The World Bank has revealed a key leadership appointment for its regional work in the Caribbean, announcing Wednesday that Achim Fock will take up the post of Division Director for the Caribbean region. In this senior leadership role, Fock will steer the global development institution’s strategic partnerships and active project portfolio across all Caribbean nations, with oversight over a broad portfolio of initiatives including development lending, data-driven analytical work, policy advisory services, and targeted trust fund programs. All of these efforts are focused on advancing inclusive, sustainable, and shock-resistant development across the small and vulnerable economies of the region. Fock brings a quarter-century of hands-on experience within the World Bank’s global network to his new role, giving him deep institutional knowledge of the bank’s operating models and development priorities. Most recently, he served as Country Manager for Zambia, where he led portfolio oversight and direct engagement with national government stakeholders and development partners. Prior to his posting in Southern Africa, Fock held the role of Operations Manager for four major Southeast Asian economies: Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. He also previously served as Operations Manager for Vietnam, and has held senior leadership roles including Manager of the Development Effectiveness Unit for the South Asia region. Early in his World Bank tenure, Fock worked as a Senior Economist, delivering policy and economic analysis across multiple countries across Africa, East Asia, and Eastern Europe, building a global perspective on diverse development challenges. In his new position, Fock will take ownership of all the World Bank’s regional programming across the Caribbean. Core priorities will include expanding and strengthening collaborative partnerships with national governments, local civil society organizations, and private sector actors across the region. He will also lead the bank’s support to Caribbean nations as they navigate a complex set of interconnected development challenges. These pressing priorities include expanding job creation and driving inclusive growth in key economic sectors, supporting a just and affordable energy transition to meet global climate commitments, and building comprehensive 360-degree resilience across the region. Key resilience-focused efforts will include expanding investment in disaster risk preparedness and accessible disaster risk financing, delivering climate-resilient infrastructure, and strengthening broad economic resilience to withstand global shocks and climate impacts. Fock holds an impressive academic background aligned with his development work: he earned a PhD in Agricultural Economics, two master’s degrees in Agricultural Science and Agricultural Economics respectively, and a postgraduate diploma focused on European Integration and International Economics.
博客
-
Fuel Shortages Hamper Earthquake Rescue Efforts in Venezuela
Nearly a week after two powerful earthquakes tore through Venezuela’s northern coastal region of La Guaira, desperate families and volunteer rescuers are still digging through mounds of collapsed concrete and debris by hand, crippled by widespread fuel shortages that have left state-owned heavy rescue machinery idle, CNN reports. The devastating disaster has laid bare deep systemic failures in the country’s emergency response framework, drawing sharp criticism from observers and triggering a small-scale corruption scandal that has compounded public anger.
In one high-profile example of the logistical gridlock, a large excavator parked meters from a major rubble pile has sat completely unused since the earthquakes struck, with no gasoline available to power its engine. Without access to the heavy equipment that could speed up search efforts, locals hoping to locate missing loved ones have been forced to rely on nothing more than basic hand tools — shovels, pickaxes — and their own bare hands to sift through wreckage.
The botched response has amplified longstanding criticism of the Venezuelan government’s disaster preparedness. Political analyst Carmen Beatriz Fernández notes that the ongoing crisis exposes the severely diminished capacity of national institutions to coordinate large-scale emergency operations when disaster strikes. Adding to the controversy, Venezuelan law enforcement agencies have announced the arrest of four public officials who are accused of looting valuables from the earthquake wreckage. All four have been removed from their positions and their cases have been transferred to the national judiciary for prosecution.
As of Tuesday, the official confirmed death toll from the quakes has risen to at least 1,943, but aid workers and local residents fear the actual number of fatalities is far higher, as hundreds of people remain unaccounted for buried beneath destroyed buildings. In response to the growing need for body recovery, the United Nations has reportedly begun the process of procuring 10,000 body bags to support ongoing recovery operations. Even as the death count continues to climb and hopes of finding more survivors fade, scores of grieving families continue to gather at disaster sites, clinging to the slim possibility that their loved ones will be pulled out alive.
-
Wayne George Football Academy receives EC$5,000 support from RUBIS
Dominica’s long-running grassroots football program, the Wayne George Football Academy, has received critical financial support from local fuel brand Team RUBIS to upgrade its athlete resources ahead of the organization’s upcoming competitive fixtures. In a recent official press statement, the academy announced the EC$5,000 donation, which will be allocated exclusively to purchasing new team uniforms and modern football training and match equipment for its young roster of players.
The contribution from Team RUBIS is designed not just to outfit athletes for upcoming matches, but also to sustain the academy’s 15-plus-year mission of nurturing youth football talent across the island nation. Vanalda Henry-Vidal, Accounts Executive at RUBIS, noted that the company was proud to formalize this partnership with the community-focused academy.
“Sports play a fundamental role in shaping the next generation of leaders, instilling core values like collaborative teamwork, personal discipline, and persistent resilience,” Henry-Vidal said in a statement shared alongside the announcement. “We are honored to contribute to an initiative that directly improves young lives and makes our local community stronger.”
Wayne George, founder and head coach of the academy, expressed sincere gratitude for Team RUBIS’ investment in the program and its young athletes. He emphasized that corporate partnerships like this are instrumental to the academy’s work of growing football talent and molding well-rounded, responsible citizens out of program participants. “A huge thank you to RUBIS for partnering with us to nurture young football talent and help us build future leaders and community members. We deeply appreciate this support and look forward to continuing our collaboration moving forward,” George said.
Founded all the way back in 2008, the Wayne George Football Academy is a legally registered, community-led football development program that has served young Dominicans for over 15 years. Headquartered in Bath Estate, the academy welcomes both boys and girls starting at age five, and currently supports more than 100 active young players across age groups. It has grown into a cornerstone of grassroots football development in Dominica, holding weekly training sessions every Saturday, organizing regular friendly matches against other local teams, and fielding senior squads that compete in official local leagues run by the Dominica Football Association.
Over its decades of operation, the academy has helped develop dozens of promising young footballers, while embedding values of leadership, teamwork and discipline in all participants. The new funding from Team RUBIS will remove longstanding resource barriers, providing the gear and uniforms that players need to thrive both on the pitch and in their personal growth off the field, positioning the program to expand its positive impact across Dominica’s youth sports community.
-
Pearly Eusebe hits 102; three other centenarians share June birthdays
On June 30, 2024, Pearly Paulina Ferdinand Eusebe — affectionately known to all as Auntie Pearly — marked her 102nd birthday, capping a century of life defined by unshakable resilience, quiet compassion, and a decades-long commitment to turning her childhood dream into reality. Born exactly 102 years ago in the small Dominican community of Delices, Auntie Pearly grew up as the second of seven siblings, her early years shaped by the humble, often harsh realities of rural life in the 1920s and 1930s.
Even at age five, Auntie Pearly walked three miles barefoot to reach her local school, carrying her daily lunch in a repurposed butter tin. Her route crossed multiple rushing streams; during seasonal heavy rains, the crossings became impassable, forcing her to miss classes entirely. It was at this school that a young Auntie Pearly first learned of the Second World War: her strict headmaster, Teacher Didier, read daily newspaper updates to students, discussing Hitler, Churchill, and the conflict’s global reach. Back in the village, entire communities gathered at the local church every afternoon to pray for an Allied victory, reciting the collective chant “Down with Hitler.”
Auntie Pearly’s lifelong calling to nursing emerged during a childhood trip to the village clinic for a vaccination. As she watched the nurse calmly care for patients, she knew immediately that she wanted to dedicate her life to helping others — a dream she would hold close through decades of setbacks. When she left school at 15, Teacher Didier helped her submit an application to a local hospital, but she never received a response. Her mother, resigned to the barriers facing poor rural girls, was not surprised. Refusing to accept her fate, Auntie Pearly moved to Dominica’s capital Roseau to live with relatives, taking a job as a live-in domestic servant that she openly disliked.
A year later, her good character caught the attention of Cissie Caudeiron, a Dominican woman married to a French engineer based in Venezuela. Caudeiron hired Auntie Pearly as a nanny for her five children, and when Caudeiron relocated to Venezuela permanently, she left the young nanny to care for the children in her absence. When the order came to bring the children to Venezuela, 20-something Auntie Pearly set off alone on a multi-leg sea journey, first to Grenada, then to Trinidad. The ship’s captain was stunned by her youth, exclaiming, “But you are only a child!”
Even as she cared for Caudeiron’s children through years of international relocation, first in Venezuela and later in Trinidad, Auntie Pearly never abandoned her dream of nursing. Multiple applications were met with silence, rejection rooted in her humble origins. In Venezuela, she even survived being caught in the crossfire of the national revolution; soldiers and rebels paused their fighting to let the stranger pass, a small moment of grace amid chaos that she would remember for the rest of her life. While in Trinidad, she joined the local church choir, where her soaring voice and command of Latin hymns won her widespread admiration.
Decades after she first dreamed of becoming a nurse, Auntie Pearly finally got her chance. After stints working in Dominica and Curaçao, she moved to England to join her sister, who worked at a London hospital. Now in her early 40s, she feared she was too old to train, but a doctor she met through her sister encouraged her, telling her: “Once you have life and are prepared to learn, nothing is impossible.” Auntie Pearly threw herself into studying anatomy and physiology alongside students half her age, passed every exam, and officially qualified as a registered nurse in England.
Her career was a testament to her warmth and devotion: patients affectionately called her “Mama,” explaining to the hospital matron that she was far more than a nurse — she was a caring maternal figure to all who relied on her. To supplement her modest nursing salary, she took extra shifts through a medical agency on her days off, saving every extra penny to buy a home back in Dominica and support her parents and siblings back home. A devout Catholic, she relied on her faith through every challenge, often praying during her daily commute through London, calling God her constant protector.
Today, at 102, Auntie Pearly remains sharp, lucid, and in good health, with a sharp sense of humor and a memory that retains every detail of her 10 decades of life. She still maintains her independence, cooking her own meals, cleaning her own catch of fish, making her favorite cocoa tea every morning, and tending to her own household. She loves talking about her nursing career, and delights in conversing in fluent Spanish with visiting doctors, a skill she picked up during her years in Venezuela. Though she regrets no longer being able to walk the local streets, and finds modern noise like loud motorbikes and music jarring, her attitude remains positive and warm.
Auntie Pearly’s remarkable life story is now being captured in a biography written by author Mary Isidore, giving audiences the chance to learn more about her extraordinary journey. She is not the only centenarian from Dominica celebrating a milestone birthday this June: Mathew St. Rose of Kings Hill turned 100 on June 16, Margaret Andre of Goodwill marked her 101st birthday on June 12, and Lucille Pascal of Grand Fond celebrated her 100th birthday on June 22.
-
Three-year-old rescued and taken to hospital six days after Venezuela quake
A remarkable story of survival has emerged from the wreckage of a recent earthquake in Venezuela, where rescue teams have pulled a three-year-old child alive from collapsed structures six full days after the seismic event struck. The young survivor was immediately airlifted by emergency responders to a nearby medical facility for urgent assessment and treatment, leaving both rescue workers and the local community stunned by the extraordinary outcome.
The earthquake, which hit the South American nation recently, caused widespread destruction across affected regions, toppling buildings, displacing hundreds of residents and cutting off critical infrastructure access for first responders. For six straight days, search and rescue teams worked around the clock, sifting through tons of concrete and debris in the hopes of finding any remaining survivors trapped beneath the ruins—an effort that many thought would only yield recovery of victims, not living people.
Local health officials have not yet released detailed information about the child’s condition, but initial reports from emergency crews confirm the toddler was responsive when found, marking one of the most uplifting moments in the aftermath of the natural disaster. Rescue team leaders have praised the tenacity of their crews, who refused to abandon the search even as the window for finding surviving survivors narrowed dramatically after the first 72 hours, the typical critical period for earthquake rescue operations.
The international disaster response community has been monitoring the situation in Venezuela closely, with multiple organizations offering logistical support and additional resources to assist with search, rescue and recovery efforts. This unexpected miracle has given a glimmer of hope to a nation grappling with the aftermath of the quake, which has already claimed an untold number of lives and left many more homeless.
-
Graduates challenged to dream big
Ninety graduating students of Barbados’ West Terrace Primary School stepped across the graduation stage at the Hilton Barbados Resort Tuesday, marking the end of their primary education and the start of a new academic journey as they prepare to enter secondary school. Addressing the ceremony, Minister of Technological and Vocational Training Sandra Husbands, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for St James South, delivered a call for graduates to welcome change amid a rapidly shifting global landscape reshaped by technological advancement.
Husbands explained that Barbados’ ongoing national education transformation initiative is purpose-built to equip young learners with the full range of skills required to thrive in a future defined by technological innovation, constant adaptation, and lifelong learning. “As a government, as a nation, as educators and caregivers, our core responsibility is to prepare you for that vastly different world that awaits,” she told the crowd of graduates, families and educators. “We stand with you, we work alongside you, and we remain fully committed to helping you succeed no matter what challenges come your way.”
Acknowledging that the transition from primary to secondary education brings growing pains for students, Husbands also noted the sweeping changes the education overhaul has demanded from the nation’s teachers. Educators have had to entirely reimagine their instructional approaches, she said, updating how they deliver content, adopting new methodologies for math instruction, and redesigning learning experiences to foster student growth — all while making considerable personal and professional sacrifices to implement these changes.
Moving beyond traditional academic priorities, Husbands emphasized that modern education must center the unique individual strengths every child brings to the classroom. “We recognize that every child is gifted, but not in the same way. Each of you carries your own distinct set of talents to carry into the future: some are born leaders, some are creative innovators, some excel in athletics, some are visionary artists, skilled builders, talented musicians, compassionate caregivers, compelling communicators, sharp problem-solvers, or driven entrepreneurs,” she said.
She reassured graduates that the reformed education system is structured to create pathways to success for every learner, even for talents that have not yet been identified. “Some of your gifts may still be undiscovered, and we are committed to building customized pathways to nurture those abilities too. When we reshape the education system to meet the needs of every child, every child gets the chance to succeed,” she added.
Looking forward to the evolving job market, Husbands noted that employers are increasingly prioritizing practical soft skills alongside traditional academic credentials. “As technology evolves and industries transform, employers are seeking candidates who can think critically, communicate clearly, collaborate effectively, innovate quickly, and adapt to change. Future success will not rely only on what you know — it will depend on how well you can apply that knowledge in real-world contexts,” she explained.
This shift in priorities is why the government is expanding opportunities for students to build practical skills, technical expertise, creative talent, leadership capacity, and entrepreneurial thinking, Husbands said. The end goal is simple: to ensure every student leaves school with meaningful, tangible options for their future.
The minister also called on parents to adapt their own approaches to support their children through the transition to secondary school, noting that the next academic stage requires a new model of parental engagement. The Ministry of Education Transformation will be rolling out accessible parenting education resources to help caregivers navigate this shift, she said, equipping them to support their children’s growing independence. “Teenage learners moving toward independence will ask more questions, challenge existing ideas, seek greater responsibility, and occasionally make mistakes. This new phase requires a broader, more flexible set of parenting skills,” she added.
West Terrace Primary School Principal Charmain Jones opened the ceremony with an overview of the school’s recent achievements, highlighting the institution’s focus on strengthening core literacy and numeracy skills while integrating technology into everyday classroom instruction. “Our core goal was to build strong reading proficiency and deepen mathematical understanding, with a target of outperforming the national average in both subjects,” Jones explained. “We also prioritized embedding educational technology across all subjects to enhance both teaching and learning.”
Jones also shared the school’s strong performance on the national Common Entrance exam, noting that every graduating student had put forward their best effort. The school’s top overall performer was Riley Layne, who scored 88% in English and 99% in mathematics, while Tiago Renwick earned the highest score in English. The vast majority of students posted strong results in both core subjects: most English scores fell between 70 and 80 percent, demonstrating solid reading comprehension and written expression skills. Of the 91 graduating students, more than 81% — or 74 students — earned an A or B grade on their English essay assessment.
Like Husbands, Jones urged parents to maintain intentional engagement as their children enter secondary school, advising them to balance support with space for growth. “Give your children room to develop, but stay connected. Secondary school brings greater independence, so let your child take on new responsibilities while checking in regularly on how they are adjusting,” she said. “Don’t only focus on grades — watch for signs of stress. Secondary school brings emotional as well as academic challenges, so pay attention to changes in mood, sleep or appetite, not just report cards.”
Featured speaker Pastor John Yarde challenged graduates to pursue their ambitions with intentional planning and purpose. Using Disney’s *The Lion King* as the framework for his address, Yarde urged students to hold fast to their core values as they enter the new environment of secondary school, warning that they will encounter a wide range of outside influences that could pull them away from their goals and personal beliefs. “I challenge you to dream big, but also to plan big,” he told the graduates. “Write your dreams down, and share them with the trusted people in your life who can support you.”
-
Sperm Whale Reserve Board launches consultations with watersports operators in Dominica to advance whale reserve inititiative
The Caribbean island nation of Dominica has reached a critical early milestone in the development of its groundbreaking, world-first sperm whale conservation reserve, as the newly appointed governing board for the project has launched its first round of engagement with key local industry stakeholders.
On June 10, 2026, the 10-member Sperm Whale Reserve Board gathered with watersports and whale watching operators at the St. Alphonsus Parish Hall in Goodwill, marking the board’s first public consultation since it was formally established under the 2025 Sperm Whale Reserve Act. The gathering allowed board members to introduce their roles, share updates on the reserve’s development timeline, and lay out the core mandate and long-term objectives that will guide the body’s work.
As the governing body tasked with strategic oversight of the unique protected area, the board draws representation from across public and private sectors to ensure diverse perspectives shape management of the reserve. Its membership includes delegates from multiple government ministries, the Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority, the Dominica Watersports Association, two local fishermen’s cooperatives, a national scientific research institution, and the country’s Maritime Unit, creating a cross-sector governance framework designed to balance competing priorities for marine use.
Lisa Valmond, chair of the Sperm Whale Reserve Board and Permanent Secretary in Dominica’s Ministry of Environment, opened the consultation by emphasizing the non-negotiable value of collaborative governance for the initiative. Valmond stressed that long-term conservation success depends on centering the needs and input of local stakeholders whose livelihoods are inherently tied to the health of the island’s marine ecosystems.
Jullan Defoe, Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, echoed that sentiment during his address to the gathering, noting that inclusive collaboration is the foundation of the reserve’s long-term viability. “The success of the Sperm Whale Reserve depends on meaningful collaboration with those who interact with our marine resources daily,” Defoe told attendees. “Through continued engagement and shared responsibility, we can protect this globally significant population of sperm whales while supporting sustainable economic opportunities for present and future generations.”
The reserve itself marks a historic milestone in global marine conservation: it is the first protected area in the world created specifically for the long-term protection of sperm whales and their critical deep-water habitat off Dominica’s coast. The board’s core priorities span far beyond species protection, integrating conservation with sustainable economic development aligned with Dominica’s broader blue and green economy strategy. Key mandates include conserving the island’s resident sperm whale population and their habitat, advancing science-backed sustainable marine resource management, supporting ongoing research and population monitoring, developing standards for responsible whale watching and marine tourism, expanding public outreach on marine conservation, strengthening cross-stakeholder cooperation, and building a resilient, inclusive blue economy that benefits local communities.
Industry representatives in attendance at the June 10 consultation responded positively to the board’s outreach. Delegates from the Dominica Watersports Association and local whale watching operators welcomed the opportunity for direct, ongoing dialogue with the reserve’s governing body, and reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative stewardship that positions Dominica as a global benchmark for responsible marine conservation.
This first consultation is the opening of a series of ongoing engagement sessions planned by the board, designed to ensure that local stakeholders, community members, researchers, and conservation partners all have a voice in shaping the reserve’s management framework. Government officials frame the initiative as a landmark model that proves it is possible to balance rigorous species protection with inclusive, sustainable economic growth. Through intentional collaborative governance, the reserve is set to not only safeguard one of Dominica’s most iconic and ecologically valuable marine species, but also cement the island’s global reputation as a leader in innovative, community-centered marine conservation that will benefit generations to come.
-
QEH to introduce patient app, portal under digital health rollout
One of the Caribbean’s leading public healthcare facilities, Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), is accelerating its sweeping digital transformation initiative — a core component of its 2028 strategic plan — that will soon give patients direct digital access to their own medical records via a custom-built patient portal and cross-platform mobile application, a senior hospital official has confirmed.
Dr. Gerry Warner, Acting Director of Support Services, who heads the QEH’s digital overhaul project, revealed the details during an appearance on the hospital’s own QEH Pulse Radio Show, laying out the long-term goals and current progress of the shift from decades of paper-reliant operations to a fully integrated digital health system.
For years, QEH has relied heavily on physical paper records, which are stored across scattered departmental locations. When clinical staff need to reference a patient’s history, they often have to request manual retrieval of files — a workflow that has repeatedly created unnecessary delays in patient care, Warner explained. To address this systemic inefficiency, the hospital has partnered with Abergower, a UK-based international document digitization and information management firm headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, which operates a major regional hub in the area.
To date, the partnership has already converted more than 90,000 paper records, totalling several million pages, into searchable, secure PDF formats. The project is prioritizing records from patients treated within the last two years, with plans to scan older historical records as capacity allows, according to Warner. Once the full digitization process is complete, all clinical staff will be able to pull up a patient’s complete medical history in seconds, eliminating the delays caused by manual file retrieval.
The transformation is being rolled out in staggered phases, starting with the hospital’s health and wellness clinic, pharmacy and medical records departments, as the facility transitions to the new Universal Health Information System. Warner acknowledged that the shift has caused temporary teething issues, including minor delays in pharmacy and medical records services during the transition period. He emphasized, however, that extensive preparation preceded the system’s launch: training for “super users” — frontline staff selected to test and refine the system — began months before rollout, and the platform was customized based on input from these super users about department-specific workflows. Subsequent training for all other staff has been completed, with on-site technical support and additional retraining available throughout the rollout to address any ongoing issues.
To accommodate patients who are accustomed to paper records and may need support adapting to digital tools, the hospital will offer targeted training and a gradual transition period, Warner noted. “There are some people who like the comfort of paper, but we are trying to move away from that further as part of our 2025-2028 ICT strategy. We are trying to accommodate patients where they are at, and there will be a period of training for those who need help acclimatizing to the new digital system,” he said.
A key upcoming consumer-facing feature of the new system will be the patient app and portal, which will put direct control of health information into patients’ hands, Warner confirmed. The mobile app will be available for both Android and Apple iOS devices, while the web-based patient portal will be accessible from any computer or mobile browser. Through these tools, patients will be able to view their full medical records, check upcoming appointment schedules, access prescription details, receive automated appointment reminders, and even input their own personal at-home health readings directly into the system, giving them greater engagement and autonomy over their own care.
The digital transformation project marks one of the most significant overhauls of QEH’s administrative and clinical operations in recent history, with the goal of improving care efficiency, reducing medical errors caused by missing paper records, and expanding patient access to health services.
-
Tamis Modeste crowned Soufriere Carnival Queen
On a vibrant Saturday, June 27, the stands of Soufriere Mini Stadium buzzed with electric energy as hundreds of attendees – from multi-generational local families to high-ranking dignitaries, event sponsors, and loyal community supporters – gathered to kick off this year’s Lucian Carnival celebrations. The gathering centered on honoring Saint Lucia’s rich cultural heritage, the creative talent of its young people, and the unifying communal spirit that has defined the Carnival tradition for decades.
The highlight of the opening festivities was the annual Miss Soufriere Carnival pageant, which brought five dynamic, carefully selected delegates to the stage to compete for the coveted annual crown. Each contestant represented a leading local establishment that had thrown its support behind the event: Triana Busette stood as Miss Sugar Beach (a property of the upscale Viceroy Resort), Ella Albert represented Miss MBC/Real FM, Lovely Son carried the banner for Miss B&B Money Savers, Tamis Modeste competed as Miss Saint Lucia Daily Post, and Hailey Reid represented Miss Soufriere Experiences. Across every segment of the competition, the five contestants delivered poised, memorable performances that held the packed audience’s attention from the opening introduction to the final announcement of results.
When the judges’ scores were tallied, Tamis Modeste emerged as the clear standout, earning the official title of Soufriere Carnival Queen 2026. Lovely Son secured the position of first runner-up, while Triana Busette took home second runner-up honors. While the full official prize package will be awarded during the Carnival’s closing ceremony later this summer, all contestants received recognition for their achievements on the day of the pageant, along with gift certificates donated by a network of generous local small businesses based in Soufriere.
Modeste dominated multiple special award categories, taking home honors for Miss Photogenic, People’s Choice, Best Evening Wear, Best Interview, and one of two Best Costume awards. Busette was recognized with the Miss Congeniality title for her warm rapport with fellow contestants and audience members. Son also earned multiple accolades, including Best Ambassadorial Address, Best Swimwear, and the second Best Costume award, alongside recognition for the most outstanding talent performance.
The 2026 Soufriere Carnival is scheduled to conclude over the final weekend of July. The closing activities will open with the traditional early-morning J’ouvert celebration kicking off at 4 a.m. on Sunday, July 26, followed by a vibrant parade of Carnival bands through the town in the afternoon. The annual celebration will wrap up with the popular Last Lap Jump-Up street party on the following day, Monday, July 27.
-
Hotel stalwart Dennis Tull to sell Golden Sands
After more than 40 years shaping Barbados’ local small hotel sector, iconic indigenous hotel owner Dennis Tull is preparing to step away from the industry, with exclusive reports from Barbados TODAY confirming plans to sell his flagship property, the Golden Sands Hotel.
Turning 90 this August, Tull has entered early-stage negotiations with a prospective buyer for the well-established Christ Church venue, located along Maxwell Coast Road. An anonymous close source confirmed that while no deal has been finalized, the long-term plan remains clear: Tull intends to sell the property and formally retire from hospitality.
Tull’s upcoming exit closes out a trailblazing career that began in an unlikely fashion back in 1985. At the time, Tull was operating a successful minibus business when he acquired the Golden Sands property, growing the venue over decades into one of the south coast of Barbados’ most recognizable independent hospitality fixtures.
Beyond his own hotel operation, Tull leaves an enduring legacy as a fierce advocate for locally owned small hospitality businesses. Most notably, he was the founding chairman of Intimate Hotels of Barbados (IHB), a non-profit umbrella organization launched in 2000 to support the island’s small, independently owned boutique hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and villas. The organization was created to deliver critical marketing and operational support that smaller properties could not access on their own.
Renee Coppin, a fellow hotelier and former IHB chairman who collaborated with Tull in the group’s early years, has praised Tull’s work to level the playing field between small indigenous properties and large luxury resort developments.
Coppin described Tull as deeply passionate about both the tourism sector and small local businesses, noting that building up the IHB was a point of immense personal pride for him. “He really had a belief in what he was doing and stood by his convictions in terms of the secretariat. Some pioneering things he did like setting up the marketing fund and working with the government to set up that fund,” Coppin told Barbados TODAY.
Long before collective action for small hoteliers became common, Tull recognized that smaller local properties were not receiving the same marketing exposure and institutional support as the large high-end developments that dominated Barbados’ luxury tourism brand. Coppin confirmed Tull was unafraid to speak up loudly to demand equal treatment for small operators.
His advocacy delivered tangible, systemic change for Barbados’ hospitality sector during the Owen Arthur administration. At the time, government tax and development incentives were almost exclusively reserved for large, international resort operators. Tull successfully lobbied for dedicated concessions for small hotels and villa properties, pushing the government to introduce targeted grants for marketing, bulk purchasing, and operational coordination, including funding for a permanent IHB secretariat to serve small properties.
These efforts ultimately paved the way for the creation of the Small Hotels Investment Fund, which offered concessionary, low-interest financing for small properties to complete renovations and competitive upgrades. Tull served on the fund’s management committee from its launch, through its administration by Enterprise Growth Fund Limited.
Tull’s push for systemic support grew from his own on-the-ground experience as a small hotel owner. He understood firsthand the steep financial barriers that small independent properties faced, when it came to funding upgrades and remaining competitive against larger, better-capitalized resorts. Without targeted support, he warned, many small local venues would be forced out of the market, eroding the diversity of accommodation options that Barbados could offer to international visitors. Today, his work continues to benefit generations of small hoteliers across the island.