标签： Saint Lucia

In 2024, Bella Emmanuel entered Castries Comprehensive Secondary School (CCSS) as a quiet, wheelchair-using student carrying both academic promise and physical challenges. Two years later, the 13-year-old has transformed into a confident, socially engaged scholar whose journey exemplifies how intentional inclusion policies can reshape educational experiences for students with disabilities.

Bella first gained national recognition through her outstanding performance on the 2024 Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA), achieving an overall score of 79 across core subjects. This accomplishment secured her placement at CCSS, where school administrators have implemented concrete measures to ensure physical accessibility doesn’t limit educational opportunities.

The school’s infrastructure includes ramps and adaptive classroom arrangements. When Bella advanced to Form Two and encountered classrooms only accessible by stairs, administrators creatively reshuffled room assignments rather than restricting her subject options. “We rotate the classes to ensure students like Bella have access,” explained Vice Principal Anne Giffard Elcock. “A child is not banned from doing a subject because they have no access.”

Beyond physical accommodations, Bella has flourished through extracurricular engagement, particularly in the school choir where she has discovered confidence and self-expression. Her musical pursuits have extended beyond campus to regional competitions and showcases. “I’m in Red Cross, arts club, a lot of clubs, but the one I enjoy most is the choir,” Bella shared.

The school’s holistic approach includes approximately 25 students receiving additional support through special needs teachers and teaching assistants. According to Elcock, the program aims to “bridge learning gaps so students are not left behind” while focusing on “the holistic development of the child.”

Transportation challenges persist, with Bella relying on compassionate assistance from classmates and teachers who ensure her safe commute. Students gently lift her onto buses while folding her wheelchair for storage, demonstrating a community-driven support system.

Bella’s academic self-awareness remains sharp, as she acknowledges finding mathematics challenging while maintaining determination to improve. Socially, she has become “the life of the party” according to school staff, shedding earlier shyness to become fully integrated among peers.

Her journey from apprehensive newcomer to confident participant illustrates how educational institutions can transform lives through committed inclusion practices that extend beyond mere infrastructure to encompass academic, social, and logistical support systems.

Authorities in Micoud have launched a comprehensive investigation following a deadly shooting incident that resulted in one fatality earlier today. Law enforcement officials confirmed that an adult male victim succumbed to a fatal gunshot wound to the head at the scene.

Police units remain actively engaged at the crime scene as forensic specialists work to gather evidence and establish the precise sequence of events. While the exact circumstances leading to the shooting remain undetermined, authorities have classified the case as a homicide investigation.

Local residents reported hearing a single gunshot followed by the arrival of multiple police vehicles. The area remains cordoned off as investigators conduct door-to-door inquiries and examine potential surveillance footage from nearby properties.

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has issued a statement acknowledging the incident but has declined to release specific details pending notification of next of kin and preliminary forensic analysis. Police Commissioner Crusita Descartes-Pelius emphasized that ‘all necessary resources are being deployed to ensure a thorough investigation.’

This incident marks the latest in a series of violent crimes reported in the Micoud area this year, raising concerns among community leaders about public safety measures. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.

Saint Lucia’s emerging literary talents took center stage at the 2025 SLUDTERA Literary Arts Awards ceremony held this Wednesday. The event specifically honored eleven distinguished secondary school students who demonstrated exceptional prowess in both the Songtry Literary Excellence Awards and the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition.

Denney Estava from Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School emerged as the standout performer, securing the prestigious Songtry Youth of the Year overall award. The multi-talented student additionally claimed top honors in three distinct categories: Visual Arts, Global Crisis, and Poetry.

“This recognition feels incredibly rewarding—I genuinely didn’t anticipate winning,” Estava expressed during his acceptance address. “My approach has simply been to engage actively in available opportunities like the Commonwealth essay and Songtry competitions, recognizing their potential to create transformative pathways for young individuals.”

The awards ceremony highlighted diverse creative disciplines with category-specific achievements. Entrepot Secondary School’s Katalia Felix and St Joseph’s Convent’s Amalia Victor received Global Crisis awards for visual artworks depicting youth responses to contemporary challenges.

Literary Arts category accolades were awarded to Merkisha Justin, Samuella Bertrand, Latoya Jadel Murray, and Iyana Aaliyah Paul for their exemplary creative writing compositions. Nathaniel Charles earned recognition in Visual Arts for demonstrating extraordinary creativity and originality.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition national honors featured St Joseph’s Convent’s Melanie Alcee and Denney Estava in the under-14 division, while Iyana Aaliyah Paul (Sir Arthur Lewis Community College) and Phaedra Auguste (LHCSS) triumphed in the 14-18 category. Merkisha Justin and Malachai Bondiemaitre received bronze medals, with Samuella Bertrand achieving gold medal distinction.

SLUDTERA, the organizing body behind both award programs, continues its mission to foster youth engagement with literary arts. The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition international winners were formally announced on November 6, 2025, with this national ceremony reinforcing Saint Lucia’s commitment to nurturing young literary talent.

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has officially dispelled months of public speculation regarding the demise of K9 Officer Tyson, confirming through comprehensive toxicological analysis that the canine did not succumb to poisoning. Assistant Commissioner of Police Luke Defreitas revealed that advanced laboratory testing detected zero traces of toxic substances in the animal’s system.

This definitive conclusion follows an earlier series of examinations initiated in 2025 that had previously excluded rodenticide poisoning as the fatal mechanism. Despite these initial findings, police authorities pursued additional forensic investigation to address persistent uncertainties and achieve absolute clarity regarding the circumstances.

According to medical documentation, a preliminary pathological assessment conducted earlier had identified internal hemorrhage as the immediate cause of death, presenting four potential underlying conditions: toxic poisoning, severe coagulopathy, critically low thrombocyte levels, or acute bacterial infection. With toxicological causes now entirely eliminated, investigators must reengage with veterinary pathologists and medical specialists to pursue alternative diagnostic avenues.

Defreitas emphasized that the investigation will continue through collaborative consultation with forensic experts to determine the precise pathological mechanism that led to the animal’s tragic demise. The case has drawn significant public attention and highlights the sophisticated forensic capabilities employed in modern animal death investigations.

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is initiating a decisive seven-day firearms amnesty program commencing next Monday, positioning it as a conclusive opportunity for citizens to voluntarily relinquish illegal weapons and ammunition before authorities escalate enforcement measures. This strategic initiative forms a critical component of the nation’s intensified ‘zero tolerance’ policy against firearm-related criminal activities.

Police authorities have established two distinct operational windows for the surrender process: January 19-23 followed by January 26-28, with designated hours from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily. Participants must proactively contact their local police station to declare their intention to surrender firearms prior to arrival.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Luke Defreitas outlined rigorous safety protocols requiring all firearms to be completely unloaded—with no ammunition in chambers or magazines—and securely transported in appropriate carriers. Individuals are instructed to proceed directly to police stations without intermediate stops.

The administration emphasizes that this amnesty constitutes neither immunity nor financial compensation program. Defreitas explicitly clarified that the initiative does not function as a ‘get out of jail free’ mechanism, warning that individuals discovered with illegal weapons during routine police operations will still face immediate arrest and prosecution.

All surrendered firearms will undergo comprehensive forensic examination through ballistic testing. Weapons identified as connected to previous criminal activities may still lead to subsequent legal actions against those surrendering them. The program’s fundamental objective remains enhancing public safety rather than providing financial incentives, with Defreitas reiterating that no monetary compensation will be offered for surrendered weapons.

Authorities overseeing a major infrastructure initiative have expressed profound disappointment following the deliberate dismantling and theft of a critical road safety billboard. The Project Management Unit (PMU) for the Millennium Highway and West Coast Road Reconstruction Project (MHWCRRP) reported that the 40-foot public installation, positioned near the Cul De Sac roundabout for optimal visibility, was illegally taken down last weekend.

Project Coordinator Amos Hippolyte condemned the act, stating that the theft represents a direct assault on a vital public safety campaign. The installation, a product of a collaborative effort with artist Ricky T and Stratosphere Music, carried the impactful message ‘I drive to arrive alive’ alongside a visual of the artist. It was designed as a central component of an educational drive to promote responsible driving behaviors and reduce accidents along the busy project corridor.

Erected in a temporarily donated space post the December 2025 general election, this billboard was a key feature of the broader Road Safety Public Education Campaign launched by the MHWCRRP in October. Its strategic placement was intended to maximize outreach to motorists and pedestrians. The PMU has now issued a public appeal, urging anyone with information regarding the incident to immediately contact the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force to aid the investigation.

Saint Lucia’s violent crime tally for the new year has risen with police confirming the island nation’s third homicide of 2026. The victim has been identified as 25-year-old Soufrière resident Leeval Albert, who sustained fatal stab wounds during a violent confrontation in the capital city of Castries.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Luke Defreitas disclosed these developments during the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force’s monthly media briefing. According to preliminary investigations, the altercation occurred earlier today, though investigators are still working to pinpoint the exact location where the stabbing transpired.

Following the attack, Albert managed to travel to the Jeremie Street Plaza commercial area before collapsing from his injuries. Emergency services were promptly alerted and transported the critically wounded man to a medical facility. Despite intensive resuscitation efforts by medical personnel, Albert was subsequently pronounced dead.

ACP Defreitas noted that while first responders initially encountered the victim near the DAX vicinity on Victoria Street, forensic teams are still reconstructing the sequence of events leading to the fatal assault. The police spokesperson declined to provide additional information regarding potential suspects or motives, confirming that no arrests have been made in connection with the incident at this preliminary stage of investigation.

The homicide marks continued challenges for Saint Lucian authorities addressing violent crime, with two previous homicides already recorded within the first weeks of 2026. Police have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward as investigations continue.