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  • Windies collapse as Afghanistan claims 38-run victory

    Windies collapse as Afghanistan claims 38-run victory

    In a stunning display of cricketing prowess, Afghanistan secured a comprehensive 38-run victory against the West Indies in the opening match of their three-game T20 International series on January 19th in the United Arab Emirates. This triumph echoes Afghanistan’s recent success against the Caribbean Under-19 team in the ICC Men’s World Cup just one day prior, establishing a remarkable pattern of dominance across age groups.

    The match commenced with Afghanistan winning the toss and electing to bat, immediately facing adversity when Rahmanullah Gurbaz was run out on the very first delivery by Gudakesh Motie. However, what followed was a record-breaking performance as Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli constructed an monumental 162-run partnership from 106 deliveries – the highest third-wicket stand ever recorded for Afghanistan in T20 internationals. Zadran’s commanding 87 runs complemented Rasooli’s powerful 84, with both batsmen benefiting from multiple dropped chances by the West Indies fielding unit. Afghanistan concluded their innings at 181-3 after 20 overs.

    West Indies’ response proved inconsistent from the outset, with only Johnson Charles among the top-order batsmen reaching double figures through his 27-run contribution from 16 balls. The innings gained temporary momentum through debutant Quentin Sampson, who impressed with 30 runs off 24 deliveries, supported by Matthew Forde’s 25. Late resistance came from Gudakesh Motie’s aggressive 28 from 15 balls, but Afghanistan’s bowling attack systematically dismantled the Caribbean lineup, dismissing them for 143 runs.

    This defeat extends West Indies’ winless streak in the UAE, presenting significant concerns for head coach Daren Sammy as the team prepares for the second T20 encounter scheduled for January 21st. The series serves as crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled for February.

  • Secrets Resort named among magazine’s 10 best all-inclusive resorts

    Secrets Resort named among magazine’s 10 best all-inclusive resorts

    Secrets St. Lucia Resort & Spa has achieved distinguished recognition by securing the fifth position on USA TODAY’s 2026 compilation of Best All-Inclusive Caribbean Resorts. The prestigious ranking, announced on January 7th, positions the adult-only luxury property among elite hospitality destinations throughout the Caribbean region.

    The resort’s accomplishment has drawn official acclaim from St. Lucian Tourism Minister Ernest Hilaire, who publicly congratulated the establishment via social media. “Congratulations to Secrets St. Lucia Resort and Spa on your recognition,” Hilaire stated on Facebook. “Already turning heads for exceptional service as a Caribbean Destination.”

    Selection methodology involved a rigorous evaluation process combining expert assessment and public participation. A specialized panel of travel authorities initially curated a selection of the islands’ finest all-inclusive resorts, subsequently opening the final ranking to reader votes determining the ultimate order.

    The complete top-five ranking includes: Jamaica’s Hotel Montego Bay (1st), Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana (2nd), Royalton Antigua (3rd), Negril’s Sunset at the Palms (4th), and Secrets St. Lucia Resort & Spa (5th).

    USA TODAY’s feature highlighted several exceptional amenities contributing to the resort’s acclaim. Every accommodation features private terraces ensuring continuous panoramic vistas for all guests. The property offers unlimited beverage service across three swimming pools, six distinct bars, nine gourmet restaurants, and various lounges.

    Complementing these amenities, the resort provides 24-hour room and concierge services, ensuring culinary satisfaction at any hour. The premium spa facility boasts an extensive hydrotherapy circuit complete with hot tub, sauna, and steam room installations for comprehensive relaxation.

    Resort owner Alisteer Nelson expressed profound satisfaction with the recognition, noting that the honor reflects the team’s dedication to delivering exceptional guest experiences through unlimited luxury offerings. Nelson extended gratitude to supportive guests whose positive reviews contributed significantly to achieving this distinguished industry acknowledgment.

  • Director of Financial Intelligence Unit gives updates for 2024-2025

    Director of Financial Intelligence Unit gives updates for 2024-2025

    Dominica’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has marked the 2024-2025 period as exceptionally significant in its ongoing battle against financial crimes, according to Director McKelson Ferrol. Speaking at a recent Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs press conference, Ferrol detailed substantial operational advancements including the establishment of a specialized subunit and enhanced staffing capabilities.

    The Unit’s analytical department has demonstrated remarkable efficiency in processing suspicious activity reports while developing both operational and strategic analyses to support key authorities including the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force, Financial Services Unit, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, and Customs Division. FIU personnel have additionally strengthened their expertise through participation in regional and international training programs, seminars, and conferences, serving in capacities ranging from assessors to trainers.

    Critical collaboration with the Director of Public Prosecution, the Attorney General’s Chambers, and multiple regional and international agencies has yielded successful investigations and prosecutions across various financial crime categories, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and illegal firearms trade.

    In a strategic move toward regulatory compliance, Dominica will present its CFATF 4th Round Mutual Evaluation Third Follow-Up Report at the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force meeting in Trinidad and Tobago in May 2026. This follows the October 2024 presentation and November 2025 gazetting of three pivotal legislative measures: the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism Act, Money-Laundering Prevention Act, and Anti-Money-Laundering and Suppression of Terrorism Finance Amendment, Code of Practice 2025.

    The nation will seek re-rating for three previously partially compliant recommendations and one non-compliant recommendation. Director Ferrol expressed confidence in obtaining favorable outcomes during the May 2026 CFATF Plenary session.

    Notably, under the provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, Minister of National Security and Legal Affairs Rayburn Blackmoore facilitated a substantial disbursement of $2,042,096.42 from the asset recovery fund to support critical institutions including the Roseau District Court, FIU, Supreme Court, Customs Division, and Regional Security System.

  • St Michael’s student tops Caribbean in green engineering

    St Michael’s student tops Caribbean in green engineering

    In an exceptional academic achievement, Megan Allan from St Michael School has secured the highest regional distinction in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Unit 1 for Green Engineering. Her outstanding performance, marked by the only Grade One awarded across the Caribbean in this subject, has drawn commendation from Barbados’ Energy Minister and triggered the establishment of a new national award for young innovators.

    Senator Lisa Cummins, Minister of Energy, personally presented Allan with a special accolade during a ceremony held at the school on Monday. The minister emphasized that Allan’s accomplishment establishes a new benchmark for excellence and demonstrates the profound potential of Barbadian youth to influence the nation’s future trajectory.

    Expressing both surprise and delight, Allan admitted she had not anticipated such significant recognition. ‘I’m feeling pretty good, a little bit shocked,’ she remarked. ‘I wasn’t expecting it at all, and I didn’t know it would be such a big deal. When I saw it online that day at school, I was pleasantly surprised. So I’m shocked but happy.’

    The accomplished student has applied to multiple Canadian universities—McGill, Dalhousie, and the University of Guelph—with plans to pursue marine biology and conservation studies.

    Minister Cummins articulated the critical importance of science and technology disciplines as Barbados advances its energy transition agenda. ‘There are certain subjects that are going to be even more critical for our development as a country,’ she stated. ‘Chemistry, physics, environmental science, and green engineering represent essential skill sets for future careers that will facilitate our energy transition.’

    In response to Allan’s achievement, the Ministry of Energy announced the creation of an annual national prize to encourage future high performers in green engineering. Minister Cummins declared this would be ‘the inaugural prize, not the last,’ committing to ongoing recognition for excellence in this vital field.

  • Jacobie among 4 Saint Lucian indoor athletics winners

    Jacobie among 4 Saint Lucian indoor athletics winners

    Saint Lucian collegiate athletes delivered an impressive display of athletic prowess across multiple indoor track and field competitions in the United States over the weekend, securing four gold medal finishes and establishing two new school records.

    In a remarkable comeback story, Jenneil Jacobie of East Texas A&M University Lions claimed victory at the Owen Hewett Invitational in Norman, Oklahoma. The 2024 outdoor conference champion, returning from a season-ending injury, cleared 1.80 meters in the women’s high jump, earning her a top-ten national ranking in NCAA Division I competition.

    At the Akron AL Campbell Invitational in Ohio, University of Charleston’s Joy Edward achieved dual success with a first-place finish and school record performance. Edward threw 14.69 meters in shot put, narrowly missing her 2024 indoor national record, and achieved a personal best of 17.59 meters in the 20-pound weight throw.

    The Washburn Rust Buster event in Topeka witnessed Kereser Augustin setting a new school record with her 39.20-second performance in the women’s 300m, finishing ahead of teammate Isabella Kupka who secured second place.

    Coppin State University’s Carl Drakes continued his dominant season at the HBCU Showcase presented by Nike Running in New York City, winning the men’s 200m dash in 21.28 seconds and placing second in the 60m with a time of 6.77 seconds.

    Additional notable performances included Rayshawn Harris’s indoor debut in the 800m for Coppin State, while multiple other Saint Lucian athletes delivered strong showings across various events including Reuben Nichols (3rd in 600m), Tyler Toussaint (2nd in 60m), and Cagini Pilgrim (3rd in 60m).

    The collective achievements demonstrate the growing impact of Saint Lucian athletes within the competitive landscape of US collegiate athletics during the ongoing indoor season.

  • Shyne Barrow Criticises UDP Over Venezuela Stance

    Shyne Barrow Criticises UDP Over Venezuela Stance

    A significant political rift has emerged within Belize’s United Democratic Party (UDP) following controversial remarks about Venezuela, exposing internal divisions on foreign policy. Former UDP leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow has publicly denounced current party leadership for expressing sympathy toward Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without consulting membership.

    Barrow specifically criticized Senator Patrick Faber and other UDP representatives for what he characterized as “crying tears for the dictator, narco-trafficker Mr. Nicolás Maduro” during a recent press conference. The former leader emphasized the UDP’s identity as a “conservative, center-right party” with established international affiliations to Republican and conservative parties, suggesting the pro-Maduro position contradicts these alliances.

    The controversy stems from a UDP press conference held last Tuesday where Faber criticized the Briceño administration’s January 5 statement on Venezuela. Faber had argued the government’s position lacked clarity and appeared designed to avoid offending Washington, claiming the ruling People’s United Party was “hiding behind CARICOM” rather than asserting an independent foreign policy.

    Barrow countered this perspective by endorsing the government’s approach, describing the official statement as “mild and temperate and consistent with what CARICOM put out on the matter.” He further cautioned against antagonizing the United States, Belize’s largest trading partner, while invoking former Prime Minister George Price’s foreign policy mantra of being “friend to all, enemy to none” – while explicitly excluding “despotic dictators” from this philosophy.

    Barrow highlighted Maduro’s record of jailing political opponents, creating millions of displaced Venezuelans, and threatening CARICOM’s zone of peace as reasons to distance Belize from the Venezuelan leader. Senator Faber declined to comment when contacted by news outlets regarding the growing internal dispute.

  • Caribbean urged to ‘shock-proof’ climate justice strategies

    Caribbean urged to ‘shock-proof’ climate justice strategies

    At the opening of a pivotal regional forum in Barbados, Caribbean leaders issued a powerful call for concrete strategies to achieve climate justice, emphasizing the urgent need for approaches that can endure major geopolitical disruptions. Cletus Springer, Chair of the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), set the tone for the two-day CANARI Partners Forum, declaring the gathering a forum for “strategic action” rather than theoretical discussion. The event, themed ‘Towards climate justice in the Caribbean: building understanding and catalysing partnerships and finance,’ brings together regional and international stakeholders to address climate change as a critical development and human rights priority. Springer framed the discussions against a backdrop of what he termed “truly seismic geopolitical upheaval,” warning that the rapid erosion of the global multilateral system threatens to marginalize small island states. He posed a central challenge to delegates: “How do we advance a climate justice agenda that is robust enough to survive current and future geopolitical shocks?” The CANARI chair highlighted the escalating climate impacts across the region, including increasing extreme weather events and a developing drought in the Eastern Caribbean that’s expected to extend well into the traditional rainy season. These impacts, he noted, validate regional leaders’ characterization of climate change as “an existential threat to the sustainable development of the Caribbean.” Springer underscored the “profound unfairness” of the global climate system where those least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions bear the greatest burden. He emphasized that climate justice must address structural power imbalances and move beyond technical solutions to confront root causes of vulnerability amplified by factors including gender, race, and poverty. The forum represents a significant effort to develop practical approaches that protect vulnerable livelihoods while challenging the systemic inequalities that exacerbate climate injustice.

  • PM Briceño Confirms Credit Card Scam Investigation

    PM Briceño Confirms Credit Card Scam Investigation

    Prime Minister John Briceño has officially verified to News 5 that Belizean authorities are conducting an extensive investigation into a sophisticated credit card fraud operation that has compromised the nation’s vital call center industry. The scheme, initially exposed earlier this month, represents a significant threat to an economic sector that employs approximately 20,000 citizens and generates around $150 million in annual revenue.

    The fraudulent operation spans international boundaries, connecting U.S. victims to Belize City restaurants through sophisticated digital theft. Call center employees have been systematically violating Payment Card Industry (PCI) security standards by covertly recording customers’ credit card numbers and CVV codes during transactions. This stolen financial data was subsequently utilized to place food orders through mobile applications, particularly targeting establishments like Chon Saan Palace restaurant.

    Investigative findings reveal the scheme’s alarming scale, with over 400 fraudulent chargebacks identified at a single restaurant. Perpetrators demonstrated adaptability by circumventing enhanced security measures, including ID verification systems, through photographing identification cards. The criminal network has since evolved, with gang members now allegedly marketing stolen credit card information—complete with names, numbers, CVVs, and addresses—via WhatsApp platforms.

    Prime Minister Briceño emphasized the government’s dual commitment to protecting both the call center industry and affected local businesses. He stressed that international victims must file formal police reports to enable comprehensive investigations and indicated authorities’ readiness to implement stricter penalties for offenders if necessary. The case highlights growing concerns about digital financial crimes and their impact on developing economies dependent on technology-driven industries.

  • Shyne Barrow Says “A Monopoly Benefits the Belizean People”

    Shyne Barrow Says “A Monopoly Benefits the Belizean People”

    In a significant political development, former United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow has voiced conditional support for Belize Telemedia Limited’s proposed acquisition of Speednet, arguing that state-controlled monopolies can deliver public benefit. The controversial stance emerged during a January 19th press engagement where Barrow challenged prevailing skepticism toward market consolidation.

    Barrow presented a comparative analysis of Belize’s infrastructure landscape, noting: “Our nation already operates sanctioned monopolies in critical sectors including Belize Electricity Limited and Belize Water Services. The ideological resistance to telecommunications consolidation appears inconsistent when examining existing market structures.” The former opposition leader specifically addressed shareholder concerns, emphasizing that since BTL operates as a public-private partnership with majority Belizean ownership, any resulting monopoly would ultimately benefit citizens through consolidated returns.

    Despite his theoretical support, Barrow delivered scathing criticism of BTL’s leadership for their disastrous public rollout of the proposal. He characterized the board’s communications strategy as profoundly mishandled, creating unnecessary public distrust. Barrow particularly contested the board chairman’s characterization of BTL as a private entity, asserting: “This represents a fundamental misrepresentation of corporate structure. As a PPP model with majority public ownership, the enterprise ultimately serves the Belizean people.”

    The former UDP leader simultaneously addressed internal party tensions, criticizing current UDP Leader Tracy Panton for her undisclosed meeting with Lord Ashcroft aboard his yacht. Barrow questioned the timing and opacity of the engagement, suggesting it undermined Panton’s credibility to demand transparency in the BTL-Speednet negotiations.

    Prime Minister John Briceño has maintained that BTL’s board should pursue corporate interests independently, while opposition figures demand greater transparency before approving any merger. The developing situation reveals deep philosophical divisions regarding market regulation and public ownership in Belize’s political landscape.

  • Winless Windwards fall to Barbados

    Winless Windwards fall to Barbados

    The Windward Islands’ challenging campaign in the Cricket West Indies T20 Blaze continued with a narrow three-wicket defeat against Barbados on Saturday, January 17th, marking their third consecutive loss in the tournament hosted at Arnos Vale Sporting Complex in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

    The team faced additional adversity with the absence of captain Zaida James, a West Indies allrounder who was sidelined with a minor injury. Acting captain Jannillea Glasgow won the toss and elected to bat first, but the decision yielded little advantage as the Windwards struggled profoundly during the powerplay.

    Their innings began disastrously, losing three crucial wickets within the initial eight overs while managing a meager 32 runs. Glasgow labored to eight runs from 21 deliveries, while Nerissa Crafton of Saint Lucia contributed just six from nine balls, highlighting the team’s inability to find gaps in the field.

    Veteran international player Afy Fletcher emerged as the batting anchor, stabilizing the innings through a productive partnership with Carena Noel that added 37 runs across seven overs. Fletcher’s composed knock of 35 from 32 deliveries, including three boundaries, provided temporary respite before her departure in the 15th over. The final phase proved equally challenging as the Windwards lost four additional wickets while adding only 17 runs, concluding at 86-8 from their allotted overs.

    Barbados’ Shamilia Connell delivered an exceptional bowling performance, claiming four wickets for just eight runs from her four overs of right-arm medium pace, effectively dismantling the Windwards’ batting lineup.

    Despite the modest target, Barbados encountered significant resistance during their chase. The Windwards’ bowling attack, though disciplined in periods, conceded 24 extras that substantially aided the opposition’s pursuit. A developing partnership of 30 runs between Naijanni Cumberbatch and Asabi Callender was broken by debutant Aidith Gasper, who claimed Cumberbatch as the first of her two wickets.

    Although Afy Fletcher, Aidith Gasper, and Abini St Jean each captured two wickets in a spirited defense of the low total, Barbados ultimately secured victory at the beginning of the 17th over through a combination of wayward bowling and a late-order contribution of 12 from 13 balls by Allison Gordon.

    The absence of Captain James was notably felt across all three facets of the game—batting, bowling, and fielding—exacerbating the team’s challenges. Previous losses to Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago by 16 runs had already positioned the Windwards precariously in the standings. Fletcher and Glasgow currently rank fourth and fifth respectively in runs scored after three rounds with 82 and 70 runs, but the team remains winless and sits above only Jamaica in the standings due to bowling points. These two bottom-placed teams are scheduled to meet on January 19th in what promises to be a crucial encounter for both sides.