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  • When Danger Strikes, Where Can Wheelchair Users Turn?

    When Danger Strikes, Where Can Wheelchair Users Turn?

    For millions of people around the world, the ability to quickly flee danger and access safe spaces is an unspoken, taken-for-granted part of daily life. But for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility across Belize, this basic security remains out of reach – a gap that disability advocates argue has made disabled people increasingly targets for violent crime, with deadly consequences in recent years.

    The crisis came into sharp public focus following a string of high-profile fatal attacks targeting disabled Belizeans between 2024 and 2025. In 2025, Evadnie Jones and her son Luke were shot and killed inside their own yard. Their murders came just after the fatal shootings of two other wheelchair users, Trayson Gibson and Gion “Gizmo” Bernard, highlighting a pattern of targeted violence against this vulnerable community.

    Marshall Nunez, Disability Desk Coordinator at Belize’s Ministry of Human Development, condemned the attacks as a mark of a deep, disturbing lack of societal empathy for disabled people. Speaking to local outlet News Five, Nunez criticized the perpetrators for targeting people who cannot escape or defend themselves. “That’s bad already [when people shoot indiscriminately]. But when you do that to one vulnerable person, you know, wheelchair man. That is despicable. That is unconscionable. Where is our humanity?” he said.

    For Belizeans like 63-year-old Austin Burgess, the daily reality of disability-related vulnerability is a recent, life-altering shift. Just four months ago, Burgess underwent an emergency amputation after a late diagnosis of poor circulation in his foot, a complication that left him wheelchair-dependent overnight. Never expecting to face disability, he now lives alone, navigating a world that offers little structural support for limited mobility.

    Burgess now relies on occasional charity from neighbors to access food and basic necessities, a sharp change from his former independent life. “It changed big time for me. Because then I have people weh de deh for me. But like I said, they only just bring the stuff. You understand me? I eat if I eat and if I no eat, then that’s up to me. What happened is, I no got nobody to do nothing for me otherwise,” he explained. He now urges all Belizeans to cultivate greater compassion for disabled community members, noting that disability can impact anyone at any time, whether from birth, illness, or random violence. “One of these days, it might happen to you. I da mi never expected this,” he said.

    In a promising step forward, Belize passed its landmark first Disability Act in 2024, introducing sweeping legal protections for disabled people and mandating equal access to core public services including education and healthcare. But Nunez emphasized that legislation alone is not enough to solve the systemic exclusion and vulnerability disabled Belizeans face.

    Passing the law, he explained, is only the first critical step toward full inclusion. The act is designed to protect the dignity and inalienable human rights of all disabled Belizeans, but cultural shift must follow legal change. “But the best we could do is to reach out to the society, to the community and make it be sensitive to our vulnerable people, to the people with disabilities,” Nunez said.

    Looking ahead, Belize is moving forward with plans to launch a formal National Disability Commission, which will lead nationwide public education and awareness campaigns focused on disability rights and inclusion. Advocates hope the new body will help bridge the gap between legal protections and on-the-ground safety, ensuring that disabled Belizeans can live free from the threat of targeted violence and exclusion.

    This report from Britney Gordon of News Five was first broadcast on August 27, 2026.

  • APA calls on govt to halt incursion into Amerindian lands at Chinese Landing; CCJ’s decision prohibits govt action- Bharrat

    APA calls on govt to halt incursion into Amerindian lands at Chinese Landing; CCJ’s decision prohibits govt action- Bharrat

    A decades-long land rights dispute in Guyana has reached a new flashpoint, with the country’s leading Indigenous advocacy organization calling on the government to block gold mining operations on community-held territory that an established miner has entered despite ongoing legal claims to the area. On Thursday, the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) issued a formal appeal to state officials to stop the recent incursion by veteran miner Wayne Vieira, a move that comes as residents of Chinese Landing, the Indigenous community that holds official title to the contested land, have already blocked mining equipment from entering the site. The call to action is rooted in a demand that the government uphold constitutionally protected Indigenous rights enshrined in national law.

    In its official statement, the APA outlined its core demand: “We are calling on the government to take immediate action to halt these operations, uphold the rights of Chinese Landing, and find a peaceful resolution between the parties that protects the rights-holders while not impeding their livelihood.”

    However, Guyana’s Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat has pushed back on the appeal, explaining that a prior ruling from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) leaves the government and national regulatory body the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) with no legal authority to interrupt Vieira’s activities. “Vieira has a decision from the CCJ which tied the hands of GGMC. This is the crux of the matter. It is not government or the GGMC’s inaction,” Bharrat told Demerara Waves Online News.

    The 2017 CCJ ruling in question struck down a 2010 GGMC cease-and-work order issued against Vieira, ruling that the mines officer who authorized the order had exceeded their legal authority and failed to demonstrate that the order was absolutely necessary to protect public peace or third-party property rights. The court established that such orders can only be issued in extreme circumstances where no other alternative exists, setting a binding precedent that constrains current government action.

    The APA argues that the government’s inaction and Vieira’s advance violate multiple layers of Guyanese law, including Section 48 of the Amerindian Act and Section 80 of the Mining Act. Both provisions explicitly require Indigenous communities to grant free, prior consent before medium-scale mining operations can proceed on their traditional titled lands. The association also notes that the incursion violates multiple articles of Guyana’s Constitution that protect the property rights of the Chinese Landing Village Council, which is currently waiting for a ruling from the Guyana Court of Appeal on its formal substantive land claims to the entire Tassawini area where mining is underway.

    Trust in ongoing mediation efforts between the community, the miner, and the state has collapsed completely, the APA confirmed, after Vieira began moving heavy mining equipment into the area on August 21. The Village Council was given no advance notice of Vieira’s move and had never granted formal consent for mining to proceed in the Tassawini sector. “Unfortunately, the actions taken by Vieira have broken trust in the current mediation process,” the statement reads. The APA added that continuing mining activity without a good-faith resolution has left Chinese Landing residents facing growing security risks and threats linked to the incursion.

    Beyond legal and security concerns, the APA alleges that Vieira’s long-running mining activities in the area have already caused measurable environmental harm and social disruption for the Chinese Landing community, though specific details of these harms were not outlined in the latest appeal.

    The association has reaffirmed its full solidarity with Chinese Landing’s Toshao (Indigenous community leader) Nikita Miller, the Village Council, and all local residents, who have been engaged in this standoff to defend their land for nearly 30 years. “The current standoff in Chinese Landing highlights the level of desperation faced by the community, and the lengths to which they must go to secure their land and the future of generations to come. This highlights the crucial support that Chinese Landing needs in order to protect its lands as its rights continue to be violated,” the statement says.

    To contextualize the dispute, the APA laid out the long history of Chinese Landing’s legal ownership of the territory: the community first received official land title for the area in 1976, with a reissued title granted under the State Lands Act in 1991. This was nearly two decades before Vieira received his first prospecting permits for the Tassawini area in 1998. A fully demarcated Certificate of Title was reissued to the community in 2018, formally confirming that the entire mining area falls within Chinese Landing’s legally recognized boundaries. Negotiations between the community and Vieira collapsed in 2004 after the two sides failed to renew a 1998 access agreement that had permitted limited exploration, and low-level incursions have continued ever since.

    The APA also reminded the government of binding precautionary measures issued by the Inter-American Human Rights Committee (IACHR) in 2023, which require the Guyanese state to take all necessary steps to protect the right to life and personal safety of Chinese Landing residents. The IACHR measures also explicitly require that the Village Council be consulted and give consent to any resolution framework adopted to end the dispute between the community and Vieira. The APA says Vieira’s latest incursion directly violates these international human rights requirements.

    In a separate 2023 development, the Guyanese government imposed a mining ban on the Tassawini area without consulting the Village Council, but the ban was never uniformly enforced: multiple reports confirmed Vieira continued mining operations in the disputed zone throughout the ban’s implementation. As the legal standoff continues, Chinese Landing’s formal land rights case remains pending before the Court of Appeal, with no timeline for a final ruling announced as of Thursday.

  • NDP gov’t inherited $10m debt to JetBlue as ULP signed deal, failed to pay

    NDP gov’t inherited $10m debt to JetBlue as ULP signed deal, failed to pay

    During a sitting of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Parliament on August 27, 2026, Tourism Minister Kishore Shallow made a striking disclosure that the newly elected New Democratic Party (NDP) administration has inherited an unpaid debt totaling more than 10 million Eastern Caribbean dollars owed to major carrier JetBlue. The revelation came as Shallow responded to questions from opposition senator Keisal Peters regarding Delta Air Lines’ upcoming exit from its nonstop route connecting Atlanta to SVG’s Argyle International Airport, scheduled for September 2026.

    The NDP, which assumed office in November 2025 after winning national elections, blames the previous Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration for the outstanding liability. Shallow told lawmakers that the ULP signed the bilateral agreement with JetBlue but failed to fulfill required payments between the start of 2024 until it left office, leaving the current government to settle the accumulated overdue sum. To date, the minister has not released additional details about the debt, including a cost breakdown, the exact date the financial obligation was incurred, what specific services the agreement covered, or whether the current administration has opened repayment talks with JetBlue.

    Shallow also criticized the opaque and unprofessional negotiation process behind the JetBlue agreement, noting that he has not been able to identify which government representatives led the talks, and confirming that no independent professional consultant or neutral industry body was involved in drafting or reviewing the contract. All three sitting opposition members of Parliament, including former ULP Tourism Minister Carlos James, were present for the announcement but declined to issue an immediate on-the-record response to Shallow’s claims.

    Shallow’s remarks were part of a broader policy address addressing airlift accessibility to SVG, a key driver of the island nation’s core tourism industry. He confirmed that senior government officials held two closed-door consultations with Delta leadership on May 19 and July 31, 2026, ahead of the carrier’s official route cancellation announcement. According to Shallow, Delta attributed its decision to exit the Atlanta-Argyle route to three core factors: passenger volumes that consistently fell short of initial launch projections, persistently high global aviation fuel costs, and reduced demand for premium cabin travel.

    Despite the upcoming exit, Shallow added that Delta has left the door open to a potential return. The carrier has indicated it is open to re-evaluating limited service for the 2027 winter travel season, though any resumed service would likely operate at a lower frequency than the original launch schedule. Delta launched the nonstop Atlanta route on December 20, 2025, with an ambitious initial schedule of 22 flights per month — a far higher monthly frequency than other international carriers operating at Argyle International Airport, Shallow noted.

    The tourism minister shared data showing improving passenger trends across major carriers serving SVG, even amid the upcoming Delta exit. He reported that Delta’s average load of arriving passengers per flight grew from 64 passengers in its first three months of operation to 117 passengers in the most recent three-month reporting period. Similarly, JetBlue — which Shallow emphasized remains a critically important aviation partner for SVG — saw its average arriving passenger count rise from 114 per flight in the first three months of the NDP administration to 140 per flight in the latest quarter. Shallow framed these rising numbers as clear evidence that overall visitor traffic to the island nation is on an upward trajectory.

    To strengthen SVG’s position as a competitive Caribbean tourism and aviation destination, Shallow outlined a series of ongoing structural reforms led by the new administration. The government is currently restructuring the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority, with Shafia London recently appointed as the agency’s new chief executive officer. The restructuring also includes creating new senior leadership roles focused on commercial development, destination marketing, tourism product and visitor experience development, quality intelligence and strategic planning, and internal operations.

    Beyond internal restructuring, Shallow confirmed the government has resumed active outreach to all existing airline partners and is in advanced exploratory discussions with two new international carriers interested in launching service to Argyle International Airport. He also acknowledged that limited hotel room inventory is a top concern for airlines evaluating new routes to SVG, and the government is implementing targeted measures to expand available accommodation. Looking ahead, Shallow projected that SVG will secure commitments for at least five major branded hotel developments over the course of the NDP administration’s first two consecutive five-year terms.

  • High Court Honors Legal Legend Edmund Pennil

    High Court Honors Legal Legend Edmund Pennil

    On August 27, 2026, Belize’s entire legal community gathered at the nation’s High Court for a solemn morning of reflection to honor one of its most transformative figures: Edmund Oliver Pennil, the legal legend who dedicated 64 years of his life to Belize’s judiciary before his passing on June 6 this year.

    Widely celebrated across the national legal fraternity as a living, walking encyclopedia of Belize’s court system, Pennil earned widespread reverence not only for his unmatched, decades-deep grasp of local legal procedures and institutional history, but also for his consistent, generous commitment to lifting up emerging generations of legal professionals. The tribute, which blended shared memories, warm reflections, and formal recognition of Pennil’s lifetime of service, drew remarks from colleagues, loved ones, and the nation’s top judicial leader.

    Speaking after the emotional ceremony, prominent Belizean attorney Darrell Bradley opened up about the profound impact Pennil had on his own early career, and on hundreds of other young lawyers who followed. “Whenever anyone had a question about procedure, precedent, or the inner workings of our courts, Mr. Pennil was always the first person everyone turned to,” Bradley recalled. “You could go to him for everything — to track down a critical precedent, to ask for hard-earned wisdom, to get clear guidance on how the system actually functions. He was unwavering in his commitment to upholding the rule of law through his meticulous stewardship of the registry’s records. But more than that, he was a natural teacher and nurturer. I remember when I was just starting out as a young attorney, I would go to his office, and he would take the time to review my documents, point me to the right precedents, and walk me through every step. This gathering today wasn’t just a remembrance — it was a celebration of a life incredibly well-lived, and a career that stretched across six decades of service to our nation.”

    Rosalie Flowers, Pennil’s life partner, shared a tender, personal look at the late legal icon’s relentless dedication to his work and his community. Echoing the colloquial phrasing common in local Belizean Kriol, she noted: “He was the first one to arrive at work every morning, and the last one to leave every night. He even worked most Saturdays and Sundays. Even when he was at home, people from the registry would call him with questions, and he would always stop what he was doing to help them. I used to joke with him, ‘When you’re gone, I don’t know what these people will do — who will they call?’ But that’s just who he was: a good man, who helped every single person he could. That was Edmund.”

    Chief Justice Louise Esther Blenman, the head of Belize’s judiciary, delivered closing, heartfelt remarks to close the tribute. She extended a formal note of gratitude to Pennil’s family, for sharing their beloved husband and relative with the entire legal fraternity for 64 years of service to the people of Belize.

    This report is adapted from a transcript of a televised evening newscast, with Kriol language quotations preserved using standard regional spelling conventions.

  • New Geriatric Hospital set to open by year’s end

    New Geriatric Hospital set to open by year’s end

    Barbados’ flagship new geriatric care facility is moving steadily toward its planned launch by the end of 2026, with national health authorities wrapping up the final stages of preparation ahead of opening. During a Wednesday virtual public consultation focused on the second phase of the Geriatric Hospital and National Rehabilitation Centre project, Francine Blackman, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, confirmed that the facility remains on schedule to welcome its first patients in the final quarter of this year.

    “Right now, we are anticipating that in the last quarter of 2026, we will have the facility fully operational and open to patients,” Blackman stated during the consultation. She added that major construction work on the site is almost complete, and project teams have shifted their focus to outfitting the building with critical medical and operational infrastructure. “We are putting the final finishes on the building itself. We have already issued requests for proposals to source everything from patient beds to privacy screens for clinical areas. We are also working diligently to lay the groundwork for the hospital’s digital connectivity and full IT infrastructure, which will be core to its daily operations.”

    Once open, the new facility will deliver a major expansion to the island nation’s ability to provide long-term and specialized care for its aging population. Dr. Shayna Parris, a consultant at the existing Geriatric Hospital, explained that the current 260-bed facility on Beckles Road will be replaced by a phased expansion at the new site. The first phase of the new hospital will immediately bring total bed capacity up to 300, and completion of the second phase will add an additional 270 beds, pushing the total capacity to 570 once the full project is finished.

    The expanded capacity will require a corresponding increase in clinical and administrative staffing, and health authorities have already launched recruitment drives to fill these new roles. “With more beds serving more patients, we need to grow our team across medical, nursing, and administrative departments to maintain safe and adequate patient-to-provider ratios,” Parris explained. She noted that the ministry has prioritized hiring local candidates first, only turning to international recruitment if qualified local applicants are not available for open positions.

    Notably, the new hospital’s design goes beyond traditional clinical care to address the holistic needs of elderly patients, including dedicated space for spiritual care and support. “The design team gave thoughtful consideration to integrating spiritual care into the facility, recognizing that whole-person care extends far beyond medical treatment and medication,” Parris said. The building will include dedicated rooms for chaplains and regular worship services, and hospital leadership plans to build active partnerships with local churches and faith-based organizations to deliver these services to patients who want them. “We respect that elderly patients have spiritual and psychosocial needs that are just as important as their medical needs, and this facility is designed to meet all of those needs,” she added.

  • Faith groups get youth development grants

    Faith groups get youth development grants

    Barbados is launching a new wave of youth empowerment opportunities after the government named 10 faith-based organizations as the first recipients of grants from its landmark $5 million youth development fund. The successful groups were announced on Thursday, following a competitive selection process that saw 26 proposals submitted to the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and the Third Sector earlier this year after the initiative was first unveiled.

    The first cohort of funded organizations includes the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown, Gospel Lighthouse, United Church of America Inc., Melchizedek Ministries, Kingdom First International Church Inc., Combined Faith Christian Sports Evangelism Ministry, New Testament Church of God Barbados, Methodist Church of Barbados, East Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and Kingdom Life Ministries. Spanning the entire island nation, these geographically distributed groups are set to roll out targeted programming to reach young people in communities across Barbados.

    Third Sector Minister Colin Jordan has publicly encouraged Barbadian youth to take full advantage of the new opportunities created by this programme. Speaking to media after the announcement, Jordan shared his expectation for broad youth participation, saying, “We expect that wherever the programmes manifest themselves, wherever they’re conducted, wherever they’re executed, that our young people will grab hold of them to the extent that the organisations will come back to say, there is so much demand that we need more funds to build out to impact even more of our young people.”

    Jordan noted that all 10 selected projects share a unifying core mission: to enhance young people’s lives and overall wellbeing, nurture their untapped talents, and support them in making positive life choices. He emphasized that the grant programme fulfills a key pledge made to youth and faith-based organizations in the ruling party’s 2026 electoral manifesto.

    “Faith-based organisations are able to, through impactful proposals and the execution of those proposals, engage our young people in meaningful activity, with the understanding that we are building those young people, that we are building their families, building their communities, and allowing them to create pathways for their own personal, social, and economic development and empowerment,” Jordan explained. He added that the grants also reflect the government’s commitment to advancing national development through collaborative partnerships with non-political community organizations.

    The minister outlined the government’s overarching vision for the initiative: “We want to see a country of young people who are realising their potential, their skills, their aptitudes. We want to see young people who are confident. We want to see young people who are productive. We want to see young people who are hopeful. The lack of hope produces a lot of the challenges that we see. Out of your programmes, we expect to feel and see an increase in the level of hope among our young people. So this is a moment to celebrate.”

    Jordan stressed that addressing the complex challenges facing young Barbadians requires coordinated engagement across all segments of society, including families, schools, community groups, and non-governmental stakeholders. He highlighted the unique role faith-based organizations play in building a cohesive, prosperous society, noting that their core values often resonate more deeply with local communities than those of secular groups.

    “It is from you that values have more resonance, and I phrase it that way because it is not necessarily that you are the only ones who share values. However, because you’re faith-based organisations, it resonates more. It is received by the public, by our population, maybe in a different way, from those who may not be of faith,” he said.

    The selection of the 10 organizations was overseen by a dedicated evaluation and monitoring committee, which assessed each proposal based on its projected community impact and the submitting organization’s proven capacity to deliver results effectively. Jordan noted that six additional strong proposals were deferred during this round, but remain in consideration for approval later in 2024.

    “We recognise that some organisations may have strong ideas and ideas that have the potential to make significant positive and meaningful impact, but may require some support in terms of strengthening the proposal, clarifying the goals, identifying the objectives well, and developing a plan for implementation,” he explained. In some cases, the committee identified projects with untapped potential that exceeded what was outlined in the initial application, and government teams will work with these organizations to refine their proposals moving forward.

    Going forward, the evaluation and monitoring committee will conduct ongoing oversight of all funded projects to ensure they stay aligned with their agreed-upon goals and deliver the intended benefits to youth. The full $5 million in funding will be disbursed by the Ministry of Finance in line with approved project timelines.

  • National rehab centre planned for Waterford

    National rehab centre planned for Waterford

    Barbados is moving forward with a transformative healthcare infrastructure project, announcing the development of a purpose-built National Rehabilitation Centre as the centerpiece of the second phase of the Geriatric Hospital expansion at Waterford. Officials confirmed the new facility this Wednesday during a virtual public consultation, outlining a broad mandate to serve patients recovering from a wide spectrum of acute and chronic injuries and health conditions. Dr. Gerry Warner, Director of Support Services at the island nation’s primary public healthcare facility, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), detailed the five core pillars that will guide the centre’s operations: comprehensive clinical rehabilitation, community reintegration support, workforce training and professional development, rehabilitation-focused research and innovation, and public health advocacy for disabled populations.

    Unlike fragmented rehabilitation services currently available across the country, the new centre will operate as both an inpatient and outpatient facility, delivering care through a multidisciplinary team of specialized providers. The facility will cater to patients living with the aftermath of strokes, spinal cord damage, amputations, severe burns, physical trauma, neurological and rheumatological disorders, sports injuries, and multiple other chronic and acute conditions, including pediatric non-neurological cases and late-stage cancer. Warner emphasized that rehabilitation care will extend far beyond traditional clinical treatment, prioritizing patient independence through a holistic care model.

    To support this holistic approach, the centre will be divided into three purpose-built zones tailored to patient needs. The main clinical zone will house hydrotherapy pools, an assistive technology research and testing lab, private consultation suites, and multiple specialized therapy gyms. The residential zone will feature fully accessible accommodation with modified bathrooms and dedicated space for visiting family members, allowing patients to practice independent living skills while still receiving ongoing inpatient care. The outdoor zone will be designed as a therapeutic and recreational space, including graded walking paths with varied tactile and uneven surfaces to help patients rebuild balance and mobility, plus a simulated track surface to support competitive and recreational athletes recovering from injury.

    The multidisciplinary care team will bring together specialists from across rehabilitation disciplines, including physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, prosthetics and orthotics technicians, recreational and behavioral therapists, vocational counselors, and podiatry specialists. Beyond direct patient care, the centre will serve as a regional training hub to upskill local and Caribbean healthcare workers in advanced rehabilitation practices, and will function as a centralized research hub for innovations in assistive devices and patient-centered rehabilitation models.

    Warner explained that the new centre addresses a growing public health need on the island, pointing to rising rates of severe traumatic injuries linked to increased violent crime, including gunshot wounds, and ongoing road traffic accidents. He noted that by delivering more intensive, coordinated rehabilitation care, the facility will not only improve long-term health outcomes for patients but also generate long-term economic savings for Barbados by reducing permanent disability and the associated public welfare costs. In partnership with the University of the West Indies, the Barbados Community College, and other local health training institutions, Warner said the centre has the potential to establish Barbados as a regional leader in comprehensive rehabilitation care. Ultimately, the project’s core mission is to advance health equity, by empowering members of the disabled community to regain full independence and participate fully in community and economic life.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Advances Passenger Name Record Framework to Strengthen Border Security

    Antigua and Barbuda Advances Passenger Name Record Framework to Strengthen Border Security

    In a recent update to the island nation’s Cabinet, E. Paul Chet Greene, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration of Antigua and Barbuda, outlined forward movement on the establishment of a national Passenger Name Record (PNR) Framework, a cross-border security initiative delivered with dedicated technical and operational backing from the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS).

    Minister Greene told Cabinet members that CARICOM IMPACS has formally recognized Antigua and Barbuda’s recent passage of PNR-related legislation, framing the legal milestone as a critical advancement for both national and regional capabilities to counter transnational organized crime. By standardizing and improving passenger risk screening, the framework directly addresses growing gaps in border security that criminal networks have exploited to move people and contraband across the Caribbean.

    Under the terms of the collaborative arrangement, Antigua and Barbuda will gain full access to CARICOM IMPACS’ existing regional PNR platform. This centralized system is built to enable the secure collection, processing, and analysis of commercial passenger travel data for targeted risk assessment. Unlike fragmented national systems, the regional network allows participating law enforcement and border management agencies to flag high-risk travelers more efficiently while mandating strict compliance with each member state’s national laws and global data protection standards, ensuring personal passenger information is not misused or improperly shared.

    A core component of the initiative is the launch and operationalization of Antigua and Barbuda’s first dedicated Passenger Information Unit (PIU), the national body that will manage PNR data locally. CARICOM IMPACS will support every stage of the unit’s development, from drafting internal policies and governance structures to establishing standard operational protocols that align with regional norms. Specialized hands-on training will also be provided to all officers assigned to the new unit, covering critical skill sets including passenger risk profiling, intelligence gathering, PNR data processing, and up-to-date data protection compliance. To guarantee the long-term functionality of the national system, ongoing technical support will be made available beyond the initial launch phase.

    One of the most significant practical benefits of the regional collaborative model highlighted by Minister Greene is cost efficiency. By leveraging CARICOM’s pre-existing security infrastructure and cumulative expertise, Antigua and Barbuda will capture major economies of scale that would be impossible with a standalone national system. This approach eliminates the enormous upfront and long-term costs associated with independently developing, deploying, and maintaining a proprietary PNR platform, making the initiative fiscally responsible for the small island nation.

    Following Minister Greene’s update, the Cabinet formally endorsed the initiative and approved moving forward with the proposed partnership with CARICOM IMPACS. Official written confirmation of the Cabinet’s decision will be sent to CARICOM IMPACS in the near term, clearing the way for all administrative, technical, and pre-implementation planning processes to begin. After the formal confirmation is received, technical teams from CARICOM IMPACS and Antigua and Barbuda’s relevant national agencies will convene to finalize all remaining details: full implementation blueprints, technical specifications, clear division of responsibilities between the regional body and national authorities, and a phased timeline for launching the operational system.

    Cabinet members emphasized that the rollout of the PNR Framework is a core part of the Antigua and Barbuda government’s ongoing commitment to modernizing border management infrastructure, shoring up national security capabilities, and expanding deepened security cooperation with CARICOM institutions and other regional partner states. The government reaffirmed its long-standing pledge to ensure that all of Antigua and Barbuda’s border management systems meet evolving international best practices, while maintaining robust legal and procedural safeguards to guarantee the protection and strictly lawful use of all passenger personal data.

  • Scotiabank marks 70 years in Barbados

    Scotiabank marks 70 years in Barbados

    Seventy years after first establishing its presence in Barbados, Scotiabank is marking this major corporate milestone with a full slate of cross-stakeholder celebrations, strategic policy discussions, and impactful community giving that honors its legacy and lays groundwork for future growth on the island.

    The commemorative events brought together top regional leadership from Scotiabank, local government officials, long-standing clients, employees, and non-profit community partners across multiple activities centered on the bank’s decades-long role in Barbados’ economic development. A senior executive delegation, led by Jabar Singh, President of Scotiabank Dominican Republic and the Caribbean, and Gayle Pazos, Senior Vice-President and Head of Caribbean South and East, traveled to the island to meet with key national leaders and strategic partners. During these meetings, the delegation held formal discussions with Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn, covering the Barbadian government’s core economic priorities, the evolving regional financial landscape, and pathways for expanded private investment that supports sustained national economic growth.

    At Scotiabank’s flagship Bridgetown branch, executives, local management, and guests gathered to unveil a custom commemorative 70th anniversary wall, which features tributes to the clients, staff, and institutional partners that have supported the bank’s operations across its 70 years in the country. Branch Manager Rico Layne joined Country Head Suzette Armoogam-Shah, Singh, and Pazos for the official unveiling of the installation.

    A highlight of the anniversary celebrations came during a gala evening that brought together hundreds of stakeholders from across the public and private sectors. During the event, Scotiababad recognized long-standing “legacy clients” and retired and current employees who have been integral to the bank’s success in Barbados, and announced two landmark $70,000 charitable donations to local non-profits I Am A Girl and Walkers Reserve, a contribution that aligns with the anniversary theme of giving back to the Barbadian community that has supported the bank for seven decades. Tokens of appreciation were also presented to multi-generational legacy clients including Norman and Amy Barrow of A&B Music Supplies, to honor their decades-long partnership with the institution.

    In remarks during the celebrations, Singh emphasized that the 70-year milestone is first and foremost a testament to the deep, enduring relationships Scotiabank has built with the people and institutions of Barbados. “Seventy years in Barbados is a remarkable milestone and a testament to the enduring relationships we have built with our clients, communities and stakeholders. Barbados has been an important part of Scotiabank’s Caribbean journey, and we are proud of the role we have played in supporting the country’s growth and development over the decades,” Singh said.

    Looking ahead to the bank’s next chapter in the region, Singh reaffirmed Barbados’ central role in Scotiabank’s long-term regional strategy. “As we look ahead, Barbados remains central to our ambition to be our clients’ most trusted financial partner. Our focus is on deepening client relationships, enhancing the way we serve our clients, strengthening connectivity across the Caribbean while leveraging the reach and expertise of our global network, and continuing to invest in our people, whose talent and dedication are at the heart of everything we do,” he explained.

    Armoogam-Shah echoed this sentiment, extending gratitude to all stakeholders that have supported Scotiabank across its history in the country. “This anniversary is a celebration of the people and partnerships that have shaped Scotiabank’s journey in Barbados over the past 70 years. We are grateful to our clients, employees, community partners and generations of Barbadians for the trust they have placed in us,” she said. “As we honour our history, we remain committed to helping individuals, families and businesses achieve their ambitions and build a stronger future together.”

  • Cabinet Welcomes Strengthening of Emergency Response and Security Capabilities at V.C. Bird International Airport

    Cabinet Welcomes Strengthening of Emergency Response and Security Capabilities at V.C. Bird International Airport

    The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has formally received and welcomed a progress update on targeted upgrades to emergency response infrastructure, public safety protocols, and aviation security systems at the nation’s busiest international travel hub, V.C. Bird International Airport. The development package includes new specialized emergency response assets and an expanded commitment of long-term support from private sector partner Allen & Co.

    At the core of the current upgrades is the handover of two purpose-built emergency response vehicles to airport operations. These new assets will add critical capacity to existing teams, including airport firefighters, emergency medical responders, and other on-site emergency units, boosting their ability to deploy rapidly and execute effective interventions during critical incidents. This targeted investment underscores the national government’s priority of ensuring Antigua and Barbuda’s primary international gateway retains robust, reliable emergency resources that support uninterrupted safe airport operations and protect the well-being of passengers, on-site staff, and all facility users.

    During the official update presentation, representatives from Allen & Co. emphasized that the firm’s relationship with Antigua and Barbuda extends far beyond the simple procurement and delivery of capital equipment. The company recapped a prior instance when V.C. Bird International Airport faced an unmet gap in rescue capability: Allen & Co. moved quickly to donate a Jaws of Life hydraulic rescue tool, ensuring first responders had access to life-saving equipment exactly when it was needed. The firm stressed that effective public-private partnership demands adaptive responsiveness to emerging needs and a commitment to delivering equipment tailored to the unique operating context of the airport, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

    Cabinet members echoed this aligned perspective, noting that the acquisition of specialized emergency and security equipment must be paired with comprehensive staff training, proactive routine maintenance, ongoing technical support, and reliable access to replacement parts to deliver long-term value. For the small island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, these factors are especially critical: when investing in specialized capital equipment, national planners must account for unique challenges including extended shipping timelines, limited on-island technical infrastructure, and the non-negotiable need for long-term operational sustainability.

    In a major additional announcement, Allen & Co. confirmed it will donate an XRC 60-40 X-ray screening machine to the airport, expanding the facility’s aviation security capabilities as it enters a new phase of modernization. This additional screening technology will give airport security teams an upgraded technological tool to carry out their duties, boosting the overall screening capacity of the existing security infrastructure.

    Cabinet has emphasized that emergency preparedness and aviation security work hand in hand to sustain a safe, efficient international airport. As global aviation technology evolves and international safety and security standards continue to tighten, Antigua and Barbuda must maintain consistent investment in infrastructure, equipment, and human capital to meet these evolving global requirements.

    Allen & Co. has also issued a recommendation that all personnel assigned to operate the new emergency response equipment complete hands-on training, build comprehensive familiarity with system operations, and adhere to strict routine maintenance protocols to ensure the assets remain mission-ready at all times. The firm outlined its long-term partnership model, which begins with a deep assessment of an airport’s actual on-the-ground operational needs, identifies equipment tailored to those specific requirements, supports end-to-end acquisition and delivery, provides hands-on training for operating staff, and maintains ongoing engagement throughout the entire working lifespan of the equipment.

    Cabinet fully endorsed this focus on training and long-term sustainability, pointing out that equipment acquisition is only the first step in building national operational capacity. Equally critical is ensuring frontline personnel receive comprehensive, up-to-date training and that equipment remains serviceable and supported over decades of use.

    The Cabinet formally extended its gratitude to Allen & Co. for its sustained support and long-term partnership with Antigua and Barbuda, singling out the latest commitment to donate the advanced X-ray screening machine for particular recognition. Cabinet also commended the work of the V.C. Bird International Airport Authority (ABAA), on-site firefighters, emergency medical teams, security officers, and all frontline employees whose daily work sustains the safety, security, and efficient operation of the facility.

    Recognizing the airport’s outsized importance to Antigua and Barbuda’s core tourism industry, national economy, and global connectivity, the national government will continue to prioritize investments that strengthen emergency preparedness and aviation security at V.C. Bird International Airport. Cabinet noted that the ongoing development of the airport represents a significant source of national pride, but also acknowledged that safety and security capabilities must adapt continuously to meet changing demands. To that end, the government remains fully committed to ensuring the airport stays properly equipped, its workforce receives consistent high-quality training, and its emergency and security systems are regularly upgraded to meet both current and future operational requirements.