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  • QEH breastfeeding advocate calls for workplace support as mums return to work

    QEH breastfeeding advocate calls for workplace support as mums return to work

    As Breastfeeding Awareness Month draws public attention to maternal and child health challenges in Barbados, healthcare professionals are amplifying a urgent call for employers across the island to implement dedicated, private lactation spaces for working breastfeeding mothers. The renewed advocacy comes on the heels of local research that identifies returning to work as the single leading cause of early breastfeeding discontinuation nationwide.

    Registered nurse and midwife Shermena Kirton emphasized that sustained improvement in national breastfeeding rates depends entirely on meaningful workplace support for new mothers. Citing recent research on exclusive breastfeeding led by Dr. Ashley Paris, Kirton confirmed that the transition back to professional work is the most consistent barrier to continued breastfeeding, far outpacing other common challenges.

    While Barbados offers eligible new mothers three months of maternity leave plus an additional two weeks of home leave, this coverage does not extend to all women, and widespread financial pressure forces many to rejoin the workforce as early as six weeks after giving birth. “Some women simply do not have the luxury of extended time off. They need their paychecks to support their families, so they have to go back long before they are ready to stop breastfeeding,” Kirton explained.

    Without access to a private, appropriate space to express and store breast milk, many of these women have no choice but to switch their infants to formula feeding. Kirton also noted that the challenge extends beyond the workplace, noting that a lack of supportive home environments compounds the barriers created by unsupportive work policies.

    During a recent pop-up public event held for Breastfeeding Awareness Month, reporters from Barbados TODAY were invited to tour two model lactation rooms already in operation at a local hospital — a demonstration that Kirton says proves high-quality lactation spaces do not require costly, elaborate infrastructure. The rooms feature just a few core amenities: a comfortable seating for mothers, a handwashing sink, a refrigerator for milk storage, and a lockable door for privacy. Kirton pointed out that these simple requirements are well within the reach of nearly all employers, regardless of size or budget.

    Beyond maternal and child health benefits, Kirton argued that employers themselves gain tangible advantages from accommodating breastfeeding mothers. She explained that breastfeeding leads to healthier infants, which translates to fewer unplanned absences when parents have to stay home to care for a sick child. “Critics may argue that time spent pumping is time away from work, but in the long term, a mother who can pump three times a day will be far more reliable and productive than one who loses three full workdays to caring for a sick child,” she said.

    Fellow registered nurse and midwife Simone Richardson-Small, who works on the island’s labour ward, echoed Kirton’s call, stressing that designated lactation spaces should become a universal workplace standard. These facilities are critical not just for infant development, but for protecting maternal health as well, she explained. Without a dedicated space to express milk, breastfeeding mothers face a higher risk of breast engorgement, a painful condition that can progress to mastitis, a serious infection that requires medical intervention.

    For infants, consistent access to expressed breast milk delivers lifelong benefits: it supports steady healthy weight gain, lowers the risk of childhood infections, and boosts long-term brain development. “When we support breastfeeding mothers, we are investing in the overall health and future of our entire country,” Richardson-Small added.

    The push for change is not limited to frontline healthcare workers. The Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Foundation (BCNF), a local advocacy group, is pushing for binding legislative action to codify this requirement. Retired veteran midwife and BCNF representative Betty Reid said the organization has long advocated for dedicated lactation spaces in all workplaces, and is now calling on the Barbadian government to introduce a national policy mandating these facilities for all employers. “Every working mother deserves the space to either express milk or breastfeed her child during working hours, and it should be a guaranteed right, not a discretionary perk,” Reid said.

  • Hoe Gambiaanse vrouwen de mangroves herstellen die Banjul beschermen

    Hoe Gambiaanse vrouwen de mangroves herstellen die Banjul beschermen

    Before the midday sun scorches Gambia’s Atlantic coast, 34-year-old Fatou Jarjue waits for the tide to pull back from the Tanbi Wetlands. Pulling on thick gloves and sturdy socks, she pushes her hand-carved wooden canoe through narrow channels tangled with the sprawling, exposed roots of mangrove trees. Today, the empty pans stowed in her vessel are not meant for oysters—they will hold crabs that burrow in the wet mud beneath the water’s surface, as oyster harvesting is closed for the annual rainy season.

    For Jarjue, a mother of one, life is inextricably tied to this vast coastal wetland. Salt-tolerant mangroves, which naturally anchor shorelines and buffer communities from erosion and storm surge, have provided for her family for generations: the trees host oysters, crabs, and fish that feed her household and generate her income, while their dense root systems act as a natural sea wall for her coastal community. On most days, her brother Musa follows in a smaller canoe to keep watch as she paddles deeper into the mangrove forest; on other days, she navigates the muddy waterways alone.

    For generations, women in communities surrounding Tanbi Wetland have drawn their livelihood from these waters, and Jarjue continues that tradition. But unlike her predecessors, she has dedicated a large portion of her time to restoring the ecosystem that sustains her people. Just over one year since she began her restoration work, Jarjue says she has planted and restored more than 5,000 mangrove trees, reviving critical habitat that protects both the coast and the local fishing economy.

    Raised in Ndangan, a small settlement of 300 people just two kilometers from Banjul, Gambia’s capital, Jarjue learned the rhythm of the wetlands from childhood. At 12 years old, she followed her mother into the mangroves, mastering the skills of oyster foraging, crab trapping, and fishing. For her, the forest was both a classroom and a lifeline. But over the years, she watched the ecosystem change: rising sea levels, accelerating coastal erosion, and shifting weather patterns have steadily eroded the mangrove cover that the entire community depends on. Rather than only harvest from the wetland, she chose to give back, launching her personal restoration effort.

    Today, every trip into the mangroves combines harvesting with conservation work: she inspects young saplings, replaces damaged seedlings, and maps areas that need additional restoration. “Mangroves are part of our lives,” she explains. For Jarjue, environmental conservation and community survival are one and the same: the healthier the mangroves grow, the more secure the future for her family and neighbors.

    As she paddles through the channels, Jarjue passes fully grown oysters clinging to mangrove roots, waiting for the next harvesting season to open. She leaves them undisturbed, proud to protect the stock that will support her community later in the year. While crabbing provides steady income during the rains, oysters remain the most profitable catch for local women: a standard milk can of oysters sells for roughly 100 Gambian dalasi (about $1.34), and demand at local markets consistently outpaces supply. “Oysters are hard work to harvest,” Jarjue says. “But that’s where the income is.”

    Many people mistakenly believe the annual rainy season closure of oyster harvesting is rooted in fears that oysters become toxic during this period. But marine scientist Dawda Saine explains the policy is a deliberate conservation measure tied to ecology and food safety. The closure is part of Gambia’s national Oyster and Cockle Co-management Plan, designed to give oyster populations time to reproduce, grow, and replenish their numbers while reducing pressure on the wetland ecosystem.

    “We don’t close the season because oysters are toxic,” Saine told Al Jazeera. “We close it to protect the resource. During the rains, increased runoff flushes more sediment and contaminants into the water, and oysters filter everything in the water they inhabit—this can impact their quality, taste, and safety.” By leaving oysters undisturbed during this period, both the ecosystem and consumers are protected, and the policy has become a widely accepted investment in future harvests for women like Jarjue.

    Jarjue is one of dozens of women in Ndangan who have turned from traditional foragers to ecosystem stewards, all working to restore the mangrove habitat their lives depend on. For 48-year-old Sussan Colley, who has foraged oysters and fished the wetlands since her teens, the change brought by restoration is impossible to miss. She remembers when mangrove cover shrank, catches declined, and households that relied on the wetland faced growing food insecurity. As restoration projects took root, Colley saw a steady reversal: oysters returned, grew larger and faster, and the wetland became productive again.

    “Mangroves have changed our lives for the better,” Colley said. For her, restoration is also about passing on a new legacy to the next generation. She teaches her children the traditional harvesting skills she inherited from her parents, but adds a new lesson: people must protect the natural systems that sustain them. “I want them to be able to make a living from this land,” she says, “but I also want them to understand how important mangroves are, and what role they play in all our lives.”

    Jarjue and other local women received formal mangrove restoration training through a local conservation initiative that supports Gambian coastal communities building climate resilience. The program equipped them with skills to restore degraded mangrove habitats, protect fishing ecosystems, and strengthen their communities’ ability to withstand the impacts of climate change. For the women of Ndangan, the training transformed their relationship with the wetland: it is no longer only a place to harvest resources, but a shared responsibility to nurture and protect.

    The work being done in Ndangan carries stakes that extend far beyond the small settlement, to the heart of Gambia’s capital. Banjul is a low-lying island city, increasingly threatened by rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and catastrophic flooding. Experts warn that a one-meter rise in global sea levels would submerge large parts of the capital, making the protection of remaining natural coastal barriers a matter of urgent national importance. This threat is not hypothetical: in 2022, severe flooding displaced thousands of Gambians, laying bare the extreme vulnerability of the country’s coastal communities.

    For the communities surrounding Tanbi Wetland, mangroves are far more than an environmental resource—they are a natural coastal defense system that shields inland settlements from storm damage and sea level rise. Rohey Malick Lowe, mayor of Banjul, says the capital’s future is inextricably linked to the survival of the Tanbi mangroves. “Banjul is an island,” she told Al Jazeera. “If the mangroves disappear, the city disappears with it.” The mayor added that city officials are working to protect the capital from growing climate threats, but acknowledged significant remaining challenges, including ongoing degradation of parts of the wetland from unregulated human activity.

  • Govt not backing down from entering bottled water market, despite private sector, opposition concerns

    Govt not backing down from entering bottled water market, despite private sector, opposition concerns

    On August 6, 2026, a public debate has emerged in Guyana surrounding the government’s plan to launch a state-run bottled water bottling facility under the umbrella of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), drawing sharp criticism from the country’s leading manufacturing industry body and the main opposition party. President Irfaan Ali has pushed back against critics, defending the initiative as a necessary step to fulfill the government’s commitment to affordable, accessible safe water for all Guyanese citizens.

    The proposal, which has already been allocated GY$496.3 million in government funding, initially garnered support from the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA). The trade group originally backed the plan as a pathway to cut reliance on imported bottled water, boost local manufacturing, generate new employment opportunities, and strengthen the country’s overall economic resilience. But that support has shifted to fierce opposition now that the project’s structure has come into focus, with GMSA warning that the state-owned venture will directly compete with established private sector businesses that have built up the local bottled water market over decades.

    In an official statement released this week, GMSA emphasized that hundreds of millions in private capital have already been invested in the local bottled water sector, with industry players building extensive national distribution networks and creating thousands of sustained jobs for Guyanese workers. Any state-led initiative in this space, the association argued, should be designed to complement and strengthen existing private investment, not undercut or compete against local businesses. GMSA also pointed to a contradiction between the current plan and President Ali’s own February policy announcement, which explicitly called for close public-private collaboration on expanding local bottled water production, including shared industrial infrastructure such as bottle manufacturing to lower industry-wide costs. The group says a standalone state-owned competing venture directly undermines that original collaborative vision.

    President Ali rejected these concerns during a press briefing Thursday, framing GWI’s entry into the bottled water market as a matter of public responsibility rather than unfair competition. “GWI is not in competition with anyone,” the president stated, noting that the agency’s core mandate is to deliver safe, affordable drinking water to all Guyanese. He pushed back against private producers, asking why local manufacturers have allowed imported bottled water to capture growing market share in Guyana, arguing that the high cost of bottled water across the region creates a public obligation for the state to intervene to make the product more accessible for ordinary citizens.

    The main opposition party, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has joined GMSA in criticizing the plan, going a step further to argue that the project misplaces GWI’s priorities at a time when core public water services remain inadequate across much of the country. APNU parliamentarian Ganesh Mahipaul noted in a statement that GWI’s immediate focus should be addressing longstanding systemic issues: unreliable water access, poor water quality, low water pressure, and entirely unconnected communities that lack access to a formal public water distribution network.

    “The Government’s first obligation is not to compete in the bottled water market. Its first obligation is to ensure that every household has access to potable water for domestic use,” Mahipaul said. He pointed out that ordinary Guyanese are not requesting the government to sell them bottled water; instead, they want reliable clean water delivered directly to their homes, so they do not need to purchase bottled water at all to meet basic daily needs like cooking, bathing, cleaning, and safe drinking.

    While APNU does not reject the principle of state-run commercial ventures in cases where they serve a clear public good and deliver tangible benefits to citizens, Mahipaul said GWI’s current plan raises serious questions about the appropriate role of the state in the domestic marketplace. “Rather than focusing on its core mandate of providing a reliable public utility, GWI appears to be venturing into a commercial enterprise that will inevitably compete with existing local bottled-water producers, many of whom are private Guyanese businesses that have invested significant capital, created employment and contributed to the economy,” he explained. “Government should be creating an environment that supports private enterprise, not using taxpayers’ money to establish a State competitor while its primary public service obligations remain unmet.”

    Mahipaul has called on the Ali administration to release full transparency around the project, demanding the government disclose key details including the bottling plant’s location, projected production output, total capital and operational expenses, planned retail price point for the state-produced bottled water, intended distribution network, expected return on investment, and whether independent market analysis was conducted to justify the public expenditure. He added that the Guyanese public also has a right to understand how this multi-hundred-million-dollar project aligns with GWI’s legal mandate to deliver safe, reliable public water services across the entire country.

  • Here’s the Updated Hurricane Season Forecast

    Here’s the Updated Hurricane Season Forecast

    As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season progresses, leading climate and weather agencies have released an updated outlook that brings a mixed picture of reduced cyclone activity but persistent hazards for Belize and the broader Caribbean region.

    Contrary to initial projections, forecasters from both regional and international bodies now anticipate a below-average hurricane season for the Atlantic basin. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has adjusted its earlier forecast downward, now calling for between 7 and 13 named storms, 2 to 6 hurricanes, and just 0 to 2 major hurricanes categorized as Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

    This reduction in tropical cyclone formation is largely tied to two key climate drivers shaping the region’s weather through the rest of the 2026 wet season, according to the Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF). Strengthening El Niño conditions, combined with ongoing warming of Caribbean surface waters, are reconfiguring atmospheric patterns across the basin. Additionally, CariCOF notes that frequent incursions of Saharan dust moving across the Atlantic will further act to suppress the development of new tropical cyclones.

    However, experts emphasize that a drop in hurricane numbers does not eliminate weather-related threats for Belize. Even with fewer cyclones projected, the country remains at high risk of extreme flooding and sudden flash floods driven by excessive intense rainfall events that can occur independent of major storm systems. The public and local authorities have been urged not to lower their guard ahead of the peak risk period.

    Beyond flood risks, CariCOF’s outlook warns of additional compounding hazards through September. Much of the Caribbean will see slower-than-usual rainfall accumulation paired with increasingly severe humid heat, while the same Saharan dust that suppresses cyclones will degrade regional air quality and exacerbate already high temperatures, creating additional risks for vulnerable populations.

  • Road Tennis federation planned before year-end

    Road Tennis federation planned before year-end

    The Caribbean island nation of Barbados is moving full speed ahead to turn its homegrown sport of road tennis into a globally recognized discipline, with plans to officially establish the International Road Tennis Federation (IRTF) by the end of 2024, the country’s Minister of Sport Charles Griffith confirmed in a Wednesday announcement. The declaration came during the press launch of the fifth edition of the Barbados Road Tennis Open, the sport’s flagship annual competition, where Griffith outlined the island’s long-term strategy for global growth.

    Under the current plan, the new global governing body will be headquartered permanently in Barbados, serving as the central regulatory body to standardize rules, coordinate international competitions, and drive widespread adoption of the sport around the world. Griffith emphasized that launching the federation is a critical milestone in legitimizing road tennis as an international sport, noting that while the process requires formal membership from roughly 50 participating nations to meet international sports governance standards, the time has come to begin laying the foundational framework. Demand for the sport is already growing beyond Barbados’ borders: the government has received inquiries from interested federations across Africa and Europe, and Griffith currently holds an invitation to travel to Canada to open a new international road tennis tournament.

    This year’s Barbados Road Tennis Open, kicking off August 15 and running through October 3, offers a $20,000 top prize for both men’s and women’s singles champions, marking one of the most lucrative purses for the sport to date. In a groundbreaking update for 2024, the tournament will add an under-18 youth division for both boys and girls, a move designed to cultivate the next generation of road tennis talent.

    Griffith stressed that global expansion starts with robust grassroots development at home. Currently, Barbados counts more than 300 purpose-built road tennis courts across the island, and the government plans to add another 300 courts to ensure nearly every community has access to public playing space. “Building a broad base at the grassroots is the only way to grow the sport sustainably,” Griffith explained. “If we have road tennis played in every corner of this island, we will build a strong talent pyramid that can support elite international competition. The government will continue to work hand-in-hand with the national road tennis association to support their efforts and drive this success.”

    Beyond infrastructure, the minister outlined plans to expand the national coaching cohort, training a pool of certified instructors who can travel internationally to teach the sport’s rules and introduce it to new markets. Notably, the sport already received high-profile global exposure during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where a Barbadian delegation was invited to showcase road tennis – and received a follow-up invitation to host a demonstration at the University of Stirling during their trip. To encourage more young Barbadians to pursue international coaching opportunities, the government will guarantee compensation for all coaches who travel abroad to promote the sport.

    Griffith also highlighted the need to build a sustainable commercial framework for road tennis, allowing Barbadians to reap economic benefits from their indigenous sport. Key opportunities include the standardization and manufacturing of official road tennis rackets, which could become a new export product for the island.

    Calling road tennis “the next global breakout sport,” Griffith revealed that a pathway already exists to achieve Olympic recognition. Four years ago, during discussions with International Olympic Committee leadership, Barbados received an informal offer to pursue observer status for road tennis – a key first step toward eventual inclusion in the Olympic program. “We can only reach that milestone if we get road tennis moving across the world,” Griffith said. “That is why launching the international federation now is so critical.”

  • What’s Killing the Belize River’s Fish? DOE Issues Warning

    What’s Killing the Belize River’s Fish? DOE Issues Warning

    In early August 2026, widespread reports of dead fish floating along sections of the Belize River Valley triggered an urgent multi-agency investigation and a formal public health advisory from Belize’s Department of the Environment (DOE). Following the emergence of these troubling reports earlier this week, the DOE has moved quickly to coordinate a full assessment of the event and warn local communities of immediate health risks.

    To ensure a thorough and cross-sectoral investigation, the DOE assembled a joint working group including representatives from Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL), the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), the national Fisheries Department, the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing. This collaborative team has launched a comprehensive review of potential contributing factors to the fish kill, covering multiple lines of inquiry.

    Investigators have carried out systematic water quality monitoring and sample collection across the affected stretches of the river, alongside on-site assessments of recent land-clearing operations, mapping of potential points of unauthorized wastewater discharge, and reviews of other human activities that could disrupt the river’s aquatic ecosystem. As of the latest DOE update, the full root cause of the mass fish mortality event has not yet been confirmed, prompting officials to roll out broad precautionary measures to protect public safety.

    In an official press release, the DOE advised residents and visitors to strictly avoid consuming any fish or other wild aquatic resources harvested from the affected areas of the Belize River Valley. The advisory extends beyond human consumption: officials also warn against using untreated river water for drinking, cooking, or any food preparation, and urge livestock owners and pet owners to keep animals away from unprocessed river water until further investigations are completed and the all-clear is given.

    Importantly, the DOE has clarified that these precautions do not apply to treated municipal drinking water distributed by BWSL. The water utility has formally confirmed that all water currently supplied from its regional treatment plant continues to meet national potable water quality standards, remains safe for human consumption, and that there has been no interruption to regular water delivery services across the affected area.

    In addition to issuing public health guidance, the DOE has reminded the general public of existing environmental regulations: under the 2009 Environmental Protection Regulations, the discharge of untreated wastewater or non-compliant effluent into any natural waterbody is classified as a criminal offense, and the agency will pursue enforcement action against any violations identified during the ongoing investigation. Officials note that full analysis of water and environmental samples is still underway, and they will release updated findings and adjust public advisories as more information becomes available.

  • PUC Signals Review as Opposition to BTL-Smart Acquisition Broadens

    PUC Signals Review as Opposition to BTL-Smart Acquisition Broadens

    A high-stakes proposed consolidation in Belize’s telecommunications sector has entered a formal regulatory review phase, with the nation’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) moving to assess Belize Telemedia Limited’s (BTL) planned 100% acquisition of rival provider Speednet Communications Limited, branded as SMART. The review comes as major business groups, independent legislators, and opposition lawmakers have ramped up demands for rigorous, law-aligned scrutiny of the transaction, raising red flags over competition, legal compliance, and public interest.

    In an official statement released Wednesday, the PUC pushed back against any assumptions of pre-judgment, emphasizing that its entire evaluation process will adhere strictly to existing legal frameworks, regulatory rules, and established procedural standards. The regulator acknowledged that the proposed takeover has sparked intense public attention, and that it recognizes the range of concerns and divergent perspectives held by industry stakeholders and the general public alike. Without taking an early stance on whether the acquisition is beneficial or harmful, the PUC underlined that it is legally bound to maintain full impartiality until its assessment is finalized.

    During its review, the commission will examine a broad set of critical factors, including consumer protection guarantees, uninterrupted service delivery for current Speednet and BTL customers, binding commitments for ongoing service quality, smooth transition plans for the merger, and overall market transparency and fairness. The PUC noted that its final determination will stand as its official position on the proposed transaction, though it has not yet announced a public timeline for completing the process.

    The PUC’s confirmation of its review came one day after BTL announced that its board of directors, backed by the company’s senior leadership team, had given preliminary approval to the plan to acquire all outstanding issued share capital of Speednet. BTL clarified that the deal remains conditional on the completion of full due diligence and further negotiations before any binding share purchase agreement is signed.

    With the review officially underway, focus has now shifted fully to the PUC’s statutory responsibilities outlined in the Belize Telecommunications Act. Section 19 of the legislation mandates that any telecommunications license holder must obtain prior written approval from the commission before transferring its license, ceding operational control, merging with another licensed entity, or completing a takeover. The law also grants the PUC authority to reject a proposed transaction if it finds the deal would undermine the core objectives of the telecommunications legislation. These statutory objectives include expanding access to reliable, affordable telecommunications services, supporting healthy market competition, encouraging industry investment and innovation, ensuring fair pricing, and protecting the interests of end users, service providers, and consumers.

    Beyond regulatory circles, key national social partner organizations have mobilized to coordinate a collective response to the proposed acquisition. On August 5, four of Belize’s leading civil society and business groups— the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the Belize Network of Non-Governmental Organizations (BNN), the National Evangelical Association of Belize (NEAB), and the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB)—issued a joint statement announcing they had convened to outline coordinated next steps. The groups plan to launch a cross-membership information sharing initiative designed to boost transparency around the deal, help stakeholders understand the potential impacts of the acquisition, and enable informed collective decision-making on how to proceed. The organizations reaffirmed their commitment to upholding good governance, protecting national economic stability, and advancing the public interest, noting they will consult their full membership bases before committing to any further action.

    Independent senators have also added their voices to the growing calls for rigorous oversight, reaffirming legal concerns about the proposed deal. Four independent senators released a joint statement on August 4, following a contentious sitting of the Senate Tuesday that saw opposition senators walk out of the chamber. All but one independent senator—Louis Wade, who represents national churches—joined the walkout before releasing their joint statement. In the document, the independent senators aligned themselves with the concerns previously raised by the BCCI, NTUCB, and opposition parties, which center on the acquisition’s legal compliance, potential harm to market competition, and the independence of the process used to value Speednet for the deal.

    The senators argued that creating a single monopoly provider in Belize’s telecommunications market would directly violate Section 42(4) of the Telecommunications Act. They also noted that existing law requires a mandatory regulatory review for any merger or acquisition that would substantially reduce competition in the market, and called on the PUC to resolve all outstanding concerns about the proposed shareholding change before any transaction is allowed to move forward.

    For its part, BTL has defended the proposed acquisition, framing it as a strategic investment that will deliver widespread benefits for Belize. The company claims the merger will eliminate redundant telecommunications infrastructure across the country, improve overall network reliability for consumers, expand connectivity access to rural underserved communities, and deliver stronger returns for shareholders. BTL also emphasized that the transaction will not require additional borrowing or new capital investment from the Belize Social Security Board.

    Now that the PUC has officially confirmed the launch of its statutory review, the national debate has shifted away from discussions of the commercial benefits of the deal and toward the legal and regulatory process that must conclude before any final agreement can be implemented. For the moment, the PUC has made clear it will not issue any judgment on the acquisition until its full review is complete.

  • Belize Passport Ranks 50th Globally in Latest Henley Index

    Belize Passport Ranks 50th Globally in Latest Henley Index

    On July 16, global immigration consulting firm Henley & Partners unveiled its highly anticipated 2026 Henley Passport Index, the annual ranking that measures global travel freedom across 199 national passports. In this latest edition, Belize has secured the 50th spot, marking a slight but notable improvement from its performance in recent years. The index’s methodology is built on a straightforward, data-driven framework: every passport is evaluated against 227 global travel destinations, earning one point for each destination that allows entry without a pre-departure visa. This includes destinations offering visa-free access, visas on arrival, visitor permits, and electronic travel authorizations, while destinations that require advance visas contribute no points to a passport’s total. The cumulative point total, called the global access score, determines a passport’s ranking, and passports with identical scores share the same position.

    For Belize, the 2026 results bring a global access score of 100, meaning Belizean passport holders can now travel to 100 destinations across the world without arranging a visa before leaving the country. This places the Central American nation firmly in the middle tier of this year’s ranking, alongside other passports with matching access scores. Topping the 2026 index is Singapore, which boasts an impressive 192 visa-free destinations, retaining its position as the world’s most travel-friendly passport.

    A deeper look into the index’s two decades of historical data reveals a long-term trend of gradual decline for Belize’s passport ranking, punctuated by small recent gains that have pulled it back up from historic lows. Between 2006 and 2009, Belize held a steady 42nd place globally, a strong position that it lost in 2010 when it fell to 50th. The country dropped further to 53rd in both 2011 and 2012, before a short-lived recovery pushed it up to 46th in 2013 and 44th in 2014. That upward momentum ended abruptly in 2015, when Belize plummeted to 56th place. For most of the next 10 years, Belize remained stuck in the mid-50s, hitting its all-time lowest ranking of 59th in 2021 amid broader global shifts in travel visa policies.

    Since hitting that low point in 2021, however, Belize has charted a slow but consistent upward trajectory. The country moved up two spots to 52nd in 2022, before slipping back to 54th for both 2023 and 2024. It climbed again to 49th in the 2025 edition of the index, before settling at 50th in the 2026 release. While the latest one-spot drop from 2025 is a minor shift, the overall trend over the past four years shows a clear recovery from the 2021 low, giving Belize a stronger position in global travel freedom than it has had in a decade.

  • Flood Alert Issued for Southern Toledo

    Flood Alert Issued for Southern Toledo

    As of August 6, 2026, authorities in Belize have issued an urgent flood alert for the southern Toledo district, warning residents that dangerous flooding could strike within the next 24 to 48 hours amid ongoing overnight and early morning rainfall across the region. The official forecast, released at midday by the Belize Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management, outlines a mixed picture of river levels across the country, with most major waterways sitting at or below long-term normal averages. However, key hydrological systems in the southern half of the nation have already risen above safe baseline levels, bringing immediate flood risk to local communities. The Moho River, one of the largest watercourses in southern Belize, has crossed the official flood threshold at the Blue Creek South monitoring site, where water levels have now risen above the height of the local bridge, creating impassable and unsafe conditions for travel. Other at-risk water bodies include the Temash River, the Sittee River, and Gales Point Lagoon, all of which are currently running well above their normal seasonal levels. By contrast, a number of other major rivers across Belize remain in safe ranges: the Rio Grande and Sarstoon River sit below normal levels, while the northern and central Belize water systems including the Rio Hondo, New River, Belize River, Sibun River, Mopan River and Macal River are all at or below normal levels, with no immediate flood threats reported for these areas. Local officials are urging all residents in southern Toledo and surrounding high-risk zones to stay vigilant, monitor official government updates continuously, and prepare emergency supplies and evacuation plans in case weather conditions deteriorate and flood risks escalate in the coming days.

  • A Cultural Renaissance Demanded: Planning Antigua’s Carnival 70 in 2027

    A Cultural Renaissance Demanded: Planning Antigua’s Carnival 70 in 2027

    After nearly seven decades of bringing summer energy to the Caribbean, Antigua & Barbuda’s iconic Carnival stands at a critical turning point ahead of its landmark 70th anniversary in 2027. In a proposal opening public conversation about the festival’s future, Cabinet Minister E.P. Chet Greene has sounded the alarm over a growing identity crisis: what the event has long billed as “the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival” is at risk of losing its unique cultural roots to become just another generic copy of carnivals held across the region.

    At the heart of this concern is the steep decline of locally produced cultural content and the near-disappearance of Benna, Antigua’s indigenous folk music with deep historical ties to the nation’s identity. Born out of the emancipation of enslaved people in the 1830s, Benna is far more than a musical style for Antiguans. Developed as a subversive call-and-response form, it served as a critical tool of oral communication for newly freed people, weaving the story of their liberation and community into its rhythms. Today, however, this foundational musical tradition has been pushed to the margins, reduced to nostalgic cultural artifacts while imported musical genres dominate the Carnival’s main stages. While Greene acknowledges the widespread global popularity of Soca music, he stresses that the nation cannot afford to trade its irreplaceable cultural identity for short-term mainstream popularity.

    Against this backdrop, Greene is calling for the 70th anniversary celebrations to mark the start of a full Benna renaissance that puts the indigenous genre back at the center of Carnival. No other region can claim Benna’s distinct characteristics: its bawdy, community-focused gossip-driven lyrics and spontaneous rhythmic improvisation create an authentic Carnival identity that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world. To bring this vision to life, Benna must be made a central component of Carnival’s music competitions, integrated into traditional steelband arrangements, and required to feature in every major official Carnival production.

    Beyond programming changes, the proposed renaissance relies on structural and economic investments to sustain Benna’s growth for generations. Greene outlines a plan to formalize creative industry supply chains, monetize Benna artists’ intellectual property through standardized licensing agreements, and leverage global digital streaming platforms to introduce the genre to new international audiences — all scaled to fit Antigua & Barbuda’s unique economic context. The creative and performing arts sectors, he argues, need targeted, scaled-up public and private investments and incentives tied to measurable cultural outcomes, rather than one-off token gestures.

    To restructure the festival’s opening to align with this new vision, Greene proposes adjusting the event calendar to clear space for an expanded T-Shirt Mas celebration the following Saturday. This iteration of the popular event would prioritize shirts designed and manufactured locally, supporting Antigua’s domestic garment and creative industries rather than relying on imported goods.

    Greene also sets a non-negotiable expectation for DJs playing the 2027 Carnival: all artists must center the local ownership agenda, creating original mixes that highlight the 70-year evolution of both Benna and homegrown Antiguan Soca, rather than sidelining indigenous sounds for imported hits. He emphasizes that the core mission of Carnival — a celebration of Antigua’s hard-won freedom — must remain the central theme of all celebrations, even amid external pressures that erode cultural identity.

    Already, the Antiguan government has laid critical infrastructure groundwork for this transition: a $25 million state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center is in development, alongside plans for a world-class professional music studio to support local artists. But infrastructure alone is not enough, Greene notes: without targeted training and mentorship, world-class facilities will fail to deliver long-term change. To fill this gap, he proposes building formal mentorship programs modeled on UNESCO’s Business Angels initiative, paired with accessible financing through the government’s existing Entrepreneurial Development Fund to support emerging Benna artists and creative entrepreneurs.

    Greene stresses that Antigua’s Carnival can only remain competitive in a crowded global cultural tourism market by leaning into its unique advantages: quality, authenticity, and innovative storytelling rooted in local history, rather than competing purely on the size of the event or the volume of attendees. The 70th anniversary in 2027, he argues, is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ignite a cultural renaissance that showcases Antigua & Barbuda’s national identity, its historical journey from emancipation to sovereignty, and its unwavering commitment to the freedoms its people built. This proposal is not intended to be a final, exhaustive plan, but rather the starting point for a broad public conversation to put actionable plans in motion for the milestone 2027 celebrations.

    Greene calls on stakeholders across government, the creative sector, and the general public to join the conversation and seize the moment to secure Carnival’s cultural legacy for future decades.