The Caribbean fishing community is reeling from sudden, devastating loss after the unexpected death of Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox, the groundbreaking Chief Fisheries Officer of Barbados who made history as both the youngest person and first woman to lead the nation’s fisheries sector. Industry representatives across local and regional levels have spoken out this week to express their shock and grief at her passing. The 46-year-old trailblazer collapsed on stage Saturday afternoon, just moments before she was set to present awards at a public event hosted at the Weston Fish Market. Emergency first aid was administered immediately by former military personnel who were in attendance at the gathering, who performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) right away, but Cox could not be revived and was pronounced dead shortly after. Long before she rose to lead the nation’s fisheries work, Cox was deeply rooted in the fishing community: as the daughter of a Barbadian fisherman, Moonesh Dharampaul, president of the 6,000-member Black Fin Fleet Co-op Society, described her as a true “daughter of the sea.” In an interview reflecting on her legacy, Dharampaul shared that the entire industry remains in a state of stunned disbelief just days after her death. “It was more than a job to her… she showed that passion every single day,” he said, adding that Cox fundamentally transformed the relationship between the fisheries sector and the Barbadian general public. On the morning of the day she died, Cox had personally led a community outreach event, guiding a tour of the Fisheries Division for a local group of Brownie Troop members from St. Stephen’s, before joining the Weston Fish Market event. Though Cox’s tenure leading the division was cut far too short, her time in office was defined by bold leadership through unprecedented challenge. She steered the Barbadian fishing industry through widespread devastation left by Hurricane Beryl, and she personally built critical partnerships with major global development bodies including the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Her work extended far beyond Barbados’ borders, leaving a lasting imprint on fisheries policy across the Caribbean and even as far south as Argentina. In response to her passing, the fishing industry has moved to restructure all planned events for the upcoming national Fisherman’s Month, turning the calendar of celebrations into a series of tributes honoring her life and work. Industry leaders are currently organizing a large public funeral and a candlelit vigil to be held at sea, where hundreds of fisherfolk are expected to gather to pay their respects. “We want to dedicate all the other events that have to happen for the Fisherman’s Month as a memorial to Dr. Cox and how she lived,” Dharampaul said, closing his tribute with a traditional fishing blessing: “We wish her calm seas and tight lines on her final journey.” The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Secretariat also released an official statement Sunday mourning Cox’s passing, noting that her technical expertise, steady leadership, and unwavering commitment to the sector earned her widespread respect and admiration from colleagues across the Caribbean and beyond. CRFM Executive Director Dr. Marc Williams emphasized that Cox’s contributions stretched far beyond Barbados’ coastline. “Through her active engagement in regional initiatives and collaboration with the CRFM and other partner organisations, she helped to shape policies and programmes that have strengthened fisheries governance, enhanced food and nutrition security, and supported the livelihoods of thousands of fisherfolk and fish workers across the Caribbean,” Williams said. He added that Cox’s voice was consistently a valued contributor to regional policy discussions, and her dedication to the sustainable development of the fisheries sector will leave a durable legacy that will benefit generations of fishing communities to come.
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Masons Celebrate Father’s Day with Families at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral
On Father’s Day, members of multiple Masonic Lodges based at the Clement E. M. Bird Masonic Centre gathered alongside their immediate family members, extended relatives and friends to take part in a special celebratory worship service at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral. This joint observance was far more than a simple commemorative gathering: it stood as a thoughtful, powerful reminder of the irreplaceable role that fathers and father figures hold within both family units and the broader community.
Throughout the specially organized service, speakers and faith leaders centered their messages on three core pillars: enduring family values, intentional spiritual guidance, and the far-reaching positive impact that fathers cultivate through consistent leadership, unconditional love, and steady support. For the Freemasons in attendance, representing a range of local Lodges, the opportunity to participate in this cross-community celebration came with a deep sense of pride. The event allowed them to publicly reaffirm their longstanding commitment to the fundamental guiding principles of their fraternity: faith, family prioritization, and selfless service to others.
A particularly striking element of the day was the presence of multiple generations of family members worshipping side by side. This intergenerational gathering underscored the event’s core message about the importance of nurturing resilient family bonds and cultivating a widespread culture of respect, personal responsibility, and compassionate care across the community. Attendees also reflected on the enduring role of the church as a foundational cornerstone of stable, connected family life. By creating intentional space for families to come together for shared worship and mutual connection, faith institutions like St. John’s Anglican Cathedral continue to strengthen local community fabric and embed values that build a more compassionate, cohesive society.
After the formal worship service concluded, attendees and their families moved to a space for casual fellowship, where they shared light refreshments and reflected on the meaning of the day. Many took the opportunity to express sincere gratitude for the fathers, grandfathers, community mentors, and other father figures who shape lives and leave lasting positive impressions on people across all age groups. In closing, the leadership and members of all Lodges meeting at the Clement E. M. Bird Masonic Centre extended warm, heartfelt Father’s Day greetings to every father across the region, offering wishes for continued joy, health, and blessing as they guide and nurture their families through every stage of life. -
Randy Jagdeo surrenders for seized AK-47s probe
A major illegal firearms investigation in Guyana has taken a new turn, with a local city businessman turning himself in to authorities on Sunday, June 14, 2026, following a massive seizure of 23 US-manufactured AK-47 assault rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition earlier this week.
Randy Jagdeo, 40, surrendered peacefully at the headquarters of the Guyana Police Force’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in the company of his legal representation, confirmed Deputy Police Commissioner Wendell Blanhum, who heads the CID. As of Sunday afternoon, Jagdeo remained in police custody as investigators continue to unpack details of the smuggling case.
The large cache of weapons — 23 assault rifles and 503 matching rounds of ammunition — was intercepted by law enforcement late Thursday during a seizure at Schoonard, on the West Bank of Demerara. Blanhum previously confirmed that all the firearms originated in the United States. While one weapon still retained its original factory serial number, investigators found that the identifying serial numbers on every other rifle had been intentionally erased, a common tactic for illegal arms traffickers.
One suspect has already been taken into custody in connection with the Schoonard bust: 28-year-old Jonathan Gans, a Venezuelan man who resides in Third Street, Grove, East Bank Demerara. Authorities have also issued an official wanted bulletin for a second Guyanese suspect, Orlando Gabriel, who is still being sought on charges of unlawful weapons possession linked to the case.
This seizure marks the second large interception of illegal assault rifles in Guyana in just one month. Just last month, authorities seized 10 AK-47 rifles in Berbice, and three Guyanese nationals have already been formally charged and are currently going through court proceedings for that incident.
As of Sunday, top Guyanese security officials have declined to comment on the driving forces behind what appears to be a growing influx of high-powered assault weapons into the country, leaving many open questions about the intended destination and use of the seized contraband. The case underscores growing regional concerns over cross-border illegal arms trafficking in South America.
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Search on for plane missing on flight to Tobago
A multi-nation search operation is ongoing across the southern Caribbean after a small twin-engine aircraft disappeared mid-flight Friday while traveling from St. Vincent to Tobago. The missing plane, a Beech 58P Pressurized Baron registered in the Dominican Republic under registration number HI-1145, departed Argyle International Airport in St. Vincent at 11:52 a.m. local time, with its final destination set as ANR Robinson International Airport on the island of Tobago.
Contact with the aircraft was unexpectedly lost while it was traveling along its planned route, triggering an immediate alert across regional aviation agencies that quickly mobilized search assets to locate the vanished plane. Data collected from popular flight tracking service Flightradar24 reveals that the aircraft was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) in the moments before its signal cut out, cruising at an altitude of roughly 4,025 feet with a ground speed of approximately 142 knots. The plane’s last recorded position placed it over open waters in the southern Caribbean, close to the territorial boundaries of either Grenada or Venezuela.
To date, officials have not released key details about the flight, including how many people were on board when it disappeared, nor have they shared the identities of the pilot and any passengers. The Beech 58P Baron is a light utility aircraft that is typically configured to carry one pilot plus between four and five passengers. As of Sunday, authorities had not confirmed that the plane crashed, and no debris or wreckage had been recovered by search teams.
According to preliminary accounts of the incident, air traffic controllers at Argyle International Airport first notified Piarco Air Traffic Control, based in Trinidad, after communication with the aircraft was lost. A representative from Piarco later confirmed to local media outlets that aviation agencies across the region are fully engaged in active search operations for the missing aircraft.
Flight records show the plane had been operating without any reported mechanical issues in the days leading up to its disappearance. It completed multiple short flights between the island of Canouan and mainland St. Vincent on June 10 and June 12 with no incidents reported, and it had regularly operated scheduled and charter flights between Grenada and Trinidad in recent months.
Notably, this disappearance marks the second unresolved vanishing of an aircraft operating along the Canouan-St. Vincent route in less than a year. Another small plane went missing after operating in this same region in December 2023, and that case remains open with no wreckage or answers found to date.
As of Sunday, search-and-rescue teams from civil aviation agencies in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and several neighboring Caribbean territories continued scanning the waters of the southern Caribbean for any trace of HI-1145, with operations expected to continue pending new developments.
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Statement on the Passing of Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox, Chief Fisheries Officer of Barbados
The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) Secretariat has announced the sudden passing of Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox, Barbados’ long-serving Chief Fisheries Officer, issuing an official statement of condolence on June 14, 2026 that has been met with an outpouring of grief across regional fisheries and coastal communities.
In the statement released by CRFM Executive Director Dr. Marc Williams, the secretariat shared its profound sadness at the unexpected loss, extending heartfelt sympathy to Cox’s family, close friends, professional colleagues, and every member of Barbados’ fishing community as they navigate this period of profound loss.
Across a decades-long, distinguished career, Dr. Cox dedicated herself to serving Barbados and the broader Caribbean region with consistent devotion, rigorous professionalism, and a deeply rooted passion for marine resource stewardship. In her role as Chief Fisheries Officer, she emerged as a transformative leader, driving major progress in four key areas: the adoption of science-based sustainable fisheries management practices, the building of greater economic and social resilience among small-scale fishing communities, the promotion of responsible long-term stewardship of the Caribbean’s valuable marine ecosystems, and the expansion of cross-border cooperation to address shared challenges facing the regional fisheries and aquaculture industries. Her sharp technical expertise, steady collaborative leadership, and unwavering commitment to equitable progress earned her widespread respect and admiration from peers across the Caribbean and in global fisheries circles.
Cox’s influence extended far beyond the territorial waters of her home country. Through her active participation in regional policy initiatives and close, sustained collaboration with the CRFM and its network of partner institutions, she helped shape landmark policies and community-focused programs that have strengthened regional fisheries governance, improved food and nutrition security for millions of Caribbean residents, and secured more stable livelihoods for thousands of small-scale fisherfolk and fish processing workers across the region. Her insight and perspective were consistently prioritized in high-level regional discussions, and her lifelong work to advance the sustainable development of the fisheries sector has created an enduring legacy that will continue to deliver benefits for Caribbean communities for generations to come.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with Dr. Cox’s loved ones, her team at the Barbados Fisheries Division, and above all the fisherfolk and fishing communities of Barbados, who have lost a steadfast advocate and unwavering champion,” the statement read. “We encourage those mourning to find comfort in the remarkable impact she achieved during her lifetime, and in the countless lives she touched through her decades of selfless service.”
The CRFM Secretariat said it joins the entire people of Barbados in mourning Cox’s passing and celebrating her life of service dedicated to advancing the Caribbean fisheries sector and improving the wellbeing of all Caribbean people. May her soul rest in eternal peace.
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Derde helft WK 2026: Routinier Duitsland walst over debutant Curaçao: 7-1
Four-time men’s football World Cup winners Germany kicked off their 2026 campaign chasing a historic fifth title with a dominant 7-1 victory over tournament first-timers Curaçao on Saturday, played out at Houston’s professional football stadium under Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed.
Despite being widely labeled as the clear underdog going into the opening group-stage clash, Curaçao refused to settle for a predicted heavy defeat, turning in a brave performance that produced an engaging, end-to-end contest for spectators. From the opening whistle, Germany’s signature attacking intensity shone through, and it took just six minutes for the four-time champions to break the deadlock: Felix Nmecha slotted home to put Germany 1-0 up.
Stung by the early setback, Curaçao pushed forward to find an equalizer, opening up space in behind their defense that Germany looked to exploit repeatedly. Nmecha came close to doubling his tally soon after, but Curaçao goalkeeper Eloy Room stood firm to deny the German attacker a second.
Curaçao’s first dangerous attempt of the match arrived in the 19th minute, when experienced midfielder Leandro Bacuna pulled a shot just over the crossbar. A minute later, however, Curaçao got the historic equalizer their pressure deserved: 20-year-old Livano Comenencia hit a ferocious strike past veteran German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to level the score at 1-1, sending shockwaves through the match.
The equalizer gave Curaçao renewed confidence, with the underdogs pushing higher in search of a second goal. This left more gaps for Germany’s creative midfield to exploit, and the four-time champions retook the lead in the 38th minute. Defender Nico Schlotterbeck connected perfectly with a corner kick, heading home to put Germany 2-1 up ahead of half time.
Deep into first-half stoppage time, Germany earned a penalty after Nmecha was brought down in the 18-yard box by Curaçao’s Richedly Bazoer. Kai Havertz stepped up to the spot, sending Room the wrong way to extend Germany’s lead to 3-1, the scoreline heading into the halftime break.
Germany picked up right where they left off after the break, with star attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala confirming the European side’s dominance just two minutes into the second half, scoring to make it 4-1. Just after the one-hour mark, winger Leroy Sane had a clear one-on-one chance against Room to add a fifth, but he dragged his effort just wide of the post.
The fifth goal did arrive in the 68th minute, though, with defender Nathaniel Brown slotting home a cross from striker Deniz Undav to push the score to 5-1. Even with the game well out of reach, Curaçao continued to push forward in search of a second goal, but Germany’s defense held firm to shut out any further chances.
Undav got himself on the scoresheet in the 78th minute, tapping home a cross from captain Joshua Kimmich to make it 6-1 to the four-time world champions. In the closing minutes of the match, Havertz scored his second of the game to cap off a dominant German display, sealing a 7-1 win for Germany in their opening match of the tournament.
Report by Mireille Hoepel
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Bouva ziet kansen voor sterkere economische as tussen Suriname, Guyana en Trinidad
At a recent networking event co-hosted by the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce (SGCC) and the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA), Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation Melvin Bouva has highlighted the untapped potential of complementary economic strengths across three Caribbean nations to drive inclusive regional growth and cross-border entrepreneurship.
Bouva pointed to the rising economic momentum across the three countries as a unique opening to deepen bilateral and trilateral trade ties, attract greater foreign and regional direct investment, and foster new collaborative frameworks between private sector actors across the region. He emphasized that long-term, sustainable economic development cannot rely solely on individual national policy efforts — it depends fundamentally on building strong, trust-based regional partnerships that leverage each nation’s unique advantages.
The minister also extended public recognition to the SGCC and TTMA for their ongoing work in bridging private sector communities across Suriname, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago. According to Bouva, the strong turnout of entrepreneurs and industry representatives from a wide range of sectors at the event reflects a growing consensus across regional business communities that cross-border collaboration is a prerequisite to fully unlocking shared economic opportunities.
Bouva further outlined Suriname’s growing strategic focus on economic diplomacy as a core tool for advancing national development. Under this strategy, the country is actively expanding and deepening economic ties with partners both within the Caribbean region and across the globe, with key existing and emerging partnerships in the broader Caribbean, South America, Europe, and North Africa, he noted.
Turning specifically to cooperation between Suriname, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago, Bouva broke down the complementary strengths each nation brings to the table. Trinidad and Tobago boasts robust, well-established manufacturing and energy sectors, while Guyana is currently experiencing one of the fastest economic growth rates in the Western Hemisphere. Meanwhile, Surinamese private firms are increasingly integrating into these ongoing growth dynamics across the region, taking on new roles in cross-border projects and supply chains.
“Together, our nations hold complementary strengths that can form the foundation of mutually beneficial partnerships that lift all our economies,” Bouva stated.
The minister argued that regional cooperation should extend far beyond just expanding bilateral trade volumes. He called for increased joint cross-border investment initiatives, expanded knowledge sharing between industry and academic stakeholders, deeper technological collaboration, and the intentional development of integrated regional value chains that strengthen the global competitiveness of Caribbean enterprises across all sectors.
Bouva concluded by stressing that the long-term prosperity of the entire Caribbean region will depend on how successfully governments and private sector actors can build durable, sustainable collaborative frameworks. “The future prosperity of our region will not come from isolated, individual national efforts. It will come from meaningful cooperation between governments and businesses that recognize the inherent value of cross-border partnership,” he said.
The networking event drew attendees from a diverse array of sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, construction, infrastructure development, energy, agriculture, technology, education, and professional services. Members of the international diplomatic corps based in Suriname also participated in the accompanying reception.
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BL&P celebrates anniversary milestone
This week, Barbados’ only electricity provider, Barbados Light and Power Company (BL&P), is pausing to look back on 115 years of powering the island nation’s growth and development. To launch its week of milestone commemorations, BL&P employees gathered alongside congregants at Dalkeith Methodist Church on Sunday for a heartfelt thanksgiving service. The choice of location was far from arbitrary: Dalkeith Methodist holds a unique place in Barbados’ energy history as the first church on the island to be connected to electrical power.
Speaking at the service under the anniversary theme ‘Blueprints of Excellence’, BL&P Human Resources Business Partner Sonia Haynes-Collymore explained that the theme was chosen to highlight shared values between the utility company and the historic church. Both institutions, she noted, are rooted in priorities including nurturing strong community bonds, prioritizing the welfare of individuals, centering collective well-being, and maintaining an unwavering commitment to outstanding service.
Antoine Williams, a representative of Dalkeith Methodist Church, opened the service by welcoming the BL&P delegation and extending recognition for the company’s decades-long impact across Barbados. Williams emphasized that BL&P has long stood as a trusted social partner, contributing to progress in local communities and across the entire island for generations.
The opening church service is just the first of a full slate of anniversary events planned for the week. Upcoming activities include an Employee Appreciation Day to honor the teams that have kept the company running over the decades, a ceremonial time capsule burial to preserve memories for future generations of BL&P staff, a company-wide football tournament to foster team camaraderie, and a formal awards gala. The awards ceremony will recognize long-serving employees and individuals who have made exceptional contributions to BL&P’s 115-year legacy of reliable service to Barbados.
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Friend flees as ‘Sophia’ knife to death outside supermarket
A brutal mid-morning stabbing on a busy Trinidad and Tobago roadway has left a young Venezuelan migrant dead, with law enforcement investigators probing the killing as a targeted domestic-related attack. The incident unfolded on Saturday morning along Montrose Main Road in Chaguanas, where 28-year-old Mariannys Jiménez — who went by the nickname Sophia and resided on Sagan Street in Caroni’s Kelly Village — was attacked while en route to her dishwashing shift at Panda’s Restaurant.
The chain of emergency response began shortly after the attack, when officers assigned to the Chaguanas Police Station received an incoming report at approximately 9:30 a.m. alerting them that a stabbed woman had been transported to the local Chaguanas Health Facility. By the time responding law enforcement officers arrived at the medical center, clinical staff shared that Jiménez had been admitted just six minutes earlier, at 9:20 a.m., suffering from multiple penetrating stab wounds across her body. Despite immediate life-saving interventions by medical teams, Jiménez was officially pronounced dead at 9:26 a.m., mere minutes after her arrival at the facility.
Investigators have turned to a key witness — one of Jiménez’s close friends and co-workers — to piece together the timeline of the attack. The witness told police that Jiménez had stayed with her the previous night after reaching out to her for support, a detail that aligns with police’s domestic incident hypothesis. As the pair walked along Montrose Main Road toward their workplace at roughly 9:10 a.m., an unidentified man clad entirely in dark clothing and wearing a baseball cap stepped forward to confront Jiménez before launching his attack, stabbing her repeatedly in public view.
In the chaos of the assault, the witness fled to a nearby grocery store to call for emergency assistance. By the time she returned to the scene, the attacker had already fled the area on foot, leaving Jiménez unconscious and bleeding heavily on the sidewalk. A good Samaritan motorist passing through the area stopped to rush the injured woman to the nearest health facility, but her wounds were too severe to survive. As of Saturday evening, investigators had not released any updates on the identity of the suspect or potential arrests connected to the killing, leaving the community on edge over the brazen public attack.
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20 bullets fired in killing of ‘Ling’
In the pre-dawn darkness of Saturday, a fatal shooting left a 32-year-old Diego Martin resident dead at his own home, marking the latest violent incident to shake the quiet community. Authorities have identified the victim as Nigel Ferguson, who was also known to locals by the nickname “Ling” and resided at a property on Rathole, Upper Quarry Street.
The first signs of trouble emerged at approximately 1:35 a.m., when nearby residents reported hearing loud, explosive-like bangs erupt from Ferguson’s home. Within minutes, two suspects clad entirely in dark clothing, both carrying loaded firearms, were spotted fleeing the residential property on foot. The pair ran down a long flight of outdoor steps that connects the hillside neighborhood to the main public roadway before disappearing from sight.
After the gunmen left the scene, one concerned local resident approached Ferguson’s home to check on his wellbeing, where they made the grim discovery: the 32-year-old lay unresponsive in the entryway of his house, with no signs of life.
Members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s Crime Scene Investigations unit were quickly dispatched to process the location and gather forensic evidence. Their search of the property turned up a total of 20 spent shell casings of varying sizes, a find that indicates multiple weapons were used in the attack. Among the recovered casings were seven 9mm rounds and 13 .40-calibre rounds.
As of the latest update, law enforcement officials have not announced any suspects in connection with Ferguson’s killing, nor have they identified a clear motive for the deadly attack. Investigations remain active and ongoing as detectives work to track down the two attackers and piece together the sequence of events that led to the shooting.