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  • Queen’s College celebrates ten national awardees

    Queen’s College celebrates ten national awardees

    In a standout showing for secondary education across Barbados, Queen’s College has claimed an extraordinary share of the country’s most prestigious 2026 national academic awards, cementing its reputation as a leading institution for student excellence. Of the 12 highly competitive Barbados Scholarships awarded nationwide for the upcoming academic cycle, seven went to students from Queen’s College, alongside three of the 21 available Barbados Exhibitions. The institution finished with a total of 10 national award recipients, a result that principal Mitchelle Maxwell says has filled the entire school community with immense pride.

    The seven Queen’s College students awarded Barbados Scholarships are Azani Blades, Ethan Dear, Chaya Griffith, Kaela Hinds, Joshua Jemmott, Amaris Nicholls and Arrielle Thompson. The school’s three Barbados Exhibition winners are Anaya Moore, Brandon Squires and Daniel Wickham. In an interview with local outlet Barbados TODAY, Maxwell emphasized that this exceptional outcome is not the victory of students alone, but the product of coordinated effort from educators, family members, and the entire school network.

    “Based on what has been made public, we recognize this has been an exceptional year for our school, with these seven scholarships and three exhibition placements,” Maxwell said. “This is a tremendous feat, and it brings a tremendous sense of pride to see what our students and our entire school community have been able to accomplish.”

    She went on to credit the consistent, dedicated work of teaching staff, who have long prioritized student growth at the institution. “Our teachers have worked exceptionally hard, and we are so grateful for the commitment they bring, alongside the support from parents and guardians every step of the way,” Maxwell explained. She added that the award-winning students themselves demonstrated unwavering commitment to their studies throughout their secondary careers. “We are exceptionally proud of our students and their accomplishments, and we recognize that this is the result of dedication, persistence, and commitment on their part.”

    Across Barbados, a total of 34 students received national academic awards for 2026: 12 Barbados Scholarships, 21 Barbados Exhibitions, and one Award of Excellence. Barbados Community College led the count for Barbados Exhibitions with 13 winners, while The St Michael School earned three, and Harrison College took two. When asked if this year’s seven scholarships marked a historic high for Queen’s College, Maxwell declined to confirm, noting that the institution has “always done exceptionally well” in these annual awards, and a full review of past records would be needed to confirm the milestone. Even so, she affirmed that 2026 stands out as a standout year for the school.

    Maxwell shared that school leadership entered this year’s award cycle with quiet confidence, having already seen strong potential in the cohort from their prior academic performance. “We did have a good sense of what was possible,” she said, explaining that students who delivered strong results during their Lower Six studies were identified early as potential contenders for top awards. From that point, the entire school community rallied around the students to support them as they worked toward their goals.

    Reiterating the critical role of educators, Maxwell praised teaching staff for their consistent devotion to student success. “They continue to apply themselves to their task. Every year they give yeoman service to pedagogy, working closely with students to help them reach their full potential,” she said. For younger students at the school who aspire to earn similar recognition in future years, Maxwell shared a clear message of encouragement rooted in the achievements of this year’s awardees.

    “Continue to apply yourself, continue to be committed to excellence,” she advised. “It’s going to require, as it always does, hard work, commitment, dedication. You must remain focused, be intentional, and be purposeful. And of course we always rely on God for steadfastness in everything that we do as a school community.”

    The 2026 national academic awards were officially announced by the Ministry of Education Transformation at a ceremony held Friday, where Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw offered formal congratulations to all award recipients across the country, and recognized the collective work of students, teachers, parents, and guardians in supporting student achievement.

  • DNA-leden vragen uitleg over nieuwe loadshedding EBS

    DNA-leden vragen uitleg over nieuwe loadshedding EBS

    A fresh round of planned rolling blackouts announced by Suriname’s national power utility Energie Bedrijven Suriname (EBS) has sparked intense scrutiny and pointed questions from opposition parliamentary factions this week, putting the government’s energy governance and long-term planning under unprecedented pressure in the National Assembly.

    Two leading opposition faction leaders – Jerrel Pawiroredjo of the National Party of Suriname (NPS) and Ronny Asabina of the Basic Party for Renewal and Democracy (BEP) – have led the call for full transparency from the administration, demanding clarity on why the South American nation is once again grappling with critical electricity shortages, and whether state officials have properly mapped all root causes of the recurring crisis.

    Pawiroredjo opened the debate by questioning whether EBS has adequately tracked and modeled key industry metrics, including growing customer connections, rising electricity demand, and long-term consumption projections. He emphasized that reliable energy access is a non-negotiable strategic foundation for national economic development, arguing that Suriname can no longer afford repeated cycles of crippling power shortages and forced outages that derail daily activity and long-term growth.

    The NPS leader also tied the recurring energy crisis to broader governance quality concerns, noting that persistent problems are too often traced back to a lack of specialized expertise at EBS and the prevalence of political appointments rather than merit-based hiring for key leadership roles. He further pressed for updates on the status of planned renewable energy projects – particularly solar energy initiatives previously developed by state-owned oil company Staatsolie, which have yet to deliver additional generation capacity.

    Asabina echoed these concerns, highlighting that even the National Assembly itself was brought to a standstill earlier this week by an unplanned power outage on Monday. He argued that the public information EBS has released to date about the current load shedding round lacks verifiability, and called on the government to specify the exact triggers of the shortage: whether it stems from spiking fuel costs, insufficient operational funding for the utility, limited overall power generation capacity, or other unaddressed technical constraints. The BEP leader stressed that the administration has a responsibility to provide far clearer details to the public than it has offered so far.

    Asabina also raised red flags over EBS’s lack of financial transparency, pointing out that up-to-date annual reports from the state-owned utility are not accessible to the public or parliamentary representatives. He questioned how accountable, effective policy can be crafted when the utility’s full financial position remains hidden from oversight. He further referenced the national Energy Act and the mandate of the Energy Authority, calling for clarity on EBS’s legally defined responsibilities, and why key components of the country’s formal regulatory energy framework still remain not fully functional after years of implementation.

    Parliament has formally requested the government to deliver a detailed, concrete explanation covering the root causes, expected duration, and immediate mitigation plans for the current round of load shedding. Lawmakers also demand a full outline of the structural long-term measures the administration plans to implement to prevent repeated power crises from disrupting Suriname’s development in the future.

  • CABINET NOTES: Wednesday August 26, 2026

    CABINET NOTES: Wednesday August 26, 2026

    On Wednesday, August 26, 2026, the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda convened its weekly plenary session, opening with a devotional meditation led by a local pastor. Drawing from passages in the Book of Isaiah, the pastor centered his message on themes of divine constancy, national purpose, and collective dependence on wisdom beyond human capacity. He encouraged the Cabinet to seek spiritual guidance in deliberating on matters of national importance, prayed that members would receive wisdom to make just decisions, courage to confront crises, and compassion to prioritize public welfare, and called on all Antiguans and Barbudans to embrace values of unity, forgiveness, respect, and mutual care to build a peaceful, prosperous shared society. The devotional concluded with a dedication of the national government and its people to divine stewardship.

    Following the opening meditation, the Cabinet advanced a series of critical policy and operational agenda items, starting with a renewed push for national food security. Facing persistent risks of prolonged dry seasons and erratic rainfall patterns driven by climate volatility, the administration directed the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy to drastically scale up efforts to build and rehabilitate agricultural water infrastructure, including dams, retention ponds, and other rainwater catchment systems. Minister Anthony Smith Jr. reported that his team had already begun pre-positioning work to capture forecasted rainfall, but the Cabinet called for accelerated expansion of the program to create a robust, interconnected national network of water storage for agricultural use.

    The directive builds on an existing whole-of-government food security strategy that has already delivered tangible progress: earlier in 2026, 150 acres of underutilized public farmland were repossessed, with 75 acres allocated specifically to new youth and women producers to bring idle acreage back into productive use. Additional ongoing initiatives include the operation of a new Tissue Culture Laboratory in Bethesda, which produces disease-free, high-yield planting stock for local farmers, and technical partnerships with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) to develop climate-resilient crop varieties, strengthen seed security, and train producers in sustainable farming practices. Cabinet emphasized that all these efforts must ultimately result in greater volumes of affordable, locally produced food reaching domestic consumers, hotels, and restaurants, cutting the nation’s reliance on costly food imports and strengthening resilience against global supply chain disruptions.

    A second key agenda item focused on finalizing security preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which Antigua and Barbuda is scheduled to host. Senior leadership from the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda and the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force delivered a comprehensive joint briefing on the multi-layered security framework under development, which brings together national border security agencies, law enforcement, and defense assets in a coordinated, multi-agency approach supported by regional and international partners. Preparations cover not only protection for the summit venue and visiting delegates but also enhanced border and airport security, public safety protocols, cybersecurity defenses, and critical infrastructure protection, with deliberate planning to minimize disruptions to daily life for local residents and businesses. Cabinet expressed satisfaction with progress to date, called for continued joint training, simulation exercises, and readiness drills ahead of the summit, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing all necessary resources for a safe, successful event.

    In a related development aligned with CHOGM’s people-focused agenda, a delegation from the CHOGM 2026 People’s Forum and the Commonwealth Foundation presented a proposal to accelerate the growth of Antigua and Barbuda’s creative economy. The delegation, which included Commonwealth Foundation Director-General Razmi Farook and local People’s Forum leadership, outlined the significant untapped potential of the creative sector, particularly to create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for the nation’s youth. While Antigua and Barbuda already has a vibrant informal creative scene spanning music, film, visual arts, festivals, and performing arts, presenters noted that targeted policy interventions—including formalization of business registration, updated legislation, targeted incentives, improved data collection, and institutional support—could grow the sector’s contribution to GDP, mirroring success stories in other Caribbean nations. Jamaica’s creative economy contributes an estimated 5% of national GDP after formalization reforms, while the Dominican Republic’s targeted film industry incentives have driven massive expansion in local and international production. The delegation also highlighted opportunities to integrate creative industries with Antigua and Barbuda’s core tourism sector, including luxury tourism packages centered on music and arts experiences that attract international talent and generate additional economic activity. A White Paper and formal implementation roadmap for the sector is currently under development, and Cabinet welcomed the initiative, expressing strong interest in technical assistance from the Commonwealth Foundation to update national creative policies and build out a supportive legislative framework.

    Turning to public sector labor issues, the Cabinet initiated a review of remuneration for public service heavy-duty equipment operators, a role critical to the delivery of the nation’s infrastructure development and maintenance programs. The work of these operators requires specialized training, advanced technical skill, experience, and carries significant responsibility operating expensive, high-risk machinery. After receiving a briefing on current pay rates and factors influencing the role—including prevailing market rates in the private sector, working conditions, and varying skill levels across job classifications—Cabinet agreed that a full, detailed review was warranted to ensure pay reflects the demands of the role while aligning with the government’s broader public sector wage structure and fiscal sustainability commitments. A dedicated subcommittee, comprising the Minister and Junior Minister of Works, the Attorney General, and the Minister for Social Transformation, was established to lead the review. The subcommittee will compare public sector pay rates to private sector comparables, evaluate job classifications and requirements, and consult with the recognized trade union representing operators to incorporate worker perspectives into final recommendations. Cabinet emphasized that no final decision on pay adjustments will be made until the subcommittee’s work is complete, and the government remains committed to balancing fair compensation for public workers with responsible fiscal management.

    In infrastructure and security news, Cabinet welcomed upgrades to emergency response and aviation security capabilities at V.C. Bird International Airport, Antigua and Barbuda’s primary international gateway and critical economic hub for the nation’s tourism sector. Long-term partner Allen & Co. has delivered two new dedicated emergency response vehicles to support airport fire and medical teams, building on a history of partnership that includes a prior donation of a Jaws of Life rescue tool. The company also announced a new donation of an XRC 60-40 X-ray screening machine to enhance the airport’s aviation security screening capabilities. Allen & Co. outlined a commitment to long-term partnership beyond equipment delivery, including targeted training for operators, ongoing maintenance support, and access to replacement parts— a critical consideration for small island developing states facing unique logistics and sustainability challenges. Cabinet welcomed the partnership, emphasized that equipment investment must be paired with consistent training and maintenance to deliver long-term value, and commended airport personnel for their daily work to maintain safe, efficient operations. The government reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing investment in the airport’s safety and security capabilities to meet evolving international standards and support the nation’s economic growth.

    Finally, Cabinet received an update on progress to implement a regional Passenger Name Record (PNR) framework to strengthen border security and combat transnational crime, with support from the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS). Antigua and Barbuda has already enacted national PNR legislation, a step CARICOM IMPACS has recognized as a critical milestone for both national and regional security. Under the proposed arrangement, Antigua and Barbuda will gain access to CARICOM’s existing regional PNR platform, which enables secure collection, processing, and analysis of passenger data to identify high-risk travelers, while adhering to strict national data protection and privacy requirements. The partnership will also support the establishment of a national Passenger Information Unit (PIU), with CARICOM IMPACS providing support for policy development, operational protocols, and specialized training for PIU officers in risk analysis, data protection, and intelligence development. A regional approach allows Antigua and Barbuda to leverage existing infrastructure and expertise, achieving significant cost savings compared to developing and maintaining a standalone national system. Cabinet approved the arrangement, clearing the way for final implementation planning and timeline development, as part of the government’s broader efforts to modernize border management and deepen regional security cooperation.

  • DOMLEC scholarship programme marks 40 years with four new recipients

    DOMLEC scholarship programme marks 40 years with four new recipients

    Dominica’s primary electricity utility, Dominica Electricity Services Ltd. (DOMLEC), has celebrated a major milestone for its flagship community education initiative — 40 years of supporting secondary school students — by awarding four new five-year scholarships to incoming students across the island.

    The 2026 scholarship presentation ceremony took place on Thursday, August 27, at DOMLEC’s conference room located within its Engineering, Transmission and Distribution complex in Fond Colé, bringing together company leadership, new recipients and a former beneficiary to mark the occasion. This year’s awardees are four students from the general public of Dominica: Merjhana Guiste, who will enroll at Portsmouth Secondary School; Daville Alexander and Kira Bertrand, both set to attend Dominica Grammar School; and Kaley Fabien, who will pursue studies at Arthur Waldron SDA Academy. In a heartfelt symbolic gesture, Fabien gifted DOMLEC an original piece of artwork illustrating her vision for a renewable energy-powered future for the country.

    Unlike one-off education grants, DOMLEC’s scholarship programme provides sustained financial support for up to five years of secondary education, contingent on recipients maintaining solid academic performance, avoiding grade retention and submitting end-of-term report cards each academic year. Each year, scholars must also return their program-provided textbooks in good condition at the close of the school year. The assistance covers core secondary education expenses including textbooks, school supplies, examination fees and daily transportation, easing the financial burden on recipient families.

    From its launch four decades ago, the programme has extended support to two groups: children of DOMLEC employees and qualifying students from the wider Dominican community. This year marks a rare cycle where all four available awards went to community candidates outside of the company’s employee network.

    Speaking at the award ceremony, DOMLEC Human Resources and Administration Manager Claudia Brumant emphasized that the programme’s 40-year milestone stands as a tangible testament to the utility’s long-term commitment to advancing education in Dominica. Brumant offered words of encouragement to the new students, reminding them that secondary education would bring unforeseen obstacles, and that success depends on consistent dedication and resilience. “The choices we make today create the lives we live tomorrow,” she said. “In the five years of secondary school there will be days when the lessons are difficult, when hours are long and when you face challenges you don’t expect. Those moments call for a new level of dedication, commitment and perseverance.”

    DOMLEC Public Relations Officer Ayeola George explained that the programme’s financial support frees up household resources that families can redirect to other areas of child development or toward covering education costs for other siblings. George also highlighted the long-term ripple effect of the initiative, noting that a former beneficiary returned to the ceremony this year to share his journey and inspire the new cohort. “Today we had a past beneficiary return to not just share his experience but inspire a new generation of scholars,” she said. “He advised attendees that he wants to also give back and contribute positively to other youth. This most certainly is an example of the wide-reaching impact of this award.”

    That former beneficiary, LynD Letang — the son of a current DOMLEC employee who himself received support through the programme decades ago — echoed that sentiment, sharing that his experience motivated him to pay the opportunity forward by supporting other young Dominicans in their education journeys.

  • Health Minister Denies Claims Cuban Doctors Are Being Forced Out

    Health Minister Denies Claims Cuban Doctors Are Being Forced Out

    In a recent press briefing addressing widespread social media speculation, Belize’s Minister of Health and Wellness has pushed back against allegations that the country is forcibly removing Cuban medical professionals from its national health system. The controversy erupted earlier this week when opposition figure Wil Maheia claimed in a public post that personal belongings of Cuban doctors were already being packed and shipped back to Cuba, framing the movement as a stealth expulsion of the long-serving medical brigade.

    Minister Bernard, who directly called out Maheia for the claim, described the allegation as an irresponsible and out-of-context mischaracterization of a longstanding routine procedure. He explained that Cuban doctors stationed in Belize take scheduled annual vacations at staggered intervals throughout the year, and it is common practice for them to ship personal gifts and household items back to family members in Cuba during these trips. Contrary to the insinuation of incremental expulsions, Bernard emphasized that all currently serving Cuban medical professionals remain fully employed and active in clinical roles across every tier of Belize’s health system.

    The minister confirmed what has previously been reported: that ongoing diplomatic negotiations are underway to determine the long-term future of the Cuban medical brigade in Belize, but no final decisions have been made. He stressed that the government of Belize greatly values the decades of support the Cuban medical personnel have provided to the country’s public health system, and the goal of the discussions is to reach a mutually beneficial, amicable resolution that addresses both Belize’s health needs and the concerns of the Cuban medical team.

    According to Bernard, the ongoing negotiations are progressing steadily, and a final recommendation will be presented to the Belizean Cabinet for approval as early as September 2026. Once an agreement is reached, both the Belizean government and the Cuban brigade will have the clarity and assurances they need moving forward.

    In parallel to the diplomatic talks, the Ministry of Health has been advancing independent initiatives to strengthen Belize’s domestic medical workforce. Bernard noted that five Belizean doctors who have been completing specialized training abroad are preparing to return to the country to practice. These returning professionals include two nephrologists, two obstetricians, and one pediatrician — all specialties that address critical gaps in Belize’s current public health capacity.

    He also confirmed that the government is in active discussions to recruit additional medical professionals from the Philippines to supplement the country’s existing healthcare workforce, a move designed to ensure consistent access to care for Belizean communities regardless of the outcome of the Cuban brigade negotiations. For now, the fate of the longstanding Cuban medical partnership will remain in the hands of Cabinet, which is expected to finalize a decision in the coming weeks.

  • PSU Tells Public Officers Not to Join NeoPeople HR Pilot Programme

    PSU Tells Public Officers Not to Join NeoPeople HR Pilot Programme

    In a recent development dated August 27, 2026, the Public Service Union (PSU) has issued a formal directive barring all public sector employees from taking part in the newly launched NeoPeople human resources pilot programme, escalating a conflict between the labor body and the Briceño administration over the unilaterally rolled-out initiative.

    The PSU alleges that the Ministry of Public Service and the sitting administration moved forward with the pilot without securing the union’s prior agreement, breaking a long-standing process of collaborative decision-making for public sector workforce initiatives. Union leaders confirmed they first discovered the rollout when the third-party vendor NeoPeople reached out directly to selected public officers via their personal email accounts, inviting recipients to complete onboarding procedures that include updating and reviewing sensitive personal information.

    According to PSU documentation, the union outlined a clear set of non-negotiable conditions in an official letter submitted on August 6 that required fulfillment before any employee registration could proceed. These conditions include: a temporary pause on all registration activities until a legally binding Memorandum of Understanding for the new Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS) is finalized; full public disclosure of NeoPeople’s service contract in response to a Freedom of Information Act request the PSU filed back in March; appointment of a dedicated data privacy officer mandated by the national Data Protection Act; written assurance that no public officer will face disciplinary retaliation for refusing to complete biometric enrollment; public release of a completed Data Protection Impact Assessment for the programme; and explicit, voluntary employee consent for data processing as required by existing data protection legislation.

    As of the union’s latest announcement, none of these six conditions have been satisfied by the ministry or the administration. PSU officials emphasized that the decision to push ahead with the pilot despite repeated calls for a suspension pending consultation is a clear indication of bad faith on the government’s part.

    Beyond the broken consultation process, the union has flagged a separate, serious concern: the Ministry of Public Service shared public officers’ private contact information with NeoPeople, an external third-party vendor, without the knowledge or explicit consent of the affected employees. The PSU describes this action as a major breach of personal data privacy, exactly the risk the union has repeatedly warned about when turning over sensitive public servant information to outside contractors.

    In its official circular distributed to all member public officers, the PSU laid out strict step-by-step instructions for any worker who receives communication from NeoPeople or the ministry regarding the pilot programme. Members are explicitly told not to activate any user account created for the programme, not to share any personal or biometric identifying information with the vendor, and to avoid providing substantive responses to any outreach without first consulting union representatives. The union also requires members to retain all related communications, including invitation emails, onboarding guidance, registration deadlines, and any messages from human resources staff or supervisors referencing the pilot or potential consequences for declining participation. In a separate related call, the PSU has also urged tax sector workers to “stand ready” for further action as the conflict develops.

  • Saint Lucia secures US$20m Taiwan Eximbank loan for housing

    Saint Lucia secures US$20m Taiwan Eximbank loan for housing

    The Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia is moving forward with a major expansion of its affordable housing stock after formalizing a EC$54 million financing agreement between the Saint Lucia Development Bank (SLDB) and Taiwan Export-Import Bank (Taiwan Eximbank), with the national government backing the deal. This multi-purpose initiative is designed to address long-standing housing access gaps for the country’s most economically vulnerable households, while also upgrading core infrastructure to withstand the growing impacts of climate change.

    Target beneficiaries of the new housing project span middle- and low-income families across the country, with Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre confirming that public sector employees will also be eligible to access housing support through the program. In his public remarks during the official signing ceremony held Tuesday, August 25, Pierre emphasized the government’s core priority of extending critical financial support to groups that have historically been locked out of affordable housing financing.

    “We must try to get the underserved to be served,” Pierre said. “We must try to ensure that people who did not have the opportunity ever to be funded get the opportunity to be funded. We have to ensure that our staff are treated properly. We have to ensure that we have a situation where everyone, everyone, wins and our country benefits.”

    Beyond constructing new accessible housing units, the agreement allocates resources to upgrade connected infrastructure with climate resilience at its core. Planned improvements include enhanced drainage systems to mitigate flood risk, expanded water storage infrastructure to boost water security, and the installation of solar photovoltaic power systems to support renewable energy generation and reduce utility costs for residents. The combination of expanded housing access and climate-smart infrastructure positions the project to deliver long-term social and economic benefits for Saint Lucia, aligning with the government’s goals of inclusive national development.

  • Pay increase for Mortgage Finance workers

    Pay increase for Mortgage Finance workers

    Workers at St Lucia Mortgage Finance Company Limited (SMFC) are set to receive an 8% cumulative general wage increase spread across a three-year period, following successful collective bargaining between company leadership and the National Workers Union (NWU).

    The wage adjustment will be rolled out in incremental, compounded instalments: a 3% raise in the first year, an additional 3% in the second year, and a final 2% increase in the third year. Beyond the scheduled wage gains, the negotiated agreement also grants workers one full year of retroactive back pay to compensate for prior wage freezes or delays. Additional improved benefits written into the new contract include a permanent cap on employee mortgage interest rates capped at 5% and extended paternity leave for eligible workers, bringing SMFC’s employee benefits in line with modern labor standards.

    In an official press statement announcing the conclusion of talks, NWU Secretary General Johann Harewood expressed satisfaction with the final outcome of the negotiations, noting that the mutual agreement between the two sides prevents any further disruptions or delays to the labor bargaining process. Harewood also took the opportunity to highlight SMFC’s longstanding contribution to national development, pointing to the company’s extensive involvement in dozens of public social housing and land development initiatives across the island nation. Major projects SMFC has supported include developments in Sans Souci, Independence City, Entrepot, Ravine Chabot, Reduit Park, Reduit Orchard and Massade, among other communities across St. Lucia.

  • PM Looks to Expand Trade with Honduras

    PM Looks to Expand Trade with Honduras

    In a high-stakes diplomatic meeting held August 24 at the Presidential House in Tegucigalpa, Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño and Honduran President Nasry Asfura have opened a new chapter of cross-border collaboration, laying the groundwork for deeper economic, social and regional integration between the two Central American and Caribbean nations. The discussion, held during Briceño’s official working visit to Honduras, spanned a broad range of priority areas, from public health collaboration and cross-border security to bilateral trade, regional connectivity and climate change action.

    At the top of the bilateral agenda is the potential for a formal trade agreement, a priority that aligns with Belize’s ongoing strategy to expand its economic footprint across Central America. Briceño noted that Belize already has established trade arrangements with neighboring Guatemala and recently finalized a Partial Scope Agreement with El Salvador, leaving Honduras as the next logical strategic partner to broaden regional economic ties. Beyond tariff reductions and market access, the leaders also explored avenues to increase mutual foreign direct investment that could benefit both economies.

    Regional air connectivity emerged as another key talking point. The pair discussed Belize’s potential deeper participation in initiatives led by the Central American Corporation for Air Navigation Services (COCESNA), with a shared goal of streamlining travel and freight movement across the broader Central America and Caribbean region. Improving cross-border links for both people and goods was framed as a critical step to unlock regional economic growth and strengthen supply chain resilience.

    Briceño also used the meeting to outline Belize’s policy agenda during its tenure as Pro Tempore President of the Central American Integration System (SICA) for the second half of 2026. He emphasized that Belize remains committed to advancing closer integration with its Central American neighbors, while preserving and leveraging its distinct Caribbean identity and deep existing ties to Caribbean regional bodies.

    The Belizean delegation accompanying Prime Minister Briceño included senior government leaders across key portfolios: Health and Wellness Minister Kevin Bernard, chief executive officers from the Prime Minister’s Office, the ministries of Investment and Civil Aviation, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and Health and Wellness, as well as Belize’s Honorary Consul based in Tegucigalpa. Alongside the formal diplomatic talks, the visit also included a gesture of solidarity: Belizean citizens have publicly affirmed their support for displaced Garinagu communities residing in Honduras, adding a people-focused dimension to the high-level diplomatic engagement.

  • Death toll rises to 362, over 1 000 missing after Nepal-Tibet floods

    Death toll rises to 362, over 1 000 missing after Nepal-Tibet floods

    A catastrophic natural disaster has unfolded across the Nepal-Tibet border region, where flash floods and landslides triggered by a glacial collapse have left at least 362 people dead and more than 1,400 unaccounted for, as rescue crews pressed through muddy wreckage on Thursday in a frantic search for survivors.

    The disaster unleashed a surging cascade of water, mud and rocky debris that scoured entire communities from the landscape. In its wake, homes were swallowed, critical infrastructure including bridges and dams was reduced to rubble, and countless vehicles were destroyed, leaving the region cut off and devastated.

    Among those missing are hundreds of foreign travelers, a large group of whom are Hindu pilgrims who had just completed a journey to the sacred Mount Kailash in Tibet and were returning when the disaster struck. Official figures from Nepali police confirm 359 bodies have been recovered from the disaster zone, with 910 people still out of contact—including 517 foreign tourists. Chinese authorities have also confirmed that 100 Chinese citizens are among those missing in Nepali territory.

    Across the border in Tibet’s Gyirong Port, Chinese state media reports three local fatalities, with an additional 558 people remaining missing, 260 of whom are foreign nationals.

    Initial assessments briefly linked the event to a 4.4 magnitude earthquake, but the U.S. Geological Survey later clarified the disaster was initiated by a sudden glacial collapse, which sent a massive flow of ice and debris rushing down into populated valleys below.

    Emergency response teams have deployed extensively across the affected areas. Nepali army units are working around the clock, using sniffer dogs to detect signs of life trapped beneath thick layers of mud and debris.

    However, the threat of further catastrophe has not passed. Debris jamming the valley has created a natural dam, behind which water is steadily accumulating, raising urgent fears of additional flash floods downstream. Local authorities have issued urgent warnings to communities along the Bhote Koshi River urging extreme caution and preparedness for potential evacuation.

    The disaster draws attention to a growing global risk tied to climate change. Rising global temperatures are accelerating glacial melt across the world’s mountain regions, steadily increasing the frequency and severity of glacial collapses and outburst floods from glacial lakes.