeting Terry Folsom, an aviation engineer with Deep Blue Avionics, 14-year-old participant Damariel Aguilar said the experience changed her perspective on gender roles in the field. “I learned that both boys and girls can be pilots and engineers,” Aguilar said. “Miss Terry taught me that women can work in these roles just like men, just like she does.”

    Fellow camper Abigail Rivero noted that the camp fills a critical gap in youth career preparation, giving young people early exposure to fields they would not otherwise encounter in standard school curricula. “This summer camp introduces kids to so many different fields that we don’t learn about in regular class,” Rivero said. “When it’s time to pick a career path, we’ll already have experience with these options, so we don’t have to wonder if we missed out on something we might love.”

    Each student has taken away unique new skills aligned with their interests: For Skye Williams, the most memorable takeaway was a concrete lesson in applied physics, learning about the four core forces that enable flight: lift, thrust, drag, and weight. For Yuvan Lalwani, the week brought both a new understanding of industry communication and practical applied math. “I learned the phonetic alphabet: Y for Yankee, A for Alpha, B for Bravo,” Lalwani said. “I also learned how to calculate flight speed, and now I can figure out how long a trip will take before I even get on a plane.”

    By the end of the week on Friday, participants will have completed a full journey from classroom theory to standing on the flight line of Belize’s busiest international airport, laying the groundwork for a new generation of Belizean aviation professionals.