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  • Banco BHD announces fourth New York City Real Estate Fair for Dominican diaspora

    Banco BHD announces fourth New York City Real Estate Fair for Dominican diaspora

    Leading Dominican financial institution Banco BHD has officially announced the fourth iteration of its signature sponsored event, the New York City Real Estate Fair, scheduled to run from September 11 to 13, 2026, at New York City’s iconic Armory Arena located at 216 Fort Washington Avenue. This year’s edition will bring together over 25 of the Dominican Republic’s most prominent construction and real estate firms, creating a centralized platform for cross-border property engagement.

    Over the three-day event, Dominican community members residing across the United States will gain exclusive access to browse a diverse portfolio of real estate developments spanning every region of the Dominican Republic. The showcased projects span a full range of progress timelines, from newly launched pre-construction offerings to completed move-in ready residential properties, accommodating varied timelines and preferences for potential buyers.

    At its core, the fair is designed to bridge the gap between the Dominican diaspora and accessible property investment and homeownership opportunities back in their home country. Beyond simply showcasing available developments, organizers have structured the event to provide comprehensive guidance, educational resources, and tailored financial support to help attendees navigate the often complex process of purchasing property across borders.

    As the lead sponsor and a key participant, Banco BHD will deliver one-on-one personalized financial guidance and dedicated financial education programming throughout the event. Bank specialists will be on hand to walk attendees through all eligible property financing options, outline critical risk and planning factors to evaluate before committing to a major real estate purchase, and detail the step-by-step process to prepare for securing financing through Dominican financial institutions.

    Event organizers emphasize that the initiative goes beyond introducing attendees to available projects: it prioritizes empowering attendees with the knowledge to understand every stage of the purchasing process, enabling them to make informed choices that align with their long-term personal and financial goals.

    Freddy Simó, Vice President of Specialized Sales at Banco BHD, noted that the bank’s annual New York Real Estate Fair has evolved into a critical connection hub between Dominicans living in the United States and the fast-growing Dominican real estate sector. “We want to give every attendee the chance to sit down with our specialists, get clear answers to their questions, and identify the path that works best for their unique financial situation and life stage,” Simó explained. “Our commitment extends through every step of the journey—we stand by our clients before, during, and after they make this major life decision to purchase property.”

    Banco BHD brings deep institutional experience in serving the financial needs of Dominicans living outside the country. The bank has a proven track record of supporting similar cross-border real estate engagement initiatives, including prior sponsored fairs held in Madrid, Spain, and Zurich, Switzerland, building on years of outreach to the global Dominican diaspora.

  • Chinese Embassy in the Dominican Republic accuses U.S. of ‘intimidation’ and defamation of Chinese tech companies

    Chinese Embassy in the Dominican Republic accuses U.S. of ‘intimidation’ and defamation of Chinese tech companies

    A fresh geopolitical flashpoint has emerged between the United States and China in the Latin American and Caribbean region, centered on competing narratives around Chinese technology firms and their regional operations. The confrontation erupted after U.S. officials publicly warned governments across Latin America and the Caribbean that Chinese technology companies carry unaddressed national security threats, prompting a sharp pushback from China’s diplomatic mission in the Dominican Republic.

    Washington’s core claims center on unproven risks of espionage, coordinated cyberattacks, and systemic disruptions to critical national telecommunications networks that could stem from reliance on Chinese technology suppliers. Beijing has flatly rejected these accusations, dismissing them as baseless, harmful smears that expose an outdated Cold War-era zero-sum mindset.

    In an official statement released from its Santo Domingo office, the Chinese Embassy laid out Beijing’s position clearly: it called on the United States to abandon its coercive approach and uphold the fundamental right of every sovereign nation to independently select its technology pathways and international cooperation partners. The statement further urged Washington to pivot toward more constructive action that supports, rather than undermines, regional stability and inclusive economic development.

    Beyond addressing U.S. allegations, the embassy also defended the track record of Chinese technology enterprises operating across the region, including in the Dominican Republic. It emphasized that all Chinese firms operating locally strictly adhere to host country laws and established industry regulatory standards. Beyond compliance, these companies deliver cutting-edge technological solutions at price points that are accessible to regional markets, while consistently maintaining secure, high-quality services for end users.

    According to the Chinese mission, Chinese technology firms have earned widespread trust and positive recognition from both local business partners and consumers across Latin America and the Caribbean. Their presence, the embassy noted, has delivered tangible economic benefits, driving infrastructure development, creating thousands of local jobs, and closing digital gaps in underserved communities across the region.

    This latest public exchange underscores the intensifying great power competition between Washington and Beijing over control of critical technology and telecommunications infrastructure across the Western Hemisphere. As the rivalry deepens, regional governments find themselves increasingly squeezed between competing pressures: navigating U.S. security demands while evaluating the economic and infrastructure benefits that Chinese investment and technology can bring to their growing economies.

  • Department of Culture Celebrates Calvin Whyte’s Lifelong Contribution to Steel Pan

    Department of Culture Celebrates Calvin Whyte’s Lifelong Contribution to Steel Pan

    As part of its annual celebration of World Steel Pan Month, the Department of Culture is shining a spotlight on one of the art form’s most enduring figures: Calvin Whyte, a veteran panist, composer-arranger and educator whose six-decade career has shaped steel pan culture across three regions. Whyte’s love affair with the steel pan began in unlikely circumstances, rooted in a weathered, rusted instrument that sat in his family’s South Street yard when he was just a child.

    At the age of 9, Whyte picked up the instrument for the first time, claiming his older brother’s discarded pan as his own practice tool. What started as daily, informal practice sessions on that worn instrument quickly ignited a passion that would become the defining throughline of his entire life. The Department of Culture notes that this humble early start laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to advancing, teaching, and preserving steel pan music.

    Whyte cut his teeth in the steel pan community as a member of the Brute Force Steel Band, where he trained under the mentorship of legendary band leader Denley Samuel and drew creative inspiration from acclaimed musician Johnny Gomes. Even in these early years, he showed a drive to build community around the art form: he launched his own small pan ensemble using retired instruments donated by Brute Force, giving new players a space to develop their craft.

    As his reputation grew, Whyte’s involvement in the steel pan scene expanded rapidly across decades. In 1974, he joined the ranks of the Supa Stars Steel Orchestra before moving on to perform with the Burt Ramsey-led Peace Pipes Combo. He also stepped into a foundational role as one of the co-founders of the Buccaneer Steel Orchestra, working alongside fellow steel pan advocates Bernal Edwards and Eustace “Tacy” Edwards to build a new ensemble that would nurture local talent.

    Beyond his musical pursuits, Whyte built a parallel career in media and journalism throughout the 1970s. Between 1972 and 1979, he held roles as a reporter and news editor at multiple leading regional outlets, including ZDK Radio, the Government Information Service, and ABS Radio and Television. He also served as a Antigua-based correspondent for the Barbados Nation newspaper, bringing local stories to a wider regional audience.

    A major turning point came in 1980, when Whyte relocated to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he would deepen his impact as a performer, teacher and arranger for the next four decades. During his time on St. Croix, he added another accomplishment to his resume: author, publishing two foundational texts for steel pan education: *The Instructor* and *Musical Keys to Your Improvisation* that are still used by teachers and students today.

    From 1990 to 2010, Whyte led the music program as a supervisor for the Department of Human Services on St. Croix. He later transferred to the island’s Superior Court, where he worked as a music arranger and lead instructor for the court’s Rising Stars Steelband program, a initiative that used music to engage and support court-involved youth, until his retirement in December 2013.

    Even after stepping into official retirement, Whyte never stepped away from teaching and performing. He continued to share his expertise as an educator at Country Day High School on St. Croix until he relocated to Orlando, Florida in 2019. He remained an active competitor and performer late into his career, taking home first place at the 2017 Virginia Beach International Pan Fest competition, and also served for years as the lead instructor and arranger for the St. Croix National Steel Orchestra.

    In honoring Whyte’s legacy this World Steel Pan Month, the Department of Culture emphasized that his decades-long journey reflects more than just individual artistic achievement: it embodies a life rooted in discipline, commitment to community, and a relentless focus on passing the tradition of steel pan music to the next generation of players.

  • Leacock remanded on firearm, endangering life charges

    Leacock remanded on firearm, endangering life charges

    A 30-year-old resident of St. Michael has been ordered into pre-trial detention at Dodds Prison following his court appearance on a series of serious criminal charges including firearms offenses.

    Jason Andre Leacock, who lists his address as 1st Avenue, Friendship Terrace, faces four total charges grouped into two counts of endangering life, alongside one count each of illegal firearm use and aggravated criminal damage. All charges originate from an incident that unfolded in the region on August 8, according to court documents.

    Leacock made his first official appearance before Magistrate Manila Renee at the District ‘A’ Criminal Court No. 2 this Monday. Because the charges against him are classified as indictable offenses—cases that will proceed to a higher court for trial—Leacock was not required to enter a formal plea during this initial hearing.

    Following the brief proceeding, Magistrate Renee granted a remand order, holding Leacock in custody at Dodds Prison until his next scheduled court date on September 21, when the case will advance to the next stage of legal processing.

  • ABFA Congratulates U14 Goalkeeper Coach Oscar Lake on Completing FIFA Workshop

    ABFA Congratulates U14 Goalkeeper Coach Oscar Lake on Completing FIFA Workshop

    The Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) has publicly celebrated a key career milestone for one of its rising young coaching leaders, after national Under-14 goalkeeper coach Oscar Lake successfully graduated from the prestigious FIFA Elite Youth Goalkeeper Coaches Workshop held in the Dominican Republic.

    The five-day intensive training program, which ran from August 17 to August 21, was curated and led by a team of senior FIFA-certified football educators. Designed to push the boundaries of professional development for emerging youth goalkeeper specialists, the workshop covered cutting-edge training methodologies, injury prevention protocols, psychological development for young athletes, and modern tactical approaches specific to the goalkeeper position at youth levels.

    In an official statement shared by the governing body, ABFA officials emphasized that the immersive program gave Lake invaluable hands-on experience and access to elite-level educational resources that will directly bolster his ability to nurture the next generation of goalkeeping talent in Antigua and Barbuda. For Lake, the certification represents more than a professional achievement – it is a stepping stone that will allow him to apply evidence-based, global best practices to his work with the country’s top youth prospects.

    The ABFA framed Lake’s successful completion of the workshop as a core example of the organization’s long-term strategic vision for growing football across the twin-island nation. The association stressed that sustained, targeted investment in coaching education is non-negotiable for elevating the standard of the sport at all levels, from grassroots youth academies to the senior national team. “Investing in our coaches. Developing our game. Building the future,” the ABFA said in its formal declaration, summing up the organization’s commitment to continuous improvement and grassroots development.

  • Dennery, Soufriere move into SPFL top 3

    Dennery, Soufriere move into SPFL top 3

    After a break in competitive play, the Saint Lucia Semi-Professional Football League (SPFL) Tier 1 returned to the pitch on Sunday at Gros Islet’s iconic Francis Baba Lastic Grounds, delivering two tightly contested matches that reshaped the early-season league standings. Two sides climbed the rankings by the end of the matchday: Dennery secured a scrappy 2-1 victory to jump into second place, while Soufriere battled to a 1-1 draw against Mabouya Valley that lifted them to third in the table.

    Going into Sunday’s fixtures, Dennery sat fifth in the Tier 1 rankings, level on points with Canaries but holding a narrow advantage on goal difference. What unfolded was a back-and-forth contest that ended with a fortunate but decisive win for the east coast side. Dennery dominated the opening 40 minutes of play, and their early pressure paid off just before halftime when forward Jamie Prospere scored a spectacular acrobatic finish to put his side ahead going into the break.

    After the restart, Dennery stepped off the gas, allowing Canaries to mount sustained attacking pressure down the right wing. With 30 minutes left to play, Canaries capitalized on the momentum shift: Mcathur Louis won possession just inside the 18-yard box and played a clinical pass to Cassius Joseph, who dribbled past a defender and fired a pinpoint strike into the far corner of the net to equalize.

    Six minutes after Canaries drew level, Dennery reclaimed the lead for good through a lucky deflection. A corner kick from Kurt Frederick found defender Newton Marshall inside the six-yard box, and Marshall’s header bounced off Mabouya Valley’s Oneal Toussaint for an own goal that sealed the 2-1 final score.

    The second match of the day delivered even more drama, as Soufriere went into the match sitting fourth in the standings on goal difference, with goalkeeper Maju Riviere set to celebrate his birthday between the posts. Riviere’s day took an unexpected turn in the 41st minute, when he left his 18-yard box and handled the ball to stop a clear goal-scoring opportunity for Mabouya Valley. The referee issued an immediate red card, forcing Soufriere to play the remaining 50+ minutes of the match with just 10 men.

    Against all odds, Soufriere retook the momentum just before halftime, when Mahvy Rismay scored to put the 10-man side ahead. For more than 20 minutes after the restart, Soufriere held firm in a disciplined defensive display to protect their lead, but Mabouya Valley finally broke through in the 67th minute. Torian Joseph converted a rapid counterattack to score his second goal of the 2026 season, leveling the score at 1-1, where it would remain for the rest of the match.

    Despite the draw, Mabouya Valley’s star striker William Cenac retained his position as the league’s top goalscorer, even though he failed to find the back of the net for the first time this campaign. Sunday’s results have shaken up the Tier 1 table, with more action set to come at the same venue, Francis Baba Lastic Grounds, on Tuesday, August 25. The upcoming matchday will feature a clash between Vieux Fort North and undefeated league leaders Vieux Fort South, scheduled to kick off at 9 p.m. local time.

  • Specialist Dialysis Staff Begin Arriving on Nevis as Unit Nears Completion

    Specialist Dialysis Staff Begin Arriving on Nevis as Unit Nears Completion

    Four highly specialized healthcare workers have touched down on the Caribbean island of Nevis, marking a critical milestone in the long-awaited launch of the territory’s first-ever dedicated dialysis unit at Alexandra Hospital, set to open later this year. The new arrivals include three haemodialysis nurses recruited from the Philippines, each holding specialized certification and years of hands-on clinical experience treating patients with chronic kidney disease, alongside a trained biomedical technician tasked with maintaining the unit’s advanced medical machinery and supporting broader clinical operations across the Ministry of Health. In an official welcome ceremony hosted by the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), Honourable Senator Jahnel Nisbett, Nevis’ Minister of Health, formally greeted the new team members, who will join the growing care cohort for the upcoming facility. “The arrival of these skilled professionals isn’t just another hiring milestone—it means every key piece of our plan is finally coming together,” Nisbett said during the event. “Construction and equipment are important, but you can’t deliver safe, high-quality renal care without people who have the right expertise. For our residents who currently travel multiple times a week to St. Kitts for life-sustaining treatment, that burdensome routine will soon be a thing of the past.” The unit’s construction remains on schedule for full completion by the end of the third quarter of 2026. Once operational, the facility will feature five cutting-edge dialysis treatment stations and will have capacity to care for up to 20 local patients at any given time. Currently, nine Nevisians rely on regular dialysis treatment, eight of whom receive financial support from the NIA to access off-island care in neighboring St. Kitts—a burden that the new unit will eliminate entirely. NIA Premier Mark Brantley recently confirmed that all specialized medical equipment for the unit has already been purchased, delivered to Nevis, and secured in storage ahead of installation. Brantley also emphasized the administration’s intentional investment in building a multidisciplinary care team to support the facility long-term, which will include a full-time nephrologist, a specialized haemodialysis nurse manager, and additional allied health support staff to ensure consistent, exceptional care for patients living with chronic kidney disease. The entire $1.3 million USD project, covering facility construction, staff recruitment, and the first two years of operating costs, is fully funded by a grant from developer Olivier Janssens and his team through the Destiny Special Sustainability Zone (SSZ) Project. Local health officials and NIA leaders project that the new unit will transform access to renal care on Nevis, bringing life-sustaining specialized treatment directly to local patients, eliminating the stress, cost, and logistical burden of frequent cross-island travel, and improving long-term health outcomes for the island’s chronic kidney disease community.

  • Hon. Brand Urges Disaster Management Campers to Become Safety Ambassadors

    Hon. Brand Urges Disaster Management Campers to Become Safety Ambassadors

    CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS – August 24, 2026 – When the curtains closed on the Nevis Disaster Management Department’s (NDMD) 2026 Summer Safety Camp on August 21, the island’s top official for disaster management left 75 young participants with a clear mission: carry the safety knowledge they gained into every corner of their communities.

    Hosted under the slogan “Be Safe. Be Smart. Be Ready,” the two-week educational program ran from August 10 to 21 at the Malcolm Guishard Recreation Park, bringing together children ages 5 to 15 for interactive learning that blended hands-on skill-building with recreational and cultural activities. Hon. Spencer Brand, Minister for Disaster Management and the Environment with the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), used the closing ceremony to challenge attendees to become safety ambassadors for the people around them.

    “Many of the skills we train for at the NDMD are skills we hope we will never have to use,” Brand told the gathered campers and staff. “But if the time ever comes when you need to act on what you’ve learned here, I want you to have the confidence to step up and make a difference. Don’t keep this knowledge to yourselves – share it in your homes, your classrooms, your churches, your playgrounds, and your neighborhoods. Pass what you’ve learned on to everyone you meet.”

    Unlike traditional classroom learning, the 2026 camp designed its curriculum to give young people practical, actionable expertise across a range of critical safety and wellness topics. Over two weeks, campers completed training in road safety, fire prevention and emergency drills, basic first aid and CPR, disaster response protocols, food nutrition, and radio communications. The program also balanced learning with outdoor and creative activities, including guided hiking trips, arts and crafts projects, community exploration tours, and educational visits to local heritage sites to connect young participants to Nevis’s cultural history.

    Brand emphasized that the holistic curriculum was crafted to do more than just teach emergency skills: it is intended to support the long-term personal and community development of Nevis’s younger generation. “The NDMD worked to expose you to experiences that help you grow up in a healthy, uplifting environment that benefits you, your families, and our entire island,” he explained. “Everything you’ve learned here helps protect you, your loved ones, and our whole community.”

    The annual Summer Safety Camp is a cornerstone of the NDMD’s public outreach strategy, focused on building a culture of disaster preparedness and community resilience starting from childhood. Brand praised the NDMD staff for their ongoing dedication to organizing the yearly program, noting that equipping young people with life-saving skills creates a safer foundation for the entire island. He also extended gratitude to the camp’s key partner, Bank of Nevis Ltd., whose sponsorship made the 2026 program possible, and thanked parents across Nevis for trusting the NDMD with their children’s development.

    “This camp isn’t just a two-week activity for kids,” Brand added. “It’s an investment in a safer, more prepared Nevis, and every participant gets to carry that investment forward into their communities.”

  • The Trial of Hamilton and Nelson this Saturday, August 29 at 6pm

    The Trial of Hamilton and Nelson this Saturday, August 29 at 6pm

    CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – August 24, 2026 – Local tourism operator Nevis Sun Tours is set to launch its 2026-2027 inaugural performance season this weekend with a groundbreaking new theatrical production that re-examines two of history’s most iconic figures through a modern, interactive lens.

    *The Trial of Hamilton and Nelson*, an original courtroom-style production conceived for Nevis’ unique historical landscape, will hold its first public performance at 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 29 at Charlestown’s Malcolm Guishard Center. The production interrogates the complicated, far-reaching legacies of Alexander Hamilton and Admiral Horatio Nelson – two men who spent their formative early years on the Caribbean island of Nevis – through a structured legal debate that pushes audiences to confront how the pair’s choices still resonate across the Caribbean, the United States, and global affairs today.

    Unlike traditional historical dramas that center the famous figures themselves, *The Trial of Hamilton and Nelson* leaves Hamilton and Nelson off the stage. Their lives, career decisions, and historical impacts are instead debated by opposing legal teams, who lay out four core charges against the two men. Those charges include an examination of their enduring emotional ties to Nevis, their involvement in expansionist and revolutionary wars, their well-documented marital scandals, and their complicity in the transatlantic system of chattel slavery.

    What makes the production uniquely interactive is its role for attendees: every member of the audience steps into the role of the jury, ultimately casting a verdict on which of the two figures carries greater culpability for the harms outlined in the charges. The format blends rigorous historical research with dynamic theatrical storytelling, creating space for lively post-performance debate and challenging popular contemporary narratives about Hamilton and Nelson’s public legacies.

    The project has already garnered international attention ahead of its debut, with features in major outlets including *The New York Post*, NPR’s *Journeys of Discovery* based in California, and the popular travel and lifestyle podcast TripCast360. Beyond its media traction, the production also prioritizes local creative development, providing paid performance and behind-the-scenes opportunities for Nevisian actors and artists.

    This weekend’s opening performance marks the first installment of a season-long series that will expand on different dimensions of Hamilton and Nelson’s legacies in future shows. Tickets for the August 29 debut are available for purchase now through three channels: the official Nevis Sun Tours website, the on-island Alexander Hamilton Museum, and Charlestown’s Sip on the Square venue.

  • NBD recognizes ten students with Bright Future scholarships

    NBD recognizes ten students with Bright Future scholarships

    The National Bank of Dominica Ltd. (NBD) has marked a major milestone in its commitment to youth development, honoring 10 outstanding local students through its flagship Bright Future Scholarship Program while unveiling an updated iteration of the initiative designed to widen educational access and lift up aspiring learners across the island nation.

    The recent scholarship award ceremony brought together a cross-section of stakeholders: the newly selected recipients, their family members, local education leaders, and senior NBD staff, all gathering to celebrate the students’ proven track records of academic excellence, persistence in the face of challenges, demonstrated leadership capability, and unwavering dedication to achieving their goals. This year’s honorees are Akira Faustin, Anola Ducreay, Eden Nesty, Kellis Delsol, Maya Royer, Amelie Adams, Ashanti Darroux, Byron Barrie, Jaybee Fanfan and Malachi Christmas. With their selection, these young scholars join a rapidly expanding network of emerging Dominican leaders supported by NBD’s sustained investment in education and youth empowerment.

    In an official press statement, NBD explained that the revised program framework was crafted to deliver more targeted financial support and moral encouragement to high-achieving, deserving students from across Dominica. By addressing common financial barriers that often prevent promising young people from accessing continuing education, the bank aims to create more clear pathways for long-term professional and personal success for Dominican youth.

    Marketing Manager Michelle Joseph emphasized the far-reaching impact of the program beyond just financial aid, framing it as a core investment in Dominica’s long-term prosperity. “At NBD, we believe that education is one of the most powerful investments we can make in our nation’s future,” Joseph said. “The Bright Future Scholarship Program represents more than financial assistance. It is a commitment to empowering young people, unlocking potential, and creating opportunities for success. Today, we celebrate not only academic achievement but also the promise and possibilities that each scholarship recipient brings to Dominica’s future.”

    Deputy General Manager Cedric Charles echoed this sentiment, noting that the 10 selected recipients embody the drive and ambition that will drive Dominica’s national progress for decades to come. “These scholarships reflect NBD’s enduring commitment to supporting the communities we serve. We recognize that behind every outstanding student is a story of hard work, determination, and sacrifice,” Charles shared. “By investing in these young achievers, we are helping to develop future leaders, professionals, and innovators who will contribute meaningfully to the social and economic development of Dominica. We are proud to play a role in their educational journey and look forward to witnessing their continued success.”

    NBD board director Jodie Luke also offered remarks, commending the students for their demonstrated resilience, self-discipline, and relentless pursuit of excellence, and urging them to seize the new opportunities ahead with confidence and clear purpose. According to NBD’s official release, both the scholarship recipients and their families have expressed profound gratitude for the support, noting that the award will reshape their long-term educational and career trajectories in profoundly positive ways.

    Amelie Adams, one of this year’s selected scholars, shared her personal reaction to the honor: “I am truly grateful to NBD for this opportunity. This scholarship is an investment in my future and serves as a reminder that hard work and dedication can open doors. I am committed to making the most of this opportunity and pursuing my goals with determination.” The award solidifies NBD’s long-standing track record of investing in Dominican youth, and reinforces the institution’s core mission of strengthening local communities through expanded educational opportunity.