The Magistracy Department has issued a public advisory confirming that all court-based cashing services will be completely unavailable to the general public on Wednesday, 13 May 2026. This planned, temporary service pause is not the result of an operational error or system failure, but rather a deliberate step to make space for a mandatory, institution-wide Cashiers’ Training program. The department emphasized that this training initiative is designed to upskill all cashiering staff, with the explicit goal of boosting both the speed of service delivery and the overall quality of support offered to community members accessing court facilities. Regular cashing operations are scheduled to fully resume at all court offices starting at 8:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, 14 May 2026. In closing its advisory, the Magistracy Department extended a sincere apology to all residents and visitors who may experience disruption or inconvenience to their planned court-related business during this one-day suspension. This advisory is issued by the Magistracy Department. NOW Grenada notes that it does not take responsibility for the opinions, statements, or third-party contributed content shared on its platform, and provides a reporting channel for users to flag any abusive content.
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Demerara Bank loses bid for High Court to throw out WIN members’ account closure cases
On Thursday, 7 May 2026, Guyana’s Full Court delivered a landmark ruling against Demerara Bank, dismissing the financial institution’s appeal that sought to block six senior members of the country’s main opposition party We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) from legally challenging the bank’s unexplained closure of their personal accounts.
The three-judge panel — led by Chief Justice Navindra Singh, alongside Justices Deborah Kumar-Chetty and Nigel Niles — upheld the lower court’s original decision, ordering Demerara Bank to submit a formal defensive affidavit to the court by 21 May 2026. The ruling also mandated that the bank pay 100,000 Guyanese dollars in legal costs to each of the six claimants by 1 June 2026. The six affected WIN members are Gobin Harbajhan, Denodra Park, Dexter George, Joel Ramesh, Lester Benjamin, and Denitta Parkes, who are represented by private attorney Darren Wade. Demerara Bank’s legal team was led by Devindra Kissoon, Natasha Vieria, and A. Dev.
In its written judgment, the Full Court panel clarified that Demerara Bank’s procedural choice to pursue a strike-out application against the claimants’ Fixed Date Application (FDA), rather than filing a substantive defense directly, caused unnecessary delays in the legal process. “The appellant’s decision to challenge the FDA by way of a strike-out application has protracted the resolution of this matter,” the judgment read. “When weighing the core arguments presented to the lower court, we find that a defensive affidavit should have been filed from the outset, allowing the trial judge to assess the substantive claim on its legal merits.”
The court further noted that Demerara Bank failed to provide sufficient evidence to support its claim that the opposition members’ FDA was scandalous, frivolous, vexatious, or an improper abuse of court process. The panel confirmed that the claimants had raised an arguable legal case with reasonable grounds to bring their challenge, rejecting the bank’s assertion that the suit had no legitimate path to success.
Demerara Bank’s appeal originated from a dispute over the unexplained account closures. Instead of responding to the claimants’ FDA with a formal substantive defense, the bank opted to file a motion to have the entire claim struck from the court docket. The bank’s core arguments included that the FDA did not disclose a valid legal cause of action, that the claim was legally misconceived, and that the requested relief could not be granted under Guyanese law. Demerara Bank also argued that there was no connection between the account closures and Guyana’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Financing Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act, that no private legal claim could arise from alleged breaches of that legislation, that the claimants lacked legal standing to bring the suit because the bank is not subject to public law remedies, that no implicit duty of good faith exists in customer banking contracts, and that the bank owes no fiduciary duty of trust or confidence when making the decision to close a customer’s account.
Counsel for the six opposition members pushed back against all of the bank’s claims, arguing that a clear legal cause of action does exist. The claimants contend that an implicit duty of good faith is a standard component of all banking contractual relationships in Guyana, and that Demerara Bank breached that fundamental overriding duty when it shut down their accounts without any warning or explanation.
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Economist Calls for CARICOM Unity on US Surcharge Move
As the United States gears up to implement a 10 percent import surcharge via World Trade Organization (WTO) channels, a prominent Belizean economist is sounding the alarm over the disproportionate harm this measure could inflict on small, trade-dependent economies across the Caribbean, calling for coordinated collective action from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) bloc.
Dr. Phillip Castillo, a local economic expert, has pushed back against the core justification the US has offered for the new tariff: addressing persistent balance-of-payments deficits. Castillo argues that this rationale falls apart when considering the unparalleled global dominance of the US dollar, which puts Washington in a unique position to avoid the kinds of balance-of-payment crises that plague smaller nations. In an exclusive interview with The Reporter, he broke down the specific risks for Belize, noting that the Central American nation already runs a substantial trade deficit with the United States — importing far more American goods than it is able to export to the large North American market.
For Belize, whose export volume to the US is already limited, the new 10 percent surcharge would act as yet another prohibitive trade barrier, further squeezing domestic producers’ access to American consumers and worsening the country’s already lopsided trade balance. Beyond the immediate impact on Belize, Castillo emphasizes that the moment underscores a long-running need for stronger regional coordination among CARICOM member states. Small individual Caribbean nations lack the economic clout to negotiate effectively with major global powers like the United States, but a unified CARICOM bloc would carry far more leverage to push back against harmful trade measures, he explained.
Castillo also questioned the broader credibility of the US’s decision to seek WTO approval for the surcharge, pointing out that Washington has a recent history of imposing unilateral tariffs on dozens of countries without going through the WTO’s multilateral dispute and approval process. The current formal application to the global trade body, he suggested, looks less like a commitment to multilateral process and more like an attempt to retroactively grant international legitimacy to a trade policy that fits a pattern of unilateral American action.
The US formally notified the WTO of its plan to impose the 10 percent surcharge earlier this year, invoking Section 122 of the 1974 US Trade Act to back its claim that the measure is necessary to correct balance-of-payments imbalances. WTO members are scheduled to begin formal consultations with Washington on the proposal in the coming weeks, a process Castillo says is not without opportunity for small economies. Even with the odds stacked against them, the multilateral consultation process creates a formal space for smaller nations to collectively air their opposition and potentially shift American trade policy before the surcharge is implemented, he noted.
Still, Castillo warned that if the US moves forward with the measure despite global pushback, the global trading system will face deeper disruptions, with the worst fallout falling on vulnerable small economies like Belize that lack the economic size and diversification to absorb external trade shocks. The proposed surcharge comes at a particularly fragile moment for the global economy, which is already grappling with skyrocketing oil prices tied to escalating geopolitical tensions between the US, Israel and Iran, as well as lingering unresolved tariff disputes and persistent supply chain disruptions that have left global growth already teetering.
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One in custody following massive fire in Roseau
A devastating large-scale fire swept through a commercial district in Roseau this week, leaving nine buildings completely destroyed and causing widespread damage to local businesses and community infrastructure. Law enforcement officials have confirmed that a single man has been taken into police custody as authorities work to unpack the circumstances surrounding the outbreak of the blaze.
The fire broke out at the intersection of Great Marlborough Street and Upper Lane, a busy corridor that hosts a mix of professional offices, retail spaces, and local dining establishments. Early damage assessments released by Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Prosper confirm that several high-profile local properties were lost in the fire, including the office of local attorney Joshua Francis, the well-known French Connection Building, and the popular local eatery Family Restaurant.
In comments following the emergency response, Prosper characterized the destruction as a devastating blow to the Roseau community, noting that the loss of these buildings will have long-lasting impacts on business owners, employees, and residents who rely on the neighborhood’s services. Emergency crews have completed their initial on-site response work, clearing debris and securing the burned area to prevent additional safety hazards.
As of the latest update, official investigations into the cause and origin of the fire remain ongoing. Authorities have not yet released additional details about the person taken into custody, including potential charges or a possible motive for the blaze, and are asking any members of the public who witnessed activity in the area before the fire started to contact local law enforcement with information.
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Church Leaders Push Removal of Belmopan Billboard
A heated public debate has broken out in Belmopan, Belize, after a prominent alcohol advertisement placed at one of the capital’s busiest intersections drew fierce backlash from church leaders and local residents, who argue the ad objectifies women and exacerbates existing public health and safety crises tied to substance abuse in the country.
The center of the controversy is a large outdoor billboard located near Belmopan’s main traffic light, a high-traffic spot visited daily by hundreds of commuters and family groups. The advertisement features well-known Trinidadian musician Nailah Blackman holding an alcoholic beverage, and has split public opinion across religious, business and digital communities, touching on sensitive questions of public decency, advertising regulation, and the bounds of free expression.
Leading the charge for the billboard’s immediate removal is Pastor Louis Wade, a Church Senator and owner of local media outlet PLUS TV Belize. One of the most vocal critics of the ad, Wade argues that the content crosses lines of accepted community standards and public morality, creating a clear justification for intervention by national political leaders and Belmopan’s municipal government.
Wade contends that the ad further normalizes the sexualization of women in public spaces, and accused the brand behind the campaign of predatory, aggressive alcohol marketing that also normalizes harmful alcohol and marijuana culture. He went a step further, connecting the problematic imagery to the nation’s broader, long-running social challenges, including high rates of domestic violence, sexual abuse and assault, and widespread alcohol dependency.
“Belize already fights an uphill battle against social harms stemming from substance abuse,” Wade explained, noting that the billboard’s prominent location, visible to every person entering and moving through the capital, makes its presence particularly inappropriate. He added that the ad offends the core values and sensibilities of what he called “respectable Belizeans.”
The first public objection to the advertisement was actually raised by another faith leader, Pastor Adam Klausing, who shared his concerns in a viral social media post that amassed tens of thousands of interactions and brought the controversy to national attention. In his post, Klausing questioned whether the imagery was appropriate for the main public entryway to Belize’s capital city, especially given that the area is regularly used by families with children.
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Dad: ‘Most intense month’ as Noi begins cancer treatment
A 19-year-old Barbadian woman, Noi Jemmott, is now in Bogotá, Colombia, entering what medical professionals call the most high-stakes phase of her fight against an aggressive, fast-growing blood cancer. Jemmott received a diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), a rapidly progressing cancer that impacts bone marrow and blood cell production, and began urgent, intensive chemotherapy earlier this week, according to her father Janson Jemmott. In an exclusive interview with Barbados TODAY Thursday, Janson, a Barbadian barber, shared that the coming 30 days of treatment will be a pivotal turning point for his daughter’s chance of full remission.
Over the first few days of her arrival in Colombia, clinical teams completed a battery of confirmatory tests to verify the initial diagnosis, map the spread of the cancer, and refine a targeted treatment plan tailored to Noi’s specific case. “The first couple of days they were running tests to make sure that the diagnosis was correct, and to find the best course of action to deal with the diagnosis,” Janson explained. “As of [Wednesday], they have started treatment – she has started chemo – and that will run for the first month. It’s gonna be the most intense month.”
As part of the first phase of care, Noi is scheduled to undergo two routine procedures this week: a minor surgery to place a central venous catheter in her chest to simplify consistent chemotherapy administration, and a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to test whether cancer cells have spread to her central nervous system. Despite the gravity of her diagnosis and the grueling treatment schedule ahead, Janson said his daughter has maintained an extraordinary level of resilience and positive spirit.
“I video called her earlier this morning and she was smiling,” Janson shared. “I tell her keep your smile. So that is comforting – very comforting – when I call her and I can see that she is still who she is. She is a very beautiful girl, very sweet girl.”
Janson admitted that the journey has been emotionally devastating for the entire family, but the overwhelming wave of support from strangers and loved ones across Barbados has softened the blow and given them strength to keep fighting. Donations to cover Noi’s costly overseas treatment have poured in from across the island, ranging from small $5 contributions to larger gifts, and Janson says each donation carries a meaning that goes far beyond its monetary value.
“Each time I get a call from some person, it’s extremely emotional for me,” he said. “You live in a world where there’s so much negative stuff going on, but when something like this happens, you can see the positive feedback from people. The people that donated $5 – that might have been that person’s last $5 – but they still donated. To feel the love from people that I don’t even know, it’s very overwhelming. In this day where so much negatives are going on, people need something positive to hold on to.”
Janson also opened up about the emotional toll the diagnosis has taken on Noi, revealing that she recently broke down in tears for the first time since learning she had cancer – a moment that he says drove home how difficult this fight is for her. Even so, he added, her strength has never wavered for long. “She has been very strong,” he said. “I really admire her.”
In the coming days, Janson will travel to Colombia to be by his daughter’s side ahead of the most intensive weeks of chemotherapy, a treatment that nearly always causes full hair loss. He plans to personally cut Noi’s hair before treatment begins, a small act of love and support to help her prepare for what’s ahead.
For Janson, every donation and message of support is more than just financial help to cover medical bills and travel costs. “Each donation I see as hope – not as dollars,” he said. “I know it’s going on account as dollars, but I see hope. I just want to thank everyone that has supported so far. Each call is very emotional. It has made me feel like, yes, there’s still hope.”
Janson is optimistic that Noi will respond well to treatment, and is holding onto hope that she will be able to return home to Barbados to resume her normal life within six months. If complications arise, the treatment and recovery process could extend to almost a year, but Janson says the family is preparing for whatever comes and remains committed to fighting alongside Noi. “Best case scenario, I’m hoping that in six months, my daughter should be back in Barbados,” he said. “Worst-case scenario, we could have this fight going on for almost one year. But I’m hoping that’s not the case. I want my daughter back… I miss her.”
Community members who wish to support Noi’s treatment can contribute via three channels: a dedicated GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-noi-jemmott-fly-to-colombia-for-lifesaving-treatment, a CIBC bank account numbered 1001282704, or through First Pay to the registered email cathyallman@gmail.com.
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Ministry of Health and Wellness Receives ICT Equipment to Strengthen Maternal and Child Health Services
Belize’s Ministry of Health and Wellness has taken a key step forward in upgrading its national maternal and child health systems, after receiving a donation of critical information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure through a multi-partner international development project. The handover, held as part of the initiative ‘Strengthening the EMTCT Strategy with Maternal and Child Health Services,’ included 10 fully integrated all-in-one desktop computers and a high-resolution video projector, tools designed to address longstanding gaps in digital health capacity across the country’s public health network.
The project draws financial support from the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, administered through the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, with on-the-ground implementation led by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). This collaborative effort aligns with broader global goals to expand equitable access to quality healthcare in low- and middle-income nations, leveraging South-South cooperation to share resources and expertise between developing economies.
PAHO officials outlined that the new ICT equipment will transform core public health functions in Belize, from streamlining patient data management and strengthening infectious disease surveillance to improving laboratory workflow coordination and enhancing cross-team communication among frontline healthcare workers. These upgrades are expected to cut down administrative delays, reduce diagnostic wait times, and enable faster, more responsive care for expectant mothers and children across every region of the country.
Beyond general health service improvements, the initiative directly supports regional and national efforts to eliminate the vertical (mother-to-child) transmission of four high-burden infectious diseases: HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and Chagas disease across the Caribbean. For Belize specifically, the donation will allow public health authorities to build on existing progress made in preventing mother-to-child transmission of these conditions, while strengthening the overall capacity of the country’s national public health system.
During the official handover ceremony, stakeholders from Belize’s government, PAHO/WHO, and UN bodies emphasized that cross-sector, international partnerships remain the cornerstone of advancing public health outcomes for vulnerable populations. The event highlighted how targeted investment in digital health infrastructure can create lasting, systemic improvements that protect the health of mothers and children, who are among the most at-risk groups in any national healthcare system.
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Belize Moves Early to Help Farmers Ahead of Drought
As climate forecasts point to a heightened risk of severe drought later this year, the government of Belize has moved ahead of the curve to activate a comprehensive support plan for agricultural producers across the country’s most vulnerable regions.
Developed over nearly two years of collaborative work between the Belizean Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and New Growth Industries, the National Meteorological Service, and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the initiative introduces a first-of-its-kind Anticipatory Action system for the country. The framework was greenlit after long-range weather projections confirmed a high probability of below-average rainfall across Belize in the coming months.
The core of the program delivers advance cash assistance to smallholder and commercial farmers operating in Orange Walk, Corozal, and Cayo — the three regions identified as facing the greatest drought risk. With this flexible funding, producers can invest upfront in drought adaptation tools: reinforced water storage infrastructure, climate-resilient seed varieties, and expanded irrigation equipment that will help them preserve crops through extended dry periods. Government officials emphasize that this pre-emptive investment is designed to lock in crop protection and cut avoidable production losses before drought conditions even set in.
The proactive approach comes as climate scientists warn that El Niño conditions, which typically bring drier-than-average weather to much of Central America, are on track to develop by July. Northern and western Belize, the regions that host the bulk of the country’s small-scale agricultural operations, are particularly exposed, as most local farming systems rely entirely on natural rainfall rather than established irrigation networks.
For WFP Representative Brian Bogart, the shift from post-disaster response to pre-emptive action marks a critical evolution in climate risk management. “Acting before a crisis hits doesn’t just protect farmers’ harvests — it safeguards their livelihoods and cuts the long-term public cost of emergency disaster response,” Bogart explained. “When farmers are able to keep their crops healthy and their incomes stable, entire communities avoid the cascading impacts of drought that can last for years after dry conditions end.”
In recent years, Belize has seen a steady increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events including prolonged droughts, a trend that has placed growing economic pressure on the agricultural sector — one of the country’s largest employers and export earners. Belizean authorities frame the new Anticipatory Action system as a foundational step toward more proactive climate planning, designed to build long-term resilience for the rural communities that are most vulnerable to shifting weather patterns.
The entire initiative has been made possible through financial and technical support from a coalition of international development partners, including the governments of Canada, Ireland, and the United States, along with the European Union. This international backing has allowed Belize to build out the data infrastructure and delivery systems needed to turn early climate warnings into tangible action for at-risk producers.
As the country prepares for the potential dry spell, officials stress that this pre-emptive model sets a new standard for climate adaptation across small island and developing states. By acting early, Belize aims not only to reduce immediate drought damage and protect rural livelihoods, but also to strengthen the nation’s overall capacity to face growing climate challenges in the decades ahead.
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British High Commission supports Levera mangrove reforestation project
A landmark environmental partnership between the British High Commission in St George’s and Grenada’s St Patrick Environmental Community and Tourism Organisation (SPECTO) is driving forward critical ecosystem recovery at the Levera Pond, one of the Caribbean island nation’s most ecologically significant wetland sites. The collaboration, known as the Levera Pond Recovery: Mangrove Restoration and Education Initiative, is fully funded through the UK Government’s Bilateral Programme Fund, bringing both financial and community-focused support to a landscape still reeling from extreme weather damage.
The initiative targets two core restoration priorities: expanding ongoing mangrove reforestation work across the protected wetlands, and rebuilding the popular public boardwalk that was heavily destroyed when Hurricane Beryl swept through Grenada in 2024. As a Ramsar-designated wetland of international importance, Levera’s mangrove ecosystems play an irreplaceable role in supporting native biodiversity, buffering coastal communities against storm surges, and maintaining the natural balance of the region’s marine and terrestrial habitats.
Months into the project, early progress already demonstrates the power of cross-sector and community collaboration. To date, teams have successfully planted 423 mangrove seedlings, encompassing both native red and black mangrove species critical to the local ecosystem. Coordinated by project implementer Michael Forteau, the planting activities have been carried out by SPECTO community volunteers alongside students from Grenada’s TA Marryshow Community College (TAMCC), blending hands-on restoration work with impactful environmental education. The project has also delivered immediate local economic benefits, creating five full-time temporary positions for community members to support ongoing work at the site.
During a recent site visit to assess progress, Resident British Commissioner Victor Clark joined SPECTO representatives for a mangrove planting activity and tour of the new boardwalk construction. After observing the work firsthand, Clark emphasized the urgency of protecting the vulnerable Levera ecosystem, noting that hurricane damage and additional stress from nearby construction have put the site at heightened risk. “Protecting the fragile environment and ecosystems of the Ramsar-designated Levera wetlands in Grenada is critically important — especially in the wake of Hurricane Beryl and the damage caused by nearby construction,” Clark said. “Seeing the impact firsthand has only strengthened my conviction, and I am proud that the British High Commission is partnering with SPECTO to support this vital work.”
When the project wraps up later this year, organizers plan to host a public official launch event to celebrate the completed boardwalk reconstruction and showcase the early progress of the newly planted mangroves. Beyond this specific initiative, the British High Commission has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to supporting environmentally sustainable projects across Grenada that protect native biodiversity, build community climate resilience, and advance inclusive, sustainable local development.
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Dominica to host gospel song writing workshop with focus on liturgical music
Dominica is set to make history in its liturgical and cultural landscape with the launch of the world’s first-ever Gospel Songwriting Workshop, an innovative two-day program tailored for aspiring and established creators seeking to hone their sacred music composition craft. Organized by the Institute of Spiritual Leadership and Growth Mentorship, the initiative fills a longstanding gap for creators eager to connect their artistic practice to the theological roots of Catholic worship, blending deep spiritual learning with hands-on technical training.
Ivenia Benjamin, founder of the Institute and lead organizer of the event, outlined that the workshop’s core mission goes far beyond teaching basic songwriting techniques. Instead of framing composition as merely an artistic pursuit, the program encourages participants to approach songwriting as a form of prayer and a core component of religious ministry, while reaffirming the central role that music plays in Catholic liturgy and collective worship.
Over the course of the two split sessions, attendees will dive into a structured curriculum that balances academic grounding, practical skill-building, and collaborative creative work. The program opens with exploration of the biblical and theological foundations of sacred music, helping participants understand the historical and spiritual purpose of liturgical song. From there, creators will learn actionable composition techniques to craft everything from hymns and praise songs to musical settings for segments of the Catholic Mass. The curriculum also emphasizes inclusive creativity, teaching creators how to weave local cultural and linguistic traditions into their work to make worship more accessible and resonant for diverse congregations. Collaborative co-writing exercises with peers and expert facilitators are also designed to build new creators’ confidence in both composing new work and performing it for audiences.
Leading the workshop is a lineup of highly experienced, widely respected sacred music composers and clergy, bringing decades of collective experience and contribution to global Catholic liturgical music. Headlining the local faculty is Monsignor Eustace Thomas, a priest with nearly 60 years of service, who has earned acclaim for his extensive catalog of beloved Catholic hymns written in both English and Creole. His best-known works include *We Are the Living Stones*, *Together We Are Christ’s Body*, and *This is My Body, This is My Blood*, among many others. Joining him is Monsignor William John-Lewis, a distinguished Dominican composer and priest whose popular liturgical compositions include *Agneau de Dieu*, *Senyè Pran Pityé*, and *Forbes Te Deum*.
The program will also feature a special in-person session from international guest facilitator Brother Paschal Jordan OSB, a Benedictine monk of Guyanese descent based in Trinidad. Brother Jordan is internationally celebrated for his extensive body of sacred work, including well-known pieces such as *To Be the Body*, *Praise to the Lord*, and *In God’s House*, and will travel to Dominica specifically to lead the workshop’s second session.
Unlike many similar faith-based arts programs that are held on consecutive days, this workshop is structured as two non-consecutive Saturdays to accommodate participants with existing work and family commitments. The first session, led by the local facilitator team, will take place on May 16, 2026, at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Morne Bruce, running from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Brother Jordan will lead the second and final session one week later on May 23, 2026, at the same venue, keeping the same daily schedule.
Benjamin shared that the Institute’s ultimate goal for the initiative is to uplift new, diverse creators, encouraging what the organization describes as “new voices to sing a new song to the Lord.” By nurturing a new generation of liturgical composers, the Institute hopes to enrich communal worship across Dominica and draw worshippers closer to the core of their faith. Organizers note that the combination of rigorous theological teaching, hands-on technical training, and intentional spiritual formation makes this event a one-of-a-kind gathering that is poised to leave a lasting mark on Dominica’s religious and cultural community. Interested participants can reach out to the Institute of Spiritual Leadership and Growth Mentorship at (767) 295 9089 for additional registration and program details.