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  • Barbados to make licence applications digital

    Barbados to make licence applications digital

    Barbados’ Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw has announced an ambitious government-wide initiative to modernize public services through digital transformation, with license applications and secure payments set to move entirely online in the coming months. The announcement was made during the 50th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service for the National Security Division, held Sunday at the People’s Cathedral.

    Bradshaw outlined that the digital push extends far beyond just online licensing, framing it as a comprehensive overhaul of public sector operations. The administration is currently upgrading core technological systems, integrating cutting-edge digital tools, and revising outdated pieces of legislation to ensure all regulatory frameworks align with modern operational needs. The ultimate goals of this transition are to boost service efficiency, strengthen government transparency, and make critical public services more accessible to all citizens and industry stakeholders.

    Beyond licensing and payment processing, the broader modernization agenda includes full digitization of public records, expansion of existing e-government platforms, and the rollout of integrated cross-agency data systems designed to improve coordination between separate ministries and government departments. Bradshaw confirmed that preparatory work, including investments in national information and communications technology infrastructure and specialized training for public sector staff, is already underway to support a smooth transition to the new digital systems.

    The modernization drive also reaches into national security operations, where long-used manual processes are being replaced by technology-driven solutions to strengthen accountability and speed up service delivery. Speaking to the gathered congregation about the National Security Division’s five decades of work, Bradshaw celebrated the agency’s 50-year legacy of upholding safety and stability across all government institutions. She noted that the division, founded on April 1, 1976, now employs more than 200 dedicated personnel, and praised both retired and current members for their unwavering commitment to national service.

    While emphasizing the transformative power of new technology to improve public and security operations, Bradshaw stressed that human expertise and judgment remain irreplaceable for effective governance and national safety. “A nation is not made safe by systems alone; it is made safe by its people choosing every single day to be their brother’s keeper,” she said.

    Closing her remarks, Bradshaw called on all Barbadians, especially young people, to uphold the core values of peace, collective responsibility, and community engagement. She reminded attendees that a nation’s strength stems not only from robust, modern systems, but also from the small, consistent choices its people make every day to support one another.

  • Assembleedelegatie naar Turkije voor internationale assemblee

    Assembleedelegatie naar Turkije voor internationale assemblee

    A cross-party parliamentary delegation from Suriname, led by National Democratic Party (NDP) parliamentary group leader Rabin Parmessar, has embarked on a trip to Turkiye to participate in the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a major global forum for national parliamentary representatives. The delegation includes representatives from Suriname’s major political parties, with Progressive People’s Party (VHP) parliamentary group leader Asis Gajadien and Progressive Aboriginal People’s Party (ABOP) parliamentarian Ines Pané also joining the mission.

    The five-day IPU General Assembly is scheduled to run from April 14 to 19, 2026, in Istanbul, bringing together hundreds of lawmakers from nearly every sovereign state around the globe to deliberate on pressing transnational challenges that require collective political action. As part of their participation, the Suriname delegation will first contribute to the gathering of the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC), a regional caucus that coordinates unified policy positions for member states ahead of broader IPU debates.

    The GRULAC pre-assembly meeting has a packed policy agenda that covers multiple high-stakes topics. Delegates will discuss evolving international economic dynamics, deepen frameworks for cross-parliamentary cooperation, review and nominate candidates for the IPU Secretary-General position, and align on a joint regional geopolitical stance ahead of plenary discussions.

    In an interview with local Surinamese outlet Starnieuws ahead of the departure, Parmessar noted that the delegation will work through an extensive, tightly scheduled program throughout the event. He emphasized that the trip carries significant meaning for Suriname as a small Caribbean nation, stressing that it is critical for the country’s voice to be heard on the global inter-parliamentary stage. The delegation is set to take part in a range of official activities beyond the GRULAC meeting, including specialized committee meetings and the IPU’s plenary sessions.

    Key themes on the 2026 IPU General Assembly agenda span core global priorities: peace and international security, inclusive sustainable economic development, and the critical role national parliaments play in advancing justice and stability across all regions. This year’s assembly is framed around the central theme of “strengthening hope, securing peace, and building justice for future generations”, positioning the gathering as a leading global platform for advancing parliamentary diplomacy and building multilateral cooperation between nations.

  • CARICOM defends secretary-general reappointment

    CARICOM defends secretary-general reappointment

    A growing regional dispute has erupted within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) over the reappointment of Dr. Carla Barnett as the bloc’s Secretary-General, with CARICOM Chairman and St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew standing firm that all institutional protocols were correctly followed throughout the process.

    Drew’s formal defense came in an official statement released following an emergency special session of CARICOM Heads of Government held on April 10. Notably, neither Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar nor any designated representative from her country participated in the closed-door meeting, deepening the rift over the appointment.

    The controversy emerged after Persad-Bissessar launched a scathing public attack on the reappointment outcome, demanding full transparency and accountability from the 15-member regional integration bloc. She has made clear her government will not back down from the fight, vowing to pursue the issue aggressively through public channels. “My administration will give no quarter on this matter,” Persad-Bissessar said, pledging to “prosecute this matter mercilessly, relentlessly, and if necessary, ruthlessly in public until full transparency is achieved.”

    In his official response, Drew outlined the full sequence of procedural steps leading to the reappointment, which was finalized during the leadership retreat tied to CARICOM’s 50th Conference of Heads of Government, hosted by St. Kitts and Nevis between February 24 and 27. The chairman confirmed that all member states received formal advance notification of the full draft agenda, work program, and session details for plenary discussions, caucus meetings, and the closed leadership retreat well ahead of the conference. All official communications about the retreat’s date and location were sent through formal diplomatic channels, and every member state sent a formal confirmation of receipt, according to the statement.

    The CARICOM chairman’s account also clarifies the timeline of Trinidad and Tobago’s absence from the critical retreat vote. Persad-Bissessar left the main conference before the retreat began. Later, the country’s Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Sean Sobers, contacted the outgoing Secretary-General via WhatsApp to ask if he could attend in the prime minister’s place – an arrangement that had been used by other member states in past sessions. Sobers initially noted that seasickness could prevent him from traveling to the retreat venue, and after Barnett stated attendance would be optional under the circumstances, the minister never followed up to confirm his participation with either the chairman or the Secretary-General’s office.

    The discussion on Secretary-General reappointment took place during the retreat, with Barnett stepping out of the room for the full duration of the deliberation and vote to avoid any conflict of interest. Before the results of the reappointment were announced publicly, CARICOM officials attempted multiple times to contact Persad-Bissessar to inform her of the outcome, but they were unable to reach her. The chairman ultimately connected with Trinidad and Tobago’s foreign minister to share the result after those failed attempts.

    Closing his statement, Drew called on all CARICOM member states to resolve internal disagreements through the bloc’s established dispute resolution mechanisms, warning that public confrontation risks weakening the decades-long project of regional integration that benefits all Caribbean nations.

  • Antigua Elite Gymnastics Team Secures 16 Medals in Regional Debut, Finishes Second Overall

    Antigua Elite Gymnastics Team Secures 16 Medals in Regional Debut, Finishes Second Overall

    In a remarkable debut showing on the regional competitive stage, Antigua Elite Gymnastics Academy has turned heads with an outstanding performance, clinching 16 medals and securing the second spot in the overall standings against a field of tough competitors from across the Caribbean.

    The young Antiguan gymnasts went head-to-head with roughly 300 fellow athletes hailing from three of the region’s stronger gymnastics programs: Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. Beyond their impressive medal haul, the team achieved a rare sweep of all-around podium positions, taking home first, second, and third place all-around trophies — a feat that underscores the depth of talent the academy has cultivated in its early stages.

    Following the conclusion of the competition, leadership at the Antigua Elite Gymnastics Academy released an official statement celebrating their athletes’ achievements. The academy highlighted the poise and self-assurance each competitor displayed from the first rotation through the final event, noting that even under the pressure of their first major regional outing, the young gymnasts maintained steady focus and performed to the best of their abilities. The organization called the result “a wonderful experience and a strong start” to what it hopes will be a long and successful journey of growth in competitive gymnastics for the program and its athletes.

    This successful debut does more than just add a collection of medals to the academy’s trophy case. It also signals a bright, promising future for the emerging gymnastics community across Antigua and Barbuda. As the country continues to invest in developing youth talent and growing its footprint in competitive gymnastics across the Caribbean region, this standout performance serves as early proof that the foundation being built is already producing world-class young athletes.

  • Tuberoos opnieuw winnaar culturele klasse bij Avondvierdaagse

    Tuberoos opnieuw winnaar culturele klasse bij Avondvierdaagse

    The 61st edition of the beloved annual community walking and cultural event Avondvierdaagse (AVD) has drawn to a successful close, with a diverse set of groups claiming top honors across the competition’s multiple categories after four days of activities.

    Winners were officially announced around 2:00 a.m. on the event’s final day, following the arrival of the largest participating group, NDP, at the BVSS venue. This year’s edition drew more than 5,000 total participants, comprising 9 junior teams, 38 senior groups, and roughly 2,000 individual walkers. The occasion earned additional public attention for the attendance of Suriname’s President Jennifer Simons on the final day, who came out to show her support for all participating competitors.

    This year’s AVD centered on a health and nature-focused theme: “Be healthy, stay balanced, every step counts,” paired with the guiding slogan “Nature is our pharmacy.” This thematic focus was reflected in the event’s new special award, a dedicated environmental prize launched in partnership with the National Environmental Authority.

    Across the competitive categories, results brought a mix of repeat victories and first-time champions. In the cultural division, Tuberoos claimed the first-place title, finishing ahead of Krin Konsensi in second, Fiamba in third, and Sanseveria in fourth. For the corporate category, SWM took home the top prize, with Medische Zending securing second place. The open general division was led by Legacy Brassband, which finished in first position, followed by the Surinaamse Politiebond in second and Raggaspoiti in third.

    Among junior competitors, Libi Trobi Krioro claimed the overall first place, with Strong People finishing second and Biker Politie/RBT/AT taking third. The event’s Motivation Award was awarded to Jong Beko Krioro, which also brought the event’s youngest participant: four-year-old J. Junior, who joined the group for the full duration of the walk.

    Fiamba, the third-place finisher in the cultural division, earned a standout honor by winning the Purcy Olivieira Wisseltrofee, also known as the People’s Choice Award, for the second consecutive time. Named for a former BVSS chair, this award is decided entirely by public voting conducted through the event organizers’ official Facebook page. Fiamba secured the win with 28 percent of the total public vote, once again impressing the watching public with their performance.

    Cultural group Kujake earned dual special honors in this year’s event. The group took home both the Theme Prize for the best interpretation of AVD’s 2026 core message, as well as the inaugural Environment Prize from the National Environmental Authority, recognizing outstanding commitment to sustainable practices and environmental alignment during the event.

  • At least 30 dead in stampede at Haiti’s historic site

    At least 30 dead in stampede at Haiti’s historic site

    A devastating crowd crush at one of Haiti’s most famous cultural landmarks has left at least 30 people dead, with local authorities cautioning that the fatality count may climb in the coming hours as search operations continue. The tragic incident unfolded on Saturday, April 11, at the Citadelle Laferrière, a iconic 19th-century fortress constructed just after Haiti won its independence from French colonial rule. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, the fortress draws thousands of visitors annually for its longstanding traditional celebration, and this year’s event drew a large crowd of students and other tourists eager to take part in the festivities.

    Jean Henri Petit, head of civil protection for Haiti’s Nord Department where the Citadelle is located, confirmed that the deadly crush broke out at the main entrance to the site, and that unanticipated rainy weather worsened dangerous conditions for attendees. Culture Minister Emmanuel Menard formally verified the 30 fatalities in a written statement provided to AFP, adding that injured people have already been transported to local medical facilities to receive urgent care. Rescue teams remain on site working to locate any individuals who have been reported missing following the incident, and Menard did not release an exact number of people wounded in the disaster.

    Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime released an official statement extending his deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy, affirming the national government’s solidarity with grieving communities during what he called a period of profound suffering and mourning. The prime minister noted that a large share of attendees at the annual celebration were young people, but no identities of the deceased have been released to the public as of yet, and his office did not provide an independent death toll estimate.

    This latest catastrophe comes as Haiti already faces overlapping humanitarian and security crises. The Caribbean nation has been gripped by widespread gang violence that has killed hundreds of civilians in recent months, paired with rising civilian casualties from ongoing security force crackdowns on armed groups. It is also no stranger to large-scale disasters: in 2021 alone, a massive earthquake killed approximately 2,000 Haitians and a fuel tank explosion left 90 people dead, while another fuel blast killed 24 people in 2024.

  • Guatemalan Military Killed Guatemalan Fisherman But Falsely Blamed Belizean Authorities

    Guatemalan Military Killed Guatemalan Fisherman But Falsely Blamed Belizean Authorities

    A deadly cross-border diplomatic row has erupted after a fatal shooting incident near Guatemala’s Punta de Manabique, where Guatemalan military forces are accused of killing a local fisherman, wounding a second, then deliberately shifting blame to neighboring Belizean security units.

    The deceased fisherman has been identified as 32-year-old Jaime Geovanni Ich Ramos, a father of two children aged 9 and 11. The second man on the vessel, Julio Cesar Pineda, sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder and is currently receiving ongoing care in a local hospital. In an exclusive on-the-record interview with News 5, a family member of the two men based in Livingston, Izabal, shared new details about the sequence of events that led to the tragedy.

    According to the relative, the pair set out on a routine fishing trip early last Thursday, and had made a short stop in Belizean territorial waters to cast lines before heading back toward Guatemalan territory with a full catch of snapper. As they neared Punta de Manabique on their return journey, the relative claims, the unarmed fishing boat came under sudden fire from Guatemalan military personnel patrolling the area.

    “They were shot at without any warning or challenge,” the relative told reporters in Spanish. “When the soldiers boarded our family’s boat, they saw immediately that they were nothing more than working fishermen bringing in their daily catch. Even after realizing they had fired on unarmed civilians, the soldiers only brought the wounded men to the hospital and left them untreated while bleeding out. Then, they told local officials that Belizean security forces were the ones who opened fire.”

    The relative laid out a clearer timeline of the attack: Pineda, who was steering the boat, was hit first in the shoulder. When he collapsed from injury, Ramos took over control of the vessel, and was immediately shot and killed by the military personnel. “They are throwing blame on Belizean authorities because they refuse to take responsibility for their own mistake,” the family member added.

    Pineda’s mother has publicly echoed the family’s claims, rejecting the Guatemalan military’s false narrative. “This attack did not come from Belize – it happened right here at Punta de Manabique, which is Guatemalan territory,” she said. “I am demanding nothing less than full justice. They had no right to shoot unarmed, innocent people.”

    News 5 reached out to Belizean security officials for comment on the accusations, and Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard Gregory Soberanis issued a categorical full denial of any involvement in the incident in an exclusive response. “We are not engaging with this false propaganda or this manufactured narrative,” Soberanis stated. “The shooting happened in the Punta Manabique area, which is located deep inside Guatemalan territorial waters. Belizean security forces do not operate or patrol outside of our own jurisdictional waters, and we were nowhere near that location when the incident occurred.”

    As of April 12, 2026, Guatemalan defense officials have not yet issued an official response to the family’s allegations or the denial from Belize, leaving the cross-border dispute unresolved and the family still waiting for accountability.

  • Another Belize City Teen Missing

    Another Belize City Teen Missing

    In Belize City, a distraught family is desperately seeking answers after their 17-year-old son, Alwin Marin Jr., disappeared following a planned fishing outing that left another teen dead earlier this month. The case has shaken the local community, as authorities and family members continue combing through key areas for any clue to the missing teen’s whereabouts.

    Marin was last spotted leaving his residence on Thursday, heading out to fish alongside 17-year-old Jaheil Westby. Tragically, Westby’s body was recovered the very next day, bearing multiple gunshot wounds, near the Dyke Area located just behind the Port of Belize. According to Marin’s father, the two teenagers traveled to their intended fishing spot on horseback, each riding a separate animal. When the pair failed to return home at their expected time, worried family members launched an immediate search of the area where the teens were thought to have been heading.

    During that initial search, the only items recovered were the two horses the teens had ridden, plus Marin’s shirt and slippers. The discovery of his personal belongings, with no sign of the teen himself, has only amplified growing fears that he has met with harm.

    With little information coming forward in the early days of the investigation, Marin’s relatives have turned to social media to call for prayer from the community and ask any member of the public with relevant details to contact authorities or the family. A cousin of Marin spoke to local media, describing the 17-year-old as a hardworking, deeply respectful young man who had never caused trouble in the community. The cousin added that the entire extended family has been left devastated by the sudden, unexplained disappearance, with many unable to process what has happened.

    Family volunteers have organized independent search parties, focusing their efforts on the corridor stretching from Jane Usher Boulevard toward the Port of Belize, where Westby’s body was found. They are urging anyone who saw either teen on the day of their disappearance, or who has any information that could help locate Marin or explain what happened, to step forward immediately to assist the investigation.

  • Guyana zoekt naar gecrashte piloot nabij Braziliaanse grens

    Guyana zoekt naar gecrashte piloot nabij Braziliaanse grens

    Nearly 24 hours after a small single-engine cargo and transport plane crashed near Guyana’s western border with Brazil, specialized search and rescue units continued to comb the dense, mountainous jungle terrain on Saturday for the plane’s only occupant, its pilot.

    The 13-seat Cessna Caravan, operated by local aviation firm Air Services, was declared missing late Friday after it failed to touch down at its scheduled destination, Imbaimadai, a remote gold-mining region in southwestern Guyana. According to Guyana’s Civil Aviation Authority, the pilot was the sole person on board when the aircraft encountered severe torrential rainfall that preceded its crash into a mountainside.

    The wreckage of the downed plane was first spotted on Friday by other aircraft operating in the sparsely populated region, marking the end of the initial search phase to locate the crash site. The site sits deep within thick jungle in Guyana’s Region Eight, close to the Brazilian border, and military teams tasked with reaching the wreck had to navigate arduous terrain, cutting a path through dense 30-meter-tall forest canopy and descending steep slopes to reach the area. That detail was confirmed in an official statement released by the Guyana Defence Force.

    Small aircraft like this Cessna Caravan are a critical backbone of transportation across Guyana, a South American country with large swathes of undeveloped, roadless interior rainforest. Dozens of small planes connect remote mining, logging and indigenous communities scattered across the country’s interior, and also operate regular regional routes to neighboring countries including Brazil, Suriname and Caribbean island nations. As of Saturday afternoon, there was no update on whether the pilot has been found or what their condition is, and search efforts are ongoing.

  • Voter ID Replacement Applications continue to be slow

    Voter ID Replacement Applications continue to be slow

    As Antigua and Barbuda gears up for its upcoming general election, official data from the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) reveals a dramatic acceleration in voter ID replacement applications over the past two months, bringing the total number of processed requests to 27,322 to date.

    The rollout of the replacement program got off to a slow start in 2026, with just 355 applications submitted in January and 508 in February. Of the current total, 18,320 unprocessed requests were carried over from 2025, but a major surge in public engagement began in March. That month alone saw 4,168 new applications, and by the first 11 days of April, 3,971 applications had already been recorded – putting the month on track to match or exceed March’s high volume. Weekly data from April breaks this early activity into two periods: 1,071 applications between April 1 and 4, and an additional 2,894 between April 5 and 11. Figures for the second half of April have not yet been published by the commission.

    When broken down by constituency, the data reveals stark gaps in completion rates across the country. The parish of St. Peter has emerged as the clear leader, hitting an 85% completion rate that outpaces all other electoral districts. Following St. Peter are Barbuda at 75% and St. Philip North at 74%, while St. Philip South has hit 67% and All Saints West has recorded 60% completion.

    In contrast, a number of constituencies have yet to cross the 50% threshold, or are barely above the halfway mark. St. Mary’s North posts the lowest completion rate in the country at just 48%, with St. John’s Rural West at 50% and St. John’s City East at 53%. Urban constituencies centered around the capital city of St. John’s have posted only moderate progress overall, with completion rates falling between 50% and 56% – a trend that ABEC data suggests indicates slower uptake among voters in densely populated urban areas.

    While the recent surge in applications marks meaningful progress on the voter ID replacement initiative, official figures confirm that thousands of eligible registered voters have still not completed the process to replace or update their identification cards. With the general election approaching, the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission is continuing its outreach campaign to encourage all eligible voters to finalize their ID replacement in advance of polling day.