作者: admin

  • WATCH: 41-Year-Old British-Antiguan Whylee O’Brien Attains Combat Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt

    WATCH: 41-Year-Old British-Antiguan Whylee O’Brien Attains Combat Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt

    For 41-year-old British-Antiguan Whylee O’Brien, a years-long journey of grueling training, unshakable discipline, and relentless commitment has reached a historic milestone: the award of a Combat Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Hailing from New Winthropes Village, O’Brien’s hard-won achievement has sparked widespread celebration across his tight-knit family and the broader Antiguan community, who have long watched him pursue this goal with steady determination.
    O’Brien carries a legacy of excellence in his family lineage: he is the great-grandson of the late Mary Henry, a beloved community figure known affectionately to many as “Mem”, and the nephew of celebrated Antiguan writer William Henry. His historic black belt win adds a notable new chapter to a family tradition defined by resilience, dedication, and outstanding achievement across generations.
    Earning a black belt stands as one of the most respected and challenging milestones in global martial arts, demanding far more than just elite physical technique. Candidates must cultivate exceptional mental fortitude, rigorous self-discipline, unwavering focus, and a deep-rooted respect for the art, their training partners, and their instructors. Over more than a decade of consistent practice, O’Brien has embodied all of these core values, turning in thousands of hours of mat work to refine his skills and push past personal and physical obstacles.
    Family members who have supported O’Brien throughout his journey describe him as naturally focused, tirelessly hardworking, and unwaveringly determined—traits that allowed him to push through setbacks and stay aligned with his long-term goal of reaching black belt status. His accomplishment does more than mark a personal victory: it serves as a powerful reminder of how consistent discipline and patient effort can unlock extraordinary results, even for the most ambitious goals.
    At a moment when young people across Antigua and Barbuda crave relatable, grounded positive role models, O’Brien’s journey stands out as a source of widespread inspiration. His success proves that with sustained commitment, patience, and a willingness to put in daily work, even the most daunting personal goals are within reach.
    The milestone has filled his family, friends, and long-time supporters with immense collective pride, all of whom have followed his growth from a new martial arts student to a black belt credentialed practitioner. As he accepts this well-earned recognition, O’Brien stands as a powerful testament to the raw talent and untapped potential of young people across Antigua and Barbuda.
    His family has issued a public statement extending warm congratulations to O’Brien on claiming this prestigious honor, and expressing their excitement to see what he achieves next in both his martial arts career and personal pursuits outside the dojo. O’Brien and his family also extended special public recognition and deepest gratitude to his long-time trainer, Kevin O’Hagan, whose guidance and mentorship were instrumental to reaching this milestone. In the end, O’Brien’s achievement is not just a personal win—it is a moment of national pride for the entire Antiguan community.

  • Cancer Centre Could Open by End of June, Health Minister Says

    Cancer Centre Could Open by End of June, Health Minister Says

    Antigua and Barbuda’s first dedicated, in-country cancer treatment centre is on track to welcome its first patients by the end of June, the nation’s Health Minister Michael Joseph has announced, a development poised to cut heavy government spending on overseas medical care and expand life-saving access for local residents.

    Speaking during an interview with Pointe FM’s popular current affairs show *On Pointe*, Minister Joseph emphasized that advancing the long-delayed launch of the facility has become a top priority for his ministry, as the government continues to face crippling annual costs from sending patients abroad for life-sustaining cancer care.

    “When the project was brought forward for discussion in Cabinet, I was given a clear timeline: the centre will be ready to open by the end of June,” Joseph told listeners.

    The minister shared new details highlighting just how pressing the need for a local treatment hub has become, revealing that in the past two weeks alone, his government has approved roughly $200,000 in public assistance to cover treatment costs for Antiguan and Barbudan cancer patients receiving care in Colombia.

    “Going over the approval protocols, I signed off on around $200,000 in just the last fortnight to support people currently undergoing treatment outside our borders,” he explained.

    Those staggering short-term costs underscore the urgent need to bring cancer care home, Joseph argued. When extrapolated over a full year, even the two-week spending figure illustrates how much public funding could be redirected to other critical healthcare needs once the centre is operational.

    “If we can deliver most of these treatments right here at home, we can cut those massive outbound expenses significantly,” he noted.

    Beyond easing the government’s fiscal burden, the in-country centre will remove major barriers to care for local residents, many of whom face additional stress and logistical challenges from having to travel abroad for treatment, away from their families and support systems.

    Looking ahead, the facility also has the potential to expand access to cancer care across the entire region, Joseph said. Eventually, the centre could accept patients from other member nations of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), extending its public health impact far beyond Antigua and Barbuda’s borders.

    The cancer centre is just one of several transformative healthcare projects the Ministry of Health is currently advancing, the minister added. Other key initiatives in the pipeline include the development of a new cardiac care unit and major expansions to the country’s public mental health services. For the coming months, however, launching the cancer treatment hub remains the ministry’s top near-term objective.

  • Margaret Price Findlay appointed the 14th Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

    Margaret Price Findlay appointed the 14th Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

    The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) has made a historic official announcement: His Majesty King Charles III, via formal letters patent, has named Her Ladyship the Honourable Madam Margaret Price Findlay as the 14th Chief Justice of the regional judicial body. The appointment is scheduled to take effect on April 9, 2026.

    Findlay will step into the top judicial role after a decades-long distinguished career spanning legal practice and judicial service across the Eastern Caribbean sub-region. Her career has been widely recognized for its consistent adherence to robust legal reasoning, exemplary public service, and an unshakable commitment to upholding equal justice for all communities in the region.

    As Chief Justice, Findlay will assume core responsibilities for strategic judicial leadership and comprehensive administrative oversight of the ECSC. The court serves a total of nine jurisdictions under the umbrella of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS): six fully independent member states and three British Overseas Territories.

    This appointment is far more than a routine leadership transition: it represents a landmark milestone for the ECSC and the broader Eastern Caribbean region in advancing judicial excellence, deepening cross-jurisdictional regional cooperation, and strengthening the foundation of the rule of law across the sub-region. Findlay’s ascent to the highest judicial office in the region is a direct reflection of her extraordinary long-term contributions to the regional judiciary and her proven track record of dedicated service to both justice and regional integration.

    Leadership of the ECSC has expressed full confidence that under Findlay’s stewardship, the court will continue to uphold and advance the highest standards of judicial integrity, excellence, and adaptive innovation to meet the evolving legal needs of the region.

  • State-owned Morgue Among Health Ministry Priorities, Joseph Reveals

    State-owned Morgue Among Health Ministry Priorities, Joseph Reveals

    In a recent public address on Pointe FM’s current affairs program *On Pointe*, Health Minister Michael Joseph has outlined a key infrastructure initiative aimed at overhauling the nation’s healthcare system: the establishment and operationalization of the country’s first dedicated public morgue, paired with a fully functional new autopsy suite. For years, the government has been forced to rely on private funeral homes to store deceased individuals awaiting post-mortem examination or burial, a arrangement that has steadily drained public health funds. According to Joseph, the new public facility will eliminate these recurring, unplanned expenditures, freeing up critical budget allocations that can be redirected to underfunded, high-priority areas of the healthcare sector. The minister emphasized that the morgue project is just one piece of a broader, multi-pronged strategy by the Ministry of Health to boost system-wide efficiency, optimize the use of limited public resources, and expand access to essential care services. Beyond the morgue and autopsy suite, the ministry is currently advancing several other transformative healthcare projects, including the upcoming opening of a dedicated cancer treatment center, long-term development plans for a new cardiac care unit, expanded access to community mental health services, and the construction of a specialized cognitive behavioral treatment center. As of the minister’s announcement, no official timeline has been released for the completion and opening of the new public morgue.

  • Daniel Cadet Remembered for Lifelong Contribution to Tourism

    Daniel Cadet Remembered for Lifelong Contribution to Tourism

    The Caribbean tourism community is in mourning this week after the passing of Daniel Cadet, a pioneering veteran whose decades-long dedication helped transform the hospitality sector of Antigua and Barbuda and leave an indelible mark across the entire region. In an official statement released Sunday, the Antigua and Barbuda Hotel and Tourism Association (ABHTA) led tributes to the iconic industry figure, celebrating a multi-faceted career that extended far beyond hotel operations to shape education, workforce development, and labor standards across the local sector.

    Over the course of his professional journey, Cadet occupied senior leadership roles at multiple prominent hospitality properties across Antigua and Barbuda, each time bringing a strategic, forward-thinking approach that drove growth and raised industry-wide benchmarks. What truly set Cadet apart, ABHTA emphasized, was his longstanding commitment to nurturing emerging talent through his work with the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute. As a mentor, he invested deeply in the professional growth of thousands of new professionals entering the tourism trade, equipping them with the skills and values to succeed in the competitive global hospitality landscape.

    Beyond his professional contributions, Cadet earned widespread respect for his collaborative approach to industry challenges and his consistent push for excellence across all areas of tourism operations. His strategic vision and steady leadership strengthened core industry institutions, creating a foundation that continues to support the sector’s growth today. “Mr. Cadet will be remembered as a respected leader, mentor, colleague, and friend whose legacy will continue to inspire future generations,” the ABHTA statement noted.

    The association has extended its deepest sympathies to Cadet’s family, including his wife, children, and grandchildren, as well as his extended network of friends, former colleagues, and collaborators across the global tourism industry. As tributes continue to pour in from across the Caribbean, Cadet is being remembered as a foundational figure in Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism evolution, leaving behind a enduring legacy of service, integrity, and professional excellence that will shape the sector for decades to come.

  • Small craft advisory for Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands…

    Small craft advisory for Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands…

    The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services has issued an urgent small craft advisory, warning of hazardous sea conditions across open Atlantic waters surrounding four major Eastern Caribbean island groups through the first half of this week. The alert, which was published at 5:45 p.m. local time on Monday, June 1, 2026, impacts open ocean areas extending 20 nautical miles off the Atlantic coastlines of Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands.

    Each affected region faces slightly different timing for the rough conditions, with dangerous seas expected to arrive pre-dawn and persist through midday Thursday for Antigua and Barbuda. For Anguilla, the hazardous conditions will kick in at midnight Tuesday and continue through Wednesday afternoon, while the British Virgin Islands will see the threat from pre-dawn Wednesday to midday the same day.

    Meteorologists attribute the unsafe conditions to a system of moderate to fresh east-southeast winds churning up a dangerous combination of wind-driven waves and swells across the region. Current wind readings over open waters range from 24 to 35 km/h (13 to 19 knots, 15 to 22 mph), with strong gusts reaching as high as 56 km/h (30 knots, 35 mph). Significant wave heights measure between 1.4 and 2.1 meters (4 to 7 feet) on average, with occasional local swells climbing to near 2.7 meters (9 feet). Dominant wind wave periods fall between 6 and 9 seconds, consistent with unstable sea conditions that meet small craft advisory thresholds.

    A small craft advisory is triggered when wind speeds reach 17 to 21 knots, or when wave heights hit 7 feet or higher – conditions that are either already present or imminent across the affected areas. Forecasters have categorized the current threat level as moderate, noting that it carries the potential for significant impacts to mariners and marine-related activity. Key risks include loss of life at sea, personal injury, vessel capsizing, damage or total loss of watercraft and marine equipment, and unexpected financial losses for local industries. The hazardous conditions are also expected to disrupt commercial and small-scale fishing operations, which could lead to temporary scarcity of local fish products, as well as delays and disruptions to regional marine transportation.

    In line with standard safety protocols, officials have issued a clear caution: inexperienced mariners, and all operators of smaller recreational and commercial vessels, should avoid navigating through the warned areas for the full duration of the advisory. The alert was issued by on-duty forecaster Letitia Humphreys.

  • Youth Ambassador Donates Menstrual Hygiene Supplies to Police Recruits

    Youth Ambassador Donates Menstrual Hygiene Supplies to Police Recruits

    On May 28, a meaningful community initiative led by CARICOM Youth Ambassador Chrysean Jarvis brought critical hygiene resources to new recruits of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, tying directly to global observances of Menstrual Hygiene Day. Jarvis and his volunteer team delivered a large shipment of essential supplies to Course #50 of the police training academy, where dozens of new recruits are currently completing their preparation for service.

    The donation package covered a wide range of necessary items, from general personal care products including toiletries and hand sanitizers to surface disinfectants, with a targeted focus on providing high-quality feminine hygiene products to support the health and dignity of female trainees in the cohort. Beyond the material contribution, the core mission of the project was to elevate public conversation around menstrual hygiene management, create safe spaces for open dialogue, and chip away at the persistent social stigma that still surrounds discussions of menstruation in many communities.

    During their visit to the police training facility, Jarvis and his team did not limit their engagement to the hygiene donation. They also held extended interactive discussions with the recruits about pressing topics that impact young people across Antigua and Barbuda, from expanding youth participation in public life to building cross-sector partnerships that address the most pressing challenges facing younger generations.

    The initiative drew broad support from local stakeholders, ranging from grassroots youth leaders to established community and private sector partners. Key backers included the National Youth Ambassador Corps, which operates under the country’s Department of Youth Affairs, and local private enterprise Ibrahim Construction Ltd.

    Leadership of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda issued a formal statement following the donation, expressing gratitude to Jarvis, his team, and all supporting organizations for their generous contribution and ongoing commitment to advancing youth empowerment and public health awareness across the nation.

  • Former Senator Mary-Clare Hurst To Be Laid To Rest Today

    Former Senator Mary-Clare Hurst To Be Laid To Rest Today

    The passing of veteran Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party figure and former government senator Mary-Clare Hurst has been followed by official confirmation of her funeral services, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 2. Born in November 1962, Hurst died on May 5, 2026, at the age of 63, leaving behind a decades-long legacy of public service and political leadership across the nation.

    Before the formal funeral ceremony, structured public viewings will be held at People’s Place to allow both loved ones and ordinary citizens to pay their final respects. The private viewing, reserved exclusively for immediate family and close personal friends, will run from 11:00 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. Immediately following that window, general public will have the opportunity to honor Hurst’s life between 11:40 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.

    The official funeral service will kick off at 1:30 p.m. at the SJPC House of Restoration Ministries, and will be led by Apostle Dr. Stephen Andrews. The service is designed to highlight and celebrate the profound impact Hurst had across Antigua and Barbuda’s political and social spheres throughout her career. Beyond her role as a sitting senator, Hurst also served as Leader of Government Business in the Senate, and held multiple long-standing leadership positions within the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party.

    In the weeks following her death, messages of condolence and tribute have flooded in from across the country. Political allies, current public officials, and local community leaders have consistently highlighted Hurst’s far-reaching contributions, from shaping the nation’s tourism sector to mentoring emerging public servants and steadying political leadership through pivotal moments. Many have noted her commitment to advancing public interest initiatives that benefited residents across the country, cementing her reputation as a dedicated servant of the Antiguan and Barbudan people.

  • New Guild President Urges UWI Five Islands Student Leaders to Serve With Purpose

    New Guild President Urges UWI Five Islands Student Leaders to Serve With Purpose

    A new era of student governance officially launched this week at The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, as incoming members of the Guild Council were sworn into their positions. In a ceremonial opening address, 2026–2027 Guild President Jake Taylor extended heartfelt congratulations to all new council members, framing the transition as a landmark moment for student leadership on campus.

    Taylor emphasized that the mandate granted to the council by the wider student body carries equal parts honor and weighty responsibility. Contrary to common misconceptions of student leadership roles as markers of status or personal prestige, the president stressed that every position on the council exists solely as a tool to advance the needs of the broader student population. Rather than holding titles for personal recognition, council members carry a core obligation to advocate for their peers, deliver accessible public service, and build tangible, long-lasting change that improves campus life for all students.

    At the core of his address, Taylor charged every incoming council member to center their work on the foundational philosophy of servant leadership. He redefined what effective student leadership looks like, arguing that success in these roles does not come from public attention or personal gain. Instead, true leadership means centering the needs of others before one’s own, prioritizing consistent action over empty titles, holding oneself accountable for outcomes, and being willing to make personal sacrifices for the collective good.

    The president acknowledged that the coming term will not be without its challenges. There will be moments when council members must go above and beyond their expected commitments, when hard, unpopular decisions demand action, and when unglamorous work goes unrecognized by the wider campus community. In these difficult moments, Taylor urged members to return to their core motivation for seeking office: every policy, every decision, and every action should be judged by one simple question: Does this improve the lives of the students we are elected to represent?

    To unify the council around a shared mission, Taylor called for a collective commitment to four core values: unwavering integrity, radical transparency in all decision-making, consistent professionalism in interactions with university administration and peers, and unified alignment around a common purpose of serving students. He urged council members to remain accessible to their constituents, respond quickly to student concerns, and never relent in the push for tangible, meaningful results. Most importantly, Taylor noted that the council’s success will not be measured by the number of promises it makes at the start of the term, but by how many of those promises it delivers on by the end of its tenure.

    Closing his address, Taylor expressed enthusiasm for the work ahead, noting that he is eager to collaborate with all new council members to write the next successful chapter in the campus Guild of Students’ history. He ended by extending a warm welcome to all incoming members, offering a blessing for a tenure defined by clear purpose, dedicated service, and lasting positive impact for the UWI Five Islands Campus community.

  • Ministry of Health Leads Interagency Preparedness Meeting on Ebola and Other Emerging Infectious Diseases

    Ministry of Health Leads Interagency Preparedness Meeting on Ebola and Other Emerging Infectious Diseases

    Against a backdrop of rising global concern over Ebola and a growing roster of emerging and re-emerging infectious disease threats, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs is moving proactively to shield the country’s borders and preserve population-wide public health.

    As a cornerstone of these pre-emptive efforts, the ministry gathered top stakeholders from across government for a high-level interagency preparedness summit on Monday, June 1, 2026. The cross-sector gathering brought together decision-makers from core sectors linked to public health protection, border control, emergency response, and national crisis coordination to align on next steps for outbreak readiness.

    The central focus of the closed-door meeting was a comprehensive review of Antigua and Barbuda’s existing Ebola preparedness and response architecture, alongside targeted work to reinforce the country’s ability to respond to any other infectious disease that could pose a risk to public health. Chaired by Permanent Secretary Stacey Gregg-Paige, the meeting included the ministry’s most senior technical leaders: Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kamara De Castro, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Teri-Ann Joseph, and Acting Chief Health Inspector Daryl Spencer.

    Beyond the health ministry’s internal leadership, the summit drew agency heads and senior delegations from a wide range of interconnected government bodies. These included the Central Board of Health, Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, Antigua and Barbuda Emergency Medical Services, the National Office of Disaster Services, the Department of Immigration, the Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority, the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, and the Ministry of Tourism. This broad participation reflected the cross-cutting nature of effective infectious disease outbreak preparedness, which requires coordination across health, security, border management, and tourism sectors.

    Officials confirmed during the meeting that as of the summit date, no confirmed Ebola cases have been detected in Antigua and Barbuda, and the current risk of local transmission or an imported outbreak remains classified as low. Even so, the ministry stressed that recent global developments involving Ebola outbreaks in other regions make it critical to maintain constant vigilance and full operational readiness to respond to any emerging threat. Early preparation, officials noted, is the most effective tool to prevent a minor imported case from becoming a large-scale public health emergency.

    Over the course of the meeting, participating stakeholders walked through existing national preparedness plans, tested hypothetical response scenarios for potential imported Ebola cases, mapped existing operational gaps across agencies, and negotiated actionable measures to improve cross-agency coordination, public communication, and rapid resource mobilization in the event of an emergency. The summit also served as a platform for each participating agency to share updates on the preparedness work they have already completed, flag upcoming activities, and clearly outline areas where additional training, specialized equipment, or external support will be needed to boost readiness.

    In closing, the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs reaffirmed its core commitment to protecting the health and well-being of both permanent residents and international visitors to the twin-island nation. Moving forward, the ministry stated it will continue close collaboration with local, regional, and international public health partners to strengthen national health security, and sustain a coordinated, effective national preparedness and response framework capable of addressing infectious disease threats and any other public health emergencies that may arise.