标签： Antigua and Barbuda

The Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda is mourning the loss of one of its most towering public and private figures, Sir Aziz Fares Hadeed KCMG, CBE, who passed away on 23 May 2026 at the age of 79. In an official statement released after his death, the Hadeed family has paid loving tribute to their patriarch, celebrating a life spent in relentless service to leadership, community progress and national growth that left an unerasable imprint on both Antigua and Barbuda and the broader Caribbean region.

Widely celebrated as one of the most influential businessmen and philanthropists in the country, Sir Aziz steered the Hadeed Group of Companies as Executive Chairman to grow into one of the largest corporate conglomerates in the Eastern Caribbean. Under his direction, the group drove substantial economic expansion across the region, created thousands of stable jobs for local workers, and laid foundational groundwork for decades of private sector development. His influence stretched far beyond the boardroom, however: he was equally respected as a diplomat, dedicated public servant and passionate advocate for community uplift, with major contributions to advancing public education, expanding philanthropic access for marginalized groups, and strengthening civic institutions across Antigua and Barbuda.

Over his decades of service, Sir Aziz earned some of the world’s most prestigious honors in recognition of his work. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2016 for his contributions to commerce and public life, and just earlier this year, he was elevated to the rank of Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) — one of the highest distinctions awarded for outstanding public and international service.

The family expressed deep gratitude to the general public for the outpouring of prayers, affection and support they have received in the wake of Sir Aziz’s passing, noting that his lifelong commitment to leaving communities better than he found them will endure as a core part of his legacy. “We honour and celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of our beloved patriarch,” the statement reads.

As tributes continue to arrive from across Antigua and Barbuda and neighboring Caribbean nations, those who worked with Sir Aziz and benefited from his initiatives remember him as a transformative leader. His work reshaped the country’s business ecosystem, expanded access to educational opportunity, and lifted up countless communities through targeted philanthropy and public service. The family emphasized that his core values of integrity, radical compassion and selfless service will continue to inspire all who were touched by his work for generations to come.

A landmark environmental initiative in Antigua and Barbuda has turned more than 100,000 discarded plastic bottle caps into durable public seating, marking a major win for community-led ocean conservation and waste reduction efforts.

The West Indies Sail Heritage Foundation, the organization leading the project, announced the milestone as part of its ongoing Ocean Love No Plastic No Waste programme. Instead of allowing single-use plastic caps to end up in landfills or leak into surrounding oceans, the initiative has repurposed the collected waste into sturdy, long-lasting benches that now serve eight local schools and youth organizations across the twin-island nation. Beneficiaries of the donations include Sea View Farm Primary School, Newfield Primary School, Cobbs Cross Primary School, the Antigua & Barbuda Girl Guides Association, Cedar Grove Primary School, Potters Primary School, Jennings Secondary School and Buckleys Primary School.

Every finished bench incorporates a minimum of 12,000 recycled plastic caps, turning a common everyday waste item into a functional public asset that will serve communities for years. Beyond providing useful seating, the project is designed to blend tangible conservation action with hands-on environmental education for young people. Through the programme, participating students learn core lessons about plastic pollution, marine ecosystem protection, and the four key principles of sustainable waste management: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Refuse. The initiative encourages young participants to reframe their understanding of waste, teaching them that materials most people throw away can be transformed into valuable, useful resources.

For the foundation and local communities, these benches are far more than just a place to sit. They serve as constant, visible reminders of what collective community action can accomplish when groups unite to cut waste and protect shared natural spaces. Every bottle cap kept out of the waste stream is one less piece of plastic that risks contaminating local coastlines, harming marine life, or damaging the island nation’s sensitive ecosystems that rely on clean oceans for tourism and livelihoods.

The success of the milestone would not have been possible without external support, and the West Indies Sail Heritage Foundation has publicly thanked its core partners and sponsors: the Sandals Foundation, CCRIF SPC, and the French Embassy in Saint Lucia. Their funding and logistical backing have made both the collection drive and the distribution of the upcycled benches possible.

Looking ahead, the Ocean Love No Plastic No Waste programme is set to continue expanding through 2026 and 2027, bringing environmental education workshops, plastic collection drives, and upcycling projects to even more young people across Antigua and Barbuda. The foundation’s long-term goal is to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders to rethink their relationship with plastic, develop creative local solutions to waste challenges, and launch their own community initiatives to keep plastic out of oceans and natural areas.

By turning tiny, often overlooked discarded bottle caps into lasting public infrastructure, the programme offers a powerful example of how small, individual actions can add up to large, meaningful environmental change. The foundation invites community members and local groups to join the effort, emphasizing that collective action can turn waste into opportunity and build a cleaner, more environmentally resilient future for Antigua and Barbuda.

A bold shopkeeper in the All Saints district has become a local hero after successfully fending off an attempted chain-snatching incident that unfolded on the shop floor earlier this week.

Local law enforcement sources confirm that the incident began when an unidentified suspect entered the small independent retail outlet under the pretense of browsing merchandise. Once inside, the individual suddenly lunged toward the owner, reaching for the gold chain the shopkeeper was wearing around their neck in a blatant attempt to steal the valuable piece of jewelry.

Witnesses who were inside the store at the time of the attack described the shopkeeper as acting quickly and decisively, refusing to surrender to the robber’s demands. Instead of complying, the owner pushed back against the suspect, shouting to draw attention from passersby and engaging in a brief physical struggle that threw the attacker off balance.

The unexpected resistance caught the would-be thief off guard. Within seconds, the suspect realized they would not be able to seize the chain and escape easily, and fled the premises on foot before any bystanders could block their exit. Emergency responders and police were called to the scene immediately after the incident, launching a search operation for the suspect that remains ongoing as of press time.

The shopkeeper, who has operated their small business in the All Saints area for more than 12 years, sustained only minor scrapes during the struggle and was able to reopen the store the following day. In a brief interview with local media, the owner emphasized that they wanted to send a message that small business owners will not stand idly by while criminals target them or their community.

Local residents have rallied around the shopkeeper, praising their courage in the face of danger. Neighborhood safety organizers have noted that the incident highlights ongoing concerns about street-level petty crime in the area, and are calling for increased police patrols to reassure local business owners and shoppers.

Young talent from the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda has once again turned heads across the Caribbean region, clinching multiple top awards at the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Foundation’s 2025 Environmental Poster and Essay Competitions. The annual contest, which centers on linking environmental protection to sustainable regional tourism, saw local students dominate national-level categories and earn a prestigious regional distinction, cementing the country’s reputation for nurturing creative, environmentally conscious youth.

Across both the essay and poster divisions, Antigua and Barbuda’s student competitors secured all national championship titles, with one participant going on to take second place in the broader regional competition. The impressive haul of awards is being widely celebrated as evidence of the strong potential and skill held by the nation’s younger generation.

To honor the winning students, an official prize-giving ceremony was hosted last Thursday at the headquarters of Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Tourism. Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez personally presented the trophies, cash rewards, and other prizes to the victorious participants, taking time to praise each student for their creative vision, commitment to environmental protection, and academic dedication.

Leading the group of national winners is Mckenzi Edwards, a student at New Bethel SDA School, who claimed first place in both the junior division essay and poster competitions. Edwards walked away with a $200 USD cash prize for each of his two winning entries, totaling $400 USD in rewards.

In the senior division of the environmental poster competition, Sophia Cao from St. Anthony’s Secondary School took the national top spot, earning a $200 USD cash prize for her work.

The highlight of the event came when Kiara Kwenga, a student at Christ the King High School and Antigua and Barbuda’s sitting Junior Minister of Tourism, earned regional acclaim for her essay, taking second place in the competition open to all Caribbean participants. For her achievement, Kwenga received a brand-new Lenovo laptop, while her school was awarded a $1,500 USD grant to support student programs.

Addressing attendees at the ceremony, Minister Fernandez emphasized the broader meaning of the students’ wins beyond the competition itself. He praised the young competitors for channeling their creative abilities into raising awareness about environmental stewardship and its critical connection to the Caribbean’s tourism-dependent economy, which is the backbone of Antigua and Barbuda’s national income.

“The FCCA competitions create an invaluable space for young people across our region to show off their creativity, while also building a deeper personal understanding of why protecting our natural home matters,” Fernandez said in his remarks. “These students have represented Antigua and Barbuda with incredible distinction, and every one of us in the country is incredibly proud of what they have accomplished here.”

The FCCA Foundation’s Environmental Poster and Essay Competitions are held every year to encourage secondary and primary school students across the Caribbean to engage with key topics around climate action, environmental conservation, sustainable development, and the way these priorities intersect with the regional tourism sector. The industry relies heavily on the appeal of pristine beaches, coral reefs, and natural landscapes, making environmental awareness among young people a critical long-term investment for regional economies.

Following the ceremony, the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Transportation and Investment issued a statement extending congratulations to all competition participants, with special recognition for the winning students, their families, teachers, and school administrators who supported their preparation for the contest. The ministry also encouraged all young people across Antigua and Barbuda to continue taking part in similar educational programs that build environmental responsibility while contributing to long-term national growth.

The Medical Association of Antigua and Barbuda Inc. (MAAB) has confirmed the unexpected death of one of the nation’s most beloved long-serving surgical practitioners, Dr. Subbiah Radhakrishnan—known widely to colleagues, patients, and friends as Dr. Krishnan. The announcement was made in an official statement released by MAAB President Dr. Alafea Stevens, shared with the local medical community this week.

At the time of his passing, Dr. Krishnan remained an actively engaged and deeply committed member of Antigua and Barbuda’s healthcare ecosystem. He continued to deliver critical care to patients at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, while also maintaining an active private practice that served residents across the islands.

Widely celebrated for his magnetic personality and unparalleled expertise in the operating room, Dr. Krishnan leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond his thousands of successful procedures. Colleagues remember his surgical skill as a benchmark for excellence, one that motivated and shaped generations of local medical workers. What truly set him apart, however, was his dedication to lifting up other professionals: he served as a generous mentor and trusted confidant to countless new and established clinicians across the country, always willing to share his knowledge and experience to help others grow.

On behalf of MAAB’s Executive leadership and its full general membership, President Stevens extended the association’s sincerest condolences to Dr. Krishnan’s family, including his wife Dr. Saravana Sabharmathi and their children. “Our collective thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones, his patients, his professional peers, and the entire medical fraternity as we grieve this extraordinary loss,” the statement read. “May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

A senior surgeon at one of the region’s prominent medical facilities has died in unexpected circumstances, prompting a full investigation from local law enforcement. Dr. Krishna, a leading senior surgeon at Mount St. John’s Medical Centre, was discovered unresponsive outside his private residence in Belmont last Friday, according to initial official reports. First responders were immediately dispatched to the location to provide emergency care, but medical personnel confirmed Dr. Krishna had passed away upon their arrival. Early preliminary assessments have pointed to the possibility that his death was the result of an accident, but law enforcement officials have emphasized that no official determination has been made regarding the exact cause or surrounding circumstances of the incident. Forensic and investigative teams have cordoned off the area surrounding the Belmont home to preserve evidence, and a formal probe into the death is already underway. As of the latest media update, leadership at Mount St. John’s Medical Centre has not released any public statement commenting on Dr. Krishna’s passing or the ongoing investigation. Police have indicated that they will release additional details to the public once they complete key stages of their inquiry, and updates are expected as the investigation progresses.