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  • NASCAR rising star named SVG tourism ambassador

    NASCAR rising star named SVG tourism ambassador

    A rising young star in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Rajah Caruth, who traces his family heritage to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has entered into an official six-month partnership as a brand ambassador for the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority (SVGTA), alongside Caribbean entertainment and lifestyle leader TEMPO Networks.

    At 23 years old, Caruth has already cemented his place in NASCAR history as one of the most electrifying young competitors to climb the ranks of the sport’s top tiers. His path to professional stock car racing is nothing short of extraordinary: he cut his teeth competing in virtual iRacing simulator events before working his way up to physical NASCAR tracks, a journey that stands as a testament to his relentless grit, raw natural talent, and ability to break long-standing barriers in the motorsports world.

    For Caruth, this new ambassadorship role is far more than a professional partnership—it is deeply personal. The SVGTA highlighted in an official press statement that the driver’s parents are of Vincentian descent, giving him an unbroken, direct tie to the Caribbean island nation that he now carries onto the global motorsports stage with immense pride.

    As part of the collaboration, co-branded marks for SVGTA’s “Discover SVG” campaign and TEMPO Networks will be featured across several of Caruth’s key racing assets throughout the 2024 racing season. This placement will deliver unparalleled high-visibility exposure for the destination during NASCAR events that reach millions of viewers across the globe.

    TEMPO Networks, which boasts a multi-platform footprint that spans the entire Caribbean and reaches global Caribbean diaspora communities, will act as the initiative’s lead media and storytelling partner. The network will carry Caruth’s personal journey and the unique story of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to audiences across every region of the world. As a platform dedicated to elevating the full breadth and diversity of Caribbean culture, TEMPO will use this partnership to place SVG at the center of a broader regional narrative, introducing the island destination to entirely new global audiences and untapped tourism markets.

    The partnership will make its official public debut on May 2 during the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway. Throughout the remainder of the racing season, additional planned activities include on-the-ground documentation of Caruth’s upcoming first official visit to SVG, where he will explore and share his family heritage with his global fanbase.

    Caruth will also use the partnership to bring his youth mentorship work and his popular “Racing with Rajah” STEM education curriculum to communities across SVG and the wider Caribbean diaspora. The collaboration will also launch co-branded travel experiences that blend the high-octane excitement of NASCAR with the unique tropical tourism offerings of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

    All three partner parties have expressed overwhelming enthusiasm for the collaboration and its far-reaching potential. “It means a lot to officially be able to represent St Vincent and the Grenadines and Tempo, and hopefully drive not just tourism to the country but awareness to the Caribbean diaspora and community,” Caruth shared in a statement. “I am proud of my heritage and exude it daily with my practices and core values.”

    Kishore Shallow, SVG’s Minister of Tourism, shared that the nation is deeply proud of Caruth’s trajectory as an emerging global sports leader. “Partnering with him and TEMPO marks a significant milestone, with tremendous potential ahead,” Shallow noted. “Rajah embodies the energy and ambition of our people, and his story is a powerful reflection of who we are. Showcasing his journey through TEMPO Networks to audiences worldwide is both inspiring and impactful, further positioning our country as a vibrant and compelling tourist destination.”

    Frederick A. Morton Jr., founder and CEO of TEMPO Networks, echoed Shallow’s optimism, noting that for 20 years, TEMPO has centered its mission on amplifying Caribbean culture to global audiences. “This partnership reflects exactly where we’re going next,” Morton explained. “Rajah is an extraordinary young talent whose rise is inspiring a new generation, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines is one of the Caribbean’s most breathtaking and dynamic destinations. Through this partnership, we are connecting the Caribbean to new audiences, new markets, and new possibilities.”

  • Ali defends takeover of Georgetown roads from City Council

    Ali defends takeover of Georgetown roads from City Council

    On Monday, April 20, 2026, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali publicly pushed back against fierce opposition criticism of his administration’s controversial move to seize control of more than 50 major roads in Georgetown from the city’s elected Mayor and City Council, dismissing accusations that the power grab amounts to authoritarian overreach. Speaking at the official opening of the upgraded Aubrey Barker Road — a key corridor now extended from Mandela Avenue to the Ogle/Eccles bypass — Ali did not shy away from laying out his ruling party’s clear political ambitions ahead of upcoming Local Government Elections, expected to be held later this year.

    The President openly confirmed that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) is aiming to win a majority of the 30 available City Council seats, stating that his party’s intentions have never been ambiguous. “Yes, I’m interested in seeing a People’s Progressive Party Civic-led city council. I’m interested in seeing strong government, strong leadership at the City Hall so don’t guess what I’m saying. My intentions are clear and the intentions of the PPP Civic are clear as ever. We want a chance to run this city because the city deserves better than what it has today,” Ali told attendees at the commissioning event.

    The opposition bloc A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has repeatedly argued that the road takeover is a politically motivated power play, pointing out that Georgetown has long been an opposition stronghold that does not favor the PPP/C. Ali pushed back forcefully against these claims, setting out what he framed as a purely development-focused rationale for the policy shift. “Let me set the record straight. We’re not taking roads for politics. We are designating roads as public roads in the cause of progress. We have no political interest in dispossessing any entity,” he told the assembled crowd.

    Under the new designation, the rehabilitated Aubrey Barker Road will now fall under the management and maintenance purview of Guyana’s Ministry of Public Works, rather than remaining under city council control. Ali emphasized that this change was necessary to prevent the roadway from falling into the same state of disrepair that plagues dozens of other city streets under current municipal management. Rejecting claims that the move is politically motivated, the President framed the central government’s intervention as a responsible approach to governance that puts public needs above partisan gain. “We’re not playing politics with potholes. We’re not campaigning with congestion. We’re not grandstanding with gridlock. We’re governing and governing requires responsibility,” he said.

    Ali laid out a long-term vision to transform Georgetown into the most dynamic and well-developed city in the Caribbean, noting that this goal depends on modern, reliable infrastructure that can keep pace with rapid growth. He explained that the surge in vehicle ownership across the capital has created urgent demand for upgraded road networks that boost traffic safety and support higher economic productivity, a need the current municipal administration has failed to meet. “It’s not merely to transfer responsibility but is to accelerate modernisation under our national development agenda,” he added, confirming that the designation of more than 50 Georgetown roads as public roads follows this same development-focused logic.

    The President also announced plans to expand central government intervention beyond road management, in the wake of a recent poorly executed national clean-up campaign that left much of Georgetown’s drainage network clogged with silt, overgrown vegetation and discarded solid waste. Ali said the central government would take over drainage and flood control responsibility from the City Council, dismissing the ongoing partisan blame game and promising sustained action with public support. “I am not interested in this blame game. If they don’t want to open the koker and if they don’t want to maintain the drain, we will show the people of this city we’re ready to do it and with their support, we will do it continuously,” he said.

    For context, Georgetown’s City Council has argued for decades that its ability to deliver basic services has been systematically undermined by central government policy. Dating all the way back to 1994, municipal leaders have complained that the central government has repeatedly blocked the council from accessing critical new revenue streams — including revenue from a municipal lottery, littering fines, waste-to-energy projects, and adjusted property rates and taxes — that would allow it to properly fund infrastructure maintenance and public service operations.

  • War, lower green energy output drive up fuel surcharge

    War, lower green energy output drive up fuel surcharge

    St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ main electricity provider VINLEC announced this Monday a notable uptick in the fuel surcharge that will appear on customers’ April electricity bills. The new surcharge rate will land at EC$0.6650 per kilowatt-hour, marking an increase of EC$0.116 from the March rate of EC$0.5490.

    In an official press statement published this week, the utility firm detailed the two key drivers behind the price adjustment. First, international benchmark fuel prices have climbed significantly in recent weeks, raising the operational cost of running fossil-fuel-powered generation facilities. Second, output from the company’s renewable energy assets has dropped below typical levels, forcing a greater reliance on more expensive fuel-based electricity generation to meet customer demand.

    VINLEC also emphasized that global fuel price volatility is being heavily shaped by the persistent military conflict in the Middle East, a region that plays a critical role in global energy supply chains. The ongoing tensions have disrupted energy markets and pushed up crude and fuel prices across the globe, a spillover effect that reaches small island energy providers like VINLEC.

    To address potential customer concerns, the company clarified the nature of the fuel surcharge itself. It explained that the surcharge is a 100% pass-through cost designed solely to recoup what VINLEC spends on fuel for power generation. The firm explicitly stated that it earns no profit from this specific charge, framing the adjustment as a necessary response to external market pressures outside of its control.

    Looking ahead, VINLEC reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to delivering consistent, safe, and reliable electricity service to all residential and commercial customers across the region. To help customers offset the impact of the higher surcharge on their monthly bills, the company is urging users to adopt energy conservation habits where practical, from turning off unused appliances to adjusting cooling system usage.

    Customers with questions or concerns about the new surcharge or their upcoming April bill are directed to reach out to VINLEC’s Customer Services Department through multiple channels: via email at [email protected], by phone at 456-1701 (extensions 237 and 238), or through the company’s official Facebook page.

  • Regering belooft ingrijpen bij Canawaima: RvC onder druk na crisis

    Regering belooft ingrijpen bij Canawaima: RvC onder druk na crisis

    A brewing governance scandal at Suriname’s state-owned Canawaima Management Company (CMC) erupted into open industrial action this week, prompting the country’s transport ministry to commit to sweeping leadership changes at the firm, which operates the critical cross-border ferry link between Suriname and Guyana.

    The crisis escalated sharply on Monday when employees launched a short strike to protest alleged conflicts of interest and improper operational interference by CMC’s Supervisory Board (RvC). Following the industrial action, union leadership pulled its full confidence in the current board and formally called on Minister of Transport, Communication and Tourism Raymond Landveld to step in to resolve the mismanagement.

    Dayanand Dwarka, chair of CMC’s employees’ union, told reporters after meeting with the minister that the situation had become untenable for staff. “What has already come to light is not only confirmed to be true, it is likely just the tip of the iceberg of broader irregularities within the company,” Dwarka said. In response to the union’s demands, Landveld gave a firm commitment to intervene in the company’s leadership, after which workers agreed to resume their duties.

    The call for government intervention was not limited to union representatives. Lesley Daniël, CMC’s newly appointed terminal manager, also submitted a formal written request to Landveld, urging urgent and decisive action to address the internal turmoil. The walkout immediately disrupted daily ferry operations connecting Suriname and Guyana, a key trade and travel route that highlights the stakes of the ongoing crisis for cross-border activity.

    Two senior members of the current Supervisory Board — president-commissioner Richenel Vrieze and board member Edgar van Genderen — defended their actions in a separate letter sent to Landveld on Monday. The pair argued that the board was forced to intervene directly in daily company operations because senior management failed to address persistent disorder in both the ferry service and the company’s human resources structure.

    The board leaders did not directly address the specific allegations of conflict of interest leveled against them, including claims related to payments to companies that Vrieze holds personal stakes in. They confirmed that invoices and other financial documentation for these companies have not yet been submitted to CMC’s executive leadership, claiming the documents were stolen while Vrieze was attending a staff meeting on board the company’s ferry.

    Their explanation has failed to ease government concerns, according to Dwarka, who said Landveld has committed to removing both Vrieze and van Genderen from their positions. Minister Landveld is also currently considering replacing the entire Supervisory Board to resolve the crisis. Dwarka emphasized that only structural organizational changes will be enough to rebuild trust among staff and restore stable operations at the critical state-owned enterprise.

  • FLASH – First major forecasts for the 2026 hurricane season in Haiti

    FLASH – First major forecasts for the 2026 hurricane season in Haiti

    As the Atlantic hurricane season, which officially kicks off on June 1, draws near, two leading U.S. meteorological institutions have released their first preliminary forecasts for 2026, with specific implications for hurricane-vulnerable Haiti.

    The Tropical Meteorology Project team at Colorado State University (CSU) notes that the combined forces of a projected strong El Niño event and near-average Atlantic sea surface temperatures will create conditions that are far less conducive to the formation and intensification of tropical storms and hurricanes. In their inaugural 2026 forecast, the CSU team predicts 13 named storms will form across the Atlantic basin this season. Of these, 6 are expected to strengthen into hurricanes, with just 2 reaching Category 3 intensity or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale. These projected numbers mark a slight dip from the 30-year seasonal average, which stands at 14 named storms and 7 full hurricanes annually.

    The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) echoed this outlook in its latest monthly climate update, confirming that there is roughly a 50% probability that the ongoing El Niño event will strengthen into a powerful event that will dominate atmospheric and oceanic conditions across the Atlantic through hurricane season. The agency added that overall conditions across the basin, especially the Caribbean region where Haiti is located, are broadly unfavorable for tropical cyclone development.

    Historical data supports the expectation that a strong El Niño will suppress hurricane activity. Past climate records show that standard El Niño events typically reduce overall accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), a key metric measuring total seasonal cyclonic activity, by 32%. For so-called “Super El Niño” events, that reduction jumps to 58%, sharply cutting the likelihood of frequent or intense storm formation.

    A second contributing factor to the projected below-average activity is the relatively cool sea surface temperatures recorded across large swathes of the Atlantic this year. A widespread cooling trend has been observed across the North Atlantic since mid-February 2026, with broad regions of the eastern Atlantic and key sections of the Atlantic’s main hurricane development zone registering water temperatures at or below long-term averages.

    That said, forecasters note a conflicting signal in current conditions: much of the western Atlantic remains significantly warmer than the 30-year average, creating a mixed picture between tropical and subtropical zones of the basin. In recent hurricane seasons, widespread warm Atlantic waters have offset the storm-suppressing effects of El Niño, leading to more active seasons than initially predicted. As of early April 2026, however, overall basin-wide conditions do not point to a sharp uptick in significant tropical cyclone activity before the season gets underway.

  • Magín Díaz represents Dominican Republic at 2026 Spring Meetings

    Magín Díaz represents Dominican Republic at 2026 Spring Meetings

    Against a backdrop of mounting global economic volatility, fueled in large part by escalating geopolitical tensions across the Middle East, the Dominican Republic’s top economic leadership traveled to Washington, D.C. to take part in the 2026 joint Spring Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, which ran from April 13 to 18.

    Leading the national delegation, Finance and Economy Minister Magín Díaz held high-level strategic discussions with a range of influential global economic stakeholders, starting with a productive meeting with Inter-American Development Bank President Ilan Goldfajn. He was joined by Central Bank Governor Héctor Valdez Albizu for closed-door policy sessions chaired by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, where participants centered talks on updated global and regional growth outlooks, alongside coordinated fiscal and monetary policy approaches to counter widespread economic headwinds.

    Beyond multilateral forums, Díaz expanded the delegation’s engagement to bilateral and institutional partnership building with senior U.S. officials and leading financial sector figures. The delegation held formal talks with members of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee, led by committee chair French Hill, and met with representatives led by Michael Kaplan to work toward restarting paused technical cooperation programs between the two sides. Additional meetings with leaders of major global investment banks and top international credit rating agencies underscored broad market confidence in the Dominican Republic’s prudent economic stewardship, even as external pressures weigh on emerging markets across the globe.

    As one of the most high-profile recurring gatherings in the global economic calendar, the annual World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings bring together heads of state finance bodies, multilateral financial institutions, and private sector leaders to align on collaborative policy frameworks that foster widespread economic stability, inclusive sustainable development, and long-term growth at a time of growing international complexity.

  • Deadly Highway Collision Claims Three Lives Near August Pine Ridge

    Deadly Highway Collision Claims Three Lives Near August Pine Ridge

    A devastating Sunday night head-on collision has left three people dead and a tight-knit northern Belize community grappling with unthinkable grief, after a pickup truck carrying a group of local residents crashed into a sugar cane-hauling semi-truck just outside August Pine Ridge Village in the Orange Walk District.

    The fatal crash occurred when the red Ford F-150 pickup, traveling in the opposite direction of the 18-wheeler Freightliner truck that was pulling two wooden trailers full of harvested sugar cane, collided directly with the left front section of one of the trailers. The force of the impact was catastrophic: more than half of the pickup’s driver-side roof was sheared off, the vehicle careened out of control, and three of its occupants were killed instantly. Broken debris from the sugar cane truck still lines the side of the highway, a visible marker of the collision’s violent force.

    Authorities have officially identified the three victims as 35-year-old Byron Magaña, his partner 32-year-old Sherlin Henriquez, and 29-year-old Selvin Cortez, all local residents from nearby San Felipe and August Pine Ridge. Surviving the crash were Cortez’s wife and the couple’s two young children, who sustained non-fatal but serious injuries and remain hospitalized for treatment. Out of concern for the woman’s severe head trauma, law enforcement initially delayed informing her of her husband’s death.

    All three deceased worked together as drivers at Tillett’s Bus Service, and were close friends who often took weekend trips together. Polo Magaña, Byron Magaña’s father, told local outlet News Five that the group had headed to Corozal for their weekend outing, as they had done many times before. The grieving father said he still cannot process the sudden loss of his son and his partner, who had lived on his family property for the past year. “I cant believe it, I can’t believe that is happening to me. My good young son, very, very good,” he said. “I will really miss them. He and his wife. His wife was a very good person too.”

    For 17-year-old Christopher Cruz, the loss of his uncle Selvin Cortez has left an especially painful void. Cruz told News Five that he was getting ready for bed when family arrived to tell him about the crash, and he never expected the outcome to be fatal. When he reached the crash site, he broke down at the sight of the destroyed pickup. Cruz recalled that just recently, when he asked his uncle for help buying a motorcycle to launch his own welding business, Cortez agreed immediately without hesitation. “He was a good person. Whenever I wanted a favor he was always there for me,” Cruz said. “He helped me buy my bike. When I asked him he said, yes. He never said, no.”

    Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith, staff officer for the district, shared preliminary details of the ongoing investigation, confirming the sequence of events that led to the tragedy. As authorities continue to piece together the full circumstances of the collision, three local families are now left to mourn lives cut far too short, while the surviving mother and her two young children begin what is expected to be a long physical and emotional recovery. The sudden tragedy has sent shockwaves through the small community, where nearly everyone connected to the victims is sharing in the pain of the loss.

    This report is adapted from on-the-ground coverage by Paul Lopez for News Five.

  • 53 deelnemers in Nickerie getraind voor werk in toerisme en dienstverlening

    53 deelnemers in Nickerie getraind voor werk in toerisme en dienstverlening

    Fifty-three job seekers in Suriname’s western district of Nickerie have successfully completed a fully government-subsidized professional training program to qualify as Customer Experience Officers, marking a key milestone in the country’s workforce development initiative aimed at boosting local employment.

    The five-day, practice-focused training was delivered by the Suriname Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre Foundation (SHTTC), and forms part of the national Leri Fu Feni Wroko initiative. This falls under the broader Training for Employment program, run by the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Labor of Suriname with financial and logistical backing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The curriculum centered on building high-demand core professional competencies, including customer-centric thinking, interpersonal communication, service delivery excellence, and professional workplace etiquette—skills that translate across multiple growing sectors of Suriname’s economy.

    At the recent certificate awarding ceremony, Deputy Minister Raj Jadnanansing emphasized that earning the professional certification is not the final outcome of the program, but rather the foundational starting point for participants’ new professional careers. All graduates will continue to receive personalized support and guidance as they pursue open roles in the local labor market. Jadnanansing noted that the government’s targeted investment in these skills training programs directly responds to the need to strengthen Suriname’s overall workforce, with a particular focus on expanding opportunities for young people in Nickerie.

    He also highlighted the growing range of employment opportunities opening up in the district, particularly in the expanding tourism sector. Western Suriname is projected to see strong economic growth in coming years, driven in large part by ongoing development in the region’s burgeoning oil and gas sector, which will create ripple effects across hospitality, customer service, and supporting industries.

    Representatives from all partner organizations, including the IDB, SHTTC, and the Nickerie district administration, echoed the deputy minister’s remarks, reinforcing the critical role of upskilling programs in reducing local unemployment and driving inclusive economic growth. They encouraged graduates to remain proactive in continuing their professional development and engaging with placement support services to secure sustainable employment.

    Looking ahead, the Surinamese government has confirmed that additional rounds of this fully subsidized professional training will be organized in Nickerie in the future, aligned with local labor market demand and the needs of job seekers in the district.

  • Late‑Night Ride Turns Fatal in Punta Gorda

    Late‑Night Ride Turns Fatal in Punta Gorda

    A devastating late-night traffic incident has shaken the Punta Gorda community in Belize, leaving one motorcyclist dead and a second rider in critical medical care following a violent crash on the Thomas Vincent Ramos Highway. The collision unfolded shortly after 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2026, when 24-year-old Brenton Cofius of Forest Home Village, operating a motorcycle northbound near the local “Dollar Sign” monument at the entrance of Punta Gorda, lost control of the vehicle. The motorcycle veered off the paved roadway before slamming into a stationary tree, leaving both Cofius and his 30-year-old passenger Carl Mangar of Elridgeville with severe head trauma.

    First responding police officers arrived at the scene within minutes to find both men lying on the highway, unconscious and badly injured. Emergency crews rushed the pair to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment, but Cofius ultimately succumbed to his life-threatening injuries. Mangar remains hospitalized as he continues to fight for recovery.

    Local law enforcement has launched a full investigation into the circumstances of the crash, and the damaged motorcycle has been impounded for forensic examination. In response to widespread community speculation about a potential police chase leading up to the incident, ASP Stacy Smith, a staff officer with the Belize Police Department, confirmed that authorities have found no evidence to support that claim to date. “I had specifically placed that inquiry to the southern commander and he informed me that they have no information suggesting that so far,” Smith shared in an official briefing.

    As family members of the victims and local residents wait for answers from investigators, regional authorities have renewed their public safety call for all motorists, and particularly motorcyclists, to practice extreme defensive driving, especially after dark when visibility is reduced and hazard risks are elevated. The original report of the crash was adapted from a televised newscast transcript published by local media, which has remained a top trending topic for local audiences following the tragedy.

  • John Doe Identified as Emin Lino After Fatal Highway Crash

    John Doe Identified as Emin Lino After Fatal Highway Crash

    Nearly 48 hours after a fatal head-on collision on Belize’s Philip Goldson Highway left one man dead, law enforcement officials have confirmed the identity of the victim, closing an initial gap in the ongoing investigation. The deceased, previously listed as an unidentified John Doe, has been formally named as 30-year-old Emin Leonardo Lino, a long-time resident of Belize City. Lino’s common-law wife came forward to local authorities on Saturday, one day after the crash occurred, to confirm his identity, police confirmed in a recent update.

    The fatal collision took place Friday night in the vicinity of Mile 14 and a Half along the highway, where Lino was killed instantly on impact. Within days of the crash, law enforcement arrested 41-year-old Nelson W. Garcia Vega, a Salvadoran national and construction worker based in Burrell Boom Village, on suspicion of causing the fatal incident.

    On Monday evening, Garcia Vega made his first court appearance at the Belize City Magistrate’s Court, where he faces a slate of criminal and traffic charges. The most severe count is manslaughter by negligence, paired with multiple moving violations—most notably driving while over the legal blood alcohol limit. Appearing before the court without legal representation, Garcia Vega did not enter a formal plea during the initial hearing. Prosecutors did not raise objections to a bail request, leading the magistrate to set bail at $6,000 Belize dollars, plus two additional sureties. Garcia Vega met all bail requirements by late Monday afternoon and was released from custody ahead of his next scheduled court date.

    The case is set to resume on June 15, when prosecutors will formally present the full details of their evidence against Garcia Vega as the investigation into the crash continues. Police have not yet released additional details about the exact circumstances of the collision, including what vehicles were involved or whether any other people were injured in the incident.