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  • DSB ziet sterke groei in digitaal bankieren

    DSB ziet sterke groei in digitaal bankieren

    Suriname’s DSB Bank has closed out its 2025 fiscal year with record-breaking performance, highlighting explosive growth in digital financial services that has become a core driver of the bank’s expansion, strong loan growth, and improving operational efficiency. The bank’s leadership shared these results during a recent press conference outlining annual performance, noting that consistent, steady growth across nearly all key financial metrics has been maintained since 2021, culminating in last year’s record profit and a return to dividend payouts for shareholders.

    A standout trend DSB Bank has documented is the rapid shift among its customer base toward digital banking. Increasing numbers of clients now manage their daily financial activities entirely through online and digital channels, with sharp growth recorded across both debit card transactions and online banking transfers over the past five years. Data presented by the bank shows just how dramatic this shift has been: back in 2021, customers completed roughly 3.4 million debit card transactions totaling 2 billion Surinamese dollars (SRD). By 2025, that number had jumped to 9.7 million debit transactions, with a total combined value of SRD 11.5 billion. The growth in online banking transactions has been equally striking: from 9 million recorded transactions in 2022, the volume more than doubled to over 17 million by 2025.

    This digital transformation has also powered substantial growth in the bank’s lending division. In 2025, DSB reported a 72% year-over-year increase in personal loans and a 78% rise in auto financing. Bank executives attribute this double-digit growth directly to the digital overhaul of the loan application process. Today, customers can submit and complete their entire loan application fully online, cutting the average processing time from 26 days just a few years ago to only four days currently. In addition to faster processing, the digitization effort has also driven a notable reduction in late payment defaults, improving the quality of the bank’s loan portfolio.

    Looking ahead, the bank expects digital banking adoption to accelerate even further following the rollout of Suriname’s new national instant payment infrastructure. On June 8, the Central Bank of Suriname and the Suriname Bankers Association launched the first phase of the Suriname National Electronic Payments System (SNEPS), a modernized interbank payment network. DSB Bank Chief Operating Officer Alexander van Petten explained that under the first phase, interbank transfers processed during standard weekday business hours now clear within 15 minutes at most.

    The second phase of the SNEPS rollout is scheduled to launch later this year, which will extend instant processing to all interbank transfers outside business hours, including weekends, and will apply to all currencies traded in the country. “Once this second phase goes live, transfers will be completed in minutes any time of day, any day of the week, for all currencies,” van Petten emphasized. DSB Bank’s leadership expects this broader modernization of the country’s payment ecosystem will drive even faster growth in digital banking adoption across the nation in the coming years, cementing the shift away from traditional in-person financial services.

  • Canada and CARICOM renew partnership, focus on security, Haiti and climate resilience

    Canada and CARICOM renew partnership, focus on security, Haiti and climate resilience

    On the sidelines of the 2026 Organization of American States General Assembly held in Panama City, Panama, foreign ministerial representatives from Canada and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) convened a high-stakes bilateral meeting, emerging with a unified recommitment to deepening long-standing cooperation across shared priority areas.

    Co-chaired by Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Barbados Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Christopher Sinckler – who chaired the session on behalf of CARICOM’s Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) – the talks built on the foundations of the Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership formally established just three years prior in 2023. Ministers opened the discussion by acknowledging a shifting global landscape marked by rising geopolitical volatility, a reality that has elevated the urgency of tighter cross-regional collaboration to address shared challenges. By the close of the session, both sides reaffirmed their mutual dedication to advancing four core pillars: regional security, inclusive economic prosperity, climate adaptation and resilience, and upholding democratic governance norms across the hemisphere.

    Following a comprehensive review of progress delivered under the existing strategic framework, ministers formally approved a renewed three-pillar Action Plan to guide cooperation moving forward. The plan centers on three key priorities: building competitive, shock-resistant regional economies; accelerating collective climate action; and shoring up regional security and stability. Attendees agreed that the final version of the plan will incorporate clear implementation timelines, quantifiable performance targets, and commitments to sustainable resourcing to ensure tangible outcomes, rather than symbolic agreements.

    Security emerged as one of the most heavily debated topics on the meeting agenda, with ministers addressing a cascade of transnational threats ranging from transnational organized crime and pervasive gang violence to irregular migration and the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian and security crisis in neighboring Haiti. Attendees uniformly agreed that expanded regional coordination is critical to boosting domestic institutional capacity, strengthening maritime border security, and cracking down on cross-border illicit trafficking networks that exploit weak governance across the region. They further noted that modern security threats are deeply interconnected, requiring coordinated action across maritime defense, cyber resilience, cross-border intelligence sharing, and the systematic dismantling of transnational criminal syndicates. Canada received widespread praise from CARICOM delegates for its sustained support of regional security efforts, including ongoing capacity-building programs, targeted interventions, and frontline operational partnerships.

    The ongoing crisis in Haiti dominated much of the security discussion, with ministers voicing deep alarm over the country’s persistent political gridlock, widespread violence, and catastrophic humanitarian conditions, as well as the spillover effects that have destabilized the broader region – including a sharp rise in drug and weapons trafficking across Caribbean borders. Ministers stressed that sustained international backing for Haiti’s multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF) remains non-negotiable, framing the deployment as a critical tool to help Haitian authorities restore basic security across the country. The delegation also pledged full collective support for renewing the GSF’s mission mandate at the United Nations Security Council when the vote comes up in early autumn.

    Participants acknowledged incremental progress made by already deployed GSF personnel, including the establishment of command structures, ongoing frontline training, and targeted capacity-building efforts for local security actors. Ministers reiterated their long-held position that the Haitian people must be the sole arbiters of their country’s political future, and reaffirmed CARICOM’s full backing for Haiti’s interim transitional authorities as they work to organize inclusive, credible general elections at the earliest possible date. They also emphasized the urgent need to combat systemic corruption and widespread impunity in Haiti, calling for the immediate activation of the country’s two newly established specialized anti-corruption judicial units. To keep global attention focused on Haiti’s ongoing crisis, ministers agreed to convene expanded multi-stakeholder consultations during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly to map out both immediate relief interventions and long-term collective strategies to address the country’s deep-rooted challenges.

    Beyond security, economic development and climate resilience were framed as mutually dependent priorities for the bloc. Ministers highlighted that reliable, affordable access to energy is a fundamental prerequisite for broad-based economic expansion, industrial growth, and private sector innovation across the Caribbean. They also pointed to untapped opportunities to expand bilateral trade and investment, strengthen resilient regional supply chains, and advance sustainable development through deeper commercial integration between Canada and CARICOM member states. The discussion specifically spotlighted the enduring value of the CARIBCAN program, the Commonwealth Caribbean Countries Tariff initiative that grants duty-free access to the Canadian market for most goods originating from 18 Commonwealth Caribbean countries and territories.

    Against the backdrop of persistent global economic uncertainty and escalating geopolitical tensions, ministers noted that small island Caribbean nations face disproportionate exposure to external shocks, ranging from global supply chain disruptions to intensifying climate-related extreme weather events. The joint statement called for continued collaborative action to build national and regional resilience, while also advocating for sweeping reforms to the global international financial system and expanded access to concessional financing for vulnerable middle-income Small Island Developing States, which often face barriers to affordable funding despite their high exposure to climate and economic shocks. The meeting further underscored the urgency of scaling up disaster preparedness infrastructure, expanding access to clean and renewable energy, preserving critical correspondent banking relationships for regional financial institutions, and increasing access to climate finance and concessional funding tailored to the specific vulnerabilities and shock absorption capacity of small island states.

    Looking ahead, ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership as a foundational framework for advancing shared interests. They directed senior bureaucratic officials to finalize the renewed Action Plan by identifying high-impact priority initiatives, developing a detailed implementation workplan, and strengthening accountability and reporting mechanisms to track progress. A dedicated Senior Officials’ Dialogue has already been scheduled for this coming autumn to advance implementation of the plan and update ministers on achieved milestones. The 2026 foreign ministerial gathering brought together senior leadership from across the CARICOM bloc, including representatives from The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the CARICOM secretariat.

  • ZHTF validates strategic plan 2026-2030

    ZHTF validates strategic plan 2026-2030

    On June 18, the Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF) hosted a critical stakeholder validation workshop in Kingstown, marking a key milestone in the finalization of its five-year strategic framework covering 2026 to 2030. This collaborative gathering brought together a diverse cross-section of actors, including senior representatives from national government ministries and departments, local non-governmental organizations, youth advocacy groups, civil society bodies, and other core implementing partners. The core objective of the session was to conduct a comprehensive review of the draft strategic plan and collect targeted feedback to refine the fund’s proposed direction for its next operational cycle.

    Facilitated by experienced strategic consultant Kevin Hope, the workshop formed a central component of a broader inclusive planning process. This process was intentionally designed to guarantee that the finalized strategy fully aligns with St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ national development priorities, reflects existing institutional capacities and constraints, and centers the on-the-ground lived experiences of vulnerable communities across the islands.

    The validation session built on preliminary stakeholder consultations held earlier in March, where community leaders and partner organizations shared on-the-ground insights into the rapidly shifting food and nutrition security landscape across St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Input from those initial consultations already helped shape the refocused draft framework, which prepares the fund for its second decade of operations, impact delivery, and systemic food system transformation.

    During the day-long working session, participating stakeholders assessed whether the draft plan accurately upholds ZHTF’s statutory mandate, matches national priorities, and responds to the evolving challenges that shape food and nutrition insecurity in the country. Attendees examined every core component of the draft, including its proposed vision, mission statement, overarching strategic theme, dual core mandate, holistic full food systems approach, six defined strategic pillars, and priority implementation actions. They also flag areas requiring additional clarification, identified opportunities to strengthen alignment across stakeholder roles, and submitted concrete recommendations to streamline the plan’s final approval, publication, and rollout.

    At the heart of all workshop discussions was a shared consensus that hunger and systemic food insecurity cannot be resolved through disconnected, standalone interventions. In response, the draft strategic plan adopts an integrated, cross-sectoral systems approach that connects diverse policy and programming areas, including social protection, public health nutrition, local food production, agriculture, fisheries, livelihood development, market access, climate resilience, data-driven governance, and community-led participation.

    This model is rooted in the recognition that long-term sustainable solutions require coordinated action across multiple sectors, and stronger linkages between two critical priorities: immediate food and livelihood support for vulnerable households, and long-term strategic investments in building climate-resilient local food systems.

    Addressing assembled participants, Safiya Horne-Bique, Director and CEO of ZHTF, emphasized that meaningful stakeholder engagement is non-negotiable to ensure the final strategic plan is practical, credible, and fully relevant to the national context. “The goal of this workshop is that we leave with a clearer, stronger and more validated strategic framework that can guide the work of the Zero Hunger Trust Fund from 2026 to 2030 and position the Fund for its second decade of impact,” Horne-Bique stated.

    Encouraging open, constructive feedback from all attendees, she added: “Help us ensure that this document is not only a good strategic plan on paper, but also a useful national instrument for action.”

    As ZHTF prepares to mark 10 years since its founding, Horne-Bique noted that the organization must not only celebrate its past achievements, but also adapt its operating model to respond to new and emerging challenges facing the country. “The environment in which the Fund now operates is very different from the one that existed in 2016. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines faces deeper climate and disaster risks, rising food prices, high food import dependency, shifting dietary patterns, youth unemployment, an ageing population, and continued vulnerability among households and communities. These realities require us to think beyond individual programmes and to look at the food system as a whole. That is the central purpose of this Strategic Plan.”

    Horne-Bique further explained that the fund’s future direction must strike a critical balance between delivering immediate assistance to vulnerable populations and advancing long-term work to reduce systemic vulnerability, strengthen community livelihoods, and build overall food system resilience. “This workshop is not intended to be a ceremonial exercise. It is a working session. We are here to validate the strategic direction of the Fund for the period 2026 to 2030 and to ensure that the final plan is ambitious, but realistic; nationally relevant, but institutionally deliverable; visionary, but measurable.”

    The draft strategic plan also clarifies and sharpens ZHTF’s unique value proposition as a national institution. The fund does not aim to replace existing government ministries or community-based organizations; instead, it positions itself as a catalytic, flexible, and partnership-driven intermediary that connects policy development, financing, on-the-ground programming, community leadership, and evidence-based learning. Through this niche role, ZHTF is positioned to mobilize much-needed resources, pilot innovative intervention models, directly support vulnerable groups, strengthen local food systems, and turn national food and nutrition security priorities into actionable, results-driven work.

    For his part, consultant Kevin Hope highlighted the immense value of the input collected across the full consultation and validation process. He noted that workshop discussions reinforced both the critical importance of ZHTF’s mandate and the need to build broader public understanding of the fund’s role in advancing food and nutrition security across the islands. “It is now for us to work together on how we align our initiatives, how we use the activities ZHTF is doing to catalyse other investment, and how we deliver on the mandate. The mandate is ending hunger, food security and sustainable livelihoods,” Hope said.

    He added that meaningful food security and food sovereignty must become embedded in national culture and daily community practice, rather than remaining abstract policy concepts reserved for government documents. “How do we target interventions and work together collaboratively to reduce poverty and vulnerability in communities using agriculture and fisheries as mediums? How do we strengthen and support livelihoods in these communities, and how do we ensure that food sovereignty and food security are not just buzzwords, but part of our lived culture? I am hopeful that at the end of this strategic planning exercise, there will be greater public awareness and stronger buy-in as to the ‘why’.”

    Moving forward, all feedback and recommendations collected during the June 18 validation workshop will be integrated into the draft to produce the final version of the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, which will then be submitted for official government approval. Once finalized, the plan will serve as the official roadmap guiding ZHTF’s work to end hunger, strengthen food and nutrition security, support sustainable livelihoods, deepen cross-sector partnerships, and contribute to the development of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems across St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

  • Basketball finals come down to Game 3

    Basketball finals come down to Game 3

    The race for the coveted Ricky “Skecky” Estwick Trophy has reached a fever pitch, as defending champions Soufrière Kings locked the three-game KFC National Basketball League Finals at a 1-1 tie after a hard-fought 47-43 victory over the Bonne Terre Blazers on Friday night at the Beausejour Gymnasium.

    Nicknamed the squad from Sulphur City, the Kings delivered a masterclass in defensive intensity to set up a winner-takes-all showdown scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday at the same venue. The Blazers, who claimed the 2023 league title, had drawn first blood in the best-of-three series, securing a narrow 62-59 win in Game 1 this past Wednesday.

    From the opening tip-off, Soufrière jumped out to an early advantage, anchored by a suffocating defensive game plan targeting the Blazers’ star Louison brothers, Troy and Andre. Capitalizing on a string of unforced errors from Bonne Terre — including multiple shot clock violations and eight-second turnover calls — the Kings took a 24-19 lead into the halftime break.

    After the interval, the west coast side extended their momentum, stretching their lead to 15 points through disciplined offensive sets and consistent long-range shooting. Though the Blazers mounted a gritty second-half comeback, piercing Soufrière’s tight defense to trim the deficit down to just four points, they could not complete the comeback. The Kings held firm through the final minutes to lock in the critical win.

    One of the standout performers for Soufrière was Sidney Didier, who bounced back from a quiet Game 1 to dominate both ends of the floor early in the contest. The versatile wing finished the night with an impressive all-around stat line of 11 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Forward Kimani Charles also delivered a balanced performance, notching eight points, six steals, five rebounds, and five assists. While Jayzee Saltibus only scored eight points, he was an unstoppable force on the glass, pulling down a remarkable 24 rebounds to secure second chances for his squad.

    For the Blazers, offensive inefficiency proved to be their undoing. The squad converted just 18 of their 82 total field goal attempts throughout the game. Leading scorer Troy Louison put up 18 points, nine rebounds, and three steals, but he needed 29 shot attempts to reach that scoring total. Guard Kyanni Elwin finished with 10 points on 19 shots, while Andre Louison contributed 12 rebounds, six steals, and five assists — but only connected on three of his 17 field goal tries.

    Even after two games, the two title contenders remain closely matched. Though Bonne Terre won the turnover battle 24 to 27, both squads finished with an even 53 total rebounds. When the two most recent champions meet again on Saturday, every possession will count, with the league trophy and championship glory hanging in the balance.

  • UWI urges preparedness after major Venezuela earthquakes

    UWI urges preparedness after major Venezuela earthquakes

    On Wednesday, two massive earthquakes, measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 respectively, struck Venezuela just 39 seconds apart — the strongest seismic events the country has recorded in more than 125 years. By Friday, the United Nations confirmed the death toll had climbed to at least 235, with expectations of further increases as search and recovery operations continue.

    The worst damage is concentrated in La Guaira state, roughly 30 kilometers north of the capital Caracas, where at least 250 structures have been damaged or completely destroyed. Critical public infrastructure across the affected area remains severely impaired: electricity grids, water supplies, and telecommunications networks are largely non-functional, road and air transport networks are blocked. Maiquetía International Airport, the country’s primary international gateway, remains closed due to structural damage, local hospitals are operating under mass casualty response protocols, and emergency shelters have been established to house hundreds of displaced families.

    Immediately after the quakes, a regional tsunami warning was issued for Caribbean coastal areas, but officials canceled the alert within days after specialists analyzed data from regional monitoring stations and deep-ocean tsunami detection systems. No measurable large tsunami was detected, and forecast wave heights remained far below dangerous thresholds.

    The back-to-back major seismic events sparked widespread public concern across the Caribbean, particularly after a separate earthquake was recorded between Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada shortly after the Venezuela quakes. Officials at the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC), the leading agency responsible for monitoring earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis across the English-speaking Eastern Caribbean, have moved to calm growing public anxiety while emphasizing the ongoing need for proactive preparedness in the seismically active zone.

    Erouscilla P. Joseph, director of the UWI-SRC, explained that while both the Venezuela quakes and the smaller tremor near Trinidad and Tobago fall within the broad Caribbean-South American plate boundary zone, they stem from distinct tectonic processes. “At this time, there is no evidence that the earthquakes are directly related to the same fault system,” Joseph noted. While large seismic events can alter stress distribution across nearby tectonic structures, she added, establishing a direct causal link between separate individual events is rarely scientifically feasible.

    UWI-SRC has recorded a small uptick in regional seismic activity following the Venezuela earthquakes, a common geologic adjustment after major stress release, the agency confirmed. Joseph emphasized that while a magnitude 7.5 quake qualifies as a major regional event, such events occur somewhere across the globe nearly every year. Though the Venezuela quake ranks among the largest global seismic events of 2026, it is not among the most powerful recorded worldwide in the last decade. What makes the event unusual, Joseph explained, is its proximity to heavily populated areas and the extremely short interval between the two major quakes. “It is relatively uncommon but not unprecedented,” she said, adding that the 39-second gap between the 7.2 and 7.5 events points to a complex rupture process that released massive accumulated tectonic stress over just a few minutes. Preliminary analysis confirms the quakes occurred within the active Caribbean-South American plate boundary, which hosts major fault systems including the El Pilar-San Sebastián network and associated offshore structures. Detailed surveys are still ongoing to pinpoint the exact fault segment responsible for the rupture.

    Addressing concerns that the Venezuela quakes could trigger a major seismic event closer to Trinidad and Tobago, Joseph confirmed that aftershocks are expected in the immediate vicinity of the original quakes, and some of these may be felt in southern Caribbean nations. However, she stressed that there is currently no scientific evidence to suggest the Venezuela events have directly increased the risk of a major earthquake in Trinidad and Tobago. Echoing the UWI-SRC’s core guidance, Joseph said, “The public should not be alarmed, but they should be prepared. Trinidad and Tobago, like Venezuela and many other Caribbean countries, is located within an active seismic region where earthquakes can occur. Events such as this remind us of the importance of preparedness.”

    Joseph also outlined how the impact of a similar magnitude quake near Trinidad and Tobago would vary based on multiple key factors: the event’s depth, its distance from population centers, local geologic ground conditions, and the seismic resilience of existing buildings and infrastructure. Older structures constructed without modern seismic building codes are far more vulnerable to damage than newer builds, and a strong nearby quake could cause widespread damage to critical infrastructure including utilities, transportation networks, and public and commercial buildings. Because of this, Joseph noted that ongoing investment in updating building codes and improving public preparedness remains a critical priority for all regional governments.

    In a public safety guidance update, Joseph addressed common reactions during strong shaking, such as the instinct to run outside immediately, which has been captured in viral videos from the Venezuela quakes. She warned that moving during intense shaking dramatically increases the risk of injury from falling debris, broken glass, or collapsing structural elements. The internationally recommended safety protocol remains “Drop, Cover and Hold On” until shaking stops, after which people can calmly evacuate to a safe open area away from damaged structures if needed.

    UWI-SRC is urging all members of the public across the Eastern Caribbean to use this high-profile event as an opportunity to update their personal and family emergency preparedness: residents are encouraged to review earthquake safety protocols, identify pre-planned safe spots in homes and workplaces, secure heavy furniture and appliances that could topple during shaking, assemble emergency supply kits, and confirm family emergency communication plans.

    “It is natural to feel concerned when a major earthquake affects a neighbouring country, particularly one with which we share such close ties,” Joseph said. “The SRC remains committed to monitoring seismic activity across the region and providing timely, reliable information so that individuals, communities and governments can make informed decisions. This earthquake is a reminder that while we cannot prevent earthquakes, we can reduce their impacts through preparedness. The goal is not to be fearful, but to be ready.”

    The agency maintains continuous real-time monitoring of seismic activity across the Eastern Caribbean, and publishes updates through its official website and social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). UWI-SRC is encouraging all residents to follow these official channels for accurate, up-to-date information and to prioritize emergency preparedness in the seismically active region.

  • COMMENTARY: Advancing inclusive leadership and global cooperation – Women in diplomacy

    COMMENTARY: Advancing inclusive leadership and global cooperation – Women in diplomacy

    For centuries, the formal corridors of diplomacy and global decision-making were almost entirely closed to women. But over the past century, this long-standing exclusionary narrative has undergone a profound shift, as women have steadily broken through glass barriers to claim space across foreign services, multilateral bodies, peace negotiations and global conflict resolution processes. Today, their growing presence is not just a win for gender equity—it has transformed how the world approaches challenges ranging from peacebuilding to human rights, strengthening collective efforts to advance global security, sustainable development, and universal fundamental rights.

    One of the earliest and most transformative examples of women’s outsized impact on global governance came during the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Women were core contributors to the document, which for the first time in global history formally enshrined equal civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for all people, regardless of gender.

    Yet despite this historic progress, gender parity in diplomatic leadership remains an unmet goal. According to United Nations data, while the global share of female ambassadors and permanent representatives has climbed gradually to roughly 22.5%, women remain severely underrepresented at senior decision-making levels. Regional averages vary: Latin America and the Caribbean outpaces the global mean at 25%, with several countries boasting far higher rates of female diplomatic representation. Even at the UN itself, systemic underrepresentation persists—over nearly eight decades of the organization’s existence, it has never been led by a woman Secretary-General.

    Every June 24, the International Day of Women in Diplomacy stands as both a celebration of how far women have come and a urgent call to action to close the remaining representation gaps. The 2026 campaign for the day, themed “Advancing Inclusive Leadership and Global Cooperation,” centers the critical role of women’s perspectives in multilateral negotiation, peacebuilding and sustainable development work.

    The day also anchors its calls for change in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 5 on Gender Equality and SDG 10 on Reduced Inequalities—two core frameworks that prioritize inclusive leadership. SDG Target 5.5 explicitly requires full and effective women’s participation and equal access to leadership across all levels of political, economic and public decision-making. SDG Target 10.2 calls for the social, economic and political inclusion of all people, while Target 10.3 demands equal opportunity and the elimination of systemic discriminatory practices.

    Across diplomatic missions, international institutions and negotiating tables, women leaders already deliver unique, invaluable outcomes: they strengthen dialogue, build cross-stakeholder consensus, advance more durable conflict resolution, and deepen global cooperation. Their leadership bridges national priorities and transnational challenges, paving the way for solutions that advance shared prosperity, universal human rights and global security.

    The International Day of Women in Diplomacy calls on governments, multilateral bodies, academic institutions, civil society organizations and diplomatic communities worldwide to step up efforts to promote greater gender inclusion, dismantle long-standing structural barriers, and guarantee women equal opportunity to shape the global decisions that impact communities, nations and the entire planet.

    As UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has emphasized, all stakeholders must work to guarantee women a seat at the negotiating table, that their voices are heard, and that their contributions are fully valued. This commentary was written by Wayne Campbell, an educator and social commentator focused on how development policy intersects with culture and gender equity.

  • Lawyer weighs in on birth tourism debate

    Lawyer weighs in on birth tourism debate

    Birth tourism, a long-standing practice on the Caribbean island of Barbados, carries tangible economic and demographic benefits for the nation—but requires proactive, collaborative oversight from the government and facilitating international agencies to prevent unnecessary strain on local social systems, according to prominent immigration and citizenship attorney Samuel Legay.

    Speaking on the ongoing public debate surrounding the practice, Legay pointed out that birth tourism is not a new phenomenon in Barbados, with at least one local clinic having openly promoted the service for decades. What has sparked recent concern, he argues, is not the practice itself, but a shift in how it is being marketed—particularly aggressive promotion targeting prospective clients across African nations. For years, Legay noted, birth tourism in Barbados has primarily served a specific demographic of financially stable international visitors, who ultimately gain Barbadian citizenship for their children born on the island. As it stands, the practice already brings measurable benefits to the local economy, he says, with participants spending significant sums on medical care, accommodation and other services during their stay.

    But unregulated open advertising, Legay warns, risks drawing a wave of participants who lack the solid financial resources required to cover the steep costs of childbirth, postnatal care and unexpected medical complications. If participants are unable to cover their own expenses, he explains, the burden would ultimately fall on Barbadian public services—a risk that grows sharper because any child born in Barbados is automatically granted citizenship, entitling them to state-supported care. To mitigate this risk, Legay is urging international service providers to implement rigorous due diligence processes to screen all prospective birth tourism participants before they travel to the island. Rather than pushing for heavy formal regulation of the industry, he says the Barbadian government should take a proactive approach: convene meetings with industry stakeholders to understand current operations, issue clear official guidance on responsible screening, and ensure providers are prioritizing financially stable applicants. This targeted oversight, he argues, preserves the economic benefits of birth tourism while protecting the island’s social and fiscal systems.

    Legay also used the opportunity to correct a misleading claim circulating in online marketing materials from one birth services company. The advertisement falsely claimed that non-national parents giving birth in Barbados are granted immediate residency permits alongside their child’s citizenship. Legay flatly rejected this assertion, clarifying that automatic citizenship for children born on Barbadian soil does not extend any immigration or residency rights to the parents. Under current law, residency requires a multi-year period of continuous residence in Barbados, and the new immigration and citizenship bill currently under debate in Parliament contains no provision changing this rule. If automatic residency for parents were permitted, Legay added, it would spark an uncontrolled surge in birth tourism that would overwhelm local systems.

    Beyond immediate economic gains, Legay emphasized that birth tourism addresses one of Barbados’ most pressing long-term demographic challenges, supporting population growth while creating soft global benefits for the nation. Even when parents return to their home countries with their newborn children, he explained, the connection to Barbados endures. Many of these children born on the island grow up to promote Barbados internationally, and a growing number eventually return to claim citizenship by descent as adults, contributing to the island’s workforce and social fabric long into the future. “To me it’s promoting Barbados in a positive way,” he said.

  • Hilda Skeene staff: Children’s education depends on parents, resources

    Hilda Skeene staff: Children’s education depends on parents, resources

    Amidst an ongoing national debate over whether private primary schools in Barbados consistently outperform public institutions, educators from one standout public school are drawing a clear line: unfair contextual comparisons do a disservice to both sectors, and student success grows from a mix of engaged parent participation, dedicated educator work and accessible resources.

    The conversation reignited earlier this month after the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) formally requested the Ministry of Education Transformation to release data explaining why private schools posted seemingly stronger results in this year’s Common Entrance Examination. Just days after that call, faculty and staff at St Philip’s Hilda Skeene Primary School celebrated their students’ exceptional performance during a graduation ceremony hosted at The Crane Resort, where they pushed back against direct cross-sector comparisons.

    Hilda Skeene Primary’s 2024 exam results tell a compelling story: student Josiah Gibson secured second place across the entire island, earning a perfect 100% score in Mathematics, while several other classmates hit scores in the 90th percentile. For Kara Allsopp, a Class Four teacher at the school, these achievements are more than just individual wins—they prove public school students can compete at the highest academic level when schools and families collaborate effectively.

    “Once parents get involved, we have public school students that can perform just as well, if not better, than their peers in private schools,” Allsopp explained during the ceremony. She attributed this year’s success to consistent family buy-in: parents prioritized their children’s learning, committed to extra support, and even arranged for students to attend extra study sessions on school holidays. The real driver of strong outcomes, she added, is not institutional status but intrinsic motivation. “We worked for months toward these exams. The children gave up their free time on bank holidays to come in and practice. That motivation is the actual secret to success. My job as an educator is first and foremost to spark that desire to do well—once that clicks, students will rise to the challenge.”

    Principal Wayne Bryan echoed Allsopp’s rejection of direct public-private comparisons, noting the two sectors operate under fundamentally different conditions that make head-to-head ranking meaningless. “Comparing public schools to private schools is comparing apples to oranges,” Bryan said. “There are dozens of variables that shape how each sector operates, from the student populations they serve to how they are managed and staffed. They both provide a core public good, but they operate in totally separate contexts.”

    Even as he celebrated his students’ wins, Bryan did not shy away from naming the persistent structural challenges holding many public schools back: limited funding and a widespread lack of adequate material, human and financial resources. “You can have the highest goals and biggest dreams for your students, but without the right resources, reaching those goals becomes far harder,” he noted. For many public school principals, the burden of funding gaps pulls focus away from core educational leadership: Bryan himself spends significant time lobbying private sector partners and organizing parent-led fundraising campaigns to cover gaps in public funding.

    Looking ahead, Bryan called for broader cross-sector collaboration to lift public education outcomes across the country, arguing that private sector investment in public schools is an investment in Barbados’ future workforce. “The next generation of employees, leaders and innovators for Barbados’ private businesses come from our public schools. If business leaders want a strong workforce down the line, they need to invest today. Improving public education is not a job for one group—it takes all of us working together to deliver the outcomes our children deserve.”

  • DFA Festival showcases youth football as Dominica celebrates Olympic Day

    DFA Festival showcases youth football as Dominica celebrates Olympic Day

    The Caribbean island of Dominica is set to host a packed weekend of community-focused sports action this week, headlined by two major public events designed to nurture emerging talent and celebrate the inclusive spirit of global athletics. On Saturday, June 27, 2026, the Dominica Football Association (DFA) will launch its much-anticipated DFA Academy Football Festival, kicking off at 8 a.m. at the association’s purpose-built Technical Centre in Stockfarm, Roseau. Curated by the DFA’s Technical Department, the event is made possible through collaborative partnerships with two regional and international organizations: Restore Caribbean Lives, a community-focused nonprofit, and First Baptist Church Indian Trail based in North Carolina. Local enterprise J. Astaphan & Co. Ltd. has stepped in as the official sponsor of the festival, supporting its mission to grow youth football across the island.

    Designed exclusively for young aspiring footballers between the ages of 6 and 15, the festival welcomes participants from all officially accredited football academies across Dominica. Unlike high-stakes competitive tournaments, the day balances structured play with recreational opportunity, giving young athletes a platform to display their growing skills to coaching staff, build on-field confidence, and connect with peers who share their passion for the sport. Beyond the fun and friendly competition, the festival also serves as a key scouting opportunity: standout players will be shortlisted for potential selection to the elite DFA National Academy, opening pathways to advanced training and future competitive play at the national level. Every participant will also go home with a commemorative gift to honor their commitment to the sport.

    One day later, on Sunday, June 28, 2025, the Dominica Olympic Committee (DOC) will carry on the sporting momentum with its annual public Olympic Day celebration, running from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Bath Estate Playing Field. The annual event marks the 131st anniversary of the founding of the International Olympic Committee, aligning this year with the global Olympic Day theme “Move, learn, discover – Together for a better world” and the unifying slogan “Let’s Move.”

    The celebration kicks off with a community Run/Walk through the streets of Roseau, with organizers having adjusted the route specifically to welcome wheelchair users and cyclists, ensuring the event is fully accessible to people of all abilities and mobility levels. After the opening walk, the afternoon will feature a packed schedule of activities for attendees of all ages, including demonstrations of a wide range of Olympic and recreational sports, group aerobics sessions, family-friendly activities like face painting and bouncing castles, and live local entertainment. All guests will have access to complimentary refreshments, a commemorative event t-shirt, and free on-site health checks, reinforcing the event’s focus on holistic wellness and community inclusion. The DOC has publicly emphasized that the celebration is open to every member of the public, regardless of age or athletic background, and has encouraged widespread turnout to celebrate the unifying power of sport.

    Taken together, the two events frame a weekend of grassroots sporting engagement across Dominica, highlighting the island’s commitment to nurturing young talent, promoting active lifestyles, and making sport accessible to entire communities.

  • Final Night Fever: Fans ready for grand finale to St. Kitts Music Festival 2026 – WIC News

    Final Night Fever: Fans ready for grand finale to St. Kitts Music Festival 2026 – WIC News

    As the sun sets over the Caribbean island of St. Kitts on June 27, 2026, thousands of music fans from across the globe are buzzing with excitement, counting down the hours to the grand final night of the 28th annual St. Kitts Music Festival. Launched in 1996, this three-day celebration of rhythm, culture, and community has grown from a small local showcase into one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious and beloved international music events, drawing crowds from North America, Europe, and across the Caribbean region each year.

    The festival kicked off on June 25 with a explosive opening night headlined by one of soca music’s biggest icons, Machel Montano, who marked his triumphant return to the St. Kitts festival stage after a 15-year absence. His hour-long set kept the packed crowd at Warner Park Stadium dancing from start to finish, highlighting decades of his artistic evolution and enduring legacy in Caribbean music. Opening night also featured a stacked lineup of talent from across the region: Shelly and the Signal Band brought the vibrant, upbeat energy of Dominica’s music scene to the stage, while rising star V’ghn created an unforgettable fan moment when he stepped off stage to dance alongside the crowd during his hit track *Jab Decisions*. Barbadian music legend Edwin Yearwood and the Krosfyah Band rounded out the opening night roster, taking audiences on a nostalgic journey through fan favorites including *Sak Pasé* and *Togetherness*, earning a roaring response from attendees.

    St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew was in attendance for opening night, sharing his positive experience with the public. “It was great to see so many people out enjoying themselves safely and having a good time,” he said. “Last night, I had a fantastic time at Night One of the 28th edition of the St. Kitts Music Festival. Let’s keep the energy going for the nights ahead.”

    The second night of the festival upped the ante with another genre-spanning lineup of global and regional stars, keeping the energy high from the first note to the last. British reggae pioneers Steel Pulse opened the night with a performance that filled the venue with raw, rhythmic energy, while R&B star Kehlani drew passionate sing-alongs from thousands of fans. Festival officials described Dancehall star Mavado’s highly anticipated set as “feeling like a movie,” with the crowd cheering nonstop through hits from the Gully God. The stacked night two roster also included sets from Rodney Tattat, Skippa, Shaneil Muir, Kranium, Aidonia, Masicka, D’yani, and Valiant, catering to every musical taste across the weekend.

    Beyond the main stage performances at Warner Park Stadium, the festival has offered a full week of immersive experiences for visitors, including off-site fringe events, beach parties, cultural showcases that highlight local Caribbean heritage, and a range of family-friendly entertainment experiences that extend the celebration beyond the main event. Strong regional and international air connectivity has made the island federation easily accessible to travelers from key tourism markets, helping the festival draw its largest crowd in recent years this edition.

    For St. Kitts and Nevis, the annual music festival is far more than just a entertainment event: it is a core pillar of the country’s tourism economy and cultural outreach. Over its three decades of operation, the festival has boosted international awareness of St. Kitts and Nevis as a top travel destination, while delivering significant economic benefits to local businesses. Hotels, transportation providers, restaurants, and small local vendors all see major revenue gains during the festival weekend, injecting millions into the local economy each year.
    “This 28th edition of the St. Kitts Music Festival is a bold statement of our cultural power and our relentless drive to remain the Caribbean’s premier music destination,” said Marsha T. Henderson, Minister of Tourism for St. Kitts and Nevis. “While the music brings you to our shores, the raw, unfiltered energy of St. Kitts is what will stay with you.”

    As fans wait for the final night’s performance schedule to drop, anticipation continues to build across the island, with attendees already sharing highlights from the first two nights on social media and counting down to the closing performances that will cap off three days of nonstop music and celebration.