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  • Dominican Republic granted over 60,000 residency permits to Haitians since 2018

    Dominican Republic granted over 60,000 residency permits to Haitians since 2018

    Newly released government open data from the Dominican Republic reveals a striking dual approach to Haitian migration, as the Caribbean nation has approved more than 60,000 legal residency permits for Haitian citizens between 2018 and 2026 while carrying out large-scale deportation campaigns for undocumented migrants.

    According to figures from the Dominican central government’s Open Data portal, Haiti outranks every other country for the number of residency approvals granted to its nationals over the eight-year period. In total, 60,306 Haitian applicants received authorization to reside legally in the Dominican Republic, averaging 6,701 permits per year – or roughly 558 approved applications each month. The public database does not currently break down this total by residency type, leaving it unclear how many of the approvals were for temporary, permanent, or definitive legal status.

    These official residency numbers stand in sharp contrast to the Dominican government’s widely reported intensified immigration enforcement actions. Since 2024 alone, Dominican authorities have repatriated roughly 670,500 undocumented Haitian nationals, with the first six months of 2026 accounting for more than a quarter of that total at 196,321 deportations.

    The seemingly contradictory policies stem from the ongoing crisis gripping Haiti, which has been gripped by worsening political instability, prolonged economic collapse, and a deepening humanitarian emergency for years. These overlapping crises have pushed hundreds of thousands of Haitians to cross the border into the Dominican Republic in search of safety, work, and better living conditions. In response, the Dominican government has simultaneously pursued two separate paths: expanding targeted deportation operations to remove migrants without legal status, while continuing to operate established legal residency programs that grant approval to qualifying Haitian applicants.

  • Dog abandoned in washer with rock on lid

    Dog abandoned in washer with rock on lid

    On a Sunday when an entire country lost electrical power, an unlikely set of circumstances led to the life-saving discovery of an 8-month-old puppy trapped inside a discarded washing machine — an incident that has pulled back the curtain on a appalling animal abuse case and reignited demands for stricter enforcement against cruelty to animals.

    The young black-and-brown Bahamian potcake dog was located in dense brush adjacent to Charles Saunders Highway, after Sea Breeze resident Sharon Ferguson caught a faint whimpering sound while she and her family sat outside their home waiting out the blackout. With the constant hum of generators, traffic and household appliances silenced by the power failure, the quiet allowed Ferguson to pick up on the subtle cries for help that had gone unnoticed for days.

    Ferguson initially assumed the sound came from a neighbor’s pet, but the repeated faint cries convinced her an animal was in serious danger. “We were on the patio, just trying to stay cool and talking when I heard what sounded like a dog,” she recalled. “I kept hearing it, and I told my daughter we should go check it out because the noise seemed to come from deep in the bush.”

    Ferguson and her daughter drove to the remote area off the highway and spotted an old, abandoned washing machine tucked off a dirt path. Even though the whimpering had temporarily stopped, they cut their engine and quickly picked up the faint sound again. Uncertain what they would find inside, they went back to their home to gather protective gloves, food, water and Ferguson’s son before returning to the site.

    When the rescuers pried open the washing machine’s lid, they found the tiny puppy poking her shaking head out to greet them. “We were so emotional because we’re both huge animal lovers,” Ferguson said. The puppy, terrified and trembling, had to struggle to pull herself out of the confined space, where a heavy rock had been weighted on top of the lid to trap her inside. After escaping, the puppy initially fled back into the nearby bushes, but rescuers eventually coaxed her out and brought her to Ferguson’s home.

    Ferguson’s daughter convinced the family to keep the puppy safe until animal welfare groups could take over, arguing that whoever trapped her could do even more harm if she was found again. Despite her terrifying ordeal, Ferguson described the puppy as playful and friendly. She noted the puppy showed no signs of severe malnutrition, suggesting she had not been trapped for more than a few days, though she had a minor skin irritation on her abdomen.

    The puppy remained in Ferguson’s care until Tuesday morning, when the Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness (BAARK) took her into their custody. The Bahamas Humane Society also sent a team to check on the puppy’s health on Monday.

    Veterinarian Dr. Daniel Kats, who responded to the rescue after seeing video of the discovery circulating on social media, echoed Ferguson’s assessment that the blackout was directly responsible for saving the puppy’s life. The rescue site was just minutes from his home, so he rushed over to provide emergency medical care. “What saved this dog was the blackout,” Dr. Kats said. “When power went out, everything went completely quiet, and that’s when they could hear her whimpering.”

    Dr. Kats said he was horrified by what he found at the scene. Even with the central agitator taking up most of the space inside, there was barely enough room for the puppy to curl up — she could not even stand upright. “She had to squeeze into a little circle just to fit,” he explained, adding that he believes she was trapped for as many as three days.

    Local residents told Dr. Kats the puppy had been roaming the neighborhood for roughly two weeks, with multiple locals leaving food out for her. No one has come forward to claim ownership, and it remains unclear how she ended up locked in the washing machine. Dr. Kats noted the puppy was extraordinarily lucky to survive, given the extreme Bahamian heat that day. “It was piping hot outside,” he said. “The little bit of shade inside the machine probably kept her alive. If she’d been out in direct sun, she never would have made it past 24 hours.”

    Examination of the washing machine revealed bite marks on the plastic agitator, confirming the puppy had chewed frantically to try to escape. As of the latest update, the 8-month-old puppy is in stable condition at BAARK’s facility, with no major life-threatening health concerns. “She’s happy, she’s healthy, and we don’t have any concerns about her right now,” Dr. Kats said. “That said, everyone who’s heard about this is just shaken that an innocent little puppy could be put through something like this.”

    BAARK Vice-President Lissa McCombe issued a strong condemnation of the incident, calling it a “despicable crime.” She added that Bahamian law allows for legal penalties against those convicted of animal cruelty, and investigators are working to identify the person responsible. In the coming days, the puppy will be spayed, microchipped and placed into a foster home, before being matched with a permanent adoptive family.

    A video of the rescue posted by Ferguson to Facebook has quickly gone viral, earning more than 400 shares and 1,000 reactions as of Tuesday. Hundreds of social media users have commented, expressing outrage at the alleged cruelty and praising Ferguson and her family for their quick action that saved the puppy’s life.

  • OMSA to launch electric bus corridor in Santo Domingo’s Colonial City

    OMSA to launch electric bus corridor in Santo Domingo’s Colonial City

    Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – The city’s public transport authority, the Metropolitan Bus Services Operator (known locally as OMSA), is launching a transformative new 100% electric bus route specifically designed to upgrade transportation access and accelerate revitalization work in the capital’s iconic Colonial City district.

    Dubbed the OMSA Colonial project, the new electric bus corridor will deploy five zero-emission vehicles, each engineered to carry up to 22 passengers at a time. These buses will traverse a 12.5-kilometer route that links the Colonial City’s most important central streets with two key outer destinations: the popular Plaza de la Cultura cultural complex and connecting stations of the existing Santo Domingo Metro.

    To improve accessibility for all riders, the corridor will be equipped with 30 to 35 wheelchair-accessible stops positioned throughout and around the perimeter of the historic district, with built-in accommodations for people living with reduced mobility. In a nod to advancing gender equity in the transport sector, OMSA has confirmed that all drivers for this new route will be women, as part of the agency’s broader employment inclusion strategy.

    Infrastructure preparations for the corridor are already well underway: modern, weather-protective bus shelters have been fully installed along high-traffic streets including Las Mercedes, Las Damas, Hostos, and Arzobispo Nouel, ahead of the route’s official opening.

    OMSA officials highlight that the nearly silent, zero-emission design of the electric buses delivers two core benefits aligned with the district’s revitalization goals: it cuts local air pollution to protect the historic neighborhood’s atmospheric charm, while also making public transit a more appealing option for both visitors and local residents. This electric bus corridor is just one component of a years-long, comprehensive revitalization program for the Colonial City, which has already delivered upgrades including buried overhead electrical lines, repaved and widened pedestrian sidewalks, improved street lighting, and the full restoration of dozens of public green spaces and gathering spots across the district.

  • Stania and Diamond side by side forever

    Stania and Diamond side by side forever

    Five teenagers lost their lives and two others were injured in a devastating high-profile traffic collision on Shirley Street, The Bahamas, last month – the deadliest road accident the nation has seen in at least two decades. Among the victims were 19-year-old Stania Webb and 17-year-old Diamond Stubbs, two lifelong best friends whose bond stretched from childhood on Cat Island through Stania’s college years. Now, Stania’s grieving father, Stanley Webb, is honoring their unbreakable connection by building matching adjacent mausoleums for the pair in a Cat Island cemetery, with support from his family and a groundswell of local volunteers.

    Stania and Diamond grew up steps away from each other on Cat Island, and their friendship never wavered even after Stania graduated high school and moved away for college. Every time Stania returned home, she would spend one to two weeks staying with Diamond, relaxing and enjoying their shared time together. When the two young women died alongside three other teenagers in the June 28 crash, Stanley knew they could not be separated in death.

    The 19-year-old driver of the vehicle involved, Marcus Thacker Jr, faces five counts of vehicular manslaughter in connection with the crash. The other victims killed were 19-year-old Keno Gordon Jr, 18-year-old Bertrica Brown, and 19-year-old Evalena Johnson. Two additional crash survivors – 21-year-old Shawn Thurston and Bianca Mathurin – remain hospitalized recovering from their injuries.

    Unlike traditional underground burials, which Stanley said he fears could become hard to locate or access decades in the future, the above-ground mausoleums will give him a dedicated space to visit his daughter and his goddaughter Diamond. “I wanted just to put something there in the cemetery where I could come back,” he explained. “You know, sit down or drop a rose and be able to know exactly where she is on her birthday or some days I just might want to come and say hello.” After reworking his original design, Stanley now plans to build the two mausoleums opposite one another, with a small flower garden filling the space between them.

    The construction effort has been a community-led labor of love. Stanley’s two oldest sons, 25-year-old Teran and 21-year-old Ashstan, have worked alongside their father every step of the way, and hundreds of local residents have stepped up to volunteer their time, bringing food and water for the workers and helping with hands-on tasks like mixing cement. Stanley, who still has four surviving sons, said the outpouring of support has helped him carry on through his profound grief.

    The pair will be laid to rest in the Cat Island mausoleums on July 25, with their bodies transported to the island the day prior. A public memorial service will be held for the two teens in New Providence on July 16 for anyone unable to travel to Cat Island for the burial. That same day, Bertrica Brown’s family will host a separate memorial for her in New Providence before moving her body to Abaco for her final burial.

    In the wake of the tragedy, Stanley has issued a public warning to Nassau residents: reports of people soliciting cash donations on the street in his family’s name are not authorized. “We want the public at large to know that we didn’t authorise anybody to go on our behalf and ask for anything,” he stressed, adding that all volunteer support the project has received has been freely given out of community care, and he is deeply grateful to every person who has stepped forward to help.

    Separately, Attorney General Wayne Munroe addressed the case with reporters this week, noting that convictions for dangerous driving that causes multiple deaths typically result in custodial sentences in The Bahamas. He cited a past case from Grand Bahama, where a young driver who sped off the road and killed three passengers was sentenced to 18 months in prison, a ruling that was later upheld by the Court of Appeal.

  • New Regulatory Council to safeguard quality and authenticity of Dominican cigars

    New Regulatory Council to safeguard quality and authenticity of Dominican cigars

    SANTIAGO DE LOS CABALLEROS — The Dominican Republic has launched a landmark new institutional framework to safeguard one of its most celebrated cultural and economic exports, formally inaugurating the Regulatory Council for the “Dominican Cigar” Geographical Indication (GI). This dedicated governing body was created to defend the authenticity, consistent quality, and worldwide standing of the Caribbean nation’s world-famous tobacco product, a staple of global premium cigar markets for decades.

    Founded in accordance with two existing national legal frameworks — Law 20-00, which governs industrial property rights, and Law 34-18, the primary legislation regulating the country’s tobacco sector — the Council carries a core mandate of overseeing full adherence to the strict standards required for any product to carry the Dominican Cigar GI designation. Its scope of oversight extends to protecting the traditional production techniques, officially demarcated tobacco-growing regions, and one-of-a-kind sensory and structural characteristics that set authentic Dominican cigars apart from imitation products.

    To deliver on this mandate, the body will enforce two specific national standards, NORDOM 481 and NORDOM 482, by implementing end-to-end monitoring across every phase of cigar production. From the initial cultivation and harvesting of tobacco leaves in the Dominican Republic’s designated growing zones to the hand-manufacturing process and final packaging, every step will be reviewed to ensure consumers around the globe receive only genuine, premium-quality products bearing the Dominican Cigar label.

    As a multi-stakeholder entity designed to bring together expertise from across the public and private sectors, the Council is chaired by the Dominican Tobacco Institute (INTABACO). It also includes voting representatives from a range of relevant national bodies: the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the Dominican Cigar Producers Association (PROCIGAR), the country’s investment and export promotion agency ProDominicana, the national standards body INDOCAL, and the national office of industrial property ONAPI, alongside direct representation from independent tobacco growers, manufacturers, and exporters. This broad membership structure enables the Council to deliver comprehensive technical, regulatory, and legal oversight of the GI designation.

    Beyond its core compliance and verification work, the new Regulatory Council will also take an active role in expanding the global footprint of the Dominican cigar brand. It will back targeted international marketing initiatives, develop and deliver specialized training programs for all registered producers and operators working with the GI designation, and coordinate with trade bodies around the world to raise awareness of the product’s unique value. Industry and government leaders note that the new structure brings the Dominican Republic’s $1 billion tobacco industry fully into alignment with international best practices for geographical indication protection, while cutting down on fraudulent misuse of the Dominican Cigar name and boosting the sector’s global competitiveness for years to come.

  • Environment Ministry announces 10 million-tree reforestation initiative

    Environment Ministry announces 10 million-tree reforestation initiative

    Three leading Dominican government agencies have joined forces to launch an ambitious nationwide reforestation program that will see 10 million new trees planted across the country over the next two years. The partnership brings together the Dominican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, national road authority RD Vial, and the General Directorate for the Beautification of Highways and Ring Roads (Digecac) to advance targeted greening of the country’s key transportation infrastructure.

    The core objectives of this large-scale project extend far beyond simple tree planting. Planners aim to reverse decades of vegetation loss along busy road corridors, restore natural ground cover that prevents erosion and supports local biodiversity, upgrade the visual aesthetic of major travel routes, and expand the country’s total urban and peri-urban green space footprint.

    Organizers have identified a slate of high-priority routes that will receive the earliest and most concentrated planting efforts. These key locations include the Azua Ring Road, Coral Highway, 6 de Noviembre Highway, Juan Pablo II Highway, the segment of Duarte Highway adjacent to the North Ring Road, and Ecological Avenue, alongside other strategically important transportation corridors across the country.

    Environment Minister Paíno Henríquez emphasized that the initiative is a tangible demonstration of the current administration’s commitment to environmental restoration and sustainable infrastructure management. He noted that his department has already built the technical capacity and operational framework required to support a mass tree-planting campaign of this scale, and is ready to deliver on its commitments.

    To ensure smooth execution and consistent progress, a dedicated inter-agency technical commission will be formed to take on critical coordination tasks. This body will be responsible for outlining detailed implementation strategies, aligning the efforts of all participating organizations, and providing ongoing oversight to track the project’s development against its two-year timeline. RD Vial Director Hostos Rizik Lugo confirmed that the agency has already assembled all required personnel and allocated necessary resources to kick off on-the-ground work immediately. Digecac Director Rodolfo Valera Grullón also reaffirmed his institution’s commitment, pledging full technical and operational support to guarantee the initiative meets its goals.

  • Pot-banging protests continue for a second night across Santo Domingo

    Pot-banging protests continue for a second night across Santo Domingo

    For the second straight night on Tuesday, widespread pot-banging demonstrations rocked residential neighborhoods across Greater Santo Domingo, as Dominican residents rallied to voice their collective discontent with three major government actions: a recently implemented Penal Code, controversial new tax policies, and repeated allegations of excessive use of force by national police.

    Shortly after 8 p.m. local time, user-shared footage circulated across major social media platforms captured protesters of all ages banging pots, pans and other metal cookware from street corners, residential balconies and inside family homes across multiple upscale and working-class neighborhoods, including Mirador Sur, El Millón, Bella Vista, Naco, and Evaristo Morales. Event organizers have confirmed that the peaceful demonstrations will continue at the same time every evening, framing the noisy, accessible form of protest as a low-risk but high-impact way to pressure the sitting government and National Congress to reverse unpopular policies.

    The grassroots movement has emerged against a backdrop of mounting public anger that has built across political and social lines in recent weeks. Opponents of the newly enacted Penal Code have repeatedly derided the legislation as a de facto “gag law,” warning that its vague provisions and expanded restrictions open the door to widespread suppression of protected freedom of speech and peaceful political assembly. Beyond criticism of the penal reform, demonstrators have also expressed deep frustration with newly implemented tax increases that have raised costs for working and middle-class Dominican households already grappling with rising inflation. Adding fuel to the protests is the fatal police shooting of 19-year-old Darlin Mercado Reyes, a resident of the Guajimía sector in Santo Domingo Oeste. Reyes was killed on July 3 during a routine traffic stop conducted by a Dominican National Police officer, and a bystander’s viral video of the incident circulated rapidly across social media, amplifying longstanding public anger over police brutality.

    The decentralized protest movement gained significant traction after popular Dominican rapper Melymel shared calls to action with her large social media following, urging citizens across the country to join the nightly pot-banging demonstrations. Building on this growing momentum, organizers have now announced plans for a large-scale national rally scheduled for Thursday at Santo Domingo’s Plaza de la Bandera. The event is expected to draw thousands of participants from every region of the country, who will gather to demand sweeping amendments to the controversial penal legislation, a full and transparent investigation into Mercado Reyes’ killing that holds the responsible officer accountable, and increased commitment to government transparency and accountability from national leaders.

  • UWI to host first international undergraduate leadership and entrepreneurship conference in September

    UWI to host first international undergraduate leadership and entrepreneurship conference in September

    The University of the West Indies (UWI) is set to mark a historic milestone for global undergraduate education this September, with the launch of its inaugural International Undergraduate Student Leadership Conference and Entrepreneurship Exhibition (IUSLCEE). Scheduled to run from September 23 to 25, 2026, the three-day gathering will be hosted at UWI’s Regional Headquarters in Jamaica, and organized by the institution’s Office of the Board for Undergraduate Studies, according to an official UWI press statement.

    A first-of-its-kind initiative for the regional higher education institution, the IUSLCEE will adopt a hybrid access model that eliminates geographic barriers, enabling student participants from every corner of the globe to join either in person at the Jamaica venue or remotely via digital platforms.

    Centered on the overarching theme “Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s World, Towards 2050: Imagining Roles, Rights, Responsibilities and Relationships,” the conference is crafted to uplift and empower undergraduate learners by creating a dedicated global platform for three core activities: sharing original academic research, showcasing early-stage entrepreneurial projects, and facilitating critical dialogues around modern leadership and global citizenship.

    UWI confirmed that both event registration and content submission portals are now open to eligible students. The core mission of the gathering is to bring together undergraduate learners across diverse academic disciplines, fostering cross-disciplinary idea exchange and collaborative development of solutions that can deliver tangible, positive impact to communities worldwide.

    Professor Canute Thompson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Undergraduate Studies and Chairman of the conference, noted that opportunities for undergraduates to present their academic work and entrepreneurial ideas outside traditional classroom settings are often scarce. “This conference changes that, centring student voice and building bridges to graduate studies, industry, and community,” Thompson explained.

    The full conference program will include a diverse lineup of activities tailored to student needs: student-led research presentations, the public entrepreneurship exhibition, moderated panel discussions with industry and academic leaders, and structured one-on-one and group mentoring opportunities that connect participating students with experienced leaders across academia, private industry, and civil society. Students can choose to take part in the event in three different capacities — as presenters, general attendees, or event volunteers — regardless of whether they join in person or online.

    Event organizers have set a target of attracting at least 200 total participants, alongside approximately 30 accepted student research presentations. Preliminary outreach indicates expected attendance and representation from higher education institutions across the Caribbean, Latin America, the United States, Canada, and Europe.

    Beyond providing a presentation platform, the conference carries three core long-term objectives: to foster a culture of undergraduate research across regional and global institutions, to advance student innovation and entrepreneurial thinking, and to strengthen the development of civic-minded leadership among young learners. It also aims to equip students with the connections and preparation they need for successful graduate study and competitive entry into the global workforce. Crucially, it creates structured space for students to build lasting professional networks with mentors, industry practitioners, and peer learners from across the world.

    Currently, UWI is actively accepting submissions for both research papers and entrepreneurship exhibition proposals. All applicants are required to submit a concise abstract of no more than 300 words, which outlines their research topic, core objectives, methodological approach, and key preliminary findings — or for entrepreneurs, a clear overview of their proposed business or social venture.

    All submissions and exhibits are required to align with the conference’s overarching 2050-focused theme. Eligible topic areas include innovation for sustainable development, global digital transformation, social entrepreneurship, student leadership development, and measurable community impact. The final deadline for all submissions is September 3, 2026.

    General conference registration is also open to interested students. Additional information about registration procedures, abstract submission guidelines, and entrepreneurship exhibition proposal requirements is available directly from the Office of the Board for Undergraduate Studies. Interested parties may also contact Conference Secretariat Chair Ms. Karen Smith via email at [email protected] or by telephone at 876-970-0244, with full updated details published on the official UWI conference website.

  • China investeert SRD 245 miljoen in verdere landbouwontwikkeling in Saramacca

    China investeert SRD 245 miljoen in verdere landbouwontwikkeling in Saramacca

    On July 7, a landmark agricultural cooperation agreement was signed between Suriname’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV) and China’s Jiangxi Ganliang Co., Ltd., launching the second phase of the China Aid Agriculture Technical Assistance Project in Suriname’s Saramacca district.

    The 245 million Surinamese dollar initiative is fully funded through China’s official foreign aid program, carrying forward three more years of collaborative agricultural development work between the two nations that delivered tangible progress in the first phase. Minister Mike Noersalim represented the Surinamese ministry at the signing ceremony, while Jiangxi Ganliang Co., Ltd. was represented by Zheng Junjie.

    Building on the outcomes of the first phase of cooperation in Saramacca, the second phase of the project will focus on several key areas of agricultural innovation and capacity building. Core work includes the breeding and research of new field crop varieties, specifically corn and soybeans. Researchers will also develop and screen improved varieties of high-value fruits and vegetables, including dragon fruit, citrus, muskmelon, and watermelon.

    A major component of the new phase will center on Juncao technology, a sustainable Chinese agricultural innovation that uses grass as a growing substrate for edible and medicinal mushroom cultivation, with additional potential for other cutting-edge agricultural applications. The project will carry out technical research, open-air demonstration activities, and targeted skills training for local agricultural workers at a 4-hectare project site in Tijgerkreek, Saramacca.

    Over the three-year implementation period, the program aims to train 900 local participants in total. It will host 18 separate 10-day training courses that combine hands-on practical instruction with theoretical learning, accommodating 50 participants per course. Beyond local training, 30 selected participants will also get the opportunity to attend advanced further training in China to deepen their technical expertise.

  • Women speak out after Dezral apologises over shared ‘voyeuristic images’

    Women speak out after Dezral apologises over shared ‘voyeuristic images’

    A major scandal has unfolded in Saint Lucia’s cultural community, as three women have come forward with shocking allegations against Dezral Long, the current holder of the coveted Power and Calypso Monarch title and 2025 Road March champion, accusing him of secretly capturing voyeuristic images of them in public and sharing the explicit photos in a large X adult content community.

    The women, all unaware their photos had been taken and distributed until one discovered her image online by chance, shared their account of the ordeal in a joint official statement provided to local media outlet St Lucia Times. After the initial discovery, the group began investigating the account responsible for the posts, and uncovered even more non-consensual images of other women in their friend circle — none of whom had given permission for their photos to be captured or shared. One of the affected women was a tourist visiting Saint Lucia, who told reporters her planned relaxing vacation was instead ruined by the traumatic violation.

    The images, which were first brought to public attention via leaked censored screenshots shared by an Instagram user, reportedly focus explicitly on women’s intimate lower body areas, often taken from behind. The screenshots link the account that posted the images, @juliusintuition, to Long, with evidence of account activity stretching back to 2021. The account was part of an X adult community that boasts more than 110,000 members.

    Following the circulation of the screenshots, Long issued a public apology via his Instagram Stories, taking full accountability for his actions. In the brief statement, he wrote: “This is a public apology to [names omitted] for snapping and posting voyeuristic images of them to a public forum. It’s abhorrent and I take full accountability and consequence. Also apologizing to all friends, family and business for being involved in such a situation. I hope I can be forgiven. Thank you for your time.”

    Beyond the immediate harm done to the women who have come forward, the group says they are deeply concerned that dozens more unknowing women may have their own non-consensual images posted on the platform. All affected women have reported ongoing feelings of violation, intense anxiety, disgust, and deep embarrassment in the wake of the discovery. One victim, who does not even reside in Saint Lucia, saw her leisure vacation to the island turn into a traumatic experience that has left her long distressed.

    In their full statement, the women emphasized that their decision to speak out publicly is not intended to stir up unnecessary drama, but to push for meaningful accountability and draw attention to a pattern of behavior that demands serious intervention. “Women should be able to enjoy a day out, attend events, or even visit our island on vacation without worrying that someone may secretly photograph them and share those images online for sexual purposes,” the statement read.

    Long, who also works full-time as a school teacher, is currently scheduled to defend his two cultural titles at upcoming national competitions: the National Soca Monarch contest on July 10, and the National Calypso Monarch competition on July 11. St Lucia Times has attempted to reach out to Long for additional comment beyond his initial apology, but has not received any response as of press time. The women have confirmed they have compiled screenshots and other supporting evidence linking the account to Long, and are calling for a full, thorough official investigation into the incident that matches the severity of the allegations.