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  • Babonneau Lawòz returns after decades

    Babonneau Lawòz returns after decades

    After lying dormant for more than 40 years, a beloved cornerstone of Saint Lucian cultural and Catholic heritage has returned to the community of Babonneau. On Sunday, August 23, the long-absent Lawòz tradition was rekindled at Babonneau Church, where community members gathered to crown George Louis and Brenda Aimable as the new Lawòz King and Queen.

    This historic ceremony marked the first official Lawòz coronation held in Babonneau since the 1980s, drawing participants from both the Babonneau and Monchy Lawòz community groups. The coronation kicks off the lead-up to the annual Feast of Lawòz, which this year will be hosted by the neighboring community of Monchy on August 30. Rooted deeply in both local Saint Lucian identity and Catholic religious practice, the annual gathering serves as a unifying event for residents across communities to honor their shared heritage.

    For Father Albert Aaron, parish priest of Babonneau, the revival of the Lawòz group extends far beyond simply resuscitating an old folk custom. He detailed the tradition’s complex origins, tracing it back to the era of plantation slavery in the Caribbean. Enslaved people were barred from holding formal positions of social status in colonial society, so they created Lawòz as a space to imitate and claim those roles for themselves, building a community tradition that outlasted the systems that birthed it.

    Passed down through generations of Saint Lucians, the tradition has retained its deep ties to the Catholic faith, a connection that made this year’s coronation date particularly symbolic. August 23 is the official feast day of Saint Rose of Lima, a revered Peruvian Catholic saint whose life of service aligns closely with the core values of the Lawòz celebration.

    “Lawòz is a way of bringing people together and being able to appreciate each other as who they are, the things we do, how and why we do them…and bringing people to care more and more for each other,” Father Aaron explained, noting that Saint Rose of Lima’s lifelong devotion to serving others embodies the spirit the celebration seeks to nurture.

    For new King George Louis, the revival of Lawòz in Babonneau is a deeply personal milestone: the tradition has been a thread running through his life since childhood. “I understand it’s part of our culture, and so I have continued whenever I get the opportunity,” Louis said, adding that the coronation holds profound meaning as a public marker of the tradition’s return to his home community.

    New Queen Brenda Aimable shares that commitment to preserving the custom, particularly through engaging younger generations to ensure the tradition does not fade away. As a young girl growing up in Babonneau, Aimable missed her early chance to participate in Lawòz, a regret that left her acutely aware that the local culture was at risk of dying out without active effort to sustain it.

    When she heard that organizers were rebuilding the Lawòz group in Babonneau, Aimable did not hesitate to sign up, determined not to repeat her earlier mistake. “I have always been interested in being the queen, and I stated my interest and there you have it. God bless me. I am the queen,” she shared.

    For Aimable, the role of Queen is about more than the coronation ceremony itself. She hopes her tenure will inspire young people across the region to explore their Saint Lucian heritage and join the Lawòz tradition. “So during our reign, I pray that God helps us to get that done,” she said.

  • New Firefighting Vehicles and Ambulance Boost Airport Safety

    New Firefighting Vehicles and Ambulance Boost Airport Safety

    V.C. Bird International Airport, a key air gateway for the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda, has significantly boosted its emergency readiness capabilities through the addition of purpose-built rescue and firefighting vehicles, plus a fully outfitted medical ambulance, government officials confirmed this week.

    The total investment in the new safety infrastructure amounts to roughly US$1.3 million, with $1.2 million allocated to the two specialized firefighting vehicles and an additional $100,000 covering the cost of the new ambulance. Among the new firefighting assets is a Volkan Lion Class 6×6 truck, engineered to carry up to 14,000 liters of water for large-scale aircraft emergency responses. The fleet also includes a high-reach extendable turntable vehicle, which is backed by two supporting water tankers to ensure uninterrupted water supply during extended emergency operations.

    Charles “Max” Fernandez, the country’s Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, emphasized that this strategic upgrade is a clear reflection of the national government’s unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of safety and emergency preparedness at the island nation’s primary international airport. As a popular tourism destination that relies heavily on air travel to welcome visitors from around the globe, maintaining top-tier airport safety is a core policy priority for Antigua and Barbuda’s administration.

    Deputy Police Commissioner Vivian Parker added that the new safety equipment sends a tangible, actionable promise to all passengers, commercial airline operators, and local residents: that airport safety will remain a top public safety priority for authorities moving forward. Prior to this upgrade, the airport’s firefighting fleet faced capacity gaps that limited its ability to handle large aircraft emergencies aligned with global operational standards.

    With the arrival of the new vehicles, the airport is now fully equipped to support Category 9 airport operations, a global classification that corresponds to handling the world’s largest commercial aircraft. Beyond meeting international safety classification requirements, the new fleet will also cut critical response times during aircraft-related emergencies, a change that is expected to save lives and reduce property damage should a serious incident occur at the airport.

  • New Vieux-Fort Mayor promises ‘new era of local governance

    New Vieux-Fort Mayor promises ‘new era of local governance

    A new chapter of community-centered local governance has begun in Vieux-Fort, as Rhyesa Joseph officially assumed office as the town’s mayor, anchoring her administration’s priorities in grassroots participation, worker dignity, and celebration of the region’s distinct cultural and civic identity.

    Joseph took the oath of office on Friday, August 21, during an inauguration ceremony that also swore in the full roster of members for the newly established Vieux-Fort South Constituency Council.

    Bringing a rich professional and academic background to the role, Joseph previously served as director of the Folk Research Centre, and earned the distinction of valedictorian during her studies at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill. In her inaugural address, she framed her decision to accept the mayoral post as a commitment rooted in public service and collective responsibility, rather than personal ambition.

    “While my stewardship will require the collective effort and support of councillors, staff, the community, private sector and the government, I asked myself, ‘Can I do any good here or be of any service?’ The answer was yes,” Joseph shared in her remarks.

    Collaborative, inclusive governance sits at the core of Joseph’s policy agenda for Vieux-Fort. A top priority for the new administration is restructuring how local government operates, pushing for a cultural shift that recognizes the full value of municipal workers beyond their most visible public-facing duties.

    Joseph outlined her goal to “usher in a new era of local governance where workers are respected and valued as more than street cleaners and democracy and development are community led”. Moving beyond internal administrative reform, she also laid out an ambitious long-term goal to position Vieux-Fort as a national benchmark for inclusive, sustainable municipal development, while investing more resources in amplifying and celebrating the town’s unique local history and identity.

    In a departure from top-down development frameworks, Joseph emphasized that local residents hold a critical share of responsibility for shaping Vieux-Fort’s future, urging community members to recognize their own agency in driving progress. She pushed back against the idea that successful development models must be imported from external regions, noting, “Development is homegrown and need not be imported or copied for success.”

    Closing her address, Joseph extended gratitude to the newly seated council members for their commitment to public service, as well as to the outgoing and continuing municipal staff who have maintained consistent operations for the town during the transition period.

  • APUA appeals for customers to cooperate with its meter readers following Reports of Physical Altercations

    APUA appeals for customers to cooperate with its meter readers following Reports of Physical Altercations

    The Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) has issued a public appeal for greater customer collaboration with field meter readers, following a string of alarming physical confrontations that have put utility employees at risk while carrying out routine work. As public frustration grows over sharply increasing electricity bills across the island nation, APUA officials emphasize that accurate billing depends entirely on unobstructed access to customer meters, and that worker safety should not become a casualty of customer discontent. According to APUA leadership, meter access is a non-negotiable requirement for the authority to document actual energy consumption and generate bills that reflect real usage, rather than rough estimates based on historical data. Agency representatives acknowledge that many households are struggling with the financial strain of higher energy costs, but stress that directing that frustration toward on-the-ground workers through obstruction, threats, or physical violence is unacceptable. To remove common access barriers, APUA is asking customers to take simple proactive steps ahead of scheduled meter visits: clearing overgrown vegetation and accumulated trash from around meter sites, securing aggressive dogs in enclosed areas, and ensuring that locked gates or other fixed barriers do not block workers’ paths. At present, an estimated 10 to 15 percent of APUA’s deployed electricity meters are non-functional, forcing the agency to rely on estimated usage readings for hundreds of accounts citywide. Even when meters are accessible, APUA notes that human error can occur when meter readers manually input data into handheld devices, a flaw that the agency is working to resolve through both ongoing replacement of faulty traditional meters and an upcoming transition to fully automated systems. For customers who dispute the accuracy of their bills or have complaints about a meter reader’s conduct, APUA says the proper resolution pathway is to contact the agency’s customer service department directly, rather than confronting field staff on site. Accurate manual readings also serve a critical diagnostic purpose for customers facing unexpected bill increases: they allow APUA technicians to identify whether higher charges stem from increased personal energy use, an extended billing cycle, or adjustments to the fuel variation charge that factors into final pricing. Looking ahead, APUA is preparing to roll out a new automated metering infrastructure that will eliminate nearly all need for workers to enter private customer properties. Under the new system, meter readings will be transmitted automatically and in real time to APUA via secure communication links, and customers will even gain the ability to track their hourly energy consumption to better manage their usage and costs. Andre Mathias, manager of APUA’s Electricity Business Unit, explained that the automated system will completely resolve persistent access issues caused by locked gates, unrestrained dogs, and remote or hard-to-reach meter locations. A large-scale deployment of the new smart meters is scheduled to launch by the end of 2024, or in early 2025. Until the transition is complete, however, APUA is reiterating its call for customers to prioritize worker safety and allow meter readers to complete their work without obstruction or confrontation.

  • Police Step Up Security Around Schools Ahead of Reopening

    Police Step Up Security Around Schools Ahead of Reopening

    As the new school term approaches Antigua and Barbuda, law enforcement agencies have launched intensified security preparations to safeguard students, staff and campus surroundings, with a slate of high-priority locations flagged for enhanced monitoring.

    Leading the security planning is Assistant Commissioner of Police Lisbon Michael, head of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda’s Criminal Investigations Department, who confirmed that the department has conducted a full review of its existing strategic safety framework to guarantee secure learning environments for returning students.

    In an interview with local public broadcaster ABS’ flagship program *Antigua Barbuda Today*, Michael outlined that key sites marked for extra attention include the East and West Bus Stations, major transit hubs that thousands of students use daily, the busy commercial district Heritage Quay, and Clare Hall Secondary School. He categorized these locations as “hot areas”, noting that they have a documented history of public safety challenges linked to school populations.

    To align security protocols with education sector needs, police leadership has already held detailed consultations with the Ministry of Education to coordinate proposed safety actions, though Michael declined to disclose granular information on officer deployment schedules or the full suite of planned security measures. Despite the lack of specific details, he remained upbeat about the upcoming reopening, projecting that the first weeks of the term will unfold without major incident.

    “We anticipate it is going to be pretty much quiet,” Michael stated.

    This targeted pre-term security push forms part of a wider, long-term initiative by Antigua and Barbuda’s police force to tackle general crime and youth violence across the country, combining strict law enforcement with targeted community intervention programs. Within the Criminal Investigations Department, a dedicated Youth Intervention Department focuses specifically on children and adolescents aged 5 to 18, prioritizing support for young people showing early warning signs of risky behavior and those residing in households impacted by domestic conflict.

    Police data indicates that these sustained intervention efforts, when paired with increased engagement from parents and local community stakeholders, have driven a marked drop in rates of youth violence across the twin-island nation in recent years. The pre-school reopening preparations are designed to build on this progress, creating a safe foundation for students as they return to in-person learning.

  • BEL Blames Nationwide Blackout on Mexico Power Loss

    BEL Blames Nationwide Blackout on Mexico Power Loss

    On a Tuesday evening in August 2026, the entire nation of Belize was plunged into a widespread power outage, an incident that national utility provider Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has directly traced to an unexpected failure of imported power from neighboring Mexico, compounded by a critical gap in domestic energy production capacity.

    The full system collapse occurred abruptly at 7:28 p.m. local time, after Belize lost access to electricity supplied by Mexico’s national power utility Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) due to unspecified operational issues on the Mexican side of the interconnected grid. At the moment of the imported supply loss, BEL’s available domestic generation capacity totaled only around 103 megawatts, far short of the 122 megawatts of peak evening demand across the country. This left an unplanned deficit of approximately 19 megawatts that the existing local infrastructure could not cover.

    To prevent permanent damage to critical grid infrastructure, BEL’s automatic protection protocols activated immediately after the supply shortfall was detected. The system initiated automatic load shedding across disconnected segments of the national grid in an attempt to rebalance supply and demand, a move that ultimately resulted in outages spanning every region of Belize. Power imports from CFE were fully restored just over three hours later, at 10:54 p.m. the same evening.

    In a public statement explaining the incident, BEL noted that domestic energy production has been operating under constrained conditions for weeks, driven by a combination of seasonal resource variations and ongoing planned maintenance work across the national generation fleet. Several key renewable energy facilities are currently unable to operate at full capacity due to seasonal environmental conditions, while multiple traditional generating units are either completely offline for scheduled upgrades or operating at reduced output to accommodate ongoing work.

    Moving forward, BEL announced that it will maintain continuous 24/7 monitoring of both domestic generation levels and overall grid stability to prevent similar large-scale outages. As an interim mitigation measure to address ongoing capacity constraints, the utility has already published a formal temporary rolling load shedding schedule that will affect selected regions of the country until production capacity can be brought back to adequate levels.

  • Vieux Fort workshop gives mothers hands-on support for breastfeeding

    Vieux Fort workshop gives mothers hands-on support for breastfeeding

    As Saint Lucia marks its annual Breastfeeding Awareness Month, a community-focused initiative in the southern town of Vieux Fort is bringing critical guidance and encouragement to new and expectant mothers navigating early parenthood. The Vieux Fort Wellness Centre organized a targeted hands-on workshop designed to address the common knowledge gaps and anxieties that often leave first-time mothers feeling unprepared to breastfeed their infants. Drawing attendees from across Vieux Fort and surrounding neighboring communities, the event forms part of a broader, sustained public health push to normalize breastfeeding and equip mothers with the tools they need to succeed from the very start of their parenting journey.

    Junette Joseph, a community health nurse attached to the Vieux Fort Wellness Centre, outlined the core mission of the gathering. “The aim of the workshop is to provide information and also support for expectant mothers to enable them to initiate and maintain breastfeeding successfully, knowing all the wonderful benefits of breastfeeding,” Joseph explained. Beyond sharing evidence-based information about the wide-ranging health benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers, the workshop prioritized practical, skill-based learning that addresses the most common early challenges new mothers face.

    Attendees had the opportunity to practice proper infant positioning and latching techniques—two core skills that often present steep learning curves for women breastfeeding for the first time. In addition to hands-on practice, participants took home customized educational materials to reference after the workshop, and enjoyed open discussion space to ask specific questions about their individual circumstances. The session also created space to debunk widespread common misconceptions about breastfeeding that often discourage women from starting or continuing to breastfeed their children. Organizers report that the event left participating mothers feeling more confident and supported in their upcoming or current breastfeeding journeys, aligning with the national goals of Breastfeeding Awareness Month to improve maternal and infant health outcomes across Saint Lucia.

  • Where Is His Motorcycle? Alta Vista Man Says Police ‘Misplaced’ It

    Where Is His Motorcycle? Alta Vista Man Says Police ‘Misplaced’ It

    A resident of Alta Vista in Belize’s Stann Creek District is calling for accountability and transparency from local law enforcement after authorities allegedly lost his motor vehicle, the only transportation he relies on for his job, following a May 2026 hit-and-run collision.

    Jose Luis Johnson, the affected complainant, told local reporters that the incident unfolded on the evening of May 23, when he was traveling back to his Alta Vista home after finishing a work shift in the nearby coastal community of Hopkins. While he was riding his motorcycle along his route, another vehicle struck him and fled the scene before emergency responders or law enforcement arrived.

    By the time police from the Dangriga Police Department arrived at the crash site, the at-fault driver had already disappeared, leaving only Johnson and his damaged motorcycle behind. Law enforcement officials made the decision to impound the two-wheeler at the local police station, a move Johnson initially accepted as standard protocol. But months later, the resident has still not been able to retrieve his property, despite repeated trips to the station to ask for updates.

    Johnson claims that every time he arrives to ask about his motorcycle, department staff redirect him from one officer to another, never providing a clear answer about where the vehicle is being held or what happened to it after it was taken into police custody. Compounding the frustration, Johnson says that two department officers originally promised to visit his home to take his official statement about the hit-and-run attack, but they never showed up for the scheduled meeting and have not followed up with him in the months since.

    The disappearance of the motorcycle has created major disruptions to Johnson’s daily life and livelihood. As the only form of transportation he owns, the loss has left him unable to travel to his workplace in Hopkins, putting his job and income at serious risk. Now, Johnson is not only demanding that police take responsibility for misplacing his property and help him locate or recover the motorcycle, he is also calling for answers about the ongoing investigation into the hit-and-run itself. To date, he says, there has been no word of any suspect being identified or held accountable for the crash that left him injured and stranded.

  • Trevet Campos Takes KTV Remix Season 8 Crown

    Trevet Campos Takes KTV Remix Season 8 Crown

    On the night of August 25, 2026, a nationwide power outage across Belize failed to extinguish the electric atmosphere at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts, where 23-year-old Trevet Campos etched his name into local entertainment history as the champion of KTV the Remix Season 8.

    After weeks of grueling competition that began with 12 aspiring vocalists, Campos outperformed finalists Tiana Sterling and Judson Baker to claim the prestigious crown and the $10,000 grand prize. For the young winner, the spotlight of the national singing competition was far from unfamiliar. Campos first discovered his passion for singing as a child, performing in his local church congregation with the unwavering support of his mother, who not only nurtured his talent from a young age but also encouraged him to sign up for this year’s tournament.

    In an interview with local morning program *Open Your Eyes* the day after his win, Campos reflected on the months of hard work that led him to that championship performance. “It was a lot of work, getting my team and band aligned and prepared every step of the way, but the whole experience was absolutely beautiful,” he shared. “I know people invest their time and their votes in me, so it’s my job to deliver a performance they’ll remember. For the finale, it was all about giving the crowd a night they’d enjoy, and that was my only focus going in.”

    Campos entered the final round of the competition with remarkable self-assurance, saying he was 99.999 percent certain he would walk away with the top prize. That confidence stemmed from an aggressive last-minute campaigning strategy that saw the singer connect directly with voters across the country. “All of last week, from Wednesday evening straight through Friday, I was popping up at karaoke venues all over the country, performing for anyone who would listen,” Campos explained. “Even if people had never watched the show or heard my name before, after hearing me sing, they’d immediately say they’d vote for me. It’s all about putting yourself out there, and I wasn’t afraid to put in the work.”

    Much of that late-stage campaign strategy was borrowed from the previous season’s champion, Darlon Usher, who took Campos under his wing and shared insider tips to win over voters. Usher advised him on everything from stage presence to connecting with audiences, even suggesting he reach out to large local businesses for broader support. “Darlon told me to loosen up a little on stage, connect with the energy of the crowd, and channel that excitement into every performance, that’s the tip that stuck with me the most,” Campos said.

    Now, fresh off his win, the 23-year-old singer has clear plans for his prize money and his future in music. He intends to invest his $10,000 winnings to eventually open his own recording studio in Belize, and he aims to follow in the footsteps of his biggest inspiration, American country star Morgan Wallen, to grow the country music scene in his home country. Campos points to Wallen’s journey as a major motivation: after being rejected on *The Voice*, Wallen has become a mainstay on the Billboard Top 10 Country Music charts year after year, a rags-to-riches story that resonated deeply with the young Belizean artist.

    Looking ahead, Campos says he hopes his journey on KTV the Remix will inspire the next generation of emerging Belizean singers to put themselves out there and chase their dreams. “No matter what, it all comes down to putting in the work and not being afraid to show people what you can do,” he added.

  • BTL Withdraws Speednet Acquisition Bid

    BTL Withdraws Speednet Acquisition Bid

    In a major development in Belize’s telecommunications landscape, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) has formally pulled its proposed takeover of Speednet Communications Limited, the parent company of popular mobile provider SMART. The formal notice of withdrawal was delivered to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Belize’s sector regulator, in an August 24 correspondence signed by BTL Chief Financial Officer Ian Cleverly.

    The acquisition proposal was first submitted to the PUC for regulatory review back on February 10, 2026. In his letter, Cleverly confirmed that BTL is withdrawing all regulatory filings and materials related to the planned transaction, and no longer has any intention to move forward with the purchase of Speednet. As a result, he noted the PUC is no longer required to continue its review of the abandoned proposal.

    Cleverly emphasized that BTL entered the acquisition process with genuine good intentions. The company framed the proposed merger as a move to consolidate and strengthen Belize’s entire telecommunications sector, generate operational efficiencies that would cut costs, and ultimately deliver improved, more robust services to end consumers across the country. Throughout the months-long regulatory review process, Cleverly added, BTL maintained open, constructive dialogue with all relevant stakeholders and regulatory bodies, including the PUC.

    However, the executive revealed that unforeseen changes to broader market and operating conditions have forced the company to reverse course. “Unfortunately, BTL will no longer pursue the proposed acquisition as a result of change in circumstances,” Cleverly wrote in the official notice.

    Parallel to this development, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) has issued an urgent demand for the removal of BTL’s current chairman, setting a hard deadline of August 28 for the action to be taken. Details of the union’s specific grievances against the chairman have not been released in the initial reporting, but the high-stakes demand adds a layer of political and labor tension to the already evolving situation at Belize’s leading telecommunications provider.