标签： Antigua and Barbuda

A deadly late-night shooting in the Antiguan community of Bathlodge has left one young woman dead and two other people injured, sparking questions over how an alleged suspect was able to carry out violence after being granted bail earlier on a weapons charge.

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed that one of the people now linked to Monday night’s fatal attack was already taken into law enforcement custody on February 5, 2026. At that time, the suspect was arrested and formally charged with illegal possession of both a firearm and ammunition, before a court granted him bail to be released ahead of trial.

According to official police accounts, the violent incident unfolded shortly before 11:30 p.m. Three masked attackers forced their way into a private residential property in the Bathlodge area and immediately opened fire on those inside. Twenty-year-old Saquania Anthony was struck in the attack and was pronounced dead early the following morning, Tuesday. The two other victims – a 13-year-old boy and a 24-year-old man – suffered non-fatal injuries and were rushed to a local hospital for urgent medical treatment.

In the days following the shooting, law enforcement has made progress in the investigation: two male suspects have been detained for questioning in connection with the case. As of the latest updates, however, no formal charges related to the shooting itself have been filed against any of the detained individuals. Investigators are still conducting a widespread manhunt for the third unidentified suspect who remains at large, with police appealing to members of the public to come forward with any information that could help lead to an arrest.

A major drug bust in the Eastern Caribbean has led to three Jamaican citizens being placed behind bars pending trial, following the seizure of a large marijuana shipment worth close to EC$80,000. The three defendants — 25-year-old Aljermin McLean, 21-year-old Joshua Newton, and 54-year-old Elvis Smith — face a series of coordinated drug-related charges connected to the operation carried out by law enforcement on September 14.

During that targeted enforcement action, police reportedly seized 26.4 pounds of illicit marijuana, which local authorities have appraised at an approximate market value of EC$79,000. All three men have been charged together on three separate counts: possession of a controlled substance, possession of the drug with the intent to supply it to others, and possession with the intent to transfer the illegal substance.

Following their initial court appearance, the trio has been remanded into prison custody as they await their next court proceeding, which is scheduled to take place on November 25. It is important to note that under the principles of criminal justice, all allegations brought against the three men have not yet been tested or proven in a court of law, and the defendants retain the right to a full and fair trial to contest the charges.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – September 22, 2026 – A landmark tribute to decades of dedicated public service and meteorological excellence is being unveiled in Antigua and Barbuda, as the national Meteorological Service (ABMS) has officially renamed its core media hub the Philbert Mason Media Centre, following formal approval from the country’s Cabinet. The honor recognizes the far-reaching, enduring contributions of Philbert Cleofoster Mason, one of the nation’s most accomplished meteorologists and a beloved, trusted public voice for weather information across generations.

Over a career spanning nearly 40 years with the Antigua Meteorological Service, Mason rose through the ranks to secure the position of Deputy Director, a role he held for many years before declining a promotion to lead the agency as Director. Throughout his tenure, he became a household name and a source of national reassurance, particularly when the island nation faced extreme weather events and dangerous tropical cyclones. For Antiguans and Barbudans across multiple age groups, Mason’s measured, clear delivery of weather updates became synonymous with authoritative, reliable information that helped communities prepare for incoming threats. His voice became especially critical during two of the most destructive hurricanes to hit the region: Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Hurricane Luis in 1995, when timely, accurate updates were a matter of life and death for local residents.

Mason’s impact extended far beyond the technical work of meteorological monitoring and forecasting. He possessed a rare gift for translating complex, jargon-heavy climate and weather data into accessible, actionable information that ordinary citizens could easily understand and use to protect themselves. His steady demeanor, unshakable professionalism, and quiet confidence turned the Meteorological Service into a widely trusted institution during some of the country’s most challenging crises, cementing his reputation as a cornerstone of national public safety.

His service to the nation was first formally recognized by the Antigua and Barbuda government back in 1995. Beyond his work in meteorology, Mason also made meaningful contributions to the country’s cultural community, supporting local artists and cultural initiatives across the islands.

ABMS leadership notes that naming the media centre after Mason is a particularly fitting tribute, as the facility is the very hub from which the agency continues the work Mason dedicated his life to: delivering clear, accurate weather and climate information to the public, empowering citizens to make informed choices that protect their lives, livelihoods, and property.

Dale C. S. Destin, current Director of the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service, explained that the renaming serves two key purposes: it honors Mason’s lasting legacy, and it reminds today’s generation of meteorologists of the core responsibility they carry to the public. “Philbert Mason represented something very important in meteorology — the ability to take highly technical information and communicate it clearly, confidently and calmly to the people who needed it most,” Destin said. “For many of us in the profession, Philbert was more than a colleague or former leader. He was an inspiration. He demonstrated what it meant to be the voice of the Meteorological Service when the country was facing its greatest weather threats.”

Destin added that the location of the honor makes it all the more meaningful: “It is therefore especially appropriate that the place from which we communicate weather information to the public now carries his name. Every time a forecaster stands before the cameras or a media briefing is conducted here, the Philbert Mason Media Centre will remind us of the standard of professionalism, clarity and public service that he represented.”

Moving forward, ABMS is encouraging all forecasters, media partners, and facility users to adopt the new official name when referencing the centre, suggesting standard on-air phrases such as “Coming to you from the Philbert Mason Media Centre at the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service…” or the simplified “We’re here at the Philbert Mason Media Centre…” The agency hopes that over time, the new name will become as familiar to the public as the iconic voice of the man it honors.

This renaming is far more than a one-time commemoration: it is designed as a living tribute that connects the history of meteorological public service in Antigua and Barbuda to the ongoing mission of the modern agency. ABMS remains a critical national institution, tasked with delivering weather, climate, marine, and tsunami warning services across the islands. As the country’s official meteorological authority and the central hub for early warning systems, the agency forms a core pillar of national disaster resilience. Its accurate, timely information delivers measurable economic value to the nation, avoiding up to 6% of GDP in annual disaster losses and boosting operational efficiency — equal to roughly 200 to 400 million Eastern Caribbean dollars, or $74 to 150 million USD in avoided costs each year. Through its forecasting, warning, climate service, and hazard monitoring programs, ABMS protects lives, livelihoods, property, and critical infrastructure while supporting national disaster risk reduction and climate resilience. Its services underpin key economic sectors from aviation and maritime transport to the blue economy, tourism, agriculture, water management, health, energy, and emergency response, making it central to national safety, economic stability, and long-term sustainable development.

A fatal shooting in the Bathlodge community of Antigua and Barbuda has left one young woman dead and two additional people wounded, prompting the nation’s top political leadership to push for urgent law enforcement action against escalating gun violence.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has publicly voiced deep concern over the repeated outbreaks of gun-related crime across the twin-island nation, emphasizing that unregulated use of illegal weapons cannot be allowed to become an accepted part of daily life. In the wake of the latest deadly incident, Browne has formally called on the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda to move quickly, deploying every legal resource at its disposal to track down, arrest, and prosecute the individuals responsible for the attack.

National Security Minister Sir Steadroy Benjamin reinforced the government’s unwavering commitment to combating gun crime, stressing that the Bathlodge shooting will not derail ongoing efforts to curb illegal firearm activity. According to Benjamin, law enforcement agencies have already ramped up targeted patrols and enforcement operations in high-risk areas across the country. He added that police will continue prioritizing the removal of unregistered weapons from public streets and holding violent offenders accountable through the judicial system, with the national government committed to providing all necessary institutional and material backing for these operations.

Both the prime minister and the national security minister have issued a joint appeal to residents of Bathlodge and neighboring communities, urging anyone with information that could advance the investigation to come forward and assist detectives. Beyond law enforcement action, the Antigua and Barbuda government has highlighted that long-term success in reducing gun violence depends on widespread cross-sector collaboration. Officials say families, educational institutions, religious organizations, and local communities all play a critical role in discouraging criminal behavior and shielding young people from harmful influences that push them toward violence.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – In the wake of a deadly late-night shooting in the Bathlodge community that left a 20-year-old local resident dead and two other people wounded with gunshots, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has taken two male suspects into custody and launched a manhunt for a third individual believed to be connected to the attack.

Emergency dispatch received reports of the shooting just after 11:30 p.m. on Monday, September 21, 2026, with first responders alerted that three people had been hit by gunfire at a residential property in Bathlodge. When police officers arrived at the scene, they found 20-year-old Saquania Anthony, a Bathlodge resident, unresponsive after suffering what investigators described as multiple apparent gunshot wounds. Anthony was officially pronounced dead at 1:58 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22.

Preliminary inquiry into the attack has yielded early details that a group of people were inside the residential property when three masked attackers forced entry into the home and opened fire, discharging multiple rounds into the building. Alongside Anthony, two other victims sustained gunshot injuries: a 24-year-old man and a 13-year-old boy. Both were immediately transported to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre for urgent care. As of Tuesday, the 24-year-old man remains in stable condition, while the 13-year-old is listed as stable but serious as he continues to receive ongoing medical treatment.

Shortly after the violent incident unfolded, law enforcement officers were able to apprehend two male suspects connected to the attack, who are now in police custody. However, the third suspected attacker remains at large, and police investigation teams are working around the clock to identify and locate this individual.

In an official statement released Tuesday morning, the Police Administration issued a strong condemnation of the attack, calling it a senseless act of violence that has shaken the small coastal community. Authorities issued an urgent public appeal for any witnesses or community members with information that could help investigators track down and arrest the third suspect to come forward immediately. Members of the public with details related to the shooting can contact the Criminal Investigations Department at 462-3913 or 462-3914, reach Crimestoppers anonymously at 800-TIPS (8477), or visit their nearest local police station to share information.

The Police Administration also extended its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Saquania Anthony, who lost her life in the attack. Officials also added that they wished a full and speedy recovery for the two injured victims. As of Tuesday, the investigation into the circumstances and motives behind the shooting remains active and ongoing.

A quiet residential neighborhood in Bathlodge was shaken by a brutal shooting on Monday night that has left a young family shattered and local law enforcement working to piece together what led to the violence. Twenty-one-year-old Saquania Anthony, a expectant mother of two, was confirmed by authorities as the fatality in the attack. Anthony, who was carrying her third child when the violence unfolded, was inside a private residence when multiple armed suspects forced their way into the home and began firing indiscriminately, according to initial reports from the scene. She was pronounced dead immediately after the shooting, leaving behind her two young children, a young son and daughter, who will now grow up without their mother.
The shooting did not end with Anthony’s death. Two other people at the property were caught in the line of fire: a 13-year-old boy and a 25-year-old adult man, both of whom sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to nearby medical facilities for emergency treatment. Medical updates confirm the teenager, who was shot in the face during the attack, remains in critical condition as clinical teams work to stabilize his injuries. The 25-year-old’s condition has not been publicly updated as of this report.
Local police have launched a full criminal investigation into the attack, but as of the latest update, no concrete motives for the shooting have been identified. Law enforcement officials also confirmed that no suspects have been taken into custody, and no formal arrests have been announced. Investigators are continuing to interview witnesses, collect forensic evidence from the crime scene, and follow up on any leads that could help identify the gunmen and uncover why the attack was carried out. The case remains open and active, with police urging anyone with information related to the Monday night shooting to come forward to assist with the inquiry.

A 34-year-old Antiguan man, Emilio Hodge, who previously pleaded guilty to intentionally wounding a former colleague at a local recycling plant, was overcome with emotion in the High Court this week as his legal representative argued for leniency ahead of his sentencing.

The incident that led to the charges dates back to November 24, 2022, at the Powells Recycling Facility, where Hodge and the complainant had worked alongside one another for roughly four years. Court documents reveal that interpersonal tensions between the two men had been simmering for more than a month before the violent outbreak. The prosecution outlined that in October 2022, Hodge first took offense after claiming the complainant had been discussing him in public, at which point he made an explicit threat to shoot the man.

The conflict boiled over on that November afternoon, when the pair got into a heated verbal altercation on the job. According to prosecution accounts, Hodge first stormed out of the facility, returning moments later armed with a glass bottle and a stone. He hurled the stone at his former co-worker, striking him directly in the knee. When the injured complainant grabbed a plastic chair and moved toward Hodge in response, the defendant pulled out a cutlass and launched a brutal attack, leaving the victim with multiple severe lacerations that required urgent medical intervention.

Hodge formally entered a guilty plea on March 24, 2026, on the very day his trial was set to get underway, with all prosecution witnesses already present at the court. This late guilty plea became a key point of contention during sentencing submissions: while defendants typically receive a one-third sentence reduction for accepting guilt early, prosecutors have urged the court to only grant a one-fifth reduction given that the state had already incurred the full cost of preparing for trial.

During mitigation hearings before Justice Ann-Marie Smith, Hodge’s defense attorney Lawrence Daniels pushed the court to prioritize several mitigating factors, pointing first to an official probation report that confirmed Hodge has no prior criminal convictions, and has been the sole primary caregiver for his two minor children. Daniels emphasized that the defendant did not attempt to flee or avoid arrest after the attack, turning himself over to law enforcement without resistance. He characterized the violent outburst as an isolated lapse in judgment, noting that Hodge has expressed profound and genuine remorse for his actions. The attorney also told the court that Hodge maintains he was provoked into the confrontation, and that he attempted to exit the worksite before being followed by the complainant, adding that his client now openly acknowledges he should have de-escalated the conflict through non-violent means.

As his attorney made these submissions, Hodge became visibly distraught, breaking down in tears in the courtroom dock. The complainant has also submitted a formal request for $30,000 in financial compensation for the injuries he sustained, a figure that prosecution has confirmed is reasonable given the harm caused.

Hodge has been ordered to return to court this coming Tuesday with his recent payslips, documents that Justice Smith will use to assess his ability to meet the requested compensation amount before issuing a final ruling on sentencing and damages.