Carib Scope

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  • Former Olympian selected for regional coaching workshop

    Former Olympian selected for regional coaching workshop

    Barbados is set to send one of its most decorated athletic figures, former Olympic hurdler and elite coach Kierre Beckles, OLY, to a landmark regional workshop focused on expanding equitable, safe opportunities for girls in sport this September. From September 18 to 19, Beckles will join other Caribbean coaching leaders in St Vincent and the Grenadines for the NIKE TAFISA CANOC Girls Positive and Safe Coaching Pathway Workshop, an initiative built through a collaborative partnership between sportswear giant NIKE, the global sport for development body The Association for International Sport for All (TAFISA), and the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC).

    The core mission of the workshop is to tackle long-standing gender disparities that have limited female participation in sport across the Caribbean, and to build a regional network of coaches equipped to foster inclusive, supportive athletic environments for young women. By delivering targeted, hands-on training directly to coaching professionals, the program aims to help create safe, accessible spaces where young female athletes can thrive without barriers, a gap that many regional sport leaders have identified as a critical barrier to growing women’s participation.

    Beckles brings a unique mix of elite athletic experience and on-the-ground educational coaching expertise to the workshop. A competitor at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Beckles retired from elite competition as a 15-time Barbadian national champion and former national record holder in the 100-meter hurdles, giving her first-hand insight into the challenges and transformative power of sport for young women. Since 2019, she has worked as a Physical Education Teacher at Princess Margaret Secondary School, while also leading the BOSEN Academy Track Club as Head Coach. She holds both International Level 1 and Level 2 National Coaching Certifications, and has already served as a Barbados national team coach at top regional and continental competitions including the CARIFTA Games, and the NACAC Under-18 and Under-23 Championships.

    In comments on her selection, Beckles expressed that the opportunity aligns closely with her lifelong professional mission. “I am incredibly honoured and grateful to be selected for this workshop, which aligns perfectly with my mission as an educator and coach,” she said. “My goal has always been to use my experiences on and off the field to inspire and guide the next generation. Participating in this pathway will equip me with more critical tools needed to break down barriers, foster body confidence, and ensure that our female athletes feel safe, valued, and empowered to achieve their full potential in sport.”

    Over the two-day intensive program, Beckles and other participating coaches from across the Caribbean will take part in a curriculum focused on practical, actionable coaching strategies tailored to supporting young women’s development in sport. Leaders from Barbados’ national sport community say Beckles’ participation marks a key step forward for the country’s push for gender equity in athletics. Janelle Denny, Director of the National Olympic Academy of Barbados, emphasized the organization’s pride in Beckles’ selection, noting that she embodies the type of leadership needed to drive meaningful change across the region’s sport ecosystem.

    “As an Olympian who transitioned seamlessly into an elite coach and teacher, Kierre exemplifies the leadership and passion we need to drive systemic change,” Denny explained. “This workshop is a key milestone in our ongoing commitment to gender equity, and we are confident she will bring back invaluable insights to benefit our local athletic community.”

  • Wales gas-to-energy plant for testing in another three months

    Wales gas-to-energy plant for testing in another three months

    Guyana’s landmark Wales gas-to-energy facility is moving full speed ahead toward its first operational test, with the initial turbine firing scheduled to take place between December 1 and December 10, 2026, Public Utilities Minister Deodat Indar confirmed in a Facebook video address posted Tuesday. The $759 million integrated energy project is poised to deliver critical new generation capacity to Guyana’s strained national grid, which has faced unprecedented pressure amid an extended, intense El Niño-driven dry season and heatwave that has sent residential and commercial electricity demand soaring.

    Once initial testing wraps up, the government expects the first 57 megawatts of power from the plant to enter the national grid, as part of the facility’s total planned 300 megawatt output. Indar explained that the “first-fire” milestone will mark the first time natural gas is fed through the plant’s infrastructure to ignite the first turbine, a critical pre-operational step before full commissioning and handover to the Guyanese government. The minister made the announcement alongside updates from a recent site visit he conducted alongside Prime Minister Mark Phillips, as authorities prioritize accelerating the project’s launch to offset spiking power consumption.

    The country’s main power utility, Guyana Power and Light (GPL), confirmed in a briefing Monday that while total generation capacity currently meets baseload demand, peak-time use of cooling equipment such as air conditioners and fans has created unexpected strain on the grid’s transmission feeders. Indar emphasized that this urgent capacity gap is why the government is prioritizing the Wales plant’s progress, noting that daily and monthly demand spikes have become increasingly difficult to manage amid the ongoing heatwave. “People are using a lot more electricity across the country right now, and we have to step up to meet that growing demand,” Indar stated in the 4-minute-47-second video address.

    To date, independent media representatives have not been granted access to the construction site on Wales, West Bank Demerara. Guided tours of the facility have been limited exclusively to government officials, private sector leaders, and international visitors. Beyond power generation, the integrated project also includes a purpose-built natural gas liquids plant designed to produce cooking gas for both domestic Guyanese consumers and export markets across the Caribbean. Government officials have also signaled that the project’s natural gas output could pave the way for new downstream industrial investment, particularly in domestic fertilizer production to support Guyana’s growing agriculture sector.

  • Four remanded on robbery, firearm charges

    Four remanded on robbery, firearm charges

    Four young people facing a slew of criminal charges including robbery, illegal firearm possession and burglary connected to a string of incidents across August have been ordered held at Dodds Prison pending their next court appearance.

    The accused, all young adults between 19 and 21 years old, have been identified by authorities as 19-year-old Jaden Lashaun Isaiah Davis from Bottom Close, Wildey, St Michael; 19-year-old Mwamba Nogzi Browne of Carlton Terrace, Black Rock, St Michael; 21-year-old Jaheem Jahdi Wilson, hailing from Paddock Road, St Michael; and 19-year-old Shadari Troy Jones, who resides at Bournes Land, Silver Sands, Christ Church.

    Court documents outline the layered charges against the group: Davis, Browne and Wilson face two joint counts of robbery tied to separate events that took place on August 27. Each of the three young men also faces an individual charge for unlawful use of a firearm stemming from the same date.

    Wilson faces further criminal charges beyond those shared with the other two: charges of aggravated burglary and an additional count of robbery, connected to a separate incident that occurred one day earlier, on August 26. Wilson and Jones are also co-accused in a third robbery case linked to an August 10 incident, with each man also facing a separate individual charge of firearm use in relation to that event.

    All four accused made their initial court appearance on Tuesday before acting Magistrate Keitha Ellis at the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ Court. Under the rules governing indictable offences—serious criminal charges that carry the possibility of trial by a higher court—they were not required to enter a formal plea during this initial hearing. Following the appearance, the magistrate ruled that all four would be remanded into custody at Dodds Prison, with their next scheduled court listing set for October 6.

    Cases originating in the Oistins jurisdiction that are linked to the accused have been transferred to the Oistins Magistrates’ Court, with a hearing scheduled for that venue on September 29.

  • Indonesische luchthavens heropenen na verstoring door vulkanische as

    Indonesische luchthavens heropenen na verstoring door vulkanische as

    Five airports across Indonesia, including the country’s busiest international hub, Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, have resumed full operations this week following intensive cleanup efforts to remove volcanic ash spewed from the recent eruption of Anak Krakatau. The temporary closure, triggered by dangerous ash accumulation on runways, taxiways, and critical airport infrastructure, brought widespread disruption to air travel across the archipelago nation, impacting more than 340,000 passengers and forcing the cancellation of approximately 2,900 commercial flights.

    Videos circulating widely on social media platforms captured emergency response teams and airport maintenance personnel working around the clock to clear ash deposits from landing strips and operational areas across the affected facilities. Indonesian Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi noted that while airports have reopened, a full return to pre-eruption flight schedules will take additional time. “We ask passengers to remain patient as we conduct thorough checks to confirm the airworthiness of all aircraft returning to service,” Purwagandhi stated.

    Anak Krakatau, an active stratovolcano located in the Sunda Strait between Indonesia’s two most populous islands, Java and Sumatra, erupted with significant force last Saturday, followed by at least three smaller secondary eruptions early Tuesday. According to Lana Saria, head of Indonesia’s national Geological Agency, the environmental and infrastructural impact of the 2025 eruption has remained less severe than that of previous major eruptions of the volcano. Even so, geological teams are maintaining constant monitoring of the volcano’s seismic activity to detect signs of larger impending eruptions.

    Indonesia sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a geologically active zone where multiple tectonic plates converge, leaving the country home to roughly 130 active volcanoes – one of the highest counts of any nation worldwide. The island nation still remembers the devastating 2018 disaster at Anak Krakatau, when a partial collapse of the volcano’s crater triggered a massive tsunami that killed more than 400 people along the coastlines of Java and Sumatra.

    Today, the resumption of airport operations has restored critical air connectivity across western Indonesia, though national authorities remain on high alert for potential new eruptive activity from the volatile volcano.

  • GPL losing billion$ to electricity theft; police asked to arrest, charge persons

    GPL losing billion$ to electricity theft; police asked to arrest, charge persons

    Guyana’s state-owned power utility, Guyana Power and Light (GPL), is facing crippling annual losses exceeding GY$3 billion driven by rampant electricity theft across the country, prompting the company to escalate its anti-theft campaign and formally request law enforcement support to prosecute offenders.

    During a press briefing held Monday, GPL’s Divisional Director of Engineering Services Ryan Ross broke down the nature of the company’s total system losses, which currently stand at 24 percent of overall power generation. Of that total share, between 13 and 15 percent stems from commercial losses – a category overwhelmingly made up of unauthorized power diversion and outright theft. Ross outlined the staggering financial scale of these losses, noting that each single percentage point of system loss costs the utility approximately GY$200 million, equivalent to around US$1 million. The remaining 9 percent of total losses, he added, consists of technical losses from inefficiencies in aging transformers and transmission infrastructure, which add another GY$1.8 billion in annual losses for the company.

    Over recent weeks, GPL crews have already begun conducting on-the-ground operations to remove illegal hookups and identify electricity thieves in communities across the country. As of yet, however, no individuals have been arrested or formally charged with electricity theft offenses. To address this gap, GPL Executive Kesh Nandlall confirmed that he has submitted a formal request to Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, asking for police assistance to apprehend and prosecute offenders. “We will go out there and prosecute people now,” Nandlall emphasized, signaling a new, harder line against the practice.

    Beyond the massive financial hit for the utility, GPL stresses that electricity theft is not just an illegal act but also a critical public safety hazard. Unauthorized connections overload the national power grid, damage key infrastructure, cause widespread unplanned power outages for law-abiding customers, and create severe risks of fatal electrocution and destructive electrical fires for communities.

    The utility announced that it will continue its targeted anti-theft operations across all regions of Guyana to curb the practice, protect the integrity of the power network, and ensure consistent, reliable service for paying customers. GPL has also called on the public to assist in the effort, urging anyone who spots an illegal electricity connection to report it via the company’s dedicated tip lines: regular line 226-2600, toll-free line 0475, or WhatsApp at 699-4882.

  • Grenada has passed its digital transformation law

    Grenada has passed its digital transformation law

    On August 31, Grenada took a landmark step in its digital government journey, as the Digital Transformation Agency Act No. 10 of 2026 received official assent. For years, the Caribbean nation has explored incremental digitization of public services and laid early groundwork for a dedicated Digital Transformation Agency (DTA), but the new legislation finally codifies this ambition into a formal statutory framework. Yet as policymakers and observers note, establishing a formal agency is only the first step – true transformation of government operations will hinge on effective execution far more than the text of the new law.

    For many Grenadians, interacting with government agencies has long been a fragmented, frustrating experience. Citizens often have to navigate disconnected institutions one by one, repeat personal information across departments, and sort out conflicting processes when no single body takes ownership of a public service. The root of this issue lies in siloed public sector technology systems, with different agencies operating on incompatible frameworks that force residents to bridge the gaps themselves. Against this backdrop, the DTA’s mandate extends far beyond simply uploading existing forms to government websites. Its core mission is to drive coordinated system design, integration and adoption across the entire public sector through national enterprise architecture standards, which prioritize interoperability and uniform protocols. If successfully implemented, this would eliminate the common grievance of residents being forced to resubmit information the government already holds, just because two agencies cannot share data. Even with the new legal framework in place, however, legacy system incompatibility cannot be fixed overnight. Years of work will be required to build, integrate, secure and maintain updated infrastructure, alongside sweeping changes to long-standing government processes.

    As a small island state, Grenada faces unique economic constraints that make coordinated digital strategy all the more critical. Individual ministries developing their own disconnected technology standards, procuring unaligned systems and managing cybersecurity independently would drain limited public resources far faster than a centralized approach. The DTA’s enterprise architecture initiative is designed to align all government bodies with shared national digital priorities and uniform security and operational standards. That said, over-centralization carries its own risks if the new agency lacks sufficient capacity to deliver. A DTA understaffed, short on technical expertise or slow to process project approvals could become the very bureaucratic bottleneck it was meant to eliminate.

    A key priority that cannot be sidelined in the push for digital government is equitable access. For residents with reliable high-speed internet, modern devices and digital literacy, digitization will undoubtedly streamline interactions with the state. But for community members without access to these resources, moving services online could create new, unnecessary barriers to accessing the support they need. This means transformation cannot stop at putting government services online – accessibility accommodations, expanded connectivity, digital literacy training and targeted support for marginalized groups must be baked into the strategy from the start. Grenada’s broader national digital program has already taken initial steps to address these gaps, rolling out initiatives to expand device access, lower the cost of internet connectivity and boost public digital skills. This aligns with the core principle that “digital first” should never mean “digital only”; technology should expand access to government services, not create new exclusionary barriers.

    This user-centered principle also applies to Grenada’s business community. Local entrepreneurs deserve to navigate government permitting, registration and tax processes without repeatedly submitting the same documentation to disconnected agencies. No citizen should have to complete an entire transaction online only to be told they must print a form and deliver it in person to a government office. Legal, secure information sharing between authorized departments must become the norm, and as more personal data moves to digital systems, data protection must be treated as a non-negotiable core requirement, not an afterthought. These are not lofty, futuristic goals – they are the practical outcomes that motivated the push for digital transformation in the first place.

    Act No. 10 carries outsized importance because it recognizes that government technology is not just an internal administrative concern. It shapes every citizen’s experience of public services, determines how efficiently public resources are used, and defines the relationship between residents and the state. It is critical to remember, however, that creating the DTA is not the same as delivering transformation. Tough decisions lie ahead around retiring outdated legacy systems, reforming public procurement, strengthening cybersecurity, staffing the agency adequately, integrating cross-departmental systems and expanding equitable access. Leaders will also face pressure to deliver quick, visible results while building long-term infrastructure that will take years to fully integrate and deliver benefits.

    Today, Grenada has both the legislative mandate and institutional framework to advance its digital transformation goals. The coming months and years of implementation will determine whether ordinary residents actually see tangible improvements in their interactions with government. If the DTA succeeds at breaking down silos, integrating systems, protecting personal data and simplifying routine public transactions, the reform will prove transformative. If, however, fragmented bureaucratic processes remain in place with only a handful of additional online forms added to the mix, Grenada will have only digitized its existing bureaucracy without delivering meaningful change. That is the key distinction that stakeholders will be watching closely in the years ahead.

  • Commission begins probe into deadly Anse Cochon boat collision

    Commission begins probe into deadly Anse Cochon boat collision

    Nearly one and a half months after a deadly boat collision claimed four lives and left multiple people injured off the coast of Saint Lucia, a formal Commission of Inquiry has officially begun its work, following the swearing-in of four appointed commissioners at a ceremony held on Tuesday morning. The incident, which occurred on July 18 between two Castries-registered vessels — the Ocean Angel (official number SL077875) and the Cazorla Jr. (official number SL078180) — at Anse Cochon in Anse La Raye, shocked the small Caribbean nation and prompted authorities to launch a comprehensive public investigation to uncover the root causes of the tragedy.

    Appointed by Acting Governor General Felix Finisterre on the advice of Saint Lucia’s Cabinet on September 4, the inquiry is led by retired Justice Mario Michel, a seasoned legal figure chosen to chair the independent commission. Joining Michel on the panel are Cuthbert Didier, an experienced maritime consultant, retired Police Superintendent Kentry Frederick, and current Assistant Police Commissioner Luke De Freitas. Shahida Charlemagne-Octave will serve as the commission’s legal counsel, with retired public servant Lenita Joseph taking on secretarial responsibilities to coordinate administrative and logistical work.

    At the swearing-in ceremony hosted at the Governor General’s official residence in Morne Fortune, Finisterre extended his congratulations to the newly seated commissioners, expressing unwavering confidence in their ability to deliver a thorough, transparent investigation. “I wish to congratulate all of you, especially Chairman, Justice Mario Michel. I know we’ll get some good recommendations in terms of what really happened,” Finisterre told attendees, thanking the panel members for agreeing to take on this critical public assignment.

    Michel accepted the weight of the mandate, acknowledging the profound significance of the commission’s work for the victims’ families and the broader maritime community in Saint Lucia. He pledged that the entire panel would work collaboratively to uphold the public trust placed in them. “I don’t think we’ll underestimate the severity of the responsibility, and the significance of it. But, we will certainly endeavour to the best of our collective abilities, live up to the confidence that you have reposed in us,” Michel said.

    Beyond determining the exact sequence of events and contributing factors that led to the July 18 collision, the commission carries a broader policy-focused mandate. It is tasked with conducting a full review of Saint Lucia’s existing legislative and regulatory framework governing maritime activity, maritime safety, and accident investigation. This review will cover provisions in key pieces of national legislation including the Civil Code, the Shipping Act, the Police Act, the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority Act, the Customs (Control and Management) Act, and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act. The panel will also examine existing standard operating procedures and safety protocols for all maritime operations across the country.

    The commission’s final recommendations are expected to guide the drafting of a fully updated, modern Maritime Act for Saint Lucia, with the overarching goal of closing regulatory gaps and preventing similar deadly tragedies from occurring in the future.

    All inquiry proceedings will be held at the Parliament Chamber in Castries’ Parliament Building on Laborie Street, and are open to the general public, though the commission retains the authority to close sessions if necessary to maintain order or protect the integrity of the investigation. Members of the public with relevant information are actively encouraged to contribute by submitting written evidence or giving oral testimony directly to the commission. To participate, interested individuals can contact Secretary Lenita Joseph via phone at (758) 285-6273, or reach out via email at inquirymaritime@govt.lc or lenita.joseph758@gmail.com.

    The commission is scheduled to conduct its work through March 8, 2027, with Chairman Michel required to submit the panel’s final public report by that deadline.

  • Cost of Living in Belize: “You Can’t Tell Me I Can’t Relate to Myself”

    Cost of Living in Belize: “You Can’t Tell Me I Can’t Relate to Myself”

    A growing political clash over Belize’s worsening cost of living crisis has intensified this week, as Union Senator Glenfield Dennison has doubled down on his claim that sitting government officials remain disconnected from the crippling financial pressures facing everyday Belizean citizens. In a fresh interview with local outlet News 5 on September 8, 2026, Dennison pushed back against a sharp public rebuke from Prime Minister John Briceño, dismissing the Prime Minister’s response as overly emotional and factually off-base.

    Dennison pushed back specifically against Briceño’s claim that he cannot relate to the hardship of low-income Belizeans. The senator clarified that his original argument centered on personal experience as much as the struggles of the broader public, noting that Briceño completely missed the core of his point. “You can’t tell me I can’t relate to myself,” Dennison said, emphasizing that even as a educated young professional holding two separate jobs, he faces the same unmanageable cost pressures that have strained household budgets across the country.

    The senator outlined key pain points driving the current crisis: stagnant salaries have failed to keep up with skyrocketing living expenses, with transportation costs emerging as one of the heaviest drains on household income for ordinary Belizeans. He also rejected Briceño’s earlier suggestion, made on September 2, that he should spend more time engaging with communities before criticizing the government’s disconnect. Dennison countered that there is a fundamental difference between visiting struggling communities as a sitting official and actually living day-to-day with the crushing financial pressures that most Belizeans navigate.

    Looking ahead to future electoral prospects, Dennison issued a warning to Briceño and his ruling People’s United Party (PUP) administration: the party risks losing its grip on key constituencies if it continues to ignore public frustration over the cost of living. He noted that several sitting PUP candidates are vulnerable to defeat in upcoming elections, pushing back on the narrative that the PUP is an unbeatable political force.

    Dennison also contextualized the PUP’s previous election victory, framing it not as a reflection of overwhelming public support for the party, but rather as a coalescence of widespread voter anger over corruption and mismanagement by the previous United Democratic Party (UDP) administration, which failed to address public needs ahead of the last election. When asked whether he planned to run for office himself, Dennison declined to confirm any plans for a future candidacy, leaving that question open for the time being.

  • Janet Caroo appointed St Lucia’s ambassador to CARICOM and OECS

    Janet Caroo appointed St Lucia’s ambassador to CARICOM and OECS

    A seasoned Caribbean media and academic leader is stepping into a pivotal new diplomatic role that will shape regional cooperation across the Caribbean bloc. Dr Janet Caroo has been formally appointed as St Lucia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to both the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), with her tenure officially commencing on September 1, 2026. Alongside this ambassadorial posting, Caroo will also lead St Lucia’s Governmental Regional Integration Unit, marking a significant expansion of her decades-long work advancing Caribbean unity.

    The appointment has already drawn widespread praise from The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Caroo’s long-time professional home, where institution leaders highlighted her unique qualifications for the high-profile role. Over her career centered on regional public service, Caroo has built a proven track record of leadership, deep institutional knowledge of Caribbean geopolitics and community needs, and an unwavering commitment to driving cross-border development, cooperation and integration across the region.

    Before moving into diplomacy, Caroo served as Managing Director of UWItv, the University of the West Indies’ regional media platform. In that position, she leveraged strategic communication and targeted public engagement strategies to advance The UWI’s mission of connecting academic resources to Caribbean communities. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives that bridged the gap between the University’s cutting-edge research and technical expertise and grassroots communities across every corner of the Caribbean, while emphasizing media’s critical role in fostering open, informed public debate on pressing regional issues.

    Caroo will bring this extensive experience in regional outreach and collaboration to her new diplomatic portfolio, as the government of St Lucia works to deepen its institutional ties with both CARICOM and the OECS. Her core responsibilities will center on advancing key regional priorities, including enhanced cross-border cooperation, streamlined labor and professional mobility, expanded intra-regional trade and investment, accelerated innovation across Caribbean economies, and stronger people-to-people connections across Caribbean island nations.

    Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, joined the entire University community in offering formal congratulations to Caroo, commending her transformative contributions during her time leading UWItv. In a statement shared by the institution, Beckles emphasized that Caroo’s appointment is a testament to the strength and value of homegrown Caribbean leadership, rooted in deep institutional experience and an intimate understanding of the region’s unique opportunities and challenges.

    “Dr Caroo’s appointment reflects the value of Caribbean leadership, institutional experience and a deep understanding of the region. The UWI is proud of the impact she has made through UWItv, particularly in amplifying Caribbean perspectives and strengthening the University’s connection with the people it serves. We are equally pleased to see her carry that experience into this important diplomatic assignment on behalf of St Lucia and the wider Caribbean,” Beckles said.

    The UWI wrapped up its announcement by noting that it has full confidence Caroo’s transition from regional media leadership to diplomatic representation will open new pathways for impactful service to both St Lucia and the broader Caribbean community. The institution extended its warm wishes for Caroo’s success in her new role, highlighting the mutual benefits her experience will bring to both the region’s diplomatic bodies and the Caribbean people it serves.

  • Five Campuses, One College: ABCAS Welcomes Its First Student Intake

    Five Campuses, One College: ABCAS Welcomes Its First Student Intake

    St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda – September 8, 2026 – A new chapter in tertiary education has opened in Antigua and Barbuda, as the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS) has officially welcomed its first group of enrolled students following the high-profile merger of five separate post-secondary institutions into one unified collegiate system.

    For the 2026/2027 academic year, total enrolment across ABCAS’ five geographically distributed campuses has surpassed 1,200. This incoming cohort makes history as the first group to begin studies under the new consolidated ABCAS brand, capping months of transition work to integrate the formerly independent institutions.

    Each of the five campuses hosts a distinct specialized school tailored to meet the country’s diverse workforce and development needs. The Eustace Hill Campus is home to the School of Business, Innovation and Information Technology, while the Muriel O’Mard Campus houses the School of Tourism and Hospitality. Vocational and technical training is centered at the Harrison Centre’s School of Technical and Vocational Education, and the Dr. Alister Francis Campus hosts the School of Education, Arts, Science and Industry. Rounding out the network is the Glanvilles Campus, which operates the new School of Agriculture.

    Among the most notable milestones of this inaugural intake is the launch of the School of Agriculture itself, which welcomed its first ever cohort of eight students. This launch is a targeted strategic step: national education planners aim to strengthen formal agricultural training across the country, and create structured, accessible pathways for young people seeking to build careers or launch entrepreneurial ventures in the agricultural sector, a key part of Antigua and Barbuda’s economy and food security strategy.

    Honourable Daryll S. Matthew, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, emphasized that this first cohort’s arrival confirms the core vision that drove the merger of the five institutions. The consolidation was designed to align tertiary education more closely with national development goals, by eliminating redundancies and pooling resources across once-separate campuses.

    Dr. E. Jonah Greene, President of ABCAS, framed the incoming cohort as a landmark moment for the new unified college, which now draws on the unique legacy and strengths of each of its five constituent campuses. “For our students, being part of ABCAS should mean access to the collective strengths of the entire College. Each of our campuses brings its own expertise, experience and areas of specialisation, and our responsibility is to ensure those strengths work together,” Dr. Greene explained. “As we welcome this first intake, our focus is on providing students with a strong education, practical preparation and the support they need to move confidently into further study, employment or entrepreneurship.”

    As the 2026/2027 academic year kicks off, ABCAS leadership has extended welcomes to both new and returning students, and expressed optimism for a year defined by collaborative learning, personal growth, and expanded opportunity across all five campuses. The institution remains anchored in its core mission: delivering accessible, relevant, and high-quality academic, technical, and vocational training that equips graduates to pursue their personal career goals, while contributing meaning to the long-term nation-building efforts of Antigua and Barbuda.