Local News
U20 4×100m Boys Relay Re-Run Cancelled
The eight teams in the 50th Carifta Games Under-20 4×100m boys relay have a withdrawn from today’s re-run in Nassau, Bahamas.
The do-over was scheduled for 3:15 pm this afternoon, but was cancelled after the teams – Jamaica, Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Guadeloupe, British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos – withdrew.
Earlier in the day, a decision was made to re-run the exhilarating April 9 final after some teams successfully argued that their first leg runners did not have enough time to recover after a false start.
Jamaica won the final clocking 39.68 seconds at finish line, while Bahamas came second with 39.78 seconds and Trinidad and Tobago thrid with 40.83 seconds in front of a large crowd in the national stadium.
An official complaint was made by some teams arguing that their athletes did not have enough time to recover after an initial false start – Bahamas first leg runner remained in the block after the start whistle was blown.
The other athletes were already halfway on the track.
The footage was reviewed and a decision was made to re-run the race today at 3:15 pm.
The British Virgin Islands team secured 7th place with a time of 42.81 seconds. They withdrew earlier in the afternoon citing an injury suffered by Tyreese James.
Officials said the results from last night’s race will stand for now.
The games officially opened on April 8 and will close today.
More than 600 athletes from 28 countries are competing in the games which ends this evening.
The 50th Carifta Games were inaugurated by Austin Sealy, then president of the Amateur Athletic Association of Barbados in 1972.
The main goal behind the well known junior regional competition ( Under 17 and Under 20) is to improve relations between Caribbean countries using sports.
Bahamas has hosted the games a total of nine times.
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force has confirmed that Tarik Aaron was arrested shortly before midnight on Friday, April 17, on extradition orders issued by authorities in the United States Virgin Islands, and has since appeared before the Magistrate’s Court.
According to police, the arrest was carried out in connection with a request from USVI authorities, though further details have not been disclosed.
Aaron appeared before the Magistrate’s Court today and was denied bail.
Further updates are expected as more information becomes available.
The Civil Registry and Passport Office has announced an increase in fees for United Kingdom passports, effective April 8, 2026.
According to the office, the revised fees apply to new, renewal and replacement passport applications, as well as other related services.
Under the new structure, the cost for a new, renewal or replacement adult passport has been set at £116.50, while the fee for a child passport is £75.50. Adult frequent traveller passports will cost £130.50, and child frequent traveller passports £89.50.
The fee for changes to an existing passport will also be £116.50. In addition, a delivery fee of £14.32 will apply.
The Civil Registry and Passport Office advised that the updated fees are now in effect and apply to all relevant applications submitted on or after April 8.
A bill proposing wide-ranging changes to the Virgin Islands’ electoral system was introduced in the House of Assembly today, Tuesday, April 22, by Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley.
The proposed Elections (Amendment) Act, 2026, is based on consultations with stakeholders and recommendations from observer missions, as well as input from the Deputy Governor’s Office and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections.
“This is the Elections Amendment Act 2026, following extensive deliberations with a number of entities, including a committee of the House who looked at recommendations of various observer missions that came to The Virgin Islands,” Hon. Wheatley said during the continuation of the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly.
He said the bill also builds on work undertaken by the previous House of Assembly. “Also, the last House of Assembly looked at a number of recommendations that were forwarded through the Deputy Governor’s Office and the Office of the Supervisor of Elections,” he said.
Hon. Wheatley said the proposed amendments were developed through discussions on changes to the Elections Act. “We had very extensive discussions about amendments to the Elections Act, and of course, those recommendations were used to make this Amendment Act. This received its first reading some time ago, and now we are here to debate this Elections Act, so that it can therefore become law,” he said.
The bill introduces several reforms to the electoral framework, including expanded access to voting through mobile and curbside options for individuals with physical limitations and the formal use of assistive technologies for voters with disabilities.
It also provides for the establishment of a Department of Elections and an Elections Advisory Committee to oversee voter registration and election administration.
Additional provisions include a formal Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates, along with new rules governing campaign donations and political financing.
The legislation also proposes restrictions on the announcement of major public grants or projects shortly before an election, aimed at addressing potential incumbency advantages.
The bill has already received its first reading and is expected to be referred to a committee when the House of Assembly resumes on April 30, 2026, at 10 a.m., where it will undergo further review as part of the legislative process.
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