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  • TUD’s Dupuis-Dubique calls for fair duty-free concessions and greater support for transport operators and fishers

    TUD’s Dupuis-Dubique calls for fair duty-free concessions and greater support for transport operators and fishers

    Ahead of upcoming political activity in Dominica’s Paix Bouche and Calibishie Constituency, Christine Dupuis-Dubique, the parliamentary candidate from opposition grouping Team Unity Dominica (TUD), has laid out a people-focused policy platform centered on lifting up two of the constituency’s most critical working groups: public transport operators and small-scale fishers.

    Speaking at an official TUD press briefing this week, Dupuis-Dubique framed her push for expanded support as a necessary correction to existing policies that have left key industry workers without the resources to sustain and grow their livelihoods. Her core proposal for public transport operators is a restructured, fully transparent duty-free concession program that ties benefits directly to compliance with core industry regulations.

    Under her framework, only registered operators that meet strict requirements for proper licensing, valid passenger insurance, regular roadworthiness inspections and documented passenger safety protocols would qualify for the concessions — a structure she says ensures benefits go to compliant, responsible operators while raising overall service standards for the public.

    Dupuis-Dubique argued that the island’s small-scale boat owners and commercial fishers, who form a backbone of the coastal constituency’s economy, deserve the same tier of targeted government support as transport operators. Beyond duty concessions for essential equipment, she is calling for sweeping reforms to expand small-scale fishers’ access to low-interest, affordable financing to purchase the safe, high-quality tools and vessels they need to operate sustainably. “Our boat owners and fishers have long powered our local economy, and they should not have to struggle to access the capital and resources they need to build lasting, successful businesses,” she said.

    In addition to financial support for existing industries, Dupuis-Dubique is pushing for major investments in accessible local skills training, eliminating the burden on constituency residents of traveling long distances off-site to gain professional qualifications. She called for the immediate rollout of community-based training programs covering high-demand, local industry-relevant skills including maritime safety, commercial navigation, boat engine maintenance, hospitality services and small business management. These programs would be hosted directly in population centers across the constituency, including Bense, Anse De Mai, Anse Soldat, Calibishie and Paix Bouche, making training accessible to working residents who cannot travel for extended coursework.

    Dupuis-Dubique emphasized that the Paix Bouche and Calibishie Constituency holds unique natural and economic advantages thanks to its deep, generations-long ties to both marine fisheries and coastal agriculture. These existing strengths, she argued, create a solid foundation for inclusive long-term economic growth — but that potential will remain untapped without targeted public investment in infrastructure, financial support and skills development tailored to local needs.

    A further key plank of her platform calls for local hiring requirements for public and private development projects carried out within the constituency. She stressed that qualified local workers should receive first consideration for contracts and jobs generated by community projects, ensuring that economic activity within the area directly benefits the residents who live there, rather than outside contractors. “When development work comes to our communities, local people deserve the first chance to share in the benefits,” she reiterated.

  • Greaves, Seales bowl Windies to 90-run win in first Test

    Greaves, Seales bowl Windies to 90-run win in first Test

    International cricket delivered a gripping opening chapter of a two-match Test series in Trinidad and Tobago this week, as the West Indies men’s side claimed a memorable four-day victory over Pakistan at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy to take an early 1-0 series advantage. The landmark win carried extra emotional weight for the home side, coming on what would have been the 88th birthday of legendary West Indies cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers, just one day before the cricket icon’s state funeral.

    From the first ball, the match ebbed and flowed with both sides trading periods of dominance on a tricky pitch that challenged batters and rewarded disciplined bowling. The West Indies got off to a solid start in their first innings, thanks to a critical 91-run partnership between captain Shai Hope and all-rounder Kavem Hodge that lifted the hosts to a total of 311. Hodge anchored the innings with a polished 84, while Hope fell just eight runs short of a century with 92. Fast bowler Shamar Joseph added explosive late-order hitting, smashing 23 runs off only 13 deliveries to push the total past 300.

    Pakistan responded with a fast start to their first innings, with openers Shan Masood and Imam-ul-Haq hitting boundaries in quick succession to put the West Indies attack under pressure. Masood went on to score the match’s only century, finishing with 109, while Imam contributed 63, but the home bowlers dug in to restrict Pakistan’s total and secure a narrow 29-run first-innings lead. The standout performance of the innings came from seamer Justin Greaves, who not only claimed his first career five-wicket haul with figures of 5 for 27, but made cricket history by taking five wickets in five consecutive wicket maidens — the first player ever to achieve the feat at international Test level.

    The West Indies stumbled in their second innings, being bowled out for 181, with Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas claiming his own five-wicket haul, finishing with 5 for 22. Once again, Joseph provided a vital late cameo, hitting 36 quick runs to push the West Indies’ combined lead past 200, setting Pakistan a manageable target that would require a strong batting performance to chase.

    When Pakistan took to the pitch for their final innings, the West Indies pace attack stepped up once again to seal the win. Spearheaded by Jayden Seales, who took five wickets, the home seamers bowled Pakistan out for just 120, securing the win by a comfortable margin. A remarkable statistical footnote of the match saw all 40 wickets fall to pace bowlers, a rare occurrence in modern Test cricket that highlighted the quality of the fast bowling on display from both sides.

    With the series already in their grasp, the West Indies will now turn their focus to securing a series sweep when the second Test gets underway on August 2. A win would give the Caribbean side consecutive Test series victories, capping a successful run of form for the rebuilding side.

  • Geothermal energy cuts July electricity bills as DOMLEC reports lower fuel surcharge

    Geothermal energy cuts July electricity bills as DOMLEC reports lower fuel surcharge

    Residents and businesses across Dominica are starting to see tangible financial benefits from the Caribbean nation’s landmark geothermal energy project, with significant reductions appearing on July 2026 electricity bills thanks to a lowered fuel surcharge, national utility Dominica Electricity Services Ltd. (DOMLEC) has announced.

    In an official announcement posted to its Facebook page, DOMLEC confirmed that electricity customers in all usage categories will see lower monthly charges, as long as their overall consumption levels have not risen dramatically compared to previous billing cycles. The savings stem directly from the recent integration of geothermal energy into the country’s power generation portfolio, which has cut reliance on costly imported fossil fuels and allowed regulators to lower the fuel surcharge passed directly to consumers.

    DOMLEC has published concrete examples of the savings across different customer groups to illustrate the scale of the reduction. For residential users, a household consuming 100 kilowatt-hours (kWh) will save roughly $24 on their July bill, while a larger home using 250 kWh can expect savings of approximately $61. For commercial operations, a small business using 500 kWh will see around $122 in savings, while a mid-sized enterprise consuming 2,416 kWh could cut their monthly power costs by as much as $589.

    Large-scale energy users are also reaping major benefits from the transition. A local hotel using 8,609 kWh will see their bill drop by roughly $2,098, while major industrial customers consuming 14,402 kWh are projected to save approximately $3,509. Across all usage segments, DOMLEC calculates that the total savings represent a 17 to 18 percent reduction compared to what customers would have paid before geothermal energy was added to the grid.

    Beyond immediate consumer savings, the utility frames the lower fuel surcharge as a key milestone in Dominica’s journey toward a cleaner, more reliable, and more energy-secure future. Currently, renewable energy sources account for approximately 68 percent of the country’s total electricity generation, putting the island well on track to meet its national target of 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030.

    DOMLEC credited the Government of Dominica, acting through the state-run Dominica Geothermal Development Company (DGDC), for the transformative investment that has reshaped the country’s energy sector. The 10-megawatt geothermal power plant, officially commissioned in early 2026, stands as the cornerstone of the nation’s renewable energy transition. In a June 2026 cover feature for the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) CE Industry Journal, DOMLEC CEO Dwayne Cenac and DGDC CEO Fred John noted that Dominica is now the first independent Caribbean nation to fully integrate geothermal energy into its national power grid, establishing the country as a regional leader in renewable innovation.

    The geothermal facility was developed by DGDC with backing from the Dominican government and multiple international development partners. Once fully operational, it is projected to cut the country’s reliance on imported diesel dramatically. When combined with Dominica’s existing hydroelectric generation capacity, geothermal energy will supply roughly 60 percent of the nation’s total electricity needs, strengthening energy independence while keeping consumer power costs stable.

    Under the project structure, DOMLEC manages and operates the transmission network that connects the new geothermal plant, existing hydroelectric stations, and the overall national grid. The entire integrated system is supported by a 6-megawatt/6-megawatt-hour Battery Energy Storage System, which boosts grid stability, improves overall energy resilience, and creates room for additional renewable capacity to be added in coming years.

    Industry leaders emphasized that the benefits of the geothermal project extend far beyond lower monthly power bills. The transition will boost Dominica’s national energy independence, cut the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions, shield consumers and businesses from volatile global fossil fuel price swings, and open new pathways for sustainable economic growth and foreign investment. Most importantly, it advances the nation’s long-term vision of full renewable energy adoption, laying the groundwork for a more resilient, sustainable future for coming generations.

  • No More Endless Scrolling? New Rules Target Kids on Social Media

    No More Endless Scrolling? New Rules Target Kids on Social Media

    In a landmark move to shield children and teenagers from the harms of excessive social media engagement, New York is poised to become one of the first U.S. states to enforce sweeping age verification rules for popular social platforms, paired with strict limits on algorithmic content targeting minors.

    Unveiled on July 29, 2026, at the Brooklyn STEAM Center by Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James, the final regulations are the product of the state’s SAFE for Kids Act, a legislative effort aimed at curbing compulsive social media use among young users. Under the new framework, all major social media platforms — defined as services where at least 20 percent of user active time is spent on algorithm-curated feeds — will be required to verify all users’ ages before granting access to key features. For users under the age of majority, algorithm-driven recommendation feeds and overnight push notifications will be blocked unless explicit parental consent is obtained.

    Tech companies have been given a 180-day compliance window, with a final deadline of January 25, 2027, to update their systems to meet the new requirements. Any company that fails to adhere to the rules will face civil penalties of $5,000 for each individual violation. In a blunt address to the tech sector during the announcement, Hochul emphasized that the policy was now finalized and non-negotiable: “Social media companies, you’re now on notice. The regulations are done; you have 180 days to come into compliance.”

    Beyond age verification and content limits, the rules include a series of additional guardrails designed to protect both minors and family privacy. Platforms are prohibited from sending algorithmic feed notifications to minors between midnight and 6 a.m. without parental approval. They are also banned from using manipulative “dark pattern” interface designs to coerce parents into granting consent, and cannot retaliate against minors without parental approval by downgrading service quality or increasing access costs.

    To address widespread privacy concerns around age verification, the state requires companies to use only certified age-assurance technology that can catch at least 98 percent of fraudulent age claims. All data collected for age verification purposes must be encrypted and deleted immediately after processing. Acceptable verification methods range from facial age estimation and government-issued ID checks to email history analysis, with the state encouraging the use of “zero-knowledge proof” systems that allow users to confirm their age without sharing raw personal data directly with social media companies. James noted that this framework prioritizes both child safety and individual privacy, a key balance that sets the regulations apart from earlier proposed policies.

    The policy has not come without opposition from the technology sector. Tech:NYC, an industry advocacy group whose members include major platforms like Meta, stated that while it supports efforts to protect children online, it questions whether the new rules will deliver on their stated goals without creating unintended harms for both New York families and small tech businesses operating in the state.

    Another national industry group, NetChoice, has gone further in opposing the law, arguing that New York is overstepping its regulatory authority by focusing on platform content design rather than directing resources to combating child predators. The organization also noted that similar regulations in other states have been struck down by courts as unconstitutional restrictions on protected online speech.

    Despite the looming legal threats from industry groups, James made clear that state officials are fully confident the regulations will withstand any legal challenges, clearing the way for the policy to take effect at the start of 2027 and potentially set a precedent for other states considering similar social media child protection rules.

  • PART 2: The Business of Slavery From Africa to the New World

    PART 2: The Business of Slavery From Africa to the New World

    The transatlantic slave trade that spanned from the 16th to the 19th centuries stands as one of the most exploitative and dehumanizing commercial enterprises in human history. Built on the forced displacement of millions of African people, this brutal business connected three continents in a system of uncompensated labor and unspeakable violence. European trading powers first established coastal outposts along West Africa, where they collaborated with local intermediaries to capture and purchase enslaved people. These human captives were then packed into overcrowded, disease-ridden slave ships for the deadly crossing known as the Middle Passage, where historians estimate 15 to 20 percent of those onboard died from starvation, illness, or abuse before reaching the Americas. Once arrived in the New World, enslaved African people were sold at public auctions like livestock to plantation owners, mine operators, and domestic employers. The profits extracted from their forced labor fueled the growth of the global capitalist economy, supporting the development of European manufacturing, the expansion of colonial agriculture, and the accumulation of wealth in North and South America. Unlike any legitimate commercial activity, this entire business model was rooted in the total denial of human rights, the destruction of African communities, and the intergenerational trauma that continues to impact descendant populations today. What was framed as a lucrative commercial venture by contemporary 18th century merchants was in fact a systematic crime against humanity that left a legacy of racial inequality and economic disparity that persists across the globe to this day.

  • Resident Threatened With Pepper Spray Over Noise Complaint

    Resident Threatened With Pepper Spray Over Noise Complaint

    Amid ongoing public discussions in Belize City over planned revisions to the country’s liquor licensing regulations, a local resident has brought a shocking personal incident to the table, highlighting deep-rooted failures in regulatory enforcement rather than gaps in existing legislation. The resident told attendees at the public consultation that his encounter with unaddressed late-night noise from a nearby entertainment venue ended with police officers threatening him with pepper spray earlier this year.

    The issue began, the resident explained, when a nearby club continued blaring loud music well past the 4 a.m. curfew for licensed alcohol-serving establishments. Instead of ignoring the disturbance that disrupted the neighborhood’s sleep, he first documented the noise with a video recording and called local law enforcement to intervene. To his surprise, officers responding to the call told him they were powerless to act: the club held a valid operating permit, they claimed, so no action could be taken against the after-hours noise.

    Frustrated by this inaction, the resident chose to confront the venue directly, walking over to demand an explanation for the extended operating hours and ask to inspect the permit in person. It was at this point that he was confronted by police already at the scene, who drew their pepper spray and ordered him to leave the property immediately. When he requested to speak with a supervising officer to resolve the situation, that request was never granted. After retreating, the resident placed a second call to police to file an official formal complaint over the officers’ conduct.

    This incident has become a focal point of the current public consultation process, as dozens of Belize City residents have echoed the same core sentiment: the crisis of unregulated late-night noise, confusing licensing terms, and uneven enforcement of existing rules is far more pressing than the need to write new liquor laws. Community members across the city have repeatedly reported similar experiences, where licensed establishments flout curfew and noise rules with no consequences from authorities, leaving residents with no effective way to seek relief. The consultation is continuing as city officials weigh what adjustments to make to the current liquor licensing framework, with growing pressure from the public to prioritize consistent enforcement over regulatory overhauls. Full coverage of the consultation and next steps for liquor licensing reform will air during a primetime broadcast at 6 p.m. local time tonight.

  • Urs 8th at CAC Golf

    Urs 8th at CAC Golf

    Fresh off turning professional and earning a prestigious collegiate golf honor, 23-year-old Saint Lucian golfer Yadhu Urs has turned heads at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, securing an eighth-place finish in the men’s individual competition that marks one of the strongest results by an English-speaking Caribbean competitor at the event. Held at the scenic Corales Golf Course in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, the four-day tournament brought together top amateur and professional golf talent from 14 nations across the Central American and Caribbean region, creating a high-stakes test of skill and mental resilience for all participants. Urs ultimately carded a four-round total score of 294 (+6), ending the competition in a three-way tie for eighth alongside Costa Rica’s Elias Alejandro Mardeni and Jeronimo Esteve of Puerto Rico. Among all Caribbean-born golfers competing in the tournament, Urs ranked as the second-highest finisher from an English-speaking Caribbean nation, outperforming a stacked field of regional rivals to claim the impressive top-10 result. Tournament champion José Manuel Toledo Novales of Guatemala finished with a 17-under-par total, 13 strokes ahead of Urs, while bronze medalist Guillermo Pumarol of the Dominican Republic and shared fifth-place finisher Juan Jose Guerra, also from the Dominican Republic, finished ahead of Urs in the overall standings. A graduate of Ohio Dominican University and the reigning 2024-2025 Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Men’s Golfer of the Year, Urs showed steady improvement throughout the tournament that highlights his growing maturity as a professional competitor. After a challenging opening round that saw him card a four-over-par 76, Urs steadily lowered his scores with each subsequent round, finding his competitive rhythm in the tournament’s second half. He followed his opening round with a two-over 74 in round two, then closed out the competition with back-to-back even-par 72s in the third and fourth rounds, a consistent performance that lifted him up the leaderboard. Golf Saint Lucia Inc. has officially congratulated Urs on his standout performance at the multi-sport games, noting that the top-10 finish against elite regional competition marks a major milestone in his early professional career. Urs only turned professional earlier this year, and has already begun competing on the European professional circuit, with the Central American and Caribbean Games marking one of his first major multi-national professional events. Analysts of regional golf note that Urs’ result signals his rising potential as one of the next standout talents from the Caribbean, with his steady improvement over the four rounds demonstrating the consistency and mental toughness required to compete at the highest levels of professional golf.

  • UWP on track to unveil full slate of 21 candidates, says Dr. Thomson Fontaine

    UWP on track to unveil full slate of 21 candidates, says Dr. Thomson Fontaine

    As Dominica prepares for its next general election, the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has formally announced its plan to field a complete slate of 21 candidates to contest all available parliamentary seats, marking a deliberate, step-by-step approach to building its electoral team ahead of the vote.

    UWP Political Leader Dr. Thomson Fontaine outlined the party’s strategy during a recent public press briefing, noting that the incremental rollout of candidates is designed to give Dominican voters adequate time to get to know each aspirant seeking office. Following an initial reveal of three candidates one month prior, the party has now introduced an additional three contenders, bringing the total number of publicly announced candidates to six out of the planned 21.

    Dr. Fontaine framed the incremental rollout as a “nice steady march” toward completing the party’s full electoral lineup, emphasizing that all UWP candidates have been vetted to align with the party’s core values of integrity and public service. He described the full slate as a carefully curated mix of young talent, seasoned political experience, and proven professional competence, bringing together diverse Dominicans committed to advancing the nation’s interests.

    One of the newly introduced candidates is Jean Francois, running for the Wesley constituency. Dr. Fontaine, who has campaigned alongside Francois on the ground in the area, noted that Francois offers a fresh alternative to traditional Dominican politics, highlighting his deep sincerity and unwavering dedication to improving living standards for residents of Wesley and all Dominicans nationwide.

    Ernie Jno Finn, commonly known to constituents as “Teacher Ernie,” is the UWP’s candidate for the Castle Bruce constituency. Dr. Fontaine shared that he has toured the entire constituency with Jno Finn — covering communities from Castle Bruce, Tranto and Dipa to San Sauveur, Good Hope, and Petite Soufriere — and confirmed that she enjoys widespread grassroots support, driven by her longstanding passion for serving the constituency’s residents.

    Completing the latest round of candidate announcements is Martha Augustus, who will stand for the Roseau South seat. Dr. Fontaine commended Augustus for her decision to return to Dominica after completing her studies abroad, turning down opportunities to build her life overseas to instead dedicate her career to public service for her home community.

    The incremental rollout is set to continue in the coming weeks as the party works toward filling all 21 candidate slots ahead of the general election, with Dr. Fontaine confirming that the UWP will remain on schedule to present its full team to Dominican voters before ballots are cast.

  • BLPC internship gives young Barbadians hands-on energy industry experience

    BLPC internship gives young Barbadians hands-on energy industry experience

    For weeks this summer, 35 young Barbadians have gained unprecedented, behind-the-scenes access to the complex operations that keep their nation’s electricity grid running smoothly. This opportunity comes via the annual summer internship program launched by The Barbados Light & Power Company Ltd. (BLPC), which has given these young learners the chance to swap traditional classroom lectures for hands-on placements in operational control rooms, exchange textbook theory for real on-the-job training, and turn abstract curiosity about the energy sector into concrete, practical insights. Working side-by-side with seasoned BLPC teams that deliver power to residential homes, commercial businesses and local communities across the entire island, participants have gained unmatched exposure to the daily work of energy provision.

    For years, this internship initiative has drawn consistent, strong interest from Barbadian youth who are eager to explore accessible career pathways in the energy industry, build in-demand practical skills, and learn directly from veteran industry professionals. Reflecting on his own early career experience to motivate the current cohort, Munesh Parasram, BLPC’s Vice President of Innovation & Transformation, emphasized the transformative power of hands-on internships. “An internship helped me discover my professional path and showed me what opportunities were actually possible in this sector,” he explained. “We’re proud to provide that same life-changing opportunity for the next generation of Barbadian energy professionals.”

    Throughout the program, participants have not only toured major BLPC generating facilities but also gotten a first-hand look at how the island’s transition to renewable energy is reshaping its long-term energy future. For many, the hands-on site visits have been the most memorable part of the experience: tours of the Spring Garden and Trents Generating Stations also included deep dives into the company’s utility-scale solar farm and its high-profile Clean Energy Bridge initiative. Sebastian Paul, a mechanical maintenance intern, called the entire experience “eye-opening,” noting that it has significantly strengthened his grasp of core technical concepts that he had only studied in school. For fellow participant Zane King, the internship gave him a newfound appreciation for the integrated nature of BLPC’s energy network, showing how traditional generating stations, the utility’s solar farm and modern battery storage systems work in tandem to deliver consistent power to customers across Barbados.

    As the program wraps up its 2024 cohort, BLPC’s investment in youth talent development is laying the groundwork for Barbados’ energy future. By nurturing new skilled workers, fostering innovative ideas and building a pipeline of local expertise, the utility is not only investing in individual young people – it is investing in the long-term reliability and sustainability of the island’s power grid for decades to come.

  • Ruben Stoll Charged, Fined BZ$1,000 Over Jaguar Cub Incident

    Ruben Stoll Charged, Fined BZ$1,000 Over Jaguar Cub Incident

    In a high-profile case that drew international attention after viral social media footage emerged, Belizean-American Ruben Stoll has been convicted under Belize’s Wildlife Protection Act and ordered to pay a BZ$1,000 fine for unlawfully interacting with a wild jaguar cub in the protected Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve.

    The incident that sparked the case dates back to when a video circulating across social media platforms captured Stoll petting the young jaguar, which was reported to have been separated from its mother by a passing vehicle. The footage quickly went viral, drawing widespread public condemnation from conservationists and wildlife advocates, and forcing Belize’s Forest Department to launch a formal investigation into the incident.

    Prior to Stoll’s surrender, Forest Department authorities had confirmed they believed Stoll had crossed Belize’s northern border out of the country before investigators could locate and detain him. Officials had already completed charge preparations and moved to secure an arrest warrant that would have allowed for detainment if Stoll re-entered Belize. Contrary to initial expectations, Stoll voluntarily made the decision to return to Belize and turn himself in to law enforcement authorities, leading to the immediate processing of charges and payment of the issued fine.

    Leslie Penner, a member of Stoll’s travel group who was present during the incident, publicly spoke out against the action, describing the decision to touch the wild cub as both unnecessary and reckless. Even so, Penner emphasized that Stoll and his family held no malicious intent toward the animal, noting that the Stoll brothers have a long track record of supporting formal conservation initiatives across Belize.

    Dr. Celso Poot, Managing Director of the Belize Zoo, joined widespread criticism of Stoll’s actions, issuing a public warning about the risks of human interaction with wild big cat cubs. While Poot confirmed that the jaguar mother was unlikely to reject the cub after the human contact, the encounter still caused significant avoidable stress to the young animal. He reiterated a core guideline for wildlife management: wild jaguar cubs should never be handled or disturbed by human visitors under any circumstances, even in scenarios where the animal appears to be separated from its mother.