Police Constable Barrington Mai (Flowers), who is under investigation for allegedly aiding in the abduction of Joseph Budna in Orange Walk Town, Belize, has been shifted from interdiction to full-pay suspension. Initially interdicted on September 8, 2025, Mai was placed on half-salary and stripped of his police powers pending the investigation. However, on October 3, 2025, Acting Commissioner of Police Bartholomew Jones issued a new order, suspending Mai from active duty but restoring his full salary and returning the withheld half-salary from September 12 to October 3. The case, which has drawn significant public attention, remains under investigation, and Mai has consistently denied the allegations, asserting his innocence. Jones emphasized that if the investigation finds Mai guilty of misconduct, he will face a disciplinary tribunal.
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US Guided-Missile Destroyer to Dock in Port of Spain
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has announced that the USS Gravely, a United States Navy guided-missile destroyer, will dock in Port of Spain for a five-day visit starting October 26, 2025. The vessel, carrying around 300 sailors, will engage in joint training exercises with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF). The operations will focus on infantry tactics, maintenance protocols, and advanced medical capabilities, facilitated by members of the 22nd US Marine Expeditionary Unit. This visit highlights the US commitment to bolstering regional security and defense cooperation in the Caribbean. To accommodate the warship, several berths at the port will be temporarily closed, with shipping operators advised to adjust their schedules. The deployment aligns with heightened US security activities in the region, including recent security alerts issued to US citizens in Trinidad and Tobago. Despite geopolitical tensions, Trinidad and Tobago has expressed support for US-led initiatives to combat transnational crimes such as narcotics and human trafficking.
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Repeat offender sentenced to prison
In a significant ruling by the St. Christopher Circuit Court, 25-year-old Alexis Liddie has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a series of criminal offences. The decision, handed down by His Lordship Justice Iain Morley KC on October 21, 2025, underscores the severe consequences of repeated criminal behaviour. Liddie’s sentence includes time for multiple crimes, notably two counts of sacrilege at the Antioch Baptist Church and a breaking and entering incident at Indigo Yachts.
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Stuart joins regional call to keep Caribbean a ‘Zone of Peace’
Former Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, alongside ten other former CARICOM leaders, has issued a compelling call for the Caribbean to remain a ‘Zone of Peace.’ This declaration comes in response to escalating militarization in regional waters and the looming threat of foreign interference. The joint statement, titled *Our Caribbean Space: A Zone of Peace on Land, Sea and Airspace Where the Rule of Law Prevails*, expresses deep concern over the increasing presence of nuclear vessels and military aircraft in the Caribbean archipelago. The leaders urged all parties to de-escalate military activities to safeguard regional peace, stability, and development, warning against the risk of being drawn into conflicts not of their making. The declaration has garnered support from prominent figures, including Trinidad and Tobago’s former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, who emphasized the importance of upholding the principles that have historically guided Caribbean diplomacy. The signatories, including former leaders from Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Guyana, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Belize, collectively reaffirmed CARICOM’s commitment to resolving disputes through negotiation and dialogue, rather than military force. The statement also highlighted the vulnerability of small island states to external pressures, such as drug and arms trafficking, which threaten their sovereignty and security. The declaration underscores the Caribbean’s shared history and common interests, asserting that preserving the region as a Zone of Peace is an essential imperative. This call for unity comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions, including the Guyana-Venezuela border dispute and increased foreign naval activity in the Caribbean Sea. Critics have also raised concerns over Trinidad and Tobago’s current foreign policy, which they argue deviates from CARICOM’s long-standing principles of neutrality and sovereignty. The leaders concluded with a resolute message: ‘Our shared history and common interests demand oneness. We have gone too far to turn back now.’
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Acting chief on this weekend’s festivities: No nonsense, no cannabis in public spaces
Acting Police Chief Lincoln Corbette has issued a stern warning to attendees of the 25th Edition of the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) in Dominica, emphasizing that public smoking of cannabis will not be tolerated. The festival, known for its vibrant rhythms and cultural celebrations, is set to take place from October 24 to October 26 at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium, starting at 8:00 PM each night.
Corbette, in a recent press release, highlighted the police force’s annual mandate to ensure the safety and order of all festival activities. He assured the public of an increased police presence throughout the city, particularly around the event venue. ‘You will see more officers throughout the city,’ he stated. ‘We won’t tolerate any nonsense at the festival. If you break the law, it’s very likely you’ll find yourself arrested and detained until the end of the events.’
The acting chief also reminded attendees that while individuals are permitted to carry up to 28 grams of cannabis, smoking it in public remains illegal. ‘In Dominica, you have the privilege to smoke in the privacy of your home, but not in public spaces,’ he explained. ‘Officers will approach you and deal with you according to the law if you insist on smoking in public.’
Additionally, Corbette called for public cooperation, especially given the expected traffic congestion during the festival. He urged attendees to enjoy the event in a ‘clean, peaceful atmosphere,’ emphasizing the importance of maintaining order and safety for all participants.
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Women Farmers Association receives vital irrigation equipment from Taiwan Technical Mission
The Ladelin (Delcer) Women Farmers Association in Choiseul, Saint Lucia, has received a transformative donation of advanced irrigation equipment from the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM). This initiative, aimed at addressing persistent water scarcity issues, was officially handed over during a ceremony at the Delcer R.C. Combined School on October 17, 2025. The donation includes a state-of-the-art blended irrigation system featuring drip lines and sprinklers, designed to ensure a reliable water supply for crop cultivation.
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SVG can now export fresh produce to UK, EU via AIA
Argyle International Airport (AIA) has officially attained RA3 certification in collaboration with the British High Commission in Kingstown, marking a significant milestone in its operational capabilities. RA3, which stands for Regulated Agent – Third Country, is a designation under UK aviation security regulations that allows AIA to function as a regulated agent for cargo destined for the United Kingdom and the European Union. This certification eliminates the need for transhipment or additional screening at intermediary airports, enabling direct exports of fresh produce, flowers, and agricultural goods to the UK. Geoffrey Patton, the resident British commissioner, emphasized the transformative impact this will have on trade between St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the UK, opening new pathways for economic collaboration. Josette Greaves, CEO of AIA, highlighted that the certification underscores the airport’s compliance with stringent UK and EU aviation security standards for cargo screening, handling, and transportation. She expressed gratitude to Brian Abbott of World AVSEC, an independent validator of Vincentian heritage, for his instrumental role in securing the certification. Greaves also urged AIA staff, passengers, and stakeholders to maintain high security standards, emphasizing that the airport’s rigorous screening protocols are designed to ensure safety while facilitating milestones like the RA3 certification. A press release from AIA reiterated that these measures are not intended to inconvenience travelers or businesses but to uphold security and enable seamless trade operations.
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#EyeOnMelissa: MP Terrelonge oversees drain cleaning as Melissa nears
As Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 3 storm, edges closer to Jamaica, Alando Terrelonge, Member of Parliament for St Catherine East Central, has announced that emergency preparations are in full swing across the constituency. Terrelonge, alongside Councillor Joy Bella Brown of the Gregory Park Division, was seen overseeing critical drain cleaning operations in the flood-prone Dover area on Saturday.
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#EyeOnMelissa: Melissa becomes Category 3 hurricane
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Hurricane Melissa has escalated to a Category 3 storm, wreaking havoc across the Caribbean and posing a severe threat to Jamaica and the island of Hispaniola. Forecasters warn of further intensification as the storm moves at a perilously slow pace, heightening concerns over prolonged devastation. The hurricane, with sustained winds of 115 miles per hour, has already claimed three lives in Haiti due to heavy rains and landslides triggered by its outer bands. In the Dominican Republic, a 79-year-old man was found dead after being swept away by floodwaters, while a 13-year-old boy remains missing. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued dire warnings of ‘life-threatening and catastrophic’ flooding and landslides in Jamaica and southern Hispaniola. Rapid intensification is expected to continue, potentially elevating Melissa to a major hurricane by Sunday. As of Saturday evening, the storm was positioned 125 miles southeast of Kingston and 280 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, moving at a sluggish three miles per hour. The NHC predicts total rainfall of 15 to 30 inches in affected regions, with isolated areas receiving up to 40 inches. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has urged residents in flood-prone areas to prepare for evacuation, emphasizing the likelihood of recurring flooding. Melissa marks the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, following the devastating impact of Hurricane Beryl in early July 2024, which claimed four lives in Jamaica. The slow-moving nature of Melissa raises fears of prolonged destruction, with the storm expected to linger over Jamaica and Hispaniola for multiple days before potentially threatening eastern Cuba.
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#EyeOnMelissa: Man plans to brave Hurricane Melissa from roadside hut
In Greater Portmore, St Catherine, a modest hut-like structure beneath a tree near the Monza Housing Scheme has become the unlikely home of 40-year-old Kirk Walker. Since 2022, Walker has endured harsh living conditions after being compelled to leave the Monza scheme, where he previously resided. Despite the imminent threat of Hurricane Melissa, which is expected to bring torrential rains and fierce winds to Jamaica, Walker remains steadfast in his decision to stay put. On Saturday, he expressed no urgency to seek refuge in a shelter, instead choosing to face the storm head-on. Having survived Hurricane Beryl in the same location last year, Walker is confident in his ability to withstand Melissa, which is forecasted to intensify into a major hurricane before making landfall early next week. While he hopes for assistance to secure a more permanent and suitable residence in the future, his immediate focus is on weathering the impending storm.