ANTIGUA (ST. JOHN’S) - Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General and CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), will deliver the keynote address at the 2026 Caribbean Food Forum on Thursday, May 21 in Antigua.

The forum, hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) and presented by Grace Foods, will take place both virtually and in-person at the John E. St. Luce Finance and Conference Center. It serves as a highlight of Antigua and Barbuda’s Annual Culinary Month.

Under the theme “The Future Is Local: Caribbean Food at the Crossroads of Global Impact,” the one-day gathering will bring together leaders in tourism, agriculture, culinary arts, hospitality and investment.

Regis-Prosper’s keynote will examine regenerative tourism, sustainable food systems and the Caribbean’s role in the global food economy.

Narendra Ramgulam, CTO’s Deputy Director of Sustainable Tourism, will also speak at the hybrid event, focusing on the importance of agritourism and destination branding to drive Caribbean economic growth.

ABTA CEO, Colin C. James, said the forum represents a strategic step forward for the region. “The Caribbean Food Forum is a timely and strategic initiative that aligns with our vision for sustainable tourism development,” he stated. “Elevating our food systems and connecting them to global opportunity strengthens the value of our destination while creating immersive cultural visitor experiences and meaningful pathways for local and regional producers and entrepreneurs.”

Registration is open until Tuesday, May 19. Participants can register at this link or by calling ABTA at 1-268-562-7600.

The program includes strategic panel discussions on climate resilience, agritourism, diaspora engagement and food entrepreneurship. A lunch and marketplace experience will feature local producers, culinary artisans and Caribbean brands with additional sessions exploring technology, sustainability and global market access.

Donyelle Bird-Browne, USA senior business development manager for strategic partnerships and organizer of the forum, said the event aims to deliver tangible results. “CTO’s participation and endorsement underscores the critical role of food systems in shaping the future of Caribbean tourism and economic resilience,” noted Bird-Browne. “This platform is designed to move beyond just conversation and bring together policy, innovation, culture and investment to open the doors to tangible opportunities for the region.”

Organizers expect the forum to produce a white paper with key recommendations and actionable roadmaps for regional collaboration. (Source CTO)

"We will continue to update the public as the situation progresses."

 

ARCHIVED - FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2026 - SABA (THE BOTTOM) - Following another full day (Ed. Friday, May 15, 2026) of searching, Mr. Matthijsen has not yet been found, the Public Entity Saba said in an update on Friday. 

ARCHIVED - THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026) - SABA (THE BOTTOM) – The Public Entity Saba Communications Department wishes to inform the public that the search for Erik Matthijsen is ongoing. Despite extensive search efforts carried out since this morning Matthijsen has not yet been located.

Through camera footage analysis, the search area has been confirmed, while allowing other trails to be ruled out. With this and information from the trail searches, the search area has been narrowed down to the region between Middle Island and the Sulphur Mine Trail. 

The Ladder Bay trail will be reopened from tomorrow morning for public use. 

All identified trails within the search zone have been checked, including probable off-trail routes and viewpoints. Several experienced teams, with guidance from the Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF), have participated in these operations. 

Specific coastal areas have been searched from the sea with the assistance of the Coast Guard vessel and drones, while aerial teams checked below and around the trails, using the helicopter from the contractor involved with the Mount Scenery Tower Project. Additionally, the DASH patrol airplane was also utilized by the Coast Guard to provide aerial footage.

To ensure the safety of all involved, there will be no ground search during the night. Our search efforts are continuing until night fall. Thermal imagery handheld cameras and drones are utilized in these efforts, as temperatures drop. This allows search teams to more effectively identify heat signals as they focus on more defined areas within the search zone. Ground searches will continue in the morning.  

We once again remind the public that no one is advised to enter the trails in the search area or conduct independent searches. This is essential for everyone’s safety.

“Last night, our crisis team convened and were able to arrange the use of thermal imaging drones throughout the night,” said Island Governor Jonathan Johnson. “The teams conducted searches, beginning very early and continuing throughout the day. This evening, the drones will once again be utilized. Our teams remain fully dedicated to finding Mr. Matthijsen and will continue again tomorrow morning.”

We also extend our sincere gratitude to all safety and crisis partners involved in this operation, including KPCN, BKCN, the Ministry of Defence, the Coast Guard, Marines, the National Crisis Center, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the Saba Conservation Foundation, and especially all volunteers involved. 

SABA (THE BOTTOM) - On Tuesday, the 12^th of May 2026, around 1:20 PM, the central control room received a report of a single-vehicle collision on Airport Road, at the intersection with Dinda Road on Saba.

A car crashed into a stone wall, presumably because the brakes were not working properly. Paramedics arrived at the scene to provide medical assistance to the driver.

50-Year-Old Arrested for Violation of the BES Opium Act

On Monday, the 11st of May 2026, around 5:05 PM, a 50-year-old man with the initials C.A.P. was arrested on Thais Hill Road on Saba for violating the BES Opium Act.

A search was subsequently conducted at a residence on Airport Road. The investigation into this case is ongoing.

SINT EUSTATIUS (ORANJESTAD) - On Saturday May 23, Afrikan-centered media platform AFRO Magazine will be facilitating the ceremonial soft launching of a special print edition book by people from the Caribbean island of St. Eustatius, titled “St. Eustatius: Restoring Our Ties - The Voices of Statians Making A Difference”.

The book is the end result of the research project "St. Eustatius: Restoring Our Ties" launched by the St. Eustatius Afrikan Burial Ground Alliance on 10 June 2025 and carried out by cultural anthropologist, Dr. Artwell Cain.

The book is a continuation of the Alliance’s previous projects such as “Reclaiming Our Stories: Restoring Our Ties" and "Remember Statia: Tracing Our Origins." Mr. Kenneth Cuvalay, project leader and president of the Alliance, explains, "Previous projects of the Alliance concentrated on activities such as knowledge exchange and awareness that connected the Statian community to its Afrikan history, whereas this project focuses on the community itself, thus capturing the voice of the Afrikan diaspora community on the island.

Through interviews and focus groups, respondents discuss various topics, including the role of memory and cultural heritage; the reburial of their ancestors' remains, which were unethically excavated in 2021 without community engagement; the importance of social mobility; the significance of knowing one’s history; the role of their ancestors in resisting the chattel slavery system; commemorative rituals; and identity.

Following the publication in the Netherlands, in late June/early July a ceremonial public publication of the book will take place in honor of our ancestors and in recognition of the people of St. Eustatius for their undertaking in Afrikan-centered education to rewrite their distorted history and narrative.

In 2021, a group of international archaeologists commissioned by the government began excavations at the Golden Rock, an 18th-century burial ground of Afrikan men, women, and children. The purpose was to conduct scientific research on their remains, but the community did not consent. This act represents the centuries-long abuse of “black bodies,” continuing into the 21st century, now on Dutch territory. In 2024, the Golden Rock Afrikan burial ground was added to UNESCO's "Network of Places of History and Memory linked to Enslavement" together with the Godet Afrikan burial ground, initiated by the Alliance. 

As of this writing, there has been no announcement about where or when the reburial will take place. The Statia Cultural Heritage and Implementation Committee (SCHIC) of St. Eustatius, led by Ms. Xiomara Balentina, is responsible for organizing the reburial for the St. Eustatius Executive Council and has suggested that it takes place on November 13, 2026.

Our thanks goes to Dr. Artwell Cain, cultural anthropologist, who conducted the research; he was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and after many years in the Netherlands, he currently lives in Aruba for his extensive scientific work and contribution.

Dr. Cain is the director and researcher at the Institute of Cultural Heritage and Knowledge. He previously served as the director of NiNsee (the National Institute of Dutch Slavery Past and Legacy) from 2009 to 2012 and is also the author of numerous books, including “A Sense of Belonging,” as well as various academic articles and essays.

With special thanks, we take this opportunity to thank our collaborating partner Mr. Marvin Hokstam Baapoure, founder and director of Broos Institute, for his tireless willingness and contributions. This book is published for the St. Eustatius Afrikan Burial Ground Alliance by Hokstam Baapoure’s publishing company, HOX Projects BV, and the Broos for Afrocentric Studies and Research (Broos.institute).

The project is made possible through funding from the Culture Funds Caribbean region (CCG) and Funds Social Initiatives Transatlantic Slavery Past for the Caribbean Part of the Kingdom (SUMS-C), to which our gratitude also goes.

Simultaneously with the soft launch of the book, AFRO Magazine is also launching its latest printed publication, The Academic Edition, which came out last week.

The event will take place on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the AFRO Magazine/Broos Institute offices, address: Stationsweg 28, 1382 AB Weesp, the Netherlands.