More than two years after a violent armed robbery targeting three senior citizens at the exclusive Mill Reef Club, one of the accused perpetrators has received a six-year prison term for his role in the shocking crime. Justice Ann Marie Smith issued the sentence last week, following a judge-alone trial that ended with a guilty verdict on three separate counts of aggravated robbery for defendant Marlon Carr. The offense dates back to April 6, 2022, when the three victims, all between 70 and 79 years old, were enjoying a quiet moment of relaxation near a poolside cabana at the resort when the attackers ambushed them. Court testimony detailed the terrifying ordeal: the trio was cornered, threatened at knifepoint, bound with duct tape to prevent resistance, and robbed of an array of personal valuables including cash, fine jewelry, mobile phones and other personal items. Carr was not the only individual charged in connection with the high-profile attack. He was one of three men taken into custody by authorities as investigators pieced together the sequence of the robbery. In a prior development in the case, co-accused Rickardo Bussawan entered a guilty plea to the charges against him and was sentenced to eight years behind bars in 2023. In a separate outcome, prosecutors moved to discontinue all charges against the third defendant, Delon Wills, leaving Carr and Bussawan as the only men convicted in the crime. A turning point in the case against Carr came from a statement he gave directly to law enforcement officers following his arrest. When first questioned, Carr denied having any connection to the robbery, but he eventually changed his account and confessed to key details of his involvement. He admitted to driving the other two co-accused to the Mill Reef Club property ahead of the attack, and acknowledged that he physically helped restrain one of the elderly victims after she made an attempt to escape the attackers. While Carr admitted to these core actions, he has maintained throughout the investigation and trial that he never personally carried a weapon during the robbery, and that he never accepted any share of the stolen valuables. He did, however, confirm to investigators that he was fully aware the other men involved in the plot were armed before they carried out the attack. Carr was formally convicted of the three aggravated robbery charges back in March 2024, and last week’s sentencing finalized the legal proceedings for his role in one of the more alarming violent crimes targeting elderly residents and guests at the private Caribbean resort in recent years.
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Children’s ward at Millennium Heights Medical Complex gets makeover
Young patients receiving care at Saint Lucia’s Millennium Heights Medical Complex (MHMC) can now heal in a renewed, child-centric space following the successful completion of a full rehabilitation project for the facility’s paediatrics ward. The community-focused initiative, funded entirely by the Bank of Saint Lucia and executed under a formal partnership agreement with MHMC, delivers sweeping infrastructural, functional, and artistic upgrades anchored by a striking custom mural running the entire length of the ward. The project stands as a landmark example of private sector investment in improving local public healthcare access and patient experience.
Beyond the signature artwork, the renovation brings a host of practical, child-friendly improvements to the ward. Upgrades include non-toxic, brightly patterned floor and ceiling tiles designed to feel welcoming for young patients, a dedicated educational playroom to support normal childhood activity during extended treatment, a renovated, more accessible reception area for visiting family members, comprehensive mould remediation to improve long-term air quality, a updated centralized air conditioning system, and brand new critical medical equipment to support the clinical care team.
The hand-painted mural, created by local Saint Lucian artist Arthur Williams and his small creative team, is the centerpiece of the ward’s transformation. Designed to evoke joy and calm, the artwork features vibrant, saturated hues and playful, age-appropriate illustrations. Williams drew creative inspiration directly from the lived experiences of children who have received treatment at the ward over the years, and included subtle depictions of the healthcare workers who guide young patients through their recovery journeys.
In a unique collaborative touch, organisers opened the mural creation process to current patients and ward staff, inviting all participants to add their own small personal marks to the artwork. This inclusive approach turned the mural into more than just decoration: organisers note it now stands as a collective reflection of the hundreds of lives connected to the paediatrics ward, from patients and their families to the clinical team that cares for them.
The fully renovated facility was officially unveiled last week at a public ceremony that brought together leadership from MHMC, senior executives from the Bank of Saint Lucia, frontline healthcare workers, and other community stakeholders.
Speaking at the inauguration event, Genevieve Downes, Senior Manager for Marketing and Corporate Communications at the Bank of Saint Lucia, emphasized that the project grew from a core belief that physical environment is a critical, often overlooked component of successful medical care. “This project demonstrates that healing extends beyond medical treatment,” Downes said during her remarks. “A welcoming, warm environment can have a profound impact on a child’s overall wellbeing and speed their recovery.”
The finished upgrade marks the conclusion of a phased planning and construction effort that spanned months, delivering on all commitments to expand and improve the paediatric ward’s capacity to serve Saint Lucia’s youngest patients and their families.
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UK Announces Sweeping Social Media Ban for Children Under 16
In a historic move set to reshape global digital child protection policy, the United Kingdom government has announced plans for one of the world’s strictest bans on minor access to social media, outlawing platform use for all users under the age of 16. Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed the sweeping proposal, which targets all major mainstream social media services that facilitate user interaction, content sharing and algorithmic feed personalization.
Under the draft legislation, children will be barred from creating or maintaining personal accounts on leading platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter). Notably, the new regulations will not extend to end-to-end encrypted private messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Signal, which are excluded from the ban’s scope.
Starmer framed the policy as a decisive intervention to tackle growing concerns over the negative mental, social and emotional impacts of unregulated social media use on young people. He emphasized that the rules will not only protect children from well-documented online harms like cyberbullying, predation and exposure to inappropriate content, but also give parents clear, enforceable guidance on age-appropriate digital activity. The prime minister noted that the UK’s proposal outpaces existing regulations in every other nation, marking an unprecedented step forward in safeguarding young internet users.
The government plans to submit the bill to Parliament for debate and voting before the end of 2026. If approved by lawmakers, the ban will formally go into effect across the UK in spring 2027. The announcement places the UK among a expanding cohort of countries rolling out targeted restrictions on child social media access, responding to mounting pressure from public health experts and parent advocacy groups.
Policy analysts note that if enacted, the UK’s framework will position the country as a global leader in digital child protection regulation, creating a template that could inspire similar legislative changes in jurisdictions across North America, Europe and beyond amid growing global consensus on the need for stricter guardrails for young people online.
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Derde helft WK 2026: Spanje loopt averij op tegen Kaapverdië
In a stunning display of defensive resilience at Atlanta Stadium, tournament first-timers Cape Verde secured a hard-fought 0-0 draw against 2010 World Cup winners Spain, forcing the European giants to drop crucial points in their opening group stage fixture.
Spain entered the match without two of their most dynamic attacking talents, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. Head coach Luis de la Fuente opted to leave the star pair out of the starting lineup not due to any underestimation of Cape Verde’s capabilities, but because the duo had not yet regained full match fitness to complete 90 minutes of competitive play. On paper, Spain still possessed more than enough quality on the pitch and the bench to secure three points, but the underdogs had other plans.
From the opening kickoff, Spain dominated possession and pressed high up the pitch, immediately forcing Cape Verde into a turnover just 12 seconds after kickoff that cut short their first attacking attempt. The first major chance of the match fell to Barcelona midfield star Pedri, who tested Cape Verde captain and goalkeeper Vozinha with a well-struck effort from a tight angle in the early stages. For the opening 15 minutes, Spain controlled every phase of play, and it seemed only a matter of time before the 2010 champions broke the deadlock.
A second long-range effort from Pedri 15 minutes into the match was comfortably claimed by Vozinha, setting the tone for a standout performance between the sticks. Spain pushed hard for an early opening goal to force Cape Verde into an open, attacking game, but could not find the net before the first-half water break. The debutants carved out their first venture into Spain’s penalty area in the 27th minute, but the attack fizzled out without producing a shot on target.
Thirty minutes in, Spain finally carved open a clear goalscoring opportunity, only to be denied by last-ditch Cape Verde defending. In the 39th minute, Marc Cucurella beat Cape Verde’s offside trap and cut the ball back to Ferran Torres, who inexplicably rattled his effort off the crossbar. Mikel Oyarzabal rushed in for the rebound but could not convert the chance. A sustained wave of Spanish attacks followed, but Vozinha produced a string of spectacular saves to keep his sheet clean. On the stroke of halftime, Oyarzabal had arguably Spain’s best first-half chance to open the scoring, but Vozinha again produced a world-class save to keep the score level at the break.
The second half followed a nearly identical pattern: Spain dominated possession and created multiple clear-cut chances, but their attackers struggled with a lack of clinical finishing in front of goal. In the 53rd minute, Oyarzabal failed to capitalize on a huge mistake from Vozinha that left the goal gaping, wasting one of Spain’s best opportunities of the half. With 19 minutes left to play, de la Fuente turned to his injured stars, bringing on Lamine Yamal to inject fresh attacking energy and chase the winning goal. Nico Williams was introduced shortly after, but even the two star wingers could not unlock Cape Verde’s stubborn defense.
In the 88th minute, Yamal found substitute Dani Olmo in space, who squared the ball across the box to Oyarzabal. The Spanish forward, who had missed multiple clear chances all afternoon, failed to find the net once again, preserving Cape Verde’s hard-won clean sheet. When the final whistle blew, the scoreline remained 0-0 – the same as it had been when the match kicked off, handing Cape Verde a historic point against one of the world’s top football nations and dealing Spain an early setback in their tournament campaign.
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Marshall Says New Ambassadorial Role Offers Opportunity to Continue Serving Antigua and Barbuda
In a formal ceremonial swearing-in held at Government House on Monday, Samantha Marshall, a former cabinet minister and seasoned attorney, took office as one of Antigua and Barbuda’s newly appointed ambassadors-at-large, stepping into a new role that she says will let her expand her decades of public service to advance the twin-island nation’s interests on regional and global stages.
The event, overseen by Deputy Governor General Sir Clare Roberts, saw Marshall and fellow appointee Joanne Massiah complete three mandatory oaths: the Oath of Allegiance, Oath of Office, and Oath of Secrecy. The ceremony drew a diverse crowd of attendees, including senior government officials, sitting and retired diplomats, as well as the new ambassadors’ family members and long-time political supporters. Speaking shortly after accepting her official instrument of appointment, Marshall opened her remarks by expressing gratitude for the widespread turnout.
“I’m very pleased with this morning’s event and I’m equally pleased that we both have quite a good level of support coming out to support us this morning,” Marshall told reporters. “So it shows that there are a lot of persons that are very happy with our appointment and I’m very pleased for that.”
The newly installed ambassador’s first major diplomatic assignment was announced during the ceremony by Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene: Marshall will lead Antigua and Barbuda’s delegation to an upcoming European Union-Cariforum summit hosted in the Dominican Republic. While the appointment to the high-profile meeting came on short notice, Marshall said her years of experience in national cabinet have prepared her to handle time-sensitive responsibilities. She acknowledged the sudden nature of the assignment but emphasized she was ready to step into the role immediately. “I’m still trying to recover from that; however, you know it’s expected,” she said. “I’ve served as a minister of government. I’m accustomed to this. There are things that you have to do at the last minute, and so I will just get the brief and prepare myself accordingly.”
Unlike traditional ambassadors, who are permanently posted to specific foreign countries or international organizations, ambassadors-at-large are appointed under Section 101 of Antigua and Barbuda’s Constitution to carry out special, ad-hoc assignments on behalf of the government. They are called upon as needed to represent the nation at regional and international meetings, filling gaps in the country’s existing foreign service infrastructure.
In comments on the broader purpose of the new appointments, Greene explained that adding two new ambassadors-at-large is a deliberate part of the government’s strategy to expand and strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s global diplomatic footprint. The move is designed to add extra capacity to the country’s small foreign service, allowing it to engage more effectively with international partners across a range of policy areas.
For her part, Marshall framed her appointment as both a profound honor and a weighty responsibility, saying she plans to bring the same level of dedication to the role that she demonstrated during her tenure as an elected Member of Parliament and cabinet minister. She stressed that her core priority will be advancing inclusive national development for all Antiguans and Barbudans. “I’m very happy to have this opportunity to serve,” she said. “I’m very humbled by the opportunity to continue to make a contribution to overall national development.”
She also made a public pledge to uphold the highest standards of ethics in the role, committing to transparency, fairness, and unwavering pride in representing the nation. “I recognize the very level of importance of this post, and I hope to carry it out with fairness, transparency and, of course, with a lot of pride for the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” Marshall said. When asked what the public can expect from her work as ambassador-at-large, she responded that her approach to public service will remain unchanged: “I think it’s very much what I have been offering before as a servant of the people, Member of Parliament, Member of the Cabinet.”
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Massiah Pledges Excellence and Integrity Following Appointment as Ambassador-at-Large
In a formal swearing-in ceremony held at Government House on Monday, seasoned legal professional and former public official Joanne Massiah took office as Antigua and Barbuda’s newly appointed Ambassador-at-Large, vowing to uphold the nation’s interests with unwavering integrity, patriotic commitment and exceptional performance ahead of her debut diplomatic mission.
Administered by Governor General’s Deputy Sir Clare Roberts, Massiah completed the required constitutional oaths — including the Oath of Allegiance, Oath of Office, and Oath of Secrecy — before receiving her official instrument of appointment. Speaking immediately after the ceremony, the veteran public servant framed her new role as a rare privilege to advance national development amid an era of intensifying global uncertainty.
“I am just incredibly humbled, thankful, and appreciative of this opportunity to continue to play a very meaningful role in nation building as we seek to reposition Antigua on the global stage and assist the government to navigate the deeply challenging global times we face today,” Massiah shared in her remarks.
A qualified attorney-at-law with prior experience serving as a government minister and opposition senator, Massiah accepted the appointment with humility, extending gratitude to every group and individual that has supported her decades-long career in public life. She offered special thanks to God, her parents, immediate family, friends, professional colleagues, and the broader public of Antigua and Barbuda for their sustained encouragement through all her personal and professional endeavors.
As an Ambassador-at-Large, Massiah joins a specialized cohort of diplomatic representatives that the Antigua and Barbuda government can deploy for special assignments, and to represent the nation at high-level regional and international engagements. Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene confirmed during Monday’s ceremony that Massiah’s first official posting will be as a member of Antigua and Barbuda’s delegation to upcoming joint meetings of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) hosted in Panama.
For Massiah, representing Antigua and Barbuda on regional and global diplomatic platforms is not uncharted territory. The newly sworn-in ambassador noted that she is already well-versed in international diplomatic protocol, and plans to quickly get up to speed on the meeting agenda and priority policy issues to make thorough preparations. “It will just be a matter of me revving up myself, dusting off my boots, and getting fully up to speed on the key topics this meeting will address,” she explained.
Massiah expressed full confidence in her capacity to deliver on the responsibilities of her new role, setting a high bar for her performance in office. She guaranteed the Antigua and Barbuda public that excellence will be the minimum standard she upholds throughout her tenure. “I can promise the people of Antigua and Barbuda that they can expect nothing but excellence from me, which is my minimum standard,” she said.
She further pledged to advance the nation’s interests with steadfast professionalism and dedication, while remaining anchored to the core values that have defined her public service career. “I will represent the nation and its people with integrity, with honor, with responsibility, with a lot of verve, a lot of gusto, and with all the patriotism that fills me,” Massiah stated.
Monday’s ceremony also saw the swearing-in of Samantha Marshall as a second Ambassador-at-Large, with senior government officials, resident diplomats, family members, and political supporters in attendance. Both appointments were made under Section 101 of Antigua and Barbuda’s constitution, and form a core component of the nation’s broader strategy to expand and strengthen its global diplomatic engagement.
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CARICOM Opens Nominations for 2026 Farmer and Young Farmer of the Year Awards
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has officially opened nominations for its highly anticipated 2026 Farmer of the Year and Ministers of Agriculture Young Farmer of the Year Awards, an initiative designed to uplift regional agriculture and advance the bloc’s core food security goals.
First launched in October 2021 during the 16th Caribbean Week of Agriculture, the awards program celebrates the extraordinary contributions of small-scale producers and large farming enterprises across the region, spotlighting their central role in strengthening CARICOM’s food security and national food sovereignty. For stakeholders across the Caribbean’s agricultural sector, the annual awards have become a key platform to elevate the profile of farming as a dynamic, economically viable industry.
To be considered for the 2026 honors, candidates must submit completed nomination packages to the Ministry of Agriculture in their respective CARICOM member or associate member state by the June 30 deadline. Shortlisting and regional selection processes are scheduled to kick off in July, and all submissions require two core supporting materials: a brief professional biography outlining the farm’s production volume, crop or livestock focus, and operational impact, plus a two-minute promotional video that showcases on-farm production practices and any innovative technology the operation has adopted.
The flagship Farmer of the Year Award was developed to build a positive public image of Caribbean farming while encouraging increased private and public investment in the regional agricultural sector. Beyond recognition, the award honors producers who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and long-term commitment to the sector, highlighting individuals and enterprises that have helped build greater systemic resilience against climate shocks, supply chain disruptions, and other threats to regional food production. Previous winners of the award include Deles Warrington of Dominica, the inaugural 2021 recipient, followed by 2023 winner Peter McConnell of Jamaica’s Trade Winds Citrus Limited, 2024 honoree Alicia Bogues of the Caribbean Broilers Jamaica Group, and 2025 winner Dave Fairman of The Best Dressed Chicken, a subsidiary of Jamaica Broilers Group.
Complementing the main award is the Young Farmer of the Year Award, created to nurture the next generation of agricultural leaders across the bloc. This category specifically recognizes young agri-preneurs who have built financially successful, sustainable operations, and celebrates creative problem-solving, innovative farming techniques, and the adoption of modern business management practices in agri-food ventures. A core strategic goal of the award is to drive a cultural shift that attracts more young people to pursue careers in Caribbean agriculture, addressing the region’s longstanding challenge of an aging farming population. Past recipients of the youth-focused award include 2021 honoree Citerina Atkins of Jamaica, 2023 winner Diandra Rowe (also of Jamaica), 2024 recipient Kevorn Vidal of Dominica, and 2025 winner Michael Joseph of Antigua and Barbuda.
The 2026 CARICOM Farmers of the Year Awards will be officially presented during the opening ceremony of the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture, scheduled for September 27 in Kingston, Jamaica. The annual gathering brings together agricultural policymakers, industry stakeholders, producers, and development partners from across the region to address shared challenges and advance collaborative action for a more resilient, sustainable Caribbean agricultural sector.
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2 Da Max win again in Coast 2 Coast netball
After years of stagnation, netball in Saint Lucia is showing clear signs of a comeback, driven by a resurgence of interest from lapsed senior athletes and a flood of new young talent eager to take up the sport. That is the optimistic assessment from Safiya Paul, Vice President of Netball Saint Lucia, shared shortly after the conclusion of the latest edition of the Coast 2 Coast Netball Tournament, held Saturday at the Vigie Multipurpose Sports Complex.
When the current executive committee took charge of the national governing body, organized local netball competition had ground to a halt. Reviving regional, district-level play through the Coast 2 Coast initiative became a top priority for the leadership, Paul explained. The program is designed to reach communities across every corner of the island, re-engage young people who drifted away from the sport, and inject new energy into netball at the grassroots level.
“Admittedly, netball was effectively dormant for a period here,” Paul said. “But now we’re back, putting in the work to strengthen the sport across every district and every region. Our core goal is to rebuild the tight-knit netball community that once existed on the island.”
The tournament’s only senior matchup of the day saw 2 Da Max Netball Academy go head-to-head against the Windward Islands School Games representative team. Though both squads were forced to adjust their lineups due to several key player absences, 2 Da Max leaned on their veteran experience and a relentless defensive strategy to secure a comfortable 45-30 victory. In another senior division result, LFX Ballers earned an automatic win and three extra points after the Shamrock team was forced to forfeit their scheduled fixture.
In the junior division, two squads continued their dominant runs through the tournament: Ruby Red Darlings and Little Sisters turned in standout performances once again. Little Sisters delivered a decisive 47-11 blowout against Shamrock Juniors, while Desruisseaux’s Darlings held off a late push from White Blazers to claim a narrow 17-13 win.
As the tournament uncovers promising new young talent across the island, the national netball federation is already preparing to roll out a formal grassroots development program in the near future. Paul noted that the greatest enthusiasm for netball right now is concentrated among young people, while many older, experienced players have stepped away from the sport in recent years. That is why the federation is centering its long-term strategy on youth development, to build a sustainable pipeline of talent that will carry Saint Lucia netball into the next generation.
“We’re starting from the ground up with young athletes,” Paul said. “This investment will ensure we have a steady stream of skilled netballers ready to compete at the highest level for years to come.”
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‘Vampire Killer’ Sentenced to 30 Years for Maurison Thomas Murder
Nearly six years after Maurison Thomas’ brutal slaying and eight years since the killing first launched a prolonged court battle, a High Court judge has handed 31-year-old Delano Forbes a 30-year prison term for Thomas’ murder, marking a major milestone in a case that remains far from fully resolved. Thomas’ remains were discovered inside his All Saints residence in March 2018, launching a months-long investigation that ultimately led to Forbes’ arrest. Following a lengthy trial that wrapped up late last year, a jury found Forbes guilty of the murder charge in December 2023, with Justice Ann Marie Smith formally issuing the 30-year sentence this week. Per the judge’s order, the sentence will be eligible for judicial review after 15 years of incarceration. Prosecutors laid out the details of the killing during the trial, confirming that Thomas suffered fatal, severe head trauma inflicted by a blunt weapon. Investigators built their case against Forbes using a combination of forensic and digital evidence, tying him directly to the crime scene through recovered surveillance video, a unique hoodie linked to the defendant, and personal items that belonged to Thomas that were found in Forbes’ possession. The prosecution team was led by Director of Public Prosecutions Clement Joseph, while defense attorney Sherfield Bowen represented Forbes throughout the trial. Even as the first murder conviction brings one high-profile case to a close, Forbes remains entangled in the Antiguan court system over three additional, unrelated murder charges. Those charges stem from separate homicide incidents that occurred between 2017 and 2018, and formal proceedings for those cases have not yet concluded. Legal observers note that the sentencing closes one of the longest-running chapters in the territory’s recent criminal court history, but the full resolution of all cases connected to Forbes will likely take months more to complete.
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Labour Officers Awarded for Work Across Belize
On Friday, Belize’s Labour Department marked a historic milestone with its first-ever annual awards ceremony, celebrating the exceptional contributions of individual officers and regional teams that exceeded performance expectations across the country throughout 2025.
Addressing ceremony attendees, Labour Commissioner Rissela Dominguez Patt emphasized that the event filled a long-unmet need: shining a public spotlight on the tireless, often underrecognized work of the department’s frontline workforce. “Every single day, our officers step into roles that range from mediating workplace disputes and carrying out mandatory compliance inspections to guiding employers on regulatory requirements and supporting local job seekers navigating the employment market,” Dominguez Patt explained. “Today’s gathering gives us a precious chance to formally recognize those individuals and regional offices whose dedicated efforts have gone above and beyond their core duties to advance the department’s public service mission.”
The ceremony distributed awards across five distinct categories, designed to reflect the full scope of the department’s core functions: excellence in employment placement services, outstanding performance in labour inspections, impactful leadership in labour rights education, exceptional efficiency in claims resolution, and exemplary strategic support services.
Speaking to the broader significance of the event beyond individual accolades, Labour Minister Kareem Musa highlighted the Labour Department’s expanding public outreach footprint across Belize. In addition to its core regulatory and support work, the department now runs proactive education sessions at secondary schools and the country’s ITVET vocational institutions, designed to equip young people with knowledge of their labour rights and clear understanding of workplace expectations before they enter formal employment.
“It fills me with great pride every time I see students actively engaging with our officers and building early familiarity with the demands and standards of the working world through these targeted sessions,” Musa said. He closed by reinforcing that the department’s success is rooted in collective effort: “The shared work we deliver as a unified team is how the nation of Belize measures the success of the Labour Department.”