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  • WATCH: Antigua and Barbuda’s Tyra Fenton Dominates 200m At CARIFTA

    WATCH: Antigua and Barbuda’s Tyra Fenton Dominates 200m At CARIFTA

    The CARIFTA Track and Field Championships, one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious annual youth athletic competitions, served up a stunning standout performance this year, as Antigua and Barbuda’s rising sprint star Tyra Fenton put on a masterclass of speed and dominance to claim top honors in the women’s 200-meter event.

    Competing against a deep field of the region’s top young sprinters, Fenton controlled the race from the moment the starting gun fired out of the starting blocks. She exploded off the line, quickly gained an edge over her rivals through the curve, and extended her lead in the straightaway to cross the finish line well clear of the competition. Her commanding win has cemented her status as one of the most exciting young sprint talents coming out of the Caribbean this season.

    For fans across Antigua and Barbuda, the victory sparked widespread celebration, highlighting the depth of young athletic talent emerging from the twin-island nation. CARIFTA has long served as a launching pad for future Olympic and world championship competitors, with many of the sport’s biggest sprint names getting their start at the regional event. Fenton’s dominant performance this year marks her as a name to watch in upcoming international youth competitions, as she continues to build her career and represent her country on the global athletic stage.

  • BREAKING: Tyra Fenton Wins 200m Gold to Secure Third CARIFTA Medal for Antigua and Barbuda

    BREAKING: Tyra Fenton Wins 200m Gold to Secure Third CARIFTA Medal for Antigua and Barbuda

    Young sprint prodigy Tyra Fenton has extended her unprecedented winning streak at the 2024 CARIFTA Games in Grenada, securing her third medal of the regional competition by taking top honors in the Under-17 girls’ 200-meter final. Fenton’s latest victory, officially confirmed by the Antigua and Barbuda Athletic Association (ABAA), cements her status as one of the most outstanding young competitors at this year’s tournament, with the governing body praising the teen’s performance as yet another display of her natural dominance on the track.

    Coming into the 200m race, Fenton had already turned heads with an early medal haul: she claimed gold in the highly competitive Under-17 100-meter sprint and picked up a bronze medal in the 400-meter event just days prior. Her ability to compete at the highest level across three distances from the short 100m to the longer 400m demonstrates a rare combination of raw explosive speed and consistent endurance that sets her apart from her peers.

    Hosted at the state-of-the-art Kirani James Athletic Stadium, the annual CARIFTA Games draws the most elite junior track and field talent from 31 member nations across the Caribbean region, providing a launchpad for young athletes to advance to regional and global competitions. For small island nation Antigua and Barbuda, Fenton’s three-medal performance already ranks among the strongest individual showings the country has put forward in recent CARIFTA Games history, drawing pride and attention to the island’s emerging athletic development program.

  • Private university faces closure if Critchlow Labour College Inc wins possession court battle

    Private university faces closure if Critchlow Labour College Inc wins possession court battle

    A looming legal battle over property rights has pushed a private Guyanese higher education institution to the brink of permanent closure, with its top leader warning that an unfavorable court ruling would immediately end all operations. As of Monday, April 6, 2026, Stanley Paul, President of the University of Excellence, Management and Business Inc. (UEMBI), confirmed the private university is set to wind down operations by December 2026 if the High Court rules against it in the ongoing possession dispute over the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) building in Georgetown.

    The core of the legal conflict centers on the validity of a 15-year commercial lease agreement UEMBI signed with former CLC principal Ivor English in June 2025. The lease, which grants UEMBI access to the Woolford Avenue property originally leased to CLC by the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown in 1968, was struck at a time when Critchlow Labour College Inc. (CLCI), the legal entity behind the college, had been struck off Guyana’s Companies Register. CLCI was removed from the register in November 2013 and only restored in November 2025, months after the lease was signed. CLCI argues that English never held authorization as a director or officer of the institution to sign the lease, making the entire agreement a legal nullity.

    In its court filings, CLCI is seeking multiple court orders: an injunction barring UEMBI from any construction activity on the property, a formal ruling that UEMBI’s continued occupancy constitutes trespassing, and compensatory damages totaling GY$3,106,000 per month dating back to September 2025 for unlawful possession. CLCI also adds that UEMBI’s ongoing construction work violates Georgetown’s municipal building bylaws, as no legally approved construction plan was ever secured. Paul, however, has staunchly defended the lease’s validity, noting he had no prior notice of CLCI’s struck-off status or English’s alleged lack of authority, and that English openly represented himself as an authorized agent for the institution during negotiations. Per the terms of the agreement, Paul says UEMBI paid GY$4 million in advance rent, with monthly rent set at GY$1 million starting September 1, 2025, and the agreement includes an automatic renewal clause after the initial 15-year term.

    Complicating UEMBI’s position ahead of the scheduled April 7, 2026 hearing, the institution has now lost its fourth consecutive legal representative, after attorney Joelle Harmon-Alstrom withdrew her representation effective April 1, 2026. Paul told reporters the split stemmed from disagreements over case strategy: Paul pushed to highlight new, critical points raised in CLCI’s latest court submissions, while Harmon-Alstrom opted not to proceed with that framing. To date, Paul says UEMBI has spent GY$2.5 million on legal representation across four different lawyers, and he remains dissatisfied with all of the work the firm has provided.

    Paul confirmed that following Harmon-Alstrom’s withdrawal, he notified enrolled students of the planned December 2026 closure, but added that the shutdown is contingent on two key outcomes. First, the closure will only move forward if the High Court rules to eject UEMBI from the property. UEMBI’s accreditation is explicitly tied to its current location, meaning the university cannot relocate or continue operations elsewhere if it loses the building. Second, Paul says the university remains open to a transfer arrangement if a qualified, credible buyer steps forward before the end of 2026 to take over operations, a provision included to protect student interests and maintain continuity of education. The National Accreditation Council of Guyana has responded to Paul’s closure notice, calling for him to issue a more clear, definitive plan rather than attaching caveats to the proposed shutdown.

    Ahead of Tuesday’s hearing, Paul says he intends to request additional time from Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln to secure new legal representation, as well as permission to file a newly drafted reply affidavit. The final outcome of the ruling will determine the future of the private university and its student body, with one of Guyana’s newer private higher education institutions facing complete dissolution over the disputed property agreement.

  • Politie zoekt Pearl Morgenstond in meerdere zware strafzaken

    Politie zoekt Pearl Morgenstond in meerdere zware strafzaken

    On April 6, law enforcement agencies in Suriname announced an official manhunt for Pearl Percy Morgenstond, a 41-year-old suspect also known by the aliases ‘Morgu’ and ‘Kabouter’, acting on orders from the Attorney General at the Suriname Court of Justice.

    Born on January 22, 1985, in Paramaribo, Morgenstond is registered at two addresses in Wanica District: Devisweg and Kronenburgweg. Suriname police have linked the suspect to a string of severe criminal offenses. The charges against him include active participation in a structured criminal organization, hostage-taking, aggravated theft, extortion, and qualified forgery of official documents. He also faces an additional charge of violating the country’s Arms and Ammunition Act.

    Suriname police released a public description of the suspect to aid public identification: he is a man of Creole descent, with a brown skin tone, curly hair, and a stocky build. The manhunt operation is being led jointly by two specialized units: the Serious Crime Combat Division and the Forensic Investigation Department, which bring specialized experience in tracking high-priority criminal suspects.

    In a public appeal, law enforcement is urging any member of the public who may have information about Morgenstond’s current whereabouts to come forward immediately. Tip-offs can be submitted through multiple channels: calling the Suriname Central Region Detective Division (RRMS) at the hotline 582050, contacting the national police Command Center at the emergency line 115, or visiting the nearest local police station to share information in person. All provided information will be handled confidentially as the operation progresses.

  • Guyana secures 3rd place in EU-backed Caribbean maritime security competition

    Guyana secures 3rd place in EU-backed Caribbean maritime security competition

    On Monday, Guyana’s Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) announced that the country has earned third place in the 2026 Joint Maritime Control Unit (JMCU) Caribbean Competition, held under the European Union-funded Seaport Cooperation Project (SEACOP), a regional initiative focused on countering maritime illicit trafficking.

    The annual competition is designed to benchmark and elevate the capabilities of Caribbean law enforcement teams to carry out high-risk vessel inspections for contraband, most notably illegal narcotics, while adhering to global safety and procedural standards. It brings together maritime enforcement agencies from across the Caribbean region to test practical skills, share best practices, and strengthen cross-border cooperation against transnational organized crime.

    Guyana’s delegation was made up of personnel from three leading national security agencies: CANU, the Guyana Police Force (GPF), and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard. The team scored 72 out of a total 80 possible points, equal to a 90% overall rating. This result tied Guyana with Saint Kitts and Nevis for third place, trailing only regional leaders Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, which scored 75 points (94%) to claim the top two positions.

    Assessments for the competition were conducted against a strict 80-point evaluation framework that graded teams across multiple core competency areas. Judges evaluated operational safety protocols, tactical search methodologies, internal communication, inter-agency teamwork, decision-making during high-pressure scenarios, adherence to legal and procedural rules, professional conduct, and command effectiveness.

    In its official statement, CANU emphasized that Guyana’s strong performance reflects the nation’s growing and robust maritime interdiction capacity, built through sustained investments in targeted training, improved inter-agency coordination, and intelligence-led enforcement operations. The result also cements Guyana’s commitment to collaborative regional security, as participating nations work collectively to shut down illicit trafficking routes that span Caribbean waters.

    Alongside Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, the competition drew participants from a range of Caribbean nations including Suriname, Jamaica, and Antigua and Barbuda, demonstrating the widespread buy-in for coordinated regional security action across the bloc.

    CANU noted that the SEACOP JMCU Competition serves as a critical developmental platform for Caribbean maritime law enforcement, helping agencies align operational standards, improve interoperability during joint operations, and adopt proven best practices from peer nations. For Guyana, the third-place finish confirms the country’s position among the top tier of regional maritime interdiction units, with clear room to advance to the top of the rankings through continued refining of operational protocols and training.

  • Minister vows stronger marketing for Oistins Fish Festival

    Minister vows stronger marketing for Oistins Fish Festival

    As one of Barbados’ most beloved cultural gatherings prepares to mark its historic 50th anniversary, a senior government official has laid out a bold strategy to reverse years of declining patronage and reinvigorate the iconic Flow Oistins Fish Festival. Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight, a government minister and Member of Parliament for Christ Church South, has committed to rolling out enhanced marketing campaigns and expanded community outreach to draw larger crowds to the milestone celebration next year, addressing long-simmering frustrations from local vendors who have reported plummeting sales at recent editions of the event.

    Voicing shared concern over the steady drop in attendance that has eroded the festival’s vibrancy in recent years, Munro-Knight confirmed she will partner closely with the festival’s organizing committee to reframe public outreach and boost national awareness of the event’s cultural significance. “Supporting every vendor and small business that relies on this festival is a top priority,” she emphasized during a public appearance at the festival’s annual Dionna Browne-Findlay Easter Bonnet parade, where she served as head judge. “We are calling on all Barbadians to turn out and support our event both on the final day of this year’s festival, and for our golden anniversary celebration next year.”

    Munro-Knight made clear that the 50th anniversary programming will center two core goals: honoring the Caribbean island’s fishing community, which founded the festival decades ago, and reviving beloved traditional elements that have faded from recent lineups. Iconic features that once defined the event, including elaborate parade floats, traditional folk costumes and live folk dance performances, will return to the spotlight for the golden jubilee. “I can promise the 50th anniversary will be a grand, unforgettable celebration,” she said. “We’re bringing big floats back, and we’re highlighting the core elements that make this festival special – most of all, our fisherfolk who built this tradition.”

    The MP added that reversing the trend of waning public interest will require a national shift back to intentional cultural appreciation, with a specific focus on engaging younger generations through expanded school involvement. “This is a whole-of-government commitment. We need to revisit our approach to make sure our marketing and outreach resonate with all Barbadians, from older generations who grew up with the festival to young people who are experiencing it for the first time,” she explained. “We have to embed deeper youth and school engagement to build long-term interest and keep crowds coming back year after year.”

    During her appearance at the Easter Bonnet parade, an event that has become a staple staple side attraction of the festival, Munro-Knight also put forward a proposal to expand the competition’s participation eligibility. Currently, the contest is split into two age divisions: three to seven years old, and eight to 11 years old. The MP suggested opening the competition to older children and adult women to broaden participation and add more variety to the event.

    Now in its fifth year, the 2024 parade did not disappoint, with dozens of contestants showcasing wildly creative handcrafted bonnets themed around the festival’s core Barbadian cultural identity. Popular designs included interpretations of the island’s iconic flying fish, vibrant underwater seascapes, and depictions of Mother Sally, a legendary traditional folk character central to Barbadian carnival culture. In the three-to-seven age group, Dante Yearwood took home first place, with Arriel Hunte and Reef Riis claiming second and third place respectively. For the eight-to-11 division, Amyrah Boyce won the top prize, followed by Legacy Goddard in second and Kimaria Allen Farrell in third.

  • Vendors complain of poor sales at Oistins Fish Festival

    Vendors complain of poor sales at Oistins Fish Festival

    One of Barbados’ most beloved annual cultural gatherings, the Flow Oistins Fish Festival, is facing an unprecedented downturn that has left long-time and first-time vendors alike frustrated and calling for urgent institutional changes. During a on-site visit by Barbados TODAY on Easter Sunday afternoon, the widespread discontent among stallholders was impossible to miss, with nearly every seller reporting historically low foot traffic and revenue that fails to cover even basic participation costs.

    An anonymous toy vendor, visibly frustrated by the lack of customer activity, shared that she had only earned $80 on the festival’s Saturday, and had not made a single sale by mid-afternoon Sunday. Surveying the nearly empty aisles between stalls, she explained that recouping the fee she paid to secure her vending spot is now almost out of the question.

    Multiple vendors pointed to insufficient promotional outreach as a core driver of the low turnout. One seller, who described the first three days of the event as shockingly lifeless, noted that numerous attendees she spoke to had no advance warning that the festival was running that weekend. Even after dark, when the event traditionally draws the largest crowds, there has been little energy or activity this year. She stressed that while she holds out hope for a last-minute uptick in visitor numbers, the 2024 festival is already the worst she has ever experienced. To reverse the decline, she suggested organizers reintroduce popular traditional activities and add more family-focused programming specifically designed to attract young children and their parents.

    For Angelina Powell-Austin, a veteran vendor who has participated in the Oistins Fish Festival for 43 consecutive years, the 2024 downturn is part of a gradual but steady decline she has watched unfold over decades. “Years ago, this event was vibrant. By Saturday alone, we would already earn back every dollar we spent on our spot, then pack up early and return on Monday to keep all remaining sales as pure profit,” she recalled. Now, she says, each passing year brings worse turnout and lower sales, and this year’s atmosphere has been “boring, dead” compared to the event’s glory days. Though she acknowledged that all events evolve over time, she joined other sellers in calling for meaningful changes to reverse the trend.

    Lateisha Edwards, who runs a local plant and seedling stall and has participated in the festival for 15 years, echoed that assessment, calling 2024 one of the worst iterations of the event in her tenure. She noted that only opening Friday saw moderately heavy foot traffic, with all subsequent days slowing to a near standstill—even though many browsers stopped to look at her plant stock, very few ended up making purchases. Edwards says she is still holding out hope that sales will pick up before the festival wraps.

    A jewelry vendor in only her fourth year of participation struck a more optimistic tone, even as she acknowledged that the 2024 event has failed to meet her expectations. “Business is always a gamble,” she explained. “Even if sales are slow this weekend, this is still a chance to get my brand in front of new people, and many customers come back to purchase from me after the festival ends. There is always reason to hope things will improve.”

    Fruit and vegetable seller Shiann Harvey added that her sales are also far below average. In typical years, she would have sold out of her entire stock by Easter Sunday, but this year she still has most of her produce left. Like other vendors, she called for organizers to add more diverse entertainment and engaging attractions to draw crowds back to the event and revitalize its declining popularity.

  • CARIFTA Bronze: Grenada’s U20 quartet inches closer to the sub-40 mark

    CARIFTA Bronze: Grenada’s U20 quartet inches closer to the sub-40 mark

    The 2025 CARIFTA Games delivered a historic moment for Grenada’s track and field program, as the nation’s Under-20 men’s 4×100m relay squad secured a hard-fought bronze medal and shattered a long-standing national record in the event. The four-person team, made up of sprinters Ian George, Darrel Daniel, Kneon Mark Stanislaus, and Ethan Sam — a three-time individual CARIFTA sprint medalist — crossed the finish line in a blistering 40.18 seconds to claim a spot on the regional podium. Dominant regional track powers Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica claimed the top two positions, with Trinidad and Tobago taking gold in 39.64 seconds and Jamaica securing silver with a 39.85-second run.

    This bronze medal result marks only the fourth time in the entire history of the CARIFTA Games that a Grenadian Under-20 men’s 4×100m relay quartet has earned a place on the podium. The 2025 team joins an exclusive group of Grenadian squads that have pulled off this rare achievement, dating back more than 50 years. The previous podium finishes came most recently in 2024, when Shaquane Toussaint, Emilio Bishop, Taigon Peterkin, and Samuel Green also took home bronze; in 1973, when an unconfirmed Grenadian team also claimed third place; and all the way back in 1972, when the team of Roy Layne, Russell Lambert, Raymond Layne, and Ken Francios earned bronze.

    Beyond the prestige of a regional medal, the 2025 squad’s performance carries historic statistical significance for Grenadian track and field. The 40.18-second finish time is on track to be officially ratified as the new National Under-20 record for the 4×100m relay. This mark is now the fastest time ever recorded by any Grenadian Under-20 4×100m relay team in history, bringing the nation’s rising sprint program closer than it has ever been to breaking the coveted 40-second barrier in the age category. For a small nation working to build its standing in regional track and field, the result marks a major milestone for current and future generations of Grenadian sprinters.

  • Crash Horror on Pares Main Road as Passenger Trapped in Wreckage

    Crash Horror on Pares Main Road as Passenger Trapped in Wreckage

    A serious collision between a passenger bus and a private car has shut down part of Pares Main Road, prompting a large-scale response from local emergency services. Within minutes of the crash being reported to authorities, police officers and specialized rescue teams deployed to the site to begin extrication and medical operations. Early unconfirmed reports from first responders on the ground indicate that at least one person remains trapped inside one of the damaged vehicles, and multiple individuals have sustained injuries in the incident. As of the latest update, medical officials have not released details on the seriousness of the injuries reported, nor have they shared information on the identities of those involved. Local law enforcement has confirmed that they are continuing to coordinate rescue efforts and assess the scene, and the public can expect additional official statements to be released as new details about the crash emerge. Motorists are advised to avoid the area temporarily to allow emergency crews to complete their work unimpeded.

  • STATEMENT: Government of Dominica congratulates Addison James on gold medal win at CARIFTA Games

    STATEMENT: Government of Dominica congratulates Addison James on gold medal win at CARIFTA Games

    Roseau, Dominica – April 6, 2026: The small Caribbean island of Dominica is celebrating a standout athletic achievement after local javelin thrower Addison James secured his second consecutive regional title at the 53rd CARIFTA Games hosted in Grenada. James delivered a winning throw of 63.73 meters to claim the gold medal in the under-20 men’s javelin event, cementing his status as one of the Caribbean’s most promising young track-and-field talents.

    What makes James’ victory particularly notable is that it marks back-to-back gold medals for the athlete, following his first CARIFTA title win in 2025. This rare repeat win at the prestigious regional youth athletics competition demonstrates not just raw natural talent, but consistent training, unwavering commitment, and a relentless drive to push his own performance limits.

    Officials from the Government of Dominica have publicly extended their warmest congratulations to James on his historic achievement. The Ministry of Culture, Youth, Sports and Community Development joined the national administration in applauding the young athlete’s outstanding result, noting that his success is a powerful example of what persistence and strong character can help young people accomplish. For a small nation like Dominica, James’ repeat gold medal win has become a source of widespread national pride, with government representatives saying his career trajectory will serve as inspiration for the next generation of Dominican athletes. The government and ministry have also extended their well wishes for James’ continued success in future competitive events as he advances his athletic career.