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  • Drie verdachten blijven vast; politie bereidt opsporing Ryan Torilal voor

    Drie verdachten blijven vast; politie bereidt opsporing Ryan Torilal voor

    Authorities in Suriname have confirmed that three suspects arrested in connection with the disappearance of Rudisa Chief Commercial Officer Rodney Leysner will remain in pre-trial custody. On Tuesday, a judge-commissioner validated the legality of their continued detention, marking the latest development in an ongoing high-profile investigation that has captured public attention.

    During a press conference held Tuesday, Eshita Hunte, commissioner heading the country’s Department for Combating Serious Crime (BZC), announced that law enforcement is currently preparing an official nationwide manhunt for Ryan Torilal, who has recently been formally classified as a suspect and remains at large. Hunte emphasized that the investigation is still in a critical, sensitive phase, and authorities are taking strict precautions to prevent premature leaks of information that could compromise the probe or the search for the fugitive. The press conference also marked the first public appearance of Suriname’s police leadership in the service’s new official uniform.

    Addressing the change in Torilal’s case status, Hunte explained that the individual was initially questioned only as a witness, with the classification upgrade to suspect coming as the investigation uncovered new evidence. “This adjustment is entirely based on the facts, circumstances, and the latest progress of the investigation,” Hunte stated, noting that formal suspect status is only granted after all required procedural steps are completed and sufficient evidence has been gathered.

    She added that the nationwide manhunt for Torilal is still moving through required official protocols, including mandatory consultations with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, internal documentation, and preliminary internal search arrangements. “The general manhunt is in development,” Hunte said. “It is only a matter of time before it is officially launched.”

    Hunte also pushed back against persistent unconfirmed rumors circulating on social media in recent days, stressing that investigators have not yet recovered Leysner’s body. What authorities have located is Leysner’s burned-out vehicle, which was recovered earlier in the investigation. Law enforcement continues to keep most details of the case confidential to protect the integrity of the investigation. “If there was any tangible progress toward solving this case, we would be eager to share that update with the public,” Hunte said, adding that police are equally invested in reaching a swift resolution to the case.

    When asked about the potential for international assistance in the investigation, Suriname’s police leadership confirmed that the Suriname Police Corps has not formally requested support from foreign law enforcement agencies to date. However, Hunte noted that Leysner’s family has launched independent initiatives to secure international help, and has maintained regular contact with local police to explore where official support for these efforts can be provided.

  • Police Urge Organizers to Reschedule Major Events During CHOGM 2026

    Police Urge Organizers to Reschedule Major Events During CHOGM 2026

    ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbua – August 26, 2026 – As the Caribbean nation prepares to welcome global leaders for the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has issued a formal public appeal asking event organizers and industry stakeholders to adjust their plans for the end of October and early November. The law enforcement agency is calling on promoters, entertainment planners, and other event hosts to reschedule any large-scale gatherings currently slated to run between October 30 and November 5, the official dates of the upcoming high-profile summit.

    CHOGM, which brings together heads of government from across the Commonwealth bloc, will require a sweeping national security operation to protect all attendees and the general public. To deliver this safety mandate, a large share of the Royal Police Force’s personnel and critical security resources will be reassigned to CHOGM-specific duty for the duration of the event. Even with this rediversion of resources, the force remains obligated to uphold its core day-to-day responsibilities: continuing regular crime prevention work and maintaining essential community policing services across both Antigua and Barbuda.

    Against this resource allocation challenge, police administration is strongly encouraging organizers to hold off on submitting new permit applications for large entertainment and major public events during the CHOGM window. For events that have already been planned, officials are asking stakeholders to defer these gatherings to dates outside the October 30 to November 5 period wherever possible.

    In issuing the appeal, police leadership emphasized that they recognize the outsized social and economic contribution the events and entertainment sector makes to Antigua and Barbuda, and expressed gratitude in advance for the cooperation, flexibility and understanding expected from organizers, promoters and the general public as the nation hosts this landmark international gathering.

  • NSWMA Seeks Public’s Help to Identify Owner of White Skip Bin at Fryes

    NSWMA Seeks Public’s Help to Identify Owner of White Skip Bin at Fryes

    Local waste management officials are reaching out to the general community for help resolving an unusual case involving an unclaimed waste container in the Fryes area. The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), the government body responsible for overseeing waste collection and disposal operations across the region, has confirmed that it is currently searching for the legal owner of a white skip bin that is currently situated at an unspecified location in Fryes.

    Skip bins are large, open-topped waste containers commonly used for construction debris, household cleanouts, and commercial waste removal, typically placed on private property or approved public locations when rented by a property owner or contractor. In this instance, NSWMA representatives have not reported any issues with the placement of the bin itself, but have stated that no registered owner has come forward to claim ownership or confirm the bin’s legal placement.

    The authority has issued a public notice urging any local residents, business owners, or contractors who may have information about the skip bin — including who placed it there, who rented it, or who holds legal ownership — to come forward with their details. Officials note that public collaboration will be critical to quickly resolving this matter, ensuring that waste management protocols are followed, and avoiding any unnecessary disruptions or safety concerns for the Fryes community. The NSWMA has expressed its gratitude in advance for the public’s willingness to cooperate and share information to assist with this process.

  • GFNC launches hypertension management programme to empower communities

    GFNC launches hypertension management programme to empower communities

    Grenada’s public health landscape has gained a critical new tool to combat one of the country’s most pressing chronic health challenges, with the official launch of the Enhancing Self-Monitoring and Nutrition Awareness for Hypertension Management Programme by the Grenada Food and Nutrition Council (GFNC). This targeted community-focused initiative is designed to empower local residents with the practical knowledge, hands-on skills, and essential resources to take proactive control of their blood pressure levels and build long-term healthy daily habits. Backed by funding from the Pump It Up! Initiative run by Grenada Cooperative Bank Ltd., the programme advances GFNC’s long-standing core mission to expand public nutrition education and improve outcomes for people living with non-communicable diseases across the island nation.

    Hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, continues to be a leading public health concern in Grenada, contributing to widespread risk of cardiovascular and other chronic conditions. A key barrier to effective at-home management for many local residents has been limited access to reliable blood pressure monitoring equipment, a gap this new programme directly addresses. To remove this obstacle, all participants who complete the full 4-week curriculum will receive a professionally validated blood pressure monitor to keep at home, alongside a curated collection of heart-healthy recipes and dedicated logbooks to track regular blood pressure readings. Beyond these initial resources, participants will also gain access to ongoing follow-up guidance and peer and professional support to help them maintain the positive lifestyle changes they adopt throughout the programme.

    The curriculum combines multiple evidence-based approaches to hypertension management, integrating interactive nutrition education, live cooking demonstrations, guided lifestyle modification planning, and hands-on training in regular blood pressure self-monitoring. Each week of the programme focuses on actionable practical skills: sessions cover evidence-based strategies for cutting excess sodium intake, methods to increase daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, guidance for managing healthy portion sizes, and training to easily interpret and understand nutrition product labels. The first in-person session was already completed successfully in the St Patrick region, with upcoming sessions already scheduled to roll out across Petite Martinique, St Mark, and St John in the coming weeks.

    Aligned with the World Health Organization’s HEARTS technical package for cardiovascular disease management, the new programme directly advances two of the six core HEARTS components: Healthy-lifestyle counselling and Systems for blood pressure monitoring. Through these aligned components, the programme supports participants to make intentional, informed decisions about their daily diet, physical activity routines, and overall lifestyle habits, while equipping them with the tangible tools needed to track their blood pressure consistently over time.

    Representatives from GFNC have expressed sincere gratitude to Grenada Cooperative Bank Ltd. for its funding support through the Pump It Up! Initiative, and issued a public call to all Grenadians to prioritize their heart health by learning their blood pressure numbers, evaluating their daily food choices, adopting sustainable healthy habits, and taking personal control of their long-term well-being. Residents interested in learning more about the programme and GFNC’s broader work can visit the council’s official website at https://gfnc.gov.gd/about-us/ or follow its social media channels via https://linktr.ee/473GFNC for ongoing updates.

  • Crown seeks to revoke Shiver’s bail in murder conspiracy case

    Crown seeks to revoke Shiver’s bail in murder conspiracy case

    A high-profile legal proceeding unfolded this week in the Bahamas, where former Georgia beauty queen Lindsay Shiver returned to a Bahamian court to fight prosecutors’ bid to revoke her bail. Shiver, who faces a conspiracy to commit murder charge alongside two local men, Terrance Bethel and Faron Newbold Jr., is accused of plotting to kill her husband Robert Shiver back in July 2023, and prosecutors argue she has repeatedly violated the strict terms of her pre-trial release.

    The hearing, held before Senior Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson, centered on persistent issues with Shiver’s court-ordered electronic monitoring equipment, which is a core requirement of her bail agreement that allowed her to return to the United States to await trial. A representative from Migrafil, the private monitoring firm contracted to oversee Shiver’s location tracking, took the stand to outline the long-running issues the company has faced with her monitoring devices.

    The witness testified that multiple monitoring devices assigned to Shiver experienced malfunctions over the course of several months. According to their testimony, problems with Shiver’s monitoring can be traced back to December of last year, when Shiver notified the company that she could not attend a scheduled device servicing appointment at the firm’s designated service location in Miami, Florida. The witness confirmed that Migrafil offered to replace Shiver’s malfunctioning device back in December, but Shiver declined to travel to Miami at that time.

    Defense attorney Terrel Butler pushed back against prosecutors’ claims that Shiver deliberately violated her bail terms, arguing that equipment malfunctions are a common issue in the electronic monitoring industry, and that technical failures do not equal intentional non-compliance. Butler explained that Shiver was unable to travel to Miami for the December servicing appointment because she had a separate pre-scheduled court matter in the United States that barred her from making the long trip. By May of this year, the Migrafil representative confirmed the company had made three separate attempts to arrange device servicing, but all fell through before a replacement was finally completed.

    Butler also told the court that Shiver was unable to check in with the monitoring company in May because she was suffering from an illness. When the replacement eventually took place, the swap was conducted inside a vehicle in a U.S. post office parking lot, a far cry from the designated Miami location. The defense added that even for this ad-hoc appointment, Shiver had to drive more than five hours to reach the meeting spot while sick with a summer flu. The Migrafil witness acknowledged they could not confirm Shiver had made any deliberate attempt to evade monitoring, and also could not say whether the mobile service provider responsible for the swap could have arranged a closer meeting location for Shiver.

    This is not the first time Shiver has faced threats to her bail. Earlier in 2024, she briefly lost her pre-trial release after prosecutors alleged she had repeatedly left the state of Alabama in violation of a court-ordered travel restriction. The current conspiracy charge stems from an alleged plot to kill Robert Shiver on July 16, 2023. Authorities have said they first uncovered the alleged plot after seizing a mobile phone during a separate, unrelated criminal investigation on Guana Cay. Shiver was granted bail last year and allowed to return to the U.S. under strict monitoring conditions, a decision that has been contested by prosecutors throughout the pre-trial process. Karine MacVean represented the prosecution in this week’s hearing.

  • Inversiones Calpe installs bollards at Playa Encuentro property following court rulings

    Inversiones Calpe installs bollards at Playa Encuentro property following court rulings

    In the coastal town of Cabarete, located in Puerto Plata province of the Dominican Republic, a long-running legal conflict over land rights and public beach access has entered a new phase: private investment firm Inversiones Calpe, S.R.L. has begun installing concrete bollards along the boundaries of what it confirms is its privately held parcel at the popular surf destination Playa Encuentro.

    Led by U.S. investor Lance B. Lundberg, the company has emphasized that all construction work is taking place strictly within its registered property lines. The bollards, company representatives explain, are only intended to block unauthorized vehicle and foot traffic that has historically cut across the private land to reach the beach. Far from cutting off public access to the shoreline, Calpe notes that the project leaves intact the court-recognized public access route that all visitors can use to reach the beach. To accommodate beachgoers, the firm has even set aside part of its land for public parking, added public restrooms, outdoor showers, and on-site security for visitor convenience.

    Beyond property protection, Calpe frames the boundary installation as an environmental conservation measure. By redirecting all public traffic to the designated public route, the work will cut down on unregulated vehicle passage through ecologically fragile coastal habitats, helping to preserve the area’s sensitive natural ecosystem, the company says.

    All of the current work aligns with a series of binding Dominican court rulings dating back to late 2024. In a decision issued April 30, 2025, the Fifth Chamber of the Superior Administrative Court (TSA) ordered that Calpe be allowed to fence and mark the boundaries of Parcel 1-Ref-13, Cadastral District No. 2 of Puerto Plata, without interference from any government bodies. The ruling also required state institutions to remove misleading signs placed on the private property that incorrectly directed beach traffic across the land, and correct incorrect directional signage in surrounding areas. The court explicitly stated that public access to the beach’s public-domain section should not use Calpe’s private land, as a formal public right-of-way already exists for that purpose.

    The legal dispute originated with an earlier TSA ruling issued November 13, 2024, which first ordered state agencies to end interference with Calpe’s property rights and correct misleading access signage. When compliance stalled, the court issued a follow-up ruling on April 10, 2026, finding that two key agencies—the Ministry of Tourism and the Dominican Navy—had failed to comply with the 2025 order for 213 days, between June 24, 2025 and January 22, 2026. The court imposed cumulative daily penalties (called astreinte) totaling RD$213,000 to be paid jointly by the two agencies, gave them 30 days to achieve full compliance, and increased the daily fine for future noncompliance to RD$1,500. This 2026 ruling also explicitly banned the Ministry of Tourism and Dominican Navy from entering the private property without explicit permission from Calpe.

    Calpe further confirmed that the Third Chamber of the Dominican Supreme Court of Justice rejected appeals filed by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources challenging the 2025 TSA ruling, in a decision dated December 18, 2025, numbered SCJ-TS-25-4322.

    According to Calpe, the current bollard and fencing project simply fulfills the rights granted to the company by these binding court decisions. The work’s core goals are to clearly mark the private parcel’s boundaries, deter unauthorized trespassing, and direct all beach visitors to the court-authorized public access route. The company has issued a public call for both government authorities and beach visitors to respect two equally important principles: the public status of the majority of Playa Encuentro, and the private property rights that have been repeatedly upheld by Dominican courts.

    A broad group of Dominican government institutions have been involved in the dispute, including the Ministry of Tourism, the Committee for the Execution of Tourism Zone Infrastructure (CEIZTUR), the Dominican Navy, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, and the National Environmental Protection Service (SENPA).

  • Tourism Ministry inaugurates new photo stop at Punta Rucia Beach

    Tourism Ministry inaugurates new photo stop at Punta Rucia Beach

    PUERTO PLATA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – In a significant step forward for the country’s coastal tourism infrastructure development, Tourism Minister David Collado has formally opened a new purpose-built photo attraction at Punta Rucia Beach, part of a sweeping national government initiative to upgrade public spaces and coastal environments across the Dominican Republic’s top travel destinations.

    The RD$10.8 million development spans a constructed area of 352 square meters, with a total impacted zone covering 1,391 square meters. The completed site features a reinforced concrete scenic overlook designed for visitor contemplation and photography, a branded destination signage marker, new paved sidewalks, reinforced curbs, upgraded stormwater drainage systems, decorative paving, native landscape plantings, energy-efficient public lighting, and durable visitor street furniture. Beyond the core photo stop facility, the project also included comprehensive resurfacing and improvements to the beach access road, alongside targeted engineering measures to stabilize and protect the fragile coastal shoreline from erosion.

    Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Minister Collado emphasized that the new landmark does more than add an amenity for visitors: it gives Punta Rucia a unique, recognizable visual identity that will help set the destination apart in a competitive regional tourism market. He added that the opening marks just the first phase of a broader series of planned upgrades to expand tourism infrastructure and enhance visitor experiences across the Punta Rucia area.

    Local community members and small business owners in the region have expressed widespread enthusiasm for the investment, noting that this project marks the first time a sitting Dominican tourism minister has visited and prioritized infrastructure improvements for the beaches of Punta Rucia and neighboring Ensenada.

    Tucked approximately 70 kilometers from the main city of Puerto Plata on the Dominican Republic’s northern coast, Punta Rucia has long been celebrated by travelers for its unspoiled natural beauty and calm, clear coastal waters. It also serves as the primary departure point for day trips to Cayo Arena, one of the country’s most visited and iconic coastal tourist attractions, welcoming thousands of domestic and international visitors each year.

    The entire project was overseen by CEIZTUR, the Executive Committee for Infrastructure in Tourist Zones operating under the Ministry of Tourism, ensuring compliance with national coastal development and tourism accessibility standards.

  • Dominican Republic to host 41st ECLAC Session in Santiago de los Caballeros

    Dominican Republic to host 41st ECLAC Session in Santiago de los Caballeros

    The Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic has formally launched pre-event arrangements for the 41st Session of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), a high-profile regional economic gathering set to take place from October 7 to 9, 2026, in the country’s second-largest city, Santiago de los Caballeros.

    At a briefing held for a broad cross-section of stakeholders, the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mirex) shared comprehensive logistical and substantive details of the upcoming three-day meeting. Attendees at the briefing included representatives of the national diplomatic corps, leaders of international operating agencies, senior domestic government officials, chief executives from the national and regional business community, and other key parties invested in the event’s outcomes.

    When the session convenes in 2026, it is projected to draw a diverse, high-level cohort of participants. These will include foreign ministers from across ECLAC’s member states, lead delegation heads, top-ranking government officials from participating countries, representatives from global multilateral bodies and development banks, leaders from the private sector, academic researchers, civil society advocates, and international journalists. The core mission of the gathering is to foster open, collaborative dialogue around two central pillars: advancing inclusive regional economic development and addressing the interconnected common challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean today.

    Dominican Foreign Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó underscored the critical value of cross-border dialogue and multilateral cooperation in tackling shared challenges that do not respect national boundaries. He noted that the Dominican Republic, as host, is focused on ensuring the session delivers tangible, long-term results, including durable cross-sector partnerships, actionable collaborative initiatives, and expanded opportunities for sustained regional integration and growth.

    The provisional agenda for the 2026 session covers a range of pressing, forward-looking topics that reflect the region’s current priorities. Key discussion themes will include deepening regional economic integration, accelerating inclusive digital transformation across member states, exploring the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence for development, driving sustainable productive development, and coordinating responsive macroeconomic policy amid shifting global conditions. In addition to these regional and global themes, the agenda includes a dedicated panel focused on the Dominican Republic’s northern region, where the conference will be held. This panel will examine how targeted public-private dialogue can drive inclusive national transformation across the country. The session will also close with a dedicated closed meeting of foreign ministers and senior officials, focused on developing coordinated strategies to manage rapid economic and social transformations amid ongoing global volatility and disruption.

  • El Niño cuts drinking water production in Greater Santo Domingo by up to 68%

    El Niño cuts drinking water production in Greater Santo Domingo by up to 68%

    A severe climate-driven water crisis is unfolding across Greater Santo Domingo, where the El Niño phenomenon has triggered a sharp decline in rainfall that has crippled drinking water production across four major regional aqueduct networks, according to the Santo Domingo Water and Sewerage Corporation (Caasd).

    Since May, the key river watersheds that feed the region’s water infrastructure—including the Haina, Isa, Mana, Duey, Isabela and Nizao rivers—have received far less precipitation than historical averages, draining the natural water reserves that supply local distribution systems. The most dramatic drop has been recorded at the Haina-Manoguayabo Aqueduct, where output has plummeted 68% from its standard 91 million gallons per day to just 29 million gallons daily. The nearby Isabela Aqueduct has fared similarly poorly, seeing a 65% production reduction that brings its daily output down to 3 million gallons from the usual 9 million. Even the Isa-Mana and Duey aqueducts have each sustained production cuts of more than 60% amid the ongoing drought conditions.

    These sharp reductions in water output have translated to widespread service disruptions for dozens of communities across the region. Affected areas include the municipalities of Los Alcarrizos, Pedro Brand, Pantoja, and multiple neighborhoods along República de Colombia Avenue, along with large swathes of the National District south of John F. Kennedy Avenue. Populations served by the Haina-Manoguayabo system, including the central districts of Gascue, Zona Universitaria, El Cacique, and 30 de Mayo, are also grappling with interrupted water access.

    In response to the growing crisis, Caasd has rolled out emergency mitigation measures to reallocate water resources and bring relief to hard-hit neighborhoods. The agency is diverting additional water from the Valdesia-Santo Domingo Aqueduct to affected zones; while the Nizao River (a key source for the Valdesia system) has also seen lower flows, the two reservoirs feeding the network hold enough reserve water to maintain full normal operations, making it the region’s most stable water source at present.

    To expand last-mile distribution to underserved communities, Caasd has also boosted its fleet of water tanker trucks. The agency recently purchased 40 new dedicated tankers, 16 of which are already active on routes, with the remaining 24 set to join the fleet within the coming week. Complementing this public fleet, 76 additional privately contracted tankers are currently delivering emergency water supplies to residential areas facing the most severe outages.

    Moving forward, Caasd announced it will maintain continuous monitoring of El Niño’s evolution and its projected impact on local rainfall and water reserves, working closely with forecast data from the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet) to adjust mitigation strategies as conditions change.

  • Haiti: deadly gang attack in Kenscoff leaves at least 20 dead

    Haiti: deadly gang attack in Kenscoff leaves at least 20 dead

    A devastating armed gang incursion in the mountain commune of Kenscoff, located just east of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, has left a yet undetermined number of residents dead and hundreds displaced following a night of coordinated violence between August 23 and 24, news agency EFE has confirmed. Initial on-the-ground reporting from EFE journalists verified at least 20 fatalities in areas accessible to reporters, while some local Haitian media outlets have put the potential death toll as high as 40, as active gunfire and explosions blocked access to more remote parts of the commune in the immediate aftermath of the attack. The widespread brutality has prompted Haiti’s national government to activate all available security forces and place the country’s law enforcement contingent on maximum operational alert.

    During the coordinated assault, members of the attacking armed group set residential homes and civilian vehicles ablaze, sending panicked residents fleeing for safety across the commune. EFE correspondents on site documented at least 20 bodies recovered in the first hours after the violence broke out, while exchanges of gunfire between gangs and responding security forces continued to rock outlying neighborhoods through the morning of August 24.

    Haitian national police were quickly deployed to the area to repel the attacking gang members, but the hours-long violence still left dozens of injured civilians and forced more than 500 residents to abandon their homes for safer territory. In a chilling turn that has deepened the humanitarian impact of the attack, a local church that was already serving as a temporary shelter for people displaced by earlier gang violence was also targeted during the assault.

    Among the residents directly affected by the attack are multiple high-profile Haitian public figures, including Dr. William Pape, the founder of the well-known Gheskio network of community health centers, whose private residence in Kenscoff was stormed and damaged during the incursion.

    In an official statement following the violence, Haiti’s government issued a firm condemnation of the gang attack, announcing it would deploy additional reinforcements to Kenscoff to reestablish full state authority over the strategically located commune. While authorities have not yet released an official confirmed death toll, they have made a public pledge that the area will not be ceded to criminal armed groups.

    Preliminary investigations into the attack link the violence to the Viv Ansanm gang coalition, a powerful criminal alliance that has been waging a campaign to expand its territorial control across the region. Kenscoff holds major strategic value for the coalition, as it sits along key travel routes connecting Haiti’s capital to the Southeast department and the major coastal city of Jacmel.