博客

Police seek parents of young girl found walking alone on Belmont Main Road

Law enforcement officials in the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda have issued an urgent public call for assistance after a minor girl was discovered wandering unaccompanied along a major thoroughfare in the country. The young child was found alone on Belmont Main Road, prompting police to launch an immediate effort to trace her next of kin and reconnect her with her family.

Authorities confirmed they are actively combing through any tips and details shared by community members that could shed light on the child’s identity and help speed up the process of reuniting her with her parents or legal guardians. For reasons that have not been made public, police have opted not to release several key pieces of information about the case, including the exact age of the girl, the specific date and time she was located, and the chain of events that left her unsupervised in a public area.

The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda is urging any member of the public who may recognize the child’s description, or who has information about where her parents or guardians currently are, to reach out to central police headquarters without delay via the dedicated contact line 462-0125. Beyond asking for direct information, law enforcement has also called on local residents to share the appeal across their personal and community networks, to expand the reach of the search and maximize the chances of the girl returning home safely as soon as possible.

17 10 月, 2026
Police Search for Suspect After 35-Year-Old Man Stabbed in Ottos

A regional manhunt is continuing in Ottos this week after a sudden, unprovoked stabbing left a 35-year-old local man hospitalized in stable condition, law enforcement officials confirmed Thursday. The violent incident unfolded shortly before 5 a.m. along Campbell Street, where the victim had been gathering for casual drinks with a group of friends when the attack began with no advance warning, according to initial police reports.

The attacker used an unidentified sharp object to stab the victim in his right shoulder, inflicting a non-life-threatening injury before fleeing the scene on foot. Witnesses told responding officers that the suspect fled in a southerly direction toward the surrounding residential area after the assault.

First responders and uniformed officers quickly launched a grid search of nearby neighborhoods, side streets, and vacant properties to track down the perpetrator. As of Thursday’s update, however, the search has not yielded any arrests or significant leads to locate the suspect.

Simultaneously with the search effort, emergency medical teams transported the injured victim directly to Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre for urgent care. Clinical staff at the facility immediately addressed the man’s shoulder wound, and while medical providers confirmed his injuries are not considered fatal, he has been kept in the hospital for mandatory overnight observation and additional monitoring.

Investigators from the local policing unit have not yet released any details about a possible motive for the attack, nor have they confirmed whether the victim and the accused attacker had any prior connection or knew each other before the confrontation. The criminal investigation remains active and ongoing, with law enforcement urging any members of the public who were in the Campbell Street area before 5 a.m. Thursday or who have information about the suspect to contact local police headquarters.

17 10 月, 2026
News : Zapping…

As Haiti navigates a period of persistent political uncertainty and widespread insecurity, multiple overlapping developments across the country’s electoral, diplomatic, and institutional spheres are shaping its trajectory in mid-October 2026. The most closely watched development centers on the upcoming presidential election, where the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) has already recorded 16 preliminary candidate registrations as of mid-October. Former candidate Michel Joseph Martelly, who initially filed his online candidacy under the Debloke Party banner in late September, has now completed the process by submitting all required documentation to the CEP for review.

The full preliminary slate of registered candidates includes Daniest Adrien (PRC), Gary Bodeau (P.R.), Deus Déronneth (DVNH), Gandhy Dorfeuille (ANF), Moïse Durocher (Sol Ayiti), Joanas Gue (KAPAB), Ricardo Jean-Pierre (PANAH), Wilson Jeudy (VAR), Claude Joseph (EDE), Maxo Joseph (RCH), Wilner Joseph (VIKTWA), Michel Joseph Martelly (Debloke), Munir Joseph Mourra (MPH), Jean Ernest Muscadin (FCN), Jocelerme Privert (Ayiti Transforme), and René St-Fort (PRN). It is important to note that these registrations remain preliminary: the CEP will conduct a full verification and validation process before releasing an official finalized candidate list, and potential candidates still have until October 31, 2026 to complete their registration.

Internationally, global actors continue to voice deep concern over Haiti’s ongoing crisis. During a recent meeting between Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader and Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, Vatican authorities made clear their anxiety over the instability impacting Haitian communities. A key topic of the discussion was whether the upcoming election can proceed as planned amid the pervasive insecurity and political gridlock that has disrupted daily life across the country.

At the United Nations, the UN Security Council has scheduled a briefing on the status of the French-led Gang Suppression Force (GSF), set for October 19. Jack Christofides, the Special Representative leading the GSF, will update council members on current force deployment levels, key operational advances made to date, and core strategic priorities for the force’s next phase of activity in Haiti.

Domestic institutional efforts are also moving forward across multiple sectors. On October 14, UN Special Rapporteur on Haiti’s human rights situation William O’Neill launched a public consultation on developing a national civic service framework, with technical support from the UN Human Rights Office and in partnership with Haiti’s Ministry of Youth, Sports and Civic Action (MJSAC), hosted in Port-au-Prince. Proponents of the initiative frame civic service as a tool to boost youth civic engagement, create much-needed employment opportunities for young Haitians, and embed human rights principles across local communities.

In the justice sector, the Port-au-Prince Court of First Instance gathered roughly 30 investigating and trial judges on October 15 at the offices of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) to map out operational plans for the 2026-2027 judicial year. Discussions covered critical priorities to streamline court operations, including judge rotation protocols, case allocation reforms, procedures for immediate appearance hearings, non-jury criminal trials, and specialized management of juvenile cases. The overarching goal of the planning is to address longstanding delays in Haiti’s judicial system, particularly the crisis of prolonged pretrial detention. BINUH has reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to supporting Haitian judicial authorities in strengthening system efficiency and advancing rule of law reforms.

Finally, infrastructure improvements aimed at expanding access to basic services are moving forward in Haiti’s northern regions. A delegation led by Théophil Ostinvil, Director General of Haiti’s National Directorate of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DINEPA), recently visited Ti Koulin in the Northeast Department to inspect equipment for the Rural, Resilient, Sustainable, and Decentralized Drinking Water and Sanitation (EPARRD) program. Funded by the World Bank, the EPARRD initiative will roll out interventions across Haiti’s North, Central, and Southern departments, with the core goal of delivering sustainable, long-term improvements to access to safe drinking water, sanitation infrastructure, and public hygiene education for vulnerable communities across the country.

17 10 月, 2026
Excessive Rainfall Warning: Another 2 to 4 Inches Possible in the Next 24 Hours

Belize is bracing for another period of heavy precipitation this weekend, as national weather authorities issued an urgent excessive rainfall warning early Saturday, October 17, 2026, forecasting an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain could fall across vulnerable regions over the next 24 hours. This new alert builds on a broader flood warning released one day earlier by the country’s Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, which had already projected 2 to 4 inches of total rainfall across a four-day window and warned of the imminent threat of flash flooding in low-lying, flood-prone communities across the nation.

Meteorologists attribute the persistent wet conditions to a lingering trough of low pressure, which is maintaining moist, unstable atmospheric conditions ideal for continued shower activity across the Belize region. Through Saturday, the sky will remain mostly overcast through both daytime and overnight hours. Saturday morning will see most precipitation—including scattered showers, light steady rain, and a handful of thunderstorms—remain concentrated offshore, but this wet activity is expected to push inland and spread across most of the country by Saturday afternoon. Overnight Saturday into Sunday, the bulk of the showers, light rain, and isolated thunderstorms will shift back to focus on coastal areas and offshore waters.

In addition to the flood and rainfall warnings, authorities have also enacted a small craft caution for all marine operators along Belize’s coast. Gusty winds that accompany heavy showers and thunderstorms can create sudden locally rough sea conditions that pose a hazard for small vessels. Current forecasts predict winds will blow from the northeast to east at 5 to 15 knots, generating a light to moderate chop with wave heights ranging between 2 and 4 feet, creating the risk of unexpectedly rough conditions during passing storm activity.

Looking ahead to Sunday, the cloud cover is expected to thin slightly, with forecasts calling for partly to mostly cloudy skies across the country. A limited number of showers, extended periods of light rain, and isolated thunderstorms will still impact most regions Sunday, before precipitation shifts primarily to coastal areas Sunday night. For temperature expectations, coastal areas will see daily highs of 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) and overnight lows dropping to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius). Inland regions will see warmer afternoon highs reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) with cooler overnight lows of 74 degrees Fahrenheit (23 Celsius). The cooler hill regions of Belize will see temperatures ranging between a high of 78 degrees Fahrenheit (26 Celsius) and an overnight low of 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 Celsius).

Officials are urging all Belize residents to closely monitor changing weather conditions over the coming days and keep up to date with official emergency management and weather updates to stay safe amid ongoing flood and storm risks.

17 10 月, 2026
Vietnam wil Suriname helpen uitgroeien tot regionale rijstexporteur

Diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Suriname are poised for deeper economic collaboration, as Vietnam laid out a detailed framework for mutually beneficial partnership during a high-profile diplomatic meeting Friday, October 16. Non-resident Vietnamese Ambassador Bùi Văn Nghị, during his farewell audience with Suriname President Jennifer Simons, outlined priority sectors for expanded engagement, ranging from agriculture and energy to climate action, that aim to bridge the gap between the two nations’ strong political relations and underdeveloped economic ties.

During the meeting, held at the President’s Cabinet where the ambassador and his delegation received an official welcome, both sides reviewed existing collaboration and mapped a path forward to deepen economic linkages. Ambassador Bùi emphasized that while diplomatic and political relations between the two countries are currently excellent, economic cooperation has not kept pace. To address this gap, the two nations agreed to focus cooperation on sectors where clear, actionable opportunities exist, to add tangible substance to their bilateral relationship.

At the top of the proposed cooperation agenda is the agricultural sector, with rice development as the centerpiece. One of the world’s top rice exporting nations, Vietnam has built decades of advanced expertise in rice cultivation, post-harvest processing, and cross-border export logistics. Under the partnership framework, Vietnam is ready to share this specialized knowledge with Suriname to boost the South American nation’s rice production capacity and export competitiveness, with the long-term goal of helping Suriname develop into a regional rice export hub for the Americas.

Beyond rice cultivation, Vietnam sees significant untapped potential in cooperation on fisheries and aquaculture. Leveraging Suriname’s abundant water resources and rich natural endowments, Vietnam will bring its years of hands-on experience developing sustainable, high-yield fisheries and aquaculture sectors to advance joint growth in this area.

In the energy sector, Vietnam has identified opportunities for collaboration between Suriname’s state-owned oil and gas firm Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname and Vietnam’s national energy giant Petrovietnam (PVN). Proposed areas of cooperation include pipeline construction, floating storage infrastructure development, and offshore oil and gas exploration. As Suriname works to expand its domestic oil and gas sector, this partnership would support the buildout of critical industrial infrastructure and facilitate the exchange of specialized technical knowledge between the two national energy companies.

Economic initiatives were not the only focus of the meeting; the two sides also aligned on climate policy cooperation. Vietnam confirmed its support for Suriname’s position on climate finance and forest conservation within the United Nations framework. Both nations share a strong stake in global action to mitigate the impacts of climate change, Ambassador Bùi noted, adding that Vietnam, as one of the countries most severely impacted by climate change, also prioritizes large-scale forest conservation as a core climate strategy.

During the audience, Ambassador Bùi also extended congratulations to President Simons on making history as Suriname’s first female head of state, wishing her success in advancing the country’s goals of inclusive prosperity and sustainable development. As of the post-meeting official announcements, no details have been released on whether binding agreements have been signed for the proposed cooperation initiatives, nor has a timeline been shared for when the projects will be rolled out.

17 10 月, 2026
Kem Hodge appointed facilities manager at Pelican Court

In a major step forward for the delivery of a new residential community in Antigua and Barbuda, the national Cabinet has confirmed the appointment of Kem Hodge to the role of Facilities Manager at Pelican Court, a purpose-built housing development that will soon welcome its first occupants. The announcement was made by Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant during a media briefing held immediately after Friday’s Cabinet meeting, where details of the project’s final occupancy arrangements were laid out for the public. According to Merchant, Hodge is already a well-known figure among residents of the Point and Villa communities, where he has built years of professional and personal ties through local community work. Beyond Hodge’s appointment, the Cabinet plans to appoint additional volunteer committees and dedicated management teams to share oversight of the Pelican Court property, Merchant confirmed. This appointment is part of a broader set of pre-occupancy preparations being made to welcome displaced former residents of Booby Alley, along with other pre-vetted eligible households who will soon take up residence in the new development. Merchant told reporters that the national government has approved a clear set of binding rules governing both occupancy and ongoing building maintenance, designed to protect the safety and quality of life for all future residents. Highlighting the specific issues that management will prioritize, Merchant called out illegal drug trafficking and excessive noise as two problematic behaviors that will not be tolerated within the development. “Certain activities will not be permitted in Pelican Court, and that is trade in drugs and controlled substances,” Merchant stated, confirming that consistent regulations around noise levels will also be enforced to prevent disruption to neighbors. The overarching vision for the project, Merchant emphasized, is to establish Pelican Court as a benchmark for high-quality, well-governed residential development across Antigua and Barbuda. While key leadership and policy frameworks were confirmed during the briefing, several critical details remain undisclosed: the Cabinet did not share the proposed membership of the upcoming oversight committees, the specific enforcement powers that will be granted to Hodge, or the formal procedures that will be followed when residents violate occupancy rules. Alongside the leadership appointment, the Cabinet has issued a directive to all relevant government agencies to accelerate a series of administrative tasks that are required for handover. These include speeding up property surveys, completing official condominium registration, and processing ownership transfers for incoming residents. Pelican Court is one of the major infrastructure projects in Antigua and Barbuda that has received funding from the Chinese government, and the accelerated administrative push signals the government’s goal of completing the handover process to new residents as quickly as possible.

17 10 月, 2026
Chinese builders pledge continued technical support for Pelican Court

After formally completing the handover of the 150-unit Pelican Court housing development to the government of Antigua and Barbuda, the Chinese construction team has made a public commitment to provide long-term technical assistance and maintenance services for the project. The development was fully funded by an approximately EC$50 million grant from China, built to replace the aging informal Booby Alley settlement in western St. John’s.

At the official handover ceremony held on Thursday, a senior representative from the Chinese project team emphasized that the transfer of ownership does not mark the conclusion of their involvement, but rather the start of a new phase of partnership. “This handover marks not the end, but a new beginning,” the representative stated, adding that the ongoing support is designed to ensure the residential units remain safe, comfortable, and habitable for residents over the coming years. However, the team has not yet released detailed specifications for the post-handover services, including the duration of the support, the specific scope of maintenance work covered, or the formal process for residents to request assistance.

The construction representative also noted that the project team overcame a series of significant obstacles during development, including challenging site topography, delays in cross-border material shipments, and disruptions from adverse local weather conditions. Throughout the entire construction process, the team strictly adhered to international standards and all regulatory requirements for China’s foreign aid projects, the representative added.

In an exclusive interview with Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Service (ABS), project representative Tang Weiwei shared details on the project’s workforce and capacity-building efforts. Tang explained that the construction phase involved 169 Chinese personnel alongside more than 20 local workers. To strengthen local capability, the two work groups conducted regular knowledge exchanges and organized targeted training sessions, walking local workers through the project’s specialized equipment and long-term maintenance protocols.

With the handover complete, the Antigua and Barbuda government is now moving forward with preparations to welcome new residents into the nine-building housing complex. Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced that a facility manager has already been appointed to oversee daily operations, and noted that residents will be required to pay a monthly condominium maintenance fee to support ongoing upkeep. While Browne suggested a potential figure of $50 per month, no final amount has been formally announced.

Ambassador Clarence Pilgrim, project chairman, also emphasized that clear maintenance protocols, transparent financial and operational management, and cooperative neighbour relations will all be critical to preserving Pelican Court as a durable national asset for Antigua and Barbuda.

17 10 月, 2026
Bangkok : Address by the Governor of the BRH at the Caribbean Ministerial Meeting

At the 2026 Caribbean Ministerial Meeting hosted in Bangkok, Thailand on October 15, Gabriel Ronald, Governor of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH), delivered a targeted address to International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, laying out the unique economic and demographic challenges facing Haiti and calling for tailored global support for vulnerable small and fragile states.

The gathering, centered on two defining crises facing the Caribbean region—the cumulative impact of consecutive global shocks and rapidly shifting demographic dynamics—drew Ronald’s focus to the outsized vulnerability that small island and fragile nations face when hit by external pressures. Unlike larger, more diversified economies, every new shock erodes already scarce policy space in these contexts, and the Caribbean is no exception. Current energy market volatility has worsened long-standing structural imbalances across the region, while natural disaster damage, measured as a share of gross domestic product, is six times higher in the Caribbean than in most other parts of the world.

For central banks across these vulnerable economies, Ronald argued, the core balancing act is maintaining macroeconomic and financial stability without imposing overly harsh adjustments that undermine long-term growth. For Haiti, this balance is even more critical: with nearly half of the population currently experiencing acute food insecurity, macroeconomic stability cannot come at the cost of cutting social spending or delaying the critical investments needed to build long-term national resilience. To meet this need, he emphasized, continued access to low-interest concessional financing, flexible shock-responsive funding tools, and well-phased technical assistance from global institutions remains non-negotiable for Haiti’s recovery.

Compounding these economic challenges, Ronald noted, is Haiti’s unique demographic pressure. Unlike many nations grappling with aging populations or falling birth rates, Haiti faces a crippling brain drain driven by mass emigration of young people and skilled workers. Data from an international institution shows that more than 80 percent of Haitian university graduates now reside outside the country. This ongoing outflow erodes Haiti’s long-term growth potential and strips state institutions of the skilled human capital needed to implement critical reforms, amplifying the urgency of targeted action.

“Our priority should be to create conditions that allow our young people to build their futures within their own country,” Ronald stated. Meeting this goal requires increased investment in skills development, expanded access to quality economic opportunities for youth, and more strategic collaboration with Haiti’s large global diaspora. He also noted that regional cooperation can play a key supporting role, particularly in priority areas including energy security, vocational training, skilled labor mobility, and disaster preparedness—though any collaborative framework must account for the wide gap in vulnerability and institutional capacity across Caribbean economies.

Closing his address to Georgieva, Ronald stressed that while investing in national resilience carries an upfront cost, the price of inaction would be far higher for Haiti and other vulnerable Caribbean states. He concluded by urging the IMF to continue adapting its technical assistance and financial tools to fit the unique realities of the world’s most vulnerable nations, ensuring that macroeconomic stability and investments in long-term resilience and future growth can progress hand in hand.

17 10 月, 2026
Fort James development to include commercial facilities, residences and marina, Browne says

A major mixed-use development project for the Fort James site is moving forward, with the project’s lead representative Browne confirming a multi-faceted blueprint that combines three core elements: commercial facilities, residential housing and a full-service marina.

The planned development targets unutilized or underdeveloped land at the Fort James location, with design teams already outlining how the three components will integrate to create a walkable, live-work-play community. Commercial spaces are set to accommodate local retail outlets, food service operations and small professional offices, serving both new residents and visitors who will use the marina facility. The residential portion will include a range of housing options to meet different demographic needs, from young professionals to retirees attracted by the waterfront location. The marina, a key signature amenity of the project, will offer berthing for recreational vessels, along with supporting amenities like fueling stations, boat maintenance facilities and visitor amenities for boat-based travelers.

Project backers say the development will bring significant economic benefits to the local area, including construction jobs during the build-out phase and long-term permanent employment in the commercial and marina operations. Local planning officials are currently reviewing the proposal, with public comment periods expected to be scheduled in the coming weeks to gather input from nearby residents and stakeholder groups.

17 10 月, 2026
Booby Alley redevelopment team to receive certificates of commendation

On Thursday, Ambassador Clarence Pilgrim, chairman of the long-delayed Booby Alley redevelopment initiative, made a key announcement: the national government will issue formal certificates of commendation to every individual and stakeholder group that contributed to delivering the transformative 150-unit Pelican Court housing development. The announcement came during an official ceremony marking the final handover of the new residential complex, located in St. John’s City West, Antigua and Barbuda, which replaces the long-standing informal Booby Alley settlement. The project, backed by an approximate EC$50 million grant from the Chinese government, took years of coordinated planning, community relocation, and on-site construction to reach completion. In his address to attendees at the handover, Pilgrim emphasized that the public commendations are intended to honor the hard work and dedication of every party that turned the multi-year legacy project from a blueprint into a tangible community asset.

Pilgrim went out of his way to highlight the contributions of frontline and behind-the-scenes workers across every stage of development. From civil engineers, land surveyors, and primary contractors to utility technicians, administrative support teams, on-site construction crews, heavy machinery operators, and delivery truck drivers, every role was critical to keeping the project on track amid challenges, he noted. Beyond construction staff, he extended gratitude to the public officers who managed the complex process of relocating former Booby Alley residents, local accommodation providers that opened their doors to temporarily displaced households, and the residents themselves who adapted to the upheaval of transitional living arrangements.

The redevelopment required unprecedented cross-agency collaboration across multiple branches of the Antigua and Barbuda government, and Pilgrim formally recognized the participation of every involved public institution: the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Development Control Authority, the Land Registry, and the Antigua Public Utilities Authority, among other supporting bodies. He also offered special recognition to the core committee members that have worked alongside him since the project’s launch in 2018, naming Joy Dublin, Colin Edwards, Anthony Richardson, Kim Hodge, and Nigel Francis specifically. Additional praise went to Misha Bryan for her outstanding coordination work, as well as all past and present members of the project team that contributed their time and expertise over the years.

Pilgrim openly acknowledged the myriad hurdles that tested the team’s patience and persistence over the project’s multi-year timeline. Significant community resistance during the relocation phase and widespread operational disruptions triggered by the global COVID-19 pandemic created unforeseen delays and challenges. He recalled multiple incidents where project committee members and frontline workers faced direct harassment, including verbal abuse and even having stones and bottles thrown at them. Despite these hostile encounters, Pilgrim noted that sustained collaboration and unwavering commitment to the project’s goals allowed work to continue moving forward steadily.

In a somber moment during the address, the project chairman paid tribute to community members and project team members who contributed to the initiative but did not live to see the completed development. Among those honored was Corey “Father Bear” Wilkins, a beloved member of the project team.

Pilgrim repeatedly stressed that ongoing participation from incoming Pelican Court residents was fundamental to the project’s success from its earliest planning phases, and that the long-term welfare of those residents will remain a central priority through the final transition period. “Your patience, your questions, and your participation helped shape this undertaking,” he told resident attendees. Looking ahead to the next chapter of the development, Pilgrim outlined three core requirements to preserve the quality and value of Pelican Court for future generations: establishing clear, structured maintenance protocols, implementing transparent, accountable community management, and fostering a culture of cooperation between new neighbors.

17 10 月, 2026