标签： Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda has officially launched its third annual Gender-Based Violence Walk, scheduled for March 7, 2026, with organizers expressing confidence in surpassing previous participation records. The event, unveiled January 7th at the Multipurpose Centre, represents the nation’s largest public advocacy initiative addressing gender-based violence.

Organized through a collaborative effort between the nonprofit Integrated Health Outreach (IHO) and the Directorate of Gender Affairs (DoGA), the 2025 walk attracted over 2,000 participants. Both organizations anticipate significantly increased attendance for the 2026 event, which aligns with International Women’s Day observances.

Melanie Williams-Kirnon, Programme Officer at DoGA, characterized gender-based violence as “a pervasive issue that leaves deep scars on victims and disrupts the social fabric of our communities.” She emphasized the walk’s evolution into “a critical initiative for raising awareness about gender-based violence in Antigua and Barbuda” since its 2024 inception.

The 2026 campaign features an comprehensive eight-week awareness initiative, including weekly youth workshops and a fundraising drive supporting the establishment of a women’s shelter. The shelter project, envisioned as a women-led social enterprise incorporating a beeping farm for sustainable funding, received government approval for a five-acre land lease in October 2025.

Dr. Nicola Bird, IHO’s Executive Director, acknowledged community support as instrumental in securing government backing for the shelter initiative. “It is the voice of the people, and that people-driven momentum that really helped us,” Dr. Bird stated during the launch ceremony.

Organizers are particularly focused on increasing male participation, emphasizing that men and boys play crucial roles in achieving cultural transformation. Registrants for the 2026 walk can optionally complete an anonymous survey designed to gauge public perception regarding violence against women and girls in Antigua and Barbuda.

The event occurs against a sobering global backdrop where UN Women statistics indicate at least one in three women worldwide experiences intimate partner violence. The Caribbean region faces particularly acute challenges, with 46% of women experiencing some form of gender-based violence—exceeding global averages.

Event Details:
The Gender-Based Violence Walk 2026
Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026
Location: The Botanical Gardens
Time: 2:00 PM
Registration: https://qrco.de/bgXYuu
Shelter Project Support: https://gofund.me/9bba6cc27

In a landmark ruling that clarifies the boundaries of police authority, the High Court has declared the 2022 arrest and overnight detention of motorist Ryan Reid unlawful. Justice Nicola Byer delivered a decisive judgment establishing that officers lack the legal power to arrest or detain individuals for minor traffic infractions classified as ticketable offenses.

The court specifically identified violations such as failure to wear a seatbelt and mobile phone use while driving as offenses subject only to fixed penalty notices, not warranting arrest. Reid’s detention over two days following a November 7, 2022 traffic stop was deemed an unlawful trespass on his person.

In a significant clarification of administrative procedures, the court further ruled that only the Commissioner of Police possesses the authority to suspend driver’s licenses before conviction. This finding rendered previous enforcement actions based on presumed suspensions in 2021 unlawful.

The case, brought against Commissioner of Police Casey Jean Baptiste and the Attorney General, saw Reid represented by attorney Wendel Alexander. While affirming the unlawfulness of Reid’s detention, the court rejected his additional claims of malicious prosecution, harassment, and abuse of discretion in bail refusal, noting these allegations failed to meet established legal thresholds.

Regarding a separate May 2021 arrest for dangerous driving, the court found police acted within their authority as Reid had failed to provide identification when requested, creating lawful grounds for detention under traffic regulations.

The court granted Reid leave to pursue damages for his unlawful detention, allowing 21 days to file application. Additionally, he was awarded 75% of his legal costs in the proceeding.

The Spanish-speaking community of Antigua and Barbuda will witness an uncontested leadership election on January 11th, following the expiration of the candidate nomination period without any challengers emerging. This development was confirmed by Alex Martinez, the longstanding community representative whose position has been at the center of recent internal debates.

Martinez stated that despite active efforts to encourage broader participation in the electoral process, no alternative candidates submitted their nominations before the official deadline. This absence of opposition means the election will proceed as a single-candidate ratification rather than a competitive contest.

The scheduled vote comes after extended periods of internal discussion regarding representation legitimacy within the community. Certain faction members had raised questions about the formal legitimacy of the current leadership structure, particularly whether Martinez had been properly elected or appointed through democratic means. These concerns highlighted growing demands for transparent governance procedures and ultimately catalyzed the movement toward establishing a clearly defined electoral process to determine community representation.

The upcoming election, while uncontested, represents a significant institutional step toward addressing these governance concerns and establishing formal protocols for community leadership selection moving forward.

The Central Board of Health (CBH) of The Bahamas has unveiled a comprehensive restructuring of burial service fees, scheduled to take effect on January 5, 2026. This updated pricing framework introduces a tiered system based on age demographics for single grave excavations, marking a significant shift in public health service charges.

Under the new regulations, interment costs will vary substantially depending on the deceased’s age. The most modest fee of $100 applies to stillborn infants and children under three years of age. For juveniles aged three to under fifteen, the grave digging charge increases to $250. Adults aged fifteen and above will incur a service fee of $500 for single grave preparations.

Additionally, the CBH has established new rates for ongoing grave maintenance. Annual care and preservation of individual burial sites will now cost $150, covering a full twelve-month period or any portion thereof. For private family plots containing multiple graves, the pricing structure follows a different model: the initial grave space carries a $300 fee, with subsequent plots within the same compound priced at $50 each.

The Board has specified that all transactions must be processed exclusively at their Upper Church Street administrative office. This centralized payment system aims to streamline financial operations and maintain consistent record-keeping across all burial service arrangements. The announced changes represent the first major fee adjustment for Bahamian burial services in recent years, reflecting updated operational costs and service delivery standards within the public health infrastructure.

In an extraordinary display of academic prowess, Khalique Harris from St. Joseph’s Academy in Antigua and Barbuda has been crowned the Caribbean Examinations Council’s Most Outstanding CSEC Candidate in Technical and Vocational Studies for 2025. The prestigious recognition was formally bestowed during the CXC Regional Awards Ceremony in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on December 11, 2025.

Harris’s path to regional distinction was paved with exceptional academic achievement, having successfully completed 22 CSEC subjects with an impressive 17 Grade One passes. His award specifically acknowledges his supreme mastery across multiple technical disciplines, including perfect scores in Information Technology, Food Nutrition and Health, Family and Resource Management, Technical Drawing, and three specialized Industrial Technology fields covering Electrical, Mechanical and Building applications.

The Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries publicly celebrated Harris’s accomplishment, highlighting his remarkable discipline and dedication across diverse technical and vocational fields. Ministry officials emphasized that his achievement not only reflects individual excellence but also demonstrates the strength and quality of Antigua and Barbuda’s educational framework.

In recognizing the broader support system, the Ministry extended commendations to the administrative and teaching staff at St. Joseph’s Academy, along with Harris’s parents, acknowledging their unwavering commitment to fostering academic success. This landmark achievement stands as both an inspiration to students throughout the nation and a validation of the government’s ongoing investment in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs as crucial components of national development strategy.

Authorities at Camp Blizzard Military Base have launched a comprehensive investigation following a sophisticated theft of substantial copper wiring from a secured electrical storage facility. The incident, which has raised significant security concerns, involved perpetrators who executed the operation with notable precision.

Investigative reports indicate that despite the absence of overt forced entry evidence, security personnel suspect access was achieved through a compromised glass window. The methodology employed suggests a calculated approach, with forensic evidence pointing to the use of specialized equipment—specifically a hydraulic rolling jack—to extract the valuable materials. This technical aspect implies prior knowledge of both the facility’s layout and security protocols.

Law enforcement agencies have conducted extensive ground searches throughout the adjacent areas, yet these efforts have yielded no recovery of the stolen copper components. The ongoing investigation combines traditional detective work with advanced forensic analysis to identify potential suspects and understand the full scope of this security breach.

The theft highlights vulnerabilities in military-adjacent infrastructure and underscores the growing market for stolen industrial materials. Base commanders have initiated a full security review while coordinating with regional law enforcement to prevent similar incidents.

Commuters utilizing the Sir Sydney Walling Highway are currently encountering modified traffic conditions as a significant road rehabilitation project advances. Transportation authorities have issued a formal advisory, confirming the implementation of single-lane traffic patterns along certain segments of this crucial thoroughfare. This infrastructural initiative is a continuation of a broader maintenance strategy aimed at enhancing road safety, durability, and overall driving conditions for the public.

The nature of the work necessitates temporary traffic management systems, which are now actively in place. While crews are diligently working to minimize disruption, the reduced lane capacity inherently creates a potential for congestion, particularly during peak travel hours. Officials are strongly urging all motorists to incorporate additional travel time into their schedules and to remain vigilant for posted signage and instructions from traffic controllers on site.

This type of proactive infrastructure upkeep is critical for the long-term integrity of the transportation network. The temporary inconvenience of lane restrictions and possible delays is weighed against the substantial long-term benefits, which include smoother road surfaces, improved drainage, and increased safety for all road users. The project underscores the government’s ongoing commitment to maintaining and upgrading essential public infrastructure. Motorists are encouraged to stay updated on the project’s progress through official transportation channels for any changes to the traffic management plan.