The candidacy of two representatives from the New Democratic Party (NDP) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has been challenged by the Unity Labour Party (ULP). The ULP alleges that the candidates, Dr. Godwin Friday and Mr. Fitzgerald Bramble, hold Canadian citizenship, which they argue disqualifies them from contesting the upcoming general elections on November 27. The challenge centers on Section 26 of the SVG Constitution, which prohibits individuals under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign state from holding parliamentary office. Despite the challenge, both candidates were successfully nominated. The ULP may pursue legal action, which, if successful, could disqualify the candidates and force them to vacate their seats if elected. The case hinges on whether Canada, as a Commonwealth member, is considered a foreign state under SVG law. Legal precedents in the Caribbean suggest that dual citizenship can disqualify candidates, as it may create divided loyalties. The outcome of this challenge could significantly impact the election results, particularly in the Northern Grenadines and East Kingstown constituencies. The NDP risks losing votes in these areas if the candidates are disqualified, potentially altering the political landscape of SVG.
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Dominican-led New Jersey youth basketball program achieves #1 ranking
Pro Dev Unlimited, a grassroots basketball initiative founded by Dominican native Khalil Brown, has risen to prominence as New Jersey’s top independent basketball program, according to NJHoopsHub, a leading sports media outlet. The organization, dedicated to youth athletic training and personal development, has achieved remarkable success, including facilitating over $2 million in athletic and academic scholarships and securing more than 100 championship titles. Pro Dev’s mission is to provide overlooked athletes with opportunities to excel both on and off the court. Its holistic approach includes collaborations with institutions like the Johnson Brown Academy and Passion Pursuit Academy, focusing on academic and athletic growth. Additionally, Pro Dev partners with Prociety, led by Marques Johnson, and the Left Coast Legends AAU team, which has earned national recognition in youth basketball. The program’s effectiveness is evident in its alumni, including NBA players like Austin Reaves and Jake LaRavia, as well as athletes who have visited prestigious NCAA Division I programs. Founder Khalil Brown emphasized the organization’s commitment to scaling its impact globally, with expansion plans in key U.S. markets and international locations like Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Pro Dev is also launching an American football program and partnering with New Jersey Elite to compete in the Nike EYBL Circuit starting in 2026. The organization is actively seeking corporate and philanthropic partnerships to support its mission of transforming young lives through sports and education.
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Chef Ronald Reagan Wilson to Represent Antigua and Barbuda at Saint Martin’s Festival de la Gastronomie
Chef Ronald Reagan Wilson, the esteemed Head Chef at Blue Waters Hotel, has been selected to represent Antigua and Barbuda at the prestigious Festival de la Gastronomie in Saint Martin. This announcement was made by the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association, underscoring the nation’s commitment to showcasing its culinary prowess on a regional stage. Wilson is set to take center stage at the festival’s grand finale on November 22, where he will unveil two of his signature creations: a tantalizing dish of fungee paired with a passion fruit and ginger dipping sauce, and the innovative Chop-Up Churri. The festival, a celebrated gathering of culinary experts and food aficionados from across the Caribbean, provides a platform for Wilson to highlight the rich flavors and traditions of Antigua and Barbuda. His participation not only elevates the country’s culinary reputation but also fosters cultural exchange and appreciation within the region.
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Cloudflare Says It Has Fixed Problem After Global Website Outage
Cloudflare, a leading internet infrastructure provider, faced a significant service disruption on Tuesday, impacting multiple services across its global network. The incident began at 11:48 UTC when the company detected an internal service degradation affecting application services, dashboard access, and WARP connectivity. Customers reported elevated error rates and intermittent failures as Cloudflare engineers worked to diagnose and address the issue. Throughout the afternoon, the company provided frequent updates on its progress. At one point, engineers temporarily disabled WARP access in London, advising users in the region to expect connectivity issues while fixes were being implemented. By 13:09 UTC, Cloudflare identified the root cause and began deploying a solution. Services gradually recovered, with error rates normalizing shortly thereafter. Dashboard access was fully restored at 14:34 UTC, and by 14:42 UTC, the company confirmed that a complete fix had been applied. Cloudflare assured users that the incident had been resolved and that ongoing monitoring would ensure system stability. Earlier in the day, the company also addressed a separate issue with its support portal, caused by problems with a third-party provider. While customers may have experienced errors when viewing cases, the company confirmed that responses to inquiries were unaffected. Cloudflare has yet to disclose the specific cause of the outage.
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PM defends St. Jude handover, cites delivery record
During a routine press conference on Monday, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre addressed the public’s concerns regarding the recent handover ceremony of St. Jude Hospital. In response to opposition claims questioning the hospital’s readiness, Pierre firmly stated that the facility is fully completed and has been officially transferred to the Ministry of Health for commissioning. He highlighted that key sections of the hospital, including the administrative block, kitchen, laundry, and physiotherapy ward, are already operational, with a significant portion of the hospital’s equipment having arrived. Pierre emphasized that the hospital is poised to become a modern healthcare facility, with commissioning and accreditation processes set to occur concurrently. However, he did not provide a specific timeline for the completion of these processes.
When questioned about his confidence and that of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) ahead of the December 1 elections, Pierre expressed his faith in divine providence and the electorate. He pointed to the government’s documented achievements, including a 34-page booklet detailing their accomplishments across various sectors. Pierre urged the public to allow the SLP to continue its work, citing their proven track record of delivering on promises. Additionally, he reaffirmed his commitment to granting Saint Lucians a VAT-free day in December if re-elected, attributing this possibility to the government’s strong revenue performance. Pierre explained that the economy has exceeded expectations, enabling the government to return a portion of the revenue to the public as a gesture of appreciation for their contributions to the nation’s economic success.
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Gajadien vraagt PG onderzoek naar onbevoegde beslissingen en corruptie bij BBS
Asiskumar Gajadien, a parliamentarian from the VHP party, has formally requested Suriname’s Attorney General, Garcia Paraghsingh, to initiate a criminal investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding recent promotions within the Surinamese Security and Support Service (BBS). Gajadien’s appeal is rooted in serious indications that legal protocols were violated, decisions were made without proper authority, and potential corrupt practices may have occurred.
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Tropical Thunder crowned Barbados Beach Soccer champions
In a spectacular display of skill and teamwork, Tropical Thunder claimed victory at the Barbados Beach Soccer Championship on Sunday, defeating the Beach Blitzers 6-1 in a commanding final at Browne’s Beach. The match, which concluded weeks of intense competition, highlighted the prowess of Barbados’ top beach soccer talent. Jamar Crouch Grazettes was awarded Man of the Match for his exceptional performance, and the team secured the $10,000 winners’ prize. Coached by Edwyn Wood and led by captain Peter Grazettes, Tropical Thunder dominated the tournament, culminating in a decisive win. Post-match, Grazettes emphasized the importance of maintaining the championship on the local sports calendar, expressing hopes for future national team success and qualification for the Soccer Beach World Cup. The final saw standout performances from Romario Savoury, who scored a hat-trick, and Jamar Grazettes, who shared the Golden Boot award with 17 goals. The third-place match, a thrilling penalty shootout, saw Sea Breeze overcome Bajan Heat after a hard-fought battle.
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Why CEOs should never be first to speak after a data breach
On November 11, 2025, the Data Protection Commissioner delivered a keynote address at a workshop organized by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Barbados Chapter. Her speech highlighted the persistent challenges faced by organizations in Barbados and the wider Caribbean in effectively communicating data breaches. She emphasized that delays in disclosure, incomplete information, and softened facts during critical moments are eroding public trust and exposing individuals to unnecessary risks.
The Commissioner identified a broader regional issue: poor breach communication, limited preparedness, and the urgent need for robust incident response frameworks. She noted that many organizations mistakenly believe data breaches only occur through cyberattacks, overlooking the misuse of personal information within their systems. For instance, financial institutions often repurpose customer data for unrelated purposes without consent, a practice that could lead to severe public backlash and regulatory scrutiny if exposed.
A significant gap in breach management, she argued, is the lack of structured crisis communication strategies. Too often, breaches are treated as technical or legal issues rather than public trust events. Executives, driven by personal accountability, tend to issue premature statements that downplay the situation, leading to avoidable reputational damage. The Commissioner stressed that trained communicators, not CEOs or IT heads, should lead public updates to ensure accuracy, professionalism, and consistency.
She called for organizations to adopt a disciplined approach to breach response, starting with a factual holding message that acknowledges the incident, confirms containment efforts, and commits to updates as verified information becomes available. This approach, she noted, is crucial for maintaining public trust.
To strengthen breach readiness, the Commissioner urged organizations to develop comprehensive response plans that outline immediate actions, internal notifications, and regulatory obligations. Clear internal coordination among IT, legal, compliance, HR, and communications teams is essential to avoid panic and inconsistent messaging. Additionally, organizations must prioritize supporting affected individuals by providing clear instructions, reassurance, and timely updates.
The Commissioner’s remarks serve as a wake-up call for Caribbean organizations to rethink their handling of personal information and their response to breaches. She challenged executives to answer three critical questions: Who speaks first during a breach? What is communicated in the first six hours? Who verifies facts before release? Organizations that fail to address these questions, she warned, are unprepared for the inevitable.
Ultimately, the Commissioner emphasized that a breach is not just a technical incident but a test of an organization’s maturity, preparedness, and respect for the trust placed in it. By prioritizing transparency, disciplined communication, and public interest, organizations can rebuild trust and demonstrate their commitment to protection over concealment.
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‘More disruption ahead’ after record floods in multiple districts
Barbados remains on high alert following unprecedented rainfall on Sunday, which triggered widespread flooding across the island. Over nine inches (228.6 mm) of rain fell within a 24-hour period, submerging communities in multiple parishes, overwhelming emergency services, and tragically claiming the life of one man swept away by floodwaters. The Barbados Meteorological Services has warned that the unstable weather conditions are likely to continue into the early part of the week, with sporadic moderate to heavy showers potentially prompting flash flood alerts at short notice. Deputy Director Brian Murray explained that a combination of weather systems, including a surface to low-level trough enhanced by a favorable upper-level environment, created ideal conditions for prolonged heavy rains. The northern parishes were particularly affected during the morning and early afternoon, leading to the issuance of a flash flood warning for the region. However, as the day progressed, the entire island experienced severe flooding, with roads submerged, drainage systems overwhelmed, and emergency services stretched to their limits. While some relief is expected by the end of the week, with improved weather conditions forecasted from Friday, the island continues to grapple with the aftermath of this devastating event.
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Grief in Lucas Street as family mourns road crash victim
The tight-knit community of Lucas Street in St Philip is in mourning following the tragic death of 29-year-old Rajani Obrien Parris, described by neighbors as a kind and selfless individual. Parris was struck and killed by a vehicle on Foursquare Road last Tuesday night around 11:20 PM, succumbing to his injuries at the scene. Known for his unwavering generosity, Parris was remembered by a neighbor as someone who would always lend a helping hand, regardless of his own struggles. ‘Rajani was a sweet boy,’ the neighbor shared, standing near his family home. ‘He would do anything for you. It’s heartbreaking that he had to go like this.’ At the family residence, Parris’ sister Rachaela Barton and mother Suzette Barton-Greenidge expressed their profound grief, recalling him as a loving and compassionate soul. His mother revealed that Parris had no children or long-term partner and had recently stopped working, dividing his time between their home and his brother’s residence. The community continues to grapple with the loss of a young man whose kindness left a lasting impact on those who knew him.