Local News
Will Rikkoi Brathwaite Emerge as A New Force In The 100 Meters Dash In Paris?
As the Paris 2024 Olympic athletics Games commence, all eyes are on the Stade de France for the men’s 100-meter heats set to begin on Saturday morning. Among the star-studded lineup, one name stands out from the British Virgin Islands: Rikkoi Brathwaite. With a personal best of 10.03 seconds this year, Brathwaite aims to cement his place among the world’s fastest men.
Brathwaite’s journey to the Olympics has been one of perseverance. Representing a small territory in the Caribbean, he has consistently proven himself on the track, earning his spot alongside the greatest 100m record holders. The question on everyone’s mind is whether Brathwaite will be the one to come from behind and make history.
The competition is fierce. Team USA’s superstar Noah Lyles, the reigning world champion, is expected to dominate the track. Lyles, 27, has already made a name for himself with gold medals in the 200-meter sprint and 4×100-meter relay at the 2019 World Championships, and a repeat victory in the 200 meters at the 2022 World Championships. Lyles’ performance at the 2023 World Championships, where he completed the sprint treble with victories in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 4×100-meter relay events, has established him as the man to beat.
Lyles’ ambition doesn’t stop there. In Paris, he aims for an unprecedented quadruple by adding the 4x400m relay to his list of events. Alongside Lyles, Fred Kerley, the world champion in 2022 and silver medallist in the Tokyo Games, is also in top form, making the American contingent a formidable force.
But the Americans are not the only ones vying for the title. Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, a 22-year-old sensation, clocked the year’s best performance with a time of 9.77 seconds in June. His compatriot, Oblique Seville, has also proven his mettle by defeating Lyles earlier this year.
The competition extends beyond the Americas. Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, only 21, became the first African to medal in the 100 meters at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, where he took silver. Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, the African record-holder with a time of 9.77 seconds, also poses a significant threat. Omanyala, licensed in Miramas, France, adds a local flavor to the international mix.
Italian sprinter Marcell Jacobs, the defending Olympic champion, is back in form after two injury-plagued seasons. Crowned European champion in June, Jacobs is determined to retain his title.
Despite the fierce competition, Brathwaite remains undeterred. As the heats progress, the world will watch closely to see if Brathwaite can defy the odds and emerge as a new force in the 100 meters.
In a race historically dominated by legends like Usain Bolt, the quest for the next undisputed king of the 100 meters continues. Will Rikkoi Brathwaite rise to the occasion and etch his name in Olympic history? Only time will tell as the athletes take their marks and the starter’s gun fires, signaling the start of a thrilling race to glory.
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Soaring electricity bills, rising fuel prices and increasing import costs are placing growing pressure on households and businesses across the British Virgin Islands, prompting Claude Skelton Cline to warn during his Honestly Speaking radio program on May 19 that the territory should prepare for more difficult economic conditions and consider whether emergency measures may be needed to ease the burden.
Speaking on ZBVI Radio, Skelton Cline said the territory was entering a period of prolonged financial strain and urged residents, businesses and government officials to plan accordingly.
“The most dangerous position to be in right now is to be unprepared,” Skelton Cline said. “This thing is only going to intensify.”
Skelton Cline said higher utility costs were affecting nearly every sector of the economy, from households struggling to pay monthly bills to businesses facing decisions about staffing and operating expenses.
“These monthly utility bills are so exorbitant,” he said. “There is a domino effect of whether you can keep the same amount of staff.”
He questioned whether the government should consider using reserve funds and other measures to help stabilize fuel prices and provide relief to consumers.
“At what point does any of that trigger that creates a national state of emergency in this country?” Skelton Cline asked.
Skelton Cline noted that the territory has reserve funds and argued that policymakers should examine whether some of those resources could be used to reduce the impact of rising costs.
“There’s no reason why we should not be locking in fuel prices,” he said.
In addition to government action, Skelton Cline encouraged residents to take practical steps to reduce household expenses, including limiting electricity use and unplugging appliances when not in use.
“There are some things that are beyond our control, but there are some things that are within our control,” he said. “We must control those things.”
Skelton Cline said the British Virgin Islands had navigated difficult economic periods before and urged residents not to lose confidence.
“We cannot surrender to our frustration,” he said. “We cannot surrender to our cynicism and our skepticism.”
His comments come as consumers and business owners continue to face higher costs for electricity, fuel and imported goods, increasing concerns about the broader impact on employment, household budgets and the territory’s economy.
The Virgin Islands Icon Awards has announced 64 nominees across 13 categories for its 2026 ceremony, recognizing individuals and organizations for contributions in fields including sports, entrepreneurship, media, music, agriculture and public service, founder and executive producer Kareem Nelson Hull said.
The Virgin Islands Icon Awards was established to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the social, cultural and economic development of the Territory.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development is monitoring an outbreak of hantavirus linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius that has resulted in several confirmed cases and three deaths, but Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley, Minister for Health and Social Development, and Dr. Ronald Georges, Chief Medical Officer, said Monday that the risk to the Virgin Islands remains low.
The ministry said the reported cases involve passengers and crew aboard the Dutch expedition vessel, which was operating outside the Caribbean region. Health officials said there is no evidence of any cases in the Virgin Islands or elsewhere in the Caribbean.
Honourable Wheatley said the ministry is working with regional and international partners, including the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), to monitor the situation and strengthen surveillance systems.
“At this time, the risk to the Caribbean, including the Virgin Islands, is considered low,” Dr. Georges said. “We are utilizing enhanced surveillance systems and maintaining routine port health inspections and preparedness protocols to ensure the continued protection of public health.”
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious disease that is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents or their droppings, urine or saliva. Human-to-human transmission is extremely uncommon.
The ministry said the rodent species typically associated with the virus are not commonly found in Caribbean environments, further reducing the likelihood of local transmission.
Residents are advised to avoid contact with rodents and areas where they may be present, safely clean and disinfect areas contaminated by rodent waste, maintain proper sanitation and waste disposal, and seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever or respiratory distress.
Early symptoms of hantavirus can resemble the flu but may progress to more serious respiratory complications if not treated promptly.
“We will continue to work closely with regional and international partners to ensure that any potential risks are identified early and managed effectively,” Dr. Georges said. “Protecting the health and safety of our residents remains our top priority.”
The Ministry of Health and Social Development said it will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
Rising Costs Will Intensify, Skelton Cline Warns as He Suggests Emergency Measures
Coronavirus disease 2019
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