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In a significant development in New Winthropes, law enforcement authorities arrested a couple early Saturday morning as part of an ongoing fraud investigation. The operation, led by officers from the Criminal Investigations Department, took place at approximately 6:40 a.m. on October 4, 2025, at a local residence. During the search, police confiscated a range of electronic devices, including two laptops, a tablet, a Sony recorder, two iPhone 16s, a ZTE phone, a computer CPU with a flash drive, and other related items. The seized devices are believed to be connected to the alleged fraudulent activities under investigation. The suspects were transported to the All Saints Police Station for interrogation, while the electronic items were sent for forensic analysis to uncover further evidence. This arrest marks a critical step in the investigation, which continues to unfold as authorities work to determine the full scope of the alleged fraud.

Authorities are currently probing a significant theft incident at Mary E. Pigott Primary School, where a teacher’s purse containing thousands of dollars and critical government documents was stolen. The incident unfolded on the afternoon of Thursday, October 2, 2025, around 1 p.m. According to police reports, the teacher had left her handbag in the school’s Literacy Room while she attended a parent-teacher meeting in the yard. Upon her return, she discovered the purse was missing. The stolen items included $7,000 in cash, several Treasury cheques, government identification cards, and other personal belongings. A 12-year-old student who was present in the room at the time reported seeing a man wearing a blue surgical mask enter the room, approach the teacher’s bag, and then leave. Despite conducting interviews and extensive searches of the area, law enforcement has yet to recover the stolen items. The investigation remains active as officers continue to pursue leads in this high-stakes case.

The Family Court Division in Antigua and Barbuda, established to safeguard children and uphold parental responsibilities, is facing severe criticism for its systemic failures. Despite the Maintenance of and Access to Children Act, 2008, which mandates both parents to financially support their children, custodial parents are often left to bear the brunt of unmet obligations. The Act empowers the court to issue maintenance orders covering essential needs like food, clothing, schooling, and medical care. It also allows for enforcement mechanisms such as wage attachments, property levies, and even imprisonment for non-compliance. However, these measures are rarely enforced effectively. Maintenance payments are frequently delayed or entirely neglected, and warrants for non-payment are inconsistently issued. The absence of a modern tracking system exacerbates the issue, leaving parents in the dark about the status of their cases. These administrative shortcomings have dire consequences, with children often going without basic necessities and custodial parents sinking into debt. The Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Attorney General, and the Judicial Administration are urged to implement a digital case-tracking system, ensure automatic enforcement of warrants, and provide adequate training for court staff. Until these changes are made, the Family Court will continue to fail in its mission to protect the most vulnerable.