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  • Trump’s Map Puts Belize Under U.S. Flag

    Trump’s Map Puts Belize Under U.S. Flag

    In a provocative and unexplained social media post that has stirred diplomatic tension across the Western Hemisphere, former president and current U.S. President Donald Trump has shared an uncaptioned map on his Truth Social platform that reimagines nearly the entire region from North America down through Central America and the Caribbean as territory under the banner of the United States flag.

    The map, shared September 8, 2026, labels the entire expanded territorial bloc as the ‘United States of America’. The U.S. flag graphic stretches across the continental U.S., Canada, Mexico, Greenland, Iceland, every Central American nation including Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, and multiple island nations across the Caribbean. Notably, Belize — the small Central American nation bordered by Mexico and Guatemala — is explicitly included in the territory claimed by the map, alongside its immediate Central American neighbors.

    The post comes at a time of fresh diplomatic personnel change between Washington and Belize City. Just four days before Trump’s map was shared, newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Belize André Bauer arrived in the country on September 4. Bauer completed the formal diplomatic accreditation process just one day before the map was posted, presenting his credentials to Belize’s Governor General Froyla Tzalam on September 7.

    While Trump offered no context or explanation for the map, the display of territorial expansionism has already drawn a firm rebuke from regional leaders. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum issued a public statement reaffirming her nation’s sovereignty, opting not to name Trump directly in her response. Posting on the social platform X, Sheinbaum emphasized that Mexico ‘is not and will not be a colony or protectorate of any foreign country,’ underscoring that Mexico remains a free, independent, and fully sovereign nation.

    As of this reporting, no other leaders from the nations included on Trump’s map have issued public statements, and the White House has not offered additional clarification on the intent or meaning behind the president’s post.

  • Saint Lucia links with English rugby club ahead of increased BA airlift

    Saint Lucia links with English rugby club ahead of increased BA airlift

    The Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia is continuing its aggressive push into sports-driven tourism, adding a new high-profile partnership to its growing portfolio of international collaborations. Just weeks after locking in a sponsorship agreement with English Premier League titleholders Arsenal FC earlier this summer, the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) has finalized a new destination sponsorship deal with Saracens Rugby Club, one of the most decorated elite rugby organizations in the world.

    Headquartered in North London and competing in the top-tier Gallagher Premiership, Saracens boasts a massive global fanbase, with particularly deep engagement across the United Kingdom and mainland Europe—regions where rugby commands a massive mainstream audience and generates billions in annual viewership. The new partnership comes at a timely moment, ahead of the 2026-27 Gallagher Premiership season kicking off on September 25. Under the terms of the deal, Brand Saint Lucia will receive prominent branding placement across Saracens’ home ground, StoneX Stadium, putting the Caribbean destination in front of tens of thousands of match attendees and millions of broadcast viewers throughout the season.

    Complementing the new sponsorship, British Airways is expanding its service to the island with the launch of daily direct flights from London Gatwick to Saint Lucia starting October 25. The new route will add an extra 51,000 seats annually, making it far easier for UK and European travelers to visit the island and tapping directly into the audience reach generated by the Saracens partnership.

    This collaboration marks the first time Saint Lucia has partnered with a professional rugby organization, representing a key milestone in the country’s long-term sports tourism diversification strategy. Beyond just branding and visitor promotion, the agreement is designed to deliver mutual benefits, including targeted support for grassroots rugby development in Saint Lucia. The partnership will launch joint programming with the Saint Lucia Rugby Academy, providing local players and coaches with access to world-class resources including professional mentorship, advanced training camps, specialist coaching workshops, academic and athletic scholarships, and ongoing development opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach for many emerging local talents.

    Speaking on the new partnership, Saint Lucia’s Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire emphasized the far-reaching value of the agreement beyond traditional tourism marketing. “Partnerships like this allow us to take Brand Saint Lucia beyond the traditional tourism experience and create greater awareness of our products, services, culture and creative talent,” Hilaire said. He added that the collaboration opens new pathways for Saint Lucian businesses to build cross-border commercial relationships and unlock new export opportunities, framing the deal as a critical step toward building a more resilient, diversified tourism economy that centers local communities and ensures Saint Lucians are the primary beneficiaries of growth.”

  • More Sargassum, More Costs. No Plan?

    More Sargassum, More Costs. No Plan?

    By 2026, the persistent influx of sargassum along Belize’s coastlines has evolved from an occasional environmental nuisance to a crippling, recurring financial burden for the country’s coastal tourism sector. For hotels, tour operators, and small coastal businesses, routine seaweed removal is no longer an unexpected cost—it has become a permanent line item on every annual operating budget.

    Reynaldo A. Malik Jr., president of the Belize Hotel Association (BHA), explains that certain coastal geographies have exacerbated the crisis, with the Placencia Peninsula hit particularly hard. The peninsula’s natural coastal formation creates natural traps that allow massive volumes of sargassum to accumulate along its shorelines, far beyond what private properties alone can manage consistently.

    Malik emphasizes that the responsibility for clearing national coastlines cannot rest exclusively on private industry. While BHA members acknowledge their obligation to maintain the beach segments directly fronting their properties, he argues that public and undeveloped coastal areas—including government-owned crown land—must be managed by state and local authorities. What is needed, he stresses, is a formal public-private partnership built around a actionable, long-term strategy to address the crisis. It is this lack of a functional, coordinated plan that has frustrated industry leaders the most, Malik says.

    “You can allocate any amount of public funding to this problem, but without a clear implementation plan, that money is simply wasted,” Malik noted, comparing unplanned spending to throwing cash into the wind. His critique extends to some parts of the tourism industry as well: he acknowledged that not all hotel operators are holding up their end of mitigation efforts, with some properties allowing massive piles of sargassum to build up on their stretches of beach without intervention, worsening the problem for neighboring businesses and the wider coast.

    The conversation around sargassum mitigation has become tied to recent tourism policy changes: Minister of Tourism Anthony Mahler has framed the recent increase in hotel occupancy tax, from 9% to 12%, as a mechanism to generate dedicated funding for sargassum response efforts. Malik confirmed that BHA has been holding ongoing exploratory talks with the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Finance, and the Office of the Prime Minister, with a formal negotiating meeting still scheduled for a future date.

    Given tourism’s outsize role in Belize’s national economy, any disruption to the coastal tourism sector ripples through the entire country’s financial health. “Impacts to our industry, whether positive or negative, create direct ripple effects for Belize’s overall economy,” Malik said. Despite the current frustration over the lack of a clear plan, he remains optimistic that stakeholders will reach a collaborative solution that works for all parties involved.

  • KQ-Empire’s Michelle Devonish Announces 2027 Comeback After Serious Antigua Crash

    KQ-Empire’s Michelle Devonish Announces 2027 Comeback After Serious Antigua Crash

    Michelle Devonish, an award-winning British creative entrepreneur of Antiguan descent and founder of the acclaimed luxury lifestyle brand KQ-Empire, has officially confirmed that the brand’s highly anticipated 13th magazine issue and its accompanying star-studded red-carpet soirée will be rescheduled for 2027. The decision comes after Devonish sustained life-altering injuries in a severe road traffic collision on the island earlier this year.

    Devonish first traveled to Antigua in April 2026, carrying an ambitious strategic plan to expand KQ-Empire into new creative markets across Antigua and the wider Caribbean region. Her core objectives for the visit included growing the brand’s regional footprint, forging deeper ties with Antigua’s local fashion and lifestyle ecosystem, and elevating emerging designers and creative talent from across the Caribbean community. At the center of this expansion push were the 13th magazine issue and the curated soirée, titled *Haute Cuisine: The Intersection Between Art, High Fashion and Culture*, which was designed to serve as a groundbreaking cross-industry gathering connecting local and international chefs, fashion innovators, leading creatives, and senior representatives from global luxury fashion houses.

    Tragedy struck on April 29, 2026, while Devonish was conducting site visits for the upcoming event. She was involved in the serious car crash that left her with significant physical injuries, including damage to her cervical spine, alongside lasting psychological trauma from the collision. Faced with her extended recovery timeline, Devonish and her KQ-Empire team had no other option but to announce a full postponement of both the 13th issue and the 2026 soirée, and all international guests already planning travel to Antigua were promptly notified of the change.

    Beyond the disruption to her business plans, the accident and subsequent recovery process has given Devonish firsthand insight into gaps in post-accident rehabilitation care in Antigua that she described as previously unseen and deeply concerning. As she continues to work through treatment, physical recovery, and the numerous practical barriers that have complicated her rehabilitation journey, Devonish says she hopes her experience will ultimately spark a broader public conversation about improving post-accident care and support systems across the island.

    The delay hits KQ-Empire at a pivotal moment of growth for the independent luxury publisher. Commonly known to its global readership as KQ, the brand has built a reputation as a distinctive voice in luxury media, and has expanded far beyond its original print roots to add successful podcasting and a line of luxury soft home furnishings to its portfolio. Over its years of operation, KQ has secured high-profile collaborations with globally recognized luxury brands including Tiffany & Co. and Mercedes-Benz, while cultivating a unique creative identity that spans fashion, fine art, design, travel and global culture.

    Antigua has always been a core part of KQ’s brand identity. Through iconic editorial features ranging from profiles of trailblazing local women to explorations of dual-country fashion culture for expats, Devonish and her team have consistently centered Antigua, its people, and its vibrant creative energy in the magazine’s signature visual storytelling.

    Today, while Devonish notes that her full physical and psychological recovery remains her top immediate priority, the outpouring of support from collaborators, readers, and brand sponsors has only strengthened her commitment to bringing the postponed project to life in 2027. “Every single day, we receive messages from people who were preparing to take part in Issue 13 and the 2026 soirée,” Devonish shared in a statement. “We fully recognize how disappointing this setback has been for everyone who was looking forward to this event, and we are deeply grateful for every message of support we have received from communities across Antigua and around the world.”

    She added: “We can promise that when we make our comeback in 2027, we will deliver the same level of brilliance, creativity, and innovation that KQ has always stood for.”

    Devonish also extended a personal, heartfelt thank you to several local individuals and businesses that stood by her during her recovery: the owners of CocoRose Guest House, Rose Brooks, Joshua’s Taxi service, and a group of special community members in South Antigua, who she described as an unwavering pillar of support through the most challenging days after her accident.

  • Sipaliwini krijgt 26 lokaal opgeleide keukenassistenten voor toerismesector

    Sipaliwini krijgt 26 lokaal opgeleide keukenassistenten voor toerismesector

    Suriname’s inland tourism sector in Sipaliwini has taken a major step forward in workforce development, with 26 local residents graduating from a fully subsidized Level 1 Kitchen Assistant training program. The new graduates received their official certification during a ceremony held on September 4 at the LBO practical training center in Atjoni, marking the completion of a skills-building initiative designed to strengthen local human capital and raise professional standards for tourism-focused hospitality services across the country’s interior.

    The multi-week training curriculum covered core competencies critical to commercial kitchen work, including foundational food preparation techniques, professional food handling protocols, rigorous kitchen hygiene standards, comprehensive food safety practices, and occupational safety protocols for kitchen work environments. Upon certification, the new kitchen assistants are now qualified to fill open roles at local hospitality and tourism operations, including wilderness lodges, coastal and inland resorts, catering companies, and other tourist-focused service providers. Beyond formal employment, the skills gained through the program also open pathways for entrepreneurship: graduates can launch their own small catering businesses, local casual dining spots, or home meal delivery services to serve both local communities and visiting tourists.

    The entire training program was funded through a grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Labour Alignment with New Industries project, implemented by the Directorate of Welfare and Labour under Suriname’s Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Labour (VWA). The Suriname Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre Foundation (SHTTC) led on-the-ground delivery of the program, which fell under the “Leri Fu Feni Wroko” sub-project aligned with the Training for Employment (TFE) framework developed by VWA’s Deputy Directorate of the Labour Market. As part of the project’s public workforce development goals, no tuition or training fees were charged to participating students, removing financial barriers to skills access for local residents.

    Speaking at the certification ceremony, VWA Deputy Minister Raj Jadnanansing emphasized that culinary experiences are a core driver of growth for inland tourism. He encouraged the new graduates to prioritize the professional, hygienic preparation and presentation of local dishes and native ingredients alongside standard international menu items.

    Jadnanansing noted that tourists who travel to Suriname’s interior seek authentic, one-of-a-kind experiences they cannot find anywhere else in the world. Local cuisine, he explained, acts as a unique introduction to the culture and traditions of inland communities. When prepared and presented to professional standards, these culinary offerings do more than just create new jobs for local workers: they also help raise global appreciation for and preserve the unique cultural identity of Suriname’s inland populations.

    Beyond cultural benefits, increased consumer demand for local Surinamese dishes creates new economic opportunities for small-scale local agricultural and food producers, according to the deputy minister. This ripple effect allows tourism growth to support the development of a broader, more interconnected local economic ecosystem across the country’s interior.

    Other key stakeholders echoed the deputy minister’s remarks, including Oyeleye Adeniyi, Program Manager of the IDB Project Implementation Unit (PIU), Nazara Kranenburg, acting director of SHTTC, and Don Elliot, chair of the SHTTC Board of Directors. All three reaffirmed the critical role that targeted vocational training plays in advancing the tourism sector, noting that sustained investment in local human capital is essential to meeting the fast-growing demand for qualified skilled workers across Suriname’s expanding hospitality and tourism industries.

  • Falcons Face Guyana Amazon Warriors in CPL Clash Tonight

    Falcons Face Guyana Amazon Warriors in CPL Clash Tonight

    As the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) enters its playoff push, a highly anticipated rematch is set to unfold on Thursday night, with the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons heading to Providence to face the Guyana Amazon Warriors at the iconic Guyana National Stadium. Scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m. local time, the 30th fixture of this year’s tournament carries extra weight for the Falcons, who enter the contest hungry to reverse a lopsided loss to the Warriors from earlier in the season.

    The two sides last met on August 23 at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, where the Falcons crumbled under pressure from the Guyana bowling attack, being dismissed for a meager total of 116 runs. The Amazon Warriors wasted no time in chasing down the target, reaching the required 121 runs for the loss of just three wickets in under 10 overs – specifically 9.5 overs – securing a dominant seven-wicket win with a staggering 61 balls left to spare. That one-sided result has left the Falcons eager to turn the tables and prove that their performance on that day was not a true reflection of their form ahead of the upcoming playoff round.

    On the opposite side, the Guyana Amazon Warriors carry significant momentum into tonight’s home fixture, which marks another stop on their current home leg of the tournament. The side has notched back-to-back convincing wins on their home turf in recent days, kickstarting their good run with an eight-wicket triumph over the Jamaica Kingsmen on September 4. They followed that up with another polished performance on Sunday, when they once again secured a seven-wicket victory, this time against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. With the crowd behind them and their winning streak intact, the Warriors will be looking to extend their positive run and solidify their position ahead of the playoffs.

  • Saint Lucian surfers endure tough time at World Juniors

    Saint Lucian surfers endure tough time at World Juniors

    As the 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship enters its final competition day, Team Saint Lucia faces an uphill battle after a series of challenging heats that saw most of its athletes eliminated from main draw contention. Despite the early exits, the three young surfers from the Caribbean nation have walked away from the elite global event with irreplaceable competitive experience testing their skills against the world’s most promising young surfing talent across punishing wave conditions.

    Held across two iconic Surf City venues, La Bocana and El Sunzal, the third day of competition on Monday brought consistent, powerful swells ranging from four to six feet across both breaks, creating a high-barrier course that tested even the most seasoned junior competitors. Team Saint Lucia’s roster features three rising talents: 17-year-olds William Verity and Sebastian Ambler, and 15-year-old Daniel Ambler, all competing in the sport’s most competitive global junior stage.

    All three athletes were drawn into deeply competitive heats in the Boys Under-18 division, facing off against top-ranked surfers from surfing powerhouses across the globe. In Heat 2, Verity secured a fourth-place finish behind contenders from Japan, Puerto Rico and Finland, while Sebastian Ambler placed fourth in Heat 26 against competitors from Portugal, South Africa and Sweden. Daniel Ambler also claimed fourth place in Heat 36, trailing surfers from Japan, Puerto Rico and Sweden in his opening under-18 outing.

    The competitive intensity did not ease in the repechage round, the last opportunity for eliminated athletes to advance in the under-18 main draw. All three Saint Lucian surfers once again finished fourth in their respective repechage heats: Verity in the opening repechage heat, Sebastian in Heat 13, and Daniel in Heat 17. These results ended Team Saint Lucia’s run in the Boys Under-18 division, ending any chance of advancing further in the age group’s main draw.

    Daniel Ambler, who is competing across two age groups at the championship, remains the last active Saint Lucian surfer in the event after qualifying for the Boys Under-16 repechage round. In his opening Under-16 heat (Heat 31), Daniel also took fourth place against surfers from France, Canada and Uruguay. He is set to hit the waves again for the repechage round, where he will face new competitors from Sweden, Israel and Spain for a chance to advance deeper into the Under-16 draw.

  • ‘Roseau North has spoken for the whole country’, says PM Skerrit on McDougall victory

    ‘Roseau North has spoken for the whole country’, says PM Skerrit on McDougall victory

    A decisive by-election outcome in Dominica’s Roseau North constituency has cemented the ruling party’s hold on national politics, with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit framing the win as a nationwide endorsement of his administration’s policy direction. The victory rally held Monday night following the vote drew an enthusiastic crowd of supporters, where Skerrit shared his interpretation of the results that saw the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) candidate Ashma McDougall claim the open seat.

    McDougall outperformed two rival candidates to secure the win: United Workers Party contender Daniel “Danny” Lugay and independent candidate Sherman Boston. Preliminary vote counts confirm McDougall received 1,506 votes, compared to Lugay’s 983 and Boston’s 50. Skerrit emphasized that the win was an unchallenged landslide, noting that McDougall carried every single polling station across the constituency, an unprecedented showing that leaves no room for dispute over the outcome.

    In remarks to cheering attendees, Skerrit argued that the constituency’s vote carries weight far beyond Roseau North’s borders. “I believe that Roseau North has spoken for the whole country. Roseau North has spoken for every part of the country, and I believe that the rest of the country has heard you and seen you,” he told the crowd. The prime minister went on to say that the by-election result resolves long-running public debate over whether Dominica is heading in the right policy direction. “And so I believe that the debate in Dominica is over on whether the country is on the right track or the wrong track. And I think Dominica is on the right track based on what you have said in Roseau North,” he added.

    Skerrit praised McDougall personally for her tireless campaign effort, highlighting the personal qualities that he says made her successful. “She wanted to win, she did what she had to do to win, and it has paid off,” Skerrit said. He described McDougall as a dedicated public servant with strong capability, unwavering commitment, and a rigorous work ethic that will serve constituents well. He offered his full congratulations, confirming that the new lawmaker will soon be appointed to Dominica’s Cabinet of Ministers, and pledged that his full administration will offer ongoing guidance and support to help McDougall succeed in her new role.

    The prime minister also noted that the high-stakes by-election had drawn international attention, with observers monitoring the race from outside Dominica’s borders. He thanked residents of Roseau North for their overwhelming support, calling the electorate “wise and smart people” who correctly identified the candidate and platform that would best serve their own interests, their families, and their local community. Skerrit also reiterated a core principle of his administration: that elected representatives must remain present, accessible, and accountable to the constituents who put them in office.

    To honor the community’s support, Skerrit announced plans for a nationwide thank-you gathering and social event to be held in the Roseau North area, though specific dates and additional logistics are still being finalized. The by-election win allows the DLP to retain the seat it first claimed in the December 2022 general election, when the party secured a historic supermajority, winning 19 of the 21 total constituency seats in Dominica’s national legislature.

  • Dominican Customs makes largest ammunition seizure in four years

    Dominican Customs makes largest ammunition seizure in four years

    Authorities from the Dominican Republic’s General Directorate of Customs (DGA) have made a landmark seizure of illegal ammunition at the Haina Oriental Customs Administration, uncovering 74,100 rounds hidden inside eight truck engines. This operation stands as the largest single ammunition confiscation carried out by the agency in the past four years.

    Officials confirmed that the illegal shipment was split between two common calibers: 64,420 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and 9,680 rounds of .38-caliber ammunition. The cache was detected during standard, targeted risk-management and inspection protocols that DGA teams implement to block high-risk, dangerous goods from entering the country and circulating within Dominican territory, where unauthorized weapons and ammunition pose a persistent threat to public safety.

    The 74,100-round haul easily outpaces the agency’s previous record seizure, which took place in February 2025. During that earlier operation, authorities intercepted just under 36,000 rounds of ammunition, including 20,000 rounds of 7.62mm and 16,000 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition.

    Immediately after the ammunition was discovered, DGA officials transferred the full case to the Dominican Public Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors have since launched an active investigation, carrying out three coordinated simultaneous raids alongside other law enforcement agencies to track down the network behind the smuggling attempt.

  • Business sector drives growth as Dominican Republic adds 18,000 companies

    Business sector drives growth as Dominican Republic adds 18,000 companies

    Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — The Dominican Republic’s private business landscape is delivering strong, broad-based growth in 2026, fueled by rising foreign and domestic investment, expanding cross-border sales, and ongoing policy reforms designed to streamline operations and attract new enterprises, according to top industry and government leaders. The positive update was shared during the official opening of the seventh annual Santo Domingo Chamber Hub 2026, a major forum connecting local businesses with global investors and buyers.

    Lucile Houllemont, president of the Santo Domingo Chamber of Commerce, told attendees that the Dominican economy has already hit a key milestone in the first half of the year: 18,000 brand-new business entities have been registered across the country. She framed this surge in new company creation as a clear, encouraging indicator that the nation’s pro-enterprise policies are paying off, laying the groundwork for long-term entrepreneurship, expanded job opportunities, and sustained broad economic development.

    Beyond new business formation, Houllemont emphasized the Dominican Republic’s unique strategic trade advantage: five active free trade agreements that grant local producers and exporters preferential access to nearly 50 international markets, representing a combined consumer base of more than 800 million people. She also noted the nation’s well-developed trade infrastructure, including an extensive national road network, modernized deep-water ports capable of accommodating large deep-draft vessels, and round-the-clock cargo dispatch programs that keep supply chains moving efficiently.

    This infrastructure and access have translated directly to tangible export growth: official data shows Dominican exports hit US$9.267 billion between January and July 2026, marking a 12% year-over-year increase compared to the same period in 2025.

    Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, echoed the positive outlook, noting that the commercial sector has emerged as one of the nation’s largest employers. More than one million Dominican workers currently hold jobs in commerce, accounting for 20.2% of total employment across the country. Lovatón also highlighted a critical, evolving shift in the national economy: a growing number of Dominican businesses are integrating advanced digital technology and building out higher-value production chains, moving beyond basic commodity exports to compete in more profitable global segments.

    A key topic of discussion at this year’s hub was the accelerating adoption of artificial intelligence across regional business operations. Paula Bellizzia, vice president of Amazon Web Services for Latin America, shared new industry data showing that 76% of companies across Central America and the Caribbean already leverage chatbots or generative AI assistants to streamline customer service and internal operations. Even more notably, 13% of regional businesses have already rolled out dedicated AI tools in core strategic areas of their operations, with separate budget allocations to support ongoing AI expansion.

    The three-day forum brought together hundreds of attendees, including senior Dominican government officials, leading local and international business leaders, and global procurement buyers. The overarching goal of the gathering is to unlock new investment flows, boost Dominican exports, and build deeper, more resilient connections between Dominican enterprises and the global supply chain.