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  • COMMENTARY: What Fresh CHOGM Eyes Will See

    COMMENTARY: What Fresh CHOGM Eyes Will See

    As Antigua and Barbuda prepares to welcome the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), local commentator James E. Knight has raised urgent questions about the state of the nation’s public art and memorials, pointing out that long-time residents have grown desensitized to low-quality, disrespectful displays that will stand out starkly to first-time visiting delegates and guests. Knight argues that while it remains unclear whether the local Bureau of Standards holds formal oversight over public monuments, billboards and outdoor artistic displays, it is long past time for local authorities to audit and upgrade prominent works in the capital city of St. John’s ahead of the high-profile international gathering.

    Knight’s first critique targets a garish, poorly executed sculpture on the north bank of Country Pond, which portrays a family participating in Carnival masquerade. The piece, he argues, falls far short of the standard required to showcase Antigua and Barbuda’s rich artistic heritage in sculpting and costume design, coming off as tacky and unrepresentative of local creative excellence.

    A far more consequential misstep, Knight contends, surrounds the memorial bust of V.C. Bird, widely celebrated as the Father of the Nation and Antigua and Barbuda’s first prime minister. More than a decade ago, a well-meaning but misguided parliamentarian ordered the original, critically acclaimed sculptural work altered to have bright, cartoonish paint applied to its surface, transforming the nuanced, powerful portrait into a cutesy, Disney-esque caricature. In addition to defacing the original artistry, Knight notes the plaque beneath the bust uses childish, unprofessional lettering – a flaw that is easily remedied, as local vendors can produce high-quality custom plaques in minutes, even for free for such a high-profile memorial, given that it only requires two short words: “Antigua” on one plaque and “Barbuda” on the second. A simple restoration with paint remover and polishing, Knight says, would bring the original masterpiece back to its proper dignity.

    The most longstanding and serious grievance Knight raises centers on the existing memorial depiction of King Court (also known as Prince Klaas), one of Antigua and Barbuda’s revered national heroes who led a historic slave rebellion. The current portrayal depicts the hero as a small-statured, weak figure with a sullen, unhappy expression, a far cry from the bold, defiant leader who organized one of the most significant acts of resistance against colonial slavery in the region. Knight points out that even infamous European colonial figures in the Caribbean are regularly memorialized with noble, striking portrayals, yet the nation’s own Black liberation hero is reduced to an unimposing, uninspiring figure that fails to honor his legacy. Unlike the quick fixes possible for the V.C. Bird memorial, this error cannot be corrected before CHOGM begins, but Knight calls for a long-term overhaul: a public competition inviting local artists to submit new depictions of King Court that accurately reflect his heritage, age at execution, and legacy, creating a portrait that captures the dignified defiance and sharp strategic leadership that defined his rebellion. The new work, he argues, would serve as a fitting inspiration for future generations, instead of the inaccurate, disrespectful portrayal that stands today.

  • Chief Personnel Officer determines effective dates for public service appointments not Public Service Commission, says Thomas Letang

    Chief Personnel Officer determines effective dates for public service appointments not Public Service Commission, says Thomas Letang

    In a press conference held at the Office of the Prime Minister of Dominica on October 14, 2026, Thomas Letang, General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) and a sitting member of the Public Service Commission, pushed back against growing public speculation that the Commission is at fault for persistent delays in filling vacant public service positions across the island.

    Letang used the briefing to lay out a clear breakdown of the division of responsibilities between the Public Service Commission and the office of the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO), aiming to clear up widespread public misconception around the appointment process. According to Letang, the Public Service Commission does not hold the authority to set or alter the effective start dates for new appointees. Instead, the Commission is legally required to act solely on the recommendations for appointment dates submitted by the CPO, including for roles in the health sector that have recently sparked public concern.

    Addressing specific questions around delays affecting doctors nominated and recommended for appointment by the Ministry of Health, Letang emphasized that the Commission never challenges the effective start dates outlined in the recommendations it receives from the CPO. “When the CPO recommends that an appointment take effect from a particular date, we accept that recommendation without any pushback or questioning,” Letang stated. “If we are told by the CPO that a candidate should start their appointment on the 6th, we process that immediately, no questions asked.”

    Letang went on to stress that assigning blame for appointment delays to the Public Service Commission is misplaced, given that the body has no decision-making power over when new appointments go into effect. He urged the Dominican public to recognize the clear legal and procedural distinction between the roles of the Public Service Commission and the Chief Personnel Officer, noting that ongoing misunderstanding around this separation of duties has fueled unfair criticism of the Commission. “The Commission should not be held responsible for decisions it has no authority to make,” Letang added. “For the public to have confidence in our public service appointment process, everyone must first understand how that process actually works.”

  • Local content is meetbaar, local benefit is merkbaar

    Local content is meetbaar, local benefit is merkbaar

    Suriname is on the cusp of a transformative oil and gas boom, with billions of dollars in planned investment set to reshape the national economy. But as the country prepares to welcome these large-scale projects, one critical question remains unanswered: how much of this new wealth will actually stay in Suriname, and how will all Surinamese people, not just a select few, improve their lives from this natural resource windfall?

    French energy major TotalEnergies has already announced plans to invest approximately $10.5 billion in its GranMorgu project, with first oil production targeted for 2028. Current projections estimate that around $1 to $1.5 billion of this investment will be spent locally, and the project is expected to create more than 6,000 local jobs. These are promising figures on paper, but it is important to remember that they are just projections – not guaranteed outcomes for the Surinamese people.

    The good news is that Suriname does not have to build this framework from scratch. Existing national petroleum legislation already includes requirements for local hiring, procurement of domestic goods and services, skills training, and knowledge transfer. State-owned oil company Staatsolie has already integrated these requirements into its public model contracts, and the BlueWave initiative has trained more than 100 local Surinamese businesses to compete for oil sector contracts. For years, policymakers have been working on comprehensive national local content legislation, but if results are expected by 2028 when production begins, clear rules for measurement, monitoring and enforcement must be put in place now. A key gap that needs closing is the definition of what qualifies as a Surinamese company; simple local registration is not enough to guarantee long-term local benefit.

    Much of the current policy debate centers on fixed percentage requirements for local content, but this approach overlooks critical questions: 40 percent of what, exactly? For whose benefit? And what value will that percentage hold for Suriname a decade from now? Author Dinesh Dinai argues that every key policy decision should be guided by one core question: which solution will deliver the greatest long-term benefit to Surinamese society as a whole?

    Dinai offers a practical example to illustrate this approach. If the oil sector needs water services, why not start by partnering with the national Surinamese Water Company (SWM)? If SWM is currently unable to meet that demand, policymakers should invest in what the utility needs to build that capacity – whether that is new equipment, workforce training, capital investment, or a long-term service contract. If these contracts help strengthen SWM financially, the government will be able to reduce public subsidies for the utility. That freed-up public funding can then be redirected to high-priority sectors like education, healthcare, or public infrastructure. It could even help keep residential water tariffs affordable for ordinary Surinamese. In this scenario, even a Surinamese citizen who will never step foot on an oil drilling platform gets a tangible benefit – that is what real local benefit looks like.

    This same logic can be applied to the country’s healthcare sector. Oil projects require regular medical screenings, diagnostic testing, emergency care, and access to specialist physicians. Why not leverage this demand to strengthen Suriname’s entire public healthcare system? Where possible, invest in local medical equipment, build out local laboratories, and train local healthcare workers. Of course injured offshore workers must receive high-quality emergency care, but there is no reason that new CT scanners or hired specialists should serve only the oil industry. It is unsustainable for Suriname to produce billions of dollars in oil while still sending patients abroad for specialized treatment that could be provided at home.

    This approach works equally well for port infrastructure, transportation, energy supply, and technical education. It is true that not every service can be provided locally in the early years, but policymakers should systematically assess what local providers can currently deliver, what skills can be built up over time, and what investment is needed to reach that goal.

    Workforce development also needs a more proactive, locally led approach. If Suriname is contractually responsible for supplying a share of the project workforce, the country should take ownership of organizing that labor pool. Priority should always go to available qualified Surinamese workers first. If specific expertise is currently lacking, the country should bring in temporary foreign specialists while training local Surinamese workers to take over those roles long-term. The default should not be “we don’t have the workers, find them yourselves” – this is Suriname’s responsibility, and we need to take ownership of organizing it.

    Dinai also makes the case for intentionally prioritizing parastatal (state-owned) companies for oil sector contracts. Because the government holds these assets on behalf of all Surinamese people, it can direct profits and benefits toward public good outcomes rather than private gain. When a parastatal wins an oil sector contract, it does not just create jobs and generate revenue – it can also strengthen the delivery of public services, reduce government subsidies, and keep essential service prices affordable for everyone. This broader public benefit should always take priority over private profit that ends up in the hands of just a small group of stakeholders.

    If a parastatal is not yet able to meet the requirements of a contract, policymakers should first explore whether targeted investment can build its capacity to deliver. That said, parastatals should not get a blank check: strict requirements for quality, cost control, and performance must be enforced, and the actual delivery of public benefits must be verified. Government ownership alone is no guarantee of positive outcomes for the public.

    Private Surinamese businesses will always play an essential role in the oil and gas supply chain, creating jobs, paying taxes, and building domestic expertise. But when the natural resource wealth belongs to all Surinamese people, the benefit to the whole of society must be the deciding factor in awarding contracts.

    To ensure accountability, it is not enough to just track how many contracts are awarded to local companies. Policymakers must also track what tangible benefits those contracts deliver to Surinamese society. Has public service delivery improved? Are government subsidies actually reduced? How many local workers have been trained and promoted into higher-skilled, better-paying roles? All of these outcomes must be made public. Without this transparency, we may end up knowing exactly how much money was spent locally, but still have no idea how much lasting benefit Suriname actually gained from the investment.

    The core takeaway is that formal local content requirements do not automatically translate to local benefit. A country can hit all its percentage targets for local procurement and still miss the chance to build long-term, widespread prosperity. When this current oil boom ends, Suriname should be left with stronger public services and a more skilled, competitive workforce – not just a handful of exhausted oil wells.

    For Dinai, the true test of a successful local content policy is simple: any ordinary Surinamese citizen who never works on an oil platform and never directly receives oil revenue should still be able to say that they benefited from Suriname’s oil wealth.

  • Noh Matta Wat Returns for Season 5!

    Noh Matta Wat Returns for Season 5!

    After marking its 20th anniversary in November 2025, Belize’s most beloved homegrown television drama Noh Matta Wat is ready to step back into the spotlight, with its highly anticipated fifth season set to launch with a star-studded red-carpet premiere later this week. The launch event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at Belize’s iconic Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts, giving local fans an exclusive first look before the full season makes its official television debut next month.

    Production of the new chapter has taken roughly a year of careful writing, casting and rehearsal, according to series producer Denvor Fairweather. The premiere event will kick off at 7 p.m. local time, opening with the first full episode of Season 5, followed by an intimate meet-and-greet session where attendees can connect with the cast and creative team behind the show. Broadcasters have scheduled the official weekly television run of the season to begin the week of November 16, bringing the long-running drama back to regular viewing slots for audiences across Belize.

    What makes this season unique is its time jump: the narrative revisits the iconic Diego family 16 years after the events of the last season, blending returning fan-favorite characters with exciting new cast members and entirely fresh storylines that reflect the passage of time. “A lot of the drama extends from Lysanne’s family,” Fairweather explained in an interview ahead of the premiere. “She was a teenager back then. She’s now a parent herself with teenage kids.”

    To elevate the quality of this new season, Fairweather recruited Belizean actor Theodore Mark Martinez, who has built an extensive professional acting career in the United States, to lead a performance workshop for the local cast, in addition to taking on a key on-screen role. Martinez portrays Hill Michaels, a judge whose arc weaves together intimate relationship dynamics and pressing, relatable social issues that resonate with everyday people. “Everyone can relate to it. It could be your neighbor,” Martinez noted of his character’s storyline.

    Beyond entertaining local audiences, Martinez sees the new season of Noh Matta Wat as a powerful gateway to introduce Belize’s unique culture and storytelling talent to global audiences. “People out there are hungry for Belize,” he said. “When stuff like this comes up, I know they’re gonna eat it up.”

    For Fairweather, the fifth season is more than just a new chapter of a hit series — it is a core part of a larger mission to grow and sustain Belize’s domestic entertainment industry. He holds ambitions to expand the show’s reach to regional and international audiences, with the revenue generated from the season’s success earmarked to fund future local creative projects. One of the most anticipated projects waiting in the wings is a feature film titled *Clutches*, which Fairweather hopes to bring to production with the support of Season 5’s profits.

    Tickets for the exclusive premiere are priced at $25 per person and are still available for purchase directly at the Bliss Centre, giving drama fans one last chance to secure their spot at the historic launch event for Belize’s most iconic television series.

  • Archer defends National Art Gallery plan

    Archer defends National Art Gallery plan

    As Barbados marks major national milestones — 60 years of independence and five years as a republic — a senior government official has pushed back against public criticism of the administration’s plan to create a new National Art Gallery, arguing that the institution will amplify the work of local Barbadian artists and cement the island nation’s cultural legacy for coming generations.

    Senator Shane Archer, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office with oversight for Youth and Culture, made his remarks during Senate debate over a resolution to approve a 25-year lease — with an option to extend for an additional 25 years — for Block A at the Garrison in St. Michael, the planned site for the new gallery. Archer emphasized that Barbados’s talented creative community has long deserved more robust national support and a purpose-built space to showcase their work to both local and international audiences.

    Archer, who commended the exceptional quality of art already being produced by Barbadian creators, noted that the National Art Gallery will do more than just display work: it will create long-term, sustainable career pathways for artists while preserving the nation’s rich artistic heritage. “We have people capable of creating work of distinction,” Archer told the chamber. “The responsibility, therefore, before us is to help build the conditions and the support to enable this work to be preserved, to be encountered, to be developed and, by extension, to be exported.”

    Beyond cultural preservation, Archer stressed that the gallery will act as a catalyst for broader national development, advancing cultural policy goals while contributing tangible economic growth to the country. Framing the project as part of the government’s broader commitment to investing in national culture — alongside existing cultural initiatives at Newton and the Botanical Gardens — he argued that the institution will honor the work of artists who have spent decades documenting Barbadian life and identity, at a moment when the nation is reflecting on the cultural inheritance it will leave for future generations.

    To support artists beyond gallery space, Archer outlined complementary programs integrated with the planned restructuring of the national Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme. He explained that many cultural practitioners face systemic barriers to building stable careers, particularly around pricing strategy, business planning, intellectual property protection, and access to regional and international markets. The new entrepreneurship programs attached to the gallery will address these gaps, helping artists move past the early stages of developing their craft and build self-sustaining professional practices.

    Archer also laid out the core statutory responsibilities of the new institution, which include developing a permanent national art collection, documenting and conserving existing works of cultural significance, advising government on cultural policy, and facilitating access to Barbadian art both at home and abroad. He noted that long-term institutional investment is critical to the gallery’s success, pointing out that building a world-class collection, maintaining facilities, and developing educational and public outreach programs require intentional long-term planning and sustained resourcing.

    International collaboration will be a core pillar of the gallery’s mandate, Archer added. The institution’s statutory functions already include organizing international exhibitions of Barbadian art and forging partnerships with regional and global cultural institutions. These connections will not only expand the global reach of Barbadian art but also facilitate knowledge sharing, professional development for local creators, and strong protections for artists’ intellectual property rights.

    Finally, Archer emphasized that the National Art Gallery will be designed for broad public accessibility, including for Barbadians who have had limited prior exposure to visual art. He said that ongoing engagement with local schools, targeted community outreach programs, and inclusive accessibility policies will be central to the institution’s mission from its earliest stages of development.

  • Politie vernietigt zo’n 150 kilo drugs in Kraka

    Politie vernietigt zo’n 150 kilo drugs in Kraka

    On October 15, Suriname’s special Narcotics Brigade carried out a planned destruction of approximately 150 kilograms of confiscated illegal narcotics in the community of Kraka, located in the country’s Para district. The entire operation was conducted under the direct supervision and leadership of a public prosecutor from the Public Prosecution Service of Suriname, to ensure full procedural compliance and accountability.

    The cache of drugs destroyed during the operation was seized between June 13 and October 14 of 2026, across a series of law enforcement actions across the country. The haul included a diverse array of controlled substances, from widely trafficked recreational drugs to potent synthetic stimulants. A full breakdown of the destroyed drugs released by authorities details 46.6 kilograms of solid cocaine, 9,343 milliliters of liquid cocaine, 17.9 kilograms of marijuana, 76.6 kilograms of hashish, 472 ecstasy (XTC) pills, 142.76 grams of powdered XTC, 3.5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (locally known as sukru), and an additional 39 milliliters of liquid methamphetamine.

    Local law enforcement confirmed that the entire stock of narcotics was accumulated from multiple targeted enforcement operations carried out over the preceding four months. These actions included unannounced search warrants executed at various suspected drug storage and distribution sites, interception of illegal drug shipments through postal service checkpoints, inspections at border crossings, and arrests of individuals suspected of involvement in drug trafficking and street-level distribution.

    By destroying the entire seized cache, law enforcement officials confirmed that these illicit substances have been permanently removed from the illegal drug market, preventing them from reaching vulnerable communities and causing further harm. At the time of the announcement, police have not released additional details regarding the number of individual drug cases connected to the seizures or the identities of the suspects linked to the haul.

  • Prime Minister Skerrit attends US-Caribbean Dialogue in Washington, D.C.

    Prime Minister Skerrit attends US-Caribbean Dialogue in Washington, D.C.

    On Thursday, October 15, 2026, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica is in Washington D.C. to take part in the high-profile US-Caribbean Dialogue, an event organized by the United States Department of State. This gathering brings together sitting heads of government from all CARICOM member states alongside senior diplomatic and policy officials from the United States, creating a structured platform to deliberate on a broad range of topics that align with the shared interests of all participating parties. Key agenda items include critical regional priorities such as cross-border security, sustainable energy development, bilateral and regional trade, cross-border investment frameworks, and coordinated disaster management strategies.

    For Dominica, Skerrit’s attendance at the dialogue represents a valuable opportunity to champion the island nation’s core policy priorities while deepening collaborative ties between the Caribbean region and the United States. Beyond broad strategic discussions, scheduled talks will center on building tangible, practical partnerships in three high-impact areas: expanding access to renewable energy infrastructure, advancing critical public and private development projects, and strengthening the region’s collective capacity for disaster preparedness. Security remains a top pressing concern on the agenda, with participants set to address the growing challenges of illicit firearms trafficking and the spread of transnational organized crime across Caribbean borders.

    In an official statement released ahead of the meeting, the Office of the Prime Minister of Dominica reaffirmed the country’s longstanding commitment to constructive diplomatic engagement with both the United States and its fellow Caribbean community partners. This ongoing cooperation is rooted in three core goals: improving the quality of life for all Dominican citizens, building greater national and regional resilience to systemic shocks, and expanding economic and social opportunities across the island. To ensure continuity of governance during Prime Minister Skerrit’s travel to Washington D.C., Dr. Irving McIntyre – who currently holds the cabinet portfolios of Minister for Finance, Economic Development, Climate Resilience and Social Security – has been appointed to serve as Acting Prime Minister for the duration of the visit.

  • Excessive Rainfall Watch Issued as Belize Prepares for Rainy Weekend

    Excessive Rainfall Watch Issued as Belize Prepares for Rainy Weekend

    As Central America prepares for a potentially disruptive wet weekend, Belize’s National Meteorological Service has activated an Excessive Rainfall Watch across the entire nation, forecasting total accumulations of 2 to 4 inches of rain — with some regions expected to see even higher precipitation totals.

    The unsettled weather pattern traces back to a broad low-pressure system lingering off the northern coast of Honduras, which has anchored a sprawling zone of scattered showers and intense thunderstorms across the western Caribbean. This system is projected to drift northward in the coming hours, bringing increasing rain activity to Belize starting overnight Friday.

    Michelle Augustine, the NMS Deputy Chief Meteorologist, clarified in an official briefing that current climate modeling does not point to the low-pressure system organizing into a significant tropical cyclone. That finding eases concerns that the event could escalate into a more dangerous tropical storm or hurricane, but it does not eliminate risks associated with heavy, sustained rainfall.

    Precipitation amounts will not be uniform across the country, Augustine noted, with low-lying areas and regions near mountain slopes expected to see far higher totals than inland, elevated zones. Even areas that see lower overall accumulations face risks of flash flooding, particularly in urban zones with poor drainage.

    To help residents prepare for the incoming conditions, Augustine has issued a series of key advisories. First, she urged all Belizean residents to remain vigilant and maintain close awareness of updated official forecasts, as the speed and track of the low-pressure system can shift rapidly. For anyone with outdoor plans or scheduled public events over the weekend, she recommended preparing for persistent wet conditions and having backup plans in place to move activities indoors or reschedule if flooding or heavy rain makes outdoor gatherings unsafe.

    “Please make sure you have your contingency plans … because you do expect a rather wet weekend ahead,” Augustine emphasized.

    She also reminded residents to cross-reference NMS weather updates with data from Belize’s National Hydrological Service, which monitors river levels and provides targeted guidance on flood preparedness and evacuation routes for at-risk communities.

  • Public Asked to Help Locate Everson After He Walked Away from Nursing Home

    Public Asked to Help Locate Everson After He Walked Away from Nursing Home

    Authorities and care facility officials in Antigua have issued a urgent public call for assistance to locate a missing nursing home resident who left his assisted living facility earlier this week. The man, publicly identified only by his first name Everson, is reported to have walked away from the nursing home located close to Old Parham Road on the morning of Wednesday, October 14.

    Official records confirm that Everson departed the care facility around 8:30 a.m. that day, and organizers of the public appeal emphasize that locating him quickly is a top priority to ensure he returns to the facility unharmed. In public announcements shared across local communities, Everson is described as a non-threatening individual, and members of the public who spot him are instructed to reach out to the search team without delay.

    The appeal also includes guidance for anyone who encounters Everson: if it is safe to do so, bystanders should encourage him to stay with them at the location until members of the search party can arrive to take him back to the nursing home. Notably, the information released to the public does not include key identifying details beyond his first name: no surname, age description, clothing information or photograph have been made available as part of the appeal.

    As of Thursday, local sources have not confirmed whether Everson has been located and returned to the care facility. Search efforts remain ongoing, and organizers are urging residents across Antigua, particularly those living in the Old Parham Road area, to remain vigilant and report any potential sighting immediately.

  • As deadline closes over 36,000 applied for voter confirmation and registration, says Chief Elections Officer

    As deadline closes over 36,000 applied for voter confirmation and registration, says Chief Elections Officer

    As the official voter registration confirmation period wrapped up on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, Dominica’s top electoral official has released final turnout figures showing strong public engagement in the lead-up to the closing date.

    Chief Elections Officer Anthea Joseph announced Wednesday that a total of 36,861 eligible Dominicans submitted applications for either voter confirmation or new voter registration by the end of the confirmation window. Breaking down the final numbers, Joseph explained that 33,145 of the total submissions came from existing voters seeking to confirm their registration status, while the remaining 3,717 applications were from first-time eligible residents registering to vote for the first time.

    In an official statement following the close of the confirmation period, Joseph noted that the electoral office was broadly satisfied with the overall level of public participation. She specifically highlighted the sharp uptick in walk-in applications at confirmation centers during the final days leading up to the October 14 deadline, which pushed the final total higher than early projections.

    Even with the surge in last-minute submissions, Joseph emphasized that the overall turnout reflects a deep commitment among Dominican citizens to upholding democratic processes. “This level of participation makes clear that Dominicans are eager to exercise their democratic rights and guarantee their eligibility to cast ballots in upcoming elections,” she said.

    Joseph also extended public recognition to two key groups that made the confirmation process possible: first, the general public for their enthusiastic and cooperative response throughout the registration period, and second, the full team of electoral office staff, who worked tirelessly to process thousands of applications in a timely manner and keep operations running smoothly across all centers.

    While the dedicated confirmation period has drawn to a close, the electoral office will not be pausing registration efforts entirely. Joseph confirmed that continuous registration for eligible unregistered voters will resume this Friday, October 16, 2026, operating out of the same confirmation centers that hosted the recent period.

    Outlining the ongoing operating schedule, Joseph shared that centers will be open 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, with adjusted weekend hours of 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturdays.

    In closing, Joseph urged all eligible Dominican citizens who have not yet completed their voter registration to take advantage of the ongoing access to registration centers. “Continuous registration is a foundational component of guaranteeing that every eligible citizen can exercise their democratic right to vote in future elections,” she added.