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  • ABFA Representatives Attend 2026 Concacaf Professional Football Development Seminar in Dominican Republic*

    ABFA Representatives Attend 2026 Concacaf Professional Football Development Seminar in Dominican Republic*

    The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) is hosting its 2026 Professional Football Development Seminar this week, bringing together football administrative leaders from across the region to advance professionalization of the sport. The two-day event, being held September 16 to 17 in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, draws Club Licensing Managers and League Directors from all 41 of Concacaf’s Member Associations, and the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) is among the participating governing bodies.

    Representing ABFA at the forum are Portia Davis, the association’s Club Licensing Manager, and Gershum Phillips, League Director for Antigua and Barbuda’s Men’s Top Division League. Designed as a collaborative knowledge-sharing and capacity-building platform, the seminar delivers targeted, up-to-date guidance on core issues shaping modern professional football across the Caribbean and North American region.

    The agenda for this year’s gathering covers a wide range of high-priority topics for member associations. Attendees are walking through a detailed review of existing implementation strategies for Concacaf’s Club Licensing Regulations, with clear breakdowns of mandated timelines and key performance benchmarks that associations are expected to meet. The program also includes official updates on upcoming club competitions organized by Concacaf, as well as open sessions for cross-regional sharing of proven best practices for both club licensing frameworks and day-to-day league operations. Additionally, delegates will receive a comprehensive walkthrough of the new and existing digital tools Concacaf has developed to streamline licensing and regulatory implementation processes.

    For ABFA, this participation is more than a routine attendance—it is a deliberate demonstration of the governing body’s ongoing commitment to elevating domestic football. The association is working continuously to strengthen its national club licensing system and bring its league operations fully in line with the global standards set by both Concacaf and FIFA, the sport’s global governing body.

    This commitment comes on the heels of a notable recent win for ABFA: for the second year in a row, multiple domestic clubs from Antigua and Barbuda have successfully attained official Domestic Club Licences, a milestone that reflects progress in the association’s ongoing reform efforts. Ahead of the seminar’s conclusion, ABFA has publicly expressed its well wishes for Davis and Phillips, noting that the governing body is eager to integrate key takeaways and new strategies from the event into its ongoing work to grow and improve football across Antigua and Barbuda.

  • Could Belize Eventually Power Itself?

    Could Belize Eventually Power Itself?

    In a major policy announcement delivered during his 2026 State of the Nation Address, Prime Minister John Briceño has outlined Belize’s bold strategy to achieve greater energy independence by rapidly scaling up domestic renewable power generation. The initiative comes in response to a recently declared national energy emergency, which cleared the way for Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) to partner with local investors and accelerate the rollout of utility-scale solar infrastructure paired with grid-scale battery storage. Briceño confirmed that the first phase of the project will deliver approximately 30 megawatts of new solar generating capacity, backed by five-hour duration battery storage, with all installations scheduled for completion by June 2027. Looking beyond the near-term target, the government has set a long-term national goal to develop 120 megawatts of solar generation across the country alongside 40 megawatts of battery storage capacity. The core motivation behind this expansion is to reduce Belize’s longstanding dependence on imported electricity, a vulnerability that has been exposed during periods when neighboring Mexico, the country’s primary foreign energy supplier, is unable to meet Belize’s peak demand. Dr. Leroy Almendarez, Chief Executive Officer of Belize’s Ministry of Public Utilities, emphasized that the push for domestic generation does not signal a break from the existing energy relationship with Mexico. Mexico will remain a key, trusted supplier of electricity to Belize for the foreseeable future, he clarified. As part of its broader effort to diversify energy security options, Belize is currently conducting a pre-feasibility study to assess whether a new power grid interconnection with neighboring Guatemala would be practical, reliable, and cost-effective. Dr. Almendarez stressed that the study itself does not commit Belize to moving forward with electricity purchases from Guatemala, noting that any cross-border interconnection project requires rigorous upfront analysis to confirm consistent reliability, manageable costs, and alignment with national interests. This standard process of due diligence was followed when Belize established its current interconnection with Mexico, he added, and it is only reasonable to apply the same careful evaluation to any new potential partnership. In the most ambitious long-term vision for the country’s energy sector, Belize aims to eventually generate enough domestically produced electricity to fully meet domestic demand, and even export excess power through SIEPAC, the Central American regional interconnected electricity network. This shift would not only strengthen Belize’s energy resilience but also position it as a regional contributor to renewable power trade, supporting broader decarbonization goals across Central America.

  • Berbice Bridge sold to govt

    Berbice Bridge sold to govt

    On Wednesday, 16 September 2026, former board chairman of Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) Paul Cheong confirmed that the private firm has completed the winding up of all its operations, and the iconic Berbice River crossing has been formally sold to the Government of Guyana for a total purchase price of GY$400 million.

    Speaking exclusively to Demerara Waves Online News, Cheong confirmed that the full transaction has been settled: “It has been handed over to government,” he said, adding that the state had already transferred the full GY$400 million payment to the relevant stakeholders by Wednesday afternoon.

    An industry source with direct knowledge of the transition, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Demerara Waves that day-to-day management, operations and maintenance of the bridge will now fall under the purview of Guyana’s Ministry of Public Works. Notably, most former employees of BBCI will remain in their roles to continue serving bridge users under the new public ownership structure.

    The confirmation of the completed sale comes just days after official notices related to the wind-down were published in Guyana’s Official Gazette. These filings outline the timeline of the decision to wind up BBCI: in documents published 12 September, BBCI Secretary Amarnauth Singh revealed that company members approved a special formal resolution on 21 August 2026 to dissolve the firm, with the wind-up process officially commencing on that date. A second separate notice, dated 4 September, announced that chartered accountant Raan Motilall had been appointed as liquidator to oversee the winding up of the company’s assets and liabilities.

    The acquisition of the existing bridge aligns with broader infrastructure plans the Guyanese government has already made public. The administration has previously announced it will construct a new four-lane Berbice River bridge at an alternative site in the coming years, a project designed to accommodate growing cross-river traffic driven by Guyana’s rapid economic expansion in recent years.

    First opened to traffic in 2008, the existing 1.57-kilometre Berbice Bridge was originally built at a total cost of GY$8 billion. One of the largest private infrastructure projects in Guyana at the time of its development, the National Insurance Scheme was counted among BBCI’s major institutional shareholders for the entirety of the bridge’s period of private operation.

  • Ozone Day Scholarships: Twelve Students, One Timely Skills Gap

    Ozone Day Scholarships: Twelve Students, One Timely Skills Gap

    To mark the 2026 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, the Government of Belize’s Department of the Environment (DOE) has awarded full scholarships to 12 aspiring refrigeration and air conditioning technicians from three of the country’s districts. Launched through the DOE’s National Ozone Unit on September 16, the scholarship initiative directly supports Belize’s national commitment to phase out ozone-depleting chemicals, aligning with decades of global climate and environmental action.

    Recipients of the awards are currently enrolled at ITVET campuses located in Belize City, Orange Walk, and Stann Creek. Each scholarship provides comprehensive coverage for an entire academic year of tuition, and also includes a complete toolkit of routine servicing equipment and full personal protective gear for students entering the field. Notably, three of the 12 selected scholars are women, a milestone in a skilled trade that has historically been overwhelmingly male-dominated, according to DOE data.

    The timing of the scholarship announcement is no coincidence. September 16 marks the annual commemoration of the signing of the 1987 Montreal Protocol, the landmark global treaty that established binding commitments to phase out production and use of man-made chemicals proven to damage the Earth’s protective ozone layer. This year’s global theme for Ozone Day, “Global Action for a Cooler Planet,” highlights 10 years of progress under the Kigali Amendment, the 2016 addition to the original protocol that targets the phase-out of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases commonly used in cooling systems.

    Refrigeration and air conditioning technicians play a critical frontline role in achieving these global and national targets. Safe handling of existing ozone-depleting and high-emission cooling gases, paired with the skilled transition to newer, low-global-warming alternative refrigerants, is essential for Belize to meet its legally binding obligations under the Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment. It also addresses a growing skills gap in the country’s sustainable cooling sector, as the nation scales up its phase-out efforts.

    “These twelve students represent an investment in the future of Belize’s cooling sector,” said Anthony Mai, Chief Environmental Officer at Belize’s DOE. “By providing training and tools now, we are building a profession that protects both people and the environment.”

    The scholarship program is financed through Belize’s national HCFC Phase-out Management Plan, with financial backing from the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, an international financial mechanism established to support developing countries in meeting their protocol obligations.

  • Urgent Blood Donation Appeal for Tehvorney Jeffers in ICU

    Urgent Blood Donation Appeal for Tehvorney Jeffers in ICU

    Health authorities in Antigua have issued a pressing public appeal for voluntary blood donations to support Tehvorney Jeffers, a patient currently battling critical illness in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the island nation’s leading public hospital, Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre. Unlike many targeted blood drives that seek out specific rare blood types, organizers of this appeal are welcoming donors of all blood groups to step forward, as any healthy donation can help expand the hospital’s blood supply and meet Jeffers’ ongoing transfusion needs throughout his intensive care treatment. Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, the primary public healthcare facility for Antigua, hosts a fully operational Adult Intensive Care Unit and manages all of the island’s in-hospital blood processing, matching, and transfusion services. Hospital representatives emphasized that timely community donations are the only reliable source of blood for emergency cases like Jeffers’, as the facility does not maintain a large surplus stock for unexpected critical care needs. The appeal has been amplified across local community networks, urging any eligible member of the public in good health who is able to donate to contact the hospital’s blood services department as soon as possible to contribute to Jeffers’ life-saving treatment.

  • Maximus, Branch shine in PM Cup openers

    Maximus, Branch shine in PM Cup openers

    The opening round of the 202X Prime Minister’s Cup Group B fixtures delivered two compelling matches on a rain-soaked Tuesday night, with standout individual performances carrying both Ivy Rovers and Brittons Hill United to convincing wins over their respective opponents.

    At the Friendship Playing Field in St Michael, Jarad Maximus emerged as the undisputed star of the night, netting a hat-trick to anchor Ivy Rovers to a dominant 4-1 triumph over Pinelands. The striker got his side’s campaign off to a flying start just 10 minutes in, converting a clinical penalty to put Ivy Rovers in front. The lead doubled 18 minutes later, when Jamario Nichols finished a well-crafted team attack inside the 18-yard box, capitalizing on excellent build-up play from Rovers’ right wing that split Pinelands’ defensive shape.

    Maximus notched his second of the night before halftime, capping a dynamic first-half display that would ultimately earn him Player-of-the-Match honors. The wet, slippery pitch and persistent heavy rain created difficult conditions that challenged Pinelands’ backline throughout the second half, and it was this defensive disorganization that allowed Riviera Cottle to stretch Rovers’ advantage to 3-0 in the second period. Pinelands managed a late consolation in the 88th minute, when Lamar Scantlebury got on the end of a long clearance over the top of Rovers’ defense and nodded home past the goalkeeper. But any hopes of a late comeback were snuffed out in the fourth minute of stoppage time, when a Pinelands defensive mistake left Maximus unmarked in space. He slotted home calmly to complete his hat-trick, securing a three-goal winning margin for Ivy Rovers.

    Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, Maximus said he had come into the match prepared for the physical test of tournament football. “I knew it would be a physical game, so I just listened to the coach, did what I had to do and finished the ball,” he said. “Moving forward you can expect more from me – taking on players and trying to help my teammates to raise their level as well. I know how it feels to go all the way to the final, so I believe that my team can go far and we’re going to try our best.”

    In the late-night second fixture of the evening, substitute Jalen Branch delivered a moment of magic, scoring two late goals to carry Brittons Hill United to a 2-0 shutout win over St Andrew Lions. A large contingent of Brittons Hill fans braved steady heavy showers to cheer on their side, and they were rewarded in the 73rd minute when Branch broke the game’s deadlock. T’shane Lorde produced a brilliant piece of skill to create space down the left wing before delivering a pinpoint cross into the six-yard box, where Branch was waiting to tap home from close range.

    With St Andrew Lions pushing forward aggressively in stoppage time, throwing bodies forward to find an equalizer, they left their defensive line exposed high up the pitch. Branch took advantage in the 91st minute, shaking off the marking of two Lions center backs before hitting a perfectly judged lob from distance that sailed over the out-of-position goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The goal secured all three points for Brittons Hill.

    A delighted Branch noted after the match that he prides himself on being able to make an immediate impact off the bench. “I just need five minutes and I can give the team something for sure,” he said. “In the build up to the competition I did a lot of physical work with the coaches trying to get fit, but I am still not 100 per cent there. I think we can go all the way to the finals again like we did before. I was not in the team back then, but now I am here to help.”

  • Cabinet Rejects Several NTUCB Demands, Offers Alternatives

    Cabinet Rejects Several NTUCB Demands, Offers Alternatives

    On September 16, 2026, Belize’s Cabinet issued an official response to 11 policy and governance demands tabled by the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB), rejecting several key proposals while laying out structured timelines for ongoing negotiations and incremental policy progress on other union priorities.

    Among the most high-profile demands put forward by the NTUCB was the removal of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) Chairman Markhelm Lizarraga and all government-appointed BTL board members. Cabinet officials have flatly turned down this request, noting that there is no legal grounding under Belize’s existing company law to justify the dismissals. The government further pushed back on the union’s rationale, pointing out that BTL posted record-breaking profits in its most recent financial cycle, and the termination of the proposed Speednet acquisition does not constitute a reasonable or legal cause to remove the board.

    Two other BTL-related proposals from the union were also rejected: the creation of a new tripartite governance structure for the telecommunications provider, and a full restructuring of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Cabinet explained that union representation on BTL’s oversight is already secured through a seat on the Belize Social Security Board, while the PUC’s status as an independent autonomous body means restructuring is not justified under current governance frameworks.

    On the NTUCB’s request for a dedicated liaison embedded within the Office of the Prime Minister, Cabinet offered a compromise: it welcomed deeper collaboration with the Joint Unions Negotiating Team (JUNT) and has proposed holding formal quarterly consultation meetings with NTUCB leadership moving forward.

    Cabinet confirmed measurable progress on several reform priorities the union has pushed for. The final draft of the long-awaited Protected Disclosures Bill has already been circulated to both the NTUCB and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry for stakeholder review, with a formal consultation meeting scheduled for October 22. Work on new campaign finance legislation is also underway: drafting is complete enough that the bill is on track to be submitted to Cabinet for official review by December 8, 2026.

    Additionally, the government is moving forward with establishing the Civil Recovery Authority Unit (CARU) within the Financial Intelligence Unit, a body mandated under the 2023 Civil Asset Recovery and Unexplained Wealth Act to target illicitly obtained assets. Progress is also being made on filling the long-vacant Ombudsman post: the Ombudsman Reports Committee is expected to submit candidate nominations soon, before a final appointment resolution is introduced to the Senate for approval.

    One demand that was firmly rejected was the NTUCB’s call to withdraw the 2026 Revenue Authority Bill. Cabinet reaffirmed the government’s commitment to launching a semi-autonomous national revenue authority, but noted that officials will continue working closely with the Public Service Union and Tax Department staff to address workforce concerns during the transition period.

    On educator-specific demands raised through the NTUCB, Cabinet has agreed to hold further negotiations around two key issues: additional pay for teacher duties required in August, and a proposed new classroom resource allowance. For the University of Belize, the government highlighted a steady increase in annual public subvention, which has grown from $7.6 million in 2020 to $10 million in 2026. It has also made a formal commitment to raise the subvention by $1 million annually starting in 2027, until the annual allocation reaches $15 million. The government added that the new Financial Assistance Program Policy, launched in June 2026, has already created a standardized, transparent process for grants, scholarships, and stipends, addressing longstanding calls for reform from the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union (UBFSU).

    In closing, Cabinet acknowledged that it could not accommodate every demand put forward by the NTUCB, but emphasized that the government remains fully committed to open consultation and continued productive engagement with the union confederation on shared priorities for Belize.

  • Evicted, Then Fire Destroys His Home

    Evicted, Then Fire Destroys His Home

    In a devastating turn of events that has left a Belama resident with nothing, 5-year long homeowner Eugene Thompson has lost every possession he owned after an out-of-the-ordinary fire gutted his residence on a Tuesday afternoon in September 2026, just 24 hours after a court ordered him to vacate the property amid a bitter domestic dispute with his ex-girlfriend.

    Thompson, who is now completely unhoused with no secure place to sleep or store personal belongings, has publicly stated he believes the blaze was deliberately set, not an accidental incident. The ongoing legal conflict over the property began when Thompson initially sought a court order to evict his ex-girlfriend from the home. In a surprise turn, she countersued through the local court system, and judges ultimately ruled in her favor, ordering Thompson to leave the residence for a 15-day period.

    Thompson shared that he attempted to plead his case to the court, explaining he faced extreme hardship and had no alternative housing options, but his claims of distress were dismissed. “The court didn’t believe me, she had the ruling go her way,” Thompson explained. “They served me an eviction notice, I complied, and by 1 p.m. that same afternoon I was out, and my entire home was burned to the ground.”

    A neighbor was the first to spot the fire and alerted Thompson, who was not on the property when the blaze broke out. By the time emergency response arrived, the structure was already completely destroyed. Thompson confirmed that not a single one of his personal belongings was salvaged from the wreckage. “Nothing was saved, nothing at all,” he said. “By the time my neighbor called out to alert me, the fire had already taken over the whole house.”

    Thompson estimates the total value of his lost property and structural damage at approximately $45,000, a devastating loss that leaves him forced to rebuild his entire life from scratch. With no bedding, clothing, or personal items to his name, and nowhere permanent to stay, Thompson is now reaching out to the broader community for any assistance that can be offered. Individuals who are able to provide support can contact Thompson directly at 639-6773. “I just need help right now,” Thompson said. “I have nowhere to live, nowhere to sleep, nothing saved. I lost everything.”

  • New Airport CEO Moves to Elevate Status of Aviation Security Officers

    New Airport CEO Moves to Elevate Status of Aviation Security Officers

    Since taking the helm as the new Chief Executive Officer of V.C. Bird International Airport in Antigua and Barbuda, Kurt Menal has launched a landmark initiative to elevate the professional standing of the facility’s aviation security officers, framing their work as a cornerstone of both seamless airport operations and the country’s broader national security architecture.

    In an exclusive interview with local outlet ABS News, Menal underscored his commitment to shifting public and institutional perceptions of these security professionals. For years, frontline security staff at the airport were broadly categorized as generic airport security workers, a grouping that failed to capture the specialized scope and critical importance of their roles. Under Menal’s new framework, these officers have been formally re-designated as specialized aviation security personnel, a change aligned with global industry best practices that more accurately reflects the full breadth of their job requirements.

    “What I want to do is to highlight them as a distinct profession, highlight them as a unified body of professionals that literally is responsible, not just for on-site airport security but for the entire nation’s security,” Menal explained in his remarks.

    Aviation security personnel at V.C. Bird International Airport carry far-reaching responsibilities that extend far beyond basic access control. They are tasked with protecting millions of annual passengers, hundreds of on-site airport employees, commercial and private aircraft, all airport infrastructure, and restricted security zones that are vulnerable to potential threats. Menal argues that this work must be contextualized within Antigua and Barbuda’s national security strategy, as the airport serves as the country’s primary international gateway for travel, trade, and tourism — one of the small island nation’s most critical economic sectors.

    The reclassification and push for greater public recognition marks a deliberate departure from outdated frameworks that reduced these specialized professionals to generic support roles. Menal’s leadership priority is designed to reinforce the professional identity of aviation security staff, boost morale, and strengthen public understanding of the outsized impact their work has on the safety and prosperity of Antigua and Barbuda. This shift, observers note, positions the airport to meet evolving international security standards while better valuing the frontline workers who keep the facility and the nation safe.

  • Dominica unveils programme for 48th independence celebrations

    Dominica unveils programme for 48th independence celebrations

    The Commonwealth of Dominica is preparing to mark 48 years of sovereign nationhood with an expansive, multi-week series of cultural, civic, and national events under the unifying theme “Our Journey, Our Legacy, Our Future”, running from mid-September through early November 2026. The full event schedule was officially announced by Honourable Greta Roberts, Minister for Culture, Youth, Sports and Community Development, during a press conference held this Wednesday, where she framed the annual independence observance as more than a celebration — it is a moment for national reflection, cultural celebration, and collective forward planning.

    In her remarks to reporters, Roberts emphasized that the 2026 theme was crafted to encapsulate the full arc of Dominica’s national story. “The theme captures the full story of our nation. It calls us to reflect on the journey that has brought us to this point, to preserve the legacy entrusted to us and to work together to create a stronger future for the generations who will follow,” Roberts said.

    Celebrations will kick off with two National Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving on September 19 and 20, a faith-focused opening that invites churches and religious organizations across the island to frame their worship services around prayers for the nation’s peace, unity, and long-term prosperity. “Let us begin this season by giving thanks to God for His continued blessings upon Dominica and by praying for peace, unity, protection, wisdom and prosperity for our nation,” the Minister urged attendees and citizens.

    The formal opening of official celebrations follows shortly after: the Official Opening Ceremony will be hosted at the State House Conference Centre on September 25, with a public Opening Walk-Through Parade taking place the next day at the iconic Dominica Botanic Gardens. The entire month of October has been designated Patriotism and Heritage Month, a dedicated period packed with cultural activities centered on elevating Dominican Creole identity and national history. Highlights of the month include Had Kweyol Fridays, cultural observances Jounen Panyen and Jounen Chapo Pay, National Emblems Week, Flag Day, a national juried Independence Art Exhibition, History Week, the popular street festival Creole in the Street, and “Market Day with a Difference” that centers local artisans and producers.

    Community-led celebration is a core pillar of the 2026 schedule, with every district across the island hosting its own local cultural festivals open to residents and visitors. National Heritage Day will be hosted this year by the village of Paix Bouche on October 18. From October 19 to 22, the immersive Ti Vilaj Kweyol festival will transform the Dominica Botanic Gardens into a living showcase of Dominican heritage, featuring traditional cuisine, folk music, handcrafted goods, Creole language activities, and time-honored cultural practices.

    Two of the most anticipated cultural events on the calendar are the National Miss Wob Dwiyet Pageant, scheduled for October 21 at the Massacre Indoor Facility, and the National Madam Wob Dwiyet Pageant, set for October 28 at the same venue, both celebrating the iconic traditional Dominican garment Wob Dwiyet and cultural heritage. The globally recognized World Creole Music Festival will return for its annual run from October 23 to 25 at Windsor Park Sports Stadium, drawing regional and international artists to showcase Creole musical talent. Young Dominicans will take center stage at the National Youth Rally on October 29, highlighting the next generation’s role in shaping the nation’s future.

    The final week of October will bring Jounen Kweyol (National Creole Day) and the National Dress Parade on October 30, followed by a Cultural Extravaganza and the annual Eat Fish Day on October 31, which celebrates Dominica’s rich coastal fishing heritage. The celebrations will wrap up in early November with the National Cultural Gala held at the Botanic Gardens on November 1, the formal National Day Observance Ceremony on November 3, and a closing National Day of Community Service on November 4 that grounds the independence anniversary in collective action. This year’s community service day will combine neighborhood beautification projects with targeted small-scale infrastructure improvements across communities island-wide.

    Minister Roberts extended an open invitation to all Dominicans, whether residing on the island or living abroad, to join in the celebrations. She encouraged participation through simple, meaningful acts: displaying the national flag, wearing traditional and cultural clothing, attending local events, and intentionally supporting Dominican creatives, small-scale farmers, street vendors, fashion designers, local musicians, and small independent businesses. Closing her remarks, Roberts reaffirmed the core meaning of the anniversary: “Independence is a time to celebrate who we are, remember those whose sacrifices brought us this far, and recommit ourselves to building a peaceful, united and prosperous Dominica,” she said.