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  • CCJ Sends Maya Land Fight Back to Belizean Lawmakers

    CCJ Sends Maya Land Fight Back to Belizean Lawmakers

    After more than a decade of legal wrangling over long-standing Maya customary land rights claims in Belize, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has made a landmark procedural ruling that shifts the future of the dispute from the courtroom to the national legislature.

    On Tuesday, the regional highest court dismissed a procedural application brought by Maya community leaders, ruling that the process outlined in the court’s groundbreaking 2015 consent order must run its full course through legislative negotiation and review before any further judicial intervention is considered. The ruling has cleared up key ambiguities around the dispute, while also formally placing the Belizean government on explicit notice that final legislation must center meaningful Maya community participation and align with global indigenous rights standards, according to Cristina Coc, spokesperson for the Maya Leaders Alliance (MLA).

    Coc outlined the court’s core message to both parties in an interview following the ruling: “The court essentially told all stakeholders that the draft legislation currently on the table must go through full negotiation and consultation between the government and Maya communities. Only when that legislative process is complete, and if a final law is enacted that violates the 2015 court order or fails to meet international indigenous rights standards, can parties return to the CCJ for further action.”

    She emphasized that the ruling removes any uncertainty around the government’s obligations, making clear that the state cannot unilaterally define Maya customary land tenure without direct input from the communities that have lived and stewarded these lands for centuries. “The court has confirmed that Maya land rights can only be properly understood through direct consultation with Maya people, who hold unique knowledge of their traditional land use, historical occupation, and deep cultural connection to their territories,” Coc said. “This is not something any outside group or government official can invent on their own.”

    The ruling comes 11 years after the CCJ first issued its landmark consent order recognizing Maya customary land rights, a decision that was meant to clear the way for formal legal protections that have yet to be enacted. Despite more than a decade of negotiations, the process has been slowed repeatedly by procedural delays and disagreements over stakeholder participation. Most recently, the government added private third-party landowners to the multi-stakeholder review panel that is tasked with refining the draft legislation — a change that Coc says has set the process back significantly.

    “After the July CCJ hearing, we returned to the review panel as we committed to do, but the addition of private landowners meant we essentially had to restart the entire process,” Coc explained. “Our first panel meeting after the ruling lasted just 45 minutes, and it was only to agree that Maya leaders would submit written, line-by-line edits to the current draft legislation. Even the private landowners acknowledged that they lack the expertise to speak to core components of the law, like the definition of Maya customary land tenure — a definition that only Maya communities can provide. They can only weigh in on sections that directly impact their own property interests, and the entire process is now delayed as all parties work to get new stakeholders up to speed.”

    To date, Maya leaders have submitted their full set of formal recommendations to revise the government’s draft legislation, and the MLA is currently awaiting a formal response from Belizean officials. Another full review panel meeting is scheduled for early November, where stakeholders will discuss submitted feedback and map out the next steps in the legislative process. For Maya communities that have been fighting for formal recognition of their land rights for decades, the CCJ ruling keeps the path toward legal protection open, but also underscores how far the process still has to go.

  • 29 people displaced by heavy rains, floods (+video)

    29 people displaced by heavy rains, floods (+video)

    A powerful tropical wave swept through St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Monday night, dumping 130.2 millimeters (5.1 inches) of rain over a 24-hour period and triggering widespread flooding and landslides that have uprooted 29 people from nine households across the island nation.

    In its official situation report released Tuesday, the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) confirmed that 17 of the displaced residents are now staying in government-operated public shelters, while the remaining 12 have found temporary refuge in private accommodations arranged with local residents. Five people from three families are being housed at the Buccament Bay Secondary School Shelter, with an additional 12 people from three other families taking shelter at the Buccament Bay-based Golden Years Centre. Other displaced households have sought help from relatives after their properties suffered total structural collapse or were placed under imminent landslide threats: six residents from Rillan Hill, three from Clare Valley, and three from Chauncey are all currently staying with nearby neighbours and family members.

    The nation’s primary healthcare hub, the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH), reported that floodwaters that entered the facility have now been contained, though public health teams are still conducting ongoing assessments to check facility sanitation and tally total damage. In a social media announcement Tuesday, the Ministry of Health confirmed that outpatient services at both MCMH and the Levi Latham Health Centre will remain suspended for a second consecutive day on Wednesday. Normal visiting hours at MCMH are scheduled to resume at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

    “We thank the public for your patience, understanding and cooperation as we continue to assess and restore services following the recent heavy rainfall and flooding,” the ministry’s statement read.

    Beyond healthcare facilities, the Vermont Police Station has also reported flood damage and interior water leaks. Across the entire country, NEMO’s rapid assessment teams have documented 44 separate disaster-related incidents: 15 flooding events, 13 landslides, five instances of blocked roadways covered in debris, and three fallen tree incidents. Preliminary assessments also confirm that multiple commercial businesses along Upper and Lower Bay Street in the capital city of Kingstown have sustained damage from the disaster.

    Prime Minister Godwin Friday has already conducted on-site visits to impacted residential areas in Clare Valley and Buccament, affected commercial operations in Kingstown, and the flood-damaged Milton Cato Memorial Hospital to coordinate response efforts. Local police carried out urgent rescue operations in Buccament, successfully evacuating multiple families that had become trapped by rising floodwaters near the local playing field. The Central Roads Authority (BRAGSA) has deployed heavy machinery and work crews to clear blocked roadways, starting with critical routes on Belmont Main Road and in central Kingstown.

    Critical infrastructure has taken widespread damage beyond roads and public buildings. The nation’s municipal water supply has been severely disrupted after the disaster impacted the Majorca, Montreal, Mamoon and Perseverance water systems. According to the Central Water and Sewerage Authority, the dam at the Majorca Water Supply System is now completely filled with silt, which has blocked all water extraction operations. Manual removal of the accumulated silt is required before water delivery can resume, a project the authority estimates will take approximately two full days to complete.

    On the power front, national utility company VINLEC issued a 3:30 p.m. update Tuesday confirming that electricity service has been fully restored to all previously impacted areas on the island of Bequia. On mainland St. Vincent, power has already been restored to dozens of communities including Campden Park, Roucher Bay, Top Belair, Richland Park, Top Hopewell, Greiggs, Maroon Hill, Lauders, Lowmans Windward, Lowmans Village, Chapmans, Simon, New Adelphi, Stinking Tree Village, Doctor Smith, South Rivers, Mt. Young, Georgetown (including the local hospital), Langley Park, Dixon, O’Brien’s Valley, Mt. Bentick, Overland, Magum, Orange Hill, Tourama, Sandy Bay, Point, and a portion of Owia that includes the local Fisheries complex. As of Tuesday afternoon, power outages remain in effect for Stubbs near Bonhomme Gap, part of New Grounds, Bridgetown, North Union, South Union, another section of Owia, and Fancy.

    “Our teams remain mobilised and restoration efforts are continuing to return power to all remaining affected customers as safely and as quickly as conditions allow. We thank customers for your continued patience and understanding,” VINLEC said in its update.

    As recovery and response efforts get underway, local meteorological officials are warning residents to remain on alert for additional hazardous weather. As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, the SVG Met Services forecast that conditions through 6 a.m. Wednesday will remain cloudy and breezy, with ongoing scattered showers and a chance of isolated thunderstorms. Forecasters urged residents and drivers in areas prone to flash flooding and landslides, as well as those living near rivers and streams, to maintain constant situational awareness through the ongoing weather event.

  • Javon Cummins dares you to taste Barbados differently as Barbados Food and Rum Festival

    Javon Cummins dares you to taste Barbados differently as Barbados Food and Rum Festival

    What if one of Barbados’ most beloved traditional dishes, pudding and souse, arrived on a plate nothing like the Saturday afternoon serving generations have grown up with? Acclaimed Barbadian chef Javon Cummins is inviting diners to take that test – and discover how familiar culinary memories can feel brand new when reimagined through a creative, respectful lens.

    Cummins’ modern take on the classic starts with slow-braised pork belly paired with a steamed beetroot and sweet potato pudding. He transforms the traditional mango and Scotch bonnet pickle into a vivid, jewel-toned gel, reinterpreting the staple condiment in delicate forms including light foam and crystal-clear jelly. While the finished plate could easily pass as a work of modern art for a gallery wall, that first bite transports any native Barbadian straight back to lazy Saturday family gatherings, and the beloved relative whose souse was always said to be the best on the island.

    This gentle challenge to rethink tradition sits at the core of Cummins’ culinary philosophy. “Modernisation should never erase memory,” he explains. “If anything, it should give us another way to experience it.”

    Long before he stepped into a professional kitchen, Cummins trained as a visual artist, sketching, painting, and creating handcrafted works. That visual sensibility has become a natural part of his cooking approach, where the plate functions as just another canvas. Ingredients become his colors and shapes, sauces add dynamic movement, and textures bring layered dimension. Even the smallest garnish earns its place in the overall composition. “I want you to look at the plate and be intrigued before you taste it,” he says. “Then, when you finally do, I want the flavour to complete the picture.”

    While aesthetically striking dishes are easy to admire in the moment, they are often just as quickly forgotten. Cummins pursues a far deeper goal: every one of his plates is crafted to carry a distinct sense of place, with robust, layered flavor to give the visual beauty lasting meaning. With 14 years of kitchen experience behind him, he has learned that technical skill does not equal culinary maturity. Any chef can learn to transform almost any ingredient, but true wisdom lies in knowing which core elements of a tradition should remain untouched.

    This balanced judgement has grown sharper with time. Early in his career, Cummins often wondered whether diners would grasp his instinct to take a familiar flavor and reimagine its form. Years of experience have left him more confident, and more restrained: not every interesting idea belongs on a plate, and tradition does not need to stay frozen in time to deserve respect.

    More often than not, the proof of his approach shows on a diner’s face before they ever voice a reaction. At an overseas food festival, Cummins served his reimagined version of cou cou and fish to a Barbadian woman who had not returned to her home country in decades. His dish paired creamy traditional cou cou with fire-roasted fish and a deep, smoky Creole sauce enriched with smoked herring. One bite was enough to change her entire expression, and she spent the rest of the festival returning again and again to sample more of his creations. She talked for hours of her home, her grandmother’s kitchen, and the flavors she had carried with her for years. “For those few minutes, she wasn’t just standing at a food festival overseas anymore,” Cummins recalls. “She was back in her grandmother’s kitchen.”

    That kind of reaction means more than any generic compliment. It proves Caribbean cuisine can travel, evolve, and take unexpected new forms while still holding the essence of home at its core. Cummins wants diners to first feel that spark of recognition, then let curiosity lead them to explore something new. This year, that exploration will come with a spoon, as he turns his creative eye to dessert.

    At the 2026 Barbados Food and Rum Festival’s flagship Liquid Gold Feast, Cummins – best known for his innovative savory dishes – will reveal a lesser-seen side of his culinary skill, drawing on his long-standing background in pastry work. He has chosen soursop and cinnamon as his core mystery ingredients, two staples that open distinct pathways to shared Bajan collective memory.

    Soursop first evokes the creamy, comforting texture of the traditional drink countless Barbadians grew up with. Cummins plans to take that familiar foundation and reimagine it in a lighter, more playful form, playing with contrasting textures, bright citrus notes, and subtle echoes of beloved Bajan sweet bread. Rich creaminess will meet sharp flashes of acidity, soft smooth textures will pair with unexpected crunchy elements. The exact final preparation remains a closely guarded secret – and that secrecy is part of the experience.

    Cinnamon offers a warmer, more fragrant path, filled with endless possibility. Nutmeg and ginger may make an appearance, while a hint of black pepper promises a small, delightful surprise. Pastry work gives Cummins precise control over temperature, shape, texture, and even the order that flavors unfold on the tongue. He aims to create a dessert that stops guests in their tracks when they first see it, greets them with a familiar comforting aroma, then unfolds into a flavor profile nothing like they have experienced before.

    “That tension between ‘I know this flavour’ and ‘I’ve never had it quite like this’ is where I love to create,” he says.

    The Liquid Gold Feast will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2026 at CARIFESTA House in Waterford, as part of the wider Barbados Food and Rum Festival running from November 5 to 8. The event coincides with Barbados’ 60th Independence anniversary, and under the theme “These Fields and Hills”, it centers native Barbadian ingredients and the chefs who transform them as the heart of the experience. Tickets for the Liquid Gold Feast are priced at BBD $350, while a combined ticket for the Rise and Rum event and Liquid Gold Feast costs BBD $500.

    Cummins’ new dessert creations fit perfectly into the festival’s narrative. For him, soursop, cinnamon, citrus and spice are far more than just cooking ingredients – they are clues to the identity of an island that takes its food seriously, where friendly debates over who makes the best fish cakes or pudding and souse are common, and where a shared Sunday lunch carries generations of family history.

    His ambition for the feast is not simply to hear guests praise his desserts as delicious. He would far rather a guest look up from their plate and say, “I understand what you were trying to tell me.” That core message is simple: Barbadian cuisine has roots deep and strong enough to support endless creative invention. Nostalgia and progression can share the same plate. A familiar flavor can be painted in entirely new colors and still speak in an unmistakably Bajan voice.

    So the challenge stands: come to the Liquid Gold Feast, find Javon Cummins, and pause before that first bite. Take in the shape, the fragrance, the small visual clues woven into the plate. Then taste the soursop, or follow the warm notes of cinnamon into its unexpected corners. Does it remind you of a drink you loved as a child, a bake your relative made years ago? Does it introduce you to a Barbados you have never tasted before?

    Cummins wants to hear whether you understood the story he is telling. Just do not ask him to give away the ending before you have finished your dessert.

    ### Full Barbados Food and Rum Festival Schedule & Ticketing
    In addition to the November 8 Liquid Gold Feast, the 2026 festival line-up includes two free public events: Oistins Under the Stars on Thursday, November 5, and International Chef Demos on Friday, November 6. The Rum Route experience will be held November 6 for BBD $200, and the Rise & Rum event will take place Saturday, November 7 for BBD $250. Tickets are available for purchase in person at multiple locations across Barbados, including CS Pharmacy (Bridgetown), Nu Look Company (Roebuck Street), Mpowered (Sky Mall), Très Classe Boutique (Sheraton Mall), A&B Music Supplies (Wildey), Visual Oasis (Six Roads), the Lotto Booth (Speightstown, opposite the Bus Terminal), and the National Cultural Foundation (West Terrace). Tickets can also be purchased online via TicketNation.bb. For the latest updates, follow the official festival account @foodandrumbarbados on Instagram.

  • Cubana at 50: Barbados pledges continued opposition to Cuba embargo

    Cubana at 50: Barbados pledges continued opposition to Cuba embargo

    Fifty years after one of the darkest acts of international terrorism to touch the Caribbean, Barbados has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to principle, using an anniversary commemoration to condemn long-standing geopolitical double standards and call for an immediate end to the decades-long U.S. economic embargo against Cuba.

    The solemn ceremony, held on October 6 at the Paynes Bay monument honoring the 73 victims of the 1976 Cubana Flight 455 bombing, drew regional dignitaries, young students, and diplomatic representatives, including Cuban Ambassador Yanet Stables Cardenas and Guyanese Consul General Harry Hill. Senior Minister Kerrie Symmonds, who also serves as Member of Parliament for St James Central and Minister of Energy, Business Development and Consumer Affairs, led the event, extending the collective condolences and solidarity of the government and people of Barbados to Cuba and the victims’ families.
    Recalling the attack that downed the civilian airliner just three miles off Barbados’ west coast just years after the island nation gained its independence, Symmonds framed the tragedy as the country’s first direct introduction to the harsh realities of transnational geopolitical conflict. All 73 passengers and crew on board were killed in the bombing, which remains a defining stain on Caribbean history.

    “On that day, when the ill-fated Cuban aircraft was downed some three miles off this west coast of Barbados, we took a stand as the people of Barbados, and we have never deviated or departed from that stand,” Symmonds told attendees. “It was a stand which signalled to the world that small island though we were, and still are, we were prepared to stand with principle against injustice.”

    The senior minister used his address to push back against what he called the selective morality and hypocrisy that continues to shape global responses to terrorism and economic policy. He pointed to a long-standing historical double standard: key figures linked to the 1976 bombing have never been held fully accountable for their roles, evading justice in foreign nations despite clear identification of their involvement. Symmonds emphasized that the global fight against terrorism cannot be a flexible tool shaped by political convenience, arguing that opposition to terror must be an unwavering principle regardless of ideology or economic interests.

    “We do not believe that you can be against terrorism today, but because of issues of ideology, philosophy, or economic policy preference, that you are against terrorism tomorrow. It is either that you stand for it or you stand against it,” he said. “If the fight against terrorism is a principle when twin towers are brought to the ground wrongfully, illegitimately, wickedly, then the fight against terrorism must be a principle when evil men seek to place a bomb on board an aircraft and destroy the lives of innocent people.”

    Beyond honoring the victims of the 1976 attack, Symmonds used the commemoration to reaffirm Barbados’ long-standing solidarity with Cuba, pledging that the island government would continue to leverage every international diplomatic forum to push for an end to the U.S.-imposed economic embargo that has been in place for more than six decades. He described the embargo’s ongoing impact on Cuba’s 10 million people as a deliberate, slow-moving humanitarian tragedy, pointing to widespread shortages of essential goods, crippling power outages, and strained public health systems that have pushed ordinary Cuban civilians into desperation.

    “I use the word inhumanity because when people are starving, it is inhumanity,” he said. “I use the word inhumanity because when mothers cannot have running water in order to cook for their children, it is inhumanity. To watch a country be brought to its knees and a 10 million population be left in desperation conflicts with what we understand to be human development. It is a tragedy which is being rolled out in slow motion, and it is a tragedy which we can avoid, should avoid, and must at all costs continue to urge to be avoided.”

    Symmonds also noted that Barbados and the broader Caribbean region owe Cuba a profound debt of gratitude for its decades of solidarity and support across critical sectors. He highlighted the work of Cuban medical brigades that saved countless lives across small Caribbean nations during periods of crisis when larger international partners offered little to no assistance, filling critical gaps in specialized care from cardiac surgery to ophthalmology. He also celebrated the lasting contributions of Cuban athletics coaches and the thousands of educational scholarships Cuba has provided to young Caribbean people, including constituents from his own St James Central constituency who have gained life-changing skills through the program.

    Reaffirming that Barbados remains one of Cuba’s most steadfast allies in the Caribbean, Symmonds assured Ambassador Cardenas that the government would continue to advocate for mutual respect between nations, international justice, and the elimination of unilateral measures that disproportionately harm civilian populations. He closed the ceremony by expressing hope for a more equitable global order, renewed regional cooperation, and confidence in the enduring resilience of the Cuban people as they navigate ongoing economic and social hardship.

  • Straughn urges checks on online financial platforms

    Straughn urges checks on online financial platforms

    Against a backdrop of exploding growth in unregulated digital financial products and rising online fraud, Barbados’ Finance Minister Ryan Straughn has introduced landmark legislation to govern the virtual asset sector, while issuing an urgent public warning that Barbadians could lose their savings to unlicensed fraudulent platforms if they fail to verify provider credentials.

    Straughn tabled the Virtual Assets Service Providers Bill before the country’s House of Assembly this Tuesday, outlining that the new regulatory framework is designed to achieve two core goals: reinforce consumer protection, and arm regulatory bodies and law enforcement with the legal tools required to crack down on digital financial fraud. As global financial markets continue to evolve rapidly, bringing new digital products into mainstream use, clear legislation is critical to give the Barbadian public greater certainty around their virtual asset investments, Straughn told assembled lawmakers.

    The rapid proliferation of mobile apps and digital financial offerings has left ordinary consumers far more exposed to unvetted investment opportunities, with many people failing to conduct basic background checks to confirm the legitimacy of the entities behind advertised products, Straughn explained. Many consumers are lured by eye-catching promotions that fail to prove the substance and reliability of the virtual asset services on offer, a gap the new legislation is explicitly designed to close.

    Under the terms of the proposed bill, any entity seeking to offer virtual asset services to Barbadian residents will first be required to obtain an official operating license from the country’s Financial Services Commission (FSC), and must complete the same rigorous regulatory due diligence process that already applies to traditional financial institutions including banks, credit unions, insurance providers, pension funds and mutual funds.

    “ If there is anybody that wants to provide a virtual asset service to any Bajan, they must first come and get licensed with the Financial Services Commission, and go through the same regulatory process, like everybody else, to ensure that Barbadians are protected. We need to ensure Barbadians that there is a regulatory framework to protect them,” Straughn said.

    Even with the new regulatory regime in place, however, Straughn stressed that government oversight cannot replace individual consumer vigilance, urging all Barbadians to cross-check any virtual asset service provider with the FSC via its official website, fsc.gov.bb, before committing any funds. “I urge Barbadians, before you click on something saying that is going to be a forex trading platform or is a crypto this or a crypto that, please check with the Financial Services Commission to see whether the person even made an attempt to register and to provide these services to you. Because once that money is gone, it gone,” he warned.

    The minister noted that scammers are increasingly leveraging social media advertisements and in-app pop-up promotions to target potential victims, often baiting them with false promises of unrealistically high returns. A common tactic, he illustrated, sees pop-up ads for fake trading platforms offer users the chance to turn a $100 investment into $500 in less than a week. While the Barbadian government and FSC are developing technical blocks to restrict access to confirmed fraudulent platforms, Straughn cautioned that online scammers constantly adapt their tactics, meaning consumers must remain permanently alert to risks.

    Referring to the Central Bank of Barbados’ recently launched BimPay digital payment system, which was designed to simplify everyday transactions, Straughn added that the convenience of modern digital financial tools does not eliminate the need for users to verify the legitimacy of any service provider before transferring funds. Unlike transactions processed through regulated traditional financial institutions, which offer clear pathways to recover lost or misappropriated funds, unregulated digital transfers offer no such safety net for consumers who fall victim to scams.

    Straughn also issued a call to action for consumers who have already lost money to digital financial scams: instead of staying silent out of embarrassment, victims should report their experience to authorities. Official reports of scams allow law enforcement to launch investigations, and collaborate with partner agencies in other jurisdictions to trace and recover stolen funds.

    Beyond consumer protection, the new legislation is also a critical step to safeguard the integrity of Barbados’ entire financial system, preventing criminal groups from exploiting unregulated virtual asset activity to launder money or circumvent legal financial requirements, Straughn explained. As virtual asset transactions increasingly cross national borders, the minister added that Barbados will coordinate closely with its CARICOM regional partners to address shared risks collectively, building a coordinated regional response to digital financial fraud.

  • Caroo officially accredited as Saint Lucia’s CARICOM ambassador

    Caroo officially accredited as Saint Lucia’s CARICOM ambassador

    A new chapter in Saint Lucia’s engagement with regional Caribbean cooperation has begun, as Dr. Janet Caroo, the country’s newly appointed Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), has completed her official accreditation to the intergovernmental regional grouping.

    The formal accreditation ceremony took place last Friday at the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters located in Georgetown, Guyana, where CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett officially extended a warm welcome to Caroo in her new role.

    Caroo was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to both CARICOM and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) on September 1, 2026. Her expanded portfolio covers a broad range of critical regional mandates, from advancing cross-border cooperation, labor mobility, trade and investment, to fostering innovation and strengthening personal and institutional ties across Caribbean communities.

    In her first public address following accreditation, Caroo emphasized that she assumes her post at a pivotal moment that demands unwavering long-term commitment, deeper collaborative action among member states, and most importantly, accelerated delivery of tangible results that improve lives across the region. “I come to CARICOM with a deeply felt conviction: regional integration must be measured by the opportunities it creates and the difference it makes in people’s lives,” she stated.

    Caroo went on to lay out four clear core priorities that will guide her tenure. First, she will work to expand accessible opportunities for free movement, accessible education, cross-regional skills development, and inclusive employment across all CARICOM member states. Second, she aims to build stronger, more resilient trade connections to open new markets for Saint Lucian goods producers and service exporters. Third, she will prioritize deepening institutional, digital, and people-to-people connections between Saint Lucia and other CARICOM members. Fourth, she plans to actively showcase the rich culture, creative industries, indigenous talent, and innovative ideas from Saint Lucia across the entire Caribbean region.

    Speaking during the ceremony, Secretary-General Barnett noted that Caroo’s appointment coincides with a significant milestone for Saint Lucia: the country currently holds the rotating Chair of CARICOM, under the leadership of Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre. Barnett added that Prime Minister Pierre’s administration has centered its regional leadership on a core goal: ensuring the regional integration process delivers clear, tangible benefits to all people across the CARICOM community.

    Barnett also drew attention to Caroo’s prior experience as Head of Saint Lucia’s Regional Integration Unit, framing her new ambassadorship as a critical linchpin for the country’s ongoing deep engagement with the regional integration movement. “Saint Lucia has long been an active member of CARICOM and consistently demonstrated its commitment to regional integration and collective action,” Barnett affirmed.

  • Gale double seals dramatic tridents comeback

    Gale double seals dramatic tridents comeback

    On a blustery, rain-soaked Monday at the Wildey Technical Centre, Bolton Wanderers winger Thierry Gale delivered a pair of late goals to power Barbados to a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Group B’s basement side Bermuda, cementing the Tridents’ place at the summit of Concacaf Nations League League B Group B after the four-game international window. The result left Barbados with 10 points from three wins and one draw, holding a narrow advantage over second-place Saint Lucia – who had jumped into the top spot hours earlier after a 1-0 win over Guadeloupe – who sit on nine points. Guadeloupe trails in third with four points, while Bermuda remains winless and stuck at the bottom of the group without a single point to their name. From the opening kickoff, the hosts carved out the first clear opportunity of the match in the ninth minute, but forward Omani Leacock dragged his shot wide of the mark, setting the tone for a frustrating first half for the home crowd. Barbados maintained consistent pressure on a well-organized Bermudian defensive block, with Jaheim Neblett testing the opposition twice, but neither chance found the back of the net before the break. For Bermuda, the outing marked a clear improvement from their lopsided 4-1 defeat at the hands of Barbados just weeks earlier on October 2, with the side showing far more defensive cohesion and tactical organization than their previous meeting. As the match ticked toward the final 15 minutes, home fans growing increasingly restless as the Tridents, led by head coach Kent Hall, pushed relentlessly for a breakthrough that would not come. In a cruel twist of irony for the hosts, it was Bermuda who broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 75th minute. Forward Djair Parfitt exploited a moment of confusion in the Barbadian penalty area after a quick sequence of passing from the visitors, slotting home the opening goal to silence the packed home stands. Stung by the late concession and facing the humiliation of a home defeat to the group’s lowest-ranked, winless side, Barbados upped their intensity in the attacking third. Just four minutes after falling behind, the equalizer arrived thanks to familiar chemistry between former school teammates Niall Reid-Stephen and Thierry Gale. Reid-Stephen delivered a pinpoint cross into the penalty area, which Gale met with a perfectly placed curling right-footed shot that left Bermudian goalkeeper Jahquill Hill with no chance, drawing the hosts level in the 79th minute. The goal marked Gale’s sixth strike of the Nations League window and his 13th international goal for Barbados – but the in-form winger was not done. Three minutes after leveling the score, Gale found the back of the net once again, crashing a clinical finish past Hill at the near post to put Barbados ahead. The home fans, who had braved the inclement wet and windy conditions to cheer their side on, erupted into wild celebrations that held through the final minutes of stoppage time until the final whistle. The result not only confirmed that Barbados cannot be relegated from League B, but also moves the side within one win of qualifying for the Concacaf Gold Cup – the most prestigious and high-profile regional men’s football competition in the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football. Following the final whistle, head coach Hall praised his entire squad for their resilience under challenging match conditions, noting that while Gale’s historic goalscoring run would dominate headlines, the comeback victory was a full-team effort. “I am so proud of the boys because the team has done so well to get to this point despite a nervy match from start to finish,” Hall told reporters. “I cannot express how proud I am of them and my staff.” For Gale, the two-goal haul has cemented his status as one of the breakout stars of this edition of the Nations League, but the winger says he remains focused on improving his consistency both on and off the pitch, with the long-term goal of ranking among the greatest Caribbean footballers of all time. “I try to be consistent, even off the pitch – making up my bed every morning, I try to be consistent,” Gale said. “My dream is to play at the highest level and to be the best ever Caribbean player, or at least one of the best. I am nowhere near there yet so I’m just getting started.”

  • More charges coming for mother-daughter duo hit with 100-plus counts

    More charges coming for mother-daughter duo hit with 100-plus counts

    A high-stakes fraud case unfolding in Kingstown, Saint Vincent, has seen a mother and daughter enter not guilty pleas to dozens of financial deception charges, with authorities confirming more accusations are still to come. The pair — 35-year-old Morenike Cottle, a serving votes clerk, and 56-year-old unemployed Lisby Cottle, both residents of Vermont — appeared Monday before Chief Magistrate Colin John at the Serious Offences Court to answer to the initial 104 charges laid between them. Morenike Cottle faces 98 total charges so far, split into two distinct sets of financial offenses. Prosecutors allege she falsified 43 entries in the SMARTSTREAM accounting system, the official platform used by the Saint Vincent government to manage public payroll and disbursements. Each falsified entry wrongfully claimed between 300 and 800 Eastern Caribbean dollars (EC$) in unauthorized payments from the country’s Treasury Department for a roster of third-party beneficiaries. An additional 55 charges accuse Cottle of carrying out repeated dishonest schemes to obtain illegal pecuniary advantage through deception, with each transaction also falling in the EC$300 to EC$800 range, all siphoned from public funds. Among the third parties named as unintended beneficiaries of the alleged scheme are Nichanna Tamika Lewis, Sean Ronald Gilbert, Kenya Petra Ann Browne, Michael Carwess Smart, Perlina Blugh Luvinia Christopher, Marilyn St Eka Chance Shallow, John Rudolph Finch, and Khadilia Kengie Antonette Baptiste. Lisby Cottle, the elder defendant, faces six initial charges of deception connected to the same scheme. Prosecutors allege that between March and July 2024 (corrected from typo 2026) in Kingstown, she wrongfully obtained EC$450 per transaction for her own personal gain, linking her directly to the fraudulent activity carried out by her daughter. Grant Connell, the defense attorney representing both women, told the court during the hearing that he had been given confirmation the current charges only represent the first phase of the prosecution’s case, describing the existing counts as “volume one” of the total accusations expected to be filed. When Connell asked for clarification on the number of pending additional charges, lead case investigator Inspector Biorn Duncan confirmed that more than 20 new charges will be formally brought against the pair in the coming weeks. Connell requested an adjournment of the proceedings to allow time for preparation, and also applied for bail with a surety, arguing that his two clients have deep, permanent community and family ties to the jurisdiction of Saint Vincent that make them low flight risk. Renwick Coto, the lead prosecutor, did not raise any formal objection to the bail application. However, he requested specific conditions to be attached to the release: that both women comply with regular police reporting requirements, and that they surrender all valid travel documents to the court to prevent any attempt to leave the jurisdiction ahead of trial. Chief Magistrate John granted the bail request, approving a composite bail amount of EC$5,000 for each defendant, with one surety required for each. In addition to the bail terms, the court formally ordered the pair to report on a regular basis to the Vermont Police Station, and to hand over all travel documents to the court clerk as requested by the prosecution. The entire case has been adjourned to October 12, when the next hearing will take place to accommodate the pending additional charges and allow both sides to prepare for trial proceedings.

  • VIDEO: Heavy rain floods Buccament homes

    VIDEO: Heavy rain floods Buccament homes

    Residents of Buccament Bay are once again dealing with the devastating aftermath of flooding, after a round of intense overnight rain swept through the region on Monday, October 5, 2026. Multiple residential properties have been completely flooded out, leaving homeowners facing costly damage and disrupted lives for what many locals say is not the first time.

    Local independent news outlet iWitness News has dispatched correspondent Amandel Chance to the affected area to cover the unfolding situation, on-the-ground updates, and the experiences of impacted residents. The repeated flooding incidents in the coastal community have already sparked conversations about drainage infrastructure gaps and long-term flood mitigation planning for the region, as households work to recover from the latest weather event.

  • Talk less, act quicker on trade, Agriculture Minister tells regional counterparts

    Talk less, act quicker on trade, Agriculture Minister tells regional counterparts

    After wrapping up participation in the 2025 Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA), hosted in Jamaica between September 27 and October 2, Saint Lucia’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Sustainable Development Lisa Jawahir is pushing regional stakeholders to move past decades of discussion and accelerate action to resolve persistent barriers to the movement of goods and people across the Caribbean.

    Addressing reporters at a pre-Cabinet press briefing held Tuesday, Jawahir highlighted one key takeaway from her time in Jamaica: the country’s rapid, coordinated response to the impacts of 2025’s Hurricane Melissa, a demonstration of effective crisis response that she called a critical lesson for regional governments.

    During her visit, Jawahir also toured Jamaican farms and agro park facilities, a model she confirmed will soon be rolled out across Saint Lucia to boost the island’s agricultural capacity. But beyond these positive takeaways, this year’s CWA meeting once again centered on long-unresolved challenges that have topped regional agendas for years — with the free flow of goods across Caribbean borders topping the list, especially as Saint Lucia works to establish itself as a leading agricultural hub in the southern Caribbean.

    Jawahir expressed growing frustration with the slow pace of progress on key regional integration initiatives, noting that core issues remain unaddressed despite repeated discussion at multiple regional summits and working meetings. “I find it very difficult to sit back and listen to the same things being said over and over,” she told media. “While there are positives coming out of these meetings on the way forward, we are still at the same place as it relates to regional travel.”

    One high-profile example she called out is the years-long proposal for a dedicated regional cargo vessel to transport livestock between Caribbean nations. When Saint Lucia looks to expand its domestic livestock production, Jawahir questioned where the promised regional transport capacity is, asking “Where is the boat that we have been talking about as a Caribbean, to take cows or swine from Jamaica to Saint Lucia?”

    To advance the island’s livestock sector despite ongoing cross-border delays, Jawahir announced that her ministry has already launched an artificial insemination laboratory in Volet, Micoud. The facility allows local producers to import genetic material from Jamaican livestock to improve domestic herds, sidestepping the need to ship live animals across regional waters for the time being. “We are at least able to get the semen samples from Jamaica and use that home and take it from there,” she explained.

    Looking ahead to her broader policy priorities, Jawahir also outlined plans to develop satellite abattoirs across the island, noting that a large share of Saint Lucia’s working butchers hail from her own Castries South-East constituency. She emphasized that any expanded production will need to align with strict quality standards to meet the demand for consistent, high-quality meat cuts from local supermarkets and tourist hotels.

    The push for a reliable, affordable regional ferry service that connects CARICOM member states for both passenger and cargo transport has been on the regional integration agenda for more than 50 years. Most recently, the issue was revisited during the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, hosted by Saint Lucia back in July. At that summit, Trinidad and Tobago stepped forward with a pilot proposal: the country would lead the initiative by repurposing one of its existing active vessels to launch an initial service, with the long-term goal of developing a private sector-led operation backed by harmonized maritime regulations, legal frameworks, and insurance coverage.

    Jawahir closed by reiterating her call for urgent, tangible progress. “Moving forward, the discussions will have to continue on regional travel and regional trade…but that was the biggest challenge, you know, knowing that this issue has existed for some time now,” she said. “And I really want to urge you, all of the participants, to take an active role, and I certainly will be an advocate for it, that we need to talk a little less and act quicker.”