Carib Scope

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  • Sen. Chester Hughes Graduates with Law Degree from Arden University

    Sen. Chester Hughes Graduates with Law Degree from Arden University

    A senior leader of Antigua and Barbuda’s largest trade union has marked a major career and academic milestone, graduating with honors from a prominent British higher education institution to better defend workers’ rights in an increasingly complex labor landscape.

    Chester Hughes, who serves as Deputy General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) and holds a Senate seat in the country’s legislature, completed his Bachelor of Laws with Honors (LLB Hons) at Arden University in the United Kingdom, earning the distinguished classification of Upper Second-Class Honours. The ABWU made the formal announcement of Hughes’ achievement earlier this week, framing the graduation as a key step forward in his ongoing development as both a scholar and a labor leader.

    Hughes pursued the degree while balancing a demanding full-time role at the union, a feat that required rigorous time management and personal sacrifice. To accommodate his professional duties, he rearranged his schedule to fit early-morning classes and dedicated late-night hours to coursework and exam preparation. Because the program centered on the United Kingdom’s legal framework, he invested extra hours in independent research and targeted study to fully master the specialized curriculum.

    In comments shared ahead of the announcement, Hughes explained that his decision to pursue legal training was rooted in shifting dynamics in industrial relations across the region. As more companies retain legal representation to advocate for their interests in labor disputes, trade unions must evolve their own capabilities to avoid being at a disadvantage when fighting for their members’ rights, he argued.

    “This degree is intended to elevate my capacity as a trade unionist in Antigua and Barbuda, particularly as the landscape of industrial relations evolves,” Hughes explained. “With an increasing number of lawyers representing companies in labor matters, unions must adapt to these changing times to effectively advocate for their members.”

    Looking ahead, Hughes has laid out clear next steps to translate his academic achievement into practical advocacy for working people. He plans to travel to the United Kingdom next to complete required bar training, before returning to the Caribbean to finish the conversion process that will allow him to be admitted to the bar in Antigua and Barbuda, as well as across member states of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

    Beyond his own career, Hughes also hopes his achievement will inspire fellow labor organizers across the region to prioritize ongoing professional development through education. He emphasized that his ultimate goal is to use his new legal expertise to deliver stronger representation and more effective support for working people across Antigua and Barbuda.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Names 16 for 2026 ANOCES Track & Field Championships

    Antigua and Barbuda Names 16 for 2026 ANOCES Track & Field Championships

    Ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 ANOCES Track and Field Championships scheduled to take place in St. Kitts from July 4 to 5, 2026, Antigua and Barbuda has finalized a competitive 16-athlete roster that will carry the nation’s flag at the regional sporting event. This championship participation comes as part of a broader regional development initiative backed by Panam Sports, which has partnered with the Association of National Olympic Committees of the Eastern Caribbean (ANOCES) and local National Olympic Committees to elevate competitive sports across the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The collaboration extends beyond track and field, with targeted support for five key disciplines: swimming, table tennis, 3×3 basketball, athletics, and beach volleyball, all aimed at strengthening grassroots and elite sporting ecosystems across the region. The Antigua and Barbuda track and field delegation features a mix of decorated veteran competitors and rising young talents who have already proven their skill at regional competitions. Headlined by national 100m and 200m champion Geolyna Dowdye, the women’s squad also includes CARIFTA silver medal javelin thrower Zonique Charles, sprinters Soniya Jones, 400m specialists Kettia Ambrose and Shenika Bentick. On the men’s side, the roster boasts CARIFTA bronze medal javelin thrower Maliek Francis, alongside sprinters Jalen Dyett and Kadeem Campbell, 400m runners Cleon Joseph and Dion Shaw, 400m hurdler Craig Prendrgast, 100m standout Amori Jules, long jumper Terrance Thomas, shot putter Christopher Johnson, and 1500m runners Shawn-ze Joseph and Devon James. In addition to individual events across sprints, middle-distance races, jumps, throws and hurdles, Antigua and Barbuda will also field teams for three relay competitions: the mixed 4×400m relay, men’s 4×100m relay, and women’s 4×100m relay, bringing additional opportunities for podium finishes. In an official statement marking the team announcement, Cliff Williams, Secretary General of the Antigua and Barbuda National Olympic Committee (ABNOC) and sitting ANOCES Board Member, expressed gratitude for the ongoing institutional support that makes this regional competition participation possible. “We are grateful to Panam Sports and ANOCES for their continued support of regional programmes that strengthen competition across the OECS, and to the Antigua and Barbuda Athletics Association for their leadership in assembling this team, and the ABNOC, who lead this charge,” Williams said. “I wish our athletes every success and encourage all Antiguans and Barbudans to rally behind them as they compete with pride on behalf of our nation.” Beyond official team delegation duties, Williams will also take on additional responsibilities during the St. Kitts event, participating in planning discussions for future ANOCES competitions and attending the organization’s upcoming congress. The 16-member athletic delegation will be led by veteran sporting officials Heather Samuel-Daley, Kesswin Anthony, and former elite sprinter Daniel Bailey, who will guide the team through preparations and competition in St. Kitts.

  • Antigua Slipway Launches Second Phase of Marine Railway Redevelopment

    Antigua Slipway Launches Second Phase of Marine Railway Redevelopment

    Antigua Slipway, a key player in the Caribbean’s maritime infrastructure sector, has officially initiated the second phase of its transformative marine railway redevelopment initiative, marking a major milestone in the island nation’s effort to boost its blue economy and shipping capabilities.

    The project, which first broke ground in 2022, targets a complete overhaul of the aging marine railway that has served Antigua’s commercial shipping, yacht maintenance, and fishing industries for more than six decades. The first phase, completed in late 2023, delivered critical upgrades to the railway’s foundation and power systems, clearing the way for the more complex work now underway.

    In this second stage of development, crews will focus on installing a higher-capacity winching system, expanding the railway’s loading capacity to accommodate vessels up to 1,200 tons – a 50% increase from the facility’s previous limit. Additional upgrades include resurfacing the 300-meter slipway track, adding modern hydraulic stabilization systems, and constructing a new on-site maintenance workshop for railway equipment. Project leaders expect the work to take approximately 12 months to complete, weather permitting.

    Local economic officials have highlighted the redevelopment’s far-reaching benefits for Antigua and Barbuda. Once fully operational, the upgraded facility is projected to cut vessel turnaround times by nearly 40%, attracting more international yachting clients and commercial shipping operators that currently seek maintenance services in other regional hubs. It is also estimated to create more than 80 new full-time construction jobs during the second phase, with 35 permanent positions added once the project is fully completed.

    Environmental sustainability is also a core focus of the expansion. Project designers have incorporated erosion control measures along the waterfront, implemented a stormwater management system to reduce runoff pollution into the Caribbean Sea, and sourced 30% of construction materials from local suppliers to cut the project’s carbon footprint.

    Industry analysts note that the upgrade positions Antigua Slipway as a leading maritime service center in the Eastern Caribbean, supporting the country’s growing tourism and logistics sectors while reinforcing its position as a key stopover for transatlantic and regional shipping routes.

  • Antigua Grammar School Alumni Donate Toward Steelpan Program

    Antigua Grammar School Alumni Donate Toward Steelpan Program

    A quarter-century after graduating from Antigua Grammar School, the 1999 Form 5 cohort has made a meaningful contribution to lifting up current students, stepping forward to donate funds to grow the institution’s beloved music program.

    Organized collectively by members of the school’s Form 5A and Form 5 Alpha groups, the contribution is earmarked specifically for acquiring new steelpans, a key instrument that is central to Caribbean musical culture and the school’s existing music education work, the school confirmed in an official statement.

    Dr. Jonah Greene, principal of Antigua Grammar School, extended sincere gratitude to the returning alumni on behalf of the entire school community, framing the gift as far more than a simple financial contribution. Instead, he emphasized that it is a targeted investment in the raw talent and long-term futures of the young people currently learning and growing at the school.

    “Their contribution, which will go towards the purchase of steelpans, is more than a gift of instruments. It is an investment in the talents, creativity, and future of our students,” Greene shared in his remarks.

    Greene went on to note that the alumni’s gesture speaks volumes about the lifelong, enduring bonds that graduates maintain with their alma mater. It also highlights the longstanding culture of “Old Boys” — former male students of the institution — stepping up to lift up the next generation of learners that walk the school’s halls.

    This ethos of community support and ongoing growth aligns perfectly with Antigua Grammar School’s official motto, Semper Virens, which translates to “ever flourishing” in Latin, the principal added.

    Closing his message, Greene once again expressed appreciation for the cohort’s generosity, and issued a gentle call to action for other alumni across all graduating classes to carry forward the powerful tradition of giving back to the institution that shaped them. For current students, the donation will not only expand access to music education but also serve as a lasting reminder of the support network that stands behind them as they develop their skills.

  • Antigua and Barbuda Delegate Elected Co-Chair at Basel Convention Meeting

    Antigua and Barbuda Delegate Elected Co-Chair at Basel Convention Meeting

    A major milestone for small island nation Antigua and Barbuda has emerged from global environmental negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, as one of the country’s representatives earned a top leadership position at the 15th Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal.

    The four-day summit, held from June 23 to 26, brought two official delegates from Antigua and Barbuda to the negotiating table: Laël Bertide-Josiah, a microbiologist with the country’s Department of Analytical Services, and Nneka Nicholas, a Crown Counsel operating out of the Attorney General’s Chambers. By vote of attending international representatives, Nicholas was selected to serve as co-chair of the working group meeting, marking a notable recognition of the Caribbean nation’s growing role in global environmental governance.

    Over the course of negotiations, delegates from across the globe hammered out policy frameworks to guide the work of the convention in the years leading up to the 18th Conference of the Parties, scheduled for 2027. The meeting closed with formal adoption of 19 binding decisions that cover a sweeping array of pressing waste management challenges.

    These policy outcomes address critical operational and emerging issues, ranging from updates to the convention’s foundational prior informed consent procedure and standardized technical guidelines for waste disposal, to mandatory national reporting requirements and the rollout of modern electronic systems for tracking waste notification and movement documents. Negotiators also prioritized action on two fast-growing global waste streams: plastic pollution and discarded used textiles, alongside clarifying ambiguous legal language, expanding the scope of the Basel Convention Partnership Programme, and strengthening collaborative mechanisms with two key intergovernmental bodies, the World Customs Organization and the International Maritime Organization.

    Bertide-Josiah contributed directly to deliberations focused on setting global standards for the environmentally sound management of both hazardous waste and other types of commercial and industrial waste, representing Antigua and Barbuda’s interests and priorities in these discussions.

    In a post-meeting statement, Antigua and Barbuda’s Department of Analytical Services emphasized that the country’s active participation and the election of its delegate to a co-chair role underscores the nation’s long-standing, unwavering commitment to advancing multilateral environmental governance and advancing sustainable waste management practices through ongoing engagement with the Basel Convention framework.

  • Young Senator Thanks His ‘Political Mother’ D. Gisele Isaac for mentorship

    Young Senator Thanks His ‘Political Mother’ D. Gisele Isaac for mentorship

    A rising star in the national legislative landscape has opened up about the transformative impact of a veteran political figure who guided his early steps in public service, calling her his ‘political mother’ in a heartfelt public acknowledgment. The first-term senator, who won his seat on a platform of generational change and community-centered policy, recently spoke at a local civic event where he took the opportunity to highlight the critical role D. Gisele Isaac played in his political emergence.

    Long before the young lawmaker launched his first campaign for city council, Isaac, a decades-long public servant with deep roots in grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy, took him under her wing. She taught him the nuances of constituent outreach, walked him through the process of drafting legislation, and instilled in him a core commitment to ethical governance that he says still defines his work today. For many in local political circles, the mentorship pairing has been an open secret, one that bridges the gap between established institutional knowledge and the new wave of political leadership pushing for systemic reform.

    In his remarks, the senator recounted early mornings spent reviewing policy proposals at Isaac’s kitchen table and late-night phone calls asking for advice when he faced his first tough electoral battles. He emphasized that mentorship in politics is far too often overlooked, noting that leaders who make space for rising talent are the ones who build sustainable, responsive political movements. “I would not be standing here today without Gisele’s patience, her honesty, and her willingness to lift up a young person who wanted to make a difference,” the senator said. “She didn’t just give me a chance—she taught me how to lead with empathy, something no textbook or campaign workshop can ever fully teach you.”

    Isaac, who has largely stepped back from frontline politics in recent years to focus on cultivating new leadership, attended the event and responded to the tribute with warm remarks of her own. She praised the senator’s commitment to his constituents and said that investing in the next generation of public servants is the most enduring legacy any political leader can leave. The tribute has resonated across political circles, sparking wider conversations about the importance of intergenerational mentorship in building more inclusive and effective governance, as more young people enter politics seeking to address long-unresolved challenges facing the country.

  • Governor General Extends Condolences to Venezuela Following Deadly Earthquakes

    Governor General Extends Condolences to Venezuela Following Deadly Earthquakes

    In the wake of destructive earthquakes that left a trail of death, injury and massive infrastructural damage across Venezuela, the highest-ranking representative of Antigua and Barbuda has formally offered the nation’s deepest sympathies to the affected South American country.

    Governor General Sir Rodney Williams communicated Antigua and Barbuda’s collective grief through an official letter dated June 25, addressed to Carmen Velásquez de Visbal, Venezuela’s incumbent ambassador to the twin-island nation. In the correspondence, Sir Rodney instructed that the message of condolence also be passed to Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, the entire Venezuelan cabinet and the broader Venezuelan public.

    “It is with profound sadness that we learned of the devastating earthquakes which have struck the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, resulting in the tragic loss of life, numerous injuries and widespread destruction,” Sir Rodney wrote in the formal statement.

    The Governor General directed a special message of condolence to families who had lost relatives and close ones in the seismic events, adding sincere wishes that every person injured in the quakes would regain full health quickly and without complication. “Our thoughts and prayers are especially with the families who have lost loved ones. We also extend our sincere wishes for the swift and full recovery of all those who have been injured, and for strength and comfort to everyone affected by this tragedy,” he emphasized.

    Beyond expressing sympathy, Sir Rodney used the letter to publicly reaffirm that Antigua and Barbuda stands firmly behind Venezuela as it begins the long, challenging process of recovery and reconstruction. “The people of Antigua and Barbuda stand in solidarity with the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela during this difficult time,” he noted. “Please assure Her Excellency the President that we stand ready to support Venezuela in whatever way we can as the nation undertakes the difficult task of recovery and rebuilding.”

    The official correspondence closed with renewed formal assurances of Antigua and Barbuda’s highest respect and unwavering solidarity, as Venezuela enters a period of national mourning for the lives lost to the disaster.

  • Four Elite Island Resorts Chefs Earn Prestigious American Culinary Federation Certified Executive Chef Designation

    Four Elite Island Resorts Chefs Earn Prestigious American Culinary Federation Certified Executive Chef Designation

    Four culinary professionals from Elite Island Resorts, a leading hospitality brand across Antigua & Barbuda, have achieved one of the most respected credentials in the global food service industry: the Certified Executive Chef (CEC) designation from the American Culinary Federation (ACF). The milestone is being formally celebrated by the Antigua & Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA) as a major win for the destination’s burgeoning culinary and tourism sectors.

    The newly certified culinary leaders are Dwaney Roberts, Executive Chef at Pineapple Beach Club; Paul Lawrence, Executive Chef at The Verandah Antigua; James Hibbert, Executive Chef at St. James’s Club Antigua; and Caden Dobson, Executive Sous Chef at St. James’s Club Antigua. Widely regarded as one of the highest professional honors in global culinary arts, the CEC credential is only awarded to candidates who pass a rigorous battery of both practical and theoretical assessments. These evaluations test mastery of advanced cooking techniques, food safety protocols, nutritional science, food service cost control, kitchen operations management, team leadership, and overall operational excellence.

    For each of the four chefs, the achievement caps years of intentional skill-building and unwavering commitment to culinary excellence, with personal journeys rooted in early passion for the craft. Roberts, who has built a 20-plus-year career with Elite Island Resorts, calls the CEC designation the pinnacle of his professional life. “The certification process was both demanding and rewarding, requiring practical and theoretical assessment. Successfully completing it is a testament to my commitment to continuous learning and excellence in the culinary profession,” he said. As Roberts prepares to join a culinary exchange program in St. Lucia, the achievement has boosted his confidence to represent his resort, his employer, and Antigua & Barbuda on an international stage, he added, crediting Elite Island Resorts for investing heavily in his career growth from entry-level to executive chef.

    Lawrence echoed that sentiment, noting that the certification journey pushed him to grow both personally and professionally. “Becoming a Certified Executive Chef wasn’t simply about earning a title, it was about proving to myself that I could meet one of the highest professional standards in the culinary industry,” he explained. The process required months of disciplined preparation, demonstrating technical mastery in the kitchen and deep knowledge of management, nutrition, safety, and leadership. Lawrence emphasized that the milestone reinforces his responsibility to mentor young local chefs and uphold the highest standards for guests, adding that he hopes his achievement inspires other emerging culinary professionals in Antigua & Barbuda to pursue globally recognized credentials. “Excellence is achieved through dedication, continuous learning, and an unwavering passion for the craft,” he said.

    For Hibbert, the CC credential honors a 26-year culinary career that began with learning to cook alongside his grandmother as a child. After studying food and nutrition and honing his skills in a range of kitchen environments, he worked his way up from a line cook role he took in 2000 to his first senior executive position in 2020. “Earning my Executive Chef certification from the American Culinary Federation is a proud milestone that honours my years of consistent focus. I am incredibly thankful to my current employer for actively investing in my career progression,” Hibbert said.

    Dobson’s journey also started in family: he grew up helping his mother in her small restaurant, where he discovered his love of cooking before pursuing formal training at Jamaica’s HEART Trust/NTA. After gaining experience in one of Jamaica’s top luxury hotels, he joined Elite Island Resorts, where he refined his skills in international hospitality and leadership. “Earning my Certified Executive Chef credential from the American Culinary Federation represents the pinnacle of my dedication, continuous growth, and unwavering commitment to culinary excellence,” Dobson said, noting the achievement will drive him to keep innovating and mentor emerging culinary talent.

    Sanjay Ambrose, Managing Director of Elite Island Resorts, congratulated the four chefs on their historic achievement. “We are incredibly proud of these four extraordinary chefs for reaching this pinnacle of professional excellence. Their dedication to mastering their craft reflects the exact standard of culinary quality we strive to deliver to our resort guests every day,” Ambrose said. He added that the milestone underscores the company’s core commitment to investing in local talent development and elevating guest culinary experiences across all of its Caribbean properties. The four new CECs now join an elite global network of fewer than 2,000 certified executive chefs worldwide.

    The certification milestone does more than recognize individual achievement: it significantly strengthens Antigua and Barbuda’s overall culinary profile by expanding the pool of internationally certified executive chefs working in the country’s $2.6 billion tourism industry, which is the backbone of the nation’s economy. ABHTA notes that the chefs’ success highlights the exceptional quality of local Caribbean culinary talent while reinforcing the value of ongoing professional development and mentorship in the hospitality sector. The industry association has formally congratulated the four chefs on their accomplishment and their contribution to advancing culinary excellence across Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism sector.

  • Begroting 2026 aangenomen: president Simons roept op tot nationale samenwerking en realisme

    Begroting 2026 aangenomen: president Simons roept op tot nationale samenwerking en realisme

    In an overnight marathon voting session that concluded 13 days ahead of the original legislative schedule, Suriname’s National Assembly has formally passed the country’s 2026 national budget. The budget bill secured backing from 31 ruling coalition lawmakers, while all 16 members of the opposition VHP faction cast opposing votes. Four additional supplementary motions submitted during the deliberations have been scheduled for debate and voting at a later legislative session.

    Following the budget’s approval, President Jennifer Simons delivered a keynote address calling for unified collaboration between the ruling coalition and opposition parties to ready Suriname for its impending large-scale oil and gas development. Simons emphasized that the country is entering a make-or-break historical period, where partisan political differences must take a backseat to the overarching national interest.

    The president outlined that the administration has intentionally pursued a targeted economic recovery strategy that prioritizes addressing the country’s most pressing infrastructure and service backlogs first. Key priority areas outlined in the plan include the rehabilitation of aging school facilities, expanded investments in public healthcare, strengthening domestic agricultural production, and advancing long-term economic diversification away from reliance on extractive industries. “We did not make empty promises to the Surinamese people that every lingering problem would be solved within a matter of hundreds of days – that would be dishonest,” Simons stated. “What we have pledged is to take consistent, tangible steps forward every single day.”

    Simons acknowledged that Suriname still remains in a fragile macroeconomic position, but noted that recent independent international economic assessments confirm that the government’s current policy framework has restored stability to the national economy after years of volatility. Even with this progress, she warned that the national budget deficit must remain strictly contained, and cannot be allowed to grow further in the coming fiscal year.

    A central focus of Simons’ address was the government’s comprehensive preparedness plan for the expanding oil and gas sector. She announced that the administration is developing a national strategic roadmap for the industry, which will include input not only from ruling coalition parties but also opposition representatives, labor unions, and a broad range of civil society organizations. The government is also moving forward with finalizing design of the national Savings and Stabilization Fund to manage resource revenue responsibly, implementing a new local content policy to maximize domestic benefits from energy development, modernizing the national tax authority, and advancing widespread digitalization of government services to boost administrative capacity and reduce opportunities for corruption. Simons confirmed that the tender process for the broad government digitalization initiative will launch in July 2026.

    On the topic of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and government revenue expansion, Simons confirmed that the administration will continue conducting rigorous performance reviews of all state-run entities. SOEs that face persistent structural losses or are proven to be economically unviable will either undergo deep institutional reform or be divested from public ownership. To boost government revenue, the administration is also focusing on strengthening tax collection capacity, improving collection of land rent payments, and implementing targeted regulatory reforms in the artisanal gold mining sector.

    Closing her address, Simons renewed her call for cross-party collaboration that transcends partisan divides. “I believe in Suriname,” she said. “If we pair constructive policy criticism with shared purpose and consistent collaboration, and keep taking steady steps forward every day, then in just a few years we will be able to stand together and say: we did this, we succeeded.”

  • Rotaract Club of Antigua Thanks Supporters as 2025-26 Rotary Year Ends

    Rotaract Club of Antigua Thanks Supporters as 2025-26 Rotary Year Ends

    As the 2025-26 Rotary international service year draws to a close, the Rotaract Club of Antigua is publicly acknowledging the critical role that its wide network of sponsors, partners, presenters, individual supporters and friends have played in advancing its work across the island. In an official end-of-year statement, the youth-led service organization emphasized that every form of support it received over the past 12 months — from financial sponsorships and in-kind donations to collaborative partnerships, venue access, shared professional expertise, active participation and simple words of encouragement — laid the groundwork for a full slate of successful initiatives.

    Operating under the 2025-26 Rotary theme “Service Beyond Borders: Unite. Inspire. Lead.”, the Antigua club structured its programming around eight core priority areas: expanding grassroots community service, creating professional development pathways for young people, fostering member fellowship, growing its membership base, raising public awareness around critical health topics, increasing youth engagement in civic action, and running strategic fundraising campaigns to sustain future projects. The collective backing from external stakeholders allowed the organization to scale these efforts far beyond what it could have achieved independently, turning planned small-scale projects into impactful programs that reached more community members.

    Club President Martina Lewis delivered the formal message of gratitude on behalf of the 2025-26 Board of Directors and the club’s entire membership, noting that external partnerships were not just helpful but foundational to advancing the organization’s core mission of service and youth empowerment. Looking ahead to the upcoming Rotary year, the Rotaract Club of Antigua says it is eager to deepen its connections with existing supporters, build new collaborative relationships with cross-sector stakeholders, and continue delivering work that creates long-lasting positive change for communities across Antigua.