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  • Gladys Potter’s Son to Be Laid to Rest in Buffalo on Sunday

    Gladys Potter’s Son to Be Laid to Rest in Buffalo on Sunday

    A young life cut far too short will be honored this weekend in Buffalo, New York, as family and friends gather to mourn and celebrate the memory of Kenyah Shanti Ibo Potter, who passed away on August 8 at the age of 21. The memorial service, organized by Kenyah’s mother Gladys Potter, opens its doors not only to close relatives and local loved ones but also to members of the broader community who knew and cared for the 21-year-old, with a special virtual option built to accommodate connections spread across continents.

    Kenyah was born in mid-July 2005, and his death came just three weeks after he marked a major milestone: his 21st birthday. The formal announcement of the Celebration of Life, released by the Potter family, describes Kenyah with gentle, loving simplicity as a “Beloved Son and Brother,” framing the event as a space to celebrate the joy he brought to those around him rather than only grieve his loss.

    The service is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Sunday, August 16, hosted at Buffalo’s Sieck, Mast & Leslie Funeral Home. Recognizing that many of Kenyah’s loved ones live far from Western New York, spread across multiple countries and cities that include Atlanta, London, St. Lucia, the Dominican Republic, and Antigua and Barbuda, the family arranged remote access to the service. This virtual option ensures that even those unable to travel to Buffalo can still gather as a global community to wrap Kenyah’s memory in collective love and support.

    To ground the service in reflection on enduring connection, the Potter family chose a well-known passage from 1 Corinthians 13 to accompany their announcement. The passage, a timeless meditation on the nature of love, reads in part: “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy… bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”

    In her remarks accompanying the invitation, Gladys Potter asked anyone planning to join virtually to log into the remote platform a few minutes ahead of the 1 p.m. service start time to avoid disruptions. She also urged those who received the announcement to share it with any other friends or acquaintances of Kenyah who may not have seen the notice, to ensure everyone who loved him has the opportunity to participate.

    “Your prayers, presence, and love mean the world to our family during this time,” Potter said, emphasizing how much the community’s support has meant to the Potters in their period of grief. As the date of the service approaches, loved ones near and far are preparing to gather, both in person and remotely, to honor the legacy of a life taken too soon.

  • No Tropical Cyclone Watches or Warnings Required For AL92

    No Tropical Cyclone Watches or Warnings Required For AL92

    Meteorological officials confirm that no tropical cyclone watches or warnings are currently needed across the Eastern Caribbean, as unfavorable atmospheric conditions have drastically reduced the odds of tropical disturbance AL92 strengthening into a named storm.

    In line with this updated assessment, the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service has formally ended the tropical cyclone alert that was previously in place for the Leeward Islands and British Virgin Islands, easing concerns of a significant storm impact for the region.

    Though major development is off the table, the lingering disturbance is still projected to track westward to west-northwestward over the coming 24 to 36 hours, bringing a noticeable uptick in wet, blustery weather to affected coastal areas. Forecasters estimate total rainfall accumulations between 0.5 and 2 inches across affected zones, a precipitation level that could trigger minor flash flooding in vulnerable low-lying communities. Wind gusts associated with the system are expected to top out near 40 mph, while choppy offshore seas will peak between 8 and 12 feet through the duration of the event.

    To prepare for these hazardous conditions, a high wind advisory and small craft warning will go into effect across the region starting at 5 p.m. local time on Friday. The meteorological service has issued clear guidance for local residents and mariners: those on land should take time in advance to secure any loose, lightweight outdoor items that could become dangerous projectiles in gusty conditions, while boaters and small vessel operators are advised to stay in protected harbors until the warnings are lifted.

    Meteorological teams will maintain continuous surveillance of the disturbance’s track and intensity, and will release updated public advisories promptly if any changes to the forecast require new safety precautions.

  • NCSA warns over export of drug precursors

    NCSA warns over export of drug precursors

    A senior Barbadian anti-drug official has issued a stark public warning, highlighting that criminal networks trafficking unregulated precursor drugs out of the country have created a grave, growing threat to regional and hemispheric security. Troy Wickham, deputy manager of Barbados’ National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA), outlined the escalating risks during closing remarks Friday at a specialized law enforcement training session hosted by the Regional Security System (RSS) at its Paragon, Christ Church training institute.

    Wickham emphasized that unregulated precursor chemicals have emerged as one of the most pressing drug challenges across the Western Hemisphere, singling out codeine linctus — a base ingredient used to manufacture the highly addictive stimulant methamphetamine, which is tightly controlled across North America. Disturbingly, he confirmed that despite its dangerous role in illicit drug production, codeine linctus remains easily accessible to the public in Barbados, with consumers able to purchase the substance over the counter at everyday retail locations including local supermarkets and petrol stations.

    In response to this gap in regulation, Wickham confirmed NCSA has held active discussions with the Barbados Drug Service, which has already begun moving to pull all unsold stock of codeine linctus from retail shelves across the country. Beyond the immediate issue of precursor chemicals, Wickham warned that the broader landscape of drug trafficking, gang activity and transnational organized crime is evolving at a rapid pace, forcing law enforcement agencies across the region to constantly update their tactics and training to keep pace.

    Gone are the days when illicit drug and firearms activity can be tackled through traditional enforcement methods alone, Wickham argued. Modern criminal networks have grown far more sophisticated in their operations, continually shifting trafficking routes to avoid detection, introducing new unregulated dangerous substances to global markets, and relying increasingly on illegal firearms to carry out violent acts, intimidate communities and prop up other criminal enterprises.

    One of the fastest growing unaddressed risks, Wickham noted, is the proliferation of new psychoactive substances — synthetic designer drugs that often fall outside existing controlled substance legislation because their chemical makeup is unfamiliar to regulators and law enforcement. Many of these compounds carry severe public health risks despite their unregulated status, he added.

    To counter this evolving threat, Wickham told attendees of the RSS training course that frontline investigators must prioritize building their capacity to identify these emerging substances, map their spread, understand their unique chemical and behavioral characteristics, and properly document evidence related to their trafficking. He stressed that visual identification alone is never sufficient to confirm a controlled substance, noting that rigorous scientific testing, proper evidence handling, accurate forensic analysis and detailed documentation are non-negotiable to building court cases that can stand up to legal scrutiny.

  • LIVE: Golden Drum Awards 2026

    LIVE: Golden Drum Awards 2026

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  • Small Craft Warning Issued as Seas Could Reach 16 Feet

    Small Craft Warning Issued as Seas Could Reach 16 Feet

    A region-wide small craft advisory has been activated for Antigua and Barbuda, with life-threatening rough seas and hazardous wind conditions expected to disrupt all marine operations through Sunday night, local weather officials confirmed this week.

    According to the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service, open ocean areas will bear the brunt of the unstable weather system. Wave heights are projected to range between 8 and 12 feet on average, with unpredictable swells capable of surging to almost 16 feet in isolated incidents. Steady easterly winds will blow between 17 and 28 miles per hour, paired with sudden gusts that can reach gale or storm strength, hitting a maximum of 43 mph. Meteorologists have pinpointed the window from midnight Friday through midmorning Saturday as the period when the strongest wind speeds will impact the area.

    The hazardous weather conditions are not limited to Antigua and Barbuda. Official small craft warnings are scheduled to go into effect at midnight for four additional Eastern Caribbean territories: St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, and the British Virgin Islands, as the weather system tracks across the region.

    Weather authorities have outlined a range of serious risks posed by these conditions. Unstable seas and powerful winds raise the chance of small vessels capsizing or suffering critical structural damage. Beyond damage to watercraft, the rough conditions will likely interrupt commercial and recreational sea transportation, complicate emergency search-and-rescue responses, and put mariners at high risk of injury or even death if they venture out onto open water.

    In response to these threats, the meteorological service has issued clear guidance for operators of small vessels: all mariners are advised to stay anchored in port or close to protected harbor areas, seek out safe, sheltered mooring locations, and properly secure their vessels to prevent damage from shifting or pounding waves. Dale Destin, a forecaster with the service, emphasized the importance of ongoing awareness, urging all people planning marine activities to continue checking official weather updates closely for any changes to the warning or conditions.

  • Pro Shottas in pole position for BFA Division One title

    Pro Shottas in pole position for BFA Division One title

    Barbadian football side Pro Shottas have booked their place in the Barbados Football Association’s top-tier Premier League for the upcoming season, and remain firmly in the driver’s seat to claim the Division One crown as the regular season enters its final stretch. The club’s promotion was officially secured ahead of their 4-1 victory over Technique this past Wednesday, a result that preserved their position at the summit of the Division One league table with just two fixtures left to play.

    In an interview after the win, Pro Shottas manager Paul Croney described the promotion as a just reward for the relentless effort his squad has put in since pre-season training kicked off last November. “It’s just an incredible feeling. The lads have put in shift after shift in training ever since last November, so every single member of this team deserves full credit for what we’ve achieved,” Croney said. He added that the team’s success this season can be traced to two key factors: unwavering consistency in training, and the impact of three high-impact new signings that strengthened the squad’s spine.

    Croney was quick to highlight the transformative influence of centre back Rommel Burgess, one of the club’s key off-season additions. A experienced veteran with both senior national team caps and experience playing club football overseas, Burgess has emerged as a locker room leader and a defensive anchor for Pro Shottas. “We don’t want to overlook the work every player has put in, but this group of new signings has made an enormous difference to our season. Rommel has been phenomenal – he works as hard as anyone and lifts up all the players around him,” Croney explained.

    The club also boosted their attacking firepower by bringing in forwards Xavier Webster and Teondre Hinkson ahead of the campaign, a move that has paid major dividends. The pair now rank among the top goal scorers in Division One: Hinkson has found the back of the net 13 times, while Webster has notched 12 goals for the league leaders.

    Heading into the final two matches, Pro Shottas hold a narrow two-point lead at the top of the standings with 52 points, compared to 50 points for second-placed Parish Land. Both Empire and Pinelands are still in contention for the title as well, as the two sides can reach the 50-point mark if they pick up maximum points from their remaining fixtures, leaving the title race wide open heading into the final week.

    Croney’s side will face Barbados Soccer Academy in their penultimate match before closing out the regular season against Empire, and the manager said his squad is fully prepared to chase the title. “We’re not going into these games taking anything for granted. We know Empire will come out fighting just like they did in the first round, and our guys are ready to compete hard to get the results we need,” he said.

    Once the Division One season concludes, Pro Shottas will shift their focus to the Prime Minister’s Cup, a prestigious knockout competition set to kick off in September that awards a $100,000 grand prize to the tournament winner. Croney is hopeful his team can build on their current momentum to deliver a better performance than they managed in last year’s edition of the cup, where they were eliminated in the first round. “Last year’s result wasn’t what we wanted at all – we didn’t make it past the first stage. But with the momentum and confidence this group has right now, I fully expect we’ll do great things in this year’s competition,” Croney added.

  • 21 Students Head Back to School With a Backpack Full of Books

    21 Students Head Back to School With a Backpack Full of Books

    On August 14, 2026, 21 students from rural communities surrounding the Rio Bravo conservation area received more than just school supplies at Programme for Belize’s annual Book Scholarship Award Ceremony—they gained a critical stepping stone toward long-term academic and professional success.

    For decades, Programme for Belize has centered educational support for low-income youth in the region as a tool for both community development and conservation. Originally, the non-profit covered full high school tuition for students whose families could not afford the cost. When the Belizean government took over responsibility for public high school tuition, the organization restructured its initiative to focus on providing full sets of required textbooks and other learning materials to eligible students.

    Edilberto Romero, executive director of Programme for Belize, explained that the program’s mission goes far beyond covering academic costs. The core goal, he noted, is to empower local young people to build professional careers that do not rely on unsustainable extraction of natural resources from the Rio Bravo area. In turn, this model fosters collaborative partnerships between the conservation organization and local communities, encouraging long-term buy-in for protecting the region’s unique ecosystems.

    “By giving these students the tools to pursue their education and build alternative livelihoods, we create a shared stake in conservation,” Romero said. “Communities that benefit from this work understand why protecting Rio Bravo matters for future generations, and they become our strongest partners in that effort.”

    Looking ahead, the organization is already planning its next evolution of support. As more Belizean educational institutions shift to digital learning and require all students to have personal laptops, Romero says the high cost of this technology puts it out of reach for many low-income families. Programme for Belize is now exploring how to adapt its scholarship program to address this growing need, ensuring local students do not fall behind as education becomes increasingly digital.

    The 21 award recipients this year join hundreds of students who have benefited from the program over its decades of operation, opening new pathways for youth while advancing long-term conservation goals in one of Belize’s most ecologically important regions.

  • Flash-Flood threat as Tropical Wave nears

    Flash-Flood threat as Tropical Wave nears

    Barbados has activated a Flash-Flood Watch effective from 6 p.m. local time through 6 a.m. August 15, as a powerful tropical wave approaches the island nation, forecast to bring unstable weather marked by moderate to intense downpours that raise the risk of flash flooding across vulnerable areas.

    Officials from the Barbados Meteorological Services (BMS) confirmed that accumulated rainfall across multiple regions of the island is projected to reach between 25 and 50 millimeters as the system moves across the territory. Forecasters warn that the sudden heavy precipitation could trigger fast-onset flooding, with a range of potential disruptions to daily life and infrastructure. Low-lying zones are identified as the most at-risk areas, where floodwaters are likely to accumulate on roadways and agricultural lands. Rising water levels in ponds, streams and other natural water channels are also expected, while excess runoff may overwhelm local drainage networks and encroach on residential and commercial properties.

    In addition to flooding risks, the unstable weather will bring gusty winds and embedded thunderstorms across the island. Commuters are warned to prepare for potential travel delays and unplanned road closures that require temporary diversions around affected areas. On exposed, cleared land, the heavy rainfall also raises the possibility of soil erosion that can damage local ecosystems and infrastructure.

    BMS officials note that the current watch may be updated or ended earlier than the scheduled 6 a.m. expiration if weather conditions improve rapidly. They also added that if the threat intensifies, the alert level will be upgraded to a full flash flood warning to prompt more urgent protective action from residents and local authorities.

  • BTL Closes the Door on $80M Speednet Acquisition

    BTL Closes the Door on $80M Speednet Acquisition

    On August 14, 2026, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) formally announced it was ending its pursuit of the proposed $80 million acquisition of local telecommunications rival Speednet, which trades under the brand name SMART. The move came directly after Belize’s Cabinet declined to throw its support behind the merger, a decision BTL’s leadership has said it accepts fully.

    In an internal bulletin sent to all BTL employees, BTL Chairman Markhelm Lizarraga confirmed the end of the acquisition process. “We respect Cabinet’s decision and the process through which it was reached,” Lizarraga stated. “The process of how we could have expanded our business through an acquisition is now behind us. We close that chapter and turn our full attention to how we will expand our business through other avenues in an ever-evolving competitive landscape.”

    The termination of the deal arrives at a pivotal moment for Belize’s telecommunications sector, as BTL prepares for shifting regulatory conditions. The country’s Public Utilities Commission is widely expected to designate BTL as a dominant service provider in the market, a classification that will bring sweeping new requirements for the company. Lizarraga noted that the designation will impose additional regulatory obligations, greater government oversight, and new operational constraints that will force BTL to adopt more disciplined practices across every area of its business, from competition and capital investment to customer service.

    This official announcement from BTL followed the first public statement from Speednet after Cabinet revealed its decision earlier the same week. According to Speednet, BTL first approached the company about a potential acquisition in 2022, and renewed the offer for a second time in mid-2025. In the months after the proposal became public, opposition to the merger grew steadily among stakeholders and the general public.

    Going forward, new market rules will require all government telecommunications contracts to be opened to public tender, a change designed to level the playing field for smaller providers. For BTL, the dominant provider designation will include requirements explicitly aimed at boosting market competition, including mandated infrastructure sharing with competitors at cost-based rates and potential adjustments to the surcharges BTL currently charges rival providers to use its network.

    Despite the setback of the collapsed acquisition, Lizarraga outlined a clear new path for BTL’s long-term growth. The company will accelerate its ongoing organizational transformation, shifting from a traditional telecommunications provider to a broader, diversified technology company (dubbed “TechCo” internally). This new strategic direction will see BTL direct capital investment toward high-growth digital services including cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity protections, outsourced managed IT services, and customized enterprise technology solutions for business clients.

  • UPP Chair Says Browne Was ‘Dead Wrong’ Over Judiciary Remarks

    UPP Chair Says Browne Was ‘Dead Wrong’ Over Judiciary Remarks

    A growing political firestorm has erupted in Antigua and Barbuda over recent remarks by Prime Minister Gaston Browne targeting judicial sentencing practices, with the chair of the country’s main opposition party sounding a stark alarm about the risks of political interference in the judiciary. D. Gisele Isaac, head of the United Progressive Party (UPP), issued a blistering rebuke of Browne during an interview on Observer Radio’s *Voice of the People*, calling the prime minister “dead wrong” for publicly singling out a judicial officer over sentences he deemed excessively lenient.

    Isaac emphasized that any legitimate concerns about sentencing guidelines should be resolved through established constitutional channels—formal legislative adjustments or internal judicial review processes—not through public intimidation or executive pressure on sitting judges. Rooting her argument in the foundational principle of separation of powers enshrined in the country’s constitution, she stressed that the executive branch has no authority to interfere with the work of the judiciary. “The prime minister has no jurisdiction over the judiciary,” Isaac stated. “You cannot fail to act through proper legislative channels, then lean on the power of the Cabinet to threaten a judge into changing their rulings.”

    The controversy traces back to Browne’s recent public criticism of sentences handed down in firearms and other high-stakes criminal cases, paired with his call for a formal review of national sentencing practices. After the Antigua and Barbuda Bar Association called on Browne to issue a public apology for his remarks, Isaac also condemned the prime minister’s response to the legal body. She characterized that response as “in very, very poor taste” and “unbecoming of somebody holding the office of prime minister.”

    Isaac pushed back against Browne’s critique of sentencing outcomes, noting that judges are explicitly granted statutory discretion to evaluate the unique facts and circumstances of each individual case before issuing a ruling. “That is the core work of a judge: to weigh all relevant context and render a decision aligned with the law,” she explained. Beyond the immediate debate over sentencing, she warned that political attempts to sway judicial decisions carry severe long-term consequences that undermine the entire structure of democratic governance.

    “If a prime minister can dictate how a judge rules, or how they sentence, what line gets crossed next?” Isaac asked. “The judiciary exists specifically to protect ordinary citizens from overreach by the executive branch.” She also tied the local controversy to broader regional challenges across the Caribbean, where public trust in independent judicial institutions has come under growing scrutiny. Even though Caribbean judges are widely recognized as highly qualified to interpret and apply the law, Isaac noted that public perceptions of inappropriate ties between political leaders and judicial officials can erode public confidence. “For a large share of the public, perception becomes reality,” she added.

    Isaac’s comments mark the most high-profile pushback against Browne’s remarks to date, intensifying debate over the balance of power between the executive and judicial branches in Antigua and Barbuda and highlighting growing regional concerns about the preservation of judicial independence.