This summer, two iconic luxury brands have joined forces to craft an unparalleled immersive experience for discerning travelers in Jamaica, marking the first exclusive year-long premium partnership between legendary Champagne house Moët & Chandon and the iconic Round Hill Hotel and Villas. The groundbreaking collaboration was officially introduced to a curated guest list on Thursday, June 4, during an intimate, invitation-only launch event hosted by Select Brands, Moët & Chandon’s local Jamaican distributor, alongside senior leadership from both partnering brands.
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Charly Black: ‘That time is now!’
Fifteen years after his last live appearance on British stages, celebrated Jamaican dancehall artist Charly Black is gearing up for what he calls one of the most pivotal performances of his decades-long career. Fresh off the reinstatement of his UK travel visa, the hitmaker behind the global fan favorite *Party Animal* is scheduled to take the stage at August’s Reggaeland Festival, marking his first in-person performance in the country since 2009.
For Black, the confirmation of his visa approval brought unfiltered, long-awaited joy. “I was over the moon when my manager broke the news,” he shared in a recent interview, recalling the moment he received the update while touring in Germany. “I threw my hands up in the air and gave thanks right there on the spot.”
Over the 15 years he was barred from entering the UK, the travel restriction presented undeniable professional hurdles, but Black says he never let the setback dim his creative drive or enthusiasm. What kept him grounded and optimistic throughout the period, he notes, was the unwavering loyalty of his British fanbase, who continued to stream his tracks, share his work, and embrace his music even when he could not visit to perform live.
“It meant the world that my music could still reach audiences there even when I couldn’t be there in person,” he explained. “I never saw this as a permanent bad break – it was just a matter of waiting for the right time. Knowing people were still streaming my tracks and loving my work when I was gone was such an incredible feeling. It told me they cared about the music and were waiting to see me, and that time is finally here.”
While Black maintained his optimistic outlook through the years, he acknowledges that the absence of in-person performances did limit his ability to deepen his bond with UK fans and grow his brand in one of his most consistently strong markets. “There’s no comparison to performing for an audience in person – it’s a thousand times more impactful,” he said. “Live performances are far more engaging; fans get to interact with you directly, and that connection makes them leave the show even more invested in your music. Things might have progressed further if I’d been able to perform there all these years, but the situation wasn’t a total loss.”
Now, with the visa issue firmly in the rearview, Black is turning his full attention to what comes next, with no interest in revisiting the frustration of the past 15 years. “We’re not looking back – that chapter is closed for good, and it’ll never be repeated,” he stated. “My fans kept me going through that whole period, and I’m endlessly grateful for their support.”
This quiet resilience has been a cornerstone of Black’s career from the start. Even without the consistent backing of major record labels for much of his journey, he has steadily released new music and cultivated a devout global following that refers to themselves as Team Unstoppable. “Perseverance is everything to me, because I’m an artist that never stops pushing,” he said. “Even when I didn’t have the backing of big labels, I kept putting out new music, and people have showed up for me every step of the way.”
His upcoming set at Reggaeland is far more than just another festival booking for the dancehall star. It is the payoff for 15 years of patience, persistence, and unshakable faith that he would one day get the chance to perform for his UK fans again. “This is such an important performance – it might just be the most meaningful one of my entire career, because of how long we’ve waited for it,” Black said. “I’ve heard about Reggaeland for years, and I’ve always dreamed of performing in England.”
Black added that the UK has long stood out as one of the top-performing markets for his music globally, which makes his long-awaited return even more special. “Every time I release a new track, the UK is always one of the countries where it gets the most love,” he said. “British fans have always supported me so much, so I’m going to give this performance everything I have.”
If Black’s confident prediction holds, fans in attendance are in for an unforgettable, high-energy reunion. “It’s going to be absolutely insane,” he said with a grin. “I know the crowd’s energy is going to be incredible.”
After years of waiting on both sides, the artist and his loyal British audience are finally set to share the same stage again – a moment that promises to be every bit as emotional as it is explosive.
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Total Solar Eclipse to Darken Skies Over Parts of Europe on August 12
After more than two years since the last total solar eclipse crossed North America, sky enthusiasts across the Northern Hemisphere are gearing up for a rare celestial display on August 12, when the moon will align perfectly between the sun and Earth to block out all direct sunlight for observers along a narrow, transcontinental path.
Defined by NASA as a phenomenon where the moon’s full shadow falls across Earth, completely obscuring the sun from view in select regions, a total solar eclipse splits audiences into two experience groups this year. Those positioned along the 5,157-mile (8,300-kilometer) path of totality will get to witness the breathtaking moment of totality, when midday skies darken abruptly and the sun’s faint outer corona becomes visible to the naked eye. This path kicks off near the Arctic coastline around 1 p.m. ET, sweeps past the North Pole, and then moves through parts of Greenland, Iceland, northeastern Portugal, and northern Spain before ending near sunset.
Observers outside this narrow corridor will still get to see a partial eclipse, where only a portion of the sun is blocked by the moon. The partial event will be visible across large swathes of Europe, Africa, and North America.
For mainland Spain, this August eclipse marks an unprecedented milestone: it is the first total solar eclipse visible from the Spanish mainland since 1905, per data from the European Space Agency (ESA). It is also the opening act of three total solar eclipses that will pass over Spain between 2026 and 2028. The last total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe dates all the way back to 2005, making this year’s event a once-in-a-generation opportunity for many European sky-gazers.
“A total solar eclipse is one of those rare moments when millions of people can look up together and feel both wonder and curiosity,” Carole Mundell, ESA’s director of science, said in an official statement. “It is a shared moment that connects us to the Universe and reminds us that the desire to explore and understand is one of humanity’s greatest strengths.”
The length of totality varies greatly across the path this year. Greenland observers can expect just over two minutes of complete darkness, while viewers in northern Spain will only see roughly 20 seconds of totality, assuming clear weather. Unfavorable cloudy conditions remain the most common barrier to successful eclipse viewing, and the event will reach Spanish Galicia and the Balearic Islands as sunset approaches, which will amplify the already dramatic shift from daylight to darkness.
For astronomy fans unable to travel to the path of totality, ESA will host a free public livestream of the event from Spain’s Astrophysical Observatory of Javalambre in Teruel, bringing the celestial spectacle directly to viewers around the globe.
Looking ahead, the next total solar eclipse will cross southern Spain, North Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen on August 2, 2027. For the contiguous United States, the next chance to see a total solar eclipse will not come until August 22, 2044, when totality will sweep across North Dakota and Montana. A coast-to-coast total solar eclipse crossing 11 of the Lower 48 states, from California to Florida, is scheduled for August 12, 2045.
Along with the public excitement, this year’s eclipse also presents major scientific opportunities. Spanish researchers plan to repeat the famous 1919 solar eclipse experiment that first confirmed Albert Einstein’s groundbreaking theory of general relativity by measuring how the sun’s gravity bends light from distant stars. High-altitude balloons will be launched to capture images of the eclipse and the moon’s shadow across Earth’s surface to replicate the historic experiment. Citizen scientists are also invited to participate by building their own simple measurement tools to track atmospheric changes that occur during the sudden darkening of the sky.
Beyond fundamental research, ESA sees the eclipse as a powerful outreach tool. “We use moments like this to bring space science and technology closer to society, to inspire future generations and bring people across Europe together through the excitement of discovery,” Mundell noted.
NASA reminds all viewers to follow critical safety guidelines to avoid permanent eye damage. Looking directly at the sun is only safe during the brief period of full totality; as soon as the first sliver of sunlight reappears, observers must use certified eclipse glasses or handheld solar filters to view the event. Regular sunglasses are not sufficient, as they are thousands of times lighter than the international safety standard required for solar viewing. Observers should also never use unfiltered optical devices such as cameras, telescopes, or binoculars even while wearing eclipse glasses, as concentrated solar rays can burn through protective filters and cause severe eye injury. Damaged, scratched, or torn eclipse gear should be discarded immediately to avoid risk.
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Afreximbank deepens partnership with Jamaica as Africa-Caribbean economic links expand
In a landmark move to deepen economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) hosted its inaugural regional roadshow in Kingston, Jamaica on June 2, underscoring the region’s rising priority in the bank’s global strategy for cross-continental trade, investment and collaborative development.
Branded under the theme “Empowering Jamaica’s Growth: Catalysing Trade, Investment and Industrialisation through Tailored Afreximbank Solutions”, the event comes on the heels of two major milestones in the bilateral relationship: Jamaica signed a formal partnership agreement with Afreximbank in July 2025, and the bank shortly after approved a $5 billion multi-country financing facility that allocates resources for Jamaica and other Caribbean nations.
The roadshow drew a diverse audience of stakeholders, including senior government officials, private sector leaders, and representatives from local and regional financial institutions. For Jamaican attendees, the gathering served as a hands-on opportunity to explore the full scope of Afreximbank’s offerings, from structured trade financing instruments and trade facilitation programs to targeted investment advisory services. For Afreximbank, the engagement provided invaluable on-the-ground insight into Jamaica’s core economic priorities, untapped investment openings, and specific financing needs to inform future tailored support.
Opening the event, Jamaica’s Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, celebrated the deepening alliance between the Caribbean nation and the pan-African financial institution. She noted that for over 30 years, Afreximbank has built a proven track record of delivering transformative financing that boosts trade and drives inclusive growth across the African continent, and its expanding footprint in the Caribbean marks a new chapter of mutually beneficial collaboration. “I encourage all Jamaican institutions represented here today to deepen their engagement with Afreximbank so that, together, we can unlock greater opportunities for two-way trade and investment between Jamaica and Africa,” Williams said in her address.
Afreximbank leaders emphasized that Jamaica’s strategic geographic and economic position leaves it uniquely primed to capture outsized benefits from growing Africa-Caribbean trade and investment flows, particularly for initiatives focused on advancing industrial development and value-added production.
Eric Monchu Intong, Afreximbank’s Group Managing Director for Client Relations and Regional Office Operations, drew on the bank’s decades of experience supporting industrial infrastructure across Africa to frame Jamaica’s growth opportunity. Intong highlighted the bank’s extensive work financing industrial parks, special economic zones, and local manufacturing projects across 18 African nations, including a $450 million global credit facility in partnership with ARISE IIP that has scaled up industrial development across the continent.
“At Afreximbank, we believe that industrialisation is the foundation of sustainable trade and economic transformation. To trade successfully with Global Africa, we must first produce,” Intong said. “Through investments in industrial parks, special economic zones and local manufacturing, Jamaica has an opportunity to reduce import dependence, increase value-added exports, create jobs and strengthen its economic resilience. We believe these lessons and solutions can be adapted to support Jamaica’s industrial growth ambitions and unlock new opportunities for trade, investment and economic development.”
The Kingston roadshow forms a core component of Afreximbank’s broader Global Africa agenda, which centers on building robust, mutually beneficial commercial and financial linkages between African and Caribbean economies. The bank has reiterated its long-term commitment to expanding both intra-Caribbean trade and Africa-Caribbean trade by increasing local access to affordable financing, patient investment capital, and specialized industry advisory services.
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Light & Power warns customers to isolate renewable systems ahead of storms
As the Caribbean island nation of Barbados accelerates its preparations for the annual Atlantic hurricane season, the country’s main power provider Barbados Light & Power (BL&P) has issued a critical public safety alert, highlighting the life-threatening risks that improperly installed or unregulated solar energy systems and backup generators pose to line crews working to restore power after storm-related outages.
The warning was delivered by BL&P’s Renewable Energy Business Unit Manager Robert Harewood during a hurricane preparedness exposition and press briefing held Friday at the utility’s Garrison Hill headquarters in St. Michael. The event brought together representatives from the Barbados Meteorological Service and multiple relevant stakeholders to educate utility workers and the public on proactive risk mitigation for the coming storm cycle.
Currently, around 3,500 BL&P customers have grid-tied private renewable energy systems installed at their properties, a number that reflects the island’s growing transition to clean energy – but also makes this safety reminder all the more urgent, Harewood emphasized. He explained that post-hurricane power restoration efforts are already notoriously dangerous work, as crews navigate chaotic landscapes filled with downed poles, tangled fallen wires, and damaged infrastructure that can obscure system connections. When private renewable energy sources remain connected to the grid, they can keep power flowing through lines that crews assume are fully de-energized, creating unseen shock hazards that put first responders’ lives at severe risk.
“In the past, especially during restoration, it’s a difficult time because you have poles down, you have wires on the ground as well,” Harewood said. “Sometimes when the guys go to restore, it’s not always easy to understand what is connected where because of the chaos out in the field.” He added that even with careful pre-work checks, unmarked private systems can lead to unexpected danger: “In the effort to get customers back on, sometimes it’s possible that our crew could go and work on a line and be impacted by power from a renewable system that they may not have realised was there.”
Harewood noted that properly permitted, BL&P-approved renewable energy installations are required to include a dedicated manual isolation switch that allows homeowners to disconnect their private system from the public grid before a storm makes landfall. He urged all customers with grid-tied solar systems to activate this safety switch whenever a severe weather event is forecast, as a straightforward precaution to protect responding crews.
However, the manager voiced growing concern over unregistered renewable energy systems that have been connected to the grid without BL&P’s knowledge or oversight, many of which lack the mandatory isolation switches and other required safety features. “We’ve realised in recent times there’s some customers that have renewable systems without our knowledge, and they may not have that isolation switch,” he said.
While most grid-tied solar systems are engineered with an automatic shutdown feature that disconnects them from the grid when public power goes out, Harewood stressed that this automatic safeguard is not infallible. Equipment damage from storm surge, wind, or debris can cause the mechanism to fail, leaving dangerous live power flowing through public lines.
The safety warning also extends to improperly connected backup generators, which carry many of the same risks for utility crews. Harewood advised homeowners to always verify that all private power equipment is safely disconnected before a storm, and to consult a certified professional to inspect installations after a storm passes if there is any uncertainty about their safety and connection status. “Otherwise, you really should contact your installer, whoever installed the renewable system, to have it checked and make sure that everything is okay,” he added.
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Young people seek a bigger role in climate decisions
On the occasion of World Environment Day, new findings from a UNICEF-commissioned survey have laid bare a critical disconnect across the Eastern Caribbean: while a large share of the region’s young people are passionate about building careers in the fast-growing green and circular economy, deep gaps in accessible information, skills training, and open opportunities are keeping them from turning that ambition into action. The survey, carried out in 2023 across four island nations – Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Saint Lucia – was formally presented at the UN House in Bridgetown, with its full report titled *Young People’s Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Climate Change and Green and Circular Economies in the Eastern Caribbean*. Research organizers confirmed that while the overwhelming majority of respondents demonstrated clear awareness of climate change and a strong desire to contribute to regional climate solutions, multiple structural barriers continue to block their entry into green career paths. “The most encouraging takeaway from this work is that young people are already ready to be part of the solution,” explained Maryam Abdu, UNICEF’s acting representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, during the presentation of findings. “So many are actively seeking green jobs and specialized training, but systemic hurdles stand in their way. The largest gap by far is accessible information – and information is power, especially in today’s fast-moving digital era. Beyond that, many young people report that training programs and open job roles are out of reach, with opportunities feeling unevenly distributed and nearly inaccessible for most.” The study’s results also underscored a widespread demand among youth for greater inclusion in climate policy decision-making, as well as targeted support to smooth their transition into green and circular economy roles. Abdu called on regional stakeholders to ramp up investment in youth development and meaningful inclusion, arguing that meaningful climate action cannot succeed without centering young people. “When we expand access to information, training, and new opportunities, that also means young people deserve a seat at the table, not just a chance to be consulted,” she said. “You are not just the future – you are the leaders of today. This work is not just about sharing data; it is about taking collective action.” Abdu added that the study’s findings should serve as a roadmap for policy updates and program rollout across every Eastern Caribbean nation. “Let us use these insights to first improve our policy frameworks, then strengthen programs that directly support young people and address climate impacts,” she noted. “We need to tear down the barriers holding them back and build tangible, accessible opportunities for Caribbean youth. If we want young people to succeed – and we absolutely do – we have to make sure the skills they learn align with the jobs of the future.” Brian Bogart, country leader for the World Food Programme (WFP) in the region, echoed Abdu’s remarks, noting that young people across the Caribbean are already informed, engaged, and prepared to contribute to climate action – but regional institutions have not kept pace with their ambitions. “Across the region, the United Nations is growing a portfolio of youth-focused initiatives tied to climate action and the transition to circular, blue, and green economies,” Bogart explained. “In Barbados alone, young leaders are already actively involved in national climate policy processes, contributing directly to national climate plans and national climate financing frameworks. Climate action summits have also created critical spaces for meaningful youth participation. Through programs like the Green Rising initiative, our goal is to equip more than 5,000 young people with the core skills needed for green and blue economy careers, while supporting youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship.” Even with this expanding support, Bogart emphasized that long-standing structural barriers continue to limit full youth participation in the green economy. He stressed that stronger, more intentional connections between education systems, skills training, and employment outlets are urgently needed to close gaps. “This means expanding access to hands-on opportunities: apprenticeships, internships, and certification programs that deliver real-world experience and open doors to long-term careers,” he said. “It also requires making information about these opportunities clear, accessible, and co-designed with young people themselves. Young people are not just asking to be told what opportunities exist – they are asking to be included, to be equipped with the skills they need, and to play a meaningful role in shaping their own futures.” Michele Small-Bartley, CARICOM’s Programme Manager for Youth Development, noted that the regional bloc’s updated CARICOM Youth Development Action Plan already provides a strong foundational framework for advancing youth participation and climate resilience across all member states. “This plan calls for greater coordination, more inclusive processes, and an evidence-based approach to youth development across the region,” she explained. “It prioritizes youth participation, employability, leadership, resilience, well-being, and institutional strengthening – all priorities that align directly with the findings from this UNICEF study. We continue to work closely with member states and partner organizations to build a stronger enabling environment for youth development across the Caribbean.” Small-Bartley added that the study’s findings reinforce the urgent need for more robust systems and accountability mechanisms to support youth entering the green economy. “We are advancing the CARICOM youth development governance structure and a regional youth development index, because we know that good intentions are not enough,” she said. “We need formal systems, we need solid data, we need cross-stakeholder coordination, clear accountability, and structured mechanisms that lift youth voices from just being consulted to being full participants in decision-making and action.” She closed by emphasizing that the goal of regional efforts should not just be to prepare young people to participate in green and circular economies – but to empower them to lead those sectors in the decades ahead.
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Suriname en Brazilië starten onderhandelingen over handelsakkoord
On June 6, Suriname formally announced the start of joint preparations for a new trade agreement with Brazil, a landmark step designed to deepen bilateral economic cooperation between the two South American nations. During a press conference held Friday, Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation Minister Melvin Bouva confirmed that both countries have already signed the official Terms of Reference to guide negotiations for a Partial Scope Agreement.
This signing clears the way for dedicated technical working groups from both sides to begin drafting the specific terms and conditions that will underpin the final trade treaty. Bouva emphasized that the current level of economic engagement between Suriname and Brazil falls far short of the existing untapped potential held by the bilateral relationship. Both governments have identified clear opportunities to expand cross-border trade volumes, attract new reciprocal investment, and boost joint industrial production across multiple key sectors.
According to the minister’s official timeline, negotiators aim to wrap up talks and finalize a concrete, implementable trade agreement within a timeframe of six months to one year. Suriname’s President Jennifer Simons also reinforced the government’s vision for the partnership, noting that strengthened trade ties cannot be achieved without parallel investment in cross-border transportation infrastructure. To address this need, negotiations for the trade agreement are being coordinated alongside advanced planning for a direct maritime shipping route connecting the two countries, a development that would cut logistics costs and open new avenues for bilateral commerce.
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Buffy and Ted Lasso Star Anthony Head Dies Aged 72
Acclaimed British actor Anthony Head, whose decades-long career spanned iconic television, film, stage and commercial roles that made him a fan favorite across the globe, has died at 72. The actor passed away peacefully from complications of pneumonia, surrounded by his two daughters Emily and Daisy Head, the pair confirmed in an official public statement shared Wednesday.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our extraordinary father,” the statement read. “It has been, and forever will be, an honour and a privilege to be his daughters, and to have witnessed firsthand the impact both he and his work have had on so many. We know how dearly he will be missed by friends, colleagues and fans of every project he was part of. He loved his job very much, and always considered himself incredibly lucky to get to do what he loved. We feel the same luck, having gotten to watch him build a legacy that will live on long after him.”
Head’s breakout international role arrived in 1997, when he was cast as the wise, dry-witted librarian Rupert Giles in the hit supernatural coming-of-age series *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* — a role that would cement his status as a pop culture staple for generations. Fellow cast members from the series were among the first to share heartfelt tributes after news of his death broke.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, who led the series as the eponymous vampire slayer Buffy Summers, wrote a moving tribute echoing the series’ iconic storytelling. “‘Tell Giles I figured it out and I’m ok’. Well, I don’t have it figured out and I’m not ok. But I know I’m the lucky one because I knew you. Thank you to Daisy and Emily who not only shared their dad with me, but with the world.”
Co-stars echoed Gellar’s warmth: David Boreanaz, who played the vampire Angel on the series, called Head “so kind and generous of a soul” in his RIP message. James Marsters, who portrayed fan-favorite villain Spike, remembered Head as “an unflaggingly kind and steady presence on the set of *Buffy*, and the best actor in the cast… I was lucky to have known, and learned from him.”
Born in Camden, London in 1954, Head was born into entertainment: his mother Helen Shingler was a noted BBC actress, and his father Seafield Head worked as a documentary filmmaker. He trained at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), and first rose to mainstream fame in the UK in the 1980s as one half of Nescafé Gold Blend’s iconic “Gold Blend couple” opposite Sharon Maughan. The serialized coffee adverts, which followed a slow-burning will-they-won’t-they romance between Head and Maughan’s characters, ran from 1987 to 1993 and became a cultural phenomenon, drawing millions of viewers for each new installment. Maughan told the BBC Wednesday she was “broken-hearted” at the loss of her friend and co-star. “Tony and I were just two actors who got this job, and we had a really lovely friendship. I loved working with him. I thought he was a lovely man,” she said.
Following his *Buffy* run, Head went on to build a prolific resume across British and American television and film. He had a fan-favorite recurring role as the British Prime Minister in the hit sketch comedy *Little Britain*. Creators Matt Lucas remembered that when the team was casting, they “were looking for a ‘Tony Head-type’, because we never imagined for a moment that the man himself would be interested, but he was. Lucky us. He was unfailingly brilliant, and always so kind and warm.”
Head would later go on to portray King Uther Pendragon, the ruthless ruler of Camelot, in the BBC’s popular fantasy series *Merlin*, and took on the recurring role of Rupert Mannion, the scheming ex-husband of Rebecca Welton, in the globally beloved hit *Ted Lasso* from 2020 onward. Brett Goldstein, who plays Roy Kent on the series and serves as a writer, remembered: “Anthony Head was a brilliant actor who played the worst person in the world, which was an incredible skill because he was the best person.”
His dozens of other credits included roles in *The Iron Lady*, *The Inbetweeners*, *Persuasion*, *Manchild*, *Motherland*, *Silent Witness*, and a 2006 guest appearance as Mr. Finch in *Doctor Who*’s fan-favorite episode “School Reunion.” The official *Doctor Who* X account remembered Head for his work both on the series and on its companion documentary series *Doctor Who Confidential*, as well as voicing the villain Baltazar in the animated special *The Infinite Quest*. “He was charming and erudite and funny and open and friendly and so damn talented. He brought joy and warmth and sparkle and wonder to every room he entered,” the statement read. Most recently, Head appeared in a 2022 episode of the hit Netflix period drama *Bridgerton*, and had a long-running role as Robin Fairbrother on BBC Radio 4’s iconic long-running drama *The Archers* starting in 2018. Beyond screen, Head sustained a busy stage career, appearing in multiple productions of *The Rocky Horror Show*, as well as hit musicals *Godspell* and *Chess*.
Head is survived by his two actor daughters: Emily, best known for her role as Carli D’Amato in *The Inbetweeners*, and Daisy, whose credits include *Harlots* and *Shadow and Bone*, as well as his brother, actor Murray Head. He was preceded in death by his long-term partner, animal welfare campaigner Sarah Fisher, who died in December 2023 at 61.
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Overnight Detour on All Saints Road for Major Infrastructure Works
The Ministry of Works of Antigua and Barbuda has issued a public notice informing motorists and local residents of upcoming large-scale infrastructure upgrades along a key stretch of All Saints Road. The construction work will take place between the Buckley Line Roundabout and Herberts Junction, with full road modifications set to begin at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026, and wrap up by 7:00 a.m. the following Sunday morning.
To facilitate safe, efficient movement of traffic during the overnight construction period, official detour routes have been mapped out for both outbound and inbound commuters. For drivers heading out of the city center, the detour requires a left turn at D’cravinz Restaurant, after which marked signs will guide road users back onto the main All Saints Road alignment. For those traveling into town, commuters must take an immediate left turn immediately after passing Herberts Junction, then follow the posted route to reconnect with All Saints Road.
Trained flag persons will be stationed at key points along the detour network to help direct traffic and prevent congestion. A number of sections along the detour have been designated as temporary one-way zones, with clear markings matching the official project map to avoid confusion. Roadside signage will be placed along the entire route to guide drivers traveling in both directions.
Local residents who live adjacent to the construction zone will retain full access to their properties throughout the work period. Notably, all commercial establishments operating along the affected stretch of All Saints Road will remain open for business as usual during the upgrade.
The ongoing infrastructure work forms a core component of the national All Saints Road Project, a government-led initiative aimed at improving the island’s transportation network. Given the presence of heavy construction equipment operating in close proximity to the work area, officials are urging all motorists to comply fully with posted signage and instructions from on-site staff to ensure the safety of both workers and road users. Stakeholders and regular commuters are advised to adjust their travel schedules in advance to account for potential delays caused by the detour.
For any questions or additional information about the roadwork and detour arrangements, members of the public can contact the Project Implementation Management Unit via telephone at 562-9173.
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Man accused of choking woman cleared of charges
After a weeks-long legal proceeding at the Port of Spain High Court, a San Juan resident has been cleared of serious assault charges stemming from a 2019 incident in which he was accused of choking a woman at his private residence. On Wednesday, a nine-member jury delivered a unanimous not guilty verdict before Justice Sherene Murray-Bailey, dismissing two alternative counts of grievous bodily harm brought against 44-year-old Stefan O’Brien.
The charges date back to July 13, 2019, when prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions alleged that O’Brien first encountered the complainant, Zakiya Penn, in the early hours of the morning along Ariapita Avenue. According to the prosecution’s narrative, the pair left the area together in O’Brien’s vehicle, after which he drove them back to his San Juan home. Prosecutors claimed that once inside, O’Brien made unwanted sexual advances toward Penn, then physically attacked her by choking her on two separate occasions.
Penn took the stand during the trial to confirm the prosecution’s account, stating that she ultimately managed to flee the property, flag down help from a neighbor who lived close by, and was transported to a local medical facility for treatment the same morning. To build their case, state prosecutors led by attorneys Chenelle Moe and Roger Hinds presented testimony from Penn, her then-boyfriend Rakeem Moses, independent witness Kyle Caesar, and medical evidence provided by examining physician Dr Christiana Ramnarine.
Dr Ramnarine told the court that her examination of Penn conducted hours after the alleged incident revealed visible redness and bruising along Penn’s neck, as well as small hemorrhages in both of her eyes. Prosecutors argued that these clinical findings aligned directly with Penn’s claim that O’Brien had applied sustained, forceful pressure to her neck during the attack.
O’Brien has consistently denied all accusations against him from the time he was first charged. Represented by court-appointed public defenders Ayanna Norville-Modeste and Janeil Chuck, O’Brien told the court that Penn’s entire version of events was entirely fabricated, and that the violent encounter she described never took place at his home.
Over the course of the trial, the defense team systematically challenged the credibility of every witness called by the prosecution, identifying multiple inconsistencies between Penn’s testimony and the physical medical evidence entered into the court record. They also raised major questions about the conduct of the initial police investigation, pointing out several key investigative shortcomings: investigators never obtained nearby CCTV footage that could have corroborated or refuted Penn’s account of leaving the area with O’Brien, nor did they collect fingerprint or DNA evidence from the scene of the alleged attack. The defense also noted significant unexplained delays in progressing the case from initial investigation to trial.
Norville-Modeste and Chuck further emphasized that the medical findings documented by Dr Ramnarine did not support the extreme severity of the assault Penn alleged, and added that medical records confirmed Penn remained clinically stable immediately after the incident, contradicting claims of a near-fatal strangulation attack. After more than six hours of deliberation, the jury ultimately accepted the defense’s arguments and returned the not guilty verdict on both counts.