Kingston, Jamaica — Jamaican athletics is mourning the passing of veteran sprint coach Vincent Stephen Francis, affectionately known as “Franno,” a towering figure in the development of world-class sprinters and a co-founder of the MVP Track Club.Francis, widely regarded as one of the most influential sprint coaches in modern track and field, died following an illness, according to close associates and athletics circles. His passing marks the end of an era for Jamaican sprinting, where his te...

The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) remains fully accredited but has been placed on “show cause” status by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, requiring the institution to demonstrate by September 1 why its accreditation should not be withdrawn amid concerns about finances, governance, and delayed audits.The decision, approved on June 25 and made public this week, does not immediately affect the university’s accredited status. However, it places UVI under heightened scrut...

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts and Nevis (June 29, 2026) — A potentially catastrophic maritime disaster was averted Monday morning after an inter-island passenger ferry sank while travelling from St. Kitts to Nevis, with all passengers and crew safely rescued following a large-scale emergency response.  The vessel, identified as the Apple Syder, reportedly issued a distress call while crossing The Narrows, the busy channel separating St. Kitts and Nevis. According to eyewitnesses, the ferry began taking...

CARACAS, Venezuela (June 29, 2026) — Venezuela is grappling with one of the worst natural disasters in its modern history following two powerful earthquakes that struck the country’s northern Caribbean coast on June 24, leaving at least 1,430 people dead, more than 3,000 injured, and tens of thousands still unaccounted for as rescue efforts continue.  The twin earthquakes, measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, struck just 39 seconds apart, making them an exceptionally destructive seismic event. The...

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, British Virgin Islands — British Virgin Islands sprint sensation Adaejah Hodge continues to redefine what is possible for athletes from the territory, delivering a series of remarkable performances in 2026 that have propelled her into the upper ranks of world athletics.The 20-year-old University of Georgia standout has enjoyed a breakthrough season, shattering national records, capturing major collegiate titles, and emerging as one of the fastest women in the world over both...

The organizers of Summer Sizzle BVI have announced that acclaimed actress, entrepreneur, television personality, and former Miss USA Crystle Stewart will serve as the Celebrity Host for the highly anticipated 16th Edition of Summer Sizzle BVI. The event is set to take place in the British Virgin Islands from July 15–20, 2026.Crystle Stewart stars as Mallory in Tyler Perry’s Netflix global hit Beauty in Black, portraying one of the series’ most unforgettable and talked-about characters.The ser...

Trinidad and Tobago-born jurist Margaret Price Findlay has officially been appointed the 14th Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, marking another historic milestone for the regional judiciary.Justice Price Findlay, who had been serving in the role in an acting capacity since May 2025, was formally confirmed during a ceremony held at the court’s headquarters in Castries, Saint Lucia. She becomes the first woman from Trinidad and Tobago to hold the prestigious office and only th...

Former Virgin Islands Police Commissioner Ray Martinez and former Office of Management and Budget Director Jenifer O’Neal have lost their bids for acquittals and new trials after a federal judge ruled that prosecutors presented overwhelming evidence supporting their corruption convictions.In a sweeping 48-page memorandum issued this week, U.S. District Judge Mark Kearney rejected every argument raised by the defense teams for both former officials, concluding that the jury acted properly in con...