Barbados’ automotive market is undergoing a rapid, transformative shift, as growing numbers of local motorists turn to electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in search of lower running costs and accessible prices made possible by targeted government policy. The accelerating consumer uptake aligns with the island nation’s official decarbonization goals, with Energy Minister Kerrie Symmonds recently announcing the government’s target of achieving near-total vehicle electrification within 5 to 10 years. The policy is designed to cut Barbados’ heavy reliance on costly imported fossil fuels and drive down systemic energy costs across the country.
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Antigua and Barbuda Participates in Community Resilience Regional Conference
The second annual Community Resilience Regional Conference kicked off on July 15 in Barbados, gathering stakeholders from across the Caribbean to advance collective action on climate and disaster preparedness under the central theme “Advancing Sustainable Community Resilience through Shared Responsibility”.
A three-person delegation from Antigua and Barbuda is representing the dual-island nation at the three-day event, led by Sherrod James, Director of Antigua and Barbuda’s National Office of Disaster Services (NODS). James was selected to sit on the conference’s high-level expert panel, where he contributes insights on national disaster management frameworks alongside other senior regional leaders. Joining James on the delegation are Marcus Scott, District Disaster Coordinator for St. John’s City South, and Kimbalie Constant, Strategic Operations and Project Implementation Manager for the Social Policy Unit within Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Social Transformation.
Unlike many theoretical policy summits, this year’s conference is designed as an action-focused platform that brings together a diverse cross-section of resilience stakeholders. Attendees include disaster management officials from all CARICOM member states, representatives from leading regional institutions, grassroots community leaders, youth delegates, and international development partners. The core agenda centers on collaborative strategies to build more robust, adaptive communities capable of withstanding growing climate and disaster threats across the Caribbean region, a geographic area disproportionately impacted by climate-driven extreme weather events.
The conference is backed by a coalition of funding and institutional partners, including the European Union, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) through its Building Resilience of the CARIFORUM States to Disaster Risks and Climate Change Impacts (BRICS) project, financial services firm Sagicor, and the government of Barbados. This multi-stakeholder support underscores the broad consensus around the urgent need for coordinated regional action to strengthen community-level resilience amid escalating climate risks.
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Fatal Crop Duster Crash Could Force New Aviation Safety Rules
July 16, 2026 — The investigation into a deadly aerial application aircraft crash that claimed the life of veteran pilot Henry Plett last week in Spanish Lookout has entered a decisive phase, with the potential to trigger sweeping updates to Belize’s civil aviation safety regulations.
Civil aviation investigation teams are nearing the completion of their on-site evidence gathering at the crash location, where Plett was conducting an aerial crop spraying mission when the accident occurred. Beyond identifying the immediate cause of the tragedy, officials emphasized the broader scope of the probe: its final conclusions are expected to drive the creation of updated safety protocols and new regulatory rules designed to stop identical fatal incidents from happening in the future.
Nigel Carter, Director of Civil Aviation, noted that every fatal aviation accident, while a devastating loss, delivers critical lessons that can strengthen safety across Belize’s national airspace.
“In aviation, our constant goal is to improve the overall safety of all flight operations,” Carter explained in an official statement. “Under both our international aviation commitments and domestic regulatory requirements, we are mandated to launch a full, thorough investigation any time an aircraft is destroyed or a life is lost — a range of other factors can also prompt a full probe, but this case meets both of those core thresholds. We conduct this investigation not to assign blame to any individual or organization, a boundary that is protected by national law. Our sole priority is to uncover the probable root cause of the crash, along with any secondary contributing factors that combined to lead to this tragedy.”
Carter stressed that the true impact of the investigation will be felt in the actions taken after the final report is published. When asked how the findings will strengthen Belize’s broader aviation sector, he outlined the formal regulatory process that will follow the investigation’s conclusion.
“Once the Accident Investigation Unit finalizes its report, it will issue targeted safety recommendations,” Carter said. “From there, the Department of Civil Aviation will conduct a full review of those proposals, and implement required updates to regulations and operational procedures wherever necessary. The end goal is to close any gaps in our existing safety framework that this accident has exposed, and eliminate the risk of this type of fatal accident happening again.”
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Misiekaba waarschuwt nieuwe arbeidsinspecteurs: ‘Laat u niet omkopen’
On a formal ceremonial day this week, a cohort of junior labor inspectors with Suriname’s Directorate of Labor Inspection took the oath of confidentiality, marking a key milestone in the country’s ongoing push to strengthen labor regulation and worker protection.
Hosted by the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Labor (VWA), the swearing-in ceremony was led by VWA Minister André Misiekaba, who used the occasion to outline the core responsibilities of the new inspectors and deliver a stark warning against unethical conduct. By signing the oath, the new inspectors formally committed to upholding the Labor Inspectorate’s three foundational values: unwavering integrity, strict confidentiality, and diligent compliance with legal requirements for all official duties. Following the collective swearing-in, each inspector received an official certificate confirming their oath, a formal document recognizing their entrance into full professional service.
Under the terms of the oath, inspectors are bound to never share confidential information obtained through their work with unauthorized parties — a requirement that remains in effect both during their employment and after they leave the agency. Ministry officials frame this oath as a critical step forward in the broader professionalization of Suriname’s labor oversight system.
Addressing the new inspectors directly, Minister Misiekaba emphasized the profound social responsibility that comes with their roles. He noted that workers are most often the economically disadvantaged party in employment relationships, placing a legal and moral obligation on the state to act as their protector. The minister made clear that worker exploitation remains an ongoing challenge in Suriname, with widespread violations including unsafe working conditions, unpaid or underpaid wages, and other breaches of the country’s labor laws still being reported across multiple sectors.
Misiekaba’s sharpest warning came on the topic of corruption: he explicitly cautioned the new inspectors against accepting bribes from unethical employers seeking to cover up labor violations. He made clear that any inspector found guilty of corruption or dereliction of duty will face severe disciplinary action, while the government will stand firmly behind inspectors who carry out their work honestly and in line with the law. Moving forward, the minister announced plans to allocate additional resources and funding to expand the capacity of the Labor Inspectorate, enabling it to carry out more effective and consistent workplace oversight across the country.
Rowan Noredjo, Inspector-General of the Labor Inspectorate, called the swearing-in ceremony a defining milestone in every labor inspector’s professional journey. He noted that this cohort of inspectors only took their oath three full years after completing their training, a delay from the legal requirement that the oath be administered upon accepting the position. Noredjo stressed that confidentiality is not just a formality, but a non-negotiable requirement for the inspectorate to function effectively. Inspectors routinely handle sensitive private data on both companies and individual workers, and they regularly receive anonymous reports from workers who fear retaliation if their identity becomes known. If the identity of a reporting worker or confidential details of an investigation are leaked, Noredjo explained, it can lead to intimidation, demotion, or dismissal for workers at the hands of unethical employers. He reaffirmed that this obligation of confidentiality never expires, even after an inspector ends their career with the agency.
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CXC announces SBA reforms amid AI concerns
Facing the growing challenge of generative AI disrupting traditional academic assessment integrity, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of its decades-old School-Based Assessment (SBA) system, confirming plans to phase out traditional in-course SBAs for all non-practical academic subjects by 2028. The restructuring follows year-long consultations with education stakeholders across 21 Caribbean states and territories, and is set to roll out gradually starting from the 2027 academic year, balancing the need to adapt to evolving technology while preserving the value and credibility of CXC qualifications across the region.
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Belize Claims First-Ever Men’s Volleyball Gold
July 16, 2026 — A new chapter was written in Belize’s sports history this week, as the nation’s senior men’s national volleyball team claimed an unprecedented gold medal at the AFECAVOL Men’s Final Four, marking Belize’s first regional senior championship title in the sport. The underdog Belizean squad defeated Central American volleyball powerhouse Costa Rica in a four-set thriller to clinch the historic win, sending the small Caribbean nation into a wave of celebration.
For leaders of Belize’s volleyball community, the long-awaited victory comes after decades of unmet expectations, incremental progress and heartbreaking near-misses that tested the commitment of the country’s volleyball development programs. Allan Sharpe, president of the Belize Volleyball Association and a former national team player himself, opened up about the intense emotion surrounding the final match, revealing he chose to watch the game alone to manage his overwhelming anxiety.
“I gotta tell you, Shane, I watched the game locked up in a room with nobody around me, lots of anxiety, lots of emotions,” Sharpe said in a post-victory interview. “Years and years of emotions coming. I mean tears – me myself in my room jumping up and down screaming whilst they ran around in the court. It brings out a lot of emotions to think about the gold medal.”
Plans are already underway for a public homecoming celebration to honor the champion team. Team Belize is scheduled to cross back into the country via the northern border at approximately 4 p.m. local time, and fans are invited to gather at Belize Elementary School to welcome the athletes, with the official welcoming event set to begin at 6:30 p.m. this evening. The historic win is expected to leave a lasting impact on volleyball development in Belize, inspiring a new generation of young athletes and raising the profile of the sport across the region.
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Health Ministry Cracks Down on Illegal Construction in Public Cemeteries
The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda has issued an urgent public notice following the discovery of multiple unauthorized construction projects at the St. John’s Public Cemetery and other public burial grounds across the two islands.
Under current regulations, any permanent modification to public cemetery land—including the construction, alteration, or installation of new tombs, headstones, boundary fences, retaining walls, concrete platforms, or any other fixed structure—cannot proceed without formal written approval from the Chief Health Inspector. This rule is firmly codified in the nation’s Public Health Act, Cap. 353, which grants authorities clear power to address non-compliant activity.
Any unapproved work found on cemetery grounds will face immediate action: regardless of how far construction has progressed, all unauthorized structures will be halted, dismantled, and removed by authorities. Beyond the removal of non-compliant builds, individuals who carry out unapproved construction or tamper with existing graves, burial plots, or cemetery features will also face formal prosecution under the law.
Officials have outlined clear justifications for these strict regulations. First, the rules protect the designated burial plots and the legal and emotional rights of families who have reserved plots for their loved ones. Second, they preserve the sacred, dignified character of public cemetery spaces that are meant for mourning and remembrance. Third, they allow cemetery managers to maintain accurate, up-to-date records of all burials and approved modifications to land. Fourth, they enable orderly, consistent management of public cemeteries that serve communities across the country. Finally, these regulations safeguard broader public health and safety by preventing unregulated construction that could create hazards or disrupt proper land use.
The ministry has issued a critical warning to the public: do not accept approvals, instructions, or assurances from any individual who does not hold official authorization to grant permission for cemetery work. Before starting any construction or modification project on public cemetery land, all stakeholders must secure required approval directly from either the official Cemetery Office or the Central Board of Health.
Any questions related to burials, family plot reservations, tombstones, fencing, retaining walls, or other cemetery projects must be submitted to the proper official authority before any arrangements are finalized or construction work begins. To enforce these rules moving forward, the ministry announced it is ramping up regular monitoring and patrols of all public cemeteries across Antigua and Barbuda, and will not hesitate to take full enforcement action against any violation of regulations.
In closing, the ministry called on the public to cooperate with these new measures, emphasizing that shared adherence to the rules is critical to protecting the integrity, safety, and sacred dignity of Antigua and Barbuda’s public cemeteries for current and future generations.
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Fire Service launches inspections to prevent another major city blaze
In the wake of multiple destructive commercial fire incidents over recent years, the Saint Lucia Fire Service has launched a proactive new initiative to strengthen fire prevention across the capital city of Castries, kicking off with systematic inspections of every commercial operation in the area.
On Wednesday, inspection teams from the agency’s Fire Prevention and Investigation Department began their on-site checks, visiting businesses across the city to verify whether each operation meets the mandatory fire safety standards required for legal operation. Department officials emphasized that this initial round of checks is only the opening phase of a long-term campaign to guarantee all commercial properties in Castries are equipped to prevent, respond to, and contain fire emergencies.
Assistant Divisional Officer Owen Cazaubon explained that the fire service is undergoing a key strategic shift: moving beyond its traditional role of responding to emergencies after they break out to prioritizing proactive prevention that stops dangerous incidents from occurring in the first place.
“Starting today, we are working our way through every business in the city, and this effort will continue for weeks after the initial launch,” Cazaubon outlined. “Our core goal is to make sure no commercial operation opens or operates without meeting full national safety standards.”
Under existing Saint Lucian legislation, all commercial businesses are legally required to obtain a valid fire safety clearance certificate before opening to the public. While regulatory rules place the onus on business owners to request official inspections, Cazaubon noted the fire service is now taking a proactive, direct approach by sending teams out to properties across Castries instead of waiting for requests from owners.
Notably, the agency has stressed that immediate penalties are not the goal for businesses found to have safety gaps. Instead, officials say their top priority is collaborating with property and business owners to correct hazards and upgrade safety infrastructure.
“The whole point of this initiative is to work with owners to get their properties up to the required standard, so they can operate without putting staff, customers, and the surrounding community at risk,” Cazaubon explained.
This new city-wide safety push comes in response to several major commercial fires that have highlighted the growing risk in Castries’ dense urban layout. These include a large blaze at the Computer World store earlier this year, and the devastating 2019 fire that destroyed the Adjodha Building. Both incidents exposed how quickly fire can spread across the city’s tightly packed cluster of closely situated buildings.
Cazaubon warned that Castries’ unique urban layout means even a small, contained blaze can escalate into a city-wide disaster if it is not prevented or contained early. “We are working to avoid a catastrophic conflagration, to prevent another large-scale disaster on the scale of the 1948 Great Castries Fire from happening again,” he said, referencing one of the worst fire disasters in the island nation’s modern history.
Beyond commercial property inspections, the Saint Lucia Fire Service has issued a public reminder to motorists across the city: drivers must avoid parking vehicles over fire hydrants, as clear, unobstructed access to these water sources is critical for firefighters to quickly respond to and contain emergencies when they do occur.
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No cases here of severe diarrhoea bug, say authorities
A widespread parasitic disease outbreak across the United States has triggered heightened monitoring from Barbados’s agricultural and public health agencies, as the Caribbean nation works to block the pathogen from crossing its borders. On Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published an update confirming that at least 1,645 people across 34 states have been diagnosed with cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness linked to severe “explosive” diarrhea, with 141 patients requiring hospital care so far.
Cyclospora, the single-cell parasite that causes the infection, spreads exclusively through food or water contaminated with the pathogen, and there is no documented evidence of person-to-person transmission. Historically, most major cyclosporiasis outbreaks in the U.S. have been traced back to contaminated fresh produce, including raspberries, basil, cilantro, mixed fruit blends, snow peas, snap peas, lettuce, and pre-packaged salad mixes. The source of the ongoing 2024 outbreak has not yet been identified by U.S. public health officials.
Barbados, which imports a portion of its fresh produce from the U.S., has moved quickly to put layered monitoring protocols in place, with officials from both the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture moving to reassure the public that risks are being mitigated. In a Thursday statement, Barbados’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kenneth George confirmed the health ministry is tracking the outbreak’s evolution closely, noting the parasite is most often carried by unprocessed fresh fruit and uncooked vegetables. He also issued targeted food safety guidance timed to the upcoming Crop Over Festival, a major national event expected to draw large crowds and a surge in street food vending.
Dr. George outlined key evidence-based prevention steps for the public and food vendors: thoroughly washing all fresh fruits and vegetables before preparation or service, maintaining strict hygiene standards in all food handling areas, storing raw and cooked foods separately to avoid cross-contamination, washing hands thoroughly before touching any food, keeping hot prepared foods at a minimum temperature of 140°F (60°C) or higher, and storing cold perishables at 40°F (4°C) or lower. He added that all active food vendors are required to hold a valid Food Handling Certificate and adhere to consistent good handling practices, and directed vendors with additional questions to contact their local polyclinic’s Environmental Health Department.
The chief medical officer also confirmed that as of the latest update, no confirmed or suspected cyclosporiasis cases have been reported in Barbados, and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has not recorded any cases across the broader Caribbean region. For most healthy people, cyclosporiasis is a self-limiting illness, with acute symptoms including watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and vomiting that typically resolve within five to seven days. The infection can also be effectively treated with antibiotics in more severe cases.
Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer Michael James confirmed the joint surveillance effort between the two government agencies, outlining the distinct responsibilities of each body. The Ministry of Agriculture focuses on pre-import screening of fresh produce to check for plant pests, verify that produce meets the country’s strict safety standards, confirm no prohibited or harmful pesticides have been used, and track the origin of all imported produce to identify potential high-risk shipments from outbreak-affected U.S. regions. All parasitic testing for human health risks falls under the purview of the Ministry of Health, James added.
James noted that a large share of the lettuce consumed in Barbados is now grown domestically, and good local agricultural practices minimize the risk of contamination on domestic harvests. As of the latest check, domestic producers have not reported any unusual increases in pest activity that would raise concern. He explained that contamination most often occurs during the harvesting and handling process, when poor hygiene among farm workers or use of contaminated irrigation water can introduce the parasite to picked produce.
U.S. health officials have echoed the basic prevention guidance shared by Barbadian authorities, reminding the public to wash hands frequently and thoroughly clean all fresh produce before consumption to reduce infection risk.
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Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit meets with DAPD executive to discuss disability inclusion
In a recent push to strengthen equity and access for marginalized communities across Dominica, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has convened a high-level meeting with the executive leadership of the Dominica Association of Persons with Disabilities (DAPD). The gathering centered on a wide range of pressing challenges that impact disabled people across the island nation, as both sides collaborated to map out actionable strategies to build a more inclusive society for all citizens.
In an official update posted to public social media channels following the meeting, Prime Minister Skerrit outlined that the discussions prioritized tangible, practical policy changes. Key among the priorities was expanding the representation of disabled voices in national policy development, ensuring that government decisions directly address the unmet needs of this population that has historically been sidelined from formal governance processes.
One of the most substantial proposals that emerged from the talks is currently under active review by the administration: the establishment of a standalone government department or specialized unit focused exclusively on disability advocacy. This proposed body would not only champion the legal rights and daily interests of disabled Dominicans, but also streamline coordination across government agencies for existing policies and community programs aimed at supporting the disability community.
Reaffirming his administration’s longstanding pledge to equitable governance, Skerrit emphasized that the government remains fully committed to sustained close collaboration with DAPD. The end goal, he noted, is to deliver substantive, meaningful systemic reforms that cultivate a national culture of inclusion, where every Dominican — regardless of ability — has equal access to opportunities and the ability to participate fully in all areas of public and civic life.