Facing the growing challenge of generative AI disrupting traditional academic assessment integrity, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of its decades-old School-Based Assessment (SBA) system, confirming plans to phase out traditional in-course SBAs for all non-practical academic subjects by 2028. The restructuring follows year-long consultations with education stakeholders across 21 Caribbean states and territories, and is set to roll out gradually starting from the 2027 academic year, balancing the need to adapt to evolving technology while preserving the value and credibility of CXC qualifications across the region.
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Belize Claims First-Ever Men’s Volleyball Gold
July 16, 2026 — A new chapter was written in Belize’s sports history this week, as the nation’s senior men’s national volleyball team claimed an unprecedented gold medal at the AFECAVOL Men’s Final Four, marking Belize’s first regional senior championship title in the sport. The underdog Belizean squad defeated Central American volleyball powerhouse Costa Rica in a four-set thriller to clinch the historic win, sending the small Caribbean nation into a wave of celebration.
For leaders of Belize’s volleyball community, the long-awaited victory comes after decades of unmet expectations, incremental progress and heartbreaking near-misses that tested the commitment of the country’s volleyball development programs. Allan Sharpe, president of the Belize Volleyball Association and a former national team player himself, opened up about the intense emotion surrounding the final match, revealing he chose to watch the game alone to manage his overwhelming anxiety.
“I gotta tell you, Shane, I watched the game locked up in a room with nobody around me, lots of anxiety, lots of emotions,” Sharpe said in a post-victory interview. “Years and years of emotions coming. I mean tears – me myself in my room jumping up and down screaming whilst they ran around in the court. It brings out a lot of emotions to think about the gold medal.”
Plans are already underway for a public homecoming celebration to honor the champion team. Team Belize is scheduled to cross back into the country via the northern border at approximately 4 p.m. local time, and fans are invited to gather at Belize Elementary School to welcome the athletes, with the official welcoming event set to begin at 6:30 p.m. this evening. The historic win is expected to leave a lasting impact on volleyball development in Belize, inspiring a new generation of young athletes and raising the profile of the sport across the region.
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Health Ministry Cracks Down on Illegal Construction in Public Cemeteries
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda has issued an urgent public notice following the discovery of multiple unauthorized construction projects at the St. John’s Public Cemetery and other public burial grounds across the two islands.
Under current regulations, any permanent modification to public cemetery land—including the construction, alteration, or installation of new tombs, headstones, boundary fences, retaining walls, concrete platforms, or any other fixed structure—cannot proceed without formal written approval from the Chief Health Inspector. This rule is firmly codified in the nation’s Public Health Act, Cap. 353, which grants authorities clear power to address non-compliant activity.
Any unapproved work found on cemetery grounds will face immediate action: regardless of how far construction has progressed, all unauthorized structures will be halted, dismantled, and removed by authorities. Beyond the removal of non-compliant builds, individuals who carry out unapproved construction or tamper with existing graves, burial plots, or cemetery features will also face formal prosecution under the law.
Officials have outlined clear justifications for these strict regulations. First, the rules protect the designated burial plots and the legal and emotional rights of families who have reserved plots for their loved ones. Second, they preserve the sacred, dignified character of public cemetery spaces that are meant for mourning and remembrance. Third, they allow cemetery managers to maintain accurate, up-to-date records of all burials and approved modifications to land. Fourth, they enable orderly, consistent management of public cemeteries that serve communities across the country. Finally, these regulations safeguard broader public health and safety by preventing unregulated construction that could create hazards or disrupt proper land use.
The ministry has issued a critical warning to the public: do not accept approvals, instructions, or assurances from any individual who does not hold official authorization to grant permission for cemetery work. Before starting any construction or modification project on public cemetery land, all stakeholders must secure required approval directly from either the official Cemetery Office or the Central Board of Health.
Any questions related to burials, family plot reservations, tombstones, fencing, retaining walls, or other cemetery projects must be submitted to the proper official authority before any arrangements are finalized or construction work begins. To enforce these rules moving forward, the ministry announced it is ramping up regular monitoring and patrols of all public cemeteries across Antigua and Barbuda, and will not hesitate to take full enforcement action against any violation of regulations.
In closing, the ministry called on the public to cooperate with these new measures, emphasizing that shared adherence to the rules is critical to protecting the integrity, safety, and sacred dignity of Antigua and Barbuda’s public cemeteries for current and future generations.
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Fire Service launches inspections to prevent another major city blaze
In the wake of multiple destructive commercial fire incidents over recent years, the Saint Lucia Fire Service has launched a proactive new initiative to strengthen fire prevention across the capital city of Castries, kicking off with systematic inspections of every commercial operation in the area.
On Wednesday, inspection teams from the agency’s Fire Prevention and Investigation Department began their on-site checks, visiting businesses across the city to verify whether each operation meets the mandatory fire safety standards required for legal operation. Department officials emphasized that this initial round of checks is only the opening phase of a long-term campaign to guarantee all commercial properties in Castries are equipped to prevent, respond to, and contain fire emergencies.
Assistant Divisional Officer Owen Cazaubon explained that the fire service is undergoing a key strategic shift: moving beyond its traditional role of responding to emergencies after they break out to prioritizing proactive prevention that stops dangerous incidents from occurring in the first place.
“Starting today, we are working our way through every business in the city, and this effort will continue for weeks after the initial launch,” Cazaubon outlined. “Our core goal is to make sure no commercial operation opens or operates without meeting full national safety standards.”
Under existing Saint Lucian legislation, all commercial businesses are legally required to obtain a valid fire safety clearance certificate before opening to the public. While regulatory rules place the onus on business owners to request official inspections, Cazaubon noted the fire service is now taking a proactive, direct approach by sending teams out to properties across Castries instead of waiting for requests from owners.
Notably, the agency has stressed that immediate penalties are not the goal for businesses found to have safety gaps. Instead, officials say their top priority is collaborating with property and business owners to correct hazards and upgrade safety infrastructure.
“The whole point of this initiative is to work with owners to get their properties up to the required standard, so they can operate without putting staff, customers, and the surrounding community at risk,” Cazaubon explained.
This new city-wide safety push comes in response to several major commercial fires that have highlighted the growing risk in Castries’ dense urban layout. These include a large blaze at the Computer World store earlier this year, and the devastating 2019 fire that destroyed the Adjodha Building. Both incidents exposed how quickly fire can spread across the city’s tightly packed cluster of closely situated buildings.
Cazaubon warned that Castries’ unique urban layout means even a small, contained blaze can escalate into a city-wide disaster if it is not prevented or contained early. “We are working to avoid a catastrophic conflagration, to prevent another large-scale disaster on the scale of the 1948 Great Castries Fire from happening again,” he said, referencing one of the worst fire disasters in the island nation’s modern history.
Beyond commercial property inspections, the Saint Lucia Fire Service has issued a public reminder to motorists across the city: drivers must avoid parking vehicles over fire hydrants, as clear, unobstructed access to these water sources is critical for firefighters to quickly respond to and contain emergencies when they do occur.
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No cases here of severe diarrhoea bug, say authorities
A widespread parasitic disease outbreak across the United States has triggered heightened monitoring from Barbados’s agricultural and public health agencies, as the Caribbean nation works to block the pathogen from crossing its borders. On Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published an update confirming that at least 1,645 people across 34 states have been diagnosed with cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness linked to severe “explosive” diarrhea, with 141 patients requiring hospital care so far.
Cyclospora, the single-cell parasite that causes the infection, spreads exclusively through food or water contaminated with the pathogen, and there is no documented evidence of person-to-person transmission. Historically, most major cyclosporiasis outbreaks in the U.S. have been traced back to contaminated fresh produce, including raspberries, basil, cilantro, mixed fruit blends, snow peas, snap peas, lettuce, and pre-packaged salad mixes. The source of the ongoing 2024 outbreak has not yet been identified by U.S. public health officials.
Barbados, which imports a portion of its fresh produce from the U.S., has moved quickly to put layered monitoring protocols in place, with officials from both the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture moving to reassure the public that risks are being mitigated. In a Thursday statement, Barbados’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kenneth George confirmed the health ministry is tracking the outbreak’s evolution closely, noting the parasite is most often carried by unprocessed fresh fruit and uncooked vegetables. He also issued targeted food safety guidance timed to the upcoming Crop Over Festival, a major national event expected to draw large crowds and a surge in street food vending.
Dr. George outlined key evidence-based prevention steps for the public and food vendors: thoroughly washing all fresh fruits and vegetables before preparation or service, maintaining strict hygiene standards in all food handling areas, storing raw and cooked foods separately to avoid cross-contamination, washing hands thoroughly before touching any food, keeping hot prepared foods at a minimum temperature of 140°F (60°C) or higher, and storing cold perishables at 40°F (4°C) or lower. He added that all active food vendors are required to hold a valid Food Handling Certificate and adhere to consistent good handling practices, and directed vendors with additional questions to contact their local polyclinic’s Environmental Health Department.
The chief medical officer also confirmed that as of the latest update, no confirmed or suspected cyclosporiasis cases have been reported in Barbados, and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has not recorded any cases across the broader Caribbean region. For most healthy people, cyclosporiasis is a self-limiting illness, with acute symptoms including watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and vomiting that typically resolve within five to seven days. The infection can also be effectively treated with antibiotics in more severe cases.
Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer Michael James confirmed the joint surveillance effort between the two government agencies, outlining the distinct responsibilities of each body. The Ministry of Agriculture focuses on pre-import screening of fresh produce to check for plant pests, verify that produce meets the country’s strict safety standards, confirm no prohibited or harmful pesticides have been used, and track the origin of all imported produce to identify potential high-risk shipments from outbreak-affected U.S. regions. All parasitic testing for human health risks falls under the purview of the Ministry of Health, James added.
James noted that a large share of the lettuce consumed in Barbados is now grown domestically, and good local agricultural practices minimize the risk of contamination on domestic harvests. As of the latest check, domestic producers have not reported any unusual increases in pest activity that would raise concern. He explained that contamination most often occurs during the harvesting and handling process, when poor hygiene among farm workers or use of contaminated irrigation water can introduce the parasite to picked produce.
U.S. health officials have echoed the basic prevention guidance shared by Barbadian authorities, reminding the public to wash hands frequently and thoroughly clean all fresh produce before consumption to reduce infection risk.
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Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit meets with DAPD executive to discuss disability inclusion
In a recent push to strengthen equity and access for marginalized communities across Dominica, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has convened a high-level meeting with the executive leadership of the Dominica Association of Persons with Disabilities (DAPD). The gathering centered on a wide range of pressing challenges that impact disabled people across the island nation, as both sides collaborated to map out actionable strategies to build a more inclusive society for all citizens.
In an official update posted to public social media channels following the meeting, Prime Minister Skerrit outlined that the discussions prioritized tangible, practical policy changes. Key among the priorities was expanding the representation of disabled voices in national policy development, ensuring that government decisions directly address the unmet needs of this population that has historically been sidelined from formal governance processes.
One of the most substantial proposals that emerged from the talks is currently under active review by the administration: the establishment of a standalone government department or specialized unit focused exclusively on disability advocacy. This proposed body would not only champion the legal rights and daily interests of disabled Dominicans, but also streamline coordination across government agencies for existing policies and community programs aimed at supporting the disability community.
Reaffirming his administration’s longstanding pledge to equitable governance, Skerrit emphasized that the government remains fully committed to sustained close collaboration with DAPD. The end goal, he noted, is to deliver substantive, meaningful systemic reforms that cultivate a national culture of inclusion, where every Dominican — regardless of ability — has equal access to opportunities and the ability to participate fully in all areas of public and civic life.
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LUCELEC probes third islandwide power outage
St. Lucia’s primary electricity provider, St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC), has initiated a comprehensive post-outage investigation following the third complete island-wide blackout to impact the nation so far in 2024, which unfolded early Thursday morning.
According to official timelines released by the utility firm, the unexpected system-wide shutdown began at 9:03 a.m. local time. Crews immediately mobilized to restore service, with power restoration efforts getting underway just 45 minutes after the outage started at 9:48 a.m. crews worked systematically to bring power back to different regions of the island in phases, and by 10:52 a.m., full electrical service had been restored to all customers across St. Lucia.
In an official statement published Thursday afternoon, LUCELEC confirmed that a deep-dive review is already underway to unpack what caused this latest service disruption. The investigation will not only pinpoint the specific contributing factors that led to Thursday’s blackout, but also evaluate how effectively existing protective system safeguards performed during the incident. Ultimately, the review is designed to identify new, actionable measures that can boost both the reliability and resilience of St. Lucia’s entire electrical grid moving forward.
The company explicitly acknowledged that this week’s outage marks the third full island-wide service interruption affecting its customer base this year. The two prior outages took place on March 6 and May 1 respectively, each with distinct root causes: the March disruption was traced to an unintended activation of a protection system at the Cul De Sac power plant, while the May incident stemmed from internal interference within a circuit breaker.
Even though no two outages have shared the same triggering circumstances, LUCELEC emphasized that every disruption to electrical service is treated with the utmost urgency and seriousness by company leadership. The firm recognized that St. Lucian customers depend on consistent, dependable power, and that outages create widespread ripple effects that touch households, local businesses, critical essential services, and the island’s overall economy.
“Maintaining the stability and reliability of the electricity system remains a core priority for the company, and significant investments continue to be made in the infrastructure, systems and operational practices that support that objective,” the statement read.
LUCELEC issued a formal apology to all customers for the inconvenience brought on by Thursday’s outage, and extended gratitude to the general public for their patience throughout the rapid restoration process. The company closed its statement by reaffirming its long-term commitment to delivering a safe, consistent, and resilient electrical service to all communities across the island.
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Entertainer Jesse Fyah Fined $8,000 After Sexual Offence Convictions; Prosecution Appeals Sentence
A high-profile legal case involving Jamaican entertainer Harrison Horsford, professionally known as Jesse Fyah, has taken a new turn after prosecuting authorities launched an appeal against what they call an overly lenient fine-only sentence handed down for two violent sexual offences committed in 2020. High Court Justice Ann Marie Smith recently ordered Horsford to pay a total of $8,000 in penalties: $5,000 in direct compensation to his victim, and a $3,000 fine to the state for the convictions of serious indecency and indecent assault, avoiding the prison time that prosecutors say the crimes deserve. Each of the offences carries a maximum five-year prison sentence under local law, leading the Crown to argue the punishment fails to match the severity of Horsford’s actions and has formally filed an appeal to challenge the ruling.
The origins of the case date back to October 27, 2020, when the victim, a woman in her early 20s who had known Horsford for several years and shared a casual past relationship with him, accepted what she thought would be a ride home from the entertainer. Instead of taking her to her residence, Horsford diverted the trip to the remote Darkwood area, claiming he needed to stop for a work meeting related to a billboard. Prosecutors confirmed during the trial that no such meeting was ever scheduled.
Once the pair arrived at the isolated location, court evidence lays out a disturbing sequence of assaults: Horsford began initiating unwanted sexual advances that the victim repeatedly rejected. When she resisted his overtures, he kissed her against her will, grabbed her by the throat, forcibly exposed and fondled her breasts, and sexually assaulted her genital area while asserting that she belonged to him. Despite the victim’s repeated pleas to be taken home, Horsford forced her out of his vehicle and abandoned her on the side of the isolated road, leaving her distraught and stranded.
A passing motorist eventually stopped to assist the shaken woman, who was found crying and visibly disoriented after the attack. The motorist later testified during the trial that the victim asked to be taken directly to Johnson Point Police Station to file an official report against Horsford. Horsford has maintained his innocence throughout the entire legal process. In an unsworn statement delivered from the defendant’s dock, he claimed he had only offered the woman a ride out of kindness after seeing her standing in the rain, insisting their entire interaction was amicable and he had even offered to help her find work. The jury deliberated for less than an hour before rejecting Horsford’s version of events and returning guilty verdicts on both sexual offence charges.
In her sentencing remarks, Justice Smith called out Horsford’s harmful underlying attitude toward the victim, noting he appeared to believe the victim’s past sexual history and their previous casual relationship gave him permission to act without her consent. The judge firmly rejected this dangerous assumption, stressing in her ruling that every person has an inalienable right to refuse unwanted sexual contact, and that meaningful consent must be respected regardless of past relationships, personal history, or reputation. Horsford has been held in custody since the jury delivered its guilty verdict in May. The case was prosecuted by Crown Counsel Curtis Cornelius, while George Lake served as Horsford’s defense attorney throughout the trial. With the appeal now filed, legal observers expect higher courts will review whether the sentence is appropriate given the severity of the convictions.
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Sir Ronald Sanders Discusses Diplomacy and U.S.-Antigua Relations with Cornell Students
A pivotal educational and diplomatic exchange unfolded recently at the Embassy of Antigua and Barbuda in Washington D.C., where the country’s top envoy to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, opened the doors of the mission to a cohort of students and faculty from Cornell University’s Brooks School of Public Policy.
The off-campus discussion was integrated into the institute’s summer curriculum, specifically as a core activity for the “Democracy Policy in the World” course co-led by Cornell scholars Marian Vidaurri and Thomas Garrett. Bringing academic theory into direct contact with on-the-ground diplomatic practice, the session was centered on the provocative, thought-provoking central question: “Is Might Right?”
Over the course of the dialogue, Sanders drew on his decades of diplomatic experience to unpack multiple key themes for the emerging policy leaders in attendance. He walked attendees through the daily realities of diplomatic negotiation and statecraft, detailed the longstanding collaborative relationship between Antigua and Barbuda and the United States, articulated the critical value of multilateral cooperation in addressing 21st-century global challenges, and emphasized how strong democratic governance forms the foundation of sustainable, equitable national development.
Following the hour-long exchange, Sanders praised the gathering as a dynamic and insightful cross-generational sharing of perspectives, noting that the participating students represented an exceptionally talented cohort of the world’s future decision-makers. The event highlighted how academic institutions and small-state diplomatic missions can collaborate to expand students’ real-world understanding of global politics and bilateral relations.
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Deitz praises WI Women’s series sweep
The West Indies Women’s cricket team has etched its name in the history books after delivering a dominant performance to seal a flawless 3-0 One Day International series sweep over Ireland, an outcome that has drawn widespread praise from head coach Shane Deitz for the squad’s grit, skill and milestone achievements across the tour.
The series was not only a team triumph but also a showcase of individual excellence that cemented two West Indies stars’ places in cricket record books. Captain Hayley Matthews became the first player in West Indies women’s cricket history to notching back-to-back ODI centuries, while former skipper Stafanie Taylor entered a truly global elite club: she is now the first female cricketer from the Caribbean, and only the fifth woman worldwide, to cross the 10,000-run threshold across all formats of international cricket.
In a post-series press statement, Deitz confirmed that the side had hit every pre-tour goal they set, extending full congratulations to his players for putting together a consistent string of high-quality cricket across all three matches. Addressing the squad’s improved batting output, which had been a persistent pain point for the team in recent ODI outings, Deitz highlighted the standout contributions from multiple players across the order.
“We came into this series focused on getting our batters to step up and deliver big, match-winning innings,” Deitz explained. “Hayley got two centuries, Stafanie got two, young Rashada Grimmond notched a terrific 90, and we got solid contributions up and down the order. That’s exactly what we’ve been working toward, after our batting struggles in recent ODI play.”
Deitz was equally complimentary of the team’s bowling unit, which adapted well to new roles and lineup changes throughout the series. “We focused on consistency, forcing Ireland’s batters to have to play our best balls more often, and the bowlers executed that plan perfectly,” he said. “We had new opening bowlers stepping into unfamiliar roles, and every player stepped up and fought hard from the first ball to the last. This result is especially satisfying coming off the back of a long World Cup campaign where we fell short of our goals in the semi-final. To bounce back the way we did here is a really big credit to this group.”
Speaking specifically of Taylor’s landmark 10,000-run achievement, Deitz said he expects the veteran all-rounder has plenty of big runs left in her career. “10,000 international runs is an incredible milestone, and in the three years I’ve been with this team, I’ve never seen Stafanie in better form,” he noted. “She hit a brilliant century against Australia in St. Kitts just a few months back, then followed that up with two more here. She’s just getting better and better – I honestly think she’s got at least another 5,000 runs left in her. She’s a legend of both West Indies and world cricket, and we’re so lucky to have her in this squad, not just for her skill but for what she brings off the field too. She deserves every bit of this success.”
Following the conclusion of the Ireland tour, the squad will return to their home region of the Caribbean to compete in the upcoming Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), before heading out on their next international assignment: a tour of Zimbabwe. Deitz says he is hopeful the team can carry this winning form into their upcoming fixtures.
For her part, Taylor attributed her recent run of excellent form to years of unseen hard work to regain full fitness, and said she was proud to hit the milestone even though she does not track her own statistics. “I do feel really proud,” Taylor shared. “Over the last year or so, I’ve worked incredibly hard to get my body back to full fitness, so I could score runs to help this team. I don’t really keep track of my stats, so actually reaching 10,000 runs feels even more special – I’m really proud of that.”
Taylor also emphasized that the team’s clean sweep and the six qualification points it brings are far more important than her personal milestone, as the side works toward securing automatic qualification for the next Women’s ODI World Cup. “Coming into this series, we knew how important it was to get all six points on the board for our World Cup qualification push,” she explained. “We’ve got more series coming later this year, but our goal is automatic qualification, and this is a huge step toward that. I’m so proud of what this team has accomplished here.”