Roseau City Council has launched a wide-ranging review of its financial and municipal administrative operations, framing the effort as a targeted push to boost operational efficiency, reinforce public accountability, and shore up the critical revenue stream required to keep core city services running for local residents. As a centerpiece of this broader revenue recovery strategy, the municipal governing body recently announced that it will imminently release a public roster of individual residents and local commercial entities that hold long-outstanding property tax and municipal fee debts. Council officials emphasized in an official statement that the new transparency measure is designed to recoup unpaid funds that form a core part of the budget for high-priority public services across Roseau. “This upcoming publication specifically focuses on individuals and businesses that have carried long-standing unpaid debt obligations to the city,” the statement read. “All revenue recovered through this initiative will go directly toward funding essential community services, from sanitation pickup to sidewalk repairs and storm drain maintenance.” To give defaulters a path to avoid public naming, the council is urging all property owners and business operators with overdue accounts to take proactive action before the official list is published. The administration is encouraging anyone with outstanding balances to reach out to council offices at the earliest opportunity to confirm their account status, pay off what they owe, or negotiate a structured, feasible payment plan that fits their financial circumstances. Under the council’s policy, any individual or business that either pays their full outstanding balance or enters into a formal, binding payment agreement prior to the publication deadline will be removed from consideration and excluded from the public list. “Defaulters that resolve their outstanding accounts or sign a formalized payment plan before the publication date will have their names kept off the public list,” the council confirmed in its statement. For residents or business owners with questions about their existing account balances, payment processes, or how to set up a settlement arrangement, the council advises visiting its administrative offices in person or reaching out directly to the municipal administration for one-on-one support.
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Who Funds Belize’s Politics? Here’s a Warning on Political Financing
Nearly two years from now, a groundbreaking policy analysis from one of Belize’s leading independent research institutions has sounded a loud alarm over the systemic risks posed by the nation’s incomplete framework for regulating political money. The Belize Policy Research Institute (BELPRI) has released its latest assessment, *Money in Belizean Politics: Breaking the Regulation Gap*, which makes clear that Belize stands out among the global community as one of a small handful of nations without full, binding legislation to oversee the operations of political parties and the funding of their election campaigns.
In an official presentation of the report’s findings, BELPRI Executive Director Dr. Dylan Vernon laid out the core risks of the status quo: without formal regulation of private political donations, the entire political system is left vulnerable to infiltration by illegal interests. He explained that unvetted donations can trace their origins to transnational or domestic criminal activity, and that sitting politicians face constant temptation to bend rules to divert public assets and government services to bolster their reelection efforts through off-book campaign support.
Beyond the risks of private criminal donations, Dr. Vernon highlighted a less discussed but fast-growing channel for unintended political influence: the misuse of existing public constituency spending. Though Belize does not operate an official public campaign financing system, government-controlled development funds already play an outsize role in shaping electoral outcomes through discretionary spending allocations. Currently, two major pots of public money — the longstanding constituency support budget and the newer $6.2 million Constituency Development Fund — are split between the nation’s 31 elected area representatives. Dr. Vernon emphasized that the core concern is not whether these community development funds serve a necessary public purpose, but rather the lack of clear rules governing who controls allocations, how funding decisions are made, and what this discretionary power means for unequal political influence across parties and constituencies.
To address these gaps, BELPRI is calling on Belize’s legislative bodies to move forward with urgent, comprehensive reform. The institute’s top recommendations include introducing mandatory transparency requirements for all political donations, enacting the nation’s first full campaign finance legislation, and building stronger accountability mechanisms to close off opportunities for corruption and undue influence in the country’s electoral process.
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Americas call for science-based food trade rules amid EU pesticide proposal concerns
Senior agricultural leaders from across the Americas have launched a coordinated pushback against a pending European Union regulation targeting pesticide residue limits in imported crops, warning the draft rule risks erecting unjustified trade barriers that could endanger global food stability and disproportionately harm small-scale producers.
The unified condemnation came out of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Executive Committee’s annual gathering in San José, Costa Rica, where cabinet-level agriculture ministers and senior government officials voted unanimously to approve a formal resolution demanding all global agri-food trade rules adhere to three core principles: transparency, grounding in robust scientific evidence, and alignment with established international standards. The resolution, IICA confirmed in an official press statement following the meeting, will be transmitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by committee chair Roberto Linares, who also serves as Panama’s Minister of Agricultural Development.
Delegates used the gathering to stress that if enacted in its current form, the EU’s proposed maximum residue limits (MRLs) regulation for crop protection products will function as an effective non-tariff barrier to agricultural imports from the Western Hemisphere. The resolution reaffirmed all participating nations’ unwavering support for the WTO’s rules-based multilateral trading system, which has served as the foundation of predictable global food commerce for decades.
In a breakdown of the regulation’s potential impacts, IICA outlined that exporters across the hemisphere would be forced to overhaul longstanding, science-based pest management protocols to meet the EU’s new requirements. Smallholder farmers, the institute warned, would shoulder the heaviest burden, as they lack the financial and technical resources to quickly adapt their production practices to shifting regulatory demands.
A wide range of key export commodities face significant disruption should the rule take effect, including high-value fresh produce such as bananas, citrus fruits, mangoes, pineapples, peppers and tomatoes, as well as major cash crops like coffee, cocoa and sugarcane. Bulk commodities including soybeans, maize, cotton, and even beef exports would also feel negative impacts, according to delegates. For the United States alone, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service calculates that affected products account for more than $5.4 billion in annual exports to the EU.
The conversation was initiated by Paraguay’s delegation, which has long pushed back against non-tariff barriers to hemispheric agricultural exports. Ambassador Julio Duarte Van Humbeck, speaking for Paraguay, noted that “Our country, like many others across the hemisphere, produces food for the world that meets multilateral standards of quality, animal and plant health, and food safety. However, our producers continue to face non-tariff barriers that affect exports. These are justified on environmental, sanitary, and phytosanitary grounds, but in most cases they restrict trade more than necessary and are not based on science.”
He added that the growing trend of prioritizing political expediency over established scientific consensus in trade regulation is deeply alarming: “It is concerning that political arguments are prevailing over scientific ones. This undermines predictability, erodes trust, and has the potential to negatively affect exports from our hemisphere, with serious economic implications.”
Paraguay’s call for a unified response earned broad backing from all participating nations, who agreed that the responsible, science-guided use of pesticides remains an irreplaceable tool for controlling crop diseases and pests, while sustaining the efficient agricultural production needed to feed a growing global population.
Senior U.S. Department of Agriculture official Michelle Bekkering, Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, confirmed Washington’s full backing of the resolution, emphasizing that the opposition is not an attempt at confrontation, but a defense of farming households across the hemisphere. “If our farmers are required to adapt to standards that lack scientific justification, they will face higher costs and greater uncertainty. This is not an abstract debate,” Bekkering said.
Mexico also joined the chorus of criticism, with Santiago Ruy Sánchez de Orellana, international affairs coordinator for Mexico’s Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development, noting that “We recognize the European Union’s right to update its phytosanitary regulatory framework, provided that it is based on scientific evidence.”
Brazil’s Vice Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Cleber Soares echoed that position, stressing that American nations have developed their own functional regulatory systems that deserve global respect. “It is crucial that any measure be based on evidence, as we stated at the recent CAS meeting in Bolivia,” Soares said.
Canada also shared the widespread concern, with Aleksandar Jotanovic of Canada’s Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food explaining that “Like many of IICA’s Member States, we are suppliers of food to the EU and share these concerns. This regulation could have undesirable effects not only on trade, but also on food security and on producers’ adoption of agricultural innovations. Canada appreciates IICA’s efforts to build consensus around rules that are consistent with WTO agreements and the Codex.”
The IICA meeting’s discussion builds on recent unified pushback from the Southern Agricultural Council (CAS), a bloc of South American nations including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. That group previously issued a warning that the proposed EU measures would reduce predictability in global food trade and weaken the entire multilateral trading system. IICA acts as the technical secretariat for the CAS.
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Ambassador Dwight Gardiner Concludes Term as ISA Assembly President
After one year at the helm of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Assembly’s 30th Session, His Excellency Dwight C.R. Gardiner of Antigua and Barbuda has formally concluded his tenure, with global maritime stakeholders gathering in Kingston, Jamaica this week to honor his transformative leadership during a critical juncture for international ocean governance.
Gardiner’s presidency carries unique weight for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Caribbean nations, regions whose social identities, economic stability, and community livelihoods are inextricably tied to the health and sustainable management of the world’s oceans. His election to the top post of the ISA Assembly — the body’s highest decision-making authority — represented a profound vote of confidence from global member states in Caribbean leadership, and highlighted the outsized, enduring contribution SIDS make to shaping equitable ocean governance frameworks worldwide.
Throughout his 2025-2026 term, Ambassador Gardiner steered Assembly proceedings with a consistent commitment to professionalism, impartiality, and cross-stakeholder collaboration. He cultivated open, constructive dialogue between member states on high-stakes global ocean issues, leaning into a calm, inclusive leadership style that built consensus while upholding the core principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Under his guidance, all deliberations remained transparent, respectful, and centered on the shared goal of responsible international seabed management.
For SIDS and developing coastal nations, the ISA’s mandate is uniquely critical: as the global custodian of mineral resources located in international seabed areas, the organization is tasked with ensuring all activities in these regions deliver shared benefits to all humanity while protecting fragile marine ecosystems. For these vulnerable states, equitable decision-making participation, targeted capacity-building, fair benefit-sharing, and effective ocean stewardship are non-negotiable foundations for sustainable development and building a resilient blue economy that supports current and future generations.
During yesterday’s formal handover ceremony hosted in Kingston, ISA Secretary-General led tributes to Gardiner’s exceptional year of service, praising his leadership as a cornerstone of progress for the authority. “President Gardiner has led the Assembly with integrity, wisdom, and unwavering dedication. His steady leadership, thoughtful guidance, and commitment to fostering mutual understanding among Member States have strengthened the work of the Assembly and the Authority as a whole. His presidency has also demonstrated the valuable leadership that Small Island Developing States continue to bring to global ocean governance. On behalf of the Secretariat, I extend my sincere gratitude and wish him every success in his future endeavors.”
The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) also issued a statement recognizing Gardiner’s contributions, highlighting his deep commitment to multilateral cooperation and his work advancing productive international dialogue on cross-cutting ocean affairs.
Delegations from every regional grouping of ISA member states joined the collective recognition of Gardiner’s exemplary stewardship. Speakers commended his patience, sharp diplomatic skill, and ability to guide complex, often contentious discussions with steady composure and respect for all perspectives, ensuring that every member state — regardless of size or economic power — had the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the Assembly’s work over the past year.
In remarks marking the end of his term, Gardiner expressed gratitude to member states, the ISA Secretariat, and his fellow Bureau members for their collective trust and shared commitment to advancing the organization’s core mandate.
His tenure closes a pivotal chapter in the ISA’s history, defined by an unwavering dedication to effective, inclusive multilateralism. Gardiner leaves a lasting legacy for the Assembly that reinforces the critical role of Caribbean leadership in global governance frameworks.
He will be succeeded by His Excellency Oliver Whitehead of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, who previously served as Vice-President for the 30th Session and will take office as President for the 31st Session.
Beyond his work at the ISA, Gardiner serves as Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the IMO. He is currently leading his twin-island nation’s campaign for election to Category C of the IMO Council, with votes scheduled for December 2027. The campaign is part of Antigua and Barbuda’s broader national strategy to expand its engagement in global ocean governance at a time when ocean sustainability faces growing, unprecedented threats.
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Barnett urges stronger, technology-driven tax systems to support CARICOM’s future
Against a backdrop of shrinking and volatile international development aid, the top official of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has called on regional tax administrations to step into a central role in building stronger, more economically resilient nations across the Caribbean.
CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett delivered this call to action during the opening session of the Caribbean Organisation of Tax Administrators (COTA) 27th General Assembly and Technical Conference, which kicked off Monday in Georgetown, Guyana. The five-day gathering, which brings together tax policy leaders from across the region, centers on the official theme: “Future-Ready CARICOM Tax Administration: Smart, Data-Driven and AI-Enabled for Sustainable Revenue.”
Before turning to the conference agenda, Barnett opened her address by offering formal condolences to the government and people of Guyana in the wake of the M.V. Barima disaster, affirming that the entire CARICOM bloc stands in solidarity with all those impacted by the tragedy.
Barnett framed the conference as a pivotal gathering for the region, coming at a moment when CARICOM heads of government have advanced a sweeping slate of shared regional priorities. These priorities include the recent admission of Martinique and French Guiana as Associate Members, deepening integration through the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, expanding the free movement of people across borders, strengthening regional food and energy security, boosting climate disaster resilience, and continuing collective advocacy for comprehensive reform of the global international financial system.
Achieving these ambitious goals, Barnett stressed, hinges on governments having consistent, sufficient financial resources to invest in critical public goods: from transportation and digital infrastructure to healthcare systems, public education, climate adaptation measures, and a range of other essential community services.
“Particularly in this period when international development cooperation is increasingly uncertain, sustainable development, more than ever, depends on more reliable, resilient and home-grown sources of financing long-term growth and prosperity,” Barnett told delegates.
She went on to outline the unique structural pressures facing Caribbean nations that strain public budgets: small open economies that are disproportionately vulnerable to volatile global economic shocks, coupled with the rapidly growing costs of climate change impacts that force governments to divert funds from long-term development to emergency response and recovery.
Barnett also recognized COTA’s 50-plus year legacy of advancing cross-border cooperation, professional training, and knowledge sharing among regional tax agencies, work that has laid the groundwork for modernizing tax systems across the bloc. She emphasized that integrating digital tools, advanced data analytics, and artificial intelligence into tax administration can transform core operations: boosting total tax collection rates, improving customer service for individual and business taxpayers, and catching tax fraud far more efficiently than outdated manual systems. Even so, she acknowledged the growing risks that come with digital transformation, including rising cybersecurity threats and persistent digital divides that can leave smaller jurisdictions at a disadvantage.
In closing, Barnett encouraged conference delegates to use their five days of discussion and collaboration to develop concrete, actionable recommendations that will strengthen public financial governance, increase confidence among global and regional investors, and help build a more competitive, integrated, and sustainable Caribbean Community for future generations.
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Diplomatic, cricketing communities in Ghana join Barbados in honouring Sir Garfield Sobers
Across Accra, Ghana, two distinct communities—international diplomats stationed in the country and Ghana’s cricket fraternity—have united with Barbados to pay tribute to the legendary life and enduring legacy of The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers, following his passing. Tributes have poured in through in-person visits, official diplomatic communications, and handwritten condolence messages from across the globe. To formalize these acts of remembrance, the Barbados High Commission in Accra opened a public Book of Condolence at its chancery on Wednesday, July 22, and the book will remain available for signing until the day of Sir Garfield’s State Funeral, scheduled for Wednesday, July 29.
In the first wave of tributes, a roster of senior diplomatic leaders visited the commission to add their signatures to the condolence book. Attendees included H.E. Surinder Bhagat, India’s High Commissioner to Ghana; H.E. Kufa Edward Chinoza, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador; H.E. Daniel Mahongo of Zambia; H.E. Rosemary Mbabazi of Rwanda; H.E. Andrei Ordash, Ambassador of the Russian Federation; and H.E. Rosa Liliana Gómez Cárdenas de Weston, Ambassador of Peru. They were joined by lower-ranking diplomatic representatives, including Mr. Emanuel Chitende, First Secretary at the Angolan Embassy, and Mr. Dominic Atsou Hemadzo, who signed on behalf of the Embassy of the State of Palestine.
Beyond in-person visits, the high commission has received formal diplomatic Notes Verbales conveying condolences from the Embassy of Spain and the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See. Written condolence messages have also arrived from heads of mission and diplomatic representatives spanning five continents: Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Nations that have shared messages of sympathy include Liberia, France, Algeria, Suriname, Cuba, Kenya, Canada, Angola, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Mozambique, Namibia, Malaysia, South Sudan, Egypt, Hungary, and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic of Western Sahara.
Separately, Ghana’s cricket community held its own tribute at Achimota, the historic home of cricket in the country. While Ghana’s national Under-19 cricket team played a practice match against the local Achimota Cricket Club, leadership and members of the Ghana Cricket Association gathered to sign the condolence book. Key figures in attendance included Association President Mr. Emmanuel O. Asare, Treasurer Ms. Angela Allotey, Organising Committee Head Mr. Nii Okai Evans, and the head coach of Ghana’s senior men’s national cricket team.
Ms. Allotey emphasized that Sir Garfield’s contributions to global cricket will continue to serve as a source of inspiration for upcoming players across the African continent. For his part, Mr. Evans shared warm personal recollections of his meetings with Sir Garfield over several years in both England and Atlanta, United States, noting that those conversations left an indelible mark on his own career and love for the sport.
In closing, the Barbados High Commission issued a statement of sincere gratitude to all those who took time to visit the mission, sign the condolence book, or send messages of sympathy. Officials noted that the widespread outpouring of respect from across the world reflects the universal acclaim and esteem in which Sir Garfield was held, confirming that his impact stretched far beyond the borders of Barbados and the boundaries of the cricket pitch.
(Photo credits: All photographs contributed by attendees and the Barbados High Commission)
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Cop Pleads Guilty to Four Counts of Sex With a Minor
A 29-year-old serving Belize Police Constable, Dexter Diego, has been taken into custody to await sentencing after entering guilty pleas to four separate charges of unlawful sexual intercourse with an underage victim. Court documents confirm the victim was just 13 years old when the first abuse occurred, and had turned 14 by the time the three subsequent offenses were committed. Diego’s guilty plea was formally submitted before High Court Justice Nigel Pilgrim on a Monday, with the entire hearing concluding in under an hour, and the defendant represented by defense attorney Hurl Hamilton. Per the agreed statement of facts presented to the court, Diego was a trusted family friend of the victim. He first formed a connection with the minor in 2022, and over roughly 10 months, the pair developed a hidden relationship that the victim’s mother had no knowledge of. All of the offenses took place while Diego was actively employed in his role as a police constable, a position that put him in a position of public trust. The first abusive incident occurred sometime between December 31, 2022 and February 1, 2023, when the victim was working as a babysitter for family members. The next two offenses followed between February and March 2023, while the fourth and final charge dates back to March 2026, when the offense was committed while Diego was wearing his official police uniform. Justice Pilgrim has opted to defer the sentencing hearing until September 8, 2026, and has ordered three key pre-sentencing reports to inform his ruling: a full Prison Report to assess correctional placement considerations, a Social Inquiry Report to contextualize the offense and the defendant’s background, and a Victim Impact Statement to document the harm inflicted on the underage victim.
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Kersten stelt studiebeurzen van USD 50.000 beschikbaar voor AdeKUS-studenten
A Suriname-based enterprise, the Kersten Group of Companies, is stepping up to expand access to higher education with a landmark $50,000 investment in a new scholarship initiative for students at Anton de Kom University of Suriname (AdeKUS). Named the Kersten Study Scholarship, the program is designed to remove financial barriers for high-potential students who would otherwise be unable to start or complete their university degrees due to limited financial means or challenging personal circumstances.
Launched in formal partnership between Kersten Group and AdeKUS, the scholarship prioritizes students who can demonstrate strong academic ability and clear motivation to succeed, but require external financial support to advance their studies. University board chair Virginia Asin-Oostburg and Kersten Group CEO Vishal Jadnanansing marked the launch with an official signing ceremony to formalize the collaboration, captured in an official event photograph.
Company leaders framed the timing of the initiative as particularly strategic, as Suriname enters a period of major economic transformation anchored by the rapid expansion of the nation’s oil and gas sectors. For the country to fully capitalize on the emerging economic opportunities that will unfold over the coming decade, Kersten Group argues that intentional investment in education and local talent development is non-negotiable. Without investing in people, the benefits of new economic growth cannot be equitably shared across Surinamese communities.
“Through the Kersten Study Scholarship, we are not only investing in individual students — we are investing in the future of Suriname,” Jadnanansing shared during the signing ceremony. He emphasized that the private sector carries a core responsibility to create pathways for young, talented people to thrive. “When we invest in education today, we are building the professionals, innovators, and leaders that Suriname will need tomorrow,” he added.
For Kersten Group, the scholarship program is a core component of the company’s broader corporate social responsibility strategy. The firm holds that sustainable business practice extends far beyond generating profit and economic growth; it requires active investment in the long-term development of the local community. Through this partnership, both Kersten Group and AdeKUS aim to build a more inclusive education ecosystem where talent can flourish regardless of a student’s socioeconomic background.
Students interested in applying for the scholarship can reach out for program-specific inquiries to the Faculty of Medical Sciences at anushka.jhinnoe@uvs.edu or the Faculty of Technological Sciences at denise.sumter@uvs.edu. General questions about the initiative can be directed to the Kersten Group via email at donation@kersten.sr.
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“Something May Have Gone Awry”: Child Found Abandoned in Belize City
On a Sunday night in late July 2026, a routine emergency response to a small residential fire in Belize City led local police to uncover a heartbreaking case of child abandonment on Bagdad Street. What began as a call to extinguish a blaze in a neighborhood stairwell ended with a young child placed in the protective care of Belize’s Human Services department, after the fire incident inadvertently exposed the child’s unacknowledged presence in the area.
Senior Superintendent Stacy Smith detailed the sequence of unexpected discoveries that unfolded after first responders arrived at the scene. As crews worked to put out the flames, a local resident found a discarded birth certificate near the site of the fire. The document bore a name that struck a chord with another woman living in the neighborhood: she recognized it as the first name of a woman who had stopped by her home earlier that same day with a young child in tow.
According to Smith’s account, the unnamed mother had asked the local resident for a small favor during her visit: to help her call a taxi while she attended to an urgent matter. While the pair waited for the ride to arrive, the child drifted off to sleep, and the mother asked to leave the sleeping toddler inside the resident’s home temporarily. She left the property to handle her business, and never came back for her child.
“It was only when that incident happened that she [the local resident] realised that something may have gone awry,” Smith explained to reporters. Once authorities connected the dots between the found birth certificate and the unclaimed child, they launched an immediate investigation to track down the mother. Investigators have since successfully located the woman, though no formal charges or public statements have been released from her side as of yet.
Moving forward, Smith noted that officials will conduct a formal welfare consultation and assessment to unpack the circumstances that led the mother to leave her child behind. “We need to see what exactly went wrong that caused the mother to take that course of action that she took,” Smith added. Authorities have not yet released details on the cause of the stairwell fire that sparked the discovery, but have confirmed that no individuals suffered injuries in the blaze.
The story has circulated widely across social media since news broke, drawing an outpouring of sympathy from online users. Many commentators have pushed back against immediate judgment of the mother, suggesting she may have faced overwhelming crisis that left her with no other perceived options. One social media user wrote, “She might be having a meltdown and struggling to deal with everything life keeps throwing her way.”
As the investigation continues, child welfare officials are focused on ensuring the abandoned child receives consistent care and support while authorities work to resolve the case long-term.
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Registration Still Open for Blue Economy 101 Webinar
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda – July 28, 2026 – With less than 24 hours remaining until the event kicks off, the Antigua and Barbuda Department of the Blue Economy has issued a final public reminder that registration is still open for its groundbreaking first-ever Blue Economy 101 Webinar.
Slated to run from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time on July 29, the entirely free virtual event will be hosted on the Microsoft Teams platform, making it accessible to participants across the country and beyond regardless of location. Designed as an introductory educational resource, the webinar welcomes a broad audience spanning high school and university students, secondary and post-secondary educators, government policymakers, local ocean-focused entrepreneurs, environmental conservation advocates, and any member of the public curious about the potential of the nation’s ocean resources.
Organizers built the session’s curriculum around the core goal of deepening public understanding of the multifaceted role the ocean plays in Antigua and Barbuda’s national development. Attendees will leave the webinar with clear insights into how healthy marine ecosystems underpin local job creation, support community livelihoods, drive innovation in marine sectors, advance ocean conservation goals, and lay the groundwork for long-term equitable sustainable development across the twin-island nation.
While registration for the event carries no cost, the Department has emphasized that available virtual spots are limited due to platform capacity constraints. Interested participants are urged to complete their registration as soon as possible to reserve their spot before the event fills up. Registration can be completed in full online via the official form at: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/LfALtH4EAS?origin=lprLink.
This inaugural webinar forms a core part of the Department’s ongoing national outreach strategy, which operates under the unifying slogan “Our Ocean. Our Future. Our Prosperity.” The initiative is focused on raising widespread public awareness of the blue economy, and highlighting its critical role in building a resilient, sustainable, and economically prosperous future for all residents of Antigua and Barbuda.