PHILIPSBURG:---  Members of Parliament Omar Ottley and Francisco Lacroes extend sincere condolences to the Indian community following the tragic loss of an aircraft carrying 244 passengers en route to London. The aircraft experienced mechanical failure, causing the fatal crash today, leaving no survivors.

MP Ottley said, "This is an unimaginable tragedy, and my heart goes out to anyone who may have lost relatives or friends in this horrific incident. We stand in solidarity with the Indian community during this incredibly difficult time."

MP Lacroes urges everyone to support one another during these times. For 2025, we have witnessed an alarming number of plane crashes.

The Members of Parliament support all families affected by the 2025 aircraft crashes as they face deep sorrow and grief caused by these losses.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with you all," said the UPP faction.

Ahmedabad, India:---In one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent history, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport, killing more than 200 people. The flight, AI-204, was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport with 242 passengers and crew on board when it went down in a residential area near the airport.

Crash Details and Immediate Aftermath

The plane crashed into the dining hall of the B.J. Medical College hostel during lunch hour, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. Among the deceased were passengers, medical students, and local residents. Police Chief G.S. Malik confirmed that 204 bodies had been recovered, while over 50 injured individuals are being treated in hospitals. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as rescue operations continue.

One survivor, Ramesh Viswashkumar, who was seated in 11A, recounted the horrifying moments after the crash. “Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise, and then the plane crashed. When I got up, there were bodies all around me. I was scared. I stood up and ran,” he said from his hospital bed. His brother, who was traveling with him, remains unaccounted for.

The crash site was a scene of devastation, with parts of the aircraft scattered across the area. The tail of the plane was lodged on top of the hostel building, and the surrounding residential quarters were severely damaged. Relatives of the victims have been asked to provide DNA samples to assist in identifying the deceased.

Victims and Nationalities

The passengers included 217 adults, 11 children, and two infants. Among them, 169 were Indian nationals, 53 were Britons, seven were Portuguese, and one was Canadian. The crash also claimed the life of Vijay Rupani, the former Chief Minister of Gujarat, the state where Ahmedabad is located.

Aircraft and Investigation

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, one of the most modern passenger aircraft in service, had been in operation since 2013 and was delivered to Air India in 2014. This marks the first fatal crash involving the Dreamliner model, which has been in commercial service since 2011.

Initial reports suggest the aircraft issued a Mayday call shortly after takeoff but lost contact with air traffic control moments later. Aviation experts have raised concerns about the landing gear being down during takeoff, an unusual occurrence that could indicate mechanical failure or pilot error. Boeing and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board have dispatched teams to assist in the investigation.

Reactions and Support

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose home state is Gujarat, expressed his grief, calling the tragedy “heartbreaking beyond words.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles have also been briefed on the situation, with the UK government working to support affected families.

The Tata Group, which owns Air India, announced a compensation package of 10 million rupees ($117,000) for the families of each victim. The company has also pledged to cover medical expenses for the injured and rebuild the damaged hostel.

Impact on Aviation

The crash has sent shockwaves through the aviation industry, with Boeing’s shares falling 5% following the news. The incident is a significant setback for the aircraft manufacturer, which has faced scrutiny over safety and production issues in recent years.

Ahmedabad Airport, operated by the Adani Group, temporarily suspended operations but has since resumed limited flights. Gautam Adani, chairman of the group, stated that all necessary support is being extended to the rescue and recovery efforts.

A Nation in Mourning

This tragedy is a grim reminder of the risks associated with air travel, even as India emerges as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. The last fatal plane crash in India occurred in 2020, involving an Air India Express flight that overshot a runway in Kozhikode, killing 21 people.

As rescue teams continue their efforts, the nation mourns the loss of lives in this catastrophic event. The focus now shifts to uncovering the cause of the crash and ensuring that such a tragedy is never repeated.

Simpson Bay:--- Police responded to a report of a serious incident at a local casino this morning. At approximately 9:30 AM, Central Dispatch received the call, prompting officers to arrive at the scene promptly.

Upon arrival, authorities discovered the body of a male security officer. Unfortunately, the individual showed no signs of life and is believed to have taken his own life.

Detectives and forensic personnel are currently conducting a thorough investigation at the scene. No further details have been released at this time.

Officials have urged the public to respect the privacy of those involved while the investigation is ongoing.

KPSM Press Release.

Representatives from Sub-National Island Jurisdictions (SNIJs) have highlighted the significant impact their communities are having on global marine conservation efforts, while also facing limited representation at major international summits. In addition to highlighting ocean conservation projects within their waters, the representatives discussed plans to enhance cooperation with other island governments in similar situations.

“Together with Island Innovation and the Cabinet of the Special Envoy for Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius, we initiated this journey and have had several interventions. I’m happy to say that these conversations with the EU and the UN to continue to dig into this programme and create a category for Sub-National Island Jurisdictions and access to funding for the transition towards more resilient and sustainable islands,” said Vannesa Toré, Director of Foreign Economic Cooperation the Ministry of Economic Development Government of Curaçao.

SNIJs are territories that enjoy varying autonomy levels, but are attached to a larger sovereign country. In the case of Curaçao (the Netherlands) and New Caledonia (France). Several EU countries have overseas territories, including Denmark (Greenland), Spain (Canary Islands), and Portugal (Azores) - but SNIJs also include islands like Guam (USA), Zanzibar (Tanzania), and Lakshadweep (India).

As Toré highlighted “Our small structures, our small economies, often we survive generating just enough to re-invest into keeping the island afloat, but to invest in the energy transition, invest in building resilience, these investments are very costly and we do not have access to those types of programmes and we do not have access to those types of funding or financing. We are smaller, we are more vulnerable, and climate change does not discriminate against constitutional status.”

In his address, Jeremie Katidjo-Monnier, New Caledonia’s Minister for the Environment and Ocean pointed to and congratulated the Government of French Polynesia’s announcement that they would designate a large portion of their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as a Marine Protected Area (MPA), likening it to New Caledonia’s own 1.3 million km2 MPA created in 2014.

The ambition of these French overseas territories is only matched by the global impact their ecosystems hold, with Katidjo-Monnier adding, “The fact that we are overseas territories of developed countries means that sometimes it is difficult for us to access certain international funding, and that's why this call today is more than welcome so that we can all come together to work on projects and examine the legal and administrative issues... For France, more than half of its exclusive economic zone is under the responsibility of the government of French Polynesia and New Caledonia when it comes to environmental protection.”

Communities living in SNIJs find themselves in a gray area when it comes to climate funding opportunities. Their attachment to another economy disqualifies them from most international financing pathways, yet they often have different needs and priorities than their central authority, with limited representation within that larger political structure. The different autonomies and sovereignties that each SNIJ add another layer of complexities when it comes to addressing climate finance issues. Here, Toré underscored that creating a formal legal understanding of SNIJs and their constitutional situation was the first step towards categorizing them within international structures and frameworks. These actions were already well underway, she noted, and while the process to legal recognition will be long, it also provides an opportunity for leaders and stakeholders from these territories to join the SNIJ Climate Coalition (SNIJCC) launched at the 1st Forum on Access to Climate Finance for SNIJs on May 30th on Nevis.

In the meantime, efforts by major organizations like Expertise France to create more inclusive spaces for EU Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) are being actively developed. As mentioned by Ahab Downer, Green Overseas Programme Director at Expertise France, convening stakeholders from these communities is actively leading to capacity building through knowledge exchange. A recent Green Overseas technical workshop on coastal erosion saw representatives from 45 OCTs come to Sint Maarten to share their experiences and learn more about other communities’ solutions.

“Additionally – the GO Programme underwrites and provides extensive technical and administrative support to our OCT partners for small to medium sized energy and resilience related projects in their respective OCTs,” explained Downer, “To date – we are implementing – and or preparing to implement – some 34 projects across 24 OCTs ranging from coastal erosion and sea level rise monitoring in French Polynesia, to the mainstreaming of energy savings and

climate resilience in the Bermuda building codes, to feasibility studies related to offshore wind turbines in the Turks and Caicos Islands… The GO Programme is proud to be supporting the development of Greenland’s first territorial climate strategy.”

All speakers agreed that the gaps that SNIJ communities face are related to financing and overall support for local projects, which by-and-large are put into motion and developed by islanders. The ambition of SNIJs should not be limited by or come second to constitutional relationships with metropolitan states, but rather serve as a new benchmark for them.  Katidjo-Monnier stressed the global impact that these communities can have when provided with the tools to enable them.

Speaking on the next steps for SNIJs, OCTs, and islanders, James Ellsmoor, Chief Executive Officer of Island Innovation expressed: “Increased participation of underrepresented groups, including SNIJs, at major international fora is beneficial in not only highlighting the positive projects and opportunities these communities provide, but also raising awareness of the inequalities they face and how we can address them. Small Island Developing States for example, have created a powerful platform for advocacy that SNIJs can learn from. Islanders are already creating waves, and SNIJs can add to it. I sland leaders are actively setting the tone for negotiations at events like COP and UNOC, using the platform these conferences provide to demand reforms to the status quo - providing alternatives such as the Bridgetown Initiative, developing Nature-based Solutions, highlighting their communities’ innovation and leveraging it to create a prosperous future for themselves and the world at large.”