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  • Antigua and Barbuda Culinary Month Returns with Exciting Lineup of Events Throughout May 2026

    Antigua and Barbuda Culinary Month Returns with Exciting Lineup of Events Throughout May 2026

    The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority has unveiled ambitious plans for its flagship culinary event, the Antigua and Barbuda Culinary Month, scheduled for May 2026. This monthlong gastronomic celebration marks a significant expansion following the nation’s recent recognition as the Caribbean’s Best Emerging Culinary City Destination 2025 by the World Culinary Awards.

    The culinary festival will feature an impressive roster of internationally acclaimed chefs of Caribbean heritage, including British TV personality Andi Oliver, James Beard Award winner Nina Compton, and Top Chef Season 22 champion Tristen Epps-Long. The event lineup encompasses multiple culinary experiences designed to showcase the islands’ rich gastronomic heritage.

    Key components include Restaurant Week (May 3-17), where over 50 local establishments will offer prix fixe menus at various price points. The Caribbean Food Forum on May 21 will bring together hospitality professionals and food systems experts for a hybrid conference. The signature FAB (Food, Art & Beverage) Fest on May 23 will transform Cedar Valley Golf Course into an immersive food and art village with demonstrations, local vendors, and performances.

    Additional highlights include collaboration dinners featuring guest chefs from the UK, US, and Canada, a Puerto Rican-inspired BBQ event, a fundraising dinner celebrating Caribbean women chefs, and a finale beach party cookout. Minister of Tourism Charles Fernandez emphasized that the event aims to elevate Caribbean cuisine on the global stage while providing unique cultural experiences for international visitors.

    The 2026 edition represents a substantial scaling of the event, which launched in 2023 with the goal of highlighting Antigua and Barbuda’s diverse food culture. Major sponsors include ACB Caribbean, Red Stripe Beer, and Siboney Beach Club as official host hotel sponsor.

  • Week One Closes in Style at the NPPA Elric Pat Beazer 8-Ball Team Tournament

    Week One Closes in Style at the NPPA Elric Pat Beazer 8-Ball Team Tournament

    The inaugural week of the NPPA Elric Pat Beazer 8-Ball Team Tournament concluded with high-stakes drama, mirroring its opening moments through a series of clinical finishes and comeback victories. The week’s competition demonstrated that no lead remains secure in this year’s tournament, establishing an immediate tone of intense competitiveness.

    The week commenced with Ballbreakers staging a remarkable comeback against Sharpshooters, last season’s runners-up. Despite trailing 4-2, Ballbreakers captured the final three sets to secure a 5-4 victory. Tuesday featured Billiard Kings delivering a dominant performance against Paradise Ballers, achieving a decisive 5-1 rout despite competitive moments from their opponents.

    Wednesday’s matchup between Cue Action and Obsidian provided one of the week’s most entertaining contests. Obsidian’s Feelinz, one of the league’s female competitors, opened with a strong victory, but Cue Action ultimately prevailed in a back-and-forth battle between teams from the lower half of last season’s standings.

    The week culminated with Thursday’s showdown between Diamonds Billiard Club and Money Team, the 2025 third-place finishers. The match featured multiple momentum shifts, including a standout performance from Lisa (owner of Lisa’s Bar and Diamonds’ sole female player), who pushed Money Team’s seasoned captain Pooran to his limits before narrowly losing the deciding game.

    The evening concluded with Money Team’s Antonio delivering a perfect symbolic finish—responding to a dry break and missed opportunity from opponent Paul by calmly running all seven balls followed by the eight-ball, securing both the match victory and week-one conclusion with authoritative precision.

  • Betterson waarschuwt: geen emotionele wetgeving rechterlijke macht en meerdere pg’s

    Betterson waarschuwt: geen emotionele wetgeving rechterlijke macht en meerdere pg’s

    ABOP Assembly Member Stanley Betterson has issued a compelling appeal for restraint in Suriname’s judicial reform process, cautioning against legislation driven by emotional reactions rather than factual analysis. During Thursday’s session of the National Assembly, Betterson emphasized that legal amendments must be grounded in thorough research and demonstrable necessity rather than temporary outrage or political anger.

    The seasoned parliamentarian pointed to Suriname’s historical pattern of enacting legislation prompted by indignation, citing the Recall Law, Amnesty Law, and establishment of the Constitutional Court as examples of reactive laws that failed to achieve their intended purposes. “When emotions take precedence, we often miss the fundamental objective of legislation,” Betterson asserted.

    Addressing specific proposals to reform the Public Prosecutor’s Office and expand the number of attorneys general, Betterson expressed skepticism. He challenged the assumption that appointing multiple prosecutors-general would automatically improve the institution’s performance. Instead, he called for objective and systematic investigation into complaints about prosecution policies and conduct before considering structural changes.

    Betterson highlighted that the Public Prosecutor’s Office already possesses extensive powers, including through the opportunity principle, but noted these authorities carry inherent risks. This reality makes it essential, in his view, to first identify whether potential problems lie in existing laws, organizational structure, management practices, or implementation processes.

    While acknowledging potential needs for strengthening the rule of law, Betterson underscored that any reform must be evidence-based rather than politically pressured. He committed to supporting legislative proposals if research demonstrates changes would genuinely contribute to improved administration of justice.

    The ABOP representative urged government officials and initiative proponents to set aside emotional responses and adopt a rational, mature approach to judicial reform. Only through this methodical process, he concluded, can Suriname avoid creating laws that merely shift problems rather than resolve them.

  • $32m budgeted for AIA’s recurring runway problem

    $32m budgeted for AIA’s recurring runway problem

    The Vincentian government has announced an emergency allocation of EC$32 million to address severe and persistent structural deficiencies plaguing the runway at Argyle International Airport (AIA). Prime Minister Godwin Friday disclosed the critical funding requirement during parliamentary debates on the 2026 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, characterizing the tarmac’s condition as “very poor” and acknowledging the substantial financial burden it represents.

    The airport, which stands as the nation’s most ambitious capital project with initial development costs of EC$700 million financed through loans, grants, and in-kind contributions, has experienced recurring pavement failures since its 2017 inauguration. Prime Minister Friday emphasized the particular vulnerability of one runway section that requires near-constant maintenance whenever aircraft land, noting this problem has persisted for years regardless of which administration held power.

    The urgency of repairs has intensified during peak tourist season, as authorities cannot suspend flight operations for comprehensive rehabilitation. The government has immediately committed EC$12 million in the current budget cycle toward initial repairs, with total projected costs reaching the EC$32 million figure.

    This infrastructure crisis recently forced temporary operational downgrades by aviation authorities after surface defects caused significant flight disruptions. Approximately two months ago, the appearance of holes on the runway prompted the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to issue a Notice to Airmen restricting operations to aircraft with maximum take-off weights below 225,000 pounds. These restrictions resulted in canceled flights, including an American Airlines Boeing 737-823 that aborted takeoff after crew identified runway damage, and a Virgin Atlantic service between London and St. Vincent via Barbados.

    Local media documentation has captured maintenance crews performing emergency patchwork on the runway surface, with potholes reportedly reappearing as quickly as they are repaired. The situation has created operational challenges for multiple carriers serving the Eastern Caribbean destination, highlighting the critical need for permanent structural solutions.

  • Flow Supports Princess Margaret School Awards Ceremony

    Flow Supports Princess Margaret School Awards Ceremony

    In a significant corporate social responsibility initiative, telecommunications provider Flow Antigua and Barbuda has contributed technological resources to support educational excellence. Country Manager Wayne Hull formally presented two state-of-the-art laptops and a smart television to Princess Margaret School during the institution’s annual awards ceremony.

    The donation ceremony formed a highlight of the school’s event recognizing both past and present educators who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to teaching. Ms. Dana James, representing Princess Margaret School, accepted the equipment on behalf of the educational institution.

    This contribution aims to enhance the school’s technological infrastructure, providing both students and faculty with improved digital tools for learning and instruction. The donation reflects Flow’s ongoing commitment to supporting educational development within Antigua and Barbuda through tangible technological investments.

    The annual awards ceremony serves as a platform to honor teaching excellence and dedication within the education sector, making the technology donation particularly timely and meaningful. Such public-private partnerships demonstrate how corporate entities can play a vital role in strengthening educational resources within local communities.

  • Crime Reduction Central to Tourism Competitiveness, Browne Tells Global Summit

    Crime Reduction Central to Tourism Competitiveness, Browne Tells Global Summit

    In a strategic address at the World Government Summit in Dubai, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda articulated a groundbreaking national policy framework that inextricably links national security with tourism competitiveness. The Prime Minister asserted that crime reduction constitutes a fundamental pillar of the nation’s tourism development strategy, establishing public safety as an absolute prerequisite for cultivating and sustaining high-value tourism markets.

    Browne elaborated that destinations aspiring to compete within the global luxury tourism sector must guarantee a comprehensively secure environment for both international visitors and local residents. “These efforts are being supported by strident investments in containing crime and violence, thereby providing a safe and secured environment for our guests and locals alike,” he stated during his summit presentation.

    The Prime Minister’s discourse reframed conventional approaches to law enforcement by integrating crime containment directly into tourism policy and broader national development objectives. He contended that a premium tourism product cannot flourish in climates characterized by social disorder, public fear, or political instability. According to this paradigm, public safety serves as the critical foundation underpinning visitor confidence, investment decisions, and the overall credibility of a destination brand.

    Browne further detailed that the government’s comprehensive tourism reform initiative encompasses parallel investments in urban development, environmental management, and public order enhancement. This holistic approach ensures that Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism offerings align with evolving global expectations, particularly as modern travelers increasingly prioritize destinations that deliver not only luxury and authenticity but also demonstrable safety and stability.

    “Tourism is a national development strategy,” Browne emphasized, noting that the visitor experience is equally shaped by safety and social order as by physical amenities such as hotels, beaches, and attractions. The administration remains committed to fostering an environment where both residents and visitors can live, work, and travel without restrictions, thereby reinforcing the nation’s positioning as a competitive, high-value tourism destination on the world stage.

  • Massy Group’s revenue increased 6% to US$650m

    Massy Group’s revenue increased 6% to US$650m

    Massy Group has demonstrated formidable financial strength in its first-quarter results for the period ending December 31st. The conglomerate announced a 6% year-on-year revenue increase, reaching US$650 million, signaling a powerful start to its fiscal year.

    The Board of Directors, encouraged by these results, declared an interim quarterly dividend of TT$3.54 per share. This decision reflects confidence in the company’s sustained profitability and commitment to shareholder returns.

    Financial metrics showed impressive gains across key performance indicators. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) surged by 12% to US$79 million, while profit after tax from continuing operations climbed 9% to US$33 million. Correspondingly, earnings per share from continuing operations rose by 9% to US$0.02.

    Segment performance revealed diversified strength throughout Massy’s portfolio. The integrated retail division, encompassing Massy Distribution and Massy Stores retail outlets, grew revenue by 4% to US$400 million, maintaining its position as the Group’s largest contributor. This growth was fueled by volume expansion, enhanced merchandising strategies, and continued improvements in customer experience.

    The gas products segment recorded a 10% year-on-year EBITDA increase to US$21 million, while the motors and machines portfolio achieved a remarkable 17% third-party revenue growth to US$200 million compared to the prior-year quarter.

    President and CEO James Mc Letchie acknowledged shareholder support and expressed optimism about Massy’s strategic direction. Despite acknowledging challenges including inflationary pressures, foreign exchange constraints, and competitive market dynamics, Mc Letchie emphasized the company’s focus on executing its long-term strategy through consistent performance, strengthened governance, responsible capital allocation, and sustainable growth investments.

  • Drought Expected Across Antigua and Barbuda by End of February, Meteorological Service Says

    Drought Expected Across Antigua and Barbuda by End of February, Meteorological Service Says

    The twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda is confronting a severe drought emergency, with meteorological experts projecting increasingly arid conditions throughout the first half of 2026. The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service’s most recent Monthly Climate Outlook indicates an imminent Drought Warning expected to be issued by late February 2026, primarily attributed to diminished precipitation patterns associated with persistent La Niña phenomena.

    Current projections reveal a substantial 75% probability of below-to-near normal rainfall during February, with comparable dry circumstances forecasted to extend through the February-April trimester. Meteorological analysts indicate these patterns significantly elevate the potential for moderate or more severe short-term drought conditions, especially if prolonged rainless periods continue.

    The preliminary signs of hydrological stress became evident in December 2025, when Antigua documented considerably substandard rainfall measurements while Barbuda endured exceptionally parched conditions, including a concerning 21-day period without measurable precipitation. These meteorological circumstances have subsequently triggered noticeable reductions in soil hydration levels and diminished freshwater reserves.

    Climate scientists caution that the drought threat extends beyond immediate concerns. Six-month precipitation metrics suggest moderate or intensified drought conditions will likely materialize by April 2026’s conclusion, with extended-range models indicating Drought Warning status might prolong into May, particularly affecting central and southern Antigua regions.

    Although daytime temperatures are predicted to remain within seasonal norms, meteorologists highlight that elevated nighttime temperatures will probably exacerbate drought severity through accelerated evaporation processes and compromised soil moisture conservation.

    The Meteorological Service further indicates that precipitation during the initial rainy season (May-July) is also projected to register below-to-near normal levels, generating additional apprehensions regarding postponed hydrological resource recovery. While emphasizing the probabilistic nature of extended forecasts, officials strongly recommend intensified monitoring of water reserves, agricultural operations, and wildfire hazards as arid conditions persist.

  • Reggae In The Park, 15 Returns, Executive Producers Climaxx Set To Deliver A Milestone Experience

    Reggae In The Park, 15 Returns, Executive Producers Climaxx Set To Deliver A Milestone Experience

    Antigua and Barbuda’s premier musical celebration, Reggae in the Park, announces its landmark 15th edition scheduled for April 21, 2026, at Falmouth Rectory Grounds. The highly anticipated event returns with executive production handled by Climaxx, renowned throughout the Caribbean for delivering exceptional live performance and sound production quality.

    This milestone edition promises an immersive cultural experience featuring authentic reggae traditions, signature island atmosphere, and world-class production values. The event has solidified its position as a cornerstone of Antigua’s entertainment calendar, attracting both local enthusiasts and international visitors to celebrate Caribbean musical heritage.

    Musical direction will be led by the acclaimed Climaxx Band, fronted by powerhouse vocalist Samantha, known for their sophisticated fusion of reggae, soul, and Caribbean grooves with elements of pop, rock, and soca. The band’s recent release ‘Grateful’ has significantly expanded their regional popularity. Complementing the live performances, Climaxx’s premium sound system will deliver superior audio quality throughout the venue.

    The production ensemble features elite technical partners including Theatric Lighting, providing cutting-edge visual and power solutions, and Azero Degrees Event Rentals supplying comprehensive staging infrastructure. This collaborative effort ensures a professionally executed event meeting international standards.

    The artistic lineup showcases exceptional regional talent featuring THE STRAYS (reggae-soul fusion), ZAMBAI & FRIENDS (soft-rock reggae), BLESS EYE (conscious cultural lyrics), and headliner LUCIANO – the legendary ‘Reggae Messenger’ celebrated globally for his consciousness-driven anthems. Hosting duties will be handled by Ibis the Livest and Jessi Fyah, with continuous musical transitions managed by DJ Woodenfoot and DJ Nez.

    Event organizers emphasize creating unforgettable experiences beyond musical performance, with careful attention to atmosphere, production quality, and overall patron satisfaction. Ticket availability includes limited early bird pricing at EC$80, general admission at EC$120, and gate prices at EC$150, available through multiple physical outlets and digital platforms.

  • Duartian Institute member warns of possible mass Haitian migration to the Dominican Republic

    Duartian Institute member warns of possible mass Haitian migration to the Dominican Republic

    SANTO DOMINGO – A prominent Dominican academic has issued a stark warning about potential mass migration from Haiti, citing United States naval deployments in Caribbean waters as a destabilizing factor that could exacerbate the neighboring nation’s political turmoil. Professor Luis de León of the Duartian Institute characterized the US military presence as a “national patriotic alert” that threatens regional stability.

    The scholar expressed particular concern about the expiration of Haiti’s Presidential Council mandate this Saturday, anticipating renewed violent outbreaks that could trigger a refugee crisis. De León questioned whether Dominican authorities have adequately prepared citizens for this contingency, emphasizing that land border crossings would likely become the primary route for those fleeing hunger and institutional collapse.

    Beyond migration concerns, the professor framed the situation as a broader sovereignty challenge. He called for unified response from government institutions, political parties, and civil society, stressing that national defense requires both military readiness and civilian moral support. De León specifically referenced the teachings of Professor Juan Bosch in advocating for cautious engagement with United States foreign policy, which he views as increasingly interventionist.

    The academic concluded that while Dominicans remain committed to peace, this peace must be actively defended through coordinated state action, national unity, and a clear strategic response to Haiti’s escalating crisis and its potential spillover effects across the shared border.