A shadowy unregulated dredging operation is stirring up controversy and environmental concern in Belize’s ecologically sensitive Placencia Lagoon, with community leaders, marine researchers, and environmental advocates demanding urgent answers from government authorities as the unauthorized work continues. The unmarked, unsanctioned activity began earlier this week, and to date no public entity or private contractor has stepped forward to claim responsibility, leaving local stakeholders and conservation groups in the dark about the project’s scope, purpose and potential long-term damage to the lagoon’s fragile ecosystem. For local communities that rely on the lagoon’s natural resources for fishing and tourism, the operation also poses a direct safety risk: local boat operators have confirmed the dredge site is left unmarked after dark, turning a frequently used vital waterway into a hidden navigation hazard. Dr. Marisa Tellez, executive director of the Placencia-based Crocodile Research Coalition, emphasized that the dredging is targeting one of the most ecologically significant areas of the entire lagoon, a site that was only recently documented as a critical feeding habitat for the region’s vulnerable manatee population. Just two years ago, Tellez and co-researcher Dr. Eric Ramos, a manatee specialist, published peer-reviewed research identifying the area as an active feeding hotspot, where up to 20 Antillean manatees gather at once to feed on a previously undocumented species of seagrass that is unique to the site. Belize’s manatee population is already classified as vulnerable, facing ongoing population decline from widespread habitat disruption and unregulated coastal development that has steadily eroded their critical feeding and breeding grounds across the country. Tellez also noted that the contractor believed to be carrying out the dredging has a documented history of illegal unpermitted dredging activity in other coastal areas of Belize, adding that any large-scale dredging work, which carries major irreversible environmental risks, requires formal public consultation and transparent permitting before work can begin. “What benefits the environment benefits our local communities too,” Tellez explained. “Here in Placencia, all of our livelihoods are tied to the health of the lagoon – from tourism to fishing, we cannot survive if we destroy this ecosystem.” The lack of transparency surrounding the operation has sparked widespread frustration among local environmental groups, who say authorities have failed to respond to repeated requests for clarity. Shane Young, executive director of the Southern Environmental Association, told reporters that his organization submitted formal inquiries to relevant government agencies shortly after community members first reported the dredging, requesting information on any issued permits, the identity of the developer, and the stated purpose of the work. As of the latest updates, Young says authorities have yet to release any formal information to the public, despite confirming receipt of the request. “Community members on the ground have been sending us updates constantly, and the dredging is still actively ongoing as we speak,” Young said. “We don’t even know if this is for land reclamation, a new causeway, or another development – we deserve basic answers about what is happening in our backyard.” When contacted by local outlet News Five, Belize’s Department of Environment confirmed that it plans to deploy an inspection team to the site on the following day, with a formal public statement to follow after the assessment is completed. Environmental advocates and community members have pledged to continue pressing for full transparency and accountability, and have vowed to push for immediate halts to the operation if it is found to be operating without the required permits or threatening the protected manatee habitat. News Five will continue to follow developments in this ongoing story as more information becomes available.
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Belize Races to Get Ready for 2026 Hurricane Season
As the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season draws near, with its official start date of June 1 just a few weeks away, the Central American nation of Belize is ramping up coordinated efforts to strengthen its readiness for potential storm activity. On Monday, senior government leadership gathered in the country’s capital of Belmopan to assess the nation’s current preparedness standing. Henry Charles Usher, the Minister of Public Service and Disaster Risk Management, convened a working meeting with officials from Belize’s National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) to walk through every component of the country’s pre-season readiness.
Emergency response teams across the country have already launched proactive inspections: crews are evaluating the structural safety and capacity of designated storm shelters, auditing stockpiles of critical life-sustaining supplies, and stress-testing formal response protocols that will activate if a storm makes landfall. One key ongoing update being rolled out is a full refresh of the national public shelter directory, to ensure residents can quickly access accurate information about safe locations in the event of an evacuation order.
Disaster management officials have emphasized that the coming weeks represent a critical window to finalize preparations before the season officially gets underway. While government agencies lead the large-scale coordination and infrastructure work, Minister Usher is urging all Belizean households to take individual and family-level action ahead of any potential threat. He is calling on residents to review their personal emergency plans, confirm communication and meeting protocols for family members, and assemble necessary supplies long before the first tropical storm or hurricane is projected to approach the country’s coast.
This report is a transcript of an evening television newscast covering the preparation efforts, with any Kriol-language commentary transcribed using a standardized spelling system for accuracy.
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New BTMI board appointed amid tourism growth push
The Caribbean island nation of Barbados has announced a major leadership reshuffle at its national tourism authority, tapping seasoned business executive Peter Harris to take the helm of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) as the country works to bolster its competitive position in the fast-shifting global travel landscape. Harris will succeed outgoing chair Shelly Williams, with industry veteran Gayle Talma stepping into the newly vacant role of deputy chair for the two-year appointment term.
The changes were made public Tuesday in an official statement released by Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, who framed the board restructuring as a strategic move to assemble a cross-functional team with the diverse skill set required to navigate modern tourism industry challenges. In addition to the top two leadership appointments, the refreshed 13-member board includes a roster of seasoned professionals from across the sector: Sheldene Matthews-Mottley, Andrea Brome, Carol Roberts-Reifer, Ronnie Carrington, Jo-ann Roett, Patricia Affonso-Dass, Kevyn Yearwood, Nicholas Parker, Paul Collymore, Senator Ryan Forde, Cicely Callender, and Francine Blackman, who serves as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport.
Gooding-Edghill emphasized that the new board’s core mandate centers on rolling out Barbados’ updated tourism marketing framework, building consistent global brand recognition for the island as a top travel destination, and delivering steady year-over-year growth in international visitor arrivals. The minister stressed that urgent, focused work is needed to speed up the implementation of the island’s long-term tourism growth strategy, particularly against a backdrop of ongoing global geopolitical volatility that creates uncertainty for international travel flows.
Barbados’ tourism sector has posted solid, resilient performance in recent years, but Gooding-Edghill noted that ongoing proactive planning is critical to prepare for unforeseen external shifts that could disrupt the industry. As the backbone of the country’s economy and social fabric, tourism revenue drives critical public services and livelihoods across the island, making sustained growth a top national priority, he added. Beyond brand building and visitor growth, the board will oversee two key strategic pillars that are central to the government’s expansion plans: the continued expansion of the island’s airlift access initiative, and targeted efforts to grow visitor numbers from high-potential emerging markets, alongside the island’s established traditional source markets.
“Our successful airlift strategy will continue to be one of the key pillars central to our tourism growth strategy, along with our further stimulation of emerging markets to add to our existing source markets, to generate increased arrivals to Barbados,” Gooding-Edghill said in the statement. He closed by extending official gratitude to outgoing chair Shelly Williams, recognizing her contributions to Barbados’ tourism development during her tenure leading the BTMI board.
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Battle of the Districts: Belize’s Best Young Athletes Face Off at Super Nationals
A new milestone in Belizean youth sports is set to launch later this year, as the National Sports Council, in partnership with the Ministry of Sports and the country’s leading national athletic federations, has unveiled plans for the inaugural Super Nationals 2026. Scheduled to run from June 29 to July 3, the five-day inter-district tournament will gather the most promising young athletic talent from every corner of Belize for a multi-sport showdown.
Unlike existing national tournaments run by individual sport federations, Super Nationals is built around a district-wide team model that emphasizes both regional pride and national cohesion. The competition will feature four core sports: volleyball, basketball, football, and track and field athletics, giving young competitors across multiple disciplines a chance to showcase their skills on a unified national stage.
Eligibility for the tournament is restricted to enrolled students aged 15 and under, aligning with the event’s core mission: to build a more robust development pipeline for young Belizean athletes, streamline national talent identification, and raise the bar for competitive youth sports across the country. Each of Belize’s six administrative districts will field a single representative team made up of their top young athletes, with open district-wide tryouts planned to ensure transparent, fair selection. Official dates for the preliminary tryout rounds have not yet been released, but organizers confirm announcements will be made in the coming weeks.
Organizing officials have stressed that the new competition is not intended to replace long-standing federation-run tournaments that already exist across the country. Instead, it is designed as an complementary opportunity that gives rising young athletes additional competitive exposure and hands-on experience at the national level. Beyond athletic development, the initiative also aims to foster a sense of shared district pride and strengthen national unity by bringing young people from all regions of Belize together through sport.
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Dangriga Resident Blasts Southern Regional Hospital Over Ongoing Sewer Issue
For weeks, Margarita Hernandez, a long-time Dangriga resident, has lived with a persistent, foul-smelling nightmare: an ongoing sewer system malfunction originating from the nearby Southern Regional Hospital that has upended her daily life. Fed up with months of unaddressed complaints and empty promises, Hernandez has taken her grievance directly to local media to demand action from the officials who have failed to resolve the issue.
According to Hernandez, the sewer problem has plagued her neighborhood for far longer than authorities have acknowledged, creating unhealthy living conditions and making it impossible for her to enjoy basic comforts at home. She has repeatedly escalated her complaints, starting with hospital management, before reaching out to Dangriga Mayor Robert Mariano, local Area Representative Dr. Louis Zabaneh, and even national Prime Minister John Briceno. Despite multiple outreach attempts, none of the contacted officials or institutions have implemented a permanent fix, leaving Hernandez stuck in a worsening situation.
This report is adapted from a transcript of a primetime local television newscast, with all Kriol-language statements preserved using standardized spelling conventions for accuracy. Readers and viewers can access the full unedited video broadcast via the link included in the original publication. As of the May 12, 2026 publication date, no official representative from the Southern Regional Hospital or the Belizean government has issued a public response to Hernandez’s allegations.
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Hope Creek Students Step Into Their Future
On a memorable day at Hope Creek Methodist Primary School, what began as a conventional school career fair evolved into a transformative experience that put young students face-to-face with their possible futures, far beyond the simple fun of costume dress-up. Scheduled as an immersive introduction to professional pathways for learners of all grades, the 2026 Career Day at the Belizean primary school invited local media outlet News Five to lead a special interactive session for lower-division students focused on the world of journalism.
Every student who participated arrived ready to embody their dream career, turning school hallways and classrooms into a vibrant tapestry of professional roles. Young learners sported uniforms and outfits matching their aspirations: some dressed as police officers ready to serve their communities, others as doctors and nurses preparing to care for those in need, while many represented firefighters, construction workers, service members with the Belize Defense Force, educators, and a wide range of other professions. Beyond the excitement of trying on the look of a future career, school organizers designed the day to nurture curiosity and build early confidence in young people as they begin imagining their long-term paths.
Paul Lopez, a reporter for News Five, led the interactive session that broke down the core mission of journalism for young minds in accessible, engaging terms. Starting with conversational questions to connect with the students, Lopez walked attendees through the essential role journalists play in sharing important news with communities — from emergency events like floods and fires to local milestones and school achievements. He emphasized that the foundation of all good journalism is a commitment to truth, and that anyone who brings curiosity, a willingness to ask questions, a love of connecting with others, and the bravery to speak publicly can pursue a career in the field.
To turn the lesson into a hands-on experience, Lopez invited volunteer students to participate in a short practice interview, asking each to share what they hope to be when they grow up. One young student shared her dual aspirations of working as a nurse or an artist, while another explained he wants to become a marine biologist to study the ocean’s unique underwater creatures. The session concluded with a collective, memorable chant that reinforced the core value of the profession: when Lopez asked “What do journalists do?”, the group responded in unison, “Tell the truth.”
For the young students of Hope Creek Methodist Primary School, the 2026 Career Day offered more than a casual introduction to different jobs: it was an early opportunity to lean into their curiosity, practice sharing their own goals, and learn how the work of storytelling connects communities. Reporting for News Five, Lopez wrapped up his on-site coverage noting that the day proved even young learners can grasp the core values of journalism: bravery, curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to truth. This report is a transcript of an evening television broadcast from News Five.
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Extraordinary Council of Ministers meeting on the security situation in Haiti
Fresh off an official working tour of European nations including Italy’s capital Rome, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé did not delay before prioritizing the country’s escalating security crisis. On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, within hours of his return to Haitian soil, Fils-Aimé called together and led an Extraordinary Council of Ministers at the diplomatic lounge of Port-au-Prince’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport, with the deteriorating national security environment as the sole top agenda item.
Against a backdrop of renewed criminal activity that has stoked widespread, well-founded unease across Haitian communities, the Prime Minister issued a firm, clear reaffirmation of the executive branch’s unshakable dedication to reestablishing the rule of law across every region of the country. Participants in the working session conducted a granular, rigorous review of on-the-ground security conditions, ultimately approving a series of explicit directives and actionable policy measures designed to immediately boost the operational capacity of Haiti’s law enforcement bodies. The approved framework establishes a structure for a coordinated, forceful, and long-term response to all categories of criminal activity plaguing the nation.
During the meeting, Fils-Aimé stressed that the Haitian state will not surrender to fear or pressure from violent actors. He confirmed that all required resources are being mobilized to target criminal groups, dismantle transnational and local gang networks, and rebuild durable public safety across the country. The Prime Minister also restated his personal commitment to leading this fight for collective security without relent, urging the Haitian public to remain calm, alert, and united in national solidarity. He emphasized that the state is fully accepting its responsibility to guide the nation out of the ongoing security crisis.
Immediately after adjourning the extraordinary council meeting, Fils-Aimé traveled to the General Directorate of the Haitian National Police (PNH) to extend his direct support to Acting Director General Vladimir Paraison. He publicly commended the work of the PNH High Command and every frontline police officer deployed across the country to counter rising insecurity. The trip served as a tangible reaffirmation of the government’s backing for law enforcement personnel who work daily to restore national stability, and it aligns with the Prime Minister’s previously issued instructions to all state institutions to ramp up offensive operations against the gangs that have terrorized civilian populations in recent months.
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Fishing disrupted as ice shortage cripples City complex
At the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex, one of Barbados’ core hubs for the local fishing industry, a deepening crisis has brought daily operations to a near-standstill. Rows of idle fishing vessels line the docks, their crews trapped on shore by a persistent and worsening shortage of ice caused by breakdowns in the facility’s decades-old cooling infrastructure. As of Tuesday, the entire flotilla remained moored, with fishermen saying the ongoing malfunction has devastated their incomes, restricted fishing trips, and pushed some operators to travel hundreds of miles overseas just to secure the critical supply.
For months, recurring failures of the complex’s ice machines have left fishing crews increasingly frustrated, with dozens gathering along the waterfront this week to air their grievances to local media. Veteran fisherman Wade Gittens, who has worked in Barbados’ fishing industry for more than 30 years, called the current crisis an existential blow to a sector that was already struggling to stay afloat.
“Right now, there are roughly 70 to 75 boats tied up here, not going anywhere because there is no ice,” Gittens explained during an urgent on-site press briefing. “If a boat is lucky enough to get ice one week and spends two weeks at sea, once that trip is over, it has to stay back here for at least a month and a half, unless they can source ice all the way in St George.”
Gittens added that a growing number of local fishing vessels are now forced to make long, costly trips to neighboring islands like Grenada just to stock up on ice before returning to Barbadian waters to fish. He called for immediate infrastructure changes, saying, “It is past time we had at least two or three working machines to keep the boats supplied.”
Wayne Rose, another experienced longline captain, echoed Gittens’ concerns, noting the ice shortage problem has plagued the complex for years but has reached a breaking point in recent weeks. “Now boats have to leave here, go all the way to Grenada for ice, then come back to fish. That adds extra cost and extra travel time that most of us can’t absorb,” Rose said, adding the shortage has directly cut the number of fishing trips local operators can complete each month. He also linked the slowdown to the rising cost of fish across Barbados, explaining, “That’s why fish prices are so high right now. Not enough boats are going out, supply is low, so prices go up.”
Other fishermen described the situation as untenable. Roger Cox pointed to a publicly posted ice delivery schedule hanging at the complex, noting the document is now effectively useless, since most of the vessels listed are either stuck at the dock or overseas searching for ice. He called the ongoing chaos “more than ridiculous.”
Desperation has even pushed some crews to reuse old ice that has already been in contact with stored fish. Near one dock, a group of fishermen were seen shoveling through chunks of used ice, discarding pieces heavily soaked with fish blood while setting aside cleaner chunks to be washed and repurposed. One angler acknowledged the unsafe practice is far from ideal, but has become a necessary evil amid the shortage. “It’s not really recommended… that’s what the ice machines are for, to give us fresh ice for the catch,” he said, looking despondent. “There’s not much we can do. We have to do what we have to do to get by.”
The impact of the crisis extends beyond fishermen to local fish vendors, who are already feeling the strain of limited supply and rising costs. Ikema Sobers, a vendor scaling flying fish at the complex, said the problem has dragged on through multiple changes in government leadership, and everyone in the supply chain is suffering. “Ministers come and ministers go… all of us are feeling this,” she said, echoing the calls for urgent action and answers from authorities.
Growing public frustration prompted Barbados’ Deputy Prime Minister and Fisheries Minister Santia Bradshaw to visit the complex this week to address the crisis. Bradshaw acknowledged that aging equipment and repeated compressor failures are the root cause of the ongoing shortage. “It is quite unfortunate that these machines were allowed to deteriorate to this point,” she said, adding that the long-term solution requires both upgrading the existing ice machine compressors and completing broader infrastructure renovations across the entire facility.
Bradshaw explained that one compressor has already been sent for repairs, but a second machine—more than 30 years old—developed new problems after workers detected unusual noises and oil leakage earlier this month. While the government has laid out long-term plans to upgrade the entire fisheries complex, Bradshaw said immediate temporary measures have been put in place to address the ice shortage: starting Tuesday afternoon, private firm Wolverine Company began delivering emergency ice supplies to local fishermen, and the government will offer targeted rebates to affected operators, consistent with past support for the industry. Additional ice will also be sourced from the Millie Ifill market in Weston, St James, to boost overall supply.
Even with these emergency measures in place, local fishermen say they continue to bear the brunt of the crisis, with mounting daily costs pushing many to the breaking point. “Every day you leave home to come here, you have costs—bus fare, gas for your car—and then you get here and have to turn around and go home with nothing,” Gittens told reporters. “I honestly think this industry is dying, because we are getting no meaningful help at all.”
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CARICOM weighs migration overhaul
Against a backdrop of contracting populations and widening gaps in available labor, Caribbean nations are positioning an overhaul of migration frameworks as a core strategy to safeguard long-term economic stability, a top United Nations migration official for the region confirmed this Tuesday. Patrice Quesada, regional coordinator for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Caribbean, explained that member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are actively developing a unified regional migration policy focused on three interconnected challenges: improving labor mobility across borders, reversing the damage of demographic decline, and supporting communities displaced by climate change impacts.
The policy review comes as the UN prepared to launch its 2025 report on socio-economic and demographic trends across the Eastern Caribbean. Quesada emphasized that shrinking and aging populations are a shared crisis across every Caribbean nation, with resulting labor shortages placing unmanageable strain on sectors critical to regional GDP. “Most countries across the region are seeing deep stress in key economic sectors, from construction and public health to the tourism industry that forms the backbone of many local economies,” he noted in an interview.
Beyond addressing immediate labor gaps, Quesada explained that the updated policy will be tailored to align with the unique development priorities of individual member states. What began as a narrow policy discussion has evolved into a foundational development strategy, with migration framed as a tool to strengthen key sectors and advance shared goals. For example, targeted migration schemes can bring skilled workers into the agricultural sector to boost production and shore up regional food security, he added.
The UN’s role in this process is to provide technical support and coordination to member states as they advance the policy framework, Quesada said, noting that both migration shifts and demographic decline are now widely recognized as defining mega-trends shaping the future of the Caribbean. “Migration is now fully integrated into regional cooperation frameworks, acknowledged alongside demographic decline as one of the most impactful trends reshaping the region,” he stated.
As a model for other nations to follow, Quesada highlighted Saint Lucia’s upcoming launch of a national migration policy. The Saint Lucia process was developed through a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach that centers the country’s specific needs, serving as a pilot that other Caribbean nations can adapt to their own contexts. This flexible model is particularly important because while the region shares broad demographic and climate challenges, each nation faces unique local circumstances that require customized solutions.
Even as the regional framework takes shape, Quesada noted that member states are still engaged in active consultation to resolve key open questions about implementation. Policymakers are grappling with core issues: how to integrate incoming migrant workers into local communities successfully, how to design systems that deliver mutual benefits for both migrants and host nations, and how to replace irregular migration channels with formal, regulated pathways that bring tax contributions to public coffers while protecting migrants from exploitation.
Climate change is also woven into the design of the new regional policy, as the second most impactful mega-trend driving migration across the Caribbean. While slow-onset sea level rise remains a long-term threat, Quesada explained that the most immediate climate-related displacement stems from frequent extreme weather events, including powerful hurricanes and prolonged droughts that are growing more common with rising global temperatures.
“More acutely than slow sea level rise, the Caribbean faces repeated displacement tied to extreme weather: we have seen it with hurricanes for decades, and now we are watching drought conditions become more severe and widespread across the region, with impacts that will only grow in coming storm seasons,” Quesada said. He pointed to two high-profile examples of climate-driven outward migration: the large-scale outflow of residents from Dominica after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017, and the ongoing struggle of Barbuda to repopulate and fully recover after a string of catastrophic hurricanes destroyed much of its infrastructure.
Addressing climate migration requires more than just short-term humanitarian disaster response, Quesada stressed. The UN already works closely with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to maintain cross-border protocols for temporary evacuation during major hurricanes, allowing people to move safely between islands during crises. But long-term strategy is equally critical: policymakers need to invest in recovery and resilience that gives local residents the choice to stay in their home communities rather than being forced to migrate permanently.
Quesada concluded by calling for expanded long-term regional dialogue focused on climate resilience, sustainable urban development, and upgrading vulnerable infrastructure. The impact of climate change on coastal zones and urban centers, where most critical public and private infrastructure is located, creates hidden mobility pressures that have not yet been fully addressed. This climate-driven shift in population mobility requires targeted, proactive planning that integrates climate action into migration policy from the start, he said.
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AdeKUS Student Chapter vertegenwoordigt Suriname tijdens PetroBowl 2026 in Argentinië
A student team from the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Student Chapter at Anton de Kom University of Suriname (AdeKUS) is set to carry Suriname’s flag at the 2026 Latin America and the Caribbean Regional PetroBowl, scheduled for May 15 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The quiz-style competition is held as a core event of the annual regional SPE Student Symposium, gathering top university student teams from across the region to compete in expertise, collaboration and professional growth.
Organized globally by SPE International, the PetroBowl is a leading international academic competition centered on technical and industry knowledge specific to the oil and gas sector. Unlike standard academic quizzes, the contest is designed to test deep domain expertise, fast problem-solving, and cohesive teamwork, with a core mission of nurturing the next generation of energy sector professionals.
The 2026 Surinamese delegation consists of five members: team captain Rishano Hapdoel, competitors Altaaf Sultan, Latusca Reboe, and Ariantxa Djojodikromo, with academic mentors Manisha Ori and Shaïza Simons guiding the team ahead of the competition. This year’s participation builds on a historic milestone for the program: in 2024, AdeKUS’s student team claimed the regional PetroBowl championship title, a win that put Suriname’s emerging energy talent on the international map and highlighted the high caliber of the university’s petroleum-related programs.
Beyond competition, the PetroBowl serves as a globally recognized platform for talent development. For participating students, the event offers far more than an opportunity to test their knowledge against international peers. It opens doors to structured professional development opportunities, including specialized technical training, cross-border networking events with industry leaders, and pathways to global competitions such as the international PetroBowl and SPE’s Student Paper Competition. These experiences directly prepare young professionals to tackle the complex technical and social challenges facing the modern energy sector.
The Suriname team’s trip and participation are made possible through collaborative support from local industry and regional SPE bodies, including SPE Suriname (SPESUR), national energy firm Staatsolie, and local enterprise Self-Reliance. For these backers, supporting the student delegation is more than sponsorship—it is an investment in developing local talent and building domestic expertise in Suriname’s growing energy sector. The partnership also underscores the critical value of bridging academic education and industrial practice to advance the sustainable development of Suriname’s energy industry, as the country continues to expand its presence in the global oil and gas market.