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  • SLP candidates thank supporters after landslide wins

    SLP candidates thank supporters after landslide wins

    The Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) has achieved a commanding triumph in the December 1 general election, consolidating its governance with an expanded parliamentary majority. Under Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre’s ‘Moving Forward Together’ mandate, the party secured 14 seats, augmenting its previous majority by one. The United Workers Party (UWP) faced a near-total collapse, with only its leader, Allen Chastanet, managing to retain his seat in the UWP stronghold of Micoud South.

    The electoral landscape witnessed a powerful blend of seasoned incumbents and promising newcomers. Veteran politicians Alva Baptiste and Moses Jn Baptiste both celebrated victories, securing their fifth consecutive terms in Laborie/Auguier and Vieux Fort North, respectively. Baptiste, the outgoing External Affairs Minister, credited his ‘thumping victory’ to the disciplined support and ‘love of the Red Army.’

    A significant generational shift emerged as new candidates claimed decisive wins. Danny Butcher made history in Vieux Fort South by becoming the constituency’s first representative in nearly three decades not from the Anthony political dynasty. Similarly, Lisa Jawahir secured a landmark victory in Castries South East, unseating veteran politician Guy Joseph. Jawahir heralded the win as ‘a new chapter written by the people,’ emphasizing the collective determination of mothers, fathers, workers, and dreamers.

    The SLP’s dominance was further reinforced by several notable retainments. Shawn Edward celebrated his fourth consecutive win in Dennery North with an impressive 766-vote margin, the largest of his political career. Jeremiah Norbert maintained control of the historically significant Micoud North seat, once held by Sir John Compton, defeating his own relative in the process. Meanwhile, Wayne Girard achieved a political milestone in Anse La Raye/Canaries, becoming the first candidate since Cyprian Lansiquot to retain the seat.

    The two independent candidates aligned with the SLP also secured parliamentary positions, further strengthening the government’s mandate. The only setback for the Labour Party came in Micoud South, where Dr. Shanda Harracksingh fell to UWP leader Allen Chastanet. Despite this lone defeat, Harracksingh remained defiant, urging supporters: ‘We did not lose. We won… I will not stop, I am going again.’

    The comprehensive victory signals a strong public endorsement of Prime Minister Pierre’s leadership and sets the stage for continued implementation of his administration’s policy agenda.

  • Water outages in Wallhouse under investigation by DOWASCO

    Water outages in Wallhouse under investigation by DOWASCO

    The Dominica Water and Sewerage Company Limited (DOWASCO) has issued a formal apology to residents of Wallhouse following a series of frequent and prolonged water service interruptions. The utility company has launched a comprehensive investigation to diagnose the root cause of the persistent supply issues.

    Kimani St Jean, Public Relations Officer for DOWASCO, confirmed that technical teams are conducting extensive assessments across the water distribution network. “We are actively investigating the underlying cause of these interruptions,” St Jean stated. “Our teams have performed multiple system evaluations and will continue technical monitoring until we identify and resolve the core problem.”

    The investigation includes detailed monitoring of the supply network leading to storage tanks and thorough examinations of the distribution infrastructure. DOWASCO has committed to maintaining transparent communication with the affected community throughout the diagnostic process, promising to share updates as new information becomes available.

    St Jean expressed gratitude to Wallhouse residents for their patience during the service disruptions, acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the unreliable water supply. The company has assured consumers that restoring consistent and reliable water service remains their highest priority as they work to implement permanent solutions to the infrastructure challenges.

  • Jamaica Secures US$6.7 Billion for Hurricane Melissa Recovery

    Jamaica Secures US$6.7 Billion for Hurricane Melissa Recovery

    Jamaica has obtained a substantial international financial package totaling US$6.7 billion to support recovery efforts following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa. The comprehensive assistance package was coordinated following direct appeals from Prime Minister Andrew Holness to global financial institutions.

    The funding consortium includes multiple international organizations: the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), the Caribbean Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. This collaborative effort represents one of the largest disaster recovery packages in Caribbean history.

    Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica during October 2025 as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, generating widespread destruction across the island nation. The hurricane caused massive flooding, severely damaged residential areas, educational facilities, and critical infrastructure networks, while displacing thousands of Jamaican citizens. Preliminary damage assessments indicate total losses reaching approximately US$8.8 billion, establishing Melissa as one of the most destructive meteorological events in Jamaica’s recent history.

    The recovery package incorporates multiple financial instruments including immediate emergency relief allocations, long-term reconstruction financing, specialized technical assistance programs, and substantial private investment components. This multi-faceted approach aims to not only restore damaged infrastructure but also build enhanced resilience against future climate-related disasters.

    Jamaica’s proactive disaster risk management planning enabled rapid initial response efforts. Within days of the hurricane’s impact, US$662 million became available through various mechanisms including government contingency reserves, the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility, World Bank catastrophe bonds, and IDB credit facilities. This immediate funding addressed critical humanitarian needs while longer-term recovery strategies were being developed.

    The newly announced comprehensive package allocates US$3.6 billion over a three-year implementation period, targeting priority government reconstruction projects, resilient infrastructure development, small business rehabilitation programs, budgetary support, and technical guidance initiatives. Additionally, approximately US$2.4 billion in private investment is anticipated to significantly expand the scale and scope of recovery operations.

  • Public Warn Against Purchasing Stolen Items

    Public Warn Against Purchasing Stolen Items

    The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has issued a formal public advisory, strongly cautioning residents against the purchase of suspected stolen merchandise. This warning comes amid a concerning surge in property-related crimes across the islands, with law enforcement directly linking the illicit market for stolen goods to the increasing frequency of break-ins and larcenies.

    Recent criminal patterns indicate a troubling trend where high-value items, including household appliances and electronics, are being systematically pilfered from private residences. The police administration’s strategic communications office (STRATCOM) revealed that these items are believed to be rapidly circulating within local underground markets, creating a persistent cycle of crime.

    Emphasizing the serious legal ramifications, authorities have highlighted Section 241 of the nation’s Larceny Act, which explicitly criminalizes the knowing reception or purchase of unlawfully obtained property. Individuals convicted under this statute face severe penalties, including potential imprisonment for a term of up to a decade.

    The police are appealing to those currently engaged in this illegal trade to cease all activities immediately. Simultaneously, the force is mobilizing community support, urging citizens to maintain heightened vigilance and to report any overtly suspicious sales activities or individuals attempting to offload items under dubious circumstances.

    To facilitate information sharing, the public is encouraged to contact the Criminal Investigations Department directly at 462-3913. For those preferring absolute anonymity, tips can be submitted through the confidential Crimestoppers hotline at 800-TIPS (8477).

  • Pope Leo Urges Dialogue Over Military Action in Venezuela

    Pope Leo Urges Dialogue Over Military Action in Venezuela

    In a significant diplomatic intervention, Pope Leo has publicly urged the United States to pursue alternatives to military action in Venezuela, emphasizing dialogue and economic measures as preferable approaches. The first American pontiff in Catholic history made these remarks during an in-flight press conference while returning to Rome from Beirut on Tuesday.

    The Pope expressed concern about potential military operations, stating: ‘There appears to be possibility of some activity, even an operation to invade Venezuelan territory. I firmly believe that seeking pathways for dialogue, potentially including economic pressure, represents a more constructive approach to change, if that is the objective the United States wishes to pursue.’

    These comments emerge amid escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas. Pope Leo revealed that Venezuelan church leadership is actively working to de-escalate the situation. He additionally referenced recent communications between U.S. President Donald Trump and Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, highlighting the necessity for careful monitoring of this volatile geopolitical landscape.

    The backdrop to this diplomatic exchange includes Maduro’s indictment in the United States for allegedly leading the Cartel de los Soles criminal organization. According to sources, President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered an ultimatum to Maduro during a late November phone call, indicating he had limited time to safely exit the country with immediate family members.

  • Homeland Security recommends travel ban list include at least 10 more countries following DC shooting

    Homeland Security recommends travel ban list include at least 10 more countries following DC shooting

    The Department of Homeland Security, under Secretary Kristi Noem, has formally recommended substantially expanding the Trump administration’s travel restrictions to include between 30 to 32 countries—a notable increase from the current list of 19 nations. This development, confirmed by sources familiar with the matter, would impose significant entry limitations on nationals from the affected countries seeking to visit the United States.

    The proposal emerges in direct response to the recent shooting incident in Washington, DC, which resulted in the death of one National Guard member and left another critically injured. The identified suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who previously collaborated with U.S. forces in Afghanistan before resettling in Washington state during the Biden administration and subsequently receiving asylum under Trump’s presidency.

    Secretary Noem articulated a firm stance following discussions with President Trump, advocating for a comprehensive travel prohibition on what she characterized as nations that have been ‘flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies.’ The existing roster of restricted countries includes Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

    The administration has intensified its immigration enforcement measures, citing security vulnerabilities exposed by the DC shooting. Senior officials have criticized previous vetting procedures while calling for systemic immigration reforms. In a consequential move, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the reevaluation of all permanent resident cards issued to individuals from the currently restricted nations.

    USCIS Director Joe Edlow implemented updated protocols empowering immigration officers to consider country-specific factors as significant negative elements during application reviews. Concurrently, the Department of Homeland Security revealed it is reassessing all asylum cases approved under the previous administration.

    The agency has temporarily suspended all asylum adjudications pending enhanced vetting protocols, with President Trump threatening a permanent halt to migration from what he termed ‘third-world countries’—a policy position Secretary Noem publicly endorsed.

  • Rupununi woman fined, jailed for online harassment

    Rupununi woman fined, jailed for online harassment

    In a landmark ruling underscoring the serious consequences of digital misconduct, a 34-year-old ambulance driver from Tabatinga, central Rupununi has been convicted under Guyana’s Cybercrime Act. Lorian Toney faced the Lethem Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, where she pleaded guilty to using computer systems to intentionally humiliate, harass, and inflict substantial emotional distress upon victim Maxine Hendricks.

    The Guyana Police Force confirmed that Magistrate Omadatt Chandan delivered a stringent sentence combining both financial and custodial penalties. Toney was ordered to pay a substantial fine of GY$1 million (Guyanese dollars) alongside a one-year prison term. This case represents one of the most significant enforcements of the country’s cybercrime legislation to date.

    According to official police statements, the investigation began following a formal complaint about targeted online harassment. Law enforcement authorities arrested Toney on September 25, 2025, after establishing evidence that she systematically used digital platforms to conduct a campaign of emotional abuse against Hendricks.

    The ruling demonstrates Guyana’s increasingly robust approach to combating digital harassment and protecting citizens from online victimization. Legal experts suggest this judgment could establish important precedents for future cybercrime prosecutions in the Caribbean nation, particularly regarding the appropriate sentencing thresholds for digital harassment offenses that cause demonstrable emotional harm to victims.

  • Cabinet wants to renegotiate TAMCC workers agreed 5% increase for 2025

    Cabinet wants to renegotiate TAMCC workers agreed 5% increase for 2025

    A significant labor dispute has emerged at Grenada’s T A Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) after the Cabinet of Ministers refused to approve a previously negotiated 5% salary increase for 2025. Public Workers Union (PWU) President Daisy Hazzard revealed the development during a press conference on December 1st, characterizing the government’s intervention as “devastating” and “unprecedented.

    The conflict centers on a collective bargaining agreement that union representatives and government agents had spent nine months negotiating. According to Hazzard, just as both parties reached consensus, the Cabinet unexpectedly demanded renegotiation of terms already settled. TAMCC, as a statutory body receiving government subventions through Ministry of Education allocations, requires Cabinet approval for such agreements.

    Hazzard expressed profound frustration with the reversal, stating: “It is unprecedented when negotiations are concluded, and the Cabinet comes back to say we are not satisfied to honor what the agents did on our behalf.” She emphasized that the Cabinet had ample opportunity during the nine-month negotiation period to provide input.

    Compounding the dispute, the government has proposed that college workers accept a percentage increase reflective of 2017 levels instead of the agreed-upon 2025 adjustment. Furthermore, the Cabinet has conditioned the 2025 increase on workers accepting a reduced 3% raise for 2026-2028.

    The government has cited potential regional military conflict and declining inflation rates as justification for revisiting the salary agreement. This development affects all staff at Grenada’s sole community college and represents a significant setback in labor relations between public sector workers and the current administration.

  • Budget Loan Authorisation increased by 36% from 2022 to 2026

    Budget Loan Authorisation increased by 36% from 2022 to 2026

    The Grenadian Parliament has enacted substantial increases in national borrowing capacity through its Budget Loan Authorisation Act, revealing a significant expansion of the country’s fiscal framework from 2022 to 2026. Financial analysis indicates the government’s authorized borrowing limit has escalated by EC$120 million during this period, with the most dramatic single-year increase scheduled for 2025—a year that will see an extraordinary EC$825 million authorization that includes separate funding for a major hospital development project.

    This legislative mechanism, routinely approved alongside annual budget presentations, empowers the Finance Minister to secure financing through diverse instruments including international loans, bond issuances, promissory notes, and other debt vehicles. The escalating borrowing authorities correspond with a parallel 45% growth in overall budget expenditures, which are projected to reach nearly EC$2 billion by 2026 compared to EC$1.35 billion in 2022.

    Detailed examination of the authorization timeline shows progressive annual increases: EC$330 million (2022), EC$350 million (2023), EC$375 million (2024), followed by the exceptional EC$825 million allocation for 2025—comprising EC$420 million for general budgeting plus EC$405 million specifically earmarked for hospital infrastructure—before moderating to EC$450 million in 2026.

    The government maintains borrowing relationships with multiple international financial institutions, including the World Bank’s International Development Association, Caribbean Development Bank, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, and the Saudi Fund for Development—from which Grenada secured a US$100 million loan in October 2023. Notably, despite parliamentary requirements mandating disclosure of loan agreements, few such documents have been formally presented to legislators, raising questions about transparency in sovereign debt management.

    The substantial borrowing increase, particularly the hospital project financing, represents a strategic investment in national infrastructure while simultaneously expanding Grenada’s public debt portfolio. The government has not yet disclosed whether the specifically authorized hospital funding has been activated through actual borrowing arrangements.

  • Patients’ digital info is secured- Health Minister

    Patients’ digital info is secured- Health Minister

    Guyana’s Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony has publicly guaranteed the security of citizens’ digitally stored health information, despite the nation’s 2023 Data Protection Act remaining unimplemented. The assurance came during Tuesday’s formal inauguration of the Guyana Digital Health Training Institute (GDHTI), where Anthony emphasized existing protective measures.

    “We have systems in place, we have protocols in place. We’ve done a number of regulations in collaboration with this team from Mount Sinai so health data follows these protocols. This information is not divulged to the general public, and we don’t want it to be because that’s how we will build trust with our patients,” Anthony stated in a press briefing.

    The Minister addressed growing concerns from opposition party APNU, which recently highlighted the absence of the data protection law’s commencement order. Anthony confirmed the Health Ministry’s advocacy for the legislation and expressed confidence that implementation would occur “shortly,” connecting the timeline to the new institute’s training progression and data collection processes.

    The digital health infrastructure gained significant momentum earlier this year through a $3.3 million partnership with UK-based RioMed Limited to establish a comprehensive electronic health records system. This network will enable seamless information sharing across public healthcare providers, potentially revolutionizing patient treatment efficiency. Under the pending legislation, unauthorized access to private patient information could result in substantial penalties—up to GY$20 million for individuals and GY$100 million for corporate entities.