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  • Dominica among first Caribbean countries to benefit from new resilient Infrastructure initiative

    Dominica among first Caribbean countries to benefit from new resilient Infrastructure initiative

    Against a backdrop of growing climate risk and stalled development projects, a groundbreaking regional partnership has launched to empower Caribbean nations to deliver critical climate-resilient infrastructure. The Caribbean Resilient Infrastructure Implementation and Skills Exchange (RIISE) Facility, a collaborative effort between Global Affairs Canada and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), has already welcomed its first cohort of participating countries: Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

    Funded entirely by the Government of Canada and hosted by UNOPS, RIISE was designed to address a persistent gap facing small island developing states across the Caribbean. While regional governments have prioritized climate-resilient infrastructure and earmarked major investments for these projects, systemic implementation barriers often delay or derail delivery, leaving communities vulnerable to the increasing frequency and intensity of climate disasters like hurricanes and coastal flooding.

    To solve this challenge, RIISE will operate out of a regional secretariat based in Bridgetown, Barbados. The hub combines local Caribbean leadership with UNOPS’ decades of global operational expertise and project management experience. Its core mandate is to work directly with participating national governments to map unique implementation bottlenecks, coordinate cross-border support requests, and connect local project teams with specialized technical assistance that many small administrations cannot access independently.

    Unlike one-size-fits-all development programs, RIISE tailors its support to each country’s specific needs. Available assistance ranges from short-term targeted technical advice to temporary placements of seasoned infrastructure specialists, as well as structured platforms for Caribbean nations to share on-the-ground knowledge and lessons learned with one another. This peer learning component is designed to build long-term local capacity, rather than relying on permanent external support.

    Brenda Wills, Canada’s High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, emphasized the initiative’s alignment with Canada’s longstanding commitment to Caribbean climate action. “Canada is proud to support RIISE as part of our longstanding commitment to strengthening climate resilience across the Caribbean,” Wills said. “By helping governments deliver resilient infrastructure more effectively, build local capacity and promote specialized expertise across the region, RIISE will generate lasting benefits for Caribbean communities while deepening the strong ties between Canada and the region.”

    Giuseppe Mancinelli, UNOPS Director for Barbados and Caribbean Coordinator, noted that Caribbean nations have already laid out clear, ambitious priorities for sustainable, climate-resilient development, but often lack the specialized support to turn plans into tangible community impact. “RIISE will provide timely access to the specialized expertise they need to overcome implementation challenges and turn those priorities into tangible results for communities,” Mancinelli explained. “At the same time, it will strengthen national capacities and foster greater regional collaboration.”

    For the four initial participating countries, RIISE opens immediate access to additional resources and expertise to streamline project delivery, improve the quality of infrastructure outcomes, and advance long-term climate adaptation goals. The launch marks a new chapter in collaborative climate action, uniting a global multilateral body, a donor nation, and regional governments around a shared goal of building safer, more resilient communities across the Caribbean.

  • Rights Group Raises Questions Over Reports of Belarusian Deportations to Belize

    Rights Group Raises Questions Over Reports of Belarusian Deportations to Belize

    In a development that shines a new light on shifting U.S. immigration enforcement practices, a Belarusian human rights organization is pushing for full transparency following emerging reports that American immigration courts have issued deportation orders sending Belarusian citizens to Belize – a move that has raised significant procedural and geopolitical questions, even as no concrete confirmation exists that the removals have been carried out.

    ByAction, a grassroots human rights initiative focused on Belarusian displaced communities, confirmed it has documented two specific cases where a California immigration judge signed off on orders to remove two Belarusian nationals to the Central American nation of Belize. In a subsequent clarification, however, the group acknowledged that it currently lacks verifiable evidence proving the two individuals were actually transported to Belize following the court rulings.

    Yauhen Zhdanovich, founder of ByAction, shared that the organization’s current information is limited to the basic fact of the court orders, which were issued by a judge sitting at the West Los Angeles Immigration Court. Critical details remain shrouded in uncertainty: the full identities of the Belarusian citizens involved, information about their legal representation, and even whether the pair have filed appeals against the deportation rulings have not been made publicly available.

    Beyond the lack of clarity around the cases themselves, ByAction has raised pointed questions about the practical feasibility and logistics of deporting Belarusian nationals to Belize, a small Caribbean nation that has no formal established travel or deportation reciprocity agreement with either the United States or Belarus. The group is specifically questioning whether Belize has the infrastructure, policy frameworks, and willingness to accept third-country nationals from a European nation located thousands of miles outside of its traditional regional migration sphere.

    These unconfirmed reports emerge against a backdrop of growing scrutiny of U.S. immigration enforcement actions targeting citizens from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet bloc. ByAction previously documented that at least seven Belarusian citizens were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the first months of 2026, and that multiple other Belarusian nationals have been deported from the United States since the start of 2024. The organization is now calling on U.S. immigration authorities and the Belizean government to release full details about the deportation orders to address growing concerns among the Belarusian diaspora in the United States.

  • Zoekactie naar slachtoffers MV Barima loopt vast; 30 mensen nog vermist

    Zoekactie naar slachtoffers MV Barima loopt vast; 30 mensen nog vermist

    Nearly two weeks after the deadly MV Barima shipwreck off the coast of Guyana, large-scale search and recovery operations have failed to locate any additional victims over the past 48 hours, leaving 30 passengers and crew unaccounted for amid growing safety warnings from elite French military divers assisting in the effort.

    French diving teams, deployed to support the recovery mission, have warned that entering the sunken vessel’s wreckage is an extreme life-threatening risk. According to a member of the French unit, zero visibility inside the hull, caused by thick suspended mud, powerful shifting currents and changing tides, forces divers to explore the wreck almost entirely by touch. Over 15 dives have already been completed, but tangled ropes, loose debris, unstable structural framing and shifting hammock netting further block access and raise the risk of catastrophic collapse for anyone entering the vessel. Raising the entire sunken wreck from the seabed is also classified as exceptionally challenging, experts add, due to the severely deteriorated condition of the hull.

    Guyana’s Prime Minister Mark Phillips confirmed Sunday that the search operation will continue despite the dangerous conditions, noting that no changes to the official casualty count have been recorded over the past two days. Opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed, who is participating in coordination of the search effort, echoed that update, confirming no new victims have been recovered in the most recent phase of operations. The current official toll stands at 73 fatalities recovered, 76 survivors rescued, and 30 people still listed as missing.

    The MV Barima was en route from the Guyanese capital of Georgetown to Port Kaituma when the disaster occurred. Official passenger logs initially listed 116 passengers and 17 crew members on board, but a review of security camera footage and additional on-the-ground investigations has led the Guyanese government to estimate the total number of people on the vessel was actually around 179, as dozens of passengers boarded without being added to the official manifest.

    In a parallel development, the Guyanese government has established an independent international commission of inquiry to probe the root causes of the disaster, which is already the deadliest maritime tragedy in Guyana’s modern history. The probe is led by Phillip Godfrey Smith, former attorney general of Belize, and includes maritime safety and legal experts from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

    Investigators will examine multiple key lines of inquiry, including whether the vessel was severely overloaded, whether cargo was improperly stowed, whether critical passenger safety protocols were ignored, and whether crew members or regulatory authorities bear responsibility for negligence. Multiple survivors have already given statements confirming water began leaking into the vessel before it sank, and that multiple warnings about the leak were dismissed by crew. Three people, including the vessel’s captain, have already been taken into custody; the captain tested positive for marijuana following the disaster.

    Guyanese authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the search and recovery mission until all 30 missing people are located and recovered.

  • Officials warn of growing cyber threats

    Officials warn of growing cyber threats

    Nearly 100 local, regional and international stakeholders convened in Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia, for a one-day Cybersecurity Forum focused on addressing the rapidly evolving landscape of digital threats and strengthening collective regional digital resilience. Hosted at the Harbour Club, the gathering brought together government leaders, policymakers, information technology specialists and global partners to frame cybersecurity as a cornerstone of modern national infrastructure, rather than a niche technical concern.

    Organized by Saint Lucia’s Division of Public Sector Modernisation in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Saint Lucia, the forum centered on the escalating risks posed by a growing range of digital hazards: from common cyberattacks, ransomware and phishing scams to large-scale data breaches and emerging hybrid threats that target both government and civilian systems.

    Speaking on behalf of Senior Minister Stephenson King, Marlon Narcisse, Director of the Division of Public Sector Modernisation, emphasized that protecting national digital assets has climbed to the top of Saint Lucia’s policy agenda. “Cybersecurity is no longer a specialised technical issue confined to information technology professionals. It is a matter of national security, economic resilience, institutional integrity, and public confidence,” Narcisse stated. He added that ongoing digital transformation across all sectors of Saint Lucian society makes stronger cybersecurity defenses non-negotiable, noting that widespread digital adoption is not an optional trend but a national requirement to keep pace with global development.

    Nicole Su, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, warned that public sector entities across the globe are confronting cyber threats that grow more complex and unpredictable by the year. Beyond traditional cybercrime, Su pointed out that governments now face a multifaceted risk landscape that includes disinformation campaigns, unauthorized digital surveillance, and transboundary hybrid attacks that can disrupt critical services. These threats do not stay confined to government networks, she noted: bad actors regularly target private citizens’ sensitive personal data, including financial records, credit card information and protected health data.

    Su stressed that transboundary nature of cyber threats demands coordinated global action, noting that no single nation can build a fully effective defense in isolation. She also outlined the long-standing digital development partnership between Taiwan and Saint Lucia, which has already delivered shared gains including the establishment of ICT centers in three Saint Lucian districts, with a fourth facility planned for Babonneau. Additional collaborative initiatives include AI coding competitions, hands-on cybersecurity skills training, and professional exchange programs designed to build local cybersecurity capacity from within.

    Ray Wen, ICT Project Manager for the Taiwan Technical Mission, explained that the bilateral partnership has expanded significantly over time. What began as an effort to expand digital access and upgrade basic ICT skills for public sector employees has grown to encompass support for e-government service delivery, smart education programming, community-centered ICT infrastructure, and specialized cybersecurity training.

    Ricky Quinlan, Permanent Secretary in Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Home Affairs, echoed the call for collective action, noting that the forum highlights the critical link between cybersecurity and public trust as more government services move online. “Every government service we digitise, every school we connect, every business that operates online, and every citizen who accesses digital services depends on one thing: trust,” Quinlan said. “Without trust that our systems are secure, resilient, and reliable, the promise of digital transformation cannot be fully realised.”

    Quinlan added that small island developing states like Saint Lucia face unique vulnerabilities to transboundary cyber threats, given their limited resources and heavy reliance on digital infrastructure for core services. Like other speakers, he emphasized that cross-institutional and cross-border collaboration is essential to mitigating these shared risks. The forum concluded with a series of panel discussions covering cyber governance frameworks, cross-sector partnership models, cyber incident response protocols, and national preparedness planning, with insights from cybersecurity experts from both Saint Lucia and Taiwan.

  • Global Affairs Canada and UNOPS sign agreement

    Global Affairs Canada and UNOPS sign agreement

    A landmark new partnership between Global Affairs Canada and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has birthed the Caribbean Resilient Infrastructure Implementation and Skills Exchange (RIISE) Facility, a first-of-its-kind regional initiative aimed at boosting Caribbean governments’ capacity to deliver climate-resilient infrastructure projects. Scheduled for an official launch on September 14, 2026, alongside the Caribbean Infrastructure Forum (CARIF) in Miami, the facility fills a critical gap in regional development support by focusing specifically on the under-addressed implementation phase of infrastructure projects.

    Funded entirely by the Government of Canada and hosted by UNOPS, RIISE will kick off its operations by supporting four Eastern Caribbean nations: Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. A dedicated regional secretariat, based in Barbados, will serve as the central hub for the initiative, merging on-the-ground regional leadership with UNOPS’s decades of global development expertise and adherence to United Nations administrative standards and core values. The secretariat’s core function will be to coordinate incoming requests from participating national governments and mobilize specialized, context-appropriate expertise to tackle the specific implementation bottlenecks delaying critical infrastructure work.

    Across the Caribbean basin, governments have laid out ambitious agendas to upgrade infrastructure and scale up investments in climate resilience, a pressing priority given the region’s outsized vulnerability to extreme weather events and rising sea levels. However, many of these planned projects have been held back by systemic implementation challenges, from limited local specialized capacity to gaps in technical knowledge that slow delivery and increase costs. RIISE was developed directly in response to this expressed demand from Caribbean governments, providing targeted technical support designed to strengthen national implementation capacity and speed up the delivery of high-priority projects.
    Brenda Wills, Canada’s High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, emphasized the initiative’s alignment with Canada’s longstanding commitment to the Caribbean region. “Canada is proud to support RIISE as part of our longstanding commitment to strengthening climate resilience across the Caribbean,” Wills noted. “By helping governments deliver resilient infrastructure more effectively, build local capacity and promote specialized expertise across the region, RIISE will generate lasting benefits for Caribbean communities while deepening the strong ties between Canada and the region.”
    Giuseppe Mancinelli, UNOPS Director for Barbados and Caribbean Coordinator, explained that the initiative is built around the development priorities set by Caribbean nations themselves. “Caribbean governments have clear priorities and an ambitious vision for resilient and sustainable development. RIISE will provide timely access to the specialized expertise they need to overcome implementation challenges and turn those priorities into tangible results for communities. At the same time, it will strengthen national capacities and foster greater regional collaboration,” Mancinelli said.
    Unlike existing regional mechanisms that focus primarily on project financing and pre-implementation preparation, RIISE complements these existing frameworks by zeroing in on the execution stage, turning already approved investments and national development priorities into on-the-ground outcomes for local communities. The support offered through the facility is fully customizable to each government’s specific needs, and can include short-term technical advisory services, temporary deployment of specialized infrastructure and resilience experts, and cross-border knowledge and experience exchanges between participating nations.
    Participating governments currently facing implementation roadblocks on planned infrastructure projects are encouraged to connect with the RIISE coordinating team early in the process, as the initiative explores opportunities for its first round of support. The official launch next year will mark the formal start of the facility’s operations, kicking off a new chapter of regional collaboration on climate-resilient development in the Caribbean.

  • Taiwan Expands Trade Office to Include Belize and Five Other Regional Allies

    Taiwan Expands Trade Office to Include Belize and Five Other Regional Allies

    On July 27, 2026, Taiwan announced a major expansion of its regional trade initiative, rolling out a broader platform to deepen economic engagement with Belize and five additional diplomatic allies across the Latin American and Caribbean region. The newly inaugurated Latin American and Caribbean Trade Office (LACTO), which opened its headquarters in Taipei on Friday, replaces the decades-old Central America Trade Office (CATO), an initiative that previously only focused on advancing commercial ties with Belize and Guatemala.

    Unlike its narrow-focused predecessor, the expanded LACTO extends its official remit to cover four more regional allies: Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The restructured office is designed to build a cohesive regional network that unlocks new growth opportunities across four key areas: cross-border trade, foreign direct investment, tourism cooperation, and private sector business partnerships.

    Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung framed the institutional expansion as a landmark milestone for bilateral and multilateral economic collaboration between Taiwan and its regional partners. Speaking at the office’s opening ceremony, Lin emphasized that LACTO will serve as a centralized bridge connecting private enterprises across participating economies, streamline investment promotion processes, and strengthen long-standing commercial relationships rooted in diplomatic cooperation.

    Augusto Chou-Fu Chan, the newly appointed executive director of LACTO, noted that the rebranding and expansion represent far more than a superficial institutional change. He explained that the overhaul comes with an expanded mission: to deliver hands-on support to small and medium-sized enterprises, foster cross-border industrial collaboration, and open new mutually beneficial economic channels between Taiwan and the Latin American and Caribbean region.

    Moving forward, LACTO has outlined a clear agenda to advance its goals. The office will prioritize promoting high-quality goods and key industries from all six participating nations, ranging from agricultural commodities, fisheries products, and processed food to tourism experiences and greenfield investment opportunities. Planned activities to deliver on these goals include large-scale regional trade exhibitions, one-on-one business matchmaking events, cross-border procurement roundtables, and high-level official exchange delegations to strengthen personal and institutional connections.

    As one of the two original partner economies served by the former CATO, Belize is positioned to continue reaping the benefits of the unified trade platform. The expanded office’s broader mandate will amplify global visibility for Belizean and other regional products, while actively targeting increased foreign investment flows from Taiwan to the region, supporting inclusive economic growth across all participating allies.

  • A Kids’ Summer Camp to Revive a “Dying” Agriculture Industry

    A Kids’ Summer Camp to Revive a “Dying” Agriculture Industry

    Across Belize, a quiet crisis has been unfolding in the agriculture sector: fewer and fewer young people are stepping forward to take up farming as a lifelong career, leaving the industry at risk of gradual decline as the current farming population ages. But one grassroots initiative at Central Farm is working to turn this tide, engaging children early through an immersive summer camp designed to spark lasting interest in agricultural careers.

    The Cayo Central Youth in Agriculture Summer Camp concluded its 2026 session last Friday with a celebratory certificate distribution ceremony, closing out a week of hands-on learning that gave 116 young participants direct exposure to a wide range of agricultural disciplines. Over the seven days, the campers traded traditional classroom desks for interactive lessons at fish ponds, working vegetable gardens, and livestock pens, donning custom green camp t-shirts as they moved through the Central Farm compound to learn practical skills in crop cultivation, livestock management, aquaculture, agro-processing, and beekeeping.

    Alex Balona, the Area Representative for Cayo Central and Minister of State in Belize’s Ministry of Agriculture, shared that this year’s participation numbers exceeded all organizing expectations. “Last year we had 103 campers, and this year we welcomed 116 participants by the end of the week. So I am very happy,” Balona noted. The steady uptick in turnout is particularly encouraging for the camp’s core mission, he explained, at a time when Belize is facing a growing shortage of new farmers to replace retiring producers.

    “Interest in agriculture is dying, and there are many factors contributing to that trend,” Balona explained. “Without farmers, our tables will not be set for us. That is why I am pushing to sensitize our children early, so that by the time they enter adolescence and move on to high school, they will consider choosing agriculture as a viable career path.”

    For many of the young campers, the hands-on approach opened their eyes to opportunities in agriculture they had never considered before. Twelve-year-old Gabriella Hall counted tilapia farming as the highlight of her week, noting that the experience left her open to building a future in the sector. “We got to see the different types, like the red and the grey tilapia, and they were really beautiful,” she said. “I can definitely see myself pursuing agriculture down the road.”

    Another participant, Rayanne Requena, left the camp already considering new career paths in marine biology or veterinary science, sparked by the camp’s aquaculture modules. “I enjoyed the aquaculture, and I loved the agro-processing sessions,” she said. “The camp showed you how you can turn one simple thing into something much more valuable than it originally is. That adds value to a basic product, and I think that’s pretty cool.”

    Even for campers like Aquim Canto, who grew up in a farming family, the program reinforced his commitment to carrying on his family’s tradition. “Planting is important because you get to produce more fruits and vegetables so people can buy and eat,” Canto said. “That’s why I came to learn more, and now when I go home, I’m even more motivated to keep going.”

    Organizers have already announced plans to expand the camp for 2027, with Balona confirming that the team is working to bring the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) on board next year to add specialized training on livestock veterinary care. For returning and future participants, the verdict is clear: camper Nayanni Maree is already encouraging more young people to sign up for next year’s session. “It’s great, and you will enjoy it here, and you should come,” Maree said. “You’re gonna learn something new, and it will be so much fun.”

    The 2026 camp program was sponsored by RF&G Insurance Ltd., whose slogan is “It Pays to Get it Right.”

  • BREAKING: Tattoo Artist ‘Mongoose’ Released from Prison After Firearm Conviction

    BREAKING: Tattoo Artist ‘Mongoose’ Released from Prison After Firearm Conviction

    A well-known public figure in Antigua has returned to civilian life following the completion of his prison sentence for illegal firearms charges. Oszie Kelvin Russell, a 40-year-old tattoo artist who goes by the public nickname “Mongoose,” was discharged from His Majesty’s Prison on Monday, July 27, marking the end of a legal saga that gripped public attention across Antigua and Barbuda over the past several months.

    The case that led to Russell’s imprisonment traces back to a targeted police search operation executed at his private residence in the Lightfoot neighborhood on April 22, 2025. According to official law enforcement accounts, when officers entered the property to carry out the search warrant, Russell attempted to dispose of a prohibited weapon by throwing it out of a second-floor bedroom window. Despite this attempt, law enforcement teams successfully recovered the discarded weapon shortly after the search began.

    In a court proceeding held in April 2025, Russell entered a formal guilty plea to all charges brought against him. The charges included unlawful possession of an unlicensed Glock 80 9mm handgun, 10 rounds of live ammunition matching the weapon’s caliber, and an illegal firearm suppressor, all of which were found in his possession during the search.

    Since news of Russell’s release broke, the case has remained a topic of public discussion across the twin-island nation, with local residents continuing to debate issues surrounding illegal gun possession and public security regulations in Antigua and Barbuda.

  • CCCCC short story competition for Caricom citizens

    CCCCC short story competition for Caricom citizens

    As small island developing states on the front lines of accelerating climate change, the Caribbean region has long faced existential threats from rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and ecosystem degradation. Now, the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) is turning to young people to reimagine what a sustainable, climate-resilient future could look like for the region, launching a new youth-focused short story competition on July 27, 2026.

    Open exclusively to nationals of Caribbean Community (Caricom) member states between the ages of 18 and 25, the competition invites emerging writers to craft original short stories centered on a deliberate, evocative prompt: “Imagine a climate-secure future for the world. Inspired by the Caribbean.” Unlike traditional climate action initiatives that prioritize technical policy and scientific data, this competition centers narrative and creative vision as core tools for driving climate engagement.

    Danelle De Coteau Campbell, Lead Communications Specialist at CCCCC, emphasized the unique value of creative storytelling in climate discourse. “The future of climate action will be shaped not only by data and science but also by the stories we tell and the ideas we inspire,” Campbell explained. “Through this competition, we are inviting young people to imagine a climate-secure Caribbean and commit to protecting our culture, our people and our homes. This is our way of handing them the pen to shape that vision. We are excited to see how participants will bring their ideas to life, and in doing so, spark meaningful conversations about the shared future we all build together.”

    The storytelling competition is a core component of CCCCC’s broader regional strategy to center youth as active, leading voices in the Caribbean’s collective climate response. Beyond showcasing young creative talent, the initiative also aims to broaden public understanding of the unique climate challenges facing Caribbean communities and elevate homegrown, Caribbean-led solutions that address local needs.

    To enter, participants must submit an original, previously unpublished short story between 1,500 and 2,500 words through the official competition portal hosted on CCCCC’s website, caribbeanclimate.org. The competition strictly prohibits AI-generated submissions, requiring all entries to be fully original works created by the entrant.

    Prizes for top entries include a MacBook Neo for first place, with additional awards granted to second and third place finalists. Full entry guidelines, eligibility details, and submission instructions are available to the public on the CCCCC website.

    The launch of this creative competition marks a new approach to youth climate engagement, framing imagination as a critical catalyst for action in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions.

  • Police seek public’s help to locate missing teen Jerbia Paul

    Police seek public’s help to locate missing teen Jerbia Paul

    Law enforcement authorities in the Commonwealth of Dominica are turning to the public for urgent assistance in finding a missing teenager who vanished from the northern part of the island earlier this week. The Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force has issued an official call for cooperation after 16-year-old Jerbia Paul was reported missing from the Georgetown-Glanvillia region.

    Confirmed details from police records show Paul has been unaccounted for since Friday, July 24, 2026. When the teen was last observed by community members, she was wearing a recognizable dark blue shirt, a key detail that police hope will jog the memory of anyone who may have crossed paths with her recently.

    Paul’s family has spoken publicly about their growing worry over her disappearance, and they have joined law enforcement in urging residents and visitors alike to come forward with even the smallest piece of information that could help reunite them with Jerbia safely.

    Police officials have stressed that any tip, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could prove critical to advancing the search. Members of the public who have spotted Paul in recent days, or who have knowledge about her current location, are instructed to reach out directly to the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force or visit the closest local police station to share their information.