Carib Scope

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  • FLASH : Forced landing in Lafito

    FLASH : Forced landing in Lafito

    On the morning of Wednesday, July 8, 2026, a domestic Zed Airlines flight traveling between two major Haitian cities was forced to execute an emergency landing in the Lafito area of the country, the carrier confirmed in an official statement released earlier the same day. The incident, which unfolded at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time, involved Flight 6502, a route connecting Cap-Haïtien in northern Haiti to the capital city of Port-au-Prince.

    The aircraft operating the service is identified as a Cessna 402B, registered under the number HI-1056. In line with standard aviation safety protocols, both national Haitian aviation authorities and the airline’s in-house technical investigation team will launch a full, comprehensive probe into the root causes of the emergency landing. Officials have emphasized that no stone will be left unturned in determining what led to the unplanned landing, to prevent similar incidents in the future.

    At the time of the incident, the small commercial aircraft carried only three people: one experienced pilot and two passengers. Early preliminary reports confirm no fatalities have resulted from the forced landing. All three occupants of the plane are currently receiving targeted medical care, and the airline has confirmed it is providing all required assistance, logistical support and care to those affected by the incident.

  • President verleent collectieve gratie; moord- en zedendelicten uitgesloten

    President verleent collectieve gratie; moord- en zedendelicten uitgesloten

    On July 8, 2026, Suriname President Jennifer Simons announced a sweeping collective pardon program for a cohort of the country’s incarcerated population, tied to the national celebration of the 163rd anniversary of Keti Koti — the annual commemoration of the abolition of slavery in Suriname. The multi-tiered sentence reduction scheme applies only to offenders who meet a clear set of eligibility criteria, with severe violent and sexual crimes explicitly excluded from participation.

    According to the official presidential decree issued to formalize the measure, pardon eligibility is restricted to inmates who received a final, unappealable court conviction for an unconditional fixed-term prison sentence or custodial sentence between December 2, 2025 and July 1, 2026. The program’s sentence reductions are structured based on the length of an inmate’s remaining sentence, to create a proportional impact:
    – Inmates with fewer than two years left on their sentences will receive a 5-month sentence cut
    – Those with remaining sentences between two and five years qualify for a 9-month reduction
    – Inmates with five to fewer than eight years remaining will see their sentences cut by 15 months
    – Offenders with eight or more years left on their sentences are eligible for an 18-month reduction

    Even inmates serving life sentences are able to apply for the pardon under specific conditions. The program allows for life sentences to be converted to fixed-term sentences, with the new term length set at either 20 or 50 years depending on which penal code was applied to issue the original conviction.

    Notably, the presidential decree permanently bars any inmate convicted of murder or sexual offenses from accessing the pardon program. All other aspects of original court convictions remain fully in force outside of the approved sentence reductions, the document clarifies.

    The announcement notes that Suriname previously issued a similar collective pardon to mark the 50th anniversary of the country’s political independence. In the period following that earlier program, a large backlog of clemency requests has built up, with administrative delays preventing many applications from being processed in a timely manner, per the country’s government. This new pardon initiative aims to address that backlog while aligning with the national spirit of reflection and renewal tied to the Keti Koti holiday.

  • UWI to Host First International Undergraduate Student Leadership Conference

    UWI to Host First International Undergraduate Student Leadership Conference

    The University of the West Indies (UWI), the Caribbean’s leading higher education institution with a 75-year legacy of regional impact, is making history with the launch of its first-ever International Undergraduate Student Leadership Conference and Entrepreneurship Exhibition (IUSLCEE). Scheduled to take place from September 23 to 25, 2026, at the university’s Regional Headquarters in Jamaica, the landmark event is organized by UWI’s Office of the Board for Undergraduate Studies, with registrations and proposal submissions already open to undergraduate learners across the globe.

    Convened under the forward-looking theme “Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s World, Towards 2050: Imagining Roles, Rights, Responsibilities and Relationships,” the conference will adopt a flexible hybrid format to maximize global accessibility. In-person programming will take place at the Jamaica headquarters, while remote attendees from any country can join virtually, breaking down geographic barriers for participation. Unlike traditional academic gatherings that cater primarily to graduate and established researchers, IUSLCEE centers undergraduate voices, designed to nurture global citizenship, spark student-led advocacy, and build the next generation of collaborative leadership.

    The core mission of the event is to elevate student-driven research, accelerate early-stage innovation, and cultivate civic-minded leadership skills that prepare attendees for advanced graduate study and purpose-driven careers. Undergraduates from all academic disciplines are invited to share their original scholarly work, launch new entrepreneurial ventures, and contribute to collective conversations about shaping a sustainable, equitable global future by 2050. Beyond presentations and exhibitions, the conference offers unparalleled networking opportunities, connecting emerging young scholars and founders with industry leaders, experienced academic mentors, and like-minded peers from every region of the world, laying the groundwork for long-term international collaborations and professional growth.

    Organizers are currently accepting two types of submissions: research and scholarly paper abstracts, and proposals for the entrepreneurship exhibition. All submissions must include a 300-word maximum abstract that outlines the research topic, core objectives, methodological approach, and key preliminary findings, or for entrepreneurial proposals, a summary of the proposed venture. All work is expected to align with the conference’s overarching 2050-focused theme, with suggested topic areas including innovation for sustainable development, global digital transformation, social entrepreneurship, youth leadership development, and community-led impact initiatives. The final deadline for all submissions is September 3, 2026.

    Interested participants can complete conference registration via the official online portal at bit.ly/43FiYSX. For additional questions about registration, abstract submissions, or exhibition applications, inquiries can be directed to Ms. Karen Smith, Chair of the Conference Secretariat, through the official event website: https://www.uwi.edu/obus/iuslc.

    As context, The University of the West Indies has grown dramatically from its founding in 1948, when it launched as a London-affiliated university college in Jamaica with just 33 medical students. Today, it stands as an internationally ranked global institution with nearly 50,000 students spread across five physical campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda, and a distributed Global Campus, plus collaborative research and education centers with partner institutions across North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

    UWI offers more than 1,000 academic programs spanning certificate, diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels across a wide range of fields, including arts and culture, food and agriculture, engineering, education, humanities, law, medical sciences, science and technology, social sciences, and sports. As the Caribbean’s leading higher education provider, it hosts the region’s largest concentration of research expertise, focused on solving pressing challenges facing the Caribbean and the broader global community.

    Since 2018, UWI has consistently been featured in the Times Higher Education (THE) annual global university rankings, confirming its status as one of the world’s top higher education institutions. It is the only English-speaking Caribbean university to be listed across four prestigious THE ranking categories: the World University Rankings, which evaluates more than 2,000 research-intensive universities globally; the Golden Age University Rankings, which recognizes institutions founded between 50 and 80 years ago; the Latin America and Caribbean Rankings; and the Impact Rankings, which assesses universities based on their contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This global recognition supported the launch of UWI’s International School for Development Justice (ISDJ), a global online graduate business school that trains future leaders to advance equitable sustainable development. A long-standing SDG-engaged institution, UWI is consistently ranked among the top global universities for its work on the UN’s development goals. More information about the university is available at www.uwi.edu.

  • Early onset El Niño triggers slight downward adjustment to the total number of named storms

    Early onset El Niño triggers slight downward adjustment to the total number of named storms

    Less than three months after releasing its initial 2026 Atlantic hurricane season outlook, AccuWeather has issued a downward revision to its projected number of named storms, driven by an earlier-than-expected arrival of El Niño and growing forecasts that a powerful Super El Niño will develop through the peak of the season. The leading weather forecasting firm now projects between 8 and 14 named storms will form across the Atlantic basin this year, a modest drop from the 11 to 16 storm range published in its initial March 2026 forecast.

    AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva noted that El Niño conditions have long shaped the team’s projection that 2026 storm totals will land near or below the historical average. “The stronger the El Niño gets, the fewer named storms we’re likely to get,” DaSilva explained, pointing to the 2015 season, when a strong El Niño produced just 11 named storms – a number he says is the most likely outcome for 2026.

    Unlike many other forecasting outlets, this updated outlook includes clear projections for the most likely range of hurricanes, major hurricanes, and direct storm impacts on the United States, a distinction that Dan DePodwin, AccuWeather Vice President of Forecasting Operations, highlighted as part of the firm’s commitment to data-driven, continuous forecast refinement. AccuWeather originally released its preliminary seasonal outlook on March 25, weeks earlier than most competing forecasting groups.

    Unchanged from the initial March forecast are the projections for stronger storm activity: the firm still expects 4 to 7 hurricanes to develop, with 2 to 4 of those strengthening into Category 3 or higher major hurricanes. Between 3 and 5 storms are projected to make direct impacts on U.S. territory, with the northern and eastern Gulf Coast, the Carolinas, and the northeastern Caribbean continuing to face higher-than-average risk of rapid storm development.

    DaSilva emphasized a key preparedness risk for these high-risk regions: unlike slow-developing storms that track across the open Atlantic from the African coast, storms that form close to shore leave residents with far less time to put emergency plans into action. “That’s why we stress having a hurricane plan in place before the season starts, rather than waiting until a storm is already offshore,” he added.

    El Niño’s early June arrival is the core driver of this forecast adjustment. AccuWeather currently estimates a 70% probability that a Super El Niño will develop before the end of the hurricane season and persist into early 2027. The climate pattern drives increased wind shear across the entire Atlantic basin, a meteorological force that disrupts the organization and intensification of tropical systems, suppressing overall storm development.

    Beyond the overall storm count, the current seasonal pattern points to a lower-than-average risk of major tropical impacts for the central and lower Texas coast. Even so, warm sea surface temperatures close to the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts create conditions that can fuel rapid intensification of storms that form near shore, shrinking the window for public warnings. Impacts of these storms are not limited to coastal zones either: flooding rainfall and tornadoes often extend hundreds of miles inland, meaning even residents far from the coast should monitor forecasts closely throughout the season.

    The 2026 season already saw its first named storm in mid-June, when Tropical Storm Arthur made landfall along the Texas coast on June 17, bringing catastrophic flooding across the Gulf region. Preliminary AccuWeather damage estimates put total economic losses from Arthur between $4 billion and $6 billion, with damage to private property and public infrastructure, widespread flight delays, extended power outages, and halted business operations all contributing to the massive economic toll. Some parts of the region recorded more than 20 inches of rain from the slow-moving storm.

    DePodwin noted that Arthur serves as a critical reminder that tropical systems do not need to reach hurricane strength to cause severe, costly, and even deadly damage. “Flooding, travel disruptions, power outages and business interruptions can quickly add up to billions of dollars in impacts for families, businesses and communities,” he said.

    To help the public better understand the full scope of potential storm impacts, AccuWeather uses its proprietary RealImpact™ Scale for hurricanes, which differs from the widely used Saffir-Simpson scale that categorizes storms solely by maximum wind speed. The RealImpact™ scale incorporates a broader set of factors that affect communities, including rainfall-driven flooding, storm surge, and projected economic damage, to provide a more complete picture of a storm’s potential threat to lives and livelihoods.

    AccuWeather meteorologists are available 24/7 to provide ongoing updates and expert analysis as conditions develop through the 2026 hurricane season. Media outlets can request interviews with AccuWeather experts or access updated forecast graphics for print and broadcast through the company’s media relations team, reachable during regular business hours or via the 24/7 AccuWeather Media Hotline at (814)-235-8710. AccuWeather forecasts reach a wide audience across the United States, appearing in 700 print newspapers, broadcasting on more than 400 radio stations and 100 television outlets, and reaching over 125 million viewers through the AccuWeather Network and AccuWeather NOW® on cable and streaming platforms.

  • Leisure : Did you know ? #39

    Leisure : Did you know ? #39

    Haiti’s leading digital media outlet HaitiLibre has announced a major expansion of its popular twice-weekly general knowledge quiz platform, Quiz.HaitiLibre, adding 31 new interactive trivia games in its July 2026 monthly update that pushes the platform’s total offerings to 180 games. The expansion, which maintains the platform’s core commitment to accessible, free knowledge, comes alongside the 39th installment of its beloved “Did You Know?” trivia segment, which this week shines a spotlight on a defining, little-discussed feature of Haiti’s iconic Gingerbread architecture: the pelmet.

    Often described as the visual calling card of the Gingerbread architectural style that is synonymous with Haitian cultural identity, pelmets are finely cut wooden borders fitted along the upper edges of building roofs. These intricate decorative elements have long drawn comparisons to delicate lace and whimsical fairytale friezes, lending each Gingerbread house a one-of-a-kind, lyrical aesthetic that sets Haitian architecture apart.

    Beyond their well-documented artistic appeal, pelmets also serve a critical practical purpose for Haiti’s tropical climate. Beyond catching sunlight and casting dynamic, shifting shadow patterns across building facades, they redirect rainwater away from vulnerable wooden exterior walls, preventing water infiltration and extending the lifespan of the structure. What makes each pelmet even more distinctive is that nearly every traditional Gingerbread home boasts a custom, hand-carved design crafted by highly skilled Haitian cabinetmakers, turning a functional building component into a canvas for cultural expression.

    This blend of structural utility and artistic craft cements pelmets as a perfect example of the intersection of art and engineering, elevating a simple roof element to a refined, nationally celebrated artistic tradition that is core to Haiti’s cultural heritage.

    Quiz.HaitiLibre, which launched as a standalone platform to make general knowledge accessible to audiences around the world, caters to all skill levels with three adjustable difficulty tiers: easy, intermediate, and hard. All games on the platform are available in both French and English, completely free to access, and require no user registration to play. Users can test their knowledge across a wide range of topics spanning Haitian history, culture, arts, global current events, and science, with expert-level trivia available for more experienced quiz enthusiasts seeking a greater challenge.

    Since its official launch, the platform has followed a regular monthly update schedule to add new content, ensuring returning visitors always have fresh trivia to explore. After the July 1 update, the platform now hosts 180 unique games, with more content scheduled to roll out in future monthly releases. The outlet encourages visitors to share the platform with friends and family, and submit feedback via a simple form available at the end of each game to help shape future updates.

  • Security Exercise to Restrict Access to Parts of St. John’s on Today and Friday

    Security Exercise to Restrict Access to Parts of St. John’s on Today and Friday

    A large-scale inter-agency security exercise is set to shut down access to multiple key zones in St. John’s for two consecutive days, Thursday and Friday, disrupting local travel and daily routines for thousands of residents and commuters. Local law enforcement and emergency management officials announced that the drill is designed to test the region’s response capabilities to potential public safety threats, with training activities concentrated in the downtown core and waterfront districts that see heavy daily foot and vehicle traffic.

    Starting from early Thursday morning, multiple streets, parking lots, and public access points in the affected areas will be closed to unauthorized individuals and vehicles. Officials have warned that delays are likely on major arterial roads leading into the city center, and have urged non-essential travelers to avoid the restricted zones entirely to prevent gridlock. Pedestrian access will also be limited in some parts of the waterfront park and downtown public squares, forcing local businesses to adjust their daily operations for the duration of the exercise.

    Organizers have emphasized that the exercise is a pre-planned, routine training event, and there is no active threat to public safety connected to the activity. The drill will bring together multiple agencies, including local police, fire departments, coastal security units, and emergency medical teams, to practice coordinated response protocols. This joint training is intended to cut down on response times and improve communication between different departments during real-world emergency scenarios.

    Local officials have issued a public apology for the inconvenience caused by the access restrictions, noting that the short-term disruption is a necessary trade-off for long-term public safety preparedness. They have also advised residents to check official city social media channels and transportation websites for real-time updates on road closures and route changes throughout the two-day exercise.

  • Department of Culture to Host Cultural Characters Workshop

    Department of Culture to Host Cultural Characters Workshop

    A new free public workshop focused on preserving centuries-old Caribbean traditional cultural performance practices is set to open its doors to participants this Wednesday afternoon, launched by the Cultural Department of the Ministry of Creative Industries. Conceived by Culture Director Khan Cordice, the multi-week training program will immerse attendees in a range of iconic folk performance skills that form the backbone of regional Carnival celebrations.

    According to Events Coordinator Gilbert Laudat, the curriculum covers hands-on training in core disciplines including stilt walking—locally known as the art of the Moko Jumbie, conch shell blowing, and the performance techniques required to portray traditional figures such as the Caribbean John Bull clown and whip cracker. Beyond performance skills, participants will also learn the history behind these cultural roles, as well as the craft of building authentic costumes and assembling all the elements that bring these traditional characters to life.

    The core mission of the initiative, Laudat explained, is to address a growing gap in intergenerational knowledge transmission by creating accessible opportunities for community members, especially young people, to build deep, practical expertise in these fading folk traditions. By lowering barriers to entry through free, public training, organizers hope to reverse the trend of declining participation and secure the long-term survival of these defining elements of local cultural heritage.

    Registration for the program is open to all interested participants on-site at the Environment Division. Daily sessions will run from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with the entire workshop scheduled to conclude on July 24, 2026, after opening on July 8. Following the completion of the initial training cycle, the Cultural Development Division is aiming to see a noticeable increase in the representation of these traditional cultural characters in the annual Carnival Monday parade, bringing heritage back to the center of the island’s biggest celebration.

    Laudat added that the training initiative will not end with the initial workshop cycle. Long-term plans include ongoing, regular training opportunities for the general public, with an expansion to schools across the island already in the works. After the 2026 Carnival concludes, the program will pause briefly before resuming to add training focused on traditional Christmas cultural characters, extending the initiative’s impact beyond Carnival season to year-round heritage preservation.

  • News : Zapping…

    News : Zapping…

    As the Caribbean nation of Haiti enters the second week of July 2026, a series of key political, diplomatic and cultural developments are unfolding across the country, marking both moments of national remembrance and steps forward for governance and community engagement.

    On July 7, 2026 – exactly five years after former Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated by mercenary attackers – local officials in Cap-Haïtien gathered to honor his memory. Leading the municipal delegation was Cap-Haïtien Mayor Michel Saint-Croix, who was joined by Deputy Mayor Edeline Jean and senior members of the city’s municipal administration. The group traveled to Moïse’s mausoleum, where they held a formal memorial service and laid a floral tribute to the late head of state. In a statement following the ceremony, the Cap-Haïtien Municipal Administration confirmed its alignment with the national day of remembrance, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to upholding republican values, fulfilling the national duty of remembrance, and strengthening the country’s democratic institutions. Former Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe also released a public statement marking the somber anniversary, condemning the assassination as an act of “unimaginable barbarity” that altered the entire trajectory of Haiti’s national destiny. Lamothe, who has faced significant personal repercussions for his public calls for full accountability and justice for Moïse’s killing, emphasized that his calls for truth would not waver. “His assassins thought they were killing a man. They shattered the destiny of a nation,” Lamothe wrote. “Jovenel fell, but his memory will live on. I paid a heavy price for refusing to remain silent and demanding justice. I would do it again without hesitation. For Jovenel, for Haiti, until the whole truth comes out.”

    One day before the commemoration, on July 6, 2026, veteran Haitian journalist Lucien Jura officially stepped into the role of Secretary of State for Communication. Jura succeeds Jean Willio, who oversaw a structured handover of institutional knowledge to ensure a smooth transition focused entirely on advancing national priorities.

    In regional diplomatic news, Haitian Foreign Minister Raina Forbin held a high-level bilateral meeting with her Bahamian counterpart Frederick A. Mitchell, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Public Service of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, on the sidelines of the 51st Ordinary Session of the CARICOM Council of Heads of State and Government hosted in Saint Lucia. Forbin attended the CARICOM summit alongside Haitian Prime Minister Fils-Aimé. The two diplomats centered their discussions on deepening bilateral collaboration between Haiti and The Bahamas, with a particular focus on pressing shared regional priorities: restoring stability and security across Haiti, expanding joint action on maritime security, supporting Haiti’s ongoing electoral process, and addressing evolving tensions across the Caribbean region.

    In cultural news, two Haitian literary voices have earned a spot among the six finalists for the inaugural Quai d’Orsay Literary Prize, a new award launched in 2025 by France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Louis-Philippe Dalembert’s novel *Je n’ai jamais dit Papa* (I Never Said Dad), published by Éditions Robert Laffont, and Lyonel Trouillot’s *Bréviaire des anonymes* (Breviary of the Anonymous), published by Actes Sud, were selected as finalists from a pool of submitted entries, marking a major milestone for Haitian literature on the global stage.

    On the community cultural front, two Haitian cultural organizations have launched a new initiative to preserve the country’s iconic traditional drumming heritage in Les Cayes. On June 27, La Fabrique des Arts partnered with the Institute for the Promotion and Development of Education and Culture (IPDEC) to launch recurring weekly drum classes open to young residents of the city. Experienced local drummers Ricardo Paisible and Fen Josil lead the instruction, and the first session drew more than a dozen young participants eager to learn traditional Haitian rhythmic patterns in a structured, inclusive, and dynamic learning space. Over the course of the program, participants will build their technical skill, rhythmic awareness, and understanding of drumming’s central role in Haitian cultural identity. The joint initiative aims to intergenerationally transmit traditional knowledge, safeguard Haiti’s musical heritage, and nurture the next generation of Haitian drummers.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Hands Over ECCB Monetary Council Chairmanship to Dominica

    Antigua and Barbuda Hands Over ECCB Monetary Council Chairmanship to Dominica

    A key leadership transition is set to take place in 2026 for the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), as the top post of its Monetary Council prepares to change hands in a formal, public ceremony. On July 9, 2026, starting at 5:00 p.m. local time at the Trafalgar Ballroom of the InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort located in the Commonwealth of Dominica, current chair Gaston Browne, the council’s representative for Antigua and Barbuda, will officially transfer the gavel to incoming chair Dr. Irving McIntyre, Dominica’s representative to the decision-making body.

    As the highest governing and decision-making authority of the ECCB, the Monetary Council is composed of the finance ministers from all eight of the ECCB’s member jurisdictions across the Eastern Caribbean. Following long-standing institutional rules, the council’s chairmanship rotates on an annual basis, with the role passing to the next representative in alphabetical order of the member territories: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Christopher (St Kitts) and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. This rotational system ensures equal representation and shared governance across the Eastern Caribbean currency union.

    Beyond the formal leadership handover, the 2026 ceremony will carry special historical significance: it will host the public unveiling of a fully redesigned series of Eastern Caribbean (EC) banknotes and coins, created to mark the 50th anniversary of the EC dollar’s fixed exchange rate peg to the United States dollar.

    The process to update the regional currency began years before the launch. During the Monetary Council’s 105th meeting held on July 21, 2023, members approved a landmark change: the removal of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait from EC currency, a shift that aligns with the region’s evolving sovereign identity. The council also directed the ECCB to lead a period of public consultation to gather input from residents across member territories on what imagery should replace the former portrait. These public engagement sessions ran from July through December 2023, and the results were clear: an overwhelming majority of respondents supported featuring local national heroes and foundational nation builders on the newly redesigned currency.

    For those unable to attend the ceremony in person, the entire event will be broadcast for free via live stream on two platforms: the official ECCB Connects platform and the ECCB’s public YouTube channel, allowing residents, financial stakeholders and interested observers across the region and globally to follow the proceedings.

  • Greene Calls for Public Cooperation as CHOGM 2026 Security Simulation Exercise Begins

    Greene Calls for Public Cooperation as CHOGM 2026 Security Simulation Exercise Begins

    As Antigua and Barbuda advances its preparations to host the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the Caribbean nation has launched a critical two-day national security simulation exercise, Foreign Affairs Minister and CHOGM Task Force Chairman Hon. E.P. Chet Greene announced in a public address to all citizens and residents.

    Greene emphasized that this drill is far more than a routine training exercise. It stands as a tangible demonstration of Antigua and Barbuda’s unwavering commitment to delivering a secure, well-organized and successful summit for Commonwealth heads of state and government when the global gathering convenes in November 2026. The simulation is designed to test response protocols, coordinate inter-agency operations and identify gaps in security planning ahead of the major international event.

    In his address, Greene extended formal recognition and praise to the law enforcement officers and security personnel leading the simulation operation. He noted that the dedication, personal sacrifice, and detail-oriented planning these professionals have brought to the process form the very foundation of the nation’s preparedness to welcome world leaders. He urged all participating personnel to uphold the highest professional standards throughout the exercise, noting that their performance reflects the quality and integrity of Antigua and Barbuda as a host nation.

    The task force chairman also offered sincere thanks to the general public for their ongoing support. Public cooperation and patience, he said, are irreplaceable factors that will determine the exercise’s ultimate success. Broad public participation in adapting to temporary changes underscores the unified “whole-of-nation” support behind the 2026 CHOGM hosting effort, sending a clear signal to the global community that Antigua and Barbuda is fully ready to welcome the Commonwealth gathering.

    Greene formally apologized in advance for temporary disruptions to daily public life, including expected traffic delays and temporary restricted access to certain areas. He stressed that these short-term adjustments are a necessary part of robust, effective planning, and that only thorough advance preparation can guarantee the safety of attending international delegates, local residents, and all event staff, while setting the foundation for a globally successful summit.

    As the simulation gets underway, Greene pledged full accessibility and support from himself, the national government, and the entire CHOGM Task Force. “We are all in this together,” he noted, adding that collective shared resolve will ensure the 2026 CHOGM is an event that makes all Antigua and Barbuda residents proud. He closed the address with a blessing for the nation’s security forces and the twin-island state.