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  • Proman procurement manager executed after leaving work

    Proman procurement manager executed after leaving work

    A brazen mid-afternoon shooting has left a 51-year-old corporate manager dead in his vehicle along a busy roadway in Couva, sending shockwaves through the local community and launching a full homicide investigation by regional police authorities.

    The victim has been formally identified by law enforcement as Ricardo Diaz, a long-time Arima resident who resided on Pinto Road. According to official police accounts, the first alert about the incident came from a passing motorist just minutes after the shooting unfolded shortly before 5 p.m. on Thursday. That motorist, who was traveling westbound along Rivulet Road, spotted an unoccupied-looking black BYD Sealion 7 SUV stationary in the eastbound lane close to the National Energy facility, blocking the path of oncoming traffic.

    Curious about what had happened and hoping to offer help, the motorist pulled over and approached the idling vehicle. What they found was grim: Diaz was slumped unconscious over the driver’s seat, and multiple empty bullet casings were scattered across the asphalt near the car. The motorist immediately contacted the Couva Police Station to report the macabre discovery.

    First responding police officers arrived at the crime scene roughly 45 minutes after the initial report, at approximately 5:30 p.m. They confirmed that Diaz had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and a quick check found no remaining signs of life. Officers quickly moved to cordon off the area to preserve evidence, before alerting the division’s homicide unit of the fatal shooting and requesting specialized investigative support.

    Members of the crime scene investigation unit later processed the location, recovering multiple spent shell casings as well as an intact projectile from the scene, evidence that will form the backbone of the ongoing inquiry into the killing. Background checks into Diaz’s life and professional history have confirmed he had worked as a procurement manager at a local Proman warehouse for five years, earning a promotion to head of the procurement department just six months prior to his death.

    Witness interviews with colleagues at the facility confirm Diaz was last seen leaving the Proman compound at roughly 4:30 p.m. that same afternoon, just 15 minutes before his vehicle was discovered by the passing motorist. As of the latest updates from law enforcement, investigators have not yet established a clear motive for the killing, and no suspects have been publicly named or taken into custody. The investigation remains active and ongoing as police work to piece together the sequence of events that led to the public shooting.

  • Trump Weighs Iran Deal as Tentative Agreement Hangs in the Balance

    Trump Weighs Iran Deal as Tentative Agreement Hangs in the Balance

    On May 29, 2026, a high-stakes decision over a potential landmark agreement between the United States and Iran hangs in the balance, as President Donald Trump convenes senior White House advisors in the Situation Room to weigh what he describes as a “final determination” on the deal that could end months of open military conflict and unclog one of the world’s most vital global shipping chokepoints.

    Negotiators from both nations have already struck a tentative framework this week that lays out two core commitments: the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world’s daily oil supplies pass, and the launch of formal negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. But the deal remains far from finalized: Trump has not yet given his official approval, and Iranian government representatives have so far declined to issue any public statement on the draft terms.

    Details of the draft memorandum of understanding, shared by anonymous U.S. officials, outline a phased mutual drawdown over a 60-day timeline. Under the proposal, Iran would step by step relax its restrictions on shipping movement through the strait, while the United States would simultaneously wind down its naval blockade of Iranian ports and waterways.

    Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has offered a cautious, skeptical reaction to the emerging agreement, reflecting longstanding distrust between the two nations. “In negotiations with the United States, we have no trust in guarantees or words — only actions are the measure,” Ghalibaf warned, underscoring Tehran’s insistence on tangible, verifiable steps from Washington before it commits to any deal.

    The push for a final agreement unfolds against an increasingly volatile security backdrop, with fresh clashes breaking out just hours before Trump’s deliberations. Both sides have traded accusations of ceasefire violations in overnight engagements: U.S. forces based in Kuwait were reported to be the target of an Iranian missile strike, while Tehran confirmed it had launched the attack against a U.S. military installation it accuses of carrying out earlier strikes on Bandar Abbas, Iran’s key port city located adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz.

    The current cycle of full-scale military conflict between the two nations traces back to February 28, when the United States and Israel launched a coordinated series of massive joint strikes targeting Iranian military installations, government facilities, and critical national infrastructure, igniting months of sustained fighting that has disrupted global energy markets and raised fears of a broader regional war.

  • More Details of Young Doctor Murdered in Belmopan

    More Details of Young Doctor Murdered in Belmopan

    On the morning of May 29, 2026, a brutal, public attack left a well-respected young Belizean physician dead in the capital city of Belmopan, shocking local communities and reigniting critical conversations about national crime policy. The victim, identified as Dr. Naun Bonilla, an internal medicine specialist focused on diabetes and hypertension care at Belmopan Medical Imaging Center, was gunned down while driving his young daughter to school just steps from Las Flores Park.

    The shooting unfolded shortly after 8:30 a.m., in full view of multiple bystanders. Witness accounts confirm that as Dr. Bonilla drove his white SUV along the road, an unidentified second white vehicle pulled parallel to his car. A masked gunman exited the vehicle and fired more than 10 rounds directly at the physician before fleeing the scene. Remarkably, Dr. Bonilla’s young daughter, who was seated in the backseat of the vehicle, escaped the attack without physical injury.

    After the shooting, the uncontrolled SUV veered off the roadway and crashed into a patch of nearby brush, where crime scene investigators and local law enforcement later processed evidence before removing the doctor’s body. Coincidentally, crew members from the Belmopan City Council were conducting routine park maintenance in Las Flores Park at the time of the attack, meaning multiple first-hand witnesses were already on site. One of those maintenance workers told reporters they assisted in pulling the unharmed young girl from the vehicle immediately after the gunman fled.

    What makes this deadly incident particularly politically notable is that Belmopan lies outside the geographic scope of Belize’s current national State of Emergency (SOE), which has been implemented to curb violent crime in other regions of the country. The killing has prompted widespread online scrutiny of the SOE’s reach and effectiveness, with many social media users questioning why the measure has not been expanded or adjusted to address rising violence in the capital. One user put the prevailing criticism bluntly, writing that the current SOE “seems to be having little to no effect on the bloodletting.”

    Beyond policy debate, public reaction to the murder has been overwhelmingly defined by collective grief. Dr. Bonilla was a widely beloved figure in the Belmopan community, known for his commitment to caring for local patients. Dozens of social media users shared tributes remembering him as “the best doctor in Belmopan” and a provider who dedicated his entire career to helping vulnerable community members. Many commenters also expressed deep despair about Belize’s broader ongoing violent crime crisis, noting the senseless loss of a young professional who spent his days saving lives. “Such a young doctor, why take someone with such a great future… someone that saves lives,” one comment read.

    Local outlet News 5 has confirmed it will continue providing updates to the investigation as more details become available.

  • Digital Growth Inc. highlights AI and digital transformation at SGU Career Fair 2026

    Digital Growth Inc. highlights AI and digital transformation at SGU Career Fair 2026

    Caribbean-based creative technology firm Digital Growth Inc recently took part in the 2026 St George’s University Career Fair, where Managing Director Cameron Philbert delivered a keynote address exploring the expanding influence of artificial intelligence across modern professional sectors and the foundational role digital innovation plays in building sustainable, successful enterprises.

    Titled “AI in the Professional World: Building Apps for Successful Businesses,” Philbert’s presentation delivered actionable insights into how AI, automated systems and interconnected digital platforms are reshaping industries across the globe, while unlocking unprecedented new opportunities for both businesses and emerging professionals across the Caribbean region.

    During the talk, Philbert broke down how contemporary organizations across all sectors are increasingly integrating AI-powered tools to streamline core operations, boost operational efficiency, deepen customer engagement, strengthen data-driven decision making, and support scalable long-term growth. A core throughline of his address was the urgent need to equip the next generation of workers with the skills required to thrive in a fast-changing digital economy, where technological fluency has become a non-negotiable professional requirement.

    Philbert also placed specific emphasis on the critical need for small and medium-sized Caribbean businesses to prioritize digital transformation, before outlining Digital Growth’s tailored framework for supporting organizations through this transition: the company’s proprietary Digital Transformation Assessments. These structured evaluations are built to help businesses map their current operational workflows, assess existing gaps in digital capacity, spot untapped opportunities for innovation, and develop concrete, actionable strategies to integrate cutting-edge tools including AI, automation, and cloud-based digital systems into daily operations.

    As an extension of the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting regional business innovation and operational improvement, Digital Growth is also opening access to its complimentary Digital Efficiency Assessment, a specialized tool that helps organizations pinpoint operational bottlenecks, workflow inefficiencies, and high-impact areas for digital overhaul. Businesses interested in completing the assessment can access it via the company’s official portal at https://portal.digitalgrowth.global/assessments/efficiency-assessment.

    “Many business leaders already recognize that digital transformation is no longer optional – it’s a requirement for remaining competitive in today’s market. But far too many are unsure exactly where to start their journey,” Philbert explained. “Our core goal with these assessments is to meet organizations where they are today, helping them identify clear, practical opportunities to boost efficiency, elevate customer experience, and build long-term, sustainable growth through intentional technology adoption.”

    Beyond engaging with business leaders, Philbert also used the career fair platform to speak directly to attending students and young emerging professionals, urging them to proactively embrace emerging technologies and prioritize continuous upskilling to build digital competencies that will remain relevant as the global workforce evolves.

    Digital Growth later extended its gratitude to St George’s University for the opportunity to participate in the event and contribute to critical conversations about technology, innovation, and the future of regional business. Headquartered in the Caribbean, Digital Growth Inc specializes in a full suite of digital services for regional and international clients, including digital marketing, custom software development, AI-powered business solutions, workflow automation, and end-to-end digital transformation consulting. More information about the company’s services can be found at its official website, digitalgrowth.global, or via email at info@digitalgrowth.global.

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  • Charges to be laid in tragic death of 4-year-old Rikki Samuel

    Charges to be laid in tragic death of 4-year-old Rikki Samuel

    Nearly a year after a devastating multi-vehicle collision on Saint Lucia’s Vieux Fort-Laborie Highway claimed the life of a 4-year-old kindergarten student, law enforcement officials have confirmed that criminal charges are imminent in the case. The tragic crash, which unfolded last October close to two high-profile local landmarks — Hewanorra International Airport and the island’s Marine Base — left 11 other people injured besides the young victim, identified as Rikki Samuel.

    At the time of the incident, Rikki was traveling alongside his father Jonard Samuel, a local taxi driver, when their vehicle became one of the multiple units involved in the collision. The young boy did not survive the impact, leaving the local community in mourning and sparking calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the crash.

    In an exclusive interview with local outlet St Lucia Times, Superintendent Stephen Victorin, head of the Saint Lucia Police Force’s Southern Division, shared key updates on the months-long probe. According to Victorin, the investigation has cleared an early initial hypothesis that had been floated shortly after the crash.

    “Initially, the suggestion was that a gentleman might have suffered some medical difficulty during the collision,” Victorin explained. “[But] that has been dispelled.” With that line of inquiry ruled out, investigators have advanced the case far enough that formal charges are now the next step in the legal process.

    While the senior police official confirmed that charges are being prepared, he declined to share details on what specific offenses will be laid or which individual will face them. Victorin added that the public will receive timely updates as the case moves through the legal system, noting that authorities will release new information as the investigation progresses further.

  • Former House Speaker Criticizes Handling of Pringle Removal From Joint Sitting of Parliament

    Former House Speaker Criticizes Handling of Pringle Removal From Joint Sitting of Parliament

    A prominent former parliamentary leader in Antigua has launched a scathing rebuke of how parliamentary officials managed a controversy involving Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle during a May 26 joint sitting of the national legislature, laying out her critique in an opinion column published by Real News Antigua.

    D. Gisele Isaac, who previously held the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives and currently chairs the United Progressive Party, lays out a detailed timeline of missteps that led to the unnecessary public confrontation. According to Isaac, Pringle only appeared at the ceremonial joint sitting after receiving two formal communications: an initial invitation dated May 14, extended to him in his capacity as an elected member of parliament, and a subsequent official summons after he initially declined to attend.

    Isaac emphasizes that parliamentary leadership was fully aware well before May 26 that Pringle had not participated in the May 18 Oath of Allegiance ceremony, and his reasons for skipping the swearing-in had already been communicated publicly to the body. No move was made to rescind the original invitation in the lead-up to the joint sitting, Isaac says, leaving Pringle with the clear expectation that he was permitted to attend as instructed.

    Once Pringle arrived, the situation unraveled quickly: he was summoned to a private meeting with Senate President Alincia Williams-Grant, where he was told he could not stay in the parliamentary chamber because he had not yet completed the oath requirement. Rather than accept a private resolution, Pringle asked that the issue be brought before the full chamber for public handling—an outcome that ultimately led to him being ordered out of the building in full view of the sitting.

    In her commentary, Isaac argues that the entire conflict was an avoidable administrative blunder that officials allowed to escalate for partisan reasons. She questions why parliamentary leadership, which holds the authority to manage its own internal procedures, did not simply arrange for Pringle to take the oath immediately before the sitting got underway to resolve the issue.

    Isaac also takes aim at the debate that followed the incident, specifically calling out comments made by Prime Minister Gaston Browne during the sitting. She objects to the derogatory language Browne used to describe opposition lawmakers who walked out of the chamber in protest of Pringle’s treatment, defending the walkout as a principled stand against what she frames as a blatant display of partisan power that undermined parliamentary norms.

    The incident has broader implications for the health of Antigua and Barbuda’s parliamentary democracy, Isaac warns. She says the missteps surrounding both the May 18 swearing-in and the May 26 Throne Speech joint sitting have eroded the core dignity of the legislative institution.

    For its part, the governing administration has stood by its handling of the situation, reiterating that constitutional rules require all elected representatives to complete the Oath of Allegiance before they can take part in any parliamentary proceedings.

  • Man shot dead in The Pine

    Man shot dead in The Pine

    A fatal shooting has rocked the quiet community of Pinelands, St Michael, after a man was gunned down on Martins Road early Friday, launching a intensive criminal investigation by local law enforcement.

    According to official statements from Inspector Ryan Brathwaite, the Police Public Affairs and Communications Officer, the incident came to light just before 10 a.m. when a female caller contacted the national police Operations Control Room to report that a man had been shot at the Martins Road location.

    Within minutes of receiving the alert, uniformed police officers and emergency medical response teams were mobilized and rushed to the scene to provide assistance and secure the area.

    “Teams from the Barbados Ambulance Service, made up of one attending physician and two emergency medical technicians, arrived promptly to assess the victim, but they were unable to detect any vital signs,” Brathwaite confirmed in a press briefing Friday.

    Following the initial emergency assessment, a police medical examiner traveled to the shooting site and formally declared the man deceased, Brathwaite added.

    As of Friday afternoon, the investigation remains in a critical early phase that law enforcement officials describe as “delicate”. Forensic specialists have been deployed to process the crime scene, which has been cordoned off to preserve evidence and prevent unauthorized access to the area.

    In an appeal to the public for assistance, police are urging anyone who was present in the Martins Road area around the time of the shooting, or anyone who holds any information that could help advance the investigation, to come forward with their details. Tipsters can share information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, contact the 24-hour Police Emergency line at 211, or reach out directly to investigators at District ‘A’ Police Station via 430-7242.

    At this stage of the investigation, authorities have not yet released the name of the deceased, pending notification of next of kin. Police say additional details about the shooting and investigation progress will be released to the public as they become available.

  • Black-eyed peas pilot project highlights food security potential in Trinidad and Tobago

    Black-eyed peas pilot project highlights food security potential in Trinidad and Tobago

    On Tuesday, stakeholders gathered in Warrenville, Trinidad, to celebrate the landmark success of a collaborative black-eyed peas pilot project that is poised to reshape the island nation’s agricultural landscape and advance long-standing food security goals. Led by the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) in partnership with Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the initiative drew cross-sector support from the Ministry of Education, National School Dietary Services Limited (NSDSL), the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Caribbean office, and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture.

    Early data from the trial plots has exceeded even the most optimistic projections, confirming that black-eyed peas can thrive in Trinidad and Tobago’s unique local growing conditions. The project recorded an exceptional germination rate of over 96%, with crops reaching full harvest maturity in just 56 to 60 days – a full month faster than the 90-day growing window predicted by international guidance from overseas agricultural bodies. The black-eyed peas were planted across two acres of a six-acre demonstration site, which also hosted complementary trials for soybeans and corn.

    Addressing attendees at the official launch event, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Ravi Ratiram framed the project as a critical turning point for the country’s push toward greater food sovereignty. “Today marks the moment we move from talking about food security to taking tangible action,” Ratiram stated. “The empirical data we have collected from these trial plots gives us the confidence to advise local farmers on the production viability, environmental suitability, and profit potential of integrating black-eyed peas into their crop rotations.”

    Ratiram emphasized that cutting the nation’s reliance on imported food and agricultural inputs remains a core policy priority, and credited the cross-institutional collaboration between researchers, farmers, technical specialists, and government agencies for the project’s early success.

    CARDI Executive Director Ansari Hosein expanded on the far-reaching economic and public health benefits of scaling local black-eyed pea production. He noted that Trinidad and Tobago’s national school feeding program already consumes more than 300,000 kilograms of imported black-eyed peas annually – a demand that could be fully met by domestic production once farmers adopt the refined growing framework developed through the pilot.

    “Scaling local production doesn’t just cut import dependence – it opens new, stable income streams for small and mid-sized farmers, generates new local employment opportunities, and reduces the outflow of foreign exchange spent on food imports,” Hosein explained. Beyond economic gains, he added, black-eyed peas are a nutrient-dense food that supports better public health outcomes and helps reduce the national burden of non-communicable diseases.

    CARDI Technical Manager Fayaz Shah broke down key actionable takeaways for local farmers emerging from the pilot, highlighting the critical roles of early soil preparation, structured irrigation planning, proactive pest and disease management, and timely fertilizer application in achieving strong yields. As part of Tuesday’s event, CARDI researchers delivered technical training sessions and hosted live harvesting demonstrations for attending farmers, education officials, and stakeholders to share best practices directly.

    The successful pilot is part of a broader regional push across the Caribbean to strengthen agricultural resilience, reinforce local food production systems, cut ballooning regional food import bills, and expand sustainable, nutrient-focused feeding programs for schools and communities. Stakeholders involved in the project project that as production scales, locally grown black-eyed peas will become a staple of national institutional feeding programs, while opening growing new market opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses across Trinidad and Tobago.

  • Man’s arm severed in Spur Tree crash

    Man’s arm severed in Spur Tree crash

    A devastating road accident on Jamaica’s Spur Tree Hill main road in Manchester left two men hospitalized Saturday, with one suffering a life-threatening injury that saw his right arm completely severed in the crash.

    According to initial law enforcement accounts, the incident unfolded just after 4 p.m., when the two men were operating a heavy cargo truck carrying large quantities of rice through the hilly corridor. For reasons still under preliminary investigation, the driver suddenly lost control of the vehicle.

    Surveillance footage from a nearby property recorded the chaotic sequence of events: the speeding, unbalanced truck veered sharply off the paved roadway, crashed onto private adjacent land, and flipped completely over.

    The passenger, who suffered the traumatic arm amputation, and the driver were both rushed to a local medical facility by emergency responders and have since been admitted for treatment. The passenger remains listed in critical condition as of update.

    In a disturbing turn of events following the crash, members of the public who converged on the accident site took advantage of the emergency chaos to loot the overturned vehicle, making off with dozens of bags of rice from the damaged cargo hold. Local authorities have not yet announced any arrests or plans to recover the stolen goods.

    The Spur Tree Hill main road serves as a critical transportation link connecting the town of Mandeville and its surrounding communities to St Elizabeth and other parishes in western Jamaica. For years, local commuters and safety officials have raised ongoing concerns about the route: its steep incline and twisting path make navigation difficult, and the constant presence of overloaded, slow-moving heavy trucks regularly creates traffic bottlenecks and elevated crash risk. The corridor has already seen multiple fatal truck accidents over the past decade, prompting repeated calls for improved infrastructure and stricter weight enforcement for heavy goods vehicles.

  • Whip It Again – Frazsiers Whip make it four titles in a row

    Whip It Again – Frazsiers Whip make it four titles in a row

    Jamaican women’s football has a new dynasty in the making, after Frazsiers Whip cemented their long-term dominance of the domestic game by claiming an unprecedented fourth straight Jamaica Women’s Premier League crown. The runaway leaders secured their historic achievement with a polished 3-0 defeat of Arnett Gardens in the league final this past Saturday, turning in a performance that left no question of their superiority on the pitch.

    From the opening whistle, Frazsiers Whip controlled the tempo of the match, showcasing the sharp attacking cutting edge and game management that have defined their four-year title run. It took just 13 minutes for the side to break the deadlock, with striker Jennifer Williams converting a clear chance to put the defending champions ahead early. The early goal set the pattern for the rest of the first half, as Frazsiers Whip pinned Arnett Gardens into their own half, constantly testing and stretching the opposition defence.

    Though the defending champions dominated possession and created the majority of scoring opportunities in the opening 45 minutes, their finishing lacked full clinicality in front of goal. One glaring late first-half chance drifted wide of the post, leaving the half-time score at just 1-0 – a margin that understated the full extent of Frazsiers Whip’s control over the contest.

    The second half followed much the same script, with Frazsiers Whip maintaining relentless pressure on the Arnett Gardens goal. The decisive second goal arrived via a mix of lucky deflection and clinical poaching: an initial shot struck the goalpost before bouncing into the path of Williams, who tapped home her second of the match to put the result out of reach for Arnett Gardens.

    Holding a two-goal lead, Frazsiers Whip controlled the closing stages of the match with the composure and experience of a serial title-winning side. Arnett Gardens never stopped pushing forward in search of a response, but the weight of the two-goal deficit and the high stakes of the final title decider weighed heavily on the side as the clock wound down. Midfielder Shanel Spence put the final seal on the win with a late third goal for Frazsiers Whip, triggering immediate title celebrations from the players and coaching staff at full-time.

    Four consecutive league titles is a rare and remarkable feat in any women’s football competition around the world, and the run marks far more than just a single season of good form for Frazsiers Whip. The club has built a sustainable winning program that has elevated them far above their domestic competitors, and their ongoing success serves as a key milestone in the continued growth and development of women’s football across Jamaica.