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  • Team Unity Dominica names new leader, won’t contest Roseau North by-election

    Team Unity Dominica names new leader, won’t contest Roseau North by-election

    In a formal press conference hosted Wednesday at Dominica’s iconic Fort Young Hotel, opposition political grouping Team Unity Dominica (TUD) announced a major leadership shift: US Virgin Islands-based Petra Carbon-George will take the reins of the organization, replacing Carlos Charles, who had led the party since assuming the role in November 2022.

    Carbon-George, a native of Dominica’s Capuchin community, first relocated to the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) roughly eight years ago to support her daughter through university studies. What began as a temporary stay to see her daughter complete her education turned into long-term residency, but she has maintained deep professional and personal ties to her home country. During the conference, she outlined her growing cross-border agricultural trade business, which ships Dominican produce to USVI supermarkets once a month. Carbon-George reported that her venture generated more than $300,000 in trade volume last year alone, and she is actively working to expand operations. To meet growing demand, she has opened new market channels for local Dominican farmers, and is currently developing a new export route for dasheen to Miami, urging local producers to scale up plantings of the crop to match incoming demand.

    Addressing questions from attendees about why a resident overseas would seek national political leadership in Dominica, Carbon-George emphasized her enduring commitment to the Dominican people and the nation’s prosperity. “Yes, I live in the Virgin Islands, and people may say, ‘you live overseas; what are you coming here and do?’” she told reporters. “Well, I love you, and I want to ensure you survive…”

    Alongside the leadership announcement, TUD General Secretary Alex Bruno laid out the party’s strategic electoral plan for upcoming contests, confirming that the party will strategically step aside in multiple constituencies to enable unified opposition against the incumbent ruling party. Bruno announced he would not run for the upcoming Roseau North by-election, and added that TUD would also not contest the Goodwill by-election. The party’s goal, Bruno explained, is to enable one-on-one contests between the incumbent party and a single opposition candidate in every constituency, a strategy designed to maximize the opposition’s electoral chances.

    Bruno confirmed that TUD also plans to cede the Marigot and Salisbury constituencies to allied opposition partners, saying that the party has made a deliberate choice to act collaboratively rather than contest every seat. “Because this is a very fruitful hunting ground for one of our sister partners in the business,” Bruno asserted. “Not that we can’t, but we just felt sometimes you have to be gracious, so Marigot and Salisbury will not be contested by Team Unity Dominica. All other constituencies are up for grabs.”

    Bruno added that the party is still in the process of finalizing its full slate of candidates across the remaining constituencies, and remains open to ongoing negotiations with other opposition groups to adjust candidate alignments in service of broader collaborative goals. The conference also confirmed the party’s current announced candidates: Sherian Austrie will stand for the Castle Bruce Constituency, outgoing leader Carlos Charles will contest the Mahaut seat, and Christine Dupuis-Dubique will run in Paix Bouche.

  • Superette Operator Killed in Freeman’s Village Shooting

    Superette Operator Killed in Freeman’s Village Shooting

    A quiet residential community in Antigua and Barbuda was rocked by violence early Thursday morning, after a local convenience store operator was fatally gunned down at their shop located along Freeman’s Village Main Road. According to initial reports from the scene, the deadly shooting unfolded just minutes before 8:30 a.m., a time when the small commercial corridor typically starts to see a steady stream of local shoppers and commuters.

    As of the latest update, law enforcement officials have not yet released clear details about what led up to the attack, leaving key questions about motive and potential suspects unanswered. The victim’s name and other identifying information are also being withheld temporarily, as authorities work to notify next of kin and complete early forensic processing of the crime scene.

    The sudden, violent death has sent waves of shock and unease through the tight-knit Freeman’s Village neighborhood, where violent crime remains a rare occurrence. Many local residents expressed surprise at the incident, saying that attacks of this nature are out of step with the community’s usual calm atmosphere. Officers from the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda have taken charge of the investigation, and have confirmed that they will release additional updates to the public as more information becomes available through their ongoing probe.

  • Sir Garfield Sobers (1936-2026) Friends of Democracy pays tribute

    Sir Garfield Sobers (1936-2026) Friends of Democracy pays tribute

    The global cricketing community and the Caribbean island nation of Barbados are in collective mourning this week, after the passing of one of cricket’s most iconic figures, The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers. The National Hero of Barbados died last Friday, just a handful of days before he was set to celebrate his 90th birthday, prompting an outpouring of remembrances and accolades from across the world.

    In an official statement released to the public, Friends of Democracy (FOD) general secretary Steve Blackett captured the deep sense of loss that has spread across Barbados and the wider Caribbean region. Blackett, who previously served as social care minister during the 2013 to 2018 Democratic Labour Party administration, emphasized that Sir Garfield’s influence stretched far beyond the boundary ropes of the cricket pitch.

    “Barbados, the Caribbean, and the cricketing world mourn the passing of one of the greatest sportsmen ever to grace the game,” Blackett said. “Sir Garfield Sobers was far more than a legendary cricketer. He was an ambassador for Barbados, a symbol of excellence, humility, determination, and national pride. His achievements placed our small island on the world stage and inspired millions across generations.”

    Blackett walked through the unmatched athletic milestones that cemented Sir Garfield’s status as a global sporting legend early in his career. At just 21 years old, the Barbadian all-rounder produced what remains widely regarded as one of the greatest batting innings in the history of international cricket: an unbeaten 365 runs against Pakistan, a world record for the highest individual test score that stood unbroken for 36 years. Later in his career, he made history again when he became the first player in first-class cricket to hit six consecutive sixes in a single over – a feat that still ranks among the most iconic moments in the sport’s long history.

    Far from being a one-sport athlete, Blackett noted, Sir Garfield’s talents extended far beyond cricket. He was an accomplished golfer who represented Barbados in international competition, and he also enjoyed a celebrated tenure playing for Nottinghamshire in England’s competitive County Championship.

    “His excellence was not confined to cricket alone,” Blackett said. “Today, we celebrate a life that changed the game forever and honour a man whose legacy will never fade.”

    Sir Garfield’s contributions to national and global sport have been recognized with some of the highest honours possible. In 1998, he was named a National Hero of Barbados, the country’s highest civic distinction. Today, his legacy lives on through the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, the highest individual honor awarded by the International Cricket Council, which is presented annually to the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year.

    Closing his statement, Blackett extended FOD’s deepest sympathies to all those impacted by Sir Garfield’s passing. “The Friends of Democracy extend our deepest condolences to Sir Garry’s family, friends, former teammates, and to all Barbadians during this time of national mourning,” he said. “May The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers rest in eternal peace.”

  • Migrant child drowns, two missing

    Migrant child drowns, two missing

    A devastating maritime tragedy has unfolded off the southwestern coast of Trinidad, where an overloaded vessel carrying unauthorized Venezuelan migrants overturned in rough open waters on Wednesday afternoon. By Thursday morning, recovery teams had pulled the body of a six-year-old girl from the rocky Los Iros shoreline, and at least two adult passengers remain unaccounted for amid ongoing search operations.

    Local rescue officials confirmed the ill-fated boat was carrying roughly 30 passengers, multiple of whom were children, when disaster hit moments after it launched from the Trinidadian shore. The vessel was en route on the illegal cross-border voyage to Venezuela when it encountered unexpectedly choppy conditions. Witness accounts shared with rescuers indicate a large, unexpected wave slammed into the unregulated craft, throwing dozens of passengers into the cold, rough ocean.

    The Hunters Search and Rescue Team, under the leadership of Vallence Rambharat, mobilized to the incident site before dawn on Thursday, arriving at Los Iros Beach by approximately 6 a.m. to launch their search. First, team members interviewed local members of the Venezuelan migrant community who had been on the scene waiting for updates. It was from these community sources that rescuers learned of the initial death toll: community representatives say three people, including the young girl, have been confirmed dead in the incident.

    Search crews combed the coastline systematically, and located the young girl’s body on a rocky outcrop roughly half a kilometer west of the beach’s lifeguard station. Rambharat noted that based on community accounts, two adult passengers are still missing, prompting search and rescue teams to continue their operations alongside local law enforcement and other emergency response agencies. Local police have confirmed they will continue coordinating search efforts and launch a full investigation into the incident to clarify the full scope of casualties and circumstances.

    This latest fatal disaster marks only the most recent in a long string of deadly migrant tragedies along the dangerous, unregulated maritime route between Trinidad and Venezuela. For years, regional authorities have issued repeated public warnings about the extreme risks of these unauthorized crossings, which typically use overloaded, uninspected small vessels that are ill-equipped to handle even minor shifts in ocean conditions.

  • BAS warns of crisis as meat imports squeeze producers

    BAS warns of crisis as meat imports squeeze producers

    Barbados’ top agricultural industry advocacy group has renewed its lobbying push for government intervention to rein in meat imports, warning that an unprecedented surplus of locally produced pork and poultry has filled national cold storage facilities to capacity and pushed hundreds of domestic farmers to the brink of crippling financial hardship. \n\nJames Paul, chief executive of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), told reporters that domestic meat producers are operating under unsustainable pressure, as overstocked cold storage leaves nowhere for farmers to house their finished products amid a supply-demand mismatch spurred by unregulated cheap foreign imports. To resolve the growing crisis, Paul is calling on the Barbadian government to launch a full review of existing trade regulations, close loopholes that allow under-taxed imported meat to enter the market, and implement temporary restrictions or a full suspension of competing foreign meat imports. This pause, he argues, would give the domestic market enough time to absorb the current surplus of local product before it leads to widespread farm failures.\n\nPaul emphasized that the large capital investments local farmers made over recent years to expand production capacity and boost operational efficiency are now at risk of being completely wiped out by the flood of cheap imported meat entering the country through unclosed regulatory gaps. The domestic pork sector, he said, has suffered the most severe damage from unfair foreign competition, with impacts rippling through major buyers and processing facilities across the entire island. \n\nMany imported pork products enter the country at reduced duty rates through regulatory loopholes, Paul explained, putting local producers at an impossible price disadvantage that locks them out of key market segments. HIPAC, one of the largest institutional purchasers of local pork in Barbados, has been forced to drastically cut the volume of local pork it buys due to intense underpriced competition from imported alternatives, he noted.\n\nThis drop in domestic purchasing comes at a time when local pig farmers deliberately expanded their herds and upgraded production facilities to meet projected domestic demand, leaving thousands of farmers stuck with unsellable excess stock and creating a fast-escalating crisis for the entire livestock industry, Paul said. The poultry sub-sector faces an equally urgent scenario, he added, with cold storage infrastructure stretched far beyond its designed limits. Both large commercial poultry operations and small independent producers are currently sitting on record high inventory levels, creating crippling operational bottlenecks that slow work at hatcheries and processing facilities across the country.\n\n“We do recognise that we have a glut of poultry on our hands. We have been talking constantly, and we know that the cold storage down there is full to the brim. Also, for some of the larger producers, the stocks are up, and then of course a lot of our smaller producers are coming on at the same time,” Paul said. He added that just one week prior, at least one major processing facility was unable to process and distribute all scheduled birds for market, offering clear proof of how severe the current backlog has become.\n\nPaul argued that Barbados’ domestic agriculture sector has reached a level of maturity where local producers can fully meet the island’s entire demand for fresh meat without relying on foreign suppliers. “We are reaching the stage where our local poultry industry should be able to satisfy 100 per cent of the demand for fresh poultry; we do not need to import anything. There is no reason for us to be going shopping abroad to whatever Caribbean destination people feel like going to or in the United States to find these products when we have them here. We need more than talk in the industry right now — we need action,” he said.\n\nFailure to act on the import imbalance, Paul warned, puts both private farmer investments and public government funding at serious risk. Many local producers took out loans through a $2 million government-backed investment program administered by the BAS to upgrade their farm facilities, and unregulated imports will make it impossible for many of these farmers to make their loan payments, he said. The BAS will continue supporting farmers through the application process with the Ministry of Agriculture to help boost farm resilience, Paul said, while continuing to push for urgent, decisive policy action to restrict imports and resolve the current glut.

  • That Facebook privacy post will not protect you

    That Facebook privacy post will not protect you

    Across St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the broader Caribbean region, a misleading viral message about Facebook (Meta) privacy rules reappears in users’ timelines every few months. This persistent hoax opens with a dramatic, urgent warning claiming that a new official Meta policy will take effect tomorrow, granting the company rights to use any user’s photos, with a response deadline set for the same day.

    The message then prompts users to copy and paste a pre-written statement declaring that they do not grant Facebook or Meta permission to use their personal photos or private data. The vast majority of users who share this post do so with sincere, good intentions: driven by legitimate anxiety over online personal privacy, they hope to shield themselves, their families, and the content they upload from misuse. These privacy concerns are not unfounded, and they should never be dismissed out of hand.

    However, digital privacy experts and technology advocates confirm that sharing this copied statement does absolutely nothing to protect users’ content, alter Meta’s established platform policies, or revoke the user agreement each person consented to when creating their Facebook account. While the hoax is crafted to sound official, this veneer of formality does not grant it any legal weight.

    Versions of this rumor have circulated for more than a decade, with shifting details that never alter the core misleading claim. Some iterations say a lawyer recommends posting the statement; others claim the new policy was announced on national television, or consistently frame the policy change as set to start “tomorrow.” No matter how the wording changes, the central claim remains false.

    When a user creates a Meta account, they explicitly agree to the platform’s publicly available Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. A casual personal status update cannot override these pre-negotiated binding terms, nor can it create a new, separate legal agreement between an individual user and Meta. Put plainly, posting a “I do not grant permission” statement cannot revoke the usage rights users already agreed to when joining the platform.

    This recurring hoax highlights exactly why widespread public digital literacy is such a critical public priority. As responsible technology advocate Darron Rodan John notes in this opinion piece, digital literacy – rather than sharing legally meaningless statements – is one of the most effective tools for ordinary internet users to protect their privacy online. Instead of relying on viral tricks, users should be taught to understand how social media platforms operate, how their personal data may be used, and what actionable steps they can take to control their own information.

    John also clarifies a common point of confusion between content ownership and usage permission. Most users retain full copyright ownership of the original photos and content they create themselves. But when content is uploaded to Facebook’s platform, users grant Meta specific permissions to store, display, process, and distribute that content as part of operating the service. Sharing a copied status post cannot withdraw these pre-granted permissions.

    This does not mean users should dismiss privacy concerns entirely; on the contrary, these anxieties are valid and deserve serious attention, especially in tight-knit small communities like St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In such contexts, photos, screenshots, and personal data can spread extremely quickly from Facebook timelines to private WhatsApp groups, other social platforms, and off-platform personal conversations. Once content is copied, downloaded, forwarded, or reposted by another user, the original creator often has almost no control over where it ends up or how it is used.

    The real risk to personal privacy extends far beyond what technology companies may do with user data. It also includes what other individual users can do with the information people voluntarily share publicly.

    Instead of sharing the false privacy declaration, John outlines practical, effective steps Facebook users can take to protect their privacy. These include regularly reviewing and updating account privacy settings, limiting the audience that can access personal posts, checking whether older content remains publicly visible, vetting unfamiliar friend requests before accepting them, and avoiding posting sensitive personal information such as government ID documents, banking details, travel itineraries, or home addresses.

    Users are also advised to think carefully before sharing photos of minors, private family matters, or information that could expose another individual without their explicit consent.

    The repeated resurgence of this false message exposes a much broader global challenge: millions of people use digital social platforms every day without fully understanding the user agreements they have entered, the inherent risks of sharing personal data online, or their own responsibilities as platform users. Digital technology has advanced at a breakneck pace over the past two decades, but public education about responsible, safe digital use has rarely kept up.

    To address this gap, John argues for expanded, accessible digital literacy education across schools, workplaces, community centers, and public awareness campaigns. All citizens should learn core skills: how to spot common online misinformation, identify suspicious content and links, adjust and manage platform privacy settings, secure personal passwords, and vet dramatic viral claims before sharing them with others.

    Before sharing any urgent, alarmist online message, John urges users to pause and ask four key questions: Who created this content? Does it come from a verified official source? Have the claims been fact-checked? Is it pushing for immediate action based on an artificial deadline? Misinformation almost always relies on creating fear and false urgency to drive rapid sharing.

    The next time this recurring Facebook privacy hoax appears on a user’s timeline, there is no need to copy and share it. Instead, John says users should take the moment as a reminder to review their own privacy settings and encourage friends and family to do the same.

    A casual Facebook status update can never supersede Meta’s binding Terms of Service, and a viral fear-driven message can never replace informed, intentional decision-making about online privacy. To stay safe online, users must stay alert, stay informed, and think critically before sharing any content.

    This piece is an opinion column from Darron Rodan John, a responsible technology advocate. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the editorial stance of iWitness News.

  • Thieves Target Same Glanvilles Home Twice in Two Days, Residents Raise Alarm

    Thieves Target Same Glanvilles Home Twice in Two Days, Residents Raise Alarm

    In the quiet neighborhood of Glanvilles, located on the Caribbean island of Antigua, a string of brazen residential break-ins has shattered local peace and left residents on edge. Over a 48-hour window, the same private home was targeted twice by thieves, who made off with a wide range of high-value personal belongings including untraceable cash, family heirloom jewellery, portable electronics, and other prized possessions.

    According to local accounts, the second incursion left the property in significant disarray. Intruders focused their search on the home’s bedroom spaces, yanking open every drawer, dumping contents across carpets and floors, and turning the once-orderly living space upside down in their hunt for anything of resale or personal value.

    The first break-in took place earlier that same week, leaving the home’s owners already shaken. But in an unusual show of criminal boldness, the suspects returned just 24 hours later, bypassed whatever weak security the household had in place, and stole a second cache of items before slipping away undetected.

    These repeated, audacious crimes have rippled through the tight-knit Glanvilles community, amplifying long-simmering concerns about residential safety. Many locals now say they no longer feel secure even within the walls of their own homes, worried that they could be the next target of the repeat intruders.

    In response to the growing anxiety, Glanvilles residents are pressing local law enforcement agencies to take immediate action. Their primary demand is a sharp increase in visible foot and vehicle police patrols throughout the neighborhood to deter further criminal activity. Community leaders are also urging any local resident or visitor who noticed suspicious activity in the area around the time of the burglaries to share what they know with authorities, even if the detail seems insignificant.

    Antiguan law enforcement officials have confirmed that ongoing investigations are underway into both break-ins. As of the latest updates, no suspects have been taken into custody, and police continue to collect evidence and interview witnesses to build their case.

  • Man, 40, gets 40 months in jail for firearm, ammo

    Man, 40, gets 40 months in jail for firearm, ammo

    Law enforcement authorities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have successfully taken two unlicensed firearms and their matching ammunition off public streets, marking a recent win in the country’s ongoing campaign against illegal weapon trafficking and violent crime.

    In the first case, 40-year-old construction worker Lesmond Franklyn, a resident of the Dickson and Orange Hill area, has been sentenced to 40 months of imprisonment for unauthorized possession of a firearm. During his appearance at the Serious Offences Court on Wednesday, Franklyn received an additional one-year jail term for holding unlicensed ammunition, with sentences set to run concurrently.

    Franklyn’s arrest came just one day before his court appearance, when joint tactical patrol units from the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) encountered him during a sweep of Orange Hill. A search of the suspect turned up a loaded .380 caliber pistol alongside seven rounds of ammunition, none of which were accompanied by the required licensing mandated by the country’s Firearms Act.

    Following the conviction, the RSVGPF issued a public statement commending the officers involved in the operation, highlighting their proactive vigilance, inter-unit coordination, and swift decision-making that not only removed a deadly illegal weapon from local communities but also secured an expedited court appearance for the accused.

    In a separate, concurrent case connected to the same anti-illegal-weapon drive, police have charged 30-year-old construction worker Rahiem Williams, a Lowmans Leeward resident, with three offences: possession of a Glock 43X pistol without a license, possession of six rounds of unlicensed ammunition, and unauthorized taking of a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent. The offences are alleged to have occurred on the preceding Monday.

    When arraigned at the Serious Offences Court, Williams entered a plea of not guilty to all three charges. He was subsequently granted conditional bail set at EC$20,000, requiring one financially responsible surety to secure his release. As a condition of bail, Williams must check in daily at the Central Police Station during an open 12-hour window from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and surrender all international and domestic travel documents to authorities. His case has been adjourned for a next hearing scheduled for August 6.

    In an official comment on the two seizures, the RSVGPF emphasized that removing these two weapons from circulation carries broader public safety significance beyond just the recovery of two pieces of ordnance. Each confiscated firearm eliminates a potential threat: it can no longer be drawn during a personal dispute, used to terrorize and intimidate innocent civilians, or deployed to inflict harm on another person, the force noted.

    The RSVGPF reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to rooting out illegal firearms across St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Law enforcement teams across all districts will continue carrying out targeted patrols, joint inter-unit operations, authorized searches, and proactive enforcement actions focused on locating unlicensed weapons, taking them out of circulation, and holding violators accountable through the judicial system.

    The force moved to assure the public that all anti-weapon operations are carried out to protect community safety and uphold the public good. However, the RSVGPF also acknowledged that police action alone cannot resolve the widespread problem of illegal firearms in the country. Tip-offs and intelligence from ordinary citizens remain a critical, irreplaceable component of successful weapons seizures. The force is calling on any member of the public with information about unlicensed firearms, ammunition, or individuals engaged in firearm-related criminal activity to contact police departments immediately.

    “Every firearm removed is one less weapon available to threaten the peace and security of St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” the statement concluded.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority USA Earns Accolades for Strengthening Travel Trade and Diaspora Engagement

    Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority USA Earns Accolades for Strengthening Travel Trade and Diaspora Engagement

    The U.S. division of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA USA) has recently received widespread industry recognition for its exceptional work in two critical areas of tourism development: expanding travel trade partnerships and deepening engagement with the Antigua and Barbuda diaspora based in the United States.

    For the Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, tourism stands as the backbone of its national economy, contributing a substantial share of annual GDP and supporting tens of thousands of local jobs across hospitality, transportation, recreational services, and small local businesses. The U.S. market has long been the largest source of international visitors to the twin islands, making strategic outreach and relationship-building in the U.S. a high priority for the national tourism body.

    In its work to strengthen travel trade ties, ABTA USA has rolled out a series of targeted initiatives over the past year, including educational workshops for U.S.-based travel agents, curated familiarization (fam) trips that bring tour operators and travel influencers to experience Antigua and Barbuda’s attractions firsthand, and collaborative marketing campaigns with major online travel platforms and brick-and-mortar travel agencies. These efforts have helped increase visibility of the destination among U.S. travelers, streamline booking processes, and build long-term trust between the Antigua and Barbuda tourism sector and North American travel trade professionals.

    Equally notable has been the organization’s focus on diaspora engagement. Hundreds of thousands of people with roots in Antigua and Barbuda reside in the U.S., and this community represents a consistent source of travel volume, as many return home for family visits, holidays, or cultural events. ABTA USA has launched tailored outreach programs, including cultural networking events, exclusive travel offers for diaspora members, and partnership with diaspora community organizations to co-develop tourism experiences that resonate with returning residents and their families. The authority has also leveraged diaspora voices to promote the destination to broader U.S. audiences, tapping into the authentic, first-hand knowledge that community members bring to promotion efforts.

    Industry judges that presented the accolades highlighted that ABTA USA’s integrated strategy has delivered measurable results, including a year-over-year increase in visitor arrivals from the U.S., higher average booking values through travel trade channels, and stronger long-term buy-in from both travel trade partners and the diaspora community. The awards recognize not only short-term growth in tourist numbers but also the sustainable, relationship-focused approach that ABTA USA has adopted to build resilience in the destination’s tourism sector, particularly in the post-pandemic travel landscape where many Caribbean destinations are competing for a share of the growing North American travel market.

    Leaders of Antigua and Barbuda’s national tourism board say the accolades are a testament to the organization’s user-centric approach, which prioritizes understanding the needs of both travel trade partners and the diaspora community. They added that they plan to expand on these successful initiatives in the coming year, rolling out new programming to reach more travel agents and deepen connections with diaspora communities across different regions of the U.S.

  • Antigua and Barbuda to Host National Cybersecurity and Fraud Prevention Forum

    Antigua and Barbuda to Host National Cybersecurity and Fraud Prevention Forum

    As Caribbean small island developing state Antigua and Barbuda ramps up its nationwide fight against cybercrime and boosts public digital literacy, it is set to host a landmark National Cybersecurity and Fraud Prevention Forum this Thursday.

    This hybrid event, which combines in-person and virtual participation, will run for 85 minutes from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. local time at the John E. St. Luce Finance and Conference Centre. The gathering comes on the heels of the recent passage of the 2026 Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, a landmark piece of legislation designed to update the country’s cyberdefense framework, empower law enforcement to address evolving digital threats, and strengthen legal protections for ordinary internet users and businesses operating online.

    Senator Angelica O’Donoghue, a key supporter of the amendment during upper house parliamentary debate, emphasized that new regulation alone cannot curb rising cybercrime. “Passing laws is only part of the solution. Public awareness is just as important,” she noted, explaining that meaningful public education is a non-negotiable foundation for the new legislation to deliver on its intended safety goals.

    O’Donoghue has issued a broad call for participation, urging parents, students, small business owners, and every segment of the internet-using public to take advantage of the free educational opportunity. Attendees will gain hands-on knowledge to identify common phishing scams, mitigate fraud risks, and build safer digital habits for both personal and professional use, she said. The senator also praised the government’s move to modernize Antigua and Barbuda’s cybercrime laws, noting that the update aligns national regulation with the rapidly shifting challenges of an increasingly digitized global economy.

    The forum’s agenda is structured to deliver actionable, practical insights for attendees of all technical backgrounds. Scheduled sessions include deep dives into recognizing emerging cyber threats, proven strategies for stopping fraud, industry-recognized cybersecurity best practices, an overview of the new legal protections established under the amended bill, and a discussion on cross-stakeholder collaboration to address future cybersecurity challenges. The event will close with an open question-and-answer session, allowing attendees to get personalized answers to their specific digital safety concerns.

    Organizers note the core mission of the forum is to equip individuals and local businesses with the concrete guidance they need to guard themselves against pervasive cyber threats and costly financial fraud. In-person spots are still open for registration, and the entire event will be streamed for remote attendees who cannot join at the venue.