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  • Stolen Hilux Recovered After Police Chase

    Stolen Hilux Recovered After Police Chase

    In an early morning law enforcement operation on April 25, 2026, Belize police recovered a stolen Toyota Hilux that had been taken from the Football Federation of Belize’s compound in Belmopan City, ending a high-speed pursuit near Calla Creek Village in Cayo District.

    The operation unfolded shortly before 4 a.m., when members of the San Ignacio Special Operation Team were conducting routine mobile patrols and received an official alert about the missing vehicle. Acting quickly on the tip, the team traveled to the Bullet Tree Falls police substation, where they linked up with officers from the Mobile Interdiction Unit to expand their search along the Santa Rosa Road corridor.

    As the combined patrol scanned the route, officers spotted the unreported stolen vehicle traveling toward them. They gave standard traffic signals to order the driver to pull over, but instead of complying with the law enforcement instruction, the driver immediately accelerated and attempted to evade capture.

    Simultaneously, patrol officers noticed a male suspect sitting on a parked motorcycle along the side of the road close to the encounter. That individual was taken into custody without incident right away, while officers initiated a formal pursuit of the fleeing truck in the direction of Calla Creek Village.

    The chase finally concluded at a small hammock bridge within the village limits, where law enforcement found the abandoned Hilux. A preliminary on-site inspection revealed that the vehicle’s ignition key had been left inside, and a valid Belizean driver’s license was discovered on the floorboard near the driver’s seat.

    After the recovery, the stolen vehicle underwent forensic processing and evidence photography at the scene before it was transported to the San Ignacio Police Station, where it is currently being held in police impound as the investigation into the theft continues.

  • CARICOM election observation mission arrives in Antigua and Barbuda

    CARICOM election observation mission arrives in Antigua and Barbuda

    In response to an official invitation extended by Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat has formally confirmed the deployment of a nine-member CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM) to monitor the twin-island nation’s upcoming 2026 General Elections, scheduled to take place on April 30.

    Headed by Maxine McClean, a sitting member of Barbados’ Electoral and Boundaries Commission, the mission draws seasoned electoral experts from across the Caribbean bloc to ensure impartial, comprehensive oversight. Herman St. Helen, Chief Elections Officer of Saint Lucia, serves as Deputy Chief of Mission. The remaining core observer team includes senior electoral and governance officials from five other CARICOM member states: Ambassador Felix Gregoire, Chairman of Dominica’s Public Service Commission; Rohan Porter, Acting Assistant Director of Elections for Field Operations in Jamaica; Stephanie Bram, a member of Suriname’s Electoral Bureau; and Karla Dayton Edwards, Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago’s Election and Boundaries Commission. Three CARICOM Secretariat staff from the Foreign and Community Relations portfolio — Programme Manager Brian Bellevue, Project Officer Amos Lindor, and Administrative Assistant Denise Morgan — provide administrative and logistics support to the mission.

    The advance core contingent of the mission touched down in Antigua and Barbuda on April 23, and has already begun laying the groundwork for its observation work by scheduling consultations with a broad spectrum of national stakeholders. These planned meetings include representatives from the Antigua and Barbuda government, opposition parties, the national Electoral Commission, and the Supervisor of Elections. Beyond official political and electoral bodies, the mission will also hold discussions with civil society groups representing marginalized and key community segments, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, the local business community, religious organizations, labor unions, and independent media outlets.

    On election day, April 30, observers will deploy to polling sites across the country to monitor every stage of the electoral process, from the opening of polling stations and the casting of ballots, through the closure of voting sites, the counting of ballots, and the official compilation of poll statements. To produce a rigorous, evidence-based assessment, the team will gather both quantitative data to verify election results and qualitative observations to evaluate the conduct of electoral officials, the behavior of political actors, and the overall inclusivity and fairness of the pre-election and election-day environment.

    Following the close of polls, the mission will first release a Preliminary Statement outlining its immediate findings and initial assessment of the electoral process. A full, comprehensive final report will be compiled at a later date, submitted to CARICOM Secretary-General, shared with Antigua and Barbuda’s government, opposition leader, and national Electoral Commission, and ultimately published publicly on the official CARICOM website. The full mission is scheduled to conclude its work and depart Antigua and Barbuda on May 3, 2026.

    In the mission’s official arrival statement, released on April 25 and signed by Chief of Mission McClean, the team expressed sincere gratitude for the warm welcome and cooperation it has received since entering the country. Mission members reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the strengthening of democratic governance in Antigua and Barbuda through independent, transparent observation.

    Founded in 1973 via the Treaty of Chaguaramas, CARICOM is a 15-member regional bloc with six associate members, representing roughly 16 million Caribbean residents. Revised in 2001 to establish a regional single market and economy, the organization centers its work on four core pillars: economic integration, coordinated foreign policy, human and social development, and cross-border security cooperation, with the overarching goal of building an integrated, inclusive, and globally competitive regional community that guarantees human rights, social justice, and shared prosperity for all citizens.

  • He’s 16—and already running his own marine services business

    He’s 16—and already running his own marine services business

    Against the overcast, quiet backdrop of Rodney Bay Marina, 16-year-old Elim Estava and his mother Darnelly Estava-St Ange paused their pre-travel preparations to sit down with the St. Lucia Times to share the inspiring origin story of the young man’s bold new entrepreneurial venture, King of Clean Marine Services.

    Tall, laid-back and remarkably thoughtful for his age, Elim openly admits he carries a small amount of nervous excitement as he navigates his first months running a business while still balancing studies at the Saint Lucia Sports Academy. Just two months before this conversation, he stood before a packed crowd at the islands’ first ever Creativity and Innovation Forum to formally announce his launch, a leap of faith encouraged by his mentor from the program, Natalie John. The early returns have already been promising: his dedicated business Instagram page has quickly built an engaged audience of local boat owners.

    The business idea grew organically from Elim’s lifelong connection to the water, a bond rooted in his family’s multi-generational history of sailing. It all started when he helped a friend scrub down a long-uncleaned vessel, and he felt immediate satisfaction seeing the dull, neglected boat shine again after a thorough cleaning. He brought the idea of turning this enjoyable task into a full business to his mother, and together they mapped out the brand: King of Clean, a name that honors Elim’s grandfather while nodding to his commitment to spotless results. Today, Elim offers comprehensive hull scrubs plus full interior and exterior cleaning services for marine vessels, with plans to expand his offerings as his customer base grows.

    Beyond his entrepreneurial pursuits, Elim is also an accomplished competitive cyclist who competes at the national level, proving his ability to juggle multiple passions alongside his high school studies. But his path to launching his own business has not been without obstacles. Elim lives with ADHD and dyslexia, neurodivergent conditions that have led to unfair misunderstandings in some academic settings. In interviews, Elim and his mother explained that many educators fail to accommodate neurodiverse learning differences, often writing off struggling students as unmotivated or difficult rather than investigating the root of their challenges. While Elim has found supportive mentors including cycling coach Andy Bail and some understanding school faculty, his family has long fought to reframe what success looks like for neurodivergent young people.

    As a parent, Darnelly has positioned herself as Elim’s biggest advocate and supporter, rejecting the common narrative that pushes all young people toward traditional employment after graduation. “The education system often trains young people to be employees, but I want Elim to chart his own path,” she explained. “I’ve always told him that success doesn’t only come from academic excellence. You can thrive in any field you’re passionate about, so long as you commit to it.” She added that from the time Elim could walk, he has felt most at home on the water, so building a marine-focused business was a natural fit for his strengths and interests.

    For Elim, building his own business is also a personal stand against the negative cycles that trap many young people in his community. He notes that too many local youth with untapped talent end up drawn into gang violence, in large part because they lack the support and encouragement to pursue their own positive ambitions. “I want to build something of my own, for myself,” he said. “I want to show other young people what’s possible when you get the right support.”

    Just over a month into official operations, Elim is still balancing business growth with his academic responsibilities, so he is moving at a deliberate pace, sourcing all his current clients through his Instagram page. After he graduates, he plans to scale the business, expand his service range to cover more vessel types beyond the sailboats he currently serves, and eventually bring the King of Clean brand to other countries. For now, though, he remains focused on what drew him to the work in the first place: helping more boat owners get back that sparkling, like-new finish he loves to create.

  • CRICKET: The Quiet Hunger of Akeem Auguste

    CRICKET: The Quiet Hunger of Akeem Auguste

    ST JOHN’S, Antigua – For Akeem Auguiste, the story of his relationship with cricket begins on a sun-warmed pitch when he was just four years old. Standing at the crease for the first time, with his own father rolling in deliveries, the young Saint Lucian had no idea that this casual introduction would grow into a lifelong passion that would shape every part of his growth. By the time he turned 12, his deep love for the sport was already paired with an unshakeable hunger to compete at the highest level he could reach. But it was a painful early rejection that would forge the relentless work ethic that defines him today.

    When Auguiste was left off the roster for the Windward Islands Under 15 cricket side, the disappointment of that exclusion hit harder than any delivery he had ever faced. Rather than letting the snub break his confidence, the young cricketer turned that heartache into fuel. In a recent reflection on his early journey, Auguiste opened up about how that moment changed his entire approach to the game.

    “I didn’t get selected and from then on, I never wanted to get that feeling again of being left out of a team,” he said. “I started to train a little harder and be more intentional with the things I was working on.”

    That fateful decision to double down on his training set Auguiste on a path toward competitive cricket at the regional level, with Cricket West Indies highlighting his journey as an example of how early setbacks can build the resilience needed to succeed in elite sport. What began as a father-son game on a local pitch has grown into a promising career, all rooted in one 12-year-old’s promise to himself that he would never again know the sting of being passed over.

  • ABLP Mourns the Passing of Beloved Comrade Stanley “Abbott” Warner

    ABLP Mourns the Passing of Beloved Comrade Stanley “Abbott” Warner

    The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP)’s top leadership and executive council have issued an official statement of mourning following the death of beloved party stalwart Stanley “Abbott” Warner, extending their deepest condolences to Warner’s family, close loved ones, and circle of friends. In addition to sympathies for his immediate inner circle, the party has also shared heartfelt condolences with ABLP St. Paul’s Branch chairman Hon. E.P. Chet Greene, the entire St. Paul’s Branch organization, and the broader community of St. Paul’s – the region where Warner built his legacy and earned widespread affection and respect from residents.

    Far beyond being just a ranked member of the ABLP, Warner held the formal position of chairman for the party’s St. Paul’s Branch, and over his decades of service, he became far more than a party official to those who worked alongside him. To members of the ABLP, he was considered part of the extended party family. Renowned for his steady judgment and generous guidance, he served as a mentor to countless emerging political organizers and community leaders across the region. A deeply loyal comrade to his colleagues and a central, influential figure in daily life across St. Paul’s, Warner’s unique presence, sharp wisdom, and unwavering commitment to public service leave a gaping hole that will be deeply felt by all who knew him.

    In this period of grief, the ABLP leadership and executive have reaffirmed their full support, promising to stand unwaveringly alongside Warner’s family and everyone who counted him as a friend and colleague as they navigate this loss. The party closed its statement with a final tribute: May his soul rest in eternal peace.

  • Legends of Reggae takes over Kensington Oval

    Legends of Reggae takes over Kensington Oval

    The highly anticipated flagship opening event of Barbados Reggae Weekend, the Mount Gay Legends of Reggae Show and Dance, kicked off the annual celebration Friday evening at Bridgetown’s iconic Kensington Oval, drawing thousands of reggae fans from across the Caribbean and beyond to see a stacked lineup of genre legends. While the massive crowd turned out in high spirits ready to celebrate decades of reggae and dancehall culture, recurring technical problems throughout the night dampened the energy of multiple set transitions and left segments of the showcase feeling disjointed.

    Fortunately, resident deejays Jerry Dan and Lil Rick stepped in to fill the gaps, delivering a continuous stream of classic riddims and seamless transitions between scheduled acts that kept audience energy from dropping. Even with the unplanned disruptions, the crowd stayed enthusiastic, with many attendees breaking into the traditional “skanking” dance step to beloved old-school dub tracks. Distinguished guests in attendance included Barbados Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams, his wife Natalie Abrahams, and senior legal figure Andrew Pilgrim Q.C., who joined fans in enjoying the showcase.

    Local reggae icon Biggie Irie had the honor of opening the night’s live performances, taking the stage as the first act of the showcase. The veteran vocalist ran through a set of fan-favorite soulful hits from his time with the Splash Band, including the well-loved track *Problems*, earning a warm reception from the early arrivals who packed the front of the stage.

    Energy ramped up quickly when pioneering regional artist Sister Nancy made her entrance. Widely credited as the world’s first female dancehall deejay, Sister Nancy delivered a electrifying 30-minute set that left the crowd roaring. Blending raw, gritty energy with powerhouse vocals, she kicked off her heels mid-set to lean into the rhythm, turning out memorable performances of hits *One Two*, *Solid*, and her globally celebrated timeless anthem *Bam Bam*.

    Norris Man took the stage next, keeping momentum high with his signature infectious, high-energy stage presence. Known for his iconic jumping performance style, he had the crowd dancing along to tracks *Brighter Days* and *Persistence is to Try*, even as many attendees were still arriving and finding their spots inside the Oval throughout his set.

    Veteran performer J.C. Lodge faced an early challenge when the crowd initially showed little familiarity with some of her deeper cuts, but her seasoned stage craft won the audience over by the end of her set. She closed out her time on stage with a mass crowd sing-along of her two most famous classics: *Telephone Love* and *Someone Loves You, Honey*.

    By the time reggae icon Barrington Levy, known to fans as “Reggae’s Mellow Canary,” walked out onto the stage, the event’s technical issues had become impossible to ignore. Even with a faulty sound system working against him, Levy proved that iconic vocal talent can overcome any technical obstacle, turning in a world-class performance that reinforced his enduring status in the global reggae industry. Running through a greatest-hits set that included *Too Experienced*, *Under Mi Sensi*, *Living Dangerously*, and *Here I Come*, Levy did not disappoint the thousands waiting to see him.

    Dancehall royalty Super Cat closed out the night as the final headliner. The artist had been forced to cancel his performance at the previous year’s event, making his set one of the most anticipated of the entire night. Delays pushed his start time well past 2 a.m., and his closing set drew mixed reactions from the crowd, many of whom had been waiting hours for his performance. Even so, the “Original Don Dada” delivered career-spanning hits including *Ghetto Red Hot*, *Mud Up*, and *Dem No Worry We*, bringing the 2024 Mount Gay Legends of Reggae Show to an official close.

    The Barbados Reggae Weekend celebration continues Saturday with the much-anticipated *Showdown* competition event, before wrapping up Sunday with the festival’s closing climax, *Reggae in the Gardens*, headlined by Grammy-nominated R&B star Fantasia.

  • Maria Browne says Rent-to-Own Housing Will be expanded if Re-elected

    Maria Browne says Rent-to-Own Housing Will be expanded if Re-elected

    In a recent policy announcement outlining her platform for an upcoming re-election bid, local political leader Maria Browne has made expanding access to rent-to-own housing a centerpiece of her future legislative agenda. The proposed policy targets growing housing insecurity and the widening gap between rental costs and homeownership, two issues that have grown increasingly pressing for working-class and low-income families across Browne’s constituency in recent years.

    Rent-to-own housing models differ from traditional home purchases by giving tenants the option to put a portion of their monthly rent payments toward an eventual down payment on the property they occupy. This structure removes one of the biggest barriers to homeownership: saving enough for an upfront down payment, which often takes prospective buyers years of disciplined saving to accumulate. Browne argues that expanding this program will create a clear, accessible pathway to building generational wealth for households that would otherwise be locked out of the property market.

    According to Browne’s proposal, the expanded initiative will include targeted government incentives for private developers to include more rent-to-own units in new housing projects, as well as additional consumer protections to prevent predatory lending practices that have harmed participants in unregulated rent-to-own agreements in the past. The plan also allocates funding for outreach and education to help eligible households understand their options and navigate the application process.

    Political observers note that the announcement comes as housing affordability has overtaken other policy issues as the top concern for voters in the district. Browne’s focus on rent-to-own expansion is widely seen as a strategic move to appeal to first-time voters, young families, and renters who have struggled with skyrocketing housing costs in the wake of recent market shifts. If Browne secures another term in office, the proposal will move to the legislative council for drafting and public hearings before a final vote can be held.

  • Freeland Pledges Jobs, Housing and Infrastructure Push in First 100 Days

    Freeland Pledges Jobs, Housing and Infrastructure Push in First 100 Days

    As the April 30 general election approaches, one constituency candidate is moving to win over voters with a concrete, time-bound policy blueprint that targets the community’s most pressing local concerns. In a recent “Know Your Candidates” interview with election stakeholders, Freeland laid out three non-negotiable immediate priorities that he will deliver within his first 100 days in office if elected, centered on land access and housing, expanded employment opportunities (especially for the constituency’s youth population), and sustained upgrades to critical local infrastructure.

    To tackle the area’s persistent employment gap, Freeland has proposed two targeted, rapid-action interventions: hosting series of local job fairs and rolling out targeted job-matching programs designed to connect unemployed and underemployed St. George residents with open positions in a compressed timeline. His core employment goal is clear: place as many local workers from the constituency into stable roles within the first three months of taking office, while building on-the-job experience that supports long-term career growth for young people entering the workforce.

    The third pillar of Freeland’s opening-term plan focuses on finishing long-overdue infrastructure projects that have topped resident complaint lists for years. He specifically highlighted ongoing road expansions and drainage system upgrades across the constituency, emphasizing that his administration would not pause or abandon these works after election day. For Freeland, continuing this progress is about more than fixing public assets—it is a core trust-building measure. He argues that consistent, visible delivery will prove to constituents that their elected representative remains focused on their needs, rather than abandoning campaign promises once votes are secured.

    Freeland acknowledged a widespread skepticism among local voters: that many incumbent politicians rush visible development projects only during election cycles, then halt progress immediately after voting concludes. To counter this distrust, he has framed his 100-day delivery pledge as a way to prove his commitment to the community, arguing that tangible early action is the only way to demonstrate that he is genuinely fighting for the interests of St. George residents.

    Freeland’s policy outline comes amid a heated race for the St. George constituency seat, which has emerged as one of the most closely watched battlegrounds of this general election. Both of the country’s major political parties have released competing policy platforms focused on the same core local issues—job creation, housing expansion, and infrastructure improvement—making the fight for voter support particularly intense in this area.

  • Lalmahomed trekt aan de bel over staking universiteit en gevolgen voor studenten

    Lalmahomed trekt aan de bel over staking universiteit en gevolgen voor studenten

    A growing national education crisis at Suriname’s flagship higher education institution has prompted a sitting parliamentarian to demand immediate top-level government intervention to end a more than five-week strike by academic staff. Hakiem Lalmahomed, a member of the National Assembly representing the Progressive Voters Party (VHP), has formally called on the Surinamese administration to act with urgency to resolve the ongoing work stoppage at Anton de Kom University of Suriname (AdeKUS), warning that the impasse has already caused irreversible harm to thousands of innocent students. In an official letter addressed to President Jennifer Simons, Lalmahomed detailed the far-reaching damage caused by the industrial action, which has fully ground all academic activity to a halt at the country’s premier public university. Lectures, scheduled examinations, student advising and one-on-one mentorship programs have all been suspended, leaving the institution’s student body trapped in severe uncertainty and facing mounting educational and financial losses. The parliamentarian explained that the current standoff stems from a months-long stalled negotiation process between government authorities and the university’s academic staff union. Key previously agreed-upon terms, including the 2025 Employment Conditions Agreement, have not been implemented on schedule, triggering the ongoing strike. Most concerning to Lalmahomed is the disproportionate impact falling on students, who hold no stake in the dispute between staff and the government yet bear the full brunt of the disruption. To press the government for clarity and accountability, Lalmahomed has submitted 19 formal parliamentary questions to the administration. These questions cover a range of critical concerns: how the government justifies the prolonged disruption to academic activities, what emergency contingency measures will be rolled out to mitigate harm, and whether students who face delayed graduation and financial losses will receive any form of compensation. He has also drawn attention to the severe psychological toll the indefinite strike has imposed on students, as well as the growing risk that many will miss out on critical international academic and professional opportunities. Beyond immediate harm mitigation, Lalmahomed is pushing for a clear public timeline for the resumption of normal academic operations. He has also asked whether President Simons is willing to take direct personal control of the negotiations to break the deadlock, if the cabinet ministers currently overseeing the file are unable to resolve the impasse. In his letter, Lalmahomed emphasized that the situation has now reached a critical turning point. “Every single additional day that passes without classes amplifies students’ educational setbacks, increases their financial burdens, and worsens their mental distress,” he wrote. “This is no longer just a routine policy issue. It is a test of administrative responsibility and national leadership.” The lawmaker closed his appeal with a renewed call for decisive, fast action from the government to restore normal academic operations and prevent further harm to AdeKUS’s student population, which numbers in the thousands.

  • Dennery rule in Eastern Zone football

    Dennery rule in Eastern Zone football

    The final matchday of the Saint Lucia Football Association’s highly anticipated Eastern Zone Under-20 Men’s District Tournament wrapped up Thursday evening at Micoud’s iconic Playing Field, where Dennery secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over host side Micoud to claim the regional championship trophy.

    The only goal of the tightly contested final came 25 minutes into the first half, when young forward Corin Hunte found the back of the net for Dennery, cementing their winning margin that would hold through the final whistle. This final win marked Dennery’s second victory over Micoud in the tournament, following a 3-0 blanking of the home side during the preliminary group stage.

    Before the main championship final, the tournament’s third-place playoff delivered an action-packed second-half comeback that saw Mabouya Valley secure a 4-2 win over Mon Repos. Mon Repos drew first blood in the 21st minute, as Dandre Jonas put his side ahead to open the scoring. Just five minutes later, Mabouya Valley’s Cody Alexander leveled the score at 1-1, a goal that pushed his total tournament tally to four goals going into halftime.

    After the break, Mabouya Valley seized control of the match. Kurdege Johnny notched two quick goals in the 53rd and 63rd minutes, flipping the scoreline to 3-1 in his side’s favor. Kermany Velinor extended the lead to 4-1 in the 76th minute to seal the third-place finish, while Mon Repos’ Tafari Peter netted a late consolation goal in the 85th minute to cap the scoring.

    Across the entire Eastern Zone tournament, a total of 57 goals were scored by competing young talent, highlighting the attacking intensity of this year’s competition. Mon Repos’ Andreaus Charlery finished as the tournament’s top goal scorer with six goals, while Alexander (Mabouya Valley) and Dennery’s Bourne Innocent tied for second place with four goals each. Ethan Oculi of Mabouya Valley and Mathaus Aubert of Micoud rounded out the top goal scorers with three goals apiece.

    As the regional tournament concludes, the top finishing teams from each of Saint Lucia’s zonal competitions will advance to the national 2026 Blackheart Tournament, an annual national competition that will feature exclusively Under-20 men’s teams for this upcoming iteration.